September 2019
Barnabas McHenry, Chairman Greenway Council, Co-Chair National Heritage Area
Kevin M. Burke, Chairman, Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley,
Co-Chair National Heritage Area
Scott Keller, Executive Director Greenway,
Director National Heritage Area 
Monthly News, Events, & Grant
Opportunities
It's Time to Ramble!
This year the Hudson River Valley Ramble is celebrating its 20th anniversary with over 200 recreational and cultural events highlighting the rich diversity of the Hudson River Valley region. Every September, ‘Ramblers’ come not only from the Hudson Valley region and New York State, but from other regions of the country as well to discover the riches our Valley has to offer. Whether you are looking for a challenging hike, bike ride or paddle, an inspiring walk through the grounds and homes of some of the Valleys most notable artists, authors, and Great Americans, a trip back in time to experience the significant role the region played in the Revolutionary War, or a family-fun festival or river exploration event, the Hudson River Valley Ramble truly offers something for everyone! This year's  Hudson River Valley Ramble is held August 31, September 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29 of 2019! So get out there and Ramble! Also, don't forget to like/follow us on Facebook and Twitter !
Planning for a Green Corridor in Saratoga County
Known for its celebrated thoroughbred racetrack, famed Revolutionary War battlefield, and history as a health and wellness destination, today’s Saratoga County is a fast-growing, sprawling community of high-end housing developments, superstores, endangered farmland, and new technology centers. With all the commercial expansion, the window of opportunity to protect the remaining treasurers is diminishing. Within this community lies a landscape with world-class recreational potential, critically important habitat, and a forest products economy rarely found outside of the Adirondack Park boundary. Hoping to take advantage of this opportunity to develop a long-term conservation strategy, the Open Space Institute and local partners are joining forces to create a master plan that will not only set priorities and strategies, but also identify new stakeholder partners across varied interests and sectors to develop a “green corridor” in the Palmertown Range, one of the wildest and most natural terrains in Saratoga County. Read more.
DEC Awards $216,000 to Reduce Flooding and Restore Aquatic Habitats in Hudson River Estuary
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced more than $216,000 in grant funding for two projects to help communities prepare for and mitigate localized flooding, improve water quality, and restore aquatic habitats in tributary streams of the Hudson River Estuary. Funding for these projects is provided by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and is administered by DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC). The funded project included:

  • Road Stream Crossing Management Plans in the Towns of Austerlitz, Ghent and New Baltimore, Columbia & Greene County: $109,807
  • Municipal Road-Stream Crossings in the Lower Esopus Creek Watershed, Ulster County: $106,509
Path Through History Weekend!
On the weekend of October 12-14, New York will celebrate its second Path Through History Weekend of 2019. Events will take place throughout New York State. In 2012, Governor Cuomo unveiled the statewide " Path Through History ," 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. Events taking place throughout the Hudson Valley during October 12-14 are listed  here .
Model Local Laws to Increase Resilience
New Yorkers are at increasing risk from the effects of climate change and extreme-weather events. Recognizing this risk, the Department of State worked with the Department of Environmental Conservation and other partners to create model local laws to help local governments be more resilient to sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding. Cities, towns, and villages are invited to adapt model local laws to meet the resilience needs of the community with the assistance of their municipal attorneys. Models were developed from a variety of sources, including existing models, existing local laws, and a combination of sections from various laws assembled with professional expertise. A range of regulatory choices are provided, with some models consisting of simple changes to enhance resiliency aspects of typical local laws, and others that would constitute a comprehensive approach to a topic that may require more advanced administrative skills to be effective.  More details .
Upcoming Events
*Note that all events (*) asterisked are a part of the Hudson River Valley Ramble.

Monarch Larva Monitoring, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar, NY
September 4: The goal of the MLMP is to better understand how and why monarch populations vary, with a focus on their distribution and abundance during the breeding season in North America. More info .

Downtown Yonkers Gallery Hop, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Yonkers, NY
September 5: Stop by each of the 4 major downtown galleries: Blue Door Art Center, Warburton Galerie, Philipse Manor Hall and the Riverfront Library, the first Thursday of each month to view new and exciting exhibits of arts and culture!  Find out more .

Harmonies on the Hudson Outdoor Concert Series featuring Greg Farley, Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown, NY
September 5: After ten years of playing and recording with the Felice Brothers and Conor Oberst, Greg Farley has just released his debut solo album, Taker Easy. For the album Farley mines his own history for stories of class struggle, nature, love, pain, work, and family, all set against the backdrop of the northeast.  Read more .

*Stockade District Walking Tour, Friends of Historic Kingston Gallery, Kingston, NY
September 7: Following the street plan designed by Peter Stuyvesant in 1658, the tour walks the heart of the largest intact early Dutch settlement in New York State and the neighborhood where New York State was born in 1777.  Learn more .

