Friday, January 28, 2011

Recycling at Radio Shack

Combine your errands with another opportunity to recycle electronics. Radio Shack has a Trade & Save Program which allows customers to trade in electronic items for savings on new purchases. If the item has no trade-in value, Radio Shack will recycle it for free. Radio Shack accepts cell phones, MP3 players, cameras and camcorders, GPS receivers, games consoles and games, computers, HDTVs, and car audio equipment. For more information about this program, go to www.www.radioshack.com/tradeandsave.

Central Hudson Rebate Offers

Are you upgrading your heating system? Replacing old appliances? You could be eligible for a rebate from Central Hudson. Central Hudson offers rebates for new, natural gas heating equipment, duct sealing, appliance recycling, programmable thermostats and more. And the company will pay customers $50 to recycle old, working refrigerators and freezers. Find more information at www.savingscentral.com.

Bikeable Beacon Meeting Summary

The second Bikeable Beacon meeting was held last Saturday. Representatives from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce, the local business community, city residents and the Conservation Advisory Committee discussed the goals for the project. The group hopes to have several bike racks installed along Main Street this year. Events during National Bicycle Month in May will address safety concerns and encourage more bicycle commuting.

If you would like to become involved with this project, e-mail beaconcac@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Tech Trash Recycling at Office Depot

Office Depot recycles discarded electronics. The store sells three boxes of various sizes for this purpose, ranging in price from $5-15. Fill the box with acceptable items and return the box to an Office Depot store for recycling. Some of the acceptable items include: monitors, fax machines, desktop and laptop computers, printers, cameras, and telephones. See below for more information.

Office Depot Tech Recycling Services

City Hall Solar Panels

The City of Beacon now has solar panels on the municipal building. The sixty panels were installed by Hudson River Clean Energy. Thank you to all who were involved in this project, particularly, Thomas Baldino, CAC co-chairman.

There is a related article in this week's Beacon Free Press.

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Update

As of January 1, 2011, the Stony Kill Foundation, Inc. is responsible for maintaining educational and agricultural programs at the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, as a result of state budget cuts.  
Members are needed to keep the foundation moving forward. For membership information and/or to become a volunteer, call 845-831-1617, or email foundation@stonykill.org.

Events at Stony Kill

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center

Forest to Faucet

Thursday, February 10, 2011: 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon   (Snow Date Feb. 17)

What does a watershed need to produce clean water? The Hudson River Watershed  Alliance and the Hudson River Estuary Program present a new Geographic Information System mapping tool that can help identify important watershed attributes.  Donald Steinmetz of the Highlands Environmental Research Institute will present this new GIS tool, based on data developed by the US Forest Service.  Fran Dunwell and Scott Cuppett from the Hudson River Estuary Program, and Jennifer Grossman from the Highlands Coalition and Open Space Institute will discuss the importance of clean water and watershed management in the Hudson Valley. To Register Contact Barbara Kendall, HRWA Coordinator:  barbara@hudsonwatershed.org  914 474 2759
Location: Sterling Forest Visitor Center, 116 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987

-- 

Snow is Good : CIES talk

Most people pay attention to climate change in the summer, when faced with heat waves, hurricanes, and severe thunderstorms. In the northeast, climate warming is actually more marked in the winter, and the loss of snow cover can have a ripple effect on tree growth and groundwater recharge. Cary Institute scientist Dr. Peter Groffman will discuss how mild winters threaten soil productivity, plant growth, and freshwater resources. Event is free.
Location: Cary Institute's auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook, New York.  
Friday, January 28, 2011, 7 p.m.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Vegetable Gardening Class

A new class offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County-
Do you want more control over your food supply? Would you like to eat organic, locally raised vegetables, harvested at the peak of nutrition and flavor without breaking the family budget? Start or expand your vegetable garden!
This class covers the fundamentals of growing vegetables, from selecting varieties and planting seeds and transplants, to growing and harvesting. We will look at how to protect your garden from pests both big and tiny and cover techniques such as growing beds, mulching, watering, crop rotation and garden design. This information will help experienced gardeners take their garden to the next level.
Instructor Mary Nisley has gardened organically for more than 30 years in 3 states, giving her experience with a wide range of vegetables, growing conditions, and problems.
When: Thursdays 6:30 PM – 8:45 PM, February 17, March 3,17 & 31, snow dates 3/24 & 4/7.
Where: Dutchess County Farm & Home Center 2715 Rt. 44, Millbrook, NY, 12545
Cost: $80 for all 4 sessions, not refundable after Feb. 4.
To register, call Nancy Halas at 845-677-8223 x115.
Make check payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension and mail to:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, 2715 Rt. 44, Suite 1, Millbrook, NY 12545, Attn: Nancy Halas

