"In journalism, there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right." - Ellen Goodman
Good Friday Morning,
 You could have a hallway that looks like this and you probably should. All you need to do is call Jeff at Taconicarts.com for a painting estimate.
And it's not just hallways, it's bedrooms and kitchens and living rooms and heck, can you see the outside of your home with a fresh coat of paint? Of course you can! And believe it or not, you can afford it.
Call: 845 554-5119 and let's get it done.
Earth Day is rapidly approaching and though I know it's a felony to celebrate such here in Putnam County, there must be a number of organizations willing to engage in direct action and civil disobedience by holding Earth Day events. If you are one of the brave please get them into News That Matters as soon as possible.
What an incredibly beautiful morning! The spring birds are all a twitter setting up nests and marking out territories. Last night a woodcock set up home in the field and the dogs treed an opossum, and crocuses (croci?) are up around the area, a sure sign that spring is here. The high today is called at 73F but will drop rapidly overnight for a high only in the upper 40's and low 50's for the weekend and into next week, perfect weather if you've a sugarbush. But today is a taste of what's in store for us in a very short time. Call in sick from lunch and get outside!
The two one-man shows schedule for Arts on the Lake this weekend ("Old Hickory" and "Cemetery Man") have been postponed due to a family emergency with one of the actors. We'll post the new date as soon as one is set.
Have I mentioned that it's tick season? I have? Sorry about mentioning it in each issue but it is, and their hungry and voracious and insidious and I've already pulled one out of me and one off the dog. Lyme disease is a serious illness, and don't I know it!
Just in case you'd like to know why it's so expensive to live around here, this week's average propane price in the valley is $3.20, up from $2.89 this time last year. But that rate is only for people who use more than their share. As is usual with US energy policy, the more energy you use the cheaper it is. Those of you who are using propane just for cooking are probably paying in the $6-$7 range or more.
Members of the Putnam County Committee on Alternative Energy are still in contact with each other, albeit without county approval. The men and women who were tagged for this charge are committed to seeing their mission through whether the county gives its blessings or not. The committee was in the process of gathering information about alternative energy and lowering lighting, heating and cooling needs for county infrastructure and your homes and businesses when it was dismissed by the County Legislature at the beginning of this year. In the meantime, the counties around us have earned hundreds of thousands of Federal dollars that will save them millions of dollars over the years. And here in Putnam County? Raising the sales tax and giving out corporate welfare rules the day instead.
If you believe the committee should be able to continue its work within the county government's official framework, write the Legislature and tell them. Their public email address is here. And don't be afraid to say you read about it at PlanPutnam/News That Matters.
Allegedly to save $60 million, Congressional Republicans voted to de-fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting making the United States the only industrialized nation in the world that does not have a publicly funded media outlet. Considering we're also the only industrialized country in the world without a national health care system we are standing tall!
But we have a problem that has been underplayed: House Speaker John Boehner promised early on that any bill would be posted for public reading 72 hours before a vote was taken. And for this bill, at least, we're stuck in a semantic void that politicians have crafted for themselves that makes 72 hours a flexible time-frame.
In this case the bill was brought to committee in an "emergency meeting" as if it were about jobs or infrastructure or banking regulations, and it's hard to fathom how $60 million required an "emergency" when the Federal Budget is in the trillions of dollars. In other words, the vote to de-fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was a mean-spirited "pay back" for CPB and its news outlet, NPR, not towing the FOX News line.
In the meantime, Congressional Republicans have yet to begin to talk about cutting the Pentagon budget, how we're going to pay for the ongoing war in Afghanistan, or jobs or taxes or anything that isn't philosophically correct in the same way Putnam County's Republican led legislature has yet to take on budget cuts or jobs or help to those in financial need (with the obvious exception of Paul Camarda who has found the county's purse-strings rather open and welcoming).
