Sunday, March 20, 2011

Watershed Outreach Training - March 28th

On March 28th, from 6:00-8:30pm the Wappinger Creek Watershed Intermunicipal Council (WIC), Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and the Cornell Department of Natural Resources Human Dimensions Research Unit will be providing a watershed outreach training on Delivering the Results of the Wappinger Creek Watershed Stakeholder Survey. The training will be held at the Farm and Home Center in Millbrook.

Participants of the training will:

- Become familiarized with the Wappinger Creek Watershed Stakeholder Survey project
- Acquire communication skills for presenting to municipal board audiences
- Gain experience with the outreach presentation through practice and role play
- Learn how to represent the WIC & CCE

The goal of the training is to prepare participants to be able to effectively make a 10 min presentation to local CAC’s, municipal boards and planning boards that educates audiences about the Wappinger Creek Watershed, the WIC, and the Stakeholder Survey conducted. The training will be led by Dr. Shorna Broussard Allred and Margaret Kurth of Cornell University and Carolyn Klocker of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County.

Watershed groups, CAC’s, municipal officials, and residents familiar with watershed concepts should attend. The focus will be on municipalities found in the Wappinger Creek Watershed but all are welcome. A light dinner will be provided.

Participants interested in attending must RSVP to Angela at (845) 677-8223, ext. 114. Space is limited. Should the event reach capacity, priority will be given to attendees planning on utilizing the training to make the presentation about the Wappinger Stakeholder Survey to a CAC, municipal board and/or planning board within the Wappinger Creek Watershed.

For questions about the survey, the presentation, and/or the training contact Carolyn Klocker at (845) 677-8223, ext. 135 or cak97@cornell.edu.

March CAC Meeting

The next meeting of the Beacon Conservation Advisory Committee is Tuesday, March 22th, 2011. We will meet at 7pm, in the police training room at 1 Municipal Plaza. 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

CCE Dutchess County - Gardeners' Day April 16th

CCE Dutchess County invites you to attend Gardeners Day, Saturday April 16th! http://ccedutchess.org/images/stories/Ag-Hort_media/docs/gd_2011_brochure.pdf.

Class choices include: Butterflies, Tick-Borne Diseases, Important Gardening Tools & Books, Growing Transplants & Sowing Seeds, and Hardy Flower Bulbs. For those that like to create, we will have classes on how to make Hypertufas, Fairy Houses and Rustic Trellises.

Registration perks: Door prize, morning refreshments, receive a coupon for a free plant at our Master Gardener Plant Sale in May. Plus, bring in a soil sample to get the pH tested for free! Our greenhouse is closed to the public but participants can stop by during lunch to see what "we've got growing on"! MG volunteers will be on hand all day to answer your gardening questions.

Check it out and register soon- registration deadline is April 8th!

DutchessCACs/EMC Rain Barrel Building Workshop - March 26th

The first rain barrel building workshop of the season will be March 26th from 10:30-11:30am at the Farm and Home Center in Millbrook. At the workshop you will learn how to build a 55-gallon rain barrel that you will take home with you at the end of the workshop. The cost of the workshop is $35 and covers the cost of all supplies.

Space is limited and registration is required. To register, contact Angela at (845) 677-8223, ext. 114. Your spot in the workshop is not held until we receive your payment. Attached is a flyer for the workshop and a picture of a past participant’s installed rain barrel. The workshop is already filling up, so contact Angela soon if you would like to participate.

If you have any questions about this workshop or future workshops, please contact Carolyn Klocker at 845-677-8223, ext. 135 or cak97@cornell.edu. If you can not make it to this workshop, there will be several more throughout the Spring and Summer. 

Stormwater Retrofit Planning & Design Training

Wednesday, April 6, 2011: 8:30 AM –4:30 PM
Location: Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, 18 Seward Ave, Third Floor, Middletown, NY 10940

Many watersheds have experienced water quality degradation due to an historical lack of stormwater management practices or ineffective planning regulations. Stormwater retrofitting combines the processes of determining how the receiving water is currently being impacted, establish restoration objectives, and evaluate alternatives that include mitigating past mistakes and seeking creative solutions to re-establish water quality in impaired watersheds. The “Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices” manual published by the Center for Watershed Protection will be used for site specific projects by participating design teams on actual watershed locations.  Don Lake Jr., P.E., CPESC, CPSWQ is the instructor. Registration is required. Registration deadline is March 30, 2011. Cost is $225 per person if registered by the deadline, $275 thereafter. No refunds but substitutions are allowed.  For more information, contact Rose Baglia at rsb22@cornell.edu or 845-344-1234.  To register, contact Cathy Hughes at cah94@cornell.edu or 845-344-1234.

