Posted 11/18/09 - We are seeking help for the following: Newsletter Mailings: Help 4 times a year to put labels on the newsletters. Typically this is 2 hours each time. Marketing Help: One person to write press releases for upcoming events and one person to help contact local media. Program Coordinator: Do you like to help plan parties? Have a topic that you would love to see covered? If these things sound good to you, call us at This may be just the thing you can help us with.. No experience required. Secretary: Record meeting minutes the 1st Tuesday of each month. We are also seeking ideas for programs, outings and hikes that you would like to participate in. It's a great way to meet like minded members. Call 585-234-1056 & leave your name & phone number or e-mail: deb.muratore@hotmail.com - please list volunteering in the subject line.
Posted 11/18/09 - Meet the Authors: Abundance - Sierra Club Book Group 62 Marshall St - 454-2667 November 19, 2009 @ 7PM: An evening with Carter Catlett Williams local author of "Glorious Adventure" readings & discussions refreshments will be available December 10th @ 7 PM: Local author, inventor, and “Cool Rochester” Leader, Bob Siegel will talk about the book, “Vapor Trails”, co- Authored by Roger Saillant. Books will be available for purchase. For more information visit: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/me mbers/vtrails and http://www.vaportrailsthenovel.com/
Posted 11/18/09 - Save the Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010 Sierra Club 12th Annual Environmental Forum at the First Unitarian Church on Winton Rd.
Posted 10/19/09 - Dear Sierra Club Member: Please respond to State Senator Tom Libous' poll on gas drilling and the DSGEIS. Libous is from the Binghamton area, where a part of the Marcellus shale is located. As you will see this is a very pro-drilling survey, so please respond accordingly. You need to enter the website 3 times, to vote on each of the 3 questions. Please forward the information on this poll widely. Thanks. Ken Baer >http://www.libous.campaignoffice.com/index.asp?Type=POLLING&SEC=%7B3DCCB57C-5FA5-4D3C-B76F-3E913DA544C8%7D
Posted 10/19/09 - Thank you for your overwhelming response to the forum on natural gas production in New York State on October 19th! Pre-registration is closed (as of 10/17 afternoon) because we have exceeded the room capacity. We are adding a follow-up meeting later in October. To be invited to the follow-up meeting, email info@fmce.org with Subject="NYS Natural Gas - Follow Up Meeting". More action items and information on our Announcements page. Doors open to the public at 6:30pm. If you are already pre-registered, please arrive promptly. At 7pm, "No Show" seats will be released to "walk-ins" on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Posted 10/12/09 - Next Sierra Club Global Warming / Energy Committee meeting will be held at St. Thomas Church Highland Ave at 7pm, Wednesday, October 28th (lower conference room).
Posted 10/12/09 - 2009 Bicycle Maps available The Genesee Transportation Council has printed up free 2009 Bicycling Maps. The Sierra Club Rochester Regional Group is working with them to distribute the maps. If you'd like a copy please call us at 585-234-1056 & leave your name & address & we'll send you a copy.
Posted 9/29/09 - We are pleased to announce that the 2010 Sierra Club Calendars are here! They are beautiful! The holidays are approaching and we hope you will consider giving them as gifts to your clients, customers, coworkers, family and friends. It's a great way to help the environment while also giving a classy and useful gift. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds support the Rochester Sierra Club chapter. Wilderness (Wall) Calendars are $13.99 each (including tax). Engagement (Desk) Calendars are $15.07 each (including tax). Please leave a message for Dina Stein at (585) 234-1056 or rdstein@rochester.rr.com for delivery options.
Posted 8/24/09 - Executive Committee Nominations - Now Open - Our Executive Committee (ExCom) is composed of 12 environmentalists. Six members are elected each year, so we now have six openings on the Ex-Com. Why not consider running for office? We meet for two hours each month, usually on the first Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Harro East. Many Ex- Com member (but not all) choose to join or head up an administrative or conservation committee. Others serve "at large" and choose to add their voice and vote on envronmental issues. We are all friends and learn from each other. In the past, a number of people interested in doing something about conservation, who have not had much prior experience with leadership, have joined the board. It's a great way to work with a group and sharpen your leadership skills. Training and guidance are available. In fact, some of our Ex-Com have traveled to national headquarters in San Francisco for training - with most expenses paid. If you are interested in learning more about seeking a nomination for the Ex-Com or if you have a Sierra Club friend who you think would make a good board member, please call or e-mail Deb Muratore 585-385-9743 deb.muratore@hotmail.com or Hugh Mitchell at 585-244- 2625goshawk@ frontiernet.net . Nominations close October 1.
