Events at the Beacon Institute

Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries | Sunday Author Series
Sun, July 31, 4 p.m.
Elizabeth “Perk” Stalter: Doodletown: Hiking Through History in a Vanished Hamlet on the HudsonShare a literary ramble through the vanished hamlet nestled in the mountains. Register online at www.bire.org/events. FREE.

Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries | Forest Walk
Sat, Aug 13, 10 a.m.
Center for Environmental Innovation and Education
199 Dennings Ave, Beacon, NYBeacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries invites you to join forester Paul Blaszak on Saturday, August 13 at 10 a.m. for an informative morning of tree identification, and a discussion of the human impact on forest succession at Denning's Point in Beacon. Please register online for this FREE event by visiting www.bire.org/events.

Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries | Film: “Liquid Assets”

Thurs, Aug 18, 7pm
Center for Environmental Innovation and Education
199 Dennings Ave, Beacon, NY

Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries presents the documentary "Liquid Assets" on Thursday, August 18th at 7pm at the Center for Environmental Innovation and Education at Denning's Point. Exploring the history, engineering challenges, and political and economic realities in urban and rural locations, the documentary provides an understanding of the hidden assets - our ill-maintained underground water systems - that may present the single largest public works project in our national history. FREE. Please register online at www. bire.org/events.

Hudson Valley Science Café

Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 7:00 PM

For an AIDS free Africa

Topic: Designing and implementing an emerging pharmaceutical infrastructure in Africa

 

Presenter: Rolande R. Hodel, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Westchester Community College, and President & Founder, AIDSfreeAFRICA. (Co-sponsored by The Mid Hudson section of the American Chemical Society)

 

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).

SAVE THESE DATES:

 

August 24 - "String Theory: A Theory of Everything? Or a Theory of Nothing?", David L. Morgan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physics, Eugene Lang College, The New School, NYC

 

September 28: “Biosensor Based Detection Paradigm: Novel Assays for Clinical, Environmental, Forensics, Nano-engineering and in-vivo Neuro-psycho-pharmacology” David N. Rahni Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Pace University, and President, Chemical Detectives, LLC

 

October 26: "Did the exotic Tobacco plant seduce civilization?" Assieh Melikian, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Medicine, NYU Langone School of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Chemistry, Pace University.

 

November 16: (3^rd Wednesday) Arsenic and human health, Toby G. Rossman, Professor of Environmental Medicine, NYU Langone School of Medicine (Co-sponsored by The Mid Hudson section of the American Chemical Society)

 

December 21: (3^rd Wednesday) A talk on underemployment (title to be announced) Douglas C. Maynard, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, SUNY New Paltz
 

Hudson Valley Science Café has received start-up funds from WGBH-NOVA and The American Chemical Society.

Green Infrastructure for Homeowners

Just a reminder that the Green Infrastructure for Homeowners Workshop is tomorrow night at 7pm at the East Fishkill Town Hall. Come learn about simple practices you can implement on your property to help mitigate stormwater. Topics presented include: native landscaping, rain barrels, rain gardens, permeable pavers and green roofs.

At the end of the evening, we will be pulling the winners of the Rain Barrel Raffle. Throughout the month, anyone attending a Watershed Awareness Month event has been able to enter into a raffle drawing to win one of eight hand painted rain barrels. For your chance to enter, simply attend the Green Infrastructure event tomorrow night. The raffle is free! Pictures of the painted barrels can be seen at: http://dutchesswam.com/rain-barrel-raffle/.

Green Infrastructure for Homeowners
Tuesday, July 26, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: East Fishkill Town Hall, 330 Route 376, Hopewell Junction

CEIE Talk Tonight

Spirituality and the Environment, Part 1  Christian and Jewish Perspective

Where: Center for Environmental Innovation and Education 199 Dennings Avenue Beacon, NY 12508 Driving Directions When: Thursday July 21, 2011 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT Add to my calendar

Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries invites you to examine the role of spirituality in protecting the environment on Thursday, July 21 at 7pm, at the Center for Environmental Innovation and Education at Denning's Point in Beacon. Two respected theologians, Brigid Driscoll Ph.D., RSHM, former President of Marymount College, now actively involved at the U.N., and Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Rabbinic Scholar-in-Residence for Greenfaith, will explore the similarities and differences between Christian and Jewish sacred texts and traditions as they relate to environmental challenges within the context of today's world, as well as examine the role of humans as stewards of the earth. Beacon Institute's John Cronin, an internationally renowned environmentalist and a former Thomas Merton Fellow, will moderate the discussion. Read more...  Register Here If you should have any questions about this event, please contact Mike Heintzman by email, via mheintzman@bire.org We look forward to seeing you on Thursday the 21st!

