(Sept. 26, 2011) The Central and Western New York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has partnered with state agencies, conservation groups and environmental organizations throughout a five county area to address the threat posed by non-native plants and animals, a.k.a “invasive species”

An invasive species is a plant, animal or insect that is non-native to the local ecosystem and whose introduction is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Examples of these alien invaders include: Japanese Knotweed, a plant that, if left uncontrolled, will dominate other more desirable plants and cause destruction to wildlife habitat. The Emerald Ash Borer, an insect that directly threatens nearly all of New York’s Ash trees. Water Chestnut, (not to be confused with the edible water chestnut) an aquatic plant that will completely dominate and render recreational waterways un-usable.

As part of a statewide initiative to address invasive species, representatives from numerous organizations spread across five counties have formed what is known as a Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). These five counties include; St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and Oswego counties. Together the group in known as the St. Lawrence – Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO-PRISM). Other PRISM’s in New York State include the Finger Lakes PRISM.

According to Rob Williams, Invasive Species Program Coordinator “the partners in the SLELO region have a tremendous opportunity to improve how invasive species are managed and to reduce the potential negative economic, human and environmental impact posed by these invasive species”.

Some of the initiatives that the SLELO partners hope to undertake include: developing a five-year strategic plan, prevention of new species being introduced into the region, actual control and containment of existing species, information exchange among the general public and partners, cooperation and collaboration among all who are interested. “We are always glad to have new volunteers help with our efforts” Williams states and “those who would like more information on our efforts are welcome to call the SLELO main office at (315) 387-3600 or visit our website at www.sleloinvasives.org”.

(Lowville, NY – Sept. 22, 2011)  In a surprise move at their convention on Sept. 20, the Conservative Party delegates from the six counties in the Fifth Judicial District selected Democrat Charles Merrell to run for one of the four state Supreme Court seats on the November ballot.

Judge Merrell, County, Surrogate and Family Court judge in Lewis County since 2003, has also been an acting state Supreme Court justice since 2007. He is one of several Democrats in the race, but the only one nominated by the Conservative Party.

Delegate Bernie Ment, the chairman of the DeWitt Conservative Party committee, explained that judicial experience was the key factor in the party’s decision to nominate Judge Merrell. “He is the one candidate who had experience on the bench as an acting state Supreme Court justice,” Ment said.

“One of the primary slogans for my campaign is Experience Matters,” said Judge Merrell. “It’s very satisfying to see that the Conservative Party feels the same way.”

The Democrats in the Fifth Judicial District held their convention on Saturday, Sept. 24 at party headquarters in Syracuse.

To find out more about Judge Charles Merrell and his campaign for State Supreme Court, visit www.electmerrell.com or www.facebook.com/electmerrell

(Sept. 15, 2011) Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,I-New Hartford) has authored and introduced new legislation to ease the voting process in counties like Oneida and Oswego, which currently do not maintain the same polling hours for different elections held on the same day – such as the special election and the primary election held Tuesday,September 13, 2011.

“If a special election is called for the same day as a primary election, it would only make sense that the polls for both elections have the same hours. However, this is currently not the case. To ensure democracy, and ease the voting process for all registered voters, I have sponsored and introduced this commonsense legislation,” said the assemblywoman.

If enacted, the legislation would allow polling hours from6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for primary elections which are held on the same day as special elections. Under currently state election law, primary elections are held from noon to 9 p.m. except inNew York City, or the counties of Erie, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester (which are open from6 a.m. to 9 p.m.). General elections, special elections and all other elections across the state have open poll hours from6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

(Watertown, NY – Sept. 2011) The Greater Watertown – North Country Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center has expanded their primary service area to include Oswego and Oneida Counties.

The PTAC is hosted by the GWNC Chamber of Commerce and continues to service their previous area of Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence Counties and any other county in New York not covered by another PTAC Program.

The North Country PTAC provides free technical assistance and counseling to businesses interested in selling to the government (federal, state, local, and military).  The program is federally funded and within the first three years of the program, their clients have reported 45 contracts awarded totaling over $75million.

Visit the program’s website at www.northcountryptac.com or contact Stephen Barr, Program Manager at ptac@watertownny.com or call 315-788-4400 for more information.

(Mexico, NY – Sept. 8, 2011) The New York State Police investigated a fatal residential fire that occurred just after midnight at 57 Hamilton St. in Mexico.

The fire started in the garage area as gasoline fumes ignited when contacting a water tank pilot light. The resulting flames injured Peter Barnes, 41, who was working on an ATV at the time.

The fire quickly spread to the residence entrapping the other two occupants. George Barnes, 69, was pulled from the residence by two responding New York State Troopers and Peter Barnes.

Attempts to locate Shirley Barnes, 63, were unsuccessful and she died as a result of the fire, apparently due to smoke inhalation.

George Barnes was taken to Upstate Hospital in serious condition with smoke inhalation.  Peter Barnes was also taken to Upstate Hospital where he is in stable condition with upper body burns.

Mexico and New Haven Fire Departments responded to battle the blaze.

The investigation was conducted with The Oswego County Cause Origin Team.

The investigation continues, but the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

(Fulton, NY – Sept. 3, 2011) New York State Police in Fulton arrested Ray H. Ross II, 32, of 744 County Route 10, Lot 103, Pennellville, charging him with one count of third-degree Grand Larceny, a class D Felony.

On Aug. 27 at approximately 11 p.m. a 2001 Harley Davidson, FXSTDI Softail Duece model was reported stolen from the parking area of Monirae’s bar, 688 County Route 10 in Pennellville.

The motorcycle was located the following day in the Town of Manlius, Onondaga County.  The investigation developed Ross as a suspect, who was located and arrested on Sept. 3.

Ross was taken into custody by Fulton Troopers after he was found hiding in a closet in a Village of Minoa apartment.

Ross was arraigned in Oswego County and remanded to the Oswego County Jail on $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond.

(Great Lakes Seaway Trail, NY and PA – Sept. 1, 2011) The Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail has completed its first full year of providing a healthy outdoor activity for GPS-guided explorers with a $150,000 impact for the byway’s local economies in New York and Pennsylvania.

Organizers with the nonprofit tourism organization Seaway Trail, Inc., Sackets Harbor say they expect the total economic impact for the current supply of GeoCoins – tokens available once a certain number of caches are found – will be approximately $400,000.

Geocaching enthusiasts who use hand-held global positioning systems have embraced the fun and challenge of finding as many as 75 caches hidden in the landscape along the 518-mile length of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway. The byway parallels the freshwater shoreline of 11 counties: St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga, Wayne, Monroe, Orleans, Niagara, Erie, and Chautauqua, NY; and Erie, PA.

A total of 1,481 Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoCoins were claimed by those finding at least ten of 15 hidden caches in any of the byway’s five regions: Lake Erie, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Rochester/Central Lake Ontario, Eastern Lake Ontario, and the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence River.

Cachers typically spent two or three days geocaching in each region, spending an average of $80 to $150 in each region.

“Nearly all the participants surveyed indicated they are caching along the entire Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail, spending nearly two weeks on the byway to do so,” said Seaway Trail, Inc. Director of Business Relations Kurt Schumacher.

“People have come from 26 US states, five Canadian provinces, and as far away as Australia to complete the GeoTrail. As we’re seeing more people from outside the byway region, we’re also seeing longer stays and higher average expenditures,” Schumacher added.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said their GeoTrail adventure was highly likely to influence their decision to travel on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in the future.

Seaway Trail, Inc. President and CEO Teresa Mitchell said, “This ‘get outdoors on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail’ initiative is an accessible and affordable opportunity to enjoy healthy fresh air travel along the entire Great Lakes shoreline of New York and Pennsylvania.”

