RENewsletter October 3, 2010

RENewsletter | October 3, 2010

The Free environmental newsletter from RochesterEnvironment.com

“Our Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.”

[9/26/2010 – 10/03/2010]

* Need to vent? | Go to my blog: Environmental Thoughts - Rochester, NY

* Found an important Rochester environmental story from a credible source that you think needs attention? Or, an Environmental Event, Please, SEND ME THE LINK. If you think this newsletter, which continually informs our community on our local environmental news, events, actions, is worthwhile, please encourage others to sign up.

Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet. -- Carl Sagan

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Opening Salvo: “Change Rochester’s environment 10/10/10”

Climate Change is going to possibly change our Rochester, NY-area environment in all sorts of ways. I don’t mean possible in the sense that one thinks when buying a lottery ticket. It’s possible you might win a zillion dollars when you buy a lottery ticket for a buck at your local convenience store, but don’t count on it. I mean possible Climate Changes scenarios in our area in the sense that a meteorologist means when she says a Force Four hurricane is coming to town tomorrow and you might want to act on that. Here’s a litany of the possible changes I am writing about:

· Our Water supply may be at risk: NRDC: Climate Change, Water, and Risk “Current Water Demands Are Not Sustainable | Climate change will have a significant impact on the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades.” (7/16/2010)

· West Nile Virus in our area could increase Changing climate increases West Nile threat in U.S. — The Daily Climate “The higher temperatures, humidity and rainfall associated with climate change have led to increased outbreaks of West Nile Virus infections across the United States in recent years, according to a study published this week.” (March 2009)

· Climate Change could impact every aspect of public health. Scientists Quantify Global Warming's Threat to Public Health: Scientific American “From heat stress to sewage overflows, climate change promises to bring extreme weather that will challenge the ill-prepared U.S. public health infrastructure | Extreme weather induced by climate change has dire public health consequences, as heat waves threaten the vulnerable, storm runoff overwhelms city sewage systems and hotter summer days bake more pollution into asthma-inducing smog, scientists say.” (July 12, 2010)

· The Great Lakes are changing: Lake Superior, a Huge Natural Climate Change Gauge, Is Running a Fever - NYTimes.com “The Great Lakes are feeling the heat from climate change. As the world's largest freshwater system warms, it is poised to systematically alter life for local wildlife and the tribes that depend on it, according to regional experts. And the warming could also provide a glimpse of what is happening on a more global level, they say. ‘The Great Lakes in a lot of ways have always been a canary in the coal mine,’ Cameron Davis, the senior adviser to the U.S. EPA on the Great Lakes, said last week. ‘Not just for the region or this country, but for the rest of the world.’" (July 19, 2010)

· Our Agriculture will Change: U.S. agriculture could be disrupted by climate change | Nation | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News. “Climate change is expected to disrupt agriculture in the U.S. Midwest, with high carbon dioxide promoting crop growth but stronger storms, drought, floods and migrating yields dampening yields. Overall, there are signs that crops will be stressed, and that weeds and insects will change their range. The Midwest climate has already become wetter and warmer, said Gene Takle, an atmospheric scientist at Iowa State University. That could mean a longer crop-growing season and savings on air conditioning, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee higher crop yields.” (July 15, 2010)

· Our forests will change: U.S. Forest Service - Climate Change Emphasis Area "The Forest Service has several inter-related programs to help forests, grasslands and humans mitigate and adapt to global climate change.” Especially interesting is Adapting Forests to Climate Change - Forest Disturbance Processes - Northern Research Station - USDA Forest Service "In the Northeast and Midwest, temperature records show that the length of the growing season is increasing, and that rapid freezing events are more common in the early spring. "

· Climate Change could change fish growth in the Great Lakes: SPECIAL REPORT: Researchers study impact of climate change on local fish | WSBT - News, Weather, Sports South Bend | Local News “Since April, Purdue researchers have been catching fish in their larval stage along the Michigan shoreline to better understand the potential impacts climate change could have on their developmental processes.” (July 8, 2010)

· Changes to our manmade infrastructure: Climate change could affect marine infrastructure - CTV News “The federal government [Canada] is trying to come up with ways to protect millions of dollars worth of vulnerable infrastructure and coastline, years after it was urged to adapt to the effects of climate change. Ottawa has solicited a study on how some of the 1,000 small craft harbours that are critical to the fishing industry could be affected by rising sea levels, storm surges and a loss of shorefast ice -- all linked to climate change.” June 13, 2010

· More Heat Stress for Humans: Warmer planet to stress humans: study › News in Science (ABC Science) “A large number of healthy people won't handle the heat if temperatures continue to increase into next century, predict researchers. The study, which appears today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also suggests heat could affect more land mass than rising sea levels. The human body maintains a constant core temperature of 37°C by giving off excess heat through the skin. But, if the 'web-bulb' temperature of the air reaches 35°C, this heat dissipation stops causing the body to retain heat, resulting in heat stress.” (May 4, 2010)

· The Spread of new Pathogens: The Spread of New Diseases and the Climate Connection by Sonia Shah: Yale Environment 360 “As humans increasingly encroach on forested lands and as temperatures rise, the transmission of disease from animals and insects to people is growing. Now a new field, known as “conservation medicine,” is exploring how ecosystem disturbance and changing interactions between wildlife and humans can lead to the spread of new pathogens.” (March 17, 2010)

