Bill Blocking Plan to Reduce Mute Swans Is Vetoed - The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/nyregion/bill-blocking-plan-to-reduce-mute-swans-is-vetoed.html?module=WatchingPortal&region=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=2&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2015%2F11%2F24%2Fnyregion%2Fbill-blocking-plan-to-reduce-mute-swans-is-vetoed.html&eventName=Watching-article-click&_r=0

Fwd: Help Congress Pass the 2015 Bird-Safe Buildings Act

-----Original Message-----
From: info@abcbirds.org
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Thu, Nov 5, 2015 11:25 am
Subject: Help Congress Pass the 2015 Bird-Safe Buildings Act

Did you know that collisions with glass claim the lives of hundreds of millions of birds in the United States each year? Birds that have successfully flown thousands of miles on migration can then die in seconds on a pane of glass. Luckily, we have the bird-friendly design strategies and technology needed to make a difference now. Please urge your U.S. Representative to support the 2015 Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act, which would help prevent the deaths of millions of birds - like this Painted Bunting - by including bird-safe building materials and design features across federal buildings. Feel inspired to support other bird conservation efforts? A number of bills have been introduced in Congress to conserve migratory birds, and to protect birds from threats such as neonicotinoid pesticides. You can help by urging your elected officials to become cosponsors of these bills. Please urge your U.S. Representative to cosponsor the Saving America’s Pollinators Act of 2015. The bill requires EPA to suspend the registration of neonicotinoid insecticides pending thorough review of the adverse effects on birds, bees, butterflies, bats, and other beneficial organisms. Take action now! The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) has supported 451 conservation projects on more than 3.7 million acres of critical bird habitat Tell your representatives: Let's build on this conservation success by reauthorizing the NMBCA! Please act today! Thanks for taking action to conserve birds and their habitats!

Donate | ABC Action Alerts

American Bird Conservancy | P.O. Box 249 | The Plains, VA 20198 | 888-247-3624

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If children lose contact with nature they won't fight for it | George Monbiot | Comment is free | The Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/nov/19/children-lose-contact-with-nature

Fwd: West Pond EA Public Release

-----Original Message-----
From: Yun, Daphne <daphne_yun@nps.gov>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Sent: Fri, Oct 2, 2015 8:09 am
Subject: West Pond EA Public Release

Environmental Assessment Notice of Public Availability and Open House:

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, West Pond Breach Repair Project

 

The National Park Service (NPS) has made available for public and regulatory review the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Jamaica Bay Unit, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, West Pond Breach Repair Project. This project would make the West Pond embankment and loop trail resilient to coastal storms and flooding and protect environmentally sensitive conditions along the West Pond loop trail that support a diversity of Jamaica Bay habitat, wildlife and enhanced visitor experience.

 

The EA evaluates the potential impacts of four alternatives: two action alternatives, the NPS preferred alternative and the no-action alternative.  The NPS preferred alternative includes filling and repairing the primary and secondary breaches and the subsequent restoration of West Pond and the loop trail. The preferred alternative would be implemented in phases, with the initial phase addressing filling and repairing the primary and secondary breaches, replacing the water control structure, the possible installation of a supplemental water supply system (either groundwater or municipal water) to provide freshwater to the pond, and restoring the West Pond loop trail. Future phases of work would include upland habitat restoration at Terrapin Point, shoreline and saltmarsh restoration to increase resiliency against potential future storm damage, and installation of other visitor amenities, such as boardwalks, trails, pathways, viewing blinds, and educational signage.

 

The ongoing participation of the public is very important to the success of this project. We invite you to attend an Open House to learn more about the project, the Environmental Assessment, ask questions, and share your comments.

 Open House:

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Thursday, October 22^nd, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
715-10 Cross Bay Boulevard
Broad Channel, Queens, New York

The EA will be available for public review and comment for a period of 30 days from October 6^th through November 6^th, 2015.   Please go to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/gate to view the EA and comment electronically.  You are also welcome to mail comments directly to:

 Office of the Superintendent

Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort Wadsworth

Attn: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge West Pond EA Project

210 New York Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10305

Please postmark written comments by November 6th for consideration.

For more information on Gateway National Recreation Area and this project, please go to: http://www.nps.gov/gate.

