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
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Heritage Development Grant Applications are Due May 7, 2021. More details.
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Transformative Tools from Greater Hudson Heritage Area
GHHN's Transformative Tools: A Practicum in Digital Engagement for Heritage Keepers is a multi-faceted professional development initiative to grow digital capacity among museum professionals, especially those from institutions that often cannot provide such opportunities to their staff. This series of online classes seeks to demystify the technology behind these digital platforms. Each of the classes will span 6 weeks and be taught in a straightforward, uncomplicated way so that museum staff and volunteers with a wide range of digital knowledge will be able to participate and propel their museum into their digital age. Class series can be taken a la carte, however, we recommend participating in both to maximize your digital project's potential. Instructors and GHHN will guide the participants in the process to create and produce either an online exhibition, an online audio tour, a combination of both, or a project inspired by the Spotlight Series (coming Summer 2021) - ready to feature on their organization's own website! Additionally, all projects created will also be featured in GHHN's soon-to-come Digital Showcase.
Series 1: Planning and Creating Digital Exhibits with Jennifer Palmentiero, SENYLRC and Heidi Ziemer, WNYLRC
Wednesday, March 10 - Wednesday, April 14
Topics covered will include Project Planning, Digitization of Collection Materials, and Applications for Digital Assets. In this class, you will gain the know-how and a basic understanding of the tools and processes needed to properly plan out a digitization project, the steps for digitizing collection materials, and how to use digital assets to create online exhibits. As part of this class, each site will build a short online exhibit using one of the sources discussed to feature on their own organization's website. The created exhibit will also be featured in the GHHN Digital Showcase.
Registration Deadline: March 23
GHHN Members: $45/NonMembers: $55 (Registration fee also includes a 1-year membership to Omeka)
Series 2: All About Audio: Digital Recording, Editing, and Creating Audio Tours and
Exhibits with Eileen McAdam of Sound and Story Project of the Hudson Valley
Wednesday, May 5 - Wednesday, June 9
Topics covered will include Digital Recording, Editing, and Applications for Digital Assets. In this class, you will gain the know-how and a basic understanding of the tools and processes to create digital recordings and learn how to edit those raw recordings into usable digital content. Class participants will select an application for using those digital assets and then will create a final product, ready to feature on their own organization's website! The final creation will also be featured in the GHHN Digital Showcase.
Registration Deadline: May 18
GHHN Members: $45/NonMembers: $55
The Transformative Tools programming is made possible by funding from the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
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Palisades Parkway Scenic Byway Designated a National Scenic Byway
"Through their many unique qualities, each of these new additions to the National Scenic Byways program helps America’s roads tell our national story," said FHWA Executive Director Tom Everett. "These special routes offer travelers exciting new opportunities to explore the nation, from coast to coast or close to home."
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, the National Scenic Byways Program was established in 1991 to recognize "roadways with notable scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, and archaeological qualities," the Scenic America site describes. It has been nearly 30 years since the Palisade Interstate Parkway became a designated State Scenic Byway and nearly 60 years since its completion.
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Hudson River Maritime Museum Re-Opens!
The Hudson River Maritime Museum will begin timed admission to the museum on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4 pm. Precautions will be taken to enable public accessibility to exhibits and programs. Admission can be purchased online in advance. Each half-hour time slot is limited to 4 people, with a special $12/person admission rate which helps us cover costs while maintaining group size.
The museum features many exhibits that tell the story of the Hudson River with a focus on environmental aspects, ice boats, steamboats, tugboats, and more. Currently featured is the exhibit Mary Powell: Queen of the Hudson. The steamboat Mary Powell represented the best of Hudson River travel throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In addition to timed admission, the museum also offers a variety of classes, including woodworking and sailing for adults and youth. To purchase museum tickets or register for classes, visit hrmm.org.
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Heroic Hartsdale Nurse, Edna Odell, A Story of Perseverance
The Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters announced the publication of their first primary source research article, Edna Odell, A Story of Perseverance. The article contains many photographs and quotes from documents found in the Odell House Collection now housed at the Westchester County Historical Society.
