August 2013

Regional Events

Calendar of Events: August 2013  

Hudson Valley RibFest: August 16, August 17 and August 18

The Hudson Valley RibFest, organized by the Highland Rotary Club, is THE place to be for lovers of finger-licking good food in the Northeast.

Hike around the Peter's Kill Area: August 17

Come explore the Peter's Kill Area on this approximately two mile loop hike. The footpath we will be following ascends some of the local terrain, culminating in view towards the Catskills.

Bier-fest at the Thomas Cole House: August 18

Combine your love for beer and art at this fun-for-all event celebrating the new hit show at the Thomas Cole Site, "Albert Bierstadt in New York & New England."  

Family Nature Program: August 18

Join the HSRC who will come to the HSRC for an afternoon of live animals and nature activities. Participants will learn interesting facts about local animals including common misconceptions and folk tales.

Beautiful Birds: August 18

Bring your children to the Minnewaska Nature Center to learn all about our feathered friends.

Story Time with Grandma Mabel: August 20

Bring your young children to the Nature Center for a fun and educational story time with park volunteer, Mabel O'Brien.

Summer History Days August 21, 22, 23

Experience the life of a Revolutionary War Soldier, cook on the open hearth reenact the battle with mock wooden muskets, mold a musket ball, climb to the top of the lighthouse, and much more!

Homeschoolers' Summer Naturalists: Beautiful Birds: August 21

This ever popular program teaches children all about birds while having fun playing a game, going for a bird scavenger hunt and making their own binoculars to take home.

Homeschoolers' Summer Naturalists: Natural Sculptures and Rainstick Making August 22

Children will make their own rainstick using a cardboard tube and other household items. Then, we'll take a hike along the edges of the Peter's Kill stream to choose a location where kids will make their own sculptures and drawings out of natural elements such as rocks, leaves and twigs found on the ground.

Learn Your Leaves: Marvelous Maples: August 24

Are you confused with tree terminology or the multitude of different kinds of trees? Then, this basic tree identification walk, which will focus on one family of trees, is made for you.

Two Views for One Hike: August 25

Start the weekend on the right foot by joining Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, on this moderately challenging two-mile hike in the Peter's Kill area of Minnewaska.

Beacon Hill Loop Hike: August 31

The Beacon Hill loop hike offers a full Minnewaska experience in a small package.

Wild for Wildlife: September 1

Calling all wildlife detectives! Join us at the Minnewaska Nature Center for an introduction to wildlife detection and to make a plaster cast of an animal track to take home.

Rainbow Falls Hike: September 2 

Come celebrate water, a powerful landscape-changing force and a most vital resource by visiting one of Minnewaska's waterfalls. This approximately five mile walk is mostly on carriage roads until we reach the Rainbow Falls Trail.

The Woods in Your Backyard - Webinar Series & Field Trip: September 12

By enhancing or creating natural areas and woodland on your lot, you can enjoy recreation, aesthetics, wildlife, and good water quality. 

NYS Upstate Chapter APA/ASLA 2013 Annual Conference: September 25-27

Recharging Communities Through Planning and Design

Ongoing Events: 

Introducing the Hudson River School Art Trail Contest

Visit the Hudson River School Art Trail sites and win a weekend getaway to the breathtaking Catskill Mountains.  

Claude Mirror Project

A new installation by artist Alex McKay at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site lets you see Thomas Cole's favorite view at any time of day, any season of the year, in all kinds of weather, as reflected in a 19th-century optical device called a "Claude Mirror."  

Fill Your Passport With Rubbings!
Fun for the whole family! Metal plaques are now installed at the first eight stops along the Hudson River School Art Trail, located within a short drive of the Thomas Cole site and Olana.

Bannerman's Castle 

One of the most intriguing sights along the Hudson is Bannerman's Castle, which sits on Pollepel Island in the middle of the Hudson River. Native Americans once believed the island was haunted, and a rite of passage for Colonial- era sailors making their first journey up the Hudson was to be left stationed on the island until the ship returned. During the Revolutionary War, patriots attempted to block the advance of British ships by placing iron-tipped logs between this island and Plum Point across the river. 

In 1900, Pollepel Island was purchased by Francis Bannerman, a wealthy Scottish-born merchant who specialized in surplus military equipment. In 1901, Bannerman began construction of a summer home and storage warehouse modeled after a Scottish castle. He continued construction for 17 years, decorating the castle with ornate masonry and walled gardens. After his death in 1918,
the family operated the warehouse compound until a munitions explosion forced them to move the operation to Long Island. Debris from the explosion included a 25-foot section of perimeter wall that landed across the railroad tracks. The castle continued as a summer home until 1967 when the family sold it to New York State. Two years later, a fire gutted the castle, leaving it an abandoned shell. The compound is now under the protection of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Bannerman Castle Trust. 

The Trust hosts many fundraising and tour opportunities throughout the year, including their annual Hudson Valley Chefs Farm Fresh Dinner. This year's dinner will take place on September 7th, and you can enjoy a 5 Course Meal on Bannerman Island prepared by five of the Hudson Valley's finest Chefs. A concert version of Godspell will be performed on the island on September 21, including a self-guided tour of the island. Find out more about how to participate here.   

Most sealants are made from coal tar, which can be a source of toxic pollution to streams and lakes.  If you must seal pavement, look for asphalt sealants. Other alternatives include different surfaces, like gravel or pavers, both of which have the added benefit of being permeable to rainwater, so they won't contribute to the flow of urban runoff.

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Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area