No-Cost Solar Thermal Seminar for Contractors

Thurs, June 16, 8 AM to 12:00 PM 
NO-COST SOLAR THERMAL SEMINAR for Contractors at SUNY Ulster's Business Resource Center, 1 Development Court, Room 114,Kingston. Presenters will be John Maliwacki of SunMaxx Solar (Ithaca, NY) and Gerhard Klier of EarthKind Solar in Kingston. Contact Patrice Courtney Strong, Courtney Strong, Inc., 845-331-2238 lsderuvo@gmail.com

All About Frogs in Cold Spring

• This Sunday, June 12 from 2:00pm-3:30pm the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum will be hosting: All About Frogs at Hubbard Lodge, 2880 Route 9 in Cold Spring.Hubbard Lodge is part of Fahnestock State Park and the sign for the entrance is on the east side of Route 9 just north of Route 301. 
• Families are invited to join Environmental Educator Carl Heitmuller to learn all about frogs. After a short presentation meet some live frogs from the museum's collection and learn about their remarkable adapations as well as how to recognize species by their calls and unique markings. If time allows take a walk in search of amphibians.
• This program is recommended for adults with or without children and children ages 5 and older. Admission fees will help care for the museum's animals at the Wildlife Education Center in Cornwall. 
• Pre-registration is not required for this program.
  Admission: $5 per person. Museum Members:$3.
• For information  please call 845-534-5506, ext. 204.
• Other programs at Hubbard Lodge include:
  Sunday, July 10 from 2:00pm-3:30pm Beautiful Butterflies

IBM Centennial Keynote: Smarter Rivers for a Smarter Planet

Thursday, June 16, 7 - 9 p.m. 

Center for Environmental Innovation and Education

199 Dennings Ave, Beacon

  

Intelligent, instrumented and interconnected - that's IBM's idea of a Smarter Planet. Join Dr. Harry Kolar, an IBM distinguished Engineer, as he discusses REON and the intelligent systems and analytic technologies driving new possibilities in real-time water monitoring.  

This event is free and open to the public. Please register online.

Walks & Talks at Denning's Point

Erik Kiviat, Ph.D., Executive Director of Hudsonia, a not-for-profit environmental research institute, will share his extensive experience with the plants and animals of our region on Saturday, June 11 at 1 p.m.* Join Erik as he explains the suspicious appearance of the slider turtle, and describes the habits of its indigenous cohort, the snapping turtle, both found slipping about Denning's Point. *Please note the 1:00 start to take advantage of the high tide.

Naomi Sachs, Founder and Director of the Therapeutic Landscapes Network and Principal of Naomi Sachs Design, lends her unique perspective of nature for her Restorative Environments Walk & Talk at CEIE Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m. Naomi's Walk & Talk around the grounds at CEIE will aim to fine-tune the senses to the many effects contained in its landscape. Come ready to see your surroundings in a new way.

Register online and view the full season of Beacon Institute's 2011 events at www.bire.org/events.

Save Energy, Save Dollars Workshop

Hyde Park Free Library
Thursday, June 9, 2011
6:00 — 8:00 pm

2 Main Street
Hyde Park New York, 12538

Advance registration is required;
Contact Angela by phone at:
845-677-8223 x 114 or
Email: acs26@cornell.edu

More information

Beacon Sloop Club Environmental Series Discussion - May 20

Friday., May 20, 2011 

IBM's Smarter Water Initiative: Technological Solutions for a Greener Planet, with Perry Hartswick, IBM World Wide Chief Architect for Smarter Water, 

7 PM at the Beacon Sloop Club, Beacon Train Station. For more information call: 845-463-4660, or 914-879-1082.

Zand and Schraper at the CEIE this Thursday

Beacon Institute presents  

Talk with sustainable architecture experts Schaper and Zand 

Third Thursday at CEIE: May 19 at 7 pm 

 

Oliver Schaper, Design Director, Senior Associate and Senior Sustainability Strategist at Gensler global architects, and Lily Zand, architectural designer and founder of School of Jellyfish in Beacon, will share their talk Building Inspiration: Newer "green" thinking from the ground up Thursday, May 19, 7pm, about a new paradigm of thought more intrinsically linked to nature, leading to a new foundation for building practices.

