Progress Report
To Our Community
This report is not about what we are doing at Bedford 2020 — it
is about what you are doing to address climate change, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve our natural resources.
• Hundreds of you attended the Bedford 2020 Environmental
Summit and Solar Action Day in January.
• Hundreds have completed energy efficiency upgrades on your
homes.
• Hundreds have inquired about solarizing your residential and
commercial buildings.
• Institutional purchases of locally sourced food increased from
$45,700 in 2013 to over $500,000 this year.
• Many of you pledged to protect our water by limiting chemical
use and pharmaceutical disposal on over 4,400 acres in Bedford.
It is truly astonishing how quickly our community has progressed
from talking about change to implementing it.
Thank you for making small adjustments in your lives that make
a big difference in our community’s future. Thank you for your
financial support. Thank you for your collaboration.
For all the significant accomplishments you will see in this report,
we applaud you.Sincerely,
Ellen Rouse Conrad, Co-President
Mary Beth Kass, Co-President
Olivia H. Farr, Sr. Vice President
OCTOBER 2015
Countdownto the end of 2020
Progresstoward reducinggreenhouse gasemissions by 20%(as of 2014)
MONTHSYEARS
79%5 3
DirectorsBOARD OF DIRECTORSEllen Rouse Conrad, Co-PresidentMary Beth Kass, Co-PresidentOlivia H. Farr, Sr. Vice PresidentCaroline Niemczyk, Vice President,
Special AdvisorLee Roberts, SecretaryKaren Sabath, TreasurerRobin AshleyKirtley CameronPeter KuniholmDiane Lewis, M.D.Stuart E. MarwellVickie MorrisRabbi Jason NevarezVeronique PittmanMark ThielkingJames Wood
ADVISORY BOARDJim DiamondDrew Patrick
FORMER DIRECTORSReese BermanRussell HernandezKathryn HoenigShirley LindefjeldLeslie NeedhamLisa SchwartzHeather V. Wolf
STAFFMidge Iorio, Executive DirectorEllen Calves, Program Assistant
bedford2020.org
B2020 Recognized for Environmental LeadershipOn September 26th, Bedford 2020 was honored to receive the Federated Conservationists of Westchester Award which recognizes an organization whose work “exemplifies a conscientious environmental ethic and the promotion of a greener future.”
Over 550 people gathered on January 29th to learn about New York State’s progressive, visionary program to promote clean, renewable energy as a cost saving way
to eliminate fossil fuels and the greenhouse gas emissions they create. Attendees included res-idents, businesses, civic organizations, community leaders legislators, media, and experts. The event also launched the Solarize Bed-ford-Mt. Kisco program.
“It really is about communities and you, [Bedford], are really the leader and so the rest of the state will be following you…Other states are looking to New York…to show the rest of the world how this can be done… That is the path to the solution to climate change.”
— Richard Kauffman, NY State Energy Czar leading the
NYS REV, Energy Revolution
“Bedford 2020’s effort in fulfilling its mission to create a sustainable community that con-serves natural resources is exemplary and has been an inspiration for individuals, organiza-tions and communities.”
— Sara Goddard, Board Member, Federated Conservationists of
Westchester County
B2020 Marks 5-Year Anniversary at Environmental Summit and Solar Action Day
Community PartnersThe Climate Action Plan was conceived to be a community-wide, collaborative effort. B2020 would like to recognize and thank Task Force Members and the many organizations, businesses and special friends who have worked to achieve our collective goals.
TASK FORCE VOLUNTEERS
Energy Task ForceMark Thielking, Chair Jason BlackLauren BriosWendy BreitnerMichael DeCandiaJim DiamondAlec GuettelNick GutfreundKathryn HoenigPatrick McManusDan Potash
Food & Agriculture Task ForceOlivia H. Farr, ChairRobin AshleyAnnie FarrellAlexandra ForresterMargaret GiffordAnne KronenbergMimi LinesVicki MarwellVickie Morris Kate SannKaren SimonsAnita StockbridgeHatsy VallarJim Wood
Transportation Task ForceMichael BlakeneyRobert Funicello Heather FlournoyRussell HernandezCaroline NiemczykNat RockettDennis RowanMark ThielkingMary TobinLuke Vander LindenHeather V. Wolf
Environmental Summit &
Solar ActionDay
Summit leaders, including Amory Lovins (front, 2nd from right) and Richard Kauffman (top, 1st on left).
