October 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
2017 Hudson River Valley Ramble a Huge Success!
Thanks to all of our partners , sponsors and participants for making the 18th annual Hudson River Valley Ramble our most successful yet! The first Ramble to take place over five weekends, the 2017 Ramble featured 240 recreational and cultural events highlighting the rich diversity of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area .
The Greenway Reflects on Harvey
Whenever a natural disaster strikes, the most important and pressing issue is the survival and well-being of those in the affected areas and the Greenway encourages you to donate to reputable charitable organizations.

Houston, now the fourth largest American city, has seen nearly five decades of unbridled and unfettered growth that has led it to being one of the most sprawling urban areas in the country. Houston does not have a zoning code, rather they rely on codes that address how property can be subdivided. Developers have been allowed to pretty much build whatever and wherever they want, cutting drainage canals and destroying natural wetlands in the process and the result is that some 6.5 million people now live in a flat flood-prone plain less than 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

After Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and Superstorm Sandy devastated New York in 2011 and 2012, Governor Cuomo established the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR). The GOSR coordinates state, local, and federal resources towards the rebuilding of infrastructure in a way that plans for and is resilient to future extreme weather events. The Greenway supports these efforts in New York and encourages our local municipalities to also plan for and mitigate the effects of Climate Change.

As the cleanup from Harvey in Texas, and now Irma in Florida and Maria in Puerto Rico continues and the rebuilding commences, the debate will turn to how to rebuild, and whether we should in certain areas. If done right, Houston can be rebuilt in a way that will save lives and money in the event of future storms.

See A Storm Forces Houston, the Limitless City, to Consider Its Limits for more information on Houston’s development over time. 
Fall 2017 Path Through History Weekend!
The first ever Fall Path Through History Weekend will be held on Columbus Day weekend (October 7-9, 2017)! Hundreds of events throughout the state will showcase our shared history and culture. Find an event here !
Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the New York Times
The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area site in Catskill, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, was recently featured in a New York Times article. The article focused on the Cole House's second annual exhibition in the series  OPEN HOUSE: Contemporary Art in Conversation with Cole,  featuring a site specific installation by the internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Kiki Smith. Operating from the concept that all art is contemporary, the OPEN HOUSE series activates conversations between artists and ideas across the centuries. The exhibition has recently been extended through November 19th, along with three other installations from different artists. Read the article here . Find out about all the installations at the Thomas Cole House here .
Governor Cuomo Announces Canal Competition
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that the state will hold a global competition to find the best ideas to re-imagine the New York State Canal System so it becomes an engine for economic growth upstate as well as a world-class tourist destination. The competition, to be run by the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation, will award up to $2.5 million to develop and implement the winning ideas. The announcement was made at the Worlds Canal Conference. The competition will seek entries on two separate tracks, one for infrastructure; the other for programs that have the potential to increase recreation use and tourism. The entries are due December 4th, 2017. Read more about the competition here .
Upcoming Events

Twin Forts Day: The Assault on Forts Montgomery and Clinton , Fort Montgomery, NY
Join the staff and volunteers at Fort Montgomery State Historic Site in the beautiful Hudson Highlands on Saturday, October 7 th to commemorate the 240th Anniversary of this bloody battle. Reenactors will portray the American Continentals and militia as well as the British and the Loyalist Americans. There will be a reenactment of this desperate battle on the actual battlefield of Fort Montgomery; cannon firings, and living history demonstrations throughout the day. Read more here .

Birding with the Bakers , Cornwall, NY
Join the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum on Saturday, October 7 th at 8:30am for birding with Sharon and David Baker, avid birding enthusiasts with world-wide experience, to learn the basics of this engaging hobby. Enjoy a hot or cold beverage with a donut during a birding presentation highlighted by David’s fantastic photography. Then venture out with the Bakers in search of spring migrants and some of the more than fifty species that have been sited on the Museum’s property. Read more here .

Family Mausoleums at Oakwood , Troy, NY
On October 7 , Michael Barrett will lead a walking/driving tour of many of the intriguing 19th C. mausoleums at Oakwood Cemetery. He will speak about the wealthy families that rest here and give a rare peek inside some of these beautiful memorials. Read more here .

