The Hudson River Maritime Museum Announces Women's Sailing Conference Goes Virtual In November 2020

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the Fourth Annual Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference has opened registration for its new, virtual event taking place on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2020.

Energize And Empower Women To Get Involved In Sailing

Taking place on the evening of Friday, November 6, 2020 and from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2020, the Women’s Sailing Conference features speakers and instructors from around the world. The goal of the conference is to energize and empower women to get involved in sailing at all levels. Everyone, women and men, from experienced sailors to those who have never been on the water before are welcome! Conference registration is by household, so gather around your screens to participate in these amazing opportunities.

The conference begins on Friday, November 6 at 5:00 pm. Pour yourself a glass of wine or sparkling cider and get ready to be wowed by our Friday night keynote speaker, Captain Dawn Riley, the first woman to manage an America's Cup sailing team. She has raced on four America’s Cup campaigns and two Whitbread (The Ocean Race) teams. Dawn now runs Oakcliff Sailing Center (oakcliffsailing.org), which provides opportunities for participants to build world class sailing skills in local and offshore racing and to learn the business of sailing.  Based in Oyster Bay, NY, Oakcliff hosts sailors from around the world and trains them to work and sail at the highest levels of the sport.

Watch Maiden on Amazon Prime or STARZ

Tracy Edwards, captain of Maiden, opens our Saturday, November 7 session at 1:00 p.m. You may recognize Tracy’s name from the recent film Maiden (2019), about the all-women crew who competed in the Whitbread Around the World Race in 1989-1990. Members of the original and current crews will regale us with stories and keep us updated on their efforts to educate girls around the world through their current project The Maiden Factor. Participants are encouraged to watch the documentary film about the race before attending. Maiden is available for purchase on Amazon Prime or included with STARZ.

The afternoon will continue until 6:00 pm with more amazing women-led presentations including: 

• Welcoming Sailors from Diverse Communities 

• The History and Mission of the Sloop Clearwater

• Safety Around Large Vessels

• Maritime Careers

• Blue Water Sailing

• Basic Navigation

• Communications at Sea

• Sail Care and Repair

• and Outboard Engine Troubleshooting

Afternoon sessions will be available in three sets of three concurrent sessions. All sessions will be recorded, so those participants who want to revisit presentations they did not attend will have access to the recordings after the conference.

The fee for the entire conference is $50 per household. We welcome participants from low-income and underserved communities and have scholarships available. To apply for a scholarship, please email Jody Taffet Sterling at jsterling@hrmm.org                                                                               

About the Hudson River Maritime Museum

Located along the historic Rondout Creek in downtown Kingston, N.Y., the Hudson River Maritime Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and related industries. HRMM opened the Wooden Boat School in 2016 and the Sailing & Rowing School in 2017. 

Remastered Virtual Hudson River Revival Music Festival to be Restreamed October 4th

The Great Hudson River Revival (AKA Clearwater Festival), the world’s oldest and largest music and environmental festival, went virtual this year on June 20th due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Due to popular demand, Clearwater will stream a remastered version of the all-day event on Sunday, October 4th from 11am-11pm at ClearwaterFestival.org. The remastered Revival will include a day full of music and activism, as well as a beautiful American Sign Language interpretation throughout. This is a free virtual event however, donations are greatly appreciated at ClearwaterFestival.org. 

This Year’s Performers

The event will feature musical performers, storytellers, and activists, including: Tom Chapin, David Amram, John McCutcheon, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Peter Yarrow, John McEuen, Noel Paul Stookey, Tom Paxton, Emma’s Revolution, Guy Davis, Tommy Sands, Reggie Harris, The Mammals, The Chapin Sisters, Lyn Hardy, Arm of the Sea Theater, Abbie Gardner, Breakneck Ridge Revue, R.J. Storm, Magpie, The Rix, The Vanaver Caravan, Betty and the Baby Boomers, Kyle Tigges, Mel and Vinnie and more.

Going Virtual 

Bringing Revival into the virtual world has allowed Clearwater to reach new audiences globally, and also include folks who’ve not been able to attend the festival in person due to health, geographic, or financial restrictions. The online fundraising event raised over $50,000 for Clearwater when it originally streamed in June earlier this year.

Tom Chapin, one of the event’s organizers and a musician participating in Virtual Revival, said, “Happiness, for me, is performing at the Clearwater Revival and, for the first time, being able to actually watch all the other great artists play. Tune in and join us. Support the group that built the sloop that saved the Hudson River.”

This event is part of a larger initiative to transition Clearwater’s educational and environmental programming online in order to continue its important Hudson River education and environmental work during a time when gathering in person is unsafe.

