ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse Celebrating Our 43rd Year in Environmental Education Vol. XLIII Number 5 April 2015 ECOS NEWS 1 ECOS Annual Dinner Thursday, April 9 th Reservations due by Wednesday, April 1 st Registration form available in March ECOS News or at www.ecosny.org Guest speaker will be Anita Sanchez, author of Leaflets Three, Let it Be! Anita will talk about poison ivy and its important ecological role, as well as its long history as a popular garden plant, and also discuss ways to cope with it organically. "Leaflets three, let it be!” may be what we think we know about poison ivy, but this picture book will surprise readers young and old. While poison ivy may give some humans a rash, it has an important place in nature. Taking us through the year, the narra- tive introduces many creatures, including a rabbit, a salamander, and several insects and birds, which all depend on poison ivy for food or shelter. Illustrated with breathtaking three-dimensional paper sculptures that make nature come alive, this engaging non- fiction book proves that while poison ivy is perceived as mysteri- ous and dangerous, it has a purpose in the world. Includes further information, Q&A, and illustrator’s note. CELEBRATE!! EARTH DAY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 nd ARBOR DAY FRIDAY, APRIL 24 th
Transcript
ECOS: The Environmental ClearinghouseECOS: The Environmental ClearinghouseECOS: The Environmental ClearinghouseECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse
Celebrating Our 43rd Year in Environmental Education
Vol. XLIII Number 5 April 2015
ECOS NEWS
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ECOS Annual Dinner Thursday, April 9th
Reservations due by Wednesday, April 1st Registration form available in March ECOS News or at www.ecosny.org
Guest speaker will be Anita Sanchez, author of Leaflets Three, Let it Be! Anita will talk about poison ivy and its important ecological role, as well as its long history as a popular garden plant, and also discuss ways to cope with it organically.
"Leaflets three, let it be!” may be what we think we know about poison ivy, but this picture book will surprise readers young and old. While poison ivy may give some humans a rash, it has an important place in nature. Taking us through the year, the narra-tive introduces many creatures, including a rabbit, a salamander, and several insects and birds, which all depend on poison ivy for food or shelter. Illustrated with breathtaking three-dimensional paper sculptures that make nature come alive, this engaging non-fiction book proves that while poison ivy is perceived as mysteri-ous and dangerous, it has a purpose in the world. Includes further information, Q&A, and illustrator’s note.
Peter Tobiessen Jean Walters ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse
is a non-political, not-for-profit organization.
Our mission is to provide environmental
information and educational opportunities that
enhance appreciation of the natural world,
to build a community that is aware and
knowledgeable about environmental issues,
and to advocate informed action to preserve
our natural resources. ECOS is funded through
the support of our members and the community.
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eBay Giving Works
Did you receive a holiday gift you don’t want or need? Sell it on eBay and support ECOS. eBay Giving Works is the dedicated pro-gram for charity listings where you can buy or sell items to support nonprofit organizations. eBay Giving Works is the dedicated pro-gram for charity listings on eBay, enabling you to list items on eBay and donate part or all of the final sale price to your favorite nonprofit organizations. Since 2000, more than $81 million has been raised for charity from listings sold on eBay worldwide. To learn how the program works visit ebay.com and click on Giving Works. ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse is participating in this program.
Attention Business Owners
ECOS Recycling Inkjet &
Laser Ink Cartridges
Help ECOS raise money to support our programs by recycling your empty inkjet and laser ink cartridges. ECOS will provide you with a drop off bin for your office and will collect empty cartridges monthly from your office. All you need to do is drop them in the bin. Help save the environment and help ECOS raise money at the same time. Call the ECOS office at 370-4125 to get involved.
iGive.com
Shopping online this Holiday Season? If you are then you can sup-port your favorite charity, AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU, buy visiting www.iGive.com. Over 800 of you favorite stores and cata-logs participate in this program in which the retailer donates a por-tion of your purchase to your favorite charity. In addition, there are special discounts and sales available through iGive.com. ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse has raised over $200 through this program so far.
