by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Dr. Gary Kleppel, professor of biology at the University of Albany, outlined the economic and environmental costs of sprawl at Save the Pine Bush’s June veggie lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Albany. Dr. Kleppel opened his presentation by challenging conservation groups with the most important mission, “curbing urban … Sprawl Costs Money
Compiled by Sally Commings Recycle After you’ve cut back and reused till the cows came home, the next step is one of our favorites here at Earth911: recycling. The act of recycling has become second nature for a lot of us over the years and even if you do it every day, there is … Sally’s Recycling Corner
Michael J. Kernan was appointed to the Solid Waste Management Plan as a representative of CANA – the Council of Albany Neighborhoods. Below is an edited version of the comments he summited on the Steering Committee (SC) SWMP Preliminary Report* Preliminary Report Conclusions (PR) 1. Public authority vs formal consortium I disagree with the assumption … Comments on the Solid Waste Management Plan by Mike Kernan
COLONIE: In the spring of 1997, developers proposed to build the Golden Bear Golf Dome on 19 acres of Pine Bush in the Town of Colonie. Save the Pine Bush volunteers attended all of the public hearings about the project, read and commented on the environmental impact statements, and made known to the Planning Board … 9
by Lynne Jackson COLONIE: The Town of Colonie held a public hearing on July 14 for its “Town of Colonie Final Draft Comprehensive Plan.” The Town began the comprehensive planning process in 2003 with a town-wide survey, and had held dozens of public meetings about the plan. The Town is expected to adopt the plan … Town of Colonie to Adopt Comprehensive Plan
by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY— “The future is bright,” said John Ciovacco, President of Aztech Geothermal, at the November 15 SPB dinner. He spoke about “Geothermal Heat Pump Systems as One solution to Climate Change.” Aztech was founded in 2007, the first installations were in 2009, and 350 installations have now been completed. Mr. Ciovacco … Geothermal Power is Possible in the City
Save the Pine Bush Common Council Muzzles Hearing Pine Bush Residents Outraged Common Council Muzzles Hearing Pine Bush Residents Outraged by Daniel W. Van Riper, Mar./Apr. 92 Chanting, “We want to speak! We want to speak!” some twenty or so residents from the Pinehurst and Dunes developments in the Pine Bush expressed outrage at an … 7
New York State Historic Archaeological Site Inventory Form Stanford Home Hearing Information Hearing Notes January 23 Hearing Canadians are Coming! Archeological Information Photos – Outdoor Photos – Indoor Bonding Editorial Preservation Donate Contact New York State Historic Archaeological Site Inventory Form NYS OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION & HISTORIC PRESERVATION (518) 237-8643 For Office … New York State Historic Archaeological Site Inventory Form
Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming! Stanford Home Hearing Information Hearing Notes January 23 Hearing Canadians are Coming! Archeological Information Photos – Outdoor Photos – Indoor Bonding Editorial Preservation Donate Contact Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming! Well, one man is representing the Captain Richard Duncan Company. Background: In the 1777 … Yes, the King’s Royal Yorkers are Coming!
by Sally Cummings Recycling Paper Environmental Savings For every ton of paper recycled, we ….. Save 463 gallons of oil. Save 7,000 gallons of water. Make 60 pounds less of air pollution. Save 3 cubic yards of landfill space Save 4,100 kilowatt hours of neergy Save 17 trees Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds … City Can’t Decide!
ALBANY: First proposed in the fall of 2003, this “Residence Inn” proposal for the Albany Pine Bush is back. The developer has written a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The public may now comment on this proposal and the DEIS at the hearing scheduled for Monday, April 18 at 7:00 at Albany City Hall, Eagle … Residence Inn Hotel – Proposal is Back!
