A Proposal A Proposal By Daniel W. Van Riper Here’s an idea. All elected officials in Guilderland should sign the following pledge before the voters and taxpayers of the town: “(1) I promise not to accept campaign contributions or any other monetary compensation from the Pyramid Corporation or it’s subsidieries, and I will return … 9
FORCE Fights Pyramid – Guilderland Citizens Organize FORCE Fights Pyramid Guilderland Citizens Organize By Daniel Van Riper Citizens and taxpayers of Guilderland, courageously opposed to the rape and ruination of their town by the vicious and sleazy Pyramid Corporation, have chosen a name for themselves and gotten down to the task of organizing. Friends … 9
Residents Organize! Residents Organize! Citizens and taxpayers of Guilderland are forming a resistance which as of this writing has no name yet. Their first organizational meeting is taking place on Aug. 18th at Guilderland Elementary School. For information on how YOU can lend your skills to beating Pyramid at their own game, contact the following … Residents Organize!
Crossgates Information Crossgates Information Finding straightforward information on the community versus Pyramid and their political allies can be difficult, but here’s a rundown: Weekly Publications The best and most informed source on Crossgates is the Altamont Enterprise, which comes out on Thursdays. Most of the other print media follow the Enterprise’s lead in reporting. For … Crossgates Information
Murdered By Pyramid: It Could Happen Here Murdered By Pyramid It Could Happen Here By Daniel Van Riper Public officials and neighborhood activists are holding the notorious Pyramid Corporation responsible for the traffic death of a young mother outside Buffalo, NY. Pyramid operates the Walden Galleria Mall in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga, and is … Murdered By Pyramid: It Could Happen Here
SPB and Town Agree – Colonie Signs Settlement SPB and Town Agree Colonie Signs Settlement By Daniel Van Riper Attorney Lew Oliver, representing Save the Pine Bush, successfully negotiated an agreement with the Town of Colonie over the future of the town’s Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS), thus avoiding a costly court case. The agreement, … SPB and Town Agree – Colonie Signs Settlement
Victory In Colonie SPB Stops GEIS Victory In Colonie SPB Stops GEIS By Daniel Van Riper Late breaking news as we go to press: Save the Pine Bush attorney Lew Oliver said we had a really good case. As usual, he was right. In a major victory for Save the Pine Bush, State Supreme Court … Victory In Colonie SPB Stops GEIS
Victory in Colonie! Vinyl Golf Driving Range Proposal Withdrawn Victory in Colonie! Vinyl Golf Driving Range Proposal Withdrawn by Lynne Jackson Since last spring, Save the Pine Bush volunteers have been attending hearings, reading long EIS’s (Environmental Impact Statements), and speaking out against the proposed Golden Bear Family Golf Indoor and Outdoor Driving Range. This … Victory in Colonie! Vinyl Golf Driving Range Proposal Withdrawn
Is There a ‘Y’ in Guilderland? Is There a ‘Y’ in Guilderland? Guest Article By Jamie and Mary Malcolm While Save the Pine Bush (SPB) is hard at work preserving any remaining Pine Bush in the Town of Guilderland, a series of projects including a new YMCA facility, are threatening to take protected land from … Is There a ‘Y’ in Guilderland?
Let Your Voice Be Heard! – Don’t Let Them Take Land from Preserve! Let Your Voice Be Heard! Don’t Let Them Take Land from Preserve! by Lynne Jackson At long last, Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the proposed YMCA and St. Peter’s Assisted Living facility in Guilderland has been issued. Harder to find … Let Your Voice Be Heard! – Don’t Let Them Take Land from Preserve!
