Section: Village News
Village Manager Issues Mandatory Water Restrictions for Croton
July 8, 2010Pursuant to Section 223-11-B of the Village Code I, the Croton-on-Hudson Village Manager, as designee of the Superintendent of Public Works, has declared a temporary water emergency based on extraordinarily high water usage levels.
The following mandatory restrictions are effective July 8, 2010 until further notice:
- No washing of automobiles in any form, with the exception that windshields and glasses necessary for the proper operation of the vehicle may be washed or cleansed only.
- Lawn sprinkling and sprinkling of shrubs, flower gardens and vegetable gardens with hose or sprinkler will be only allowed on an odd-even schedule. All residents with even number addresses will be allowed to water on days with even number dates - all residents with odd number addresses will be allowed to water dates with odd number dates.
- No filling of pools of all sizes and the operation of pools of all sizes not using recirculating water.
Parties suffering extraordinary hardship on account of these restrictions may to apply to the Village Manager for relief therefrom.
Anyone who violates the above restrictions will be subject to a summons as prescribed under Section 223-14 of the Village Code.
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Croton Farmers Market to Reopen on June 2nd
May 29, 2010On Wednesday, June 2nd the Croton Farmers Market will re-open at the former skate park on Municipal Place and Riverside Avenue (map). This season, in addition to fresh seasonal and certified organic produce, local wines, cheeses, organic breads and grass-fed meat, the market, which runs from 1:30pm to 6:30pm every Wednesday, will feature three new vendors!
Newgate Farms a 5th generation family farm in East Granby CT, will offer fresh fruits, vegetables and baked goods; Yona’s Delights, a small family bakery from Brooklyn, will sell artisanal mini- quiches and borekas (puff pastry snack foods originally from the Mediterranean region) and Baked By Susan, a home-based baking business run by Croton resident Susan O’Keefe will feature delicious cookies, brownies, biscotti and crumb cake.
Community Markets will also host cooking demos, live music from local musicians, a corn roast and produce tastings at the market throughout the season. Details will be posted at www.communitymarkets.biz.
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Village Greening of Newsletter to Save Residents $12k
May 24, 2010The Village of Croton-on-Hudson, continuing its ongoing efforts to be green and save taxpayer dollars, is pleased to announce that the residents of Croton-on-Hudson are now able to electronically subscribe to the village newsletter and receive it at an e-mail address beginning with the June issue.
Elimination of the printing and postage of this monthly newsletter will save the village over $12,000 annually. A limited number of printed copies will be available at Village Hall and the Croton Free Library.
In order to subscribe, go to the Village’s home page at www.crotononhudson-ny.gov, click on “Subscribe to News” on the upper right side, select “newsletters” from the menu choices, enter your e-mail address, and submit your request. By completing this process, you will automatically receive the newsletter electronically.
Alternatively, the newsletter can be viewed on the village website at www.crotononhudson-ny.gov in the “Quick Links” section in the center of the homepage.
for more information, please contact Janine King, Assistant Village Manager, by email at jking@crotononhudson-ny.gov or by phone at 914-271-4781.
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Blue Pig Ice Cream Shop Reopens with New Twist on Old Favorites
May 21, 2010A favorite Croton gathering spot, The Blue Pig Ice Cream Shop, reopened this May under the ownership of longtime Croton resident, Lisa Moir. The shop is offering all-new recipes and more wholesome variations on some old favorites.
“My vision for the Pig was clear - to serve our customers ice cream packed with simple, fresh ingredients acquired from local farmers - ice cream their grandmothers would make,” said Blue Pig owner, Lisa Moir. “Our recipes have no high-fructose corn syrup or other artificial colors and flavorings. We also cut out one third of the sugar so you can taste the flavors more purely.”
Since Moir is sourcing her ingredients locally, ice cream flavors will change with the seasons and availability of local fruits and other ingredients. She plans to offer strawberry in June, peach in August, and pumpkin in the fall. She’s also looking forward to adding honey vanilla to the menu this fall using honey from local beekeepers. Toppings, such as hot fudge and caramel, are also all homemade.