Virtual Revival will be live-streamed on October 4th from 11am-11pm. The online chat that accompanied the live feed became a place for new and old Revival attendees to connect with each other. Clearwater hopes that many people will join in again on the live commentary. 

Virtual Revival T-shirts are available for purchase here.

"Clearwater's work has always involved inspiring people to fall in love with the Hudson River and take action to protect it. Even now amidst the pandemic, that work continues," said Erik Fyfe, Clearwater's Education Director. "Despite the distance, we've been excited to be able to bring people to the river through virtual sails and interactive online programs, and the response so far has been terrific."

About Hudson River Sloop Clearwater 

Launched in 1969 by legendary folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champions of the Hudson River. To date, more than half a million people have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem aboard the sloop Clearwater.   Clearwater has become the grassroots model for producing positive changes to protect our planet. For more information, visit www.clearwater.org.  

Boscobel Reimagines Its Experience; Waives $50K Rent Of Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival; Opens For Outdoor Social Distancing

One view from Boscobel.
Photo Credit: Tyler Mell

Like many farms, camps, and museums, Boscobel was getting ready to launch its spring season into summer when the pandemic hit and mandates shut down every business. Back in March, thinking that outdoor gatherings in warmer weather would be safe, they tried to move forward with an Open Air Flex Pass ticket program for their popular tenant, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF), so that customers could buy tickets to the upcoming Shakespeare performances.

However, out of safety precautions, HVSF was unable to hold any performances due to rehearsal and gathering restrictions. This was quite a jolt, as the theater company had performed in repertory on Boscobel’s grounds since 1988. In light of the pandemic, Boscobel waived the HVSF rent of $50,000, and moved forward with re-imagining how it can continue, according to a press release they issued this week. “In the wake of HVSF’s 2020 season cancellation and its own COVID-19 hardships, Boscobel waived the Festival’s rent,” Boscobel stated.

“Boscobel is mourning loss, navigating new health protocols, and suffering major budget impacts from COVID-19, but the outpouring of community support keeps us strong,” says Executive Director and Curator Jennifer Carlquist, who notes that maintaining the site alone costs more than $2,500 every day. “The heartfelt thanks we’ve received from pandemic visitors underscores what psychologists have long studied—that experiencing profound beauty increases people’s sense of well-being, and makes them feel more connected to their loved ones and the world around them.”

Boscobel Opened To Healthcare Workers - For One-Household At A Time Enjoyment

“As soon as we realized that it would be some time before we could open our gates as wide as we’d like, we started to think about what we could do to contribute to our community during quarantine. Focusing first on the selfless healthcare workers who risk so much for the greater good, we opened up our gardens and grounds for one-household-at-a-time, free respite visits for healthcare workers,” says Director of Visitor Engagement Ed Glisson.

Boscobel is an ideal place to take a well-earned deep breath. As respiratory therapist Margaret Degan Dorangricchia put it, “It was a beautiful and much needed escape from the confinement of our home and the daily mental and physical exhaustion of our work.”

Boscobel Now Opening Access To Their 68 Acres To The Public

Now offering a limited number of timed gardens and grounds tickets to the general public via Boscobel.org, tickets remain free to healthcare workers and Boscobel members. Guests are welcome to picnic, stroll the gardens and grounds, and hike the trail—there are 68 acres for safe, social distancing.

The location is one of the most beautiful places in the Hudson Valley, with its Great Lawn overlooking the Hudson River, and Constitution Marsh. A pollinator-friendly Herb Garden and Formal Garden with plants that were popular in the 19th century are also available to experience, as well as a mile-long Woodland Trail along the river.

The Cold Spring Farmers Market is also hosted at Boscobel. Every Saturday, Cold Spring Farmers Market and Boscobel open Boscobel’s gates to host local vendors and hundreds of market-goers seeking fresh, local food while adhering diligently to public health guidelines. In other words, Mask Up! And wait in line very far away from each other (6 feet). Then come to Beacon on Sunday for Beacon’s outdoor Farmers Market near the post office.

Distancing Learning Of Boscobel

To bring Boscobel’s historic site, Neoclassical mansion, and decorative arts collection to anyone wishing to have a personal experience of Hudson Valley design, history, and nature, Boscobel created a pilot virtual tour, accessible from Boscobel.org, which is just as illuminating from home as it is on the grounds. The museum also created virtual programs for K-12 students who had to miss their field trip visit. There is also yoga on the grounds sometimes.

Boscobel Researches Early Black Inhabitants

Boscobel’s staff has been reduced to a core focusing on building a more sustainable, inclusive museum for the future. Together with committed trustees, staff are developing a long-term Interpretive Plan, which involves researching and incorporating the histories of Boscobel’s early Black inhabitants. Earlier this year, Boscobel joined the Hudson Valley Slavery Roundtable and is mining 18th- and 19th-century papers for references to slavery and manumission. In 1810, four of Boscobel’s ten inhabitants were “free” Black people. “It is long past time to better understand how ‘free’ they really were,” poses Director Carlquist. “How did everyday New Yorkers cope with the seminal conflicts of war and slavery?” Boscobel recently received a Humanities New York grant to advance this research.