Oppose Drumlin Fields Office Complex Oppose Drumlin Fields Office Complex Five Minutes to Help Save the Pine Bush No matter where you live, please, call an Alderman about Drumlin Fields by Lynne Jackson Drumlin Fields is a proposed office complex to be built on both sides of Rapp Road in the Pine Bush. Bordered … Oppose Drumlin Fields Office Complex
Willow Street Again Willow Street Again SPB Sues over Sewers Built in the Preserve DEC Caves in to Developer by Lynne Jackson Ten months after filing a ground-breaking suit that forced a developer to remove water lines from the Preserve along Willow Street in Guilderland, Save the Pine Bush has filed a second suit … Willow Street Again
Save the Pine Bush Forces Developer to Remove Water Lines from Pine Bush Preserve Save the Pine Bush Forces Developer to Remove Water Lines from Pine Bush Preserve by Lynne Jackson In a victory for the Pine Bush, the developer of a luxury housing sub-division along the border of Guilderland and Albany has been … 9
Judge Cobb Grants Injunction Judge Cobb Grants Injunction State Defends Pine Bush ALBANY, NY &emdash; Justice George L. Cobb granted a preliminary injunction January 23 on construction of a six-unit housing subdivision in the Pine Bush in State Supreme Court today. He also granted a request for 60 additional days for the State to respond. … Judge Cobb Grants Injunction
Developer Takes Preserve to Build Water Lines Developer Takes Preserve to Build Water Lines Save the Pine Bush Sues the Albany Pine Bush Management Commission & Others Save the Pine Bush filed suit on December 15 against the Albany Pine Bush Management Commission, the Town of Guilderland, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation … Developer Takes Preserve to Build Water Lines
Albany Common Council Votes Against Pine Bush Approves Charlie Touhey’s Office Complex Second Time within 6 Weeks – Albany Common Council Votes Against Pine Bush Approves Charlie Touhey’s Office Complex by Lynne Jackson The Common Council, against the wishes of its constituents, residents, and Save the Pine Bush, approved the re-zoning of 12 acres of … 9
Albany Common Council Denies Dunes Residents Chance to be Heard Albany Common Council Denies Dunes Residents Chance to be Heard by Lynne Jackson July 1, 1996, Albany City Hall, was the place where the Common Council refused to listen to 25 or so angry Dunes residents who wanted the opportunity to speak. Charlie Touhey wants … 9
Gotta Watch’em Like Hawks – Can’t Trust Nobody Gotta Watch’em Like Hawks Can’t Trust Nobody By Daniel W. Van Riper Y Is This Happening One of the selling points for the ongoing YMCA project that is destroying eight acres of Pine Bush off Western Avenue in Guilderland was that it would cost the taxpayers … Gotta Watch’em Like Hawks – Can’t Trust Nobody
Draft Environmental Impact Statement DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT for Avila House Independent Senior Campus Lead Agency: City of Albany Planning Board 21 Lodge Street, Albany, New York 12207 Contact: Nicholas Dilello (518) 434-2532 ext. 28 Project Sponsor: First Colun1bia, LLC 26 Century Hill Drive Latham, New York 12110-2128, (518) 213-1000 Report … Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The word that springs to mind for the University at Albany’s greasy plan to level 25 acres of classic pine bush on campus in order to build its own version of suburban sprawl isn’t printable. So I’ll settle for a distant second choice: pandering. “We’re told garden apartments are what today’s students want,” said a … UAlbany Plan Adds to Spraw
The Thruway Authority Comes Across Royally The Thruway Authority Comes Across Royally by John Wolcott The Thruway Authority has just completed a hikers’ underpass under the new bridge that carries Route 155 over the Thruway. This was done in response to a proposal presented to the Thruway Authority by Save the Pine Bush and the … The Thruway Authority Comes Across Royally
by Tom Ellis RENSSELAER, NY: Five residents of Rensselaer and one each from East Greenbush, Menands, and Albany (me) met on September 18 with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) about the Dunn dump in Rensselaer. The DEC official included an assistant commissioner, chief counsel, chief of staff, and regional director. The meeting, held … Meeting with DEC Officials
A snow-covered field near Crossgates Mall may become a battleground over the effect of building in the Pine Bush and on that ecologically fragile area’s bellwether symbol, the Karner blue butterfly. Environmentalists are trying to fend off the nation’s largest independent hotel developer, which wants about four acres west of the mall’s movie theaters for … Garage Sale Sucess!
Making Good in Their Own Hometown&emdash;EPA Honors Aaron Mair and Farnsworth Middle School Making Good in Their Own Hometown&emdash;EPA Honors Aaron Mair and Farnsworth Middle School by Rezsin Adams April 18, 2000 was the big day when the Environmental Protection Agency awarded their highest honor, the Environmental Quality Award, to Aaron Mair and Guilderland’s Farnsworth … Making Good in Their Own Hometown&emdash;EPA Honors Aaron Mair and Farnsworth Middle School
Save the Pine Bush Victorious! – Developer Removes Water Lines! Media Frenzy The media came out in full force for our Press Conference announcing the removal of the water lines. In the background, note the backhoe digging up the water lines. From left to right: Lynne Jackson of Save the Pine Bush, Don Levy, Channel … 9
Save the Pine Bush Victorious! – Developer Removes Water Lines! John Wolcott It was John Wolcott’s tireless enthusiasm and research that ensured Save the Pine Bush’s victory. Wolcott had spent years writing to government officials explaining the problem with Willow Street, but no one listened until Save the Pine Bush sued. Wolcott is Save the … 9
by Claire Nolan ALBANY: We had three hikers join us for a chilly pre-Holiday stroll along the recently re-routed “Yellow Trail” behind the Pine Bush Discovery Center. Two more joined us for a mountain bike ride on the same trail. The two mountain bikers are students at UAlbany who came to the Pine Bush … Late Fall Hike Report No snow or ice so it was a hike
