The next Sustainability Committee meeting is open to the public and is set for March 14, 2023 at 11 a.m., live in the Village Board Room and via Zoom. A Zoom link will be provided prior to the meeting.
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Toss it? No way. Bring it to the Repair Café: Repair Coaches Needed!
Are you a friendly, handy, fix-it-type person who wants to minimize waste, keep the Finger Lakes a clean and beautiful place to live, and share your skills with others?
Volunteer to be a Repair Coach! The Village of Montour Falls and the Town of Hector are partnering to bring two Repair Cafés to Schuyler County this spring. The first is set for Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Montour Falls Fire Department, 111 Lee St., Montour Falls, N.Y. A second café will be held in Hector in June, with a finalized date and location to be announced.
Repair Cafés are locally run, pop-up events that promote the power of repair as an alternative to throwing things out. Volunteer repair coaches generally are able to fix around 80% of the items brought into a café. The most common repairs include lamps, vacuums, and small appliances; but mechanical and wooden items, textiles, jewelry, bikes, and computers are among other possible repairs offered. General repairs are offered free-of-charge, with some replacement parts offered at a little-to-no cost.
“As mayor, I am proud that Montour Falls will host the first Repair Café in our county,” said Mayor James Ryan. “This is an international movement brought to you by the Sustainability Committee volunteers and our partners in Hector. Repair Cafés are an important part of the circular economy — they help keep things out of the landfill, and save resources, energy and money.”
Repair Cafés are important community-building events and are a lot of fun for all involved. Additional volunteer support for the event, including greeters and other helpers, are also needed. Donations of funds or in-kind contributions of parts for fixes and lunch for the volunteers are greatly appreciated, and help Repair Cafés operate at a low-cost. Thank you North New York for generously offering to donate coffee, tea, and pastries in support of the first Repair Café in Schuyler County.
Repair Cafés also meet Climate Smart Communities (CSC) standards for sustainability. Climate Smart Communities is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offeringgrants, rebates for electric vehicles, and free technical assistance.
“I am delighted about this new, joint venture in our county to help us reduce waste, keep our landfills from overflowing and create a more sustainable earth for us all,” said Gary Judson, chairperson, Town of Hector Sustainability Committee.
There are 3,000 Repair Cafés worldwide that strive to preserve repair skills in society and promote more repairable products. Besides the Netherlands, where the first Repair Café was held in Amsterdam in 2009, there are Repair Cafés in Belgium, Germany, France, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and dozens of other countries.
Repair coaches pass along invaluable practical skills and receive the appreciation they deserve. If you would like to offer your skills to repair things for your neighbors or assist with the event, please contact us at sustainablemontourfalls1@gmail.com. You can find out more about the the international Repair Café movement at https://www.repaircafe.org/en/
You Are Invited to A Conversation About Climate Resiliency!
Are you concerned about how climate change can impact our community? Do you ever wonder how the Village of Montour Falls is affected by risks such as increasingly severe storms, flooding, and erosion? Do you have ideas about how to respond to these threats and want to share your ideas?
Well, look no further! You will have the opportunity to discuss this and more with the Village Climate Justice Fellow and other members of the community at open-discussion events at the Montour Falls Memorial Library, 406 West Main St., and North New York Coffee Shop, 401 West Main St.
The dates and times of the engagement events are as follows:
Saturday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Montour Falls Memorial Library
Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Montour Falls Memorial Library
Friday, March 8, noon to 2 p.m. at North New York
The purpose of these events is to discuss the Village’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment, a comprehensive document that outlines specific and scientifically measured ways in which the changing climate can affect the community. All are welcome to join and learn about the assessment as well as speak about their thoughts and ideas on how to combat the risks. We hope to see you there!
Is It Recyclable? 'Recyclopedia' Helps You Sort It Out
Become a recycling expert by exploring the statewide “Recyclopedia” tool from Recycle Right New York. It’s like an encyclopedia but for common household materials. Learn what to do with more than 300 items like broken light bulbs, plastic utensils, pizza boxes, old electronics, used clothing, and so much more. Learn what to do with stuff that you no longer need while creating the least amount of waste as possible. https://recyclerightny.org/statewide-recyclopedia #recyle#recycleright#ClimateAction#Nys#recycleright
HeatSmart to Smart Energy Choices — Important Updates
HeatSmart FLX South is now officially called Smart Energy Choices, a collaboration of Cornell Cooperative Extension associations serving eight counties under the Southern Tier Regional Clean Energy Hub region: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins. It is funded and a part of NYSERDA’sRegional Clean Energy Hub Program. To find out how you can stay warmer, tap into renewable energy and save monthly, visit smartenergychoices.org, email heatsmartflxs@cornell.edu, or call or text Erica Herman, Smart Energy Choices Community Energy Advisor, 607-535-7161 x3223, Remote/Texting Number: 607-689-2743.
Tighten up your home and keep the cold out and the heat in!
Stay toasty and warm in the winter with a heat pump system!
Get solar on your roof, in your yard, on a community solar farm, or just subscribe for solar delivery!
Why Transitioning to Solar Makes Sense Now
The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a three-year plan with electric rate hikes for residential customers.
Under the new rate plan, a NYSEG residential electric customer using 600 kWh per month would see an average total monthly bill increase of $9.94 or 10.3 percent in November of this year, $8.88 or 8.4 percent starting May 2024, and $11.34 or 9.9 percent starting May 2025. Considering these changes, you might want to look into transitioning to solar energy, an alternative option that not only helps reduce your environmental footprint but can also provide long-term cost savings.
Here are a few reasons why transitioning to solar makes sense:
Lower Energy Costs: With solar panels, you can generate your own electricity, reducing your reliance on grid power and potentially saving you money on your monthly bills.
Environmental Impact: Solar energy is clean and renewable, producing no harmful emissions. By making the switch, you contribute to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.
Energy Independence: Solar panels provide a degree of energy independence. You become less reliant on external energy sources, giving you greater control over your energy usage.
Incentives and Rebates: There are often government incentives and rebates available to help offset the initial investment in solar panels, making it an even more attractive option.
If you're interested in exploring solar options, you can fill out the form and set up a consultation with Halco,https://www.halcoenergy.com/contact-us.html, or call 1-833-844-2622.
Eligible Households Can Save Close to $1K on Heat through HEAP
Mayor James Ryan urges income-eligible residents to apply for New York State benefits to help keep warm this winter. Applications are now being accepted for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). The program can provide up to $976 to eligible homeowners and renters based on income, household size, how they heat their home, and the presence of a vulnerable family member.
If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off. The 2023-24 Regular HEAP benefit opened on Nov. 1. The emergency benefit is scheduled to open on Jan. 2, 2024.
Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household's primary source of heat. You can learn more about HEAP at the link: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/.
Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to yourHEAP Local District Contact. Schuyler County contacts are as follows:
Schuyler County Department of Social Services, 323 Owego Street, Unit 3, Montour Falls, NY 14865, Phone: (607) 535-8303, Days Open: Monday - Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Economic Opportunity Program of Chemung and Schuyler Counties, 203 12th Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, Phone: (607) 535-2468 ext.201, Days Open: Monday - Friday, 7:00am-3:00pm After Hours Emergency Contact, Schuyler County Sheriff’s Department, Phone: (607) 535-8222, Days Open: Monday - Friday
Sustainable Montour Falls Logo
Our logo was designed by our friend Mark Wilber at North New York LLC. Be sure to look out for our logo wherever sustainability may hide!