Our network

Environment

DEC Five Rivers Environmental Fair to take place May 17

DEC Five Rivers Environmental Fair to take place May 17

The DEC Five Rivers Environmental Fair will take place Thursday, May 17 at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.

The public is invited to join DEC staff and school children from selected area elementary schools around the region. They will visit different DEC exhibits to learn about environmental stewardship.

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center is located at 56 Game Farm Road in Delmar and the event will take place at 12:30 p.m.

Click here to see more information.

 

June 23 and 24 to be Free Fishing Days

June 23 and 24 to be Free Fishing Days

The Town of Bethlehem has announced on their website that the last full weekend in June will be designated as Free Fishing Days in New York State.

During the June 23 and 24, anyone can fish in New York State waters with no fishing license required. The event started in 1991 to allow people the opportunity to sample fishing in New York State.

For more information click here.

Lakes to Locks Passage shines light on local ‘hidden gems’

More than 600 local travel suggestions have been submitted to the Lakes to Locks Passage website, www.lakestolocks.com.

The submissions are just in time for the summer travel season and the site is co-branded with National Geographic. It emphasizes travel and tourism opportunities that are submitted by local residents and locally-owned business owners.

The national advertising and marketing campaign is promoting the Lakes to Locks Passage that stretches from Albany to Quebec, along the interconnected waterway of the Hudson River, Champlain Canal, Lake George and Lake Champlain and includes Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Essex and Clinton counties. 

“This website shines a spotlight on the region’s hidden gems, those places that provide local character to a destination. It is exciting to see the local commitment to delivering a distinctive travel experience,” said Executive Director Janet Kennedy.

Bethlehem residents can participate in Community Cleanup

Bethlehem residents can participate in Community Cleanup

Bethlehem residents can help make their town beautiful by offering only a few hours of their time.

A Community Cleanup will take place on Saturday, May 19 and volunteers can meet at Town Hall at 9 a.m. for instructions and safety guidance. The clean up destination will be the Memorial Day Parade Route.

Volunteers are asked to wear pants, long sleeves shirts, and appropriate footwear and to bring water.

Participants can either call ahead or simply show up and check in with the Town Supervisor. When registering for an event please tell the town how you would like to help so they can provide the proper assistance.

For additional information and to register, go to the Town website. Additional questions can be directed to: Robin Nagengast at mailto:RNagengast@townofbethlehem.org or 439 4955 x1164

Five Rivers to host presentations on hiking and camping

Five Rivers to host presentations on hiking and camping

There will be a presentation on hiking and backpacking safety on Saturday, May 26 at Five Rivers and a presentation on camping.

The presentations will be conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, located at 56 Game Farm Road in Delmar. The backpacking presentation will begin at 10 a.m. and the camping presentation will begin at 2 p.m.

DEC Forest Ranger Karen Glesmann will discuss basic equipment, tips on map reading, how not to get lost and what to do if you do get lost, among other topics.

There will be a hands-on clinic on how to set up a tent conducted at the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation’s Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.

Please call the Center at 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, May 23.  If there is bad weather the program may be cancelled.

Local parks to take part in I Love My Park Day

I Love My Park Day is a new statewide event organized by Parks & Trails New York to help improve New York’s parks and historic sites. The day will take place on Saturday, May 5.

Volunteers will participate in cleaning up park lands and beaches, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitat, removing invasive species and working on various site improvement projects.

Local parks participating in the day are Grafton Lakes State Park, Grant Cottage State Historic Site, John Boyd Thacher and Thompson Lake State Parks, Mine Kill and Max V. Shaul State Parks, Saratoga Spa State Park, and Schodack Island State Park.

Click here to learn more about individual park events.

Town to hold Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Days

Town to hold Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Days

The Town of Bethlehem will hold Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Days from May 5 to Sept. 22 at the Town Highway Garage located at 74 Elm Avenue East in Selkirk.

Hours when people can recycle items are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and only Town of Bethlehem residents can participate in the collection days.

To participate in the collection days, people must have a proof of residency (a valid New York State Driver’s License or current town tax bill), waste must be in its original labeled containers, leaking containers must be wrapped in newspaper and placed in a plastic bag or container, among other rules and regulations.

Click here to learn more about acceptable waste items and more information on the collection days.