Subjects by week:
Week 1:
  • Your garden site; soil, sun, pH, water, frost, etc
  • Protecting your vegetable garden from the critters
  • Techniques: garden beds, mulches, watering, weeding, crop rotation, timing, succession planting, floating row covers
  • Tools
Week 2:
  • Direct sowing vs. transplants
  • Growing your own transplants
  • Preparing your garden for planting
  • How to transplant
  • How to direct sow: seeds in the garden
  • Early spring planting with greens and roots: spinach, lettuce, chard, beets, carrots, parsley,  parsnips, and onions
Week 3:
  • More early vegetables: the cabbage family: cabbage, kale, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, etc.
  • The self-fertilizing legumes: peas and beans
  • Vining crops: squashes, cucumbers, and melons
  • Introduction to garden planning: starting a garden map, selecting vegetables
Week 4:
  • Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes.
  • More garden planning: keeping track of everything
  • Garden layout, favorite combinations for companion planting & succession planting 

Beacon Sloop Club - Fracking Discussion

Dr Jeanette M. Barth will speak on the Economics of Fracking in the Marcellus Shale at the Beacon Sloop Club, 7:00 pm, February 18, 2011.  The club is located at 2 Red Flynn Drive, just west of the train station in Beacon.  Take Beekman Road off 9D toward the train station and turn onto the overpass over the tracks and down to the river side.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Road Salt Information Session

The Casperkill Watershed Alliance and the Vassar College Environmental
Research Institute have organized an informational session on road salt
which will take place at Vassar College on February 5th (a Saturday)
from 10 A.M. -12 P.M. It features speakers Vicky Kelly and Stuart Findlay,
from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, both of whom were
co-authors on a report on road salt released by the Cary Institute in
December. It will be an interesting and informative look at the
environmental impacts of road salt as well as the alternatives and ways
to reduce its use, both by highway departments and homeowners. 

Please RSVP to Will Jobs at wijobs@vassar.edu or 845-437-5834 if you
wish to attend. The event is free and open to the public. 



The session will be held at Vassar College in the Main Building, Room 223.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Indian Point Discussion Postponed

Due to the impending snowstorm, the presentation on Indian Point
scheduled for Tuesday night has been rescheduled to February 8, 7
p.m., in Nyack Library.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Bikeable Beacon - January Meeting

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 will be held at 10am on Saturday, January 22nd at Bank Square Coffeehouse. We will review the bike routes and rack locations and begin planning for the May event.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Indian Point Discussion

The Facts on Indian Point:  Relicensing, Climate Change, & Radionuclides in Our River
Nyack Library - Tuesday, January 11, 7 p.m.

Public Meeting of Rockland Sierra Club
  • Indian Point, the aging, leaking nuclear power plant across the river from Rockland, is asking for a twenty year extension of their license.   What's happening in terms of relicensing? 
  • Is nuclear power the answer to climate change? 
  • If Indian Point were closed, how would we replace that power? 
  • What are the facts on the impact of radionuclides in the river on our drinking water if United Water moves ahead with desalination of the Hudson? 
Cofounder of Westchester Citizens Awareness Network and a member of the steering committee for the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, Marilyn has been working to close Indian Point for the last 17 years. 
For more information on this meeting or on Rockland Sierra Club, contact pkurtz9@gmail.com or deby1012@verizon.net or call (845) 358-3386. 