“BCSD and Bedford 2020 are excited that the Greenlight Award competition will inspire students throughout the district to come up with ideas to improve comfort, health and cost of living in this beautiful place while helping the environment.”
— Drew Patrick, Assistant Superintendent,
Bedford Central School District
Bedford Students Compete for Greenlight AwardBedford 2020 has partnered with the Bedford Central School District to engage students in achieving our Climate Action Plan goals.
The Greenlight Award competition is underway at Fox Lane Middle and High Schools. In this pilot program, students, working with faculty and community leaders, are developing creative ideas and solutions for addressing climate change. Bedford 2020 will provide financial support to develop ideas and a scholarship grant for the contest winner.
Waste & Recycling Task ForcePeter Kuniholm, ChairLauren BroisEd CampbellDan ColleluoriNeil CutlerUrsula La MotteDiane Lewis, M.D.CJ MitchellFiona MitchellLeslie NeedhamVeronique PittmanAnita StockbridgeBetsy Weir
Water & Land Use Task ForceDiane Lewis, M.D., ChairElyse Arnow BrillRod ChristieLori EnsingerAmy GallenPat KeeseeNancy KronenbergHeather LanghamMimi LinesVirginia MaybankVickie MorrisMarian RoseKaren SabathGlenn Ticehurst
Business Task ForceStuart E. Marwell, ChairCynthia BrennanJim DiamondDan GinnelLeslie LampertGreg RileyMichael SchechterPhyllis TunnellDiana TylerJim Wood
Civic Task ForceLee Roberts, Chair
Religious Entities Task ForceRabbi Jason Nevarez, ChairRev. Dr. Paul AlcornRev. Lucia P. BallantineRev. Melissa BoyerRev. Terrence L. Elsberry
Schools Task ForceVeronique Pittman, ChairKirtley CameronAlexandra ForresterMelanie GambinoNick GutfreundJanet HarckhamDrew PatrickRyan Smith
“Buying local is now a permanent part of our ‘Food is Care’ program. As a community hospital, it is exciting to have veggies being freshly served to our patients and staff, grown nearby from surrounding communities.”
— Maria Hale, VP of Patient Advocacy and Patient
Centered Care at Northern Westchester Hospital
Our goal is to build an economically viable, high-quality, locally sourced food system for institutional buyers through the Northern Westchester Local Food Project. Progress is measured by calculating the dollar amount of food purchased through the project, increasing from $45,700 in 2013 to $497,034 in September 2014. Currently 14 hospitals, schools, daycare centers, senior and rehabil-itative facilities are enrolled, and Northern Westchester Hospital reports that it now purchases 90% of its produce from the local food aggregator, who fulfills orders with local food whenever possible.
Bedford 2020’s VegOut website (bedford2020.org/
veg-out) is a virtual hub for buying, growing, and eating local food in and around the Bedford community.
