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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
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What's New?
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Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy Trail Grant Program
 The Hudson River Valley Greenway announces the availability of $50,000 from the 2014 Conservancy Trail Grant Program. Grants will range from $1,000 to $20,000. The program offers funding for trail projects, including: planning and design; construction and rehabilitation; and education and interpretation. Applications can be downloaded from the Greenway website, requested by calling (518) 473-3835, or emailing the Greenway at [email protected]. All applications must be postmarked or emailed no later than 5:00 PM, Friday, September 5th. Late, incomplete or faxed applications will not be accepted.
The 2014 Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble
The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area presents its 2014 Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble this fall. Now in its fifteenth year, the Ramble is a month-long celebration of Hudson Valley history, culture, and nature, with an emphasis on its scenic landscapes, recreational byways, enviable artistic heritage, and its storied role in American history. The Ramble takes place each weekend in September. Educational and entertaining programs and features - from guided nature walks and challenging hikes, bike rides, and paddles, to living history events, family-fun festivals, and arts and culture experiences found nowhere else. And while the Ramble offers something for everyone seeking exploration and leisure in the Hudson Valley, it also strives to connect people with the extraordinary resources of landscape and instill in them an understanding of the stewardship required to sustain these. The Ramble is produced by the Hudson River Valley Greenway and National Heritage Area in partnership with nearly 200 organizations that host Ramble events.
Hudson River Valley Greenway aids in Foundation's Historic Building Survey
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan hosted a press conference on July 29 to announce the results of a 1,023-building inventory completed by the Historic Albany Foundation. The project was funded in part by a grant from the Hudson River Valley Greenway. Full Times Union story here.
Farms and Food: Teaching the Hudson Valley from the Ground Up
Congratulations to Teaching the Hudson Valley for another successful Institute which brought together over 140 educators, farmers and others engaged in education, food and agriculture July 29th through 31st at the Henry A. Wallace Center, Home of FDR and FDR Presidential Library.
Through workshops, lectures, and field experiences the gathering explored fertile ground for teaching. One outstanding field trip to Kinderhook, NY visited Martin Van Buren's historic farm and the contemporary Roxbury Farm operation which today plows some of the same fields cultivated in the early 19th Century.
Teaching the Hudson Valley is a program of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
#IFishNY Summer Fishing Challenge 
Join in on this exciting contest that lets New York State fishers log their biggest summer catches, post photos, identify fish species, and automatically take their GPS coordinates, all using the Department of Environmental Conservation Pocket Ranger app. The #IFishNY Summer Fishing Challenge runs from August 7th through September 1st, and winners will be announced at the New York State Fair. Read more in Governor Cuomo's press release.
Cycling the Hudson Valley Bike Tour
Over one hundred bicyclists from fifteen states and Canada participated in the tenth anniversary Cycling the Hudson Valley event, organized by Parks & Trails New York, a statewide not-for-profit organization. The 200-mile bicycle tour began on July 28th with a sunset boat ride on the Hudson River from Riverfront Park in Hudson. From there they continued on towards New York City for the next five days, hitting historic Kingston, New Paltz, Hyde Park, and Hopewell Junction along the way to the August 3rd finish in New York City. The Hudson River Valley Greenway and Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area are Heritage Sponsors of the Hudson Valley Bike Tour. For more information, visit www.ptny.org/hudsontour.
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Designated a National Natural Landmark
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A 2013 Ramble event at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
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The U.S. Department of the Interior has designated the Albany Pine Bush Preserve as a National Natural Landmark. At the behest of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), this Natural Heritage Site designation will not only preserve the 3,200-acre nature preserve as a premier Hudson Valley recreational destination, but further aid conservation efforts of this rare inland pine barren ecosystem. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve provides habitat to a variety of wildlife in the Capital Region, including the federally-listed endangered Karner blue butterfly.
National Heritage Area Legislative Update
Our Congressional delegation continues to advocate for National Heritage Areas. Congresswoman Nita Lowey used a manager's amendment to restore nearly $9 million in the Heritage Partnership Program, the program through which the National Park Service allocates funding to National Heritage Areas. Congressman Paul Tonko is the lead co-sponsor of H.R. 455 "The National Heritage Act of 2013". Living Landscape Observer has a new piece on recent hearings on important National Heritage Area legislation currently in Congressional committee. Full story here.
An Insider's Guide to Advocacy at the Museum Institute at Sagamore - September 21st through 24th
 The Museum Institute at Sagamore and the Museum Association of New York are offering a reflective, intensive four-day retreat at Great Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks that gives New York State museum staff, trustees and volunteers the opportunity to learn, reflect, and work with their colleagues from across the state. The focus of this upcoming retreat will be the relationship of advocacy and public policy to museums and their cultural, social, and economic value. Retreat participants will learn from museum professionals about advocacy action plans, economic development and funding, the community value of such historic and cultural institutions, public and professional networks, and neighborly outreach. Space is limited and application is required by August 15th. Please visit the event website for further details. |
Heritage Spotlight
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Thomas Cole National Historic Site Studio Groundbreaking
The reconstruction of Thomas Cole's New Studio at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site officially got underway on Thursday, July 3 with a groundbreaking ceremony at the exact location where the New Studio once stood in Greene County. The project was recently awarded a $500,000 Market NY grant from New York State as part of Governor Cuomo's Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
State and local community leaders came together to celebrate this milestone, which will rebuild the New Studio and help shape the overall site-wide plan for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in becoming a leading center for education and a historic tourist destination that will attract visitors from near and far. Plans include an interior program space that serves as a museum-quality gallery for special exhibitions and a lecture hall for a variety of programs and events. It will serve all ages and segments of the community - students and teachers, families, scholars, area businesses and visitors from across the country. For more about the new studio, visit the website here.
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Project Spotlight
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Village of Rye Brook Adopts Its First Comprehensive Plan
 The Village of Rye Brook has adopted its first comprehensive plan, culminating a two-year process of planning that will provide a basis for land-use and other governmental decisions over the next twenty years. Building on the foundations set by its 2000 Vision Plan, Plan Rye Brook documents strategies designed to maintain and improve quality of life for Village residents through sustainable economic development, preservation of natural, cultural, recreational, and historic resources, and long-range planning based on the sound principles of smart growth.
The Village of Rye Brook Comprehensive Plan was funded in part by a $15,000 Greenway Communities grant. Plan Rye Brook may be viewed and downloaded here.
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| Upcoming Grant and Other Opportunities | |
Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy Trail Grant Program
$50,000 in matching grants are available from the Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy Trail Grant Program, which offers funding for trail projects. Applications can be downloaded from the Greenway website, requested by calling (518) 473-3835, or emailing the Greenway at [email protected]. Deadline: September 5th.
Greenway Communities and Compact Grants
Applications are due August 29th for consideration at the October Board Meeting.
Technical Assistance Grants from the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)
Applications are now available to eligible municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for this statewide program that is offering a total of $15,673 for projects that preserve cultural and historic resources in New York. Applications are due on August 25th. To review TAG guidelines and a list of previous grant recipients, visit the League's website at www.preservenys.org.
Hudson River Improvement Fund 2014 Call for Proposals
The Hudson River Improvement Fund supports projects that promote and enhance the public use and enjoyment of the natural, scenic and cultural resources of the Hudson River and its shores. Awards are primarily directed to physical projects that require capital construction, development or improvement. The Fund is particularly interested in projects that will have a lasting positive impact on waterfront access, education and habitat restoration. Deadline: September 15th. For more information, visit www.hudsonriver.org or call (212) 483-7667.
Webcast: Flood Resilience and Recovery Assistance: Lessons Learned from Vermont
The EPA has recently published "Planning for Flood Recovery and Long-Term Resilience in Vermont: Smart Growth Approaches for Disaster-Resilient Communities", along with a Flood Resilience Checklist. An accompanying webcast is scheduled to take place on August 13. While these programs were specifically designed to address situations in Vermont, this guidance will certainly have applications in the Hudson Valley.
The EPA documents are available here:
Flood Resilience Checklist (PDF)
Planning for Flood Recovery and Long-Term Resilience in Vermont: Smart Growth Approaches for Disaster-Resilient Communities (PDF)
Disaster Resilience and Recovery
Webcast details
EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant
EPA is announcing the availability of funding to eligible entities to develop area-wide plans for brownfields assessment, cleanup, and reuse. The proposal submission deadline is September 22nd. More information on EPA's BF AWP Grant program can be found here.
Museums in Action 2015: Museums Mean Business - Call for Proposals
The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is soliciting session and workshop proposals for its April 2015 annual conference in Corning, New York. The theme of the upcoming conference is the museum as an economic engine. For more information, visit the MANY conference website.
Master of Science in Engineering Management Program at Clarkson University
Clarkson University's Master of Science in Engineering Management program is expanding this fall. The two-year, 30-credit hybrid program, designed for rising at-work professionals, focuses on building expertise in project management, financial management, quality management, and operations management. Students meet with faculty in-person at the start of each semester and continue interactions online, building a sophisticated learning community with Web-conferencing, email, social media, and other innovative technologies. For more information, visit the program website.
Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (Ongoing)
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets invite municipalities and non profit conservation organizations to apply for Farmland Protection funding. Prequalification for all not-for-profits is required; all municipalities interested must register on the State's new Grants Gateway website.
New York State Conference of Mayors Grant & Award Opportunities (Ongoing)
New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials provide access to several ongoing grant and award opportunities. NYSCOM shares several links to federal, state, private foundation, and corporate grant and award programs.
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Regional Events | |
Calendar of Events: August 2014
Saturdays
The purveyors of John Jay Homestead Farm Market are local farmers, bakers & craftsmen, who seasonally provide a variety of fruit, produce, meats, fish, dairy products, baked goods, prepared foods and handcrafted products. Get to know your farmers first-hand, how they make their products and help preserve the environment. Shoppers can enjoy a walk, sightsee and explore flower, herb and vegetable gardens or picnic on the historic grounds of John Jay Homestead. The Market is open June 22nd to October 12th.
Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market
The Spring Season is in full swing at the
Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market. Hours are 9 am to 2 pm each Saturday on River Street in downtown Troy. Over 70 local vendors each week bring fresh and local products from local farmers, chefs, and artisans to offer the Capital Region's freshest and finest.
Sundays
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Rhinebeck Farmer's Market! Vendors provide a diverse and unique selection of farm fresh products including fruits and vegetables, meats, jams, honey, and local dairy. A full schedule of special events highlight the bounty of the seasons with chef demonstrations, tastings, recipes, children's activities, free live music and more. Sundays 10 am to 2 pm in the Village of Rhinebeck.
This year-round Farmer's Market located in Saratoga Springs offers a wide variety of goods and produce. All participating vendors are premium local brands and the best of the best, including a bounty of the New York's most sought after farmers and producers (to ensure the integrity of the market all vendors MUST be legitimate producers and open to facility inspection). In a stunningly beautiful venue with live music, kids crafts table, free parking - and dog-friendly too! Held at the Lincoln Baths in the Spa State Park from 10 am - 3 pm every Sunday.
The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Cornwall announces Summer Science and Nature Camp
for Kids Ages 4-15. The Museum offers the Ramblers Program is for children ages 4 to 6, the Trekkers Programs is for children ages 7 to 12, and The Eco-Rangers Program for children ages 12 to 15. For more information please call (845) 534-5506.
August 6th and 20th
Nature Programs for Children at Staatsburgh State Historic Site
"Skull & Bones" challenges children ages six through nine to become detectives by examining animal skulls to learn about predator and prey animals. Reservations required. 845-889-8851, Ext. 338.
August 12th
Schooner Lois McClure at Victor C. Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie
As part of the War of 1812 Bicentennial, the schooner Lois McClure of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum will be docked and open for free public tours at Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie.
This year's theme, 1814: From War to Peace, will highlight the important role of New York shipwrights in the naval history of this conflict.
"Downton Troy": Courtyard Party at Rensselaer County Historical Society
Rensselaer County Historical Society will host a summer evening party inspired by the 1920s fashions of the popular television series Downton Abbey. For more information or to RSVP, call (518) 272-7232.
August 13th
Canoe Trip at Iona Island
Rockland Municipal Planning Federation is hosting a canoe trip and educational session at Iona Island, guided by estuary naturalists from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. No equipment or boating skills are required; all will be provided for you. Registration is required (845) 364-3448.
August 15th, 16th, and 17th
Hudson Valley Ribfest at the Ulsters County Fairgrounds
This three day food and music festival is highlighted by a sanctioned barbecue contest, making this shindig a popular Hudson Valley event for music, games, and good eating.
August 15th
Music From the High Peaks to Olana's Orchard
Chamber musicians and the High Peaks Festival Orchestra perform Vivaldi's Double Violin Concerto, Gershwin, and more in Olana's orchard in an exuberant display of virtuosity and talent. Wine and cheese reception near the orchard at Olana will follow the performance. Advanced registration is requested. (518) 828-1872, Ext. 109.
August 17th
Vanderbilt Mansion Landscape and Garden Tours
In this program, interpreter-guides will discuss the history of the gardens, Vanderbilt ownership, and the ongoing work by the Frederick W. Vanderbilt Garden Association in maintaining garden plantings. For more information call (845) 229-7770 or visit www.vanderbiltgarden.org.
Cornell Cooperative Extension: Wildflower Walk at Siuslaw Model Forest, Acra
Not all wildflowers bloom in the spring. Hike the Siuslaw Model Forest with wildflower enthusiast Chris Scherelli, to search for the colorful blooms of late summer such as asters, and other wildflowers, which are abundant on the Siuslaw Model Forest. This program includes a moderate hike. Service dogs only, please. Register online.
August 21st
Film Night at the Beacon Institute Center for Environmental Innovation and Education
The Beacon Institute at Denning's Point is hosting an annual evening of short films entitled Once Upon a Tide and Other Stories, designed to uplift and inspire our connection to water. Please register online here.
August 23rd
Birds of Prey at Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
Meet five live raptors up close and learn about their remarkable adaptations and natural history. For pre-paid online registration visit www.hhnaturemuseum.org or call 845-534-5506, ext. 204.
Ongoing Events
Exhibition: Master, Mentor, Master:� Thomas Cole & Frederic Church�
On view April 30th to November 2nd at the Thomas Cole NHS. This is the first exhibition to explore one of the most influential teacher-student relationships in the history of American art - that between the founder of the Hudson River School of painting, Thomas Cole (1801-1848) and his most celebrated student and successor, Frederic Church (1826-1900).
This program at Wilderstein Historic Site explores fascinating connections between the estate and the Suckley family to U.S. presidents through history. Costumes, textiles, decorative arts, photographs, books and more will be featured - all from the Wilderstein collections. For additional information about the exhibit and reservations for the preview party, call (845) 876-4818. May 1st - October 31st.
To have your event included in future editions of the newsletter and on hudsonrivervalley.com, please enter upcoming event information here.
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Green Tip Of The Month
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Practice responsible energy use in the hot summer months  Ditch the stove! Microwave it or grill it! Can't stand the heat in your kitchen? Use your microwave oven as much as possible in the summer. Microwave ovens use around 50% less energy than conventional ovens. You can also fire up the grill and dine al fresco! Your house will stay cooler and you will save energy! For more money-saving energy tips on keeping cool this season, check out these pointers from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority - Residential Energy Saving Tips from NYSERDA.
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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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