Guided hike along the Palisades


"Millionaires' Row" Hike 
Sunday, January 9th, 2011
1 PM

The NJ Section of the Palisades Interstate Park, spanning twelve miles along the Hudson River Palisades in northeastern Bergen County, will sponsor guided "history hikes" this winter giving participants a chance to explore some of the park's 30 miles of hiking trails—along with the rich historical associations of the Palisades, a National Historic Landmark.
On Sunday, January 9th, historic interpreter Eric Nelsen will start the series off with an exploration of extensive foundation remains that mark a stretch of cliff top in Alpine once known as "Millionaires' Row," so named for the dozen or so estates—with their stately manor homes and ornate gardens and grounds—that once graced this lonely precipice more than four hundred feet above the Hudson. The tour will meet at 1 PM at the Park's Headquarters in Alpine (PIP Exit 2), itself a former manor house, and will cover about 3 miles round-trip distance over easy-to-moderate trails in about 2 hours. Nelsen, who noted that the lack of foliage in winter makes it an ideal time to explore this section of the cliffs, will bring photographs of the estates as they appeared in their original splendor.
FREE and open to all with no advanced registration required.
Further information can be obtained by calling 201 768-1360 ext. 108
.

Free Climate Change Talk in Newburgh

This Thursday evening, Jan. 6, at 6:30 p.m., Scenic Hudson Conservation Scientist 
Sacha Spector, Ph.D., will present a free climate change talk at the Newburgh 
Free Library. Dr. Spector will focus on the benefits that communities can gain 
by taking steps now to prepare for climate change — saving tax dollars, 
creating green jobs, fostering energy independence, improving public health,
reducing risks to property, and enhancing national security.
The presentation is part of Scenic Hudson's ongoing effort to encourage 
municipalities along the Hudson River to engage with the climate change 
problem. Dr. Spector will offer specific steps that communities can take, 
such as developing a local climate action plan or joining the NYS DEC's 
If you would like to attend Thursday's free presentation, please 
use this link to RSVP. We hope to see you there.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Learn How to Prune

March 5, The How, When, and Where of Pruning
10 AM-2:30 PM, NYBG at Bard College, 
113 GAR236 C

Landscape Design Course

January 24, 31, and February 7, Introduction to Landscape Design. 6-9 PM, NYBG at Bard 
college. 113 LAN100 C, 


Farming Workshop

January 16, Mar 20, May 22, July 17, Sept 18, Nutrient Dense Farming Workshops with 
Farmer Dan Kittredge of The Real Food Campaign. 5 Sunday all-day workshops. Learn 
about systemic solutions toward building vitality in our soils, crops, bodies. Solutions using 
minerals, biological inoculants, foliar sprays and nutrient drenches. Soil conductivity, brix, cover 
cropping, and adding composts and manure.  Get comprehensive soil test analysis and 
consultations as well as twice monthly newsletters. Hawthorne Valley Farm, The Learning 
Center, 327 Cty Rte 21C, Ghent, NY 12075. Info- Louise Maher-Johnson, 518 234-1942 or 
maherjohnson@gmail.com.  Sponsored by The Real Food Campaign. See  
http://realfoodcampaign.org/  for testimonials, registration. Co-sponsored by Regional Farm & 
Food Project, www.farmandfood.org.  $300 for the series. Missed workshops can be made up at 
other workshop sites. 


Energy Savings Workshop


FREE Residential Energy Savings Workshop for Dutchess County 
Saturday, January 22, 2011

Dutchess CCE

CenHudG&E Logo

Joseph Malcarne
HVCE
DC WAP

Courtney Strong Inc Logo
NYSERDA Independent Contractor
Workshop Presentations:
Low-Cost Energy UpgradesDutchess Cornell Cooperative Extension

Utility Programs/Rebates -Central Hudson Gas & Electric

Home Energy Audit - 
Malcarne Contracting

NYSERDA Programs - 
Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities

Low-Income Programs - 
Dutchess County Community Action Partnership

Renewable Energy -Hudson Valley Clean Energy

Closing Remarks - 
Fishkill Environmental Board

Q&A and exhibits to follow.

Homeowners & Renters: Plan now for a more affordable year!

Come learn about:

  • Low Cost - Do it Yourself Energy Upgrades
  • Free Energy Audits
  • Low-interest Financing
  • Rebates for New Appliances
  • Renewable Energy: Solar/Wind
  • Low-Income Programs
...and much more!

Saturday, January 22, 2011
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Fishkill Recreation Center
793 Route 52
Fishkill, NY 12524

Fishkill Event

This event is free and open to the public.  
If you have any questions or would like to register*, contact:
Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator
Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities
845-331-2238 or 
meridith.nierenberg@gmail.com

*Please register by January 18, 2011.


If you are unable to attend this workshop, please call to inquire about future events.