From the "You Can't Make This Up" Department:
"The Japanese have done so much to save the planet. He’s right. They’ve given us the Prius. Even now, refugees are still recycling their garbage, and yet Gaia levels them [laughs], just wipes them out. Wipes out their nuclear plants, all kinds of radiation. What kind of payback is this? That is an excellent question. They invented the Prius. In fact, where Gaia blew up is right where they make all these electric cars. That’s where the tsunami hit. All those brand new electric cars sitting there on the lot. I like the way this guy was thinking. It’s like — it’s like Gaia hit the Prius and Leaf place. It’s like they were in the crosshairs, if we can use that word, it does. What is Gaia trying to tell us here? What is the mother of environmentalism trying to say with this hit? Great observation out there, Chris."
Lastly this Friday morning, over the past few weeks I have managed to offend Democrats, Republicans, Arabs, Israeli's, a single Irish woman and others too numerous to list. If I have not offended you I apologize for the oversight so please let me know so I can get you on the list. So much political correctness, so little time!
"You can't get Lyme from shaking hands. I have to bite you." - Jeff Green
'Whats Going On?
Ongoing: Putnam Arts Council Members Show The Putnam Arts Council invites the public to view the fine work offered in its 48th annual Members’ Exhibit through March 27th, during Gallery hours, Tuesday - Friday, 10-4 and Sundays 1-4. Admission and parking are free.
The March 6 opening reception was well attended by the families and friends of PAC and the artists despite the weather, and viewers enjoyed the almost 100 pieces included in the 2011 show. Works include watercolors, oils, monoprints, photographs, mixed media, pottery and more with many priced for sale.
This exhibit opens our second year back at Belle Levine Art Center, in our re-built facility at 521 Kennicut Hill Rd., in Mahopac. The celebration of Art continues here in our own backyard with art exhibits, classes, concerts and more for artists and audiences of all ages. The Putnam Arts Council is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and with public funds from Putnam County. Additional support is raised through membership, programs, fundraising, and contributions from the public and private sectors. Inquiries for membership and sponsorship are welcome.
Information on upcoming cultural events and activities along with directions to the Art Center may be found at putnamartscouncil.com or call 845.803.8622.
Putnam County 2011 Tree Program Orders must be in by Wednesday, April 6, 2011.Call Lori Taylor at (845) 878-7918 for more information and tell her we sent you.
From the flyer: We’ve added some exciting and different trees and shrubs this year. Most of them will attract and provide food and habitat for birds and other wildlife for your enjoyment and some even offer the opportunity to make jams and jellies. Blackberry (Rubus darrow) has large berries that are firm, juicy and have honey sweet true blackberry flavor. They are proven the most reliable producer of large crops of top quality fruit. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) this tree provides excellent vertical definition in a shrub border or as a free standing specimen. Creamy white lemon scented flowers are followed by small red seeds which are used by a variety of wildlife. Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) one of the most time-honored spring rites, Pussy Willow greets your spring starved eyes while snow is still on the ground. The flowers bloom on bare stems and provide pollen for the native bees and food for birds. Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus) has many common names all alluding to the aromatic properties of its leaves, bark, twigs and roots. Best of all is the wonderfully fruity scent produced by the unusual flowers. This plant is deer resistant. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Nannyberry’s white flowers give way in autumn to blue-black berry like drupes which often persist into winter and are quite attractive to birds and wildlife. Fruits are edible and used in jams and jellies. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) is a graceful elegant ornamental grass with plumes resembling bottle brushes that appear in summer and persist until fall. It is suited for residential landscape more than most other ornamental grasses because of its small size. Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) white flowers provide nectar for butterflies, native bees and other pollinators. The fruit provides a good source of food for birds and wildlife in fall and early winter.
This Weekend: Friday, March 18 School of the Americas Watch
5PM - 8PM - SOA Watch Speakers. Come to an enlightening discussion and presentation about modern issues of militarization in the Americas with SOA Watch staff members Nico Udu-gama and Gabriela Uassouf.
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gabi Uassouf is a long-term SOA Watch Latin America intern. Daughter of the neoliberal crisis that exploded in December 2001 in her homecountry, her activism started in the local neighbors' assemblies movement. In Venezuela, she is she is also an activist at a community TV station and a progressive women's group.
Nico was schooled in resistance by the campesinos and campesinas of Colombia. He spent one year in the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, and three years with the communities in the Magdalena Medio, Arauca, Catatumbo and Bogotá. Nico currently works for SOA Watch as the field organizer.
At the Southside Lounge, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY. Brought to you by PUSH: Ideas into Action. If you have any questions about the tour, or bringing Gabi and Nico to your town, email Jessica Drazenovich at jessica@soaw.org, or call the SOA Watch office at (202)-234-3440.
Sound of Music Auditions 7PM - 9PM (College students only. See below for other times.) Auditions dates have been announced for The Sound of Music, Brewster Theater Company's summer 2011 musical production.
Auditions dates are divided by age group as follows:
Friday, March 18 from 7-9 pm for college students only
Friday April 8, 7-9pm for adults
Saturday April 9, 10am-1pm for children
Saturday April 9, 2-5pm for adults
Callbacks will be held on Sunday April 10 from 1-5pm.
All auditions and callbacks will take place on the second floor of the Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Center 15 Mount Ebo Road in Brewster.
For further information, please go to www.brewstertheater.org or leave a message at 845-598-1621
Saturday, March 19 Putnam County History Conference 9AM - Morning Session. The morning sessions will be of general interest to history-lovers. Eugene Boesch will talk about what Putnam County was like at the time of its creation in 1812 and about what archeology reveals about society of that time. Sallie Sypher will speak on the many little reasons why our towns seceded from Dutchess County. Pat McMahon Houser will discuss the changes in land use from 1812 to the present and how the reservoirs affected planning, farming, and growth. There will be breaks between each talk and plenty of time for questions and answers. Lunch. Jonathan Kruk and Rich Bala, Hudson River Ramblers, will entertain during lunch, which is scheduled to begin at 12:15. Those wishing to have lunch should telephone the County Historian's Office (845- 808-1420) or e-mail to historian@putnamcountyny.gov and send a check in the amount of $10 to County Historian , 68 Marvin Ave. , Brewster NY 10509. Even if you do not want lunch, please let us know that you plan to attend. Teachers wishing in-service credit for the conference should register with www.ihare.org. Afternoon Sessions. The afternoon session, which begins at 1:15, is designed primarily for teachers, but all are welcome and will find it interesting. County Historian Karl Rohde will lead a discussion of Bicentennial planning and opportunities for teachers and students. At the Mahopac Library.
Hysterical Laughter Ensues 11AM - Congresswoman Nan Hayworth will meet with constituents (along with Tea Party Assemblyman Steve Katz) to explain why her party is cutting funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, alternative energy, job-creating Federal programs (including block grants), and to explain their assault on women, public health and education while ignoring the deficit, jobs, relief for workers, home mortgage assistance, Pell Grants and other vital federal programs. Patterson Town Hall. Bring your high water boots... you are going to need them.
Peace Vigil Noon-2PM. Eight Years ago on Christmas week Chris Rhue, Pete Seeger, myself and a handful of others began a vigil against the US wars in the Middle East at the intersection of Route 9 and Route 9D in Wappinger's Falls.
Through snow storms and ice storms and the heat of summer, each Saturday we stood with signs, banners and American flags reminding passersby that the youth of America was being sent off to war for naught but oil.
This Saturday marks the 8th anniversary of those wars, reminding you that there are still 50,000 US servicemen fighting and dying at a cost of more than a trillion dollars. Is your gasoline any cheaper? No, of course not. Has Exxon made billions? Yes, of course.
The vigil is still ongoing and you are encouraged to come on out (the weather looks good) and join your neighbors in this anniversary.
Sunday, March 20 Little Stony Point "2011 Maple Syrup Day"  10AM - Little Stony Point Citizen's Association will host its 22nd Annual Maple Syrup Day from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Caretaker's House on Route 9D just north of Cold Spring.
