Town & Village Receive Grants for Environmental Projects

by Judy Silberstein

(May 17, 2005) When the Long Island Sound Futures Fund Program announced awards to 28 local organizations and governments on May 12 at the SUNY Maritime College, Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont officials were there to pick up their shares of the $1 million in grant awards, which come from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Receiving A Piece of $1 Million: Front (l to r) Town Councilwoman Phyllis Wittner, Village Trustees Anne McAndrews & Marlene Kolbert; Back: Larchmont Mayor Ken Bialo (l) and Town Administrator Steve Altieri (r).

The Town of Mamaroneck will receive $20,000 (which they will match with $20,540) for a project to educate and encourage homeowners to plant native species, especially near bodies of water.

“Our grant talked about using different types of pervious materials to create a path at Gardens Lake – (aka the Duck Pond) and to plant native plants around the lake,” said Town of Mamaroneck Councilwoman Phyllis Wittner. “This will show residents what native species to plant in their own gardens and will also deter the Canada geese from reaching the water (we hope) – they don’t like to be cut off from the water,” she added.

Details of the Duck Pond project will be discussed at upcoming board meetings, so residents will be informed of details.

The Village of Larchmont will receive $25,000 from the Futures Fund towards the development of a conservation area at the back of Flint Park. (See: Designs Jell for Flint Park.) Mayor Ken Bialo announced the award at the board meeting on Monday, May 16 and said the latest grant would be added to earlier awards from NY State. Trustee Marlene Kolbert thanked the many local organizations who are partnering with the village government on the project (the grant announcement listed ten, including the youth sports leagues, and the Beautification Committee). All that local support probably played a part in Larchmont earning the grant, she suggested.