Food and Agriculture
TASK FORCE REPORTS
LOCALFOODPROJECT
ORGANIZATIONSBedford AudubonBedford Central School DistrictBedford Farmer’s ClubBedford Free LibraryBedford Garden ClubBedford Hills Chamber of
CommerceBedford Hills Free LibraryBedford Hills Historical
MuseumBedford Hills Neighborhood
AssociationBedford Historical SocietyBedford Energy Advisory PanelBedford Village Business Assn.Boys and Girls Club of
Northern WestchesterBranch OutCaramoorCommunity Center of Northern
Westchester Community Watershed Clean
Water CoalitionElectric Automobile Assn.,
Southern NY ChapterEnergize NYFederated Conservationists of
WestchesterGreen Schools Alliance John Jay HomesteadHopp Ground Garden ClubKatonah Chamber of
CommerceKatonah Lewisboro School
DistrictKatonah Museum of ArtKatonah Village LibraryKatonah Village Improvement
SocietyLeave Leaves AloneMarsh SanctuaryMianus River GorgeMount Kisco Childcare CenterNorthern Westchester HospitalPound Ridge Land
ConservancyRippowam-Cisqua SchoolRiverkeeper Rusticus Garden ClubSolarize WestchesterSt. Matthew’s ChurchStone Barnes Center for Food
and AgricultureSustainable WestchesterTeatown Lake ReservationTemple Shaaray TefilaThe Harvey SchoolThe Nature Conservancy,
Eastern NY ChapterVote SolarWestchester Green Business
ChallengeWestchester Land TrustWestmoreland Sanctuary
“We decided to install solar because it makes a tremendous amount of sense. In addition to having a positive impact on our footprint, we’ll be saving money right away, and we’ll be saving progressively more and more every year.”
—Kim Lapple, Mount Kisco resident
Energy EfficiencyIn 2010, Bedford 2020 launched Energize Bedford, a home energy efficiency program to work with
homeowners to complete energy efficiency upgrades that on average, save 30% of total energy usage that is wasted by leaking out of homes that are not energy efficient. 785 homes in Northern Westchester have been “Energized”! The Energized homes in Bedford alone are saving an estimated $334,400 in annual energy costs and have reduced carbon emissions equivalent to taking 74 cars permanently off the road.
EnergyRenewable EnergyRenewable Energy is the most significant way to reduce GHG emissions. To that end Bedford 2020, in partnership with Sustain- able Westchester, is working to pilot New York State’s first Community Choice Aggregation program. This pioneering energy-buying program will enable participating Westchester communities to buy electricity and gas in bulk, thereby increasing the amount of renew-ables in the mix (up to 100% for those who “opt-up”) and to lower costs. If successful, this could make a significant difference in the shift away from fossil fuels in our area, and it could be replicated throughout New York State.
Additionally, in January, Bedford 2020 hosted the Envi-ronmental Summit and Solar Action Day and launched the Solarize Bedford-Mt. Kisco program. The 18-week effort generated awareness of and interest in clean solar energy, with over 300 inquiries among residential and commercial building owners. The campaign drove a 43% increase in residential installations, and laid a strong foundation for further adoption of solar and renewable energy in our community.
The Ziegler Family in front of their Energized home.
“Single-stream recycling is simple and easy. The more waste that is recycled, the less trash and the less cost to the homeowner from waste disposal. Single-stream recycling is good for us, it is good for Bedford, and helps us get to our goal of reducing our carbon footprint 20% by 2020.”
— Chris Burdick, Town of Bedford Supervisor
Waste and RecyclingMuch activity is underway to reduce waste by increasing recycling and composting.
On May 13, Bedford 2020 partnered with Rippowam Cisqua School to host the Be-yond Waste Forum to share ideas, solutions and actions for reducing waste in Bedford and beyond. Over 100 residents, representatives from five different Bedford/Westchester schools, and leaders from various religious entities, businesses and organizations participated.
Bedford 2020 continues to work closely with the Town of Bedford to increase compliance with the single-stream recycling law. Efforts to make it easier to recycle have yielded an increase in recycling from 16% to 30%. Our goal is 40% by 2020. Plans are in development for future reductions in waste and increases in recycling, including a public recycling bin pilot and further educational outreach and events for residents and businesses. Additionally, Bedford 2020 will continue to provide information on simple backyard composting as one of the best ways to reduce our waste.
Bedford 2020 strongly supports the efforts of Bedford’s Conservation Board, The Town of Bedford and Westches-ter County government to ban single use plastic bags.
The Great Healthy Yard Project is an easy way to protect our drinking water. Synthetic pesticides are harmful to our health. They leach into groundwater and drinking water sources. By simply taking the Healthy Yard Pledge to eliminate use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers on our yards and not dispose of pharmaceuticals down the drain, Bedford residents have protected over 4,400 acres in our town. These homes and yards help keep our water clean. They are also healthy yards for our birds and pollinators!
