News That Matters » Arts on the Lake

News That Matters – Friday, May 27, 2011 – Things To Do Edition

Jeff Green — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:54:19 +0000

From: No Country For Sane Men
By: Jeff Green

Here’s what’s really happening: The fossil fuel companies gouge the shit out of you to earn massive profits and everyone, from them to the talking heads to the government blames some outside, unseen force to deflect responsibility away from the gougers. And when the government thinks they’ve earned enough and the high prices begin to have a negative effect on the overall economy they let the companies know by saying, “We’re going to investigate!” which is the signal to back off. [...] [Read More]

News That Matters – Friday, May 20, 2011 – Things To Do Edition

Jeff Green — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:05:31 +0000

Good Friday Morning,

There was a good editorial here but you’ll have to wait until later for it. Sorry.

Special Note:

If The Rapture(tm) should occur tomorrow (Saturday, May 21) at 6PM as predicted, I’m pretty sure that the editor of this newsletter and 99% of its readers will still be around for Monday’s edition.

Coming to Terms

The League of Women Voters and Chase Media hosted a forum on Term Limits last evening at the county courthouse that will be available on cable and online in a few days. It was a long evening but well worth watching.

During my initial three-minute foray into why I stand against term limit laws, I brought up the issues of Instant Runoff Voting, (here, here and here) campaign finance reform and the abandonment of voting for candidates for no other reason than that they are from your political party, believing these to be permanent solutions to the problem, where term limit laws do nothing to fix a broken system. During the rest of the evening the discussion moved solidly into campaign finance reform and stayed there telling me that people reached out for term limits because they feel powerless to change the system.

See, *we* created the system and so we have to take responsibility to fix it, not maintain it, as term limits would do.

During one non-germane discussion regarding consolidation of state/county and town services, Assemblyman Steve Katz mentioned that New York was only one of three states that still had county government and that 47 states did not. When the audience and panel thought that odd, he replied by restating his position.

Well, I’ve been doing a little research on that and the answer is what we thought last night: he’s wrong. Really wrong. So far I’ve been able to ID three states that do not have county government as we know it: Connecticut, Vermont and Louisiana, with the latter being an odd mix of municipal government at the parish (or county) level with some having extensive governments and services while the others maintain nothing more than a central courthouse to administer southern justice.

Vermont maintains “Shires” (counties) that, like Louisiana, are mainly in place for judicial (crime and courts) reasons but Vermont’s shires also have small executive powers such as appointing highway commissioners with other powers mostly concentrated at the state level and are used to delineate state representative districts as well.

The question now arises, if the legislator is so vastly wrong on something this basic and simple, what else is he wrong about?

So the firebrand tea bagger from the 99th Assembly district is running around Albany trying to pass legislation on important issues with his core belief systems deeply flawed. I give the guy one term and so for that district, at least, term limits are not going to be necessary.

Bearing wIth The DEC

The NYSDEC is proposing to open almost all of Putnam County for bear hunting claiming that it will keep bears under control and minimize human-bear interaction, as if that’s a real problem here where the country begins. Personally, I’d call the DEC and tell them that we don’t have a bear problem, that we like our occasional visiting Yogi’s and Booboo’s and that they might, perhaps, keep Putnam free of even more guys with guns. On the other hand, if the DEC were to institute a hunting season for politicians that could be a viable alternative for term limits laws.

Burning Up With Burnwell

After a little phone call to Burnwell yesterday afternoon they brought the price of their delivered 46.2 gallons of propane down from $8.599 a gallon ($408.10)to $4.999 a gallon ($241.37), saying that was fair. Based on the evidence collected from you, dear readers, to what you are paying with other companies, it is. But there’s still a note to the Attorney General’s office regarding price gouging on Burnwell/Inergey’s part (thanks, Bill), that should set some fires alight. I have to wonder how many customers simply pay the bill…

The Take Away wants to know how rising gas prices have changed your behavior.

Are you walking and cycling more? Have you changed your summer vacation plans? If so you can share how record gas prices have affected your life with this Google Map.

By completing a short form you can add how gas prices have affected your habits to the map. You can also add the price of gas in your area. Browsing the submitted reports on the map will also give you some handy hints on how you can cut down on your gas usage.

Visit this website to participate.

Reductions

The Real Estate website Trulia has an interesting google-based map up that records the chance of a price-reduction in the cost of homes for sale.

For example, in the Mahopac area (by post office) the average listing is between $450k – $500k. If the property hasn’t sold in 66 days, on average, the seller will reduce the price by about 5%. If it still doesn’t move there’s a 37% chance the price will be reduced again.

Check it out for yourself!

The Electric Dollar

By Zacharius Charles Gerstein

Amid the squalor and dust:
In order to settle the debts and fill the obligations
We budding agoraphobes trade virtual currency
On the metropolitan exchange of exurban transplantation.
This is the new parameter against which we measure our lives;
The boggy infrastructure through which we swim.
Percentages and exponents work their algebraic magic
And we are assured by those with the Knowledge
That we have achieved the American Dream.
We have gone from the lunar year to the solar year to the fiscal year
And our billfolds have emptied in favor of red-blue-green figures,
But the wise and courageous know that happiness
Cannot be measured by statistics.

You can read more of Zach’s works here.

NY/NJTC Hike of the Week:

Fishkill Ridge Conservation Area from Pocket Road

Overview: A pleasant, yet sometimes steep trail along a pretty creek to multi-tiered waterfalls, leads to Fishkill Ridge as it offers multiple dramatic views of the Hudson Valley and beyond.

Details Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Length: 6.8 miles

There is room for about 6 cars, 3 per gravel pullout on either side, at the dead end of Pocket Road. Three white discs mark the beginning of the white-blazed Fishkill Ridge Trail just before the barrier with the conflicting NO TRESPASSING sign. According to the City of Beacon website, hikers are allowed to enter so go ahead and proceed beyond the barrier to start the hike. The water tower will be on your left. Continue on the paved road as it turns to gravel, crosses a power cut then skirts by a small reservoir on the left. Entering the woods, the trail becomes rockier and follows to the right of Dry Creek. This area is called Hemlock Gorge but there is an obvious absence of hemlocks. Some remnants litter the forest floor and there are a few very sickly upright specimens at the higher end of Dry Creek, probably in the last stages of succumbing to woolly adelgid infestation, a tragic killer of the once majestic hemlocks. As the trail ascends more steeply, you just might find yourself focusing your attention on the beautiful creek and waterfalls rather than the uphill climb.

Ongoing

Mohonk Preserve and Birds & Beans Bird Friendly Coffee Announce Partnership. The Preserve now sells organic, shade grown, Smithsonian Bird Friendly Certified coffee at our Visitor Center. Make a difference every morning, choose Birds & Beans Coffee to save bird habitat locally and globally. Learn more at www.mohonkpreserve.org or www.birdsandbeans.com

This Weekend

Saturday, May 21

Putnam County Hazardous Waste Collection

9 AM – 1PM – Time to get rid of all that stuff under your kitchen sink and the bottles in the garage you can no longer identify. The county says they’ll take drain cleaners and solvents and thinners and herbicides and phot chemicals and your old chemistry kit. What they won’t take is latex paint, car batteries, used motor oil (bring that to any service garage where the smart ones strain it and use it in their oil burners) nor old computers and the like.

As usual, you have to register with the county at 845 808-1390 x43150

Canopus Beach Parking Lot
Route 301 in Kent

Finding Opportunity in the Climate Crisis

9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. FINDING OPPORTUNITY IN CLIMATE CRISIS: AN INTERMUNICIPAL WORKSHOP ON CLIMATE JUSTICE. At Beacon Institute Center for Environmental Innovation and Education, Denning’s Point, Beacon. Speakers include: Cecil Mark-Corbin, Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiative for WEACT, Andy Revkin, journalist and author of Dot Earth Blog for NY Times; Sacha Spector, Director of Conservation Science at Scenic Hudson, Mayor Mary Foster, Peekskill Climate Smart Community and NWEAC, and Kristin Marcell, NYS DEC. Free. Pre-registration required; seating limited. If you are from Kingston, Beacon, Poughkeepsie and Peekskill (grant funded project for these 4 cities) please register here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/ClimateJustice. Others welcome, if space allows; please contact Karla@clearwater.org to get on waiting list. 845-265-8080 x 7159.

Kids Exploration and Nature Walk with Orange County Land Trust

10 AM – Led by noted naturalist Gary Keeton, this walk winds along The Tadpole Trail, the Land Trust’s outdoor education trail for children, and throughout this 60-acre nature preserve. The preserve has an abundance of wildlife and two ponds that are home to beaver, blue and green herons, wood ducks, turtles, frogs and dragonflies. Numerous species of birds are found here, as well over 28 documented species of butterfly- one of the largest concentrations of butterfly in the eastern United States! Registration is not required but is appreciated by calling (845) 343-0840, x12 or e-mailing info@oclt.org.

A suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is greatly appreciated with all proceeds going towards the future stewardship of OCLT nature preserves. Directions to Hunter Farm Preserve can be found at http://www.oclt.org/mhunter.htm or by calling the Land Trust at (845) 343-0840, x12. Cancellation information will be recorded the morning of the hike at (845) 343-0840, x12. Location: Hunter Farm Preserve in Slate Hill

Arts on the Lake Spring Art Exhibit

1 PM – Opening Reception – Over two hundred new works by forty artists will be on display in the 5th Annual Spring Art Exhibit, which opens this weekend. The Opening Reception on Saturday, 1-5 pm, will include an Art Book Sale by the Friends of the Kent Library, music by Pallas Athene, Lindsay Hogan and Catherine Sischberg and refreshments organized by Rita Longabucco. (If you wish to add something, email longabucco.rita@gmail.com.)

This biggest, best and most exciting exhibit continues Sunday, and next weekend, Saturday through Monday, 1-5 each day.The featured artists include: Larry Alfano, Wendy Alvarez, Turizzo Anaya, Pallas Athene, Patricia Bolgosano, Taras Borovyk, Lesia Prokopiv Borovik, Keith Brooks, Margaret Brooks, Chris Casaburi, Michelina Compton, George Davison, Eric Ficinus, Toni Flynn, Pal Gyomai, Eleanor Haggerty, Kathleen Hoekstra, Michael Keropian, Deborah Lecce, Don Longabucco, Joan Maliniak, James McGuire, James Muleva, Jerry Michalak, Sharon Nakazato, Amanda O’Shaughnessy, Katherine Pacchiana, Ekaterina Piskareva, Lisa Pitt, Joseph Pizzuti, Michael Rossi, Rena Scelia, Mary Schreiber, Greg Solanto, Gerald Spette, Kimberley Standerwick, Matt Tannenbaum, Carina Tautu, Bill Ullman, Jamie Vogel, and Roy Volpe. at Lake Carmel Cultural Center | 640 Route 52 | Kent Lakes, NY

Bert Rechtschaffer Jazz Trio

9PM – Bert Rechtschaffer on Keyboard, Jeff Whalen on Sax, Lew Scott on Bass. Music from the Great American Songbook and Jazz Standards at the Chill Wine Bar 173 Main Street Beacon, New York

Sunday, May 22

FrOGS Great Swamp Canoe Trips

Each year Friends of the Great Swamp leads canoe trips on the East Branch Croton River into one of the largest wetlands in New York State. Join us on one of these enjoyable adventures into the Great swamp and experience this beautiful and valuable resource for yourself. As we enter this magical wilderness we will explore the biodiversity and learn more about the values of this nationally significant wetland. The Swamp provides critical habitat for aquatic species as well as for migrating and breeding birds. We have seen Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Prothonotary Warblers and Common yellowthroats as well as Wood Duck, Mallards and many, many more. There are Turtles, Dragonflies, some fantastic plants and possibly catch a glimpse of a mink or a muskrat.Explore the Swamp with FrOGS. Meet us at the Green Chimney’s Beach on Doansburg Road (formerly Putnam Lake Road) of Rte 22. FrOGS members will guide each trip and point out the birds and plants as we canoe.

All levels of paddlers are welcome. We will provide canoes, paddles, Life jackets (bring your won if you wish) and a licensed Lifeguard. We suggest you bring bottled water, sunglasses and layered clothing to accommodate temperature changes. We will canoe rain or shine. In extreme conditions, we ask that you call for cancellation and rescheduling information.

Reservations are a must and space is limited so get your reservations early! For information and reservations contact:

Laurie Wallace at (845-279-8858) or Laurwally@aol.com subject: Canoe Trip

$25.00 Adult Member, $12.00 Child (6 to 14 years)
$29.00 Adult Non-member, $16.00 Child (6 to 14 years)

Michelle LeBlanc Jazz

2PM – Here’s another chance to catch Michelle’s exciting award winning show, “1950′s JAZZ: Bop, Cool, R&B.” Michelle will be playing with her top shelf trio: the talented arranger Tom Kohl on piano, Bill Conway on bass and the world touring sax player, Ed Xiques. Sponsors for this show include these Putnam County jazz lovers: Feehan Insurance Agency, Trebb Records and Desmond Fish Library. Suggested donation for this concert is $10. At the Desmond Fish Library, Route 403 & 9D in Garrison, NY Contact: 845-424-3020 or http://dfl.highlands.com

Can You Identify a Tree?

2PM – 4PM – Calling all youngsters in Grades 2 to 5 and their parents. Join us on Sunday, May 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. for a program entitled Can You ID a Tree? Enjoy a walk around Stony Kill and learn about all the different kind of trees at Stony Kill and how to ID them. Come see our tree cookie and learn how to tell how old a tree is. Dress appropriately, wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Reservations are required by calling us (845) 831-1617 or emailing us at foundation@stonykill.org

Into The Future

Wednesday, May 25

Hudson Valley Science Cafe – Cancer Prevention

7PM – Topic: Cancer preventive effects of Celebrex and the possible risk of cardiovascular side effects. Presenter: Bhagavathi Naryananan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Medicine, NYU Langone School of Medicine

A Science Cafe is a monthly gathering in a Cafe, Pub or Restaurant, open to the public, with a short presentation of a topic followed by discussion. The essence of a Science Cafe is informality, with groups seated around tables with food and drink to encourage conversation. Hudson Valley Science Café usually meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month, except where noted. Website: http://www.cafescientifique.org/hudsonvalley.htm

Meeting site: Diana’s, 1015 Little Britain Road (Route 207), New Windsor (just east of Stewart Newburgh Airport, on the opposite side of the road from the airport entrance). See http://www.DIANASNY.com for menus and map. $3.00 admission fee includes coffee or tea. If you arrive at 6 PM, you can order from the Early Bird menu. No orders are taken during the Presentation (7:00-7:30).

Thursday, May 26

How Six Putnam County School Districts Can Become One

6:30PM – Featured speakers, including NY Assembly representatives Sandy Galef and Steve Katz, will provide a legislative perspective on the consolidation of the six existing School Districts of Putnam County into one countywide School District…a feat never before attempted in the state of New York.

Ms. Deborah Cunningham of the NY State Education Department (NYSED) will participate by lending her expertise on consolidation or centralizing and prior to May 26 we will confirm additional panelists.

At the Mahopac Public Library. Write to Jim Kirk for more information: jdkjjk@gmail.com

Friday, May 27

Uncommon Ground with guest Tim & Sylvia

8:30PM at the Towne Crier, Route 22 in Pawling. Uncommon Ground is a hot, pan-genre, acoustic music group from New York’s Hudson Valley that is on a mission: to flex the boundaries of traditional music. Since making an impressive debut to a full house at the Towne Crier in 2007, they have continued their evolution into “the complete package” … great vocals, fiery instrumental abilities and a continually evolving repertoire of well-crafted tunes. Their music bears an unmistakable stamp of originality without losing the authenticity of the original sources. Audiences delight in the thrill of musical discovery as the band performs a repertoire that includes music from such diverse sources as Bill Monroe, Gabriel Faure, Venezuelan Choros and Gypsy Jazz. Uncommon Ground draws on the talents of Mike Kobetitsch, and Wayne Fugate, both long-time veterans of the Bluegrass scene who have performed with Grammy award winner, Lisa Gutkin and a host of other noteworthies; the ever amazing Rachel Han! dman and Phil Helm, two principles in the Hudson Valley Philharmonic whose technical precision, fertile inventiveness, surprising touches and mastery of the Bluegrass genre give the band a distinctive, signature voice; and Craig Bitterman, whose percussion lays down a groove-infused rhythmic foundation that adds colors and textures that make their tunes really snap. : artist’s home. $17.50 advance/ $22.50 door

Saturday, May 28

Giant Book Sale at the Kent Public Library

Take-A-Hike! Season Begins With The Birds of Foundry Preserve

8:30 to 10:30am – Join Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary Director Eric Lind for this birding hike in Foundry Preserve in Cold Spring. An accomplished wildlife photographer, Eric is just the person you want along to share his knowledge as you walk from the village to view a wide variety of species. Don’t forget your binoculars!

“We’re excited to kick off this season with Eric’s hike. Learning to identify birds by sight and sound is a great way to get back into the outdoors,” says Outreach Director MJ Martin. “And we’re grateful to all our volunteers who help lead the excursions for us; without them, this popular program would not be possible.”

A total of eight hikes have been scheduled for the season, with selections ranging from a tot-friendly musical jaunt to a more challenging trek up Breakneck Ridge. Check your mailboxes for the complete schedule.

All Take-A-Hike! programs are free, but registration is required. Contact the HHLT office at 845/424-3358 or info@hhlt.org to make sure you’re on the Take-A-Hike! mailing list.

Pow Wow on the Hudson

11 AM – 6 PM. POWWOW ON THE HUDSON: Native American Indian drumming, dancing, food vendors, craft vendors, lectures and songs by Evan Pritchard (plus book signing), Salinas Family “Azteca Dancers”, Joseph Fire Crow and Birds Of Prey. Learn sustainability from a 10,000 year old perspective. Bowdoin Park, 85 Sheafe Rd., Wappinger Falls. Tony Moonhawk (917) 415-5139. moonhawktitw@msn.com – Runs through Monday.

June

Friday, June 3

Hike Huckleberry Ridge State Forest

On Friday, June 3, 2011, representatives of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and the Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will meet at the trailhead for the Minisink Trail on Route 6 in Greenville to mark expansion of recreational trail opportunities in the region and the transfer to the state of 389 acres on the Shawangunk Ridge. The land is to be added to Huckleberry Ridge State Forest in Orange County. Following the 10am press event, take a hike on the Minisink and Lenape Ridge Trails in the company of experienced Trail Conference volunteers. (Directions to trailhead are here.) Click here to let us know you plan to come.