ECOS is now a member of Facebook.
Please visit and
Like ECOS on Facebook.
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Bud & Sally Halsey 518-393-5711
Rowing Shells
Rentals Lessons Repairs
2855 Aqueduct Rd. Schenectady, N.Y. 12309
(off Balltown Rd. at Rexford Bridge)
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Quality Pruning
(518) 381-4325 Fully Insured for Your Protection
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Jewelry Designs by Request
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Shade Tree Meteorology LLCShade Tree Meteorology LLCShade Tree Meteorology LLCShade Tree Meteorology LLC http://www.shadetreemeteorology.com
Severe Weather Event Reconstruction
Dick Westergard Certified Consulting Meteorologist
Tel 518-831-9374 Toll Free 888-580-0747 Fax 518-374-7743 Email: [email protected]
COME WALK WITH US,
FOR FUN, FITNESS
AND FRIENDSHIP
EMPIRE STATE
CAPITAL VOLKSSPORTERS
WALKING FOR A GREEN PLANET!
For more information, to read our newsletters
and see our walk schedule,
go to: www.walkescv.org
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President’s Letter
The ECOS Board and its’ Executive Board have had an unusually large change of names this year. Effec-tive April 1st President Denise Cashmere, Vice-President for Programs Harry Willis, Vice-President of Outreach Will Seyse, and Secretary Beverly Clark are all finishing terms. Other Board members who are completing a second term and are required to step down for at least one year, are Andrew Morris and Kathie Armstrong.
ECOS extends a big thank you to all these members who have contributed to the Board over the years. Both Denise and Kathie have returned to the Board after previous service and deserve our extra “thanks”. Kathie has contributed to our Kayak fundraisers and has been active in researching trail information for handicapped access to many of our area trails and De-nise has recently focused on our important web page and public electronic interface. The results show!
Thank you Denise, Kathie, and all who have recently served on our Board.
Will Seyse
ECOS Membership ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse, Inc.
P.O. Box 9118, Niskayuna, NY 12309 (518) 370-4125
Please check your membership contribution level. ____ $30. Individual ____ $55. Donor ____ $250. + Benefactor ____ $40. Family ____ $125. Sustainer $____ Additional Donation Please make your check payable to: ECOS Name________________________________________________ Phone__________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________________ Email:______________________________________________
____ As a GE employee (or retiree) my contribution is eligible for GE Foundation Matching Funds. I have registered with GE for the matching gift by computer at www.gefoundation.com. (If you do not have computer access, call customer service at 1-800-305-0669.) ____ My employer will match my contribution. I’ve enclosed my matching gift form. ____ I would like to be a volunteer. Please send me more information.
Executive Director’s Report
What a great season this was for our cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Thank you to all the trip leaders and to everyone who participated.
To anyone who missed Peter Tobiessen’s talk A Day
in the Life of a Lake at the ECOS All Member Meet-ing you have another chance to see this great program on Monday April 6 at the Schenectady County Li-brary (see details in this issue of ECOS News). This is your chance to learn about ice tsunamis.
As we head into April the ECOS calendar is rapidly filling with school programs and events celebrating Earth Month. As a result ECOS office hours will be limited as we participate in these programs. I will return calls and emails as timely as possible.
Don’t forget to register for the ECOS Annual Dinner and bring all your poison ivy questions for our guest speaker Anita Sanchez.
Patrick Clear
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Join us under the dome for the very best folk music…Join us under the dome for the very best folk music…Join us under the dome for the very best folk music…Join us under the dome for the very best folk music…
A PLACE FOR FOLK 2015A PLACE FOR FOLK 2015A PLACE FOR FOLK 2015A PLACE FOR FOLK 2015 Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
1221 Wendell Avenue, Schenectady 12308
Friday, April 17, 7:30 pmFriday, April 17, 7:30 pmFriday, April 17, 7:30 pmFriday, April 17, 7:30 pm
Two Waterbug solo recording artists are joining us in a rare double bill.
