Expo, Rippowam Cisqua School Students Volunteers. l to r. Dominique Moise, Arianna Gelwicks, Clara Seaborn & Emma Boyd. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/Kymry GroupTM All Rights Reserved.
Green! What does that mean? Where do you go to learn about how to live and think green? Many of us already know that turning off a light when leaving a room, lowering the thermostat and recycling are actually green activities, right?
Expo, Con Edison Representatives. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
Well, I knew intellectually there was more to this green thing than just those few things, but what were they? I quickly found out, its not just one or two things, more like it’s hundreds of things you can do. It is looking at the bigger picture. You start by changing the way you think about your relationship with the world and then begin slowly incorporating green behaviors into your everyday life. Starting is the key. Small steps down the green path becomes the beginning which will help you understand that your impact on the environment touches everything, everywhere!
Expo, l. to r. Kathy Lett from TABLE, Tom Cohn w Daughter Ava Cohn, Killer Bee Honey. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
Expo, l to r. Clara Zander, Speaker/Panelist, Running Duck Farm’s, Mary Ellen Sheehan, Head Farmer, Hilltop Hanover Farm, Larry Cross, Co-Owner, Amawalk Farm. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/Kymry GroupTM All Rights Reserved.
Ok. Great! So where in the world can one go to hear about and see green activities, and to learn and ask questions about living green or at least how to start? An answer was closer than I knew.
Expo, l. Attendee r. David Emerson Director of Stewardship, Westchester Land Trust. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
Bedford 2020 is a nonprofit organization that was created in response to the buzz generated at the 2009 Bedford Environmental Summit and the commitment evidenced by the Town of Bedford’s subsequent, unanimous adoption of a Climate Action Plan. Its mission is to lead, organize and promote a community-wide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 and to create a sustainable community that conserves its natural resources.”
Over 700 people attended the Bedford 2020 Environmental Action Day, which took place at Fox Lane High School in Bedford New York, on Saturday, January 29th 2011.
Expo, L. Mathew Calvey, Associate AIA, LEED AP, ECO Architecture and Design Group. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York.©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
This full day event, co-sponsored by Bedford 2020 and the Bedford Central School District, sought to build on the awareness and excitement generated by the first Bedford Environmental Summit which was held in 2009. This year’s full day event included workshops and an Expo featuring local activities setup to meet specific environmental challenges.
There were fifteen different workshops to choose from within four time slots throughout the day. I wanted to stay and listen to them all but as the official photographer for the day my time was focused on the task at hand as I covered this incredible event.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Daniel Martin, Founder of Conversations for Action; he spoke with passion and commitment, and captivated the audience with a rousing speech “I am because we are!”
Daniel Martin, Keynote Speaker, Founder, Cross River Connexions., Conservations-for-Action. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
Natalle Thompson, a Fox Lane High School Senior, spoke from the heart about the impact of green awareness on her generation and the challenge to take responsibility to become more aware and involved in the bigger issues at hand.
Natalie Thompson, Senior, Fox Lane High School, Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM. All Rights Reserved.
Workshops consisted of fifteen different subjects including Home Energy Efficiency, Green Government, Future of Energy, Tending our Future, Fracking, Behind the Walls, and Losing Ground: Our Shrinking Forests to name a few.
Losing Ground, Our Shrinking Forest Workshop, Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
By the time lunch came upon us, many were famished. The theme of green continued with a beautiful homemade local vegetarian lunch that included: Potato & Onion Soup, Grain salads, Assorted Breads, Butter and Cheeses. Including deserts and drinks. All grown and made locally. No bottled water for this green group, including compostable service pieces! Thanks to TABLE local market who connects the community with the farmers that harvest the locally grown foods. The concept of farm to table reveals the inter-connectedness of farming.
l. to r. Lucia Maestro, General Manager,TABLE, FLHS student volunteer. Lunch provided by TABLE Local Market, Bedford Hills, NY, Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
Expo, l. to r. Michael Kaplan, NWH Executive Chef, Joel Seligman, President & CEO of Northern Westchester Hospital, Maria Hale V/P of Patient Advocacy Nothern Westchester Hospital. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
The energy generated by this spectacular event created momentum that continues! Over 200 participants signed up for the Energize Bedford program for home energy assessments and for potential green upgrades. This is a very practical application of green living that will have both a long-term impact and a potential for cost savings.
Energize Bedford Action Room, John Maddocks, helps participant sign up for Energize program. Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/KymryGroupTM All Rights Reserved.
News Update as of March 23, 2011: Bedford 2020, Energize Bedford Task Force has launched the Energize Community Challenge and so far 6 groups have signed up. “We are very excited about the response”, says Olivia Farr, Vice President and Treasure of Bedford 2020 coalition. B2020 is offering $10K in prizes for groups that wins the most points by either hosting workshops to inform their members about the Energize Bedford program, for members that sign up for home energy assessments, and for members that follow through with an upgrade.
l. to r. Participant, Mark Wyman, Sharon Griffith of NYSERDA. Energize Bedford Action Room, Bedford 2020, Environmental Action Day, Fox Lane School, Bedford, New York. ©Mardi Welch Dickinson/Kymry GroupTM All Rights Reserved.
This was a special event, you could go to in one location to learn, network, and take those beginning steps to being green!
It is hoped that other towns/states/regions will learn by example from this Town of Bedford New York pilot program. That way we can all continue to improve and take what works in one place and apply it locally elsewhere. This event clearly shows how a town came together and demonstrated that they cared to make a green difference in the world right now and for the future generations.
The program was funded through a $2.6 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded through the Department of Energy Better Buildings programs., which the Town of Bedford received as the lead Town in the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (NYWEAC).
After piloting in Bedford, the program will roll out to 13 additional municipalities in the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (NYWEAC), including: Croton-on-Hudson, Cortlandt, Lewisboro, Mt. Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Peekskill, Pound Ridge and Somers.
There are literally thousands of people in Bedford to thank for this event and I don’t want to miss anyone. So, I will do the next best thing and tip my hat to every one of you who helped make this green event an incredible success. Bravo Bedford!
Additional Article + Photos: Bedford 2020 Environmental Action Day 2011 https://kymry.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/bedford-2020-engerizebedford/
For further information about any of these Rights Managed Photographs on this blog Please Contact: Mardi Welch Dickinson Founding CEO Kymry Group Marketing & Photographic Soloutions mardi@kymrygroup.com http://twitter.com/KymryGroup 203-846-0359
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