Long Island
And the winners are...
Our 2010 Environmentalist of the Year is dark-sky advocate Susan Harder (International Dark Sky Association, darksky.org). For more than a decade, she has worked with municipalities, New York State, lighting professionals and our local utility to reduce the negative impacts to wildlife and wasted energy that result from light pollution. An awards luncheon was scheduled for March 26.
Also invited to be our honored guests at the awards luncheon were the winners of LI Group’s first annual research competition, Going Green on Long Island Using Alternative Energy. Katherine Boyce (first place, Wantagh High School), Paige Buzard (second, Smithtown West High School), Alexander Hayden (third, Brentwood High School) and Nidhi Kamer (honorable mention, Bay Shore High School) wrote ingenious proposals involving tidal, solar, electromagnetism and wind, respectively.
BILL STEGEMANN
Mid-Hudson
DEC stands firm in saving Williams Lake
Our group was busy this past fall: in September, we held a successful tag sale under the able leadership of our fundraising chair, David Friedman. Although the sale was held outdoors, his idea of renting a truck to collect and store items the day before proved to be a big help. Among our members, the tag sale seems to be our most popular activity: we thank our good cadre of volunteers and donors!
Our program meeting in October featured a presentation by environmental educator and author Bruce Hopkins. He spoke about how his childhood in the Catskills has influenced his life and writings. In November, we showed a highly inspirational film, “Monumental: David Brower’s Fight for Wild America.”
On the conservation front, our most active issue continues to be our efforts to preserve Williams Lake in Rosendale. The DEC has refused to accept the developer’s DEIS on the grounds that some of their studies fail to meet the requirements of the scoping document.
Noted karst geologist Dr. Ralph Ewers, who was hired by the Town of Rosendale, issued a highly critical review of their hydrogeological studies. The developer (Hudson River Valley Resorts), while attempting to discredit Dr. Ewers’ report and argue for the release of the DEIS, has been engaged in a public relations blitz extolling the supposed benefits of their proposed development.
So far, however, under pressure from Save the Lakes’ lawyers and scientific evidence submitted by local hydrologist Paul Rubin, whose work on this issue has been supported, in part, by Group and Chapter Foundation monies, the DEC has held firm on requiring more comprehensive studies of the complex karst geology underlying the site. Our partners in Save the Lakes have been diligent in keeping the public informed about the latest developments through their website: www.savethelakes.us.
Newly-certified Outings Chair Andy Moss, who attended the National Outings Leader training held at Black Rock Forest in July, has been making plans to revive our outings program. Keep up on all Atlantic Chapter outings by signing up online atwww.meetup.com/sierraclubny.
We are planning our new members’ party as well as program meetings for the third Wednesdays in April, May, and June.
MARIE CARUSO
Niagara
Presentations focus on fracking, climate change
The Niagara Group recently heard an excellent presentation by Chris Burger concerning the dangers posed by hydrofracking. Another very important piece of information was furnished to us concerning Bill McKibben’s speech about climate warming. This report was compiled by Nan and Walter Simpson. And Lynda Schneekloth gave us an excellent report from the Western New York Environmental Alliance 2010 Congress.
The Group continues to meet monthly, and several new members are attending. Bob Ciesielski, our chairperson, does an excellent job in giving everyone time to bring issues before us. Larry Beahan and Art Klein often have letters to the editor or even longer pieces in the Buffalo News.
Ongoing issues for us include protecting wetlands and forests, opposing any further expansion of the Chemical Waste hazardous waste site in Niagara County, and advocating for removal of a six-mile section of the Robert Moses Parkway along the Niagara Gorge so that this land can be restored to parkland.
CHARLES LAMB