Wallkill River Festival , New Paltz, NY
October 7 (Rain Date October 8th) An afternoon/evening of fun for the whole family, to celebrate the Wallkill River. Hands-on children's activities, food, live music, and short kayak tours. Try your hand at collecting and identifying creek critters and learn what they tell you about the health of a river. 30 minute kayak paddles offered for $10 (children 12 & under free). Support the Wallkill River Watershed Alliance, working to restore the Wallkill River. Read more and contact information here .

Historic Stockade Walking Tour, Kingston, NY
On October 7 , Friends of Historic Kingston will offer a walking tour of the Historic Stockade District. Walking tour highlights include viewing the many eighteenth century limestone houses still standing in the Stockade District, visiting the site of the drafting of the New York State Constitution in 1777, and visiting the gravesite of New York’s first elected governor, George Clinton, in the Old Dutch Church Burying Ground. Read more here .

Open House at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory , Palisades, NY
Whether you’re an aspiring young scientist or a long-time science enthusiast, you’re sure to enjoy Lamont-Doherty’s Open House on Saturday, October 7 , 2017 10 am to 4 pm. Tour a lab, participate in hands-on earth science demonstrations, and learn from world-renowned researchers about their latest discoveries. Read more here .

Quill Pen Writing Workshop , Newburgh, NY
Create your own 18th century style letter using a quill pen at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site’s Quill Pen Writing Workshop, Saturday and Sunday, October 7th and 8th , at 2 PM each day. This all-ages workshop uses original documents as a model to assist you in creating your own 18th century style letter using a quill pen, just as General Washington’s aides-de-camp did while headquartered in Newburgh. The fee is $3.00 per and includes your own quill pen to take home. Reservations are recommended. Call 845-562-1195 for further information and to reserve your spot. 

America's Elite in the Downton Abbey Era Theme Tour , Staatsburg, NY
On October 7 and 20 , join Staatsburgh State Historic Site for a 90 minute tour led by a costumed interpreter highlights Staatsburgh's real-life counterparts of the Downton Abbey characters. Explore how the family and servants prepared for a busy weekend of entertaining.  Reservations required. Read more here .

Burgoyne's Bridge 5k Family Fun Run/Walk , Schuylerville, NY
On October 8 , participants and observers will have a chance to learn about the importance of this site in the 1777 Battles of Saratoga and more.This informal event is not chip-timed. For more information, visit www.HudsonCrossingPark.org . 

WWI & the End of the Gilded Age Theme Tour , Staatsburg, NY
On October 8 and 22 , join Staatsburgh State Historic Site for a 90 minute tour led by a costumed interpreter commemorating the centennial years of WWI while exploring how the Mills' extravagant way of life withered away during the Great War. Reservations required. Read more here .

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Birthday & Gravesite Ceremony , Hyde Park, NY
On October 11 at 3 pm, celebrate Eleanor Roosevelt’s birthday with at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Remarks, followed by a wreath laying ceremony. Birthday cake and beverages will be served in the Wallace Visitor Center at the conclusion of the ceremony. Call (845) 229-9115

Hudson Valley Climate Summit, Poughkeepsie, NY
With an eye toward the future of our community, Poughkeepsie Day School is hosting the Hudson Valley Climate Summit. The Summit provides a unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with Hudson Valley residents, community members and organizations working to take action on climate change. The Summit will take place on Saturday, October 14 , 2017, from 1- 5 pm. Find out more here .

Loyal to the Crown: British Art from the George Way Collection , Orangeburg, NY
On October 14 , see the grand opening of this collection of the Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives, featuring miniatures of Queen Mary and Charles I, chests and chairs from the Charles II period and beautiful paintings, such as the portrait of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I attributed to Sir Anthony van Dyck. The collection recalls a royal point of view from the centuries preceding our American Revolution. Read more here.

Living History Tour: Oakwood by Lantern Light, Troy, NY
On October 14 , the dead come to life in Oakwood Cemetery as our guides lead you to selected gravesites on this special nighttime walking tour. In the glow of lantern light, costumed interpreters will share the stories of their amazing lives and in some cases their harrowing deaths. You will meet a Civil War soldier, a drowning victim, a suffragette, the wife of a national figure and many more. This is not a ‘haunted’ tour but it is sure to be a mesmerizing adventure. Read more here .

Composting Workshop at Downing Park Urban Farm, Newburgh, NY
On October 14 , come and discover how simple materials can be used to get you started in the world of composting. Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will provide basic information on composting.  The day will cover what materials to compost, where to place a compost system, and information on different types of composting. Read more here .

