Bird Conservation Group Objects To Proposed Wind Farm Project Near Lake Ontario

"A proposed wind turbine project near the Lake Ontario shoreline is drawing criticism from bird conservation groups.

The Lighthouse Wind Project  would put up to 70 or so wind turbines in parts of Orleans and Niagara Counties, near the lake shore, and that has brought concerns from an organization called the American Bird Conservancy. The group rates that project as one of the 10 worst sited wind farms in the U.S., because it says it has the potential of severely impacting raptors and songbirds.

The president of the Audubon Society of the Genesee Valley,  June Summers, notes that some birds that migrate long distances are already in peril, and she says these turbines would create the potential of serious injuries or death to those birds since there is a migration corridor near the lake."

Read more at WXXI...

Tappan Zee Tugboat Captain Dies on Hudson River

"The captain of a tugboat involved in the construction of the new span of the Tappan Zee Bridge has died after suffering a medical emergency aboard the vessel.

Rockland County Sheriff’s Marine Unit says it responded Monday night to a report of an emergency aboard the Tappan Zee Constructors tugboat Pilgrim on the Hudson River in the area of Tilcon quarry, located a few miles up river from the Tappan Zee Bridge. Once on board, officers found a crew member performing CPR on a 50-year-old male who was unresponsive. The man was removed from the vessel and transported to Nyack Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The victim has been identified as Edward T Smith, 50, of Norwalk, Connecticut.

The Rockland County Sheriff’s office says the cause of death is still unknown."

Read more at gCaptain.com...

Mural Mania in Lyons, New York

"Lyons, N.Y. — Local history is celebrated in a series of murals painted on buildings around Lyons.

It began a few years ago when a group of concerned citizens cleared away a trash heap along the Erie Canal to create a park. Volunteers created a large mural on the face of an old trolley bridge at the site and named it "Winston's Dream" after Winston Dobbins, who began the project. The mural depicts the old Erie Canal.

Mark De Cracker and Noel Dobbins created Mural Mania, and more murals followed. There are currently eight scenes around town which can be seen with a brief walk.

The Mural Mania project has expanded, and historical scenes of life on the Erie Canal are seen on 25 buildings from Syracuse to Palmyra. In addition to attracting visitors to the area and preserving history, the murals have encouraged residents to become involved in the revitalization of the community."

Read more at New York Upstate...

Nazi Sub in Lake Ontario? Nope Says Snopes

"On 18 February 2016, the web site World News Daily Report published an article reporting that a Nazi submarine had been discovered in Lake Ontario:

Niagara Falls — Divers from the U.S coast guard took part this morning, in a delicate wreck recovery operation to bring to the surface a Nazi submarine discovered two weeks ago at the bottom of Lake Ontario.

The U-boat was spotted for the first time by amateur scuba divers in late January and they had contacted the authorities. Archaeologists associated with Niagara University of and master divers from the U.S Coast Guard were mobilized on site to determine what it was, and they soon realized that they were dealing with a German submarine that sank during World War II ... Professor Mark Carpenter, who leads the team of archaeologists, believes that the U-boat could have traveled up the St-Lawrence River, all the way to the Great Lakes, where it intended to disturb the American economy.

As with all of World News Daily Report's content, the Nazi sub story was entirely fabricated. The article used an unrelated image of a rusting, decommissioned Russian submarine from the Cold War era to illustrate the claim, not a picture of a genuine World War II-era German U-boat.

World News Daily Report is a fake news site that regularly publishes wild and sensational false claims to drive social media share-based traffic and generate thereby ad revenues."

Read more at Snopes.com...

Queen City Bike Ferry Needs Expansion

"The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has a problem, but it’s the kind that businesses love to have. It has succeeded beyond its expectations and now has to adjust to account for that. It is urgent that it does so before the bicycling season begins to roll.

The problem is with the Queen City Bike Ferry that the ECHDC launched with great hopes last year. It transports bicyclists between Canalside and the Outer Harbor, and leaders hoped to serve around 20,000 passengers during the 2015 season. It more than doubled that amount, attracting 50,000 passengers, including more than 9,000 during its first three weeks of operation. Successful doesn’t begin to describe it.

But sometimes success breeds challenges, and such is the case with the Queen City Bike Ferry. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, long a proponent and instigator of waterfront development here, noted that passengers had to cope with long lines, some waiting more than an hour. It created a disincentive to return, especially given that riders couldn’t know if their return trip would be similarly hindered."

Read more at The Buffalo News...

Retired lockmaster wins Lockport award

"LOCKPORT – Joel Beyer, chief operator of the Erie Canal locks in Lockport for 37 years, was named Thursday as the winner of the 11th annual “Key to the Locks” award, presented by the Erie Canal Discovery Center each year to a local resident who promotes the canal.

Beyer will receive the award from Lockport Mayor Anne E. McCaffrey at 11 a.m. May 7 in a ceremony at the Discovery Center, 24 Church St., Lockport.