You can support Boscobel at any time here with an online donation or membership.

Pair with your visit a trip to Beacon for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Use A Little Beacon Blog’s Restaurant Guide to help you plan where to eat, and the Shopping Guide to help you know where to shop the boutiques.

Only 529 Tickets Available For Clearwater's The Great Hudson River Revival 2020 After Required Downsizing

Clearwater’s The Great Hudson River Revival will be produced on a much smaller, intimate scale as compared to years past, with tickets for 529 attendees only. Normally a million-dollar event, last year’s festival suffered a financial loss of $190K due to a rainy forecast, according to the organizers. The organization has been working its way out of that loss since June 2019.

For many years, The Great Hudson River Revival was Clearwater’s most important annual fundraiser. It has since grown into the country's oldest music and environmental festival, uniquely spreading environmental awareness, education and activism. With no corporate sponsorship, this loss made a big impact on the organization.

“The Great Hudson River Revival was a major success last year, in the sense that thousands of people joined us to celebrate the Hudson River through music, dance, volunteerism, education and activism,” said Clearwater Executive Director Greg Williams in a press release. “Due to many factors, including a wet weather forecast and rain on Sunday causing low attendance, the festival suffered a financial loss of approximately $190K. Since June, we have been working to keep the organization stable, while paying down our debt to festival vendors, and we are grateful for their patience. It would be irresponsible of Clearwater to move forward with replicating another million-dollar Clearwater Festival in 2020 without having addressed the financial loss we incurred in 2019. We expect that these steps, with the public’s ongoing support, will put us in the best position to return with Revival in 2021."

Williams continued in the press release: "We hope that our transparency will give the public some confidence that we keep our mission close at heart; to continue the work that we do year-round on the Hudson, educating and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.”

The Community Celebration for June 2020 will be a unique and intimate event for 529 attendees. Attendance will be very limited due to venue space capacity, but will provide a familiar welcoming weekend of unity, action, education, food, music, crafts, and merrymaking.

Details about the 2020 Great Hudson River Revival will be announced soon. Clearwater expects to return to a full-scale event in 2021, re-envisioned as a sustainable, less-commercial event, according to the press release.

For 2020, a Clearwater Community Celebration will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, on the festival’s traditional Father’s Day Weekend on a smaller portion of Croton Point Park, in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

Other Ways To Donate In The Meantime

To contribute to Clearwater’s ability to continue to hold festivals, and/or other programming, you can ​click here​. You can choose whether to have your donation committed to a specific program, or to be used where it is most needed.

You can ​sail on ​Clearwater ​​this sailing season, ​volunteer on the sloop​, help
out with ​winter maintenance​, attend one of their ​events​ this year, or make a donation.​

Did You See That Funeral With The Black Coffin With Bagpipes In Beacon?

Marchers in the funeral procession for the billion animals killed in Australian fires, as well as all of the species being lost to climate change.
Photo Credit: Gilles Uzan

As you were strolling along in Beacon down Main Street, you may have heard bagpipes in the distance. And as the sound got closer to you, passing you, you may have noticed people dressed in black carrying a small black coffin surrounded by signs with a particular symbol on them (two triangles or an hourglass in a circle). What was it?

Photo Credit: Extinction Rebellion New Paltz

It was a funeral procession in Beacon for the billion animals killed in Australian fires - as well as all of the species being lost to climate change, according to the press release from the organizers, Extinction Rebellion Hudson Highlands. “Extinction Rebellion (held on Sunday, January 26, 2020) is an international movement engaged in nonviolent direct action to force governments to respond to climate and ecological breakdown,” according to the press release.

“We are watching the world that we love unravel before our eyes because of climate change,” says Krystal Ford, a representative of Extinction Rebellion Hudson Highlands. “Last year alone, several species of birds, frogs, a shark, a snail, and one of the world’s largest freshwater fish were among those declared extinct.”

The funeral met on the sidewalk in front of the Beacon Post Office and marched to Polhill Park on Route 9D for a brief ritual. Marchers were dressed to honor the dead. Adults and children brought wreaths, flowers, pictures of environmental campaigners, and of extinct or endangered species that were placed upon a coffin. Bagpipes were played by James Hartford, from River Architects.