“The Slow Food movement is rooted in the philosophy that the food we eat should be good, clean and fair,” said Christopher Roberts, co-leader, Slow Food Westchester. “By embracing this movement and sourcing local, natural ingredients, Lisa’s not only delivering a superior product to her customers, she’s helping to support our local farmers and build a more resilient food system for future generations.”
A creative spirit, Moir said her flavors also change with her mood, “This week I made malted vanilla with homemade brownies. It’s really good ice cream - ice cream I feel good about sharing with my community.”
All are invited to join in a grand reopening celebration scheduled for Thursday, May 27, at 6:00 p.m. There will be tastings, prizes and free toppings for all.
To connect with The Blue Pig Ice Cream Shop on facebook, click here.
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DEC Denies Water Quality Certificate for Indian Point
May 16, 2010The Department of Environmental Conservation has taken a major and historic step toward ending the rape of the Hudson River by Indian Point. For the last 30 years Units 2 and 3 have decimated the ecosystem as they used enormous amounts of Hudson River water as a free resource to cool the reactors, and as a dump for waste heat and radioactive materials.
A review of the documentation submitted by Entergy and the analysis prepared by the state reveals that the multinational corporation deliberately employed obsolete data, misleading algorithms, false assertions, unsupported conclusions and tortured logic to justify a system that kills more than 2 billion fish per year. The state has invited Entergy to resubmit their application if they would use appropriate data and accurate models to make their case. This time Entergy will have 30 days instead of the 30 years it has taken to get to this point.
The 23 page document that was sent to Entergy Corporation by the DEC on April 2 is scrupulous in its scientific methodology, painstaking in the legal precedents it cites and firm in its determination to uphold the Clean Water Act that protects us all. A careful reading of the document makes clear that the material Entergy submitted in an effort to avoid the expense of closed cycle cooling was both dated and deceptive. For example, raw thermal data was collected in the river from September through November 2009.
This was in contravention of the Department’s request for data during the critical summer months. This means that the model submitted by the company to predict thermal discharge characteristics from Indian Point Energy Center was taken well past the typical high temperature season of July and August and did not meet minimal thermal standards and criteria.
Entergy maintained in its submissions that the Water Quality Certificate should be issued because it was in compliance with a long extended 1987 SPDES (State Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit. Entergy submitted an engineering study on February 12, 2010 that concluded that a closed cycle cooling system was feasible but not reasonable and as an alternative provided their evaluation of an intake system called a “wedge wire screen” that could potentially reduce but not minimize fish kill at the facility.
The company proposed that this alternative be considered Best Technology Available as called for in the Clean Water Act. Entergy also indicated that since the Water Quality Permit was reissued in 1982 the department should simply do so again.
The Department concluded that continued operation of Units 2 and 3 under the 1987 SPDES permit does not comply with existing legal requirements. In 2003 the DEC issued a draft SPDES permit that required Entergy to evaluate conversion to closed cycle cooling as the Best Technology Available as is required by law. The report notes that more than 30 years ago the NRC evaluated and selected closed cycle cooling as the only appropriate technology for reducing adverse environmental impact from Indian Point. The DEC pointed out to Entergy in a 2009 letter that the agency is not required to process Entergy’s request in the same way it did in 1982, especially since that Certificate did not deal with how the plant complied with State water quality standards of the time. While Entergy maintains that radiological assessments of ongoing leaks to the Hudson River have not indicated any environmental or health risks, the Department views radiological materials as “deleterious substances” that could impair the water for its best usage.
The Department carefully reviewed Entergy’s proposal to use wedge wire screens to reduce impact on the fish population. The conclusion was that this proposed alternative to closed cycle cooling is not Best Technology Available because it is experimental in nature and has never been used on a body of water similar to the Hudson River. Further, DEC determined that it would reduce, not minimize fish kill. This point is especially important because the native Long Nose and Atlantic sturgeon which both use the estuary as a breeding ground are endangered. Sampling from 1975 to 1990 indicated that numbers of both fish were impinged in the intake pipe for Units 2 and 3. This “taking” of endangered species is prohibited by law. The wedge wire approach also does not address the issue of thermal pollution. Accordingly, based on information submitted by Entergy, the Department concluded that while conversion to a closed cycle cooling system was expensive and might require a lengthy construction period, this type of system is available, feasible and the Best Technology Available. Therefore it is required in order to meet state water quality standards.
