January Meeting

The next meeting of the Beacon Conservation Advisory Committee is Tuesday, January 25th, 2011. We will meet at 7pm, in the police training room at 1 Municipal Plaza. Read more about CAC's in other Dutchess County communities on the Cornell University Cooperative Extension page, http://www.ccedutchess.org.

December Meeting

The next meeting is Tuesday, December 28th, 2010. We will meet in the police training room at the Municipal Center at 7pm.

Hazardous Products Usage Tips

If you must use hazardous products, please:

• Take inventory of your current supplies before you start a project.
• Buy the smallest quantity needed to get the job done. More is not always better.
• Use up household cleaners, bug sprays, stains, etc. Place the empty containers in the trash.
• Donate usable leftovers to a friend, neighbor, relative or community group.
• Safely store unwanted hazardous products for household hazardous waste cleanup days.
• Spread the word and help keep hazardous products out of the trash and out of our streams and air.

Courtesy of Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency

Choose Non-Hazardous Products

Avoid Health Hazards in Your Home by Choosing Safer Products

• Use latex paint whenever possible. Look for the nontoxic seal on art and craft supplies.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn for a natural source of nitrogen.
• Use natural fertilizers and insects (ladybugs, praying mantids) for gardens and plants.
• Use scrapers, heat guns or sand paper instead of solvents to remove old paints and finishes.
• Use borax, a natural mineral cleanser and degreaser, with a damp sponge. Add citrus oil for stubborn grease.
• Use baking soda and water to make a paste as a scouring cleanser.
• Use hydrogen peroxide to bleach food stains and to kill many household germs.
• Use 2 teaspoons tea tree oil and 2 cups water in a spray bottle to eradicate mold.
• Use 1 cup white vinegar in 1 quart water to clean windows. Spray on and rub off with newspaper.
• Boil 1 lemon with water to cover in burned pots and pans. Scrub with the lemon water to make pots glisten.
• Use a drain cleaner and flush drains weekly with boiling water. For clogs, use a plunger or mechanical snake. 
• Use cedar chips to freshen clothes and fabrics. Make dried lavender sachets for drawers and closets.
• Add brewer's yeast or garlic to your pet's diet to keep fleas away.

Courtesy of the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency.

Bikeable Beacon - December meeting -Postponed

Bikeable Beacon is a project created to raise awareness of the needs of bicyclists in Beacon. We would also like to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation in order to reduce traffic congestion along Main Street. And we are planning a community bike ride in honor of National Bike Month in May.

CAC members, local business owners and residents met in October. The participants discussed the need for safe bike routes and bike parking areas. 

The next meeting has been postponed until January. Happy Holidays!

Bikeable Beacon Map

Recycling at Major Retailers

In addition to plastic bags, several of the large stores in our area recycle household items. Look for the kiosks near the entrance or customer service counters.

Home Depot: plastic bags, compact fluorescent light bulbs, rechargeable power tool batteries. This store also offers a lead battery exchange.

Target: plastic bags, MP3 players, ink cartridges, cell phones, and watch batteries.

Lowe's: string lights (Christmas tree lights), batteries, and plastic bags.


Please forward other stores and recycling opportunities to beaconcac@gmail.com.

Donate coats and clothing

Community Coat Drive - Mid Hudson Subaru, 1715 Route 9, Wappingers Falls. Mid Hudson Subaru, Lite FM, Fidelis Care and the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce  are hosting a coat drive for gently used coats to be donated to local families. Coats can be donated through December 18 and will be distributed to Dutchess, Orange and Ulster county agencies. 845-296-1152.

Clothing Drive - Fishkill Church of the Nazarene, 953 Main Street, Fishkill. Clothing drive to benefit the needy. Donations accepted through December 11. Event to give donations will be at the church December 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.


Courtesy of the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Application for CAC Membership

To become a voting CAC member, please fill out the Committee Application. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the month in the police training room at 1 Municipal Plaza. The meetings begin at 7pm.

Environmental Changes in the Hudson Valley

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County panel discussion titled "Environmental Challenges in the Hudson Valley" 7-9 p.m. on Thursday Dec. 2 2010.

Location:   Student Lounge in Vanderlyn Hall at the SUNY Ulster campus, 491 Cottekill Road.

"Environmental Challenges in the Hudson Valley" will include the following topics:

·  "Major Environmental Threats to Communities in Our Region," with William Janeway, regional director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation

·  "Community Preparedness for Emerald Ash Borer and Other Pesky Invasives," with Teresa Rusinek, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County educator

·  "Changing the Urban Environment for Healthier Living," with Steve Noble, City of Kingston environmental educator

·  "Hudson River Changes and Opportunities," with Nordica Holochuck, Hudson River estuary specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's New York Sea Grant program.

