Over 400 enthusiastic people attended the Rainbeau Ridge Rally in Bedford Hills, New York. Participants learned about local ways to step it up and become more green from nearly 20 exhibitors. Congressman John Hall spoke about what he has learned about global climate as a new congressional leader, while County Executive Andrew Spano held up a compact fluorescent bulb and reminded everyone that many small collective actions can make a big difference. Former Rangers player and Riverkeeper board member Mike Richter descibed his reasons for being involved (in addition to wanting to maintain some ice in the region for continued skating!) Katie Dolan, head of the local Nature Conservancy chapter, who road her bike 33 miles to the rally, described new studies of how climate change will affect the Hudson Valley -- including warming mountaintops in the Catskills, sea level rise in the Hudson, and potentially losing the region's lobsters and sugar maples. Paul Gallay from Westchester Land Trust served as a gracious Master of Ceremonies, thanking farm owners Lisa and Mark Schwartz for an inspiring event! We are already thinking about plans for next year!

A parting shot - the organizers of STEP IT UP 2007 Bedford Hills, NY