Kate McDonnellKate McDonnellKate McDonnellKate McDonnell The incomparable Kate! The lady with the upside down and back-
ward guitar. Her intriguing voice compliments her unusual original
songs and lyrics.
Andrew Calhoun Andrew Calhoun Andrew Calhoun Andrew Calhoun The bard of Chicago with the rich baritone is a master of story
songs, traditional and his own. Wit, wisdom, and great music.
Reservations recommended. Tickets $20. Students $10. Children with parents $5. Support our great music, become a Folk Friend. www.aplaceforfolk.org 518-377-0002
Don’t Forget: May 3rd 10:30am Pete Seeger Birthday Party Celebration
Donations to benefit ECOS
Trip to Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (indoors, no ticks)
Tuesday, April 21st 10:00-12:00
Directions and information on website. https://www.albanypinebush.org/discovery-center
$3 fee for the guided tour.
The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, is the gateway to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, providing visitors with interactive exhibits and activities. A great place to take out-of-town visi-tors, children and adults. Please let me know if you are coming by April 14th, so I can let them know and for car pool arrange-ments.
Schenectady Recycles! is participating in the 21st Annual Kids' Arts Festival in Schenectady on Saturday, June 6th. Any of the following items you can save would be appreciated:
-cereal boxes -old phone books -toilet paper roll cores -paper towel roll cores -egg cartons -yogurt cups -large plastic soda bottles -plastic and metal caps/lids (all sizes and colors) -old crayons -ribbon -small magnets or self-adhesive magnetic tape -environmental/recycling-related stamps -general art supplies you don’t mind loaning or donating for the event (i.e. markers, colored pencils or crayons, small/kid scis-sors, glue sticks, Elmer’s multi-purpose glue, washable paint, paint brushes/sponges, construction paper, old magazines, other decorating supplies).
If you have any other recyclable items that could be used for crafts, save those as well. For information or questions contact Lesley Cutting at [email protected].
Items can be dropped off at the ECOS office, 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna, beginning May 4th through May 21st. As our space is limited please call ECOS at 370-4125 before dropping off supplies.
Be a National Wildlife Federation Butterfly Hero
Enter your photo on our Butterfly Heroes Pledge of you, your family, or your community making the American Sign Lan-guage sign for butterfly. You can also enter your information, such as email and mailing address, to receive a Butterfly Garden Starter Packet. This kit will help you learn how to plant the right plants that will help the monarch and other pollinators thrive. www.nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes
Schenectady Public Library
The Secret Life of a Lake Monday, April 6th 12 noon to 1:00
ECOS board member and Union College Professor Peter Tobi-essen will discuss his book The Secret Life of a Lake: The Ecol-
ogy of Northern Lakes and their Stewardship at the Schenectady Public Library McChesney room at 12 noon to 1:00. **This is the same presentation Peter gave at the ECOS All Member Meeting in March.
Thacher Nature Center
Native Plant Sale Pre-order Now Open
Native Plant pre-orders must be received by Sunday, April
12th. Contact Laurel at Thacher Nature Center at 872-0800
for order form and details.
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Water as a Basic Human Right Dima Yankova
Water is a vital resource of primary importance for our survival, health, and personal development. The ability to access safe, clean, and affordable drinking water is a fundamental human right, formally recognized by the United Nations. It is, there-fore, our responsibility to ensure that an individual’s right to water is respected in our own communities and throughout the world.
Schenectady receives its daily supply of water from the Great Flats Aquifer, located in the Mohawk River Valley. The city has a permitted capacity of 35 million gallons of water, as ad-ministered by the New York State Department of Health, al-though it rarely approaches this limit. On an average day, the City of Schenectady, Village of Scotia, and Towns of Glenville, Niskayuna, and Rotterdam combined withdraw no more than 25 million gallons. In addition, the aquifer is frequently recharged from direct precipitation or secondary runoff onto the ground surface from the upland adjacent to the Mohawk River Valley. Although studies have shown that even increased pumping rates would not adversely affect the groundwater flow direction, qual-ity or availability, it is important that residents relying on this vital resource understand and appreciate its crucial role.
