Public Transit

City of Albany Attempts to Sneak Legislation Past the Public Removing Land from the Pine Bush Preserve

By MATT PACENZA, Staff Writer ALBANY – The city received permission Thursday to begin digging test wells in the Pine Bush – a first step toward a possible and controversial expansion of the Rapp Road dump into the nature preserve. Nearly simultaneously, however, the city’s plan was dealt a blow when state Assemblyman John “Jack” City of Albany Attempts to Sneak Legislation Past the Public Removing Land from the Pine Bush Preserve

Save the Pine Bush Sues Crossgates Mall

ALBANY, NY — Save the Pine Bush and the Alliance for Environmental Renewal filed suit February 2 in the United States District court for the Northern District of New York against Pyramid Crossgates over its violation of its waste water permit for the past three years. Pyramid Crossgates has a State Pollution Discharge Elimination System Save the Pine Bush Sues Crossgates Mall

Save the Pine BushTurns 30

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Save the Pine Bush turned 30 and celebrated with a big party at the First Presbyterian Church. What was served? Lasagna, of course! Over 100 people attended the bash. “Looking Forward, Looking Back 30 Years of Advocacy for the Pine Bush.” The first order of business was the “Looking Forward” part. Save the Pine BushTurns 30

Roman Catholic Diocese Proposes – Senior Housing in the Pine Bush – Karner Blue in Serious Trouble

Roman Catholic Diocese Proposes Senior Housing in the Pine Bush Karner Blue in Serious Trouble It is with great sadness that Save the Pine Bush reports that the Roman Catholic Diocese has proposed Avila House Independent Senior Campus in the Pine Bush. This proposed housing would be located behind the Teresian House on Washington Avenue Roman Catholic Diocese Proposes – Senior Housing in the Pine Bush – Karner Blue in Serious Trouble

SUNYA Destroys Pine Bush for Sprawl

The University at Albany (SUNYA) has decided that building sprawl-type dormitories surrounded by asphalt parking lots is more important than Pine Bush preservation. In July, SUNYA began bull-dozing 29 acres of Pine Bush located on the campus to make-way for thoroughly modern sprawl. Save the Pine Bush is horrified that the University would treat the SUNYA Destroys Pine Bush for Sprawl

9

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: The July SPB veggie lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church was a forum for a bevy of politicians. Everyone came out to support Pine Bush preservation, a welcome change from previous elections. Candidates from Albany, most facing primaries in September attended as well as Ken Runion, candidate for Guilderland 9

Albany Pine Bush Sketches

Come to this art exhibit of beautiful oil paintings of the Pine Bush by Bob Collin. The exhibit is part of a show by 30 local artists held at the Local Color Art Gallery of the Colonie Art League. The Local Color Art Gallery is located at 961 Troy-Schenectady Road (Route 7, across from Peter Albany Pine Bush Sketches

Destroying History at The Pine Bush Preserve

by Steve Rider On its website it states that the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission “assure(s) the protection, restoration and management of the natural and cultural resources of the Albany Pine Bush.” However, in reality preservation of cultural resources is given little priority compared to the ecological goals. Original, unspoiled remnants of four historic roads Destroying History at The Pine Bush Preserve

Steve Downs Tells the Legal History of Save the Pine Bush at SPB’s 40th Birthday Party —Part 1

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: Lynne Jackson, a volunteer for Save the Pine Bush, gave a brief introduction and described how SPB started. On the night of February 6, 1978, as the “Blizzard of 78” was pounding the Capital District, a couple dozen brave souls nevertheless ventured to the Albany Public Library to speak out Steve Downs Tells the Legal History of Save the Pine Bush at SPB’s 40th Birthday Party —Part 1

The Wild Bees of the Pine Bush

by Grace Nichols ALBANY, NY: Bees pollinate over 75 % of the world’s plants. The honeybee, A. mellifera is an introduced European honeybee and has been declining since the 1950’s. As of 2007, 29% of beekeepers reported a 75 % loss in their hives due to Colony Collapse Disorder which is thought to be caused The Wild Bees of the Pine Bush

Save the Pine Bush Volunteers Win Victory for Open Records

by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: For many years I have watched state agencies abuse our rights as citizens, taxpayers, residents, and interested parties in regulatory proceedings. The NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (ERDA) and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are particularly guilty of limiting public access to public information. For example, ERDA held Save the Pine Bush Volunteers Win Victory for Open Records

Save the Pine Bush

by Grace Nichols, July 26, 2009   The survival of the Federally Protected Karner Blue Butterfly in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve is in doubt here in Albany – its numbers have been critically low for at least ten years. This butterfly was first named by Vladimir Nabokov, the famous writer, and became one of Save the Pine Bush

Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Releases 2017 Draft Management Plan Update