Clearwater's Climate Justice Grant for the City of Beacon


Clearwater is now working on a Climate Justice grant for four Hudson Valley Cities, including Beacon.  Climate Justice gives climate change issues a social justice approach. We are in the process of identifying local community members interested in participating in this important and relevant project. This project will help advance Environmental Justice in the City of Beacon.

If you are interested in knowing more about the project please contact Karla Raimundi at karla@clearwater.org.

DCRRA Disposal Day - April 2

Get rid of your household hazardous waste, electronics and unused medications on Saturday, April 2, 2011. The Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency will be collecting these materials at their facility at 96 Sand Dock Road in Poughkeepise.

Household hazardous waste includes: photo chemicals, pool chemicals, non-latex driveway sealer, metal polish, stains, varnishes, button cell batteries, and much more.

Some of the electronic equipment accepted: computer monitors, CPU's, modems, laptops, keyboards, printers, TV's, DVD players, answering machines and more.

Safe Medications Disposal: any prescription or over-the-counter pill, ointments, lotions and liquids in the original packaging. Pet medications are accepted.

There is a $5 fee for household hazardous waste and electronics disposal. Pre-registration, pre-payment and an appointment are required. There is no fee for medication disposal, but an appointment is required. Call 845-463-6020 to register. For the registration form and a complete list of acceptable items, check www.dcrra.org.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Hudson Valley Science Café

Hudson Valley Science Café
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 7:00 PM

A new year begins

Topic: The American Crow: Not your average songbird.

Presenter: Douglas Robinson, Ph.D.  Dr. Robinson is a behavioral ecologist interested in avian breeding biology and the evolution of social behavior.  He teaches at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY, and is preparing for an investigation that will compare the breeding biology of American Crows, Fish Crows, and Common Ravens in the mid-Hudson River valley.

A Science Cafe is a monthly gathering in a Cafe, Pub or Restaurant, open to the public, with a short presentation of a topic followed by discussion. The essence of a Science Cafe is informality, with groups seated around tables with food and drink to encourage conversation.  Hudson Valley Science Café usually meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month, except where noted. Website: http://www.cafescientifique.org/hudsonvalley.htm
Meeting site: Diana’s, 1015 Little Britain Road (Route 207), New Windsor (just east of Stewart Newburgh Airport, on the opposite side of the road from the airport entrance). See  http://www.DIANASNY.com for menus and map.  $3.00 admission fee includes coffee or tea. If you arrive at 6 PM, you can order from the Early Bird menu. No orders are taken during the Presentation (7:00-7:30).

March Events at Stony Kill Farm

New Baby Lambs -  Spring has arrived early at Stony Kill Farm with the
birth of newborn lambs.  Join us on March 13, March 19 and March 27,
for our Open Barn program, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to see the
lambs and learn about the other animals we have in the barn.  Dress
appropriately for the weather, as the barn is not heated.  For further
information, call 831-1617.

Spring Bird Watching Walk - The Stony Kill Foundation presents a
Spring Bird Watching Walk on Saturday, March 26, from 8:30 to 10:30
a.m. Youngsters in grades 4 and older through adults are invited to
join us. Meet in front of the Manor House.  Dress appropriately for
the weather. Bring a camera and/or binoculars, as we are never sure
what one might see or find!  Pre-registration is required and will be
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 845-831-1617.
All youngsters must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (over the age
of 21).  For further information, call 831-1617.

Beacon Sloop Club Environmental Series

Friday, March 18 2011: Sweet and Full of Meaning: The Legacy of New York's Algonquin Languages and the Exotic Place Names They Left Behind." Lecture by Mi'kmaq author Evan Pritchard, director, Center for Algonquin Culture 7 PM Beacon Sloop Club (914) 879-1082,vandermerwede@yahoo.com



CAC 2010 Accomplishments & 2011 Goals

Dutchess County CAC's and the Environmental Management Council (EMC) met at the annual meeting in February. The meeting was held at the Cornell University Cooperative Extension Dutchess County offices in
Millbrook. This was a chance for CAC members from various municipalities to share their successes and challenges from 2010 and their goals for the coming year.

Tom Baldino, the Beacon CAC chairperson, shared our 2010 accomplishments with the group. The first Beacon Composts: Zero Waste Garden Tour was held last June. The CAC proposed a public-spaces recycling program to the city council. Solar panels were installed on the roof of the municipal building, which was a five-year process. CAC members advised the city council and planning board on proposed projects in 2010, and will continue to do so.