It is not coincidental that the aquifer received special categoriza-tion by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1985. It was classified as “the sole or principal source of drinking water” for some 500,000 residents in the service area. “There is no existing alternative drinking water source or combination of sources which provides 50% or more of the drinking water to the designated area, nor is there any available cost effective fu-ture source capable of supplying the drinking water demands for the Mohawk River communities”. This evaluation, released by the EPA, comes to show the significance of the Great Flats Aq-uifer for the local population. Therefore, the quality of its water supply ought to be of primary importance for residents and pol-icy-makers alike.
I was born and raised in the eastern part of Bulgaria, in a town which to this day remains subject to severe water restrictions. The reason, ironically, is not the lack of water, but rather the gross negligence of local officials and their inability to provide a safe water supply system. Although the municipality received generous funding from UN institutions in the beginning of 2005 to purchase and construct a water pipeline, the leaders in charge of the project continuously altered the initial plan. As a result, cheap and unsafe pipelines were purchased and laid under-ground. It is still unclear why the municipality did not invest the funds it was provided with in pipelines which can at least
pass safety inspection and where the remaining money was spent. As a result, ten years after the start of the project, people in the town are still forced to rely on unconventional home built storage tanks. Having experienced the direct impact of water use restrictions, I have come to realize the importance of provid-ing safe and clean drinking water in our communities. In the end of the day, it is our responsibility to ensure that our basic human rights are respected. ____________________ 1The Great Flats Aquifer, Economic Development and Planning, The Official
Home of Schenectady County New York, http://www.schenectadycounty.com/
ECOS would like to welcome our Union College intern Dima Yankova. As part of her internship Dima will be writing a series of articles for the ECOS newsletter using her experiences as a mechanical engineering student and a native of Bulgaria.
Sierra Club Hudson Mohawk Group
Sustainable Communities Call for Volunteers
The sustainable community areas of interest are:
• Renewable Energy (wind, solar, geothermal and related)
• Energy Conservation (green buildings, zero net buildings and related)
• Zero waste (solid and toxics)
• Smart planning (energy-efficient communities/green space) The hot button issues/areas of interest are:
• Oil-laden rail cars traveling through Albany and other areas in the Capital District and beyond (navigate to PAUSE website.)
• Gas infrastructure projects (pipelines, compressor stations
and related) Administrative Needs:
We could use some assistance with our website and with social media to reach a broader net. If you are interested in any of these areas, please email Virginia at [email protected] On the subject line please enter "Volunteer Interest".
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Roots and Wisdom Harvest Share 2015
Once again, Roots and Wisdom is pleased to offer a unique vegetable-buying opportunity for the 2015 growing season – HARVEST SHARE – a weekly program starting in June and continuing through mid-October, bringing together consumers and a youth agriculture initiative.
How it works: This year we will be offering Harvest Share in a more traditional CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) way. Every week a share equivalent to $15 for a full share or $8 for a half share will be available to program participants. Extra pro-duce will be available for purchase at the farm stand during our summer program, July 6 – August 14. Shares will be based on what is available each week. The produce will be harvested in the morning and available for pickup at a new location this year. We will have only a limited number of spots open for each day. Sign up early to reserve the best day and time for you.
For info contact 372-1622 x264 or email [email protected]. Enrollment is limited, please sign up early.
Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Pete Seeger Sunday, May 3rd 10:30 am
Birthday Party Sing-Along Sunday
Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
1221 Wendell Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12308
www.aplaceforfolk.org
Free-will donations accepted for a Pete Seeger Me-morial Gift to support programs that promote and protect our Mohawk River through ECOS: The Envi-ronmental Clearinghouse. A luncheon follows with free will donations to support the community Soup Kitchen.
