Author: Clean Air Coalition

First and foremost, the CAC extends a heartfelt thank you to all who attended this morning’s gathering at the RCS Library. We had a remarkable turnout, we filled every seat. This is especially impressive considering it was a Saturday and the day after a night of (presumably) St. Patty’s Day celebrations. So, thank you!

Secondly, our sincere apologies to those watching our live-streaming feed. Our wifi signal was not nearly as strong as we originally tested resulting in delays and resolution issues. However, a camera recording was made as a backup. The presentation session, shown below, is 45 minutes.

The Q&A session is available upon request to help protect those in the audience that did not want to be recorded. As social media has proven, our efforts to educate and inform can sometimes arouse hateful and hostile reactions aimed at our supporters. Should anyone be subject to intimation, please let us know.

And, finally, thank you to all volunteers, both in front and behind the scenes. It takes an incalculable amount of time and effort to turn the tide but our momentum and perseverance are taking shape in the community and we couldn’t be more grateful.

It’s time to put the brakes on the industrial expansion madness in our area. Please help us by signing the petition and attending one of our Steering Committee meetings for instructions on where we go next. Thank you.

For those who can’t make our “Neighbors Unite” event on Saturday, March 18th at 10:30a at the RCS Library, no worries, you can watch and comment via our YOUTUBE channel. Make sure you subscribe to our channel so you can comment in the chat window. The live stream will begin sharply at 10:30a and run for approximately 90 minutes. Thank you to all for your time and effort to participate in this important discussion.

After looking at the many winter storm warnings for this week, the CAC has decided it makes sense to cancel our Tuesday community meeting. This is disappointing but the good news is we made preliminary plans to reserve Saturday in the event of unexpected weather.  

With heavy snow predicted for Monday night through Wednesday, we didn’t want our attendees at risk of slippery roads. We will resume our presentations on the weekend.

So, please save your energy for March 18th from 10:30-1p. We are anticipating a full room at the Ravena library so be sure to arrive early. Thank you!

Scenic Hudson is looking to help communities increase shoreline access. As a result, they have established a river access website with an easy-to-use map designed to let you indicate where you are using the Hudson River shoreline, what you like to do there, and where you’d like future river access.

Direct links to a brief introductory video and the interactive map are here:
1. An 8-minute video on the HRAP
2. Visit the Interactive Map for your opportunity to make your voice heard.  It’s easy to place your comments and vote.

And, here is the full website: Scenic Hudson’s Hudson River Access Plan (HRAP). Please help Scenic Hudson help you achieve your community’s river access goals by participating in this important survey. You can insert comments on the interactive map, and vote for your favorite access sites until March 31st!

Imagine this evolutionary idea: People are rewarded for NOT cutting down trees to build. Today it’s easy to make money by cutting down a forest and building whatever you want. But imagine if the opposite were true. Imagine a world where people and, more importantly, big business was actually paid to protect habitats and maintain valuable biodiversity rather than destroy and threaten them.

It’s a progressive idea that author and CAC Chair, Barbara Heinzen, Ph.D. will be speaking about at a New Baltimore Conservancy gathering at the Cornell Hook and Ladder Fire Company on March 9. Barbara’s vision for a greener, more sustainable future will be highlighted in her efforts to restore the 20-acre swamp behind her home.

In 2011, after working internationally from a UK base for 30 years, Heinzen moved to New Baltimore.  Her move is part of an experiment called the Barbets Duet.  Described as “an experiment in systemic invention”, the Barbet Duet has about 8 learning sites in East Africa, the UK, and one in New Baltimore.  At each site, people are learning how to improve the environmental health of their land while also improving livelihoods.  The New Baltimore site has just under 20 acres at the mouth of the Hannacroix Creek.  It is the only one being managed solely to improve biodiversity, without any kind of farming.  Barbara will illustrate what has been achieved here since 2011 and talk about the challenges of the coming years.

The CAC encourages all to join the New Baltimore Conservancy on March 9 (Thursday) at the Cornell Hook and Ladder Fire Company on Gill Rd in the Hamlet of New Baltimore. The program begins at 7:30 pm and is free and open to the public.