Author name: Peg Johnston

The Truth About Fracking

Scientific American has published a lengthy article about the science of hydrofracking by Chris Mullins, “When multiple “fracks” are done in multiple, adjacent wells, however, the risk for contaminating drinking water may rise. If fracking is defined as the entire industrial operation, including drilling and the storage of wastewater, contamination has already been found.” You can see a preview at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-truth-about-fracking but you must buy the magazine to read the whole thing. Mullins says that “Advanced tests, such as putting tracer chemicals down a well to see if they reappear in drinking water, could ultimately prove whether fracking is safe or not,” but regulators are not waiting for the science to come in.

Elsewhere in the magazine is an editorial saying the “fracking is getting ahead of the science” and the writer is urging New York where it is now under consideration, to “go slow” until the safety issues are resolved.

Cornell had released a narrated PowerPoint presentation on the SGEIS (Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement) on Hydrofracking. They have waded through the lengthy document to brief the public about the report. Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Community and Regional Development Institute at Cornell University has posted a new narrated powerpoint presentation that highlights the latest revisions to the SGEIS. The presentation can be found at http://bit.ly/SGEIS.

 

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Flood Pictures of Binghamton NY

9/8/11 Flood stage is at 12 feet but the river is now at 25 feet, give or take a few inches. Downtown Binghamton is deserted and 20,000 residents have been evacuated including those in neighborhoods in the First Ward, Conklin Ave., and the East Side.
The 2006 flood came up over one of the flood walls, which were built after the 1936 floods, and still holding, although several leaks were discovered. There was no repair of them after the 2006 floods. This river is spilling over the flood walls on both of the rivers that define Binghamton, but so far the walls have held and a bigger catastrophe has been avoided.

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Endwell Resident Among 15 Human Rights Activists Facing Trial

Endwell Resident Among 15 Human Rights Activists Facing Trial for Nonviolent Direct Action
the White House in Washington, DC

Washington, DC – Endwell resident Jack Gilroy is among 15 human rights advocates who are scheduled to go on trial on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 for engaging in nonviolent direct action at the White House in Washington, DC. Gilroy was one of the “White House 27,” a group of human rights advocates who staged a die-in on the White House sidewalk on April 10, 2011, to call on President Obama to shut down the notorious School of the Americas (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) and to put an end to the U.S. militarization of the Americas. Gilroy and his 14 co-defendants are facing the criminal charges of “failure to obey a lawful order” and “blocking and incommoding.” Despite facing a criminal trial, Gilroy is not intimidated.

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Mycelium Running in Rec Park

I walk in Recreation Park on Binghamton’s Westside every day. Lately I have been noticing a outburst of mushrooms in greater variety than I have ever seen in one place. There are 8-10 different kinds of mushrooms or “mycelium” as the scientists refer to it.

I met a Ukrainian woman picking the mushrooms as I was photographing them. “These very good to eat. This one poison. This one not poison, but not so good to eat.” I was in awe of her practical knowledge and her foraging for food, as her ancestors in the Ukraine probably have for centuries. Then she said, “It’s not hard, just look on internet.” OK, I surrender my sterotypes!

What’s most interesting though is what this growth means to the ecology of the Park. Paul Stamets is a passionate environmental advocate and mushroom researcher. You can go to http://www.YouTube.com and search on his name and listen to several of his lectures. One is called “Six Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World.” He explains that mycelium sends out little hair like root systems that can have a healing effect on earth, breaking down toxins, and opening pathways for plants, bugs, healthy bacteria, etc. He has done demonstrations of totally degraded construction soil contaminated by oil that have been restored by introducing mushrooms.

Stamets encourages people to spread mycelium around, especially in vacant lots or poor soil. One technique that I have tried is digging up the roots of the mushrooms to get those little hair like roots, not the mushroom itself, and then growing them for distribution around town. I use damp pieces of cardboard with some roots between each layer. The mushroom sandwich needs to be kept damp for several weeks. When it’s ready you will see streaks of white “running” up the cardboard. Then “infect” a site, which we did at the Laurel Community Garden for instance, so that the mycelium can start running where it’s needed.

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C-Squared: Collaborative Exhibit at Cooperative Gallery

Consider the Square. The current show at the Cooperative Gallery assembles diverse artwork in 6, 12 and 24 inch formats into groupings with surprising results. One collection (detail shown) connects different media all done in red.
Curator MaryRose Griffin invited all gallery members to submit works in squares and then created collections, one exploring textures, a concept, or color.
The Exhibit is open for two more weeks at the Cooperative Gallery 213 State St. It is open Fridays 3-6 pm and Saturdays 12-4 pm through July 30th.

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Rivercrest Houses Demolished

To our friends of Rivercrest:

It seems that Matthews’ lawyer recently persuaded the Town of Vestal to allow the demolition of four Rivercrest houses. Three were leveled last week. What a loss to the community!

