August 2004 news

•  City Newspaper: From the ground up For John Billone Jr., incorporating environmental values into his commercial practices is no conflict at all --- it's simply good business. The Flower City Management developer had this in mind when he began making plans to renovate the Medical Arts Building at 277 Alexander Street as a mixed-use facility. The 10-story building, constructed in 1929 to house doctors' offices, will include retail shops, office space, and high-end apartments by the time renovations are complete. (August 04/04) City Newspaper
•  Democrat & Chronicle: 'Dog-strangling' vine choking upstate — Tangled, toxic, tough — and everywhere. Meet swallow-wort, a vine-like member of the milkweed family. Over the past decade its growth has been explosive in the Northeast, with the Lake Ontario basin — including Rochester — at its epicenter. (August 5, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•   Democrat & Chronicle: City schools earn green grade Being environmentally sensitive paid off to the tune of $1 million Wednesday for Rochester schools. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awarded the city district cash because of its energy-efficiency work and its push to provide students with hands-on experience in conservation.  (August 5, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Landfill Dirt Tested For Contamination - Brockport, NY) 08/05/04 - Dirt dumped off at a landfill in Brockport is being tested for contamination. Village workers dumped the dirt at the Canal Road landfill. (August 6, 2004)  WOKR-TV 13 || ROCHESTER
•  Aquatic pit bull threatens U.S. waterways - Predatory snakehead native to Russia, China may alter ecological balance - WASHINGTON -- It is the pit bull of the aquatic world, an air-breathing, predatory fish from Asia that likes to eat its prey whole and threatens to become a permanent pest in North American waters like the ubiquitous zebra mussel. Since the first northern snakehead fish turned up in a pond in Maryland two years ago, fisheries officials across the United States have been attempting to stop the spread of a fish that is a favourite in some Asian restaurants and popular among some tropical fish owners. (August 6, 2004) globeandmail.com - Canada's best source for news continuously updated from The Globe and Mail
•  Ontario confirms first case of West Nile - Ontario's first probable case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in a resident of the Windsor-Essex area, health officials said Friday. The 45-year-old woman who tested positive for the virus entered hospital on Monday and remains there in stable condition for monitoring, Allen Heimann, medical officer of health for Windsor-Essex, said.  (August 6, 2004) globeandmail.com - Canada's best source for news continuously updated from The Globe and Mail
•  Plans for resource center might change - SUNY College at Brockport might change its plans to build a facility at Hamlin Beach, but nothing is final.
  School children could take a field trip to learn about the life cycles of fish. College students could study Lake Ontario's ecosystem from boats and labs. Tourists could visit an aquarium. - (August 11, 2004) Brockport Post
•  Democrat & Chronicle: EPA head tours our troubled waters— While politicians spoke about zebra mussels and other Great Lakes invaders, it was the political muscle on board the ship Lake Guardian that impressed Hugh Mitchell, chairman of the Rochester chapter of the Sierra Club. Touring the EPA research vessel as it cruised Lake Ontario Wednesday morning were Mike Leavitt, head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, two U.S. representatives, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, various Monroe County legislators, town and village officials and a handful of lake residents and environmentalists.  (August 12, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Great Lakes Clean Up - Evan Dawson (Rochester, NY) 08/11/04 - US Representatives Tom Reynolds (R, NY) and Louise Slaughter (D, NY) agree that the Great Lakes are endangered by underwater predators and pollution, and with a new bill in congress, they are willing to put $4 billion in tax dollars into the five great lakes over the next five years to fund more studies and cleaner waters. There is little more predatory aquatic life than the lamprey eel. Scientists hope to learn how to remove lampreys from the great lakes because they kill the fish we eat. WOKR-TV 13 || ROCHESTER
•  MSNBC - Billions being proposed to clean up Great Lakes Rochester, NYUSA - A plan to spend $4 billion to clean up the great lakes is not getting a very warm reception from the White House. On Wednesday Congressman Tom Reynolds was in Rochester pitching his plan to rid the lakes of foreign fish and pollution. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Mike Leavitt, was also in town and he says his job is to find ways to save money. MSNBC - News Front Page