· Bird Species Threatened 2010 Report: Climate Change — News Release “Secretary Salazar Releases New “State of the Birds” Report Showing Climate Change Threatens Hundreds of Species Austin, TX–Climate change threatens to further imperil hundreds of species of migratory birds, already under stress from habitat loss, invasive species and other environmental threats, a new report released today by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar concludes. The State of the Birds: 2010 Report on Climate Change, follows a comprehensive report released a year ago showing that that nearly a third of the nation's 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline.” (March 11, 2010)

· Invasive species move from the southern area into our area Invasive Plants Move North “Fall foliage is the veritable trademark of the Northeast. Families flock from around the world to take in the natural splendor. Imagine autumn in New England without its distinctive palette - choked out by a dense labyrinth of invasive vines. This nightmare may become a reality in the near future if current climate trends continue, increasing the threat of invasive plant species to the Northeast Region.” (February 18, 2010) Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

· Our Air Quality could change: Extreme heat and declining air quality are likely to pose increasing problems for human health, especially in urban areas]. Agricultural production, including dairy, fruit, and maple syrup, are likely to be adversely affected as favorable climates shift. Severe flooding due to sea-level rise and heavy downpours is likely to occur more frequently. The projected reduction in snow cover will adversely affect winter recreation and the industries that rely upon it. The center of lobster fisheries is projected to continue its northward shift and the cod fishery on Georges Bank is likely to be diminished.” Northeast in United States Global Change Research Program

· Our weather will get whacky: Odd-ball Winter Weather: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the Northern United States National Wildlife Federation 2010 "Global warming is having a seemingly peculiar effect on winter weather in the northern United States. Winter is becoming milder and shorter on average; spring arrives 10 to 14 days earlier than it did just 20 years ago. But most snowbelt areas are still experiencing extremely heavy snowstorms. Some places are even expected to have more heavy snowfall events as storm tracks shift northward and as reduced ice cover on the Great Lakes increases lake-effect snowfalls. Even as global warming slowly changes the character of winter, we will still experience significant year-to-year variability in snowfall and temperature because many different factors are at play. "

· Increase numbers of sewer overflows: "The report [Fourteenth Biennial Report ] says many wastewater systems could experience an increased number of sewer overflows as a result of climate change and that additional mitigation efforts may be needed. --from More effort needed to control sewer overflow :: Local News :: Post-Tribune “A large amount of stimulus funding should be spent on improving infrastructure to avoid millions of gallons of sewage overflowing into the Great Lakes, a new report says.” (September 29, 09)

· Drop in Great Lakes Water Levels: Study projects steep Great Lakes water level drop if greenhouse gases remain unchecked | Great Lakes Echo “Great Lakes water levels could drop by up to two feet by the turn of the century as temperatures rise, according to a recent series of reports released by the Union of Concerned Scientists.” (September 30, 09)

All this doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. Don’t become numb with indifference. It means our failure to address this planetary issue in the past will insure that a certain amount of change will occur. We’ll have to adapt to that

But we can stop more damage from becoming inevitable. We need to demonstrate to our community that we can stop more environmental damage if we act now.

Ellen Page says it better: YouTube - Actress Ellen Page for 350.org's Global Work Party on 10/10/10 For the Rochester, NY area, this site 350 Day at the Farmers Market! | 350.org is an attempt to get everyone to come to the 10/10/10 campaign in our area. Sign Up for 350 Day at the Brighton Farmers' Market. Sign up on Facebook to connect with 350 Day at the Brighton Farmers' Market.

FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com (Click on my email for feedback)

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NewsLinks – Environmental NewsLinks – [Highlights of major environmental stories concerning our area from the past week]

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Updates – Daily Updates – [Connecting the dots on Rochester’s environment. Find out what’s going on environmentally in our area—and why you should care? Clicking on -DISCUSSION – will take you to my blog “Environmental Thoughts, NY, where you can add your comments.]

