Environmental Commission Seeks Members, Pursues Strategic Planning & Public Programming

West Seneca, NY – The West Seneca Environmental Commission announces a series of upcoming speakers and learning opportunities, commits to creating a new strategic plan, and invites Town residents to consider Commission membership.

Cynnie Gaasch, Chair of the Environmental Commission stated: “The Environmental Commission is at a moment of transition with a changeover in membership and leadership. This is a good time for us to examine our powers and duties as well as the Town’s current environmental priorities.”

Announcements:

  • The Environmental Commission is seeking new Commission Members. The Commission currently has three open positions. Further information about the commission may be found on the Town website: https://www.westseneca.net under the “Environmental Commission” tab. Interested Town residents may submit their letter of interest and resume to: agreenan@twsny.org Those who are interested and wish to learn more may attend Commission meetings which are open to the public.
  • The Environmental Commission will be conducting a strategic planning process in 2023 in order to identify the priorities in the immediate future for the Commission. Community members will be invited to participate, and may attend Commission meetings in order to learn more and contribute to the process.
  • Monday, January 23, 2023 at 6pm the Commission will be hosting two presentations in the large conference room of the West Seneca Community Center. Both presentations will be followed by question answer periods. The presentations are:
    • West Seneca West 9th and 10th graders enrolled in Enriched Biology with Teacher Mr. Jay Rodemeyer who have been participating in a study of Cazenovia Creek with University at Buffalo Research Associate Professor Stephen T. Koury, PhD. The project is funded by the National Institutes of Health and students are using genome sequencing to understand the bacteria present in the Creek. Students participating include: Marley Brown, Nathan Sobczyk, Emma Fritz, Jack Granville, Aidan Granville, Connor Young, Natalia Pernick, Marion Smith, Grant Cohn, Jayden Ecker. Tyler Harper, Paige Janak, Sophie Robertson, and Gabriella Rupert. Further details on the grant project here: https://medicine.buffalo.edu/news_and_events/news/2022/04/koury-new-grant-13558.html
    • Margaux Valenti, Legal Director, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper will present on and discuss the basics of SEQR (the State Environmental Quality Review Act) Basics, and how they apply to a town’s environment

Environmental Commission meeting times and agendas will be posted on the Town Website under the “Government” tab.

The Environmental Commission is also working with the Erie County Cornell cooperative Extension to schedule gardening workshops in West Seneca this Winter and Spring around topics including gardening with deer in mind and bringing environmental practices into your garden. More details to follow.

 

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