If a kid were to try to do all the fun things happening at City of Water Day, it would take a week. So, kids, here's some advice: get fueled up with a giant stack of pancakes and then head out the door in time to catch the 10am ferry to Governors Island on July 18. Stay the whole day. It's the only way to make a dent in your agenda (see below).


KIDS AGENDA
As if fishing, face painting, a bouncy house and slide, arts and crafts, storytelling and interactive booths by Metro Parents, the New York Aquarium and Hudson Valley Parents weren't enough, you'll also find:

• Bike Scavenger Hunt sponsored by the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative with Recycle a Bicycle. Explore Governors island as you participate in an exciting scavenger hunt. Stations may include miniature golf, Fort Jay, Castle Williams, Yankee Pier and more.
  
• Make a Wish on a Fish sponsored by the NYC Water Trail Association and Partnership for Parks. Share your hopes and dreams for the NYC waterfront. Make a wish on a paper fish, decorate it and display it on the River of Wishes.
  
• Relay Races and Tugs of War conducted by the New York Road Runners Foundation.
  
• Puppet Show  Lydia Adams Davis will use puppets and sing-along songs to teach environmental values.
  
• Deep Blue Ocean Art Project sponsored by the Children's Museum of the Arts.
  
• Design Your Own Fish Hat  sponsored by Wave Hill.
  
• Fireboat tours  Explore the fireboat John J. Harvey while docked.
  
• Food Vendors  The most popular street vendors of New York City, as named in the annual Vendy Award competition, will be selling their delicious food on Governors Island. Follow your nose to carts selling Jamaican, Columbian, Middle Eastern and other types of cuisine.
  
• Music  See a children's musical performance by Kathy Byers and Lydia Adams Davis. A separate line-up of musical acts will take place on the NYC Parks Dept. stage, including the Nouvellas, the Sea Devils, Thought So, bluegrass singer George Urgo and folk rocker Lauren Zettler.
  
• Dance   Performances and participatory dance will be conducted by the Brooklyn-based arts organization Young Dancers in Repertory. 
• Hourly raffle  Win autographed CDs from Dan Zanes and Laurie Berkner, Build-a-Bears, life vests and more!
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Discounted electricity is being discussed with the NY Power Authority

Adam Armstrong of Red Hook set us straight last week.

The article titled "Modernizing NYC's Maritime Infrastructure" in the last WaterWire (read it here) was interesting, he said, but we got one thing very wrong: Electrical shore power at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal has not been turned on and won't be for years. "These improvements are planned; however, they are certainly not already in place -- something blatantly obvious to me as I, at this very moment from my stoop, watch the smoke bellowing out of the Queen Mary 2's smokestack," Mr. Armstrong wrote. See Mr. Armstrong's photo at right.

Steve Coleman, spokesperson for the Port Authority, confirmed that the PA has committed to install shore power infrastructure to bring electricity to the cruise ship berths. He also said that Carnival Cruise Line will convert vessels to receive this power.

The hitch, to the frustration of Red Hook residents, is discounted electricity.

"The Port Authority and NYC Economic Development Corporation are meeting with New York Power Authority to identify the most appropriate rate for the shore power, given the special characteristics of the power requirement," Mr. Coleman said. "For example, high demand, short duration and capable of being interrupted when there is high regional demand. If an appropriate rate cannot be found in the current structure, we will begin discussion of a special tariff for shore power."

Mr. Armstrong has focused attention on the issue of air pollution from diesel fuel-burning ships in his blog (aviewfromthehook.blogspot.com), quoting the Environmental Protection Agency, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council and WaterWire, among other sources. He and his neighbors have asked why no commitment has been made to also provide shore power at the expanding Red Hook Container Terminal.

"Installation of a shore power capability at an individual berth is very expensive," Mr. Coleman said. "This expense is justified if there are numerous ships using that berth that are configured to receive the shore power. In the case of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, we have the commitment from the cruise line parent to convert their vessels to receive shore power, which will result in approximately 48 vessel calls per year that will plug in. There are not enough container vessels calling at the Brooklyn Container Terminal that are configured to receive shore power to offset the high cost of installing the shore power infrastructure."

Mr. Coleman added that there is no plan for air pollution mitigation because the ships docking in Red Hook are not violating emission standards.

Infrastructure USA Launched
New web site looks to generate discussion about civil infrastructure

A new resource for infrastructure dialogue -- InfrastructureUSA.org -- offers an opportunity to bring waterfront infrastructure initiatives into the spotlight.

The Infra Blog generates thoughtful debate (PA Gov. Rendell is the first guest). Infra Views features reports, publications and opinions of today's most prominent organizations. The most dynamic option allows users to post stills, video and stories about any infra issue on Show Us Your Infra. And voting is underway for the first Infra Poll.

WaterWire readers are encouraged to join the conversation at www.infrastructureusa.org and help not only raise public awareness on the issues surrounding waterfront infrastructure, but encourage action to improve the New York/New Jersey waterfront.

Roland Lewis, president of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, has contributed a blog post to OurHudson.org about Quad Landings.

A legacy project of the Quadricentennial Commission, being undertaken by the MWA and its partners in cooperation with government agencies, Quad Landings are a series of simple, cost-effective floating docks being planned for waterfront communities along the Hudson River.

The goal of OurHudson.org, a new online forum, is to harness the collective wisdom of New Yorkers living up and down the Hudson. Join the conversation. Click here to read about Quad Landings and to share your thoughts 

MWA Boat Available for Your Use

Attention Alliance Partners! The Big G, a retired police boat, is available, no charge, for your use. Take funders on a tour! Throw a party! All we ask is a suggested contribution to cover the fuel usage. The Big G can hold a dozen people.

Click here to contact Captain Carter Craft for more information.