February 2016

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? New
Hudson River Valley Greenway Announces $22,500 in Grants 
Current Conditions of City of Troy's Uncle Sam Trail
At it's January meeting, the Hudson River Valley Greenway approved three matching grant awards totaling  $22,500.  The funded projects include:
  • $5,000 to the City of Troy, Rensselaer County, for the enhancement of the underutilized Uncle Sam Trail with access points, wayfinding, and trail crossing improvements. The project will involve several community partners as well as provide a greater regional and Hudson River link through other future projects.
  • $10,000 to the Town of Saugerties, Ulster County, for a feasibility study focused on improving recreational access to the undeveloped 165 acre Bristol Beach State Park. The study will evaluate how to establish public access to the park and its mile-long Hudson River shoreline.
  • $7,500 to the Town of Wawayanda, Orange County, for a comprehensive plan update. The update to Wawayanda's 2006 comprehensive plan will continue to outline visions, policies and recommendations for the planning of this historic Hudson Valley community.
More...

The application deadline for the next grant round is February 18, 2016. Applications and guidelines are available  here .

$60,000 in matching grants are available through the 2016 Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant Program.  
$60,000 in matching grants are available through the 2016 Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant Program  The annual grant program offers funding for programming, interpretation, and marketing projects that support the mutual goals of the Heritage Area and applicants. The application deadline is  February 11, 2016 at 4:00PM . Grant program guidelines and applications are available on the  Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area website .


Greenway Trail Gap Analysis Underway
A Family Biking the Harlem Valley Rail Trail
The Hudson River Valley Trail Gap Analysis will identify likely connections that would complete the trunk line north/south Greenway Trail route from New York City to the Capital region and beyond.  Tasks include methodology and mapping, stakeholder engagement, a narrative analysis, and the production of visualizations and concept designs.

Hudson River Valley Greenway and the project steering committee recently selected  Alta Planning + Design  in association with  Behan Planning and Design  as the consultants best fit for the project. The project is predicted to take approximately six months to complete.  Stakeholder engagement will be both on-line and in-person, and there will  be monthly coordinating  meetings and/or conference calls with the  steering committee throughout the project. 

The Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail links cultural and historic sites, parks, open spaces, and community centers as well as provides public access to the Hudson River. The Greenway Trail is intended to offer multi-day recreational and cultural experiences allowing tourists to hike  or bike from community to community from NYC to the Adirondacks. The Trail Gap Analysis  will create a blueprint for future planning and investments in the Greenway Trail. 

History Happy Hour

The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area will sponsor  History Happy Hour at Albany's Ten Broeck Mansion on February 18th. History Happy Hour  targets history enthusiasts to socialize and experience history in a new and fun way. The event helps cultivate a community to support heritage tourism in the city and introduce Albany's historic resources to new audiences. 

Find out more about the event here.
Heritage Spotlight
HeritageSpot
Washington's Birthday at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site 
Washington State Historic Site
Washington's Headquarters was the first publicly owned historic site in the country. In  the critical months that General George Washington spent at Newburgh, he rejected the idea that he should be king after the war; ended the Newburgh conspiracy, preventing military control of the government; created and awarded the Badge of Military Merit, forerunner of the Purple Heart; and circulated  a letter to State Governors that influenced the writing of the Constitution.  More...
Project Spotlight Projectspot
New Baltimore Conservancy Interpretive Signage 
 36 x 24" Signage
In November of 2013, the New Baltimore Conservancy received a Greenway Grant to develop, construct and install interpretive signs for Scenic Hudson's new Long View Park in New Baltimore, Greene County . The riverfront park is managed by the New Baltimore Conservancy. 
42 x 28" Signage

Two interpretive signs were constructed to  educate visitors about regional history through interpretive QR codes, smart phone applications, illustrations, and text describing what life was like in the 1800s. One sign provides information on  primary homestead structures , ancillary quarrying, and ice house activities supporting the farming family. The other sign describes habitat management for grassland birds. 
Upcoming Grants and Other Opportunities Grants
Applications for the 2016 Heritage Development Grants Due February 11th
$60,000 in matching grants are available through the  2016 Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant Program The annual grant program offers funding for programming, interpretation, and marketing projects that support the mutual goals of the Heritage Area and applicants. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. Projects that include multiple partners will be eligible to receive more than $5,000. The application deadline is  February 11, 2016 at 4:00PM . Grant program guidelines and applications are available on the  Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area website .

The  Hudson River Valley Greenway Grants Program offers approximately $5,000-$10,000 to designated Greenway Communities or Greenway Compact Communities within the Greenway Area. Projects should relate to community planning, economic development, natural resource protection, cultural resource protection, scenic resource protection, or open space protection. Applications must be postmarked or emailed by  February 18, 2016 at 4:00PM. For more information,  applications, and  guidelines, please visit the  program  webpage.

Teaching the Hudson Valley Explore Awards
Teaching the Hudson Valley will p rovide grant funding for place-based education by funding trips to culturally significant sites through the Explore Awards. This creates opportunities for students to explore the history, environment, and culture of the Hudson River Valley.

Teaching the Hudson Valley Bus on Us

Teaching the Hudson Valley provides Bus on Us grants designed to help with transportation costs for visits to one or more of the following Hyde Park sites: 

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic SiteFDR Presidential Library & MuseumHome of FDR National Historic SiteTop Cottage (Roosevelt's cottage retreat), and Vanderbilt Mansion.

 

MANY/NYSCA Mini-Grant Program
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has provided $102,000 to be distributed by the Museum Association of New York between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Mini-Grants of up to $5,000 are available to work on a modest ($20,000 or less) planning or implementation project. **Due to the high volume of grant applications for Round 1, there is no funding remaining for Round 2 (deadline February 5th, 2016).  Round 1 was highly competitive but MANY hopes that eligible organizations consider applying should more funding be made available. Find out more here.

Conservation Treatment Grant
Greater Hudson Heritage Network is providing up to $7,500 for conservation treatment of paintings, works on paper, textiles, furniture, frames, sculptures, historical, ethnographic, and decorative objects owned by eligible organizations. Deadline for applications is  March 1, 2016 at 11:59PM. For more information on the application process, grant guidelines, and listings of past grantees, please visit the website  here.

Documentary Heritage Program Grants
The New York State Archives announced its Documentary Heritage Program (DHP) grants for 2016-2017, providing financial support and guidance to not-for-profit organizations that hold, collect and make available New York's historical records. The new DHP Grant Guidelines and Application are now available on the NYS Archives website. Applications are due March 1, 2016

Preservation Grants Available
Applications are now available to eligible municipalities and not-for-profit organizations to compete for Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG), the signature grant programs of the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).  A total of $265,128 is available in 2016 and will be disbursed over two grant rounds. Applications are due April 11, 2016.  For guidelines, please visit Preserve New YorkRead more here.
Events
February & March
The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site will host an Early Bird Tour daily at 9am during February and March. The tour will include rooms such as The Presidential Kitchen where meals were prepared for royalty and FDR's Study where plans for the Atomic Bomb were discussed. 

The Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site will host their Downstairs/Upstairs TourThis unique program will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays starting January 23rd and will be available through March 27th. This expanded tour of Vanderbilt Mansion will include the servant areas and rarely seen rooms on the third floor. 

February 3-25
The  Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership (SRBP) will present a free public lecture series, Secrets of the Shawangunks, providing information on conservation topics and biodiversity on the Ridge. 

February 6
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor will commemorate the sacrifice of the Four Chaplains who gave their lives on February 3, 1943 to save their fellow soldiers. The program will include a presentation on the four chaplains along with a 35 minute film that chronicles the lives of these brave men and the even that took their lives. Download the flyerMore...

February 7
Join Robert Loversidge, award-winning preservation design architect and principal-in-charge of the ten-year renovation/restoration/addition project at Ohio's National Historic Landmark Statehouse, as he explores debates regarding Thomas Cole's artwork at Thomas Cole National Historic Site. More...

February 11
Join New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program Conservation and Land Use Coordinator Laura Heady for the lecture  Hudson Valley Wetlands: What do We Have to Lose?  as part of the Scenic Hudson Naturalist Lecture Series for an exploration of the region's wetlands, and learn how you and your community can get involved in conserving these vital natural assets. 

February 12
Friends of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail will hold a meeting with information and updates regarding the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail, the rail trail planned for portions of the former Ulster & Delaware corridor from Kingston to the Ashokan Reservoir and the Catskill Mountains. More...

February 13, 14, & 15
Celebrate Washington's birthday at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site
will offer visitors informative programs, presentations, demonstrations, crafts, and costumed docents. Historic Reenactors will greet visitors and perform military drills.

February 14
To honor General George Washington's time in the Hudson Valley, Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site will celebrate him on Sunday, February 14 with tours of the Ellison House and a small cannon firing. More...

February 17
Fort Montgomery State Historic Site will hold a Winter Wildlife Survival program that will involve a nature trek, searching for tracks and sign, hands-on furs, and games. This family-friendly program is suited for children 8 and up. Download the flyer.

February 18
Join Eric Lind, director of Hudson Valley properties for Audubon New York, for lecture
Constitution Marsh: Jewel on the Hudson  as part of the Scenic Hudson Naturalist Lecture Series. Lind will describe the diverse bird and wildlife populations that thrive in the marsh despite the long history of human impact upon it. He also will share educational and habitat restoration activities planned for the marsh and other Audubon properties in the valley. 

Lift your glass on a winter's eve and toast Albany's history! Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area will sponsor History Happy Hour at Ten Broeck Mansion from 5pm to 7pm . More...

February 24
Not-for-profit groups and municipalities are invited to attend a free information session on Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG), the signature grant programs of the Preservation League of New York State, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The meeting will be held 10 AM. More...  