Background: Just a decade ago, no state forest land existed on the Shawangunk Ridge in Orange County. With this transfer, Huckleberry Ridge State Forest now comprises nearly 1500 acres.

The Trail Conference was instrumental in creating this state forest, working closely with the Trust for Public Land and DEC on the first 527-acre acquisition nearly a decade ago. The Trail Conference subsequently purchased an additional 980 acres in this region using funds from its Land Acquisition and Stewardship Fund (LASF). With this transfer, 958 of those acres will have been transferred to New York State, nearly tripling the size of the Huckleberry Ridge State Forest.

Sheilah Rechtschaffer Green in Vietnam

6PM – 8PM Paintings and Pastels. Opening reception: BRC Gallery at the Bean Runner Cafe 201 South Division Street Peekskill, NY 10566 www.beanrunnercafe.com Exhibition dates: May 30 to July 24, 2011

Michelle LeBlanc Jazz Duo

7PM: Michelle LeBlanc with Tom Kohl on piano at the The Division Street Grill, 26 North Division Street, Peekskill NY 10566. Call for dinner reservations: 914 739 6380 www.DivisionStreetGrill.com Join us for an evening in my favorite small city at the jazz club that sparked the Peekskill jazz renaissance.

Saturday, June 4 – National Trails Day

NY/NJ Trails Conference Annual Meeting

Bear Mountain State Park: On June 4, the Trail Conference will open a wheelchair accessible section of the Appalachian Trail on the summit of Bear Mountain. For the past year, Trail Conference volunteers have been hard at work building this ADA-compliant segment of this historic and nationally celebrated long-distance trail. The trail will allow wheelchair users to enter the woods and view the Hudson River and Valley from one of the region’s most scenic spots.At 10:30 AM, we will open and dedicate the trail. Later in the day, the Trail Conference will have its Summer Meeting on the lawn below Bear Mountain. There will be food and music by the acclaimed urban bluegrass group, Two Dollar Goat.

The event is co-sponsored by Disney/ABC and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places. Members of the Disney team will be on hand to help.

What’s Happening When

8:00: Departure of early hike to summit of Bear Mountain from Fort Montgomery Historic Site (co-sponsored by Mid-Hudson ADK)

10:00: Morning refreshments at Trailhead of the ADA-compliant segment of the Appalachian Trail at summit of Bear Mountain

10:30: Opening ceremony and Dedication

10:45: Hike or drive down to Lawn (Options from easy to strenuous available)

12:00-varied: Lunch on the Lawn with Music by Two Dollar Goat.
Hikers arrive from a variety of trails, eat, enjoy music.

Rain or shine under tent!

1:30 (estimated): Meeting

All programs are free! Lunch: $15 donation. RSVP for lunch by sending a check or going to our donation page. Please indicate your RSVP in the comment box.

Questions, comments, or phone reservations, contact Joanne Reinhardt at jreinhardt@nynjtc.org or x26 at the office

FrOGS Great Swamp Canoe Trips

Each year Friends of the Great Swamp leads canoe trips on the East Branch Croton River into one of the largest wetlands in New York State. Join us on one of these enjoyable adventures into the Great swamp and experience this beautiful and valuable resource for yourself. As we enter this magical wilderness we will explore the biodiversity and learn more about the values of this nationally significant wetland. The Swamp provides critical habitat for aquatic species as well as for migrating and breeding birds. We have seen Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Prothonotary Warblers and Common yellowthroats as well as Wood Duck, Mallards and many, many more. There are Turtles, Dragonflies, some fantastic plants and possibly catch a glimpse of a mink or a muskrat.Explore the Swamp with FrOGS. Meet us at the Green Chimney’s Beach on Doansburg Road (formerly Putnam Lake Road) of Rte 22. FrOGS members will guide each trip and point out the birds and plants as we canoe.

All levels of paddlers are welcome. We will provide canoes, paddles, Life jackets (bring your won if you wish) and a licensed Lifeguard. We suggest you bring bottled water, sunglasses and layered clothing to accommodate temperature changes. We will canoe rain or shine. In extreme conditions, we ask that you call for cancellation and rescheduling information.

Reservations are a must and space is limited so get your reservations early! For information and reservations contact:

Laurie Wallace at (845-279-8858) or Laurwally@aol.com subject: Canoe Trip

$25.00 Adult Member, $12.00 Child (6 to 14 years)
$29.00 Adult Non-member, $16.00 Child (6 to 14 years)

Rain Barrel Building Workshop

10AM – Fishkill Town Hall. Sponsored by the Dutchess Watershed and Cornell Cooperative Extension Services.

Although we don’t often think about it, storm water can play an enormous part in the condition of our rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. When it rains, this water is usually channeled into storm drains to be taken to the closest body of water. As storm water travels across the grounds’ surface as runoff, it can pick up different types of pollutants, washing them into our water bodies. You can help! Rain barrels are a great option to better manage excess storm water from your roof. The water is captured before it picks up pollutants, and it is safe to use for watering plants. A rain barrel can save gardeners up to 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months!

This workshop will help you learn to better manage storm water AND will help you build your own 55 gallon rain barrel to take home. Cost: $45 per person, includes cost of rain barrel. To Register: contact Angela Sullivan, 677-8223 x 114

Orange County Earth and Water Festival

11AM – 5PM- The OCWA is pleased to announce that the 4th Annual Earth and Water Festival will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery, NY. This unique festival is family-friendly, intimate, educational and of course, lots of fun! Stay an hour or stay all day. Bring a blanket, the kids and even your dog and enjoy the fresh air, listen to live music and entertaining performances by highly talented local musicians and peformers. Visit the Green Expo area at the festival and learn from many local vendors how they are making a difference by being “green” or what sustainable goods and services they provide. Buy fresh homemade bread, baked goods, produce and plants in the Farmers Market. Let the kids run wild in the Children’s Activity tent (big festival favorite).

Live performances this year are diverse, colorful, creative, fun and always entertaining. Returning this year by popular demand are:

Arm-of-the-Sea Theater: Performing “To Fuel the Fire”, a free-wheeling allegory about the ecological costs of energy. This tragic comedy features primordial masks and kinetic puppet figures, vivid paintings, whimsical props and live music. Their performances are award-winning and are a must see! You know it’s good when a festival full of people stop to watch and listen. Click here to visit their website http://www.armofthesea.org/

Maxwell Kofi Donkor and the Sankofa Drum and Dance Ensamble: Their african drumming and dancing is interactive, makes your feet tap and people dance, and puts a smile on everyone’s face. Click here to visit their website http://www.bak2roots.com/

“iS”coustic: This unusual, three piece jam band delivers live performances to electrify audiences. The bands name, which loosely means “the present tense” emphasizes their improvisational nature. They offer a unique experience that includes original diverse, memorable songs and exceptional musicianship. Click here to visit their website http://whatitis.biz/

Snakeman’s Snake Show: Their performance will teach the audience about the environment and how snakes provide their part for the balance of nature. Their show is both interactive and hands-on with real live snakes, which will educate as well as entertain you. They will be at the festival all day and will do a special performance on the stage for everyone to enjoy! Click here to visit their website http://www.jerrythesnakeman.com/

New to the stage this year are Half Jester and Little Sparrow. These bands will delight and keep audiences moving. More details and the full performance schedule for follow soon.

More information is here.

Sunday, June 5

Michelle LeBlanc Trio: The American Songbook

2:30PM – 4PM Featuring Tom Kohl on piano and Bill Crow on bass. This free concert is open to the public. Ann Marie Parish, Event Coordinator for the Plaza has attended our concerts at Arts on the Lake in Kent NY and loves our sound We were glad to get her call, inviting us to perform for Plaza residents and the public. We will set up on their lovely patio overlooking the grounds. If rain is forecasted, we’ll move inside. Join us for a lovely afternoon. The Plaza at Clover Lake, 838 Fair Street, Carmel NY 10512 Call 845-878-4111 for more information.

Tuesday, June 7

Distinguished Environmental Achievement Award Ceremony

5:30PM – 8 PM – Mohonk Consultations, Inc Presents Laura Heady with its Distinguished Environmental Achievement Award As the 2011 winner of Mohonk Consultations’ Environmental Award, Laura is a true campaigner for biodiversity in our neck of the woods. She served last year as the keynote speaker at our Forum on Biodiversity. Since 2006, Laura has been Biodiversity Outreach Coordinator for the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with Cornell University. She helps municipal and regional partners to integrate biodiversity and habitat protection into conservation plans, smart growth strategies, environmental planning and preservation.

Reservations are required for each of our events. Call 845-256-2726 to reserve and/ or to ask for an invitation to the Award Ceremony. If you would like to be placed on our mailing list, please call 845-256-2726 or email mohonkconsultations@hvi.net Location: Mohonk Mountain House

Friday, June 10

The Environmental Footprint of Marcellus Shale Gas

7PM – New natural gas extraction technology has led to an increase in the exploration of organic-rich shale in the United States. In New York State, the Marcellus Shale formation has captured the public’s attention. Will gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale be a boon, providing cleaner domestic energy, or a bust, contaminating our air and water resources? Find out answers from Duke University’s Rob Jackson. His research captures the latest science on the impacts of shale-gas extraction and fracking.
Location: Cary Institute’s auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook, New York.

Six New One-Act Plays

8PM – Six new one-act plays from Tony Howarth’s Playwright’s Workshop. Plays by Pat O’Connor, Gabby Fox and Carol Mark, directed by Tony Howarth. At the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel, Route 52 just south of the Route 311 Causeway.

Tannahill Weavers

8:30PM – The legendary Tannahill Weavers, one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands, play a diverse repertoire that spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians consistently garner worldwide accolades for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can’t get better …yet continue to do just that. “An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new.” -New York Times; “Scotland’s Tannahill Weavers play acoustic instruments, but the atmosphere at their shows is electric! The quintet is as tight and as versatile as any band in the Celtic music revival. They can summon rock ‘n’ roll intensity or haunting introspection.” -The Boston Globe; “…as close to perfect as it gets in an imperfect world.” -Sing Out! At the Towne Crier Cafe – $30 advance/ $35 door

Saturday, June 11

7th Annual Family Festival and Sleep Over Under the Stars

With over 400 attendees and all campsites filled, last year’s event was our most successful ever. Reserve early to make sure you and your family can join the fun this year!

Where:
The Claudio Marzollo Community Center of Philipstown (aka Philipstown Recreation Center)
107 Glenclyffe Drive, Garrison, NY

Good Food:
Burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, potato salad, cole slaw, fresh organic green salad (with lettuce from Second Wind CSA), hummus and pita, watermelon, lemonade, iced tea, water.

Campout breakfast will include juice, coffee, tea, bagels and spreads, cereals, fruit and yogurt.

Good Music:
Rollicking bluegrass band NoBrakes . . . and a mish mash of Philipstown’s finest campout musicians leading the sing-along at the Sleep Over Under the Stars!

Good Fun:
Lots of fun outdoor activities including soccer, hula hooping with Judy, a wildlife presentation, and giant bubbles, as well as a raffle with great prizes.

Individual Barbecue: $10 ($15 at door)
Family Barbecue: $25 ($30 at door)

Campout: $50 (Includes festival/BBQ admission and breakfast. Pre-registration is required. Just fill out and send in the form.)

To purchase tickets, visit the HHLT office, email info@hhlt.org, or call 845/424-3358. Proceeds from the Family Festival benefit the Garrison and Haldane environmental education programs.

Be Part of the Team
Meet your neighbors and make new friends when you volunteer. We are looking for people to help with parking, food prep, or the raffle booth. Call us at 845/424-3358 or email info@hhlt.org to let us know your availablity and interests.

Six New One-Act Plays

8PM – Six new one-act plays from Tony Howarth’s Playwright’s Workshop. Plays by Pat O’Connor, Gabby Fox and Carol Mark, directed by Tony Howarth. At the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel, Route 52 just south of the Route 311 Causeway.

Saturday, June 18

Clearwater Revival

Croton Point Park – Pete Seeger star Drive-By Truckers star Martin Sexton star Indigo Girls, Arlo Guthrie star Josh Ritter star Jorma Kaukonen star Peter Yarrow, John Sebastian star Janis Ian star The Low Anthem, Red Horse (Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka & Eliza Gilkyson) star The Klezmatics, Toubab Krewe star Justin Townes Earle star Chris, Smither star Joanne Shenandoah, Tom Chapin star Bernice Johnson Reagon star Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell, James McMurtry | Jay Ungar & Molly Mason | Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, Tao Seeger Band | Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely | Mike & Ruthy | Sarah Lee & Johnny, Bethany & Rufus’ Roots Quartet | Clayfoot Strutters | Zlatne Uste | Joe Purdy, The Nields | The Kennedys | Jen Chapin | K.J. Denhert | Zon del Barrio, Vanaver Caravan| Buskin & Batteau | Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Brooklyn Qawwali Party | Joe D’urso | Joel Plaskett, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater star The Power of Song star The Rivertown Kids, Mustard’s Retreat star Magpie star Roger the Jester star Dog on Fleas, Walkabout Clearwater Chorus star Paul Richmond star The Storycrafters, Rick Nestler star Donna Nestler star Travis Jeffrey star Margo Thunderbird, Marva Clark star Linda Richards star Eshu Bumpus star Dan Einbender, Dirty Stay Out Skifflers star Geoff Kaufman star Sarah Underhill star Peninnah Schram, Kay Olan/Ionataiewas star Mel & Vinnie star Karen Pillsworth star Gregorio Pedroza , Allan Aunapu star Jan Christensen star The New York Packet star Matt Turk star Hope Machine

“July Moon” A documentary by Karen Person

7:30PM – A screening & discussion with the Director/Producer/Filmmaker – Karen Person presented by The Schoolhouse and the Putnam Arts Council. Join us as we return to 1969 with Buzz Aldrin as he unfolds the story of Apollo 11 landing on the Moon and provides insight and context to this historic event. The film reflects the space program of that era, its triumphs and tragedies, and documents the culmination of an young, optimistic President’s promise. Film to be screened in the Schoolhouse Theater – 3 Owens Rd., Croton Falls, NY Tickets $10 which includes light refreshments. Reservations recommended – 914.277.8477(Schoolhouse) or 845.803.8622 (PAC).

Saturday, June 25

Beacon Riverfest

Following the rousing success of its illustrious debut last year, where attendance was estimated at 2,500 people, Local 845 will present the second annual BEACON RIVERFEST, a free day-long outdoor music festival held in the city’s Riverfront Park, on Saturday, June 25.

Five bands will headline on one center stage: 11-piece steampunk mambo band, GATO LOCO; one-name moniker and roots collective, MILTON; JACK GRACE BAND, featuring the Broken Mariachi Horns; Hip Hop-Spoken Word project, READNEX POETRY SQUAD; and THE TAO SEEGER BAND.

BEACON RIVERFEST is free and open to the public. Rain location is University Settlement.

BEACON RIVERFEST is growing in its second year with new stuff:

ART GUITARS
In May, lookout for “Beacon Riverfest Art Guitars,” a citywide public display of more than 40 wood guitars each painted by a different local artist. On June 18, beginning at 6PM, a week before Beacon Riverfest (June 25), the guitars will be on auction at the Marion Royael Gallery, 460 Main Street in Beacon. Proceeds from the auction will be split evenly between the artists and Beacon Riverfest.

ROCK BAND BOOT CAMP
In partnership with Beacon’s Department of Recreation, Local 845 offers “Rock Band Boot Camp,” a fun and inspiring workshop where students learn how to work together and play as a rock band. Sessions are offered to teens and adults year round. Playing in Local 845′s Boot Camp energizes and inspires students of all ages. The Spring 2011 session for teens (April 27-June 15) will culminate in a live performance at Beacon Riverfest, where students will share center stage with headlining acts.

Local 845 presents a rich variety of original rock, folk, jazz and contemporary musical artists year-round at a variety of hospitable venues, including Beacon’s historical Howland Cultural Center and more non-traditional locales such as Open Space Gallery, University Settlement Camp and Spire Studios. In addition to launching Beacon Riverfest in 2010, Local 845 also produced “Pete Seeger If I Had A Hammer: Concert For a House,” a benefit for Habitat for Humanity presented at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, New York. In August 2011, Local 845 will present “Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park Summer Concert Series,” four weekly free concerts in Beacon’s newly renovated Long Dock Park, and its “In The Pines” concerts will expand this year to become a spring and summer series at Beacon’s University Settlement Camp.

Sloan Wainwright Band

8:30PM – Folk-pop artist Sloan Wainwright belongs to a musical dynasty of impossibly gifted singer-songwriters. Her family tree (brother and folk-music luminary Loudon Wainwright, sister-in-law Kate McGarrigle, nephew Rufus Wainwright, nieces Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche) reads like a who’s who of contemporary folk music. Sloan’s incredible gift is not only her unique songwriting ability but her dramatically voiced rendition of her original songs. “She’s folk-influenced, obviously (you can’t grow up in the First Family of Folk and not be, one imagines), but the real star here is her voice. Warm and smoky and smooth, it makes her earthy, ominous lyrics seem all the more intense.” Defying standard categorization, singer/songwriter Sloan Wainwright consistently demonstrates her easy command of a variety of American musical styles –pop, folk, jazz and blues– held together by the melodious tone of her rich contralto. The end result, a un! ique and soulful hybrid. “A lot of singer-songwriters are whitebread. Sloan is whole grain.” -WFMT Radio, Rich Warren; “…Sloan Wainwright, whose regal voice could fell a redwood.” -The Boston Globe; “…earth mother voice that she pours into unexpectedly sensitive blends of folk, jazz, blues and funk.” -The New York Times $25 advance/ $30 door At the Towne Crier Cafe

July

Thursday, July 7

Wappinger Creek Walk

5PM – In celebration of Creek Week and Dutchess County Watershed Awareness Month the Cary Institute and Cornell Cooperative Extension will host an interpretive hike along the Wappinger Creek Trail. This family friendly event will engage children and adults in hands-on activities. Participants will sample macro-invertebrates and learn about water quality issues. Wear sturdy waterproof shoes and bring your camera and drinking water. To RSVP please visit http://carywappingercreekwalk.eventbrite.com/?ref=ebtn. Location: Cary East (Gifford House) parking area, located at 2917 Sharon Turnpike (Rte. 44) in Millbrook, N.Y.

