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Hudson Highlands Land Trust
September 2013
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Visit our website
Support our work
 
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Coming Events
Aug 23-Sept 15
HHLT's River of Words Poetry Trail
Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary
Cold Spring, NY
Sept 7
Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Event
Friends of Fishkill Supply Depot Fishkill, NY
Sept 15
Common Ground Farm's 3rd Annual Roasted Pig Dinner
Obercreek Farm
Hughsonville, NY
Sept 21-22
4th Annual Revolutionary War Weekend
Friends of Fishkill Supply Depot
Fishkill, NY
Sept 29
Coyotes: A Hudson Highlands Nature Museum Wildlife Workshop
Hubbard Lodge, Fahnestock State Park
Cold Spring, NY
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Hudson Highlands Land Trust
P.O. Box 226
20 Nazareth Way
Garrison, NY 10524
845/424-3358
info@hhlt.org
Andrew T. Chmar
Executive Director
Katrina Shindledecker
Director of Land Preservation
MJ Martin
Director of Outreach and Development
Kathy Hamel
Membership and Public Policy Coordinator
Matt Decker
Stewardship Coordinator
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 HHLT Partners with Open Space Institute and Scenic Hudson to Protect Mystery Point in Philipstown
In June, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and Scenic Hudson sold their Mystery Point property to a private owner. Hudson Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) partnered with the two conservation organizations and new landowner, accepting a conservation easement on the 129-acre property. This permanent conservation agreement ensures that the property's scenic and natural character is retained and allows for continued public access to approximately 100 acres of the property.
The parcel's parking area and extensive network of public trails, including on-foot access to the Hudson River, will continue to be managed by OSI and will remain largely unchanged and open to the public, with the exception of a 22-acre residential area.
"The Hudson Highlands Land Trust is happy to play a part in the long-term protection of this property and supports the continued public access to this incredibly scenic Hudson River location," said HHLT Executive Director Andy Chmar.
"This sale, and the conservation easement that it is subject to, solidifies the permanent protection of Mystery Point," said Kim Elliman, OSI's president and CEO. "It was our hope in transitioning this property to a private owner that public access would be retained on nearly all of the parcel. This is an asset that is treasured by the community, and each of the parties involved is pleased to have achieved that result."
Please note: Although the property is now privately owned, an agreement with the landowner allows for public access to the preserve and its trail network. Please respect the owner's privacy by paying attention to all signs and avoiding areas marked as private.
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 Explore HHLT's River of Words Poetry Trail at Constitution Marsh
Student poets were celebrated for their creativity at the River of Words Poetry Trail opening reception at Constitution Marsh in Cold Spring on August 25. After remarks by HHLT Executive Director Andy Chmar and Constitution Marsh Director Eric Lind, HHLT Educator and award-winning poet Irene O'Garden invited all guests to follow the Poetry Trail and discover the students' creations for themselves.
The River of Words Poetry Trail is a series of eight unique, temporary installations displaying nature-inspired poems by local students from both sides of the Hudson River winding through the beautiful landscape of Constitution Marsh. The self-guided tour of the Poetry Trail is free and open to the public dawn to dusk, but don't wait, the exhibit closes on Sunday, September 15.
The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Cornwall will host another Poetry Trail in the fall, featuring the poetry of another eight local students from both sides of the river. Details will be available closer to its opening next month.
The Poetry Trails are available through a generous grant from Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation.
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 What's Wrong with the Black Locusts?
Have you noticed that many of the Black Locust trees in our area have turned brown? They've been attacked by Locust Leafminers.
The larvae of this beetle mine the soft middle of the leaves, turning them brown. The adults eat holes in the leaves, leaving them skeletonized. The damage looks detrimental to the tree, but Black Locusts are extremely hardy. Leafminer outbreaks only occasionally kill locust trees. The leafminers feed on Black Locust almost exclusively, but occasionally attack beech, birch, oak and others.
