In this Issue: Scarecrow Fest Success; Climate Solutions Week; Harmful Toxins in the Hudson; Lark in the Park; Strategic Tax Advantages; and Bird of the Month

Scarecrows, Pumpkins and Owls, Oh My!

Community Members Enjoy Scarecrow Fest

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."

- Emily Brontë

Thank you for joining us last Saturday for Scarecrow Fest! We had such a great time watching families create eco-friendly crafts, enjoy eco-themed workshops, participate in a fun sing-a-long and soak up the gorgeous weather. From pumpkin painting to indigo dyeing to branch weaving, kids and adults enjoyed hours of delight at a festival dedicated to our community.

It would take many paragraphs to thank the dozens of people, businesses and community partners who helped make our 4th annual Scarecrow Fest a success, but we do want to thank our sponsors, volunteers and exhibitors one more time. A special thanks to the artists who led our craft stations, the presenters who led our workshops and the town's maintenance department for helping with tables. Thanks to From the Ground Up for bringing the mobile kitchen to Woodstock, and thanks to Lee Kalish at Positive Feedback for engineering the sound.

We hope Scarecrow Fest got you excited for fall, which officially started a few days ago, as well as Climate Action Week. This season is a busy time in the Hudson Valley as we celebrate nature's colors, crisp air and a cornucopia of flavors we wait all year to enjoy. As our Communication Manager, who was born and raised in the South with an accent to prove it, likes to say, "Happy Fall, Y'all!"

SHV Presents Climate Solutions Week

Events Offered Across the Hudson Valley

Our friends at Sustainable Hudson Valley are coordinating the 5th annual Climate Solutions Week this week, Sept. 21-28. The region-wide festival of ideas, activities and actions provide a variety of in-person and virtual events in venues throughout the Hudson Valley, focusing on how we can slow, and ultimately reverse, the climate crisis in ways that strengthen democratic institutions. 

Check out the growing list of events by clicking here.

Cary Institute, Riverkeeper and Others Monitor Toxins

Hudson River Experiencing Harmful Algal Bloom

A widespread, harmful algal bloom has been confirmed in the Hudson River Estuary.

The bloom is made up of Microcystis, a genus of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), which is capable of producing toxins harmful to people, wildlife and pets. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are not actually algae but are caused by cyanobacteria, a type of bacteria that can photosynthesize. When conditions align -- warm water temperatures, excess nutrients and stagnant or slow-moving water, cyanobacteria can reproduce quickly, forming visible green mats or scums on the surface.

Climate change is making these events more common and severe. Warmer temperatures, longer low-flow periods and more frequent droughts create ideal conditions, while heavy rainstorms wash nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen into rivers.

These blooms pose health risks for anyone who comes in contact with the water. Skin irritation, stomach discomfort and respiratory problems are possible, and pets — especially dogs — are at heightened risk if they swim in or ingest contaminated water. Wildlife may also suffer from reduced oxygen and light, while the estuary’s ecological balance is disrupted.

Organizations like the Cary Institute, Riverkeeper and the state's Department of Environmental Conservation are monitoring the bloom, sampling sites and sharing updates through the NYHABS reporting system. Riverkeeper has urged people and pets to avoid discolored or scummy water and is working with partners to coordinate data collection and outreach.

Longer term, we are joining these organizations in calling for stronger efforts to reduce nutrient pollution, improve wastewater and stormwater management, and adapt to climate conditions that make blooms more likely. With this in mind, WLC will focus much of its 2026 educational programming on water quality and habitat protection. Though we are concerned by the severity of this HAB, we hope to inspire our community to take action for healthier waterways.

It's time for the annual Lark in the Park, and we are joining in the fun with a guided hike at the newly opened Rock Oak Preserve. WLC staffer Miranda Javid will share the story behind creating our newest public trail and preserve Oct. 7 starting at 5 p.m.

This 30-acre hardwood and coniferous forest is home to a canopy of red oak, chestnut oak, white pine and eastern hemlock, and it features a striking rock-cut formed during construction of the Ashokan Reservoir more than a century ago. As participants explore the one-mile loop and spur trail, they will pass glacial erratics and a scenic lookout, while learning about the site’s layered history as well as the generous support from the Martin family and the New York State Conservation Partnership Program that made its protection possible. 

The event is free, but reservations are required. Click here to sign up for the hike.

Just a Few Days Remain for EV-Related Tax Credits

Other Clean Energy Advantages End in December

Just a few days remain to take advantage of tax credits for purchasing or leasing electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Federal tax credits for 100% electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles end next week, Sept. 30. That means you must have purchased or leased a new or used EV or PHEV by that date to be eligible for up to $7500 as an instant rebate or 2025 tax credit.

We summarized the tax advantages for clean energy several months ago but wanted to mention them again as the deadlines approach.

"You can only claim the $7,500 discount on vehicles purchased and placed into service by Sept. 30," according to the trade publication Inside EVs. "Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the program was supposed to stick around through the end of 2032. That's no longer the case, and now the credits will cease to exist when summer 2025 ends." New York also offers rebates under its Drive Clean initiative, and those will not expire this month. Right now, you can take advantage of both federal and state incentives if you qualify, though, so it's a great opportunity to save on a vehicle that will cost you less to drive and service.

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit only lasts through the end of this year. This is the federal incentive to help you purchase appliances such as heat pumps as well as insulation in the attic and double-pane windows. According to an article in Wired, the credits are only available for items "placed in service" by Dec. 31. "All items must be 'placed in service' by then to qualify, though a reminder: Tax credits lower your tax liability but don’t come back as rebates."

The Residential Clean Energy Credit also expires Dec. 31. That's the program that provides a 30% tax credit for installing solar panels, wind turbines or a geothermal heat pump. The program was supposed to run through 2032 for the full credit, but Congress and the President changed it to the end of 2025. If you are thinking of adding solar panels to your home or business, getting an estimate should be a top priority.

As with all tax credits, rebates and incentive programs, it is important to speak to tax experts about your specific situation. If you are thinking about transitioning to clean energy, however, time is of the essence -- for your wallet and the planet.

If you plan to spend any time along a coastline this fall, you might spot a Ruddy Turnstone. This robin-sized member of the Scolopacidae family likes to hang out around beaches almost as much as humans. Its calico-cat coloring makes a Ruddy Turnstone easy to spot, and its ability to flip over pebbles and shells to look for food make them fun to watch.

Ruddy Turnstones have short legs, giving them a low center of gravity, and unique toenails that help them grip the slippery rocks along the shore. They breed well north of New York in the High Arctic, building nests on the ground, but they migrate to coasts throughout the United States as well as Central and South America after their breeding season.

The Ruddy Turnstone's population has declined significantly, placing it on a conservation alert. Habitat loss and plastic pollution are two key challenges. The overfishing of horseshoe crabs also poses a threat to the population as Ruddy Turnstones feed off the eggs as they migrate.

This Ruddy Turnstone was spotted by WLC Board Member Hank Starr during a visit to the Delaware coast.

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