Saturday, July 9

Long Dock Park Celebration

1PM – 6PM – Help us celebrate the opening of this new and improved Hudson Riverfront park in high style. Take to the water on a free kayak paddle, try out a new bike on the Klara Sauer Trail, join a guided tour of exciting park features, including Scenic Hudson’s River Center, our new venue for arts and environmental activities. If that’s not enough, you can test your mettle at hula-hooping and enjoy a great lineup of live performers—all while admiring magnificent Hudson River vistas.

LIVE PERFORMANCES by:
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater
Uncle Rock
We Must Be
The Big Takeover

Event Location: Long Dock Rd. Beacon, NY 12508 – On the river side of the Beacon Train Station.

Friday, July 15

Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming

7PM – Climatologist Dr. Michael Mann will review the evidence for human influence on the climate, including measurements available for the past two centuries and paleoclimate observations spanning more than a millennium. He will also address how climate change will influence the world we live in, from sea level rise and severe weather to changes in the water supply. His lecture will conclude with a frank discussion about possible solutions to the climate change. A key contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, Dr. Mann is author of more than 130 peer-reviewed and edited publications, and recently co-authored the book “Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming” with colleague Lee Kump. He is also a co-founder and avid contributor to the award-winning science website www.realclimate.org. Location: Cary Institute’s auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook, New York.

July 21 – 24

Gathering of the Vibes

Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT – Gathering of the Vibes, the Northeast’s acclaimed music festival destination, will “bring the magic” once again with a 4-day extravaganza of eclectic music, arts and community, July 21-24, 2011 at Connecticut’s magnificent Seaside Park. The rumor mill is swirling with artist announcements around the corner. Gathering of the Vibes promises its most spectacular and diverse lineup to date, delivering over 40 hours of music on multiple stages. Powerhouse Vibes alumni include: The Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Furthur with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, James Brown, The Black Crowes, and Damian Marley and Nas, alongside breakout acts like Umphrey’s McGee, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jackie Greene, and tri-state favorites The McLovins. The Vibes also warmly embraces new, virtually unknown artists, who may submit music for consideration through sonic bids.

News That Matters – Friday, May 13, 2011 – Things To Do Edition

Jeff Green — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:48:08 +0000

“Former government lawyer John Yoo taking credit on behalf of the Bush administration for Sunday’s strike against Osama bin Laden is like Edward John Smith, the captain of the Titanic, taking credit for the results of the 1998 Academy Awards.” – Andrew Cohen

Good Friday Morning,

Correction: The rally for independent redistricting is tomorrow, Saturday, not last Wednesday. [See calendar item below] If any of you actually went down to Peekskill the other day I apologize and hope that you took the time instead to walk around and do some business down there. It’s actually a cool little city.

Gas!

According to Questerre Energy, unnamed acids, anti-bacterial agents and corrosion inhibitors are all commonly found in consumer products. I’m not sure they mean on the shelves of your local Rite-Aid but in the warehouses of hydrofracking supply companies type consumer products. The key word here is “consumer” and while we’re used to thinking of “consumer products” based on our personal purchasing habits the drillers of wells are also “consumers”, they just buy different stuff.

Everyone has had their panties wadded up over the Marcellus shale for the past couple of years and that’s not even nearby. But as it turns out there’s another layer of shale that is under our very feet, the Utica Shale formation, and that one is next in line for deeper drilling and hydrofracking. I’m willing to bet Putnam County government is already preparing plans to allow that where it underlies Putnam Valley and Philipstown.

Trail Volunteers Invited to Help Build Trails at Slabsides, John Burroughs’ Sanctuary in Ulster County

With a grant from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the John Burroughs Association is building and restoring trails at the 200-acre John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary, Slabsides, in West Park, NY (Ulster County). Slabsides is the 1895 rustic cabin retreat of naturalist John Burroughs/ It is a National Historic Landmark and the surrounding Nature Sanctuary is designated a Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.

Trail professional (and Trail Conference member) Eddie Walsh designed the trails that will take hikers deep into the southern portion of the Sanctuary and link up with the 600 acres that Scenic Hudson owns to the south (former West Park Winery). “It’s beautiful woods with a lot of interesting features, primarily north/south ridges and sheer cliffs that Eddie has worked into the trail plan that includes a ladder at one of the cliffs.” says Joan Burroughs of the association. Eddie will lead crews of volunteers every weekend through the end of June

Helping with the trails is an opportunity to be among the first to get to know these “new” woods along Black Creek.

Write here for more information.

The Manhattan Bridge from Fulton State Park:

What’s Going On?

Today

Isolated
Showers
Hi 68 °F

Tonight

Patchy
Fog
Lo 48 °F

Saturday

Slight Chc
Rain
Hi 63 °F

Saturday
Night

Chance
Rain
Lo 48 °F

Sunday

Rain
Likely
Hi 65 °F

Sunday
Night

Chance
Rain
Lo 53 °F

Monday

Chance
Rain
Hi 64 °F

Monday
Night

Chance
Rain
Lo 50 °F

Tuesday

Chance
Rain
Hi 63 °F

Ongoing:
- Arts on the Lake Spring Art Exhibit
- Help Secure Marriage Equality in New York State
This Weekend:
Into The Future:
June
July
- Saturday, July 9
  - Long Dock Park Celebration
- July 21 – 24
  - Gathering of the Vibes

Ongoing:

Arts on the Lake Spring Art Exhibit

1 PM – 5PM May 21, 22, 28, 29 and Monday May 30.

The featured artists include: Larry Alfano, Wendy Alvarez, Turizzo Anaya, Pallas Athene, Patricia Bolgosano, Taras Borovyk, Lesia Prokopiv Borovik, Keith Brooks, Margaret Brooks, Chris Casaburi, Michelina Compton, George Davison, Eric Ficinus, Toni Flynn, Pal Gyomai, Eleanor Haggerty, Kathleen Hoekstra, Michael Keropian, Deborah Lecce, Don Longabucco, Joan Maliniak, James McGuire, James Muleva, Jerry Michalak, Sharon Nakazato, Amanda O’Shaughnessy, Katherine Pacchiana, Ekaterina Piskareva, Lisa Pitt, Joseph Pizzuti, Michael Rossi, Rena Scelia, Mary Schreiber, Greg Solanto, Gerald Spette, Kimberley Standerwick, Matt Tannenbaum, Carina Tautu, Bill Ullman, Jamie Vogel, and Roy Volpe. at Lake Carmel Cultural Center | 640 Route 52 | Kent Lakes, NY

Help Secure Marriage Equality in New York State

Human Rights Campaign is asking us to make phone calls to our State Senator’s office to encourage his support for Marriage Equality.

If you’d like to call, the number is 845-279-3773 and please do so during the work week. It takes like 5 minutes, not even. Tell the staffer your name and town and that you expect The Senator to vote for Marriage Equality when the bill comes up later this month.

I’m a fan of letters as they give the Senator’s Staff something tangible to work with.

It doesn’t have to be long or involved, you don’t have to pour out your heart unless you feel so inclined. Just state your case, the case for equal rights and the case for New York.

Here’s the address:

Senator Greg Ball
1441 Route 22
Suite 205
Brewster, NY 10509

This Weekend:

Friday, May 13

The Last Mountain

7PM – Join us for an advanced screening of this documentary film exploring how mountaintop coal mining impacts the environment and human health. An Official Selection at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Location: Cary Institute’s auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook, New York.

In the valleys of Appalachia, a battle is being fought over a mountain. It is a battle with severe consequences that affect every American, regardless of their social status, economic background or where they live. It is a battle that has taken many lives and continues to do so the longer it is waged. It is a battle over protecting our health and environment from the destructive power of Big Coal.

The mining and burning of coal is at the epicenter of America’s struggle to balance its energy needs with environmental concerns. Nowhere is that concern greater than in Coal River Valley, West Virginia, where a small but passionate group of ordinary citizens are trying to stop Big Coal corporations, like Massey Energy, from continuing the devastating practice of Mountain Top Removal.

David, himself, never faced a Goliath like Big Coal.

Saturday, May 14

Philipstown Town-Wide Cleanup

8AM – 2PM – To help the town continue the Philipstown Cleanup Day during these economically challenging times, the Hudson Highlands Land Trust directors raised the funds internally to underwrite the cost of Cleanup Day for a second year.

“The Board of Directors believes that a mechanism that allows residents to responsibly dispose of their larger refuse items is a necessary component of protecting the natural resources and scenic beauty of the Hudson Highlands,” explained HHLT Executive Director Andy Chmar.

The Cleanup Day drop-off is at the Garrison Volunteer Firehouse and is for Philipstown residents only. A driver’s license, tax bill or other proof of residency must be presented upon arrival at the site. Participants will be limited to two vehicle-loads per household, and no vehicle larger than a pick-up truck will be accepted.

Other guidelines include: no regular bags of household garbage, railroad ties, computer monitors, or items containing freon. No 55-gallon drums, propane tanks, paint cans, batteries, or any other toxic materials will be accepted. Brush and wood will be accepted, tied in length no longer than 5 feet. Metal will also be accepted, and tires (not to exceed 16 inches). White goods like washing machines, stoves or dishwashers will not be accepted at the Garrison Firehouse, but can be brought to the Town Recycling Center on that day.

Philisptown residents with questions should call Town Hall, 845/265-3329, for more information.

7th Annual Still River Cleanup

8AM – 3PM Volunteers will meet at Larsen’s Farmstand in Brookfield on Junction Road.

Volunteers will work along a six- mile long area of the Still River in Brookfield starting at Stew Leonard’s and ending at Aldrich Road collecting and removing trash and other debris along the way.

Volunteers should be prepared to get dirty and/or wet!! Recommended dress includes: high-topped work boots with nonskid soles, work gloves, hat or scarf for sun protection, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Absolutely no open-toe shoes!! Rain gear is recommended in case of poor weather.

Lunch will be provided.

Volunteers are asked to pre-register by May 1st with Sig Hepp, Still River Clean-up Coordinator email: stillrivercleanup@hotmail.com or call 203-426-3830.

Volunteers under 16 years of age must have a parent or guardian with them throughout the day. Volunteers under 18 years old will need a parent or guardian to sign a release form in order to participate. Medical forms and release waivers can be downloaded here.

Putnam County Master Gardener’s Plant Sale

8:30AM – 11:30AM – More than a thousand tomato plants, many vegetables, annuals, huge herb selection, Putnam Proven Perennials from the Master Gardeners’ own gardens and gifts for all who garden. Free soil tests, great advice! At the CCE office at 1 Geneva Road in Brewster (Where the Motor Vehicles Office is).

There will be hundreds (yes hundreds!) of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and other veggies, Herbs both culinary and aromatic, Annuals, perennials from the Master Gardeners own gardens, A tent stocked with tools, soaps, gloves and other items gardeners need. You’ll find hand-crafted hypertufa containers and much, much more. Bring a soil sample for a free soil pH test!

Guided Park Walk – Popolopen Gorge

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Details: Join Docent John Jurasek on this 6-mile, strenuous (3-sneaker) walk to view Revolutionary War Forts and a Geological Gorge. Bring 2 liters of water and pack a lunch. The walk is mostly flat with some rocky, steep areas.

Directions: From the Palisades Interstate Parkway North, travel to the end of the parkway. There will be a traffic circle. Do not go around the circle but bear right onto Rt. 9W south. There will be a welcome to Bear Mountain State Park sign and also Hessian Lake will be on the right. Travel Rt. 9W for 1/4 mile to a traffic light. At the light, bear up the hill on the right. At the top of the hill will be the Bear Mountain Inn. Go around the circle of the Inn and pull into the parking lot.

Please note there is an $8 parking fee. Walkers will meet in front of the Bear Mountain Inn. Pre-registration for all walks is suggested, but not required. Call: 845-708-7307 or e-mail rcamericorps@co.rockland.ny.us.

West Point Foundry Preserve Tours for Heritage Weekend

10:30AM – We’re proud to be part of New York Heritage Weekend (May 14 and 15)—a celebration with special events at heritage destinations across the Empire State to help kick off the summer tourism season.

Join us for a guided tour exploring the remains of a 19th-century industrial powerhouse, the West Point Foundry, that made locomotives, steam engines and Parrott guns that helped win the Civil War.

TOUR TIMES: 10:30 a.m. – noon; 12:30 – 2 p.m.

The walks will occur rain or shine, except in the event of torrential rain, when they will be canceled. Please wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Tick precautions, such as tucking pants legs into socks and applying bug repellent to shoes and pants, are highly recommended.

MEETING PLACE: West Point Foundry Preserve

QUESTIONS? Contact Scenic Hudson Parks Event Coordinator Anthony Coneski: aconeski@scenichudson.org, 845-473-4440 x273

Event Location
63 Chestnut Street
Cold Spring, NY 10516

Rally For Independent Redistricting in New York State

Noon – From MY-H: State Senator Greg Ball (R) campaigned for office as a supporter of independent redistricting. This means that the mandatory redistricting, required by the census, would be done on a non-partisan basis with neither the Republican nor the Democratic Party controlling. (Note to those who aren’t familiar with this – the normal process is for it to be very partisan with the politicians deciding which districts will be Republican and which will be Democratic.)

Ball even went a step further and signed a pledge that he would stand firm in his support of independent redistricting.

[See: "Sorry, I Must Have Forgotten" News That Matters - Wednesday, May 11, 2011]

But now that he’s been elected, Senator Ball has decided to go back on his word. Instead of keeping his promise to support independent redistricting to draw fair district boundaries for the 2012 elections, Senator Ball – now in office—wants to keep in place the same broken system that allows politicians to draw their own district lines.

This Saturday a number of groups have decided to come together to hold a rally and press conference to call upon Senator Ball to keep his word and support fair and independent redistricting.

Location: Riverfront Green Park (Next to the Train Station)

Robert Whitman, MoonRain (2010)

2PM – Dia Art Foundation is pleased to present the recent theater piece, MoonRain, by Robert Whitman, a pioneer of multimedia installation and performance. Referencing a famous collection of 18th century Japanese ghost stories by Ueda Akinari, the innovative work is set inside a fog environment designed by Fujiko Nakaya and will be staged in Dia:Beacon’s lower level gallery.

Free with museum admission. For reservations, click here.

Robert Whitman first met Fujiko Nakaya during the E.A.T. project to build the Pepsi Pavilion at Expo ’70 in Osaka, Japan, where Nakaya developed the cloud sculpture that surrounded the building. Nakaya continued to participate in E.A.T. projects and also to create an extended series of fog sculptures around the world that have been incorporated in the designs of public spaces, buidlings and parks, often in collaboration with other artists and scientists.

In 2004 Whitman and Nakaya were both at an exhibition on E.A.T. at the museum in Norrkoping, Sweden, and worked together on a piece Whitman called Dialogue.

As Whitman describes it:

“Because I had been interested in projecting on fog and anything else I could project on, it just seemed very natural to introduce that idea as part of a dialogue which we performed at the opening of the exhibition in Norrkoping. I projected video images from an earlier piece, Not a Novel, onto the fog sculpture Fujiko had created in the garden of the museum. I’ve projected on leaves in the woods and stuff; and one of the things that happens with fog, it blows around, so a piece of fog comes up here and reveals part of the image and another piece of fog comes up over there and another part of the image is revealed: the image is fragmented. You can set up a circumstance where the likelihood is good of something happening that you never saw before. That’s the thing with the fog.”

For the piece, MoonRain, which was to be performed in the summer of 2010 in the woods in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Whitman told Fujiko that he wanted to work with her to make the fog an active part of the imagery of the performance. As he has said: “I was relating to this idea of Ugetsu which comes from the 18th century writer Uedia Akinari, Tales of Moon Light and Rain (Ugetsu mongatari). They come from a tradition where the story is made with gaps, kind of like a Chinese painting where you have the landscape and the whole empty canvas, and wherever those gaps are, they are filled in by the person telling the story or reading the story and leaving room for your mind to wander and be engaged. So fog is a lot like that. There are a lot of gaps, things come and they go, disappear and appear. I thought that was an interesting parallel.”

Hiking the Road to Ruins

5PM – 7PM – Join us for a presentation with David Steinberg, author of Hiking the Road to Ruins. Steinberg will discuss twenty-two day hikes (and sometimes campouts) to old iron mines, deserted buildings, historic military leftovers and other things abandoned and available for visit by intrepid hikers. Many of the ruins are located right here in our backyard.

David Steinberg is is a life-long resident of the New York City area and has been a paid leader of hikes for fifteen years. From 1985 to 1996, he was a staff photographer and photo-feature writer for The Queens Courier, a weekly newspaper.

This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, call the museum, 845-265-4010 or email, office@pchs-fsm.org.

Putnam County Historical Society & Foundry School Museum

63 Chestut Street

Cold Spring, NY 10516

Carmina Burana

8PM at Brewster High School. The Putnam Chorale performs CARMINA BURANA – One Performance Only – with full orchestra and accompanied by the Brewster High School Chamber Singers and the Seven Star Dancers, on MAY 14, 2011 8 pm at the Brewster High School Performing Arts Center, 50 Foggintown Road, Brewster, NY. Get more information at our web site (www.putnamchorale.org) or by calling 845-279-7265.

A collection of historic medieval songs and poems was discovered in the year 1803 at an abandoned monastery in Bavaria. This collection was found to be satirical works that had been performed by traveling goliards, disaffected clergy and clerical students, who used the works to lighten the burden of everyday life and to poke fun at the authorities of the day. In a way, the Saturday Night Live of its time!

The works make fun of church excesses and follies and mock the changing morals of the times. There are love songs and songs for drinking and gambling that celebrate Epicurus, the ancient Greek Philosopher and advocate of the blissful life. The stories are provocative and often disrespectful, but offer a common man perspective and a chance at some frivolity.

Sunday, May 15

Eagle Scout Fundraiser

9 AM – Noon – Jimmy Duncan is hosting a breakfast fundraiser. This fundraiser is for the Cleaning and waxing of the GAR Monument at Veteran’s Park (Electrazone Field)-hoping to be completed for Memorial Day. The 2nd Phase will be the placement of a historic marker.

The menu includes an omelet station, waffles, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, baked goods, oatmeal, juice, milk, coffee and tea. Reservations are not required, and all are welcome. The Brewster VFW hall is located at 262 Peaceable Hill Road and the phone number is 845/279-6969. Open to All $10 Adults. $5 Children.

Community Garden Plots at Stony Kill Farm

10 AM – The Stony Kill Foundation, Inc. announces the opening of the 2011 Community Garden Plots at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center on Route 9D in Wappinger Falls. Plots are 20′ by 20′ and are available immediately, for a fee of $30 for the season. Please call 845-831-1617 for an application or email us at foundation@stonykill.org.

Join us on Sunday, May 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a Family Wilderness Survival Class with instructor Shane Hobel. This class is made up of many skills and introduces you to the scope of this subject of study and particularly the “Basic 4”: Shelter, Water, Fire & Food. You will also experience the beginnings of Tracking, Awareness & Movement. Topics are learned through discussion and practice. Children participating must be in grades 3 and older. All particpants should bring a bag lunch, snack and drink. Meet at the barn classroom. All should dress in layers and bring bug spray. For further information, visit mt.scoutsurvival@gmail.com. Reservations are required to attend this program and can be made by emailing foundation@stonykill.org or by calling 845-831-1617.

Guided Hike: Raymond G. Esposito Rail Trail

When: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Details: Join Docent Nice McLean on this moderate (2 sneaker) mostly flat walk that will be 3.5 miles in length along the Raymond G. Esposito Rail Trail to the newly restored Piermont Train Station used by the Erie Railroad in the 1870′s. See the wonderful views of the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Directions: Route 59 to Broadway in Nyack. Make a right and go south. Look for a gazebo before the South Nyack Police Station. Participants will meet at 282 South Broadway in South Nyack.

Pre-registration for all walks is suggested, but not required. Call: 845-708-7307 or e-mail rcamericorps@co.rockland.ny.us

Sheep Shearing at Glynwood Farm

Noon – Glynwood Farm opens up to the community with the annual family Sheep Shearing Day, celebrating springtime. Each spring, Glynwood celebrates the new planting season with a day of family activities. Tour the farm and gardens, visit with the animals, including newborns, and participate in games and activities conducted at the farm. Watch the sheep get shorn, see wool get transformed into yarn and felt. Learn about beekeeping and heirloom vegetable varieties suited to the Hudson Valley. Tour the Glynwood greenhouse and learn about energy saving features that have been installed.

The farm will be open from noon until 4 p.m. and the cost is $10 for adults 18 and over, and free for children under 18. This includes a light lunch. An onsite market will sell Hudson Valley regional products. Glynwood is located on Route 301. Advance registration is required due to parking limitations, and can be done by phoning 845-265-3338. For more information visit www.glynwood.org/ Photo courtesy of Glynwood.

Gallery Talk: Art in the Digital Age

1PM – With artist and educator, Dr. Sherry Mayo, who will discuss arts technology and the combination of both traditional and digital materials into studio practice explaining how she moves between the two, integrating drawing, painting, photography, installation, and digital to create her work. She will feature her recent installation at Westchester Community College Fine Arts Gallery in Faculty/Selects and discuss her relationship to contemporaries working in similar ways. Dr. Mayo is currently Director of the Center for the Digital Arts, Peekskill Extension of SUNY Westchester Community College.

This free program is part of the PAC Sunday’s in the Center and is partially funded through a community grant from Entergy; reservations are advised.

Riverkeeper’s Annual Shad Fest

For over 20 years, Riverkeeper’s Shad Fest has been a celebration of the vast numbers of American shad that returned each year to the Hudson River to spawn. The shad run has been a welcome sign of spring, rebirth and renewal for thousands of years, since the Lenape Indians populated the Hudson’s shores. Sadly, the shad population has declined in recent years to dangerously low levels and the focus of this year’s event is on saving the American Shad and other Hudson River signature fish which are similarly at risk. Shad Fest started off as a backyard barbeque held at Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s house, and has grown every year. To be held at Boscobel House and Gardens, Route 9D in Cold Spring. Click here for more information and tickets.

Garnet Rodgers with Shawn Taylor at the Towne Crier

7:30PM – Garnet Rogers has established himself as “One of the major talents of our time.” Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “charismatic performer and singer,” Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence –close to six and a half feet tall– with a voice to match. With his “smooth, dark baritone” (Washington Post) his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music –like the man himself– is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs “give expression to the unspoken vocabulary of the heart” (Kitchener Waterloo Record). An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small victories of the everyday. As memorable as his songs, his over-the-top humour and lightning-quick wit moves his audience from tears to laughter and back again. $17.50 advance/ $22.50 door. Click here for more information.

Into The Future:

Monday, May 16

The Buddha’s 2600th Birthday Celebration

Globally – In the year 624 BC, in Kapilawaththu (Nepal) Siddhartha Gautama was born as a prince. His father was King Suddhodana and his mother was Queen Mahamaya. When he was sixteen he finished his education and he married Princess Yasodara. King Suddhodana handed over his kingdom to his son Siddhartha. They had a baby name Rahula. When king Siddhartha was 29 years old he decided to renounce lay life. Siddhartha left from his kingdom and went to several well-known teachers to study the ultimate nature of reality. But their teachings didn’t satisfy him and he set out to find his own path. Six years later he went to Bodgaya near the Neranjana River and sat under a tree.

Siddhartha’s mind was calm and relaxed. As he sat his concentration deepened and his wisdom grew brighter. In this clear and peaceful state of mind he began to examine the true nature of life. “What is the cause of suffering,” he asked himself, “and what is the path to everlasting joy?” In his mind’s eye he looked far beyond his own country, far beyond his own world. Soon the sun, planets, the stars out in space and distant galaxies of the universe all appeared to him in his meditation. He saw how everything, from the smallest speck of dust to the largest star was linked together in a constantly changing pattern: growing, decaying and growing again. Everything was related. Nothing happened without a cause and every cause had an effect on everything else.

With much equanimous joy, we would like to announce the program to commemorate the 2600th anniversary of the Buddha’s Enlightenment at the United Nations in New York.

Visit e2600.org for more information.

Tuesday, May 17

Passsive House Design

6PM – 8PM – Imagine a home that is warm during our cold, snowy winters and cool in our humid, hot summers; that also requires minimal ongoing costs for fuel and electricity to keep it comfortable. Well-executed passive house design is a proven method for achieving such a building. Join us for a discussion on how the passive house concept can be applied with equal success in urban centers, where projects are likely to be renovations, and in rural settings, where new construction is more common. The presentation will show the implementation of passive house principles in a newly-built certified passive house in the Hudson Valley (the Hudson Passive Project) designed by Dennis Wedlick Architect LLC and a passive retrofit of a brownstone in the historic district of Park Slope, Brooklyn designed by Prospect Architecture. What is a passive house? The passive house standard embodies today’s highest benchmark for energy efficiency and conservation. A cutting-edge approach to design and construction, the passive house standard drastically reduces the amount of energy required to operate a building (for instance, it results in a 90% reduction in energy required for heating). Originally developed in Germany, the passive house energy standard is being implemented with ever-greater frequency in the United States.

About The Presenters:

Dennis Wedlick, Architect:
Dennis Wedlick is the founder of Dennis Wedlick Architect LLC, a full-service architecture, master planning, landscape and interior design firm in Manhattan and Hudson, NY. The firm is known for sustainable, expressive projects that combine great design, technology and craft. Last year, the firm designed its first passive house, The Hudson Passive Project, which was completed in the fall of 2010.

Brian Marsh, Architect:
Brian Marsh is the Associate Partner of Dennis Wedlick Architect LLC, a full-service architecture, master planning, landscape and interior design firm in Manhattan and Hudson, NY. Last year, the firm designed its first passive house, The Hudson Passive Project, completed in the fall of 2010. Mr. Marsh is the lead architect on the Hudson Passive Project.

Jeremy R. M. Shannon, Architect:
Jeremy R. M. Shannon is the Principal Architect of Prospect Architecture, PC, a sustainable design-build firm located in Brooklyn, NY. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Polytechnic and State University and is, as well a LEED Accredited Professional, BPI Envelope, Heating, and Multifamily Specialist, and is a Certified Passive House Consultant. He has served as Vice President of the national Passive House Alliance, a trade organization created to promote the growth of Passive House in the United States. He is also a part time instructor at Parsons The New School. Jeremy specializes in residential townhouse and multifamily building construction using sustainable materials and focusing on energy efficiency without sacrificing the aesthetics or character of existing buildings. He designed and was the construction manager of the renovation and retrofit of multiple Passive House townhouses in Brooklyn New York.

Register for the Putnam/Dutchess County event with the links below. Reservations are $10 for advance sales to USGBC NY Upstate Chapter Members and Students, and $20 for non-members. Members & students pay $15 at the door.

Chapel of Our Lady Restoration, 45 Market Street, Cold Spring, NY

Thursday, May 19

Community Forum on Term Limits Laws

The League of Women Voters of Eastern Putnam County will be hosting a forum on Term Limits at the Historic County Courthouse in Carmel. Speakers will represent both sides of the issue as well as those who will touch on the factual and historical aspects of Term Limits. County Executive, Paul Eldridge; NYS Assemblyman, Steve Katz ; myself, Tony Fusco, a former Putnam County Legislator; Joyce Mitchell, a member of The Putnam County Charter Review Commission; Putnam County Legislators, Dan Birmingham and Sam Oliverio; Dave Gagliardi, an American History teacher and Jeff Green, a businessman and columnist .

The event will be moderated by Bruce Apar of the North County News, also a major sponsor of the event. This is a matter of public policy which will affect the way our elected officials govern in the future, and will likely have an effect on the uneven distribution of legislative power, locally, in the state and in the national arenas. Please make every effort to attend this worthwhile and informative event.

Saturday, May 21

Putnam County Hazardous Waste Collection

9 AM – 1PM – Time to get rid of all that stuff under your kitchen sink and the bottles in the garage you can no longer identify. The county says they’ll take drain cleaners and solvents and thinners and herbicides and phot chemicals and your old chemistry kit. What they won’t take is latex paint, car batteries, used motor oil (bring that to any service garage where the smart ones strain it and use it in their oil burners) nor old computers and the like.

As usual, you have to register with the county at 845 808-1390 x43150

Canopus Beach Parking Lot
Route 301 in Kent

Arts on the Lake Spring Art Exhibit

1 PM – Opening Reception – The featured artists include: Larry Alfano, Wendy Alvarez, Turizzo Anaya, Pallas Athene, Patricia Bolgosano, Taras Borovyk, Lesia Prokopiv Borovik, Keith Brooks, Margaret Brooks, Chris Casaburi, Michelina Compton, George Davison, Eric Ficinus, Toni Flynn, Pal Gyomai, Eleanor Haggerty, Kathleen Hoekstra, Michael Keropian, Deborah Lecce, Don Longabucco, Joan Maliniak, James McGuire, James Muleva, Jerry Michalak, Sharon Nakazato, Amanda O’Shaughnessy, Katherine Pacchiana, Ekaterina Piskareva, Lisa Pitt, Joseph Pizzuti, Michael Rossi, Rena Scelia, Mary Schreiber, Greg Solanto, Gerald Spette, Kimberley Standerwick, Matt Tannenbaum, Carina Tautu, Bill Ullman, Jamie Vogel, and Roy Volpe. at Lake Carmel Cultural Center | 640 Route 52 | Kent Lakes, NY

Sunday, May 22

FrOGS Great Swamp Canoe Trips

Each year Friends of the Great Swamp leads canoe trips on the East Branch Croton River into one of the largest wetlands in New York State. Join us on one of these enjoyable adventures into the Great swamp and experience this beautiful and valuable resource for yourself. As we enter this magical wilderness we will explore the biodiversity and learn more about the values of this nationally significant wetland. The Swamp provides critical habitat for aquatic species as well as for migrating and breeding birds. We have seen Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Prothonotary Warblers and Common yellowthroats as well as Wood Duck, Mallards and many, many more. There are Turtles, Dragonflies, some fantastic plants and possibly catch a glimpse of a mink or a muskrat.Explore the Swamp with FrOGS. Meet us at the Green Chimney’s Beach on Doansburg Road (formerly Putnam Lake Road) of Rte 22. FrOGS members will guide each trip and point out the birds and plants as we canoe.

All levels of paddlers are welcome. We will provide canoes, paddles, Life jackets (bring your won if you wish) and a licensed Lifeguard. We suggest you bring bottled water, sunglasses and layered clothing to accommodate temperature changes. We will canoe rain or shine. In extreme conditions, we ask that you call for cancellation and rescheduling information.

Reservations are a must and space is limited so get your reservations early! For information and reservations contact:

Laurie Wallace at (845-279-8858) or Laurwally@aol.com subject: Canoe Trip

$25.00 Adult Member, $12.00 Child (6 to 14 years)
$29.00 Adult Non-member, $16.00 Child (6 to 14 years)

Michelle LeBlanc Jazz

2PM – Here’s another chance to catch Michelle’s exciting award winning show, “1950′s JAZZ: Bop, Cool, R&B.” Michelle will be playing with her top shelf trio: the talented arranger Tom Kohl on piano, Bill Conway on bass and the world touring sax player, Ed Xiques. Sponsors for this show include these Putnam County jazz lovers: Feehan Insurance Agency, Trebb Records and Desmond Fish Library. Suggested donation for this concert is $10. At the Desmond Fish Library, Route 403 & 9D in Garrison, NY Contact: 845-424-3020 or http://dfl.highlands.com

Thursday, May 26

How Six Putnam County School Districts Can Become One

6:30PM – Featured speakers, including NY Assembly representatives Sandy Galef and Steve Katz, will provide a legislative perspective on the consolidation of the six existing School Districts of Putnam County into one countywide School District…a feat never before attempted in the state of New York.

Ms. Deborah Cunningham of the NY State Education Department (NYSED) will participate by lending her expertise on consolidation or centralizing and prior to May 26 we will confirm additional panelists.

At the Mahopac Public Library. Write to Jim Kirk for more information: jdkjjk@gmail.com

Friday, May 27

Uncommon Ground with guest Tim & Sylvia

8:30PM at the Towne Crier, Route 22 in Pawling. Uncommon Ground is a hot, pan-genre, acoustic music group from New York’s Hudson Valley that is on a mission: to flex the boundaries of traditional music. Since making an impressive debut to a full house at the Towne Crier in 2007, they have continued their evolution into “the complete package” … great vocals, fiery instrumental abilities and a continually evolving repertoire of well-crafted tunes. Their music bears an unmistakable stamp of originality without losing the authenticity of the original sources. Audiences delight in the thrill of musical discovery as the band performs a repertoire that includes music from such diverse sources as Bill Monroe, Gabriel Faure, Venezuelan Choros and Gypsy Jazz. Uncommon Ground draws on the talents of Mike Kobetitsch, and Wayne Fugate, both long-time veterans of the Bluegrass scene who have performed with Grammy award winner, Lisa Gutkin and a host of other noteworthies; the ever amazing Rachel Han! dman and Phil Helm, two principles in the Hudson Valley Philharmonic whose technical precision, fertile inventiveness, surprising touches and mastery of the Bluegrass genre give the band a distinctive, signature voice; and Craig Bitterman, whose percussion lays down a groove-infused rhythmic foundation that adds colors and textures that make their tunes really snap. : artist’s home. $17.50 advance/ $22.50 door

Saturday, May 28

Giant Book Sale at the Kent Public Library

Take-A-Hike! Season Begins With The Birds of Foundry Preserve

8:30 to 10:30am – Join Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary Director Eric Lind for this birding hike in Foundry Preserve in Cold Spring. An accomplished wildlife photographer, Eric is just the person you want along to share his knowledge as you walk from the village to view a wide variety of species. Don’t forget your binoculars!

“We’re excited to kick off this season with Eric’s hike. Learning to identify birds by sight and sound is a great way to get back into the outdoors,” says Outreach Director MJ Martin. “And we’re grateful to all our volunteers who help lead the excursions for us; without them, this popular program would not be possible.”

A total of eight hikes have been scheduled for the season, with selections ranging from a tot-friendly musical jaunt to a more challenging trek up Breakneck Ridge. Check your mailboxes for the complete schedule.

All Take-A-Hike! programs are free, but registration is required. Contact the HHLT office at 845/424-3358 or info@hhlt.org to make sure you’re on the Take-A-Hike! mailing list.

June

Saturday, June 4 – National Trails Day

NY/NJ Trails Conference Annual Meeting

Bear Mountain State Park: On June 4, the Trail Conference will open a wheelchair accessible section of the Appalachian Trail on the summit of Bear Mountain. For the past year, Trail Conference volunteers have been hard at work building this ADA-compliant segment of this historic and nationally celebrated long-distance trail. The trail will allow wheelchair users to enter the woods and view the Hudson River and Valley from one of the region’s most scenic spots.At 10:30 AM, we will open and dedicate the trail. Later in the day, the Trail Conference will have its Summer Meeting on the lawn below Bear Mountain. There will be food and music by the acclaimed urban bluegrass group, Two Dollar Goat.

The event is co-sponsored by Disney/ABC and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places. Members of the Disney team will be on hand to help.

What’s Happening When

8:00: Departure of early hike to summit of Bear Mountain from Fort Montgomery Historic Site (co-sponsored by Mid-Hudson ADK)

10:00: Morning refreshments at Trailhead of the ADA-compliant segment of the Appalachian Trail at summit of Bear Mountain

10:30: Opening ceremony and Dedication

10:45: Hike or drive down to Lawn (Options from easy to strenuous available)

12:00-varied: Lunch on the Lawn with Music by Two Dollar Goat.
Hikers arrive from a variety of trails, eat, enjoy music.

Rain or shine under tent!

1:30 (estimated): Meeting

All programs are free! Lunch: $15 donation. RSVP for lunch by sending a check or going to our donation page. Please indicate your RSVP in the comment box.