The presentation is free and open to the public.  RSVP by calling Dona Crawford at 340-3990.

Scrap Metal Recycling

A.W. Scrap Processors is the place for recycling metals near Beacon. A.W. Scrap is three miles north of I-84, at 1980 Rt. 9D in Wappingers Falls. This facility buys copper, brass, aluminum, steel, iron, junk cars, car batteries, radiators, appliances and more. Call 845-831-1759 for more information.

Mail N Ship Plus Recycles!

In addition to shipping and printing services, Mail N Ship Plus recycles printer cartridges and reuses cellphones. The cellphones are donated to a domestic violence program so victims can make emergency phone calls.

All packing peanuts used in shipping services have been donated. So if you have styrofoam or cornstarch peanuts you don't need, take them to Mail N Ship Plus.


Mail N Ship Plus
323 Main Street
845-231-3469

November Meeting

The next meeting is Tuesday, November 23th, 2010. We will meet in the police training room at the Municipal Center at 7pm.

Conference on Water Resources and the Regional Economy

Mon., Dec. 13, CONFERENCE ON WATER RESOURCES AND THE REGIONAL ECONOMY hosted by NYS DEC and the Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with the SUNY New Paltz Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance. Confirmed Speakers include Maurice Hinchey, EPA Reg. 2 Administrator Judith Enck, and DEC Asst. Commissioner for Water Resources, James Tierney. Audience: Municipal staff, engineers, planners, environmental groups, and volunteers involved in green infrastructure and low impact development planning projects.  www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html  orhrep@gw.dec.state.ny.us , put “Water Conference” in the subject line. At SUNY New Paltz, Student Union Building, Multi-Purpose Room

MidHudsonNews.com launches new environmental series

Three major environmental organizations in the Hudson Valley have teamed up  with MidHudsonNews.com to provide a weekly Internet Radio report on major issues  affecting the region. The program, which is accessible by clicking on “Your Environment” on the  front page of MidHudsonNews.com, features an on-demand audio report in  a rotating basis from Paul Gallay, executive Director of Riverkeeper;  Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson; and Jeff Rumpf, executive director  of Clearwater. The reports will be updated each Friday morning, are available 24/7,  and, like everything on MidHudsonNews.Com, may be accessed free of charge.

SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Tues., Nov. 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS. Howland Cultural Center, Beacon.  For more information visit: http://www.greenupstateny.org/index.php?page=green-events-calendarWed., Nov.17,  Hudson River Estuary Management Advisory Committee (HREMAC) meeting:  Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg, for more information, contact;hrep@gw.dec.state.ny.us , include HREMAC in the subject line. 

Composting 101

Sat., Nov.13, 10 a.m.  COMPOSTING 101 PROGRAM.  Demonstration on how to create valuable, high-quality compost by using your yard and food waste. Learn methods of containment, processing, and best practices. Enroll in the waste reduction project to receive a free composter and training for measuring your composted waste. Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston, Contact: (845) 481-7336 or visitwww.forsythnaturecenter.org

CONFERENCE ON THE DUTCHESS COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY

Sat., Nov. 6, 8:30 am – 2:00 p.m., CONFERENCE ON THE DUTCHESS COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie. Local experts will present scientific information from the updated "Natural Resource Inventory" and discuss how it can be used by elected/appointed officials, educators, and the public to improve their knowledge of the county's natural resources and inform planning. $10 registration fee covers lunch. www.ccedutchess.org  (845) 677-8223 ext. 153

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal -November

The next day to dispose of household hazardous waste is November 6, 2010, at the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency, 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie. Registration and a $5 pre-registration fee are required. For more information, including a complete list of acceptable items, call 845-463-6020 or check www.dcrra.org. This is the last disposal day scheduled for 2010.

Medication Disposal - November

The next day to dispose of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medication is November 13, 2010, at the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency, 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie. Unused or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, pills, ointments, lotions, and liquids are accepted in their original packaging. Pet medication is also accepted. Registration is required. For specific instructions, call 845-462-6090. This is the last scheduled disposal day for 2010.

Bikeable Beacon

This first Bikeable Beacon planning meeting was held this past week. Members of the CAC, the local business community and the public attended. We discussed safe bicycling routes through Beacon and the need for bicycle racks. If you would like to identify a route or location for a bike rack, please e-mail the CAC, beaconcac@gmail.com. There will be a bike ride through Beacon and other events in the spring to celebrate National Bike Month.

