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.

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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.