Green Ossining Committee

Ossining has an important Tree Ordinance that protects our trees from unnecessary destruction and also provides that the Village Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) should compile a list of nominations of trees in the Village to be added to the Village’s “Significant Tree List.”

Please help the EAC compile the nomination list by recommending your own favorite tree. Trees to be nominated must be located on your property. The Ordinance defines a tree as “any woody plant having at least one well-defined trunk with at least a [diameter at breast height] of four inches and having a clearly defined crown.”

A Significant Tree is a single tree or grove of trees selected “on the basis of specimen quality, historical significance or other unique characteristic.” The law further provides that the designation must be agreed to by the property owner.

The EAC needs your help with nominations for inclusion on the Significant Tree List. The ultimate decision whether to approve the submitted nominations will be made by the Village Board of Trustees, but providing the EAC with pictures, locations, and a statement of why you think the tree or grove should be so honored, along with owner’s permission note or name, will be a great help and can be a fun and learning experience for you and your children.

For more information or to nominate a tree, email Ossiningtreelist@gmail.com.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday, February 17^th at 7:30pm at the Ossining Operation Center on Route 9A.

Download the Ossining Community Climate Action Plan [DRAFT]

The Plan is based upon the Green Committee’s work over the course of 2010 and outlines steps for environmental initiatives that the Committee can take on in the future.

1) Brief recap of January’s Green Committee Meeting

2) Community Climate Action Plan – DRAFT

3) Discussion & Planning – Earth Day Event 2011

• Recommend schedule Earth Day event for April 30.
• Conincide with Northern Westchester Energy Action Coalition (NWEAC) member communities “Zero Waste Day”.
• Combine resources, publicity, etc. and be part of a Northern Westchester Sustainability Day.
• Frame the “Earth Month” activities: Stash the Trash the first weekend and Earth Day Fair the last weekend.
• Speak to some OHS students on their ideas for Earth Day Fair.
• Marketing and Communications
• Sponsors and Donors
• Activity & Sub-Committee Chairpeople

The Green Committee’s activities for 2011 will also be discussed at the meeting.