Stormwater Management Workshop

Mon., Oct. 25, 5:00 - 9:00 pm.  GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.  Educational workshop for the public, municipal board members, engineers, planners, environmental groups, and volunteers involved in green infrastructure projects.  NYS Parks, HV Regional Council and Univ. of NH Stormwater Center will discuss innovative stormwater systems, regional GI initiatives, with tour of practices at NYS Parks Taconic Regional Office, a LEED-registered green building, 9 Old Post Rd., Staatsburg. Cost: $7 Dinner (optional); 2 PE PDHs available to engineers, $20 additional. To register: www.hrnerr.org/public/training/stormwater/workshop.htm  or call 845-889-4745 x 112. 

Immediate Position Available

Hudson River Watershed Alliance - Project Coordinator
Part time – up to 20 hours per week -- potential for full time employment.  Location flexible within Hudson River Watershed.   Office support in Poughkeepsie and/or Goshen, New York. The HRWA seeks a qualified person to provide project coordination and administrative support.   HRWA includes a Steering Committee (SC) of 11 professionals representing the watershed region.   Specific projects, some with contract professionals and/or interns, include:  assisting SC with membership and promotional events, organizing annual conference and periodic educational seminars and workshops, and monthly watershed breakfasts, general correspondence and record-keeping, coordination and oversight for other contract professionals and interns,  other education, research, and outreach projects.  Applicants should be familiar with HRWA and its mission.  See www.hudsonwatershed.org. Demonstrated interest and background in the environment or water resources is highly preferred. Provide letter of interest with a professional resume to:  Janet Burnet, Steering Committee Chair,janetburnet@aol.com. Questions can be directed to David Church, dchurch@co.orange.ny.us or 845 702-0050.

In-School Recycling!

Do you have a child in a local school? You might be able to recycle a number of things at the school. Local PTO's and PTA's have partnered with companies to recycle everyday items. Terracycle accepts cellphones, ink cartridges, drink pouches,  Elmer's Glue containers and twenty-five other items, www.terracycle.com. There is a financial incentive for schools to recycle items with Terracycle. Aveda will reuse plastic bottle caps, http://bit.ly/a0t4Qs. Ask your child's school for more information.

Electronic Recycling at the DCRRA

The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Days at the DCRRA INCLUDES electronics recycling. The following items are accepted: computer monitors, CPU's, modems, CRT's, terminals, laptops, keyboards, mouses, fax machines, printers, scanners, copiers, typewriters, TV's, VCR's, DVD players, CD players, tape players, radios, stereo equipment, cables, answering machines, telephones, video game systems, and compact fluorescent lights and fluorescent tubes.

You must pre-register, pre-pay ($5) and schedule an appointment to drop-off electronics and household hazardous waste. Call the DCRRA at 845-463-6020, or visit dcrra.org, for more information.

The next collection day is November 6th, in Poughkeepsie.

HVA Sustainable Development Conference

The Housatonic Valley Association is hosting a conference titled “Stepping up to Sustainability in the Harlem Valley” on October 30^th at Listening Rock Farm. Topics to be presented include: Green Roofs, Protecting Natural Resources from Stormwater Runoff, Water Footprint Management and a Sustainable Development Case Study.  The conference is free and open to anyone interested.

If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, contact Tonia Shoumatoff at toniahva@hotmail.com .

October CAC Meeting

The next meeting is Tuesday, October 26th, 2010. We will meet in the police training room at the Municipal Center at 7pm.

Top 10 Reasons to Recycle

 1. Good For Our Economy 

American companies rely on recycling programs to provide the raw materials they need to make new products.

2. Creates Jobs
Recycling in the U.S. is a $236 billion a year industry. More than 56,000 recycling and reuse enterprises employ 1.1 million workers nationwide.

3. Reduces Waste
The average American discards seven and a half pounds of garbage every day. Most of this garbage goes into to landfills, where it's compacted and buried.

4. Good For The Environment
Recycling requires far less energy, uses fewer natural resources, and keeps waste from piling up in landfills.

5. Saves Energy
Recycling offers significant energy savings over manufacturing with virgin materials. (Manufacturing with recycled aluminum cans uses 95% less energy.)

6. Preserves Landfill Space
No one wants to live next door to a landfill. Recycling preserves existing landfill space.

7. Prevents Global Warming
In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air.

8. Reduces Water Pollution
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.

9. Protects Wildlife
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers and other places essential to wildlife.

10. Creates New Demand
Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy.2.5.

Source: National Recycling Coalition

Garden Winterizing Workshop

Join Anna West on Thursday, October 21st, at 7pm, for tips on how to prepare your yard, garden and compost for winter.  Fall is also the time to start planning for next year's garden. Anna is an experienced gardener who will explain how to save money, limit your garbage output and decrease your yard work. The workshop will be held at the School of Jellyfish at 183 Main Street in Beacon. This event is free and open to the public.

