celebrating our 44th year in environmental education€¦ · registration open for 2017 canal clean...

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ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse Celebrating Our 44th Year in Environmental Education Vol. XLV Number 5 April 2017 ECOS NEWS 1 ECOS Annual Dinner Tuesday, April 25 Guest Speaker, Aaron Mair, President of the National Board, Sierra Club “Building an environment movement in a failing democracy.” See insert for details. Earth Day Saturday, April 22 Arbor Day Friday, April 28 ECOS Spring Agriculture Lecture Series March 29: A talk about the history and future of Schenectady's Greenmarket and other local farmers' markets, by John Mishanec, president of the Green- market, will be held 7 pm at Niskayuna Recreation Center, 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna. For infor- mation, call 370-4125 or email [email protected] April 12: A talk about wheat, baking and grain pro- duction in the Capital Region, by Amy Halloran, baker, blogger and author from Troy, will be held 7 pm at Niskayuna Recreation Center, 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna. For information, call 370-4125 or email [email protected] Executive Director’s Report THANK YOU!! After 17 years at ECOS the time has come for me to explore new opportunities. It has been an amazing 17 years with the friends I’ve made, the fun we’ve had and everything I have had the opportunity to learn. Please have patience with the board as they move ECOS forward. And if you’re ever out near Fonda stop in at Alpacas at Clear View Farm and say hi. Thank you, Patrick Clear Stewart’s Holiday Match ECOS would like to thank Stewart’s Shops for our grant of $1,000 from the Stewart’s Holiday Match. The funds will be used for children’s education pro- grams in 2017. In Memorial ECOS is saddened by the loss of founding member Eleanor Brown on February 24 th . Her passion and commitment to the environment helped shape ECOS and inspired people to make a difference.

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Page 1: Celebrating Our 44th Year in Environmental Education€¦ · Registration Open for 2017 Canal Clean Sweep The NYS Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York need your help for

ECOS: The Environmental ClearinghouseECOS: The Environmental ClearinghouseECOS: The Environmental ClearinghouseECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse

Celebrating Our 44th Year in Environmental Education

Vol. XLV Number 5 April 2017

ECOS NEWS

1111

ECOS Annual Dinner

Tuesday, April 25

Guest Speaker, Aaron Mair, President of the National Board, Sierra Club

“Building an environment movement

in a failing democracy.”

See insert for details.

Earth Day

Saturday, April 22

Arbor Day

Friday, April 28

ECOS Spring Agriculture Lecture Series

March 29: A talk about the history and future of Schenectady's Greenmarket and other local farmers' markets, by John Mishanec, president of the Green-market, will be held 7 pm at Niskayuna Recreation Center, 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna. For infor-mation, call 370-4125 or email [email protected]

April 12: A talk about wheat, baking and grain pro-duction in the Capital Region, by Amy Halloran, baker, blogger and author from Troy, will be held 7 pm at Niskayuna Recreation Center, 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna. For information, call 370-4125 or email [email protected]

Executive Director’s Report

THANK YOU!!

After 17 years at ECOS the time has come for me to explore new opportunities. It has been an amazing 17 years with the friends I’ve made, the fun we’ve had and everything I have had the opportunity to learn.

Please have patience with the board as they move ECOS forward.

And if you’re ever out near Fonda stop in at Alpacas at Clear View Farm and say hi.

Thank you, Patrick Clear

Stewart’s Holiday Match

ECOS would like to thank Stewart’s Shops for our grant of $1,000 from the Stewart’s Holiday Match. The funds will be used for children’s education pro-grams in 2017.

In Memorial

ECOS is saddened by the loss of founding member Eleanor Brown on February 24th. Her passion and commitment to the environment helped shape ECOS and inspired people to make a difference.

Page 2: Celebrating Our 44th Year in Environmental Education€¦ · Registration Open for 2017 Canal Clean Sweep The NYS Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York need your help for

ECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWS

ECOS NEWS

published ten times annually by

ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse, Inc.

P.O. Box 9118, Niskayuna, NY 12309

Office Phone: (518) 370-4125

E-mail: [email protected]

www.ecosny.org

Executive Director: Patrick Clear

Office Assistant: Judy Smith

Fiscal Clerk: JoAnn Clear

Editor: Pauline Bono

Webmaster: Cliff Rhodes

Office Hours: Mon., Wed. & Thurs.

10 am — 3 pm and by appointment.