Posted 8/24/09 - September 19th, 2009 - Rochester Costal Cleanup It's Your World……Make A Difference - Join the International Coastal Cleanup Did you know that we all live in a watershed!?! A watershed is all the land that surrounds a body of water. After a rain shower (in Rochester, a snow-melt), runoff will travel to the lowest point, taking along anything and everything with it. Visit: www.rochestercoastalcleanup.org for more info.
Posted 8/24/09 - This is the local Sierra Club’s biggest fundraiser each year. Please consider ordering the 2010 calendars for your holiday gift giving and support the work of your local Sierra Club. Please mail all orders to: Sierra Club, Calendar Sales, PO Box 10518, Rochester, NY 14610 Call 585-271-0544 if you would like to order a large quantity or if you have any questions. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL SIERRA CLUB.
Posted 8/24/09 - Abundance/Sierra Club Reading Group at the Abundance Café, 62 Marshall Street, Sept 15 @ 6:30pm, 454-2667 Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara, Kingsolver Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, this book (released May 2007) tells the story of how our family was changed by one year of deliberately eating food produced in the place where we live. Barbara wrote the central narrative; Steven's sidebars dig deeper into various aspects of food-production science and industry; Camille's brief essays offer a nineteen-year-old's perspective on the local-food project, plus nutritional information, meal plans and recipes.
Posted 8/24/09 - NEW: Beyond Coal Committee: The RRG of the Sierra Club has a new committee that welcomes you, Beyond Coal. The Committee is Co-Chaired by Paul Ciavarri and Bette Heger. Bette will also be the Executive Committee Representative. This committee’s focus will be educating people about the implications of our continued use of coal, and especially mountaintop removal coal. In the near future they will focus their efforts on the House of Representatives’ Clean Water Protection Act and plan to extend that focus to include the Senate version of that bill. Questions? Suggestions? Interest in joining the Beyond Coal initiatives? Call or email the committee co-chairs: Bette Heger 585-473-1529 or bteheger@juno.com or Paul Ciaverri at 585-734-4866 or 342paul@gmail.com
Posted 8/16/09 - Global Warming & Energy Committee Reorganized Meeting: Wednesday, September 30th, 7:00pm Place: St. Thomas Church, 2000 Highland Ave (corner Winton Rd S.) Lower Conference Room On Wednesday, September 30th at 7:00pm there will be a meeting at St. Thomas Episcopal Church* (lower conference room) to reorganize our Rochester Group Global Warming / Energy Committee. We would like to make plans to coordinate our activities with the Chapter and National Club’s Global Warming efforts and recreate a local committee interested in learning and working on these vital concerns. And, by the way, it’s both rewarding and fun to become engaged with such a meaningful cause. If interested please plan to attend and bring a friend. * St. Thomas Church, 2000 Highland Ave (corner Winton Rd S.)
Posted 8/16/09 - Mark your calendars now for an awesome presentation coming in November! "Wild Utah: America's Redrock Wilderness", narrated by Robert Redford is a multi-media slideshow documenting citizen efforts to designate public lands in southern Utah's spectacular canyon country as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This 20-minute journey through redrock splendor invigorates and motivates viewers to participate in the movement to protect these unique lands. Presented by Jackie Feinberg, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Monday, November 16, 2009 7pm – 9pm Brighton Town Hall Auditorium 2300 Elmwood Ave. Rochester, NY 14618
Posted 8/16/09 - George Eisman, R.D., environmentalist and author of The Most Noble Diet will speak about the many environmental advantages of a vegetarian diet and the detrimental effects of animal agriculture. Come enjoy some munchies and hear a light-hearted and funny speaker! -sponsored by the Sierra Club. Sept. 20th, 7pm at the Brighton Town Park Lodge, 777 Westfall Rd. (between South Clinton and East Henrietta Rds.)
Posted 6/24/09 - CALL TO ACTION!! The New York Legislature is still in session and during this chaotic time bad bills can advance quickly with little notice. Case in point: the CCS/Jamestown Coal Plant bill (A.8802) will create a pathway for NY State to permit its first coal burning power plant in more than 25 years. Disguised as a carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration project, this coal plant will drain public subsidies at a time when NY should be identifying and funding renewable climate change solutions. This project is extremely expensive, the power is not needed, and the plant will still emit 190,000 tons of green house gases into the atmosphere. PLEASE CALL SPEAKER SILVER'S OFFICE (Phone # (518) 455-3791) and your assembly representative TO OPPOSE THIS BILL! NO NEW COAL PLANTS IN NYS!