Gathering of Old Cars at Staatsburgh State Historic Site , Staatsburg, NY
The 31st annual Gathering of Old Cars will take place at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, within Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park, on Sunday, October 15th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cars of every class and era will be displayed to advantage on the great lawn of the Hudson River estate. Antique autos will parade before the 1895 Beaux Arts mansion with peak autumn foliage and the Hudson River in the background. Mansion will be open for tours. Read more here .

Guided Tours of the Formal Gardens at the Vanderbilt Mansion , Hyde Park, NY
October 15: Tours of the Vanderbilt Garden are led by trained interpreters from the FW Vanderbilt Garden Association, Inc. For more information: info@vanderbiltgarden.org

Animal Superstitions at Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
 On Sunday, October 15 at 10am, join the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum for the new program Animals Superstitions at the Museum’s Wildlife Education Center, 25 Boulevard, Cornwall-on-Hudson. Halloween lore is filled with animals: spooky owls, creepy spiders, black cats, and vampire bats to name a few. Learn how some of the most popular Animal Superstitions came to be, discover which stories are truth and which are fiction, and meet some of the animals featured in these stories. Read more here .

Hike the Roosevelt's Land with the Presidential Guard , Hyde Park, NY
Sunday, October 15th at the Hyde Park Drive-In, meet members of the 240th Military Police Battalion Living History Group for a moderate 7 mile round trip hike up to Top Cottage. Learn about what it was like to protect President Roosevelt, his family, and his estate in Hyde Park during the war, as well as the history behind Top Cottage, FDR's retreat home. Meet at 9:30 AM, hike ends around 2 PM. More here .

Greenway Board Meeting
The next board meeting for the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley will be held on Wednesday, October 18 , 2017 at the Henry Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Home in Hyde Park, NY.

Washington Irving: American Dreams and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, New City, NY
The Historical Society of Rockland County will present screenings and discussion with the filmmaker Jim Ormond on October 19 at History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City. Ormond is a former reporter and print editor; together with a talented team of actors, narrators, researchers, videographers and video editors he effectively tells important stories about local history. Read more here .

Legends by Candlelight Ghost Tours , Germantown, NY
Reservations are now open for the Legends by Candlelight Ghost Tours at Clermont State Historic Site. Tickets sell out early so the public is urged to call (518) 537-4240 for these reservation only tours. The tours offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in haunted history, while interacting with costumed interpreters portraying the “ghosts” of Clermont’s past. Tours run every half hour from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 20, 21, 27, and 28 . Read more here .

Run Wild at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum , Cornwall, NY
On October 21 , join the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum for the first ever Run Wild! Meadows and Trails 5K and Kid’s Dash at the Museum’s Outdoor Discovery Center, on Muser Drive, across from 174 Angola Road, Cornwall. Enjoy majestic scenery and gorgeous autumn color as you run or walk past muskrat ponds, thru tall grass meadows, along wide grassy paths, elevated berm views, clearly marked wooded trails, and past Grasshopper Grove. Read more here .

"It was Dark Back Then" at Knox's Headquarters , Vails Gate, NY
In the spirit of 18th century Gothic literature costumed interpreters submit for your approval a haunting tale. On October 21 , the eerie night-cloaked grounds of Knox's Headquarters, the 1754 Ellison home, serve as a stage for this macabre presentation about strange happenings. Read more here .

Moon Light Night Hike at Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Hyde Park, NY
On October 28 , explore the natural darkness on the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. Learn about changes that happen in nature during the fall season. We'll also explore how these changes impact the behavior of people in the past and today. Visitors will participate in history and nature activities while adventuring to the shore of the Hudson River at Bard Rock. Tickets available here .

The 4th Outdoor Sculpture Biennial, Wilderstein Historic Site, Rhinebeck, NY
The 4th Outdoor Sculpture Biennial will take place at the Wilderstein Historic Site until October 31 . Displays may be seen during the Site's opening hours between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The Biennial includes eighteen sculptures and installations by a diverse group of Hudson Valley and regional artists. The sculptures will grace the breathtaking Calvert Vaux designed grounds of the renowned Wilderstein Estate overlooking the Hudson River. For more information on the Biennial and the Wilderstein Historic Site, please click  here,  or call (845) 876-4818.