Edna was the great-granddaughter of Col. John Odell, George Washington’s guide during the Revolutionary War, and grew up in the famous house that served as Le Comte de Rochambeau’s Headquarters for 6 weeks in 1781. Edna followed the path of her family’s service to our country and volunteered to serve in France during WWI. She became a nurse and served with the American Red Cross in France in WWI, caring for orphans of the war. Read the article.
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Submit Your Project to the Trails Move People Survey
The purpose of this survey is to quantify the capacity of the trails community to build, maintain, and develop trails now, and to provide input to the Departments of Agriculture and Interior process for prioritizing and awarding Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding.
Last year, American Trails conducted the first "Shovel-ready" survey in an attempt to document the contribution the trails community can make to the American economic response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a tremendous response showing over 1,000 trail projects ready and waiting. Now, after a year of COVID-19 American Trails is launching a second survey. Find out more.
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Harambee Receives Title to Pine Street African Burial Ground in Kingston
On February 25, 2021, the title to the site of the African Burial Ground on Pine Street in Kingston was transferred to the African-American heritage organization, Harambee, from the Kingston Land Trust (KLT) with a conservation easement granted by Harambee to the KLT to protect the site in perpetuity. This protection ensures that the ancestors buried there will never again be forgotten. The two nonprofit organizations successfully led a campaign to bring history to light and purchased the site in 2019 in collaboration with Scenic Hudson, thanks to overwhelming community support. With this new arrangement of ownership and protection, Harambee and the KLT, will continue to remain in partnership in service of the site and the public good.
The primary purpose of the conservation easement is to give legal protections to the land and the ancestors buried there, which will ensure the Burial Ground is never again forgotten, disrespected, or used for any inappropriate purpose. It will also maintain the Burial Ground as a place for the community to visit as a memorial for interpretive cultural education. The easement will forever protect the site’s specific cultural, social, historic and environmental conservation values as a place of gathering, ritual, ceremony, and archeological significance. Read more
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News From Our Partners at the Hudson River Estuary Program |
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Important Reminders
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The Hudson River Estuary Management Advisory Committee (HREMAC) Meeting is on March 4, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. More info.
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The Virtual Hudson River
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River estuary educators are offering students, teachers, caregivers, and families a virtual connection to the Hudson River. The Virtual River introduces the natural world of the Hudson through videos, interactive lessons, and activities for those now schooling from home. Watch live animals and enjoy riverside excursions online. Learn about eels, fish, climate change, Hudson River Valley geology, and much more.
The content is developed for a mix of ages so everyone can learn together about their local environment. New topics are added weekly. Complementary videos and lesson plans support deeper learning at home or school on the topics introduced in each weekly short video update. Until we can visit the Hudson River estuary with students, teachers, and families again, we invite everyone to enjoy the Virtual River. Sign-up for weekly updates on Hudson River topics at Virtual River Sign-up.
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Upcoming Events
*Please note that, while many heritage sites in the Hudson Valley have begun to reopen cautiously due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, some sites are still closed or have reduced hours. Please call the individual sites directly to inquire about their current status. New York State Parks remain open. 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.
Download the Hudson River Train Tour App
Between New York City and Albany, a world of history, nature, and culture awaits you. And there’s no better way to experience it all than by riding a train through the Hudson Valley. With the new, free Hudson River Train Tour app, you’ll discover what’s out that train window…and beyond. Learn more.
Slate Valley Driving Tour
The Slate Valley Driving Tour booklet provides you with detailed maps and many points of interest to ensure you can take in the heart of the Slate Valley. The driving tour takes about 2 hours and covers about 45 miles. The tour starts at the Slate Valley Museum and loops you back to Granville after covering the heart of the Slate Valley through New York and Vermont. Read more.
Programs for Children at Sheldrake Environmental Center
February - March 2021: New fun programs announced to keep kids active, learning, and having fun all winter! Weekly children's classes (both public and private) continue in-person. Find out more.
ISA Certified Arborist Training Program (WEBINAR)
March 1 & 3: This training program is designed to assist green industry professionals in obtaining the ISA Certified Arborist designation. More info.
