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Environmental Conservation

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Man Admits To Illegal Dumping In Area Man Admits To Illegal Dumping In Area
Man Admits To Illegal Dumping In Area The owner of a New York business has admitted to unlawfully disposing of construction and demolition debris. David Gutierrez, of Ulster County, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of the unlawful disposal of solid waste in excess of 70 cubic yards on Monday, May 23, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement. DEC said the case began in 2017 when authorities coordinated a task force to target large amounts of illegal construction and demolition debris that was being dumped across the Southern District. Officers executed …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Westchester Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Westchester Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Westchester Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers In a unanimous and unprecedented decision, officials in a Westchester County municipality voted to ban gas-powered leaf blowers effective January 2022, becoming one of the first communities in the Northeast to take such action.  The Monday, Sept. 21 decision, according to the Village of Larchmont's Board of Trustees, was driven by environmental concerns.  “Larchmont is proud to be a leader in municipal green policy," said Mayor Lorraine Walsh. "Policies such as this, which ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers entirely, are essential if we are going to make meaningful progr…

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by Christina Coulter
News
Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area
Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area Groups of black bears have been making the rounds throughout Hudson Valley neighborhoods, with some getting caught on camera a little too close for comfort. There were multiple sightings of black bears and cubs reported in Rockland County in the past week, with some roaming through area backyards in Pomona, while others took leisurely strolls through quiet streets. One bear even got up close and personal, perusing the sights on one resident’s backyard deck. According to environment officials, residents should not leave garbage cans or any food outside to help avoid an encounter with a bear…

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by Zak Failla
News
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US As if a global pandemic and worldwide economic crisis aren't enough to occupy us, there's now news of the arrival of a vicious, freakish-looking hornet with a venomous sting in the United States for the first time. Asian giant hornets can use shark-fin shaped appendages to destroy a beehive, decapitating its victims in a matter of minutes. “It’s a shockingly large hornet,” said Todd Murray, Washington State University's Extension entomologist and invasive species specialist. “It’s a health hazard, and more importantly, a significant predator of honey bees.” That's especially concerning sin…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Regulations Finalized For NY Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect Regulations Finalized For NY Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect
Regulations Finalized For NY Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect Enforcement on the ban of single-use plastic bags at New York retailers on March 1 is expected to be lenient at the start, as final regulations for the ban are finalized. As of Sunday, March 1, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s legislation goes into effect, banning plastic bags statewide. However, amid fears of a paper bag shortage, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reportedly acknowledged that retailers may not have had enough time to remove plastic bags from their stores. As a result, the NYSDEC plans to let retailers finish off their supplies of plastic bags after t…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Stop & Shop Offers Free Reusable Bags At Stores Ahead Of Statewide Ban On Plastic Stop & Shop Offers Free Reusable Bags At Stores Ahead Of Statewide Ban On Plastic
Stop & Shop Offers Free Reusable Bags At Stores Ahead Of Statewide Ban On Plastic With single-use plastic bags becoming banned from New York retailers, Stop & Shop is offering customers a new alternative with free reusable bags. In an effort to ease the transition from plastic to paper when the ban takes effect on Sunday, March 1, Stop & Shop is offering to trade carryout plastic bags for free reusable bags (while supplies last). Beginning on Saturday, Feb. 22, Stop & Shop will have information tables set up at stores to answer questions about the upcoming ban. The tables will also have giveaway items, including a free reusable bag for every customer who bri…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photos Of Beaver Swimming In Hudson River Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photos Of Beaver Swimming In Hudson River
Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photos Of Beaver Swimming In Hudson River A New York attorney out for a walk with his dog Hunter was enjoying the view of the Hudson River near West 70th Street in Manhattan when he spotted a fun and rare sight, a beaver out for a swim. At first Ralph Stone, 53, thought the little guy, or maybe girl, was a log floating near other pieces of wood in the area, then he saw it's head move.  Being the official New York State animal, and a rare sight, Stone did what all would do, he whipped out his phone around 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 5, and snapped a few shots of the beaver swimming along enjoying the morning.  A rare sighting: A beav…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area A  family enjoyed an unexpected guest when a black bear was caught taking an afternoon stroll through their backyard and into the woods. The bear was caught on surveillance camera in Putnam County at approximately 8:11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, in the backyard of a home in the Millpond Lane area in Kent, the family said. It could be seen sniffing along the ground as it made its way through the yard. In the video, the bear leisurely takes in the lay of the land, looking around while heading towards the trees in the backyard. Other recent sightings in the area have happened in North Cas…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern
Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern The latest round of severe storms accompanying a cold front to move through the region has led to a big change in the weather pattern. It will become gradually less humid on Sunday, July 7 as clouds gradually give way to sun. The high temperature of around 82 degrees will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Saturday.  Sunday will also start a stretch of dry days. Monday, July 8 will also be mostly sunny with a high temperature around 80 degrees. It will get warmer on Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10 with a high temperature in the upper 80s and plenty of sunshine both days. The…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Spring Rockland Repair Café Coming Soon Spring Rockland Repair Café Coming Soon
Spring Rockland Repair Café Coming Soon The Spring Rockland Repair Cafe has been scheduled for Sunday, May 5, according to County Executive Ed Day. The event is intended to pair volunteer Repair Coaches, who are neighbors with DIY expertise, with those who bring in items that need to be repaired, such as computers, lamps, clothing, small appliances, toys, electronics and more. Anything that can be carried in by an individual will be considered for repair, event sponsors say, aside from items with gas engines. Therefore, lawn mowers, chainsaws and gas-powered landscaping equipment are restricted. Repair Coaches will fix items fre…

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by Valerie Musson
Weather
Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week
Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week A storm system that brought a mix of snow, sleet and rain to the region will move out by midday, starting a week that will see a big change in the weather pattern. Precipitation will wrap up around noontime Sunday, March 10 on a cloudy and windy day in which the high temperature will be in the low 40s with a wind-chill factor between 25 and 35. Here's how the rest of the week shapes up: Monday, March 11: Mostly sunny with a high in the mid 40s. Tuesday, March 12: Sunny with a high in the low 40s. Wednesday, March 13: Sunny with a high in the mid 40s. Thursday, March 14: The ch…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Vote Now: What Do You Think Of Dutchess' Ban On Plastic Bags? Vote Now: What Do You Think Of Dutchess' Ban On Plastic Bags?
Vote Now: What Do You Think Of Dutchess' Ban On Plastic Bags? Dutchess County is going green, and plastic bags will soon be a relic of the past at area retailers. Elected officials in Dutchess County have voted to eliminate single-use carryout bag at retail stores, joining several other counties in New York looking to ban plastic bags. The ban will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Less than 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled in the United States and they are not acceptable at certain recycling centers. "T…

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by Zak Failla
News
State Warns Hudson Valley Residents 'Free Dirt' Might Actually Be Contaminated State Warns Hudson Valley Residents 'Free Dirt' Might Actually Be Contaminated
State Warns Hudson Valley Residents 'Free Dirt' Might Actually Be Contaminated The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is warning Hudson Valley residents to be cautious when offered free fill material for use to level or grade their properties.  The Buffalo News reported that radioactive waste had been discovered in fill near the entrance to Niagara Falls State Park, in this article.  State officials confirmed to the Buffalo News that tests by the DEC found low levels of radioactivity, along with petroleum waste and traces of benzopyrene, a cancer-causing chemical found in coal tar, cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust. There are only two tiny signs m…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever' Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever'
Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever' Just in time for National Oyster Day on Sunday, Aug. 5 comes word that a massive oyster “the size of a small shoe” was picked up under a pier in the Hudson River. The River Project, an organization that works to provide the Hudson River, posted a picture of a 22-centimeter oyster, which was found by a construction worker working on Pier 40 near the Hudson River Park. On Facebook, the organization shared photos of the oyster, which easily trumped the size of a standard oyster found in a restaurant, which can be seen above. Officials said that the increase in marine wildlife shows that the wa…

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by Zak Failla
News
Turtle Crossing Advisory Issued For This Rockland Highway Turtle Crossing Advisory Issued For This Rockland Highway
Turtle Crossing Advisory Issued For This Rockland Highway The Clarkstown Police Department is urging motorists to share the roadway and slow down for snappers. A “turtle crossing advisory” has been issued on Western Highway in Blauvelt, near the West Nyack border, where nesting mother turtles have been spotted migrating across the roadway to lay their eggs before returning to the reservoir in May and June. According to officials, the nesting ritual is an annual spring event from May through June. Police said that drivers should be vigilant when in the area and should watch for turtles in the roadway. Motorists have been advised that there is a par…

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by Zak Failla
News
Gov. Cuomo Proposes Fighting Harmful Algae In Putnam, Middletown Gov. Cuomo Proposes Fighting Harmful Algae In Putnam, Middletown
Gov. Cuomo Proposes Fighting Harmful Algae In Putnam, Middletown Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to help rid lakes of harmful algae. The governor announced a $65 million 4-point initiative to aggressively combat harmful algal blooms in lakes throughout in New York, including Putnam and Orange that threaten the recreational use of lakes that are important to upstate tourism, as well as sources of drinking water. The lakes in Putnam and Orange are Lake Carmel, Palmer Lake, Putnam Lake, and the Monhagen Brook watershed, including the five reservoirs serving the Middleton area. "Protecting water quality is a top priority and through these actions and funding, …

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by Sam Barron