Celebrating Rachel Carson on Ada Lovelace Day

In honor of Women's History Month and Ada Lovelace Day, check out my blog post on environmental activist Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring...

Finally, a Place to Proplery Dispose of Drugs in Ulster County

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, which is partially funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, was created to bring hazardous waste disposal services into the community and to provide a drop off location for Ulster County residents. By offering alternatives for the safe disposal of household hazardous waste, Ulster County is taking a proactive role in protecting the environment by preventing these items from ending up in landfills or contaminating water sources and wastewater treatment plants.

This collection provides a free and safe disposal alternative for hazardous pesticides, solvents and household chemicals. Materials being accepted are lead and oil based paint (Note: latex paint will not be accepted as it is not a hazardous material), fertilizers, pesticides, household cleaners, paint solvents, hobby chemicals, etc. Also being accepted at the event are electronics for recycling for a $7 per carload fee: computers and their components, VCRs/DVD players, keyboards, printers, monitors/TVs, etc.

In addition to household hazardous waste and electronics, residents will also have the opportunity to discard their unused and/or expired medications at this event. When pills or liquid medicines are poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet they remain diluted in the water supply after treatment and these trace amounts are suspected of causing a range of health problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bring any prescription or over-the-counter pills, ointments, lotions and liquids for disposal. Liquid medications should be in their original packaging and inside sealable plastic bags. Pet medications are welcome as well. The entire container along with its medicine will be placed into a sealed waste receptacle.

A Deputy Sherriff of Ulster County will be on site to control the collection of these medications as well as to witness the best means of permanent disposal of medications at the Dutchess County Energy-From-Waste Facility located in Poughkeepsie. There is no charge for this service but registration for an appointment is required.

An appointment must be scheduled if you are interested in participating in the event. Please visit our website at www.ucrra.org or call the Recycling Hotline at (845) 336-3336 to request more information or to make an appointment.

Forum on Innovative New Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Financing Options is Feb. 27

The PACE program discussed below is a great option for homeowners, that allows you to invest in certain renewable energy and efficiency projects but pay them off over time. If you sell the house, the remaining payments are the responsibility of the new homeowner, and typically the deals are designed so your monthly energy savings is equal to or greater than the loan payments. The catch: It requires each local municipality to enact legislation creating the program. Here is info on an upcoming conference that includes information about the project and others:

KEEPING PACE WITH ENERGY OPTIONS:
A Briefing on New Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Initiatives
and Funding Strategies for Municipalities

Sat., Feb. 27, 9 AM - 1 PM
SUNY/New Paltz Lecture Center 102
(SNOW DATE: Sat., March 13)

This is a forum about new financing strategies for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, which will build momentum and create markets for green jobs.

· PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) programs, just authorized by NY State, enable property owners to upgrade buildings using low-cost loans without out-of-pocket upfront costs then repay the investment on their tax bill with dollars saved from reduced energy consumption. Renewable energy and efficiency upgrades can be designed to yield positive cash flow benefits from day one.
· Power Purchase Agreements allowing owners of large buildings to contract for solar installations and pay for installation costs out of energy cost-savings.
· NYSERDA's programs for local governments, businesses, and schools; including Green Job/Green NY.
· The Ten Percent Challenge, a framework to hasten the implementation of energy efficiency and renewables and draw attention to the Hudson Valley as a clean energy corridor.
· Vendor show with sustainable energy-related exhibits and other green businesses, which will showcase products and services with a sustainable lifestyle theme.

Featured Speakers include:

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill
Representative of the 101st Assembly District and
Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Energy.

Karen E. Villeneuve
Director of NYSERDA’s Residential Efficiency and Affordability Program

Jackson Morris
Senior Policy Advisor, Pace Energy and Climate Center (PECC), representing PECC and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in advancing clean energy policies in the State Capitol.

David Gabrielson, Councilman,
Town of Bedford's case study of a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) initiative

Patrice Courtney Strong
Outreach and educational services provider for New York State Energy Research & Development Authority
and coordinator of Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities.

Michael O'Hara
Director of Operations, Sustainable Hudson Valley, organizing the Ten Percent Challenge.