10/02/2010 - ACTION: When the cat’s away the mice will play In a time of recession, budgets will be cut, people will lose lobs, and it will hurt. We get it. However, this message often gets directed to some and not to others. Usually, the oppressed are the recipients of this austerity message. Regardless of who caused the recession (because holding those accountable seems impossible because they hold so much power), we make our corrections on the backs of the poor, government workers who keep our infrastructure going, the least likely to be able to fight back, and always our environment. In good times (booms) and bad (recessions), the thing to do to balance the budget and magically save us from ourselves, from our pollution and neglectfully ways, is to trash our environment: we get to pave it, develop it, drill it, pollute it, shoot it, and forget it altogether. But, that’s suicidal. Gutting New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the agency responsible for protecting our environment in lean times and good, means when the cat is away, the mice (industry, individuals) get to do whatever they want with our environment. Here’s the DEC’s mission: "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being. DEC's goal is to achieve this mission through the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, public health, economic prosperity and social well-being, including environmental justice and the empowerment of individuals to participate in environmental decisions that affect their lives.” Rationally, the thing to do would be to increase the staff at the NYS DEC. When things get tough, people start trashing the environment. They take shortcuts; they dump when they should recycle; staff, who are supposed to make sure industry and government don’t misbehave, are getting the pink slip. Desperate schemes, like drilling for natural gas to provide jobs and make money and warm the planet with more greenhouse gases, gets less scrutiny and less environmental enforcement. Here’s the situation: Environmental groups decry DEC budget cuts - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow “Environmental groups say Gov. David Paterson is hobbling the state’s ability to protect its natural resources by ordering hundreds of job cuts at the Department of Environmental Conservation. Paterson has called for cutting 2,000 of the state’s 200,000 employees by year’s end. Budget divison [sic] spokesman Eric Kriss says Wednesday each agency has been given a target for total staffing. That number is just more than 2,900 at the DEC.” (September 30, 2010) Note that the governor proposes to make his entire job cuts through DEC cuts only, and this actually leaves 900 additional job openings across the rest of the state’s staff. But you can do something about it says Environmental Advocates New York: “The Governor recently ordered New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to lay off 209 employees by the end of the year. Added to the hundreds of staff who have taken up the Governor’s early retirement incentives and those lost due to the hiring freeze over the past four years, New York’s environmental agency has lost nearly one quarter of its entire workforce since 2007. The DEC monitors air and water quality and cleans up oil and toxic chemical spills—but only if it has the staff to do so. The agency has been cut 15 percent this year, and now is looking at a disproportionate number of layoffs, too, more than any other single agency. These cuts leave the DEC with its lowest staff levels since the 1980′s, despite an increase in responsibilities. It’s like the Governor is asking the environmental agency to clean up New York’s hazardous waste with a toothbrush and a garden hose. Gutting environmental enforcement can’t be the way Go here to act: Save the DEC: Tell Gov. Paterson NOT to Cut Staff at NY's Enviro Agency
10/01/2010 - Take Action for our Children: "Today CHEJ is proud to release our newest resource to create healthier schools for children – This Vinyl School – a brand new interactive website to educate and empower parents, teachers & students to green America's Schools. Visit This Vinyl School – http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool and find out where PVC, the poison plastic is hiding in schools and find safer alternatives. PVC is widespread in schools across the nation – from the flooring and carpeting to playground equipment and roofing. Toxic chemicals released by the PVC lifecycle have been linked to asthma, obesity, learning and developmental disabilities – health problems on the rise in children. Thankfully it is easy to find safer alternatives to this toxic plastic. Can you help get the word out about this new resource? Here's a few easy ways you can help promote This Vinyl School today: • Share it on Facebook and Twitter – here's a sample announcement you can post: Help your school go green with CHEJ's fun new website for PVC-free schools! http://bit.ly/PVCschool • Forward this e-mail to friends, family, teachers, and students you know to spread the word. • Have a website or blog? Post a web banner on your site today: http://www.besafenet.com/pvc/share.htm Be sure to link it to This Vinyl School – http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool If you’d like to help share this, contact me for sample e-mails to forward, blog posts, and other promo materials. We're releasing This Vinyl School just in time for Children's Health Month this October. Make the pledge to make your child's school healthier this month by visiting and sharing it with your friends and loved ones – http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool Together we can green our schools! Yours for a toxic-free future, Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator Center for Health Environment & Justice 212.964.3680 office mike@chej.org http://www.chej.org http://www.besafenet.com/pvc Check out CHEJ's new blog! www.chej.org/blog Follow CHEJ on Twitter: twitter.com/chej Fan CHEJ on Facebook : www.facebook.com/CHEJfans "
10/01/2010 - Transportation, our environment, and your job search When looking for a job (a green job perhaps) in these recession-filled days of few job offers and low pay, consider the cost of transportation in factoring your desired compensation. In other words, if you can find a job you can walk, bike, or bus to you can get a job that does not pay as much as you would need if you had to own, maintain, and purchase a car. When searching for an employment position, calculate that you can work for at least $5,000 a year less if I don’t have to own a car to get to it. (Calculate more if your vehicle is one of the hulking monstrosities that doesn’t even come close to the suggested miles per gallon quotient.) You won’t need to pay repair bills, or licensing fees, fuel that warms the atmosphere, insurance, and you won’t have to save for a new car to replace the one you are going to wear out getting to and from your new job. Our environment and you will be healthier if you can walk each day to your job, instead of maintaining that behemoth in your garage, just drooling for more fossil fuel. Figuring out the earnings you will need from your new job will give you a distinct advantage if you don’t have to pay so much just to get to your job. Think about it: If you need to own a car to work, it’s going to suck critical earnings from your new job. Just imagine if everyone considered the cost of transportation to their employment; we would not need high taxes to maintain roads, bridges, accident insurance, and our health bills would go down. Our neighborhoods would be people centric, instead of car dominate and we wouldn’t have to compete for living space with drivers speeding to work to make those outrageous car payments. Behold the bicycle: People for Bikes "Peopleforbikes.org is dedicated to channeling that passion to improve the future of bicycling. Our goal is to gather a million names of support, to speak with one, powerful voice—to make bicycling safer, more convenient and appealing for everyone "