[This event was postponed from March 4th due to torrential rain]
Last year's event drew a record crowd, who reveled in fresh-off-the-griddle pancakes, hot apple cider and delicious maple syrup. The event is free and open to all, featuring live music with a backdrop of the beautiful Hudson River. Of course the park is open to anyone interested in a quick hike around the perimeter or to the beach.
Kids of all ages will be given a demonstration of how sugar maple trees are tapped and witness first hand the process involved in transforming the watery liquid dripping out of the trees into the sticky sweet liquid the native Americans called "sinzibuckwud" literally, "drawn from wood." A large fire under the evaporator tray, where the water is boiled off, leaves what we know as maple syrup.
A stand operated by the Hudson Valley Maple Farm, a program of NY State Parks at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center, will have bottles of syrup available for those interested in taking the party home with them. This group has taps throughout the Taconic Region State Parks, including a number of trees in the woods across from Little Stony Point. The pails appeared last week and have already provided enough sap to fill the evaporator and more. The group will share their knowledge of the history and methodology of maple syrup making.
"Efficient Government in New York: State and County Solutions" 11:30 AM - Guest Speaker: Paul Francis, Governor Cuomo's Director for Redesign and Efficiency, former Director of Operations for Governors Paterson and Spitzer. Please join us to mingle with fellow Putnam County Democrats and discuss how our governments can and must be redesigned Sunday, March 20th, 11:30AM at Four Brothers, 654 Route 6, in Mahopac. $25 suggested donation, at the door or sent in advance to 31 Sycamore Rd, Mahopac NY 10541 c/o L. Jones with checks made out to "Putnam County Democratic Committee" Please RSVP at putnamcountydemocrats@gmail.com
Concert Keep Art and Music in Yonkers Schools - Westchester Symphonic Winds 3:30PM - City Council President Chuck Lesnick, Yonkers Public Schools and Sarah Lawrence College present a free concert in support of the arts in education. Featuring: The Westchester Symphonic Winds and our very own Yonkers Public School Teachers! Now, more than ever, it is vital that we make our voices heard and keep art and music in Yonkers' Schools! Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College, One Mead Way Bronxville, NY
Into the Future: March Monday, March 21 Photo Group - Arts on the Lake 7PM - Photo Group with Chris Casaburi. All photographers are welcome. Formed in 2009, the Photo Group provides an opportunity for local photographers to share knowledge and learn from one another. The group meets monthly to discuss photography, to swap tips & techniques, and to share images and stories in both traditional and digital media. It's a comfortable, friendly environment where members can also present their work, by showing prints or including digital photos in a projected slideshow. From beginner to professional, we invite all photographers to join. No yearly dues, free. More about Photo Group The Photo Group usually meets the 3rd Monday of every month. Email Chris Casaburi at chris@casaburi.com for more information.
Tuesday, March 22 New York State Park Advocacy Day Join Parks & Trails New York and the Alliance for NYS Parks for the 5th Annual Park Advocacy Day and help send a message of support for New York’s 213 parks and historic sites. As a park advocate, you will have the opportunity to join with park supporters from throughout the state to meet with policymakers and stress the importance of keeping New York’s state parks open, protected and well-maintained. Your efforts will have a lasting impact on legislators’ as they make important decisions about parks.  Participating in Park Advocacy Day is meaningful, fun, and most of all, easy! As a Park Advocacy Day participant, you will be assigned to a team with fellow state parks supporters who will join you in meetings with policymakers throughout the day.
There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Online registration is quick and easy - click here to register.
For more information on Park Advocacy Day, please contact Mark Luciano at Parks & Trails New York at 518-434-1583 or email mluciano@ptny.org. Wednesday, March 23 Hudson Valley Science Café 7PM - The American Crow: Not your average songbird.
Presenter: Douglas Robinson, Ph.D. Dr. Robinson is a behavioral ecologist interested in avian breeding biology and the evolution of social behavior. He teaches at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY, and is preparing for an investigation that will compare the breeding biology of American Crows, Fish Crows, and Common Ravens in the mid-Hudson River valley. Meeting site: Diana's, 1015 Little Britain Road (Route 207), New Windsor (just east of Stewart Newburgh Airport, on the opposite side of the road from the airport entrance). See http://www.DIANASNY.com for menus and map. $3.00 admission fee includes coffee or tea. If you arrive at 6 PM, you can order from the Early Bird menu. No orders are taken during the Presentation (7:00-7:30).
Friday, March 25 Local Rock Bands at AotL 6PM - "Letters to Autumn," "The Road Home," "The Face of Fear," "After September," "Seeing Through Blind Eyes" and "To Know Avail" are scheduled to play at the Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, 6-10 pm. Admission is $8 with a $3 discount for AotL members. Saturday, March 26 Putnam County Legislative Forum on people With Disabilities
8AM - 12 Noon - In typical Putnam County fashion, the announcement for this event is vague, says nothing much, and does so in really BIG LETTERS all over the PDF file announcing it. Apparently the Legislature has invited everyone from Charles Schumer to Sam Oliverio to take questions from residents about various issues concerning people with disabilities but here's the deal - you have to register to speak. Sweet, eh? Anyway, it takes place at the $30 million operations center at the Donald Smith campus on Old Route 6 in Carmel.
Community Forum on Water Quality and Conservation 10 AM - 3PM - On Sat., Mar. 26, HHLT will host Follow the Water, a community forum on water quality and conservation, at the Highlands Country Club, Rte. 9W, in Garrison, NY. The free event, scheduled from 10:00am to 3:00pm, will feature two moderated hour and a half long panel discussions. Children's watershed education programming will be provided in a separate room during the panel discussions by members of HHLLT's education team. Participants will receive lunch and the opportunity to browse informational exhibit tables during breaks before and after the panels.  The morning panel, Water Policy & the Regulatory Framework, will present an overview of existing regulations on watersheds, wetlands/watercourses and wastewater management from the state, county and local levels, and introduce newer wastewater management technologies like subsurface drip dispersal.
During the afternoon session, Practical Ideas for Home & Business, the focus will be on steps home and business owners can take to conserve water and increase water quality in their communities. Topics will include non-point source pollution and its prevention, use of rain barrels and rain gardens, and installation and maintenance of technologies like composting toilets. There will be time for questions and comments from the audience during both sessions.
The forum is open to the general public and free of charge, but registration is strongly recommended as space is limited. Walk-ins will be accepted on the day of the event on a space available basis. Call or email HHLT at 845/424-3358 or info@hhlt.org for more information or to make a reservation.
Rain Barrel Building Workshop  10:30AM - 11:30AM - Our first rain barrel building workshop of the season at the Farm and Home Center in Millbrook (Route 44). At the workshop you will learn how to build a 55-gallon rain barrel that you will take home with you at the end of the workshop. The cost of the workshop is $35 and covers the cost of all supplies.
Space is limited and registration is required. To register, contact Angela at (845) 677-8223, ext. 114. Your spot in the workshop is not held until we receive your payment. The workshop is already filling up, so contact Angela soon if you would like to participate.
If you have any questions about this workshop or future workshops, please contact Carolyn at 845-677-8223, ext. 135 or cak97@cornell.edu. If you can not make it to this workshop, we will be having several more throughout the Spring and Summer.
Free Rabies Clinic 3PM - 5PM Bring your pets to the South Putnam Animal Hospital (230B Baldwin Place Road, Mahopac) for a free rabies vaccine. Bring along a photo ID for Putnam County residency and proof of prior vaccination. Call the Putnam County Health Department for more information at (845) 808-1390 ext 4312
Imagining the "Highlands of the Hudson" in 19th-Century America 5PM - Lecture with Stephen P. Rice, Professor of American Studies, Ramapo College. Throughout the century there were three main ways that people imagined this dramatic stretch of the Hudson River: as a magical realm of legend, as a natural scene of beauty aided in part by the hand of man, and as a historical setting of national importance. Prof. Rice examines these depictions in the verbal and visual arts, ranging from poems and works of fiction to paintings and popular illustrations.