Sponsors and Collaborators: Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Hudson River Estuary Training Program, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Hudson Valley Regional Council, Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance, League of Women Voters of Mid-Hudson Region, Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities/NYSERDA , SUNY New Paltz Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO), and Sustainable Hudson Valley.


Endorsing Organizations (Partial List): Ashokan Center, Building Performance Contractors Association/NY State, Dutchess County Association of Supervisors and Mayors, Historic Hudson River Towns, Hudson Valley Climate Change Network, Independent Dutchess Energy Alliance (IDEA), The Nature Conservancy, New Paltz GreenWorks, Pace Energy and Climate Center, S3 Consulting, Ulster County Association of Town Supervisors and Mayors, US Green Building Council-NY Upstate Chapter.

Registration: Please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/K97DXYP to register. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to facilitate morning check in. Event is free, however tax-deductable donations are welcome; checks should be made payable to League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Parking: Please use Lot 2 for Lecture Center, located on the western edge of the campus off of Fairview Ave. From intersection of Rt. 299/32 and Rt. 208, turn south on Rt. 208, then turn left (east) onto Hasbrouck Ave., turn right onto Tricor Ave., turn left onto Mohonk Ave. and finally right onto Fairview Ave. Alternately, park at Sojourner Truth Library lot. See: www.newpaltz.edu/map for campus map

Volunteers Needed for Herring Survey

The DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program is seeking volunteers to help with a survey of river herring abundance in the Hudson's tributaries. The herring monitoring program runs from April 1 - May 31, at the time when herring would be expected to be spawning. Herring spend their lives in the ocean, but spawn in the tributaries of inland rivers like the Hudson. Up and down the Atlantic coast, herring numbers have been in steep decline, and other states have restricted or banned fishing for herring in order to encourage a recovery. Anecdotal evidence suggests the same decline is happening on the Hudson; however, until this survey began last year, scientists had little recent hard data to measure the abundance of herring in the Hudson (with the exception of American shad, the biggest of the herring, and for hundreds of years the most important food fish caught in the river; commercial fishing for shad is banned, starting in 2010 in an effort to correct historic population declines.) River herring numbers (blueback and alweife herring) may be in decline because they are caught in large numbers as bait for striped bass anglers. Black Creek once had a huge spawning run of herring, but anecdotal evidence suggests it has waned or even disappeared. Black Creek is the only monitoring site in Ulster County.

Volunteers are asked to look for signs of herring, at least twice a week for 15 minutes. Training will be provided and no experience is necessary.

For more information, email r3hermon@gw.dec.state.ny.us or call 845-256-3182.

The Hudson River Estuary Program is also currently taking public comment on its latest Action Agenda, the document that guides the public-private effort to restore and protect the Hudson River watershed. You can learn a lot just by reading the plan, but it's also good to comment if you want to support or criticize any aspects of the plan.

Winter Fun Day at Esopus Meadows Preserve is Monday, Jan. 18

From Scenic Hudson:

"Banish cabin fever by letting your kids do something fun, free -- and good for them -- on their day off. Join us on Monday, January 18 at our Esopus Meadows Preserve for our annual Winter Fun Day. In addition to sledding and ice skating, we'll offer guided snowshoe treks, tips on building snow caves and igloos and Native American fire-making demonstration.

"Activities will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the RSVP page for additional details and a schedule and directions."

Funding Source for Small Community Projects

Museums, afterschool programs, libraries, community centers, and other local organizations are encouraged to apply for mini-grants from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s “Celebrate Urban Birds” project. Grants average $250-$500 and are used to fund neighborhood events that may involve art, gardening, science, community service or other cultural activities. To apply for a mini-grant, visit www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org. Organizations working with underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply. No experience with birds is required.

Application deadline is February 15, 2010.

Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen science project in which participants watch birds in their neighborhoods and report what they see. This information helps scientists better understand how birds survive in cities and make use of green spaces, including parks and gardens.

New Watershed Mapping Tool Available

Here's a new and potentially useful tool for mapping natural resources in Esopus:

"Today, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance in partnership with the Hudson Valley Regional Council, unveiled a new mapping service that will help local decision makers and watershed groups better understand the environmental resources in their communities. The Hudson River Watershed Atlas is a regional online mapping service designed to enable users to visualize, explore, assess and better understand the natural resources and built systems of the Hudson River Estuary watershed.

