NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage Lifeguards in New York are getting a pay raise. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new directive Wednesday, June 22, increasing the starting pay rates for lifeguards at state park beaches and pools, as well as campgrounds and day-use area beaches. Newly hired lifeguards at upstate facilities will see a 34-percent increase in pay from $14.95 per hour to $20 per hour. And starting pay at downstate facilities will go up 21 percent from $18.15 per hour to $22 per hour. Hochul said the idea is to better attract qualified candidates amid a staffing shortage at New York State Park and Department of E…
Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Cemetery In Capital District Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Cemetery In Capital District
Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Cemetery In Capital District Authorities are warning people to be on the lookout after a black bear was spotted hanging around a cemetery in the Capital District. Several people spotted the bear in Albany, at Graceland Cemetery on Delaware Avenue, at around 2 p.m. Friday, May 27, Albany Police said. Those in the area should exercise caution and keep pets on a leash, police said. They advised anyone who sees the bear to not approach the animal and call 911. Black bears are rarely seen by most New Yorkers, but have increasingly been spotted in semi-rural environments, agricultural areas, and sometimes urban centers, ac…
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Armonk Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Armonk
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Armonk A Northern Westchester family received an unexpected visitor when a black bear took a tour of the neighborhood. In Armonk, a Chestnut Ridge Road resident captured video of the four-legged visitor who was taking in the sights while wandering in his backyard at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24. During the short video, the bear can be seen peacefully walking up the driveway, setting off a security light before making its way toward a nearby wooded area. Related story - Coyote, Bear Sightings Reported Within Days In This Northern Westchester Town The Department of Environment…
Hiker Dies After Fall In Capital District Hiker Dies After Fall In Capital District
Hiker Dies After Fall In Capital District A Hudson Valley woman has died after she reportedly fell while hiking in the Catskill Forest Preserve. Forest Rangers were first alerted of trouble at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22, with reports of a fallen hiker in Greene County, near Platte Clove Road in the Town of Hunter, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The woman, identified as a resident of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County, was pronounced dead at the scene. Rangers conducted a technical rope to retrieve her body, DEC officials said. Her body was turned over to the Greene County Coroner, who wil…
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley A 12-year-old Boy Scout is on the mend after an encounter with a black bear left him with minor injuries, ABC7 reports. Henry Ayers told the outlet he was with his troop from Cooperstown camping at Harriman State Park, located in both Rockland and Orange counties, Sunday, May 1, when he awoke to a sharp pain in his leg. "I look up and it was a giant bear,” Ayers told ABC7. “I thought it was a nightmare. It was honestly crazy. I didn't think I was awake." The Scoutmaster, Diana Nicols, told the outlet the bear bit through the boy’s sleeping bag, leaving him with minor cuts and bruises. He…
Video: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Capital District Video: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Capital District
Video: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Capital District A moose is on the loose no longer, at least not in the region. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said a young cow moose was successfully immobilized in the Capital District in downtown Schenectady over the weekend and released back into the wilds of the southern Adirondacks. View the video here. The transient moose had been spotted around town several times this month, including near Schenectady Community College on Friday, May 13, the DEC said. “Immobilizing a large animal (or any animal) is also a risky endeavor and is reserved for when it is truly a last resort and th…
Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park
Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park Some improvements have been completed at one of Long Island’s most popular parks. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a near $4 million improvement project at the Hempstead Lake State Park to enhance public access to the park and lake, which represents the largest body of freshwater in Nassau County. The project includes the creation of nearly five miles of trails that can be used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as improved connections to the lake and ponds with a new kayak launch and fishing pier. The fishing pier at Hempstead Lake State Park.Flic…
NJ Closes These Wildlife Areas To Block Partiers, ATVs, Illegal Swimmers: Report NJ Closes These Wildlife Areas To Block Partiers, ATVs, Illegal Swimmers: Report
NJ Closes These Wildlife Areas To Block Partiers, ATVs, Illegal Swimmers: Report Six New Jersey wildlife areas are being closed to the public for the summer to limit illegal behavior, NJ Advance Media reports. They have become problem areas for partying, all-terrain vehicles and illegal swimming, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The following state-owned land will be off-limits beginning Wednesday through Labor Day: Cedar Lake Wildlife Management Area in Monroe Township, Gloucester County; Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area (Two spots: Parker's Pit and Clay Holes, both in Ocean County);  Manantico Ponds Wildlife Management A…
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Mount Vernon, Police Say Dog Attacked By Coyote In Mount Vernon, Police Say
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Mount Vernon, Police Say Residents in Westchester have been advised to be on alert after a coyote attacked a dog in the area. In Mount Vernon, the police department issued an advisory cautioning that a small dog was recently attacked near North Columbus Avenue and California Road by what was reported to be a coyote. It is the latest sighting in the area, and the first reported attack. Earlier story - Coyote Advisory Issued In Westchester After Multiple Sightings “Please remember that we share our environment with wild animals, so while it is rare that they appear in Mount Vernon, they do appear from time to time…
State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce
State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce New York State officials announced the acquisition of 1,175 acres of land, more than doubling the size of a a state forest in the region. Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement about the acquisition of the lands in Rensselaer County adjoining Pittstown State Forest on the Rensselaer Plateau in Grafton on Wednesday, April 20. "New York State is laser focused on preserving and enhancing open space, and the Rensselaer Plateau, just a short visit from the Capitol, provides a spectacular outdoor escape from Albany's bustling downtown," Hochul said. "Today's addition to the Pittstown State …
DEC Seizes Illegal Turtles On Long Island DEC Seizes Illegal Turtles On Long Island
DEC Seizes Illegal Turtles On Long Island A Long Island resident was recently ticketed for allegedly selling sick painted turtles. The turtles were found when officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation discovered an online ad offering painted turtles for sale in Nassau County in Hempstead. After discovering the ad, a DEC officer posed as an interested customer and contacted the seller who offered five painted turtles for $200, the department said. While not endangered, the turtles are native wildlife, and selling or keeping them as pets is illegal, the department added. The officers, along with investigator…
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway A national study is measuring the effects of contaminated drinking water in nearly a dozen regions of the country including towns near a Hudson Valley National Guard base. The contaminants, known as PFAS, are also called “forever” chemicals because they stay in bodies for many years and have been linked to potentially serious health problems. In many cases, the source of PFAS in the groundwater is likely past use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in the area. At airports and military bases, the foam is used as a fire suppressant to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires. Th…