Bat study for whitewater park in Port Jervis

PORT JERVIS, NY — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has asked the City of Port Jervis to undertake a study that will show the impact to bats of the proposed whitewater park that is planned for the Delaware River at the city shoreline. Mayor Kelly Decker said the cost of the study will be about $3,000.

 Other work on the park is moving forward. Valerie Maginsky, the community development director, recently told the common council that she is nearly ready to finish a $49,500 matching grant that will help pay for the planning process.

She said that most of the involved agencies are on board with the process, but some technical issues remain to be worked out.

To help raise money to pay for the project, the city is seeking donations of bottles and cans; anyone wishing to contribute can contact Decker by email at portjer vismayor@gmail.com or by calling 845/858-4017.

Bipartisan PA milk bank legislation

HARRISBURG, PA — Republican Rep. Donna Oberlander and Democratic Rep. Rosita Youngblood, the respective caucus secretaries for House Republicans and Democrats in Pennsylvania, have introduced the Keystone Mothers’ Milk Bank Act.

Youngblood said, “The regulation of donor milk banks and their operation is necessary to ensure the safety of this precious commodity and its effective distribution to children in need. We recognize that a mother’s own milk is the optimal nutrition for newborn infants and is a public health goal for the delivery of food to all infants. However, many mothers face unique obstacles to producing enough milk for their own babies. When a mother’s own milk is not available, donor human milk can provide a life-saving health benefit for high-risk infants as a supplement or bridge when it is determined to be medically necessary and physician-prescribed.”

Oberlander said, “Donor milk is life-saving medicine for infants with very low birth weights less than four pounds, preventing the onset of serious gastrointestinal problems that can require surgery and entail thousands of dollars in medical costs. Without donor milk, these health issues can continue throughout that child’s life. Donor milk is also medically prescribed for children with heart problems and other compromising health care issues.”

New York invasive species week

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and Markets (DAM) on July 9 announced the states’s fifth annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW). It’s is an annual campaign that encourages New Yorkers to help protect the state’s lands and waters from the negative impacts of invasive species. The theme of this year’s campaign is, “What you can do to help stop the spread,” focusing on simple actions people can take to keep these unwanted species from hitchhiking to new areas.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Managing invasive species after these pests become established is challenging, and prevention is the easiest and most cost-effective strategy. Gov. Cuomo has been instrumental in leading the state’s fight against invasive species and in 2018, allocated $13.3 million from the Environmental Protection Fund to help limit their spread.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Invasive species, such as the spotted lanternfly (SLF), can cause significant damage to our agricultural crops.” Infestations of SLF have not been spotted in New York, but have adversely impacted property owners in Pennsylvania.

Shohola student returns from London

SELINSGROVE, PA — Amanda Grosz, of Shohola, was one of 18 students from Susquehanna University who recently spent time studying in London as part of the university’s Global Opportunities (GO) program.

Grosz is an economics major in the Class of 2019. A 2015 graduate of Delaware Valley, she is the daughter of John and Janet Grosz.

Participating students took field trips and collaborated with British professors and law-enforcement officials, allowing them to examine British law in the context of the European Union. They compared the law with that of the United States and analyzed legal systems, law enforcement practices, sports law and university law. When they return to campus in the fall, they will visit and interact with local law enforcement facilities and personnel.

As a cross-cultural requirement, study away is an integral part of a Susquehanna education. All students spend at least two weeks off campus, immersed in a culture different from their own, in the U.S. or abroad. Students reflect upon their experiences when they return, guided by faculty members and coursework that promotes discovery and personal growth.