"The Atlas is built using an Adobe PDF platform, which allows users to select from a menu of 28 informative data layers to customize their own map. There are a total of 20 map panels that together provide geographic coverage of the Hudson River Estuary watershed. Each panel includes 25 different data layers which can be independently turned on and off, with three different possible background layers. Examples of data layers include, among others, streams, hydric soils, wetlands, FEMA floodplains, potential environmental justice areas, MS4 communities, lakes and ponds, fishing and public access points.

"The Hudson River Watershed Atlas can be accessed at www.hudsonwatershed.org. The Hudson Valley Regional Council obtained a grant in 2007 to enhance the capacity of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance and to undertake several projects. The Watershed Atlas has been funded in part by a grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund through the Hudson River Estuary Program of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation."

Cap and Trade

I thought to share with you all Annie Leonard's (of The Story of Stuff) new offering, "The Story of Cap and Trade". By all accounts this is an introductory video to a very complex issue. It looks like more windfall profits for the financial industry and polluters with us holding the bag and suffering the consequences for a carbon tax by another name. She has it right, lets spend our effort on real carbon reducing like wind, solar and efficiency and not give the polluters new tools to fleece us. I read tonight that John Kerry is a big supporter of Cap and Trade but has failed to support the Cape Wind energy project in his own backyard. Dave Murray

16 September Events

The following are some of the potentially relevant and/or interesting September calendar items distributed by Manna Jo Greene:

Tues., Sept. 1, Wetland Habitat Creation and Turtle Conservation Science, a one day workshop in Dutchess County for land managers, regulators involved with review of wetland permits, environmental policy-makers, ecological restorationists, or researchers studying rare wetland animals. Led by Erik Kiviat, Tanessa Hartwig and Gretchen Stevens. www.hudsonia.org 845-758-0600.

Fri., Sept. 4, 11 AM - 3 PM, Open Garden Day. Visit Master Gardener demonstration gardens- Shade, Edible Landscape, Xeriscape, Bird & Butterfly, plus the Nutrition Education (Grow a Row for the Hungry) and Biomass for Heat Crops gardens. Free tours at 11 & 1, garden information table, delicious food samples prepared from our garden harvest. Everyone is welcome!, Dutchess County Farm & Home Center, 2715 Rt 44, Millbrook. Questions? Contact Nancy Halas (horticulture) 845-677-8223 x 115, nh26@cornell.edu or Joy Weber-Maass (foods/nutrition) 845-677-8223 x 116, jw649@cornell.edu

Fri., Sept. 4, 7 pm & Sat. Sep. 5 (11-5, 7pm concert). CATSKILL MOUNTAIN ECO-HERITAGE FESTIVAL. Alternative energy demos & displays, interpretive walks, colonial craft demos, "Stories of the Catskills" by the Woodstock Oral History Collective, music by: Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Mike & Ruthy, Rich Bala & the Barefoot Boys. Food available for purchase throughout the day. $5/person (Sat. day). $10/person for concert & dance. The Ashokan Center, Olivebridge, NY. (845) 657-8333. www.AshokanCenter.org .

Thurs. Sept. 17, 8am-2pm THE SEQRA SOLUTION: FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE, SUNY New Paltz, Explore and discuss how SEQRA could be revised or applied more efficiently. Featuring officials, developers, attorneys and environmental advocates. $40 members, $50 non-members, $30 municipal officials. Agenda information at www.pattern-for-progress.org or call 845-565-4900 for more information

Thurs., Sept. 17, Oct 1 & 15 • 6 - 9 pm, Intro to Permaculture Design. This holistic approach to land stewardship reaches beyond the concept of sustainable design and culminates in a dynamic, productive, and energy efficient design for your urban or rural home landscape, your garden and orchard, or your communities and villages. Stone Ridge Campus & Camp Epworth. Continuing Education: 845-339-2025, www.sunyulster.edu, $125

Sat., Sept. 19, noon - 3 pm, Raising Chickens 101. Learn the fun facts about raising chickens at home for fun or profit. Learn to care for your mature chickens including coop design ideas, predator control, health issues, and proper feeding. Little Egg Farm, Stone Ridge. Continuing Education: 845-339-2025, www.sunyulster.edu, $49