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Photo Credit: Gilles Uzan

When emailed for further comment, Krystal elaborated on the mission of the march:

“We have been losing species at unprecedented rate. We have entered the sixth mass extinction. The images many of us have seen of the koalas and kangaroos being rescued from burning forests are only the most recent and heartbreaking example of species being lost to the climate and ecological crisis. 1 billion animals in Australia have been lost due to the wildfires alone. If our world is dying without our publicly and collectively expressing our grief, we might assume these losses aren't important, but of course they are. Yesterday, over 60 people came together in Beacon to publicly honor their pain for the world, showing that we care. Once we allow this pain to register, instead of turning away or being numb to it, we may find ourselves released from our paralysis, and demand action from our government to act on this climate and ecological emergency.”

According to Wikipedia, “the extinction symbol represents the threat of holocene extinction (or sixth mass extinction) on earth; the circle represents the planet and the stylised hourglass is a warning that time is running out for many species. The symbol has been attributed to anonymous East London artist, ESP or Goldfrog ESP.

Misty Gray Day In Beacon Inspires Beauty Shown Through Photography

Graphic designer Ken Rabe of Rabe and Co. captured Beacon’s historic dummy light on the east end of town near the mountain.
Photo Credit: Ken Rabe

The gray mist has enveloped Beacon for the past several days, the only benefit of which can be seen via local photographers who have captured its special lighting and mood. We caught a few of them on Instagram, and are pulling them up to the surface for you to see. With rain in the forecast for the next few days, you can bet that the next sunny day will have people bouncing out of their houses to get back outside - if they haven’t already been getting fresh air with their slickers and rubber boots on despite the rain.

Photo Credit: Donna Belej of ALLSWELL Productions

The kayak pavilion at Long Dock Park is reflected in the incredibly still Hudson River.
Photo Credit: Carl Van Brunt of Carl Van Brunt Art

Take A Walk: New Pavilion Is Pleasant At Long Dock Park Along Hudson River In Beacon

In these gray days, it is important to get out of the house and take a walk. The new pavilion at Long Dock Park, a park by Scenic Hudson that began construction in 2017, is quite pleasant. The city’s historic gateway known as Long Wharf (constructed in 1815), this area used to be a drop-off point for cargo and passengers when Beacon and Newburgh relied upon manufacturing and the Hudson River as an economic waterway, according to signage at the park. The wharf used to have buildings, and then it became a dumping ground for industrial debris.

Today, it is a park for your enjoyment, featuring paved walkways, picnic tables and benches. Parking is available near the Metro-North train station, but is slim. In the summer, food trucks may be out and about. Scenic Hudson is taking applications for food trucks, which you can learn about here. See Scenic Hudson’s website for more information.

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Continuously Finds Microplastics In River; Cheers Cuomo’s Plastic Bag Ban

We received the following notice from Clearwater Communications about the upcoming plastic bag ban, and we thought it would be important to share with our readers. According to News 10, the plastic bags ban will take effect in March 2020 - that is less than a year away! There are concerns about the plastic bags breaking down in the water where they become ‘microplastics,’ often consumed by river and ocean wildlife.

The following is the press release issued by Clearwater Communications in full:

---

At a press conference on Monday, April 22, at Clearwater’s Kingston Home Port and Education Center at the Hudson River Maritime Museum, Governor Cuomo announced his signing of legislation banning single-use plastic bags in New York State. The Governor made the announcement beside Rondout Creek to an audience of reporters and environmental groups including Clearwater, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

“Microplastics” Consumed By River and Ocean Wildlife

Plastic bags have long plagued the Hudson River’s ecology, and they are a major contributor to the global ecological crisis posed by plastic pollution in the world’s rivers and oceans. Often confused for food by freshwater and marine animals, plastic bags and other plastic debris do not biodegrade. Instead, these materials break down into microscopic pieces of plastic, or “microplastics” that are consumed and bioaccumulate in fish, mammals, and birds throughout the aquatic food chain.  

“We are very concerned about the accumulation of microplastics in our waterways and fish,” said Erik Fyfe, Education Director for Clearwater. “As part of our education programs, we collect plankton from the river to show our students, and for at least the last five years, whenever we look at the plankton under a microscope we see microplastics in the water.”

More Than Just Plastic Bags

New York’s new plastic bag ban will help reduce the amount of plastic in the Hudson. Additional work is needed to address other common sources of microplastic pollution, such as synthetic clothing, cosmetics, cleaning products and air blasting media. 

“We pull plastic waste from the Hudson every day during the sailing season, whether we’re under way or not. All of it would otherwise break down into microplastics, which wind up in the water, in the fish and in anyone that eats the fish.” said Clearwater Executive Director Greg Williams. “We’re delighted Gov. Cuomo is signing the plastic bag ban bill, and is taking the opportunity to recognize environmental advocacy organizations in the process.”