Rivercrest’s status as Vestal’s one and only local historic district remains unresolved pending a court ruling. Until then Rivercrest should have enjoyed all the protections built into the town’s local law regarding historic preservation. In granting the demolition permits Vestal ignored all the requirements and regulations designed to protect its own heritage.

If you are as stunned, dismayed, outraged, or just plain puzzled why the Town would do such a thing, please write courteous letters to the members of the Town Board as well as to Town Clerk, Emil Bielecki. Tell them how you feel and request an explanation for what has happened.
To see photos of the demolition go to the Preservation Association website:
http://nyslandmarks.com/rivercrest/rcrest4.htm

Please write to:

Supervisor Pete Andreasen Councilman Dave Marnicki
Councilman Francis Majewski
Councilman John Schaffer
Councilwoman Patty Fitzgerald Town Clerk Emil Bielecki

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Make Way for Ducklings

 


A family of ducks snarled traffic on the East Clinton St. Bridge on a recent rainy May afternoon in Binghamton NY. A car stopped suddenly and then attempted to block two lanes and soon a Mallard with her brood were seen crossing the street, a heart-warming sight until they got to the other side. The mother easily hopped the curb but the ducklings were unable to manage the steep curb on the bridge. Run off from a downpour added peril to the scene as the water raced toward the storm sewer.

That’s when Allan Troxler came to the rescue. He ran out and picked each duckling up –all twelve of them—and gently placed them on the sidewalk next to their agitated mother. “I was a little worried that the mother might attack me, or the ducklings might run away, but everyone cooperated.” Troxler, of Durham NC, was in the area to assist in the design of the Jane Freeman exhibit, “Art, Money, Love: Jane Freeman 1871-1963” at the Cooperative Gallery 213 on State St. “It was one of those rare moments in life when you get to interact with Nature and I will never forget those lifting those little downy ducklings.”

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Art, Money, Love: Jane Freeman 1871-1963

[img_assist|nid=2038|title=Art, Money, Love: Jane Freeman 1871-1963|desc=Art, Money, Love: Jane Freeman 1871-1963 Paintings and Ephemera from a Working Artist will be at the Cooperative Gallery 213 on State St. Binghamton May 6-28th, 2011.|link=none|align=center|width=200|height=142]

Art, Money, Love: Jane Freeman 1871-1963
Paintings and Ephemera of a Working Artist

May 6-28, 2011
Cooperative Gallery 213

Jane Freeman supported herself as an artist at a time when it was exceptional for women to work, much less as a painter. “Art, Money, Love: Jane Freenan 1871-1963” exhibits several of her paintings and will display photos, letters, and other ephemera to illustrate her life as a working artist. Peg Johnston is curating the show which runs from First Friday May 6th through Saturday, May 28th. A reception on May 7th from 3-5 pm is open to the public and fellow gallery members and friends.

Two paintings will be on loan from the Springville (Utah) Museum of Art: “Eyes for Two” won several prizes and depicts a blind former matador in Spain with his wife. “French Peasant” is also a noted painting. Vern Swanson, PhD director of the Museum comments, “These are really fine paintings and we are happy to contribute to this revival of Jane Freeman’s art.” Other paintings include a portrait of Albert Schweitzer, two still lifes, and several portraits in oil and chalk. See the Springville Museum of Art paintings at http://springvilleartmuseum.org/collections/browse.html?x=art&art_id=393&name=Eyes_for_Two

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Peg Johnston Honored for Abortion Work

At its annual conference February 5th, 2011, the Abortion Care Network gave three awards to those who have shown exemplary and outstanding service to the abortion care community and to the women it serves. The David Gunn Lifetime Achievement honoree this year is Peg Johnston, a clinic director, long-time leader in the abortion care community, and author of many patient self help materials. The Vision Award, given to “person or persons who challenge the stigma of abortion in every day practice,” was awarded to Advancing New Standards In Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), with Director Tracy Weitz accepting the award. Shelley Oram was honored as “ACN Person of the Year” for her “above and beyond” service to the members of the Abortion Care Network, especially in her work as meeting planner.

Peg Johnston has been director of an abortion facility in Binghamton, NY since 1981 and has been active on the national stage in her efforts to provide compassionate abortion care for women. She is a past president of the Abortion Care Network, the Abortion Conversation Project, and the National Coalition of Abortion Providers and the primary author of several patient aides, notably the Pregnancy Options Workbooks, Healthy Coping, Mom, Dad, I’m Pregnant, and Especially for Men.” She has also written several influential essays, including, “Opting Out of the Abortion Wars,” “We Have Met the Enemy and S/he is Us,” and “Lose the Adjective.”

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White Guy Shooting = Crazy; Brown Guy Shooting = Terrorist

Why are they not using the term terrorist in the Tucson assassinations?

Jared Lee Loughner allegedly tried to assassinate Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at a meeting with constituents in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday. In the wake of the attack, the 22-year-old Loughner has been called everything from “crazed” to “unhinged.” What he’s not been called, however, at least by the media, is a terrorist. Continue reading this story at this link:

http://www.good.is/post/why-is-nobody-calling-jared-loughner-a-terrorist/

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