Questions, comments, or phone reservations, contact Joanne Reinhardt at jreinhardt@nynjtc.org or x26 at the office

FrOGS Great Swamp Canoe Trips

Each year Friends of the Great Swamp leads canoe trips on the East Branch Croton River into one of the largest wetlands in New York State. Join us on one of these enjoyable adventures into the Great swamp and experience this beautiful and valuable resource for yourself. As we enter this magical wilderness we will explore the biodiversity and learn more about the values of this nationally significant wetland. The Swamp provides critical habitat for aquatic species as well as for migrating and breeding birds. We have seen Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Prothonotary Warblers and Common yellowthroats as well as Wood Duck, Mallards and many, many more. There are Turtles, Dragonflies, some fantastic plants and possibly catch a glimpse of a mink or a muskrat.Explore the Swamp with FrOGS. Meet us at the Green Chimney’s Beach on Doansburg Road (formerly Putnam Lake Road) of Rte 22. FrOGS members will guide each trip and point out the birds and plants as we canoe.

All levels of paddlers are welcome. We will provide canoes, paddles, Life jackets (bring your won if you wish) and a licensed Lifeguard. We suggest you bring bottled water, sunglasses and layered clothing to accommodate temperature changes. We will canoe rain or shine. In extreme conditions, we ask that you call for cancellation and rescheduling information.

Reservations are a must and space is limited so get your reservations early! For information and reservations contact:

Laurie Wallace at (845-279-8858) or Laurwally@aol.com subject: Canoe Trip

$25.00 Adult Member, $12.00 Child (6 to 14 years)
$29.00 Adult Non-member, $16.00 Child (6 to 14 years)

Rain Barrel Building Workshop

10AM – Fishkill Town Hall. Sponsored by the Dutchess Watershed and Cornell Cooperative Extension Services.

Although we don’t often think about it, storm water can play an enormous part in the condition of our rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. When it rains, this water is usually channeled into storm drains to be taken to the closest body of water. As storm water travels across the grounds’ surface as runoff, it can pick up different types of pollutants, washing them into our water bodies. You can help! Rain barrels are a great option to better manage excess storm water from your roof. The water is captured before it picks up pollutants, and it is safe to use for watering plants. A rain barrel can save gardeners up to 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months!

This workshop will help you learn to better manage storm water AND will help you build your own 55 gallon rain barrel to take home. Cost: $45 per person, includes cost of rain barrel. To Register: contact Angela Sullivan, 677-8223 x 114

Orange County Earth and Water Festival

11AM – 5PM- The OCWA is pleased to announce that the 4th Annual Earth and Water Festival will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery, NY. This unique festival is family-friendly, intimate, educational and of course, lots of fun! Stay an hour or stay all day. Bring a blanket, the kids and even your dog and enjoy the fresh air, listen to live music and entertaining performances by highly talented local musicians and peformers. Visit the Green Expo area at the festival and learn from many local vendors how they are making a difference by being “green” or what sustainable goods and services they provide. Buy fresh homemade bread, baked goods, produce and plants in the Farmers Market. Let the kids run wild in the Children’s Activity tent (big festival favorite).

Live performances this year are diverse, colorful, creative, fun and always entertaining. Returning this year by popular demand are:

Arm-of-the-Sea Theater: Performing “To Fuel the Fire”, a free-wheeling allegory about the ecological costs of energy. This tragic comedy features primordial masks and kinetic puppet figures, vivid paintings, whimsical props and live music. Their performances are award-winning and are a must see! You know it’s good when a festival full of people stop to watch and listen. Click here to visit their website http://www.armofthesea.org/

Maxwell Kofi Donkor and the Sankofa Drum and Dance Ensamble: Their african drumming and dancing is interactive, makes your feet tap and people dance, and puts a smile on everyone’s face. Click here to visit their website http://www.bak2roots.com/

“iS”coustic: This unusual, three piece jam band delivers live performances to electrify audiences. The bands name, which loosely means “the present tense” emphasizes their improvisational nature. They offer a unique experience that includes original diverse, memorable songs and exceptional musicianship. Click here to visit their website http://whatitis.biz/

Snakeman’s Snake Show: Their performance will teach the audience about the environment and how snakes provide their part for the balance of nature. Their show is both interactive and hands-on with real live snakes, which will educate as well as entertain you. They will be at the festival all day and will do a special performance on the stage for everyone to enjoy! Click here to visit their website http://www.jerrythesnakeman.com/

New to the stage this year are Half Jester and Little Sparrow. These bands will delight and keep audiences moving. More details and the full performance schedule for follow soon.

More information is here.

Friday, June 10

The Environmental Footprint of Marcellus Shale Gas

7PM – New natural gas extraction technology has led to an increase in the exploration of organic-rich shale in the United States. In New York State, the Marcellus Shale formation has captured the public’s attention. Will gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale be a boon, providing cleaner domestic energy, or a bust, contaminating our air and water resources? Find out answers from Duke University’s Rob Jackson. His research captures the latest science on the impacts of shale-gas extraction and fracking.
Location: Cary Institute’s auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook, New York.

Six New One-Act Plays

8PM – Six new one-act plays from Tony Howarth’s Playwright’s Workshop. Plays by Pat O’Connor, Gabby Fox and Carol Mark, directed by Tony Howarth. At the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel, Route 52 just south of the Route 311 Causeway.

Saturday, June 11

Six New One-Act Plays

8PM – Six new one-act plays from Tony Howarth’s Playwright’s Workshop. Plays by Pat O’Connor, Gabby Fox and Carol Mark, directed by Tony Howarth. At the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel, Route 52 just south of the Route 311 Causeway.

Saturday, June 18

Clearwater Revival

Croton Point Park – Pete Seeger star Drive-By Truckers star Martin Sexton star Indigo Girls, Arlo Guthrie star Josh Ritter star Jorma Kaukonen star Peter Yarrow, John Sebastian star Janis Ian star The Low Anthem, Red Horse (Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka & Eliza Gilkyson) star The Klezmatics, Toubab Krewe star Justin Townes Earle star Chris, Smither star Joanne Shenandoah, Tom Chapin star Bernice Johnson Reagon star Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell, James McMurtry | Jay Ungar & Molly Mason | Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, Tao Seeger Band | Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely | Mike & Ruthy | Sarah Lee & Johnny, Bethany & Rufus’ Roots Quartet | Clayfoot Strutters | Zlatne Uste | Joe Purdy, The Nields | The Kennedys | Jen Chapin | K.J. Denhert | Zon del Barrio, Vanaver Caravan| Buskin & Batteau | Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Brooklyn Qawwali Party | Joe D’urso | Joel Plaskett, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater star The Power of Song star The Rivertown Kids, Mustard’s Retreat star Magpie star Roger the Jester star Dog on Fleas, Walkabout Clearwater Chorus star Paul Richmond star The Storycrafters, Rick Nestler star Donna Nestler star Travis Jeffrey star Margo Thunderbird, Marva Clark star Linda Richards star Eshu Bumpus star Dan Einbender, Dirty Stay Out Skifflers star Geoff Kaufman star Sarah Underhill star Peninnah Schram, Kay Olan/Ionataiewas star Mel & Vinnie star Karen Pillsworth star Gregorio Pedroza , Allan Aunapu star Jan Christensen star The New York Packet star Matt Turk star Hope Machine

July

Saturday, July 9

Long Dock Park Celebration

1PM – 6PM – Help us celebrate the opening of this new and improved Hudson Riverfront park in high style. Take to the water on a free kayak paddle, try out a new bike on the Klara Sauer Trail, join a guided tour of exciting park features, including Scenic Hudson’s River Center, our new venue for arts and environmental activities. If that’s not enough, you can test your mettle at hula-hooping and enjoy a great lineup of live performers—all while admiring magnificent Hudson River vistas.

LIVE PERFORMANCES by:
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater
Uncle Rock
We Must Be
The Big Takeover

Event Location: Long Dock Rd. Beacon, NY 12508 – On the river side of the Beacon Train Station.

July 21 – 24

Gathering of the Vibes

Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT – Gathering of the Vibes, the Northeast’s acclaimed music festival destination, will “bring the magic” once again with a 4-day extravaganza of eclectic music, arts and community, July 21-24, 2011 at Connecticut’s magnificent Seaside Park. The rumor mill is swirling with artist announcements around the corner. Gathering of the Vibes promises its most spectacular and diverse lineup to date, delivering over 40 hours of music on multiple stages. Powerhouse Vibes alumni include: The Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Furthur with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, James Brown, The Black Crowes, and Damian Marley and Nas, alongside breakout acts like Umphrey’s McGee, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jackie Greene, and tri-state favorites The McLovins. The Vibes also warmly embraces new, virtually unknown artists, who may submit music for consideration through sonic bids.

News That Matters – Friday, March 25, 2011 – Things To Do Edition

Jeff Green — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:21:28 +0000

Good Friday Morning,

Online Tag Sale:

As I begin the process of unloading my stuff, I’ll be offering it first to this list before it goes public.
Please note: anything that does not get sold goes in the bonfire.

FoxFire books, First Edition, Volumes One through Nine, 1972, in Good Condition. $125.
Paasche Airbrush kit – $30 – Paasche Model H single action airbrush kit with two Type H3HC3 tips and compressor hose.
Campbell Hausfeld Compressor – $60 – A slightly used Campbell Hausfeld Standard Duty, portable air compressor with hoses and original warranty. Great for airbrush work.
DeVILBISS FinishLine FLG-611 – $80 – Never used DeVILBISS FinishLine FLG-611 airbrush gun for auto/van/truck finishing. With original documentation.
Black & Decker Circular Saw – $25 – 9amp, 7 1/4″ blade, 1 1/2 horsepower
Call 845 554-5119 or write to jeff@planputnam.org
See images here

We count!

According to the Census Bureau, Putnam County now has 99,710 residents which is a slight increase over the previous census in 2000. Overall, the state’s population is 19,378,102, also an increase over the 2000 Census. The States that grew the fastest were, in general, those with the best weather. But if NY is growing, that lays the lie to the belief that people are fleeing the state because of our tax structure. If people more people are moving in than leaving there must be something more important to them than our tax rates.

In the January 23, 2010 edition of News That Matters I wrote an article called, “The Great Tefillin Scare” which has become one of the top read articles at the website. Here it is:

On a short-haul flight the other day a 17 year old kid put on his tefflin to pray. A flight attendant asked what he was doing, “praying,” he replied. She notified the pilot. In the flight attendant’s description she said “…it had wires running from it and going up to his fingers,” What she didn’t know was that they go directly to God! but, I digress…

So cautious was the pilot that the plane was diverted to Philadelphia where it landed so that this poor kid could pray in peace. Not that he could… the pilot described him as “disruptive” and the TSA said he had “prayer beads”.

As a cultural lesson I will show you goyim out there the difference between tefillin and a bomb. Look closely now…

Well, just the other day almost the exact same story took place but on an Alaska Airlines flight. The article in the NY Daily News begins:

Flight attendants on an Alaska Airlines flight to Los Angeles on Sunday interpreted an elaborate prayer ritual by Orthodox Jewish men onboard as a security threat and locked down the cockpit, airline officials said.

Police, FBI and custom agents swarmed the plane when it landed at Los Angeles International Airport at around 8:30 a.m. and three men were escorted off after it was reported that passengers were acting rowdy and a fight had broken out.

In fact, the disturbance was the farthest thing from a fight. The men were praying.

“We’ve since learned from law enforcement that the passengers onboard were practicing a traditional Orthodox Jew ritual called Tefillin,” Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan told the Los Angeles Daily News.

You can read the rest of this silly tale here.

Apparently, no one working for Alaska Airlines has ever read The Yiddish Policeman’s Union.

Earlier in the week I wrote about the Hayworth/Katz show held last weekend in Patterson. One of false assertions Assemblyman Katz made was that 2 million people had left the state because of high property taxes, that the state population had gone down. But it hadn’t, it’s gone up over the years meaning that if those 2 million did leave because of high property taxes, more than 2 million moved in to the state regardless of those taxes.

A discussion has ensued between someone I assume is a staffer in the Assemblyman’s office and myself that might be worth a read if you have absolutely nothing else to do. It’s here. But, um, this could be a good time to start cleaning out the garage like your wife has been asking you to do for 2 million years now.

Part of the aforementioned discussion is whether the rich are being taxed fairly or not. Republicans say we should not raise taxes on the wealthy as they use those dollars to create jobs. Jobs like gardeners, caddies and nannies.

And it’s important to note that while the average worker’s salary increased by 2% in 2010, those of CEO’s and their bonuses increased by 30.5%.

It’s also important to note that as far as state income taxes go, 6.85% of $35,000 ($2200) is a huge chunk as compared to say, 8% of $250,000 ($20,000). Getting by on $33,000 is a lot tougher than getting by on $230,000.

I say, tax the rich which a growing number of GOPers are finally agreeing including State Senator John Bonacic. And I say, stop returning to Wall Street the $13 billion collected each year in stock transfer taxes. And if the rich don’t like it, qu’ils mangent de la brioche or we can eat them.

Cougars!

On February 3rd of 2011 an astute reader sent in a photograph of a cougar track taken at the end of Richardsville Road just across the Kent town line in Putnam Valley and up against Fahnestock State Park.

One month later on March 2nd of 2011, the US Fish & Wildlife service declared the eastern cougar extinct. I’m guessing they didn’t look in Putnam County or weren’t looking very hard. Perhaps they might like to un-announce the death of the eastern cougar.

Our Very Own Young Republicans.

You know those kids: all clean cut, obedient, perfect blond hair and rank-straight teeth, blue eyes, pressed Dockers, starched button down shirts and looking for all the world like America’s version of Hitler Youth? Well, Kent town councilman John Greene, better known for corralling pheasants to be shot, is now the president of an official Young Republicans klavern right here in Putnam County. In response, Jeff Green will be setting up Putnam’s first Weiße Rose chapter, just in case.

Examining the Examiner:

Andrew Vitelli wrote a rather excellent article about the Hayworth/Katz show last weekend in Patterson. But how he was able to do so without mentioning my name as the Chief Provocateur, even though I was repeatedly singled out by Mike Griffin? I don’t work that hard to be ignored!

So what’s it going to take to get my name in the Examiner in proper context Andrew, a kiddie porn charge? Drug running? Murder? Everyone knows I don’t like children until they’re 25 or so, but the latter two are definitely within my ken.

In February, eight students from Nicetown’s Gratz High School, joined with 150 others to rampage through downtown Philadelphia trashing a Macy’s store in the process.

There’s an unintentional but convenient pun in there and finding it is your homework for the weekend.

What’s Going On?

Ongoing:
- Putnam Arts Council Members Show
- Putnam County 2011 Tree Program
This Weekend:
Into the Future
- Monday, March 28
  - Agriculture Sustainable Energy Conference
- Wednesday, March 30
  - Reading of “Rabbit Hole” to benefit Gilda’s Club
April
May
- Saturday, May 14
  - Carmina Burana
June
- Saturday, June 18
  - Clearwater Revival
July
- July 21 – 24
  - Gathering of the Vibes

Ongoing:

Putnam Arts Council Members Show

The Putnam Arts Council invites the public to view the fine work offered in its 48th annual Members’ Exhibit through March 27th, during Gallery hours, Tuesday – Friday, 10-4 and Sundays 1-4. Admission and parking are free.

The March 6 opening reception was well attended by the families and friends of PAC and the artists despite the weather, and viewers enjoyed the almost 100 pieces included in the 2011 show. Works include watercolors, oils, monoprints, photographs, mixed media, pottery and more with many priced for sale.

This exhibit opens our second year back at Belle Levine Art Center, in our re-built facility at 521 Kennicut Hill Rd., in Mahopac. The celebration of Art continues here in our own backyard with art exhibits, classes, concerts and more for artists and audiences of all ages. The Putnam Arts Council is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and with public funds from Putnam County. Additional support is raised through membership, programs, fundraising, and contributions from the public and private sectors. Inquiries for membership and sponsorship are welcome.

Information on upcoming cultural events and activities along with directions to the Art Center may be found at putnamartscouncil.com or call 845.803.8622.

Putnam County 2011 Tree Program

Orders must be in by Wednesday, April 6, 2011.Call Lori Taylor at (845) 878-7918 for more information and tell her we sent you.

From the flyer: We’ve added some exciting and different trees and shrubs this year. Most of them will attract and provide food and habitat for birds and other wildlife for your enjoyment and some even offer the opportunity to make jams and jellies. Blackberry (Rubus darrow) has large berries that are firm, juicy and have honey sweet true blackberry flavor. They are proven the most reliable producer of large crops of top quality fruit. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) this tree provides excellent vertical definition in a shrub border or as a free standing specimen. Creamy white lemon scented flowers are followed by small red seeds which are used by a variety of wildlife. Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) one of the most time-honored spring rites, Pussy Willow greets your spring starved eyes while snow is still on the ground. The flowers bloom on bare stems and provide pollen for the native bees and food for birds. Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus) has many common names all alluding to the aromatic properties of its leaves, bark, twigs and roots. Best of all is the wonderfully fruity scent produced by the unusual flowers. This plant is deer resistant. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Nannyberry’s white flowers give way in autumn to blue-black berry like drupes which often persist into winter and are quite attractive to birds and wildlife. Fruits are edible and used in jams and jellies. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) is a graceful elegant ornamental grass with plumes resembling bottle brushes that appear in summer and persist until fall. It is suited for residential landscape more than most other ornamental grasses because of its small size. Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) white flowers provide nectar for butterflies, native bees and other pollinators. The fruit provides a good source of food for birds and wildlife in fall and early winter.

This Weekend:

Friday, March 25

Local Rock Bands at AotL

6PM – “Letters to Autumn,” “The Road Home,” “The Face of Fear,” “After September,” “Seeing Through Blind Eyes” and “To Know Avail” are scheduled to play at the Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, 6-10 pm. Admission is $8 with a $3 discount for AotL members.

Michelle LeBlanc and Doug Smith Duo

7:15PM Join Michelle at the Division Street Grill in Peekskill. I’ll be performing with the great jazz piano man, Doug Smith. The food and ambiance are wonderful at the Division Street Grill. http://www.michelleleblanc.com/

Saturday, March 26

Putnam County Legislative Forum on people With Disabilities

8AM – 12 Noon – In typical Putnam County fashion, the announcement for this event is vague, says nothing much, and does so in really BIG LETTERS all over the PDF file announcing it. Apparently the Legislature has invited everyone from Charles Schumer to Sam Oliverio to take questions from residents about various issues concerning people with disabilities but here’s the deal – you have to register to speak. Sweet, eh? Anyway, it takes place at the $30 million operations center at the Donald Smith campus on Old Route 6 in Carmel.

Community Forum on Water Quality and Conservation

10 AM – 3PM – On Sat., Mar. 26, HHLT will host Follow the Water, a community forum on water quality and conservation, at the Highlands Country Club, Rte. 9W, in Garrison, NY. The free event, scheduled from 10:00am to 3:00pm, will feature two moderated hour and a half long panel discussions. Children’s watershed education programming will be provided in a separate room during the panel discussions by members of HHLLT’s education team. Participants will receive lunch and the opportunity to browse informational exhibit tables during breaks before and after the panels.

The morning panel, Water Policy & the Regulatory Framework, will present an overview of existing regulations on watersheds, wetlands/watercourses and wastewater management from the state, county and local levels, and introduce newer wastewater management technologies like subsurface drip dispersal.

During the afternoon session, Practical Ideas for Home & Business, the focus will be on steps home and business owners can take to conserve water and increase water quality in their communities. Topics will include non-point source pollution and its prevention, use of rain barrels and rain gardens, and installation and maintenance of technologies like composting toilets. There will be time for questions and comments from the audience during both sessions.

The forum is open to the general public and free of charge, but registration is strongly recommended as space is limited. Walk-ins will be accepted on the day of the event on a space available basis. Call or email HHLT at 845/424-3358 or info@hhlt.org for more information or to make a reservation.

Rain Barrel Building Workshop

10:30AM – 11:30AM – Our first rain barrel building workshop of the season at the Farm and Home Center in Millbrook (Route 44). At the workshop you will learn how to build a 55-gallon rain barrel that you will take home with you at the end of the workshop. The cost of the workshop is $35 and covers the cost of all supplies.

Space is limited and registration is required. To register, contact Angela at (845) 677-8223, ext. 114. Your spot in the workshop is not held until we receive your payment. The workshop is already filling up, so contact Angela soon if you would like to participate.

If you have any questions about this workshop or future workshops, please contact Carolyn at 845-677-8223, ext. 135 or cak97@cornell.edu. If you can not make it to this workshop, we will be having several more throughout the Spring and Summer.

Free Rabies Clinic

3PM – 5PM Bring your pets to the South Putnam Animal Hospital (230B Baldwin Place Road, Mahopac) for a free rabies vaccine. Bring along a photo ID for Putnam County residency and proof of prior vaccination. Call the Putnam County Health Department for more information at (845) 808-1390 ext 4312

Imagining the “Highlands of the Hudson” in 19th-Century America

5PM – Lecture with Stephen P. Rice, Professor of American Studies, Ramapo College. Throughout the century there were three main ways that people imagined this dramatic stretch of the Hudson River: as a magical realm of legend, as a natural scene of beauty aided in part by the hand of man, and as a historical setting of national importance. Prof. Rice examines these depictions in the verbal and visual arts, ranging from poems and works of fiction to paintings and popular illustrations.

This lecture is free and open to the public; and is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities, Speakers in the Humanities program. To RSVP, please call 845-265-4010 or email, kshier@pchs-fsm.org.

Poetry Plus – an evening of performed poetry and stories

Produced by Chris Blossy.
Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, NY.
Admission: $8. ($5 AotL/Students).
More information at: www.artsonthelake.org

Earth Hour

8:30PM – Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
Earth Hour – Chile

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries/territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.

Sunday, March 27

Vernal Pool Exploration and Book Signing

1PM – Come explore vernal pools and learn about the species that rely on them for survival such as frogs, fairy shrimp, salamanders and newts! A hands-on, outdoor activity for children and families and people of all ages, led by outdoor educator, naturalist and author Laurel Dodge. Wear mud boots! Copies of Laurel’s newly published book Nature Study for the Whole Family will be available for purchase and signing. Nature Study for the Whole Family promotes a return to nature study as a first-choice activity for family fun and learning and emphasizes how nature study can bring families closer, create special family memories, and encourage personal growth. Registration is suggested as space is limited. A donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is greatly appreciated with proceeds going towards the future stewardship of Land Trust nature preserves. Call 343-0840, x12 to register or RSVP via our Facebook page. Location: Laurel Hill Preserve, Town of Minisink.

PC Land Trust Volunteer Open House

1:30PM – The PCLT is partnering with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to offer a new approach to conservation training. For the first time, volunteers will have the opportunity to be trained and participate in the design, construction and maintenance of a new trail system on one of PCLT’s newest preserves – the 94 acre Brandon Farm Preserve in Patterson.

The Putnam County Land Trust will be holding an open-house style meeting for anyone interested in learning more about this project and initiative. Would you like to try trail work, office work or public outreach? Whether you have experience or not, the Land Trust has always relied upon the unique interests and backgrounds of its volunteers, and can now offer a new level of involvement.

At the Lawlor Building located at 2 Route 164 in Patterson. The meeting is open to anyone in the community who would like to find out more about this partnership and the other volunteer opportunities at the Putnam County Land Trust. For additional information contact the Land Trust at info@pclt.net or 845/278-2808.

Bird Artists for Children

3PM – 5PM – Ongoing Sundays through May 15th. For children aged 5-12. Children will create images of birds using a wide range of high quality art materials. Children will create drawings, paintings and sculpture. Tuition: $100.00 for the Public and $90.00 for AotL Members. More information is here.

About the Instructor:Mary Schreiber holds an M.S. from Bank Street College of Education. At Arts on the Lake she has led classes in collage, mask-making, painting, and sculpture. As an artist, she makes sculpture and marionettes.

Into the Future

Monday, March 28

Agriculture Sustainable Energy Conference

8AM – 1PM – How To Save Money & Energy on Your Farm

You’re invited to attend an Agriculture Sustainable Energy Conference on March 28, 2011, hosted by Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey’s Office. Come learn about regional assistance to help make your farm more energy efficient and sustainable. The event will take place from 8 am to 1 pm in the Student Lounge in Vanderlyn Hall at the SUNY Ulster Community College Campus in Stone Ridge, NY.

This event is free and open to the public. A continental breakfast will be provided in the morning. Please see below for the agenda.

To Register for this event, click here. Registration deadline is March 25, 2011.

Orange Register Now Button
______________________________________________
Agenda:

8:00 – 8:45 am:
Continental Breakfast and Registration

8:45 – 9:00 am:
Greetings – Dr. Don Katt, SUNY Ulster President
Opening Remarks – Hon. Maurice D. Hinchey

9:00 – 9:45 am:
Efficiency Comes First
-Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator for Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities will speak about the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) programs that offer both technical and financial assistance to help make farms more energy efficient and help farmers save money.

9:45 – 10:30 am:
Is Solar Cost Effective on a Farm? A Funding Opportunities Update
-USDA Rural Development representative Scott Collins will speak about the Rural Energy for America (REAP) Grant and Guaranteed Loan Program, which provides grants, loan guarantees, or both, to assist farms and rural small businesses with their purchases of renewable energy systems and improvements in the energy efficiency of their operations.

10:30 – 11:15 am:
Learn How to Secure $ For Renewable Energy Projects from the 2009 Recovery Act
-US Department of Energy representative Peter Weeks, will provide information about the 1603 program, which is a grant in lieu of tax credit program that enables rural business and family farmers the ability to fund energy projects. Mr. Weeks is the Clean Energy Advisor to the Secretary and Under Secretary for Energy.

11:15 – 11:30 am:
Break/Networking

11:30 am – 12:15 pm:
Technical & Financial Assistance for the Hudson Valley Farm Community
-Todd Erling, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp.

12:15 – 1:00 pm:
Exhibits/Networking/One-on-One Meetings – Meet with exhibitors and program representatives and start filling out applications: Bring your energy bills and let’s figure out how to save $$!
_______________________________________________________

Please direct questions about this event and registration to:
Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator
Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities
446 Broadway
Kingston, NY 12401
845-331-2238
meridith.nierenberg@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 30

Reading of “Rabbit Hole” to benefit Gilda’s Club

7:00PM – 9:00PM – We hope you will join us for a very special reading of David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Rabbit Hole” Benefiting GILDA’S CLUB of Westchester. Gilda’s Club…offering support forpeople whose lives have been touched by cancer…all types of cancer. Rabbit Hole takes us through a dark tunnel but it reminds us, with graceful simplicity,that there is light at the end of it. Produced and Directed by Elizabeth D’Ottavio. CAST: Ben Berner, Dee Dee Burke, Elizabeth D’Ottavio, Margie Ferris, Michael Fox, Kaili Lewis. Suggested donation $20 (Any and all donations welcome) To reserve a seat, please email Liz: efd364@optonline.net or call 914.419.6000

April

Friday, April 1

BATIK Contemporary Jazz Ensemble

Barry Hartglass, Dave Anthony, Tom Nazziola, Tim Ouimette and John Roggie – 5 serious musicians who don’t take themselves so seriously. Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, NY Admission: $15. ($10 AotL) Tickets and more info at: www.artsonthelake.org

Saturday, April 2

The Reflectionist Spring Art Exhibit

1PM – Opening Reception: Arts on the Lake, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, NY 10512. Mood, Magic, Mystery – What secrets lie within? Come and find out, and add your own point of view in a dialogue with the artists. Refreshments provided. Admission is free. Additional Exhibit Hours: Sun, April 3, 1-4PM, Sat, April 9, 1-4PM, Sun, April 10, 1-4PM
More info: http://www.reflectionist.org/exhibitions.html

Putnam County Historical Society Annual Meeting and Presentation by Rita Shaheen

4 pm – Please join us for the Annual Members Meeting of the Putnam County Historical Society. Learn more about our exhibitions, events, and programming while meeting some of our new board of trustees.

Immediately following the meeting, join us for “A Heritage Park at Scenic Hudson’s West Point Foundry Preserve.” Rita Shaheen, Director of Parks at Scenic Hudson, will present the organization’s future plans for the West Point Foundry Preserve, a national register historic site located right in the Village of Cold Spring.

There is no charge for these events. To RSVP, call 845-265-4010 or email, kshier@pchs-fsm.org.

Sunday, April 3

Michelle LeBlanc

2PM – 3:30PM – 1950′s Jazz: Bop, Cool, R&B Our quartet returns to perform at the Shrub Oak Library just in time to celebrate the coming of spring. Michelle jazz combo features the legendary Bill Crow on bass, the talented arranger Tom Kohl on piano and the world touring sax player, Ed Xiques. Our show will include a special encore featuring tunes from our new CD “I Remember You.” This free concert take place in the special events room of this lovely library. Ample and convenient parking is available, so invite all your jazz lovin’ friends. John C Hart Memorial Library, 1130 E Main St, Shrub Oak, NY (914) 245-5262 www.yorktownlibrary.org

John Hall in Concert (Yes, that John Hall)

7:30PM – Town Crier, Route 22, Pawling. We’re thrilled to welcome back John Hall after his two terms as US Congressman. Singer/songwriter/guitarist John Hall will bring his unique guitar stylings and expressive voice to The Towne Crier for his first concert since leaving Congress. The average music fan may associate John Hall with blockbuster Orleans hits like Still The One and Dance with Me, but those familiar with him know his more eclectic work. He wrote for Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Ricky Skaggs and James Taylor. John has also played guitar solos on records by Taj Mahal, Carly Simon and Little Feat. As one of the organizers of the historic No Nukes concerts, he was among the performers featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine with co-producers Graham Nash, Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt. : artist’s home - $20 advance/ $25 door Buy TICKETS now!

Wednesday, April 6

Roy Zimmerman in Concert

7:30PM – Zimmerman’s songs have been heard on HBO and Showtime, and he’s a featured blogger for the Huffington Post. The Los Angeles Times says, “Zimmerman displays a lacerating wit and keen awareness of society’s foibles that bring to mind a latter-day Tom Lehrer.” Tom Lehrer himself says, “I congratulate Roy Zimmerman on reintroducing literacy to comedy songs. And the rhymes actually rhyme, they don’t just rhyne.” Joni MItchell says, “Roy’s lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection.” At All Souls Unitarian Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue (at 80th). Suggested donation, $15.

Friday, April 8th

Saturday, April 9

Passport Day in Putnam

9AM – 1PM The Putnam County Clerk’s Office is hosting a Passport Event at its office located at 34 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, New York on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications. Putnam County Clerk Dennis Sant is joining the Department of State in celebrating Passport Day in the USA 2011, a national passport acceptance and outreach event.

U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government.

Information on the cost and how to apply for a U.S. passport is available at the Putnam County Clerk’s Website located at www.putnamcountyny.com. U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone by calling the Putnam County Clerk’s Office at 845-808-1142 X49273 or the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.

Putnam County Land Trust 42nd Annual Dinner

5:30PM – Join in the celebration as Putnam County Land Trust marks 42 years of preserving open space and protecting sensitive habitats in Putnam County- right in your big backyard. Enjoy live music by Bruce Eisenstein, a sumptuously wonderful buffet dinner, their famous silent auction of eclectic items and an exciting Live Auction led by Ivan and Laura Cohen. Displays of Land Trust properties along with recognitions and awards will be part of the evening.

The proceeds from the event will benefit the preserves and programs of Putnam County Land Trust. Speaking about the upcoming dinner, Land Trust President Judy Terlizzi said, “PCLT needs the community’s continued support to preserve open space and sensitive habitats in Putnam County.” In addition to attending the dinner, the Land Trust is looking for supporters to donate goods or services for the auction or advertise in the dinner journal.

The event will be held at the Starr Ridge Banquet and Conference Center at 38 Starr Ridge Road in Brewster on Saturday, April 9th, 2011 at 5:30pm. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Take advantage of special dinner pricing of $60 per person if paid by March 30th. To make a reservation, inquire about advertising space or donate goods or services for the auction, call 845/228-4520 or 845/279-3122, or visit the PCLT website at www.pclt.net.

Sunday, April 10

Communities in Transition – Local Strengths, Local Resilience

3PM – Mohonk Consultations: We will explore the issues of Peak Oil, climate change and how, together, we can create a locally-based, sustainable and resilient future

Learn how the growing, community-based TRANSITION TOWN movement has begun to implement solutions for climate change, renewable energy, transportation, housing, safe water and food, and strengthening local economies in our region and around the globe.

TRANSITION TOWN INITIATIVES represent the most promising and positive ways of engaging people and communities to take the far-reaching actions that are required to build local sustainability.
Panel Presentation and Group Discussion

The Transition Town Movement is a rapidly spreading global effort to holistically reorganize entire communities and municipalities, and create sustainable and locally based economies in the face of deteriorating oil resources, and increasing climate and economic instability. The Movement embraces the idea of “engaged optimism”.� It emphasizes that ordinary people have the collective will to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to build local resilience to address the challenges of our times.

Reservations required. By phone 845-256-2726, or email mohonkconsultations@hvi.net

Suggested donation: $10 Seniors; Students $5

Mohonk Consultations
Mohonk Mountain House
1000 Mountain Rest Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561

Voice: 845.256.2726
Website: mohonk-consultations.org

Mohonk Consultation’s mission is to bring together people of diverse perspectives to promote dialogue that inspires greater understanding and sustainability of all life on Earth.

Tuesday, April 19

Sustainable Roofing: Living/Green Roofs, Cool Roofs

6PM – 8PM – Much of conventional roofing represents a wasted opportunity to reduce energy costs, improve building performance and durability, create useable habitat for flora and fauna, improve biodiversity, increase the performance of installed photovoltaic systems, mitigate combined sewer overflow (CSO) events, reduce waste stream pollution, lessen urban heat island effects (UHIE) and make the “view from the top” a much prettier place. Our experts on sustainable roofing will talk about proven roofing alternatives that can do all these things, turning underutilized dark roof surfaces into acres of better space for the environment, for occupants, and for owners. Participants will gain a strong understanding of innovative roofing technologies such as cool roofs, photovoltaic roofing, vegetative roof systems, recyclable roofing, and roofing materials manufactured with post-consumer recycled content and low VOC roofing options.

About The Presenter: Rich Kuhn, Territory Manager: Rich Kuhn is a Territory Manager for the Garland Company which is a full-service manufacturer of High Performance Building Envelope Moisture Protection Products. Rich believes that the best way to be “green” is by providing the longest lasting, lowest Life Cycle Cost roofing solutions for his clients. Rich obtained a B.S. in Biology from Seton Hall University in 1999. He is a member of the AIA, NYASBO, NYSB&G, and the USGBC.

At: Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill 91 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY

Register for the Putnam/Dutchess County event here. Reservations are $10 for advance sales to USGBC NY Upstate Chapter Members and Students, and $20 for non-members. Members & students pay $15 at the door. This presentation qualifies for AIA LU

Friday April 22 – Earth Day

An Earth Day Celebration to Benefit Clearwater

We’re excited to announce Clearwater Generations: An Earth Day Celebration to Benefit Clearwater, which will be held at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY, on April 22 at 8pm.

The show will feature Pete Seeger & Tao Seeger, Peter Yarrow & Bethany Yarrow, Bernice Johnson Reagon & Toshi Reagon, and David Amram and Family. Performances by Clearwater friends and special guests including Janis Ian, Tom Paxton, Tom Chapin, Livingston Taylor, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Guy Davis, Rufus Cappadocia and the Power of Song, will round out this special celebration.

Clearwater’s environmental mission is about inspiring and educating the next generation, and we have applied this theme to music. Honoring tradition while looking toward the future has always been a major part of the Clearwater Festival. The Generations concert is all about classic Clearwater artists performing with and inspiring their children and grandchildren in order to carry on their legacy through song.

Tickets for the Clearwater Generations: An Earth Day Celebration concert range from $48 to $98. A limited amount of $250 tickets include premium seating, a post concert reception with the artists, as well as special Clearwater gifts. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

May

Saturday, May 14

Carmina Burana

8PM at Brewster High School. The Putnam Chorale performs CARMINA BURANA – One Performance Only – with full orchestra and accompanied by the Brewster High School Chamber Singers and the Seven Star Dancers, on MAY 14, 2011 8 pm at the Brewster High School Performing Arts Center, 50 Foggintown Road, Brewster, NY. Get more information at our web site (www.putnamchorale.org) or by calling 845-279-7265.

A collection of historic medieval songs and poems was discovered in the year 1803 at an abandoned monastery in Bavaria. This collection was found to be satirical works that had been performed by traveling goliards, disaffected clergy and clerical students, who used the works to lighten the burden of everyday life and to poke fun at the authorities of the day. In a way, the Saturday Night Live of its time!

The works make fun of church excesses and follies and mock the changing morals of the times. There are love songs and songs for drinking and gambling that celebrate Epicurus, the ancient Greek Philosopher and advocate of the blissful life. The stories are provocative and often disrespectful, but offer a common man perspective and a chance at some frivolity.

June

Saturday, June 18

Clearwater Revival

Croton Point Park – Pete Seeger star Drive-By Truckers star Martin Sexton star Indigo Girls, Arlo Guthrie star Josh Ritter star Jorma Kaukonen star Peter Yarrow, John Sebastian star Janis Ian star The Low Anthem, Red Horse (Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka & Eliza Gilkyson) star The Klezmatics, Toubab Krewe star Justin Townes Earle star Chris, Smither star Joanne Shenandoah, Tom Chapin star Bernice Johnson Reagon star Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell, James McMurtry | Jay Ungar & Molly Mason | Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, Tao Seeger Band | Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely | Mike & Ruthy | Sarah Lee & Johnny, Bethany & Rufus’ Roots Quartet | Clayfoot Strutters | Zlatne Uste | Joe Purdy, The Nields | The Kennedys | Jen Chapin | K.J. Denhert | Zon del Barrio, Vanaver Caravan| Buskin & Batteau | Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Brooklyn Qawwali Party | Joe D’urso | Joel Plaskett, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater star The Power of Song star The Rivertown Kids, Mustard’s Retreat star Magpie star Roger the Jester star Dog on Fleas, Walkabout Clearwater Chorus star Paul Richmond star The Storycrafters, Rick Nestler star Donna Nestler star Travis Jeffrey star Margo Thunderbird, Marva Clark star Linda Richards star Eshu Bumpus star Dan Einbender, Dirty Stay Out Skifflers star Geoff Kaufman star Sarah Underhill star Peninnah Schram, Kay Olan/Ionataiewas star Mel & Vinnie star Karen Pillsworth star Gregorio Pedroza , Allan Aunapu star Jan Christensen star The New York Packet star Matt Turk star Hope Machine

July

July 21 – 24

Gathering of the Vibes

Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT – Gathering of the Vibes, the Northeast’s acclaimed music festival destination, will “bring the magic” once again with a 4-day extravaganza of eclectic music, arts and community, July 21-24, 2011 at Connecticut’s magnificent Seaside Park. The rumor mill is swirling with artist announcements around the corner. Gathering of the Vibes promises its most spectacular and diverse lineup to date, delivering over 40 hours of music on multiple stages. Powerhouse Vibes alumni include: The Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Furthur with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, James Brown, The Black Crowes, and Damian Marley and Nas, alongside breakout acts like Umphrey’s McGee, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jackie Greene, and tri-state favorites The McLovins. The Vibes also warmly embraces new, virtually unknown artists, who may submit music for consideration through sonic bids.

News That Matters – March 18, 2011 – Things To Do Edition

Jeff Green — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:25:35 +0000

“In journalism, there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right.” – Ellen Goodman

Good Friday Morning,

You could have a hallway that looks like this and you probably should. All you need to do is call Jeff at Taconicarts.com for a painting estimate. And it’s not just hallways, it’s bedrooms and kitchens and living rooms and heck, can you see the outside of your home with a fresh coat of paint? Of course you can! And believe it or not, you can afford it.
Call: 845 554-5119 and let’s get it done.

Earth Day is rapidly approaching and though I know it’s a felony to celebrate such here in Putnam County, there must be a number of organizations willing to engage in direct action and civil disobedience by holding Earth Day events. If you are one of the brave please get them into News That Matters as soon as possible.

What an incredibly beautiful morning! The spring birds are all a twitter setting up nests and marking out territories. Last night a woodcock set up home in the field and the dogs treed an opossum, and crocuses (croci?) are up around the area, a sure sign that spring is here. The high today is called at 73F but will drop rapidly overnight for a high only in the upper 40′s and low 50′s for the weekend and into next week, perfect weather if you’ve a sugarbush. But today is a taste of what’s in store for us in a very short time. Call in sick from lunch and get outside!

The two one-man shows schedule for Arts on the Lake this weekend (“Old Hickory” and “Cemetery Man”) have been postponed due to a family emergency with one of the actors. We’ll post the new date as soon as one is set.

Have I mentioned that it’s tick season? I have? Sorry about mentioning it in each issue but it is, and their hungry and voracious and insidious and I’ve already pulled one out of me and one off the dog. Lyme disease is a serious illness, and don’t I know it!

Just in case you’d like to know why it’s so expensive to live around here, this week’s average propane price in the valley is $3.20, up from $2.89 this time last year. But that rate is only for people who use more than their share. As is usual with US energy policy, the more energy you use the cheaper it is. Those of you who are using propane just for cooking are probably paying in the $6-$7 range or more.

Members of the Putnam County Committee on Alternative Energy are still in contact with each other, albeit without county approval. The men and women who were tagged for this charge are committed to seeing their mission through whether the county gives its blessings or not. The committee was in the process of gathering information about alternative energy and lowering lighting, heating and cooling needs for county infrastructure and your homes and businesses when it was dismissed by the County Legislature at the beginning of this year. In the meantime, the counties around us have earned hundreds of thousands of Federal dollars that will save them millions of dollars over the years. And here in Putnam County? Raising the sales tax and giving out corporate welfare rules the day instead.

If you believe the committee should be able to continue its work within the county government’s official framework, write the Legislature and tell them. Their public email address is here. And don’t be afraid to say you read about it at PlanPutnam/News That Matters.

Allegedly to save $60 million, Congressional Republicans voted to de-fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting making the United States the only industrialized nation in the world that does not have a publicly funded media outlet. Considering we’re also the only industrialized country in the world without a national health care system we are standing tall!

But we have a problem that has been underplayed: House Speaker John Boehner promised early on that any bill would be posted for public reading 72 hours before a vote was taken. And for this bill, at least, we’re stuck in a semantic void that politicians have crafted for themselves that makes 72 hours a flexible time-frame.

In this case the bill was brought to committee in an “emergency meeting” as if it were about jobs or infrastructure or banking regulations, and it’s hard to fathom how $60 million required an “emergency” when the Federal Budget is in the trillions of dollars. In other words, the vote to de-fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was a mean-spirited “pay back” for CPB and its news outlet, NPR, not towing the FOX News line.

In the meantime, Congressional Republicans have yet to begin to talk about cutting the Pentagon budget, how we’re going to pay for the ongoing war in Afghanistan, or jobs or taxes or anything that isn’t philosophically correct in the same way Putnam County’s Republican led legislature has yet to take on budget cuts or jobs or help to those in financial need (with the obvious exception of Paul Camarda who has found the county’s purse-strings rather open and welcoming).

From the “You Can’t Make This Up” Department:

“The Japanese have done so much to save the planet. He’s right. They’ve given us the Prius. Even now, refugees are still recycling their garbage, and yet Gaia levels them [laughs], just wipes them out. Wipes out their nuclear plants, all kinds of radiation. What kind of payback is this? That is an excellent question. They invented the Prius. In fact, where Gaia blew up is right where they make all these electric cars. That’s where the tsunami hit. All those brand new electric cars sitting there on the lot. I like the way this guy was thinking. It’s like — it’s like Gaia hit the Prius and Leaf place. It’s like they were in the crosshairs, if we can use that word, it does. What is Gaia trying to tell us here? What is the mother of environmentalism trying to say with this hit? Great observation out there, Chris.”

- Rush Limbaugh

Lastly this Friday morning, over the past few weeks I have managed to offend Democrats, Republicans, Arabs, Israeli’s, a single Irish woman and others too numerous to list. If I have not offended you I apologize for the oversight so please let me know so I can get you on the list. So much political correctness, so little time!

“You can’t get Lyme from shaking hands. I have to bite you.” – Jeff Green

‘Whats Going On?

‘Whats Going On?
- Ongoing:
  - Putnam Arts Council Members Show
  - Putnam County 2011 Tree Program
- This Weekend:
Into the Future:

Ongoing:

Putnam Arts Council Members Show

The Putnam Arts Council invites the public to view the fine work offered in its 48th annual Members’ Exhibit through March 27th, during Gallery hours, Tuesday – Friday, 10-4 and Sundays 1-4. Admission and parking are free.

The March 6 opening reception was well attended by the families and friends of PAC and the artists despite the weather, and viewers enjoyed the almost 100 pieces included in the 2011 show. Works include watercolors, oils, monoprints, photographs, mixed media, pottery and more with many priced for sale.

This exhibit opens our second year back at Belle Levine Art Center, in our re-built facility at 521 Kennicut Hill Rd., in Mahopac. The celebration of Art continues here in our own backyard with art exhibits, classes, concerts and more for artists and audiences of all ages. The Putnam Arts Council is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and with public funds from Putnam County. Additional support is raised through membership, programs, fundraising, and contributions from the public and private sectors. Inquiries for membership and sponsorship are welcome.

Information on upcoming cultural events and activities along with directions to the Art Center may be found at putnamartscouncil.com or call 845.803.8622.

Putnam County 2011 Tree Program

Orders must be in by Wednesday, April 6, 2011.Call Lori Taylor at (845) 878-7918 for more information and tell her we sent you.

From the flyer: We’ve added some exciting and different trees and shrubs this year. Most of them will attract and provide food and habitat for birds and other wildlife for your enjoyment and some even offer the opportunity to make jams and jellies. Blackberry (Rubus darrow) has large berries that are firm, juicy and have honey sweet true blackberry flavor. They are proven the most reliable producer of large crops of top quality fruit. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) this tree provides excellent vertical definition in a shrub border or as a free standing specimen. Creamy white lemon scented flowers are followed by small red seeds which are used by a variety of wildlife. Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) one of the most time-honored spring rites, Pussy Willow greets your spring starved eyes while snow is still on the ground. The flowers bloom on bare stems and provide pollen for the native bees and food for birds. Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus) has many common names all alluding to the aromatic properties of its leaves, bark, twigs and roots. Best of all is the wonderfully fruity scent produced by the unusual flowers. This plant is deer resistant. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Nannyberry’s white flowers give way in autumn to blue-black berry like drupes which often persist into winter and are quite attractive to birds and wildlife. Fruits are edible and used in jams and jellies. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) is a graceful elegant ornamental grass with plumes resembling bottle brushes that appear in summer and persist until fall. It is suited for residential landscape more than most other ornamental grasses because of its small size. Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) white flowers provide nectar for butterflies, native bees and other pollinators. The fruit provides a good source of food for birds and wildlife in fall and early winter.

This Weekend:

Friday, March 18

School of the Americas Watch

5PM – 8PM – SOA Watch Speakers. Come to an enlightening discussion and presentation about modern issues of militarization in the Americas with SOA Watch staff members Nico Udu-gama and Gabriela Uassouf.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gabi Uassouf is a long-term SOA Watch Latin America intern. Daughter of the neoliberal crisis that exploded in December 2001 in her homecountry, her activism started in the local neighbors’ assemblies movement. In Venezuela, she is she is also an activist at a community TV station and a progressive women’s group.

Nico was schooled in resistance by the campesinos and campesinas of Colombia. He spent one year in the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, and three years with the communities in the Magdalena Medio, Arauca, Catatumbo and Bogotá. Nico currently works for SOA Watch as the field organizer.

At the Southside Lounge, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY. Brought to you by PUSH: Ideas into Action. If you have any questions about the tour, or bringing Gabi and Nico to your town, email Jessica Drazenovich at jessica@soaw.org, or call the SOA Watch office at (202)-234-3440.

Sound of Music Auditions

7PM – 9PM (College students only. See below for other times.) Auditions dates have been announced for The Sound of Music, Brewster Theater Company’s summer 2011 musical production.

Auditions dates are divided by age group as follows:
Friday, March 18 from 7-9 pm for college students only
Friday April 8, 7-9pm for adults
Saturday April 9, 10am-1pm for children
Saturday April 9, 2-5pm for adults
Callbacks will be held on Sunday April 10 from 1-5pm.

All auditions and callbacks will take place on the second floor of the Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Center 15 Mount Ebo Road in Brewster.
For further information, please go to www.brewstertheater.org or leave a message at 845-598-1621

Saturday, March 19

Putnam County History Conference

9AM – Morning Session. The morning sessions will be of general interest to history-lovers. Eugene Boesch will talk about what Putnam County was like at the time of its creation in 1812 and about what archeology reveals about society of that time. Sallie Sypher will speak on the many little reasons why our towns seceded from Dutchess County. Pat McMahon Houser will discuss the changes in land use from 1812 to the present and how the reservoirs affected planning, farming, and growth. There will be breaks between each talk and plenty of time for questions and answers. Lunch. Jonathan Kruk and Rich Bala, Hudson River Ramblers, will entertain during lunch, which is scheduled to begin at 12:15. Those wishing to have lunch should telephone the County Historian’s Office (845- 808-1420) or e-mail to historian@putnamcountyny.gov and send a check in the amount of $10 to County Historian , 68 Marvin Ave. , Brewster NY 10509. Even if you do not want lunch, please let us know that you plan to attend. Teachers wishing in-service credit for the conference should register with www.ihare.org. Afternoon Sessions. The afternoon session, which begins at 1:15, is designed primarily for teachers, but all are welcome and will find it interesting. County Historian Karl Rohde will lead a discussion of Bicentennial planning and opportunities for teachers and students. At the Mahopac Library.

Hysterical Laughter Ensues

11AM – Congresswoman Nan Hayworth will meet with constituents (along with Tea Party Assemblyman Steve Katz) to explain why her party is cutting funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, alternative energy, job-creating Federal programs (including block grants), and to explain their assault on women, public health and education while ignoring the deficit, jobs, relief for workers, home mortgage assistance, Pell Grants and other vital federal programs. Patterson Town Hall. Bring your high water boots… you are going to need them.

Peace Vigil

Noon-2PM. Eight Years ago on Christmas week Chris Rhue, Pete Seeger, myself and a handful of others began a vigil against the US wars in the Middle East at the intersection of Route 9 and Route 9D in Wappinger’s Falls.

Through snow storms and ice storms and the heat of summer, each Saturday we stood with signs, banners and American flags reminding passersby that the youth of America was being sent off to war for naught but oil.

This Saturday marks the 8th anniversary of those wars, reminding you that there are still 50,000 US servicemen fighting and dying at a cost of more than a trillion dollars. Is your gasoline any cheaper? No, of course not. Has Exxon made billions? Yes, of course.

The vigil is still ongoing and you are encouraged to come on out (the weather looks good) and join your neighbors in this anniversary.

Sunday, March 20

Little Stony Point “2011 Maple Syrup Day”

10AM – Little Stony Point Citizen’s Association will host its 22nd Annual Maple Syrup Day from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Caretaker’s House on Route 9D just north of Cold Spring.

[This event was postponed from March 4th due to torrential rain]

Last year’s event drew a record crowd, who reveled in fresh-off-the-griddle pancakes, hot apple cider and delicious maple syrup. The event is free and open to all, featuring live music with a backdrop of the beautiful Hudson River. Of course the park is open to anyone interested in a quick hike around the perimeter or to the beach.

Kids of all ages will be given a demonstration of how sugar maple trees are tapped and witness first hand the process involved in transforming the watery liquid dripping out of the trees into the sticky sweet liquid the native Americans called “sinzibuckwud” literally, “drawn from wood.” A large fire under the evaporator tray, where the water is boiled off, leaves what we know as maple syrup.

A stand operated by the Hudson Valley Maple Farm, a program of NY State Parks at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center, will have bottles of syrup available for those interested in taking the party home with them. This group has taps throughout the Taconic Region State Parks, including a number of trees in the woods across from Little Stony Point. The pails appeared last week and have already provided enough sap to fill the evaporator and more. The group will share their knowledge of the history and methodology of maple syrup making.

“Efficient Government in New York: State and County Solutions”

11:30 AM – Guest Speaker: Paul Francis, Governor Cuomo’s Director for Redesign and Efficiency, former Director of Operations for Governors Paterson and Spitzer. Please join us to mingle with fellow Putnam County Democrats and discuss how our governments can and must be redesigned Sunday, March 20th, 11:30AM at Four Brothers, 654 Route 6, in Mahopac. $25 suggested donation, at the door or sent in advance to 31 Sycamore Rd, Mahopac NY 10541 c/o L. Jones with checks made out to “Putnam County Democratic Committee” Please RSVP at putnamcountydemocrats@gmail.com

Concert Keep Art and Music in Yonkers Schools – Westchester Symphonic Winds

3:30PM – City Council President Chuck Lesnick, Yonkers Public Schools and Sarah Lawrence College present a free concert in support of the arts in education. Featuring: The Westchester Symphonic Winds and our very own Yonkers Public School Teachers! Now, more than ever, it is vital that we make our voices heard and keep art and music in Yonkers’ Schools! Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College, One Mead Way Bronxville, NY

Into the Future:

March

Monday, March 21

Photo Group – Arts on the Lake

7PM – Photo Group with Chris Casaburi. All photographers are welcome. Formed in 2009, the Photo Group provides an opportunity for local photographers to share knowledge and learn from one another. The group meets monthly to discuss photography, to swap tips & techniques, and to share images and stories in both traditional and digital media. It’s a comfortable, friendly environment where members can also present their work, by showing prints or including digital photos in a projected slideshow. From beginner to professional, we invite all photographers to join. No yearly dues, free. More about Photo Group The Photo Group usually meets the 3rd Monday of every month. Email Chris Casaburi at chris@casaburi.com for more information.

Tuesday, March 22

New York State Park Advocacy Day

Join Parks & Trails New York and the Alliance for NYS Parks for the 5th Annual Park Advocacy Day and help send a message of support for New York’s 213 parks and historic sites. As a park advocate, you will have the opportunity to join with park supporters from throughout the state to meet with policymakers and stress the importance of keeping New York’s state parks open, protected and well-maintained. Your efforts will have a lasting impact on legislators’ as they make important decisions about parks.

Participating in Park Advocacy Day is meaningful, fun, and most of all, easy! As a Park Advocacy Day participant, you will be assigned to a team with fellow state parks supporters who will join you in meetings with policymakers throughout the day.

There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Online registration is quick and easy – click here to register.

