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DEC accepting poster contest submissions for 5th graders

Submitted by Anna Didio on Wednesday, December 19th, 4:03 pm
DEC accepting poster contest submissions for 5th graders

 

CAPITAL REGION - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is now accepting submissions for the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. Following is more information:

Fifth grade students, especially in science and art, are encouraged to design an original poster depicting the 2013 contest theme, Trees Are Terrific in All Shapes and Sizes.

DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said, “Arbor Day is a national observance that celebrates the essential role trees play in our environment. By participating in the annual Arbor Day poster contest, students learn about trees and how they promote a healthy, balanced ecosystem.”

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Berkshire County tries to squelch spread of invasive mussels

Submitted by WNYT Staff
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011, 5:02pm

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) - State officials are ramping up monitoring efforts in Berkshire County to discourage the spread of zebra mussels.

Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Edward Lambert announced yesterday the state has set aside $71,000 to prevent the expansion of the invasive aquatic species.

The money will help pay for eight full-time boat ramp monitors to be stationed at seven lakes from late May through early September. The state will also install a portable boat wash facility at Laurel Lake in Lee.

The goal is to prevent the mussels from migrating from one lake to another.

Lambert says the aggressive freshwater mollusk can cripple an ecosystem and endanger many of the fish and plants already living there.

Lambert met with local and state officials in Pittsfield to make the announcement.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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Eagle rescued by US soldiers finds home in NY

Submitted by WNYT Staff
Monday, November 8th, 2010, 2:28pm

PETERSBURG, N.Y. (AP) - An eagle rescued by U.S. troops in Afghanistan after it was shot in the wing is getting a permanent home at an upstate New York bird sanctuary.

Mitch, a steppe eagle, will never fly again. He's scheduled to arrive this afternoon at the Berkshire Bird Paradise in Petersburg, 24 miles northeast of Albany. The trip was arranged with the help of Sen. Charles Schumer, the World Conservation Society, the White House and the Department of State.

Sanctuary owner Pete Dubacher, who began his bird rescue while serving during the Vietnam war, says the story of Mitch shows how much good can be done when people pull together.

Mitch arrived at a military base in Virginia in early October and was flown by the rescue group Pilots N Paws to Newburgh for a 30-day USDA quarantine.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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Accused llama killer arrested

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer
Friday, July 16th, 2010, 11:52am

This report dates back to the incident first reported in mid-November 2009, in the Town of Lenox where two llamas owned by the river valley farm that were killed.

On Thursday the investigating officer from the Lenox Police Department arrested Jared Dinicola of Marian St. in Pittsfield.  Dinicola is being held on $5,000.00 cash bail until his arraignment later this morning in Pittsfield District Court.  Dinicola is charged with two counts of killing an animal.

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