Beginner Bird Identification (WEBINAR)
March 3: This will be a discussion on some of the keys on how to bird ID: looking at size and shape, colors and patterns, habitat, behaviors, and sounds. Learn more.
Spirit of the Hudson Gala 2021 (WEBINAR)
March 4: Clearwater will host a fundraising gala honoring those water protectors who’ve had an impact on the Hudson River Valley, New York State, and our planet through their advocacy efforts in 2020. More details.
Creating Change with Changemakers: Disrupting Museum Storytelling (WEBINAR)
March 4: Tune into this discussion on how a community curation model can enhance the accuracy, quality, diversity, and authentic representation within an exhibit. Find out more.
Maple Sugar Tours, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Cornwall, NY
March 6: Learn how to identify and tap sugar maple trees, discover sugaring techniques used by Native Americans, pioneers, and modern-day farmers, and see an evaporator in action! Read more.
Breakfast Lecture: Wastewater Surveillance and Covid-19 (WEBINAR)
March 11: For this breakfast lecture, Dr. Larsen will speak about how we can leverage wastewater surveillance to improve health security and recover from the pandemic. More info.
DHPSNY's Planning & Assessments: A Crash Course
March 11: Join Program Manager Anastasia Matijkiw to learn more about DHPSNY’s Planning & Assessment Services, including what virtual assessments entail, how to apply, and more. Find out more.
Introducing Wilderstein's New Digital Catalog (WEBINAR)
March 11: This is an informative presentation and tour of Wilderstein's recently launched digital catalog. Read more.
Future Proofing Federal Planning: Leveraging Data and Emerging Technologies (WEBINAR)
March 12: Federal agency and industry representatives will engage in a lively virtual fireside chat to explore how emerging data trends and technology can be leveraged for the benefit of federal planning. Learn more.
Presentation of the REALM Project Research for Museums (WEBINAR)
March 12: As libraries and museums around the country begin to resume operations and reopen to the public in light of COVID-19, the need for clear information to support the handling of core museum, library, and archival materials has become increasingly urgent. Join an overview of REALM project activities, a discussion about what is known and what is unknown about the virus, a review of the testing process and test results, and a look at the REALM ToolKit resources. More details.
Spring Stroll and Virtual Family Cooking Class, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY
March 13: Families are invited to participate in monthly outdoor walks at Olana and virtual healthy cooking classes with The Sylvia Center! Read more.
When Ice Came from the River: Ice Harvesting in the Gilded Age, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburgh, NY
March 14: Join staff outdoors as they explore the local history of this once thriving industry through the Mills' country estate, Staatsburgh. More info.
Sunday Salon (WEBINAR)
March 14: Join Nancy Siegel to learn about 19th-century women American landscape artists in the context of nationalism, identity, and the natural environment. More details.
Forest Fragmentation, Landscape Change, and Ecosystem Resilience (WEBINAR)
March 18: Rachel Riemann, a Research Forester/Geographer with the US Forest Service, will take a close look at forest fragmentation, what it means for changes in the landscape, and how it affects the flora, fauna, and water quality. More details.
"Our Best Shots" Online Photo Gallery Opening (WEBINAR)
March 19: Join an online art opening featuring spectacular images photographed by members of the long-running Ulster County Photography Club. Learn more.
Drop-In Snowshoe Lessons, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Cragsmoor, NY
March 20: This is designed for people who are beginners, interested in trying snowshoeing as a new winter activity. Find out more.
Mrs. Livingston, I Presume? (WEBINAR)
March 21: Join the last matriarch of Clermont, Alice Delafield Clarkson Livingston (or at least someone who claims to be her) as she reminisces about her childhood, her daughters when they were young, and her time at Clermont. More details.
Winter Wellness Walks, Wilton Wildlife Preserve, Gansevoort, NY
March 22: Cover 1.5 miles of gentle terrain. If needed, snowshoes will be available for rental 30 minutes before the program. More info.
Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species: Best Practices for Adirondack Anglers (WEBINAR)
March 24: Protect the waters you love to fish and prepare for early season angling in the Adirondacks by understanding best practices to prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals. Find out more.