Hike the World: Hike Fest, Pennings Farm Cidery, Warwick, NY
September 7: The first hike fest is poised to be an epic celebration of the great outdoors complete with live music, food, vendors, corn hole, horseshoes, giant jenga, apple picking, and more. More info .

Tours of the 1838 Jay Mansion, Jay Heritage Center, Rye, NY
September 8: Join a docent led tour of this landmark place and see the crucible where the character of a patriot was forged. Find out more .

Interpreters as Storytellers: Shaping the Narrative, Sharing the Story (WEBINAR)
September 10: Participants will gain insights into identifying the structure or "bones" of any story and how they can enrich their tour programs by applying this view of story structure to a range of stories embedded in their tours. Sign up now .

Blauvelt Sons of Italy Italian Feast & Carnival, German Masonic Park, Tappan, Ny
September 12: This 10th annual festive celebration of all things Italian features plenty of authentic Italian food, live entertainment, midway rides and games for all ages, dozens of merchandise vendors, your favorite fair food, and more. Learn more . 

*Flashlights and Full Moon: A Night Time Nature Walk, Winakee Nature Preserve, Hyde Park, NY
September 13: What better way to explore the Winnakee Nature Preserve than on Friday, the 13th under a full moon! Night hikes are an adventure: the darkness hides familiar landmarks, depth perception becomes a guessing game, and a whole new set of animals comes out to play. More info .

*Crailo Harvest Faire, Crailo State Historic Site, Rennselaer, NY
September 14: An old fashioned agricultural festival devoted to all aspects of harvest time in the colonial era Hudson Valley. Harvest Faire offers music, historical reenactors, vendors, Native American and colonial demonstrations, games and activities. Read more.

*Walking the Moral High Ground of Nineteenth Century Albany, Washington Park, Albany NY
September 15: Washington Park, Albany was born at the intersection of aesthetics and intense social control, as elites in the 1860s and 70s confronted their anxieties about public health, immigration, spreading tenements, and urban disorder. In this excursion around the park John Pipkin will focus its early decades. More details .

2019 Planning and Zoning School, Wallace Center at the FDR Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
September 18: Every year the New York Planning Federation hosts in conjunction with the Association of Towns, training school sessions for professional planners, land use attorneys, and code enforcement officers to receive credits they may need during the fall months. Find out more .

Learning from Bedford: Community-Based Climate Change Solutions, Jay Heritage Center, Rye, NY
September 19:   Midge Kyle Iorio , Executive Director of Bedford 2020 will present on the petri-dish of Bedford, its role as a testing ground for community climate strategies that can be replicated and sharing what they’ve learned on reducing their carbon footprint 1 year short of 2020. More info .

Appreciation Hike: Appalachian Trail, Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, NY
September 20: This will be a moderately paced hike of about 4.5 miles with a few hundred feet of elevation gain. We will meet at Perkins Tower, located at the summit of Bear Mountain on Perkins Memorial Drive. Learn more .

Americas' Elite in the Downton Abbey Era, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburgh, NY
September 21: Highlighting Staatsburgh’s real-life counterparts of the Downton Abbey characters, this tour, led by a costumed interpreter, will explore how servants prepared for a busy weekend of entertaining, and how the Millses’ daughter, like Downton Abbey’s Cora, married into the British aristocracy. More details .

Yoga of the Earth, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY
September 22 : Join Stephanie Fischer for our monthly gentle morning yoga practice, in the beauty of Frederic Church's expansive Hudson River views. Yoga of the Earth's practice is inspired by the nature surrounding us and focuses on creating an atmosphere that encourages awareness and connection with the natural world.  Learn more .

Tree Tracking Tuesday, Rockfeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville, NY
September 24: Learn how to identify trees across the Preserve with our resident tree tracking expert, Kim Castaldo. Read more .

2019 GHHN Annual Conference & Awards for Excellence, Bear Mountain Inn & Conference Center, Bear Mountain, NY
September 24: Consider the 2019 Annual Conference as a field guide to finding new ways to connect with science at your heritage organization. More info .

Lunch Bite Gallery Tour - Politics and the Canal, NYS Museum, Albany, NY
September 26: Take a themed tour of Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal, highlighting the politics that shaped and administered the canal. Exhibit curator and senior historian Brad Utter will explore the precedent-setting policies brought forth by the canal movement and the politics surrounding the growth of the state-run enterprise. Learn more .

Community Hike: Fall Photography Tips, Fitzgerlards Falls, Southfields, NY
September 27: This out-and-back, 1-mile, hike will follow scenic Trout Brook, looking for great photo opportunities, including picturesque Fitzgerald Falls. More details .

Fred J. Johnston Museum Tour, Fred J. Johnston Museum, Kingston, NY
September 28: The elegantly furnished c. 1812 Federal style house on the corner of Wall and Main Streets is the culmination of the taste and vision of one man: Fred J. Johnston.Johnston spent more than 60 years assembling the outstanding collection of 18th and early 19th century furnishings and decorative arts displayed in the eight rooms of the historic house he rescued in 1937. Read more .

Farmland Cycling Tour, Poets' Walk Park, Red Hook, NY
September 28: Pedal through the beautiful, rolling countryside of Dutchess and Columbia counties; pass working farms Scenic Hudson has helped to protect; energize with fresh donuts, cider and apples—from local farms; and enjoy a fabulous post-ride lunch with live music. Find out more .

Connecting to Collections: It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts, John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Katonah, NY
September 29: D iscover objects in the museum’s collection that are more than meets the eye. This tour will look inside several furniture and decorative arts objects that are usually kept closed and discuss what they were used for.  More info .

Project Wet and Project Wild Combination Workshop, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY
September 30: Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a collection of innovative, water-related activities that are hands-on, easy to use and fun! Project WET activities are easily incorporated into a school's existing curricula. Learn more .
Heritage Spotlight: Playland Amusement Park
During the 1920s, the shoreline in Rye along the Long Island Sound began attracting an increasingly rowdy crowd. To combat this situation, Westchester County decided in 1927 to construct the nation’s first planned amusement park. The 280-acre venue featured a variety of family-friendly diversions, including rides, a freshwater pool, beaches, a boardwalk, and skating rinks. Buildings were designed in the streamlined Art Deco style, while the grounds were pleasingly landscaped. The park opened in 1928 and much of its original architecture remains, as do seven original rides, among them the Dragon Coaster, and the Derby Racer, a carousel that reaches speeds of 25 miles an hour. Today, Playland also features modern rides, swimming, boating, and indoor skating. Live entertainment and fireworks are offered on summer evenings. Visit Playland Amusement Park .
Project Spotlight: Gallatin Geographic Information System Project
The Town of Gallantin was awarded a Community Planning Grant to develop GIS mapping to update their 2007 Comprehensive Plan Maps and create environmental and conservation mapping for public use on a web based platform. In an effort to be cost-effective and have the ability to continue updating the maps as needed the maps were updated in-house by a consultant as well as volunteers. Updating current mapping and adding additional mapping are a valuable tool for the To wn Board, Assessor, Code Enforcement Officer, Highway Superintendent, Planning and Zoning Boards as well as Gallatin Residents and others. The water sources map in particular are a valuable resource to the volunteer fire departments, when uploaded to a phone or tablet. This allows the fire department to have the location of water sources available on the go. Making parcel specific GIS mapping available to the public to view agricultural lands, forests, conservation areas and local home based businesses will benefit the area through smart conservation minded development. View the maps .
Green Tip of the Month: Calculate Your Household Carbon Footprint
Many of our daily activities cause emissions of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gas emissions vary among individuals depending on a person's location, habits, and personal choices.Try  EPA's Household Carbon Footprint Calculator  to estimate your annual greenhouse gas emissions .
Grant and Funding Opportunities

Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program
Matching grants available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. Deadline: September 6, 2019 . More info .

Heritage Development Grants
The Hudson River Valley Greenway and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) are pleased to announce the availability of $25,000 in matching grants through the 2019 Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant Program.This annual 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. Grant program guidelines and applications are available on the  Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area's website.  Deadline:  September 6, 2019.

Greenway Conservancy Trail Grant Program
This grant program is dedicated to funding recreational trail projects. Special consideration is given to projects that seek to implement the goals of the Greenway Trail Program. This year's application emphasizes connections to the Empire State Trail, and makes funding available for Water Trail projects. Applications are due  November 8, 2019 . More  here.

National Heritage Area Sponsorship's Available
The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) will partner with various organizations to sponsor programs and events that reinforce the Heritage Area’s mission. While complementing the mission of the Heritage Area, cultural, heritage and recreational events deliver significant tourism and economic benefits to communities, and encourage local and regional partnerships. Municipalities and nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations located within the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area are eligible to apply. For more information, please contact Dan Jeanson at [email protected] or 518-473-3835.

Teaching the Hudson Valley Explore Awards
These matching grants are intended to create opportunities for students to explore the history, environment, and culture of the Hudson River Valley, connecting their studies to significant places. They encourage students’ appreciation for and stewardship of their communities and cultures, and connect teachers with site educators and place-based learning. Eligible expenses include transportation and admission fees to eligible Hudson Valley locations for school groups. Read more .

PLNYS Technical Assistance Grants (TAG)
TAG funds up to $4,000 for projects totaling no more than $5,000 in cost. Applicants are required to contribute a 20% cash match towards the total project cost. These grants are available to nonprofit groups and municipalities that manage historic sites, museums, arts facilities and other important institutions that serve an arts or cultural purpose and are open to the public. Deadline: September 30, 2019 . More details .

NYS Historic Marker Grant Program
One of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation’s core initiatives is to help people celebrate their community’s history. The Foundation strongly believes that historic markers play an important role in local historic preservation by serving a dual purpose. They educate the public and foster historic tourism, which in turn can provide much needed economic benefits to the towns and villages where the markers are placed. The program also fills a gap, as New York State stopped funding their roadside markers in 1939. A letter of intent is due by September 13, 2019 . More info .

Training for Improved Protection of Drinking Water Sources
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from eligible applicants for training that will enhance communication and coordination between the EPA and the states to protect drinking water sources. The training should develop and expand the capability of state and tribal Underground Injection Control (UIC) programs (Classes I-VI) and state and tribal SourceWater Protection (SWP) programs to protect drinking water sources. Funds awarded under this announcement may be used by recipients to promote non-federal participation in meetings that improve the ability to protect drinking water sources and to support the travel expenses of nonfederal personnel to attend appropriate meetings. Deadline: September 13, 2019 . Find out more .

Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Grants (Saratoga County Only)
Founded in 1977, the Decentralization Program (DEC), known locally at Saratoga Arts as our Community Arts Grants, was developed to ensure New York State’s cultural funding reached every part of the state. In 1993, The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) appointed Saratoga Arts to administer the DEC program in Saratoga County. Since 1991, Saratoga Arts has awarded just over $1,305,000 for community-enhancing and life-enriching arts programs! Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Grants provide funding for arts and cultural programming through three categories: Project Grants, Individual Artist Grants and Arts Education Grants (that take place in the community or in schools). A letter of intent is due for each program by September 13, 2019 . Learn more .

The Clean Water Infrastructure Act invests $3 billion in clean and drinking water infrastructure projects and water quality protection across New York. It provides at least $1 billion for the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2017 (WIIA), which authorizes the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) to provide grants to assist municipalities in funding water quality infrastructure. WIIA grants are available for both drinking water and sewage treatment works (clean water) projects. Deadline: September 13, 2019 . More details .

New York State Discretionary Grant Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials
The New York State Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials provides $500,000 each year for preserving materials in the collections of libraries, archives, historical societies and similar agencies. The grant awards for 2020-2021 will be limited to a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $40,000. Deadline: November 8, 2019 . Find out more .

DHPSNY's Fall 2019 Planning & Assessment Services
Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) currently offers Planning & Assessment Services in four major areas. These services are designed to support New York organizations in improving and advancing program efforts while forming strategies for future growth and development. DHPSNY’s Planning & Assessment Services consist of Archival Needs Assessments, Preservation Surveys, Condition Surveys, and Strategic Planning Assistance. In each instance, our services aim to improve adherence to best practices and are tailored to an organization’s unique circumstances. Deadline: November 15, 2019 . More info .

Urban Birds Mini-grants
Mini-grants help finance creative events that integrate the arts, gardening, community participation, and of course Celebrate Urban Birds’s citizen science project. We hope that these events, or series of activities, will inspire others to organize similar events in their communities. All applicants will receive free training, materials, and resources to bring their ideas to life; including proposals that we are unable to fund. Organizations that work with underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply. No experience with birds required. The mini-grants range from $100 to $750. Deadline: December 31, 2019 . Find out more .

Wal-Mart Foundation: Community Grant Program
Through the Community Grant Program, Wal-Mart associates are proud to support the needs of their communities by providing grants to local organizations. Awarded grants range from $250 to $5,000. Deadline:  Dec. 31, 2019 . More details .

Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
Preservation Assistance Grants help small and mid-sized institutions—such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities—improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. These may include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine art objects, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, historical objects, and digital materials.  Deadline  January 15, 2020 . Find out more  here .

EcoSolution™ Grants
Grants range from $500-$2,500 and are intended to support solution-oriented, youth-led projects that result in real environmental outcomes. EcoSolution™ Grants are available to educators working with youth in the United States. Deadline: January 15, 2019 . More details .

EcoTech™ Grants  
This grant program was created to combat the notion that students needed to choose between “the screen” or “the green” and to encourage educators and students to explore the role technology can play in designing and implementing solutions to some of our most pressing environmental challenges. We believe that technology can present innovative ways to address environmental challenges – and that when dealing with digital natives, we do ourselves a disservice by asking them to unplug. EcoTech™ Grants are specifically offered to engage children in inquiry-based, STEM-related projects that leverage technology and/or use nature-based design to address environmental problems in local communities. Deadline: January 15, 2019 . Read more .

New York State Assembly Grants Action News 
State, federal, and private grant information from the New York State Assembly. More info .
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