For more information on Park Advocacy Day, please contact Mark Luciano at Parks & Trails New York at 518-434-1583 or email mluciano@ptny.org.

Wednesday, March 23

Hudson Valley Science Café

7PM – The American Crow: Not your average songbird.

Presenter: Douglas Robinson, Ph.D. Dr. Robinson is a behavioral ecologist interested in avian breeding biology and the evolution of social behavior. He teaches at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY, and is preparing for an investigation that will compare the breeding biology of American Crows, Fish Crows, and Common Ravens in the mid-Hudson River valley. Meeting site: Diana’s, 1015 Little Britain Road (Route 207), New Windsor (just east of Stewart Newburgh Airport, on the opposite side of the road from the airport entrance). See http://www.DIANASNY.com for menus and map. $3.00 admission fee includes coffee or tea. If you arrive at 6 PM, you can order from the Early Bird menu. No orders are taken during the Presentation (7:00-7:30).

Friday, March 25

Local Rock Bands at AotL

6PM – “Letters to Autumn,” “The Road Home,” “The Face of Fear,” “After September,” “Seeing Through Blind Eyes” and “To Know Avail” are scheduled to play at the Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, 6-10 pm. Admission is $8 with a $3 discount for AotL members.

Saturday, March 26

Putnam County Legislative Forum on people With Disabilities

8AM – 12 Noon – In typical Putnam County fashion, the announcement for this event is vague, says nothing much, and does so in really BIG LETTERS all over the PDF file announcing it. Apparently the Legislature has invited everyone from Charles Schumer to Sam Oliverio to take questions from residents about various issues concerning people with disabilities but here’s the deal – you have to register to speak. Sweet, eh? Anyway, it takes place at the $30 million operations center at the Donald Smith campus on Old Route 6 in Carmel.

Community Forum on Water Quality and Conservation

10 AM – 3PM – On Sat., Mar. 26, HHLT will host Follow the Water, a community forum on water quality and conservation, at the Highlands Country Club, Rte. 9W, in Garrison, NY. The free event, scheduled from 10:00am to 3:00pm, will feature two moderated hour and a half long panel discussions. Children’s watershed education programming will be provided in a separate room during the panel discussions by members of HHLLT’s education team. Participants will receive lunch and the opportunity to browse informational exhibit tables during breaks before and after the panels.

The morning panel, Water Policy & the Regulatory Framework, will present an overview of existing regulations on watersheds, wetlands/watercourses and wastewater management from the state, county and local levels, and introduce newer wastewater management technologies like subsurface drip dispersal.

During the afternoon session, Practical Ideas for Home & Business, the focus will be on steps home and business owners can take to conserve water and increase water quality in their communities. Topics will include non-point source pollution and its prevention, use of rain barrels and rain gardens, and installation and maintenance of technologies like composting toilets. There will be time for questions and comments from the audience during both sessions.

The forum is open to the general public and free of charge, but registration is strongly recommended as space is limited. Walk-ins will be accepted on the day of the event on a space available basis. Call or email HHLT at 845/424-3358 or info@hhlt.org for more information or to make a reservation.

Rain Barrel Building Workshop

10:30AM – 11:30AM – Our first rain barrel building workshop of the season at the Farm and Home Center in Millbrook (Route 44). At the workshop you will learn how to build a 55-gallon rain barrel that you will take home with you at the end of the workshop. The cost of the workshop is $35 and covers the cost of all supplies.

Space is limited and registration is required. To register, contact Angela at (845) 677-8223, ext. 114. Your spot in the workshop is not held until we receive your payment. The workshop is already filling up, so contact Angela soon if you would like to participate.

If you have any questions about this workshop or future workshops, please contact Carolyn at 845-677-8223, ext. 135 or cak97@cornell.edu. If you can not make it to this workshop, we will be having several more throughout the Spring and Summer.

Free Rabies Clinic

3PM – 5PM Bring your pets to the South Putnam Animal Hospital (230B Baldwin Place Road, Mahopac) for a free rabies vaccine. Bring along a photo ID for Putnam County residency and proof of prior vaccination. Call the Putnam County Health Department for more information at (845) 808-1390 ext 4312

Imagining the “Highlands of the Hudson” in 19th-Century America

5PM – Lecture with Stephen P. Rice, Professor of American Studies, Ramapo College. Throughout the century there were three main ways that people imagined this dramatic stretch of the Hudson River: as a magical realm of legend, as a natural scene of beauty aided in part by the hand of man, and as a historical setting of national importance. Prof. Rice examines these depictions in the verbal and visual arts, ranging from poems and works of fiction to paintings and popular illustrations.

This lecture is free and open to the public; and is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities, Speakers in the Humanities program. To RSVP, please call 845-265-4010 or email, kshier@pchs-fsm.org.

Poetry Plus – an evening of performed poetry and stories

Produced by Chris Blossy.
Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, NY.
Admission: $8. ($5 AotL/Students).
More information at: www.artsonthelake.org

Sunday, March 27

Vernal Pool Exploration and Book Signing

1PM – Come explore vernal pools and learn about the species that rely on them for survival such as frogs, fairy shrimp, salamanders and newts! A hands-on, outdoor activity for children and families and people of all ages, led by outdoor educator, naturalist and author Laurel Dodge. Wear mud boots! Copies of Laurel’s newly published book Nature Study for the Whole Family will be available for purchase and signing. Nature Study for the Whole Family promotes a return to nature study as a first-choice activity for family fun and learning and emphasizes how nature study can bring families closer, create special family memories, and encourage personal growth. Registration is suggested as space is limited. A donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is greatly appreciated with proceeds going towards the future stewardship of Land Trust nature preserves. Call 343-0840, x12 to register or RSVP via our Facebook page. Location: Laurel Hill Preserve, Town of Minisink.

Bird Artists for Children

3PM – 5PM – Ongoing Sundays through May 15th. For children aged 5-12. Children will create images of birds using a wide range of high quality art materials. Children will create drawings, paintings and sculpture. Tuition: $100.00 for the Public and $90.00 for AotL Members. More information is here.

About the Instructor:Mary Schreiber holds an M.S. from Bank Street College of Education. At Arts on the Lake she has led classes in collage, mask-making, painting, and sculpture. As an artist, she makes sculpture and marionettes.

Monday, March 28

Agriculture Sustainable Energy Conference

8AM – 1PM – How To Save Money & Energy on Your Farm

You’re invited to attend an Agriculture Sustainable Energy Conference on March 28, 2011, hosted by Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey’s Office. Come learn about regional assistance to help make your farm more energy efficient and sustainable. The event will take place from 8 am to 1 pm in the Student Lounge in Vanderlyn Hall at the SUNY Ulster Community College Campus in Stone Ridge, NY.

This event is free and open to the public. A continental breakfast will be provided in the morning. Please see below for the agenda.

To Register for this event, click here. Registration deadline is March 25, 2011.

Orange Register Now Button
______________________________________________
Agenda:

8:00 – 8:45 am:
Continental Breakfast and Registration

8:45 – 9:00 am:
Greetings – Dr. Don Katt, SUNY Ulster President
Opening Remarks – Hon. Maurice D. Hinchey

9:00 – 9:45 am:
Efficiency Comes First
-Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator for Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities will speak about the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) programs that offer both technical and financial assistance to help make farms more energy efficient and help farmers save money.

9:45 – 10:30 am:
Is Solar Cost Effective on a Farm? A Funding Opportunities Update
-USDA Rural Development representative Scott Collins will speak about the Rural Energy for America (REAP) Grant and Guaranteed Loan Program, which provides grants, loan guarantees, or both, to assist farms and rural small businesses with their purchases of renewable energy systems and improvements in the energy efficiency of their operations.

10:30 – 11:15 am:
Learn How to Secure $ For Renewable Energy Projects from the 2009 Recovery Act
-US Department of Energy representative Peter Weeks, will provide information about the 1603 program, which is a grant in lieu of tax credit program that enables rural business and family farmers the ability to fund energy projects. Mr. Weeks is the Clean Energy Advisor to the Secretary and Under Secretary for Energy.

11:15 – 11:30 am:
Break/Networking

11:30 am – 12:15 pm:
Technical & Financial Assistance for the Hudson Valley Farm Community
-Todd Erling, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp.

12:15 – 1:00 pm:
Exhibits/Networking/One-on-One Meetings – Meet with exhibitors and program representatives and start filling out applications: Bring your energy bills and let’s figure out how to save $$!
_______________________________________________________

Please direct questions about this event and registration to:
Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator
Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities
446 Broadway
Kingston, NY 12401
845-331-2238
meridith.nierenberg@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 30

Reading of “Rabbit Hole” to benefit Gilda’s Club

7:00PM – 9:00PM – We hope you will join us for a very special reading of David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Rabbit Hole” Benefiting GILDA’S CLUB of Westchester. Gilda’s Club…offering support forpeople whose lives have been touched by cancer…all types of cancer. Rabbit Hole takes us through a dark tunnel but it reminds us, with graceful simplicity,that there is light at the end of it. Produced and Directed by Elizabeth D’Ottavio. CAST: Ben Berner, Dee Dee Burke, Elizabeth D’Ottavio, Margie Ferris, Michael Fox, Kaili Lewis. Suggested donation $20 (Any and all donations welcome) To reserve a seat, please email Liz: efd364@optonline.net or call 914.419.6000

April

Friday, April 1

BATIK Contemporary Jazz Ensemble

Barry Hartglass, Dave Anthony, Tom Nazziola, Tim Ouimette and John Roggie – 5 serious musicians who don’t take themselves so seriously. Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, NY Admission: $15. ($10 AotL) Tickets and more info at: www.artsonthelake.org

Sunday, April 3

Michelle LeBlanc

2PM – 3:30PM – 1950′s Jazz: Bop, Cool, R&B Our quartet returns to perform at the Shrub Oak Library just in time to celebrate the coming of spring. Michelle jazz combo features the legendary Bill Crow on bass, the talented arranger Tom Kohl on piano and the world touring sax player, Ed Xiques. Our show will include a special encore featuring tunes from our new CD “I Remember You.” This free concert take place in the special events room of this lovely library. Ample and convenient parking is available, so invite all your jazz lovin’ friends. John C Hart Memorial Library, 1130 E Main St, Shrub Oak, NY (914) 245-5262 www.yorktownlibrary.org

Wednesday, April 6

Roy Zimmerman in Concert

7:30PM – Zimmerman’s songs have been heard on HBO and Showtime, and he’s a featured blogger for the Huffington Post. The Los Angeles Times says, “Zimmerman displays a lacerating wit and keen awareness of society’s foibles that bring to mind a latter-day Tom Lehrer.” Tom Lehrer himself says, “I congratulate Roy Zimmerman on reintroducing literacy to comedy songs. And the rhymes actually rhyme, they don’t just rhyne.” Joni MItchell says, “Roy’s lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection.” At All Souls Unitarian Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue (at 80th). Suggested donation, $15.

Saturday, April 9

Putnam County Land Trust 42nd Annual Dinner

5:30PM – Join in the celebration as Putnam County Land Trust marks 42 years of preserving open space and protecting sensitive habitats in Putnam County- right in your big backyard. Enjoy live music by Bruce Eisenstein, a sumptuously wonderful buffet dinner, their famous silent auction of eclectic items and an exciting Live Auction led by Ivan and Laura Cohen. Displays of Land Trust properties along with recognitions and awards will be part of the evening.

The proceeds from the event will benefit the preserves and programs of Putnam County Land Trust. Speaking about the upcoming dinner, Land Trust President Judy Terlizzi said, “PCLT needs the community’s continued support to preserve open space and sensitive habitats in Putnam County.” In addition to attending the dinner, the Land Trust is looking for supporters to donate goods or services for the auction or advertise in the dinner journal.

The event will be held at the Starr Ridge Banquet and Conference Center at 38 Starr Ridge Road in Brewster on Saturday, April 9th, 2011 at 5:30pm. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Take advantage of special dinner pricing of $60 per person if paid by March 30th. To make a reservation, inquire about advertising space or donate goods or services for the auction, call 845/228-4520 or 845/279-3122, or visit the PCLT website at www.pclt.net.

Tuesday, April 19

Sustainable Roofing: Living/Green Roofs, Cool Roofs

6PM – 8PM – Much of conventional roofing represents a wasted opportunity to reduce energy costs, improve building performance and durability, create useable habitat for flora and fauna, improve biodiversity, increase the performance of installed photovoltaic systems, mitigate combined sewer overflow (CSO) events, reduce waste stream pollution, lessen urban heat island effects (UHIE) and make the “view from the top” a much prettier place. Our experts on sustainable roofing will talk about proven roofing alternatives that can do all these things, turning underutilized dark roof surfaces into acres of better space for the environment, for occupants, and for owners. Participants will gain a strong understanding of innovative roofing technologies such as cool roofs, photovoltaic roofing, vegetative roof systems, recyclable roofing, and roofing materials manufactured with post-consumer recycled content and low VOC roofing options.

About The Presenter: Rich Kuhn, Territory Manager: Rich Kuhn is a Territory Manager for the Garland Company which is a full-service manufacturer of High Performance Building Envelope Moisture Protection Products. Rich believes that the best way to be “green” is by providing the longest lasting, lowest Life Cycle Cost roofing solutions for his clients. Rich obtained a B.S. in Biology from Seton Hall University in 1999. He is a member of the AIA, NYASBO, NYSB&G, and the USGBC.

At: Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill 91 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY

Register for the Putnam/Dutchess County event here. Reservations are $10 for advance sales to USGBC NY Upstate Chapter Members and Students, and $20 for non-members. Members & students pay $15 at the door. This presentation qualifies for AIA LU

Friday April 22 – Earth Day

An Earth Day Celebration to Benefit Clearwater

We’re excited to announce Clearwater Generations: An Earth Day Celebration to Benefit Clearwater, which will be held at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY, on April 22 at 8pm.

The show will feature Pete Seeger & Tao Seeger, Peter Yarrow & Bethany Yarrow, Bernice Johnson Reagon & Toshi Reagon, and David Amram and Family. Performances by Clearwater friends and special guests including Janis Ian, Tom Paxton, Tom Chapin, Livingston Taylor, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Guy Davis, Rufus Cappadocia and the Power of Song, will round out this special celebration.

Clearwater’s environmental mission is about inspiring and educating the next generation, and we have applied this theme to music. Honoring tradition while looking toward the future has always been a major part of the Clearwater Festival. The Generations concert is all about classic Clearwater artists performing with and inspiring their children and grandchildren in order to carry on their legacy through song.

Tickets for the Clearwater Generations: An Earth Day Celebration concert range from $48 to $98. A limited amount of $250 tickets include premium seating, a post concert reception with the artists, as well as special Clearwater gifts. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

May

Saturday, May 14

Carmina Burana

8PM at Brewster High School. The Putnam Chorale performs CARMINA BURANA – One Performance Only – with full orchestra and accompanied by the Brewster High School Chamber Singers and the Seven Star Dancers, on MAY 14, 2011 8 pm at the Brewster High School Performing Arts Center, 50 Foggintown Road, Brewster, NY. Get more information at our web site (www.putnamchorale.org) or by calling 845-279-7265.

A collection of historic medieval songs and poems was discovered in the year 1803 at an abandoned monastery in Bavaria. This collection was found to be satirical works that had been performed by traveling goliards, disaffected clergy and clerical students, who used the works to lighten the burden of everyday life and to poke fun at the authorities of the day. In a way, the Saturday Night Live of its time!

The works make fun of church excesses and follies and mock the changing morals of the times. There are love songs and songs for drinking and gambling that celebrate Epicurus, the ancient Greek Philosopher and advocate of the blissful life. The stories are provocative and often disrespectful, but offer a common man perspective and a chance at some frivolity.

June

Saturday, June 18

Clearwater Revival

Croton Point Park – Pete Seeger star Drive-By Truckers star Martin Sexton star Indigo Girls, Arlo Guthrie star Josh Ritter star Jorma Kaukonen star Peter Yarrow, John Sebastian star Janis Ian star The Low Anthem, Red Horse (Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka & Eliza Gilkyson) star The Klezmatics, Toubab Krewe star Justin Townes Earle star Chris, Smither star Joanne Shenandoah, Tom Chapin star Bernice Johnson Reagon star Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell, James McMurtry | Jay Ungar & Molly Mason | Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, Tao Seeger Band | Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely | Mike & Ruthy | Sarah Lee & Johnny, Bethany & Rufus’ Roots Quartet | Clayfoot Strutters | Zlatne Uste | Joe Purdy, The Nields | The Kennedys | Jen Chapin | K.J. Denhert | Zon del Barrio, Vanaver Caravan| Buskin & Batteau | Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Brooklyn Qawwali Party | Joe D’urso | Joel Plaskett, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater star The Power of Song star The Rivertown Kids, Mustard’s Retreat star Magpie star Roger the Jester star Dog on Fleas, Walkabout Clearwater Chorus star Paul Richmond star The Storycrafters, Rick Nestler star Donna Nestler star Travis Jeffrey star Margo Thunderbird, Marva Clark star Linda Richards star Eshu Bumpus star Dan Einbender, Dirty Stay Out Skifflers star Geoff Kaufman star Sarah Underhill star Peninnah Schram, Kay Olan/Ionataiewas star Mel & Vinnie star Karen Pillsworth star Gregorio Pedroza , Allan Aunapu star Jan Christensen star The New York Packet star Matt Turk star Hope Machine

July

July 21 – 24

Gathering of the Vibes

Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT – Gathering of the Vibes, the Northeast’s acclaimed music festival destination, will “bring the magic” once again with a 4-day extravaganza of eclectic music, arts and community, July 21-24, 2011 at Connecticut’s magnificent Seaside Park. The rumor mill is swirling with artist announcements around the corner. Gathering of the Vibes promises its most spectacular and diverse lineup to date, delivering over 40 hours of music on multiple stages. Powerhouse Vibes alumni include: The Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Furthur with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, James Brown, The Black Crowes, and Damian Marley and Nas, alongside breakout acts like Umphrey’s McGee, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jackie Greene, and tri-state favorites The McLovins. The Vibes also warmly embraces new, virtually unknown artists, who may submit music for consideration through sonic bids.

Friday May 20	Saturday May 21	Sunday May 22	Monday May 23	Tuesday May 24	Wednesday May 25

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