November 2012

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Barnabas McHenry, Chair Greenway Council, Co-Chair National Heritage Area

Sara Griffen, Acting Chair Greenway Conservancy, Acting Co-Chair National Heritage Area

Mark Castiglione, Acting Executive Director Greenway, Acting Director National Heritage Area  

 

In This Issue

What's New?            Upcoming Grant Opportunities       Regional Events 

Heritage Spotlight               Project Spotlight                Green Tip Of The Month 

What's New?WhatsNew

Hurricane Sandy Resources

 

Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. There are several resources available to those affected by the storm.

Greenway kayak racks and kiosk at Croton Landing survived Sandy - credit Bob Elliott

Governor Cuomo's website has the latest updates on many topics, including:

  • How to Apply for FEMA Assistance
  • Warming Centers & Tips for Cold Weather
  • Bridges, Subways, Commuter Railways & Roads
  • Disaster Assistance
  • DMV Extensions
  • Environmental Safety Concerns
  • Food Assistance
  • Health
  • Insurance
  • Power Outage Updates
  • Shelter Information
  • Avoiding Storm Recovery Scams
  • Tax Filing and Payment Deadline Extensions
  • Unemployment Insurance

Hurricane Sandy Helpline: 1-888-769-7243                    

Disaster Assistance: 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) 1-800-462-7585 (TTY)   

  • The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has an abundance of information and updates on their website: www.dhses.ny.gov .  New Yorkers affected by the storm can apply for disaster relief assistance. More information and the application process can be found here: www.disasterassistance.gov .
  • The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has updated many of its webpages with information about hurricane recovery and relief efforts, including permits and other important resources. See their Storm Information page for links and information. 
  • The NY-NJ Trail Conference has information about trail and park closures on their website.

Hurricane Sandy has been a reminder of the potential challenges presented by climate change, and the value of preserving our natural areas for things like flood control and water retention. Many of our partner organizations have upcoming grants, workshops, and other activities related to climate change adaptation and sea level rise in the Hudson Valley. Please look for these important happenings in the Grants and Events sections below.

 

  

Hudson River Valley Greenway October Board Meeting

The Hudson River Valley Greenway held a Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 17th at the Historic Cornell Boathouse at Marist College. Senator Steve Saland announced the recipients of the 2012 Greenway Conservancy Small Grants. This program has awarded $1.5 million for trail related projects since 1994. This year's awardees include:

  

 - Harlem Valley Rail Trail, Columbia County: Copake Falls to Hillsdale Early Trail Opening Project - $15,000


- BeaconArts Community Association, Dutchess County: Beacon Loop Trail bicycle trail improvements and education workshops - $2,616 

Mark Castiglione presents an award to Fred DeMay and Marybeth Pettit from the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance 

 - Town of Stillwater, Saratoga County: Stillwater Champlain Canal/Hudson River Historic Multi-Use Trail- $10,000


- Mohonk Preserve, Ulster County: Master planning to develop a Foothills trail access, linkage and circulation master plan - $5,000


- Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Inc., Rensselaer County: Process for Trail network Vision Plan - $8,384


- Hudson Crossing Park, Inc., Saratoga County:  Sensory Trail improvements and Canoe/Kayak racks - $5,000


- John Burroughs Association, Ulster County: Site entrance improvements - $4,000  

 

Greenway Communities Grants

At the October Board Meeting, the following Greenway Communities Grants were awarded:

 

- Village of Brewster, Putnam County - $7,500 for a Brewster Main Street Study

- City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County - $5,000 for Walkway as Gateway to Success
Regional Tourism Implementation Project
- Town of Clifton Park, Saratoga County - $5,000 for Gateway Design and Overlook at
Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve
- Town of Rensselaerville, Albany County - $5,000 for Farm Brew Cooperative Pilot at The Carey Center

- Town of Lloyd, Ulster County - $7,500 for Black Creek Water Trail Access for Canoes and
Kayaks  

 

New Greenway Community

The Hudson River Valley Greenway welcomes the Town of Salem in Washington County as a newly designated Greenway Community. That brings the total number of Greenway Communities to 271.

 

New Hudson River Greenway Water Trail Site

Also at the Board meeting, the Beczak Environmental Education Center, City of Yonkers, Westchester County was designated as a launch and campsite on the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail.

Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway Receives Designation
The Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway Committee

  

New NYS Scenic Byways Designation in Greene County   

The Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway, a 41-mile corridor connecting the Villages of Hunter and Tannersville in Greene County, has been recommended for designation as a New York State Scenic Byway by the State Scenic Byways Advisory Board. The Steering Committee that has worked tirelessly on this project for many years should be very proud of this accomplishment. The Greenway is pleased to have been a part of the planning process.

 
Greene County Trail Initiative
The Greene County Office of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning, in partnership with the Greene County Highway Department, has been awarded grant monies to prepare a Trail-based Tourism Plan. Contact the project team by November 9, 2012 at planning@discovergreene.com to become a part of this exciting project.
Grants  Upcoming Grant Opportunities

Greenway Community Grants

Applications for the next round of Greenway Community Matching Grants are due December 7 for our January Board Meeting. Read more...

    

Teaching the Hudson Valley Explore Awards

Provides grant funds for place-based education by funding trips to culturally significant sites. Read more...

