July 2016

Barnabas McHenry, Chair Greenway Council, Co-Chair National Heritage Area

Kevin Burke, 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 Awards $43,500 in Greenway Grants

Five Hudson River Valley communities received a total of $49,500 in matching grants from the Hudson River Valley Greenway for projects that will  help create historical hiking trails, improve public access, and spur community revitalization. The grants were awarded by the Hudson River Valley Greenway Board of Directors at their recent meeting held in Tivoli.  The five projects were awarded as follows:
  • $10,000 to the Village of Highland Falls, Orange County, to conduct a waterfront redevelopment feasibility study for the re-establishment of the Highland Falls marina and railroad station.
  • $10,000 to the Village of Irvington, Westchester County, for the installation of benches of along Main Street to create resting and gathering spaces, improve access, and enhance the pedestrian experience. 
  • $6,500 to the Village of Mount Kisco, Westchester County, to create a series of historical hiking trails within various green space locations and public streets.
  • $7,000 to the Village of New Paltz, Ulster County, to establish an up-to-date Village/Town Master Plan that will create policies to enhance the quality of the community and support growth.
  • $10,000 to the Village of Warwick, Orange County, to update the Village's Comprehensive Plan to include a review of existing plan components and developing new topics to include Greenway Compact and community and cultural resources.
Photo: June 2016 Hudson River Valley Greenway Grantees. L-R: Erica Kane, District Director, Assemblymember Didi Barrett; Mark Castiglione, Acting Executive Director of Hudson River Valley Greenway; Edward Brancati, Village Manager, Village of Mount Kisco; Mary Etta Schneider, Co-Chair Joint Town and Village of New Paltz Master Plan Steering Committee; Jennifer-Schwartz Berky, Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy Board Secretary; and Lawrence Schopfer, Village Manager, Village of Irvington.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Connection Plan Update
June 9th Greenway Connection Plan Meeting in Beacon
Two stakeholder input workshops were held for the Hudson River Valley Greenway Connection Plan on June 8th and 9th. Participants at the workshops helped support the planning and design of the future trail by providing information that highlights plausible future connections. If you missed the workshops, the   Hudson River Valley Greenway Connection Plan website  includes an interactive map for public input.  Send any ideas or comments through the online wikimap

The Hudson River Valley Greenway Connection Plan 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. 
 

225 Events for 2016 Ramble!
This year's  Hudson River Valley Ramble  will be held September 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25. More than 225 events will occur throughout the Hudson Valley! Plan your adventure today

Hall of Fame Welcomes Hudson Valley Rail Trail Network 
Views from the trail are always spectacular, especially during special events. Photo by Fred Schaeffer 
The Hudson Valley Rail Trail Network has been inducted into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) National Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. The network of three rail-trails in the Poughkeepsie area are the  William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail, the  Walkway Over the Hudson and the  Hudson Valley Rail Trail. The popular  Hudson Valley Trail Network covers 18 miles and connects three rail-trails, stretching from Highland, over the Hudson River and through Poughkeepsie, to Hopewell Junction. 


Heritage Spotlight
HeritageSpot
Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site
Stony Point Lighthouse. Photo by Robert Goldwitz
The Battle of Stony Point was one of the last Revolutionary War battles in the northeastern colonies. On July 15, 1779, Brigadier General Anthony Wayne led his corps of Continental Light Infantry in a daring midnight attack on the British, seizing the site's fortifications and taking the soldiers and camp followers at the British garrison as prisoners. Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site   features a museum, which offers exhibits on the battle, as well as the Stony Point Lighthouse and a variety of interpretive programs.
Project Spotlight Projectspot
Black Creek Access for Canoes and Kayaks
Black Creek Canoe and Kayak Launch Signage
In January 2013, the Town of Lloyd was awarded a $7,500 matching grant by the Hudson River Valley Greenway for the Black Creek Canoe and Kayak Launch. After improvements, the majority of the  creek bank along the east side of the site was cleared of boulders, straightened, and lined with gravel and river rock, allowing safe canoe or kayak access.   The site has been leveled, re-soiled, and seeded with grass. There are six gravel parking spaces, including a space for a disabled motorist.   Signage prepares motorists for the site entrance, and a blacktopped entryway allows vehicles to enter and exit safely. The next deadline for the Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program is September 9, 2016.
Upcoming Grants and Other Opportunities Grants
Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program
The program provides matching grants to Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. Greenway Communities are eligible to receive up to $10,000 for plans or projects consistent with the five Greenway criteria: natural and cultural resource protection, economic development, public access, regional planning, and heritage and environmental education.  Applications must be postmarked or emailed by 4:00PM: September 9th, and December 2nd. For more information, guidelines, and applications, please visit the program website.

