This page was last updated December 31, 1998.

dateline December 18 1998.. Editor, Joe Genco, of the Tonawanda News, had a great editorial today and a photo of our group's "Owl Prowl". Joe and his family, along with Joe Macielag and his wife, Dorothy, went on a field trip with our group into the Klydel Wetland last Saturday night.

dateline December 16 1998.. Audubon Outlook, in its November/December 1998 edition of the Buffalo Audubon's Society's newsletter, mentioned the Klydel Wetland as an impaired wetland (needing protection because he has already been excessively developed).

dateline December 10 1998.. Read the excellent article about saving wetlands by Sally Deneen in this week's Art Voice magazine (available for free in the Buffalo, NY area). There is a great photo of a short-eared owl on the cover of this issue.

dateline December 2 1998.. Today's Tonawanda News mentioned the following resolution approved by the North Tonawanda Common Council, "Approved a resolution by Mr. Barberio to place a sign reading, "Nature Study Trails" at the recently developed trails on the Klydel Wetlands." We thank Third Ward Alderman Barberio for advocating this sign at the entrance to the nature area on Woodward Avenue.

dateline November 4 1998.. Here's an opinion that was printed in today's Tonawanda News. "I'm calling to give a big thank you for everybody involved with the Owl Night Out at the Wetlands. I know for sure that my son and I were thrilled when a screech owl first answered the caller. What a wonderful duet between man and bird. When we actually got to see the little owl, I felt a shiver of excitement. Thanks for sharing your talent."

Chuck Rosenburg did a very good job considering we had approximately 100 nature enthusiasts in the Klydel Wetland all trying to see an owl. We would like to thank the participants who made Owl Night Out a great success!

dateline October 28 1998.. The Tonawanda News featured an announcement for our Owl Night Out on the front page of today's paper. It was also listed in the Grand Island and the Wheatfield newspapers today. We had a great turnout!!! We spoke to nature enthusiasts from Wilson, Niagara Falls, Grand Island, and from the Tonawandas. The owls were visible against a wonderful starlit sky in the Klydel Wetland.

dateline October 24 1998.. Four students from North Tonawanda High School were training today on how to be trail guides. We had nature enthusiasts from the PAGE group and their families on a guided tour this morning. Last night, Chuck Rosenburg called down two more screech owls for a group interested in seeing another dress rehearsal for OWL NITE. We're hoping to have nice weather on the 28th as we did last night. The owls came in and sat on nearby branches. They were quite good staying put, while one of us put a flashlight on them so everyone could see. Let's hope they are cooperative on Wednesday.

dateline October 18 1998.. On the front page of today's Buffalo News, Niagara Edition was the headline, "CALLING ALL OWLS-- NT environmental group organizes nature walk". There is a featured article detailing our OWL NITE OUT on the front page of the Niagara County section.

dateline October 17 1998.. There were two articles in the Tonawanda News today regarding the new nature trail in the Klydel Wetland. There was also a group photo of the student volunteers from the NTHS Outdoor Awareness Club who helped blaze the final section of the trail, along with third ward councilman, Dennis Barberio. We would like to thank Miris Cash & Carry for donating some much needed trail posts.

dateline October 14 1998.. We called down five screech owls this evening in Klydel. It was dress rehearsal for our upcoming Owl Night Out! They came in real close and we were able to easily put a flashlight on them. The owls were more than cooperative. They really seem as curious about us and we are about them.

The nature trail on the School Board property is completed. The brochures containing trail maps are available at the North Tonawanda Public library.

dateline October 3 1998.. "NATURE COMING THIS WAY" was today's front page story in the Tonawanda News. Pictured with an over 200 year old swamp white oak tree in the Klydel Wetland were teachers, Chris Hiestand and Paul Swisher, and student Ryan Hanson. Although the reporter got a little confused thinking the swamp (rather than the tree) was 200 years old, we love the coverage the News has been giving this story.

dateline October 1 1998.. We'd like to thank all the super residents of Woodward, Linwood, and Sunset Avenues whom showed such a strong interest in the new nature trail on the school board property. We welcome those who expressed interest in our efforts and who have volunteered to join and/or assist our citizens group.

dateline September 19 1998.. We're going to be helping the Grand Island Quality Quest Coalition clean up the shoreline of the Niagara River today.

dateline September 12 1998.. We would like to thank columnist, Joe Macielag of the Tonawanda News for his wonderful mention of our efforts in today's "Along the Towpath" column. Joe is one of those truly good people who love nature.

dateline September 1 1998.. Our technical advisory board found another 180+ year old white swamp oak on the school board property in Klydel today. It's a beauty! There's a nice bur oak not too far away from it on the school property, as well. We surveyed a lot of biodiversity out there.

dateline July 17 1998.. Here's what we found on page 4 of the Tonawanda News today. "I have to give some credit to Mr. Swisher, my daughter's science teacher this year. He gave her confidence, self-esteem, and was always there. (From 7 a.m. to late afternoon for a special session to prepare the children for the Regents Earth Science exam.) During the past year, besides the Klydel Marshland trip, he took them on many other trips. Too bad more teachers aren't as dedicated and interested in the children as Mr. Swisher is."

We couldn't have said it any better than this parent stated in the newspaper. Our group is fortunate indeed to have interested teachers such as Mr. Swisher and Mr. Hiestand (a biology teacher at North Tonawanda High School) to lead their students on trips into the fascinating Klydel Wetland.

dateline July 13 1998.. The article in today's Tonawanda News,written by teacher Paul Swisher, was so excellent we have reprinted it as the feature article on the main page of our website. The students involved in the wetland trips were super!!

dateline End of May 1998.. It seems that our problem, the possible development of the Klydel Wetland, has received some notoriety across the state. The Sierra Club's Atlantic Chapter-- representing about 30,000 members in New York State, mentioned Klydel as one of a number of threatened wetlands in New York State this month.

The Klydel Wetland was listed as an example of an endangered wetland in the Sierra Club's Conservation Alert sent to their New York State members to oppose Benderson Development Co.'s Consumer Square 578,000 sq.ft. shopping plaza. Benderson requested that the Buffalo District of the US Army Corps of Engineers issue a permit to allow them to fill a nice wetland and a trout stream in New Hartford, NY. The Sierra Club has placed the company and Republican Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, up for some scrutiny for proposing a mega-mall at this environmentally-sensitive site.

dateline May 29, 1998.. Tonawanda News cartoonist, T. Makin, drew the equivalent of the "Fat Lady Singing" with his third in a series of cartoons featuring the Klydel Wetlands frogs. The Frogs have a sign that reads, "We Don't Need No Baloney" with another little critter saying "Nor Do They Need Bologna". It appears that Aldi's has wisely decided to leave the nice wetland alone. Thanks to all of you in the community who called us and offered your assistance. In most cases three strikes indicates "you're out" but we know better than that. They'll keep trying and we'll keep you all in mind for the next time. Our group has recently joined the Clean Water Network of environmental groups working to save wetlands and waterways!

dateline May 9, 1998.. Joe Macielag's "Along the Towpath" column had some more information on the Klydel Wetland today. He wrote, "We understand that NT High School science teacher, Paul Swisher accompanied a group of his students that comprise one of the high school's "envirothon" teams to the Klydel Wetland area last Saturday {on the 9.3 acres of school district property}. We trust that the group learned the value of wetland soil and the role it plays in the ecological scheme of things. Let's hope that more and more young people learn to appreciate our resources unlike some of the "deceitful adults" as noted in the next paragraph.

A federal wetland enforcement person has noted that a contractor continues to violate federal statutes that protect wetlands by dumping concrete and fill in the Klydel Wetland without the required permits. Our understanding is that the violator was warned by the federal government last summer, yet they knowingly and purposely persist in their wrongdoing."

dateline May 2, 1998.. What follows is an article by one of our favorite writers, Mr. Joe Macielag, who writes the "Along the Towpath" column in the Tonawanda News.

We were thrilled to hear of the $15,000 grant given to the Citizens for a Green North Tonawanda in partnership with the Western New York Land Conservancy to develop the proposed Klydel Wetland Nature Area. The money was awarded by the Niagara County Environmental Fund, established as a result of the settlement between Occidental Petroleum and the residents of the Love Canal area. Once again, dedication, perseverance, and vision coupled with hard work has reaped its just reward. Liz Kaszubski and Steve Slivan's leadership in this area comprised those attributes. The power of an individual's idea followed by "take it a step at a time" has been the "secret formula" since time immemorial as the way to reach a goal.

