Meet 2022’s parade Grand Marshal (See

from Port Washington News 5/11/22 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

DEC Announces $750,000 In Second Round Of ‘Regenerate NY’ Forestry Grants

Funding now available for eligible private forest landowners

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos recently commemorated Arbor Day by announcing $750,000 in funding now available for the second round of the state’s “Regenerate NY” Forestry Cost Share Grant Program. The grant program is designed to assist private landowners in growing the next generation of forests, which are crucial for mitigating climate change, providing wildlife habitat, protecting air and water quality, and supplying an important renewable resource. A third of the total available funds ($250,000) is specifically earmarked for tree planting projects that will establish new forests or supplement the regeneration of existing ones.

“Arbor Day is an inspiration for all New Yorkers to celebrate the importance of trees to our health, environment, and economy and to take actions collectively to preserve our forests for future generations,” Seggos said. “While climate change, invasive species and white-tailed deer are threatening the health of our trees and forests, I’m proud of the work our expert foresters are doing to advance programs, like Regenerate NY, that help forest landowners protect and sustainably manage our essential forest resources and the many benefits they provide. DEC encourages more New Yorkers to take advantage of these programs and help advance our forest conservation efforts across the state.”

With nearly 75 percent of New York’s 18.7 million acres of forestland being privately owned, the grants help support landowners in growing healthy forests. Regenerate NY is funded by New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and managed by DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests. Private landowners who own between 10 and 1,000 acres of forest land in New York State may apply for grant awards ranging from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $50,000, with a required 25 percent match. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, planting trees, soil scarification, removing competing vegetation that would interfere with seedling establishment and growth, and installation of deer fence. Applicants must work with a private forester to develop their project. Up to two applications may be submitted per applicant, provided the applications are for separate properties.

In the first year of the grant program in 2021, DEC awarded nearly $450,000 for 16 projects covering 503 practice acres. More than 12,000 tree seedlings are being planted across New York State thanks to the funding provided by that round of grants. Through these plantings, private landowners are ensuring the next generation of forests and all the benefits they provide by fostering existing forestland regeneration and establishing new forested areas. The sizes of projects varied, with the largest project covering 78 acres and the smallest involving half an acre. Contracts were executed to reforest a total of nearly 100 acres, restore 105 acres of forest stands, manage competing vegetation on 176 acres, and install deer fencing on 127 acres, among other projects.

“Forests are one of our best tools in the fight against climate change,” New York State Forester and Division of Lands and Forests Director Robert Davies said. “Not only do trees absorb and store carbon as they grow, but products made from wood require significantly less energy to make than their carbon dioxide-intense counterparts like aluminum and plastic, and solid wood products continue to store carbon well beyond a tree’s lifetime. New York’s private forests remove enough carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in one year to negate the emissions of two million gasoline-powered automobiles over the same time period, underscoring the importance of investing in the regeneration of forests.”

“The New York Forest Owner’s Association applauds the Regenerate NY Forestry Cost Share Grant Program,” organization president Stacey Kazacos said. “Funding stewardship and regeneration efforts will help ensure our forests continue to support New York’s rural economy, protect our water and air quality, and sequester carbon for generations to come. We look forward to the long-term improvements this initiative will contribute to our communities throughout the state.”

“In order to foster successful regeneration, forest landowners must actively manage and implement costly measures to ensure the next generation of forests, which in turn provide carbon sequestration benefits, as well as habitat and other ecosystem benefits for biodiversity,” John Bartow of the Empire State Forest Products Association said. “Regenerate NY is a critical financial assistance package for New York forest owners to actively manage and steward forests for the future, and we applaud DEC, the State Legislature and Governor Hochul for the continued support for Regenerate NY in the Environmental Protection Fund.”

Applications may be submitted through the New York State Grants Gateway and will be accepted until 3 p.m. on Oct. 7, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. Applicants need to establish an account in the Grants Gateway System. Once registered, applicants can search the Grants Gateway for “Regenerate NY.”

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance held on the last Friday of April each year. It was originally established in 1872 to encourage farmers and homesteaders to plant trees for shade, fuel and beauty in open areas. Today, it is an opportunity to promote tree planting and care while we celebrate everything trees do for us. From a several hundred-acre rural forest to the street trees of an urban forest, all trees are important for providing invaluable ecosystem services and societal benefits that affect our everyday lives. Visit DEC’s website to learn more about Arbor Day.

The Regenerate NY Forestry Cost Share Grant Program is making $750,000 available to assist private landowners in growing the next generation of forests.

(Photo by Mark Daniel Lecciones/ ArborDayGrant_051322_MarkDanielLecciones)

Attention Civic Groups and Community Event Planners

Have your Special Events Published in Anton’s Community Calendar!