Board of Directors

President

Will Seyse

Vice President for Programs

Art Clayman

Vice President for Outreach

Arden Rauch

Secretary

Holly Hawkes

Treasurer

Bruce Bonacquist

Patricia Doyle Roberta Farrell

Margaret Litwin Jim Ormsbee

Juliana Post-Good Rick Robinson

Darwin Roosa Pat Rush

William Shapiro Peter Tobiessen

Barbara Walton

ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse

is a non-political, not-for-profit organization.

Our mission is to provide environmental

information and educational opportunities that

enhance appreciation of the natural world,

to build a community that is aware and

knowledgeable about environmental issues,

and to advocate informed action to preserve

our natural resources. ECOS is funded through

the support of our members and the community.

2222

iGive.com

Shopping online this Holiday Season? If you are then you can support your favorite charity, AT NO EX-TRA COST TO YOU, by visiting www.iGive.com. Over 800 of you favorite stores and catalogs partici-pate in this program in which the retailer donates a portion of your purchase to your favorite charity. In addition, there are special discounts and sales avail-able through iGive.com. ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse has raised over $200 through this pro-gram so far.

eBay Giving Works

Did you receive a holiday gift you don’t want or need? Sell it on eBay and support ECOS. eBay Giv-ing Works is the dedicated program for charity list-ings where you can buy or sell items to support non-profit organizations. This program enables you to list items on eBay and donate part or all of the final sale price to your favorite nonprofit organizations. Since 2000, more than $81 million has been raised for char-ity from listings sold on eBay worldwide. To learn how the program works visit ebay.com and click on Giving Works. ECOS: The Environmental Clearing-house is participating in this program.

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ECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWS

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Bud & Sally Halsey 518-393-5711

Rowing Shells

Rentals Lessons Repairs

2855 Aqueduct Rd. Schenectady, N.Y. 12309

(off Balltown Rd. at Rexford Bridge)

PETE FRISONI

Owner

BARK EATER TREE SERVICE Technical Removals & Stump Grinding

Quality Pruning

(518) 381-4325 Fully Insured for Your Protection

Fernfeather Designs

Jewelry Touched by Nature

Designs also by Request

Pauline Sue Liebig 6A Gurry Circle

Watervliet, NY 12189-2340

518.713.4860 [email protected]

COME WALK WITH US,

FOR FUN, FITNESS

AND FRIENDSHIP

EMPIRE STATE

CAPITAL VOLKSSPORTERS

WALKING FOR A GREEN PLANET!

For more information, to read our newsletters

and see our walk schedule,

go to: www.walkescv.org

[email protected]

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ECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWS

4444

ECOS Membership ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse, Inc.

P.O. Box 9118, Niskayuna, NY 12309 (518) 370-4125

Please check your membership contribution level. ____ $30. Individual ____ $55. Donor/Organization ____ $250. Benefactor ____ $40. Family ____ $125. Sustainer ____ $500. Patron $____ Additional Donation Please make your check payable to: ECOS Name________________________________________________ Phone__________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________________ Email:______________________________________________

____ As a GE employee (or retiree) my contribution is eligible for GE Foundation Matching Funds. I have registered with GE for the matching gift by computer at www.gefoundation.com. (If you do not have computer access, call customer service at 1-800-305-0669.) ____ My employer will match my contribution. I’ve enclosed my matching gift form. ____ I would like to be a volunteer. Please send me more information.

ECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWS

Registration Open for 2017 Canal Clean Sweep

The NYS Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York need your help for the annual Canal Clean Sweep. Last year's event was a great success, but we want to make this year's Clean Sweep even bigger! There's two great ways to chip in for Canal Clean Sweep.

Register a new Clean Sweep event Get a group together and register to clean your favorite section of trail or a canal side park. We'll send you instructions, garbage bags, and even help you recruit additional volunteers by posting your event to the Event Finder Map.

Volunteer at an existing event Looking to chip in without having to organize? Volunteer for an existing Clean Sweep event that is convenient for your schedule and location. Use the Event Finder Map to find a suitable event, register as a volun-teer, and we'll make sure that the local event organizer knows you're coming. www.ptny.org

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will be hosting a volun-teer event on Saturday, April 22nd (EARTH DAY!) starting around 8am.

Please contact me for more details. Sign up using Parks & Trails New York online form: http://www.ptny.org/events/canal-clean-sweep (it helps us keep track of volunteer hours)

Free shirts while supplies last!