Daphne Yun

Acting Public Affairs Officer

Gateway National Recreation Area

718-354-4602

917-282-9393

Follow us on Twitter @GatewayNPS

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GatewayNPS

Fwd: BREAKING NEWS: Federal Trustees Call on EPA to Halt GE from Decommissioning PCB Cleanup Facilities

-----Original Message-----
From: takeaction@scenichudson.org
To: Peter
Sent: Tue, Sep 29, 2015 1:58 pm
Subject: BREAKING NEWS: Federal Trustees Call on EPA to Halt GE from Decommissioning PCB Cleanup Facilities

Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as a vital resource for residents and visitors.  View this email in your browser We've just received some outstanding news! The Federal Natural Resource Trustees charged with stewardship of the Hudson River's damaged natural resources have unequivocally called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to halt GE's decommissioning of its cleanup facilities until the EPA conducts a five-year technical review of the company's cleanup of toxic PCBs. EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck has explicitly requested such a letter from the Trustees (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) prior to taking any action. Now that they have complied, it’s time for her to step up and halt GE from prematurely dismantling its operations—preventing the company from walking away from a job that's far from complete. Scenic Hudson is grateful to U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson for his swift action and outreach to the Federal Trustees. We join the Congressman, 141 New York State Assembly members, 27 New York Senators and over 80 municipalities in calling for further cleanup of the Hudson—to protect the health of the river and the people of New York. I hope you can join me this Thursday at the People’s Protest and Press Conference, where we’ll request two more years of dredging and call on Gov. Cuomo and the EPA to heed the trustees' call and stop GE from demobilizing its cleanup facilities before it’s too late. Thanks for all that you do, Ned Sullivan Increasing the Momentum, Halting the Threats: Scenic Hudson's Annual Report highlights our recent successes. Donate Now Follow Scenic Hudson on social media: we're facebook.com/scenichudson, @scenichudson on Twitter and @scenichudson on Instagram! Copyright © 2015 Scenic Hudson, Inc., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or at a Scenic Hudson event. Our mailing address is: Scenic Hudson, Inc. One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 200 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Fwd: Save the Date - Jamaica Bay Task Force Mtg State of the Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Stoehr <manclarke@gmail.com>
To: prosbird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Mon, Sep 21, 2015 2:27 pm
Subject: Save the Date - Jamaica Bay Task Force Mtg State of the Bay

Quick Links More About Us Upcoming Events Join us on Facebook   American Littoral Society - Northeast Chapter Don Riepe Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers Join us on Twitter @JamaicaBayGuard @JamaicaBayWatch Jamaica Bay Task Force Meeting State of the Bay October 29, 2015 Dear Members and Stakeholders,     The American Littoral Society and the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers announce  the Jamaica Bay Task Force Meeting will be held:  Event Info Thursday, October 29, 2015 6:30 P M - 8:30 PM Location / Venue to be determined This meeting is open to the public and will include a question and answer period.    State of the Bay Agenda   Formal agenda to follow. Thank you, we hope to see you there, CO CHAIRS Dan Mundy & Don Riepe www.littoralsociety.org jamaicabayecowatchers.org

Forward this email This email was sent to prosbird@aol.com by manclarke@gmail.com |   Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | About our service provider. American Littoral Society | 28 West 9th Rd | Broad Channel | NY | 11693

Fwd: FW: Community Meeting & Volunteer Day in Marine Park, Brooklyn

-----Original Message-----
From: pdorosh@prospectpark.org
To: prosbird
Sent: Fri, Sep 18, 2015 11:34 am
Subject: FW: Community Meeting & Volunteer Day in Marine Park, Brooklyn

 

 

From: Natural Areas Conservancy [mailto:info@naturalareasconservancy.org]
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2015 10:42 AM
To: Peter Dorosh
Subject: Community Meeting & Volunteer Day in Marine Park, Brooklyn

 

Marine Park, Brooklyn Marine Park Trail Restoration and Community Engagement Project The Natural Areas Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy invite you to attend a meeting Monday, September 21 to discuss trail restoration opportunities in Marine Park, Brooklyn’s largest park. We are working with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and in partnership with the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. The meeting will be at P.S. 277, 2529 Gerritsen Avenue, Brooklyn, from 7 to 8:30 pm. Project goals include making the park trails easier to navigate and better conserving its natural history. To improve park user’s experience in the maritime forest (one of only two in New York City) along the park’s western edge, we are planning to establish a marked loop trail. Most of the new trail will consist of existing paths, and some parts will be restored to be natural habitats. Research from the Natural Areas Conservancy’s recent biodiversity study of New York City’s parks will be used to guide this ecological restoration. Save the Date: NYC Parks’ citywide stewardship day is on October 24. The Natural Areas Conservancy and friends will be volunteering in Marine Park, 9 am – 1 pm. To sign up and see more details, visit NYC Parks Stewardship website.                                    Donate I Learn More I Volunteer     Our Contact Information Natural Areas Conservancy 1234 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10029 212-360-1455 http://naturalareasnyc.org/ Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences

 

Press Release | Press Releases | Newsroom | U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York

http://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gateway-national-recreation-areas-iconic-jacob-riis-bathhouse-should-be-refurbished-into-a-multi-functional-modern-visitor-facility-for-beach-goers-urges-feds-to-provide-federal-funding-to_transform-historic-art-deco-bathhouse-and-make-major-ecological-improvements-to-jamaica-bays-west-pond

Press Release | Press Releases | Newsroom | U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York

http://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gateway-national-recreation-areas-iconic-jacob-riis-bathhouse-should-be-refurbished-into-a-multi-functional-modern-visitor-facility-for-beach-goers-urges-feds-to-provide-federal-funding-to_transform-historic-art-deco-bathhouse-and-make-major-ecological-improvements-to-jamaica-bays-west-pond

Fwd: Historic Victory atop the Palisades!

http://www.protectthepalisades.org/

-----Original Message-----
From: Scenic Hudson <takeaction@scenichudson.org>
To: Peter <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Jun 23, 2015 1:40 pm
Subject: Historic Victory atop the Palisades!

Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as a vital resource for residents and visitors.  View this email in your browser Historic Victory atop the Palisades Your support made it possible Dear Peter, I'm delighted to report that this afternoon Scenic Hudson and four of our conservation partners joined with LG Electronics to announce we've reached a historic, win-win settlement—protecting world-class vistas of the Palisades and allowing the company to construct a new North American headquarters that will retain local jobs. Scenic Hudson was the leading plaintiff-intervenor in a lawsuit challenging changes to local zoning that permitted corporate towers along the ridgetop, and we collaborated with the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs (which served as co-plaintiff), the Natural Resources Defense Council, New Jersey Conservation Foundation and New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in negotiations resulting in the settlement. Laurance Rockefeller, whose family donated the land that became the basis for Palisades Interstate Park, also was a leading participant in the discussions. Under the settlement, LG will dramatically reduce the height of its headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., from 143 feet to 69 feet—minimizing its impact on the Palisades viewshed—and the company will implement landscape, lighting and other design features to further reduce visual impacts. At the same time, the settlement will enable LG to double its local employment to more than 1,000 by 2019, while creating thousands of immediate construction jobs. You can read more about the settlement here. In addition to our leading role in the litigation, Scenic Hudson was a founding member of the Protect the Palisades coalition, uniting more than 30 environmental, cultural and civic groups to fight the plan, and we helped secure key support from The New York Times and other influential media. The settlement ends a three-year campaign to safeguard the majesty of the Palisades. As originally designed, LG's headquarters would have stood nearly 70 feet above the treeline, making it the first building prominently visible along a 20-mile stretch of this National Natural Landmark. It would have spoiled long-cherished views that provide enjoyment for people recreating on the Hudson River; traveling on Amtrak or Metro-North's Hudson Line; crossing the George Washington Bridge; and visiting tourist destinations such as Wave Hill and the Cloisters. These vistas support the tourism economy and increase nearby property values on both sides of the river. This could very well be the most important environmental settlement in the Hudson Valley over the last decade. On behalf of Scenic Hudson's board and staff, I offer my personal thanks to all of you whose generosity and advocacy made it possible for us to reach this milestone in preserving an irreplaceable national treasure. At the same time, I ask for your continued support so we can remain vigilant—and united with our partners—in pressing for measures that will ensure the permanent protection of the entire Palisades ridgeline. Thanks for all that you do, Ned Sullivan Increasing the Momentum, Halting the Threats: Scenic Hudson's Annual Report highlights our recent successes. Donate Now Follow Scenic Hudson on social media: we're facebook.com/scenichudson, @scenichudson on Twitter and @scenichudson on Instagram! Copyright © 2015 Scenic Hudson, Inc., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or at a Scenic Hudson event. Our mailing address is: Scenic Hudson, Inc. One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 200 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences