Drive thru, Drop off
Recap and Numbers
Drive-Thru-Drop-Off Recycling (DTDO) at Brewery Ommegang on April 29th. 181 cars registered and brought lots of recycling through. Some early numbers are below, and we are still working on processing the VHS and Audiocassettes. It looks like we have approximately 1000 pounds to send to Ohio for recycling. This large-scale recycling event is supported through fundraising and donations to offset the costs of shipping.
- Toothcare (Oral B)-25.5 pounds
- Beauty Care (Saks Fifth Avenue)-7.5
- Empty Ink-14.5 + one more big box that has not been weighed yet.
- Helpsy (Textile)-4,606 pounds
- Styrofoam- 252 pounds densified
- E-waste-3,700 pounds
- Shredding-3000 pounds
MOHICAN MEET AND MINGLE
OCCA is excited to host an in-person community picnic again this year at Mohican Farm. The Staff and Board invite you to join us on Friday, June 9th, 2023, from 6 pm-9 pm for a tasty meal and fantastic conversation.
Donations to support this event and other OCCA projects can be made directly through our website. If you are interested in sponsoring the Mohican Meet and Mingle or have questions, contact Project Coordinator, Shelby MacLeish at coordinator@occainfo.org.
INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS WEEK ACTIVITIES:
June 5-11 is New York State’s annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) and we’ve got things to do! NYISAW promotes knowledge and understanding of invasive species and the harm they can do. OCCA has three opportunities for you to get involved (see upcoming events below):
FOR MORE INFORMATION about Invasive Species or for other activities taking place during the week, visit New York’s official invasive species information website: https://nyis.info/nyisaw/.
Upcoming Events:
Roadside Invasives
May 17, 2023, 7-8:30pm
Hartwick Town Hall, 103 Town Drive, Hartwick
Our highways and roads aren’t good just for people to travel on–they’re also a key to the spread of invasive plants. OCCA Program Director, Jeff O’Handley will provide an introduction to invasive species in general, then will take a closer look at several invasive species found in the area. The program will cover where they came from, why they’re a problem, and some strategies for preventing their spread. Sponsored by the Town of Hartwick Conservation Advisory Committee.
Morning Birds at Mohican
May 20 @ 7:00 am to 9:00 am
What will be flitting and flying about the woods and fields at Mohican Farm in Springfield? Join us and find out! Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Co-President, Becky Gretton leads this bird walk at The Clark Foundation’s Mohican Farm. The varied habitats of the farm attract a surprising array of avian life. Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to experts.
Water chestnut pull–Goodyear Lake
June 4 @ 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Kick of New York’s annual Invasive Species Awareness Week by getting an early start on controlling invasive water chestnut at Goodyear Lake’s “stump lot.” Bring your own watercraft or reserve a space in ours by using the link below. Meet at the New York State Fishing Access Site on NY State Route 28 in Portlandville.
Chop & Cheese
June 7 @ 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
It’s back! Japanese knotweed, that is, and that means Chop & Cheese is back, too. Join us as we continue our efforts at eliminating a patch of the highly invasive plant, Japanese knotweed at Mohican Farm in Springfield. We’ll cut back the plants and dig up the roots, and then we’ll enjoy light refreshments overlooking Otsego Lake in Mohican Farm’s beautiful garden. Bring work gloves, hand pruners, and a beverage of choice. We’ll supply the knotweed, bags and soft drinks and snacks. Sign up using the link below.
Mohican Meet and Mingle-An OCCA Community Picnic
June 9 @ 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
OCCA will host “The Mohican Meet and Mingle” on Friday June 9th from 6 pm- 9 pm adjacent to the historic Ellen Biddle Shipman Garden at Mohican Farm in Springfield. OCCA Executive Director Amy Wyant, Board members and staff will be on hand to talk informally about the organization’s projects and initiatives in areas such as clean energy, environmental education, planning, conservation and more. Follow the following link for more information and to reserve tickets: Mohican Meet and Mingle – OCCA – Otsego County Conservation Association (occainfo.org)
Invasive Species Control–Silver Lake
June 10 @ 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Join OCCA and the Silver Lake community for an enjoyable day of invasive species control! We’ll paddle on a beautiful, 40-acre lake in New Berlin in search of water chestnut and European frog-bit, two invasive plants that are impacting the lake. Free, but please use the registration link below to sign up and receive directions to our meeting location.
Homeschool Nature Hike-Emmons Pond Bog
June 16 @ 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
For some of you this hike may be a repeat but that’s okay because now we can see what the trail looks like in early summer. We will explore the trail along the bog, stopping to identify trees, play games and watch for birds. Note we will be meeting on the third Friday in June due to a scheduling conflict.
Emmons Pond Bog is located at 2028 White Hill Rd, Oneonta, NY 13820. This event is free and open to anyone. Please register using the link below. If you have questions, contact Shelby MacLeish at 607-547-4488 or via email at coordinator@occainfo.org
Get the Kids Out-Gilbert Lake State Park
June 19 @ 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Join OCCA educator Shelby MacLeish for a family hike at Gilbert Lake State Park. We will meet at the trailhead on Cabin Colony Road before hitting the trail. Our hike will take us to ponds, a beaver lodge and through thick forest, great for shade on a sunny afternoon. We will practice tree identification, hunt for local wildlife, and get to know the flora and fauna of Gilbert Lake State Park.
Gilbert Lake State Park is located at 18 CCC Road, Laurens, NY 13796. This event is free and open to anyone. Please register using the link below. If you have questions, contact Shelby MacLeish at 607-547-4488 or via email at coordinator@occainfo.org
Be Informed Lecture Series-What is a Healthy Lake?
June 21, 2023 7:00-8:00 pm
Clark Sports Center, Community Room
Dr. Kiyoko Yokota, an associate professor in limnology at SUNY Oneonta will speak on June 21st at 7 pm giving a talk entitled, “What is a Healthy Lake?” She will cover basic lake ecology, covering both physical and biological factors that determine the quality of water found in a waterbody.
Yokota’s research interests include phytoplankton (incl. cyanobacterial bloom) dynamics, microplastic-phytoplankton interaction, biogeochemical cycling, and the impact of climate change on lakes. She also serves as the Technical Advisor for the Otsego Lake Association and is current President of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS). This program is free and open to anyone but please use the link below to register.