VoP Sustainability Advisory Board / Climate Smart Communities Task Force

06/24/2026

🌱 Pelham Composts!
Did you know that Pelham residents diverted 72.6 tons of food scraps through the Village's Food Scrap Recycling Program in 2025 alone?

And since the program launched in 2021, Pelham residents have diverted nearly 330 tons—more than 650,000 pounds—of food scraps from the waste stream, turning them into compost instead of trash!

According to Westchester County, Pelham has consistently been one of the top-performing municipalities in the County's Food Scrap Recycling Program, with only two municipalities collecting more food scraps than Pelham in 2025. Thank you to everyone who participates!

Want to learn more about composting in Pelham?
📍 Visit the SAB table at The Pelham Market THIS Sunday morning
🌿 See the many ways your neighbors compost and share what you do
🍎 Learn what can be recycled through the food scrap program
♻️ Pick up tips for getting started

06/22/2026

🌱 Pelham Composts!

A big thank you to the residents who shared photos and stories of how they compost at home. As this poster shows, there are many ways to compost—from backyard bins and tumblers to countertop systems, in-bed composting, and the Pelham Food Scrap Drop-Off Program. No matter the method, composting helps reduce waste, lower municipal disposal costs, and create healthier soils. ♻️

Interested in learning more? Stop by the Village of Pelham Sustainability Advisory Board table at the Pelham Farmers Market this Sunday! We'll have hands-on examples of different composting methods, information about the Pelham food scrap program, and tips to help residents find a composting approach that works for their home, yard, and lifestyle.

Whether you're a seasoned composter or just curious about getting started, we'd love to meet you!

06/16/2026

Want to lower your energy bills, improve comfort, and make your home more energy efficient?

NYSERDA offers New Yorkers a FREE home energy assessment to help identify ways to save energy, reduce emissions, and cut costs year-round. A trained contractor will evaluate your home’s insulation, heating/cooling systems, appliances, and more — and may recommend upgrades that can qualify for rebates, incentives, or financing programs.

Many homeowners are surprised by how much energy (and money!) can be saved through simple improvements like air sealing, insulation, smart thermostats, or more efficient heating and cooling systems.

Learn more and check eligibility here:
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/EmPower-New-York-Program

🌱 Saving energy is good for your wallet, your comfort, and our community’s sustainability goals.

The first step toward saving energy is understanding where your home is wasting it.

Work with a NYSERDA participating contractor to get a no-cost energy assessment (sometimes called an energy audit) to find all the places your home is wasting energy.

Then get financial incentives to help you make upgrades. https://on.ny.gov/4jwdf94

06/13/2026

Sustainable communities are built not only through environmental stewardship, but also through connection, inclusion, shared history, and celebrations that bring neighbors together across generations and backgrounds

📣 JUNETEENTH 2026: FREEDOM IN MOTION 📣

Join the Pelham community for an unforgettable celebration of freedom, culture, history, and unity!

📅 Friday, June 19, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Wolfs Lane Park

Experience an afternoon filled with joy, creativity, and celebration as we honor the enduring spirit of Juneteenth and the journey toward freedom.

🪘 LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
🍽️ FOOD & LOCAL VENDORS
🎨 ART & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
💕 FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN
🤝🏾 COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Bring your family, friends, and neighbors—and be part of this vibrant community event!

FREE ADMISSION • ALL ARE WELCOME

Juneteenth in the Village of Pelham is presented by the Village of Pelham Council on the Arts, in collaboration with the Village of Pelham and Pelham Art Center. We are proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins and the Board of Legislators. Thank you to all who have made this event possible!

06/13/2026

06/11/2026

Pelham residents can help reduce strain on the electric grid TODAY — and potentially save money on energy costs — by pre-cooling your space a few hours before the event and then lowering electricity use between 4-10pm on Thursday, June 11.

Easy ways to participate:
• Pre-cool your space for a few hours before the event and then raise your thermostat a few degrees between 4-10pm
• Delay laundry and dishwashers until later tonight (or early today)
• Turn off unnecessary lights and electronics
• Charge EVs and devices after 10pm

Not signed up yet? Check with your utility provider or the GridRewards app to enroll and receive future event alerts and rewards opportunities (see link in comments).

Small actions across our community can make a big impact. 🌎

06/06/2026

Join in to help PLANT PELHAM NATIVE in June:

🌿 Thanks to the generous support of Monarch Watch and The Xerces Society, we’ve got milkweed and native flowers ready to add to our growing habitat corridors!

Beginning TODAY! Join us for one of our June Pop-Up Volunteer Days. Come for 20 minutes or stay longer—whether you prefer daytime or evening opportunities. Help make Pelham greener, cleaner, and filled with more birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

📍 Sat., June 6 | 1–3 PM – Secor Lane & Timpson Street
📍 Sun., June 7 | 10 AM–1 PM – Veterans Park (Westward Lane)
📍 Mon., June 8 | 6–7 PM – Veterans Park (Esplanade & Pelhamdale)
📍 Wed., June 10 | 6–7 PM – I-95 North Barrier @ Pelhamdale Ave. & Manor Circle

🌱 Learn habitat gardening for a healthier Long Island Sound watershed.

🗺️ Explore Pelham Restoration Sites at Pollinator-Pathway.org → Towns → Pelham.

NativePlants PollinatorPathway HealthyYards PelhamVineSquad LongIslandSound PelhamNY LessLawnMoreLife HabitatRestoration BirdFriendly PollinatorGarden

06/04/2026

Investing in proactive sewer and stormwater maintenance helps protect local waterways, reduce the risk of flooding and infrastructure failures, and build a more resilient Pelham in the face of increasingly severe weather. 🌧️ By bringing this work in-house, the Village is also reducing long-term costs, improving efficiency, and strengthening its ability to maintain critical infrastructure sustainably for years to come.

05/29/2026

The VoP SAB team will be at the community group table at the Pelham Market this Sunday 5/31, come and say hi!