Consolidated Funding Application Now Open
The  2016 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process is open for applications. Funds are available to support parks, planning, preservation, economic development, tourism, and  many other projects. The Regional Economic Development Councils are hosting CFA workshops to orient potential applicants to the application process.  Find a workshop near you.

New Funding Opportunity Celebrates Erie Canal
The Erie Canal Bicentennial Grant Opportunity will award funds to organizations producing, presenting or exhibiting arts and cultural activities as part of the ongoing Erie Canal Bicentennial (ECB) Celebration 2017-2025. The opportunity is available through the NYSCA REDC program. The New York State Council on the Arts will be awarding up to $5 million in FY17 REDC grants. The NYSCA REDC-ECB Implementation Awards will range from $10,000 - $75,000. Projects must take place during the calendar year 2017.  Applications are due by 4pm on July 29, 2016 and can be submitted through the online Consolidated Funding Application. See the guidelines.

NYS Homes & Community Renewal RFP for New York Main Street Technical Assistance Projects
Not-for-profit organizations and units of local government may submit requests of up to $20,000 to complete downtown or Main Street pre-development projects. These grants are intended to improve a community's readiness to administer a future New York Main Street building renovation program. The funding is available through an open-round application using the  Consolidated Funding Application. Applications for NYMS-TA projects may be submitted throughout the year and will be awarded on a rolling basis. The application will remain open until all available funding has been allocated. See the  Request for Proposals.

$11 Million in Climate Smart Community Grants Available
$11 million in Climate Smart Community grants is available for municipalities to become more resilient to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise and extreme weather. Climate Smart Community Implementation grants will support mitigation and adaptation projects and range from $100,000 to $2 million. Climate Smart Community Certification grants will range from $25,000 to $100,000. Municipalities can apply for both grants through the Consolidated Funding Application The deadline to apply for these grant funds is July 29, 2016 See the press release .

William G. Pomeroy Foundation Legends and Lore Marker Grants Available
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation partnered with the New York Folklore Society in 2015 to launch a grant program to celebrate legends and folklore as part of New York's history. In just one year, 14 markers were funded. Grants are available to 501(c)3 organizations and municipalities within New York State. Apply online. Deadline is October 31, 2016.

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:  
Events
July-September Sundays
Join Century House Historical Society & NYSCA for IN:SITE's Outdoor Art Show. IN:SITE is a summer-long outdoor art exhibit at the Century House Historical Society (CHHS) on the Snyder Estate in Rosendale, NY, home of the Widow Jane Mine. Curated by Jenny Lee Fowler and Natasha Maria Brooks-Sperduti, over fifteen artists from the Northeast present site-specific sculptures and performances engaging the location''s rich natural and industrial histories. More...

July 2-4
Celebrate Independence Day with Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site. There will be a walking tour at 1pm, a powerpoint lecture on the Development of the Declaration in Congress at 2pm, a reading of the Declaration at 2:45pm, and a firing their 6 pdr cannon at 3pm. Hours: July 2nd, 10am-4:30pm; July 3rd & 4th, 12-4:30pm. More...

July 4
Join Clermont State Historic Site for an old-fashioned Independence Day, including 18th century crafts, reenactors, music and entertainment. A great day for young families. Later, enjoy live music and delicious hot food until a view of the Saugerties Fireworks over the Hudson River. More...

Enjoy an early American July 4th celebration with  Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site. 18th century-inspired games and performances, as well as other activities and ice cream will be free of charge to commemorate this important holiday. More... 

July 10
Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York's 18th annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, an unparalleled opportunity to experience great cycling while taking in the rich history of the legendary canal that helped transform America. More...

Join  the Katonah Museum of Art for  OnSite Katonah. Eight experimental, site-specific installations created in response to the Katonah Museum of Art's distinctive landscape, architecture, and history will be presented. More...

July 11 - July 15
Making Art & History On the Riverfront will be held at Clermont State Historic Site as part of this year's The Hudson Valley Writing Project organized by SUNY New Paltz. Young writers will explore regional history and the creative process as they sit on the banks of the Hudson River and join past writers and artists who have celebrated the landscape through word and image. More...

July 16
Join  Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site in commemorating the daring midnight assault on the British fortifications at Stony Point in July 1779. Watch musket, artillery, and marching demonstrations. Talk to ladies, soldiers and craftsmen in 18th century attire performing camp chores such as blacksmithing and cooking, learn how wool is dyed and spun, participate in colonial games and wooden musket drills for children.  More...

