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
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Monthly News, Events, & Grant
Opportunities
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Important Reminders
- Get Outside Safely, Responsibly, and Locally. Learn more.
- 2020 Hudson River Valley Ramble Canceled. More info.
- Register for GHHN's Make it Work Workshop Series. Register now.
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HRVNHA Adds Virtual Events Calendar to Website
In June, the
Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area
added a
Virtual Events Calendar
to its website
to better meet the demands of our heritage sites and visitors. In this effort, the Virtual Events Calendar will be available for heritage sites to promote their virtual events, while connecting visitors to diverse content across the Hudson Valley.
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Treasury Updates Guidance on Coronavirus Relief Fund to Include Tourism
As of June 24th, the U.S. Treasury Department posted updated Frequently-Asked Questions on the use of the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund for state, local, and tribal governments. Using the funds for the reopening of tourism is now permitted. More information, including the full list of FAQs, is available at
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2020 GHHN Annual Conference &
Awards for Excellence
In response to the challenges produced by COVID-19,
Greater Hudson Heritage Network’s
(GHHN) Annual Conference "Then Now Next: What Does the Future of Museums Look Like?" is going virtual. How do museums' actions today shape the future? What can we learn from looking back? Join GHHN and guest presenters to explore these timely questions.
The day-long Annual Confe
rence has been re-imagined to a virtual model, broken up into weekly sessions of 2 hours of content presented over a six-week period. With the content stretched out over 6 weeks, attendees have the freedom to participate in all the weekly sessions or just log in to a selection. The virtual conference will be held weekly on Wednesdays, 9:30 AM - 12 PM from
September 9 - October 14, 2020
.
Learn more
.
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Pathway Imporvement Project to Begin at Washington's Headquarters
Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh will begin an extensive Pathway Improvement Project in July, 2020. Being the first publicly owned historic site in the Nation, the Pathway Project will be respectful of the site’s history, while enhancing public access to the grounds and the Site’s significant historic features. The scope of the project includes repair of existing bluestone walkways, enhancing the accessible parking area, and enhancing accessible paths on nearly seven acres of grounds. It will also reestablish a path to the recently restored Tower of Victory.
The grounds at Washington’s Headquarters will continue to be open during the project, although with certain areas off limit based on the phasing of the construction work. Large outdoor gatherings, programming and celebrations will be suspended for the duration of the project. Buildings and tours at Washington's Headquarters are temporarily closed due to Covid-19, the grounds are open 9:00 am until 3:00 pm, Mondays through Saturdays.
More info
.
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Historic Hudson River Towns Announces New Audio Tours for Bikers, Walkers, and Drivers
Historic Hudson River Towns
(HHRT) has been hard at work producing content for all to enjoy while still social distancing. When Governor Andrew Cuomo opened the new shared use path on the
Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
on June 15, he announced that free mobile audio tours for walkers and bikers across the path are now available for download.
In addition, on June 24th, HHRT announced a new geo-located audio tour of 16 riverfront communties, including historic sites and parks. With the use of GPS technology, all the audio stories on the tour will reach travelers hands-free on their mobile devices, enhancing their appreciation of the places they are visiting. The tour can be accessed on Android and iPhones by downloading the TravelStorys app from the App Store or Google Play Store and can be enjoyed remotely at home, across the country or in most locations around the world.
The stories have been produced by TravelStoriesGPS. HHRT also partnered with the NYS Thruway Authority to produce the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge tour.
To access the new audio tours online, go to
www.hudsonriver.com
or to access them on mobile devices, go to the TravelStorys app on the App Store or Google Play.
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Register Today for a Month-Long Virtual Lunaape Language Workshop Series
Historic Huguenot Street is pleased to present a 5-week virtual Lunaape language workshop, which will be taking place every Wednesday throughout the month of July from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. These classes will take place via Zoom and will be hosted by Lunaape language teacher Karen Mosko.The Lunaape language was spoken by the indigenous people of the same name of the Northeastern Woodlands, whose historical territory included present-day New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania along the Delaware watershed, New York City, western Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, including New Paltz.
This workshop is introductory and is geared towards beginners. You can register for the first class, the first and the second class, the first, second, and last class, or whatever you feel comfortable doing! The very reasonable rates are: One class = $5; Two classes = $9; Three classes = $13; Four classes = $16
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Greater Hudson Heritage Network's
Awards for Excellence
Program - Call for Nominations
GHHN's
Awards For Excellence
program seeks to recognize and commend exceptional efforts among GHHN members. Awards are made to projects that exemplify creativity and professional vision resulting in a contribution to the preservation and interpretation of the historic scene, material culture and diversity of the region. Awards will be presented at GHHN's 2020 Virtual Conference at the October 14, 2020 session, sponsored by the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
Any GHHN member (organizational or individual) can be nominated, and you are encouraged to nominate your own organization. The portal opens on June 26, 2020 and will remain open until 11:59 PM on August 3, 2020.
