Friends of Read

We won!

The Board of Legislators voted to restore funding to the nature centers and, amazingly, did so without raising our taxes! Thank you everyone for all your efforts in writing to the Westchester County Board of Legislators and to Mr. Astorino, signing cards protesting funding cuts to the nature centers and curators, and showing up to speak at the open hearings in New Rochelle, Somers, and White Plains. We were definitely heard. We are particularly thankful to County Legislator Judy Myers, who represents the district containing the Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary. She fought very hard to restore funding to the nature centers and their curators, and we are most appreciative of her steadfast support of all our environmental endeavors.

The most important quote from the BOL site:
"The community-minded investments that the BOL deems to be ―Right for Westchester‖ include capital project funding for bridge repairs and flood mitigation, plus maintaining the six County Nature Centers and restoring funding for the Greenburgh Nature Center, the County’s deer management program and Cornell Cooperative Extension."

See full article:
http://westchesterlegislators.com/media-center/2007-westchester-legislators-deliver-0-tax-increase-and-protect-jobs-in-2012-budget.html

Well done everyone!
 

The Friends of Read is a non-profit organization, run by volunteers, dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, a Westchester County nature preserve abutting Long Island Sound.  Funded primarily by membership dues and open to anyone who wishes to join, the friends work to supplement the county’s support of the park.

Read Sanctuary is a 179-acre park adjacent to Rye Playland in Rye, NY.  There is shoreline ideal for marine studies, as well as Playland Lake, and trails through the forest and fields of the park.  The National Audubon Society has acknowledged the park as an Important Bird Area.  The park’s nature center building contains two salt-water touch-tanks, a bird viewing area and provides an ideal setting for class discussion.  Educational programs covering a wide variety of topics are available year-round.