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Global Adventurers Paddle the Hudson, Interview Ned Sullivan
Mon, May 14, 2012

Spare Seat Tour MapThe adventurers on the New York State Spare Seat Kayak Expedition are paddling from Niagara Falls to the Statue of Liberty.

British expeditioner Richard Harpham and fellow adventurer and photographer Glenn Charles are doing an epic, 500-mile kayaking journey from Niagara Falls to the Statue of Liberty.

For nearly half of their trip, which began on May 1, the duo will be paddling on the Hudson River, enjoying the scenic beauty, heritage and wildlife that make the river and the lands along its shores so special. Their journey is called "New York State's Spare Seat Kayak Expedition," with the pair traveling solo in double-seat kayaks so special guests can join them for portions of the trip. Passionate conservationists, the men are stopping in communities along the way to give talks, encourage people to kayak and experience nature, and promote efforts to protect the Hudson and other state waterways. The expedition is attracting outstanding media coverage regionally and will result in extensive reporting in Harpham's native Great Britain.

On Friday, May 18, Ned Sullivan will fill one of the kayakers' spare seats. He'll be interviewed during their 90-minute paddle from White's Marina in New Hamburg (Dutchess County), which they'll leave around noon, to Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park in Beacon. Once they arrive, Ned will lead a tour of the park, particularly its kayak pavilion and Scenic Hudson's River Center. When the adventurers leave, Ned will hop in his own kayak and join them on the next leg of their southbound journey.

Dutchess County Tourism is providing information on how the public can be part of the exciting expedition; we hope Scenic Hudson members will take advantage of this unique opportunity. With the attention the trip is getting in the press and with public officials, this is great way to show your support for the health of the Hudson and communities along its banks.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: Falling Waters Preserve Closed May 11-12
Wed, May 9, 2012

Entry Kiosk at Falling Waters Preserve

Please Note: Scenic Hudson's Falling Waters Preserve will be closed Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, as we begin making improvements to the parking area.

The park will reopen on Sunday morning. This work is the first phase in a project that will ultimately double the parking capacity at this popular new park. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Annual Spring Sprint Trail Race Attracts Nearly 100 Runners
Mon, Apr 30, 2012

Mendy Taylor, Spring Sprint 2012Mendy Taylor of Stone Ridge set a new course record at this year's Spring Sprint 5k

Scenic Hudson's annual Spring Sprint trail race at our Shaupeneak Ridge preserve in Esopus (Ulster) gets more and more popular every year. On Sunday, April 29, nearly 100 runners tackled the technically challenging 5K loop. Shea Ratynski of Newburgh was the first male finisher in 23:12. Mendy Taylor of Stone Ridge was the first female finisher, setting a new course record of 25:05.

In a brief ceremony before the race, Scenic Hudson Senior Vice President Steve Rosenberg honored two new Hudson Valley Heroes: Kelly Tomaseski, of the Town of Ulster, and Marion Zimmer of Port Ewen. Director of the Esopus Library and a longtime outdoor enthusiast, Kelly has played a leadership role in making the library a green building and works tirelessly to expand activities that encourage library patrons of all ages to experience nature and appreciate fresh, locally grown foods. Through two decades of service on the Town of Esopus Waterfront Advisory Board and countless river-oriented volunteer activities, Marion has been a passionate ambassador for the river, inspiring hundreds of others to experience the Hudson from shoreline trails or on the water in a kayak. Steve Rosenberg presented each of our new heroes with a special commemorative photograph.

Complete results below:

