Hats off to one of our board members, Lou Ricciuti, who has been working for some years in the Upper New York State area researching and disclosing information about toxic dump sites which have been inadequately remediated or merely covered over by the industries when they leave. Most of these sites are related to the Manhattan Project involved in atomic bomb and heavy metal pesticide and defoliant research and production. Quite often Lou has found the evidence using public records and the use of radiation detectors. This is very disturbing when it is a school, playground, park or public road that is affected. Along with a friend, Lou started a series of articles entitled “The Bomb That Fell on Niagara” published in ARTVOICE magazine (www.artvoice.com). Public awareness has increased over the years although attempts to denigrate his findings have increased as well.

Recently, some schools and industries have been slated for closure, with stated reasons unrelated to contamination issues. The schools are downwind from a large polluting manufacturer! Another 100-year-old company that is going out of business has used a heavy metal in its manufacturing processes. Coincidence? We don’t think so! The American Cancer Society carried out a number of fundraisers called Relay for Life. One was scheduled to be on a running track at a local school in a community in the Niagara area. Lou wrote to the organizers informing them of the presence of ionizing gamma radiation in the vicinity of the outdoor function and in the general area of the school. Lou had impeccable documentation for his assertions. Following his letter, it was announced in the local paper that the Relay for Life had been changed to a new location “because of uncertainty of the construction schedule at the previously designated site.” The public is becoming aware, thanks to Lou and friends.