To learn more and to submit a nomination, please visit:
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Restoration of Honor Act
The
New York State Division of Veterans’ Services
is working to inform Veterans discharged under Other Than Honorable (OTH) or General Under Honorable Conditions that they can now apply for potential restoration of New York State Veterans’ benefits. Individuals may apply for restoration of New York State veterans’ benefits if the discharge
resulted from:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
- Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
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Upcoming Events
*
Please note that d
ue to the spread of COVID-19, many heritage sites have announced that they are cancelling events, closing, or reducing hours.
Please call the individual sites directly to inquire their current status. New York State Parks remain open. Although many events, tours, and social gatherings have been postponed. While enjoying the outdoors, please follow the
CDC/New York State Department of Health guidelines
for preventing the spread of colds, flu, and COVID-19.
Hudson River Train Tour App
The Hudson Train Tour App, available for download for
Apple
and
Android devices
, now features 10 new audio stories! The app can be used wherever you are, including from your home, so don’t worry if you’re not riding the rails currently.
Discover more
.
Conservation and Land Use Webinars by the Hudson River Estuary Program
The Hudson River Estuary Conservation and Land Use 101 Webinar Series was developed to provide a foundation in conservation and land use planning for members of Hudson Valley conservation advisory councils/boards and environmental commissions, as well as members of planning and zoning boards, elected officials, and interested citizens. Webinars provide background about regional biodiversity, conservation principles, best planning practices, and tools to identify and conserve important habitat and water resources within New York's home rule system.
Learn more
.
Historic Huguenot Street's Digital Programming
Historic Huguenot Street is the oldest authentic museum street in America. Dating to the 1677 colonial period, the museum tells the story of a pre-and post-united America through the eyes of French Huguenot immigrants and their descendants. Historic Huguenot Street provides a host of digital content from
online exhibits
to
virtual workshops
. Wednesdays In the month of July,
register for a virtual workshop
to learn the Lunaape language, spoken by the original inhabitants of the New Paltz area.
Find out more.
Register to
NYS Museum's Online Exhibitions and More
The Arts Council of Rockland's Online Viewing Room
Visit the Arts Council of Rockland's latest exhibition, "Women's Voices," in their new Online Viewing Room! In celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, the Arts Council of Rockland presents “Women’s Voices” in collaboration with SuffrageForward, whose mission is to celebrate women’s right to vote, empower women, and create awareness among all people of the strength and resiliency of girls and women.
View it now
.
NYNJTC Online Learning Library
The Trail Conference is now offering new digital learning and engagement opportunities. From live webinars to on-demand content, the NYNJTC is providing workshops and lectures to boost your skills and help keep everyone connected.
Check it out
.
Preservation Pop-Up (WEBINAR)
July 2:
Join the Preservation League of NYS for personalized technical assistance for your historic home maintenance and rehab projects, with a focus on federal and state historic tax credits. Special guest Elise Johnson-Schmidt will talk about upper floors reuse in historic downtowns.
More info
.
July 4th Oration - the Struggle for Justice Continues (WEBINAR)
July 4:
Using the 1852 address by Douglass as a framework, the Oration examines issues of liberty, citizenship, civic engagement and social responsibility from the historical perspective in light of contemporary injustice.
More details
.
Online Firefly Story Walk Sunday
July 5
: Nature lovers can learn about these fascinating insects from the comfort and safety of their homes through an online program co-hosted by the Westchester Land Trust (WLT) and Lewisboro Library. Firefly enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join in online for a pre-recorded nature walk and storytime from WLT’s Pine Croft Meadow Preserve in the heart of Waccabuc. The program will feature a reading of the storybook, "The Very Lonely Firefly" by Eric Carle, and will be posted on both groups’ social media channels.
Find out more
.
Guided Garden Walk at Innisfree
July 5:
Join landscape curator, Kate Kerin, for a lively 90 minute tour exploring Innisfree, a powerful icon of mid-twentieth century design now recognized as one of the world's ten best gardens. We will be following New York State guidelines for safety.
Reserve tickets online here
.
How to Create an Instant Urban Trail (WEBINAR)
July 9:
Hear the story of how a trail was created by a small group in a year-and-a-half for $600 and learn the trail components incorporated to make the trail so popular.
Read more
.
National Alliance of Preservation Commissions CAMP Training (WEBINAR)
July 10, 17:
The Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) provides participants a full-day training featuring high-quality, engaging, and informative presentations and group discussion in the field.
Register now
.
Cycle the Erie Canal Virtual Celebration (WEBINAR)
July 12:
You are invited to experience the first virtual Cycle the Erie Canal celebration, through photographs, videos, games and daily route maps.
More info
.
Wetland Regulations: Workshop for Planners and Land Use Professionals (WEBINAR)
July 14:
The training objective of this workshop is to increase the ability of local decision makers to understand the current wetland regulatory requirements, processes, roles and responsibilities, and recent changes.
Read more
.
Expanding and Strengthening Partnerships and Engagement Opportunities Through Mountain Biking (WEBINAR)
July 16:
Learn how the growing mountain bike community can increase opportunities for volunteerism and improve all trail users’ enjoyment and safety.
Learn more
.
Advancing Trails Through Maps, Apps, and Analysis Tools (WEBINAR)
July 21:
This webinar will introduce participants to new tools and technologies being used to advance trail projects around the country.
Find out mor
Assessing Green Infrastructure: Kingston’s Uptown Parking Lots (WEBINAR)
July 23:
This study focused on assessing the performance of 13 different green infrastructure practices in 2 parking lots in the City of Kingston in 2017.
More details
.
Urban Planning in a COVID-19 World (WEBINAR)
July 24:
This webinar will look at some of the ways that Covid-19 has and will change the world and profession of urban planning.
More info
.
Family Nature Walk
July 25:
Spend an hour exploring the rich natural history of Innisfree with noted horticulturist and Innisfree trustee, Brad Roeller, an expert on native plants and plant communities. We will be following New York State guidelines for safety.
Reserve tickets online here
.
Successful Models in Developing and Maintaining Private Equestrian Trail Systems (WEBINAR)
July 30:
In this webinar you will learn about how three different communities have developed and maintained successful equestrian trail system on private land.
Read more
.
Designing Green Storm Water Infrastructure (WEBINAR)
July 31:
This training is intended for technical professionals involved with the siting, design, implementation, permitting, and regulation for effective stormwater management using green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI).
Learn more
.
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Heritage Spotlight: Shaker Heritage Society
The first settlement of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing—the Utopian religious community commonly known as the Shakers—was established here in 1776 by “Mother” Ann Lee. The Shakers are renowned for their technological innovations, music, architecture, and furniture. The Watervliet (Albany) Shakers were the first to package and sell garden seeds, invented the flat broom, were pacifists involved in abolitionist causes, and strove to achieve gender and racial equality. The last Shakers left the community in 1938. Located adjacent to Albany Airport, it is a rural oasis with farm animals on-site during the summer season. The 1848 Meeting House features a small museum and gift shop that features locally made crafts. Visitors may take a self-guided tour using a brochure or mobile application past eight additional Shaker buildings, an herb garden, the cemetery where Ann Lee is buried, and the nearby Ann Lee Pond Nature Preserve.
The Museum Shop and Exhibits are now closed, but the grounds remain open dawn to dusk everyday.
Learn more
.
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Project Spotlight: Westchester Trail Maps
The
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
(NYNJTC) received a
Greenway Conservancy Trail grant
to
create a set of three maps covering some of the most popular parks in Westchester County
. One set focuses on the largest privately-owned preserve in Westchester County, Teatown. All maps include detailed junction-to-junction trail mileage numbers, 10-foot elevation contour lines, parking areas, train and bus public transportation access points, scenic viewpoints, historical points of interest, and lakes and streams. The backs of the maps include useful and interesting information about the parks, park regulations and contact information, tips on how to use the maps and practice
Leave No Trace
principles, and much more.
The maps are currently available on the NYNJTC's website store, Amazon.com, retail stores throughout the region, the
visitor center at Teatown
, and digitally through the Avenza Maps app.
Find out more about the
NYNJTC's maps and other resources
.
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Green Sunscreen
Protect your skin and the environment. Choose a green sunscreen and apply it frequently to block out harmful UV rays. When picking a sunscreen, avoid nanoparticles and look for a mineral-based product.
Learn more
.
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Grant and Funding Opportunities
Heritage Development Grants
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.
One notable departure for this round is that staff time is eligible to be reimbursed, but only if that staff time is for the direct development of programming or interpretation, as identified in the grant application. We will be accepting applications with a
September 11, 2020
submittal deadline, particularly focused on creating virtual tours and programming. Please note, that there is a new budget form with the application packet. Applicants should not use an older version of the budget form.
National Heritage Area Sponsorships 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. Sponsorship's will have an additional focus on events promoting the 19th Amendment and/or Women's in History in the Hudson Valley for the year 2020. 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
daniel.jeanson@hudsongreenway.ny.gov
or 518-473-3835.
Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives FY 2021
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks projects that will significantly improve public discovery and use of major historical records collections. The Commission is especially interested in collections of America’s early legal records, such as the records of colonial, territorial, county, and early statehood and tribal proceedings that document the evolution of the nation’s legal history. A grant is for one to three years and between $100,000 and $350,000. Deadline:
July 9, 2020
.
Read more
.
State and Local Government Financial Wellness Program
In an effort to improve the financial wellness of the state and local public sector workforce, a new national initiative will competitively select and provide grants to state and local governments to establish or improve upon their financial wellness programs. Deadline:
July 15, 2020
.
Find out more
.
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 (international projects are by invitation only). Deadline:
July 15, 2020
.
Learn more
.
EcoTech™ Grants
This 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. Deadline:
July 15, 2020
.
More details
.
EcoStem™ Resource Kits
Captain Planet Foundation has developed four ecoSTEM Resource Kits
,
which are perfect for educators getting started with project-based learning. These custom-curated and designed collections of lessons and materials facilitate ecoSTEM learning and using the environment as a context for applying knowledge. Kits include cutting-edge project techniques, 3-dimensional learning, citizen science, and the best materials and equipment identified for each project. Deadline:
July 15, 2020
.
Read more
.
Humanities Collections and Reference Resources
The Humanities Collections and Reference Resources program supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. Thousands of libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country maintain important collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art and material culture, and digital objects. This program strengthens efforts to extend the life of such materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology. Deadline:
July 14, 2020
.
Find out more
.
Humanities Initiatives at Community Colleges
Humanities Initiatives at Community Colleges strengthen the teaching and study of the humanities at community colleges by developing new humanities programs, resources (including those in digital format), or courses, or by enhancing existing ones. Deadline:
July 16, 2020
.
More details
.
NEP Coastal Watersheds Grant Program
The NEP Coastal Watersheds Grant Program is a nationally competitive grants program designed to support projects that address urgent and challenging issues threatening the well-being of coastal and estuarine areas within determined estuaries of national significance. Letter of intent due by
August 7, 2020
.
More info
.
NEH's Short Documentaries Program
The Short Documentaries program supports the production and distribution of documentary films up to 30 minutes that engage audiences with humanities ideas in appealing ways. The program aims to extend the humanities to new audiences through the medium of short documentary films. Films must be grounded in humanities scholarship in disciplines such as history, art history, literature, religious studies, philosophy, or anthropology. Deadline:
August 12, 2020
.
Read more
.
NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant Program
The NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant Program is a partnership of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and GHHN that provides support for treatment procedures to aid in stabilizing and preserving objects held in collections of museums, historical, and cultural organizations in New York State. Support is available for conservation treatment of paintings, works on paper (including individual drawings, watercolors, prints, or photographs), textiles (including costumes, domestic textiles, and upholstery), furniture, frames, sculpture, historical, ethnographic, and decorative objects. Deadline:
September 1, 2020
.
Learn more
.
NEH's Dialogues on the Experience of War Program
The National Endowment for the Humanities offers the Dialogues on the Experience of War (Dialogues) program as part of its current initiative, Standing Together: The Humanities and the Experience of War. The program supports the study and discussion of important humanities sources about war, in the belief that these sources can help U.S. military veterans and others think more deeply about the issues raised by war and military service. Dialogues is primarily designed to reach military veterans; however, men and women in active service, military families, and interested members of the public may also participate. Deadline:
October 14, 2020
.
More info
.
Chronogram Media Community Grant Program for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
This grant program aims to support marketing programs for a variety of Hudson Valley minority and women-owned small businesses, virtual events, and regional nonprofits. Applicants are evaluated based on financial need, commitment to social change, and alignment with Chronogram Media’s values. Accepted partners will receive a number of benefits and increased exposure through Chronogram Media's various platforms. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis.
More info
.
Archival Workers Emergency Fund
The Society of American Archivists Foundation announces the creation of the Archival Workers Emergency Fund (AWEF) to support archival workers experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 crisis. Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to financially vulnerable and at-risk workers. All U.S.-based archival workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis are eligible to apply to the fund.
Due to the unpredictability of the crisis and times of acute need, applications to the fund will be considered on a rolling basis up to
December 31, 2020
.
Find out more
.
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 14, 2021
.
Read more
.
Extreme Terrain’s Clean Trail Grant Program
This program will provide eligible groups the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund their next trail improvement related project, which could range from trail clean-up, trail restoration, trail expansion, to name a few.
Learn 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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