From Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce
World Awareness Children’s Museum Partners with Early College Career Academy New Media Program
Feb. 4, 2021
Lucia Cucinella (2021)
Lucia Cucinella
World Awareness Children’s Museum recently partnered with the Early College Career Academy New Media program to create a graphic for use in future museum fundraisers. The museum was delighted to choose a design made by Lucia Cucinella, a senior at Saratoga Springs High School.
Ms. Cucinella is dual enrolled at both Saratoga Springs High School and SUNY Adirondack, working towards a New Media degree. The New Media program is part of the Early College Career Academy, a partnership between SUNY Adirondack and WSWHE BOCES, where area high school students can earn up to 32 college credits. She enjoys both digital and traditional art, as well as travelling. Her travels frequently influence her design work.
For her design, Ms. Cucinella wanted to make sure to show unity without the conventional motifs of holding hands, as well as to represent countries that are commonly overlooked. “I designed each icon to represent a significant piece of culture from each area I wanted to represent,” says Ms. Cucinella.
This partnership was initiated by Bethanie Lawrence, Executive Director at the World Awareness Children’s Museum, and facilitated by Brené Choppa, the Work-Based Learning Coordinator at WSWHE BOCES.
From AdkAction
AdkAction’s “Clean Water, Safe Roads Partnership” Awarded Funding for Road Salt Reduction in Champlain Basin
Feb. 5, 2021
Courtesy AdkAction (2021)
AdkAction has been awarded $50,000 by the Lake Champlain Basin Program for a new “Clean Water, Safe Roads” partnership to reduce salt polluting the 125-mile-long lake between New York and Vermont.
Together with partners from Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute and Lake Champlain Sea Grant, this project will implement a comprehensive, personalized outreach and education program to municipal highway departments in the Lake Champlain Basin.
In 2017 AdkAction developed a Pledge to Reduce Road Salt for municipal partners which demonstrates a community’s commitment to work in good faith to reduce the levels of road salt application.
Said AdkAction Executive Director Brittany Christenson: “We’re thrilled that with the support of this grant funding we will be able to provide training and resources for municipalities that will help them prepare for the pilot program. It will be an all-hands-on-deck effort to reverse the trend of rising road salt pollution affecting our waters, and we need a unified regional strategy to succeed.”
From Saratoga Hospital
Saratoga Hospital Recognized for Maternity Care
Feb. 2, 2021
Courtesy Saratoga Hospital (2021)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Saratoga Hospital has been named a Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
The Distinction Center designation, from BlueShield of Northeastern New York, is reserved for programs that meet rigorous standards for quality, patient safety and outcomes. Criteria were expanded in 2020 to include efforts to prevent or treat maternity-related conditions, reduce the rate of cesarean section deliveries, and address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal healthcare.
“The designation affirms what so many of our patients already know—that you can count on Saratoga Hospital to take great care of you and your baby,” said Dr. Amos Cutler, chair, of Saratoga Hospital’s OB/GYN Department.
The hospital has adopted a collaborative physician-midwife model of care that reflects best practices. For more information about the Blue Distinction program and a list of designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
From Open Space Institute
Open Space Institute and Adirondack Mountain Club Move to File Brief Supporting NYSDEC in Adirondack Tree Cutting Case
Feb. 2, 2021
Courtesy Open Space Institute (2021)
Albany, NY—The Open Space Institute (OSI) and the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) have moved to jointly file an Amicus Brief in support of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in a case that would severely limit trail creation and maintenance within the Adirondack Park (Protect the Adirondacks! Inc. v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) et al.). A copy of the submitted OSI/ADK brief will be available upon its formal acceptance by the New York State Court of Appeals.
In moving to file their brief, OSI and ADK stressed the critical need to keep the Forest Preserve land open, welcoming, and safe for all who venture to it through proper trail development and maintenance, asserting that the intent of the protected land was not to sequester it, but rather to preserve it for the people and the public’s enjoyment.
The case hinges on the assertion that certain trail building by the DEC violates the “forever wild” provision in the New York State Constitution. The petitioners argue that existing limitation on Forest Preserve timber removal should extend beyond the established definition of trees larger than three inches in diameter to include all trees, no matter how small.
After a lower court judge ruled against the challenge on this point, the decision was appealed to the Appellate Division which overturned the lower court’s ruling, eschewing the historical definition of timber and casting uncertainty on what degree of tree removal, if any, is now permitted within the Forest Preserve.
Siding with the DEC, OSI and ADK argue that the Appellate Division decision is overreaching and will result in uncertain interpretation of allowable tree removal, substantially limiting public access in the Forest Preserve and robbing the public of the experience and simple enjoyment of nature.
OSI and ADK, which have long supported proper stewardship of conserved land, thoughtful trail development, and responsible recreation, called for the New York State Court of Appeals to reverse the Appellate Division and adhere to long established court precedents and the legislative intent behind the “forever wild” provision, striking a more balanced approach for forest preservation and public access.
From AdkAction
Winner Announced in “Spread the Word, Not the Virus,” Student PSA Contest
Feb. 9, 2021
AdkAction is pleased to announce the winning video of its student COVID-19 Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest and $1000 Grand Prize.
The contest, which was open to all middle and high school students in New York, garnered 53 entries from every corner of the state, sharing students’ advice based on CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The winning PSA “A Vintage COVID-19 PSA” was created by Emily Kucharczyk of New Paltz High School.
“When I heard about the project from my teacher, I had a vision of the shot where I held up a bottle of cleaning spray, I just saw the vintage theme in my head and went with it,” Emily said.
In addition to a cash prize of $1,000, the winning entry will be showcased on television and at the Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival on Friday, June 4th, 2021.
The winning entry in the PSA contest, and three Honorable Mention finalists who will each receive a $100 prize, can be watched at AdkAction.org/psa.