'Windows on Poughkeepsie' is moving

Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers took just over an hour on Tuesday to remove “Windows on Poughkeepsie,” an exhibit by local artist Michael Asbill that has hung at the Poughkeepsie train station since 2006. Don't worry -- it's being reinstalled in another part of town until the individual panels are auctioned off to benefit Walkway Over the Hudson, The Dutchess County Arts Council and Locust Grove. You can read more about it in this Poughkeepsie Journal article.

Life Along the River: Hudson Valley images

View beautiful images of the Hudson River (like this one!) by Poughkeepsie Journal photographer Lee Ferris through July 30 at the Hyde Park Library Annex. For more information, please call 845-229-7791.

More River Day Flotilla images

It's nice to see that more folks have added great new photos to this collection of River Day Flotilla images. That amphicar on the Rondout is interesting ...

The images are online here at the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Hudson's riverfront festival on Saturday

The celebrations at the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park in Hudson continue all summer, including this Saturday with a Summer Solstice Celebration presented by the Columbia County Council on the Arts. A crafts fair takes place starting at 11 a.m., with a children's parade down Columbia Street at 3 p.m. A concert of traditional Andean music and dance with Yarina will be held from 5-8 p.m. It all takes place rain or shine under a tent at Riverfront Park.

Other upcoming events include the July 25-26 Namesake Celebration with tours of the Half Moon, concerts, and fireworks and light show and the August 2 Henry Hudson Quadathlon.

You can see all the events on the image attached here -- click on it to make it larger -- or visit www.cityofhudson.org.

Mark O'Connor to debut Quad Quartet

Grammy Award-winning violinist and composer Mark O'Connor returns to Riverspace in Nyack tomorrow for the local debut of a string quartet commissioned to celebrate the Hudson River Quadricentennial.

String Quartet No. 3 is called "Old Time." Like "Appalachia Waltz" - his best-known solo violin work, which he performed at Riverspace in 2007 - and the six-movement "American Symphony," the new piece paints a sweeping musical picture. You can read more in this article.

17 Perspectives of the Hudson River exhibit

The Albany Institute of History & Art will host a special exhibition of contemporary paintings, Different at Every Turn: Contemporary Painters of the Hudson River, featuring the work of 17 artists, each revealing a personal connection with a different aspect of the river, from July 3-Aug. 23. Artists include Robert Berlind, Creighton, Simon Gaon, Heidi Gluck, Susanna Heller, Bill Hochhausen, Yvonne Jacquette, Herbert Katzman, Ellen Kozak, Diana Kurz, Cynthia Mailman, Peter McCaffrey, Bill Murphy, Thomas Nelson, Susan Pyzow, Sylvia Sleigh, and Sidney Tillim.

To commemorate the Quad, the exhibit will also appear at locations such as the Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York, the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, and the United States Military Academy at West Point. At the Albany Institute, the exhibition will be hung in the museum’s Rice House Gallery.
 
The exhibit, according to its release:

conveys 17 distinct viewpoints of a single entity — from remembrances of September 11 to scenic natural vistas that speak to the intrusion of civilization on the river’s environs, rendered in styles as varied as abstraction and realism. The exhibition, according to its curator, Virginia Creighton, “gives us a diverse array of visual images, each a small event of illumination revealing different imaginative realities of the river. These works remind us that the Hudson River is a constantly changing and inspiring force.”

Enjoy Fishkill's historic & scenic sights from bike

The Fishkill Historical Society will sponsor a bike tour of "Olde Fishkill" on Sunday, June 21 with three different bicycle tours for three different skill levels. Each tour incorporates historic sites along the way. The family tour covers 0.6 miles of even terrain and visits 8 historic sites within the Village of Fishkill. This tour can also be easily walked. The medium tour covers 4 miles, with some hills and even terrain, and visits 15 historic sites in the Village and Town of Fishkill. The extended tour covers 24 miles, with some challenging hills, and visits 26 historic sites. This goes through the Village and Town of Fishkill as well as parts of Beacon. Sites will have receivers to briefly share information about the site.

A community picnic will follow at Van Wyck Homestead from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Registration for the event begins at noon, and is free; donations are gratefully accepted.

Registration for the family and medium tours is at Van Wyck (Village) Hall, 1095 Main St. in Fishkill, and the extended tour registration is at Van Wyck Homestead, 504 Rt. 9 in Fishkill. Maps can be picked up at Town and Village Hall in Fishkill prior to the event, and at the registration locations the day of the event. Visit www.soundearth.com/BikeTour for more details.

Festival to mark Clearwater's 40th anniversary

This coming weekend - June 20-21 - Hudson River Sloop Clearwater will celebrate its 40th anniversary during its annual festival at Croton Point Park in Westchester. Dozens of bands and musicians, including founder Pete Seeger, are expected to perform while attendees enjoy food, vendors, crafts, warm breezes off the river and majestic views of its western shore. Read all about Clearwater and its anniversary in this article.

Flotilla schedule

Here is the latest River Day flotilla and land events schedule, from the state Quad commission. The state River Day Web site also carries updates.


JUNE 12 (Friday)-remain in Catskill/Hudson/Athens area for school groups until noon.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Castleton at 4 pm for special final night dinner, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs and fireworks sponsored by Coeymans Marine Terminal.
Overnight for flagships-Clearwater, Launch 5 and Naval Militia at Castleton Boat Club, Half Moon, Harvey, and Cleveland, at Coeymans Marine Terminal/Brick Yard. Onrust will visit both locations.

JUNE 13 (Saturday)-depart Castleton at 11am. Parade by Schodack Park (www.schodack.org/quadri/HFCindex.htm) and Town of Bethlehem.
Arrival at 12:30 for Final Cannon Welcome and day-long celebrations
including Yankee Doodle Band at the Albany Yacht Club, Crailo State
Historic Site (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/sites/info.asp?siteID=7)
sponsored Dutch exhibits and cuisine, Blessing of the Fleet at Albany
Yacht Club with local clergy including Dutch Reform minister and Native
American representative. Keith Pray Big Band will perform, BBQ style
foods, and tours of the Clearwater Sloop all at the Riverfront Park in
Rensselaer. The Half Moon will be in Albany, and Onrust in Rensselaer.


River Day Underway and Docking Schedule
(if no dock is indicated, none are needed as of 6/5/09)

*Ships listed in configuration order-Captains to follow ship listed
before your listing.
*Distance between ships will be 100 yards.
*Flotilla speed is 5 knots. If a ship must fall behind for any reason,
the flotilla will remain at 5 knots.

June 12, 12 to 4PM, Catskill/Athens/Hudson to Castleton (total 4 hours
underway)
Half Moon-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Clearwater -Castleton Boat Club
Onrust-Castleton Boat Club after visiting Coeymans Marine Terminal
John J Harvey-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Governor Cleveland Tug-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Naval Militia-Castleton Boat Club
Riverkeeper-Castleton Boat Club
Launch 5-Castleton Boat Club

June 13, 11AM to 12:30PM, Castleton to Rensselaer (total 1.5 hours
underway)
Half Moon-Albany
Clearwater-Rensselaer Park
Onrust-Albany Yacht Club
John J Harvey-Dutch Apple Cruises dock
Governor Cleveland Tug-Dutch Apple Cruises dock
Naval Militia-Albany Yacht Club
Riverkeeper-Rensselaer Park

Discover birds of the Hudson River

A free Hudson River shore bird walk linked to Quad celebrations will take place in Hyde Park Saturday morning. More info in this Poughkeepsie Journal story ...

Beacon Sloop Club Strawberry Festival

Following all the River Days flotilla excitement ... the Beacon Sloop Club’s annual Strawberry Festival takes place, rain or shine, from 12-5pm Sunday June 14 at Riverfront Park in Beacon (very close to the Metro North Beacon Train Station).

Here is the club's message:

Our guests will hear live music and enjoy the best shortcake you have ever imagined --- locally grown strawberries made with home-made biscuits topped with real whipped cream --- while surrounded on three sides by the glorious Hudson River. There will be many treats such as strawberry smoothies, freshly made chocolate covered strawberries and other great foods. Many vendors will be on hand selling food and crafts, and a farmers’ market will offer freshly baked breads, vegetables and many other local items. Tanks of live fish and other river life will be on exhibition along with displays of local river history and environment. An area is also available with activities and musical performances for children throughout the festival.
For information on being a food or crafts vendor or booking an activist or environmental table please call 845-463-4660 or visit beaconsloopclub.org for an application.
The Woody Guthrie will be taking guests on free sails from the Beacon Harbor. The public may sign up for a free afternoon sail to experience the beauty, power and grandeur of the Hudson. Guests may sign up at the Beacon Sloop Club booth for one of the five free sails during the afternoon. Seating is limited so be sure to arrive early and sign up at the Beacon sloop Club table.
The music will be sublime with folksinger/activist Pete Seeger, Dan Einbender & His Kids, Melissa Ortquist & Karen Brooks, Dave King, Spook Handy, Driscoll & Smith, Howland Wolves, Cecilia St. King.
Admission is free to Beacon Sloop Club Strawberry Festival. For additional festival info: (845) 831-6962, (845) 496-5617, www.beaconsloopclub.org
The Beacon Sloop Club is all volunteer and a non-profit organization. The BSC Strawberry Festival raises money for the public sailing program on the Woody Guthrie and other environmental education programs. There is never a charge for sailing aboard the Woody. The BSC meets the first Friday of each month at the clubhouse in Beacon, right on the river near the Metro-North train station, for a potluck dinner, business meeting and music. The public is always welcome.

River Day in Poughkeepsie

From the city of Poughkeepsie calendar of Quad events, for today:

June 10: River Day Flotilla (until 4 PM)

9:30 am - 5 pm Opening of Children's Exhibit: "Rivertown" (Mid-Hudson Children's Museum)

10 am - 10:20 am Dedication of Historic City Greenway Plaques, Village Hall (present-day Commissioner of Jurors Building)


10:20 am - 10:45 am Dedication of Historic City Greenway Plaques, Original Dutch Reformed Church Site (present-day Alex's Restaurant, corner of Main & Market Streets)
Rereading of "Prayer for Cessation of Conflict"(end of Revolutionary War)
- Official Opening of City of Poughkeepsie Urban Trail-Historic Sites
- Official Opening of City of Poughkeepsie Urban Parks Tour

10:45 Public Art Tour with Franc Palaia (begins at Alex's Restaurant)
11:00 am Lecture: Daryl David "Dutch Heritage Plantings and Poughkeepsie"
(River Station)
1:00 pm Geological walking tour of waterfront (Waryas Park / Kaal rock)

Flotilla heads to Poughkeepsie

The Onrust, a 17th-century Dutch replica, has left the Newburgh waterfront with the flotilla of boats that includes the Clearwater and the Half Moon, making its way up the Hudson River in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's trip up the waterway. You can read about it in this Poughkeepsie Journal article.

Latest Flotilla schedule

Here is the latest River Day flotilla and land events schedule, from the state Quad commission. The state River Day Web site also carries updates.

JUNE 8 (Monday)-flagships stay in Beacon/Newburgh for educational programs all day.
Jet fly-overs, West Point Band and other festivities.

JUNE 9 (Tuesday)-flagships stay in Beacon/Newburgh for educational programs all day.
Depart Beacon/Newburgh at 4 pm.
Arrival and cannon welcome (6pm) in Poughkeepsie area (www.Dutchess400.com) for festivities including ribbon cutting, music, Quadricentennial Show-Cake created by the Culinary Institute of America, and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs.
Overnight for flagships-Poughkeepsie area, Rogers Point, and boat clubs.

JUNE 10 (Wednesday)-flagships remain in Poughkeepsie all day for educational activities.
Depart Poughkeepsie at 4pm sharp.
Parade by Hyde Park State Historic Sites.
Arrival and cannon welcome (6:30pm) in Kingston for celebration at the
Hudson River Maritime Museum (www.hrmm.org), and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs.
Overnight for ships at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and Historic Waterfront Museum docks.

JUNE 11 (Thursday)-remain in Kingston for school groups from 8 to 11am.
Parade by Saugerties Light House (around noon) for school groups.
Parade by Clermont State Historic Site.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Catskill/Hudson/Athens by 6pm with Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs. Catskill hosting celebration, barbeque and reception. Hudson hosting river-ribbon-cutting, music, and festivities. Athens hosting riverfront park party. Hudson-Athens Lighthouse hosting party (www.hudsonathenslighthouse.org).
Hudson Harbor Cruise featuring narrated dinner cruise (call 518-828-7884).
Overnight for flagships-Half Moon in Catskill, Clearwater in Hudson, and Onrust in Athens.

JUNE 12 (Friday)-remain in Catskill/Hudson/Athens area for school groups until noon.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Castleton at 4 pm for special final night dinner, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs and fireworks sponsored by Coeymans Marine Terminal.
Overnight for flagships-Clearwater, Launch 5 and Naval Militia at Castleton Boat Club, Half Moon, Harvey, and Cleveland, at Coeymans Marine Terminal/Brick Yard. Onrust will visit both locations.

JUNE 13 (Saturday)-depart Castleton at 11am. Parade by Schodack Park (www.schodack.org/quadri/HFCindex.htm) and Town of Bethlehem.
Arrival at 12:30 for Final Cannon Welcome and day-long celebrations
including Yankee Doodle Band at the Albany Yacht Club, Crailo State
Historic Site (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/sites/info.asp?siteID=7)
sponsored Dutch exhibits and cuisine, Blessing of the Fleet at Albany
Yacht Club with local clergy including Dutch Reform minister and Native
American representative. Keith Pray Big Band will perform, BBQ style
foods, and tours of the Clearwater Sloop all at the Riverfront Park in
Rensselaer. The Half Moon will be in Albany, and Onrust in Rensselaer.


River Day Underway and Docking Schedule
(if no dock is indicated, none are needed as of 6/5/09)

*Ships listed in configuration order-Captains to follow ship listed
before your listing.
*Distance between ships will be 100 yards.
*Flotilla speed is 5 knots. If a ship must fall behind for any reason,
the flotilla will remain at 5 knots.

June 8, no travel-most boats open for visitors and viewing in
Beacon/Newburgh docking areas.

June 9, 4PM to 7PM Newburgh to Poughkeepsie (total 3 hours underway)
Half Moon-Mariner's Harbor-to be confirmed/tentative (T)
Clearwater-Poughkeepsie Pier, Waryus Park
Mystic Whaler-Poughkeepsie Pier, Waryus Park
Onrust-Roger's Point, Hyde Park
Woody Guthrie-Roger's Point, Hyde Park
John J Harvey Fireboat- Hudson River Maritime Museum
Governor Cleveland Tug-same as above
Naval Militia- Pirate Canoe Club
Riverkeeper-Poughkeepsie Pier, Waryus Park
Launch 5-Pirate Canoe Club

June 10, 4PM to 7PM, Poughkeepsie to Kingston (total 3 hours underway)
Half Moon-Hudson River Maritime Museum dock
Clearwater-same as above
Onrust-same as above
John J Harvey Fireboat-Historic Kingston Waterfront Museum dock
Governor Cleveland Tug-same as above
Naval Militia-USCG Station, Saugerties
Riverkeeper-Hudson River Maritime Museum dock
Launch 5- Historic Kingston Waterfront Museum dock

June 11, 11AM to 5PM, Kingston to Catskill/Athens/Hudson (total 6 hours
underway)
Half Moon-Historic Catskill Point
Clearwater-Hudson City Marina
Onrust-Athens Marina
John J Harvey Fireboat- KOSCO, Catskill
Governor Cleveland Tug-Hudson City Dock
Naval Militia-Athens Marina (T)
Riverkeeper-Catskill Marina
Launch 5-Catskill City Dock

June 12, 12 to 4PM, Catskill/Athens/Hudson to Castleton (total 4 hours
underway)
Half Moon-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Clearwater -Castleton Boat Club
Onrust-Castleton Boat Club after visiting Coeymans Marine Terminal
John J Harvey-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Governor Cleveland Tug-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Naval Militia-Castleton Boat Club
Riverkeeper-Castleton Boat Club
Launch 5-Castleton Boat Club

June 13, 11AM to 12:30PM, Castleton to Rensselaer (total 1.5 hours
underway)
Half Moon-Albany
Clearwater-Rensselaer Park
Onrust-Albany Yacht Club
John J Harvey-Dutch Apple Cruises dock
Governor Cleveland Tug-Dutch Apple Cruises dock
Naval Militia-Albany Yacht Club
Riverkeeper-Rensselaer Park

Poughkeepsie art tour, dedication for Quad

Artist Franc Palaia will be offering his guided walking tour of the Public Art of Poughkeepsie on Wednesday morning (June 10) as part of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial festivities.

Participants should meet at 10 a.m. at Alex's Restaurant at the corner of Market & Main Streets in the city of Poughkeepsie, where they will view another special event of the Quad: the dedication of the bronze sidewalk plaque that commemorates the original site of the Poughkeepsie City Hall. All are welcome and free coffee and refreshments will be served compliments of Alex's Restaurant.

After the dedication and coffee, Palaia's Public Art tour will begin at approximately 11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. The tour takes two hours, however participants may leave at anytime during the tour.

Flotilla is underway!

The Flotilla is underway!

We have created an online gallery where you can share your photos of the ships making their way up the river.

Quad pullout section has events calendar

The Enjoy Entertainment Guide in today's Poughkeepsie Journal has a 4-page Quadricentennial pullout section with the schedule of events for Flotilla/River Days and other related Quad events ...

Rhinebeck's Quadricentennial float

Here's a photo of the Rhinebeck Memorial Day Parade Quadricentennial float designed by Gipson Design Group Inc., of Rhinebeck. The float features the art work of painter Olin Dows that adorns the walls of the Rhinebeck Post Office, as well as large images of Henry Hudson's Half Moon, Robert Fulton's first Steamship, and Rhinebeck's town seal. It is currently on display on the grounds of the Rhinebeck Town Hall.

Young Professionals to meet for Flotilla June 9

The Hub (Young Professionals of the Hudson Valley) will join in Poughkeepsie's River Day festivities on Tuesday, June 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Grandview Waterfront (park in the lower lot below Shadows on the Hudson, Rinaldi Boulevard, Poughkeepsie). Bring a blanket and picnic basket.

“We’ve got the perfect spot to celebrate the river,” Beth Allee, chair of the Hub’s Events Committee, said in a release. “We’re encouraging young professionals throughout the Hudson Valley join us with their families and view what is expected to be hundreds of boats in the Great River Day Flotilla and see an antique plane fly-over by the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, too!”

The Hub, with more than 275 members who live, work and play in the Hudson Valley, is an organization founded by the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce with a group of like-minded individuals throughout the Hudson Valley, who gathered together to develop an informal peer networking organization that connects ambitious young professionals to the Hudson Valley’s unique cultural, recreational, social, volunteer and professional development opportunities.

Bridge Music & River Days on tap

The next Quadricentennial events in Dutchess County include the première of Joseph Bertolozzi's Bridge Music on Saturday, June 6 and the River Days great boat flotilla that arrives in Beacon on Sunday, June 7 and in Poughkeepsie on Tuesday, June 9. Visit www.Dutchess400.com for information.

Dutch ship Onrust heading to flotilla launch

The 50-foot Onrust, a replica of the first Dutch ship built in America in 1614, is headed to New York City to take part in the Quad flotilla. You can read about it in this article.

Lecture by Dutch stone house expert

John R. Stevens, author of Dutch Vernacular Architecture in North America, 1640-1830, will discuss the connection between the architecture of the Netherlands and its evolution in the New World, at 11 a.m. Saturday June 13 at the Persen House in Kingston. The lecture will cover all of New Netherland and how the early builders adapted local materials to the Dutch building tradition.

The Persen House, part of which is believed to date to the late 1650s, is one of the earliest stone houses built by Dutch settlers in this country. It will also be open to the public with guided tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Here is more from the news release:

Stevens’ book is said to be the most comprehensive examination to date of the houses, barns, and other structures dating from the time when New York was known as New Netherland. It is a scholarly work about a unique type of architecture that has been largely ignored by architects and historians. In 463 pages of drawings, photographs, and text, Stevens has crammed forty years of scholarship that Abbott Lowell Cummings, author of The Framed Houses of Massachusetts Bay, calls “the achievement of a lifetime.” The book is published by The Society for the Preservation of Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture (HVVA), a not-for-profit based in West Hurley, NY, that has spent the last 10 years examining houses and barns from an era that began shortly after Henry Hudson “discovered” the region in 1609 through well into the 19th century, and covering a geographical area that extends from Long Island to Albany and beyond.

Rob Sweeney, Editor of HVVA’s newsletter, defines vernacular architecture as “the common way of building…a product of regional culture and tradition.” Hundreds of years before the Vanderbilts and Astors built their castles along the Hudson—which some have called the “McMansions” of their day—the Dutch, and later German and English settlers, built modest homes and barns whose architectural roots can be traced directly back to Medieval Europe. For more information about the book and HVVA (which charges its members just $20 a year and includes its newsletter), go to http://www.hvva.org. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 202, West Hurley, NY 12491 USA.

Stevens’ talk is the first of a series of Persen House events that are currently being planned as part of the Hudson-Fulton Quadricentennial Celebration. The talk is also an effort to expand interest in the Persen House and its possible future as a regional heritage center about the Dutch in colonial America. The exterior of the Persen House has been restored by Ulster County. Much of the interior is unfinished, part of it intentionally so that visitors can see how the building evolved over time. The public is invited to tour the house this summer on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

June 5-13 Flotilla schedule update

Here is the latest River Day flotilla and land events schedule, from the state Quad commission. The state River Day Web site also carries updates.

RIVER DAY SCHEDULE UPDATE 5/30/09

JUNE 5 (Friday)-evening River Day "launch" celebration in New York Harbor.
"Harbor Night" with the Blessing of the Fleet, the awarding of the "Medal of Discovery", and festivities at Battery Park.
6pm-Ship assembly in front of Liberty Island and muster for photo op in the harbor against the Manhattan skyline.
6:30pm Blessing of the Fleet at Battery Park with Governor Paterson and special guests.

JUNE 6 (Saturday)-early morning with 7:15am pick-up of dignitaries and press at various overnight docking locations and Circle Line at 42nd Street.
9am start of flotilla at Statue of Liberty joined by some of our River Day sponsors: Circle Line, Water Taxi, Classic Harbor Line, SeaTow, Discover Boating, North Cove Yacht Club, NYS Canal Corporation and River Day Safety Vessel-Launch Five.
Parade by Harlem, Cloisters, Yonkers, and Hudson River Museum.
Arrival in Tarrytown and Nyack area around 5-6pm for cannon welcome and ringing of church bells, festivities and fireworks. Fireworks Program - Adjacent to Kingsland Point Park, Sleepy Hollow, 9 pm. For info: www.westchestertourism.com and www.rockland.org
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs (www.oldrhinebeck.org). Overnight for flagships-Onrust and Woody at Nyack Boat Club, all others in vicinity of Tarrytown and Piermont.

JUNE 7 (Sunday)-departure at 8am.
Arrival in Haverstraw, Croton and Ossining by 11am for midday celebration, leaving Haverstraw by 2pm sharp.
Parade by Stony Point, Peekskill, and other communities.
Parade by West Point to 16 cannon salute.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Newburgh/Beacon around 6pm.
Newburgh hosting music, Dutch singers and festivities (http://cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/HFC/NewburghBay.htm).
Long Dock Beacon-Scenic Hudson hosting Welcome the Fleet Festival (www.scenichudson.org) with music and cuisine. Beacon Sloop Club and City of Beacon hosting music and festivities.
Overnight for flagships-Clearwater, Mystic, and Woody in Beacon; Half Moon, Harvey and Cleveland in Newburgh. Onrust TBA.

JUNE 8 (Monday)-flagships stay in Beacon/Newburgh for educational programs all day.
Jet fly-overs, West Point Band and other festivities.

JUNE 9 (Tuesday)-flagships stay in Beacon/Newburgh for educational programs all day.
Depart Beacon/Newburgh at 4 pm.
Arrival and cannon welcome (6pm) in Poughkeepsie area (www.Dutchess400.com) for festivities including ribbon cutting, music, Quadricentennial Show-Cake created by the Culinary Institute of America, and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs.
Overnight for flagships-Poughkeepsie area, Rogers Point, and boat clubs.

JUNE 10 (Wednesday)-flagships remain in Poughkeepsie all day for educational activities.
Depart Poughkeepsie at 4pm sharp.
Parade by Hyde Park State Historic Sites.
Arrival and cannon welcome (6:30pm) in Kingston for celebration at the Hudson River Maritime Museum (www.hrmm.org), and Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs.
Overnight for ships at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and Historic Waterfront Museum docks.

JUNE 11 (Thursday)-remain in Kingston for school groups from 8 to 11am.
Parade by Saugerties Light House (around noon) for school groups.
Parade by Clermont State Historic Site.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Catskill/Hudson/Athens by 6pm with Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs. Catskill hosting celebration, fireworks, barbeque and reception. Hudson hosting river-ribbon-cutting, music, and festivities. Athens hosting riverfront park party. Hudson-Athens Lighthouse hosting party (www.hudsonathenslighthouse.org).
Hudson Harbor Cruise having narrated dinner cruise (call 518-828-7884).
Overnight for flagships-Half Moon in Catskill, Clearwater in Hudson, and Onrust in Athens.

JUNE 12 (Friday)-remain in Catskill/Hudson/Athens area for school groups until noon.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Castleton at 4 pm for special final night dinner, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs and fireworks sponsored by Coeymans Marine Terminal.
Overnight for flagships-Clearwater, Launch 5 and Naval Militia at Castleton Boat Club, Half Moon, Harvey, Cleveland, and Onrust at Coeymans Marine Terminal/Brick Yard.

JUNE 13 (Saturday)-depart Castleton at 11am. Parade by Schodack Park (www.schodack.org/quadri/HFCindex.htm) and Town of Bethlehem.
Arrival at 12:30 for Final Cannon Welcome and day-long celebrations including Yankee Doodle Band at the Albany Yacht Club, Crailo State Historic Site (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/sites/info.asp?siteID=7)
sponsored Dutch exhibits and cuisine, Blessing of the Fleet at Albany Yacht Club with local clergy including Dutch Reform minister. Keith Pray Big Band will be perform, BBQ style foods, and tours of the Clearwater Sloop all at the Riverfront Park in Rensselaer. The Half Moon will be in Albany, and Onrust in Rensselaer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------

River Day Flotilla Underway and Docking Schedule
(if no dock is indicated, none are needed as of 5/30/09)

*Ships listed in configuration order-Captains to follow ship listed before your listing.
*Distance between ships will be 100 yards.
*Flotilla speed is 5 knots.
*If a ship must fall behind for any reason, the flotilla will remain at 5 knots.

June 5, 6:30PM, Battery Park, "Harbor Night" and Blessing of the Fleet
(Launch celebration for River Day)
Half Moon-anchored @Bay Ridge Flats
Clearwater-Chelsea Piers
Mystic Whaler-79th Street
*Onrust-TBA
John J Harvey Fireboat-Pier 66
Governor Cleveland Tug-Pier 66
Naval Militia- Sandy Hook Pilot Station
Riverkeeper-North Cove Marina
Launch 5-North Cove

June 6, 9AM-4PM, NYC to Tappan area (total 7 hours underway)
*8:15AM meet-up at KV Buoy
Half Moon-Piermont Pier
Clearwater -Tarrytown Boat Club
Mystic Whaler-Tarrytown Boat Club
*for configuration insert the Shearwater, Clipper City, Adirondack, and Manhattan
Onrust-Nyack Boat Club
Woody Guthrie-Nyack Boat Club
John J Harvey Fireboat
Governor Cleveland Tug-Hudson Harbor
Naval Militia-Viking Marina
Riverkeeper-Peterson's dock, Nyack
*for configuration-insert the Circle Line Cruiser, Water Taxi, Discover Boating
Seatow
Launch 5-Hudson Harbor
*The following boats will return to NYC and do not need overnight or docking accommodations.
Shearwater
Clipper City
Adirondack
Manhattan
Circle Line Cruiser
Water Taxi
Discover Boating
Seatow

June 7, 8AM to 11AM and 2PM to 6PM, Tappan Area to Newburgh/Beacon with midday stop in Haverstraw, Croton, and Ossining (total 7 hours underway)
*Midday Stop-Half Moon will lay hull near Croton Point; 3 masted ships in the Haverstraw Basin; Naval Militia, Harvey, Cleveland and Launch 5 in Ossining. *underway at 2PM sharp!
Half Moon-Town Pier, Newburgh
Clearwater-Beacon Ferry Dock (N)
Mystic Whaler-Beacon Ferry Dock (S)
Onrust-TBA
Woody Guthrie-Beacon Sloop Club
John J Harvey Fireboat-MTA Dock
Governor Cleveland Tug-Front Street Marina, Newburgh
Naval Militia-Viking Marina
Riverkeeper -Peterson's dock, Nyack
Launch 5-Beacon Point
*WestPoint cruisers (2)

June 8, no travel-most boats open for visitors and viewing in Beacon/Newburgh docking areas.

June 9, 4PM to 7PM Newburgh to Poughkeepsie (total 3 hours underway)
Half Moon-Mariner's Harbor-to be confirmed/tentative (T)
Clearwater-Poughkeepsie Pier, Waryus Park
Mystic Whaler-Poughkeepsie Pier, Waryus Park
Onrust-Roger's Point, Hyde Park
Woody Guthrie-Roger's Point, Hyde Park
John J Harvey Fireboat-Waryus Park Barge Dock
Governor Cleveland Tug-same as above
Naval Militia- Pirate Canoe Club
Riverkeeper-Poughkeepsie Pier, Waryus Park
Launch 5-Pirate Canoe Club

June 10, 4PM to 7PM, Poughkeepsie to Kingston (total 3 hours underway)
Half Moon-Hudson River Maritime Museum dock
Clearwater-same as above
Onrust-same as above
John J Harvey Fireboat-Historic Kingston Waterfront Museum dock
Governor Cleveland Tug-same as above
Naval Militia-USCG Station, Saugerties
Riverkeeper-Hudson River Maritime Museum dock
Launch 5- Historic Kingston Waterfront Museum dock

June 11, 11AM to 5PM, Kingston to Catskill/Athens/Hudson (total 6 hours underway)
Half Moon-Historic Catskill Point
Clearwater-Hudson City Marina
Onrust-Athens Marina
John J Harvey Fireboat- Historic Kingston Waterfront Museum dock
Governor Cleveland Tug-Hudson City Dock
Naval Militia-Athens Marina (T)
Riverkeeper-Catskill Marina
Launch 5-Catskill City Dock

June 12, 12 to 4PM, Catskill/Athens/Hudson to Castleton (total 4 hours underway)
Half Moon-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Clearwater -Castleton Boat Club
Onrust-Coeymans Marine Terminal
John J Harvey-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Governor Cleveland Tug-Coeymans Marine Terminal
Naval Militia-Castleton Boat Club
Riverkeeper-Castleton Boat Club
Launch 5-Castleton Boat Club

June 13, 11AM to 12:30PM, Castleton to Rensselaer (total 1.5 hours underway)
Half Moon-Albany
Clearwater-Rensselaer Park
Onrust-Albany Yacht Club
Governor Cleveland Tug-TBA
Naval Militia-TBA
Riverkeeper-TBA
Launch 5

June 7 Beacon festival to greet flotilla

On Sunday, June 7, Scenic Hudson will host a waterfront festival in Beacon to highlight its land-preservation initiative Save the Land That Matters. The festival will include live music, other entertainment and outdoors recreation, and the arrival of the Quadricentennial flotilla led by several tall ships.

Here is Scenic Hudson's message:

Fun, Inspiring Celebration of Quad Land Campaign Legacy

Festival with music, games and food also will welcome Quadricentennial flotilla and feature trail dedication to honor Hudson Valley Hero Klara Sauer


WHAT: This year during celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s sail up the river that now bears his name, Scenic Hudson is creating a legacy to benefit communities and residents of the region long after the fireworks have ended. Its campaign to Save the Land That Matters Most is the biggest land-preservation initiative in the valley’s history. Scenic Hudson is collaborating with fellow land trusts, government, individuals and business to protect 65,000 acres. The campaign is saving ridgelines, forests, wetlands, working farms and more – some of which will become new parks – and all will contribute powerfully to the region’s quality of life, economy and health. This Sunday Scenic Hudson will host a fun-packed festival to highlight the urgency of its campaign and will showcase visuals that powerfully convey recent land success stories up and down the valley.

During the festival a Quadricentennial flotilla will reach Scenic Hudson’s property on the Beacon waterfront. The flotilla will be led by several tall ships. Privately owned vessels will join along the way as the flotilla departs from New York Harbor on its upriver journey. The flotilla’s biggest tall ship, the Clipper City, will fly a Scenic Hudson flag to symbolize the group’s Saving the Land That Matters Most campaign and its importance to the river and the valley. To greet the flotilla Scenic Hudson has organized a festival with live music by The Kids from Room 12, nopresha, and The Big Takeover. Hudson Talbott, children’s book author, will provide a storytelling session. There also will be free kayak and bike rentals, volleyball, hula hooping and a community art project. Vendors will be offering a delicious assortment of food and drink – everything else is free.

Scenic Hudson also will dedicate a waterfront trail in Beacon to honor Klara Sauer, who during a 20-year tenure (1979-1999) as Scenic Hudson’s executive director created powerful achievements for the Hudson Valley. Under her leadership Scenic Hudson protected 14,500 acres of awe-inspiring landscapes and created 19 parks for public enjoyment. She also initiated Scenic Hudson’s farmland protection program and was instrumental in securing Congressional designation of the valley as a National Heritage Area. Also during her captaining of Scenic Hudson, the group led efforts with allies to get General Electric to cleanup toxic PCBs it dumped in the Hudson River. That cleanup finally began in May 2009.

WHO: Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson
Klara Sauer, former executive director of Scenic Hudson
Hundreds and hundreds of festival-goers

WHEN: Sunday, June 7; Klara Sauer Trail dedication from 1-2 p.m.; Welcome the Fleet Festival from 2-7 p.m.; Scenic Hudson president Ned Sullivan welcome to guests with land campaign highlights from 3:15-3:25 p.m.

WHERE: Scenic Hudson’s Beacon waterfront property – From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, 1.8 miles south on Rte. 9D, right on Beekman St., right on Red Flynn Dr. (over railroad tracks), immediate left on Long Dock Rd.
Mass transit – Free ferry service from Newburgh and discounted Metro-North fares. Park is short walk from Beacon train station and ferry landing.

RSVP now for June 9 River Day dinner-dance

A reminder that the reservation deadline is coming up for the June 9 River Day dinner-dance celebration at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum Pavilion, to benefit Walkway Over the Hudson. The event should offer a great view of the the Halfmoon, the Clearwater, and the rest of the Quadricentennial Flotilla as they arrive in Poughkeepsie.

Walkway Over the Hudson is the nonprofit leading the effort to the transform the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into the world’s longest elevated pedestrian park.

The $40 admission charge covers dinner by Lola’s Café and beer and wine donated by Mahoney’s Irish Pub. (Children under 10 years old will be admitted free.) Music will be provided by a popular area DJ and fun activities are planned. Reservations are required as seating is limited. To reserve seats please visit www.walkway.org or call 845-454-9649.

In response to questions the Quad Blog has received about this event, a Walkway spokesman says the group is not planning fireworks for that evening. There is a public access dock at Waryas Park for small craft near the Ice House but not at the Pavilion itself. More information about the event is in this earlier Quad Updates blog post.

“Bindlestick” in Beacon June 13

Bill Fiore, also known as “Bindlestick,” will present a program of songs, jokes, and stories about the Hudson River at 11 a.m. Saturday June 13 at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon. The program is part of the center’s year-long Quadricentennial commemoration.

Here is their release:

“Bindlestick” is a traveling troubadour who walks into towns all along the Hudson River and sets up camp. With his black hat slightly tilted to one side and his bindlestick resting on his right shoulder, Bill Fiore gathers young and old together for song and laughter. His original songs, containing educational concepts, are reminiscent of long ago with a blend of folk, jazz, ragtime, and a touch of the blues. This event is Bill Fiore’s third return to the Howland Cultural Center and his program will feature songs and stories about the Hudson River. If one listens carefully, you might overhear “Bindlestick” talking with his traveling companion, “Professor Sock-ra-tease.” Sockratease loves to share his extensive knowledge about the River; it’s hard to believe that a sock monkey could be so smart!

For more than twenty years, “Bindlestick” has entertained, amused, and enlightened audiences. He has performed with Pete Seeger, at Pier 40 in New York City, and with Tom Chapin during several Earth Day celebrations. Although big crowds can be fun for “Bindlestick”, his favorite concerts continue to be small gatherings at local libraries, art centers, bookstores, children’s museums, and train stations.

In keeping with the Howland Cultural Center’s mission of providing families with affordable events for children, this program is also FREE for children, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Adults may bring as many children as they wish for an adult ticket of $8.00.

A reception for children to meet “Bindlestick” will take place following the performance.

The Howland Cultural Center is located at the east end of Main Street in Beacon. For further information and/or directions, please call 845-831-4988.