The George and Mary Tour, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Yonkers, NY
March 27: Join a guided tour to explore the narratives surrounding their relationship and lasting results that potentially altered two countries futures! Read more.
Full Moon Hike, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville, NY
March 28: Check out this opportunity to experience the Preserve after dark in the "Full Moon Hike" series. Learn more.
Ben Davy 2021 Jammal International Fellow Lecture (WEBINAR)
March 30: The 2021 Jammal International Lecture with Ben Davy, visiting professor of law at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), who will consider the disintegration of key values of urban governance: hope, generosity, self-restraint, justice, and simplicity. Read more.
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Heritage Spotlight: Hart-Cluett House
The Hart-Cluett House is an excellent example of a late Federal-style urban townhouse, built between 1825 and 1827 by New York City entrepreneur William Howard as a gift for his only daughter, Betsey, and her husband, banker Richard P. Hart. It features a marble facade and double portico entryway flanked by Tuscan columns and leaded-glass fanlights. The use of marble on the full facade is believed to be the first time this material was used in such a way on a residential building. The interior includes elaborate, hand-carved woodwork and ornate plaster ceiling medallions. The second and third owners of the house were the Cluetts, who had made their fortunes manufacturing linen shirt collars at a time when Troy was known as the “Collar City.” Also offered are historic walking tours, lectures, exhibit talks, and programming designed to tell the varied stories of the people of Rensselaer County. The Hart-Cluett House is now the home of the Rensselaer County Historical Society. Learn more.
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Project Spotlight: Village of Whitehall Comprehensive Plan
The Village of Whitehall received a Greenway Community Planning Grant to revise and update their 1969 Comprehensive Plan. The Village of Whitehall is located near the southern end of Lake Champlain on the border of the state of Vermont in Washington County. Whitehall is the birthplace of the United States Navy and was once a hub for textiles, mining, and transshipment, but changes in manufacturing and transportation have attributed to the steady decline in jobs, population, and investments into this unique waterfront community. With a revised and updated Comprehensive Plan that better meets the needs of the current community, the Village plans on addressing a set of focused issues and revitalization initiatives. For example, the Village is in need of replacing its aging water and sewage infrastructure. The Village also has a high volume of traffic on Routes 2 and 4 that could help bring new economic opportunities. Learn more about the Village of Whitehall.
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Try the EPA's Safer Choices Interactive Graphic
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hosts an interactive graphic on their website that allows users to find safer product choices. The graphic explores products for sports venues, schools, office buildings, and more. 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 Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) and applicants. Grants will typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. Grant program guidelines and applications are available on the HRVNHA'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 May 7, 2021 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 complimenting 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. Sponsorships 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 HRVNHA are eligible to apply. For more information, please contact Dan Jeanson at daniel.jeanson@hudsongreenway.ny.gov or 518-473-3835.
Hudson Estuary 'Trees for Tribs' Program
Anyone that owns or manages property near a stream in the Hudson River Estuary watershed (PDF) is eligible to apply for free native trees and shrubs. Early applications are encouraged, particularly for large sites (more than 60 plants) or when requesting specific plant species. Deadline: March 1, 2021. More info.
Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries
The American Library Association invites libraries in small and rural communities to apply for grant funding to help them address issues of concern in their communities. Up to 650 U.S. libraries in small and rural communities will receive $3,000 each to tackle issues ranging from media literacy to COVID-19 safety to unemployment. Grants will be awarded in two rounds in 2020 and 2021. Deadline: March 4, 2021. Learn more.
Park & Trail Partnership Grants
The program is administered jointly by Parks & Trails New York and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The program is designed to enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance, and promotion of New York State parks, trails, state historic sites, and public lands; increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, and volunteer and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, state historic sites, and public lands; and promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, greenways, and public lands. Deadline: March 11, 2021. Learn more.
Pomeroy Fund for NYS History
The Pomeroy Fund for NYS History is a partnership between the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and the Museum Association of New York. The Fund offers grant assistance to 501(c)(3) history-related organizations in New York State with budgets under $150,000. In Funds will be distributed for capital needs in individual grants not to exceed $5,000. Requests will be considered for technology equipment, facility maintenance equipment, furnishings, major material purchases, renovations, refurbishments, remodeling, and rehabilitation. Deadline: March 22, 2021. Find out more.
DHPSNY's Spring 2021 Planning & Assessment Services Round
This is the first application round of DHPSNY's second five-year iteration and includes important COVID-19 safety precautions. These services will only be offered virtually to ensure personal safety. Deadline: March 26, 2021. More details.
Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship
Named in honor of Dr. Tibor T. Polgar, a major participant in the early planning and development of the Foundation, this program provides a summer grant ($5,000 for each fellowship) and research funds (up to $1,500) for up to eight students (undergraduate and graduate) to conduct research on the Hudson River. Deadline: March 29, 2021. More info.
NYSDEC's Buffer in a Bag Program
The Buffer in a Bag program provides organizations and private landowners with free tree and shrub seedlings to help establish, or improve, a stream buffer on their property. Plantings alongside water bodies create wildlife habitats and improve water quality. Deadline: April 12, 2021. Find out more.
Preserve New York Grant
Preserve New York is a signature grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts and Preservation League of New York State, with additional support from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. Preserve New York provides support to identify, document, and preserve New York’s cultural and historic buildings, structures, and landscapes. Preserve New York makes grants for historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys. This program will not fund capital construction costs, only consulting reports. Deadline: April 12, 2021. Read more.
Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices
Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices is a national grant competition administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) for digitizing rare and unique content stewarded by collecting organizations in the US and Canada. Deadline: April 30, 2021. More details.
Center for Research on African American Children and Families RFP
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is considering soliciting applications for a Center for Research on African American Children and Families, to lead and support research on the needs of African American populations served by ACF and promising approaches to promoting social and economic well-being among low-income African American populations. Deadline: May 20, 2021. Learn more.
Two for the Trails Grant Program
Athletic Brewing Company (Non-Alcoholic Brews) is offering accepting applications to allocate $500,000 to projects or groups that share their mission. Most projects include activities such as hiking, climbing, biking, and skiing but are open to supporting all human powered activities. Applications are limited to 501(c) 3 organizations and must be shovel-ready. Eligible projects include trail construction, maintenance, and amenities. Deadline: May 31, 2021. Learn more.
Institutes for Historical Editing
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals for the training and education of historical documentary editors. The Institutes for Historical Editing must consist of both basic and advanced Institutes that seek to achieve specific goals. A grant is for one to three years and up to $275,000. Deadline: June 9, 2021. More info.
NHPRC-Mellon Start-Up Grants for Collaborative Digital Editions in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American History
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives supports projects that promote access to America's historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture. Grants are awarded to collaborative teams consisting of at least two scholar-editors, as well as one or more archivists, digital scholars, data curators, and/or other support and technical staff, as appropriate to fulfill the planning goals and early-implementation needs of the proposed edition. A grant is for up to two years and for up to $60,000 per year. Deadline: June 9, 2021. Learn more.
2021 NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant Program
Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations, museums, historical organizations, or other cultural institutions either incorporated in or registered to do business in New York State that own, care for, and exhibit collections to the public. More info.
Artist Emergency Fund (Columbia and Greene Counties Only)
CREATE Council on the Arts is facilitating an emergency fund for artists living in our region (Greene and Columbia County) who have been financially impacted by the Coronavirus and require immediate support. Grants of $50 will be administered to artists who have lost income due to the virus in order to supplement costs of basic necessities including groceries and rent. Find out more.
Food Waste Reduction and Diversion Reimbursement Program
The Food Waste Reduction and Diversion Reimbursement Program is an innovative partnership between New York State and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) focused on incentivizing the reduction of food waste in the state. The program provides reimbursement to New York State businesses, municipalities, or not-for-profits that generate, haul, or recycle large amounts of food waste to offset the cost of select technologies and equipment that promise to reduce or divert that food waste from landfill or incineration. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. More details.
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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