TAKING ACTION FOR THE RIVERFRONT:
Latest Campaigns in Yonkers and Kingston

Scenic Hudson's push for smarter development in Yonkers is in the news.

Scenic Hudson and its members continue to battle inappropriate development proposals along the Hudson River. In Yonkers, we urged citizens to contact their elected officials with objections to a proposal for 18 riverfront skyscrapers ranging from 12 to 30 stories tall. Our campaign attracted significant media attention as well, with an opinion piece in the Feb. 17 Westchester Journal News, a video on LoHud.com and a page-one editorial in the Feb. 21 Westchester Times Tribune.

In another campaign, we invited concerned citizens to send a letter to the Spitzer administration and leaders in the state Department of State to require a dramatic scaling back of the 1,750-unit development proposed for the Kingston waterfront. Despite some improvements over original proposals, studies show that the planned project is still so massive it would violate the city's own waterfront development guidelines and the state's coastal policies. We'd like to thank the almost 250 Scenic Hudson members who have written letters to date. More...

Volunteers Wanted: Help Monitor Herring Population at Black Creek Preserve

Learn how to monitor the spawning activity of Atlantic herring at a special March 22 Training Session. photo: NOAA Fisheries Service

On Saturday, March 22, Scenic Hudson members have a fascinating opportunity to participate in important environmental science in one of our parks. We're looking for volunteers to be a part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Herring Monitoring Program. The NYSDEC program trains volunteers to monitor tributaries along the Hudson to see if, where and when herring spawning runs exist. After participating in the March 22 training session, volunteers agree to go to Black Creek Preserve at least twice a week between April 1 and May 31 and spend about 15 minutes conducting visual observations for signs of herring. If you'd like to help out with this exciting project, please visit this page to register.

Can you identify which Scenic Hudson Park Reed Sparling is visiting this month? Visit this page to find out.

Congratulations to Michael McPeck from Poughkeepsie for correctly identifying last month's "Where in the Valley is Reed Sparling" photo as being at Snake Hill near Newburgh (Orange). See this page for additional details.

For March we have a new challenge. Once again, the first person to respond correctly will win an autographed copy of his new book, Hudson Valley Voyage: Through the Seasons, Through the Years. Happy guessing!

Your donation will help us continue to preserve the health and beauty of the Hudson River Valley before it's too late. (photo: Robert Rodriguez, Jr.)

Capture the magic of the Hudson Valley as part of our "Scenic Hudson, Scenic Beauty" photo competition. Submit your entries in any of six categories between now and June 30. More ...

Spring Outings...

Scenic Hudson has a full calendar of events planned to celebrate the coming of spring!

Early Bird's Garden
Date: Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m.
Location: Esopus Meadows (Ulster)
Get a leg up on spring planting: learn about composting and hot boxes, then create your own flat of favorite veggies.
More ...

World of Wonders
Date: Saturday, March 22, 1 p.m.
Location: Black Creek Preserve (Ulster)
Explore the vernal pools of the Black Creek Preserve with a Scenic Hudson ranger and discover the variety of life teeming within.
More ...

West Point Foundry: Unearthing the Past, Forging a Future
Date: Saturday, March 29, 6 - 8 p.m.
Location: Putnam County Historical Society and Foundry School Museum (Cold Spring)
Explore fascinating archaeological discoveries made at this 19th-century industrial powerhouse and learn about exciting plans for the foundry's future.
More...

Spring Birding Series
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 7:30 a.m.
Location: RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary (Catskill)
Learn and practice basic birding techniques with Audubon New York educator Larry Federman on the trails of the Hudson River's largest tidal swamp forest.
More ...

Earth Day Cleanups
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 9 a.m. & 12 p.m.
Location: Mount Beacon (Beacon)
Celebrate Earth Day by helping Scenic Hudson staff with two sessions of cleanup and trail maintenance at Mount Beacon park. RSVP for morning session or afternoon session.

Spread the Word

Help us let people know about Scenic Hudson's fun park events. Download this flyer and post it in your community or e-mail it to your friends. (PDF, 142K)