Thank you for reading this edition of OCCA’s Eco-Bulletin! We have a couple updates to start but read on to learn about what OCCA has planned for the month of November.
Proposition One—In addition to candidates for various state and local offices, this election day, New Yorkers have the opportunity to vote on a $4.2 billion environmental bond act. The “Clean Air, Clean Water, and Clean Jobs Environmental Bond Act” will focus on addressing the worsening impacts of climate change and restoring wildlife habitat. The bond would provide over $1 billion for restoration and flood risk reduction; up to $650 million for open space land acquisition and recreation; $1.6 billion for climate change mitigation, including green building and energy efficiency projects, zero-emission school busses, and pollution reduction; and in excess of $650 million for water quality improvements and resilient infrastructure. The full text of the bond act can be found here. Otsego County Conservation Association supports clean water and heathy ecosystems and urges voters to consider the power of their vote in this upcoming election.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid—Join the Otsego Hemlock Hunters. Do you want to spend some quality time outdoors this winter, and help Otsego County’s natural environment at the same time? Join the Otsego Hemlock Hunters! We are recruiting volunteers to hike our woods and parks this winter and inspect branches of eastern hemlock trees for the hemlock woolly adelgid, a highly invasive insect that has arrived. Volunteers will be trained to identify hemlock trees and the hemlock woolly adelgid; how to properly survey hemlock trees; and how to report their findings. Volunteer training is on Saturday, December 10, 9am-noon at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. This will be an indoor-outdoor training. Program is free, but registration is required. Sign up here.
| November is a busy month for OCCA! Join us for one of our scheduled programs. Highway Cleanup, November 11, 9am. Help clean up along a 2-mile stretch of Route 80 in the towns of Springfield and Otsego. The more volunteers we have, the faster it goes (and the more we pick up). Safety vests, hard hats, rubber gloves, trash bags provided. Meet at Mohican Farm, 7207 State Highway 80, Springfield Bridges to the Sky—All About Trees, November 11, 3:30pm. Join us for this family-friendly hour to explore trees in Cooper Park through games, scavenger hunts, and sensory activities. Meet on the front steps of the Village Library in Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, after the conclusion of the film Sisters: The Summer We Found Our Superpowers. Offered in partnership with Otsego 2000 as part of Glimmerglass Film Days. Get the Kids Out: Starfield, November 12, 10:30am. OCCA Educator, Shelby MacLeish leads this exploration of the winter forest. This is a great opportunity to get your kids out and expending some energy over a three-day weekend! Dress for the weather and be prepared for mud! Homeschool Nature Group: Riddell State Park, November 18, 12pm. Explore along the Mud Lake trail in Robert V. Riddell State Park with OCCA Educator, Shelby MacLeish. Walk it Off! Black Friday Hike, November 26, 1pm, Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch. Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join OCCA educator Liz Brown as we walk off some Thanksgiving calories at the Delaware Otsego Audubon Society Hawkwatch site on Franklin Mountain. Be a part of the #optoutside movement and explore the forests and grasslands just outside Oneonta. We will be observing signs of transition in nature from autumn to winter as the plants and animals around us prepare for the cold months ahead. |
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In addition to our free program, Bridges to the Sky – All About Trees, as part of the annual Glimmerglass Film Days, OCCA is sponsoring the film River. Join us for the screening on Friday, November 11 at 3:45pm. Tickets are available on the Glimmerglass Film Days website.
Position opening! Solid Waste Coordinator. Hey, folks, our friends at the Otsego County Solid Waste Department are seeking a Solid Waste Coordinator for the County. This person will be responsible for managing Otsego County’s solid waste and material recovery programs. Applications are available at the Otsego County Personnel/Civil Service Department, 183 Main St., Cooperstown. A full position description is available online at https://otsego-portal.mycivilservice.com/.
Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society meeting, November 18, at Elm Park Church, Oneonta, featuring the photography of Rick Bunting. Visit www.doas.us.
Butternut Valley Alliance will hold its 2022 Annual Meeting on November 12 from 4 p.m. To 5 p.m. via Zoom Videoconference. The meeting is open to the public and all interested persons are encouraged to attend. Agenda items include the election of members of the Board of Directors and officers, committee assignments, a review of 2022 activities, a preview of 2023 activities, adoption of a budget for 2023 and discussion about 2023 strategic priorities. BVA is a 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to encourage the Butternut Creek Watershed to become an even better place to live, work, and play. BVA activities connect communities, protect the environment and promote the arts. The Zoom videoconference link can be accessed via BVA’s website in the Upcoming Events section on the homepage. https://www.butternutvalleyalliance.org/content.asp