Hello Friends –
We need your help. Westchester County is in the process of approving their 2024 budget which will include their support of Edith Read Sanctuary. At the bottom of this email you will find the proposal the Friends of Read Board is submitting to the County.
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Attend a hearing. The Legislature’s budget hearings will be held as follows:
Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 6:00pm
Warner Library, 121 North Broadway, Tarrytown
Monday, November 20, 2023 at 7:00pm
Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, 480 North Bedford Road, Chappaqua
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 7:00pm. (remote participation available)
Board of Legislators Chambers, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains
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Email your legislator. To find your local legislator, follow this link:
https://westchesterlegislators.com/district-legislators
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Please email Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker (District 7) and let them know you support the Friends of Read Board’s proposal.
They can be reached at:
- George Latimer: glatimer@westchestergov.com
- Catherine Parker: parker@westchesterlegislators.com
THANK YOU!!! YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR WORK IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Gratefully,
The Friends of Read Wildlife Sanctuary
Board of Directors
Here is our proposal to the County:
Friends of Read Wildlife Sanctuary Presentation
To the Westchester County Board of Legislators
2024 WESTCHESTER COUNTY BUDGET
November 16, 2023
The Friends of Read Wildlife Sanctuary has grown to over 3000 members. The Friends supports the County park by providing funds for programs, equipment and supplies. The Friends raises funds through memberships, programs and donations. Our Board of Directors has collected ideas and concerns from members about opportunities for improvement that we would like share with the County Executive and the Legislature.
The Friends would like to continue our longstanding partnership with the County by providing funds to support the following initiatives:
1. Promote current hourly worker (Michael Zazzaro) to full time Assistant Curator.
This is our highest priority.
Over the last several years the hourly workers have come and gone, leaving the Center without help for months at a time. Two years ago, the summer camp program started (that’s good), the grounds and Nature Center Building lacked the care required to maintain a top-rated facility (that’s bad) and the building was not available for visitors and programs (that’s also bad). Because of vacations, illnesses, and emergencies in the Division, staff are pulled from Read to other facilities without regard to Read’s needs.
Having a full time Curator, Assistant Curator and seasonal hourly worker (assigned to Marshlands and Read) would improve conditions in both parks.
2. The Nature Center needs more space for programs, summer camp, and activities.
The County and the Friends should partner to add space to the Nature Center building. The Friends would partner by providing substantial funds and make efforts at fund raising.
The current building accommodates about 25 people. The building is too small for educational and cultural programs, summer camp, and the current and planned nature exhibits. During summer camp the building cannot be used for programs and visitors. The addition would provide enough space to accommodate more people, exhibits and programs throughout the year and in all weather conditions.
The County and Friends have a history of working together on projects (e.g. the storage building opposite the Nature Center building).
3. Add one seasonal hourly position for Marshlands and Read, See Number 1 above.
Michael Zazzaro has been pulled from Read to help at Marshlands because these positions are not filled.
4. Add solar panels to the Nature Center and storage buildings to save electricity and make a positive environmental statement.
5. Partner with Friends to restore the pond in front of the Nature Center building.
6. Partner with Friends to fund a grant writer. There are several grants that the County and Friends would be eligible for.
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The Friends Board is requesting membership support for the proposal by calling and writing to the County Legislature and by attending the Legislature’s budget hearings held as follows:
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Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 6:00pm Warner Library, 121 North Broadway, Tarrytown Monday, November 20, 2023 at 7:00pm Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, 480 North Bedford Road, Chappaqua Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 7:00pm. (remote participation available) Board of Legislators Chambers, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains