Comet Coming

Look to the heavens. The New York Times christens 2013 “The Year of the Comets” with two bright naked–eye comets coming our way. The first, called Comet Pan-STARRS, should be noticeable the second half of March “low in the western sky after sunset.” The second even brighter comet, Comet ISON, is expected to be visible for much of December and may be bright enough to be seen during the day.

Oak Tree Sidewalk Update Year Six!

On February 19, a dozen community members attended the Town of Orangetown workshop meeting to discuss what the sidewalk will be made of. Five options were presented by the Highway Department, ranging in prices of $50,000 (asphalt) to $100,000 (concrete) to $150,000 (pavers). The community and the Town Board both made compromises to their initial choices and found consensus in a concrete sidewalk with belgian block curbing. On February 26, the Town Board voted on this resolution. Next step, the sidewalk has to go out to bid. In the coming weeks, the Highway Department will begin preliminary work such as filling in the ditch and installing drainage. The Town will also need to coordinate with the NYS Department of Transportation with issues directly related to the intersection.

Earth Day Flea Market
April 20 & 21
To rent a table: Contact Eileen at ileenog@aol.com or 359-6589

Lamont-Doherty Public Lectures Spring 2013
Light reception to follow each lecture, Wheelchair-accessible
Registration is recommended. Register online at LDEO.columbia.edu/publiclectures or call 845-365-8998.

Ships, Scientists and the Sea: Exploring Earth's Last Frontier

The ocean is the defining feature of our planet and is the last and largest unexplored place on Earth. For more than 60 years, Lamont-Doherty scientists have pioneered studies of the world’s oceans from our renowned research vessels. From the South Pacific to the North Atlantic, they’ve traveled millions of miles in pursuit of new knowledge about our planet. Join us to learn how scientists conduct research at sea and about the exciting discoveries they’ve made throughout our rich seagoing history.

Sunday, March 24, 2013, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Monell Building Auditorium
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
61 Route 9W | Palisades, NY 10964

Sean Higgins, Ph.D. Director, Office of Marine Operations, Senior Research Scientist

The Science Behind Sandy

As Hurricane Sandy bore down on New York City, atmospheric scientist Adam Sobel became the center of a media storm, with reporters from major news outlets anxious to ask him about Sandy. Today, Sobel will revisit and answer the meteorological questions they raised: What kind of storm was Sandy? How well was it predicted? How rare an event was it? Was it a 50-year, 100-year or 1000-year storm? Can we expect more storms like Sandy in the future?

Thursday, April 4, 2013, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
AppNexus Auditorium
28 W. 23rd St, 4th Floor, NY

Adam Sobel, Ph.D.Professor, Earth and Environmental Science Professor, Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

Volcanoes and Vents: A Hidden World Beneath the Sea

Most of Earth’s volcanoes are on the bottom of the ocean, in a vast volcanic chain that circles the globe. Here, the ocean crust—two-thirds of Earth’s surface—is created. As tectonic plates spread apart and molten rock rises to erupt on the ocean floor, heat at mid-ocean ridges drives hydrothermal circulation, producing ‘black smoker’ chimneys. In these hidden underwater worlds, researchers are finding thriving and unique biological ecosystems, leading some scientists to hypothesize that mid-ocean ridges are where life on Earth began. Sunday, April 21, 2013, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Monell Building Auditorium
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
61 Route 9W | Palisades, NY 10964

Emily M. Klein, Ph.D., Visiting Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Professor of Geology and Bass Fellow, Duke University

A Hidden World Beneath the Sea

Earthquakes are constantly sending shocks through the deep seafloor. While most of the smaller ones go unnoticed, the largest can produce devastating tsunamis, as recently seen in Japan and Sumatra. Recording these deep sea earthquakes presents a significant technical challenge. A team of Lamont scientists and engineers build and deploy rugged instruments designed to survive the extreme seafloor environment and collect vital earthquake data. Results of this work are advancing our understanding of earthquake processes and may one day lead to improved forecasting for large tsunami-generating earthquakes.

Thursday, May 16, 2013, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
AppNexus Auditorium
8 W. 23rd St, 4th Floor, NY

Maya Tolstoy, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Science, Deep Sea Earthquakes: Science and Technology

Artisan Food Bazaar @ the OUTSIDE IN

The OUTSIDE IN will host an opportunity to meet, taste and buy artisan foods in a bazaar-style market in their art gallery and greenhouse spaces from 10am-3pm Sunday, March 17th, 2013. Modeled after the successful Smorgasburg at the Brooklyn Flea, the intent is to grow the businesses of aspiring food craft entrepreneurs by providing a compelling and unique venue to test new dishes, receive customer feedback and build a following. The OUTSIDE IN’s Artisan Food Bazaar will feature a diverse locally sourced selection of savory and sweet items for consumers including artisan and gluten free baked goods, craft beer, brewing supplies, organic spices, charcuterie, Peruvian tapas, crafted cheeses, unfiltered olive oil, soups, chicken pot pies, kimchee biscuits, small batch granola, handmade donuts, honey, fruit leathers, jams, micro-roast coffee and a mixologist created drink unique for the event called The “Bottom’s Up” Punch. Admission is free. Street parking is permissible for the event.
For more information: Phone: 845-398-0706