As the Tonawanda News item stated earlier this week, immediate plans revolve around citizen volunteers to work with High School science teachers to establish a study area within the wetlands. What a wonderful way for our young people to become involved with the gifts of nature- not through textbooks and pictures alone (or is it PC CD-ROM's now) but with "hands on" opportunities. Who knows, this project may eventually give rise to another Roger Torey Peterson-like naturalist. We have always promoted nature as the vehicle by which young people could reach a "high". There is no need for synthetic means to achieve that end.

dateline April 22, 1998.. We are pleased to announce that our group has, in partnership with the Western New York Land Conservancy, been awarded a grant of $15,000 from the Niagara County Environmental Fund for our "Klydel Wetland Nature Study Area" project. We would like to express our gratitude to the selection committee and to the Love Canal residents for the Occidental settlement that made this fund possible. The fund will benefit projects throughout Niagara County. We would also like to thank the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Adirondack Mountain Club for their support letters that were used in our grant application.

This grant will serve two purposes:

1.) We will begin the process of educating students at the location of the 9.3 acres of school district property in the wetland (at the dead end of Linwood and Woodward Avenues).

2.) We will obtain appraisals for those landowners who expressed an interest in selling their properties for the expansion of the nature preserve area.

dateline May 2, 1998..Today we conducted a field trip to the school district property at the deadends of Woodward and Linwood Avenues. Five members of the North Tonawanda high school Envirothon team joined science teacher, Paul Swisher and CGNT's co-founders Steve Slivan and Liz Kaszubski, to learn about wetland soils and measuring tree heights and canopy cover in forests. Chuck Rosenburg was kind enough stop by and drop off the equipment we needed to assess the soils. Best wishes to the Envirothon team in the contest coming up the following Thursday in Niagara Falls. Last year's team won the New York State Championship.

dateline March 13, 1998.. Today there was a nice field trip through the snow-laden Klydel Wetland on the 9.3 acres of North Tonawanda Board of Education property. Board members of the Sierra Club and a teacher and some students of the district attended. It was a beautiful day, although not quite what we expected for this time in March. We'll be back to do a cleanup of the Board property with the students when the weather gets better later in the spring.

dateline January 31 1998.. Joe Macielag's column, "Along the Towpath", quoted Maureen Kissell today, under local bird notes. Maureen has been blessed with tufted titmouse in addition to cardinals, downy woodpeckers, chickadees, blue jays, white breasted nuthatches, juncos, mourning doves, house as well as purple finches, and a brown creeper spotted Dec. 28. Maureen, who lives not far from the Klydel Wetlands area, told the Tonawanda News that she identified a male and female myrtle warbler, an American redstart, and a catbird last spring at Klydel. She ended her letter with "There is a treasure trove of birds living in the wetlands during every season. It deserves to be saved and enjoyed. Joe Macielag added in, You know what, we agree!

dateline January 22 1998.. "Twin City councils are off to a slow start" says Steve Trask of the Tonawanda News. As usual, Steve gets right to the point, "The city needs some real leadership. That means compromise and vision. You guys put your butts on the political line under the guise of having the city's best interests in mind. Don't be another Mayor McGinnis who almost put a supermarket in the middle of the only wetland left in the city because his son owned the land."

dateline January 14 1998.. Today's Buffalo News has an article entitled, "Niagara, Buffalo rivers ranked among U.S. worst for sediments". In the first major national study on the effect of chemicals that drift to river bottoms, the EPA said this week that the Niagara and Buffalo rivers are among the 7 percent of U.S. rivers most poisoned by sediments. Among the chemicals ravaging the bed of the Niagara are PCBs, mirex, dioxin, lead, mercury, and a variety of pesticides, the agency said. "Polluters hide behind swift running waters."

dateline January 9 1998.. The Tonawanda News has a story on the front page concerning days with flooding, like today and yesterday, when the North Tonawanda sewer system becomes overwhelmed. Whenever we experience heavy rains, the city bypasses its sewage treatment plant and dumps untreated wastes directly into the Niagara River. This is due to the fact that much of the city is not serviced by separate sanitary/storm sewers. Please note: As usual on days where there is flooding, some of the sewers are backed up surrounding the Klydel Wetland. If the wetland wasn't there, the flooding situation would be even worse! The wetland contains some of these floodwaters. This natural function doesn't cost the taxpayers a penny for additional sewers.

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