February 7, 2012 OEI is pleased to share that Partnership for Onondaga Creek will host a New York Council for the Humanities Community Conversation: “A Conversation about Martin Luther King, Jr and Service”, facilitated by Focusing our Resources for Community Enlightenment. This opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion about public service and civic engagement will be Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at 6:30pm at the Brady Faith Center, 404 South Avenue in Syracuse. Flyer
December 14, 2011 OEI President, Ed Michalenko is quoted in The Eagle news article: Onondaga Lake: How it became 'the most polluted lake in America', by Amanda Wada. Stay tuned for a follow up article next week.
December 6, 2011 OEI is pleased to be part of the “Our Water, Our Lives” project team, a project conducted in collaboration with Allison Speicher, Dr. Sharon Moran, SUNY ESF Environmental Studies professor, the “ESF in the High Schools” program, Orenda Springs, and other partners. Ms. Speicher and Dr. Moran will develop curricula to educate youth about Clean Water Act law and policy to foster environmental justice. Allison is currently recruiting Syracuse High School teachers to work with her on curricula development and testing. Allison can be reached at this email address: ourwaterourlivessyracuse[at]gmail.com
November 17, 2011 Amy Samuels and Meredith Perreault moderated conference sessions at the Growing Green Infrastructure in New York Symposium, hosted by the Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University (EFC) and SUNY ESF. Amy moderated the “Green Roofs” session, and Meredith moderated the “Strategically Advancing Green Infrastructure” panel discussion. OEI staff were pleased to be a part of the symposium and continue our productive collaboration to grow green infrastructure in Central New York with EFC and ESF.
November 7, 2011 OEI staff attended the Science Teachers’ Association of New York State (STANYS) Annual Conference in Rochester, NY. Meredith Perreault moderated a panel discussion on local watershed education strategies and resources. Panelists included Jack Gramlich of Eco to Go, Catherine Landis, a SUNY-ESF doctoral candidate, and Cornelia Harris of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Additionally, OEI’s Sarah Wraight provided a demonstration of the Onondaga Lake Mapping Activity. To view the mapping project, please visit http://www.oei2.org/OLCE_Mapping.html.
November 4, 2011 Dr. Tom Perreault presented “The Social History of Water: Histories and geographies of environmental injustice in the Onondaga Lake watershed, New York” at the International Conference-Seminar “Water Justice” in Cusco, Peru. The paper, which was authored by OEI’s Sarah Wraight and Meredith Perreault alongside Tom Perreault, was provided grant support by Dr. Rutgerd Boelens of Wageningen University, a Dutch research university.
October 28, 2011 SAVE THE DATE - Tuesday November 29, 2011 the Onondaga Lake Partnership and the Onondaga Lake Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Trustee Council (with other participating organizations) are hosting the Onondaga Lake Watershed Community Forum. The entire community is invited to participate in this important discussion. The Forum will feature presentations from key governmental agencies about current clean-up progress followed by roundtable discussions regarding the future of Onondaga lake.
- 5:00pm-6:00pm - Open House (table displays and refreshments)
- 6:00pm-8:30pm - Presentations and round table discussion
September 22, 2011 OEI staff and volunteers from the Onondaga Lake Community Education Project will give an presentation entitled "Re-imagining the Future of Onondaga Lake" and administer a lake-mapping activity at the Liverpool Public Library (Map). The event is open to all who would like to learn more about Onondaga Lake, its ecological history and significance, and how we can revitalize it. The event will be held in the Carman Community Room from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
September 17, 2011 Join OEI at the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection (WEP) Open House for a rain barrel workshop. Seize this valuable opportunity to learn about rain barrels and other green infrastructure. Save the rain in style by hand-painting your barrel as well! Local artist Abisay Puentes will be in attendance to help decorate barrels for a green and beautiful result. The event will be held Saturday, September 17, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. Map to Location
June 28, 2011 Community meeting about Onondaga County's future plans to "green" the West Castle St area. Free and open to the public. Comments are welcome. June 28th, 6pm - 7:30pm, Southwest Community Center - 401 South Ave.