Posted 6/24/09 - Register now to exhibit at Green Fest 2009 - Friday thru Sunday, Auguest 7-9 join Greens from across NY State and adjoining states in Alfred, NY, to share ideas and skills for sustainable living and Green politics. Early-bird registration fee of $65 for the weekend is available through July 7th. Reservations may be made online at http://nygreenfest.org/registration.html Exhibitors will sell local food items, handmade crafts, art, books on Green topics, bicycles, and renewable energy systems. Swimming, yoga, hiking and drumming will be offered. This is a benefit for the Green Party of New York and other state Green parties in our region. For more info visit http://nygreenfest.org or call 607-569-2114
Posted 6/24/09 - Calling all volunteers! Help clean up and restore the Cohocton River! August 1st and 2nd (Saturday & Sunday) 8:30am - 4:00pm. The Canandaigua Lake Chapter of Trout Unlimited is organizing a project to clean up and restore five miles of the Cohocton River. Volunteers will meet at the Town of Cohocton Garage on Wilcox Street. Bring work gloves, suitable footwear (old sneakers or waders), bug spray, suntan lotion and a hat. For more info contact Al Kraus (krausengr@earthlink.net, or 585-396-0242) or go to the website: http://canandaigualaketu.org/
Posted 6/19/09 - Action Alert: Call Senate EPW Members in Support of Great Lakes and Clean Water The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee this week is marking up (voting on) two important priorities of the Healing Our WatersR - Great Lakes Coalition: The Great Lakes Legacy Act and the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA). more...
Posted 6/19/09 - Do you need to dispose of hazardous household waste? Please note: Monroe County's Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) Appointment Scheduler (includes Pharmaceuticals) http://www.monroecounty.gov/hhw
Posted 5/21/09 - Sierra Club’s 11th Annual Environmental Forum on April 16, 2009 at the First Unitarian Church in Rochester was a huge success! Over 475 people attended this year’s event. There were over 50 booths including local food producers and providers and local environmental and non-profit organizations. There were green product raffles, seed give-a-ways, demonstrations, presentations on bees and butterflies and much more. Light jazz music was provided by the Art St. Hilaire Trio and light fare food was provided by Abundance Co-op Market. The speaking portion of the event began with Michael Warren Thomas, local Independent Radio Host and Speaker talking about all the wonderful ways people can grow food for themselves. The next speaker, Peter McDonald, Clean Food Farmer and Speaker talked about how to be a smart buyer of sustainable food, particularly meat. He also discussed the restorative practices that are used on his farm. Finally, Elizabeth Henderson-Farmer, Author and Community Supported Agriculture Pioneer talked about how consumers can support local food production and become co-producers through understanding and knowing their local farmers. The Sierra Club thanks all those who were involved and helped to make the evening the great success that it was.
Posted 5/21/09 - Ganondagan Festival The Sierra Club will have a table at the Native American Dance & Music Festival (Victor, NY), July 25-26, 10am to 6pm both days. If you can help us by talking to festival goers for 2 or 3 hours on either day, you’ll get free admission to the Festival for you and one guest on the day(s) you work. No special knowledge is necessary, we’ll prep you. Take this fun opportunity to get involved with our Rochester Group. If interested in helping at this event or others, e-mail lci_msw@hotmail.com , or call 234-1056.
Posted 4/20/20 - Sierra Club whets appetite for eco-friendly eating | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle All in all, more than 40 exhibits promoting community supported agriculture programs, community gardening, farmers markets, vegan diets and a host of other environmentally related topics drew at least 200 locavores to First Unitarian Church on South Winton Road Thursday. The exhibits were part of the Sierra Club's 11th annual Environmental Forum on Local and Sustainable Food-Local Food Choices. (April 18, 09) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
Posted 4/15/09 - Please Join Us For Earth Day Lobby Day 2009! Join hundreds of environmentalists from across the state in advocating for measures to protect our water, air, land and health. No lobbying experience needed! Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM New York State Capitol Albany, NY Earth Day Lobby Day is New York's largest annual environmental event, bringing together people from all over New York to hear from government and environment leaders, learn about current legislation, and lobby elected officials on environmental issues that are important to you. Sign up for Earth Day Lobby Day today by clicking here! If you have any questions, please contact Bill Mahoney at mahoney.w@gmail.com
Posted 4/08/09 - A FUN AND EASY WAY TO HELP Want to begin to get involved with our local Sierra Club group, but don’t want to make a big commitment? We need volunteers to team up with already active members to meet and greet the public and pass out literature. Each shift will be about 2-3 hours—whatever you can do. No experience or knowledge of specific environmental issues is necessary. If you are outgoing, have a friendly smile and some energy, and enjoy talking with kids and grown-ups alike, this is for you. You’ll get to enjoy the festival or fair on your own before and/or after your volunteer time. So far, we will have tables at these events: April 22, 6-9 PM, Victor Junior High School, April 25, 9-1, Hamlin Beach State Park, April 25, 9-12, Penfield Community Center May 2, roughly 10-3, Seneca Park Zoo June 13, roughly 10-3, Mendon Ponds Park for the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Outdoor Expo Call 585-234-1056 or e-mail lci_msw@hotmail.com if you’d like to help. We need you!
Posted 4/08/09 - From the Book Discussion Group - "Don't forget the book discussion date next Monday, April 13! (7:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, WInton Rd.) The ideas in the "Green Collar Economy" are getting a lot of press lately. What do you think of them?"
Posted 3/03/09 - Sierra Club Book Group - Just a reminder that our next meeting is this coming Monday, 3/9, at 7:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Church. We'll be discussing the novel Vapor Trails. And you might want to start looking for the book for April 13, Sustainable Planet. It has a wide variety of essays, by different people, on ways to work toward sustainability. We'll need to talk about picking a book for May - and possibly June - at the Monday meeting. Janet Laird Co-Coordinator
3/02/09- The Sierra Student Coalition is gearing up for another packed summer of leadership trainings and we need your help again. This year we will be running 9 Summer Environmental Leadership Training Programs (Sprogs) around the country--CA, IL, NH, NM, OR, PR (Spanish speaking), TX, VA, and WA. These week-long programs teach high school and college-aged youth how to be effective advocates and provide grassroots organizing skills. More details at: www.ssc.org/sprog
Grannis: Updating "Bottle Bill" Is A No-Brainer - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation "We urge our legislators to agree to the Governor's plan to update the Bottle Bill in order to help meet the state's extraordinary funding needs, as well as improve bottle recycling rates, create new jobs and directly benefit communities by saving on costs," said Hugh Mitchell, Senior Conservation Chairperson of the Atlantic chapter of the Sierra Club. (Feb 18, 09) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Fight over N.Y. bottle bill heats up | stargazette.com | Star-Gazette ALBANY -- While recycling advocacy groups met Monday to push a bill to expand the five-cent bottle deposit to include non-carbonated beverages and sports drinks saying it will bring in more revenue than the state anticipated, some lawmakers and industry representatives remain skeptical. (Feb 9, 09) http://www.stargazette.com/
Bottle bill update makes sense, cents | lohud.com | The Journal News When Gov. David Paterson submitted his executive budget in December, five weeks earlier than required, he did so knowing that we are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. He acknowledged that New York state is facing the largest budget deficit in history, and that scores of difficult decisions will have to be made over the coming months. These challenging times call for both sacrifice and greater efficiency. They also provide for opportunity to make meaningful, common-sense decisions. Perhaps the easiest decision to be made during the next several months is updating New York's 26-year-old bottle return law. (Feb 10, 09) http://www.lohud.com/
NY Bottle Bill Expansion Sparks Debate · Environmental Leader · Green Business, Sustainable Business, and Green Strategy News for Corporate Sustainability Executives Recycling advocacy groups met recently to push a bill to expand the five-cent bottle deposit to include non-carbonated beverages and sports drinks. The groups say it will bring in more revenue than New York state anticipated, but some lawmakers and industry representatives remain skeptical, Star-Gazette reports. (Feb 11, 09) Environmental Leader · Green Business, Sustainable Business, and Green Strategy News for Corporate Sustainability Executives
Want to lobby for America's mountains? You are invited to participate in “End Mountaintop Removal Week” in Washington, DC, March 14th-18th. Free training and most meals provided. Join Rochester Sierra members who will be attending. People are expected from all across the country, but especially from Appalachian areas affected by mountaintop removal coal mining. A chance to meet amazing, like-minded people and make new friends! Lobbying will advocate for passage of the Clean Water Protection Act in the House of Representatives. Please contact either Paul Ciavarri: 342paul@gmail.com; (585) 734-4866, or Bette Heger: bteheger@juno.com, 473-1529. Registration deadline is February 25th (or Feb. 20th for assistance with travel costs). Additional information at: www.ilovemountains.org.