•  Fuel Cell Today - Rev up hydrogen fuel cells to energize Rochester, NY economy Energy independence. Clean energy. Fuel cells and the hydrogen economy. As the political debate rages on and as we approach the first anniversary of the Northeast blackout on Aug. 14, Americans are hearing these buzzwords more and more. But Rochesterians need to know that for us, they're not just buzzwords. They're real — and keys to our future. Many people, including local leaders, may not realize that Rochester is a center for clean-energy research and development. Our clean-energy R+D is particularly strong in the field of hydrogen fuel cells. General Motors and Delphi Automotive have their leading sites for fuel cell research here, employing more than 400 people. Harris RF Communications and Eastman Kodak are partnered with small firms in developing fuel cells for tactical radios and digital cameras. (August 13, 2004)  Fuel Cell Today - Opening doors to fuel cells commercialization
•  Democrat & Chronicle: Chili waste site at issue in rezoning — CHILI — A discrepancy between town and state records may have resulted in Chili's granting residential zoning to an inactive hazardous waste site. (August 14, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  State Health Commissioner Urges Mosquito Precautions Rainfall amounts, confirmation of additional mosquito-borne viruses are of concern - ALBANY, NY, July 30, 2004 — The recent weather pattern, coupled with confirmation of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus in mosquitoes collected from central New York, should prompt New Yorkers to take additional precautions to avoid mosquito bites, State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H. Dr.P.H., said today. "Although the disease is rare in humans, when someone does get infected, EEE is a life-threatening illness," Dr. Novello said. "While most of the 70 species of mosquitoes in New York do not transmit disease, mosquito counts are likely to increase because of all the rain that fell during July. It's more important than ever to protect yourself from bites." New York State Department of Health
•  Democrat & Chronicle: RIT gets grant for emissions project — HENRIETTA — Rochester Institute of Technology's Kate Gleason College of Engineering has received $222,612 from the state Energy Research and Development Authority to develop a particulate trap to clean diesel, coal and gasoline engine emissions. (August 14, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Farmers look at pipeline with hard eye - They are telling agricultural officials that past experiences with energy companies have left them on guard.
  CANANDAIGUA - Farmers whose land is being eyed for a proposed natural-gas pipeline say they'll take an aggressive approach in seeking assurances that their land and livelihood is protected, according to leading local agricultural officials. Messenger Post Newspapers
•  Democrat & Chronicle: Soil tests stall canal project DEC suspects petroleum vapors at Brockport site - — BROCKPORT — A state investigation into possible petroleum contamination in excavated soil has indefinitely stopped work at the village's canalside visitors center. Work at the site, which was halted the first week of August, will remain on hold until the state Department of Environmental Conservation completes tests on the soil to determine if the site is contaminated. (August 19, 2004)
•  Democrat & Chronicle: Zoo educators release butterflies — The monarch butterfly took a few shy steps onto the hand of 95-year-old Palma Pozzo, who beamed and made a simple pronouncement. (August 18, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Great Lakes management proposal to be reviewed - portclintonnewsherald.com The first in a series of public meetings to discuss proposed agreements to manage and protect waters of the Great Lakes basin will be Thursday, Aug. 26 in Toledo. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the University of Toledo College of Law, will host two sessions, at 2 and 6 p.m. in the College of Law auditorium, 2801 Bancroft St., Toledo. ODNR officials will explain the draft agreements, take questions and offer opportunities for public comment. (August 21, 2004)  PortClintonNewsHerald.com - Port Clinton News Herald - Ottawa County's Daily News Source
•  City Newspaper: Water wars With the future of water for Adirondack towns on the line, environmentalists are headed into battle --- with each other -
