News and Information from CACs and the EMC
If you would like to submit a short update to appear on the “What’s New” page, please send an email to John DeGilio, EMC at-large member, at john.degilio@marist.edu.
September 2011
The Dutchess County EMC co-sponsored the “Get Moving Hudson Valley” 350.org Event on September 24th, 2011, with the CCE Associations in Dutchess and Ulster Counties and other local partner organizations at the Walkway over the Hudson Park. CCE and local organizations were at the Poughkeepsie and Highland sides of the Walkway over the Hudson Park from 9:00am-3:00pm, providing information and ways for citizens to get involved. An 11:00am press conference and photo opportunity in the middle of the Walkway Bridge highlighted Hudson Valley opportunities. The main message that day was “Walk or Ride, Just Dont Drive!” to raise awareness of the need for energy conservation, a green economy and climate change awareness.
July 2011
EMC members are collecting data from all municipalities on their current waste management and recycling operations, which will help CACs and municipal officials assess improvements that could be made, and how to make residents better aware of options in their community. Contact the EMC for more info.
December 2010
The Dutchess County EMC received the 2010 outstanding project award from the NY State Association of EMCs for the project to update the Natural Resource Inventory of Dutchess County, NY. Congratulations!
December 2010
Reducing the Effect of Road Salt on Local Water Resources: EMC members helped the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies develop an informative new report “Road Salt: Moving toward the Solution” which highlights the human and environmental health impacts of road salt use and methods that minimize salt inputs. The report is available at: http://www.caryinstitute.org/report_road_salt_2010.pdf.
May 2010
A new, interactive, community website (http://www.dutchesswatersheds.org) has just been launched that will help members of the EMC, local watershed groups, municipal officials, youth and teachers, and researchers learn about and protect the water resources in Dutchess County, NY.
The new website will allow visitors will find information on community events, watershed facts and research data, and multimedia materials for education. By creating the new website, CCEDC and Vassar were hoping to educate the community and increase awareness of the importance of watershed protection. Everyone lives in a watershed and everything we do on our property and in our communities can have a negative impact on the quantity and quality of the water that we all rely upon. Since the majority of homeowners in Dutchess County rely on well water for their drinking water, it is critical that we all work to protect our water resources. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.dutchesswatersheds.org, or contact the CCEDC Environment and Energy Program at 845.677.8223, or the Vassar College Environmental Research Institute at 845.437.7000.
December 2009
The Dutchess County Legislature voted in December to appoint two new at-large members to the EMC: Vicky Kelly (the Cary Institute) and Maribel Pregnall (an Arlington High School teacher) ~ both Vicky and Maribell will make a wonderful addition to the EMC!
Funding for the Dutchess County EMC’s main organizational partner, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County’s Environment and Energy Program, is being reduced by 17% in the 2010 County Budget. CCEDC staff will be working with the CCEDC Board and Program Advisory Committee, and EMC to strategize funding priorities given reduced funding. The EMC strongly supported CCEDC’s funding restoration efforts: review EMC’s letter of support to the Legislature.
November 2009
EMC Launches its new website, at dutchessemc.org! The EMC will be regularly updating its website to share information among communities in Dutchess County about issues that are affecting the county’s natural resources.
The NY State Conference on the Environment, and state EMC association meeting, was held November 13-15, 2009 in Watkins Glens, NY. See the NYS EMC Association for more information, or contact Jenna Hicks from Schuyler County Cooperative Extension at: jlh254@cornell.edu.
News Archive
Click hear to read past updates in the archive.
