By Jenny O’Connor, TEAC Member
 

On a gorgeous Saturday in September, TEAC hosted our annual Eco Fair during the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow Farmers’ Market at Patriots Park. Local organizations with a focus on sustainable living and the environment came together to engage the community on a range of issues including zero waste, food scrap recycling and composting, pollinator pathways, healthy lawns, climate resiliency, renewable energy, and more. Community members and marketgoers stopped by to learn what they can do to reduce their carbon footprints and practice better environmental stewardship. 
 

Highlights of the day included: pet ambassadors brought by the Nature Center at Greenburgh (a bearded lion, a ball python, and a box turtle), a nature-based mandala activity for kids, sustainable landscaping ideas, home weatherization and energy efficiency tips, climate advocacy and outreach, and information about safe streets in our community. Plus the TEAC Landscaping Committee gave away more than 200 native plants grown from seeds collected from our Tarrytown public pollinator gardens. Rose milkweed, purple echinacea (from our Sarah Michaels garden), asters, goldenrods, and many other native plants found new homes in our community, which will support many new pollinator gardens in the year ahead! 

Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, Tarrytown Mayor Karen Brown, and other local politicians visited the fair and shared their gratitude for all we are doing for the village and the environment. We’re so thankful to all of the vendors/organizations that participated and a special shout-out to the TaSH Farmers Market, Alissa Fasman, the Tarrytown Parks Department, and local photographer, John Muggenborg, who helped to make the event a huge success.

Photos provided by John Muggenborg Photography. Please include photo credits if sharing or posting any of these Eco Fair photos.

A group of ambitious paddlers gathered on a recent Sunday morning for a recreational river crossing, from Tarrytown’s kayak launch at Losee Park over to Nyack’s Memorial Park Beach. The weather and water conditions could not have been more perfect—sunny, mild temperatures, low winds, gentle tides, and very little boat traffic—so everyone enjoyed a gorgeous morning on the river. 

We stayed in a tight group and enjoyed convivial conversations. It wasn’t a race, but we kept a fairly good clip to reduce the amount of time we spent in the shipping channel in the middle of the river. On the return journey, we encountered a barge heading south (toward us) at a fairly high speed, so we were comforted to have the safety boat escorts and radio guidance.  

Most of the participants were Tarrytown or Sleepy Hollow residents, but a few paddlers joined from neighboring river towns and we even had a kayaker from Riverdale. Paddlers provided their own boats and gear, and followed safety guidelines provided by the Harbor Master and Coast Guard Auxiliary. USCG Auxiliary vessel inspector Barbara Schulz offered free boat inspections to all participants.

The event was co-sponsored by the Tarrytown Recreation Department, and we were escorted by safety boats provided by the Tarrytown Harbor Master, the Tarrytown Fire Department, and Westchester County Police.  A huge shout out to Kevin Lustyik,  Miguel Valle, Sgt Butcher, Barbara Schulz, Clarice Pollack, and Jenny O’Connor.

We hope to do the event again next year, so please stay tuned and let us know if you’re interested in joining.

About 10 years ago, Tarrytown (and TEAC) participated in an effort in cooperation with Sustainable Westchester called “Solarize Tarrytown”. It facilitated more than 25 new residential solar-roof installations in the Village. The advantage to the homeowner of doing this through the Solarize program was that a small set of vetted solar installers had agreed to a fixed dollar-per-watt cost, virtually eliminating the guesswork and risk of contracting for solar on one’s own. Aside from the choice to lease or buy outright, it was pretty-much a turnkey operation. And dealing with the complexity of rebates, tax incentives and working with ConEd was reduced by the agreements set up in advance by the Solarize program. There were overlapping Solarize initiatives in all our Rivertowns villages, some more successful than others.

Over the last few years, there has been interest across the County in rebooting the Solarize program, and it made sense to Sustainable Westchester to centralize it rather than do it village-by-village. So, this past summer, Residential Solarize was born, just in time for residents to take advantage of the remaining Federal tax credits that are set to expire at the end of 2025. It’s unlikely that those credits will be renewed, given the change in tenor of the current administration towards renewable energy.

It’s too late at this point to join the 2025 Solarize program, since installations have to be completed by Dec 31st to tap the remaining Federal credit. As Sustainable Westchester says, 

“We have assisted nearly 400 homeowners, with 80 of those proceeding to an executed agreement with one of our Installer Partners. We estimate that the 80 solar projects contracted to date will have the following impacts:

• 800 kWdc of new solar generation.

• 900,000 kWh of generation annually.

• 418 metric tons of CO2 avoided per year.

• 97 gasoline powered passenger vehicles driven for one year removed.

• $2.4 million in total investment, of which $800,000 is local workforce development.

Here’s their full report (PDF) to participants. Only two of the 80 contracted homes are in Tarrytown. 

But, even absent the Federal credit, the cost of adding solar can be recouped in only a few years, especially with our high utility electricity rates. Sustainable Westchester can still assist in the process. As SW’s Leo Wiegman suggests, 

“Even without the federal tax credit, the New York State personal tax credit of 25% up to a cap of $5,000 remains available. Steep increases in the Con Edison electric rates coming in January will make solar a viable option for many homeowners. 

“We continue to provide Solar Studies to inquiring homeowners who leave us their contact information. This is a helpful first step to understand the feasibility of solar for your home. If the prospect looks good, we refer you to our certified Installer Partners for competitive proposals.  And we remain available for any questions you may have throughout the entire process. At this point, all 5 of our Residential Solarize Installer Partners are fully booked for projects through the end of this calendar year and signing up projects for early 2026.”

