Environmental conservation group Future (Friends) of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP) hosted a three-day event to celebrate Earth Day, on Thursday, April 18, Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, in and around Norwood and Bedford Park.

 

On April 18, the group tabled at an Earth Day celebration at Montefiore Medical Center’s Moses campus on East 210^th Street and Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood. Montefiore officials highlighted how healthcare operations and practices are essential but that they contribute 10% of all emissions that impact the planet.

 

Representatives said, “Montefiore Einstein is committed to advancing environmental sustainability to support exceptional, compassionate care and improve the well-being of our patients, employees and communities.” Attendees were encouraged to meet local, earth-friendly organizations (like FOMP), take home important information about the environment, participate in interactive educational events, and avail of free, eco-friendly giveaways.

The two remaining days incorporated parkland clean-ups, financed by some discretionary funds from local Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11). FOMP executive director Elizabeth Quaranta later said in part of the second day, “Sweet success: neighbors meeting neighbors cleaning up the parkland and making notes on where we’re going to be planting more daffodils in the fall!!”

 

Quaranta said the group used compostable bags and were very strategic on where the clean-ups were to take place. After sharing some “after” photos, she added, “Enjoy the parkway. Help us to continue by supporting FOMP since we are heading towards a self-sustainable model. If you’re not part of our monthly [recurring] sustainability donor club, now would be a good time to join. You can donate as little as five dollars, or you can donate more to help someone else who cannot donate. Love your community. Don’t move — improve!”

 

Day 3 focused on the Mosholu Parkland area around Kossuth Playground, and consisted of more clean-ups, “mulching,” and planting. Mulch is any material used to cover soil’s surface and is used to retain moisture in the soil, suppress or block weeds, keep the soil and plant roots cool, prevent frost heaving in winter, and make the landscape look more attractive.

Evan Weinberg, director of community affairs for Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (A.D. 80), was present on Day 3 and said of his participation, “We’re here today because Earth Day is coming up.” Weinberg commended The Bronx for its parks. “We have such beautiful park spaces and one of the things that we really pride ourselves on, and the assemblyman prides himself on is that community is a foundation for everything, and that foundation begins with making sure that our loved ones in our community have wonderful parks.”

 

He added, “We’re here cleaning up these parks, making sure they’re ready for summer, ready for the schools to get out, ready for the kids to use as the weather gets warmer and the light stays out later at night, and that we can all enjoy the safe and wonderful spring and summer weather.”

 

Quaranta thanked the assemblyman for sending representatives from his office. “You guys were awesome! Thank you, Evan Weinberg.” Around 10 people were seen involved in the clean-up on the day. Quaranta concluded, “Kossuth Playground got a lot of love today.”

 

Meanwhile, to mark Earth Week, NYC Emergency Management Department (EMS) released its 2023 Annual Report on April 24, highlighting the agency’s leadership in citywide preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

Mayor Eric Adams said, “And as we mark both Earth Week and Severe Weather Awareness Week, it’s important to recognize that preparedness is a year-round effort. Through programs like Strengthening Communities, NYC CERT, and Ready NY, we’re empowering every neighborhood to face challenges head-on and to build a citywide network of readiness.”

 

New York City Community Emergency Response Team (NYC CERT) members are dedicated volunteers who undergo a training program that provides basic response skills needed for fire safety, light search and rescue, community disaster support, disaster medical operations, and traffic control.

 

Ready NY is and EMS public education campaign, through which residents learn about the hazards they may face in the City and prepare for all types of emergencies by writing an emergency plan, choosing a meeting place, gathering supplies for the home, and preparing a “Go Bag” in case they need to leave their home in a hurry.

City officials encouraged residents who have not already done so to subscribe to Notify NYC app on their phones in their own language, and added that Notify NYC will now also utilize Facebook (on.nyc.gov/notifyfb) to disseminate critical information in cases of emergency. They said in 2023, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated 12 times to address emergencies and remained operational 24/7 in support of the city’s asylum seeker operations.

 

They said the agency responded to 2,401 incidents, including 603 complex responses in the field with an operational presence, and that during iconic events like New Year’s Eve in Times Square, the US Open, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, EMS worked behind the scenes to ensure the celebrations were safe for all.

 

In 2023, the agency said it updated the Coastal Storm Recovery Playbook based on lessons learned from Ida and provided technical assistance with City agencies on 35 hazard mitigation projects. They said these projects, critical for enhancing resilience against natural disasters, involve over $550 million in FEMA’s hazard mitigation funding. Read the full report at http://on.nyc.gov/nycemreport2023.

 

Meanwhile, an art exhibit entitled “Nothing to Wear,” comprising a pile of seemingly excess clothes, was seen in one Manhattan store located on Eighth Avenue in the Port Authority Mall during Earth Month, in efforts to raise awareness of our fashion choices and the impact on the planet.

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.