Need a toddler bed in mint condition?  How about a 100-year-old upright piano?  Or gym equipment complete with standing punching bag and treadmill? All these items are available for free, just arrange your own pick up.  But you’d better hurry because they won’t last.

These and many other used items are available on Westchester County’s Treasure Hunt website at www.westchestergov.com/treasures.  The site is a matching service designed to put Westchester’s usable items back to good use.  This is a free service for both the person donating the item and the person receiving it. No fees can be charged by either party and transport is the responsibility of the person receiving the item.

A press release issued by the State Democratic Majority, announced the NY State Senate passing of a moratorium on hydro-fracking, effective through May 15, 2011. The moratorium on gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale was passed, according to the release, “to prevent the potentially hazardous contamination of the state’s water supply. Through the moratorium, gas and oil companies would be restricted from hastily endangering the health and economic well-being of more than 12 million local residents who draw their water from the affected area by engaging a process known as hydraulic fracturing or hydro-fracking.”

This moratorium (S8129B/Thompson) is effective through May 15, 2011, providing the state much-needed opportunity to fully review the potential side effects of this kind of drilling. Hydro-fracking is the process of breaking apart the rock under the earth, in which some natural resources are trapped, by forcing millions of gallons of waters mixed with chemicals into the ground. These chemicals then work their way into the regular water supply. 

It is the opinion of the writers of this Bill that the side effects of this process are extraordinarily costly and personally devastating, as families across Pennsylvania and other states have learned after rushing into drilling. On top of the economic and health concerns, there are considerable safety hazards within the untested drilling process; earlier this month a well in Pennsylvania exploded taking two lives. In May, an explosion at another well took another life. 

Senator Antoine Thompson (D-parts of Erie and Niagara Counties), chair of the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee said, “In a recent round of hearings, the DEC received more than 14,000 comments on this issue. More time is needed to digest those comments and make an informed judgment if adequate safeguards can be put in place to allow hydro-fracking while still protecting our valuable and irreplaceable fresh water.  The decisions we make on this issue will determine the economic and environmental vitality of communities across the state for decades to come. In light of the Gulf of Mexico drilling disaster, my colleagues and I believe that a 10 month delay to get it right is prudent and necessary.”

Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson said, “Keeping New Yorkers safe means preserving the sanctity of their access to clean, drinkable water. We do not need to look any further than the devastation in the Gulf of Mexico to realize that there is no financial benefit worth risking the safety of New York’s water supply. Much of the Southern Tier, Central New York, the Hudson Valley, and New York City all draw their water from the area proposed to be explored from the Marcellus Shale. That is why we must fully understand the impact of drilling, and potential consequences, before breaking ground. I applaud Senator Thompson and the many advocates and residents who fought tirelessly for this legislation.” 

Mark Ruffalo,  a Hudson Valley homeowner, actor and advocate on this issue said,  “As a resident of Sullivan county I am relieved the state senate stepped up to the plate to institute sound, common sense policy on the issue of hydro-fracking. Protecting my family and neighbors and friends is why I have dedicated my time to raising awareness on this issue of critical importance." 

Susan Zimet, Co-Director Frack Action and Ulster County Legislator said,  "Albany has proven that when the will is there to do the right thing, they can come through with flying colors. Thank you Senator Sampson and the Democratic majority for bringing this critical legislation to the floor for a vote. And a special thank you to those Republican Senators whose vote put this over the top."


Julia Walsh, Co-Director Frack Action said, "I look forward to a swift passage of this bill through the Assembly and the Governor’s signature. By enacting this moratorium New York State once again proves to be a leader on issues affecting the public’s health, welfare and environment"

For more information visit http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/api/1.0/html/bill/S8129B.

Marcellus Shale is a black, low density, organic rich shale that was formed by the sedimentation of marine, mud and clay deposits from ancient river deltas across the Appalachian Basin approximately 350 to 415 million years ago.  It exists up to 9,000 feet below ground mainly beneath New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

In order to allow the gas to escape through the pore space, drillers create artificial fractures in the shale, predominately using a method called hydro fracturing by injecting a mixture of water, sand and gel at extremely high pressure to crack and prop open the shale.

The Business Council of Westchester is partnering with Con Edison and Westchester County in launching Phase II of the Westchester Green Business Challenge (WGBC), a proactive educational program aimed at sensitizing the county’s businesses to improving the environment, spurring economic development and improving the quality of life for county residents.

To initiate Phase II, Con Edison is awarding a $20,000 grant to the Westchester Chamber Educational Foundation, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Business Council of Westchester, the entity that will administer the program.  The Westchester Chamber Foundation Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) corporation and will work with Westchester County, Synergis of South Salem and Green Team Spirit of Croton-on-Hudson in implementing the Phase II initiative.

The purpose of the grant is to educate and encourage Westchester County businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while improving operational efficiency and saving money.  

“Con Edison’s grant is a seed that will bloom into healthier businesses throughout the county. We salute the Business Council of Westchester’s vision recognizing environmentalism will grow efficiency, benefiting business owners and their customers,” said Tim Cawley, Con Edison Vice President of Bronx/Westchester Electric Operations.

Phase II will expand the program beyond the current 50+ companies registered for the WGBC primarily through a series of educational seminars and networking events to facilitate progress and exchange best practices; on-going support to help businesses progress through the program;  website and scorecard upgrades and monitoring  (new links to helpful resources and improved strategies) based on feedback from participants; and an annual recognition event to celebrate participation and achievements.

“Westchester County is providing in-kind services and support to this effort to help our businesses become green,” remarked Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino. “This is good for the county and good for business. It promotes economic development and helps our environment.”

The WGBC  was developed and launched last year as a public-private partnership with Westchester County and modeled after the Chicago Green Office Challenge, a successful program developed by the ICLEI USA – Local Governments for Sustainability and the City of Chicago.

Phase I included the launching of a website, www.westchestergov.com/greenchallenge, complete with green business case studies, funding sources for green initiatives, green events listing and a green business directory.  It also featured the WCGB Scorecard, a fully interactive tool that establishes baseline performance and links companies to targeted resources to help improve performance.

“We are pleased to be working with Con Edison and Westchester County on educating businesses about the benefits reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions will have on improving the quality of life and their bottom line,” noted Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester. “We are uniquely positioned to lead this important effort because our membership covers the broad range of businesses in every sector of the county’s diverse economy.”