News for February 2005

• Second Public Workshop To Be Held On New Elephant Exhibit - Monroe County will host the public workshop on February 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Seneca Park Zoo...Monroe County
•  $1,000 HUD Lead Grants Available - The Monroe County Public Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program was awarded a $2.1 million Lead Hazard Control Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Lead Program is accepting applications for$1,000 Lead Hazard Control Grants from owners of pre-1978 City of Rochester houses. Monroe County
•  Deer Season Changes Under Consideration - A series of statewide meetings to be held during the month of February to solicit public comments on several proposed changes to future deer hunting seasons and discuss the results of the 2004 deer season in New York.New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - Protecting NY's Environment and Managing its Natural Resources
•  5-year road plans unveiled - Transportation Council list has money for Renaissance Square — The Genesee Transportation Council has unveiled its proposed spending priorities for the next five years — including $12.5 million for Renaissance Square tucked in among more than $300 million worth of road, bridge and trail projects. (February 6, 2005) Democrat and Chronicle
•  CNN.com - Report: Global warming approaching critical point - Jan 24, 2005 LONDON, England (AP) -- Global warming is approaching the critical point of no return, after which widespread drought, crop failure and rising sea-levels would be irreversible, an international climate change task force warned Monday. CNN.com
•  Group decries state's mercury control efforts -- timesunion.com Environmentalists say exposure from fish, power plants too high; DEC cites progress ALBANY -- State officials are failing to take steps to protect residents from mercury, according to a new report card released by environmentalists Thursday. The evaluation by three groups gave New York a C for its efforts to reduce exposure to mercury, a neurotoxin known to reduce intelligence in children. It blasted the state for failing to adequately warn residents of the dangers of eating fish, one of the main sources of mercury, and also criticized Gov. George Pataki for failing to make the state's power plants produce less mercury. (February 6, 2005)  Albany, N.Y. -- timesunion.com
•  Seattle Design Firm Interests Renaissance Square Developers - ROCHESTER, NY (2005-02-07) Rochester and Monroe County officials are sorting out proposals from more than 100 companies that are interested in designing the massive Renaissance Square project. The Development Corporation chartered to manage the 230-million dollar project put out a request for proposals at the end of 2004.
•  Gift adds 24 acres to Gates parks - Gift adds 24 acres to Gates parks - Brad Cohen's $2 million donation enlarges parks by 20% - — GATES — The town of Gates has 24 new acres of parkland near Elmgrove and Buffalo roads. "This is good news for us because we are so land-locked and small," said Town Supervisor Ralph Esposito, referring to the donation this week by Brad Cohen, owner of Rochester Technology Park on Elmgrove Road. (February 10, 2005) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Crow Hunt On in Auburn - The controversial crow hunt in underway in the city of Auburn. City leaders have been trying to force out tens of thousands of the birds for years. The roost, which was 68,000 strong months ago, has been reduced to 27,000 by non-lethal methods. ( February 13, 2005) R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
•  New Public Park In Brighton - A 150 thousand dollar grant will soon spruce up the town of Brighton. (February 13, 2005) WROC TV NEWS 8 NOW ROCHESTER NEW YORK
•  MSNBC - Lollypop Farm making a love connection Rochester, NYUSA - Lollypop Farm is having a special sweetheart sale this weekend. (February 13, 2005) MSNBC - News Front Page
•  Static grows over e-waste; area tunes in to solutions -— Got trash? The electronic variety, classified as hazardous waste by the federal government, is not easy to get rid of properly. Tossed in a trash bin, that old computer may soon leak its lead and other toxic metals into a landfill. So Sharon R. Lonthair did the right thing on a snowy day last month. The Rochester Institute of Technology staffer packed up her car with used electronics and headed for school, where she disposed of the items for a fee at a once-a-year collection program. The four-hour RIT event, sponsored by the Student Environmental Action League, took in 2.5 tons of old computers, monitors and other gear.  (February 13, 2005) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Preventing lead poisoning in Rochester - In the city of Rochester, almost a quarter of all children have lead poisoning. In some neighborhoods the rate is as high as 40 percent and there is no law that makes lead testing mandatory. Now, city council has a chance to change that. About 8 in 10 city houses have lead paint. When that lead gets into an infant's bloodstream it can impair his learning for life. 10NBC / WHEC TV-10
•  Lead paint problem in Rochester - News 10NBC first told you about the Rochester's lead paint problem last week and we've learned that on Tuesday, city leaders will be talking about that problem. A quarter of all city kids have lead poisoning. On Monday, News 10NBC found out a group will ask the city to do more to tackle the epidemic. A letter will go to city council members on Tuesday. The letter is from the "New York State Coalition of Property Owners and Businesses, " a group that represents about 5-thousand apartment and home owners in the city. (February 22, 2005)  10NBC / WHEC TV-10