Recycling Bikes And Sewing Machines Collection Drive Set May 14

It’s time to put those old bicycles and sewing machines to good use. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Long Island, in partnership with the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, is collecting used bicycles and sewing machines on Saturday, May 14 (rain or shine) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, at the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, 38 Old Country Rd. in Garden City (at the western end of Old Country Road). Items collected will be refurbished by the international projects Pedals for Progress and Sewing Peace and sent to Belize in Central America.

Anyone with an adult or child’s bicycle in repairable condition or a working portable sewing machine is urged to donate the item. The program does not accept “bikes for parts,” disassembled bikes or tricycles. Since it costs $40 to collect, process, ship, rebuild and distribute each bicycle, a donation toward shipping costs is necessary (suggested minimum $20 per item). All cash and material donations are fully deductible and a receipt will be provided on site.

This is the 18th bike/sewing machine collection organized by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Long. Since beginning this collection, RPCV of LI has collected 1,668 bicycles and 261 sewing machines that have been distributed to Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Guatemala, Albania and Kosovo amongst others.

Pedals for Progress collects bicycles and sewing machines annually and transfers this material wealth to those more needy. To date, more than 163,785 bikes and 5,523 sewing machines have been shipped to developing countries in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. In these countries the bikes are reconditioned by partner agencies and distributed at low cost to poor working adults and children.

These bikes provide reliable transportation for commuting to school, work, transporting product to market and accessing health care and other services. Sewing machine shipments help initiate educational programs and generate income opportunities that may otherwise remain out of reach for many people. Steady employment for adults is vital to the development and success of struggling communities. Alan Schultz, the in-coming director of Pedals for Progress and Sewing Peace, says that the first container of bikes and sewing machines will be sent to their partners in Belize and a second shipment is expected to be sent in June to Tanzania. Bette Bass of Massapequa, who was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia from 1955-89, said, “Members of the RPCVs of Long Island see as their mission both to serve in the communities where we live and to support programs in developing countries as well as to support the Peace Corps and its goals.”

For more information, contact Bette Bass at 516-606-1400 (email bettembass@ gmail.com or Kathy Williams-Ging at 631-549-4873 (email ktsging@optonline. net).

Bike and sewing machine collection at the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island in 2020.

(Photos courtesy of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island)

Classes Start Second week in September. German Lessons Since 1897

After-School Program NY State Accredited Language Program • No previous German necessary • Minimum age: 6 years • Low tuition • Manhattan location: Upper East Side • Locations also in Franklin Square and Garden City (Long Island) for more information email: kidslearngerman@aol.com or go to german-american-school.org

Rachel in Tanzania is a seamstress and store owner in her local marketplace who received a sewing machine through Sewing Peace. She primarily makes dresses but also sells sewing equipment, thread and fabric. She has been running her business for five years and has been able to provide for herself and her daughter through her small business.

Nassau County Legislature Announces Electric NICE Bus Initiative

New electric fleet will be eco-friendly and cut back on county gas usage

With gas prices surging nation-wide, and increased environmental concerns being raised by many, there has been a push to use more public transportation to both save money and ease our carbon footprint.

The Nassau County Legislature recently held a press conference at the NICE bus yard on Commercial Avenue in East Garden City to announce the purchase of six new battery electric-powered NICE Buses.

“Nassau County has a reputation for being one of the most environmentally responsible counties in the State,” Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello said. “By adding zero-emission buses to our fleet, we will immediately reduce emissions and improve air quality here in Nassau County, while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in maintenance and fuel.”

The six vehicles purchased are New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE NG 40-foot transit buses, model XE40. They come with 525KWh lithium-ion batteries and have a range of approximately 180 to 200 miles on a single charge. The cost is approximately $1.1 million per vehicle. The county’s funding has been supplemented by funding from New York State and the federal government for greener transportation. It is estimated that each electric bus will save up to $125,000 in maintenance and up to $400,000 in fuel savings over its 12-year lifespan.

These six buses will initially service the Nassau County HUB area with service originating from the Rosa Parks Bus Depot in the Village of Hempstead and serving the greater Hempstead, Nassau Community College, Hofstra University and Roosevelt Field areas. Usage will then expand throughout the county.

“Nassau Inter-County Express has selected New Flyer as our new battery-electric bus vendor,” NICE Chief Executive Officer Jack Khzouz said. “We plan on deploying these energy-efficient vehicles for the launch of our new bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which will provide Nassau County with zero emissions travel between Rosa Parks Hempstead Transit Center to the Nassau Hub/NCC locations. They will help NICE improve accessibility and connectivity within Nassau County.”

The charging equipment that will be purchased for the buses include ABB HVC Power cabinets and depot charge boxes. The primary charging station site will be the decommissioned water purification plant on the corner of Oak Street and Commercial Avenue in East Garden City. Legislation for the purchase of this new fleet as well as the construction of the charging stations passed through the full legislature. It had previously passed through Committees on March 7.

The buses are expected in the Fall of 2022. They will be the first electric public transport buses in use on Long Island. —Submitted by the Nassau County Legislature