9/30/2010 - Help our Parks and trails. Here’s a good way for your non-profit organization to get some funds to help out our parks. Grants available to strengthen park and trail groups "Grants aim to boost organizational capacity Parks & Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity Building Grants for park and trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, will strengthen not-for-profit organizations that are working to build and protect parks and trails in communities across the state --- helping to not only provide places for close-to-home, healthy physical activity but also generate additional tourist dollars to strengthen local economies. " Parks & Trails New York
9/29/2010 - Schuyler County Community Forum on Fracking Wed., October 6, 2010 Watkins Glen Elementary School Auditorium 612 South Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY 6:30 p.m Many questions have been raised in New York about the safety of the process of high-volume, high-pressure horizontal fracturing, or “fracking.” Other questions have been raised about the effect this form of gas drilling will have on property values. Here’s your chance to learn more about the various issues involved from well-informed experts, local citizens, and Pennsylvania residents who are currently living in active and or soon-to-be active Marcellus Shale gas drilling areas. Committed panelists include Dr. John Stolz, a microbiologist from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA; David Whiting of Red Newt Winery and Bistro (Schuyler County), Peggy Haines, a realtor with Audrey Edelman Realty; Helen Slottje, Esq., and environmental attorney; and Craig and Julie Sautner of Montrose, Pennsylvania. The Sautners live on the now infamous Carter Road in Dimock, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, an active drilling region . [more on Events in our area]
9/28/2010 - Recycling in Rochester: There is an updated "Donate, Reuse, and Recycle" list from Jeanette today. Check out this wonderfully easy list when you want to get rid of something, but don’t know there in Rochester, NY to do it. Donate Recycle Reuse (DRR) Check out this special resource for recycling opportunities for the Rochester area. This "Donate Recycle Reuse" list by one of your neighbors makes it easy to recycle in our area. It's a work in progress so, send Jeanette your additions or corrects make sure that next discarded item doesn't go in the landfill. For questions and ideas about this page contact Jeanette jdztechw@rochester.rr.com
9/28/2010 - Important environmental training program – from the Center for Environmental Information Executive Forum: Strategic Redevelopment of Urban Centers Wednesday, October 21, 2010 - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Rochester, NY This Executive Forum is designed for senior executives from both government and the private sector that are involved with: economic development, planning, building, construction, brownfield redevelopment, sustainability and environmental remediation. Attend this comprehensive interactive workshop and learn how to make sound green policy and project decisions using brownfields as part of your economic development strategy. You will understand how building Green on Brown can enhance the community’s sustainable footprint and enhance the ultimate economic viability of the project. Learn more>
9/27/2010 - Catch-up on Gas Drilling news: here’s another site for catching up on many news stories associated with gas drilling the Marcellus Gas Shale: Special Report: Marcellus Shale - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Natural gas extraction from the Marcellus shale has set off a land rush unlike anything Pennsylvania has seen since 1859 when Col. Edwin Drake drilled the world's first oil well in Titusville, Crawford County. The rock formation runs a mile underground from New York to Tennessee, and geologists believe it could produce 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – or 10 times more than Appalachia has produced over the past 150 years. With U.S. consumers using 23 trillion cubic feet of gas a year, it could supply the entire country for more than two decades. Getting to that gas already has transformed large swaths of rural Pennsylvania, and it has potential to change residents' lives for a generation or more. The discovery has affected global energy supplies, created instant wealth, raised environmental concerns and offered a lifeline to state politicians looking for new revenue. " Pittsburgh News, Sports, and Events - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
9/27/2010 - Deconstruction Instead of Demolition: If 3, 000 vacant city dwellings are to be torn down wouldn’t it be a better idea to deconstruct them instead of demolishing them. The difference? By deconstruction (dismantling) we could salvage many of the parts for other uses instead of land filling them, like old pipes and wood. How many more jobs could be gotten by training some unemployed people to deconstruct all these building? Demolition wastes materials and fills landfills. City Develops Plan For Vacant Houses - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com "Collecting from owners is a challenge according to Garwood, but the city has roughly four million dollars annually budgeted for demolition--in addition to other government funding. " (September 27, 2010) Home - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com
9/27/2010 - Environmental Concerns are not Parochial: Of course, Climate Change is global and affects all humanity everywhere, but many (if not most) other environmental concerns have a world-wide affect also because our environment is a massively complex system with few containment walls. Boundaries, like shores, mountains, plains, deserts, abound, but they don’t contain pollution and other environmental effects. For example, an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico seems so far away as to be non-existent as far as our environmental situation goes. But, many of our area’s birds are migratory birds. If they pass through the Gulf and partake of one of the world’s largest wetlands for a stopover, they could be in trouble. Meaning our area’s birds could be in trouble. This situation is only a graphic example of how all our environmental concerns are connected. That we are not aware for the myriad of environmental concerns which began in other areas on the globe and how they affect our environment is due to a lack of interest by our media and the public in connecting-the-dots. But, if we don’t connect the dots on how environmental occurrences that happen in other area affect us the laws of physics will ensure that the dots get connected. How many more environmental stories about incidents in other areas are going to impact us here in Rochester, NY? Oil Spill Threatens Migratory Birds - National Wildlife Federation "As millions of birds head for the biggest spill in U.S. history, federal and nonprofit groups work with farmers to create safe alternative habitats 09-07-2010 // Laura Tangley The BP oil spill has contaminated huge swaths of some of the continent’s most critical bird habitat. Yet scientists say that, given the scale of the disaster, the toll of dead and injured birds to date—7,996 collected, 5,927 of them dead as of September 14—is lower than they initially expected. Compared to previous spills like the Exxon Valdez, which was much smaller, “our numbers have not been very dramatic,” says U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) biologist Gary Edwards, deputy regional director of the service’s Alaska region recently deployed in Louisiana. " (September 7, 2010) National Wildlife® Magazine - National Wildlife Federation

