January 2017

Barnabas McHenry, Chair Greenway Council, Co-Chair National Heritage Area Kevin M. Burke, Acting Chairman, Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Acting Co-Chair National Heritage Area Scott Keller, Acting Executive Director Greenway, Acting Director National Heritage Area

Monthly News, Events, & Grant Opportunities

Governor Cuomo Proposes Empire State Trail

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently proposed completing the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Erie Canalway trails by 2020 to create the Empire State Trail, the largest state multi-use trail in the nation. To achieve this, the state will develop 350 miles of new trail in three phases to create a 750-mile pathway for hiking and biking along scenic vistas and through charming, historic communities. Read more here.

Path Through History Weekend Event Registration Now Open In 2012 Governor Cuomo unveiled New York State's "Path Through History," a statewide initiative that links historically and culturally significant sites, locations and events throughout New York State. This effort to highlight our rich heritage aims to not only showcase the state's history and cultural significance, but also promote tourism and economic development in communities across the state.  The Path Through History Weekend will be held this year  in two seasons: in the Spring from June 17-18, and in the fall from October 7-9. Host sites can participate in one or both of the weekends, and registration is now open. Find out more here.

Governor Cuomo Announces Plan to Close Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced  the closure of the Indian Point Energy Center by April 2021.  Entergy has agreed to end all operations at the facility, with plans to shut down Indian Point Unit 2 as early as April 2020 and Unit 3 in April 2021 – 13 and 14 years earlier than required under the anticipated federal re-licensing terms, respectively. Read more here.

USDA Webinar Available: Introduction to Plant Identification On February 23rd at 2PM the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service will present a webinar on plant identification.  Plants are of central importance to natural resource conservation. The goal of this webinar is to provide participants with a basic understanding of plant ecology and a framework for determining the identity of plants. This webinar will also identify additional resources/training available to further develop skills. More information available here.

U pcoming Events Celebration of Winter - Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, Cold Spring, New York Beat your cabin fever at in a “Celebration of Winter” at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center (TOEC) on Saturday, January 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. Snow tubing, ice skating, ice fishing demonstrations and more!  More here . Tom Buckhardt: FULL STOP-  Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, New York A full-scale replica of a mythical artist's studio made of cardboard, wood, glue, and flat black paint. On exhibit through February 12, 2017. More  here . Matisse Drawings: Curated by Ellsworth Kelly- Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, New York A unique exploration of Henri Matisse's drawings by one of America's greatest abstract artists. On exhibit at the Katonah Museum of Art through January 29, 2017. More here.  POP! Prints from the Permanent Collection-  Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, New York Exhibition features significant Pop Art prints from the permanent collection of the Neuberger Museum of Art. On exhibit through  February 19, 2017 . More  here .  Red Grooms Paints the Civil War-  Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, New York The Civil War, America's story, is told by Red Grooms, American artist, who for 50 years has brought life from city and country to sculpture and canvas, with truth that he inflects with compassion and humor. On exhibit through February 12, 2017. More here.  Sunday Salons at Thomas Cole National Historic Site - Catskill, NY Sunday, February 12: The Influence of the Dutch Golden Age on the Hudson River School - Explore the transformational influence of the 17th century Dutch landscape painting on Cole and other Hudson River School artists. More here.

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Heritage Spotlight: Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain State Park offers many opportunities for enjoying the outdoors, including hiking, ice skating and cross-country skiing. A merry-go-round is decorated with hand-carved animals that represent creatures native to the Hudson River Valley, while the park’s Trailside Museum includes a zoo featuring live animals common to the region. Additional exhibits are devoted to natural history, Native American heritage, and the region’s role in the Revolutionary War. A scenic drive leads to the summit of Bear Mountain and the Perkins Memorial Tower, which yields fine views of the Hudson River and surrounding peaks.

Project Spotlight: Hudson Highlands Land Trust Take a Hike! Program

The Hudson Highlands Land Trust was awarded a National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant for their 2016 Take a Hike! Program. This is an annual h iking program that highlights the importance of natural and  cultural resource protection, and educates participants about the natural, cultural, scenic, and h istoric resources of the Hudson Highlands region. The 2016 roster of hikes included several Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area sites such as the West Point Museum and Boscobel House and Gardens. It also featured designated Greenway Trails such as the Boscobel Woodland Trail and the Highland Falls Greenway Trail. These hikes are not only a great way to exercise, they also feature interpretation from top experts in Hudson Valley history, ecology, culture and more. The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area is proud to support programs such as Take a Hike!

Grant Opportunities  Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program-  Due February 3rd Matching grants available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. More  here .  Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grants This annual matching grant program offers funding for programming, interpretation, and marketing projects that support the mutual goals of the HRVNHA and applicants. Grants will typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. Deadline February 3rd. More here. NYS DEC Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants Grants to mitigate environmental and public health threats in low-income and minority communities. Deadline January 31. More here. NYS DEC Urban Forestry Project Grants The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is accepting applications to fund urban forestry projects that will enhance landscapes and provide green spaces in urban areas across the state. This year, the Environmental Protection Fund is investing $2.3 million in tree planting, maintenance grants, tree inventory, and community forestry management plans. Awards range from $11,000 to $75,000, depending on municipal population. Deadline March 1. More here New York State Council on the Arts Museum Program Professional Development Grants  The New York State Council on the Arts Museum Program will offer Professional Development Grants to eligible museums across New York State in 2017. The program will offer awards of up to $750 per museum for relevant professional development on a first-come, first-served basis. Grants are available beginning January 10. More here . Making Transportation Smart and Sustainable Funding from NYSERDA & NYSDOT Proposals are welcome from organizations with ideas to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption from New York's multi-modal transportation system. Project areas include Smart Mobility Solutions, Smart Infrastructure and Systems Planning, and Smart Freight and Urban Delivery Systems. More  here .  New York State Assembly Grants Action News  State, federal, and private grant information from the New York State Assembly, for grants ranging from law and social science research, media projects, economic and social inequality studies, to suicide prevention research. More  here .  Grants Available to Improve Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Parks and Trails New York and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation have teamed up to provide grants funded through the Environmental Protection Fund. More  here .  Conservation Treatment Grant Program The New York State Council on the Arts and Greater Hudson Heritage Network have partnered to provide support for treatment procedures by professional conservators to aid in stabilizing and preserving objects in collections of museums, historical, and cultural organizations in New York State. More  here . Doppelt Family Trail Development Fund The Rails to Trails Conservancy will provide up to $85,000 per year to qualifying trail projects through a competitive process. Applications accepted December 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017. More here .

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