Join Staatsburgh State Historic Site in c ommemorating the centennial years of World War I. The World War I & The End of the Gilded Age Tour explores how the Millses' extravagant way of life withered away in the cataclysm of the Great War. More...

July 18
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site will host History Adventure Days - American Revolution. Participate in activities, play great games and interact with amazing special guests. History Adventure Days is for children entering 2nd through 6th grade. The cost is $275. More...

July 19
The Rockland Municipal Planning Federation is pleased to announce that it will again host two canoe trips and educational sessions at Iona Island, led by a naturalist from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Participants will paddle through the freshwater marsh, nestled in the Hudson Highlands, and learn about the importance of the wetland and its flora and fauna. More...

Join West Point Foundry Preserve for their lantern tours.  On full moon nights, see the preserve in an entirely new light. Building remains will be illuminated with lanterns, offering a dramatic glimpse of the foundry's 24-hour operations. There will also be readings of historic accounts by foundry employees and visitors. More...

July 20
Music in the Parks- Free Lawn Concerts
Enjoy an evening of music, with friends, on beautiful lush landscapes, of the Vanderbilt and Mills Mansions, overlooking the Hudson River. Outdoor concerts begin at 7:00 pm in July. August concerts begin at 6:30 pm. Visit  www.nps.gov/vama for full concert dates, locations and times.

July 23
Join Fort Montgomery State Historic Site for Lenape Lifeways. Learn what life was like for the Lenape, the area's native inhabitants. See real artifacts found in the area and watch New York Native American expert Barry Keegan demonstrate traditional fire making, flint knapping, and other Lenape skills. More...

July 24
The Neuberger Museum of Art presents the opening of its Latin American collection, Destination: Latin America. The collection offers a multifaceted, didactic journey through twentieth and twenty-first century Latin American art. More...

July 25
Join John Jay Homestead State Historic Site  in visiting historic sites in the Hudson Valley to explore iconic American figures of the Gilded Age. History Travel Camp is for children entering grade 7 and up. The cost is $350. More...


August 6
Join the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Sleuthing for Animals. Animals leave clues of their presence everywhere. Are you able to recognize the evidence? Learn to read animal activity by analyzing tracks, beds, runs, nests, feathers, and so much more. More...

August 13
Join the  Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Perseids & Popsicles.  Each August, the Perseid meteor shower reappears and the Museum's dark skies make for a brilliant show. Learn about the history and science behind the Perseids meteor shower. Bring a blanket and they'll provide the popsicles while you watch the show! More...

August 24
NPS Centennial Founders Day Concert with West Point Military Academy Band
Celebrate the NPS centennial with this popular lawn concert in front of the Vanderbilt Mansion on August 24. Rain date is August 25. More information is available here.

August 26
Lowell Thing will present on his book,  The Street that Built a City: McEntee's Chestnut Street, Kingston, and the Rise of New York  (Black Dome, 2015) at D&H Canal Historical Society and Museum. The author takes a look at the city of New York and the street that built it - or much of it. More...

August 29
Each year, the Constitution Island Association and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area honor West Point's Constitution Island's role in the American Revolution and the Civil War by hosting Reenactment Day, a family friendly event showcasing the lifestyles of the people who lived and fought during these pivotal periods in American history. More...

August 31
Join  Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art for Bradley Walker Tomlin: A Retrospective. The exhibition will include over 40 paintings, works on paper, and printed materials, charting Tomlin's development from art nouveau illustrations of the 1920s to large-scale Abstract Expressionist paintings of the 1950s.  More...

Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art will present their exhibit  In/Animate: Recent Work by Myra Mimlitsch-Gray. Curated by author Akiko Busch, the exhibition explores a variety of artistic processes using iron, copper, brass, silver, and enameled steel. More...

September 10
Join  Century House Historical Society & NYSCA for the closing of IN:SITE, a summer-long outdoor art exhibit at the Century House Historical Society in Rosendale, NY, home of the Widow Jane Mine. Closing event will feature performances and works of a more ephemeral nature, as well as more permanent sculptural works. More...

September 11
High Tea in the Vanderbilt Formal Gardens
Enjoy an old fashioned tea with guest speaker and live music. Information is available at www.vanderbiltgarden.org


See hudsonrivervalley.com For Ongoing Events and Exhibitions.

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
Sustainable Summer Tips
Summer is here!  From ditching plastic bottles for  reusable water bottles, detaching from electronics on camping trips and vacations, using propane to grill, and green landscaping, Green Mountain Cleaner Times has many sustainable tips to help the environment during these hot months ahead.

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