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Events – Rochester Environmental Events Calendar – [The most complete listing of all environmental events around the Rochester, New York area.] If you don’t see your event, or know of a local environmental event, please send me the info: FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com with (EV event) in the subject line.

October 2010

4 October 2010 ~ 8:30 am to 12:30 pm | Strong Museum of Play~1 Manhattan Sq. 14607

United Nations Association of Rochester will sponsor a UN Journalist Conference on Environmental sustainability on October 4, 2010. The Key Convener is Mayor Robert Duffy and the Keynote Speaker is Dr. Nabil Nasr, director of Golisano Institute for Sustainability at RIT. Attend a global conference-an opportunity to meet experts and listen to reporters discuss our shared environment. Fee: $15 Adults, $10 Students w/ID ~ includes lunch To Register: UNAR ~ 585-473-7286 ~ unar@unar.org Flyer #1 and Flyer #2

October 5, 2010 3-5pm | Monroe Community College

Think Green Jobs - Save the Date! The Future is Your Decision! Getting the most out of the Recovery Alan Beaulieu (Institute for Trend Research), acclaimed economic trend forecaster and one of the country's most informed economists, will present the financial outlook for U.S. industry and the global economy. October 5, 2010 3-5pm Monroe Community College Beaulieu, of the Institute for Trend Research (ITR®) will address economic issues and questions common to all attendees. For more infomration, visit: Future Is Your Decision Event and http://ecotrends.org Hosted by Finger Lakes Advanced Manufacturers' Enterprise (FAME), Finger Lakes Community College, Genesee Community College and Monroe Community College.

Wed., October 6, 2010 > 6:30 p.m | Watkins Glen Elementary School Auditorium > 612 South Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY

Schuyler County Community Forum on Fracking Wed., October 6, 2010 Watkins Glen Elementary School Auditorium 612 South Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY 6:30 p.m Many questions have been raised in New York about the safety of the process of high-volume, high-pressure horizontal fracturing, or “fracking.” Other questions have been raised about the effect this form of gas drilling will have on property values. Here’s your chance to learn more about the various issues involved from well-informed experts, local citizens, and Pennsylvania residents who are currently living in active and or soon-to-be active Marcellus Shale gas drilling areas. Committed panelists include Dr. John Stolz, a microbiologist from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA; David Whiting of Red Newt Winery and Bistro (Schuyler County), Peggy Haines, a realtor with Audrey Edelman Realty; Helen Slottje, Esq., and environmental attorney; and Craig and Julie Sautner of Montrose, Pennsylvania. The Sautners live on the now infamous Carter Road in Dimock, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, an active drilling region The Marcellus Shale, which underlies the Finger Lakes and other regions, is not the only shale formation with methane gas; there is the potential for accelerated drilling in the Utica Shale, which lies deeper than the Marcellus and is distributed across almost all of New York State. At the moment, this form of drilling is not permitted in New York because a New York Department of Environmental Conservation study (dSGEIS) has not yet been acted upon. The preliminary regulations have been widely criticized for failing to address many safety questions about the chemicals used in the drilling. Property values in other states have been adversely affected by this type of gas drilling, with water contamination due to hazardous chemicals being one of many reasons for the decline in value. The evening forum is being sponsored by the Finger Lakes Progressives, Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes, Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Hector and the Coalition to Protect New York. It is free to all. It will be moderated by Paul Marcellus, a local business owner and former member of the Schuyler County Legislature. For more information, contact: Kate Bartholomew, CPNY, FLP, SLPWA 607-228-7371 or J. Paul Bursic, FLP 607-387-6562

Sunday, October 10th or 10-10-10 is an International Day of Climate Action, | Brighton Farmers Market

9/25/2010 - Notes from a friend on Climate Change: "350 Day at the Farmers Market! 350 Day at the Farmers Market! | 350.org As you know, 10-10-10 is the day of the Global Work Party, where citizens will work together in over 4174 events in over 171 countries (that's all but 21 countries in the world!) to show our leaders that we the people are mobilized to take action to reduce the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to 350 parts per million or less. Here in the U.S., the message is "We're getting to work, Congress, how about you?" We need our country to lead. More details here: www.350.org. Here in Rochester, we citizens and some communities are already leading. On this day, citizens from across the Rochester region will honor the Town of Brighton, its Farmers Market, and its citizens group Color Brighton Green for their pioneering efforts. Come to the Brighton Farmers Market that day between 10 and 12:30 and take action: Buy local sustainably produced food, thus lowering food miles traveled. Hear the results of Curb Your Car Week, where folks pledge to reduce their car travel by at least one trip for the week of Oct. 2-Oct. 9. You can sign up by Oct. 1st at Curb Your Car Week - Color Brighton Green . Bring your recycleables: plastics #3-7, corks, CDs, CFLs, alkaline batteries, crayons Help build a cool sculpture with these recycleables to show just how much we use then throw away Buy a pumpkin from a local farmer, then join us in the carving tent! Carve a "350" or other symbol of sustainability, then spread the message to friends n' neighbors. (We'll have stencils to make the pics on your pumpkin. And kid-friendly pumpkin carving tools!) Come and show Rochester and the world that we citizens demand that our leaders take action. We're working, why aren't they? The plans are still in the works. Check back often for updates between now and 10-10-10: 350 Day at the Farmers Market! | 350.org . "

When: 7 pm - 9 pm, Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Where: Henrietta United Church of Christ 1400 Lehigh Station Road, downstairs meeting room.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON ENERGY SAVINGS THROUGH NYS Living in Harmony, a spiritually-based, interfaith environmental group committed to reducing our footprint on God's Earth invites you to a program on 'How to Save $ and Energy in Your Home'. The speaker will be Ms. Haley Rotter, representing Finger Lakes Energy $mart Communities, who will describe opportunities for energy savings through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). When: 7 pm - 9 pm, Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Where: Henrietta United Church of Christ 1400 Lehigh Station Road, downstairs meeting room. Ms. Rotter's presentation will outline key concepts and ideas for reducing your home utility bill, and the help available from NYSERDA to do so, including a program called 'Home Performance w/Energy Star' that can help finance various home improvements related to energy efficiency. Health and safety measures, considered a top priority, will also be featured. All are welcome. Bring a friend. For more information, contact Elizabeth Pixley, convener (334-0977 or epixley@rochester.rr.com).