Home From Nowhere – Book Review Home From Nowhere Book Review by Lynne Jackson As a child growing up in the suburbs in the sixties, I really wanted sidewalks. I could not understand why there were no sidewalks. I envied the children who walked to school, and were even allowed to walk home at lunch. … Home From Nowhere – Book Review
by John Wolcott Suburbs by any other name are suburbs just the same, and need to be solidly opposed by environmentalists and urbanists. Pine Bush sites that are within the City of Albany boundaries are disconnected from the real urban city, besides being in a globally rare eco-system. This applies to the sites of the … Notes from the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
ALBANY: Theraldson, the largest hotel corporation in the United States (sometimes known as the “Wal-Mart” of hotels) is back, asking to build a hotel on occupied Karner Blue habitat. Yes, Save the Pine Bush won our lawsuit against the City of Albany over the re-zoning the 3.6 acre site of the proposed hotel project. But, … The Hotel is Back and Badder than Ever!
GUILDERLAND, NY: If you haven’t already heard or seen it, March 26 was an horrible day for the trees on the site for the proposed Costco; Respect and adherence to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) by the Town of Guilderland; and any expectation for a fair process from the Guilderland Planning … Tree Clear Cut
ALBANY, NY: Retired National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Hugh “Woody” Johnson spoke at the November 20 Save the Pine Bush dinner about “How Trump could ruin our national Weather Service and trump our chances to reverse climate change for good.” Using a multi-page Power Point, Hugh quickly covered a considerable amount of material, and, when … National Weather Service and the Climate Crisis
By Hank Pellissier, hpellissier@baycitizen.org San Francisco’s garbage dump, the Recology San Francisco Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Center, does not throw out much trash. The majority of its rubbish gets productively recycled, at the transfer station at 501 Tunnel Avenue or the Pier 96 sorting facility. Recology, an employee-owned company, oversees the complex operation. Head … Rethink Plans for Disposal Facility
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Citizens asserted their right to speak to elected officials at a meeting of the Albany Common Council’s General Services, Health and Environment Committee on December 1. Only one item was on the agenda: to consider the resolution offered by the Honorable Dominick Calsolaro to dedicate the Fox Run Estate Mobile Home … Common Council votes to Suppress Public Comment
by Steve Downs On September 1, 1976, a new law, the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQRA, came into effect which required comprehensive environmental planning at the beginning of every environmentally significant project – the problem was that nobody was sure just how the new law worked. Just two years later the first published law … A Tribute To Lew Oliver
Can any study be good for the Pine Bush that cannot even spell “Pine Bush” correctly? The Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) has released draft two of “Pinebush [sic] Transportation Study Update”. At first glance, this study is not as bad as previous transportation studies, but there is still enough in here to cause worry … Roads are Killing the Pine Bush
Congratulations to Tom Ellis for his excellent letter-to-the-editor which appeared in Thursday’s Times Union (12/30/10) concerning the SWMP plan, the proposed solid waste authority and the possibility of an incinerator being constrducted in the area. The letter is shown below. In addition to the points Tom made in his letter, it should be mentioned that … Rethink Plans for Disposal Facility
by Hugh Johnson Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Director of New York State’s Region II, spoke at the SPB dinner in June; Part One of her speech was published in the Aug/Sept newsletter; here is Part Two: ALBANY. NY: On Day 68, Trump actually traveled to the EPA Headquarters to announce a reduction in the … How Can We Reverse the Tide of Trump’s Plan to Eliminate the U.S. EPA? – Part Two
By Daniel Van Riper Every time the City of Albany Common Council Members approve a “development” in the Pine Bush, it results in a loss of revenue to the City that can only be made up by raising taxes. In other words, this year’s tax hikes are directly caused by the last few years of … Sprawl Raises Taxes: The Myth Of The Expanding Tax Base
from TheDailyGreen.com Give Up Plastic (and Paper) Bags Cost: $1Do you opt for paper or plastic when at the grocery store? Neither is a good choice. Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion plastic bags consumed in the United States last year. And it takes four times more energy to … Sally’s Recycling Corner — New Year Green Resolutions!