“Taking the Healthy Yard Pledge was a no-brainer. It is important to me that people and pets are not exposed to harmful pesticides and fertilizers and that our water supply is not taking on any more chemicals.”
— Charity Brotman, Katonah resident
BUSINESSESArroway Chevrolet CadillacBedford MagazineBedford PostBedford Village FloristCafé of Love and Ladle of LoveCaptain Lawrence Brewing Co.City Carting and RecyclingCounty Waste ManagementCurtis InstrumentsDiamond PropertiesGinnel Real EstateGrand Prix New YorkHealthy Home Energy and
ConsultingHickory and TweedKelloggs and LawrenceKatonah Wine and Liquor La Maison FeteLloyd Bedford CoxLong Run MediaMill River SupplyMt. Kisco Chbr. of CommerceMount Kisco SeafoodMount Kisco Wine and SpiritsNorthern Westchester HospitalReally Social StrategiesRecord ReviewRobison Oil/Bright HomeRoss Solar Group Sav-A-TreeSunrise Solar Solutions Table Local MarketTesla MotorsThe Paint BoxThomas Fox Catering Trustco BankT-Square PropertiesVine and Co.Winter Brothers CartingWizard Studios
SPECIAL FRIENDSTown Supervisor, Chris BurdickJill BrookeBrett CameronAlison ChernowMayor Michael Cindrich and the
Village of Mount KiscoDan CohenBoo FumagalliPeter GrunthalJere HochmanHeather IannucciJoe LoveringWilliam Louis-DreyfusRJ MarksMichael MilliusDeanna MoranoGeoffrey MorrisJohn MorrisLisa PapernikChristopher RobertsMatthew SaravayBrian SiscoDeborah WhiteJosephine ZieglerTown of Bedford Board,
Department Heads and Staff
Water and Land Use
Join the Recovery Revolution in
Bedford a
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eyon
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Pledged chemical- and pesticide-free Bedford yard and veggie garden.
Total Pledgedto date
ACRES44 0 0
B2020’s mission could not be fully realized without the many generous financial contributions from friends and community members. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the following individuals who made donations to B2020 over the past year. These gifts allow us to continue to improve the environment and preserve natural resources in Bedford and beyond.
Dale and Noriko Akinla Linda Alziari Alan and Judith Appelbaum Peter and Kathi Arnow James Attwood and Leslie
Williams Anthony and Grace BardinelliTimothy and Kathryn
Barefield Richard and Joan BarickmanRalph and Jean Baruch Jon and Nancy Bauer and The
Bauer Family FoundationJohn and Marilyn Beck Steve and Pat BeckwithSkip and Michaela Beitzel Daniel Benton Stan and Reese Berman ▲Steven and Sheryl Bernhard Ralph and Yasmeen BernsteinGeorge Bianco Wing and Cathy BiddlePaul Bird and Amy Parsons Jason and Meredith Black ▲Robert Blacker Jeffrey and Sherry BlackingerTom and Nancy Blaney Allison BlinkenDavid and Mary Boies Philip and Suzanne BowersRobert and Katie Boyd Bill BradsellDrs. Erich and Cynthia BraunAndrew and Kathleen BrennerStephen and Charity
Brotmann Charles BrownAlli Brydon David BuchwaldChris and Illyria Burdick Coley and Susan BurkeKirtley and Seth Cameron ▲
George CaratzasMark Carson and Molly
Friedrich Leslie Cecil and Creighton