Based on its thorough review, the Department has concluded that Entergy has not demonstrated compliance with the Clean Water Act and denial of their request for a Water Quality Permit is warranted.
It is important to note that approximately one third of the nuclear power plants in the United States already have closed cycle cooling, including Vermont Yankee, which is owned by Entergy. Most use a radiator type of cooling that is much less expensive than the “cooling tower” approach Entergy puts forward as causing an undue financial burden.
Secondly, Indian Point supplies roughly 15% of the electricity to the grid that serves NYC and Westchester, not the 30% frequently cited. While it is true that Con Ed gets 30% of its electricity from nuclear power plants, not all of it comes from Indian Point. The state has a total of six nuclear plants. There are an additional three in New Jersey that also supply Con Ed and their input is included in the 30% figure. What is at stake here for the industry is more than just the Indian Point Entergy Center. It is a clear statement that power plants across the state will have to stop freeloading at the public’s expense, will have to conform to Clean Water Act standards and will have to include proper disposal of thermal waste as a legitimate business expense. Should the expense of doing business prove too onerous for some nuclear plant operators, undoubtedly the free market will work and other more efficient energy providers will step forward and provide us with an abundance of energy generated in a cleaner and more modern fashion at a profit.
Entergy is selling fear of change as an excuse to evade the law and maximize profits, all at the expense of evading the law and harming the environment.
Press release provided by the Indian Point safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC)
For more information, contact:
IPSEC
PO Box 131
Ossining, NY 10562-0131
1-888-I-SHUT-IT (1-888-474-8848)
http://www.closeindianpoint.org
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Hudson Valley Greenway Designates Two Croton Trails
May 5, 2010The Hudson River Valley Greenway, is pleased to announce the designation of the Croton Riverwalk and the Croton Gorge Trail, both in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County, as part of the Greenway Trails system.
The trails were designated at the Hudson River Valley Greenway Board Meeting on March 26, 2010. The Riverwalk trail segment is 3 miles, and the Croton Gorge Trail is 0.5 mile, adding an additional 3.5 miles of trail to the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail System. The newest portion of the Riverwalk Trail links to an already designated 2 mile portion, creating a longer trail right along the riverfront in Croton-on-Hudson, and extending the Greenway’s vision of a continuous riverside trail. The Greenway Trail includes over 314 miles of designated riverfront trails and Connectors/Countryside Corridors through the Hudson Valley.
“The Greenway is so pleased to add these trail segments to our trail system,” Castiglione stated. “Communities like Croton-on-Hudson are helping us to achieve the vision of a continuous riverside trail that will be a regional resource for residents and visitors alike. Community trails are important for many reasons; they help to drive the economy, increase the quality of life, and connect natural and cultural resources throughout the Valley.”
Leo A. W. Wiegman, Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson, said, “Croton has become a great destination for day hikers due to our excellent trail system, two publicly accessible rivers, and the super train service to and from the city. We are very grateful for the long term efforts of our volunteers, especially Jan Wines, who chairs our Trails Committee. We’re thrilled that the Greenway has honored us by designating our trail segments as important connections to the Valley’s trail system.”
Jan Wines, Chair of the Croton Trails Committee, said, “The Croton Trails Committee is delighted that key sections of the village’s trail system have been designated as part of the Hudson Valley Greenway System. The designation of almost four miles of scenic trails along the Hudson and Croton Rivers fulfills an important goal called for in our Trail Master Plan developed almost eighteen years ago. These designated sections of trails not only are beautiful in their own right, but they also provide connections to a wooded trail system that traverses the Village of Croton-on-Hudson. We wish to thank the Greenway Conservancy for its designation, and look forward to working closely with them in the future so we may continue to enhance the trail system for the benefit of all.”
Designation by the Greenway is a formal recognition of the regional significance of the trail as a destination for experiencing the natural, scenic, cultural and historic resources of the Hudson River Valley. The Greenway places a priority in its Conservancy grant program for the development and enhancement of designated trails. Designation recognizes that the trail is an important link in the Greenway Trail System, which will run along both sides of the Hudson River from the Capital Region to Manhattan.
The Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley is a public benefit corporation established by the Greenway Act of 1991 to continue New York State’s commitment to the preservation, enhancement and development of the world-renowned scenic, natural, historic, cultural and recreational resources of the Hudson River Valley, while continuing to emphasize appropriate economic development activities and remaining consistent with the tradition of municipal home rule. One of the Conservancy’s primary objectives is to establish a Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail System that links cultural and historic sites, parks, open spaces and community centers, and provides public access to the Hudson River.
For more information, please visit: http://www.hudsongreenway.state.ny.us
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Croton's Village Board Approves 2nd Consecutive Annual Tax Cut
May 1, 2010The Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson adopted the annual budget for fiscal 2010-2011 on Monday evening, April 26, 2010, with one dissenting vote. For the second consecutive year, the Village has delivered a drop in the year-to-year property tax rates. Overall, the property tax rate in Croton is now just under 2% lower than before June 2009.
The 2010-2011 budget reflects a below zero change of -0.08% over the prior year’s tax rate. The 2009-2010 tax rate, in turn, reflected a change of -1.84% over 2008-2009 rate. The new tax rate per thousand of assessed valuation is $227.811 for 2010-2011, and was $227.989 in 2009-2010, and $232.263 for 2008-2009. The Village’s fiscal year begins June 1. Overall, the tax rate in Croton is now about 2% lower than before June 1, 2009.
Several cost lines for the 2010-2011 budget added over $729,000 in mandatory expense increases. This unavoidable inflation included: Unfunded state mandates such as a $374,000 of increases in retirement contributions bringing that total for 2010-2011 to $973,000; Wage step increases in previously negotiated labor contracts totaling more than $285,000; and Medical insurance premiums rising by $70,000, bringing that total to $1,499,000 for 2010-2011. Total appropriations reached $16.4 million for 2010-2011 due to the impact of these mandatory increases, reflecting an increase of $520,000 in expenses over 2009-2010.
The $209,000 difference between the mandated increases and the actual rise in expenses is the result of a budget-wide cost containment effort from all departments in scaling back, where possible, on materials and outside services contracted. A significant factor in the cost-containment is the freeze on salaries for all non-union employees. The Village Board has cut two staff positions in the past year by the elimination of an Assistant Engineer position in March 2010 on top of eliminating a Recreation Superintendent position in April 2009. The 2010-2011 budget imposes no layoffs or furloughs among the remaining 80 staff members.
On the revenue side of the ledger, the news is mixed. At $810,000 for 2010-2011, the County sales tax income is projected to be 17% lower than in the current year, and down from a high in 2007-2008 of $1.06 million. The Village’s 2,000 car commuter parking lot at the Croton-Harmon Train Station will see a revenue increase for 2010-2011 of $192,000, due largely to the completion of the grade improvement project that raised the daily lot above spring tide, allowing the full lot to operate for all 12 months of the next fiscal year for total projected revenue of $2.58 million, still below the peak experienced in 2007-2008 of $2.63 million. The Village has made parking permits available to all 300 commuters who had placed themselves on the lot’s permit waiting list, and now has begun a new waiting list for permits. The total non-property tax revenues for 2010-2011 are projected to be $5.777 million versus $5.539 million for 2009-2010.
Assessed valuation and special franchises were mixed news as well, with the former dipping slightly and latter climbing by an almost equal amount. The net result is a virtually flat total taxable valuation for the Village of $43.926 million for 2010-2011 versus $43.923 million for 2009-2010.
In 2009-2010, the Village appropriated $350,000 from the general fund balance to lower the tax levy. In 2010-2011, with the increase in total appropriations to $16.437 million, the Village will appropriate $500,000 from the general fund balance and $150,000 from the retirement reserve balance to bring down the total tax levy to $10.006, just below the levy for 2009-2010, and $203,000 below where it stood in 2008-2009. The Village’s general fund balance stands at just over $3 million as of mid-April 2010. In closing out each fiscal year, any unused appropriations flow back to the general fund.
