The Westchester County Department of Health is notifying residents to avoid direct contact with the Hudson River along Westchester County now throughout the weekend.

A fire at a major wastewater treatment plant at W. 135th Street and 12th Avenue in New York City took the plant out of service and untreated wastewater has been discharging into the Hudson since about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

The New York City Department of Health is warning swimmers and kayakers to stay out of the Hudson River now through the weekend. Westchester County Department of Health was notified of the incident today and is advising people who use the Hudson River waters along Westchester County for recreational purposes, namely swimmers, windsurfers and kayakers, to avoid direct contact with the Hudson River now throughout the weekend.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection will be providing updates on the situation as needed at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/home/home.shtml.

Poo In The River (It Ain't Winnie Duh!)

Happy Earth Day everybody! Earth Day Is About Working Together to Safeguard Our Planet! I started my Earth Day early: had to be up at 4am to run Saki Tumi out to the airport for her flight to St. Petersburg, then it was back home to blog and tweet and facebook and... looky here! Even Google observes Earth Day!

Here are a bunch of EARTH DAY 2011 Freebies, Steals & Deals!

On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day, over 20 million people participated in about 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of cities across the United States.

Earth Day falls on Friday, and if nothing else, it will be a day here in New York to wish for the return of spring sunshine and a chance to ride bikes, hose off the windows, clean out the car or putter in the garden.

EARTH DAY TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

This simple stuff will save energy -- and money -- right now.

EARTH DAY TIPS FOR EVERYBODY :::

1. Unplug

* Unplug seldom-used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that contains just a few items. You may save around $20 every month on your utility bill.

* Unplug your chargers when you're not charging. Every house is full of little plastic power supplies to charge smartphones, PDA's, digital cameras, cordless tools and other personal gadgets. Keep them unplugged until you need them.

* Use power strips to switch off televisions, home theater equipment, and stereos when you're not using them. Even when you think these products are off, together, their "standby" consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously.

2. Set Computers to Sleep and Hibernate

* Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu.

* Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The "hibernate mode" turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch.

3. Take Control of Temperature

* Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less during the daytime, and 55 degrees before going to sleep (or when you're away for the day). During the summer, set thermostats to 78 degrees or more. (Click here for a more detailed summer energy-saving tip.)

* Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day.

* Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120 and 130 degrees. Lower temperatures can save more energy, but you might run out of hot water or end up using extra electricity to boost the hot water temperature in your dishwasher.

4. Use Appliances Efficiently

* Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them.

* Don't preheat or "peek" inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items.

* Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes. This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use.

* In your clothes washer, set the appropriate water level for the size of the load; wash in cold water when practical, and always rinse in cold.

* Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use. Dry heavy and light fabrics separately and don't add wet items to a load that's already partly dry. If available, use the moisture sensor setting. (A clothesline is the most energy-efficient clothes dryer of all!)

5. Turn Out the Lights

* Don't forget to flick the switch when you leave a room.

Employers who want to make every day Earth Day could create a carpool program, plant trees on their grounds, or change all light bulbs to Energy Star-qualified bulbs.

6. 10 Eco-Friendly Gadgets

Modern propaganda credits the founding of Earth Day to U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. You won't find Ira Einhorn's name listed in any of the Earth Day promotional literature, as the organizers have taken great pains to distance themselves from the "Unicorn Killer"--- In 1970, during the first Earth Day event, which was televised globally, Ira Einhorn was on stage as master of ceremonies.

A friend and contemporary of Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, and acquaintance of authors Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsburg, Timothy Leary, Alvin Toffler, and Isaac Asimov, Einhorn held the floor for a half hour, during the first Earth Day celebration, in Philadelphia, kissing Edmund Muskie on the lips before surrendering the microphone to the Senator from Maine. There is no evidence that Muskie rejected his advances, or that anyone associated with the event had ever voiced any disagreement with Einhorn's place as a key organizer until after his arrest for the murder of Holly Maddox. Due in large part to his influence, Einhorn escaped punishment for his crime for a quarter of a century.

Ira Einhorn knew all of the right people. Executives from Sun Oil and AT&T showered him with support, financial and otherwise. Ira Einhorn was the man who could make Earth Day happen as, it seems, he did, denials notwithstanding.

A few years back Genesys, a global multimedia conferencing service, surveyed more than 18,000 people among its Global 1,000 customers. It found that 88 percent think car and air travel to meetings have the largest negative impact on the environment, far greater than paper and plastic goods used in the course of a physical meeting.




