This week was busy again. Talked with some of our neighbors in New Scotland about issues related to development their. Had a town board meeting where we had a presentation from Peter Iwanowicz from the Governor's office aboyt the Governor's Climate Smart Communities Initiative. We adopted a resolution, drafted by Councilman Kotary, centered on makign our town more climate-smart. I seconded the motion. It was great first step towards re-evaluating our towns consumption and output as well as planning ahead for what climate change could look like.
As a parent, its an issue I am deeply concerned about. We also discussed a thank you letter we recieved from the Nature Conservancy for the town's work to protect and enhance the Environmental Protection Fund.
On Friday I was lucky enough to take part in a tree planting at Elsmere School to honor Earth Day and learned that the whole school had learned about reducing trash and changing patterns of consumption. I was very happy to see so many well informed students!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Text of Nature Conservancy Thank You Letter
April 17, 2009
Town Supervisor Jack Cunningham
Town Board Member Mark Hennessey
The Town of Bethlehem
445 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054
Re: Town Resolution No. 5: Resolution in support of the New York State Environmental Protection Fund
Dear Supervisor Cunningham and Board Member Hennessey:
On behalf of the 70,000 member of The Nature Conservancy of New York, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for your support for environmental funding in the New York State budget this year. The resolution passed by the Town of Bethlehem in support of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) was a helpful tool that led to green victories included in this year’s State budget.
The Nature Conservancy worked with partners including local governments like Bethlehem, conservation organizations, agricultural interests and recreational groups to urge State lawmakers to protect environmental funding. We are pleased that the budget includes $222 million for the EPF this year. At $17 million more than the amount included in the State Deficit Reduction Bill adopted in February, the Fund will continue to benefit communities throughout the State, including your town. After hearing from communities including Bethlehem
about the impact of the EPF in their communities, State leaders recognized the importance of environmental funding in a difficult budget year. We are hopeful that your town will be able to build upon the work you have already completed with support from the EPF, including the fishing platform at Henry Hudson Park. We believe municipalities will benefit from new appropriations for EPF programs including the Farmland Protection Program, the Waterfront Revitalization Program, and the Municipal Recycling and Parks Programs.
In addition to the good news regarding the EPF appropriation this year, the resolution from the Town of Bethlehem was helpful in ensuring that the adopted budget continued the stable funding structure of the EPF through continued dedication of revenue from the existing State Real Estate Transfer Tax. A proposed “sweep” of cash from the EPF for general fund relief was also eliminated from the budget, which will ensure that funding is available for critical environmental programs.
Thank you, once again, for your resolution in support of the Environmental Protection Fund. We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you in the future to protect State funding for important local initiatives
in your community and throughout New York.
Sincerely,
Paul Hartman
Director of Government Relations
Town Supervisor Jack Cunningham
Town Board Member Mark Hennessey
The Town of Bethlehem
445 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054
Re: Town Resolution No. 5: Resolution in support of the New York State Environmental Protection Fund
Dear Supervisor Cunningham and Board Member Hennessey:
On behalf of the 70,000 member of The Nature Conservancy of New York, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for your support for environmental funding in the New York State budget this year. The resolution passed by the Town of Bethlehem in support of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) was a helpful tool that led to green victories included in this year’s State budget.
The Nature Conservancy worked with partners including local governments like Bethlehem, conservation organizations, agricultural interests and recreational groups to urge State lawmakers to protect environmental funding. We are pleased that the budget includes $222 million for the EPF this year. At $17 million more than the amount included in the State Deficit Reduction Bill adopted in February, the Fund will continue to benefit communities throughout the State, including your town. After hearing from communities including Bethlehem
about the impact of the EPF in their communities, State leaders recognized the importance of environmental funding in a difficult budget year. We are hopeful that your town will be able to build upon the work you have already completed with support from the EPF, including the fishing platform at Henry Hudson Park. We believe municipalities will benefit from new appropriations for EPF programs including the Farmland Protection Program, the Waterfront Revitalization Program, and the Municipal Recycling and Parks Programs.
In addition to the good news regarding the EPF appropriation this year, the resolution from the Town of Bethlehem was helpful in ensuring that the adopted budget continued the stable funding structure of the EPF through continued dedication of revenue from the existing State Real Estate Transfer Tax. A proposed “sweep” of cash from the EPF for general fund relief was also eliminated from the budget, which will ensure that funding is available for critical environmental programs.
Thank you, once again, for your resolution in support of the Environmental Protection Fund. We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you in the future to protect State funding for important local initiatives
in your community and throughout New York.
Sincerely,
Paul Hartman
Director of Government Relations
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Rundown
This week was pretty busy. Besides doing the normal stuff, I spent some time on Wednesday at a Kiwanis meeting and Saturday morning doing volunteer work cleaning up 9w in Glenmont. The Kiwanis club is doing a Pancake breakfast in May and it is a great opportunity to help out a great local club. Spent most of the rest of the week working on tree-related issues. Also got a copy of a great thank you letter to myself, Supervisor Cunningham and the rest of the Town Board because of work we did to protect the Environmental Protection Fund. I'll post it as a link on Wednesday.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Another Why for High Speed Rail.
Just got back from a weekend in New York City and spent about an hour in traffic. Sure wish we had an affordable high speed rail service in New York State that would take the grunt work (and traffic) out of a weekend trip.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
St. Patrick's Day 2009 Remarks
I wanted to wish you a Happy Saint Patrick's Day. As you might guess, for the Hennesseys it is always an important day when we reflect on what the Irish part of our heritage means to us. I wanted to share with all of you a statement released by Governor Paterson (it is below) which I think pretty well encapsulates the story of Saint Patrick, save for a few details.
Just like so many who make up the fabric of Irish ethnicity (Normans, Vikings, etc.), Saint Patrick's story starts somewhere else. Maewyn Succat (Patrick's birth name) better known as Patricius (in english Patrick) started out as a Roman (his parents were Romans) living in Scotland. At the age of 14 he was kidnapped and brought into slavery in Ireland - but eventually escaped, studied to become a monk, and emerged as a leader who revolutionized Irish life and so much more.
In America, because of the struggles of Irish and other immigrants, he became a symbol of the promise of America. And as with so many things, the details of this history help us to open windows on our shared horizon.
So I hope everyone that receives this message will take a moment today to celebrate the most important part of Saint Patrick's message: the importance of freedom. Freedom to believe, freedom to live without restraint, and freedom to welcome others to a message of hope. I wish you and your whole family the happiest of Saint Patrick's Day from myself and the rest of the Hennessey family.
Governor's press release here.
Just like so many who make up the fabric of Irish ethnicity (Normans, Vikings, etc.), Saint Patrick's story starts somewhere else. Maewyn Succat (Patrick's birth name) better known as Patricius (in english Patrick) started out as a Roman (his parents were Romans) living in Scotland. At the age of 14 he was kidnapped and brought into slavery in Ireland - but eventually escaped, studied to become a monk, and emerged as a leader who revolutionized Irish life and so much more.
In America, because of the struggles of Irish and other immigrants, he became a symbol of the promise of America. And as with so many things, the details of this history help us to open windows on our shared horizon.
So I hope everyone that receives this message will take a moment today to celebrate the most important part of Saint Patrick's message: the importance of freedom. Freedom to believe, freedom to live without restraint, and freedom to welcome others to a message of hope. I wish you and your whole family the happiest of Saint Patrick's Day from myself and the rest of the Hennessey family.
Governor's press release here.
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