Welcome to NYenvironcom's Second Newsletter

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The Newsletter of NYenvironcom

Welcome and welcome back, readers! We have a number of positive things to report.

First, of course, summer is here, and we’ve all been enjoying the warmth and fullness of New York at this time of year. Meanwhile, news of heatwaves, floods, and fires elsewhere have heightened our awareness of how fortunate we have been this year, and how crucial it is that we safeguard our substantial inheritance of wetlands, floodplains and fresh water.

So, let’s have a quick look at what we’re doing.

Underground

Beginning in September a quarterly collection of reports and essays written and/or compiled by NYenvironcom’s founder and director, Alex Scilla, will be the underpinning of our new addition to our family of newsletters. The Underground will provide readers with a closer understanding of the thinking that drives the work of NYenvironcom.

U nusually high water at the site of a seasonal stream, normally dry at this time of year, has necessitated the postponement of a ceremony we were going to have. The plan was to celebrate the launch of our new water-monitoring stations and to thank the donors who made them happen. The path we use for access is usually dry at this time of year, but, you know, things change. The stations have been assembled and will be installed soon as planned. We’ll celebrate and honor our wonderful donors in the Fall, with WaterWalk 2021!

TerraINscape

We’re happy to inform that our Beta map is up and can be viewed and used (!) on the NYenvironcom website. Navigating the controls and tools of exploration can be a bit tricky. No worries. An instructional video is up for your convenience.

Advocacy

Rivendale

The town of Deerpark has issued a positive declaration for the proposed Rivendale development. What this means is that, once the town has established the scope of its concerns, developers will need to respond with an Environmental Impact Statement. Although the issues regarding this site are far from resolved, this is a step in the right direction for the town and its environment. It’s also, at least in part, a happy result of NYenvironcom’s efforts to provide the town with expert counsel, advice, and information when and where it was needed. Congratulations, Deerpark!

850 Rt. 28

Our friend, Hydrogeologist Paul Rubin, has filed new reports regarding 850 Rt. 28 in the Town of Kingston. Find them on our website.

Summer Report Cards

Detailed overviews of current situations at 850 Rt. 28, Rivendale and Dragon Springs can be found in our Summer Report Cards. Read them here.

Events

So far there’s only one: our usual presence at the Port Jervis Farmers Market. Come see us there. It would be great to talk to you in person about what we’re doing. Plus, we always bring along our fashionable NYenvironcom apparel and the world’s most irresistible Smoked Trout Dip from Forage Pizza. Come see us! Please!

Deerpark Rural Alliance Update

From the desk of Grace Woodard

DRA has continued its monitoring of Deerpark town meetings. Of most importance is the Planning Board’s activity, which we are now filming with our GoPro. The town does not video its meetings. The agendas are getting longer—with small to large solar applications, multiple 2-house subdivisions, and typical lot line changes. An important report and desire by the owner of C&D Technologies (a DEC Superfund site) to move forward with rehabbing the abandoned battery factory for a tenant, once the outside has been remediated, is a positive for the community. The clean-up goes out for bids in the fall.

Rivendale: See update as reported above. This should take us well into early winter. We oppose this urban project. Lastly, an interesting project as part of the Tiny House movement has been proposed near Rt. 42.

Upcoming: DRA is in Callicoon August 5th with Friends of the Upper Delaware and the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed advocating for its tributaries. Lastly, look for our orange tent at Veterans Park in Otisville on Aug 7th for the popular Village-Wide Yard Sale.

In The Meantime . . .

Well, that’s actually about it for now.

If you can’t come see us at the farmer’s market, write to us via the website. It’s hard to express how much we’d like to harvest your thoughts on what we’re doing and what you might be doing along the same lines.

If you have the slightest inkling to donate to the cause, nurture that! Let it grow! We and the natural settings and ecosystems in the world that we’re trying to protect need all the help and support that’s out there. Your generosity will not go unnoticed or unloved.

One way to contribute is via Amazon Smile. List us there as: Support Mid-New York Environmental and Sustainability Promotion Committee (whew!) Or … get your Smoked Trout Dip at our website store.

OK, that’s it.

Oh yeah, and ...

Thanks to our 2020/2021 sponsors and supporters

Aspen Community Foundation

The Bank of Greene County

Basha Kill Area Association

The Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation

Orange & Rockland Community Investment Program

Stewart's Shops

Stroud Water Research Center

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Alex (Al) Scilla

Founder & Director