Google Alerts

Just following up on the anecdote from last night about Google Alerts... Here's the link: http://www.google.com/alerts. You can set up alerts for any keyword you want, and choose the frequency, and which media types (blogs, news, video, etc.) you want to receive. I get them for Esopus, Port Ewen and Rondout, and that way I don't miss any news about my area ... though I also have to wade through a lot of sports results for Rondout Valley schools, etc.

1/21/09: Env. Board meeting agenda

Proposed Agenda:
1. Roll call, approval of minutes and vouchers, etc.
2. Membership
3. Lighting survey
5. Recycling
6. Waterfront Board update
6. New business

Emily P: In addition to the agenda for tonight’s meeting, I would like everyone to think of some goals for the new year, particularly another tangible project that we can reasonably complete within the year. I think that by the end of tonight’s meeting we should have established completion dates for existing projects (lighting survey and recycling contract); discussed goals for the year to include a new project and long term goals; and a list of community events we want to head and/or participate in during the year (another sapling giveaway?, guest speaker, chestnut pull, Hudson Fulton, etc.).

Rosendale Starts Unofficial Swap Shack

Looks like the Rosendale transfer station is offering some "unofficial" ways for residents to swap usable stuff, rather than throw it out, according to an article in the Freeman.

Recycling Initiative- Flourescent lights

Based on the recylcing initiative conversation at last night's meeting, attached is a link to a website for a lamp recylcing company. I am not sure of the charge, but I have seen their lamp recyling boxes at major hospitals in the region during my site assessments. I think a box holds about 40 lamps. It's something to think about.

http://www.nlrlamp.com/resources.html

Emily

State Funds Esopus Weed Harvester

The Freeman reports today that Esopus will get "$59,088 to purchase a mechanical aquatic weed harvester to improve the town's aquatic vegetation control program, thereby preserving access to public beaches, use of non-motorized boating facilities and fishing areas of the river."

Looks like we might not have to do it by hand next year...

Environmental Board Meeting Oct. 15

The Town of Esopus Environmental Board will meet Wed., Oct. 15, at 7 p.m., in the Town of Esopus Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

Here is the agenda for the meeting:

1) Roll Call, Approval of Minutes and Vouchers
2) Report out on Budget
3) Energy Audit Update -- Plan to review streetlight activity
4) Recycling -- Status of grant and opportunities to beautify Recycling Center
5) Web Site and Communications update
6) Membership for 2009
7) New Business

See you there!

-Andy Bicking
Chairman, Town of Esopus Environmental Committee

Recycling Grant Opportunity

I saw this press release today. This may be a way to supplement our recycling initiative, using some of the data and grant info that's already been generated. It's a source of private recycling bins and expertise that won't require taxpayer money.

Deadline, though, is Oct. 17 -- not much time.


Washington DC, September 22, 2008 -- Coca-Cola and the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) today announced the third round of their recycling bin grant program designed to promote and support community recycling in the U.S. Through this innovative grant, recipients have the benefit of both the donated recycling bins and the expertise on how to set up recycling programs from the National Recycling Coalition. Grants will be provided for recycle bins at sporting events, music venues, schools and commercial locations. The grant program is part of Coca-Cola’s $60 million investment in recycling programs and initiatives in the U.S.

“We are excited to again partner with Coca-Cola to offer the recycling bin grant program to communities and businesses,” said Anjia Nicolaidis, deputy director of the National Recycling Coalition. “The program is designed to increase recycling rates across the country by helping to off-set the initial costs of recycling bins.”

The bin grant program leverages the purchasing power and expertise of the NRC and Coca-Cola to provide more recycling bins than would be possible if grant recipients were to purchase bins independently. The NRC also will contact grantees to offer guidance on setting up their recycling program and assessing recycling bin needs. NRC bin suppliers will then deliver bins directly to the recipients. Since its inception in the fall of 2007, the Bin Grant program has placed more than 5,700 recycling bins in 150 communities in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Recipients have included municipalities, colleges, Native American tribes, and community organizations.

The grant program is open to cities, governments and schools as well as non-profit groups and for-profit companies. Interested parties may apply for the grant
during spring and fall application periods at: http://bingrant.org/. The current submittal period is open through Friday, October 17^th. Grant recipients will be announced on America Recycles Day, November 15. Eligible grant activities include recycling programs at schools, universities, public parks and recreational facilities, sporting and cultural venues and events and commercial locations.

“Coca-Cola has a long history of designing packages that are recyclable and resource efficient and that have a high end-use value,” said Scott Vitters, director of sustainable packaging, The Coca-Cola Company. “We hope the bin grant program will further encourage communities to make recycling readily available as we work to continue to close the loop on our packages as well as other valuable recyclables.”

About the NRC
The NRC is a national, non-profit advocacy group with members that span all aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America. NRC’s objective is to eliminate waste and promote sustainable economies though advancing sound management practices for raw materials in North America. NRC works with its members and partners to sponsor programs and stakeholder forums that provide tools and nurture solutions for the recycling industry. Breaking new ground in how Americans think about waste, the Coalition is a strong and clear voice for recycling. For more information about the NRC please visit http://www.nrc-recycle.org/.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 450 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.5 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

2009 Hudson/Fulton Quadricentenial

The Town of Esopus has just received 5,000 tulips from the Ulster County Tourism Department. These were FREE...but we will need volunteers to help plant them the third week in October. What could be better for Town than to see all that color next Spring, and to remind us that nature has great gifts to give us. Help us celebrate the discovery of the Hudson River...contact me or Laura Petit to sign up to help.

Summary of New State Net-Metering Law

The Department of Energy publicized NY's new net-metering laws, which may be relevant for the town hall and other town buildings. Below are the most relevant portions. The rest is available here.

New York Governor David Paterson signed a legislative package on August 5 that will encourage people throughout the state to install grid-connected solar and wind power systems, systems that generate power from farm wastes, and green roofs. Most of the bills relate to net metering, which allows homeowners and businesses to earn credit for any excess power that they feed back into the electric grid. Senate Bill 7171 expands net metering to include non-residential solar power systems up to 2 megawatts in capacity, or equal in size to the customer's peak load, whichever is less, and increases the maximum solar power system size for residential customers to 25 kilowatts, up from 10 kilowatts. The bill also attempted to increase the limit for farm-based anaerobic digesters to 1 megawatt, but a separate bill, S. 8415, knocked the limit down to 500 kilowatts, which is still an improvement over the previous limit of 400 kilowatts. S. 7171 also requires each utility to develop a model contract and reasonable rates, terms, and conditions for net metering of non-residential customers, and to develop safety standards for interconnecting these customers. It also includes a requirement for an external disconnect switch, which is rarely needed for modern grid connection equipment.

Main Street Grant for Port Ewen

Good news for Port Ewen that I wanted to share. The way I see it, a healthy "downtown" Port Ewen will promote sustainability in the town as a whole. This is the text of a flier you may see around town:

Promoting Pride in Port Ewen is proud to announce the award of a $200,000 New York Main Street grant for the hamlet of Port Ewen

The funds will be available in the coming year, so we must get prepared to take advantage of this opportunity now. The work will focus on a concentrated target area on Broadway from the old Riverview Restaurant to the old Library Building.

Promoting Pride in Port Ewen is a group of citizens representing a large segment of the hamlet's population. We have been working for two years to build upon the enhancement of our Broadway corridor. We believe the New York Main Streets grant program is a great beginning towards the renewal of our beautiful hamlet.

The following three types of activities are eligible for funding:

• Façade Renovation - Matching grants of up to $10,000 per building. The grant for Port Ewen has $150,000 in funds available for Façade Renovation.
• Building Renovation - Matching grants of up to $50,000 per building for renovation of commercial/ civic space on first floor and residential units above. The grant for Port Ewen has $25,000 in funds available for Building Renovations on 5 residential units.
• Streetscape Enhancement - Since the NYS DOT has included trees and other can help us provide appropriate signs in accordance with a local signage plan, banners and other enhancements. The grant for Port Ewen has $25,000 available for streetscape enhancements.

To learn more about this grant opportunity, please attend our next meeting at the
Town of Esopus Library Monday, August, 25th at 6:30 pm

Please plan to attend if you operate a business, own a building in the target area, or wish to lean more about how we are planning to improve our hamlet in the years to come. For more information contact Loisingellis@hotmail.com