The 1996 Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act The 1996 Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act What It Is, What It Isn’t, And What Some Of It Might Be An Exposé by John Wolcott First of all, New York State’s "Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act" is, on the surface, just about what it’s title … The 1996 Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Democratic candidate for Albany County District Attorney David Soares spoke at the August Save the Pine Bush dinner at the First Presbyterian Church. Paul Clyne, the incumbent District Attorney who is also running, was invited by did not attend. SPB invited Mr. Soares because in order to save our wild places, … David Soares – Candidate for Albany County District Attorney
Name of the project: Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Here is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement website at the Town of Guilderland: https://www.townofguilderland.org/planning-board/pages/environmental-impact-statement-rapp-road-residentialwestern-avenue-mixed-use Save the Pine Bush’s comments on the DEIS Here are Save the Pine Bush’s comments written by Christopher M. Walker, , Legal Intern appearing pursuant to the Practice Order of … Crossgates Expansion
By ANNE MILLER, Staff writer Tom Dooley smiled as flames tickled the Pine Bush scrub, a canopy of smoke enveloping the treetops. " We just like to burn things," he joked. But behind the levity — and the goggles and fire helmets — Albany Pine Bush Preserve officials are thrilled to see fire dancing among … Charette a Charade
by Sandy Sheridan What are we going to do about these butterflies? What the US Fish and Wildlife Service thinks should be done has been specifically outlined in the “Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan” (October 2001). This 239-page plan comprehensively describes the Karner Blue, its plight and the plan of action to perpetuate its populations … The Federal Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan
Dear Pine Bush supporters, Thursday, December 1 at 5:30, first floor, City Hall, will be one of the most important Pine Bush hearings. The Honorable Dominick Calsolaro’s resolution to dedicate the Fox Run Estate to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve will be discussed. Save the Pine Bush SUPPORTS this resolution. Don’t let the City use … Press Conference, Monday, November 21, 2005 6:30 PM
ALBANY: Roland Kays, PhD., Curator of Mammals of the New York State Museum, spoke at the May Save the Pine Bush vegetarian/vegan lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church about coyotes and fishers. He began with a photo of the snout from one of the last wolves captured in the northeast. Dr. Kays remarked on … New York State’s Most Successful Predators – Coyotes & Fishers
by William Engleman CLIFTON PARK: Representatives of three area environmental organizations and Town residents called on the Clifton Park Town Board to save the Karner Blue butterfly populations in the Town’s northeast corner, during the Town Board’s first regular meeting of the year, held on Monday evening January 3, 2005. Eight speakers, including representatives from … Taking Lyme Fight to the Field
The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall – Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations by Lynne Jackson Save the Pine Bush is pleased to announce that we joined with our famous Pine Bush resident, the Karner Blue Butterfly, and sued Pyramid Crossgates and the Zoning Board … The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall – Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations
Pyramid Goes To Court – Sprawl Malls Need Lawyers, Too Pyramid Goes To Court Sprawl Malls Need Lawyers, Too By Daniel W. Van Riper Economic Racism When the Pyramid Corporation built the Galleria Mall in Cheektowaga, a suburb of Buffalo, NY, they told prospective tenants “you’ll never see an inner city bus stop here,” … Pyramid Goes To Court – Sprawl Malls Need Lawyers, Too
Need to make room on your bookshelf? Don’t know what to do with that box of books in your attic or basement? Still have those old record albums that you haven’t listened to in years? Well now you can put them to good use by donating them to the cause of Pine Bush preservation! Save … Books for Butterflies
A Brief Historical Note on the Six Mile Waterworks (Rensselaer Lake) A Brief Historical Note on the Six Mile Waterworks (Rensselaer Lake) by John Wolcott The section of the Pine Bush where the proposed aquatic park would be located is a remaining portion of an early conservation area. This was one of the first tracts, … A Brief Historical Note on the Six Mile Waterworks (Rensselaer Lake)
No Credit Given – A Letter From the Commission No Credit Given A Letter From the Commission By Daniel Van Riper In their latest newsletter the Albany Pine Bush Management Commission gives credit for the rehabilitation of the parcel of land off Apollo Drive that used to be a truck parking lot to 3 corporations, … 9
One of the most beautiful aspects of life in a village is living close with nature, especially in many third world countries, where many villages do not have access to most of today’s technology such as cars, tractors, air conditioners, electricity and TV. That is the kind of village and time I grew up in. … In the Shade of a Tree
by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: A panel that included Albany County legislator Merton Simpson spoke in opposition to the proposed Sheridan Hollow Microgrid Fossil Fuel Plant at the October 18 Save the Pine Bush dinner. About 45 attended. Also speaking were engineer Keith Schue and environmental health advocate, Rita Ogburn-McCall. Sandy Steubing moderated the discussion. … SHARE Opposes the Microgrid Fossil Fuel Plant in Sheridan Hollow
By Hugh Johnson ON THE INTERNET: Lynne Jackson invited me to give a ZOOM talk about the status of our climate change at the February 17, 2021, “Save the Pine Bush Meeting.” In this winter of COVID, it was easy to forget we are still in a climate crisis. Look what happened in Texas during … Are the Winds of Change Finally Here?
By Tom Ellis ALBANY COUNTY: The Clean Air Coalition of Greater Ravena-Coeyamns held a community forum on February 9 about its continuing efforts to block the Lafarge cement company from burning tires near the Hudson River in Ravena, and directly across Route 9W from the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS) Middle and High Schools. Christine Primomo, a retired … Clean Air Update