2/12/09 - Volunteers to Help Write A Master Plan Needed! Under the guidance of Peter Debes, Chair of the Coalition to Restore and Protect the Washington Grove at Cobb's Hill, a team has surveyed the interests of all the various users of the Grove and catalogued the problems it is facing. Like many parks, it is a problem of too much love. It is easy to understand why. All the users share at least one thing in common, they love the Grove. Most also have noticed the toll that our love is taking, widening trails, gullies from overuse of steep pathways, trampled vegetation, broken saplings, a decline in ground-nesting birds, and perplexingly, very few young oaks to replace the giants as they complete their lives and fall. The group that has been working on the project to restore and protect the Grove is now finalizing a draft of all the options that have been proposed and considered valuable for taking action. We wish to prepare a finalized copy of a Master Plan by the end of March so we can begin work in April and May. The draft is in an outline form and needs to be converted to a Master Plan from that outline. We are seeking volunteers who enjoy and have skill in writing to join us to help complete the document. Anyone interested in joining the coalition may come to our next meeting on March 17, 7pm at the School Without Walls. Contact Peter Debes at phdebes@frontiernet.net , or call 585-820-2018.
2/12/ 09 - Even if you missed the Community Conversation meeting on February 10th in Rochester, you can review the report http://www.nyoglecc.org/media/Great%20Lakes%20Working%20Group%20Draft%20Final%20Report%209-3-2008.pdf ) and comment ( http://www.nyoglecc.org/comments.aspx ) on the report and the importance of converting the Council's recommendation into action for now and for future generations. February 10th – Ocean and Great Lakes EPF Lobby Day in Albany – Email SMAHAR@audubon.org for more details.
February 10th - Community conversation meeting on New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council Report 6 - 830 PM at Suny Brockport Metro Center, 55 St Paul Street, Rochester. Great Lakes Colleagues, The New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council released their draft report detailing the steps the state must take to improve the management of our coastal resources by focusing on Ecosystem Based Management. Please check the Council’s website to view a copy of the report: http://www.nyoglecc.org/ .
"The Wetlands Committee is involved in an effort to create a wetland on Buckland Creek at the Twelve Corners Brighton School District campus in Brighton. A wetland on this creek would filter water that eventually empties into Allen's Creek and Lake Ontario, would provide some flood prevention for the Panorama Plaza area, create an urban habitat corridor bringing many native insects, birds and amphibians back to central Brighton, and establish a great outdoor classroom for environmental studies. If you are a Brighton resident or someone with a passion for wetlands, a background in environmental education, an expertise in grant applications or fund raising and would like to contribute to this effort, please contact Sara Rubin 585.442.6890 rubin150@aol.com " For more info, go to our Wetlands page: http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/Wetlands/Wetlands.html
SIERRA CLUB BOOK GROUP - WINTER 2009 BOOKS - http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/Book_Club/Book_Club.html New Location: Starting in January 2009 we will meet at the Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd., Rochester, in the Susan B. Anthony Lounge (first floor, straight ahead of the building’s main door) - Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. - Day: 2nd Monday of each month - Books chosen for the next 4 months: Feb. 9: Hot, Flat, and Crowded, by Thomas L. Friedman. Current best-seller by the New York Times columnist. Strong advocacy for immediate action at all levels to reduce the impact of climate change. Many copies in library system, and they circulate quickly. If you can’t read the whole thing, you might start with the chapter “Green is the New Red, White and Blue”. Mar. 9: Vapor Trails, by “our own” Bob Siegel and Roger Saillant. This novel is available from the authors ($15), and also will be passed around by people who have already bought and read it. Go to www.vaportrails.org People can learn more about the book there and read the first 20 pages online. (See Nancy or Janet) April 13: Sustainable Planet, edited by Juliet Schor. Articles on many related subjects - read the ones that interest you most. (No need to read the whole book in sequence!)
