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Barnabas McHenry
Chair,
Greenway
Council
Co-Chair
National
Heritage Area
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Sara
Griffen
Acting
Chair,
Greenway Conservancy
Acting
Co-Chair, National
Heritage Area
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Mark
Castiglione
Acting
Executive Director Greenway
Acting
Director National
Heritage Area
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Save the Date:
Heritage Weekend
2011
May 14th -
15th
For More Information,
visit
heritageweekend.org
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What's New?
Heritage Site Guidebook Unveiled
On Monday, November 22nd, the Hudson
River Valley Greenway unveiled its Hudson River Valley National
Heritage Area Heritage Site Guidebook. The guidebook provides information
about the 100 National Heritage Area "Heritage Sites" in New York's
Hudson River
Valley. In addition to
descriptions and full color photographs for each site, contact
information is provided in a variety of formats and sites are
identified that are "family friendly" or "accessible by public
transportation." Visitors can also explore the region by topic of
interest.
By targeting heritage
tourists, this guidebook will help grow the $4.7 billion dollar
tourism economy in the Hudson River Valley.
The Heritage Site Guidebook retails for only $9.95 and can be purchased online and will soon
be available at heritage sites throughout the valley. Wholesale
orders can be placed by calling (518) 473-3835. Read More...
Greenway
Board Meeting
The next meeting of the
Joint Boards of the Hudson River Valley Greenway will be held on
January 20, 2011, at 10:00 AM at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the
FDR Presidential Library and Home. Please call the Greenway at
518-473-3835 for further information.
Quadricentennial Legacy Grant
Program
The Hudson
River Valley Greenway and National Heritage Area announce the
availability of $50,000 in matching grants focusing on the legacy
of the 2009 Quadricentennial. Grants, ranging from $2,500 to
$5,000, are intented to provide seed money to organizations for
projects and programs that continue the legacy of the 2009 Hudson
Valley Quadricentennial and showcase the Hudson River Valley
region. Grants will be due December 8th and grant recipients will
be announced in January. Read More...
Public
Meeting to be Held for Rockland Plan
The public is invited to
attend a Hearing on Monday, December 20th to provide comments on
the County's Draft Comprehensive
Plan. The Public Hearing will be held at the Rockland
County Legislative Chambers and is designed to solicit comments on the content of the
Plan itself, including factual statements, issues raised and
suggested recommendations. Read More...
Cherry Hill Awarded Grant for Restoration
Historic Cherry Hill has been
awarded a new $300,000 EPF grant, which will further restoration
efforts and help the museum to meet their next benchmark for a
Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historic Cherry Hill is a house museum in Albany built in 1787 that
is currently under restoration.
Kinderhook-Stuyvestant-Stockport
Trails Meeting
The public is invited to the
second informational meeting to discuss a proposed public
recreational trail along a National Grid utility right-of-way that
connects the three towns. The purpose of the second meeting is to
follow-up on issues raised at the first meeting, present draft
study findings and identify any additional issues to be addressed
in the final feasibility study report. Read More...
Capital Region History Day
Contest
The Capital Region History
Day, an affiliate of the National History Day program encourges
students to explore local, state, national, and world history. This
year's theme is "Debate and Diplomacy in History." The contest is
open to students in grades 6-12. Read
More...
Conference:
Water Resources & Regional Economy
This NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program conference will seek to
create a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities
confronting the Hudson Valley's management of water resources. The
goal will be to foster a dialogue to help advance economic
development while simultaneously ensuring and conservation of the
environment, recognizing the ways that water resources contribute
to regional well-being. Read
More...
Conference: Hudson
Valley in the 21st Century
Looking to the future of the Hudson Valley, Historic River Towns
will present a discussion of New York's new Smart Growth
legislation on December 8th in Fishkill, NY. Signed in August, the
law is going to change how state agencies do business. Planners,
developers, and municipal officials are invited to learn about this
new legislation and how it will be implemented. Click here for more
information.
Save the Date for Heritage Weekend 2011
The 2011 State Wide Heritage Weekend celebration will take
place during the weekend of May 14th and May 15th, 2011. We are
timing this event to coincide with "National Preservation Month"
and the start of the summer tourism season, when many historic
sites are opening for the year. Read
More...
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Upcoming Grant
Opportunities
Greenway
Communities Grants Applicationsfor the next round of Greenway
Communities Grants will be due December 10th for our January Board
Meeting. The following due date for applications will be February 9
for our March Board Meeting. Read more...
Quadricentennial
Legacy Grant Program applications
will
be due December 8th. Read
More...
Green
Innovation Grants for projects which
spur green innovation, build green capacity, and facilitate
technology transfer. Read more...(December
3)
Community-Based
Land Conservation Grants through the NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation and Land Trust Alliance
for local land trusts to strengthen land conservation and public
outreach programs, build community partnerships and implement best
practices. Read More...
(December 10)
Assisted
Housing Stability, Energy, and Green Retrofit through HUD's office of Affordable
Housing Preservation for eligible property owners to make energy
and green retrofit investments to multi-family housing. Read More...
(February
16)
Construction
Grants for African American Historic Sites for historic sites
with a primary association with African American history. Read More...
(April 1)
NYS Community
Development Block Grant Program for projects that benefit low- and
moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of
slums or blight or meet community development needs having a
particular urgency. Read More...
(Ongoing)
Department of
Environmental Conservation State assistance programs for waste
reduction, recycling and household hazardous waste programs.
Read More... (Ongoing)
NYS Department
of Environmental ConservationTechnical Assistance Grants for
community groups to increase public awareness and understanding of
remedial activities taking place in their community.
Read More... (Ongoing)
Enterprise
Green Communities to help cover the costs of planning
and implementing green components of affordable housing
developments, as well as tracking their costs and
benefits. Read More... (Ongoing)
BJ's Charitable
Foundation to enhance and enrich community
programs that primarily benefit children and families. Read
More...(Ongoing)
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Regional Events
December 1 - January 2, 2011
Old Soles: Three
Centuries of Shoes from the Albany Institute's Collection:
Including a variety of shoes and patterns from the 18th, 19th, and
20th centuries.
December
2
Stories from the
"Jersey Greys" of 1776: Learn about one of the best equipped,
most interesting, and dysfunctional regiments in the early
Continental Army
December
3
Champagne Preview
Party at the Ten Broeck Mansion: A preview of the Mansion's
gracious rooms and halls beautifully decorated for the holidays.
Enjoy a silent auction, gift shop, and a visit from
Sinterklaas.
Albany First
Friday: Visit Center Square and downtown arts venues for
exhibition openings, receptions, and events.
December 3 - January 2, 2011
Holiday House Tours at Olana:
Enjoy Christmas with the Churches with a look at how the family
spent the holidays at home.
December
4
Open House at the Ten Broeck
Mansion: Take a stroll through the mansion, festively decorated
for the holidays.
Locust Grove Holiday House:
Relive Christmas past with "The 12 Days of Christmas." In each
room, Christmas trees showcase passages of the song.
Opera at the Ten Broeck
Mansion: The Lake George Opera brings a program of opera
favorites to the mansion. Reservations required.
December
4 - 5
Yuletide at Wilderstein: Many
rooms display period ornamentation while others showcase modern and
even unexpected holiday decor.
December
4 - 26
A Fairy Tale Holiday at
Lyndhurst: Sixteen rooms in the mansion are transformed into a
magical world of fairy tale fantasy. Enjoy live holiday music, hot
cider, and cookies.
December
5
28th Annual Troy Victorian
Stroll: Enjoy a Victorian winter wonderland in the City of Troy
with revelers, carolers, musicians, and more. Father Christmas
strolls the streets.
Vanderbilt Mansion Open House:
Listen to festive music and take advantage of the refreshments. The
Vanderbilts' traditionally handed out gifts to children in the town
- some of these are on display.
Holiday Hunt at Locust Grove:
Kids can partake in a "Night Before Christmas" themed hunt.
Afterward, they can enjoy a holiday storytelling performance.
Holiday Whodunit at
Staatsburgh: A detective mystery for children ages 6 to 12.
First-person interpreters hand out clues and prizes.
Merry Minstrels and Olana's Annual
Holiday Bonfire: Explore the house and enjoy a winter sunset
before taking in the bonfire while listening to traditional
Victorian caroling.
December
10
Jazz Concert at the Ten Broeck
Mansion: Come hear a rousing holiday performance by a jazz
ensemble from the Empire State Youth Orchestra.
December
11
Wilderstein Annual Yuletide
Tea: Enjoy a festive afternoon of delicate finger sandwiches,
homemade cakes and cookies while sipping on tea.
Local Learning at Beczak:
Learn about movies made in Westchester County during the past
decade.
Holiday Opera Program at St.
Paul's Church: Enjoy a performance by the Bronx Opera Company,
featuring excerpts from classical operas and sing-alongs of
traditional seasonal carols and Holiday favorites.
Family Tour at Olana: Explore
the house, decorated for a family Christmas, from a child's
perspective.
Holiday Open House at the
Roosevelt Home: Learn about Roosevelt family traditions, such
as FDR's annual reading from "A Christmas Carol."
Locust Grove Holiday House:
Relive Christmas past with "The 12 Days of Christmas." In each
room, Christmas trees showcase passages from this song.
December
12
Holiday Tea at the Ten Broeck
Mansion: Enjoy an elegant holiday tea served in the formal
dining room.
Holiday Hunt at Locust Grove:
Kids can partake in a "Night Before Christmas" themed hunt.
Candlelight Tours of Clermont:
Visit the Livingston family home museum while dressed in its
holiday best
Candlelight Tours at Mount
Gulian: Celebrate the holidays with candlelight tours featuring
actors portraying freed slave James Brown and his employer Mary
Anna Verplanck as they were in 1848
December
18
Christmas at Clermont Open
House: Luxurious decorations are the perfect way to get into
the holiday spirit with your family
Yuletide at Wilderstein: Many
rooms display period ornamentation while others showcase modern and
even unexpected holiday decor.
Locust Grove Holiday House:
Relive Christmas past with "The 12 Days of Christmas." Christmas
trees showcase passages from this song
Chirstmas with the Ellisons at
Knox Headquarters: Candlelight tour of the 1754 Ellison mansion
decorated for the season in 18th century fashion. Enjoy period
music throughout the evening
December
19
Holiday Hunt at Locust Grove:
Kids can partake in a "Night Before Christmas" themed hunt
Holiday Whodunit at
Staatsburgh: A detective mystery for children ages 6 to 12.
First-person interpreters hand out clues and prizes
Mount Gulian Open House: The
Colonial home is decorated with ribbons and bows as well as fresh
greens, nuts, and berries. Enjoy a candlelight tour and holiday
refreshments.
December
26
Locust Grove Holiday House:
Relive Christmas past with "The 12 Days of Christmas." In each
room, Christmas trees showcase passages from this song
December
26 - 27
Yuletide at Wilderstein: Many
rooms display period ornamentation while others showcase modern and
even unexpected holiday decor
December
27-29
Open House at Knox's
Headquarters: Take part in a tour of the 1754 house decorated
for the season in 18th century fashion
December 28
Van Wyck Homestead Museum:
Celebrate the holidays of winter: Lucia, St Nicholas, Hannukah,
Epiphany, New Year's, and of course, Christmas. Children can make
holiday crafts. Enjoy refreshments and music
December
29
Children's Holiday Victorian Tea
at Mount Gulian: Children are invited to enjoy tea, sandwiches,
desserts, and craft projects.
December
31
Troy Night Out: Visit the City
of Troy for an evening of arts and culture with music, food,
shopping, and exhibits
Locust Grove Holiday House:
Relive Christmas Past with "The 12 Days of Christmas." In each
room, Christmas trees showcase passages from this song
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Community Spotlight
City of
Troy
A lively City no
matter the season, the City
of Troy is enjoying a thriving downtown culture due to its
successful revitalization work. Within the many buildings
representing the finest examples of nineteenth century American
architecture, full of friendly merchants offering many unique
products and services, excellent restaurants serving up everything
from micro-brews and hearty pub food to fine cuisine, antiques, and
a host of gift and specialty shops. Troy is bursting with fun,
flavor and flare.
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Photo by James
Bleecker |
The City of Troy is located in Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of
the Hudson River. The name Troy, after the legendary city of Troy,
was adopted in 1789, and the region was formed into the "Town of
Troy" in 1791 from part of the Rensselaerwyck Manor. Troy became a
village in 1801 and was chartered as a city in 1816. A fantastic
example of how adaptive reuse and historic preservation can
coincide to reinvigorate an old city.
As a river city, Troy was not unaffected by the Hudson River, other
natural waterways, and the man-made Erie Canal, as they provided
the means for not only transportation, but powered the mills that
enabled the City to become an industrial leader by the
mid-nineteenth century. At one time, Troy led the nation in iron
and steel production, and the watchful visitor will note dozens of
examples of original cast and wrought iron railings adorning many
of the brownstones from that period. Horseshoes, nails, cast iron
stoves, bells, and the plates for the Union's Civil War battleship
Monitor were also manufactured here. Many buildings formerly used
in the stove trade remain in evidence on River Street.
Capitalizing on the rich history and beautiful 19th century
architecture, the City of Troy, is one of the Capital Region's
fastest growing areas for business and commerce. With enthusiastic
financial backing from the State of New York, the City has made
significant financial investments in the infrastructure of the
downtown and surrounding areas. The City's most important
attributes are a robust mix of consumers, a diverse college and
university population, and an educated workforce nurtured by
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a world class technological
facility. The City's downtown contains numerous office facilities
welcoming private sector and governmental office workers.
Troy celebrates its environment, culture and heritage with
creative, engaging family festivals and community events. Many
activities are undertaken by residents to improve both the
aesthetic and morale of neighborhoods. Projects such as
beautification of city parks, annual Earth Day cleanup, festivals
and activities for children are several such initiatives. Some fine
seasonal examples include The Annual Victorian Stroll, The
River Street Festival, The Turkey Trot, and Collar City Live.
Today, Troy is alive and renewed.
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Heritage Spotlight
Hart - Cluett
House
An excellent example of a late
Federal-style urban townhouse, the Hart-Cluett House was built
between 1825 and 1827 by New York City entrepreneur William Howard
as a gift for his ownly daughter, Betsey, and her husband, banker
Richard P. Hart. It features a marble facade and double-portico
entryway flanked by Tuscan columns and leaded-glass fanlights. The
use of marble on the full facadce is believed to be the first time
this material was used in such a way on a residential
building. The interior includes elaborate, hand-carved woodwork and
ornate plaster ceiling medallions. The second and third owners of
the house were the Cluetts, who had made their fortunes
manufacturing linen shirt collars at a time when Troy was known as
the "Collar City." The house was donated to the Rensselaer County
HIstorical Society in 1952. Collections from all three families
can be seen, along with furnishings and fine arts from other Troy
and Rensselaer County homes.
The
Hart-Cluett House is located at 57 Second Street in Troy (518)
272-7232 x11
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Did You Know...
..."T'was the
Night Before Christmas" was first published in Troy, New
York?
The classic poem was
originally titled "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and was first
published in Troy by the Troy Sentinel Newspaper on December 23,
1823. Although the poem was submitted anonymously, it was later
attributed to Clement Moore, a professor of classics at the General
Theological Seminary in New York City. Prior to this poem, Moore's
best-known work was a two volume publication entitled "A
Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language."
"A Visit from St. Nicholas" was
well-received by the public and was republished frequently by the
Sentinel. Most important, this landmark work literally created the
Santa Claus we know today. This poem was the first to describe
Santa Claus's appearance (the "bowl full of jelly" as well as his
clothing), the fact that he delivers toys to children, his
transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and the night
he visits. Prior to the poem, there was considerable variation with
respect to American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmas
visitors.
An added bit of trivia about
this poem is that the names given to the reindeer of "Donner" and
"Blitzen" were taken from the Dutch "Dunder" and "Blixem" which
literally translate into "Thunder" and "Lightning" in
English.
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Green Tip Of The
Month
Replace one
70 watt bulb with a 9 watt LED. Each month would reduce your carbon
footprint by about 5lbs of CO2. Over a year that comes to a savings
of about 60lbs!
(All information courtesy of National
Geographic's Green Guide)
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