Friday, April 24, 2009

Our neighbors at Saratoga Tree Nursery need our support.

The Saratoga Tree Nursery is being targeted for closure by the Department of Environmental Conservation in order to meet mandated budget and personnel cuts as set by Governor Paterson. This decision to close the Nursery is not set in stone, but is a grave possibility if a consensus is not reached between the Governor and the Unions regarding a raise freeze and the enactment of a proposed one week lag pay for the state work force.

The Saratoga Tree Nursery Program was started in 1902. The State Nursery in Saratoga began in 1911. The Nursery Program survived the Great Depression, and created many jobs for Civilian Conservation Corps men and women in the 30's who were instrumental in re- planting the barren areas in New York with seedlings grown at NY State operated nurseries.

At one time NY had as many as 9 state operated nurseries. All nursery operations were consolidated to Saratoga in 1972.

Today the Saratoga Tree Nursery produces and supplies over 1.2 million seedlings a year to New York residents at cost for various conservation plantings such as soil erosion control, wildlife habitat improvement, and the creation of riparian buffer zones. The Nursery produces NY seed source seedlings from seed collected by its staff from orchards they maintain throughout NY. The seedlings produced at Saratoga preserves the qualities of New York natives which have shown superb characteristics.

The Tree Nursery also supplies over 32,000 seedlings to NY state schools through the "School Seedling Program". This program is open to all NY public and private schools and offers 50 free seedlings to each school that applies to be used within their curriculum. Tree awareness and respect for our environment needs to start with NY's youth

If the State Tree Nursery closes the cost of the many ongoing conservation projects in NY will increase significantly. Many would no longer be cost effective to pursue. Those projects which continue will not have the benefit of using local NY seed source material. The integrity of NY's forests could be at stake. The State Nursery also gives away tens of thousands of seedlings to NY residents during special events (Arbor Day, fairs, Environmental events) in order to promote tree planting and preservation. The Saratoga Nursery also produces 40,000 flowers a year for use at DEC campgrounds and facilities. The Nursery also supplies seedlings used to replant state land and for other special projects throughout NY.

If you agree that the NYS DEC Saratoga Tree Nursery is still a vital part of the preservation of the New York State environment please contact your local state legislative representatives, Commissioner Grannis of DEC, and even the Governor's Office and tell them NY still needs its Nursery and that the vital role it plays can not be replaced.

Thank you for your support,

Friends of Saratoga Tree nursery

saratoga spa busy putting in lots of toilets everywhere and cutting down many healthy looking trees.

In these very tough economic times, NYS Parks apparently decided being able to swim for a reasonable fee in upstate New Yorks very short summer of June, July and August is not their priority. They never consult the public whose taxes pay for the Parks.

Possible raise of Victoria Pool fee from $6-$8 with no season pass and closing Peerless Pool on Tuesdays.

Swimmers at state parks to feel heat from budget cuts

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Peerless Pool at Saratoga Spa State Park will be closed on Tuesdays this summer as a result of state budget cuts, officials announced today.

Alane Ball Chinian, the regional director for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said that date was selected because it is the day the facility sees the least number of visitors.

Several other swimming outlets in the region, including the beaches at Cherry Plain State Park, Thompson’s Lake State Park and Grafton Lakes State Park, will also be closed for two days each week as a result of budget cuts.

"When you reduce the days down to five or six here or there, that helps us quite a bit overall," Chinian said.

Overall, 100 parks and historic sites in the state are seeing reductions in hours or a shortening of their seasons. None will be closed in full, however.

But the Victoria Pool, also located in Saratoga Spa State Park, will remain open seven days a week. Both pools at Saratoga Spa State Park will be open from June 27 through Labor Day as usual.

The beach at Moreau Lake State Park will also remain open as normal.

All swimming outlets in the region will close an hour earlier, however, leaving them open eight hours a day instead of nine hours a day, officials said.

Fees for pool admissions and other park services such as pavilion rentals are also likely to be changed as a result of budget cuts, but specifics have not yet been released.

A draft proposal that was circulated earlier this year showed entrance fees for the Victoria Pool going from $3 to $4 for children and from $6 to $8 for adults.

The parks themselves, though, will keep their admission rates at $6, officials said.

This story originally appeared on PostStar.

Friday, April 17, 2009

our trees nursery neighbor is definitely worth saving.

Last New York tree nursery’s fate uncertain
Friday, April 17, 2009

By PAUL POST
The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Tree Nursery survived the Great Depression when its seedlings gave Civilian Conservation Corps workers jobs to help stimulate the economy.

Today, however, the 250-acre facility is on the state’s chopping block and faces possible closure as soon as July 1.

Founded 98 years ago, it’s the only state tree nursery left in New York, distributing 1.2 million seedlings annually that are used for a variety of important purposes — erosion prevention, habitat improvement, wildlife food, wetland mitigation.

“It’s ironic that this is one of the first programs they’re looking to end when we helped the economy back in the ’30s,” nursery Manager David Lee said. “This is one of the few DEC programs left that isn’t regulatory. We’re providing a service to New York state that benefits the environment. It isn’t ‘Big Brother’ watching you. Unfortunately these are the programs being hit.

“DEC’s going to be left as a law enforcement and regulatory agency.”