Looking forward to 2011, the CAC hopes to see the installation of bicycle racks along Main Street. The Second Annual Beacon Composts: Zero Waste Garden Tour is scheduled for June 11. The CAC will assist the City of Beacon and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater with the actions outlined in the Urban Forestry Grant application.
As part of the solar panel installation, the CAC will ensure that an educational display is erected at City Hall.
The City of Beacon has partnered with Greener Corners and new recycling/trash receptacles should be installed along Main Street this spring. In partnership with the Beacon Sloop Club, the CAC is encouraging local teens to get involved with Beacon's environmental organizations. The CAC will continue its drive to recruit interested Beacon residents to become CAC members.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Non-profit Seedling Sale


Dutchess County Soil & Water Conservation District (a non-profit organization) is now taking orders for their 2011 Seedling Sale. The items that they sell are to help encourage conservation 
practices in the county. Planting materials have been chosen for: native species, windbreaks, 
wildlife shelter, wildlife food, ground covers and natural screening. They also offer wildflower 
seed mixes and wildlife/bird boxes. 

The deadline for ordering is March 24. Pick up dates are Friday April 29, 9-4 and Saturday April 30, 9-12, here at the Dutchess County Farm & Home Center in Millbrook. For more information, go to http://dutchessswcd.org/seedling_sale.htm .

Environmental Scholarships


Scholarship opportunities for outstanding students with environmental interests

The Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, Inc. and theEnvironmental Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges & Universities are pleased to announce the 2011 Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, Inc. Founders Fund Scholarship. This merit scholarship, in the amount of $3,500, is offered annually in the name of the TGF founders, to a single recipient who has demonstrated excellence and outstanding dedication in a field of study that falls within an environmental field of a school or department. The application deadline is April 1, 2011. For inquires, contact the Consortium by email, or call (914) 422-4077.


Pace Law School is offering an annually renewable merit scholarship award of $3,000 to $10,000 toward tuition for a student who has demonstrated an interest in environmental issues affecting the Hudson River watershed region. The award will go to a fall 2011 entering student who is either currently enrolled in or has earned his or her bachelors or masters degree from one of the Consortium'smember institutionsDetails and application instructions. Any inquiries can be directed to Stephanie M. Taylor, JD, Director of Admissions, or Judith Weinstock, Esq., Director of Environmental Programs.

EPA Environmental Education Grant Funding

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting grant applications for $1.9 million in funding for environmental education projects and programs. The purpose of the grants is to promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers and citizens. EPA expects to award at least 20 grants nationwide ranging from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $100,000 and will accept applications until May 2, 2011.

The grants provide financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. Projects should involve environmental education activities that go beyond disseminating information.

EPA will be hosting two conference calls for potential applicants interested in additional information about the application process. The conference calls will take place on March 21, 2011 at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and April 6 at 2 p.m. (EDT). To participate in the conference calls, dial: 1-866-379-5082, and use conference ID number: 48699133 for the call on March 21. Use conference ID number: 48696117 for the call on April 6.

The Environmental Education Grant Program provides funding to local education agencies, state education or environmental agencies, colleges or universities, not-for-profit organizations, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entities. Tribal education agencies, which are controlled by an Indian tribe, band or nation, may also apply, including a school or community college.

Since the program began, EPA has provided more than $50 million in funding to more than 3,000 agencies and organizations.

More information on eligibility and application materials: 
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html 

Hudson River Estuary - Volunteer Opportunities

Hudson River Estuary Program Logo

The Hudson River Estuary Program protects and improves the natural and scenic Hudson River watershed for all its residents. You can help!

Volunteers can get involved in any of the following opportunities:

Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project
North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP)
American Eel Research
River Herring Monitoring Program
“Trees for Tribs”

For more information on the Estuary Program, see www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html or call 845-256-3016

Earth Hour - March 26, 2011

Earth Hour is a global event organized by World Wildlife Fund and is held on the last Saturday of March.  Households and businesses are asked to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights. Following Sydney's lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008. Earth Hour 2011 will take place on March 26, 2011 from 8:30p.m. to 9:30p.m., at participants' respective local time.

For more information on Earth Hour and how to participate visit their website at www.earthhour.org

For information on how to get your municipality involved: http://www.earthhour.org/howto/Organisers.aspx

Rain Barrel Workshop

Think GREEN…build a rain barrel to capture and use storm water!