  

New York Sun Competitive Photovoltaic (PV) Program 

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) invites proposals for the installation of customer-sited PV projects in New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) load zones A through J and Renewable Biogas-fueled electric generation projects in NYISO load zones G through J.  Read more... (November 8)

  

PTNY Growing the Grassroots 

Parks and Trails NY Capacity Building Grants are now available. Grants of up to $3000 will fund activities that help develop and strengthen the skills, processes and resources that not-for-profit organizations need to succeed. Read more...  (November 12) 

  

The Hudson River Foundation 2013 Hudson River Fund Call for Proposals
Projects related to scientific, ecological, and  public policy research on issues of concern to the Hudson River, its tributaries and drainage basin. Read more... (Extended November 19)  

 

USDA-NRCS Conservation Programs 

NRCS offers a variety of programs to help landowners address a wide range of conservation needs, including Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Agricultural Management Assistance Program, and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Read more... (November 16)  

 

NYS Water Resources Institute and NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, Water Resources Research Grants for research or outreach proposals that will contribute to better watershed management in New York State, addressing water infrastructure, environmental water quality, or economic vitality. Read more... (November 20)  

 

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation State Assistance Programs for waste reduction, recycling and household hazardous waste programs.

Read More... (Ongoing)   

   

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Technical 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 costs of planning and implementing green components of affordable housing developments, as well as tracking their costs and benefits. Read More... (Ongoing)      

 

.EventsRegional Events

 

Green Technology Courses 

The Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance, on behalf of The Clean Energy Training Consortium, announces Green Technology courses available through SUNY Dutchess Community College. Read more...

 

November 7-9
The Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation Districts presents the 12th annual Stormwater Conference & Trade Show Sustainable Development: Practical Solutions to Real World Problems. Read more...

 

November 8

Community Forest Workshop offered by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance 

Leading experts in forest conservation will discuss the history of community forests and how they relate to local and regional planning, community outreach, funding opportunities and economic development.   

 

November 10

Concert featuring The Whippersnappers

 Sand Lake Center for the Arts presents multi-instrumentalists/vocalists Peter Davis, George Wilson, and Frank Orsini.

  

November 11

Honoring Our Veterans and Preserving Their History 

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor will celebrate Veteran's Day with a musical and visual tribute to our veterans.

   

November 12

Hudson River Foundation Fall 2012 Seminars

The Northeast Regional Earth System Model: A Tool for Hudson River Management and Research  

 

November 13

Reading: Into the Abyss at the Dorsky Museum

Codhill Press Poets present a reading of "Into the Abyss." 

  

November 15

Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts in an Era of Global Climate Change and Sea Rise
Municipal officials, planners, developers and citizen activists are invited to attend a day-long conference exploring how re-development of waterfronts along the Hudson River can
prepare us for rising sea levels as well as stimulate the economy and create jobs.  

 

November 17

Chilly Willy Winter's Eve Tours

Take a guided tour and listen to the retelling of ancient legends at the Bronck houses, decorated for the celebrations of Martinmas, St. Nicholas Day and St. Lucia Day.

 

November 17, 30, and December 14

Biodiversity Assessment: One-day Workshops
Especially designed for town boards, planning boards, conservation commissions, land trusts, and others who are regularly engaged in land use planning and decision-making.  

 

December 2

First Sunday Free Gallery Tour
Tour the galleries of The Dorsky with guest educator Kevin Cook  

 

 

Do you have an heritage event you would like to promote? Go to our website and submit one today!

 

HeritageSpotHeritage Spotlight

The Hudson: The River that Defined America 

National Geographic, The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, and The National Park Service partnered to create an interactive website, complete with video clips and image galleries, that explore the journey of Henry Hudson.  The website provides information about Hudson's explorations and arrival, Dutch settlement, and the Hudson River today.

 

The effort was supported by quadricentennial funds through the National Park Service and the Hudson River Valley Greenway.  

ProjectspotProject Spotlight

Hiking Trail Links Historic Sites in Kinderhook 

Partners gather to celebrate the opening of the trail

 

 

The opening of a new 1.5-mile hiking trail, called the Kinderhook Dutch Farming Heritage Trail, was celebrated on Sunday, October 14. The trail runs from the back of the National Historic Landmark Luykas Van Alen House property, through areas of Roxbury Farm, down a historic portion of Old Post Road, to the entrance of the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site. It is the first link in the Kinderhook-Stockport-Stuyvesant (KSS) trail, which will eventually continue beyond Columbia County. In 2011, the Greenway awarded a $10,000 matching grant to the Columbia Historical Society through the Conservancy Small Grants Program to develop this trail segment. The Greenway had previously provided funding to the planning process for the KSS Trail, which follows the former Albany-Hudson electric trolley line. Projects like this one embody the goals of the Greenway Trail program, creating trails that  link cultural and historic sites, parks, open spaces, and community centers.
GreenTipGreen Tip Of The Month

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15 million rural residents rely on private wells that are not monitored by government for contamination.

Especially after flooding, it's important to test or treat your water, according to the New York State Department of Health, which advises private well owners to disinfect private wells if flood waters may have infiltrated.  

 

Read more: The Daily Green

(All information courtesy of the Daily Green)

 

The E-Newsletter is published monthly and emailed to friends of the Hudson River Valley

 

Questions or comments?

 

Email us or call (518) 473-3835

 

 Be sure to visit the websites for the Hudson River Valley Greenway and the

Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area

 

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