Join these two leaders in the world of sustainable architecture for a fascinating evening of building inspiration at Beacon Institute's Center for Environmental Innovation & Education (CEIE) on Denning's Point on Thursday, May 19 at 7 pm. More information and register online.

INTERMUNICIPAL WORKSHOP ON CLIMATE JUSTICE

WHEN:      Saturday, May 21, 2011
        
TIME:          9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

WHERE:   Beacon Institute Center for Environmental Innovation and Education
                   Denning's Point, Beacon, N.Y.

COST:       FREE!

Pre-registration is required; 20 seats reserved for each community
Please register here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ClimateJustice
________________________________________________

Clearwater is hosting this workshop designed to provide participants from Peekskill, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston valuable information on Climate Change and Environmental Justice. This information can help participants reduce negative impacts of climate change and prepare for those that cannot be avoided.
We'll have amazing speakers on Climate Change and Environmental Justice to be followed by breakout sessions on Energy, Transportation, Water Resources, Green Jobs, and Emergency Preparedness moderated by experts on these fields; and a panel on Current Progress in NYS on Climate Change. 

Speakers include:
           Andrew Revkin, journalist and author of Dot Earth Blog for NY Times
           Sacha Sepector, Director of Conservation Science at Scenic Hudson
           Cecil Mark-Corbin, Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiative for WEACT
           Mayor Mary Foster, Peekskill Climate Smart Community and NWEAC
           Kristin Marcell,  NYS DEC

Spanish translation will be provided- Traducción al español disponible
Healthy snacks will be served

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
             Youth
             Community Members
             Local  Stakeholders
             Municipal Leaders
             Environmental/Conservation committees
          
WHAT IS CLIMATE JUSTICE? Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Climate Justice gives climate change and environmental justice focus.

Contacts at Clearwater for this project:

Beacon and Peekskill-      Karla Raimundí - karla@clearwater.org  845-265-8080 x 7159
Kingston-                      Victor Pierre Melendez victor@clearwater.org  845-265-8080 x 7144
Poughkeepsie-               Ryan Palmer- ryan@clearwater.org  845-265-8080 x 7114
Project Manager-            Manna Jo Greene manna@clearwater.org 845-265-8080 x 7113

RAMAPO RIVER WATERSHED CONFERENCE

16TH ANNUAL

RAMAPO RIVER WATERSHED CONFERENCE

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011

Ramapo College of New Jersey

505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, N.J. 07430, Student Center - Room 136

 9:30 am – Coffee and Bagels

10:00 - Remarks:  Ramapo College President Peter Mercer,

 Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef

10:15 -  A New Ramapo River Watershed Tour  2011 in Photos and HD Video

10:45 – Adam Strobel, Bergen County Planner, Visioning and Management Plan for Bergen County Ramapo Mountain Parklands

11:00 - Doc Bayne, Sterling Forest Historian: The Building of Sterling Forest Gardens:Historic Film of Peat Wetlands Drained to Create Gardens

11:30 - Rabbi Joel Mosbacher of Beth Haverim Shir Shalom Synagogue and co-founder of New Jersey Together; Joe Morris, lead Organizer of New Jersey Together: Using The Tools of  Citizens’ Organizing to Protect our Drinking Water and Hold Polluters Accountable.                     

 12:00 Noon – 1:15 pm     -     LUNCH

1:15 PM - Janet Burnet, New York State Chair:   Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route          National Trail Update

1:30 -  Kevin Olsen, Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University: Water Pollution Analysis in New Jersey, Employing the Cutting Edge Analytical Technology of 1876

2:00 - Chuck Stead, Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator / Adjunct Professor, Ramapo College: The Saltbox Environmental Research Center, Ford Toxic Legacy Continues

2:30 - Carl Padula, Chairman Flood Advisory Board, Pompton Lakes, Flood Problems in Pompton Lakes

                                    

 3:00 - E. Durling Merrill, Environmental Officer Pompton Lakes: Local Knowledge Based on Extensive Field Experience on the Lower Ramapo River

  3:15 - Don Steinmetz, HEnRI, Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda Program: From Forest to Faucet

3:45 - Howard Horowitz, Ramapo College: Geographic and Hydrologic Peculiarities of the Ramapo Watershed

