The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

What’s on the Agenda for the Sustainability Advisory Board in the Town of New Castle

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The  Sustainability Advisory Board is thriving.  Its members – all volunteers – are engaged and enthusiastic.  Chair Beth Sauerhaft is the Director of Global Environmental Sustainability for Pepsico.  Other members have expertise in the fields of environmental law and solar energy.  This year the SAB plans to address the following five key areas:  plastic bag use, reduction of residential household energy, vehicular idling, recycling, and landscaping methods.

The use of non biodegradable plastic bags has become a national issue.  “Towns around the country have banned the use of bags in retail,” Sauerhaft noted.  The SAB is examining the amount of time needed by retail establishments in order to prepare for such a ban and what type of assistance may be provided by the town.

In an effort to decrease the amount of energy used in residential dwellings, the SAB is continuing its effort to promote Energize New York’s program by elucidating the value of home energy assessments.  Heather Flournoy, Community Outreach Director for Energize New York has worked with the SAB on events at the library and the farmers’ market and is particularly impressed by its members.  “They’re all very knowledgable,” she said.

A law prohibiting idling already exists in Westchester County.  Sauerhaft related that the SAB is focusing on “raising the profile of it in town.”

The SAB is also advocating a reduction in the amount of garbage discarded by households by promoting recycling.  Recycling is also a source of revenue for the town which sells much of the materials.

In an effort to change some of the methods used in residential landscaping, the SAB is encouraging gardeners to use leaves as mulch instead of bagging them for removal by the town.

Code Red

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When entering the hamlet, a sign promoting Code Red – the new emergency notification system in town, comes into view.  This program enables the town to send out texts, emails and phone calls in the event of an emergency.

When Code Red debuted in January, the first official announcement advised residents about a water main break at the intersection of Route 120 and Seven Bridges Road.  Several people expressed their appreciation of the system to Town Administrator Penny Paderewski, noting that they had altered their routes thereby avoiding the area.  When Storm Nemo arrived, alerts regarding the conditions of local roads were disseminated and news was posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Code Red was implemented by the town in response to feedback by the community.  “People said they weren’t getting enough information from the town during Sandy.  That’s one of the reasons we put it in,” Paderewski said.

The Nixel system will continue to be utilized by the police department for matters concerning public safety.   To receive the code red alerts, a separate registration is required.  “It’s really important that they sign up,” Paderewski continued.  For those who do not have access to the internet, registration may be completed in person at town hall or on the phone.  As of January 29th, 8,232 people had signed up.

Christopher Miller, spokesman for the Office of Emergency Management in NYC said that a similar system, known as Notify NYC, is “just one tool in our toolbox.”  Information is also distributed via Facebook, Twitter and the media.  Notify NYC was used most recently during Hurricane Sandy.  A warning about Storm Nemo was issued by the National Weather Service.

New Castle Cares

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The skate park, bandapalooza, concerts at the train station.   All are hallmarks of the Coalition for Awareness, Responsibility, Education and Safety, commonly referred to as New Castle Cares.

In the 1990s, many towns in the nation were wrestling with a burgeoning issue – the need to create engaging activities for teens.  Recently retired middle school social worker Lyndall Boal recalled the birth of NC Cares in 1997:  “The town wanted to form a committee to provide alternatives for kids in New Castle to drugs and alcohol and to help the police department by providing opportunities for community service.”

Boal noted that there were many beneficial byproducts of the organization due to the equal participation of students and adults.  When students raised the idea of building a skate park, they designed and presented extensive blueprints to demonstrate its viability.  “They were treated with such deference and respect,” Boal said.  She also mentioned that a rise in self-esteem and grades was a frequent occurrence among the teens.

The group also provided a forum for kids who wanted to contribute to the community.  Jason Chapin, a current Town Board member and former liaison to NC Cares, related the story of one youth who started a computer bank.  Donations of computers were solicited, refurbished and given to fellow students.

Several factors contributed to the current dormant state of NC Cares:  Pleasantville’s decision to eliminate funding for the skatepark and the existence of other groups standing in the wings, ready to carry on its mission.  Teen Alliance, a very popular group in town, has seen its numbers rise dramatically in recent years.  There are also many viable clubs in the middle and high schools.  Chapin remains hopeful that NC Cares will undergo a renaissance.  He mentioned that although the skatepark is currently closed, it could conceivably be reopened in the future.

Senior Experience at Horace Greeley High School

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The final year of high school has not always been infused with a huge surge in engagement and scholarship.  Now, internships and projects facilitated by the Senior Experience at Greeley provide an exciting alternative for the final five weeks of the year.

The idea for this concept arose from the results of a survey conducted among the faculty.  Answers to the first question demonstrated that teachers were in favor of instituting a program which would maximize learning opportunities at the end of the year.  Over 30% of the respondents said they would volunteer to work on the idea.  Co-leader and Assistant Principal Andrew Corsilia noted that there was significant enthusiasm in the move to “operationalize the impulse to change.”   A pilot program was held in the spring of 2011.  27 students elected to participate in 2012 and 43 have applied for 2013.

An outstanding array of opportunities are available.  In 2011, Adam Ehrlich indicated that he was interested in a career in law enforcement.  A call to Youth Officer Corrado revealed the existence of the perfect program:  The Westchester Youth Academy.  Ehrlich participated in physical training and took courses in criminal justice.

Independent projects are another component of the Senior Experience.  Corsilia said that these are a viable option for “very responsible” students who demonstrate “a passion and expertise.”  In the class of 2012, Emma Pile expressed her interest in becoming a writer.  In preparation for composing her short story, she conducted extensive research, speaking with an expert in the field and visiting a school for children with autism.  An editor at the “New Yorker” suggested techniques for polishing the story.

Bruna Paranhos chose an internship at WSP Sells, a transportation engineering firm.  In her studies at Greeley, Paranhos recalled being intrigued by “the practical aspects of math and science.”  She found her stint at WSP Sells to be invaluable.  “It helped me to confirm my desire to be an engineer,” she said.

With an eye toward the future, Corisilia mentioned plans to expand the program.  “Ideally, we’d love to have 80% or more of the senior class doing it,” he said.  Corsilia also encouraged community members to offer internships to contribute to the education of students in the district.

 

The Solar Wall at the Millwood Water Treatment Plant

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The water in the town of New Castle is crystal clear and delicious.  It also happens to be  processed in a particularly green facility in the town of New Castle.  The water treatment plant harnesses the power of the sun to heat the building.

The idea for the solar wall arose at a presentation to the Sustainability Board by the firm Earth Kind Solar.  As part of the greening of the community, the town decided to install the wall at the water treatment plant.  This building is the only one in town with a southern facing wall which is large enough to accommodate the technology.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Works Gerry Moerschell categorized the tools being utilized as “passive solar thermal technology.”  No fans are required.  Instead, hot air is pulled into the building through tiny perforations on the exterior of the wall.  At the top of the wall, hot air is funneled into the building through ducts.

“This is one of the most cost efficient operations in town,” Moerschell noted.  It saves 3,000 gallons of heating a year which translates to $10,000.  The wall was financed by a $150,000 grant from NYSERDA.

The town is a forerunner in the implementation of this type of solar wall in the area.  “We’re pioneering technology in the Lower Hudson Valley,” Moerschell said.

Ron Kamen, Chair of Earth Kind Solar, pointed to another advantage of the solar wall.  “It’s virtually maintenance free,” he noted.

The solar wall at the water treatment plant.

Scores of local school children visit the plant annually.  Residents may contact the Department of Public Works to schedule a tour.