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O&R Donates $10K for Murals to Support Environmental Studies at Mamakating Center

  • Media Relations

  • Pearl River, NY – January 12, 2022 -- 12:30 PM

Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. has donated $10,000 to the Mamakating Environmental Education Center Inc. (MEEC) to commission the production of a full-length wall mural and an adjacent ceiling mural depicting a composite cross-section of the vegetation and wildlife of the wetlands at the neighboring Bashakill Wildlife Management Area in Mamakating.

The murals are designed to form the center piece for a variety of environmental educational presentations designed to engage, inform, and inspire young people about the wide array of ecological treasures that surround the MEEC and the vital importance of preserving and protecting those priceless resources.

Nutmeg, a baby hedgehog

Nutmeg, a baby hedgehog, pictured here, is lending a big hand to help MEEC carry out its mission to foster environmental awareness and responsible action through in-person exploration and adventure at the BashaKill Wildlife Management Area in Mamakating.

Those resources are on dramatic display in the adjacent Bashakill Wildlife Management Area, a 3,000-acre wetland preserve, home to thousands of bird, plant, amphibian, and animal species. MEEC focuses much of its educational programming on the wetlands and its inhabitants.

The murals are to be accompanied by a package of richly illustrated, mural-related educational t products, including coloring books, maps, and graphic materials. Those products tie into a number of presentations to support the MEEC educational message. The murals, to be painted by professional artist Kevin O’Neill, are to be installed in MEEC’s Children’s Room. The artist also will hold three 60- to 90-minute family -oriented programs at MEEC during the mural design and execution. process   

The mission of the Mamakating Environmental Center (MEEC) is to support environmental education and stewardship and an appreciation of local history. In an effort to inspire current and future generations, MEEC will foster environmental awareness and responsible action through hands-on exploration and adventure.

MEEC opened its doors in 2017. In its Comprehensive Plan, the Town of Mamakating recognized the benefit of having an environmental center at the site of the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. The Plan’s goal is for the area to become an ecotourism and sustainable business hub. An environmental education center as a destination point. community meeting place and information source was placed here to act as a catalyst to realize that goal.

Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, is a regulated utility. O&R provides electric service to approximately 300,000 customers in southeastern New York State (where its franchise name is Orange & Rockland) and northern New Jersey (where it’s Rockland Electric Company) and natural gas service to approximately 130,000 customers in New York.

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