Entergy's Fernandez Works to Keep Parks Vibrant

Trees constantly need to be replanted to keep parks vibrant, said Joanne Fernandez, government affairs manager at Entergy in Valhalla and a board member of the Friends of Westchester County Parks.

“A number of trees had been damaged through wind and other ailments or had not grown to maturation,” she said. “This year Entergy provided a donation of 17 trees to Friends of Westchester County Parks for the promenade at Kensico Dam in Valhalla.”

The $10,000 donation for replanting will provide a variety of new, healthy trees along the promenade. They include three Autumn Flame red maples, five Legacy sugar maples, five Read oaks and four Shumrad oaks.

Fernandez, who lives in the city, said she spends quite a bit of her spare time in Westchester Parks. She said she runs at Kensico on her lunch break and enjoys picnicking and seeing the fall foliage at Croton Reservoir Park.

“I have taken it upon myself to become involved with Westchester Parks in my spare time because I believe greatly in their mission,” she said.

She worked with Gov. Pataki in Albany before joining Entergy’s government affairs department. In her position, she represents Entergy before local, county and state elected officials and stakeholders.

A member of the Friends board since 2010, Fernandez said she is proud of the contributions Entergy is making toward environmental stewardship. “We all benefit from the parks system,” she said. “It is really a treasure. Parks do not discriminate.”

She said she finds her work with Friends of Westchester Parks and Entergy blend well together. “Business, Entergy, the community and the environment can operate together as one in balance and make our community the place people want to live,” Fernandez concluded.

 

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