May 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 

Project Spotlight                           Green Tip Of The Month 

What's New?WhatsNew

 

Hudson River Valley Greenway Board Meeting

The next Hudson River Valley Greenway Joint Board Meeting will be held on June 7, 2012, in the Great Room at SUNY Orange. Read more...

 

   

Dutchess County Trail Conference a Great Success!

DC Trail Conf
Poster session at the Dutchess County Trail Conference
On Saturday, April 21, the Winnakee Land Trust along with the Greenway and others partnered for a day-long trail conference at the Historic Cornell Boathouse at Marist College.
The turnout was incredible and the results inspiring! Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro welcomed the group and reaffirmed Dutchess County's commitment to connecting people and places through multi-use trails throughout the county. Participants got great information about trails within and around Dutchess County, and how to make trail projects a reality.
 Keynote speaker Jeff Olson showed that successful trails projects can happen anywhere, with the right people and a lot of motivation. A visioning
Keynote Jeff Olson
Keynote Speaker Jeff Olson of Alta Planning
 session using maps prepared by Dutchess County Planning helped participants to articulate trail needs and opportunities. A poster session during the day was a great chance to make contacts and see what others are working on.

  

The Greenway is pleased to have been a part of this important conference, and looks forward to working with all of the participants to help make trail connections in Dutchess County and beyond. Thanks to Marist College for use of the beautiful facilities. Many thanks go to Winnakee Land Trust, as well as all the members of the planning committee, for a job well done!

  

                                                                                         

  

 

    

Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) 2012 is now Open

Governor Cuomo has announced that the CFA is now open to applicants. Up to $750 Million will be available through the second round of Regional Economic Development Councils. CFAs will be reviewed by the local Regional Council based on its alignment with the strategic plan and will be reviewed on a technical basis by agencies from which the applicant may be eligible for funding. To maximize participation in the process and ensure high-quality applications, public workshops will be held in each region of the state to explain the programs and eligibility standards, as well as recent improvements to the CFA application process.       

Read more...

 

 

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More than 170 Events Set for Heritage Weekend May 19 & 20:    Find an Event Today!  

The 2012 state-wide Heritage Weekend celebration is almost here! Please join us for this incredible celebration of NYS Heritage! NY Heritage Weekend celebrates the state's unique
role in Shaping America. From New York City, north to the Canadian border, to Buffalo and everywhere in between, Heritage Weekend features special programs, lectures, tours, re-enactments, and discounted admission at heritage and cultural destinations.  Last year Heritage Weekend was attended by more than 20,000 New Yorkers 
Aarowhead Teaching at Crailo
and visitors alike. 
 
 
 
Visit the Heritage Weekend website  and find an event near you today! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramble Website Now Open for Event Submission!

The Hudson River Valley Ramble celebrates the history, culture and natural resources of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, as well as the amazing landscape, communities, and trails throughout the region.

If you have an event that you would like to have included in the Hudson River Valley Ramble, please click on this link to submit your information online. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Kingston Releases Climate Action Plan

The Kingston Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) and the Kingston Climate Smart and Green Jobs Community Task Force announced the release of the draft City of Kingston Climate Action Plan (CAP). This draft CAP includes recommendations for comprehensive policies and programs that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance operational and energy efficiencies, reduce energy costs, support local job growth, and adapt to a changing climate while improving quality of life, saving taxpayer dollars, and promoting social justice.  There will be a 60-day public comment period on the Plan with comments due by June 30, 2012. Read more...

 

Save the Date for Hudson River Day!

 On Saturday, July 21, 2012 the fourth annual Hudson River Day will offer numerous river and riverfront community events that will span the length of the Hudson from New York to Albany. This collaborative celebration is presented by the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, Hudson River Valley Greenway and many other partners. For additional details, information on coordinating a Hudson River Day program, or participating in scheduled events contact: Candi Sterling at cmsterli@gw.dec.state.ny.us or call 845-256-3016.  

  

Riverkeeper Sweep
On June 2, 2012, Riverkeeper will engage volunteers throughout the Hudson River region, empowering them to organize and participate in service projects that benefit the river, from cleanups to outreach and activism. Read more.... 

  

Land Use Leadership Alliance Short Course - June 15 &16
This course is designed for local leaders who have expressed an interest in attending the Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program, but who have been unable to attend in the past.
The training program is structured to significantly benefit board members, citizen/advisory committee members, and planners, among other local leaders in developing and reinforcing their local land use decision-making skills and by providing them with strategic tools needed to address local land use issues of critical importance. Read more...

   

Grants  Upcoming Grant Opportunities

Greenway Community Grants

Applications for the next round of Greenway Community Grants are due May 11th for our June Board Meeting. Read more...

 

Consolidated Funding Application 

State agencies and authorities making resources available in the 2012 CFA include: Empire State Development; NYS Canal Corporation; NYS Energy Research and Development Authority; NY Power Authority; Environmental Facilities Corporation; Homes and Community Renewal; Department of Labor; Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Department of State; New York Power Authority; Agriculture and Markets; Department of Environment Conservation; and the Council on the Arts. Read more...   (July 16)  

 

Teaching the Hudson Valley Explore Awards

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

 

Scholarships Available for Environmental Masters Programs 

Bard Center for Environmental Policy is pleased to announce two new $20,000 scholarships for graduate study leading to the Masters Degree in Environmental Policy or Climate Science and Policy. The two new scholarships, the Rachel Carson Scholarship and the Wangari Maathai Scholarship, are available to current and future CEP applicants. These scholarships are awarded to future leaders in sustainability. The application deadline is May 15th. Read more...

  

Scholarship Opportunity for Historic Preservation

The  Historical Society of the Newburgh Bay and Highlands is pleased to announce the availability of an annual $1000.00 college scholarship to be given to an outstanding student interested in history or historical preservation, archeology, anthropology, or information services. Read more.... (May 15th)


Every Day 2012 Grants

National Environmental Education Foundation's Every Day Grants strengthen the stewardship of public lands by strengthening Friends Groups through funding for organizational capacity building. Read more... (May 25th)  

 

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

May 5

I Love My Park Day

Volunteers from across the state will participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks and historic sites. 

 

Cindy Mangsen & Steve Gillette in concert at Sand Lake Center for the Arts
The duo have been performing contemporary and traditional folk music together for 20 years, bringing together their love of traditional music and their wealth of original songs.  


May 6 
First Sunday Free Gallery Tour of Eugene Ludins: An American Fantasist with Guest Educator Kevin Cook at the Dorsky Museum

Hudson River Family Seining at Beczack Environmental Education Center
Catch fish and other remarkable Hudson River creatures by wading into the river and dragging a 30-foot net through the water. Led by Beczak educators, rain or shine. Waterproof overalls for all sizes provided. All ages, $5 per person. Registration required.

May 7
Eight speakers, all distinguished in their fields, will cover topics ranging from contaminants to water availability.  Following the oral presentations, there will be a contributed poster session and reception featuring presentations from volunteer monitoring programs, student monitoring, and graduate and academic research - all focusing on water and aquatic habitat quality. 

 

May 11
Opening Reception at the Dorsky Museum
Opening Reception for MFA Thesis Exhibition will be open daily, Fri-Tues 11-5

May 12
The 2nd Annual Great Hudson River Exhibition at Mill Street Loft
Mill Street Loft Arts presents: The 2nd Annual Great Hudson River Exhibition. National Juried Fine Art Exhibition featuring Painting, Photography and Mixed Media Works. Juror: Asher Miller, Curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 
 
Plant Sale to benefit Beczack Environmental Education Center
Get what you need for your garden and support local river education. Reasonably priced vegetables, herbs, flowers, perennials, and hanging baskets. Plus FREE face painting and a Mothers Day craft from noon to 2:00 PM.

May 13
Curator's Gallery Talk at the Dorsky Museum
Curator's Gallery Talk with Susana Torruella Leval on Eugene Ludins: An American Fantasist

  

May 18
Opening Reception at the Dorsky Museum
Opening Reception for MFA Thesis Exhibition II will be open daily Fri-Tues 11-5

 

May 19

Art Fur All! Animal Art Exhibition and Arts & Crafts Sale
Mill Street Loft Arts in collaboration with Dutchess County SPCA presents: Art Fur All! Animal Art and Arts & Crafts Sale, Opening Reception and Pet Adoption Day  


NY Heritage Weekend Concerts at Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Join us for afternoon concerts on the grounds, featuring music of the 18th-century. Saturday, Rural Felicity will present ballads and drinking songs; while on Sunday, Liaisons Plaisantes will offer a series of melodies known throughout the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys. 

Jammin' Divas and Kathleen Pemble at Beczack Environmental Education Center
Traditional and original! Three stunning voices from Ireland, USA and Australia perform melodies that take you back to the old country. 

May 19 & 20
New York State Heritage Weekend
NY Heritage Weekend celebrates the state's unique role in Shaping America. From New York City to the Capital Region to Buffalo and everywhere in between, Heritage Weekend features special programs, lectures, tours, re-enactments, and discounted admission at heritage and cultural destinations.