SCHENECTADY — The Woodlawn Preserve is getting closer and closer to full protection. After years of negotiations, the City Council finally adopted a management plan for the preserve last week. The plan will help keep the remnants of Pine Bush ecology that remain in the badly deteriorated preserve, and lays out the steps to restore … Schenectady Pine Bush sees Preservation boost
Jim Travers, a resident of Coeymans, NY, attended the February 15 Save the Pine Bush dinner and heard Jack Lauber speak about Waste-to-Energy. These are Jim Travers’ comments. – Ed Please forward this email to all those on the Save The Pine Bush mail list. Feedback is welcomed. Thanks. Jim Travers I do not think … Waste to Energy Seems Like A Good Idea, But Is It Good For The Environment?
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: In an astonishing, detailed, and carefully written decision, Judge Peter Lynch handed a victory to Westmere Terrace residents and a gas-station owner, the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the Town of Guilderland Planing Board and Pyramid Management Group. The decision makes null and void all of the approvals the Planning … The Residents and the Pine Bush Win Against Pyramid Justice Prevails
From the Altamont Enterprise — Thursday, September 21, 2000, pages 3 and 19 (an excerpt) I love fly fishing! by Dr. Peter Buttner {Author} For more than fifty years I have been making imitations of many of the insects, minnows and other forms of life that fish feed on in fresh and salt water. It … I love fly fishing!
by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: On August 21, Lou Ismay completed the lecture he began in April about his experiences teaching and leading the Environmental Forum course at the University at Albany beginning fifty years ago. Lynne Jackson introduced Lou saying Lou’s office was in the Arts building. Lou hung strings from the ceiling connected … Lou Ismay and the Environmental Forum
By Tom Ellis COHOES: Lights Out Norlite, NATURE Lab, Saratoga Sites Against Norlite Emissions, and the Hudson Mohawk Environmental Action Network held a virtual Hazardous Waste School on December 16 at which four hazardous waste experts discussed various aspects of the issue. The program concerned the Norlite hazardous waste incinerator in Cohoes. Bruce Buckheit worked … Battling Hazardous Waste Incineration
WHEREAS: Rezsin Adams was born on February 13, 1927, and grew up in the Bronx; and WHEREAS: Rezsin is an unassuming hero, a woman of small stature who always has a smile on her face. However, she has been at the heart of Albany’s peace and justice movement for decades and was dubbed the “Grande … Proclamation — Monday, February 13, 2017 to be: “Rezsin Adams Day”
By Grace Nichols Albany County is home to many bats, from the rare Myotis genus species, so vulnerable to White-nose syndrome for which we were a ground zero, to the more common Large Brown Bat, Hoary Bats, Red bats, Silver-haired Bats and Tri-colored bats. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and they … Bats in the Unprotected Pine Bush of Guilderland
You are invited to the first statewide Zeroing Out Waste Conference Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Westminster Presbyterian Church, Use entrance at 85 Chestnut St., Albany , NY 12210 Speakers Include: Neil Seldman, Institute of Local Self Reliance Professor Paul Connett, International Waste Management Researcher Majora Carter, Environmental Justice Leader, Founder … Zeroing Out Waste Conference
Please RSVP to Mark Platt at 462-4062 or email mplaat1@nycap.rr.com Located just south of Pinehurst Boulevard, 40 Karner Road is a key parcel that links Karner Meadows and Pine Valley portions of the preserve. It also protects the headwaters of the Kiakout Kill and provides a scenic buffer along New Karner Road. 40 Karner Road … 40 Karner Road Clean Up Saturday April 16 at 9 AM
by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Rapp Road Development, a corporate entity of Pyramid/Crossgates, is proposing to build on about 46 acres of land. Originally, the proposal was to build 222 apartments on 20 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Bush preserve. After the Town Planning Board appointed themselves the lead agency, the project was … Proposed Crossgates Development
by Lynne Jackson Charlie Touhey, whose proposed office complex at 300 Washington Ave. Ext. was voted down by the Common Council last summer, is proposing yet another development for his 12-acre site in the Pine Bush. There is a twist to this one, though. Usually, developers never want the neighbors to know what they are … Charlie’s At It Again! Touhey proposes housing units in the Pine Bush
by Lynne Jackson, Mar./Apr. 92 The Karner Blue has been proposed to be listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If the butterfly is listed as an endangered species with a designated critical habitat, any developments proposed within the habitat would need to have a federal permit in order to … Letter-Writing Made a Difference Your Letters Needed to Help the Karner Blue Butterfly
by Amanda Wills, Earth911.com, 11/3/10 Q: What’s a trustworthy place to donate computers? I’m concerned about my privacy and guaranteeing everything will be wiped off the computer’s memory/drives. – Sherry Shapiro A: Many recyclers will guarantee your hard drive is wiped before recycling. However, it’s always best to clear those files yourself before bidding farewell … Where Can I Find a Trustworthy E-cycler?