Date: Thursday April 28
Time:  6:30-8 PM
Location:  Dutchess County Farm &  Home Center, Millbrook
Cost:  $45/person, includes cost of rain barrel

Rain barrels are a great option to better manage
excess storm water from your roof.  The water is captured before it
picks up pollutants, and it is safe to use for watering plants.  A
rain barrel can save gardeners up to 1,300 gallons of water during the
peak summer months!   This workshop will help you learn to better
manage storm water AND will help you build your own 55 gallon rain
barrel to take home.

Register:  * Pre-registration is required.  Please call Nancy Halas at
845-677-8223 x 115 to register. Seats will only be reserved upon
payment in full. Visa, MC and checks accepted. Checks should be made
out to Cornell Cooperative Extension and mailed to 2715 Rt. 44, Suite
1, Millbrook, NY 12545, Attn: Nancy Halas. No refunds. Substitutions
are allowed.  Seating is limited, so don't delay!

* By registering for this program you consent and authorize CCEDC
permission to use your name, likeness, image, voice and/or appearance
for inclusion in CCEDC publicity materials. You hereby release CCEDC
and Cornell University from any and all liability, claims or causes of
action. You acknowledge that you are 18 years of age or older.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshops

Register for June Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshops

Two women display their target practice sheets.
BOW participants proudly display their target practice sheets.
Registration materials are available for the June 24-26, 2011 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop! This workshop will be held at Silver Bay YMCA on Lake George in the Adirondacks. Forty different classes are being offered at this workshop, including some new ones such as airgun, camp stove cooking, knot tying, build a soda can stove, trail bicycling and plant identification! Visit the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman web page to view and download the workshop descriptions and registration packet.
Those who register before April 9 will receive a $30 discount and will probably have a better chance of getting their first choices of the classes being offered.

New Rechargeable Battery Recycling Law

D E C banner


NYS Rechargeable Battery Recycling Law

The NYS Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act requires manufacturers of certain rechargeable batteries to collect and recycle the batteries statewide in a manufacturer-funded program at no cost to consumers. Most rechargeable batteries contain toxic metals that can be released into the environment when improperly disposed of. Consumers across the state will now be able to safely return to retailers rechargeable batteries for recycling or proper management at the end of their useful life.

Micro Hydro Power Lecture




In the third of the four lectures on Alternative Power at SUNY Orange County Community College’sHarriman Hall 111 Lecture Hall, Robert Honders, Sr. of Cuddebackville will tell his story of building his own micro-hydro plant which now produces electricity for four houses. The presentation Micro Hydro – Site Survey to Electrical Power Source for Home or Farm will include slides and video which will aid him in explaining the process he went through and its practicality. During the lecture on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:15pm, Rob Honders will give specifics on engineering costs, payback, and gaining energy independence by being off the grid.

He now has his own small company Honderosa Valley Consulting & Renewables Research and runs an informational blog:  EnergyIndependence-Rob.Blogspot.com

Harriman Hall is located at the corner Wawayanda and East Conkling Avenues, Middletown. This event is free and open to the public and no registration is required.

This program is produced by Cultural Affairs to which questions may be directed: (845)341-4891,cultural@sunyorange.edu

Growing and Cooking with Asian Vegetables Class

You are invited to attend:

GROWING AND COOKING WITH ASIAN VEGETABLES

GUEST SPEAKER NORMA CHANG

Thursday, April 21, 2011, 6-8 PM


Norma Chang, The Traveling Gourmet®, is a food lover who enjoys
sharing her skills and ideas with others through her many food related
activities. Norma believes that cooking should be fun and that the
food we prepare should not only be good for you, but should look and
taste good too. This philosophy is reflected in her cookbooks,
demonstrations and programs.

After successful forays into the catering and food service businesses
Norma decided to focus on sharing her knowledge through teaching. She
authored a food column for the Poughkeepsie Journal and her articles
have appeared in numerous other publications.

Norma is an avid gardener specializing in Asian vegetables and organic
gardening and incorporates her crops into her menus for family and
friends.

Cost: $10 per person. Proceeds to benefit CCEDC Community Horticulture Program.

Location: Dutchess County Farm & Home Center, 2715 Rt 44, Millbrook, NY, 12545

To register: Call Nancy Halas at 845-677-8223 x115. Pay by MC/Visa or
make check payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension and mail to:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, 2715 Rt. 44, Suite 1, Millbrook, NY
12545, Attn: Nancy Halas