Thank you to the School of Jellyfish for lending the space for this event. However, there will be no food service.

Battery Recycling and More!

Advanced Recovery Inc

(845) 858-8809

Monday thru Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

41 Mechanic Street

Port Jervis, NY 12771

http://www.ariind.com

Aluminum Foil, Automobile Batteries, Automobile Parts, Batteries (Rechargeable), Batteries 

(Single-use), CD's, Cardboard, Clothes Hangers (Metal), Compact Fluorescent Lights,

Computer Disks, Computer Monitor (CRT), Computer Recycling, Computers, 

Electronics, Ferrous Metals (Steel or Iron), Fluorescent Light-Bulbs, Greeting Cards, Inkjet 

Printer Cartridges, Large Household Appliances, Laser Toner Cartridges, Mobile Phones, Ni-

Cad Batteries, Non-ferrous Metal, Office Equipment, Office Paper, Paper (Mixed), Plastic #1 

(PETE), Plastic #2 (Clear HDPE), Plastic #2 (Color HDPE), Plastic #3, Plastic #4 (LDPE),

Plastic #5 (Polypropylene), Plastic #6 (Polystyrene), Plastic #7,Telephones, Televisions and 

VHS Cassette Tapes

Drop off only.

Which size bin do you need?

The garbage bins for curbside pick-up are available in three sizes: 90, 65, or 30 gallons. Shown above are the 90 and 30 gallon bins. If your bin is not meeting your needs, you may call the City of Beacon Building Department to request a different size. You can reach the Building Department at 845-838-5020.

“Train the Trainer” Rain Barrel Building Workshop

On October 26^th, from 4-6pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and the Dutchess Watershed Coalition will be leading a“Train the Trainer” Rain Barrel Building Workshop. This workshop is for individuals, organizations & municipalities interested in teaching people how to build their own rain barrels. Participants will learn how to lead a Rain Barrel Building workshop in their community, including useful background information, how and where to get materials for the workshop, and how to lead a group of people through the steps of making their own barrels. PowerPoint’s, handouts, and a resource list will be shared with all participants. At the workshop we will also discuss the possibility of working as a collective group to help each other organize workshops in their community (including the possibility of ordering supplies in bulk to take advantage of discounts etc...).

***This workshop is not for individuals wanting to learn how to make rain barrels for their own personal use. We will continue to lead those types of workshops again in the Spring, if not sooner.***

Space is limited and registration for this workshop is required. Also required is a commitment to lead or assist with a Rain Barrel Building Workshop in the next year. There is no fee for participants who live or work in Dutchess County and who plan to organize a workshop within Dutchess County.  For participants outside of Dutchess County there is a $40 registration fee to cover the cost of materials and supplies.

In order to register, please contact Vicky Buono at 845-677-8223, ext. 153. Your space is not guaranteed in the workshop until you have received confirmation from Vicky and have paid your registration fee, if required.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Carolyn at 845-677-8223, ext. 135. The Dutchess Watershed Roundtable will follow this workshop from 6:30-9pm. If you are planning on attending both events please contact Carolyn for dinner arrangements.

--

Carolyn Klocker

Environmental Resource Educator

Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County

2715 Route 44, Millbrook, NY 12545

845-677-8223, ext. 135

cak97@cornell.edu

http://ccedutchess.org

http://dutchesswatersheds.org

Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month July 2010 - Windows on Your Watershed

http://dutchesswam.com

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal -November

The next day to dispose of household hazardous waste is November 6, 2010, at the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency, 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie. Registration and a $5 pre-registration fee are required. For more information, including a complete list of acceptable items, call 845-463-6020 or check www.dcrra.org.

Medication Disposal

The next day to dispose of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medication is October 16, 2010,
at the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency, 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie. Unused or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, pills, ointments, lotions, and liquids are accepted in their original packaging. Pet medication is also accepted. Registration is required. For specific instructions, call 845-463-6020.

How do I compost?

Compost is a dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling form of decomposing organic matter. Backyard compost can be collected in piles, bins, tumblers, or homemade structures. Composting is a cheap and efficient way of handling kitchen scraps and yard waste. "Finished" compost makes a great addition to gardens, flower beds and trees. It will add essential nutrients to the soil.

What to compost
Nitrogen-rich, green materials: fruit scraps, vegetable scraps, plant trimmings, coffee grounds, rice, pasta, egg shells, tea bags, flowers, hedge clippings and small amounts of grass.