“Commuting to Work” Bicycle Class – Get out your pen and papers and your bike. Richard DeSarra, Rochester Bicycling Club Board member and experienced cyclist, will be presenting a classroom instruction on how to prepare for commuting to work, a utilitarian use of the bicycle. The class will be offered to Rochester Bicycling Club and Sierra Club members exclusively in May 2009. Richard has over fifteen years of experience commuting to work and over thirty years as a utilitarian cyclist. Class instructions will include how to select a route and alternate routes, selecting the bicycle, equipping the bicycle and equipping yourself, as well as guidelines to riding safely. Time and place to be announced.
“LET’S TALK CYCLING” - A discussion to help reduce your carbon footprint presented by the Monroe County Office of Traffic Safety, Thursday March 19, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Brighton Town Auditorium, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618. This discussion will provide information on the vehicle and traffic laws of NYS and how they apply to bicyclists. We will cover common collision scenarios and how to avoid them and discuss safe riding techniques to keep bicyclists safe on the streets. Whether you are a new or experienced cyclist, this discussion will provide useful information on riding safely and legally in traffic. The event will include a brief rundown of this year’s plans for the Low Carbon Diet Challenge, now called “Cool Communities: Rochester on a Low Carbon Diet.” Check out more transportation issues at: http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/Transportation/Transportation.html
Great Lakes Committee: http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/Great_Lakes/Great%20Lakes.html February 10th – Ocean and Great Lakes EPF Lobby Day in Albany – Email SMAHAR@audubon.org for more details. February 10th - Community conversation meeting on New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council Report 6 - 830 PM at Suny Brockport Metro Center, 55 St Paul Street, Rochester. Great Lakes Colleagues, The New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council released their draft report detailing the steps the state must take to improve the management of our coastal resources by focusing on Ecosystem Based Management. Please check the Council’s website to view a copy of the report: http://www.nyoglecc.org/. February 24th and March 24th - Great Lakes Committee Meeting at 7 PM, Twelve Corners Middle School 2nd floor, Brighton February 24-25 - Great Lakes Day in Washington, DC. hosted by the Healing Our Waters®-Great Lakes Coalition. Visit www.healthylakes.org for more info and to register. April 28th – Great Lakes Day in Albany. Email Katherine Nadeau (knadeau@eany.org) for more details
DRAFT OF MASTER PLAN NEARS COMPLETION FOR WASHINGTON GROVE Under the guidance of Peter Debes, Chair of the Coalition to Restore and Protect the Washington Grove at Cobb's Hill, a team has surveyed the interests of all the various users of the Grove and catalogued the problems it is facing. Like many parks, it is a problem of too much love. It is easy to understand why. Shady paths wind amidst thick-trunked oaks that spread a tangle of branches far up to the sky. Imagine the history these giants have witnessed, some of them nearly two hundred years old. In the past, there was an occasional walker or runner, a few people walking their dogs but a lot of silence. These days, there is almost always movement, voices, the panting of a running dog, the swish of skiis or crunch of boots, laughter, and only sometimes, silence. All the users share at least one thing in common, they love the Grove. Most also have noticed the toll that our love is taking, widening trails, gullies from overuse of steep pathways, trampled vegetation, broken saplings, a decline in ground-nesting birds, and perplexingly, very few young oaks to replace the giants as they complete their lives and fall. The group that has been working on the project to restore and protect the Grove is now finalizing a draft of all the options that have been proposed and considered valuable for taking action. There are plenty of tasks to accomplish and decisions to be made so we can mobilize this Spring. It is a great time to get involved. Come to the next meeting of the committee, Feb. 10, 7 pm at the School Without Walls. Contact Peter Debes, 585-271-4796 or phdebes@frontiernet.net to join with us and save the Grove for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.
