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It's A Cruel Summer...

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Forecasters say the Northeast is in for one of the hottest weeks on the books, and people are being urged to take precautions. High temperatures in many Northeastern cities through Friday will be in the 90s; 96 for Hartford, 95 in New York City and 92 in Albany.  Anthony Loconto is a National Weather Service meteorologist stationed in Burlington, Vermont. Loconto says oppressive weather is here to stay for a few more days. Officials throughout WAMC's listening area urge residents to take precautions.

LIVE temperature map
 
Some people believe the summer has been a "wash" - instead of warm weather and outdoor activities, the heat, humidity and thunderstorms have driven them to take refuge in air conditioned places - not to mention the relentless mosquitoes.

Researchers who have studied cooling centers found that people tend not to go to places they don't normally frequent, and many times those who could most benefit from cooling shelters shun them. They note that people who live alone or keep to themselves are especially vulnerable during heat waves,  and these are the individuals that concerned neighbors, friends and family members should check on from time to time.

New York City opened 425 cooling centers on Monday.

Here is a partial list of ways to beat the heat -

Albany:  City Cooling Shelters will be open to the public from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16th through Friday, July 19th.

  Giffen Elementary School–274 South Pearl Street

  North Albany Academy–570 North Pearl Street

  Schuyler Academy–676 Clinton Avenue

  Delaware Avenue Library–331 Delaware Ave

  New Scotland Library–455 New Scotland Ave

  Arbor Hill/West Hill Library Community Room–48 Henry Johnson Boulevard

In addition to the cooling stations, the City's two main swimming pools - Lincoln Park and Mater Christi - and six spray pools will be open as scheduled.

Rensselaer County is providing free transportation to its five air-conditioned senior centers that are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Troy: admission fees at Knickerbacker Park and South Troy pools are waived for the week. The city's six spray pools in South Troy, Knickerbacker, Prospect, Frear, Corliss and Riverfront parks are open at no cost from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ulster County:
 

•        Family of Woodstock at 16 Rock City Rd in Woodstock from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM

•        Lloyd Town Hall at 12 Church Street in Highland

•        Wawarsing Town Hall at 108 Canal Street in Ellenville from noon to 4 PM, except Wednesday when it will be open from 2 - 4 PM

      •    Ulster County Community Action’s new community room at 70 Lindsley Avenue in Kingston from 8:30-4:30 PM.

Watervliet:  the city pool and the spray pools will be open until 7 p.m. The air-conditioned Watervliet Senior Citizen Center at 15th Street and Broadway will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
 

Energy-saving tips from Central Hudson:

  • Turning off lights and appliances when not in use, and unplugging electronic devices, such as televisions, entertainment systems and computers, that continue to draw power even when off. Some devices use up to 25 watts of “standby power” when idle, and approximately 10 percent of the total energy used by homes goes to power devices that are not in use. Plugging these devices into a power strip and then switching off the strip when the devices are not used is a convenient and effective way to reduce standby power.
  • Setting thermostats on air conditioners to 78 degrees and higher during times when the home is not occupied, and considering the use of fans to keep cool. Also, changing dirty filters on air conditioners will help the unit run more efficiently.
  • Using large appliances such as dishwashers and clothes dryers during the evening hours, when overall energy use is less.
  • Closing doors, windows, curtains, shades and blinds during the day to seal out the heat and block sunlight when temperatures are at their highest.
  • Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed as long as possible, and limiting the time they are opened.
Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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