Carbon-rich, brown materials: coffee filters, stale bread, paper napkins and towels, dryer lint, hair, leaves, straw or hay, small twigs/chips, dried grass and weeds.

What not to compost
Meat, fish or bones; dairy products, oils or fats, sauces, ashes, pet waste, diseased plants, mature weeds with seeds.

A Home Composting Handbook is available on the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency website, uccra.org.

Beacon Composts: Zero Waste Garden Tour

Did you miss this year's Compost Garden Tour? Would you like to participate next year? Please contact jeanbrennan@mac.com.

What can I recycle?

Mixed Paper
Newspapers, glossy inserts, magazines, junk mail, telephone books, mixed office paper, dry food boxes, shoes boxes, paper egg cartons, flattened cardboard (no larger than 3'x3'). MUST BE CLEAN OF FOOD RESIDUE. Stack in bin or place in paper grocery bags. DO NOT PLACE IN PLASTIC BAGS.


Plastic Containers
#'s 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 only (check bottom of container). NO caps/lids, rinsed and flattened (where possible). NO food particles or liquids. DO NOT PLACE IN PLASTIC BAGS.


Glass Bottles and Jars
Unbroken and clean. NO caps or lids. All colors accepted. DO NOT PLACE IN PLASTIC BAGS.


Metal Food Cans/Aluminum Foil
Must be clean of food residue/rinsed. DO NOT flatten cans. DO NOT PLACE IN PLASTIC BAGS.


Guidelines courtesy of Royal Carting, www.royalcarting.com. Please call 831-4390, if you need additional recycling bins.

Curbside Recycling Guidelines

1. Put all recyclable items (bottles, cans and plastics) together in the recycling bin provided by Royal Carting. All additional recycling containers should be sturdy, reusable receptacles like a plastic crate or a spare "garbage" can. These should be clearly marked with the letter "R". DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.


2. All materials must be empty of food residue. Rinsing is helpful. It is not required to remove labels from cans. Plastic items should be flattened. Glass should not be broken.

3. DO NOT PLACE MIXED PAPER IN PLASTIC BAGS. Stack in recycling bin or place in a brown grocery bag.

Join the CAC!

Membership is open to residents of the City of Beacon. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7pm, in the police training room. This room is in the lower rear floor of the Municipal Center.

2010 Goals

1. There are five parcels of land in our City that may be suitable for development.  The CAC will follow the progress of development to ensure that environmental protections are in place. Two parcels of land are nearly ready to proceed. 

2. CAC members are working on a point system to use in negotiating with developers.   

3. CAC members continue to attend training sessions to sharpen our skills in obtaining grant funds for projects that reduce energy and foster sustainability. 

4. The CAC is in the process of exploring the feasibility of installing a wind turbine on a portion of the roof of the City Hall.  

5. The CAC will keep pressure on the City to adopt a program that protects trees. 

6. The CAC continue its program to mark storm drains. 

2009 Accomplishments

1. Received a $66,000 grant from Congressman John Hall to install solar panels on the City Hall roof.  Near the end of the year we received a matching grant from NYSERDA.  Construction will begin in 2010. 

2. With the help of the City and the Planning Board, the CAC obtained standing with the Planning Board and was invited to provide input to the Planning Board, if there were environmental issues that were overlooked. 

3. The Environmental Management Council (EMC) launched a student program to put markers on storm water catch basins.  A segment of catch basins have been completed. The seals caution residents to not dump harmful chemicals down storm drains.  We expect to continue this program. 

4. The EMC organized an ad-hoc committee in Beacon that is concerned with care for trees and problems with roots heaving up our concrete sidewalks in numerous areas. One of our CAC members, a landscape architect, working with the committee and with City Council members, has temporarily completed the project. 

5. On March 2, the Beacon City Council approved an increase of our CAC members from 9 to 15.  We also encourage people who are interested in sustainability to form sub-committees with CAC members and take on projects that are of interest to them. 

6. The EMC has drafted a template to follow in running our meetings and we have appointed a CAC member to take minutes and get them out to the members before the next meeting.  We have 9 sub-committees and expect monthly written reports prior to the monthly meeting, including: Water Protection and Conservation, Renewable Energy, Education, Zero Waste, Sustainable Building Codes, Natural Resources, Vehicle Fuel Economy, Transit Oriented Development(TOD), and Liaison with Planning Board. 

What is the CAC?

Beacon's Conservation Advisory Committee was established to advise the city council and planning board on the management and protection of its natural resources. Twenty municipalities in Dutchess County have a CAC or a Conservation Advisory Board (CAB). Dutchess County has more municipal CACs/CABs than most other counties in New York State.

Information courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County, ccedutchess.org.