Dinner with Save the Pine Bush

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 projects they did while attending the Environmental Forum.

George Keleshian, PYE president in 1973 and owner of One Energy/Zeroenergy Bldg. Inc., will speak about the history and projects of PYE, including litigation. Looking to the future, Steve Coyle, owner of Town Green, an international urban planning consultant group and co-founder of the National Charrette Institute, will speak about the future for the environment including importance of resilient communities, clean water, flood control, urban planning and energy.

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 and environmental impacts of the pollution from the ANSWERS garbage incinerator that were never cleaned up. This includes lead and other toxic substances that spewed out from the old Albany ANSWERS garbage incinerator in Arbor Hill. Now, the Governor wants to install two new gas turbines to power the Empire State Plaza in the same location. Keith Shue will outline the gas microgrid proposal and the renewable alternatives we are advocating.

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 Historical Association became the first African American Community placed on the NYS Historic Registry in September, 2002 as a result of it's uniqueness and history connected to the Great Migration. It was then placed on the National Historic Registry in January, 2003. It became chartered by NYS Department of Education's Board of Regents in 2006 and became a non profit 501(c)3 in 2015.

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 plant, how this will affect the Hudson River, the issue of the combined sewage and storm water overflow. He showed photos of the park and postcards of what the ravine and park looked like 100 years ago. Dan has published many articles on his blog, albanyweblog.com, regarding sewer issues in Albany and the Big C pipe.

See the most recent article posted at: They Want To Fill In The Ravine In Lincoln Park.