Historic Housekeeping Made Simple, Staatsburg, NY
On November 1 , Greater Hudson Heritage Network in partnership with the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, will present a workshop at Staatsburgh State Historic Site where participants will learn the proper hands-on methodology of collections care by working directly with collections at four locations in the Hudson Valley. Through a train-the-trainer focus, this full-day workshop will equip attendees with the knowledge and skill sets necessary for cleaning, handling, and storing collections along with the tools to teach their volunteer base these critical skills. Read more here .
Heritage Spotlight: Staatsburgh State Historic Site
In 1895, Ruth Livingston Mills (a member of the Livingston family, prominent land owners in the Hudson Valley) and her husband, capitalist Ogden Mills, commissioned architects McKim, Mead and White to enlarge and remodel their 25-room Greek Revival home.  The building was transformed into a 79-room Beaux-Arts mansion. After their deaths, Staatsburgh was inherited by their son, Ogden L. Mills, who served as Secretary of the Treasury under Herbert Hoover. The estate was donated to the state in 1938. Today, the home features original furnishings and objets d’art from Europe and the Far East. The 60-foot-long dining room boasts a marble floor, marble walls and 17th century Belgian tapestries. Staatsburgh, which overlooks the Hudson River, is located within Mills-Norrie State Park. The mansion’s sloping western lawn is a popular spot for sledding. Plan your trip here .
Project Spotlight: Beacon Hudson River Trail Master Plan
In 2014, the City of Beacon was awarded a Greenway Conservancy Trail Grant for a Master Plan for a Hudson Trail Master Plan.The goal of the Beacon-Hudson River Trail Master Plan is to create a guide for the City of Beacon, Beacon Greenway Trails Committee, and other interested stakeholders to aid in the planning, design, and construction of a multi-use scenic trail that provides a non-motorized link between the City of Beacon and surrounding communities by connecting the train station with the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge via the Trail of Two Cities and future trail networks within the Town of Fishkill. This trail is envisioned to improve access within the City of Beacon and become a valuable community amenity for residents and visitors. The trail will also improve the recreation and trail network, provide a non-motorized transportation connection to transit, and create an amenity with historical, cultural, and environmental education opportunities. Ultimately the trail will instill greater community investment and pride. The Greenway is pleased to be able to support these trail planning efforts.
Grant and Funding Opportunities  

Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program
Matching grants available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. Deadline: February 9, 2018 . More  here .

TIGER Grants Available
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced $500 million in available funding for large-scale, regionally significant transportation projects across the country under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program. Applications are due October 16 , 2017. For more information or to apply, please visit: https://www.transportation.gov/tiger .

2017 Community Change Micro Grants
America Walks has announced a round of micro grants t o individuals and communities interested in improving the public sphere for walking or otherwise helping to make walking more commonplace. This program awards up to $1,500 to fund or help to catalyze smaller-scale, low-cost projects and programs that increase the prevalence of walking, expand the diversity of people and organizations working to advance walkability, and help to make walking safer, easier, and more fun for all community members . Applications are due November 10 . Read more here .

Park and Trail Partnership Program Grants
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), with support from Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, are pleased to announce the third round of $500,000 in competitive grants through the NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The grants are available to organizations that support parks, trails, historic sites and public lands, and are administered by PTNY, in partnership with OPRHP. This year, for the first time, grants will also be available to organizations that support public lands managed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Applications are due December 8 , 2017. Read more here .

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

National Park Service Rails and Trails Program Seeks Volunteers
If you love history and trains, the National Park Service is seeking volunteers for the Trails and Rails program which is locally presented aboard Amtrak's Adirondack traveling up the Hudson River Valley from New York to Montreal. Trails and Rails brings the National Parks aboard Amtrak trains. Volunteers present programs on board the train about the history of the region and cultural and natural resources of the route. Volunteers are provided with training about the history and a uniform. These programs are presented in partnership with the Saratoga National Historical Park and the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Additional information about Trails and Rails can be found here . If you are interested in volunteering, contact Joe LaLumia here .
Green Tip of the Month: Feed Your Compost Pile
Grow nutrient-rich crops like alfalfa, red clover and yellow sweet clover in a separate bed, and harvest them during the spring and summer for your compost pile. These crops add nitrogen and organic matter and encourage beneficial soil microbes. Read more about composting here .
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