HEALTH: Overdoses spike in Capital Region, G’town blood drive

By MARY REDLER

GHENT–Climate Smart Communities is a New York State program that encourages local governments to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. The Town of Ghent joined the program back in 2015 and has been working toward that goal ever since. The town has since formed the Climate Smart Community Task Force to serve as the central body for recommending changes that support the mission, promoting and educating the public about the program and keeping the town apprised of the program’s recommendations.

The seven-member Task Force is currently chaired by Bob Dandrew, whose career has spanned over 20 years in fields related to resilient agriculture and environmental causes. The group also benefits from the services of a part-time coordinator Kathyrn Beilke, a Columbia County resident who also supports the climate task force in Austerlitz. The Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in person and on Zoom. Town Councilmember Lynda Nielsen recently joined the task force. Of her experience with the Task Force, she states, “I’ve learned so much in a short time and have great respect for the completed milestones prior to my appointment, I look forward to being a part of the continued accomplishments of the Ghent Climate Smart Committee.”

The Task Force is taking a multi-pronged approach to reducing the Town of Ghent’s negative emissions of greenhouse gases and contributions to climate change. One initiative currently in the works is the purchase and installation of additional EV (electric vehicle) chargers. The task force applied for and was awarded a grant to cover the cost of the project. Grants are awarded based upon initiatives that have already been put into place. As green initiatives increase, more funding becomes available for these projects. In an effort to become eligible for a $100,000 award the town has prioritized initiatives that include converting to LED lights in the Town Hall, installing a new high-powered EV car charger and putting timers on the lighting in the town garage.

“Our committee has been working hard to apply for every grant we can find that will bring dollars into the town and reduce the burden on taxpayers. We are delighted that we have already been able to bring in a total of $59,000 over the past year. And we are well on our way toward securing the additional $100,000 from NYSERDA,” said Chair Dandrew.

The Task Force has also instituted a reduce and reuse program, aimed at reducing the prevalence of single use containers. Steps that are either being implemented or considered as part of this initiative include the installation of a bubbler that can be used as water bottle refilling station as well as a traditional drinking fountain at the town ball field on Water Street and the BYO program, which encourages town businesses to display a BYO sticker that lets people know that it’s acceptable for them to bring their own beverage containers and takeout containers rather than being supplied with single use containers. This practice should reduce single use plastics, which are not widely recycled.

The Town of Ghent is planning a Community Day event for Saturday, September 28 at the town garage, and the Climate Smart Community Task Force plans to have a presence there to provide more information on climate change and the town’s efforts to address it. Learn more about that event and what you can do on your own to minimize your impact by visiting the town’s website at https://townofghent.org/boardscommittees/climate-smart-community-task-force/. You can also sign up for town e-mail updates on the town’s website at townofghent.org/subscribe.