Dinner with Save the Pine Bush

John Cryan , entomologist and co-founder of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, will speak about how we have battled preservation to a standoff; we have a preserve, but it's in pieces and fragments, and still too small.   Development continues. John will describe an optimistic change of approach to work to protect our Pine Bush.

The planet is in ecological crisis: we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction event this planet has experienced. Scientists believe we may have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown. This is an emergency. In this talk, climate speakers from Extinction Rebellion will share the latest climate science on where our planet is heading, discuss some of the current psychology around climate...

Tina and Paul talk about the poisons coming our way from the proposed tire burning by Lafarge in Ravena. This $27 billion multi-national company plans to burn tires from around NYS and other states as well making us the tire burning capital of the northeast. Tina and Paul discuss the hazardous chemicals that will be released into our air, water and soil that will have literally 'sickening' effects...

Hugh Johnson Retired National Weather Service Meteorologist speaks about How Trump could ruin our National Weather Service and trump our chances to reverse climate change for good Hurricane Dorian was a monster. Trump took it upon himself to modify a National Weather Service forecast, apparently given an old forecast briefing. Instead of apologizing over the confusion he continued to insist his fo...

Merton is a street activist and community organizer. He is also an Albany County legislator. He is best known for his work with SHARE, the Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy that he co-chairs with Ruth Foster. SHARE's hard work has borne tangible fruit, but there is still a long way to go. Merton is also a Prime Sponsor of a bill to ban the sale of flavors, including menthol, from e-cig...

How the Capital District can Transition from Landfills & Incineration to Zero Waste   October 14th 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM History of US waste and recycling, restructuring of recycling, localization of solid waste management systems and related challenges. What do we do now at state level, local level, and private sector? What about zero waste?

Doug has been an Albany County legislator since 2008 and has an outstanding record of accomplishments.   Most recently, he sponsored a resolution to make Albany County pollinator friendly.   This has become policy.   Save the Pine Bush member Grace Nichols did a lot of work on this.   Doug is currently a sponsor of the Albany County Clean Air Local Law and is working on a resolution to remove plas...

Lou Ismay was a professor at the Environmental Forum at the University of Albany from the mid-1960s to the early 1970's. During the Save the Pine Bush Earth Day dinner this year, Lou began to tell the story of the Environmental Forum, but, time was limited and Lou was not able to nish. Join us for this dinner, and listen to the rest of Lou's amazing tale of the Environmental Forum at the Universit...

Neil A. Gifford, Conservation Director, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission speaks about Pyramid Crossgates is proposing to construct 222 apartments in five buildings on twenty acres of Pine Bush. The proposed development is located on Rapp Road in the Town of Guilderland. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission's Technical Committee has issued an analysis of the proposal and its possible affect...

Done with Dunn Landfill: Negative Impacts of Dunn C/D Dump Operations David Ellis from Rensselaer Residents Against Toxic Dumping spoke about the history of the Dunn Landfill property in the City of Rensselaer, NY and the many negative impacts that this landfill has on the Rensselaer community and school district. Lou Sebesta of STAR — Stop Trucks Assaulting Rensselaer discussed how the dump and i...

Earth Day Event Lou Ismay, George Keleshian and Steve Coyle will speak about Revolution for the Environment — Past and Future The April dinner will open with a celebration of Lou Ismay for his work with PYE - Protect Your Environment Club at SUNY Albany. This is the 50th anniversary of the PYE Club and Lou Ismay's Environmental Forum. Many of the founders of Save the Pine Bush met through PYE and...

Bruce Campbell is a Canadian author whose recently-published book about the 2013 oil train explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec outlines the regulatory and policy failures that led up to the disaster and the unjust aftermath in which three front-line railroad employees were blamed.  Former Albany, NY Common Council member Dominick Calsolaro will provide an Albany-area perspective on oil train hazards...

Ward Stone, Former NYS Wildlife Pathologist and Keith Schue speak about Health Effects of the ANSWERS Plant Pollution and The Proposed Sheridan Hollow Gas-Fired Power Power Plant In this time of significant climate change, it seems incredible that the Governor would suggest building a fossil-fuel plant in Sheridan Hollow to power the Empire State Plaza. Ward Stone will discuss the serious health a...

Anne Pope, Rev. Sam Johnson and Stephanie Woodard  will speak about the African-American history of Great Migration from Shabuta, Mississippi to the South End of Albany and then, to Rapp Road in the Pine Bush. Ms. Pope describes growing up in Shabuta. Rev Johnson will speak about how his father brought 100 families from Shabuta to Albany.  Ms. Woodard speaks about the association. The Rapp Road Hi...

The Proposed Sewage Treatment Plant in Lincoln Park The City of Albany is proposing to put an automated sewage treatment plant in Lincoln Park, ruining the ravine in the park that was once a tourist attraction.  The plant, officially known as the Beaver Creek Screening and Disinfection Facility will cost $45 million. Dan Van Riper discussed how the proposed plant will work, the location of the pla...