Albany Pine Bush Citizen Science:

American Woodcock Training Session Thursday, April 13 7pm

The American Woodcock is one of the first birds back to the Albany Pine Bush in the spring and it starts singing and display-ing just as quickly. Unfortunately this intriguing species has also been declining in number since the 1960s. For this reason, the American Woodcock is a species of interest in the preserve and one we would like to monitor, but we need your help! Join us this evening to learn how you can become a Citizen Scientist and help us monitor American Woodcock in the preserve. Ages 15+. Free! Pre-registration is required at www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events

Albany Pine Bush EARTH DAY Saturday, April 22, 9am-Noon

Come celebrate Earth Day by volunteering on a conservation project in the Pine Bush. A variety of activities suitable for all ages will be taking place. All equipment will be provided. Please dress appropriately for the weather and outside working conditions and bring drinking water. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers. All ages and groups are welcome. Free! Pre-registration is required at www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events.

Page 5: Celebrating Our 44th Year in Environmental Education€¦ · Registration Open for 2017 Canal Clean Sweep The NYS Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York need your help for

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A PLACE FOR FOLK 2017 A PLACE FOR FOLK 2017 A PLACE FOR FOLK 2017 A PLACE FOR FOLK 2017 Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady

1221 Wendell Avenue, Schenectady 12308

www.aplaceforfolk.org

RYANHOODRYANHOODRYANHOODRYANHOOD Friday, April 21Friday, April 21Friday, April 21Friday, April 21stststst at 7:30 pm at 7:30 pm at 7:30 pm at 7:30 pm

Opening will be OG Kush Hang w/ an Alien Opening will be OG Kush Hang w/ an Alien Opening will be OG Kush Hang w/ an Alien Opening will be OG Kush Hang w/ an Alien (Steven Metivier) (Steven Metivier) (Steven Metivier) (Steven Metivier)

Named “Best Group/Duo” in the 2014 International Acoustic Music Awards, acoustic-duo Ryanhood got their first break more than a decade ago as street-performers at Boston’s Quincy Market.

For tickets and information visit www.aplaceforfolk.org

ECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWS

President’s Letter

Our All-Member Meeting was held March 6th at the Niskayuna Recreation Center with a nice turnout to hear our guest speaker, Tom Swyers, speak about writing a legal thriller, The Killdeer Connection. The plot involves bird watching, the fracking in-dustry, and freight transportation of crude oil. His topic and presentation were well received.

Our business meeting had a last minute agenda adjustment as our Executive Director Patrick Clear notified us that he was resigning to accept a new position that would be a salary in-crease and involve less commuting. The Board and audience know the value he has brought to ECOS, and wished him well in his new endeavors. No one has served more years in this capac-ity and Patrick’s energies will be missed.

Your Board will be taking necessary actions to fulfill our mis-sion, maintain our community presence, and manage the office and business end of ECOS in the immediate future. We will see that our newsletter gets published, our bills get paid, and we will provide as many programs as possible. We welcome your sug-gestions and comments as we work to continue what ECOS has done so well in the past.

ECOS is a child of the first “Earth Day” as much as anything, and has witnessed many victories for the environment in the last forty-plus years. Now we have concerns that federal regulations will be changed that will result in increased pollution of water-ways and our atmosphere. We must remember that the need for environmental education is as important as ever, that the need for accurate information (a clearinghouse, if you will) is as im-portant as ever, and our work is as important as ever.

We welcome your continued support and ask that you introduce ECOS to a friend or neighbor

Will Seyse

Swim With Swain at the

New York Power Authority

Christopher Swain is coming back to our area. Everyone loved him as a speaker for ECOS. Now you can see him again.

Travel the world with the Travelogue Series at the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center! The photograph and video programs, taking armchair travelers to destinations around the world, are held at the project’s visitor’s center theater starting at 2:00 p.m.