Lake George Land Conservancy
2015 Hike-A-Thon Registration Now Open
The early-bird registration period is now open for the Lake George Land Conservancy’s (LGLC) third annual Lake George Hike-A-Thon, set for Sunday, July 5th. The event is free, and until April 30th registrants will receive a free event t-shirt. Reg-istrations must be made online through the Hike-A-Thon web-site, lakegeorgehikeathon.org.
Those who choose to make a donation in support of LGLC’s stewardship activities may also receive a limited edition Hike-A-Thon hat for each $25 they give.
The Lake George Hike-A-Thon is a one-day event held each July 5th, created to showcase LGLC’s parks and preserves around Lake George as free public resources, and to promote a healthy, active lifestyle and appreciation for the outdoors.
Hikes take place simultaneously all around Lake George, culmi-nating with aerial photography of each group by helicopter. Participants choose one hike to join, depending on time, location and hike difficulty; with 12 sites to choose from, there’s some-thing for everyone. Descriptions of each site are provided on the Hike-A-Thon website.
Photographs will once again be taken by renowned photogra-pher Carl Heilman II, from a helicopter piloted by Bruce Mowery of North Country Heliflite; Heilman and Mowery are both donating this time for the event.
New York State Invasive Species Regulation
Became Effective March 10, 2015
A regulation was adopted in July 2014 that prohibits or regulates the possession, transport, importation, sale, purchase and intro-duction of select invasive species. The purpose of this regula-tion is to help control invasive species, a form of biological pol-lution, by reducing the introduction of new and spread of exist-ing populations.
Color photo list can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/isprohibitedplants2.pdf
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ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse is located in the Niskayuna Community Center,
2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna, NY.
ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse P.O. Box 9118
Niskayuna, NY 12309
Return Service Requested
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit #20
Rexford, NY
Europe’s Waste Management at a Glance Dima Yankova
The average European uses 16 tons of material per year; 6 of those end up as waste. For the past decade, the European Union has been steadily advancing toward sustainable solid waste man-agement. Between 2001 and 2010 the EU, Norway and Switzer-land decreased the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from municipal waste by 56 %, which is equivalent to 38 million tons
of CO2. In an attempt to further reduce pollution and preserve the continent’s valuable resources, the EU has now mandated a goal of 50% recycling rates of household waste by 2020 for all 27 member states. While some countries are already surpassing the bare minimum, others struggle to approach it.
The gap between the East and the West
Countries like Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have more than 60% recycling rates and a little less than 40% incin-eration rates, which leaves 1 to 5% of the total waste for the landfill. Unfortunately, the picture looks quite different in the eastern part of the EU, where member states like Romania,
Croatia, and Bulgaria dump more than 90 % of their trash in landfills. Between 2001 and 2010 Bulgarians decreased the amount of waste generation per capita from 500kg to 400kg; yet, the proper disposal of this waste remains poorly managed.
Interestingly enough, countries like the U.K. and Slovenia fall out of the regular East-West division, when it comes to effective
solid-waste management. Recycling rates among the British stalled for the first time in 2013 and could not surpass 45%. This puts the U.K. behind Slovenia, which is an Eastern-European country with 47% recycling rates.
What determines a successful waste management program? The recycling gap between different EU member states stems from various economic and social factors. Germany, for in-stance, has a long-lasting tradition in developing waste strategies on a national level. It was one of the first countries to introduce producer responsibility for packaging waste in 1991 – a practice which is still largely unpopular in many places around the world. The so called Packaging Ordinance from 1991 requires all manufacturers to collect and then recycle or reuse the pack-aging after it is disposed of by consumers. This provides an economic incentive for companies to use less raw packaging material. On the other hand, some Eastern-European countries like Bulgaria, for instance, did not introduce separate garbage disposal until 2004. It is, therefore, much harder for those new EU member states to catch up with the West. Citizens in Ger-many are also expected to pay for a plastic bag in the store. Hence, the majority of them carry reusable shopping bags with them at all times. In addition, they receive small monetary benefits from returning glass bottles to the grocery or to the liq-uor store. In the end of the day, a successful solid waste man-agement program required a change at all levels: from nation-wide legislature improvements to conscious individual efforts.
