Valentine’s Day is a day that shall live in infamy … ONLY if you forget to do something.
This year you should get ahead of the curve. Surprise someone special or be bold and surprise many someones with gifts they shall not soon forget. Gifts that shall last past the moment. Gifts that say I care about you now and into the future. Make tax-deductible donations in their names to various environmental causes in Rye.
These environmental causes work hard to improve the quality of your life while ensuring the future is better for your children and grandchildren. Their projects sequester carbon; remove toxins from air and water; protect the Sound, and increase the quantity and variety of songbirds, pollinators, and other wildlife while offering you untold quality outdoor experiences. If you find someone fetching, then show it by donating to these worthwhile causes.
The Rye Sustainability Foundation (https://www.ryesustainability.com). They are dedicated to promoting sustainability in our community through education, actionable initiatives, and strategic partnerships.
They initiated invasive plant removals followed by the addition of natives along Playland Parkway. They fought to retain the successful food waste recycling program — the waste is transformed into compost instead of going into landfills. They partner with Rye City to plant street trees.
Sustainability volunteer members obtained over $150,000 (no, not a typo) in grants for the city to buy battery-powered grounds equipment, install EV chargers, and make other energy savings to reduce city’s carbon footprint. In their can-do, single-minded quest of improving the quality of life for all right here in Rye, they are preparing other initiatives in 2025.
Friends of Rye Town Park (https://www.friendsofrtp.org) continues to make landscape improvements throughout the park for all to enjoy. Just keep dogs out of their hard work, please. Some people are not aware, but the pond was not there until Friends raised the money to install it. The pond has a large turtle population and provides refuge for birds, other reptiles, and pollinators. Friends created gardens throughout the park, from The Stairs To Nowhere and the sundial and flagpole to Pine Hill and most entrances. They funded the relighting of the park pathways, installation of the beachfront ornamental fence, and most park benches, trees, and shrubs.
Friends of Read Wildlife Sanctuary (https://friendsofreadwildlifesanctuary.org) has quietly marched forward to preserve and improve a rare and special wildlife sanctuary tucked behind Playland. Friends initiated an aggressive invasive plant and vine removal program in 2024. They uncovered a long-lost stone wall, cleared large swathes of phragmites, and plan to uncover many more trees and shrubs choked by invasives. Once these and other areas are cleared, Friends will follow with native deer resistant plants to provide nuts, berries, and nectar to attract a larger and more diverse songbird and pollinator population.
The Friends of Rye Nature Center (https://www.ryenaturecenter.org) is implementing the Blind Brook restoration project, which includes reestablishing a floodplain to absorb stormwater and reduce downstream flooding impact. Planted with native wetland plants, it will both sequester carbon and retain silt from flowing down to clog the Rye Marina. The project will improve the upstream spawning of various aquatic species. They have educational programs from preschool age on up to inspire the environmental stewards of tomorrow today — planting seeds of hope to make the future better for all.
These great organizations are run by your neighbors. They improve the quality of your life while ensuring the future will be better for your children and grandchildren. Show your love and like to more than just that special someone. Cast a wide net of appreciation to family and friends near and far.
