Through a Nikon, Checking out the New Scenery

Evidenced by the Friday afternoon traffic backup that began near where I-287 and I-87 converged, we figured people wanted to see the new bridge’s progress.*

It’s difficult to tell from this angle how tall they are next to the current bridge; however, compare photographer Andrew Dallos’ earlier photos to their height now.

*Then again, maybe they were getting an early start to the long holiday weekend.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2016

Few More Unseen-from-the Road Bridge Photos

Earlier this month I wondered aloud if people working on the project high above the river on piers, towers, or machines were afraid of heights. Photos courtesy of New York State Thruway Authority.

Wow. I was afraid of the balance beam and uneven parallel bars in gym class. Above, someone works on a main span tower and below, on a tower crossbeam.

Last month’s work on foundations for an overlapping section of the new bridge.

The photos in this post — as are those in all posts containing Photos courtesy of New York State Thruway Authority — are from the New NY Bridge project gallery.

Cool, right? I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2016

Boater Checklists: Safety Supplies and USCG Rules

Your intrepid reporter with protective glasses, flotation device, hard hat, and sturdy shoes.

Remember when Governor Cuomo signed the Safe Boating Law in September 2013 and the initial boater safety roundtable one month later?

Effective May 1, 2014, anyone born on or after May 1, 1996, must complete an eight-hour boating safety course before operating a mechanically-propelled vessel in the state’s navigable waters. Those born before May 1, 1996, are exempt.

Boaters can find the U.S. Coast Guard’s weekly Local Notice to Mariners excerpted and in its entirety under Boater Safety Information on the bridge project’s website. A LNM primer is here.

This morning the Coast Guard’s District One (where we and the New NY Bridge project are) arrived via email:

The USCG District One Local Notice to Mariners http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm01212016.pdf  (21-2016) is now available for download. This link must be cut and pasted into the web browser.

You can find frequently asked questions about boating here.  This Throwback Thursday picture is from a media boat tour about two years ago (June 2014).

Have fun, stay safe and enjoy the long weekend.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2016

 

Boating Season + Bridge Project = Boater Safety

Westchester County Police Marine Unit and Rockland County Sheriff’s Marine Unit are briefed about construction before summer boating season starts next weekend/NYSTA

You’d think it was early March or October. Nope. Memorial Day is next week.

Boaters need to be aware of the project site, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Regulated Navigation Area 500 yards north and south of the existing bridge and the safety zone banning recreational boaters from a two-mile area along the Rockland shore where construction barges are located.

Information is posted on the New NY Bridge website; link to it here.

Learn & heed the main channel rules/© Janie Rosman 2014

Bridge Project Safety enhancements through the summer and beyond include lighted buoys around the barge moorings, eight channel markers including two additional markers for access to Piermont marinas, GPS tracking for TZC vessels and barges and an interactive map that shows vessel movement, high-tech security and patrols and extensive educational outreach with boating groups and marinas.

Effective May 1, 2014, anyone born on or after May 1, 1996, must complete an eight-hour boating safety course before operating a mechanically-propelled vessel in the state’s navigable waters. Those born before May 1, 1996, are exempt.

Boaters — especially those not affiliated with local clubs or who come from other areas and don’t read the Local Notice to Mariners — are wise to find this weekly bulletin excerpted and in its entirety under Boater Safety Information on the New NY Bridge website. A LNM primer is here.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2016

STEM-tastic 2016: Exploration, Curiosity, Learning

Two young scientists in a white laboratory coat smiled broadly as an assistant took their picture. The Mini Einsteins activity was one of many hands-on events at last week’s STEM-tastic Saturday that drew more than 2,000 attendees.

As with last year’s successful event, the day featured exhibits, games, experiments and workshops like building a replica of our new bridge with LEGO® bricks, coding, sciences labs, soldering, computer animation and shark dissections.

The day mobilized more than 340 participants and 170 volunteers, STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck President Meg Käufer said. “We don’t apologize for it being overwhelming. This speaks to the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) disciplines.”

Rube Goldberg chain reaction machine components were engineered by 11 teams of six members each/Jill Bock

STEM Alliance activities continue throughout the year, and “we want them to leave here eager to do more of this on the other 364 days,” Kaufer said.

A big hit was KEVA plank building zone, a block-building experience based on a single unit with all blocks being identical. “Kids can create incredibly strong and geometrically-shaped structures,” she said.

“The young kids tend to build flat, and what they build has a story behind it — this is where the train runs or this is what my house looks like — and as the kids get older, their designs get more abstract.” One child built a double helix from KEVA planks, an example of the beauty of the material.

Westchester Children’s Museum Wind Tunnels in the library had kids create objects that are aerodynamic enough to rise and not to fall, was aided by a fan at the tunnel base. A new activity was The Chain Reaction Challenge, where 11 teams of six each had to build chains that connected to each other into one long chain reaction.

“The ball flowed from one end to the other,” she said of the engineering challenge. “Each team’s segment was unique.”

Beach Physics by Curious-on-Hudson was a sneaky way for kids to learn about cohesion and buoyancy while having fun with sand and a tiny pool filled with water.

“I thought that was really well-crafted, making castles from sand and adding various degrees of water, and seeing how paper cup boats float, depending upon how many pennies are added,” Käufer said.

NNYB Educational Outreach Administrator Andy O’Rourke explains the state’s twin-spanned, cable-stayed project.

Now in its third year of educating students and the community, the New NY Bridge project continues to fascinate and ignite interest in STEM careers. Kids had a chance to make their own mini bridges at a hands-on LEGO® Bricks 4 Kidz workshop in another part of the building.

STEM educator Aisha Arenas’ concept of creating a dress-up area and engaging kids in active role-modeling play as Mini Einsteins was new this year and popular with the kids who eagerly donned white lab coats to have their pictures taken.

“This goes beyond being a fairy or a fireman (for Halloween).” Käufer said, speaking to the heart of STEM. “What about being a scientist? What about creating those goals to do other things?”

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2016