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is releasing its Draft Management Plan Update for public review and comment on October 4, 2016. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2016 from 7:00-9:00pm, at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY to gather public comment on this document. People Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Releases 2017 Draft Management Plan Update

Dan McCoy Speaks at Save the Pine Bush

by Tim Truscott   There has been plenty of energy pipeline news in the Capital Region of New York during the month of April. Here is some of it: Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline “Suspended” On April 20, Kinder Morgan, the developer for the Northeast Energy Direct (NED) 30-inch diameter natural gas pipeline, announced it was Dan McCoy Speaks at Save the Pine Bush

Don Reeb — The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

by Tom Ellis   ALBANY, NY: Retired University at Albany economics professor and McKownville Improvement Association president Don Reeb was the speaker at the November 18 SPB dinner.  Don spoke about SUNY Poly — formerly College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE): The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.  Don is 82 years old.  He said the neighborhood contain 900 Don Reeb — The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

A thorn in the Pine Bush

By TU Editorial Board on December 29, 2015 at 3:30 AM   When the city of Albany in 2009 convinced New York state to let it do one more landfill expansion, it knew the deal: In exchange for a bigger dump, the city would have to fund a substantial restoration of the fragile Pine Bush. A thorn in the Pine Bush

Hey, Everyone! Time to Get on the Bus!

  ALBANY: In August, the Capital District Transportation Authority announced that bus service has begun between downtown Albany and the Pine Bush. Everyone should get on the bus to visit the Discovery Center. The bus only runs on Saturdays. To take the bus from downtown Albany to the Discovery Center on a Saturday, get on Hey, Everyone! Time to Get on the Bus!

Chris Hawver of the Commission Speaks

by Tom Ellis   ALBANY: Albany Pine Bush Management Commission (APBMC or the Commission) Executive Director Chris Hawver was the October 15 SPB dinner speaker.  Lynne Jackson and I introduced him saying that Save the Pine Bush is very pleased that the Commission exists and is protecting the Pine Bush.  Lynne said the work of SPB Chris Hawver of the Commission Speaks

Public Advocate Dominick Calsolaro

By Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Former Albany First Ward Common Council member Dominick Calsolaro spoke at the June 18 SPB dinner about Environmental Issues in Albany.  He began thanking SPB President Rezsin Adams for her many years of friendship.  During the US-Vietnam War, he said, Rezsin often came into his family’s restaurant.  Dominick spoke about the Public Advocate Dominick Calsolaro

Pine Bush Gets National Status

By Sarah Roberts/For The Daily Gazette ALBANY — The Albany Pine Bush Preserve, a patchwork of 3,200 acres, has been designated a National Natural Landmark, after National Park Service officials determined it to be “an outstanding example of a globally rare ecosystem.” The preserve will join 596 other natural landmarks as prime examples of biological Pine Bush Gets National Status

Editorial: A toast to the Pine Bush

  THE STAKES: It’s a tribute to those dedicated to protecting it from development. In the late 1970s, the Pine Bush, the sprawling pine barrens that extend from the city of Albany to Schenectady County, was considered by some a vast wasteland ripe for development. Its central location appealed to investors, who saw it as a prime Editorial: A toast to the Pine Bush

Don Reeb Speaks to Save the Pine Bush

by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: After a rousing introduction by Carol Waterman, Don Reeb spoke at the February 19 SPB dinner about “Cities and the Environment.” Don, now 80 years young, is a retired University at Albany economics professor, was co-leader of the Stop Crossgates mall campaign, and has been President of the McKownville Improvement Don Reeb Speaks to Save the Pine Bush

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, Styrofoam Ban and Protection of the Pine Bush

by Tom Ellis On December 12, when Albany County Executive Dan McCoy signed legislation passed by the county legislature a month earlier that bans chain restaurants and eateries from using polystyrene (Styrofoam) take-out food containers, he credited his three children, especially Egan, a senior at Albany High School, for pressuring and reminding him to be Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, Styrofoam Ban and Protection of the Pine Bush

Save the Pine Bush GIS Class

By SPB Vounteer Andy Arthur   After the Save the Pine Bush Hike on Saturday, May 19th, there will be a class from 1:30-4:30 PM on using the free Quantum GIS program to make maps of the Albany Pine Bush at the Delaware Avenue branch of Albany Public Library. GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems, the computer-based Save the Pine Bush GIS Class

Neil Gifford of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Speaks

by Tom Ellis   ALBANY: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Conservation Director Neil A. Gifford was the featured speaker at the March 22 SPB dinner.  Reszin Adams introduced him.    Mr. Gifford said he is a conservation scientist by training.  He said the Pine Bush Commission now has 27 staff, is an authority, the preserve contains 3200 acres, including at Neil Gifford of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Speaks