Irvington Alerts
From the Mayor's Desk...July 26, 2024
In this newsletter I cover the success of the Irvington Changing Forest Research Program, the Board’s decision regarding deer management in the Irvington Woods, news regarding dogs in Matthiessen Park and an ongoing grant to promote accessory dwelling units.
Irvington Changing Forest Research Program
On June 5th and 6th, 14 ninth through twelfth grade Irvington High School students participated in Harvard Forest's inaugural Student Symposium, "Data Jam," in Petersham, MA. The students were invited to participate in recognition of the valuable data collected by them over the past two and a half years in the Irvington Woods on Beech Leaf Disease, annual carbon sequestration, climate change, and dendrochronology. The Irvington Changing Forest Research Program (“ICFRP”) under which the data was collected is led by CJ Reilly, the Irvington Recreation Department’s Director of Education & Head of Grounds & Operations of the Irvington Woods Park and O’Hara Nature Center.
Harvard Forest, the ecological field research station for Harvard University, hosted the Irvington students and four adult chaperones. The students received a private tour of the 4,000-acre field station and served as near-peer mentors for 5th-grade participants, helping set up projects, acting as audience members and judges and leading data activities. Their ICFRP research was a highlight of the event.
Please join me in congratulating these students and their leader CJ Reilly for their successful program in the Irvington Woods and participation in Harvard Forest’s Student Symposium.
Deer management in the Irvington Woods
On July 15, 2024 the Village Board approved an agreement for a single professional bow hunter to manage the deer population in the Irvington Woods and an agreement with a forest management consultant to establish a monitoring plan for the regrowth of the Irvington Woods. Responding to the Irvington Woods Committee’s proposed deer management plan, the Village Board previously held public meetings and a hearing and consulted with numerous experts for and against bow hunting (the approach to deer management recommended by the Woods Committee). Now that the contracts are approved a more specific implementation plan will be developed with likely roll out later this year.
Dogs in Matthiessen Park
With the support of the Village Board, the Recreation and Parks Department is working on options to open Matthiessen Park for limited periods to dog owners and their dogs on leashes. Rules will be established regarding hours of park accessibility for dogs on leash and their owners, areas to be used for dog walking (for example, the children’s play area will be off limits) and clean up. A volunteer committee will assist the Recreation and Parks Department to enforce the rules. The success of the program and the potential to expand it will depend on voluntary compliance with the rules by dog owners. Please look for a future announcement from the Recreation and Parks Department regarding the program. If you would like to serve on the volunteer committee to manage the dogs on leash in the park program, particularly if you are a dog owner, please contact Village Administrator Larry Schopfer (lschopfer@irvingtonny.gov).
Reminder of Grant Availability
Irvington received a State grant that awards funding to homeowners seeking to create an Accessory Dwelling Unit. ADUs—also known as “casitas,” in-law suites and accessory apartments—can generate rental income for homeowners, create housing stability, and serve as a new source of affordable housing for those priced out of rental markets. There are grant qualification requirements, including income limitations. For more information please visit: www.habitatnycwc.org/plus-one-adu
I hope you are enjoying the summer.
Regards,
Jon Siegel, Mayor
jsiegel@irvingtonny.gov
Irvington Changing Forest Research Program
On June 5th and 6th, 14 ninth through twelfth grade Irvington High School students participated in Harvard Forest's inaugural Student Symposium, "Data Jam," in Petersham, MA. The students were invited to participate in recognition of the valuable data collected by them over the past two and a half years in the Irvington Woods on Beech Leaf Disease, annual carbon sequestration, climate change, and dendrochronology. The Irvington Changing Forest Research Program (“ICFRP”) under which the data was collected is led by CJ Reilly, the Irvington Recreation Department’s Director of Education & Head of Grounds & Operations of the Irvington Woods Park and O’Hara Nature Center.
Harvard Forest, the ecological field research station for Harvard University, hosted the Irvington students and four adult chaperones. The students received a private tour of the 4,000-acre field station and served as near-peer mentors for 5th-grade participants, helping set up projects, acting as audience members and judges and leading data activities. Their ICFRP research was a highlight of the event.
Please join me in congratulating these students and their leader CJ Reilly for their successful program in the Irvington Woods and participation in Harvard Forest’s Student Symposium.
Deer management in the Irvington Woods
On July 15, 2024 the Village Board approved an agreement for a single professional bow hunter to manage the deer population in the Irvington Woods and an agreement with a forest management consultant to establish a monitoring plan for the regrowth of the Irvington Woods. Responding to the Irvington Woods Committee’s proposed deer management plan, the Village Board previously held public meetings and a hearing and consulted with numerous experts for and against bow hunting (the approach to deer management recommended by the Woods Committee). Now that the contracts are approved a more specific implementation plan will be developed with likely roll out later this year.
Dogs in Matthiessen Park
With the support of the Village Board, the Recreation and Parks Department is working on options to open Matthiessen Park for limited periods to dog owners and their dogs on leashes. Rules will be established regarding hours of park accessibility for dogs on leash and their owners, areas to be used for dog walking (for example, the children’s play area will be off limits) and clean up. A volunteer committee will assist the Recreation and Parks Department to enforce the rules. The success of the program and the potential to expand it will depend on voluntary compliance with the rules by dog owners. Please look for a future announcement from the Recreation and Parks Department regarding the program. If you would like to serve on the volunteer committee to manage the dogs on leash in the park program, particularly if you are a dog owner, please contact Village Administrator Larry Schopfer (lschopfer@irvingtonny.gov).
Reminder of Grant Availability
Irvington received a State grant that awards funding to homeowners seeking to create an Accessory Dwelling Unit. ADUs—also known as “casitas,” in-law suites and accessory apartments—can generate rental income for homeowners, create housing stability, and serve as a new source of affordable housing for those priced out of rental markets. There are grant qualification requirements, including income limitations. For more information please visit: www.habitatnycwc.org/plus-one-adu
I hope you are enjoying the summer.
Regards,
Jon Siegel, Mayor
jsiegel@irvingtonny.gov