Everyone who has a roof should at least get an assessment of their solar potential. Too much shading, or an older roof might rule you out. In the latter case, you could consider renewing your roof first, and in a few years from now, solar tax-credits could return.

By Mai Mai Margules, TEAC Landscaping Committee 
 

It’s finally beginning to feel like fall, as cool nights and crisp mornings pierce the blanket of heat that has engulfed us throughout September. Fall is a time of transition and preparation for winter, which the Farmers’ Almanac predicts will be colder than usual this year.

For pollinators and birds fall is a critical time. Animals that migrate thousands of miles to warmer climes, such as monarch butterflies and hummingbirds, need plenty of high-quality fuel for the journey as well as water and places to rest; no small feat in this drought. Our native bees and year-round birds such as cardinals, mockingbirds, woodpeckers, and chickadees are searching for food sources and places to shelter.

How can we help wildlife this fall? Your yard can be a waystation for migrating pollinators and birds helping them to survive their long and arduous journey.

• Provide Water: All living beings need water. Help wildlife by setting out shallow bowls of water or providing a birdbath. Place a few small rocks in the water for bees and butterflies to perch on, and you’ve made a “bee bath.” Place your containers in areas near plants or shrubs if possible. Change the water every five days to prevent mosquito breeding, and refill as needed. My birdbath is empty after a day or two thanks to thirsty bird visitors.
• Fall Food for Pollinators: Late blooming native plants such as goldenrods (no, they don’t cause allergies, that’s ragweed), asters, ironweed, and sneezeweed provide high quality fuel for bees and butterflies. Annuals such as cosmos, Mexican sunflowers, zinnias, and verbenas are great nectar sources for pollinators and provide color in the garden as many perennials begin to go dormant. Calamintha nepeta has been blooming since June and is still providing a banquet for bees in our gardens.
• Fall Food for Birds: Birds need fat and protein to prepare for winter and long migrations. Berries from fall-blooming native shrubs such as serviceberry, arrowwood viburnum, dogwood, elderberry, and northern spicebush are great sources of energy and nutrients. Another amazing source is the underrated pokeberry, which grows freely in many of our yards. This plant is a natural bird feeder for songbirds and small mammals. Just prune it if it becomes too large, your backyard birds will thank you as they eat the berries all winter long! Sunflower seeds and suet are great cold weather foods for birds. Insects provide vital protein for birds. Don’t use pesticides in your yard, leave fallen leaves, and plant stalks in non-lawn areas so that birds can forage for insects. It is in these “messy” areas that life exists year-round on your property. Our manicured lawns are food deserts for wildlife. Please leave whole leaves in peripheral areas of your property, under hedges, shrubs, and trees and create a healthy oasis for migrating and overwintering pollinators and birds this year.

Tips for a More Sustainable Halloween 

By Annie Kravet

As you start planning for the Halloween festivities, keep the environment in mind! Here are some easy ways to make your Halloween less wasteful: 

Pumpkin Carving
If you plan on carving a pumpkin this year, keep it out of the landfill! Once in the landfill, pumpkins release a ton of water and this contributes to groundwater contamination. They also release the greenhouse gas methane as they rot and break down. Once Halloween is over or your Jack-O-Lantern starts to rot, bring it down to the compost bins in the train station parking lot. 

Here are some great ideas for what to do with the pumpkin insides you scoop out before carving: 

• Separate out the seeds, salt them, and roast them in the oven. Healthy and delicious!
• Save seeds and plant them in the spring 
• Save the pulp for cooking (puree it and use for baking, or saute it with onions and other vegetables like celery and garlic, then add water and let it simmer for around 45 minutes to make a flavorful vegetable broth, etc.) 

Costumes
Skip the one-time use store bought costume. These usually end up in the landfill after one or two uses. Instead consider a DIY costume made with easily recycled materials or things you already have at home. Or search around at local thrift stores for clothes and accessories. Not feeling creative or don’t have time to put something together? Try looking online for a second hand costume. Try going to swap.com and searching “costumes” for second hand costumes. You can also try Facebook Marketplace and Ebay. 

Decorations: 
If you plan on decorating your house, use what you already have or try to find second-hand decor. You can make ghosts out of old pillow cases, or set out natural decor like pumpkins and gourds that can be composted instead of tossed in the trash. There are tons of eco friendly ideas out there for Halloween decorations - try searching Pinterest for “eco friendly Halloween” if you would like more inspiration. 

By Kimberly De Jesus, Garden Manager
 

As we approach the close of the 2025 gardening season at the Tarrytown Community Garden, there’s much to be thankful for. Growing your own food—watching seeds/seedlings turn into beautiful and nourishing vegetables and fruits—is so rewarding.

When I travel along Broadway each week to water my plot at the garden next to John Paulding School, I’m excited by any signs of growth—even a quarter of an inch makes me giggle.

About three months after planting, you really start to see the formation of things you can imagine eating… a heart-healthy salad with lettuce, radishes, and cilantro—yum! Cherry tomatoes start to form, as do eggplants for a cheesy eggplant parmigiana. If you really step out of your comfort zone and plant something different, let’s say like watermelon…WOW! Well, you get where I’m going.

Gardening can be hard work or a labor of love, or a combination of both. But in any case, setting your table with food you have grown without chemical additives, and with rich, dark compost, and love and care is so satisfying. Once you get bitten, no pun intended, you’ll never look at soil the same again.
If you are interested in applying for a garden plot next year, please find more information here. The applications platform should be open by February 1, 2026.