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 | Wood Library, 134 N. Main St, Canandaigua

Fracking documentary to be shown in Canandaigua | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The documentary film Gasland, about the controversial hydraulic fracturing process used to extract natural gas from the earth, will be shown at the Wood Library, 134 N. Main St., at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12. A presentation on the issue by Cornell University researcher Anthony Ingraffea is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the library. (September 28, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Events in our area]

October 14th, 5 PM or 7PM | Rochester School for the Deaf | 1545 St. Paul Street | Rochester, NY 14621 | 585.544.1240 (V/TTY)

Event hosted by Rochester School for the Deaf on October 14, 2010. It's a 90-minute presentation entitled "Freedom to Roam: A Photographer's Quest to Protect America's Wildlife" presented by award-winning photographer Florian Schulz. Mr. Schulz will present a stunning collection of visuals, both photography and video, as he shares with us stories about his many adventurous expeditions, encounters with wildlife and how his important work endeavors to protect America’s wildlife. Here's a link to more info about the event on our Web site: www.RSDeaf.org/Adventures. Thursday Evening, October 14, 2010 - Ticketing Information: $45 Per Person— 5:00 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres & Dessert Reception, 7:00 p.m. Presentation $20 Per Person— 7:00 p.m. Presentation Only | For tickets or underwriting opportunities, please call 585-544-1240 (voice/TTY) or order online.

Saturday, 10/16 from 9AM to 2PM | in the parking lot of Pittsford Mendon High School.

COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS RECYCLING | SATURDAY, 10/16 The Town of Pittsford, in partnership with Maven Technologies, will sponsor a computer and electronics recycling event on Saturday, 10/16 from 9AM to 2PM in the parking lot of Pittsford Mendon High School. No appointment or packaging needed. Accepted items include computers, laptops, modems, servers, peripherals, GPS Units, cell phones, fax machines, copiers, CD players, IT equipment, audio/visual equipment, telecommunications equipment. Please note there will be a charge for monitors ($5), TVs ($10) and microwaves ($10). For more information, click HERE (Computer and Electronics Recycling | Town of Pittsford).

Saturday, October 16, 2010 4PM - 7PM -- Tay House Lodge, located behind No. 1 Elementary School on Hillside Avenue in Rochester, on the edge of Cobb’s Hill Park

Saturday, October 16, 2010 Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club's annual Fall Festival: “Adventures in the Amazon” • Come to eat, enjoy, and help out! Join us for our annual Fall Festival! Each year we take a break from our many serious and important efforts, and enjoy some upbeat time together. This event is also a fundraiser that helps support our efforts with the Washington Grove Coalition, Buckland Creek remediation, Great Lakes and conservation/renewable energy lobbying efforts, and others, plus our largest annual public event, the Spring Environmental Forum. ADVENTURES IN THE AMAZON: See how a naturalist gets down and dirty in the depths of the Amazon rainforest. Peter Debes, Vice Chair of the Rochester Regional Group, will astonish you with close-up pictures of creatures and plants he has encountered on his trips to lead groups and do research there. He hopes to convince you to love things you always used to hate: spiders, ants, snakes, piranhas, bugs and more. His presentation is geared for adults and children and he is sure to have you riveted to your seat. SCHEDULE: 4: 00 P.M. SCAVENGER HUNT AND GAMES -- for children ages 3 and older. 5:00 P.M. PASTA POTLUCK DINNER (see below) 5:30 P.M. Celebration of the addition of the lands around Canadice and Hemlock lakes to the State’s parklands! 6:00 – 7:00 P.M. Adventures in the Amazon slide show. ADMISSION: $10/person, maximum $25/family, but if you can help in one of the ways listed below, you’ll save $2 off the admission fee! Please consider one of these: • Bring a pasta sauce (think marinara, alfredo, vodka cream, pesto… get creative!) • Bring a salad or dessert • Help lay out the buffet table • Help staff the Welcome Table • Help clean up afterwards WHERE: Tay House Lodge, located behind No. 1 Elementary School on Hillside Avenue in Rochester, on the edge of Cobb’s Hill Park. A short spur road leads up to the lodge past the School parking lot. There is parking by the lodge, and adjacent lots of the Monroe County Water Authority and school. RSVP (requested but not required): Please contact us at (585) 234-1056 and let us know if you plan to come and if you can help in one of the above ways. Even if you can’t help, please do join us. We will very much appreciate the support that your presence brings. Especially if you haven’t come to any events in the past, please come -- we’d love to meet you!!