March 26 - Swim With Swain - Join Christopher Swain, envi-ronmental advocate, who has been swimming and advocating for our waterways since 1996, as he tells stories about some of his swimming adventures in our most polluted waterways.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. Light refreshments are served after each program. 1378 State Route 30, North Blen-heim, NY 12131 (800) 724-0203

First Ever WAVE Workshop Thursday, April 6

Registration is now open for the first ever Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE) workshop, which will be held on Thursday, April 6 at Peebles Island State Park in Waterford, NY. This workshop is open to the public and will cover topics related to analyzing sampling results, developing or modifying study plans, implementing best management practices to im-prove water quality conditions, communicating sampling results to community leaders, and watershed planning.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/92229.html

Memorial Gifts in Memory of Chet Harvey

Mary Anderson Mary Louise & Kraig Armstrong Jeff & Reed Asher Flo Bigelow Suzanne & Dan Brunelle Denise Cashmere Beverly & Russell Clark Elizabeth & John Collins Kathleen Earle Norman & Millie Gittinger Patricia Goodale Howard & Emily Hart Roy & Sue Keats Carol Kirk Ed Miller Nancy Papish Dan & Melinda Perrin Nancy Peterson & Ed Kautz David & Kendra Pratt Arden Rauch Patricia Rush Ruth & Tom Schottman Will Seyse George & Katherine Starzmann Helen Steiner Lillian Stern Fred & Virginia Thompson Peter & Joanne Tobiessen Nancy Walden Harry & Sandy Willis

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ECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWSECOS NEWS

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Falconer Natural History

2017 Spring Lecture Series Sponsored by the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center

at the University at Albany

You are cordially invited to attend a series of free public lec-tures to be held TUESDAY EVENINGS at 8:00 p.m. in the Sul-livan Auditorium, CESTM Building, University at Albany, 251 Fuller Road, Albany, NY

March 28 Michael Kitto, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, University at Albany “Occurrence of Radon in Air and Water in New York State.”

April 4 Dr. Joshua R. Ginsberg, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies “Science in a counterfactual world: why data matters to manage-ment.”

April 18 Andrew Newhouse, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry “The Return of the American Chestnut: New Technologies Solving Old Problems.”

April 25 Lawrence Syzdek, Emeritus Scientist, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center “There's life in the air. What's causing my allergies?”

May 2 Prof. Dennis V. Kent, Rutgers University. Geological Climate Change.

May 9 Dr. Charles Brock, NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO “Mapping the Formation and Growth of Aerosol Particles from the Arctic to the Antarctic: The Atmospheric Tomography Pro-ject.”

Union College Kelly Adirondack Center

in Coordination with UCALL

The Debate over Navagability

A lecture and discussion with John W. Caffry Thursday, March 16 5:30 p.m.

Old Chapel Union College

Light refreshments beginning at 5:00 p.m.

In the mid-19th century, the rivers of the state were declared public highways to allow their use for transportation of logs to market, regardless of whether they ran over public or private land. This principle was “forgotten” late in the century. Since the late 20th century, recreational paddlers testing the public use concept have been arrested for trespass.

An exposition of both sides of the question that probes the age-old question of how a park composed of public and private land should be managed.

John Caffry is a 1984 graduate of the University of Pennsyl-vania Law School and was admitted to the New York State bar in 1985. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He graduated cum laude from Middlebury College in 1980.

Caleb Northrop Special Assistant to the President's Office and Kelly Adirondack Center Union College (518) 388-6305 www.union.edu/adirondacks/

ECOS is testing the “waters”…

No Octane Boat Sale

Is there enough interest in our occasional “No Octane Boat Sale” to again sponsor the fundraiser this spring? Canoes, kay-aks, sail boats, and related gear are either sold by ECOS on a commission basis, or donated to ECOS in which case the donor will receive a statement of value for tax purposes.

Last year only three members expressed interest in participating and the sale had to be canceled.

If you have a forgotten or underused boat that deserves more active use with a new owner please contact the ECOS office to express tentative interest in a sale this spring. 370-4125 or [email protected]

Strawberry Fields Nature Preserve

On May 20th 10 AM help celebrate opening of Strawberry Fields Nature Preserve to the public. ECOS members welcome. Gather at the kiosk, hear a few words, then take a short walk. The preserve is located at 240 Cranes Hollow Road, Amster-dam. Look for sign on right “LEON 240 Private Road.” Turn right and go up the very steep driveway until you come to the parking area on the left.