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has dedicated the last 50 years to preserving, protecting and educating about the health of the Hudson. The Clearwater sailing crew removes trash from the river on their voyages from Albany down to New York City. 

About Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

Launched in 1969 by legendary folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champions of the Hudson River. To date, more than half a million people have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem aboard the sloop Clearwater. Clearwater has become the grassroots model for producing positive changes to protect our planet. For more information, visit www.clearwater.org.

The River Pool at Beacon IN The Hudson River Opens for 2018!

The left side of The Beacon River Pool - eye level.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

As you play at Riverfront Park, known since 2014 as Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, you may have experienced the extreme desire to swim in the Hudson River to cool off. Well, now you can - because The River Pool at Beacon is open again this year! Starting in 2007, five years after submitting construction plans to New York State, the pool opened to the public for the first time. The river pool idea was originally proposed by the pool's co-founder, Pete Seeger, according to the pool's History page.

What's a River Pool?

The river pool is netted and shallow, with a net bottom designed by Meta Brunzema Architect P.C., a New York City-based design firm. You could crawl on it, with a child on your back, pretending you are an alligator gliding just under the water surface. Or you could sit or stand in the shallow water, enjoying the breeze off the water and gazing up or down the river, thankful you aren't in the traffic moving (or not moving) on the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. Or, you could simply sit on the colorful plastic seats and bask in the sun, slipping further into the water as you're ready.

River pools aren't unique to this spot - they have been around since at least 1830, up and down the Hudson River - but they were removed after 1930 due to water pollution. Pete Seeger was a major advocate for cleanup of the Hudson River. Thanks to his efforts as well as many other organizations including Scenic Hudson and Riverkeeper, the river has improved since then, and many groups and people continue to advocate in this direction.

Can Anyone Use the River Pool?

It's a free pool for all, thanks to support from individual donations, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Durst Organization, the Abrons Foundation, the Hudson River Foundation. The pool's organizers actually want to increase its size. They're working with another architecture firm to design a bigger pool, and they're talking with cities and towns to find the right location that offers agreeable environmental considerations.

What's It Like Swimming in the River Pool?

The changing room at The Beacon River Pool.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

So fun. So relaxing. You're IN the river, just sitting there protected from the currents by the anchored netting. The pool is small, so you'll be near others as they dip in and out of the pool. The pool is also very shallow: An adult is up to their waist or thighs. The River Pool is fully staffed by lifeguards, and even has a changing room!

If thunder rolls in and you need to leave the pool and wait 30 thunder-free minutes to go back in, you could always shoot baskets at the park's basketball court, or play on the playgrounds. Or have a picnic on the grass (watch out for alllll of the goose poop).

An additional perk: Riverfront Park is very breezy, so you'll be cooled off quickly down by the river no matter what.

Is Swimming in the Hudson River Safe?

The Hudson River was contaminated by companies who dumped pollutants into it for many years. An ongoing effort to clean up the Hudson River has spanned several decades. As of today, it has reached cleaner levels, but is closely monitored by The River Pool at Beacon. Says a representative from The River Pool this year: "The quality in Beacon Harbor is definitely of concern. Beacon Harbor had a long run of low numbers. We hope this is a temporary situation. That said, the pool is off the north shore of Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park. The water is tested every week by the county health department. We would not open if the water was not considered safe for swimming."

Swim For The Pool - From Beacon To Newburgh!

Fundraising continues for the pool with regular donations that you can make at any time, and during the 15th Annual Newburgh to Beacon Hudson River Swim, where you can sponsor a swimmer - or be a swimmer that people sponsor! See the Beacon to Newburgh Swim page for details.

Make a donation here to keep this all going, but don't worry if you can't. It was designed for all to be able to access and experience the Hudson River. See you at the pool!

Backyard Pool for Heat Wave - Blow It Up

Call it a heat wave, or just call it summer in the Humid Hudson Valley. Either way, you're going to need water to dip into. If you are too dazed to get down to the River Pool in the Hudson River, then head to Rite Aid to get this big blowup pool. Adults can fit into it, as well as small mermaids. Mermaid tails aren't included, but you can get an actual one here. Swim for free in your backyard, or in the River Pool.

Be sure to pick up an air pump at Brett's True Value down on West Main Street (on the way to the Metro-North train station). The pump will make it a breeze to inflate the backyard pool!

Clearwater receives Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley grant for Sailing Classroom Equipment

One of the Hudson Valley's best-known environmental organizations closed out the year with a bang. On December 27, 2017, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater was awarded a $1,962 grant from Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, Community Grant Fund – Putnam County to help purchase science equipment for Clearwater’s Sailing Classroom. This grant makes possible the curriculum’s aim to teach young people about the ecology of the Hudson River estuary, according to a news release from Clearwater.

"We are extremely grateful for this support from the Community Foundation of Putnam County," says Maija Niemisto, Clearwater's Education Director. "Students aboard the sloop Clearwater will now have access to the equipment needed for sampling the Hudson River water, fish, and plankton with their own hands. Clearwater’s Board joins me in thanking the Foundation for providing young people with the tools necessary to investigate the natural world around them on voyages of discovery aboard The Environmental Tallship of America.”

Clearwater anticipates that by the end of 2018, more than 600 students in Putnam County will have benefited from using this science equipment.

About Hudson River Sloop Clearwater 

Launched in 1969 by legendary folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champions of the Hudson River. To date, more than half a million people have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem aboard the sloop Clearwater. Clearwater has become the grassroots model for producing positive changes to protect our planet. For more information, visit Clearwater's website.

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley

Serving all of Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster counties, the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley is a driving force in philanthropy in the region, distributing funds from thousands of donors to connect people who care with causes that matter. Administering more than $60 million in assets, Community Foundations works with donors to provide grants and scholarships. The group also establishes endowment funds for nonprofits and other charitable causes, and collaborates with government, private foundations and local leaders to address current and emerging needs. Learn more at Community Foundations' website.

Scenic Hudson Hosts Discussion Over EPA's 5-Year Review of GE's Removal of Pollutants from Hudson River

This Tuesday evening, from 5:30 to 8 pm, Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, Green Beacon Coalition, and the City of Beacon will convene for a public meeting, aka a "Night of Action," at Scenic Hudson's River Center at Long Dock Park in Beacon to discuss the findings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of whether General Electric (GE) completed its cleanup of decades-long releasing of toxic chemicals into the Hudson River.

The EPA produced a draft Five-Year Review. According to Scenic Hudson: "The draft Five-Year Review outlines the goals of the cleanup and whether or not these goals have been met and if the remedy is functioning as intended. EPA is stating that the project 'will be protective' of human health and the environment in 53 years, but state and federal agencies are saying a century or more."

During the event, Scenic Hudson will show a presentation that will walk through the Five-Year Review and its findings. The groups are hoping that the presentation will help provide the audience with talking points to spread via word-of-mouth. They also will collect public comments that will be submitted to the EPA by the September 1 deadline, calling on the EPA to change their determination and require additional cleanup from GE.
 
The event will also include a screening of a new clip from filmmaker Jon Bowermaster, a Q + A discussion, and a comment-writing opportunity for guests to fill out postcards that will be mailed to the EPA.

For more information, visit scenichudson.org or RSVP on Facebook. 

Photo Credit: Scenic Hudson

Hudson Valley Residents Have Spoken! Anchorages Proposal Put on Hold by U.S. Coast Guard

After receiving much feedback about the proposed anchorages on the Hudson River, Rear Adm. Steven Poulin, Commander of the First Coast Guard District, has suspended future rulemaking decisions and directed a formal risk identification and evaluation of the Hudson River, known as a Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment (PAWSA). This study is conducted to learn more about the safety and environmental risks associated with the myriad waterway uses of the Hudson River. At the moment, there is only one seasonal anchorage ground on the Hudson River between Yonkers and Kingston, New York.

More than 10,200 comments were received from waterway stakeholders during the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) comment period that ended December 6, 2016. You can read a summary of the comments received here. According to Lieutenant Karen Love Kutkiewicz, Public Affairs Officer of the First Coast Guard District, the comments generally fell into one of the following three categories: 1. Those opposed to creating anchorage grounds (94%); 2. Those in support (3%); and 3. Those reflecting a neutral opinion (3%). 

Kutkiewicz also adds “The Hudson River is a beautiful national treasure. It also serves as a source of drinking water, recreation, tourism and economic prosperity. The river historically has been and will remain a vital corridor for maritime commerce. The Coast Guard’s role on the river includes protecting the environment and promoting navigational safety. These are complementary objectives, as safer navigation inherently improves environmental protection.”

In the fall, a group of waterway users and stakeholders will conduct a two-day structured workshop to meet these objectives and ensure the PAWSA process is a joint effort involving waterway users, stakeholders, and agencies to determine the safety of the waterway.

If members of the public wish to be considered for participation in the workshops, please email: HudsonRiverPAWSA@uscg.mil by July 21 with your name, contact information, connection to the waterway, experience, and related skills.

Beacon Open Studios 2017: Pirates, Paintings, Treasure

Beacon Open Studios (BOS) is a signature, citywide event in Beacon. For some, including myself and this year's new director, Samantha Palmeri, the discovery of this citywide art show happened quite by accident while meandering outside. Every year, dozens of Beacon artists clean up their studios, organize their brushes, and put out their best tools and works of art. Through this project, the public is invited in to directly access artists and their productions. Beacon Open Studios is going on now, on May 13 and 14 from noon to 6 pm. The kickoff party was Friday evening at Oak Vino.

How to Experience Beacon Open Studios

Open studios are identified by a large red dot in the yard of the artist's home studio, or on the studio door of an artist's space in a building. There is an official map that you should pick up or visit on the BOS website, but there is something quite special about stumbling upon a red dot and following your curiosity inside. This wonderment continues to be my favorite way to experience Open Studios.

However, the more one learns about each artist, the longer the list of which artists to visit. Some participants are longtime artists who dropped "practicing artist" for a few years and are returning anew, while others are artists who make commissions for private clients or advertising agencies, while others still are artists who produce fantastic work yet only display during times like these.

Who Is Participating In Beacon Open Studios This Year?

Over 50 artists are taking part this year. Several of them are emerging artists and some are simply to to the event. The physical map, which you can pick up at Hudson Beach Glass or at many restaurants or shops, is organized by artist, but also groups artists by location. For instance, if there are six artists showing in one location, you can search by geography as well, if you wanted to see a bunch at once. 

Let's take a peek!

Artist: Chris Sanders, "Treasures of the Hudson Highlands"
Photo Credit: Treasures of the Hudson Highlands

"Treasures of the Hudson Highlands"

Chris Sanders is a storyboard artist for the film and television industry. Pirate lore of the Hudson River and Valley captivated her, and she began creating graphic novels inspired by pirates who did travel up and down the Hudson River years ago, in search of treasure, or hiding their own. Her first book, a historical fantasy, was published in November. You can meet the artist and see the original pages during Beacon Open Studios. The best part? She's full of Hudson Highlands pirate knowledge, so best ye get thee there.

Location: 45 Beekman Street, one of the artists in Spire Studios

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Artist: Stan Lindwasser
Photo Credit: Stan Lindwasser

Stan Lindwasser

Stan Lindwasser is new to Beacon, but not to the art scene. Stan has been a professional painter for decades, and has designed installations that were shown at the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn, NY, and the Bertha Urdang Gallery in New York City. An excerpt from his artist statement includes: "I question the place and role of color: on lines, as lines, or replacing lines. The works I have been doing reflect my careerlong interest in the details of line and color, the creation of shapes and the placement of these on paper, or in space. These paintings reflect my thinking about direction and how changes in density of paint or use of water define and subtly change the composition."

Full disclosure, the design services extension of A Little Beacon Blog works with Stan on his website, so we are familiar with several years of his work, and appreciate his fascination with color.

Location: 35 Monell Place

Rosemary Braghieri Rednour

Photo Credits for above photos: Rosemary Braghieri Rednour

Rosemary makes "jewelry and sculpture from a different perspective," as she puts it. She's opened up her studio for visitors to see how she does it all.

Location: 17 East Main Street

Here's a sampling in video of what the Open Studios experience is like:

The New Director at Beacon Open Studios

This year marked the event's transition to a new director, Samantha Palmeri. She too discovered Beacon Open Studios while meandering around town, and for her, it made a life-altering impact! We interviewed her for this article:

What is your background?

I'm from Staten Island originally. I've lived in Beacon 2 1/2 years now. This will be my third year as a participating artist in BOS. I graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a major in painting, and since graduating I've held practically every job in the art world, including teaching, directing, curating, art handling etc. I've owned and directed two separate art galleries, one in Staten Island and one in New Jersey. And I've been a practicing artist for the last 20 years.

Why did the directorship appeal to you?

Open Studios' Director Samantha Palmeri's artwork, on display at 11 Creek Road.
Photo Credit: Samantha Palmeri

When I moved to Beacon I was very content to just be in my studio working. We moved here because we liked that there was already an art community happening. I wanted to join something that was already established and not have to start from scratch. When I heard that BOS was in need of a director and it might not happen this year, I didn't even hesitate to find out how I could volunteer.

First of all, it's one of my favorite events of the year in Beacon, plus it was good timing for me, and again, it was already an established community event that had its own footprint and identity. I felt especially as a participant myself I had enough ideas and experience to be able to add to what was already a great event.

What was your favorite thing about Beacon Open Studios the first time you experienced it?

There are a lot of artists in Beacon! There's a lot to see and experience. The overall quality and diversity of the artwork is great, and it's special to this town because a lot of events like this [in other locales] tend to all look the same with the majority of artists all making similar looking things.

The first BOS I went to was before I lived here. We had sold our house and were coming up here expecting to get confirmation on a place to rent. That place fell through and we were wandering around BOS a little depressed because we didn't know if we could find a place to live. We happened to start up a conversation with one of the participating artists and she said, "Oh, I know another artist in town who has a place for rent." We ended up calling her that day and finding the house we rented for the next 2 years. So, I suppose BOS will always be extra-special to me and my family because of that! It just was a perfect example of how welcoming and awesome this art community really is!