June 23, 2011 Learn more about green infrastructure and how you can use a rain barrel to help “Save the Rain” and keep our water clean! All are welcome to come and learn about rain barrels. Residents of the city of Syracuse are eligible to take home a free rain barrel from Onondaga County after the workshop. Thursday June 23, 6:30pm - 7pm at Hazard Branch Library. For more details or to register, contact Amy Samuels at 443-1757 or email.
June 18, 2011 During the “Art on Porches” event in Strathmore, Save the Rain will offer rain barrel workshops throughout the day, and give away rain barrels to Syracuse city residents. Saturday June 18, 11am - 5pm on Ruskin Ave in Strathmore. For more details, contact Amy Samuels at 443-1757 or email.
June 15, 2011 Amy Samuels and all of her hard work--planning outreach events, conducting rain barrel workshops, and coordinating barrel painting with Roberts School--are featured in The Syracuse New Times article What's Shakin'. More...
May 21, 2011 Go Green in the 'Cuse with Green Infrastructure - A workshop will be held at the Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Ave (map) from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This free workshop will feature an indoor introductory presentation on green infrastructure (GI), as well as a tour of GI at the Westcott Community Center and a hands-on planting/weeding of the rain garden. A complimentary lunch will be available for those who RSVP by May 18. For more information, contact Amy Samuels via email or call (315) 443-1757
May 16, 2011 Public presentation of "Re-imagining the Future of Onondaga Lake" will be held at the Solvay Public Library Community Room: 615 Woods Rd, Solvay; 6:30-8 PM
May 13, 2011 Go Green in the 'Cuse with Green Infrastructure - Hosted by the Dunbar Seniors, this free workshop will explain how green landscaping and building techniques benefit local neighborhoods and waterways. It will be held at the Dunbar Center, 1453 South State Street (map) from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Featuring an indoor introductory presentation on green infrastructure (GI), as well as a tour of GI at the Dunbar Center, including porous pavement and a rain garden. A complimentary lunch is available for whose who RSVP by May 11. For details or to RSVP, contact Amy Samuels via e-mail or call (315) 443-1757
May 5, 2011 Public presentation of "Re-imagining the Future of Onondaga Lake" will be held at Baldwinsville Public Library: 33 East Genesee St, Baldwinsville; 7-8 PM
April 27, 2011 Amy Samuels talks about the design and benefits of rain gardens for a YNN news story on Green Infrastructure in Syracuse. More...
April 14, 2011 OEI would like to welcome Catherine Landis as our newest intern. She will be working on her PhD research - historical ecosystems of the Onondaga Lake watershed. OEI has consulted with Catherine about her research many times in the past and we are thrilled to have her working with us this summer.
April 13, 2011 OEI supports the return of Murphy's Island to Onondaga Nation - OEI President Ed Michalenko speaks to the nature of on-site contamination. Syracuse Post-Standard article: 'A step toward healing:' An effort to return some sacred land by Sean Kirst. More...
April 3, 2011 OEI President, Ed Michalenko to meet with OEI board member, James Walsh and US Representative Ann Marie Buerkle about legislation regarding the Onondaga Lake Watershed Council. Read the Syracuse Post-Standard article here. More...
March 31, 2011 Article from the Syracuse South Side Stand: Students from a number of local job training programs, including Jubilee Home’s Youth Build Program and Matawon Development Group from the South Side, attended The Pourous Pavement Workshop held on March 17th hosted by OEI. More...
March 18, 2011 OEI's Sarah Wraight will help present "Re-Imagining the Future of Onondaga Lake" at the F.O.C.U.S Greater Syracuse Core Group meeting at 7:30am. The presentation, developed and delivered to community groups as part of a collaborative effort between the Onondaga Nation, OEI, and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, provides an introduction to the historical ecology of Onondaga Lake and its watershed, major sources of damage to the lake environment, some of the current remediation and restoration efforts, and the Onondaga Nation's vision for the future of the lake. More...
March 7, 2011 Demand exceeds Supply! The Porous Pavement in Cold Climates Workshop is Sold Out! Please e-mail your contact information to Amy Samuels if you would like to be notified about related events in the future. Powerpoint presentations and conference materials will be available on this site in late March.