Michael Vincent CelenzaCarol Christian Florence ClarkDonald and Margaret CoeEdward and Joan CohenWilliam and Patricia ColavitoWhit and Ellen Conrad ▲Joyce CorriganDeirdre Courtney-Batson Lloyd and Tori CoxWalter and Tatsie Curley Pierre and Christian DavironPaula Desperito and The
Desperito FoundationJim and Ashley Diamond ▲James and Fran Dowling Douglas and Suzanne DurstJonathan and Michaelene
Durst Selby EhrlichPhilip Eifert Ted EmersonLinda Rodgers Emory Lori Ensigner and Bill
Kuebler ▲John and Olivia Farr ▲David Fenton and Sylvie Erb Kirk and Robert FergusonSteve and Sue Fields Robert and Polly FinnDavid and Sally Firestein
Nick and Edmee FirthBill and Wendy Foulke Molly Friedrich and Mark
CarsonJeanette Galvin Donna GarrDavid and Nancy Gernert James and Deirdre GlascottVirginia Gold Jerry and Dorothy GoldsteinRandy and Evelyn Goodhue Cecily GrandGoogle Matching Gift FundPenelope Graves Evan and Sascha GreenbergBill and Susan GreeneIra and Amy Greenstein Daniel GriffinRobert and Ellen Grimes Peter and Eve GuernseyNick Gutfreund and Mary
Duncan ▲Eric HadarJoseph and Susan Handelman Janet Harckham ▲Anthony HassBambi Hatch
George and Marina HatchWhitney and Tizzy Hatch Carla HawrylukSusan Heller Andrea HerronMelissa Hoglund John and Kate HornDavid Howell and Susan
AlportAndre and Kelly HunterChris Stern Hyman Mark and Gail ImowitzMidge IorioRaymond Infarinato and Lisa
Cribari Tom and Barbara IsraelRobert and Patricia Ivry Bill Jackson and Linn SageBarbara Johnson Charles and Carolee JonesWard and Jackie Jones James Kane and Jeannie LaneBilly and Joan Kantor Joel and Laura KaplanEvan and Mary Beth Kass ▲Herbert and Nancy KaufmannPatricia Keesee ▲
Donors, September 2014 – August 2015
WHY I SUPPORT BEDFORD 2020
“We love that we live in a community that is committed to making fundamental environmental changes and to making ours a better, cleaner place to live. And it’s all happening because of Bedford 2020.”
— Wendy Breitner and Ken Kirshenbaum
Tabling at the pool this summer, B2020 taught residents about saving energy and had some fun getting people to pose as the Energize Energy Man.
THANK YOU!
Henry KensingAshley Kidd and Julie and
Wilmot Kidd and The Endeavor Foundation
Kenneth Kirshenbaum and Wendy Breitner ▲
Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg and The Kohlberg Foundation
Alison Koppelman Stanley and Barbara KravitzEric and Anne Kronenberg ▲Lewis and Laura KrugerPeter and Jane Kuniholm ▲Carol KurthRoy and Lydia Landesberg Ted and Karen LernerBenjamin & Hope Levene, Jr Drs. Blair and Diane Lewis ▲Shirley Lindefjeld ▲Susan Lodge William Louis-Dreyfus Joe and Lisa LoveringTatiana Lowe and The Tatiana
Lowe FoundationHarry and Rosemary
MacLaughlinBeatrice Maguire Stuart and Vicki Marwell ▲Cynthia and Paul MasJoseph and Virginia
Maybank ▲ Douglas Maynard and Kathryn
Hoenig ▲
Bill Mayo-Smith MBIA Foundation Ann McDuffieMichael and Courtney
McGinnis
Patrick and Maureen McManus ▲
Mianus River Gorge, Inc. Michael Minard and Phyllis
RossJiri and Hilda Minarik Hans Morefield and Helene
KopalMary Morgan and David
Callard Jefferson MorrisGeorge and Linda Moskowitz Rabbi Jason and Nicole
Nevarez ▲Caroline Niemczyk ▲Bruce Niles and Bruce K.