Tags: Ira Einhorn, Earth Day 2011, 2011 Earth Day

Earth Day 2011

Paul Slazas drove to the Albany presser in his brand new Chevy Volt...(it's the red one in the video below --- which also shows Mayor Jennings driving up in a white Volt --- Albany County Legislator Brain Scavo, who is active on the Mass Transit Committee and has been in the car business for 25 years, hams it up for the camera --- Mr. Slazas also appears in the vid. please excuse the bad sound as the wind was blowing quite fiercely) Slazas lives in Stockport, Columbia County, and told me that he discovered the press conference while online googling EV charging stations in the vicinity of Albany.
[Hover and click on the image to enlarge]

This reporter today enjoyed an interesting field assignment and got a firsthand look at EV technology. [LINK]


It's all for the greater good: Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings today announcing a partnership with NYSERDA and the New York State Department of Transportation to prepare the Capital city infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Bob VanAmburgh at City Hall explained the study is expected to take two to three months, and results will be made public in mid-to-late summer.

The effort includes a feasibility study and pilot program, which will include installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the City. In addition to the government agencies, DeNooyer Chevrolet, National Grid, the University of Albany, and VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C. have all agreed to partner with the City.

“This program is an exciting and important step forward for the City,” said Mayor Jennings. “Albany’s position as a major juncture between Boston and Buffalo, New York and Montreal, makes it an ideal hub for electric vehicle recharging infrastructure as we plan for regional adoption of electric vehicles. This is yet another program that my Office of Energy & Sustainability is implementing with the goal of creating a more livable and sustainable Albany.”

Earlier this year, the Mayor's Office of Energy and Sustainability released the city's greenhouse gas inventory and priority initiatives for 2011 which includes a goal to replace at least 10% of the municipal fleet with alternative fuel vehicles by 2030...


NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said, “At Governor Andrew Cuomo’s direction, the State Department of Transportation is working to develop environmentally-friendly transportation options and reduce transportation’s carbon footprint by decreasing greenhouse gases from vehicles. We’re pleased to work with Mayor Jennings on the City of Albany’s electric vehicle pilot program, which will help expand our knowledge of energy efficient alternatives to traditionally-fueled vehicles.”

“I congratulate Mayor Jennings, the City of Albany and the partners in this important step in the transition to electric vehicles,” said Joe Martens, Commissioner of DEC. “Under Mayor Jennings’s leadership, Albany was an early adopter of the state’s Climate Smart Community pledge and continues to embrace programs that will make our community more livable, while saving residents money and moving us closer to the clean-energy economy. I applaud the mayor’s investment of local resources to promote the city's sustainability, and his leveraging of additional state and private resources to bring those concepts to fruition.”

This is the fifth joint research-and-development solicitation between NYSERDA and NYSDOT. The program this year focuses on transportation energy efficiency, transportation demand management and low carbon transportation fuels. The transportation sector accounted for 77 percent of petroleum consumption and nearly 40 percent of GHG production in New York State in 2009, leading both categories that year and increasing since. That can be improved by lowering fuel use and emissions, which is the focus of these new contracts.



Tags: Albany EV, Chevy Volt, Jerry Jennings

Electric Albany

Invasive Stink Bugs: Wanted Dead or Alive.

Article By Mike Fargione & Peter Jentsch of Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County

The ‘new kid on the block’, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is a recent addition to the urban/agricultural landscape in the Hudson Valley. It was first observed entering NY homes in 2008. Populations of this species have been steadily on the rise over the past three years, making their presence known primarily in the southern parts of the valley. This insect has been found invading the homes of suburban and Metropolitan New Yorkers living in the 5 boroughs, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Westchester, Putnam, Ulster, and Dutchess counties. Many residents are taking notice of them as temperatures rise and insects become more active, making their way out of homes and back into the landscape.

The BMSB does not bite or sting people, pets or livestock. Being a member of the Hemiptera family of insects, it inserts its piercing/sucking mouthparts into plants and feeds on the juices found in stems, leaves and seeds. The insect has shown a wide host range including tomato, pepper, lima bean, soybean, sweet and field corn, apple, pear, peach, berries and some ornamental trees and shrubs. In addition to causing severe damage to farmers’ crops and homeowners’ gardens, the pest has become a residential nuisance as adults fly from near and far to congregate on and in houses during the fall while seeking winter shelter. Reports from the Mid Atlantic region indicate some homeowners have removed thousands of BMSB from their dwellings this winter. Locally, homeowners in the Hudson Valley region also report finding BMSB in their homes this spring with samples being sent to scientists at Cornell’s Hudson Valley Laboratory in Highland, NY. Thus far the laboratory has received over 30 reports and samples from the region, with specimens mostly coming from inside the home, ranging from just a few insects along the window sills to hundreds being observed in closets, attic spaces and stacks of covered firewood.

