ALBANY: Governor Recommends Seymour to Head NYPA— Governor George E. Pataki on Feb. 13 announced he has nominated state Office of General Services (OGS) Commissioner Joseph J. Seymour as a Power Authority trustee and recommended his selection as chairman and chief executive officer by the NYPA board. Subject to his confirmation as a trustee by the state Senate and election as chairman by the board, Seymour will succeed C.D. "Rapp" Rappleyea as head of the Power Authority. Rappleyea stepped down from his leadership posts on Jan. 31. "Joe Seymour has been an effective and trusted commissioner with a proven ability to get things done," Governor Pataki said. "From the successful implementation of the Albany Plan, to a redevelopment plan for the Governor W. Averell Harriman State Office Campus and rehabilitation of the New York State Capitol, Joe Seymour has done an outstanding job as our OGS Commissioner and I have every confidence he will also do a tremendous job in his new role as Chairman of NYPA." Before his appointment as OGS commissioner in December 1996, Seymour was executive deputy commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. He has more than 30 years of administrative, managerial and economic development experience in New York State and local governments.

NEW YORK: Zeltmann Says Generators Vital to Avoid Shortage— Ensuring that there is enough power to meet the growing demand is New York City's only option for avoiding a crisis similar to that which has brought blackouts and soaring electricity prices to California this winter, NYPA President Gene Zeltmann wrote in an op-ed article in the New York Daily News. "The New York Power Authority is taking action to prevent the threat of brownouts, blackouts and high prices this summer by installing 10 small gas turbine generators at six sites in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island," he said in the Feb. 13 article. Noting that the state Department of Public Service; the Independent System Operator, which runs the state's transmission system; and the state Energy Planning Board have concluded that more capacity is needed to avert a shortage this summer, Zeltmann said only the gas turbines can be ready in time. He maintained that an aggressive energy conservation effort is also essential for keeping the lights on. Without NYPA's energy-efficiency projects at more than 540 schools and other public buildings in the city, two more gas turbines would be required, Zeltmann said.

UTICA: Children's Museum Receives NYPA Grant—Building on its support of the Children's Museum of History, Natural History and Science here, NYPA presented the organization with a $2,000 grant on Feb 7. The money was the latest example of NYPA's involvement with Central New York's only children's museum. NYPA donated interactive energy exhibits to the museum in 1998, when its Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project’s visitors center in North Blenheim was undergoing renovation. In addition to the "hands-on" energy exhibits, the museum's three floors feature Dinorama, a multimedia display of wax dinosaur models and fossils; Playspace; Exploration Station; and the Living Science Learning Center. The museum, aimed at children from 3 to 12 years old, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

ALBANY: Dancing Neutrons and More at Empire State Plaza—The Empire State Plaza Convention Center will rock with the reactions of kids exploring interactive games and exhibits at the All About Kids and Families Show 2001, Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4. The Power Authority, which is co-sponsoring the show, will exhibit an electric Ford Th!nk vehicle and a display showing how electric vehicles work. NYPA is also sponsoring a demonstration of scientific oddities, including magnetic magic, household items in flight and dancing neutrons, by the Capital District's MAD Science. Performances are set for 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Show hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

NORTH BLENHEIM: Fun, Learning on Tap at Winter Break—What better way to mark the Presidents' Week school break than with three days of fun and learning at the Power Authority's Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project visitors center here? The admission-free programs for school-aged children are scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 20-22. On Tuesday, learn about Stunt Planes and Gliders from MAD Science of the Capital District. NYPA will play host to Basics of Electricity programs on Wednesday, with demonstrations of the visitors center's newly renovated exhibits. On Thursday, the Outdoor World for Learning will present Birds of Prey: Hawks and Owls. The programs will be presented twice daily, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.. The Winter Break programs are modeled after the center's popular summer series on the environment, science and regional history.

ALBANY: Hockey Team Stages NYPA Appreciation Night—A high-spirited crowd cheered on the Albany River Rats professional hockey team during NYPA Appreciation night on Feb. 9. Besides the NYPA/River Rats hand warmers that were given to the first 1,000 fans, a highlight of the evening was provided by Rowdy, the team's mascot, who took to the ice on a Zap Power Systems electric bicycle provided for the event by the Power Authority. NYPA has placed the battery-powered bikes with security units of the City University of New York and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. The Rats, unfortunately, lost the game to the Hershey (Pa.) Bears, 2-1.

NORTH BLENHEIM: NYPA Sets Winter Sports, Flytying Events— Bring your snowshoes, sleds or cross-country skis to NYPA's Outdoor Recreation Day at its Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project visitors center on Saturday, Feb. 24. The free event will include a snowshoe-making workshop and snowshoeing demonstration, sled-dog team demonstrations and rides, and horse-drawn sleigh rides around the scenic Schoharie Valley. On Sunday at the visitors center, you can catch the Catskill Flytyers Guild's flytying workshop, also free, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limited quantities of tools and materials will be available to help you get ready for the start of the fishing season. To make a reservation, call 1-(800)-724-0309.

In the Community: Carol Rodino, community relations manager for Central New York, presented an exhibit on NYPA's energy services at a legislative reception sponsored by the New York State Institute for Entrepreneurship, Empire State Plaza, Albany, Feb. 12….Rob Gingher, technical services superintendent at NYPA's Richard M. Flynn Power Plant, Holtsville, spoke to members of the Amityville Rotary Club, Nautilus Diner, Feb. 8….Rick Chase, director of community relations, spoke about New York State energy issues and the Power Authority's new initiatives at the Beyerwyck Men's Club in Slingerlands, Feb. 5….In the first half of February, staff members at NYPA's Niagara Power Project, Lewiston, presented energy-education programs and electricity demonstrations at schools in Amherst, Arcade, Williamsville, Rochester, Corfu, Blasdell, Kenmore, Buffalo and Lockport….During the same period in the North Country, Bill Siddon, senior community relations representative at NYPA's St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, Massena, made presentations at schools in Morristown, Canton and Calcium.