Niles, Inc.Tricia O’Donnell John OramAlison Overseth Foxhall and Helen ParkerSteven and Carol Parker Richard and Muriel PearlFred and Marjorie Piker Robert and Veronique
Pittman ▲Leslie and Yvonne Pollack Oscar and Nan PollockRicardo Pou and Vivian Song Christopher and Didi
Raxworthy David and Katie RedalieuDonna ReimerJohn and Diana Rice Frank and Kimba RichardsonAndrew Richter Andrew and Lexann RichterKen and Lee Roberts ▲Christopher and Mary Ann
Robinson
Nat and Courtney Rockett ▲Philip and Dorinn Rodman Jeff and Janice RodnerDaphne Root George and Joanne
RosamondMarian Rose ▲Mark and Rochelle RosenbergPaul and Nancy Ross Stuart and Wendy RossJohn Rudge and Sara Weale Bruce and Karen Sabath ▲Richard and Maureen Sabo Joel Sachs and Keane and
Beane Elizabeth SachsPaul and Elizabeth SanderRoger Savitt Wallace and Elizabeth
SchwartzJohn and Susan Scofield Richard and Doris SeidlitzMona Shapiro and
Christopher Parke Ted and Mary Jo ShenKarin Shiel Heide ShilstoneJoseph Simonetti and Carol
Goldman Louis SorellNick Sourbis and Karen LuciaSteven and Judith SpitzNicholas and Martha Spofford Jonathan and Debbie StanleyMark Stanley Stanley and Elizabeth StarrThe Stepping Stones
FoundationBeth SternJohn and Anita Stockbridge ▲
Suzanne Sunday David SwopeElizabeth Taggart Jeff Tannenbaum and Nisa
GellerMichael and Sandra
Tannenbaum Mark and Moira Thielking ▲Cheryl ThomsenJames A. Tilley Rod and Marilen TiltWilliam and Dookie Tingue Peter and Ginny TobeasonBarbara Trotta Truck RestaurantBart and Diana Tyler Norman and Melissa VailHatsy Vallar ▲Jean and Carol VallesRoger and Nancy Vincent Leo and Barbara VircilloGerard and Stacey Virga Lee Manning VogelsteinJohn and Phyllis WardenWilliam and Teresa Waterman Neil WattlesJonas and Sharon Weiner Fred and Trina WhitridgeNorman and Vera Winskill Joanne Witty and Gene KeilinJim and Twink Wood ▲William and Catherine ZieglerPaul Zofnass and Renee Ring
Thank you to the hundreds of members of our community who have contributed to our progress by participating in Bedford 2020 programs and events.
For more information, please contact B2020 Executive Director Midge Iorio at [email protected]. Go to bedford2020.org to obtain the complete details of the Climate Action Plan Progress Report published in June 2014.
▲ = Board Member▲ = Former Board Member▲ = Task Force Member
WHY I SUPPORT BEDFORD 2020
“Bedford 2020 is a great resource! We have learned about buying and growing local food, energy efficiency, alternative energy options, better recycling practices, and how to be better environmental citizens from this wonderful organization.”
— Karen Lucia and Nick Sourbis
WHY I SUPPORT BEDFORD 2020
“Bedford 2020 has been a powerful leader and a persistent driving force for carbon reduction and environmental sustainability in Bedford and beyond. With other communities following Bedford’s example B2020 is making a real difference in the fight against climate change.”
— Skip and Michaela Beitzel
P.O. Box 812Bedford Hills, NY 10507
bedford2020.org OCTOBER 2015
Actions You Can TakeParticipate in Single Stream Recycling bedford2020.org/single-stream-recycling/
Compost food and yard waste bedford2020.org/get-the-dirt-on-composting/
Energize your home! bedford.energizeny.org
Look into solar for your home or business Take the Healthy Yard Pledge (at right) →
Consider an electric vehicle for your next car purchase
Use public transportation Eat local and sign up for VegOut! Newsletter bedford2020.org/vegout
The Great Healthy Yard PledgeI, , pledge to help protect the quality of our local drinking water by managing my lawn and garden without synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, except on rare occasions to improve habitat or resolve an infestation. I also promise to dispose of pharmaceuticals responsibly.
Address
Acreage pledged
Include my name on your pledge list.
Fill out and sign this pledge, then take a picture of it and email it to us at [email protected]
Look how far we’ve come!