Since its introduction from Asia into the mid-Atlantic during the mid-1990’s, the BMSB has made its way to the top of the insect ‘most wanted list’. It was first identified in the United States in 2001 in Allentown, Pennsylvania from a specimen sent to Cornell’s Entomologist E. Richard Hoebeck. The pest has spread throughout the mid-Atlantic but was relatively unnoticed except by scientists who study such events. However, over the past two years, BMSB has developed into populations rivaling biblical proportions in some parts of the Mid-Atlantic causing extensive economic injury to vegetable and fruit crops in the region. In 2010, their feeding damage resulted in 20 to 80% crop loss on some farms in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The recently established NE-IPM BMSB Working Group met at the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in Winchester, VA in November of 2010 to discuss the impact of this insect on the region. The group, which includes fruit and vegetable producers, university researchers and extension agents, USDA entomologists and agrichemical representatives, heard presentations by growers who suffered severe crop injury in 2010. Fruit producers told the group that if they experience successive years of sustained economic loss by this insect pest, that they will be at significant risk of loosing their farm. Given the impacts seen in 2010 in the Mid Atlantic, agricultural producers in the Hudson Valley are preparing themselves for the possible onslaught of this insect into their crops over the next few years.

“We’ve been receiving a few BMSB samples each year since its detection in our area in 2008. This season, however, we are seeing larger numbers in an ever widening range.” said Peter Jentsch, Senior Extension Associate in entomology at Cornell University’s Hudson Valley Laboratory in Highland, NY. Jentsch and his colleagues at Cornell Cooperative Extension have developed a regional working group to develop a laboratory colony, collect regional specimens, verify and document the spread of this invasive species in Eastern NY. Over the past 4 months they have been increasing their efforts to track the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in the urban environment and will begin monitoring its spread into the agricultural landscape this spring. Intensive monitoring of orchards, vegetable production centers and sweet corn fields using a number of trapping systems will begin in the region during early April. The Hudson Valley Regional Fruit Program website (http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu), CCE extension outreach publications and the Scaffolds Fruit Journal (http://www.scaffolds.entomology.cornell.edu/index.html) will continue to update agricultural producers on the development, spread and damage assessments to agricultural commodities in 2011. Cornell Cooperative Extension in cooperation with the Hudson Valley Laboratory will conduct workshops early in the growing season to assist commercial growers in developing pest management strategies to reduce the damage this insect may cause to their crops.

Dead or Alive:

Anyone who has seen this pest is asked to send a sample to Peter Jentsch, BMSB Project, Cornell Hudson Valley Lab, P.O. Box 727, Highland, N.Y. 12528. The bugs should be placed in a small plastic container, such as a medicine bottle or film canister. A submission form available on the Cornell Cooperative Extension website at (http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu/scouting%20reports/BMSB%20Project/BMSB%20Sample%20Submission%20Form.pdf) should be filled out and sent along with the sample so the distribution of the insect can be mapped. Live specimens will be added to the research colony for the Eastern New York Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Project, which began last year.

For more information on this pest, visit the NE IPM Center at http://www.northeastipm.org/bmsb.cfm .

For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s community programs and events call 845-340-3990 or visit online at www.cceulster.org and follow us on www.facebook.com.

Stinky Bugs! Have you seen these critters?

Why does this scenario remind me of the movie "Avatar"?

Wish I could attend the presser! (And stay for morning tea!)

TUESDAY 1ST MARCH 2011
PHOTOCALL: 10.30AM
PRESS CONFERENCE: 11AM
FLOODING OUR FUTURE: THE THREAT TO INDIGENOUS LANDS FROM HYDRO-POWER SCHEMES IN LATIN AMERICA.
• Bianca Jagger, Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation/Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador/Amnesty International/Amazon Charitable Trust
• Ruth Buendia Mestoquiari, President of Central Ashaninka Del Rio Ene, Peru
• Sheyla Yakarepi Juruna, Belo Monte, Brazil
• Almir Narayamoga Surui, Brazil
Main Auditorium, The Human Rights Action Centre, Amnesty International, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA.
The press conference will be followed by morning tea.

Bianca Jagger & Hydro-power in Latin America

What the hell is going on here?

And what's going on down below?



Life. It's amazing!

Birdbath & Two in The Bush

Yuka Yoneda ::: Top 6 Green Transportation Stories of 2010 – Vote for Your Fave!

Six ways to reuse old jeans!

Famous Bloggers

6 Errors To Avoid When Starting An Online Business

666

The 2nd Snowiest Place in the USA is right here in NYS!

A child-eating wolf in eco-friendly sheep's clothing?

10:10 touts TODAY as "the largest day of positive action on climate change ever."

At first glance, it all seems good, until you take a look at THIS.



Tags: 10:10, Michelle Malkin

10:10 ::: Friend or Foe?