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail will continue in 2012. Logbooks are available at locations along the byway, including:
St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Canton, NY

1000 Islands International Tourism Council, Alexandria Bay, NY

Seaway Trail Discovery Center, Sackets Harbor, NY
Oswego County Tourism, Oswego, NY
Cayuga County Tourism, Auburn, NY
Wayne County Tourism, Lyons, NY
VisitRochester, Rochester, NY
Niagara USA Official Visitor Center, Niagara Falls, NY
Visit Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo, NY
Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Chautauqua, NY, and
Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie, PA.

This geocaching travel initiative debuted in August 2010 with 75 caches – used military ammo boxes emblazoned with the Great Lakes Seaway Trail logo — hidden by a cadre of local volunteers working in collaboration with Seaway Trail, Inc. and GeoTrail coordinator Jim “Boots” Hooper.

Each cache includes a unique punch tool for marking logbooks. Sponsor sites validate the logbooks to issue the collectible GeoCoins. The colorful antique metal-finish square coins feature iconic byway landmarks: the St. Lawrence Seaway, historic Fort Ontario, Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, Niagara Falls and the Maid of the Mist tour boat, and the Flagship Niagara.

Cachers can learn more about the Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail and where to pick up a logbook by visiting www.seawaytrail.com/geotrail.

(Albany, Constantia, NY – Aug. 30, 2011) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Anthony Panipinto received the 2010 “Officer of the Year” award from the Shikar-Safari Club International in a ceremony hosted by long-time Club member Robert Stackler, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

“ECO Panipinto has clearly demonstrated true commitment to protecting our State’s rich natural resources,” said Commissioner Martens. “Officer Panipinto appreciates and has a vested interest in diligently enforcing the environmental conservation laws of New York and deserves the honor bestowed upon him by the distinguished Shikar-Safari Club International.”

Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters interested in exchanging ideas about the sport. Each year the club sponsors an award for the Wildlife Conservation Police Officer of the Year in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and the territories of both nations, acknowledging the important part ECOs play in local, national, and international wildlife conservation.

ECO Panipinto was born and raised in Livingston County and attended Monroe County Community College and SUNY Brockport, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He attended and graduated from the 13th Basic Academy for Environmental Conservation Officers, a 26 week residential police academy held at SUNY Oswego in 2000.

After graduation Tony was assigned to Region 2 and patrolled the New York City borough of Brooklyn until he transferred to Region 7 and Oswego County in 2002. Typical among

New York’s 270 uniformed ECOs, Panipinto’s primary responsibility is enforcing the environmental conservation law. This includes hunting, fishing and trapping laws, investigating releases of petroleum, asbestos and other hazardous substances, investigating water pollution, wetland damage, timber theft and wild animals unlawfully kept as pets.

ECO Panipinto was recognized for numerous successful fish and wildlife investigations that he led including cases he worked undercover. Among those cases was Operation Green Mountain, a 2003 case where ECO Panipinto, while undercover, collected evidence against nine individuals and companies which resulted in 28 criminal charges for the illegal commercialization of New York state freshwater fish.

Another noteworthy case involved a complaint of deer jacking that initially started with no positive leads or physical evidence. His attention to detail led to the discovery of trace amounts of evidence. That evidence combined with skilled interviewing techniques resulted in confessions and the case was ultimately resolved with three individuals paying more than $9,700 in fines for the illegal taking of three deer with the aid of a spotlight.

ECO Panipinto also has completed the Instructor Development School and is a Division of Criminal Justice Services certified Police Instructor in Firearms, Emergency Vehicle Operation and Seaborne Emergency Vehicle Operation. He has participated in training ECO recruits in five basic schools. ECO Panipinto also has developed innovative methods for instructing firearms training for both the Division of Law Enforcement as well as for DEC’s wildlife program staff.

ECO Panipinto’s professional work ethic and commitment to his profession resulted in him being nominated and receiving the Shikar Safari Club Officer of the Year award.