•  State grant to help Brighton park - — BRIGHTON — Some of the town's green space will soon be developed as a place for residents and visitors to walk trails and enjoy the scenery. Gov. George Pataki announced last week that a $150,000 federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant would go to Brighton to develop a public park adjacent to Meridian Centre Park  (February 15, 2005) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Group Wants Lead Detection Upgrades - A property owner’s group is proposing a new system to identify lead risks in city properties. The state Coalition of Property Owners and Businesses wants Rochester City Council to consider three things: That all city net inspectors be trained as lead risk assessors; it also wants the city to purchase devices that detect lead and wants inspections for lead at the request of homeowners and landlords. The inspections would tell them what poses a lead risk. (February 22, 2005)  R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
•  Malfunction Closes Power Plant - The Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in Wayne County is back up and running after a part failure Wednesday night. (February 19, 2005)  R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
•  Deer hunting take 'way down' in N.Y. Stone Ridge – The lousy deer season is no longer a rumor. The statewide deer take was down 18 percent compared to the 2003 season, state Department of Environmental Conservation officials told hunters Tuesday night. The number is the lowest since 1995.  The take was way down in parts of Ulster and Sullivan counties, said Richard Henry, the DEC's big game biologist, at a public hearing at Ulster County Community College. (February 17, 2005) recordonline.com - The Times Herald-Record, serving New York's Hudson Valley and the Catskills
•  Report: NY tops in diesel pollution death - Thanks mostly to truck and bus traffic, New York State leads the nation in premature deaths because of diesel pollution, according to a report issued Tuesday by an environmental group. The study by the Washington-based Clean Air Task Force estimates 2,332 New Yorkers per year die prematurely from breathing tiny particles, or soot, from diesel engines. An estimated 1,767 are residents of New York City, and another 182 are Long Islanders. A copy of the new report is available at www.alanys.org. New York City - News, Entertainment and Sports
•  COUNTY AND LAND TRUST ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO CONSERVE GRIMES GLEN - Canandaigua, NY - Representatives of the Finger Lakes Land Trust and Ontario County today announced their intention to acquire Grimes Glen, a popular, scenic gorge located in the town of Naples. The Land Trust and County will work together to acquire several parcels totaling approximately 27 acres that have traditionally been open for public use. Once purchased, the lands will be managed as an addition to the Ontario County Park System.-- from Finger Lakes Land Trust
•  Lawn-care group proposes voluntary notification of pesticide use - — The New York State Lawn Care Association is eager to stop the political momentum behind a Monroe County bill that would further regulate pesticide applicators. So it proposed an alternative plan this week. "But affected neighbors may not get notified in a program that's just voluntary, said Frank J. Regan, co-chair of the Sierra Club's Rochester Regional Group. "We're not at war with the pesticide community on this, but we really need the force of law."  Regan acknowledged the lawn care industry's concerns. But no businesses have closed in other counties because of the law and costs are minimal, he said. "  --(February 26, 2005)  Democrat & Chronicle:
•  Brooks Announces Stormwater Coalition Student Logo Design Contest - All Monroe County public and private school students in grades 7 through 12, and home school students, are eligible for the contest...Monroe County
•  Coyote hunt contest starts At 12:01 a.m. today, the first hunters fanned out into the woods in Honeoye, Ontario County, looking for coyotes. It marked the start of a one-month contest at the Honeoye Fish and Game Club on Howcroft Road, sponsored by Dick Kraft Real Estate. The hunter who brings in the largest coyote, calculated by weight and length, gets a $500 prize. (February 26, 2005) —  Democrat and Chronicle
•  Canadian province may ban pit bulls - Rochesterians, others say they may have to skip trips to Ontario - — Legislators in Ontario, Canada, appear poised to adopt controversial legislation that would ban the possession, breeding and transfer of pit bulls within the province — even if the dog in question belongs to a visitor. What's at stake -Legislators in Ontario, Canada, are considering legislation that would ban the possession or transfer of pit bulls, or dogs resembling pit bulls, within the province. Violators could face fines, jail time or both; their dogs could be subject to seizure, destruction or sale to a research facility. Rochesterians traveling through Ontario would be subject to the law, if it is enacted. (February 25, 2005) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Orphan bear has a new family - The discovery of three healthy cubs indicates black bears are finding the Finger Lakes a nice place to live.
  RICHMOND - A young bear whose mother was killed by a car in the Adirondacks before she was old enough to fend for herself has a happy new life near Honeoye Lake. Messenger Post Newspapers
•  District may switch to hydrogen power - Voters will ultimately decide whether a hydrogen fuel cell will power the district's school campus.
  The East Rochester school district is making a power play in its quest to trim costs. East Rochester Post
•  MSNBC - Bird flu vaccine to be tested in Rochester Rochester, NYUSA - WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government is getting ready to test a bird flu vaccine and stockpiling both vaccine and antiviral drugs as the threat grows that a deadly strain of avian influenza will begin spreading from Asia. Rochester is one of four city’s where the vaccine will be tested. (February 27, 2005) MSNBC - News Front Page
•  Most Dirty Diesel Deaths in NY? - An environmental group claims New York leads the nation in premature deaths caused by pollution from diesel engines.  - R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
•  Officers Learn Reptile Recovery  - Wildlife educators say there are more dangerous and illegal reptiles in the Rochester area than people think. Law enforcement officials got a lesson in how to handle them Thursday. "We're talking about animals that can kill people," said Rochester Wildlife Educator Tom Hudak. - R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens