Tuesday, June 28, 2011

June CAC Meeting

The next meeting of the Beacon Conservation Advisory Committee is Tuesday, June 28th, 2011. We will meet at 7pm, in the police training room at 1 Municipal Plaza. 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Electronics Recycling Day in Beacon July 23rd

Zero to Go and the City of Beacon's CAC are proud to announce a FREE Electronics Recycling Day in Beacon on July 23.

All are welcome  - Beacon residency is not required. Bring computers, printers, TVs, cables, batteries, monitors, and much more to the Municipal Center in Beacon on Saturday 7/23 from 9am-1pm for recycling. The event is held by Advanced Recovery Inc. 





Saturday, June 18, 2011

Beacon Riverfest Saturday, June 25th

This FREE musical festival is at Riverfront Park in Beacon. The lineup includes: Gato Loco, Milton, Jack Grace Band, Readnex Poetry Squad, and the Tao Seeger Band. For more information, see http://beaconriverfest.com.

Butterfly Walk and Exploration

Sun., June 26, 10 a.m.
Stroll through the fields and trails in search of a vast array of butterflies. Reservations requested. Free and open to the public. Program will begin at Cary East/Gifford House. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2917 Sharon Tpk., Millbrook, NY.845-677-7600 x 121.

Fathers' Day Pancakes at Sargent/Downing Gardens & Nursery

If you can't come this Father's Day, there is usually an informal playgroup going on Saturday mornings, often coupled with a more formal garden/learning activity for kids.
If you'd like to get involved or know more, please feel free to email me or call Richie Cabo (see below), who is heading up this effort.

You are invited to our Garden Party! Tell your friends and spread the word!
Fathers's Day Free Pancakes served at the Sargent & Downing Gardens & Nursery is tomorrow Sunday at 10 am.
There will be coffee and refreshments served.

Location:
at  724 Walcott Ave. at the University Settlement Camp  (South of the Mount Beacon Parking Lot)
There will be a Children's Art Festival where young artists can display thier art on the garden fence.
We will photograph the garden with all the great art on display!

There will also be a farm fresh eggs sale fundraiser for the Sargent & Downing educational Bee keeper project.
For more info feel free to call Richie @ 
845-476-1660
Donations are welcomed.


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Canoe/Kayak Storage at Long Dock Park

From Scenic Hudson:
We've got some exciting news for paddlers in the greater Beacon area: up to 35 kayakers and 10 canoeists will be able to keep their boats in a new secure location along one of the most beautiful sections of the Hudson River at Scenic Hudson's soon-to-open Long Dock Park on the Beacon waterfront. Scenic Hudson is offering a lottery to determine which eager river enthusiasts will be able to rent the storage spaces at a new kayaking center, which will feature a restored beach and hardwood launching deck designed for nonmotorized watercraft.
An annual lottery will award the storage spaces, and paddlers who win spaces will pay a seasonal storage fee of $100 per boat. This year, the season will run from July 15 to Nov. 1, but subsequent seasons will extend from May 1 to Nov. 1. Access to stored boats will be restricted to the park’s hours of operation, from dawn to dusk.
To enter, email Joe Kiernan with your name, address and phone number by Friday, June 17, 2011. Please indicate whether you wish to store a kayak or a canoe. If you have specific questions, Joe also is available at 845 473 4440, ext. 262.

July Rain Building Workshops

The Dutchess Watershed Coalition will be hosting three Rain Barrel Building Workshops throughout the month of July as part of Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month. At each of these workshops you will learn how to build a 55-gallon rain barrel that you will take home. The cost of the workshop is $45. 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. These workshops fill quickly and are on a first come, first serve basis.
 
Date: Saturday, July 9th
Time: 10:00AM
Location: Meiser Homestead at Meiser Park, Wappingers Falls, NY.
 
Date: Tuesday, July 12th
Time: 6:30PM
Location: Fall Kill Partnership Gardens, 29 North Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, NY.
 
Date: Saturday, July 23rd  
Time: 10:00AM
Location: Stonykill Foundation, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY.
 
Rain barrels capture runoff from rooftops during storms to use later to water your lawn or garden.  Using a rain barrel can help save money on water bills, conserve water, and manage stormwater runoff.  At this hands-on workshop, we will provide a 55-gallon food-grade plastic barrel and all the materials you need to build your own!
 
For more information about Dutchess Watershed Awareness Monthand other events taking place, visit the website at:http://dutchesswam.com .

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

No-Cost Solar Thermal Seminar for Contractors

Thurs, June 16, 8 AM to 12:00 PM 
NO-COST SOLAR THERMAL SEMINAR for Contractors at SUNY Ulster's Business Resource Center, 1 Development Court, Room 114,Kingston. Presenters will be John Maliwacki of SunMaxx Solar (Ithaca, NY) and Gerhard Klier of EarthKind Solar in Kingston. Contact Patrice Courtney Strong, Courtney Strong, Inc., 845-331-2238 lsderuvo@gmail.com

Clearwater Festival June 18th - 19th

CLEARWATER'S GREAT HUDSON RIVER REVIVAL: A MUSIC & ENVIRONMENTAL FESTIVAL.www.ClearwaterFestival.org Volunteer opportunities still open; contact volcoord@clearwater.org

Long Dock Update

Hotel planned for Beacon’s Long Dock Park may not be built.

The hotel/conference center planned for Beacon’s Long Dock Park may never get off the ground. The park is owned by Scenic Hudson and the environmental organization has a contract with a developer to build a 166 room “green” hotel and conference center on the Hudson Riverfront in that city.
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan told MidHudsonNews.com that the developer has only about six more months to secure financing before the deal is off the table.
Despite that, the rest of the park development is continuing, said Sullivan.
“The park continues as a wonderful waterfront destination right next to the train station, a place for kyaking, where the Mill Street Loft is going to educate kids about environment and parks on the Hudson River, the Dia right next door, a fishing pier; it will be a spectacular place,” he said.
The park is on the site of an old Brownfield on the Beacon waterfront.

MidHudsonNews June 6, 2011

Hidden Gardens of Amenia

July 9, 2011 10AM - 4PM, Visit ten of Amenia’s hidden gardens, including 2 new gardens this year. Hosted by The Garden Club of Amenia. All proceeds are used to purchase bulbs for community residents and businesses to enhance the town. Last year Amenia residents planted 10,000 daffodil bulbs. Rain or shine. Box lunches for $5 will be available at Churchill Gardens. 

To meet the gardeners and purchase tickets in advance, participants may attend a free wine and cheese reception on Friday, July 8, 5:30-7:30pm at Meade Farm House at 224 Perry Corners Road. Tickets are available on the day of the tour at Four Brothers Pizza at the intersections of Routes22/44 and 343. 

Beginning on June 1st, tour maps can be picked up at the Town Hall, at the Amenia Free Library, or downloaded from www.ameniany.gov. Fee: $20, children FREE. Four Brothers Pizza, 4957 Rte 22, Amenia, NY 12501. 845-373-9097. http://www.ameniagardens.com/ 

Mohonk Garden Walk & Luncheon

June 30, 2011 10 a. m. - 4 p. m. Enjoy the beauty of Mohonk’s gardens 
while gaining insight into how they are created and maintained. Garden enthusiasts will delight 
as they embark on a two-hour walking tour of the formal flower gardens, annual and perennial 
beds, and greenhouse guided by a Master Gardener or a member of Mohonk’s landscape and 
garden staff. The buffet lunch served at 12:00 noon in the West Dining Room features guest 
speaker Ken Greene of Hudson Valley Seed Library. 

Please plan on arriving early to avoid a back-up at the gatehouse. Space is limited to 150 people. Registration deadline is 6/24. No refunds. If you can’t attend please send someone in your place. Fee: $60. Mohonk Mountain House,1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561.(845) 340-3990. http://www.cceulster.org/  


Water Wonders: Aquatic Features in your Landscap

June 12, 2011 10AM - 11AM at the Phantom Gardener

The musical cascade of a waterfall. The refreshing cool of a pond-side slope. A chorus of chirping frogs or singing birds drawn to a backyard brook. Introduce the sound, the allure, the magic of water into your landscape, or learn how to maintain and enhance an existing pond in this workshop. Ken Schoen, who has specialized in water features for over twenty years, will share his wisdom on design and installation, maintenance, energy-efficient filtration systems, plant material and fish, and more. Whether you’re interested in a tub on your deck with plants and goldfish or a naturalistic swimming pool, you will benefit from this overview of the techniques and materials that go into a thriving aquatic feature. While you’re here, visit the demonstration pond that Ken is scheduled to install at Phantom this spring! Fee: $15 payable in advance (but walk-ins welcome) Phantom Gardener, 6837 Rt 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572. (845)876-8606  http://www.thephantomgardener.com/

Biodiversity Assessment Course

Hudsonia is very glad to announce that it will be holding two sessions of the Biodiversity Assessment Short Course in 2011. The first will be held 26-28 July and the second 30 August -1 September. The flyer gives more information about the course, and includes an application form for the July session.

Beacon Zero Waste Garden Tour

The Beacon Zero Waste Garden Tour will be held on Saturday, June 11th. The day's events will include two separate led garden tours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Aside from enjoying the spectacular gardens of our local residents, there will be an emphasis on composting, organic pest management, and general inputs and outputs. The tour will encourage neighborly knowledge sharing to help motivate and assist residents in their organic gardening efforts and to reduce garbage output through composting. The Green Teens will lead a compost workshop. See schedule below or posters around town for details. This event is free and open to the public. Participants will have the option of traveling as a group along the tour route on bikes.

TOUR1/ 10a-12p
Meet: 9:45a DMV Parking Lot, 223 Main Street
Tour Guide: Philomena Kiernan
Holly Bogdanffy, 19 DeWindt Street (10a - 10:25)
Naomi Sachs, 55 S. Brett Street (10:35 - 11:00)
Joan Martorano, 9 Wodell Street (11:10 - 11:35)
Philomena Kiernan, 80 Overlook Ave (11:45 - 12:10)

COMPOST 
WORKSHOP 
Led by Green Teens & Helanna Bratman, 12:30p - 1:30p
Seed to Fruit garden, 528 Main Street

TOUR2/ 2p-4p
Meet: 1:45p at 9 Mackin Street
Tour Guide: Sarah Elisabeth
Matthew Freedman, 9 Mackin Street (2:00 - 2:25)
Karen Sine, 13 Dutchess Terrace (2:35 - 3:00)
Anna West, 57 Dutchess Terrace (3:10 - 3:35)
Rafiqua Doniger, 99 N. Elm Street (3:45 - 4:10)

Cruise Fundraiser for Stony Kill

Join us on July 14, from 6 to 8 pm for a Hudson River Cruise to benefit the Stony Kill Foundation.  The boat leaves from Newburgh.  Feel free to park at Stony Kill and carpool.  The tickets are $50 each and includes the cruise, appetizers and live music.  There will be a cash bar and silent auction.  Email us or call 845-831-1617 for tickets.  

All About Frogs in Cold Spring

  • This Sunday, June 12 from 2:00pm-3:30pm the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum will be hosting: All About Frogs at Hubbard Lodge, 2880 Route 9 in Cold Spring.Hubbard Lodge is part of Fahnestock State Park and the sign for the entrance is on the east side of Route 9 just north of Route 301. 
  • Families are invited to join Environmental Educator Carl Heitmuller to learn all about frogs. After a short presentation meet some live frogs from the museum's collection and learn about their remarkable adapations as well as how to recognize species by their calls and unique markings. If time allows take a walk in search of amphibians.
  • This program is recommended for adults with or without children and children ages 5 and older. Admission fees will help care for the museum's animals at the Wildlife Education Center in Cornwall. 
  • Pre-registration is not required for this program.
    Admission: $5 per person. Museum Members:$3.
  • For information  please call 845-534-5506, ext. 204.
  • Other programs at Hubbard Lodge include:
    Sunday, July 10 from 2:00pm-3:30pm Beautiful Butterflies

Sing-A-Longs at Stony Kill

Join musician Chris Ruhe of the Howland Wolves and have fun at an Old Fashioned Family Sing-A-Long at Stony Kill on Friday, June 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. across from the Barn.  In case of inclement weather, the program will not be held.  The Sing-A-Longs will also take place on June 24; July 8; July 22; August 5; and August 19.  

Camps at Stony Kill

Stony Kill has begun registration for the Summer Explorers Camp for youngsters entering grades 1 to 6 and the Summer Fishing Camp for youngsters entering grades 3 to 6.

The Summer Explorers Camp will be held Monday through Friday, August 22 to 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.  The fee is $100.

The Summer Fishing Camp will be held Monday through Friday, July 25 to 28, with the 29th as a raindate, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.  The fee is $40.

If you are interested in registering your child/ren for either of these programs, email us at foundation@stonykill.org and a flyer/registration form will be sent to you.

Further details are available at www.stonykill.org on the Events page.

Strawberry Festival this Sunday

Beacon Sloop Club Annual Strawberry Festival 
June 12, noon-5pm
Riverfront Park, Beacon, NY (rain/shine) 


Fresh strawberry shortcake made with local berries, real whipped cream & hot biscuits. Free sails on the Woody Sloop. Music with Dan Einbender & the Grammy Award Winning Rivertown Kids, Pete Seeger, Arlon Bennett, Driscoll & Smith, Jann Klose, Jim Connor, and The Jen Klapp Band. A family friendly festival for all ages. Food & craft vendors available. Free admission & parking. Info: (845) 831-6962, (845) 463-4660

IBM Centennial Keynote: Smarter Rivers for a Smarter Planet

Thursday, June 16, 7 - 9 p.m. 
Center for Environmental Innovation and Education
199 Dennings Ave, Beacon
  
Intelligent, instrumented and interconnected - that's IBM's idea of a Smarter Planet. Join Dr. Harry Kolar, an IBM distinguished Engineer, as he discusses REON and the intelligent systems and analytic technologies driving new possibilities in real-time water monitoring.  

This event is free and open to the public. Please register online.

Walks & Talks at Denning's Point

Erik Kiviat, Ph.D., Executive Director of Hudsonia, a not-for-profit environmental research institute, will share his extensive experience with the plants and animals of our region on Saturday, June 11 at 1 p.m.* Join Erik as he explains the suspicious appearance of the slider turtle, and describes the habits of its indigenous cohort, the snapping turtle, both found slipping about Denning's Point. *Please note the 1:00 start to take advantage of the high tide.

Naomi Sachs, Founder and Director of the Therapeutic Landscapes Network and Principal of Naomi Sachs Design, lends her unique perspective of nature for her Restorative Environments Walk & Talk at CEIE Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m. Naomi's Walk & Talk around the grounds at CEIE will aim to fine-tune the senses to the many effects contained in its landscape. Come ready to see your surroundings in a new way.

Register online and view the full season of Beacon Institute's 2011 events at www.bire.org/events.

Fulbright Scholar Programs in Environmental Sciences & Technology

Applications are now being accepted for Fulbright Scholar awards for teaching or research in the Middle East and North Africa are in specializations of environmental sciences and technology in 2012-13.

Water resources, alternate energy, resource management, pollution prevention, waste management and other fields will be supported for periods of 3-10 months in Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar or Kuwait.

See award information, application and guidelines at http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/. Contact Gary Garrison,ggarrison@iie.org< mailto:ggarrison@iie.org>, 201-0686-4019, for additional information. Application deadline is August 1, 2011.


Save Energy, Save Dollars Workshop

Hyde Park Free Library
Thursday, June 9, 2011
6:00 — 8:00 pm

2 Main Street
Hyde Park New York, 12538

Advance registration is required;
Contact Angela by phone at:
845-677-8223 x 114 or
Email: acs26@cornell.edu

More information

Green Teen's 5th Annual Photography Show

From The Ground Up: Growing Food, Through the Eyes of Teenagers

The Green Teens, seven teenagers from Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County’s Green Teen Community Gardening Program, have been hard at work since the end of March.  That was when the Beacon teens were handed cameras and film to capture a part of the local food system that touched their lives. Three months and many frames later they are excited to show off what they have created in a public showing of their work, From the Ground Up: Growing Food, through the Eyes of Teenagers.  

The opening event is on June 11th from 5-7pm at The Coffee Shoppe in Beacon at 453 Main Street.  At 6pm, the artists will introduce themselves and their work, and perform a short piece.

For more information please contact Helanna Bratman, Green Teen Program Coordinator, at 845-831-4287 or via email at hgb4@cornell.edu