4:00 - Geoff Welch, Ramapo River Committee: David Johnson, An Artist’s Nature Studies in Torne Valley During the 1870’s

4:30 - Wine and Cheese Reception

       

                       Presented by the Ramapo River Committee

and the Institute for Environmental Studies at Ramapo College

Kindly Sponsored by:

GEORGE L. BECKER Jr. MD, CGF

 PASSAIC RIVER COALITION

 ROCKLAND COUNTY, TOWN of RAMAPO, BETTY HEDGES, JAN BARRY

THE RAMAPO RIVER WATERSHED INTERMUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Free Event - Registration requested at geoffwelch@gmail.com (845) 712-5220

John Cronin at APWCTU

On Wednesday, April 27th, the Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited is delighted to welcome John Cronin, the international renowned Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, for an exciting look at the Beacon Institute’s real time monitoring on the Hudson, its innovative vision for the global use of such monitoring, and a critical inquiry into how advanced levels of information about rivers and streams can ultimately inform and influence watershed management practices.

Honored as a "Hero of the Planet" by Time magazine, John Cronin served as Hudson Riverkeeper for 17 years, co-authored the book The Riverkeepers with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and wrote and co-produced the film, The Last Rivermen, which was named an outstanding documentary by the Motion Picture Academy Foundation. He began his work on the Hudson River in 1973, at the prodding of folksinger Pete Seeger. Since then, he has worked tirelessly as an advocate for streams and the natural and human communities that depend upon them. He has worked as a commercial fisherman and served as a state and congressional legislative aide. He is also a co-founder and senior fellow at Pace University's Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies.

 

The Chapter’s monthly meeting at the Boiceville Inn on Route 28 in Boiceville begins at 6:30 pm with informal social networking, followed at 7:30 pm by a short business meeting. The presentation begins at 8 pm. The entire evening is open to the public at no charge. For more information, please visit www.apwctu.org

 

Please share this invitation with others and join us to welcome John Cronin at next Wednesday's meeting!

WHAT' S UP ON THE HUDSON RIVER?

FIND OUT ……on April 27, 2011, 7pm at the Pearl River Library, 80 Franklin Ave., Pearl River, NY 10965.

Guest Speaker: Paul Gallay, Executive Director, Hudson Riverkeeper

Sponsored by:

The League of Women Voters of Rockland County

The Rockland County Water Quality Committee

Contact: Mary Hegarty (Rockland Co. Water Quality Committee) at hegartym@co.rockland.ny.us, 845-364-2670 or

Harriette Stern (Rockland Co. League of Women Voters) at 845-425-6114.

An Evening with the Fellows: Financing Smart & Sustainable Place-Making

A forum presented by the American Planning Association's New York Chapter, West Section

Monday, April 25th, 7:30 p.m., College Terrace, SUNY New Paltz

Three Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (Frank Fish, FAICP; Dwight Merriam, FAICP; Stuart Turner, FAICP) will explore the promise of fostering priority growth areas and examine how economic planning and strategic land use can help sustain the Hudson Valley.

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Innovative Zoning and Fiscal Policies

The State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Cost:  $12; Free for SUNY students (pre-registration required). RSVP at Registration. For more information call David Gilmour, AICP at (845) 616-2278 or Gilmourplanning@gmail.com. Or go to the NY Metro APA Chapter web page at www.nyplanning.org.

NATIVE PLANTS GARDEN TUTORIAL AND MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP

Want to learn about native plants and perennials and how to maintain a native plants garden?

Co-sponsored by the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority and The Rockland Farm Alliance

Interested in learning about native plants? The Native Plants Garden at the Solid Waste Management Authority in Hillburn hosts an amazing collection of native plants of the Northeast, right here in Rockland County! Through a partnership between the SWMA and the RFA, we are happy to offer a FREE workshop on how to prep, maintain and care for a native plants garden, led by perennial and native plants expert and landscape designer, Rebecca Gmucs. She will teach plant identification (weeds vs. perennial native plants), how to divide plants, weeding techniques, specific perennial care and good choices for local gardens. Rebecca will answer your questions regarding deer resistant, shade loving and sun loving plants as well.

You will also get to see the state-of-the-art greenhouse facility that houses the baby plants for the Cropsey Community Farm! As part of our partnership with the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, The Rockland Farm Alliance was granted access to use the SWMA greenhouse for starting our seedlings for the farm. In return we will maintain their lovely native plants garden that is open to the public as a place to come and learn about and enjoy native plants of the Northeast. We are very grateful to the SWMA for the use of their beautiful greenhouse facility that has allowed us to start our seedlings in optimal conditions. Come help us show our appreciation and learn about how to care for native plants at the same time!