March 1, 2011 Deadline for the Onondaga Lake watershed community to submit Onondaga Lake Partnership Mini Grant applications. OEI administers the Mini Grant program on behalf of the Onondaga Lake Partnership, with funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency More...
January 26, 2011 OEI will be tabling at the SUNY-ESF State Of Syracuse: A Forum for Sustainability event from 5pm - 8pm in Marshall Hall on ESF's campus. The forum will highlight the current initiatives toward creating a more sustainable Syracuse. Panelists include Andrew Maxwell (City of Syracuse), Chuckie Holstein (F.O.C.U.S Greater Syracuse), Matthew Millea (Onondaga County), and Sam Gordon (CNY Regional Planning and Development Board). All are welcome and admission is FREE.
January 21, 2011 Tyler Andre, along side of several other community members, will be presenting the latest "Citizen's Strategic Action Plan" for walking, hiking, cycling, and wheeling CNY paths and trails, on behalf of CNY Pathways, at this Friday's F.O.C.U.S Core Group meeting. CNY Pathways, includes members from city and county government agencies, citizen's cycling groups, disability advocacy groups, advocates for healthy living, and other interested organizations and citizens. OEI has been a contributing member to CNY Pathways since the early days and is excited to see the work presented to the public. More...
January 13, 2011 The Onondaga Nation, Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI), and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON) have worked together to develop educational materials that take a close look at the past, present, and future of Onondaga Lake. Historical fact sheets, a slideshow presentation, and an interactive mapping activity are amongst the new materials, all of which are now available through the Onondaga Environmental Institute's Public Outreach Project Page.
January 4, 2011 OEI would like to welcome Kelly Somerlot as the newest member of OEI's staff. She will be working with us part time as an Environmental Educator. Kelly will be working with the Environmental Finance Center and the Save the Rain Education and Outreach Program We look forward to working with her. More...
December 3, 2010 Amy Samuels speaks at SUNY-ESF Green Train Landscaping & Urban Ecology (GLUE) workforce training program graduation. In late August Amy agreed to be one of the instructors for the 10-week program. Green Train is designed to support the emergence of green infrastructure throughout Syracuse and Central New York. More...
December 1, 2010 OEI would like to welcome Linda Kirsche as the newest member of OEI's staff. As the Executive Assistant, Linda will be responsible for providing OEI with high level assistance and project administrative support. She will coordinate technical and office administration and facilitates interoffice communications. We look forward to working with her. More...
November 29, 2010 At the request of USEPA Region 2, OEI is making available the following two USEPA documents, which are summaries from the November 5, 2010 public scoping meeting. Link to documents...
November 18, 2010 Board member, Clyde Ohl, had letter to the editor published by The Syracuse Post-Standard. The letter was in response to a recent decision by Honeywell to plant willow trees on the wastebeds in lieu of capping. The capping process was part of the original agreement made over 30 years ago. More...
November 5, 2010 The Environmental Protection Agency US (USEPA) will hold a public meeting (flyer) at 6:30pm, on Friday, November 5, 2010 in the Grimshaw Elementary School cafeteria, 5957 Route 20 West, LaFayette, NY (map), to discuss alternatives to the USEPA Scoping Document to alleviate sedimentation from mudboil activity. More...
October 23, 2010 OEI sponsors a room at the United Way - Success By 6 2010 Book Fest at Hughes Elementary Middle School. The theme of the this years Book fest was "Read, Reuse, Recycle", so Success By 6 coordinators contacted OEI to participate. More...
October 18, 2010 OEI is seeking a full-time Executive Assistant (Job Description). Qualified applicants please email your resume and salary requirements to outreach@oei2.org with Executive Assistant in the subject heading.
Update: Position filled. See December 1, 2010
October 14, 2010 OEI President Ed Michalenko, spoke as one of many experts at a press conference for U.S. Representative Dan Maffei's stance on global climate change. For press coverage follow the link. More...
September 30, 2010 OEI would like to congratulate Les Monostory for being one of the six national finalist for Field and Stream's Heroes of Conservation Award. Mr. Monostory and the Izaak Walton League of America (Central New York Chapter) are partners of the OEI. More...
September 3, 2010 OEI would like to welcome Allison Werner as our newest Graphic Design and Media Communications intern. Ms. Werner comes to us from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School, where she majors in Magazine Journalism.
August 12, 2010 The Onondaga Earth Corps. (OEC) Green Festival takes place at Kirk Park from noon until 4:00pm. More...
August 5, 2010 OEI's Amy Samuels teamed up with the Onondaga Earth Corps. (OEC) to coordinate a green landscape makeover for a home included in the Block Blitz. The makeover included environmentally friendly landscaping as well as installation of rain barrels. The OEC will return to the property in the fall to plant trees. Pictures...
July 27, 2010 at 9 a.m. Rain garden installation event - Onondaga Environmental Institute is working with Onondaga County’s Department of Water Environment Protection to develop a demonstration rain garden and supporting educational materials, including a maintenance booklet, sign, brochure, and photo “tour” of the process. The rain garden will be located on METRO property on Hiawatha Boulevard, Syracuse. Pictures...
July 16, 2010 Amy Samuels of Onondaga Environmental Institute and the Onondaga Earth Corps youth organized activities and games for youth from the Southwest Community Center (Syracuse). This was part of “Onondaga Lake Day”, an event planned by Mat Weber of Project Watershed and held at Willow Bay, Onondaga Lake Park on July 16th. Other activities were created and staffed by volunteers from SUNY-ESF, New York State Parks and Recreation, Central NY Chapter of the Izaac Walton League of America, Project Watershed, and Southwest Community Center staff and volunteers. All activities were hands-on, interactive, and centered on watershed issues, green infrastructure, stormwater, and the fish, wildlife, and history of Onondaga Lake. The kids from the Southwest Community Center had a great time while learning about nature and conservation. Pictures...
July 14, 2010OEI's Amy Samuels will be presenting a FREE Water and Wallet Friendly Homes and Landscapes class at Home Headquarters from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm as part of their Home Ownership Summer Support Series. Click to view complete list of Home Ownership Summer Series presentations.
July 6, 2010 U.S. Representative Dan Maffei and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand celebrate the future of Onondaga Lake with the introduction of the Onondaga Lake Restoration Act, joined by elected officials and citizens at the Inner Harbor. The Onondaga Lake Restoration Act embraces a holistic approach, building upon a long standing federal commitment to restore and protect Onondaga Lake, part of the Great Lakes watershed. Onondaga Lake is sacred to the Onondaga Nation, revered as the birthplace of democracy, and suffered a century of abuse from open dumping of industrial toxic and municipal pollution. The Onondaga Lake Watershed Council will be administered by the Onondaga Environmental Institute. More...
June 18, 2010The long-awaited Fedge Phase 1) will be installed next week along Onondaga Creek. The students and staff at the Expeditionary Learning School (ELMS) near Clary have planned, prepared and are now in the process of implementing this ground-breaking project. It was undertaken as a citizens' action response to the Onondaga Creek Revitalization Plan and Valley TNT Neighborhood Plans, which both call for eventually replacing chain-link fences along Onondaga Creek with a vegetative barrier of diverse native plants (ie, "fedge"). During the early part of the week the students will be preparing the ground of the 10 x 20 ft plot. The plants come Thursday, June 17, and will be planted Friday, June 18. Weather permitting they are working 8-10 am preparing the plot by removing turf, adding compost, etc. All are invited to join, grab a shovel or cheer them on!
May 31, 2010 OEI congratulates Neighbors of Onondaga Nation, Partnership for Onondaga Creek, Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Sierra Club for sponsoring the Syracuse showing of Gasland, an award-winning documentary about the hazards of hydrofracking for gas. Gasland’s premier will be June 11, 2010, 7pm at the Palace Theater, 2384 James Street.
May 19, 2010 Michael Spada of Upstate Freshwater Institute, which has partnered with OEI on several projects, has organized a field trip, sponsored by the Onondaga Lake Partnership, to Onondaga Lake for local high school students (Syracuse Post-Standard). More...