What can we expect this year from Beacon Open Studios?

Because it's my first year directing, I really didn't want to make too many drastic changes. We ended up picking the second weekend of May for the date. That's the first thing, the fact that it will fall on Second Saturday this year. I thought it would only bring more visitors so it's a win-win. It happens to also fall on Mother's Day but again, I think the town will be hopping that whole weekend! We're also revising the color catalog. The more sponsors and registered artists we get, the bigger the budget we'll have to work with. We'd like to make a fold-out map this year so it's easier for visitors to find artist studios and figure out how to spend their day in Beacon. There will be musicians playing at certain venues and there are a few new locations to visit this year, including the Shambhala Yoga Center and the Creekside Lofts behind the Howland Cultural Center.

Does this kind of event run in other cities? If so, where? Is it all connected? Or a general concept that gets picked up?

There are open studio events all over the place. They're not connected in any way. It's a boost to any community to be considered a cultural destination. Not every town or city has a substantial community of artists like Beacon does. And even places that do, don't necessarily have open studio events. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work. BeaconArts and BOS is run completely by volunteers, and believe, me these people work hard!!

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Beacon Open Studios is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.

Beacon Open Studios is a sponsored project of BeaconArts, a 501(c)(3) organization supported through grants and donations and run entirely by volunteers.

Chime in here with where you were able to visit, and tell us your favorite parts!

Beacon Sloop Club's "Little Boxes" Painting Fundraiser for Sloop Woody Guthrie Restoration This Weekend

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A painting of the Woody Guthrie on a square canvas, similar to art produced for the "Little Boxes" fundraiser.

The 38-year-old Woody Guthrie, a sailboat (aka daysail sloop) built by Pete and Toshi Seeger and the Beacon Sloop Club in 1978 to create public access to sailing on the Hudson River, will not be sailing this year. The Sloop Woody Guthrie instead will undergo a complete restoration, and is currently fundraising to complete those efforts. The most recent fundraiser is the "Little Boxes Art Contest" happening this Sunday, December 4, from 5 to 8 pm at Scenic Hudson's River Center (Red Barn) at Long Dock Park, Beacon NY.

The Woody Guthrie is a long-standing symbol of river improvement: It was built to foster people's appreciation for the Hudson River during the early years of massive cleanup projects after General Electric (GE) had discharged 1.3 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson River from two GE capacitor manufacturing plants located in the towns of Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, New York, between 1947 and 1977. The Seegers were instrumental in spearheading the cleanup and protection of the Hudson River. Building the Sloop Woody Guthrie was one way they demonstrated their commitment, and the sloop brought the public into direct contact with the Hudson to experience its vastness and river life for themselves.

In 1969, Pete and Toshi Seeger and the Hudson River Sloop Restoration instituted the second great "Age of Sail" on the Hudson River with the launching of Clearwater, a wooden, gaff-rigged, topsail sloop, based on traditional designs developed over a 100-year period during the heyday of commercial sailing on the Hudson River. In order to make the boat more manageable by a modest budget and team of volunteers, the Woody Guthrie was designed as a smaller replica of the Clearwater.

About the 'Little Boxes' Art Contest 2016

People are encouraged to participate in the contest as artists or as patrons bidding on the art, to be auctioned off on Sunday, December 4. For an entry fee of $25, (fee can be paid here) each artist will receive a 3 x 3-inch, numbered canvas on which to create an original work of art, in their media of choice, on the theme of "The Hudson River." This fee includes a ticket to the reception, which is otherwise $15 (ticket can be purchased here). Artists wishing to submit multiple entries may purchase an additional canvas for $5. All completed artwork must be returned by December 2. Registration as an artist, or to simply attend the event, which will include refreshments, can be purchased here online.

To receive a canvas: Purchase your ticket online and bring proof of purchase to River Winds Gallery, 172 Main St., Beacon NY, Wednesday through Monday between noon and 6 pm.

All artwork will be offered for sale at a starting bid set by the artist, with all proceeds to be split 50/50 between the artist and the Woody Guthrie Restoration Project. Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for People's Choice awards. A prize of $50 each will be awarded for the following categories:

• Most Beautiful
• Most Spectacular
• Funniest

Ticket Details

The Artists' Reception and Awards will be held:
Sunday, December 4, 2016
5 to 8 pm
Scenic Hudson's River Center (Red Barn)
Long Dock Park, Beacon NY

Tickets for the reception only are available for $15, and can be purchased here.

For more information, please contact Susan Berliner at 845-527-8671 or Rosemary Thomas at 845-463-4660.