We'd be interested to know if you have seen these beetles on trees other than Black Locust. You can email your photos or observation notes to Matt Decker, HHLT Stewardship Coordinator.
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 HHLT and Hudson Highlands Nature Museum Present Wildlife Series at Hubbard Lodge
Coyotes, set for Sunday, September 29, 2:00-3:30pm.
HHLT and Hudson Highlands Nature Museum (HHNM) are pleased to announce a series of three nature programs that bring the Museum's expertise to Hubbard Lodge in Cold Spring. Hubbard Lodge is on Rte. 9, about 2/10 of a mile north of the intersection of Rte. 9 and Rte. 301. If you are traveling north on Rte. 9, the entrance is on the right.
Families are invited to join environmental educator Carl Heitmuller to learn about coyotes, our canine neighbors, during the first presentation. "Coyotes can catch and kill old and weak deer but they mostly eat smaller mammals like rabbits and mice," said Heitmuller. "They are not a threat to humans!" Seldom seen and often misunderstood, coyotes are fascinating animals. Participants will make a track ID card to take home.
Future topics include woolly bear caterpillars (Oct. 13) and turkeys (Nov. 17). Workshops are recommended for adults with or without children, and for children ages 5 and up. Admission fees for all programs support the care of HHNM's animals at the Wildlife Education Center in Cornwall. Admission is $7/adult and $5/child (museum members: $5/adult, $3/child). Visit hhnaturemuseum.org for more information, or call 845/534-5506 x204.
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 New Hudson Highlands Map Introduced
On Saturday, August 17, HHLT supporters and others gathered at Antipodean Books on Garrison Landing for the launch of the Legend of the Hudson Highlands Map.
HHLT has been part of the primary development team, along with Deborah McManus, Chip Allemann, and Nic and J.B. Taylor of Thunderwing Press. Residents and regional experts from the Hudson Highlands were also involved in the map's development.
The maps, in both folded and flat editions suitable for framing, are available for $2 through a variety of non-profit, municipal and commercial outlets, including the HHLT office. Contact us at info@hhlt.org for more information.
Photo courtesy of Thunderwing Press.
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 Celebrate the Harvest and Hudson Valley Farms
Wednesday, September 11, 7:00pm - Cold Spring Farmers' Market Community Dinner
To make reservations for the 11th Annual Cold Spring Farmers' Market at The Garrison, call 845/235-4670 or email rsvp@csfarmmarket.org. Tickets are $40/adult and $15/child ages 7 to 17 (children 6 and under free). Please include your full name, email, phone, and number of adults and children (specify ages) in your party. For more information visit their website.
Sunday, September 15, 4:00-7:00pm - Common Ground Farm Roasted Pig Dinner
Common Ground Farm's 3rd Annual Roasted Pig Dinner will be hosted by Obercreek Farm in Hughsonville, NY. The family-friendly dinner features a local pig and vegetables from both farms. Tickets are $35/adult and $10/child (children under 8 free), and can be purchased online.
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 Friends of Fishkill Supply Depot Prepare for Revolutionary War Weekend
Help the Friends of Fishkill Supply Depot keep the depot litter free for their Fourth Annual Revolutionary War Weekend (9/21-22). Join them on September 7, 9:00am-noon for an Adopt-a-Highway program cleanup along Rte. 9 in Fishkill (extending from Snook Rd. southward 1.4 miles).
For meeting details and to let the organizers know you'll be attending, contact info@fishkillsupplydepot.org. Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves and sun block. Bottled water will be provided.
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Plan a Hudson Valley River Ramble this month.
The Hudson River Valley Ramble is an event series held each September to celebrate the history, culture and natural resources of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, as well as the amazing landscape, communities and trails throughout the region. Whatever your interests--hike, bike ride, paddle, historic tour, etc.--the Ramble offers something for everyone. Visit the website for details, maps and directions.
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The Hudson Highlands Land Trust is a community-based, accredited, non-profit land conservation organization dedicated to the protection of the natural resources, rural character and scenic beauty of the Hudson Highlands.
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