& Albany County Post - The Altamont Enterprise

8 The Altamont Enterprise – Thursday, May 17, 2012A Community Respondsto the Call for SupportThe Enterprise — James E. GardnerGetting the evening started Saturday with a bid is Pat Conway,chairwoman of the VCSF Gala Committee. The annual dinnerand dance was held at the Albany Country Club to raise fundsfor school and community projects.The Enterprise — James E. GardnerFood for thought: Stu Morrison, center, and Mike Snyder enjoy the appetizers served byEliza Vera, a staff member at Albany Country Club, on Saturday at the annual VoorheesvilleCommunity and School Foundation gala.“A pretty hot topic”Guilderland bans frackingBy Anne HaydenGUILDERLAND — The townboard voted Tuesday night to seta public hearing on a proposedlocal law to prohibit hydraulicfracturing, or hydrofracking, inGuilderland — a place wherethere is no interest in fracking.High-volume hydraulicfracturing is adrilling process used byoil companies to reachshale deposits, “done inmultiple stages, typicallyusing 300,000to 600,000 gallons ofwater per stage,” accordingto the NewYork State Departmentof Environmental Conservation.The DEC releaseda copy of its supplementalgeneric environmentalimpactstatement for hydraulicfracturing in Sept.2011; the documentreviews the potentialenvironmental impactsof hydrofracking, andhow to minimize theimpacts.The DEC has theresponsibility of grantingpermits for drilling,and the state’s EnvironmentalConservationLaw says that it “shallsupersede all local lawsor ordinances relatingto the regulation of theoil, gas and solutionmining industries.”Some argue that municipalitiescan exercisesome control overhydraulic fracturingby using their zoninglaws, and local towns, includingNew Scotland and the Hilltowns,have explored that option, sincethey sit atop the MarcellusShale formation. Guilderlanddoes not.The Marcellus Shale formationis the largest source of domesticnatural gas discovered in theUnited States, and drilling hasalready occurred in West Virginiaand Pennsylvania.Hydrofracking has become acontroversial issue, as some studiesshow that the drilling couldhit water sources, causing chemicalsto be released into watersupplies, and the gas extractioncould also release methane.Although Guilderland doesnot sit on top of the MarcellusShale formation, or any shaleformation, Supervisor KennethRunion said, “It is better to beproactive than reactive.”The City of Albany recentlyadopted a local law prohibitinghydrofracking, and Runionsaid he asked TownAttorney RichardSherwood to obtain acopy of Albany’s law,so Guilderland couldemulate it.“It has become apretty hot topic,” saidRunion, who also notedthat the WatervlietReservoir, which providesdrinking waterto Guilderland andis geographically locatedwithin the town,must be protected.The proposed lawreads: “The TownBoard of the Town ofGuilderland finds, declaresand determinesthat the explorationfor natural gas, theextraction of naturalgas and the storage,treatment or disposalof natural gas explorationand productionwastes in the environmentof the Town ofGuilderland poses asignificant threat toits residents’ health,safety and welfare.”The law would prohibitprospecting, geophysicaland geologicseismic surveying andsampling techniques,including core androtary drilling.The town board will hold apublic hearing on July 3 at 7:30p.m.Other businessThe town board, at Tuesday’s12-minute meeting, also votedunanimously to:Amend a resolution dated May1 re-financing bonds issued bythe town of Guilderland;Appoint Joseph Turoski as aGuilderland Police Officer, effectiveJune 1 from the AlbanyCounty Civil Service List; andMade three appointments tothe paramedic unit — Jay Tyler,senior paramedic supervisor,Sean McGaughnea, paramedicsupervisor, and Benjamin Seymour,paramedic.“It isbetterto beproactivethanreactive.”Successful pancake suppersupports Troop 73 all year longThe Enterprise — James E. GardnerHigh stakes: Kristy Kaloyanides registers her bid as others look on during Saturday’ssilent auction at the Voorheesville Community and School Foundation gala, held at theAlbany Country Club.Jason WindsorCommunity correspondentNEW SCOTLAND — BoyScout Troop 73 of Voorheesvillewould like to thank the entirecommunity for its support at ourpancake supper held in February.This annual event is the troop’sone-and-only fund-raiser eachyear. Generous donations fromlocal businesses and individuals,coupled with near record ticketsales and additional donationsreceived at the door, have providedthe troop with its entireoperating budget for the year.This year, we served approximately500 meals (both eat-inand take-out) in a four-hour period.The event was held on Feb.4 at the Voorheesville AmericanLegion Hall on VoorheesvilleAvenue; the legion sponsors thetroop as its chartered organization.Many thanks go to theAmerican Legion for its continuedsupport of the troop!The funds raised help the troopto: purchase and maintain equipmentthat gets heavily used; supportScouts in need of financialassistance for summer camp oruniforms; pay fees and expensesfor various troop trips; pay forinsurance; and provide trainingfor both Scouts and leaders. Alladult leaders associated with thetroop are unpaid volunteers.The troop is proud to haveproduced a few Eagle Scouts inrecent years and about half adozen more Scouts are expectedto achieve the Eagle Rank in thenext one to two years. The troopmeets weekly and plans variousoutings and events monthly.By way of example, withinthe past year, troop outingshave included downhill skiingtrips, wilderness orienteeringbackpacking trips, winter camping,backpacking and mountainclimbing, and both single-dayand overnight canoe trips.Anyone who is interested inthe troop may contact ScoutmasterRaymond Ginter byphone at 765-2069 or by e-mailat Troop73@nycap.rr.com.Editor’s note: Jason Windsoris the assistant scoutmaster ofTroop 73.