February 25
Bike Friendly Kingston will hold a Chill Ride and Screening, an evening ride followed by a Bike Gear Show & Tell at 7pm and then a screening of the film, A Winter of Cyclists at 7:30pm. More...

Join Larry Federman, president of the Northern Catskills Audubon Society, for the lecture Effects of Climate Change on Hudson Valley Birds as part of the Scenic Hudson Naturalist Lecture Series. Federman will offer a PowerPoint presentation on local birds and discuss potential impacts climate change will have on these and other species-and how we can help them. 

February 29
It's a leap year! Join the Shaker Heritage Society (SHS) and Partners for Albany Stories (PASt) to celebrate Shaker founder, Ann Lee's 280th birthday with friends and local leaders. Guests of honor Matthew Bender IV & Miriam Trementozzi will be recognized for their tireless efforts in preserving & promoting Albany history. Co-hosted by County Executive Dan McCoy & Mayor Kathy Sheehan. More...

March 3
Join Tim Stanley, founder of Native Beeology, for lecture Native Pollinators: "The Unstung Heroes" as part of the Scenic Hudson Naturalist Lecture Series. Stanley will reveal the hidden world of our native pollinators and bring much-deserved attention to their importance in the ecosystem. Emphasis will be placed on ways to create habitat diversity within our backyards and gardens to attract these essential insects. 

March 10
American eels (Anguilla rostrata) are in decline, and studies of its migration are considered crucial for survival. Join New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program Science Education Specialist Chris Bowser for the lecture Tracking the Great Migration as part of the Scenic Hudson Naturalist Lecture Series, where he will discuss the eels and their long journey. 
 
March 13
Country houses occupied a prominent and intriguing role in Thomas Cole's wide-ranging engagement with architecture. Join William Coleman, a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, at Thomas Cole National Historic Site for an exploration of the insights the recently rebuilt New Studio offers into the artist's notion of how best to inhabit the landscape. More...

Join Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site as they award Denise Doring VanBuren, a history advocate and author, as the 2016 Martha Washington Woman of History.  This award is given by Washington's Headquarters each year to a woman who has made a contribution to the advancement of Hudson Valley's rich history through education, promotion, or preservation. More...

March 17
Winnakee Land Trust will host the second Dutchess County Trails Roundtable. The meeting will be the first of the 2016 quarterly roundtables and will focus on organizing county-wide events for National Trails Day, held annually on the first Saturday in June. An agenda will be released prior to the meeting date. More...

April 10
Thomas Cole National Historic Site invites you to join nationally renowned art historian Dr. Wanda M. Corn, Robert and Ruth Halperin Professor Emerita in Art History at Stanford University, as she explores American artists' homes and studios that, like the Cole property, have been preserved and opened to the public. More...

Ongoing Events and Exhibitions:

Thomas Cole National Historic Site - Catskill
Thomas Cole: The Artist as Architect is an upcoming 2016 exhibition focusing on Cole's architectural interests through architectural elements in his paintings and drawings as well as in both his realized and visionary projects, expanding our understanding of the breadth of his talents and interests. More...

Albany Institute of History & Art - Albany

Dia: Beacon - Beacon
Current exhibitions include Excursus: Homage to the Square. More...
 
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center - Poughkeepsie

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum - Hyde Park
New Deal to a New Generation is a new permanent exhibit that tell the story of the Roosevelt presidency beginning in the depths of the Great Depression and continuing through the New Deal and World War II. More...
 
Hudson River Museum - Yonkers
Current exhibitions include Dancers Among Us: Photographs by Jordan Matter and upcoming exhibitions include Oh Panama! Jonas Lie Paints the Panama Canal (opening February 6th) and Thomas Doyle: If the creek don't rise (opening February 6th).
 
Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art - Peekskill
Upcoming exhibitions include WORD. More...
 
Katonah Museum of Art - Katonah
Current exhibitions include Aaron Curry - UGLY MESS and upcoming exhibitions include Young Artists (opening February 7th) and Animality (opening March 6th). More... 

Neuberger Museum of Art - Purchase
Current exhibitions include After 1965 and Liza Lou: Color Field and Solid Grey. More...

Rensselaer County Historical Society - Troy
Current exhibitions include Uncle Sam: The Man in Life and Legend. More...
 
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art - New Paltz
 
Ted Spiegel Exhibit at Vanderbilt Mansion Visitor Center
Eleven large print photographs by Ted Spiegel are on view through April 30, 2016. More...

To have your event included in future editions of the newsletter and on hudsonrivervalley.com, please enter upcoming event information here.
Green Tip Of The Month GreenTip
Green Your Valentine's Day
This Valentine's Day, consider giving  e-cards  instead of paper cards, antique or  recycled jewelry ethical chocolate , organic (or home-grown)  flowers , and  digital playlists  instead of packaged CDs. If you must wrap your gift, consider  planet-friendly options . Check out more Green Valentine's Day tips from Sierra Club here.

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

 

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Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area

 

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