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Speaker Talks Sustainability, Partisanship and Coming Environmental Challenges

Mead Binhammer, Union Intern

Dr. Eban Goodstein, Director of the Center for Environmental Policy at Bard College, spoke via webcam on February 13 in the Olin Auditorium at Union College. The talk, titled, “The Long View on President Trump and a Sustainable Future”, addressed the modern political history of environmental regulations and partisan-ship, while also providing a view and understanding of the ominous policy agenda of congressional Republi-cans under President Trump. Goodstein, speaking via webcam due to poor road conditions following a snowstorm the day before, presented background and current information regarding the increasingly partisan nature of environmental issues in to-day’s government. He noted that in the 1970’s and 80’s, voting records of Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress were much more similar than today. Republicans supported around 40% of environmental legis-lation, while Democrats backed approximately 60% of these measures. Today, that rift has developed mark-edly, with Republicans voting for just 10% or so of environmental bills, and Democrats coming close to 90% support. This trend held true in public opinion polling, too, Goodstein noted, as voters identifying as Democrats or Re-publicans have never been so divided on the issue of public funding for the environment. While citizens be-longing to either of the two parties had very similar ideas in the 1970’s on this subject, today they are more separated than ever. Democrats largely support public funding for environmental issues, while Republicans largely oppose it. With the increasing partisanship surrounding environmental issues, Goodstein noted the changes in the Repub-lican party that have lead to such a breach. He differentiated between three different factions of the party: moderates, movement conservatives and right wing populists. The moderates, for whom he used John Kasich as an example, were the Republicans of the late 20th century, and have often shown support for environmental actions such as regulation and conservation. The politicians currently dominating the Republican Party, how-ever, are the movement conservatives. Opposed to environmental spending, public land holding and any envi-ronmental regulations whatsoever, these Republicans, such as Ted Cruz, do not list environmental legislation as an important issue. The Right Wing Populists, to which Goodstein attributed President Trump, are similar to the aforementioned movement conservatives in that they oppose the vast majority of environmental legisla-tion, and discredit science in an attempt to remove issues such as climate change from public consideration. Goodstein warned of a looming challenge and potential disaster, as Donald Trump’s presidency comes at a critical time for the planet. Noting the Paris treaty that President Trump has threatened to negate, Goodstein pointed out that action on climate change must be taken now if we are to avoid impending 10,000-year reper-cussions. The modern Republican Party, particularly under Trump’s presidency, has chosen to negate environ-mental issues in favor of addressing others. Goodstein cautioned that this could be dangerous, and advised that other large emitters, such as China, as well as large businesses, must take on sustainability as their own initia-tive in order to combat the climate denial coming from the White House. The United States will face challenges in the coming years concerning environmental action and legislation, however Goodstein suggested that with widespread public action, change can be made. Promoting sustainable businesses and practices can help to turn the tide away from fossil fuel consumption. With the help of strong, sensible, international action on climate change, Goodstein suggested that the next four years could be a bump in the road for the environment, instead of the devastating roadblock feared by many.

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ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse is located in the Niskayuna Community Center,

2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna, NY.

ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse P.O. Box 9118

Niskayuna, NY 12309

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit

U.S. Postage

Paid

Permit #20

Rexford, NY

Schenectady County Continues to Expand Solar Program

The Schenectady County Environmental Advisory Council (SCEAC) is excited to pass along information recently presented to the County Legislature’s Committee on Environmental Conservation, Renewable Energy & Parks by County Attorney Chris Gardner and recently carried in the Gazette regarding the County’s Solar Program successes and current/future projects. Mr. Gardner pro-vided details on Phase 1 accomplishments and Phase II projects that are now under development. Full details can be found on the Schenectady County website (see below) but some of the highlights of the program include the following:

Schenectady County (as of January 31, 2017) has saved over $200,000 in electrical costs and avoided over 1,000 tons of CO2 emis-sions.

Existing projects produce more than 10% of the County’s current usage.

Phase II projects, currently underway, include the Niskayuna Commerce Park Solar Farm and Rotterdam Burdeck Street Solar Farm.

Phase III, which will be before the County Legislature at its March 14th meeting, if approved, will be at a property owned by the County adjacent to Wedgewood Heights in the Town of Rotterdam.

In October of 2016 the County Legislature approved a resolution directing the County Manager to take steps toward the County achieving energy independence (to the extent practical) by 2020. This program includes installation of LED lighting in County fa-cilities and increasing the County’s reliance on solar-powered energy. The County will also be releasing details of planned Phase III solar projects soon, which will include partnering with local governments to improve energy efficiency and financial savings.

The Press Release, which includes additional details on Phase I projects, can be found on the Schenectady County website at: http://www.schenectadycounty.com/content/schenectady-county-solar-projects-save-taxpayers-200000-while-avoiding-1000-tons-co2