SAVE THE DATE - 2009 Environmental Forum | Local and Sustainable Food – Local Food Choices | Thursday, April 16th, 2009 5:30 PM - 9:PM | First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd, Rochester, N.Y. | Contact: Dina Stein at 585-234-1056 - Keep updated on our progress in forming this forum: including speak lineup, and the agenda http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/Food_Forum.html
Global Warming & Energy Committee: Our next meeting is Monday, February 23rd. 7PM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, downstairs conference room, corner of Highland Ave. & Winton Rd. (Note that we will meet the FOURTH Monday of the month from now on.) This is the meeting where we will be getting down to serious business planning the:
Earth Day is just around the corner. Actually, this year, with climate change a top issue across the globe, every day is Earth Day. The year will be full of festivals, fairs, and environmental events that provide opportunities for us to talk informally with kids of all ages about how we can make a difference in caring for our community and our world. So far, we will have tables at the following events: April 22nd at Victor Junior High School, 5:30-9 PM April 25th at Hamlin Beach State Park, 9 AM - 1 PM April 25th at the Penfield Community Center, 9-noon June 13th at Mendon Ponds Park for the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Outdoor Expo. We’ll certainly add more as the season progresses. We need you! We need volunteers to team up with already active members to meet and greet the public and pass out literature. Each shift will be about 2-3 hours. No experience or knowledge of specific environmental issues is necessary. If you are outgoing, have a friendly smile and some energy, and enjoy talking with kids and grown-ups alike, please give us a call. You’ll get to enjoy the festival or fair on your own before and/or after your volunteer time! Call 585-234-1056 or e-mail lci_msw@hotmail.com
The Rochester Sierra Club is going to be here Thursday, February 12, are you? As one of the events in RIT's National Global Warming Teach In on Thursday, Feb 5th, Holly and Mary of Climate Change Central will come to RIT's campus to screen -- SIX DEGREES COULD CHANGE THE WORLD – Screening and discussion led by Rochester's Climate Change Central Community Resource Center from 7pm-9pm Carlson Auditorium (bldg 76) This National Geographic film visualizes in spectacular HD the devastating ecological impact each single degree increase in temperature could have on our planet over the next century. According to the IPCC, Earth will warm up between 1.4 degrees Celsius and 5.8 degrees Celsius (roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit to 10 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of this century. Parking is not a problem after 6, and Bldg 76 is closest to Lot F. map: http://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/general/generalmedium.gif Paulette Swartzfager RIT, National Global Warming Teach In Ad Hoc Committee member and Holly Rockwell Climate Change Central 545 Park Ave. 232.2988 climatechangecentral.info NOTE: For a listing of other Teach In events that day at RIT, visit: http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/gwteachin/
Interested in understanding what climate change will mean in your backyard? Go to www.lastexperiment.com to see a slideshow and trailer for a documentary about the effects and reactions to climate change in the Rochester area. The documentary is being produced by three local filmmakers. If you would like to know more about the film, email the filmmakers at producers@lastexperiment.com .
International Coastal Clean up Update by Jamie Romeo September 20, 2008 - Rochester, NY. This past Saturday, 716 Volunteers removed 4,956.89 lbs. of trash and debris from local shorelines here in Monroe County, New York. Local volunteers along with the American Littoral Society, Ocean Conservancy, Rochester Pure Waters District, City of Rochester, with a growing number of local businesses and municipalities and the Sierra Club, continue to coordinate this year’s International Coastal Clean Up event in Monroe County, NY. This year’s event will mark the 16th annual year of local participation in this global event. More extensive results and data, along with our raffle prize winners, will be available on our website, www,RochesterCoastalCleanUp.org
Rochester, Sierra Club project to study, restore Washington Grove forest | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle A joint project has been announced by the Sierra Club and the city of Rochester to study and restore Washington Grove forest. (June 9, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
Federal Energy Bill By Bob Siegel In a historic shift this summer, Congress starting putting pieces into place to achieve three important goals: keep the economy growing, create jobs and meet the challenge of global warming. With oil reaching prices over $80 a barrel, consumers are forced to dig deeper and deeper into their pocketbooks to meet rising energy costs. Meanwhile the American public is clearly anxious to take action on global warming. Fortunately, Congress has the opportunity to take on these challenges by passing an energy bill this fall.
DEC chief visits Hemlock, a plus for possible watershed sale— New York state's environmental commissioner paid an unannounced visit Thursday to Hemlock Lake, taking in the grandeur of one of the last undeveloped Finger Lakes. He came away impressed — a development that can only be seen as positive by advocates of the notion that the state should purchase and preserve forever the land around Hemlock and Canadice lakes that now is owned by the city of Rochester. (October 5, 2007) Democrat & Chronicle
Ways to Go Green at the Pump - As we head into one of the busiest driving weekends of the year, even the most environmentally conscious driver may be forced to buy gasoline from what some maintain are among the least "green" companies on the planet. But you can make some "greener" choices when buying gas. "We looked at a number of criteria in terms of how responsible these companies were, how clean their operation was, how energy-efficient they were," explained Bob Siegel, Sierra Club. (August 31, 07) R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