October 17, 2010 - 11 3PM - Temple B'rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY

Electronics Collection Recycling Event - Computers and electronics may contain hazardous waste elements such as lead solder, cadmium, and beryllium. Monitors, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), and Televisions have anywhere from 4 to 8 pounds of lead. These types of equipment need to be recycled properly in an environmentally sound fashion. Electronic Waste Accepted: • Computer Equipment Monitors Computers Terminals Printers Network Equipment Keyboards, mice and Computer Accessories • Miscellaneous Electronics Circuit Boards Cabling & Wiring Typewriters Fax Machines Telecommunications Equipment Audio/Visual Equipment Video Game Systems Cell Phones, PDAs, IPODs Universal Power Supplies • Toner/Inkjet Cartridges • Batteries • Microwaves • Compact Fluorescent Lamps—ADDITIONAL .35 CENTS EACH RECYCLING FEE • Straight Fluorescent Lamps—ADDITIONAL .40 CENTS EACH RECYCLING FEE • Televisions—ADDITIONAL $10.00 RECYCLING FEE

October 21, 2010 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm Johnny's Irish Pub 1382 Culver Road Rochester NY

UGBN Green Drinks - October October 21, 2010 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm Johnny's Irish Pub 1382 Culver Road Rochester NY Green Drinks is part of UGBN, Upstate Green Business Network their goal is to guide companies in establishing environmental policies and procedures to reduce company waste, conserve water, save energy and build a more sustainable workplace. Green Drinks network events are held every third Thursday of each month. October's event will be held at Johnny's Irish Pub. Johnny's Irish Pub has a comfortable feel about it. The smell of popcorn, the sounds of great music (live jazz, blues or acoustic on weekends) and the dark wood in the bar take customers back in time. There's an original tin ceiling with ceiling fans and a brick floor. Plants with white lights, the 1940's red couch, and more artwork than beer signs make people feel like they are in a friend's living room.

Monday, October 25, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | George Eastman House, 900 East Avenue Rochester NY 14607

Community Salute to the Environment: 2010 Each year CEI: Center for Environmental Information CEI celebrates community leaders and initiatives that have made a positive impact on our natural environment and honors the numerous environmental accomplishments in the Greater Rochester area. The 2010 event will be held at historic George Eastman House. Attendees are encouraged to tour the House, open during the reception. This year’s event will take place on October 25, 2010. This year’s speaker is Mr. Richard Kessel, President, New York Power Authority, who will discuss their Great Lakes Off-Shore Wind Project.

October 28, 2010 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Woodside Lodge, Black Creek Park

SYMPOSIUM for Residents and Municipal Officials & Staff in the Black & Oatka Creek Watersheds October 28, 2010 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Woodside Lodge, Black Creek Park Speakers will discuss trout fishing in Oatka Creek, the Bergen Swamp, streambank stabilization projects, agricultural environmental management and the status of watershed planning for each watershed. The Symposium is free of charge, thanks to a grant from the Finger Lakes -Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance. Visit our websites at www.blackcreekwatershed.org & www.oatka.org. Find information about Black Creek Park at www.monroecounty.gov. For further information about the Symposium or to register contact: Rochelle Bell, 753-2034 rbell@monroecounty.gov Get the Flyer Water Shed Symposium

November 2010

Monday and Tuesday, November 1 - 2, 2010 | New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT 111 Lomb Memorial Driv, Rochester, NY 14623

CEI: Workshop "Environmental Sustainability Workshop Monday and Tuesday, November 1 - 2, 2010 New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT 111 Lomb Memorial Driv, Rochester, NY 14623 This event is sponsored by New York State Pollution Prevention Institute and NYSERDA An in-depth review of the principles, issues and practices associated with environmental sustainability. Examines environmental protection and resource conservation from a life cycle perspective. Develops knowledge and understanding of the basic elements of an environmental sustainability program. Emphasis will be on understanding the principles and techniques associated with evaluating and implementing an effective environmental sustainability program. " - from CEI: Center for Environmental Information

Friday November 5 and Saturday November 6 |the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fairport, NY

the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fairport, NY will be hosting our 2nd Annual "My Brother’s Keeper - Artisan Gift Fair”. The focus of this event is providing a marketplace for goods that promote economic independence for its producers both locally and in third worlds, as well as for products made in an environmentally conscious manner. The fair will feature vendors that possess one or more of the following attributes: (1) Fair Trade; (2) Eco-Friendly; (3) Organic; (4) Recycled/Reused products; (5) Locally produced products; and/or (6) Products that provide benefits to disabled, unemployed, poor or displaced individuals

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Action – Take Action - Often, I receive request to pass on alerts, petitions, Public Comments on local developments, and environmental items needing action by the Rochester Community and around the world. I’ll keep Actions posted until their due date.

ACTION: Due Date: Now

When the cat’s away the mice will play In a time of recession, budgets will be cut, people will lose lobs, and it will hurt. We get it. However, this message often gets directed to some and not to others. Usually, the oppressed are the recipients of this austerity message. Regardless of who caused the recession (because holding those accountable seems impossible because they hold so much power), we make our corrections on the backs of the poor, government workers who keep our infrastructure going, the least likely to be able to fight back, and always our environment. In good times (booms) and bad (recessions), the thing to do to balance the budget and magically save us from ourselves, from our pollution and neglectfully ways, is to trash our environment: we get to pave it, develop it, drill it, pollute it, shoot it, and forget it altogether. But, that’s suicidal. Gutting New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the agency responsible for protecting our environment in lean times and good, means when the cat is away, the mice (industry, individuals) get to do whatever they want with our environment. Go here to act: Save the DEC: Tell Gov. Paterson NOT to Cut Staff at NY's Enviro Agency more...