A state Department of Environmental Conservation press officer was not immediately available for comment. The tree nursery is part of the DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests, one of several along with the divisions of water, air quality and fish and wildlife.

“There’s nothing that has been etched in stone,” Lands and Forests Director Robert Davies said. “All the agencies have been asked by the governor’s office to put together a plan. It’s no secret that the nursery has been looked at for potential cost savings in the past.”

This year, however, with a $14 billion deficit looming, it’s facing the glare of budget-conscious state officials. The nursery’s fate could rest with the outcome of negotiations between Gov. David Paterson and state employees’ unions. The governor has asked union leaders to accept a wage hike freeze, which they’ve rejected to date. Without it, programs and services including the tree nursery would have to be cut.

“That’s what we’ve been asked to begin exploring,” Davies said.

Lee, who oversees a staff of 10 full-time and up to 60 seasonal workers, is urging residents to contact elected officials and DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, asking them to save the facility.

Workers are currently in the process of harvesting, grading and distributing seedlings, primarily to private landowners for conservation plantings. Once seedlings are distributed, the nursery’s 80 acres of production beds will be prepared for a new round of plantings. Such work could be for naught, at considerable expense, if the facility is forced to close this summer.

“We’ll still have 5 million to 6 million seedlings in the ground,” Lee said. “We have 50 species of shrubs, hardwoods and conifers.”

The nursery is the only place in New York that collects native seed, helping perpetuate native species such as red pine, white pine, red oak and sugar maple. If the nursery closes, people could still buy such trees, but not as seedlings in bulk numbers at affordable prices.

“It’s going to be a lot more expensive,” Lee said.

In addition, a red pine grown from New York seed may be heartier than one from Southern states, such as Georgia, whose trees are used to milder climates.

For the time being, nursery workers are carrying on with normal operations, hoping their livelihoods won’t be uprooted.

“Until I’m officially told to stop our production, we’ll continue business as usual,” Lee said.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

pools to close an hr. earlier and fees being questioned? Victoria Pool may be raised to $8?!!

Swimmers at state parks to feel heat from budget cuts
By DREW KERR
dkerr@poststar.com
Updated: Thursday, April 9, 2009 10:34 AM EDT

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The Peerless Pool at Saratoga Spa State Park will be closed on Tuesdays this summer as a result of state budget cuts, officials announced today.

Alane Ball Chinian, the regional director for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said that date was selected because it is the day the facility sees the least number of visitors.

Several other swimming outlets in the region, including the beaches at Cherry Plain State Park, Thompson’s Lake State Park and Grafton Lakes State Park, will also be closed for two days each week as a result of budget cuts.

"When you reduce the days down to five or six here or there, that helps us quite a bit overall," Chinian said.

Overall, 100 parks and historic sites in the state are seeing reductions in hours or a shortening of their seasons. None will be closed in full, however.

But the Victoria Pool, also located in Saratoga Spa State Park, will remain open seven days a week. Both pools at Saratoga Spa State Park will be open from June 27 through Labor Day as usual.

The beach at Moreau Lake State Park will also remain open as normal.

All swimming outlets in the region will close an hour earlier, however, leaving them open eight hours a day instead of nine hours a day, officials said.

Fees for pool admissions and other park services such as pavilion rentals are also likely to be changed as a result of budget cuts, but specifics have not yet been released.

A draft proposal that was circulated earlier this year showed entrance fees for the Victoria Pool going from $3 to $4 for children and from $6 to $8 for adults.

The parks themselves, though, will keep their admission rates at $6, officials said.

Read more on the cutbacks in Friday's Post-Star and on poststar.com.












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Friday, April 10, 2009

Closing Peerless Pool on Tuesdays when the track is "dark" and it is the most crowded makes no sense unless Parks doesn't need the money.

By PAUL POST, The Saratogian
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Spa State Park’s Peerless Pool will be closed Tuesdays this summer, one of many cutbacks announced Thursday in the face of the state’s fiscal crisis.The Victoria Pool will remain open seven days per week.Elsewhere in Saratoga County, Peebles Island State Park’s visitor center will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It was previously open six days per week.Throughout the Saratoga-Capital Region, impacts include partial beach closings, shortened camping seasons and reduced historic site operations."State parks, like all state agencies, are responding to the current economic realities," Commissioner Carol Ash said. "We have been charged with making many difficult decisions. By concentrating the changes to the shoulder seasons, off-peak hours or facilities where similar services are available nearby, we hope to minimize the impact on our patrons."Statewide, about 100 parks and historic sites will be affected, but no parks will be closed outright and daily entrance fees are not going up.In addition to Spa State Park and Peebles Island, several other sites are impacted inthe Saratoga-Capital Region.They are:ä Cherry Plain State Park — Swimming beach closed Monday and Tuesday. Campground will open late (July 4) and close early (Sept. 7).ä Grafton Lakes State Park — Swimming beach closed Wednesday and Thursday.ä Max V. Shaul State Park — Shortened campground season. Open Memorial Weekend only, reopening July 4 through Labor Day.ä Thompson Lake State Park — Swimming beach closed Tuesday and Wednesday.ä Historic sites — Shortened seasons, reduced hours and/or reduced programming at Crown Point, Johnson Hall, Schuyler Mansion and Bennington Battlefield Historic Sites.