by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Last August, Save the Pine Bush wrote comments on the Draft Scope for the Pyramid Crossgates proposal to build 222 apartments on land in the Pine Bush ecosystem that was designated as partial protection. At the time, the Draft Scope included two other parcels along Western Avenue, but, no announcements … Proposals in the Pine Bush
by Hugh Johnson Mark Dunlea, the Green Party Candidate running for the New York State Comptroller, spoke at October Save the Pine Bush dinner. He commenced by stating the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s assertion that we have only 12 years to do something about Climate Change (really Accelerated Global Warming, AGW). A “miracle” solution is needed … Mark Dunlea Speaks about Climate Change – Asks People to Take Action Now
by Tom Ellis In the wake of the George Floyd murder, much has been said and written about how policing and public safety require major overhauls in the United States. The same applies to how the New York state government regulates environmental toxins. Human health and the environment are being poisoned with the support of … Regulate Toxins
Karner Blue Butterfly Links Eastern-Tailed Blue – Marietta College, looks like a Karner Blue, but its notThe Karner Blue – a summary of the naming of the Karner Blue by NabokovFamily Lycaenidaes – Michigan UniversityThe Karner Blue – Center for Private ConservationThe Karner Blue – Endangered Species Facts, US Fish and WildlifeThe Karner Blue – … Links and Resources
By Grace Nichols Save the Pine Bush is overjoyed that the NYS Supreme Court heard our plea for land protection for over 46 acres of Pine Bush threatened by Pyramid Development Corporation. As we prepared to file our Article 78 lawsuit, a coalition of neighbors to the land along with a local business filed suit … Update on Land Conservation Struggles in Our Region
What is the Pine Bush? The Pine Bush is the only sizable inland pine barrens sand dunes in the United States, and is recognized world&endash;wide as a unique pine barrens ecosystem. It contains over 300 species of vertebrate animals, over 1,500 species of plants, and over 10,000 species of insects and other invertebrate animals. Many … Virtual Exhibit
2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 2025 🦋 2024 🦋 2023 🦋 2022 🦋 2021 🦋 2020 2025 Newsletters 🦋 News Articles from April/May 2025 Newsletter Is there hope for the Endangered Karner Blue? – April/May 2025 Newsletter Pyramid turns down IDA tax break for Costco – April/May 2025 Newsletter Proposed … SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 2020s
Dear All, The proposed apartment complex on Rapp Road in Guilderland is back. Pyramid sold the 19 acre parcel to a local developer. This new developer has proposed some modifications to the project. The new name for the project is Apex at Crossgates. The area where the proposed apartment complex is to be built is … Fighting the Crossgates Expansion
Search Newsletter Archives: What is Full Protection, Partial Protection and who is the Pine Bush? – By Lynne Jackson – June / July 2022 Newsletter A Tribute To Lew Oliver, our wonderful lawyer Is there hope for the Endangered Karner Blue? – April/May 2025 Newsletter The Pine Bush’s Most Famous Resident – The Karner Blue … Newsletters Articles Ordered by Subject