March 2013

Tower of Victory Restoration Plan

The campaign to save one of the Hudson Valley's greatest treasures is being co-chaired by former Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey and Greenway Communities Council chair and Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area co-Chair Barnabas McHenry. The Tower of Victory at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh is the focus of this important fundraiser, begun by the Palisades Park Conservancy. For 125 years, the Tower of Victory has stood as the nation's only monument to the lasting peace that came after the end of the Revolutionary War. It was commissioned by the son of the President Robert Todd Lincoln, who was also Secretary of War; designed by John Hemingway Duncan, one of the nation's most renowned architects at that time; and hosts bronzes sculpted by William Rudolf O'Donovan, the pre-eminent monument sculptor of the day. It stands on the property where General Washington created the "Badge of Military Merit," what is now called the Purple Heart medal. 

Unfortunately, the Tower is currently in disrepair, and in need of restoration to the stone structure, and a new roof. Under the expert guidance of Mr. Hinchey and Mr. McHenry, the campaign to save the Tower of Victory will surely be successful. Donate through the Palisades Parks Conservancy. 

Dutchess County's New Greenway Guide

Dutchess County Planning has introduced a new Greenway Guide for public review, Building Bicycle Networks. This is the latest in a new series of Greenway Guides developed by Dutchess County Planning, which include such topics as Centers and Greenspaces; Convenience Stores with Gas Pumps; Rural Roads; and Slower, Safer Streets. This guide offers design recommendations to encourage bicycling in a variety of contexts. Greenway Guides are part of the Dutchess County Greenway Compact, Greenway Connections. Completed in 2000, Greenway Connections has been adopted as a voluntary program of land use policies and guidelines by the County and 29 of 30 Dutchess County communities.The Greenway Compact is entirely voluntary, respects local home rule, and relies on incentives and guidelines rather than requirements. Greenway Connections w

as created as a living document, to which additional guides could be added in response to changing circumstances and needs.

   

Path Through History Weekends Event Registration 

We are pleased to announce that online event submission for the 2013 Path Through History Weekends is now open!  The Path Through History Weekends - comprised of events which are heritage and cultural celebrations and special programming that promote the unique history of our State - will be held June 1-2 and 8-9. If your organization would like to host an event, please log on and register today!

Sponsor the 2013 Hudson River Valley Ramble

The 14th Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble will take place September 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29, 2013. We hope you will participate by hosting or attending an event! Further details will be sent this spring, so mark your calendars now! Sponsorships for the Hudson River Valley Ramble are now available, and more information can be found here.

Statewide Trail User Count Released

The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that their first statewide trail user count and survey reveals that more than 2.2 million trail users frequent 14 of our state's most popular trails. The Hudson Valley Rail Trail was the most used trail in the state, with more than 650,000 users annually! The study was done in partnership with Parks and Trails NY.

Take the Dutchess County Walking and Bicycling Survey! 

The Poughkeepsie-Dutchess County Transportation Council (PDCTC), which is hosted by the County's Department of Planning and Development, is updating the county-wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.The plan will identify needs and priorities to make walking and bicycling better transportation options for more people. As part of the plan, the PDCTC has developed a survey about walking and bicycling issues. The survey responses will help us better understand local needs and priorities.The survey is available online until April 15th at 

www.dutchessny.gov/WalkBikeDutchess 

Regional Events

March 2013

March 15

John Vanderlyn - Painter of a Nation Lecture

Come join "Kingston's Buried Treasures" for the presentation "John Vanderlyn - Painter of a Nation" by graphic artist and local historian Joseph Tantillo. The event takes place  in the Vanderlyn Gallery of the Senate House Museum, home of the world's largest collection of Vanderlyn works.  

March 16

Francois Deschamps in Residence at the Dorsky Museum

Visitors are invited to explore the recreation of a West African-style portrait studio in the Alice and Horace Chandler Gallery, where they can experience the ambiance of a studio in Mali and sit for their own portrait made by Deschamps.

March 18

Adapting to a Changing Climate -  The Native Plant Center's spring conference 

Examine why and how the landscape is changing, the impact on plants and animals, and what can be done to help mitigate consequences and conserve native ecosystems.  

March 20

First of Spring Birding Event at Olana

Join Audubon NY education coordinator Larry Federman for a first day of spring birding event at Olana. 

Mornings at the Museum

The Rensselaer County Historical Society (RCHS) offers a monthly program geared to pre-schoolers.  Children ages 3-5 are introduced to the museum through a program that includes story-time, exploring an item from the collection and making a craft.  Each month has a different theme.  

March 23

The General's Lady at Washington's Headquarters

In honor of  Women's History Month, Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh pays tribute to one of the most outstanding women of history, Martha Washington. 

March 20

West African Film Series at the Dorsky Museum

"La Genese" The Bible's Book of Genesis is given a new spin by director Cheik Oumar Sissoko in his film La Gen�se which recasts a famous story by relocating it in the nation of Mali and using a cast of African actors.

March 23

Remember Me: Quilts and the Women Who Made Them

In honor of Women's History Month, Historic Huguenot Street will feature a display of outstanding quilts from the HHS collection. In addition to quilting demonstrations, there will be guided tours of the Deyo and LeFevre houses, showcasing  historic quilts. 

Manitoga Volunteer Landscape Day

Join Manitoga staff for the first volunteer workday of the season to help prepare for the spring programs and events. Lunch provided!

March 24

Splendor on the Hudson- and the Seacoast - On the Eye of Independence

Historian and author Anderson will discuss the magnificent hand-painted English wallpapers what embellished three grand English-style residences built between 1762 and 1768 in Albany, and in the coastal seaport of Marblehead, Massachusetts. At the Albany Institute.

March 26

Spring Break Servant's Program for Kids

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site and Staatsburgh State Historic Site will offer a hands-on exercise where children will learn the history of the roles of Servants & Stewards to these historic homes.

March 30

Land Use Series : SEQR - Using The New SEAF 

Attend a workshop for Municipal Board training credits on using the new NYSDEC Environmental Assessment Forms for State Environmental Quality Reviews (SEQR) and learn about GIS mapping resources available to help municipalities with the process.  

April 5

Concert in Olana's Court Hall - An Evening of Turkish Music  

Listen to music that Frederic Church may have heard during his trip to Constantinople in 1868, when the city was a vibrant crossroads of Middle Eastern and European culture.  

April 7

Making the Circus American at the Albany Institute

Matthew Wittmann, Curatorial Fellow, Bard Graduate Center, will show how Americans took a European cultural art, transforming it into the iconic railroad circuses that grew into one of our most popular entertainment forms.

Columbia County Trails Roundtable

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

Heritage Weekend Becomes Path Through History Weekends

Heritage Weekend has been a great success, and we thank all of those who have participated in this phenomenal program. Heritage Weekend will not take place in May, but will become part of an even greater effort to promote the unique history of our State, Path Through History Weekends! 

If you can't reuse plastic storage bags, clean and dry them, then recycle them along with any other plastic bags at any plastic bag-recycling bin, like those now found at many grocery stores and supermarkets.  

(All information courtesy of the Daily Green)

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