Reader-Supported News for Philipstown and Beacon Wildlife Rehab Page 2 JULY 24, 2020 Celebrating 10 Years! Support us at highlandscurrent.org/join Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter protesters lined opposite sides of Route 9D in Beacon on Sunday (July 19). Photo by J. Simms Reporter’s Notebook EPA Releases Plan for Polluted Putnam Site Are We That Pledges to buy homes and The federal plan focuses on properties EPA representative. Environmental ease- on Gipsy Trail Road where the soil has ments will be placed on the parcels to limit Far Apart? help residents move elevated arsenic levels from abandoned their use, she said. By Brian PJ Cronin mines. The EPA said it will offer to buy For homeowners who decline the money By Jeff Simms the homes and property and also pay for and elect to stay, the EPA will continue to ueling protests he Environmental Protection the residents’ moves. apply the short-term remedies it began last took place on Agency intends to move residents Once vacated, the homes will be demol- year to mitigate the effects of the contam- Sunday (July and destroy as many as 10 arsenic- ished and the agency will begin a years- ination, including water monitoring, D T 19) in Beacon, with contaminated homes in Kent — 33 years long process to investigate the extent of providing indoor and outdoor mats and one group waving after the hazard was discovered. the contamination, said Sonia Mohabir, an (Continued on Page 8) Blue Lives Matter and U.S. flags and signs on the Bank Square side of Route 9D and Black Lives Matter supporters across the street, near City Hall. School Reopening Plans Due July 31 There were a few tense moments, with Beacon proposal calls for mine on a region-by-region basis if schools In Cold Spring, Superintendent Philip some participants seemingly itching for can proceed with their plans. Benante said he expects to share the a fight. Beacon police officers walked the ‘hybrid’ schedule The governor on July 13 said that each Haldane district’s plan with the commu- street, which had not been closed to traf- By Jeff Simms region’s schools can reopen if it has reached nity in early August. fic, to contain any dust-ups. the fourth and final phase of the state’s In a letter to parents, he said he has asked That’s not to say the situation was ublic school students in Beacon could reopening plan — as of July 20, all nine administrators to “develop a schedule which peaceful. have the option in September to begin regions had reached that milestone — and allows our youngest students and more In front of City Hall, Stefon Seward, Pthe school year in person, rather than if its daily COVID-19 infection rate remains vulnerable populations to physically attend a 2017 Beacon High School graduate, in front of a screen, under a plan the district at 5 percent or lower using a 14-day average. school more frequently” and to “establish a screamed into a megaphone: “No justice, has prepared to submit to the state. Schools will be forced to close if the regional rotation” for the remaining students to both no peace! No racist police!” Every district in New York must submit infection rate rises above 9 percent, using a attend in-class and engage in virtual learning. Across the way, the crowd responded: a reopening plan to Gov. Andrew Cuomo seven-day average, after Aug. 1. Garrison district officials said they “U-S-A, U-S-A!” by Friday (July 31). During the first week The Mid-Hudson Region’s infection rate are still working on their plan, as well. A I had a long day of yard work ahead of of August, Cuomo said the state will deter- as of July 20 was 1 percent. (Continued on Page 17) (Continued on Page 6) 2 JULY 24, 2020 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.org FIVE QUESTIONS: JOE THERRIEN By Brian PJ Cronin window strikes with birds, a lot of times if you put the bird in a box and keep it in the By Michael Turton oe Therrien is a wildlife biologist and dark, in an hour it will be fine after it’s had head of the special-license unit of the time to calm down. What people shouldn’t state Department of Environmental When’s the J do is take an animal into their care. Some- Conservation. times people think, “Oh, I heard that goat’s last time you milk or Pedialyte is good for them,” and Today is the deadline to register for they end up injuring the animal. ran out of gas? the wildlife rehabilitator license exam. How is that different from a You also want to minimize human nuisance wildlife control officer? contact, correct? A rehabilitator is taking in injured Yes. Wildlife can be cute and adorable, In the early 1970s. wildlife with the goal of releasing it. You but a fawn or fox kit is not a pet. Any habit- I was a hippie, can’t