Archives for Uncategorized

New Director of Education at Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Cente

The Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm is pleased to announce the hiring of Carol Lake as the new Director of Education at Hilltop Hanover Farm. Most recently working as a sustainable agriculture consultant in Fairfield and Westchester Counties, Carol founded and was the executive director of two educational farms in NH. In the environmental education and sustainable agriculture field for over 25 years, she has started and managed several biodynamic and organic grass fed dairies, and has worked extensively with rotationally managed, pastured livestock operations. The Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm is pleased to announce the hiring of Carol Lake
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Hudson River Almanac: July 10 – 16, 2014

Compiled by Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist OVERVIEW Following the dire reports of no monarch butterfly sightings earlier this season, it was heartening to hear of what may be a resurgence, or just a tardy arrival. The American avocet continued its journey down the river, sighted in three more locations. The Hudson Valley’s immature eagles and ospreys advanced their stories as well. And those readers interested in seeing the river‘s fish at first hand should check out the schedule for the Great HudsonRiver Estuary Fish Count on August 2. HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK 7/10 – Putnam County, HRM 54: The fields at Copperhead Cut on East Mountain were
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Electric Rates in the Hudson Valley Part 2

By Benjamin Falber As we left off in Part I, the fight over the Hudson Valley’s energy future has gone to federal court. NYISO’s new capacity zone is going to raise prices for ratepayers by $70 million this summer just as the sting from this past winter’s polar vortex price spikes are beginning to wear off. When this sort of danger strikes who are you going to call? The NYPSC and the CHG&E (expecting someone else?) each filed separate, now consolidated, petitions at the Federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit seeking immediate reprieve for New Yorkers who face immediate
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Hudson Valley’s Energy Future.

Electricity rates are expected to rise $280 million per year with $70 million of that coming just this summer across the Mid-Hudson Valley. There is a serious reliability problem in the region because there just is not enough energy available to consumers. To solve this problem, the federal government recently approved a new capacity zone for the Hudson Valley, which means that local ratepayers are going to have to front the money to build new generation. This comes just as New York State is beginning a massive transmissive upgrade to bring upstate power into the Hudson Valley, which promises to
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Scholarships Available for CT NOFA: A Summer Gathering

CT NOFA is holding A Summer Gathering: Growing Food, Farms and Community in Morris, CT on Saturday, July 19. A generous donor has made scholarships available for students, interns, etc. interested in food systems work/careers to attend at no cost. Share with staff/interns, publish in your newsletter, feel free to promote to all you networks, facebook, etc. Join us for A Weekend of Food and Farming in July – There’s something for everyone! Friday, July 18, 6:30-9:30 pm and/or Saturday, July 19, 9:30 am-5:00 pm ctnofa.org/winvian Invite From: Eileen Hochberg Executive Director CT NOFA (CT Chapter, Northeast Organic Farming Association)
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Hudson River Almanac May 22 – 28, 2014

May 22 – 28, 2014 Compiled by Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist OVERVIEW We began to settle into a late-spring sampling of entries of flora and fauna in equal measure. The occasionally severe spring weather dropped a tornado in Schenectady County while a milder natural phenomenon showered the beach in Beacon in a blizzard of white. LATE REPORTS FROM LAST WEEK 5/20 – RamsHorn Swamp, HRM 112.5: On the fourth set of its 500-foot haul seine today, DEC’s Hudson River Fisheries Unit caught, among other species, 29 rudd – the largest number they had ever seen in a
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New York State Camping Discount. Get Out There and Relax!

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced details of the Early Summer Camping Special for 112 state campgrounds across New York on Wednesday. The discount helps kick off the summer season for families looking for affordable getaways and coincides with the state’s broader outdoor tourism promotions highlighted earlier this month at the Governor’s Tourism Summit. “New York has one of the nation’s largest and most beautiful State Parks systems, and with discounted rates at State campgrounds this summer we are making it easier than ever to explore the great outdoors,” Governor Cuomo said. “As we approach the summer camping season I encourage
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Hudson River Almanac May 15 – 21 2014

Compiled by Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist OVERVIEW The spring spawning run of river herring (and by association, American shad) continued. Bald eagle nests (minimally two dozen) along the watershed were busy with eaglets that were feathering out and growing larger day-by day, appetites included. The impressive spring northern migration of brant, tens of thousands of birds, began this week. HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK 5/17 – Orange County: Over the last two days, the Edgar A. Mearns Bird Club held its annual “Break 100,” a 24-hour day of birding, with a goal of merely enjoying a day with
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Weekend Warnings in the ADKs

If you are planning to recreate in the Adirondacks this Memorial Day Weekend, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation asks you to please remember the following: FIRE DANGER: Low. Campfires are prohibited in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness. HIGH USAGE LEVELS: Visitors to the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness should be aware that trailhead parking lots and interior campsites will often fill to capacity on Memorial Day weekend. Please plan accordingly and seek backcountry recreation opportunities in other areas. TRAIL CONDITIONS: Trails are wet and muddy. Wear waterproof footwear and gaiters. Walk through, not around, mud and water on trails to
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Donna Williams and Field Goods

About Donna Williams Field Goods Founder, Donna Williams brings a unique and comprehensive skill set and wide-ranging experience to Field Goods.  She has worked in banking, start-up food, internet, consumer health and publishing companies.  Her experience  selling to grocery retailers, distributor and food service companies informed her understanding of how costly and difficult it is for small food producers to get their products into traditional food distribution channels.  Donna lives in Athens, NY with her husband and 8-year old son, where she is the coach of the FIELD GOODS Hot Potatoes U8 Soccer Team. Donna earned her MBA from Columbia
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