Tony resides in the Oswego County town of Constantia with his wife, Tammy, 7-year-old son Dylan and 3–year-old daughter Sierra.

(Oswego County, NY –Aug. 2011) Those who enjoy exploring natural habitats will want to check out the new Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) brochure now online at www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/glhabitat/PDFS/DeerCreekMarsh2011.pdf.

New York Sea Grant produced the new publication in collaboration with The Ontario Dune Coalition, an alliance of private property owners’ associations, non-profit organizations, local government, and state and federal agencies. Entergy’s Environmental Stewardship Program provided funding.

Deer Creek Marsh WMA covers nearly 1,200 acres of state-owned land and provides opportunities for beach and trail hiking, fishing, paddling, trapping, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting and relaxing in nature.

The resource brochure written by New York Sea Grant Coastal Community Development Specialist Mary Penney highlights the habitats of the area that is part of the 17-mile Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands Area.

Penney writes of the cobble stones left on the beach by ancient glacier activity and encourages visitors to watch for wood ducks and to fish for northern pike, yellow perch and largemouth bass. She also cautions that at one point in time the fragile dunes were mined for their sand and damaged by vehicle and foot traffic.

Deer Creek Marsh WMA Land Manager Bonnie Parton with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says, “Deer Creek Marsh is a largely undiscovered treasure offering access to both Deer Creek and Lake Ontario. The dune crossover enables visitors to experience this unique and fragile environment without harming it.”

“The goal of this new publication is two-fold: to let people know about this great natural resource and recreation area that is part of one of the largest inland dune systems in the Eastern Great Lakes region and, most importantly, to inform people about how to protect the resource by using observation platforms, trails, and walkovers,” Penney says.

Deer Creek Marsh WMA is accessible from five parking areas, including a cartop boat launch parking area off Route 3 of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail north of the Salmon River between Route 5 and Rainbow Shores Road.

Directions to Deer Creek Marsh WMA:
From the south: Follow Interstate Route 81 to the Pulaski exit, turn left and travel 3 miles west on Route 13 to the intersection with Route 3 (Great Lakes Seaway Trail) at Port Ontario. Turn right (north) onto Route 3. Deer Creek Marsh WMA is on the left with a cartop boat launch parking area between Route 5 and Rainbow Shores Road and parking off Kelly Drive and Rainbow Shores Road.

From the north: Follow Interstate Route 81 to the Pulaski exit, turn right and travel to the first stop light in the village, turn left onto Route 11, turn right at the first light and follow Route 5 to the intersection with Route 3 (Great Lakes Seaway Trail) at Port Ontario. Turn right (north) onto Route 3. Deer Creek Marsh WMA is on the left with a cartop boat launch parking area between Route 5 and Rainbow Shores Road and parking off Kelly Drive and Rainbow Shores Road.

(Granby, NY – Aug. 11, 2011) State Police in Fulton have arrested 25 year-old Rebecca E. Mabie, of 20 West 11th Street, Apt. B8, Fulton for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor.

On Aug. 10 at approximately 12:56 p.m. area fire departments were dispatched to a structure fire at the Chateau West Apartment complex on West 11th Street in the Town of Granby.  State Police responded after it was learned that a 4 month old child had been left unattended within the apartment when the fire started.

The investigation revealed that Mabie had left her apartment, leaving her 4 month old son sleeping unattended on the living room couch. Mabie had apparently left the apartment on foot to buy cigarettes from a subject within the apartment complex. While Mabie was away, a neighbor observed smoke coming from Mabie’s apartment and took action by entering and removing the 4 month old before the apartment became fully engulfed.  The fire has not been labeled as suspicious at this time and appears to have started in the kitchen area.

Mabie was issued an appearance ticket, returnable to the Town of Granby Court on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.

The State Police and the Oswego County Department of Social Services are continuing their investigation.