make money from it because wild- uating that animals have with humans can driving back from life belongs to the people of the state. A be a death sentence. If you keep it for a few nuisance wildlife control operator’s main months and release it, it might approach Roanoke, Virginia. intent is to remedy a situation at a home, to other humans for food, and someone might take care of a conflict between humans and think, “Why is this fox coming to our porch wildlife. The license allows you to charge a all the time?” Rehabilitators do everything fee for that, and you can release the animal that the animal is better off being euthanized. they can to not let the animals get too or euthanize it. accustomed to human sounds and scents. When should people contact a reha- What’s the biggest misconception that bilitator? Your department also offers exams for aspiring rehabbers have? Anytime they come across something other specialties, such as falconry and That they’ll be able to help everyone. There that might need attention. But call the reha- leashed tracking dogs. Do you have are only 1,200 in the state, so they are over- bilitator first before picking up wildlife; he any licenses yourself? whelmed. Their hearts are torn between “I or she will talk with you to figure out what’s No, it would be a conflict of interest, can’t take that” and “I want to take that.” going on. [See dec.ny.gov/animals/83977. since we issue them. I also don’t have time. ~ Mike Klubnick, Cold Spring People go into this field because they’re html.] A lot of wildlife that seems aban- Once people know you’re a wildlife rehabili- passionate about animals, but sometimes doned is not. For example, fawns will be left tator, for example, everybody comes to you. the initial triage may involve determining behind by the mother while she feeds. With It’s like having another child. In 2012, on the Newburgh riverfront, several blocks from a gas station. A policeman gave me a ride. ~ Karen Thompson, Philipstown I’ve never run out. I was always taught “keep the tank at least half full” because you never know what’ll happen in life. ULTIMA WHOLEIntroducing ANIMAL Our New Online BUTCHER Store LOCALLYCURBSIDE SOURCED PICKUP/ SINCE 2014 FARMSTEADFor Curbside CHEESE • CHARCUTERIEPickup PREPAREDPRE-ORDER FOODS • SANDWICHES marbledmeatshop.comONLYSPECIALTY WED-SAT GROCERY 10:00A.M. • CATERING – 5:00P.M. [email protected] US 9, COLD SPRING, NY 10516 | (845) • (845)265-2830 265-2830 marbledmeatshop.com ~ Bob Phillips, Beacon highlandscurrent.org The Highlands Current JULY 24, 2020 3 Nelsonville Preserves Secor Parcel What Members are Saying... Also passes laws regulating 5G technology In January, anticipating 5G technology’s 5G installations widespread use for data transfer, the board By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong began considering a law to regulate instal- lations. It held a public hearing in February. nding a debate that lasted nearly The 21-page law adopted Monday closely three years, the Nelsonville Village corresponds to the draft. According to its E Board voted 4-1 on Monday (July 20) introduction, it was enacted to “provide for to add a 4.1-acre parcel on Secor Street to new wireless technologies,” such as small- the easement that protects the Nelsonville cells and distributed antenna systems Woods from development. (DAS), encourage the placement of small Trustee Dave Moroney cast the sole “no” wireless telecommunications facilities vote against including the Secor property (SWTFs) on existing structures; protect in the easement, administered by the Open residents and businesses from unspecified Space Institute over the 112-acre woods. “potential adverse impacts”; and manage The 4.1-acre Secor parcel had once been SWTF development. eyed as a cell tower site. For basic installations, the law compels The board also added 2.9 acres of village 5G companies to obtain a permit from the land along Gatehouse Road to the ease- Planning Board. It also prohibits the instal- The Highlands Current is a community touchstone ment, which was established 20 years ago. lation of 5G or SWTF poles on single-family in our home. From cultural and policy updates to The easement agreement allows the houses, duplexes and any “accessory struc- ‘On the Spot’ questions, we look forward to and village to place a modest building, such as ture” on a residential lot. enjoy each new issue! a washroom or education center, or create Likewise, it bans SWTF installations a playground or tap underground water, within 50 feet of any occupied residential Arman Safa & Kristen Roeder, Cold Spring on the Secor acreage but forbids its use for structure (the draft called for 30 feet) and FRIEND Members a cell tower.