Where: Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority at 420 Torne Valley Rd in Hillburn

When: April 19 10am - 12pm; May 1 1-3pm

What: Native Plants & Perennial Garden Tutorial and Maintenance Workshop

How Much: FREE

For more information about the workshop, please contact us at info@rocklandfarm.org.

Bill McKibben Lecture - April 28th

Bill McKibben: The Building Movement to Tackle Climate Change

Thursday, April 28, 2:30 p.m.

Join us for a special lecture by author, educator, environmentalist, and 350.org founder Bill McKibben. McKibben has been instrumental in raising awareness about global climate change. His essays have been featured in Harper's, Orion, Rolling Stone, and the New York Times. Through 350.org McKibben helped organize a global climate change rally of unprecedented proportions, with over 5,000 demonstrations in 181 countries.

He will discuss how people around the world - many in the poorest parts of the planet - are working to address global warming. He will also talk about how people close to home can play part in the political and practical work necessary to make a real difference.

The lecture will be held in the Cary Institute's auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook, New York.

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Events 

Green Feminisms Conference at SUNY New Paltz

The Women's Studies Program at the State University of New York at New Paltz will host a one-day conference on Saturday, April 30, titled "Green Feminisms: Women, Sustainability and Environmental Justice."

This year's conference focuses on the particular dangers that environmental degradation has posed for women throughout the world and celebrates the women who have been struggling against it. The conference will feature various workshop topics that will bring together activists, farmers, researchers, writers, educators and artists.

Dr. Suzanne Kelly said that the conference will provide a forum for "innovative thinking about the intersections of environmental and feminist issues."

Highlights of the day include Trailer Talk, a live performance about hydraulic fracturing by Sabrina Artell, an Educational Market of local CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and other farm projects, alternative energy projects and environmental organizations.

The keynote panel includes Beverly Naidus, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts at the University of Washington; Joni Seager, Professor of Global Studies at Bentley College; and Karen Washington, President of the New York City Community Garden Coalition. Panelists will discuss creative strategies for resistance and resilience, feminist perspectives on climate change, and the stereotypes and myths surrounding women and people of color in the food movement.

The day will conclude with talks by LaTosha Brown, Director of the Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Thilmeeza Hussain, Deputy Representative for the Maldives at the United Nations on the global leadership of women on climate change.

"We're excited to bring together artists, theorists, and activists who will address a wide range of concerns," said Professor Kelly.

All food served will be sourced from local Hudson Valley farms.

Pre-registration deadline is April 13. (You must pre-register for lunch and childcare.) Cost: $50 (pre-registration; includes lunch), $60 (day of the conference; no lunch). SUNY New Paltz students can attend for free by must pre-register for lunch ($10) before April 13. New Paltz students may use their SUNY New Paltz meal plan cards. Other students will pay a $10 registration fee, which includes lunch.

Conference facilities are wheelchair accessible. Call (845) 257-2975 if you use a wheelchair or have other accessibility needs.

For a complete list of programs, registration forms, or more information, visit http://www.newpaltz.libguides.com/green_feminisms or call the Women's Studies Program at (845) 257-2975. For registration information, contact(845) 257-3033.

James Bonner at CEIE April 21st

Earth Day kickoff event cites sensor revolution

CEIE, Thurs., April 21 at 7 pm, 199 Dennings Ave, Beacon 

Beacon Institute's 2011 event season launches the eve of Earth Day with James Bonner, Ph.D., P.E. Chief Research and Education Officer of Beacon Institute. This is the first "Third Thursday" event of six for the season, to take place at the Center for Environmental Innovation and Education (CEIE) at Denning's Point in Beacon.

Bonner's talk, "REON Technology: Smaller, Faster, Cheaper," expands upon his very popular presentation at CEIE last year at the height of the Gulf oil crisis. He and his REON research team have developed exciting new methods of monitoring the Hudson (and rivers worldwide) in real time. 

Bonner will unveil data from the research team's mobile monitoring tours of the Hudson, discuss the movement of sediment particles in the river near Fort Edward and offer a glimpse into new sensor technologies currently in development. Read the press release... 

Register online to attend this free event!