Statement by Mayor Leo Wiegman: “It is very important to me personally that the Village not pass on the recession to our taxpayers. We need to do our part to hold the line on taxes to help families keep their expenses under control. In addition to shaving costs where we could, we dipped into the Village’s robust rainy day fund, but that is what the fund is for. Teamwork among our Village staff, department heads, and board has been superb. We could not have accomplished a second tax cut in two years without the staff’s tremendous help. Overall, the tax rate in Croton is now about 2% lower than before June 2009. Bottom line cost-containment can only take us so far. It’s time now to turn our attention to growing the top line revenue side of the budget.”
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Electronic Parking Meters Coming Soon to Croton-Harmon Train Station Lot
November 30, 2009The Village of Croton-on-Hudson has announced the impending installation of new Pay-By-Space parking meters for daily commuters in the village-owned train station parking lot.
Preparation for the installation of the parking meters has begun and will be ready for activation at the beginning of January 2010. In order to ensure a smooth transition to the new system, village staff will be on hand to assist customers throughout the process of working with the new meters.
The new meters will accept coins, bills and credit cards, in addition to providing parkers with receipts that show the date and time of purchase.
The goals of the Village in implementing the new parking meter system are to reduce the cost of collecting revenue and provide the public with a greater range of options and increased convenience when paying for parking.
To learn more about the new parking meters and how they work, please visit the Village Web site at http://www.crotononhudson-ny.gov/PublicDocuments/CrotonHudsonNYParking/FAQ
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Croton Funeral Home Offering Free Planning Seminars
November 1, 2009The staff at Edward F. Carter Funeral Home are happy to announce a new series of free, public educational seminars. “Planning Ahead For All The Right Reasons” introduces people to the funeral planning process and informs them about what needs to be done to “get your house in order.”
“We strongly believe that no one should walk through the doors of a funeral home, on what could be the worst day of their lives, without at least some basic information and preparation” said Mike Lepore, Manager of the Carter Funeral Homes in Montrose and Croton-on-Hudson.. “We feel it is our obligation to make this kind of information available to the public, whether they choose to use our services or not.”
“We want people to make wise decisions, not emotional ones,” added Family Service Counselor and Funeral Director Michelle Carter. “People will leave armed with information they need to make smart choices and save money.”
The program is less than an hour long, and includes a question and answer period as well as light refreshments. A complimentary copy of our Personal Planning Guide will also be available. Each month will feature a new topic of interest, although questions on any topic can be asked at any time.
“Many people think end-of-life and estate planning are private matters, and so are reluctant to broach the subject with family or friends,” Attorney Kathleen Riedy said. “The fact is, when a person dies, it affects everyone they know. Questions like, ‘Who do I call? What do I need to do? How much will it cost?’ will all have to be answered in a short amount of time.”
The seminars will be held the 3rd Wednesday of every month and begin at 4 pm at the Edward F. Carter Funeral Home, 41 Grand Street in Croton-on-Hudson. All seminars will be presented by licensed funeral directors along with local attorney and estate expert Kaltheen Riedy. Because of space considerations, advance registration is requested.
Upcoming topics include:
- November: Trusts: why you may or may not need one
- December: The Medicaid Spend Down - what you need to know years before seeking long-term care
- January: New Years Resolutions: Do your planning in 2010
- February: How to make sure your wishes are honored
- March: Special considerations for families with a special needs child
- April: Avoiding the Death Tax
“There are few things in life that aren’t made better and easier by planning for them in advance,” Michelle Carter said. “We hope our free seminars will at the very least start a dialogue within families about preparing for the future.”
For more information or to register, please call 914-271-4882.
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TIME for Crotonbucks?
July 25, 2009From TIME magazine:
Tough Times Lead to Local Currencies
With local economies flailing, communities across the U.S. are trying to drum up more action on Main Street. “Buy Local” campaigns are one way to go. But many towns—from Ojai, Calif., to Greensboro, N.C.—are considering going a step further and printing money that can only be spent locally.
Issuing an alternative currency is perfectly legal, as long as it is treated as taxable income and consists of paper bills rather than coins. In the U.S., where local currencies were popular during the Depression, the biggest alterna-cash system is in Massachusetts’ Berkshire County. Go to one of several banks there, hand a teller $95 and get back $100 worth of BerkShares, a nice little discount designed to reel in users.
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