ACTION Due Date: Now

Take Action for our Children: "Today CHEJ is proud to release our newest resource to create healthier schools for children – This Vinyl School – a brand new interactive website to educate and empower parents, teachers & students to green America's Schools. Visit This Vinyl School – http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool and find out where PVC, the poison plastic is hiding in schools and find safer alternatives. PVC is widespread in schools across the nation – from the flooring and carpeting to playground equipment and roofing. Toxic chemicals released by the PVC lifecycle have been linked to asthma, obesity, learning and developmental disabilities – health problems on the rise in children. Thankfully it is easy to find safer alternatives to this toxic plastic. Can you help get the word out about this new resource? Here's a few easy ways you can help promote This Vinyl School today: • Share it on Facebook and Twitter – here's a sample announcement you can post: Help your school go green with CHEJ's fun new website for PVC-free schools! http://bit.ly/PVCschool • Forward this e-mail to friends, family, teachers, and students you know to spread the word. • Have a website or blog? Post a web banner on your site today: http://www.besafenet.com/pvc/share.htm Be sure to link it to This Vinyl School – http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool If you’d like to help share this, contact me for sample e-mails to forward, blog posts, and other promo materials. We're releasing This Vinyl School just in time for Children's Health Month this October. Make the pledge to make your child's school healthier this month by visiting and sharing it with your friends and loved ones – http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool Together we can green our schools! Yours for a toxic-free future, Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator Center for Health Environment & Justice 212.964.3680 office mike@chej.org http://www.chej.org http://www.besafenet.com/pvc Check out CHEJ's new blog! www.chej.org/blog Follow CHEJ on Twitter: twitter.com/chej Fan CHEJ on Facebook : www.facebook.com/CHEJfans "

ACTION: Due Date - Now

Sierra Club: Help Ban Toxics from Children's Toy Jewelry! Help Ban Toxics from Children's Toy Jewelry! After Congress acted, the Consumer Product Safety Commission finally took action to protect children from lead in children's products. Now another dangerous toxin, cadmium, is being found in children’s toy jewelry. Please take a moment today and tell the Commission to protect our families from cadmium in children's toys! --from Sierra Club Home Page: Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet

ACTION due Date - October 10, 2010 - 10/10/10

Create October 10 Action | 350.org "10/10/10 will be a day of work parties all over the world. Will you join us? In every corner of the globe, we will implement solutions to the climate crisis: from solar panels to community gardens, wind turbines to bike workshops. We'll tell leaders: “We're getting to work--what about you?” To read more about our plans for 2010, click here It's still early, so it's OK if you don't know all the details of your local work party. There's a list of work-party ideas at www.350.org/workparty-ideas to get things moving, but don't worry if you don't have a game-plan just yet. " --from 350.org

ACTION Due Date: October 29, 2010

9/04/2010 - ACTION: Make public comment on DEC's "Strategic Plan for State Forest Management." DEC Releases Strategic Plan for State Forest Management - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Builds on Momentum of "Green Certification" of State Forests New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the release of a draft "Strategic Plan for State Forest Management." The plan will guide management of the 786,000-acre state forest holdings and is available for public review and comment through Oct. 29. Electronic copies of the draft plan are available on the DEC website. To request a CD, send an e-mail to stateforestplan@gw.dec.state.ny.us , or mail a request to Strategic Plan for State Forest Management, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4255. Comments can be e-mailed to stateforestplan@gw.dec.state.ny.us or mailed to Strategic Plan for State Forest Management, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4255. Public Hearing Schedule Nine hearing have been scheduled. Each meeting will consist of two parts: 1) 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., informal information session with DEC staff; 2) 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., public hearing. Accommodation for people with disabilities will be made upon request to Justin Perry by calling (518) 402-9428 or by e-mailing stateforestplan@gw.dec.state.ny.us

ACTION Due DATE: DOT and EPA are providing a 60-day public comment period that begins with the proposal’s publication in the Federal Register.

You have a chance to make comment on how new vehicles a labeled for fuel efficiency. This can make difference, something you as a consumer can do. This will allow you to be a responsible consumer, instead of a passive consumer because you comment could influence the “fuel economy labels consumers see on the window of every new vehicle in dealer showrooms.” In order to be a good consumer and help direct our wholesale effect on our environment, you have to know what effect the things you buy will have on our environment. You cannot do this without adequate labeling. 08/30/2010: EPA, DOT Propose New Fuel Economy Labels/Agencies seek public comment on the most dramatic overhaul in the label’s 30-year history WASHINGTON – As a new generation of cars and light trucks start appearing on the market, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are jointly proposing changes to the fuel economy labels consumers see on the window of every new vehicle in dealer showrooms. The proposed rule seeks public comment on label design options and related issues. The public can view the proposed rule and labels at: Fuel Economy | US EPA and submit comments as part of the rulemaking process via email to: newlabels@epa.gov . They can also review the proposed rule at Fuel Economy | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “We are asking the American people to tell us what they need to make the best economic and environmental decisions when buying a new car,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “New fuel economy labels will keep pace with the new generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks rolling off the line, and provide simple, straightforward updates to inform consumers about their choices in a rapidly changing market. We want to help buyers find vehicles that meet their needs, keep the air clean and save them money at the pump.” (August 31, 2010) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases

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Award – Environmental Site of the Month Award – [On the last Sunday of each month, we present an environmental award for the Rochester-area environmental web site or blog that best promotes the need to protect and offers solutions for our area's environmental issues.]