Sat. & Sun., Sept 19 & 20, Noon to 6 p.m., WORKING ON WATER BOAT TOUR. Free rides and deck tours on historic tugs, fireboat, PT boat, educational activities, free trolley rides and lighthouse tours. Rondout Waterfront, Kingston. Schedule: www.WorkingOnWater.org

Sept. 24-27. BOUNTY OF THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY. NYSOEA's annual conference (nysoea.org/conference.htm). Pre-conference field trips to Constitution Marsh, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum and Scenic Hudson parks, with a special sail on the Clearwater. Workshops will be held along the banks of the Hudson in Beacon and on the Fishkill Ridge/Hudson Highlands at the Fresh Air Fund's Sharpe Reservation. Arm of the Sea will present their new Quadricentennial show. shereth@scenichudson.org

Fri., Sept. 25, 7 p.m. THE HUDSON RIVER: TRANSFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING. A special evening of art and science. Freshwater Ecologist Dr. David Strayer will discuss how human actions have transformed the Hudson River and its watershed. Following the seminar will be a reception for landscape painter Rebecca Allan; her work inspired by riparian environments, including the Hudson River watershed. Cary Institute Auditorium, 2801 Sharon Tpk., Millbrook. Free. RSVPs appreciated. 677-7600 x121 or freeman@caryinstitute.org

Sat., Sept. 26 (tentative time 9am-3:30pm) BIG ANNUAL MID-HUDSON SIERRA TAG SALE at the New Hackensack Church, Rt. 376, Wappingers Fall; indoors, rain/shine. Contact Bibi at bibis@juno.com

Sat., Sept., 26, 10-4, 7TH ANNUAL MARGARETVILLE CAULIFLOWER FESTIVAL sponsored by Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce. Margaretville Village Park. A FREE celebration of agricultural heritage, local food and community. Tractor Parade at 11:30 a.m. Continuous entertainment; Pure Catskills, Forestry, History and Wellness Tents; food by local restaurants; cooking demos; kid stuff; fine art and crafts. Rain or shine! www.cauliflowerfestival.com . 845-586-3300

Sat., Sept. 26 • 10 am - 1 pm, A Day at the Farmers Market. Learn why you should buy local, and taste the bounty of our area with special samples set up just for this class. The class will have a picnic lunch with their purchases from the market. You will receive a printed set of recipes using fresh local ingredients. Kingston Farmers Market Continuing Education: 845-339-2025, www.sunyulster.edu, $29

Sat., Sep 26, 7:30 p.m. NIKOLA TESLA: THE ENIGMA, filmmaker Milan Cupurdija talks about Tesla, who invented wireless communication, robotics, and attempted to bring unlimited electric power to the entire world. Demonstrations of inventions. At Unitarian Congregation, 320 Sawkill Rd. Kingston. Presented by the HV Humanists, Ed Poll (845) 247-0098, $4 donation

Tues., Sept 29 & Weds., Sept. 30, 9:00-4:45. STATE OF THE HUDSON RIVER WATERSHED: A Conference on the Ecological Status of the Hudson and its Tributaries, presented by the HRES, HRWA, and many more organizations, in Hyde Park. For information and registration, see www.hres.org or www.hudsonwatershed.org . Cost: $95 before 9/18.

Tues., Sept .29, 5:30 - 8:30 pm, Hudson River Environmental Society’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Award Dinner, featuring Hudson River author, Robert Boyle, at the Terrapin, Dinsmore Golf Club, 5371 Albany Post Road (Rte 9), Staatsburg. For details and on-line registration: www.hres.org

Weds., Sept. 30, 6PM, LEAST-COST METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING, USGBC NY Upstate Hudson Valley Branch answers a question from Ulster YouthBuild Partnership, Sponsored by Cuddy & Feder LLP, Skytop Steakhouse, Kingston NY, Contact Michelle Garesché, 917-282-5248, mgaresche@ccooperassociates.com , www.greenupstateny.org , suggested donation $ see website.

Esopus Accepts Solar Power Bid

From the July 21 Freeman:

PORT EWEN — The Town Board has approved a $492,000 contract with Balston Spa-based contractor Alteris Renewables to install a solar energy system expected to meet 52 percent of electric needs for the Esopus Town Hall.

Read the rest of the story here.