Beyer retired earlier this year after 42 years working on the canal. He became lockmaster in Lockport in 1979. Although it wasn’t a promotional job, Beyer spent years working with school groups, area residents and tourists, helping them understand the history and workings of the Canal and locks."

Read more at The Buffalo News...

Canal Corporation director makes the case for an endangered Cuomo proposal

"ALBANY — More hydropower dams could be built along the state’s canals if the Cuomo administration's plan to transfer the Canal Corporation to the New York Power Authority goes through, according to Canal Corporation's director Brian Stratton.

In his January State of the State proposal, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed transferring the money-losing Canal Corporation — which doesn't generate significant income and generally loses tens of millions a year — away from the Thruway Authority.

It marks a reversal of a policy instituted by his father that has been unpopular ever since. But Cuomo's plan has scant support in the Legislature.

The New York Power Authority has significant revenues, largely from the sale of hydropower, which makes up the vast majority of the renewable energy that powers the state’s electrical grid. About 2.5 percent of that hydropower, or 154 megawatts, comes from 27 hydropower dams on the canal system, Stratton said.

He said there's room for more."

Read more at Politico New York...

Our Ability Journeys Along the Erie Canal in 2016

"In 2016, our 4th Journey Along the Erie Canal will highlight the importance of employment opportunities for all New Yorkers. In January 2016, Our Ability launched the New York Business Leadership Network. The NYBLN will bridge the gap between employment opportunities from New York businesses as well as the candidates with disabilities statewide.

Our 2016 ride will raise awareness of Our Ability, NYBLN and the benefits of employment for all New Yorkers. We will invite businesses across New York to provide jobs and internships. We invite New Yorkers to find the ability inside ourselves whether it be riding the Erie Canal or finding meaningful employment."

Read more here...

Spring is (kinda) Coming!

So, yeah, still no word at the NYCC site as to the opening of the 2016 Navigational Season. Sigh. I might call my mechanic (Hi Steve!) and see about a few little projects that need doing before we can get underway in May. Things that need doing:

• Water-heater Break-out Valve
I have no idea what this is, but Steve says I need one. So, okay. I also want to figure out why the sump pump in the shower doesn't work. It'd be nice to be able to shower on board (rather than wash-up on shore. heh.)

• V-Berth Skylights need some Caulking
Yeah, all skylights eventually leak, and it's no fun having the drip, drip, drip of cold water on your legs when you're trying to sleep.

• Boat Name on Stern
We put off actually naming the boat because I couldn't settle on a name. So I need to get in touch with a vinyl sign guy here in Fairport and get that done. Dick got annoyed with me last year, because I kept referring to the boat on the radio as "forty-foot cruiser." "You gotta get a name for this boat," he said. He's right.

• General Clean-up and re-stock and all-around Provisioning
This is like an on-going Sisyphus-style job, given that I'm a slob and I eat and drink too much.

So, that's the short list. We've got a winter-storm warning for this evening, but as you can from these pics, almost all the snow has melted, really. So, yeah. Spring fever.

Winter Is (kinda) Over!

I heard a rumor the Canal may open for navigation as early as April 28. Can't find any info on the Canal Corp. web site to back that up, though.

Huck (the dog) and I did make it out to Midlakes to check on Huck (the boat). She's still under wraps, though I did bump into Steve Rapp, our resident boat mechanic in these parts, and a couple of other boaters.

Steve explained that they won't start dropping boats into the water until the Canal is officially open, even if there's water in the canal, because sometimes the Canal Corp. moves water around and you don't want to end up with your boat sitting on the bottom.

I also checked on W.R. Kenan (Dick's boat), and it looks like his tarp has blown away from the cabin house. I would have tried to fix it, only I didn't have a ladder. Sorry, Dick. She looked okay, though, so I wouldn't worry.

Also finally got down to the canal to check on the progress of the condos next to Parker Street Bridge. Looks like a lot of the framing is done, and the plumbers were there, so I guess they'll be done soon.

The big question under discussion is whether or not the 48 units will all be occupied by boat owners, and whether they'll park (and take up all the space) in Fairport.

Time will tell.

Canal Clean Sweep

The 11th annual Clean Sweep is scheduled for April 22-24, 2016.

Celebrate Earth Day and show some love for the Canal and Canalway Trail by volunteering!

No telling what you may find! 

Woman in SUV Survives 50 Foot Plunge into Erie Canal

A woman was pulled to safety after investigators say she crashed into the Erie Canal.

Crews were called to 390 near Lyell and Lexington Avenues Thursday morning just before 4.

Upon arrival, deputies observed a gray 2008 Cadillac Escalade in the canal, directly below the median at Route 390 North and Lexington Avenue. The vehicle was laying on its side in approximately three feet of water.

The driver, 38-year-old-year-old Kelly Antochi, was sitting on top of her vehicle when first responders arrived on scene. Antochi was the only person in the vehicle during the crash.

Read more at 10NBC....