2012 Scenic Hudson Spring Sprint 5K

Sunday, April 29, 2012, Shaupeneak Ridge Preserve

1 0:23:12 Shea Ratynski M16
2 0:23:29 Jeffrey Andritz M30
3 0:23:43 Mike Sindy M37
4 0:23:42 Mike Halstead M45
5 0:24:10 Ryan McCann M37
6 0:24:33 Samuel Langshaw M27
7 0:25:05 Mendy Taylor F35
8 0:25:57 Mike Jessop M45
9 0:26:32 Ray Farrell M37
10 0:26:45 Sheryl Wheeler F49
11 0:27:34 Lecia Zulak F34
12 0:27:35 Steve Schallenkamp M57
13 0:28:07 Jason Taylor M49
14 0:28:25 Spencer Schindler M14
15 0:28:43 Steve Schindler M53
16 0:29:04 Erik Richards M36
17 0:29:11 Courtney Loertscher F23
18 0:29:12 Brian Costello M45
19 0:29:22 Paul Muessig M62
20 0:29:27 Lan Tran F24
21 0:29:34 Shanna Beairsto F23
22 0:29:41 Bryan Jacobs M26
23 0:29:48 Jeremy Kane M33
24 0:29:58 Max Gruner M26
25 0:29:59 Stephen Ackermann M44
26 0:30:05 Terry Newman M56
27 0:30:44 Bruce Chambers M58
28 0:30:50 Garrick Bryant M32
29 0:31:11 Jacque Schiffer F47
30 0:31:28 Brian Cooke M24
31 0:31:39 Dennis Heinz M32
32 0:32:29 Gabriela Olivera F37
33 0:32:35 Tim Gottstine M47
34 0:32:39 Bill Pape M64
35 0:33:08 Ryan Dannemann M33
36 0:33:23 Ryan Kennelly M22
37 0:33:26 Nick Talbot M24
38 0:33:40 Emily Smith F22
39 0:33:42 Robert Martinez M41
40 0:33:45 James DeArce M47
41 0:34:10 Marie DuSault F49
42 0:34:10 Joe McCarthy M54
43 0:34:11 Dan Winfield M67
44 0:34:16 Rick VanKleeck M58
45 0:34:33 Frank Auringer M36
46 0:34:38 Rebecca Barlow F34
47 0:34:49 Jenny Carpenter F40
48 0:35:19 Alan Cobb M21
49 0:35:20 Brian Coleman M45
50 0:35:26 Pam Gottstine F49
51 0:35:30 Patty Dannemann F27
52 0:36:54 Henry Anderson M11
53 0:36:54 Kemp Anderson M41
54 0:36:58 Shamus Smyth M41
55 0:37:13 Stephen Johann M62
56 0:37:29 Brian Metzler M30
57 0:37:43 Ian Erne M51
58 0:38:18 Steve Sansola M57
59 0:38:55 Danielle Boiardi F40
60 0:40:04 Roger Kopp M69
61 0:40:10 Rocco German M37
62 0:40:11 Kristine Pierce F27
63 0:40:21 Cara Gentry  F40
64 0:40:25 David Boles M65
65 0:40:26 Frank Williams M49
66 0:40:41 Johnson Joe M57
67 0:40:53 Jennifer VanVlack F37
68 0:41:14 Alissa DeBaun F22
68 0:41:14 Robert Spreitzer M24
70 0:41:45 Derek Cardinell M31
71 0:42:19 Debra Cable F43
72 0:42:20 Everett White M69
73 0:42:21 Prabodrillea Mallikaratchy F38
74 0:42:22 Lars Nordstroem M33
75 0:44:04 Judith Tripp F65
76 0:44:11 Seth Mckee M51
77 0:44:18 Michele Raimondi F50
78 0:44:50 Philip Ousley M61
79 0:46:17 Tammy McClanahan F48
80 0:46:22 Quinn Ratynski F8
81 0:46:36 Jo Hunter F50
82 0:49:19 Heather Brown F39
83 0:49:25 Tara Siudy F34
84 0:49:26 Cathy Kim F34
85 0:51:35 Lisa Coleman F47
86 0:52:01 Margaretha Jones F51
87 0:55:51 Michelle Sleight F45
88 0:55:57 Carol Lang F61
89 0:56:08 Heather Forkel F39
90 0:57:46 Rowan  Jones M11
91 0:57:47 Patricia Fitzgerald F41
92 0:58:05 Dan Wheeler M59
93 0:58:38 Laila Walzer F54
94 1:03:05 Marlene Tuma F53
95 1:03:51 Bob Ricketson M66
96 1:03:52 Daniel Marks M55
97 1:08:33 Peter Krosby M57

Previous Results

2011 Spring Sprint Results

2010 Spring Sprint Results

2009 Spring Sprint Results

DEC Hudson River Estuary Program Honored with EPA Environmental Quality Award
Fri, Apr 27, 2012

Hudson River Estuaryphoto: Robert Rodriguez, Jr.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded one of its highest honors to an innovative state program that seeks to restore and manage the Hudson Estuary and watershed for the public’s benefit.

The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program received the prestigious Environmental Quality Award on Friday in honor of its outstanding work in developing and implementing an “action agenda” for restoring the health and ecology of the Hudson River while promoting public access.

“We commend Gov. Cuomo and DEC Commissioner Joe Martens for this prestigious award,” said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan. “The Hudson is critical to our region’s quality of life and economy. The river is an economic engine that creates jobs through our $4.7-billion tourism industry and makes our communities great places to live and work. This award is one more example that under Gov. Cuomo’s leadership, New York State is on the path to recovery.”

“From its harbor to its headwaters, Hudson Riverfront communities are united through the Hudson Estuary Program,” said Andy Bicking, Scenic Hudson’s director of Public Policy. “We look forward to continuing our work with Gov. Cuomo’s administration, and also with our Congressional delegation, to build support for our great waters.”

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK: NYC 10th-Graders Help Transform Madam Brett Park
Wed, Apr 25, 2012

On April 24, 65 tenth-grade students from Friends Seminary in NYC came to Beacon to help with some much-needed improvement projects at Madam Brett Park.

The students worked with Scenic Hudson staff to clean up the entry area, remove invasive plants, clear debris from along Fishkill Creek, create a trail extension and replace wooden bridges through a marsh area and install new steps leading down to the stream bank.

"This is a great partnership for everyone," said Scenic Hudson Director of Parks, Rita Shaheen. "The students gain hands-on experience in a day-of-service that engages their minds and hearts, Scenic Hudson is able to complete maintenance and improvement projects in a single day that would otherwise have taken weeks, and the public now can enjoy a more beautiful and accessible park."

BOOK LAUNCH: Meera Gandhi's "Giving Back" project highlights philanthropic efforts that are changing the world -- including Scenic Hudson
Fri, Apr 20, 2012

On Thursday, May 3, at 6 p.m., Scenic Hudson members are invited to cocktails and a book launch at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Home and Presidential Library in Hyde Park. The event, presented by the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, the Woodstock Film Festival and Scenic Hudson, celebrates the launch of
Giving Back, the recently published book authored by Giving Back Foundation founder and CEO Meera Gandhi. Featuring inspiring stories and photographs of many of Meera Gandhi’s friends and those who inspire her, the book illustrates how the philanthropic endeavors of these people and organizations are indeed changing the world. Both Scenic Hudson and the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill are highlighted in the book, 100 percent of whose proceeds are being donated to the featured charities.

Meera Ghandi's Giving Back Foundation was launched in 2010 as a catalyst to aid women and children—to create a new generation of leaders and thinkers. The foundation aims to assist directly in education and address illness and poverty around the world.

If you'd like to attend the May 3 book launch, please RSVP: info@ervk.org or 845 229 5302.