May 24, 2010 The OEI would like to welcome Sarah Wraight and Janaile Spence as our newest staff members. Sarah will be a temporary staff writer producing educational materials for the Onondaga Nation Environmental Monitoring and Cultural Awareness Program. Janaile will be our new graphic design intern.
May 13, 2010 Syracuse New Times publishes "Spin City" by Molly English-Bowers. Tyler Andre, of OEI, is a member the F.O.C.U.S Greater Syracuse group currently working to improve connectivity in Onondaga County for non motor transportation. He is also featured in the picture (far right) of the four Syracuse Bicycle employees. More...
May 12, 2010 OEI would like to welcome intern Matt Rozycko, to the company. Matt, a senior at Paul V. Moore High School in Central Square, NY, will be joining us through the Career Exploration Internship Program coordinated by Partners in Education and Business. The internship will introduce Matt to work in the non-profit sector dealing with current environmental issues. OEI is very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Matt, and looks forward to working with future interns.
May 7, 2010 Syracuse, NY – The Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) awarded seven mini grants for the 2010 program totaling $23,765.67. Funding will support various green infrastructure, and lake and watershed education programs in the community including More...
April 20, 2010 Syracuse Post-Standard coverage of Onondaga Nation releasing its vision for a clean Onondaga Lake; OEI participates on panel in support of the Nation’s vision. 88.3 WAER coverage to follow. More...
April 2, 2010 OEI board member Robert Doucette receives 2010 Post Standard Achievement Award for his part in transforming Armory Square. More...
February 21, 2010 Board member, Clyde Ohl, had letter to the editor published by The Syracuse Post-Standard. The letter was in regards to an informational meeting held by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on the Allied-Honeywell's intent to store Onondaga Lake dredgings in Wastebed 13 in Camillus, NY More...
March 15, 2010 Deadline for the Onondaga Lake watershed community to submit Onondaga Lake Partnership Mini Grant applications. OEI administers the Mini Grant program on behalf of the Onondaga Lake Partnership, with funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency More...
January 18, 2010 Post-Standard article, "How a 'Green' Solution to Sewage Won the Day", identifies OEI's role in the County Executive's decision to abandon RTFs. OEI performed data analysis of bacteria in Onondaga Creek. Ed Michalenko met with political and regulatory officials and local environmental leaders. He presented results of the data analysis that justified a moratorium on RTFs in favor of sewer separation and the green infrastructure approach. More...
January 7, 2010 OEI is pleased to share several reports generated by students as part of their work for Dr. Diemont’s SUNY ESF Ecosystem Restoration Design class during the fall 2009 semester; the reports are conceptual student designs not for implementation at this stage but rather are being shared with the community for inspiration More....
December 18, 2009 The public comment period for the Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan ends December 31, 2009 More....
November 12, 2009 Onondaga Environmental Institute and the Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan named as part of Mayor-elect Stephanie Miner's 50 point plan for Syracuse under Sustainability and the Environment Strategy #38 More....
October 11, 2009 Post-Standard Video: Ways to revitalize Onondaga Creek during a canoe trip with Don Hughes from Onondaga Environmental Institute More....
September 24, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DRAFT ONONDAGA CREEK CONCEPTUAL REVITALIZATION PLAN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT More....
September 16, 2009 OEI facilitates celebration of World Water Monitoring Day (http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/) for middle school and high school students in the Onondaga Lake watershed. Schools in the City of Syracuse and near Onondaga Creek are given preference. More...
May 17, 2009 Onondaga Creek plans flowing: Visionaries see how to turn Syracuse into a "waterfront community." Syracuse Post-Standard News Article
May 1, 2009 Deadline for the Onondaga Lake watershed community to submit Onondaga Lake Partnership Mini Grant applications. OEI administers the Mini Grant program on behalf of the Onondaga Lake Partnership, with funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
April 29, 2009 Onondaga Creek Conceptual Revitalization Plan accepted by the project sponsors, the Onondaga Lake Partnership Executive Committee. The OCRP is now available for public comment.
March 24, 2009 OEI receives an Earth Stewards Award from the Syracuse Commission for Women.