May 20
Resurrecting the Revolutionary War
See a special presentation on two New Windsor Cantonment soldiers: Oliver Cromwell, an African-American soldier in the New Jersey Line and Henry Kneeland, A Hessian deserter with the Massachusetts troops.

"A Minister in Spain" Baroque Concert
With a program that highlights the music that John Jay might have heard performed during his mission as minister to Spain (1779 - 1782), "Concitato" and the artists of Juilliard's Historical Instruments Program, will electrify listeners with their insightful interpretations of rarely heard baroque masterpieces.

May 23
John Norquist, President and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism, will be the featured speaker at the Albany Roundtable's Annual Meeting The event is open to the public, and will be held at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany.

May 27
Honor Our Nation's Fallen Soldiers
Continental Army soldiers perform an 18th century graveside mourning ceremony. Following the ceremony balladeer Linda Russell performs the songs that inspired and comforted the American people when our nation was at war. At New Windsor Cantonment.

May 28
80th Anniversary of Temple Hill Day at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
The Hall of Honor and the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site will commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the awarding of the Purple Heart to 138 World War I veterans on these very grounds in 1932. 

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

ProjectspotProject Spotlight
Champlain Canalway Trail Progress and Updates
    The vision for the Champlain Canalway Trail is that of a continuous route from Waterford to Whitehall, that utilizes historic towpaths, Champlain Canal shoreline, existing local and regional trails, on-street bicycle routes and links to regional and community attractions. With the release of the Champlain Canalway Trail (CCT) Action Plan last year, the CCT Working Group reached a milestone: the accomplishment of its primary initial goal and the conclusion of its technical assistance from the National Park Service's
Champlain Canalway Trail
Champlain Canalway Trailway
 Rivers and Trails Program. The plan provides a blueprint for moving forward on constructing the trail. For three years, Karl Beard of the NPS had offered guidance and leadership to the working group. With this initial phase successfully completed, the working group decided it has an important continuing role in maintaining public and community interest in completing the trail, coordinating local efforts, and identifying funding sources. 
 
    Fortunately, three working group members - Nelson Ronsvalle of the Town of Halfmoon and current president of the Canalway Trails Association of New York, Jeanne Williams of the Feeder Canal Alliance and Marlene Bissell of Hudson Crossing Park - offered to share leadership of the group, which continues to meet regularly.

    In the meantime, the coming year promises to be one of significant progress for the trail as a result of several recent developments:

* In December, Saratoga County received a $300,000 state grant that completes the financing needed to create an essential trail crossing of the Hudson River. Combined with an earlier federal grant through the Transportation Enhancements Program plus local funding from the Saratoga County Industrial Development Authority, the Town of Greenwich and snowmobile groups, the new grant allows the rehabilitation of Dix Bridge, a 19th-century structure at Hudson Crossing Park just north of Schuylerville, to proceed. When completed in 2013, the bridge will allow pedestrians, cyclists and snowmobilers to travel between Saratoga and Washington Counties. Hudson Crossing Park has been the driving force behind the project. 

* A Federal Scenic Byways Program grant was awarded to  the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Lakes to Locks Passage to work with the Champlain Canalway Trail Working Group on completion of engineering and archeology work on up to ten miles of trail segments in the Towns of Waterford, Halfmoon, Saratoga and Fort Ann. This work will make these segments "shovel-ready" for future construction. 

* The NYS Canal Corporation is conducting preliminary design for a five-mile segment of the CCT in Kingsbury and Fort Ann utilizing funds from NYS Transportation Bond Act. The $5 million project will include several bridge structures, informational signage and a hiker-biker-boater campsite at Lock C9. Construction is anticipated in 2014. 

* The Town of Stillwater was awarded a $10,000 Greenway Conservancy Small Grant and has initiated a study of the feasibility of extending the existing one-mile Stillwater Multi-use Trail both north and south to the municipal borders to become part of the CCT. A Citizen Task Force held a public meeting in January to start identifying options and concerns.

Be sure to visit the Champlain Canalway Trail on Facebook for events and updates!  
 
Thanks to Wally Elton of the CCT Working Group for contributing to this article.
GreenTipGreen Tip Of The Month

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 The greater the plant diversity, the more bees and other wildlife your garden will attract and support (including both honey bees, which aren't native to North America and native bees like orchard mason bees). Always try to choose as many native plants as possible, and consult with local nursery staff or other experts to find vegetation that will thrive in your specific conditions.

And remember, the more bees you attract, the more your gardens will grow, since so many vegetables and flowers require pollination.  

 
Read more: The Daily Green

(All information courtesy of the Daily Green)

 

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