•  Democrat & Chronicle: CSX river dredging to start — A two-month project began today which will include dredging portions of the Genesee River contaminated by a December 2001 chemical spill. (August 23, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Democrat & Chronicle: Ginna facility in Macedon begun — Constellation Generation Group, owner of the Ginna nuclear power plant, broke ground this morning on an emergency operations center in Macedon, Wayne County. (August 25, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Democrat & Chronicle: CSX spill cleanup set for river bed — Work began Monday on River Street in Charlotte to set up equipment for a project that will dredge portions of the Genesee River contaminated by a December 2001 chemical spill.  (August 25, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Democrat & Chronicle: Trees will be replaced in Chili park, state agency says — CHILI — The trees removed from park land in the Union Station subdivision will be replaced with new trees, according to a state agency. "New trees will be planted on the same site they were removed from," said Cathy Jimenez, a spokeswoman with the state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in Albany. That state office shares environmental oversight of park land with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.  (August 25, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Tanker Spill Mess In Geneva - (Geneva, NY) 08/25/04 -- Forge Avenue in Geneva, Ontario County remains closed Wednesday morning as firefighters clean up thousands of gallons of gasoline that spilled after a tanker truck flipped over Tuesday night. (August 25, 2004) WOKR-TV 13 || ROCHESTER
•  City trying to figure out what’s killing trees on Driving Park Avenue - Rochester, NYUSA - It looks like the middle of winter in a section of Driving Park Avenue. Nearly every tree over a stretch of 2 to 3 blocks is bare. Some are so brittle and branches are snapping off. The area is in the district of City Council Member Bob Stevenson. It includes the Delco plant and the former Rochester Product's plant. (August 25, 2004) MSNBC - News Front Page
•  State plan for tire dump cleanup targets 5 key sites A plan for a massive cleanup of tire dumps across New York state, including one in Oswego County, has been completed, Gov. George Pataki's office announced Monday. The state has identified 95 sites as noncompliant, and there are about 29 million tires at those locations. (August 25, 2004) Syracuse.com
•  Second fast ferry may be built in U.S. - NEWS 10NBC has learned more details about a possible second fast ferry for Lake Ontario. Last week CATS, the company that runs the ferry, confirmed it wants a $100 million loan from the federal government for a second ship. The Breeze is an 86-meter ship, built by a company called Austal. (August 26, 2004) 10NBC / WHEC TV-10
•  Cleanup project to begin at site of 2001 derailment - Workers will begin dredging a stretch of a Rochester river where a freight train derailed in a fiery crash nearly three years ago. About half of the 47 cars on the C-S-X Transportation train jumped the tracks on December 23rd, 2001, sending thousands of gallons of solvents into the Genesee River and its west bank. (August 26, 2004) 10NBC / WHEC TV-10
•  Democrat & Chronicle: Weedy Conesus mulls 'quick fix' — At Conesus Lake, an hour south of Rochester, you can see miles of water, neat cottages, forested hillsides and distant farms. If you go - What: Hearing on a draft environmental impact statement on the use of alum in Conesus Lake to reduce algae. Deadline for comments is Sept. 30. - When: 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday.- Where: Room 205, Livingston County Government Center, 6 Court St., Geneseo. - For more: Call David Woods, Livingston County planning director, at (585) 243-7550. On the Web: For a copy of the draft impact statement, go to www.co.livingston.state.ny.us/pdfs/deis.pdf . -(August 29, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Democrat & Chronicle: Seneca Park lights show proposed — The president of an Irondequoit advertising agency hopes to stage a holiday lights show in Seneca Park, but he must overcome a tight schedule and skepticism from some of the park's neighbors. If you go - What: A public meeting to discuss bringing a holiday lights show to Seneca Park. - Where: In Seneca Park, by the Longhouse Pavilion. Bring chairs. - When: 7 p.m. Wednesday. - On the Web: To register your opinion for or against a holiday lights show in Seneca Park, or to learn more about the plan, visit www.rochestersbest.com  -(August 29, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Dead crow in Livingston County tests positive for West Nile - A dead crow found in Mt. Morris Livingston County has tested positive for the West Nile virus. The Livingston County Health Department says this shouldn't be a cause for alarm, although its recommended that people take precaution against getting bitten by mosquitoes, which carry the virus. (August 29, 2004) MSNBC - News Front Page
•  WXXI: Seneca Park Zoo's (2004-08-26) One of two endangered African Elephants at Rochester's Seneca Park Zoo is pregnant. Zoo officials say 27-year-old "Genny C" will give birth in March of 2006 if all goes well. The Zoo's Director of Health and Conservation -- Doctor Jeff Wyatt -- led the team that artificially inseminated Genny C. This was their third try over three years under a program overseen by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association to preserve African elephants. (August 29, 2004) Public NewsRoom