This lecture is free and open to the public; and is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities, Speakers in the Humanities program. To RSVP, please call 845-265-4010 or email, kshier@pchs-fsm.org.
Poetry Plus – an evening of performed poetry and stories Produced by Chris Blossy.
Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, NY.
Admission: $8. ($5 AotL/Students).
More information at: www.artsonthelake.org Sunday, March 27
Vernal Pool Exploration and Book Signing 1PM - Come explore vernal pools and learn about the species that rely on them for survival such as frogs, fairy shrimp, salamanders and newts! A hands-on, outdoor activity for children and families and people of all ages, led by outdoor educator, naturalist and author Laurel Dodge. Wear mud boots! Copies of Laurel's newly published book Nature Study for the Whole Family will be available for purchase and signing. Nature Study for the Whole Family promotes a return to nature study as a first-choice activity for family fun and learning and emphasizes how nature study can bring families closer, create special family memories, and encourage personal growth. Registration is suggested as space is limited. A donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is greatly appreciated with proceeds going towards the future stewardship of Land Trust nature preserves. Call 343-0840, x12 to register or RSVP via our Facebook page. Location: Laurel Hill Preserve, Town of Minisink.
Bird Artists for Children 3PM - 5PM - Ongoing Sundays through May 15th. For children aged 5-12. Children will create images of birds using a wide range of high quality art materials. Children will create drawings, paintings and sculpture. Tuition: $100.00 for the Public and $90.00 for AotL Members. More information is here.
About the Instructor:Mary Schreiber holds an M.S. from Bank Street College of Education. At Arts on the Lake she has led classes in collage, mask-making, painting, and sculpture. As an artist, she makes sculpture and marionettes.
Monday, March 28 Agriculture Sustainable Energy Conference 8AM - 1PM - How To Save Money & Energy on Your Farm
 You're invited to attend an Agriculture Sustainable Energy Conference on March 28, 2011, hosted by Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey's Office. Come learn about regional assistance to help make your farm more energy efficient and sustainable. The event will take place from 8 am to 1 pm in the Student Lounge in Vanderlyn Hall at the SUNY Ulster Community College Campus in Stone Ridge, NY.
This event is free and open to the public. A continental breakfast will be provided in the morning. Please see below for the agenda.
To Register for this event, click here. Registration deadline is March 25, 2011.
Orange Register Now Button
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Agenda:
8:00 - 8:45 am:
Continental Breakfast and Registration
8:45 - 9:00 am:
Greetings - Dr. Don Katt, SUNY Ulster President
Opening Remarks - Hon. Maurice D. Hinchey
9:00 - 9:45 am:
Efficiency Comes First
-Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator for Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities will speak about the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority's (NYSERDA) programs that offer both technical and financial assistance to help make farms more energy efficient and help farmers save money.
9:45 - 10:30 am:
Is Solar Cost Effective on a Farm? A Funding Opportunities Update
-USDA Rural Development representative Scott Collins will speak about the Rural Energy for America (REAP) Grant and Guaranteed Loan Program, which provides grants, loan guarantees, or both, to assist farms and rural small businesses with their purchases of renewable energy systems and improvements in the energy efficiency of their operations.
10:30 - 11:15 am:
Learn How to Secure $ For Renewable Energy Projects from the 2009 Recovery Act
-US Department of Energy representative Peter Weeks, will provide information about the 1603 program, which is a grant in lieu of tax credit program that enables rural business and family farmers the ability to fund energy projects. Mr. Weeks is the Clean Energy Advisor to the Secretary and Under Secretary for Energy.
11:15 - 11:30 am:
Break/Networking
11:30 am - 12:15 pm:
Technical & Financial Assistance for the Hudson Valley Farm Community
-Todd Erling, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp.
12:15 - 1:00 pm:
Exhibits/Networking/One-on-One Meetings - Meet with exhibitors and program representatives and start filling out applications: Bring your energy bills and let's figure out how to save $$!
_______________________________________________________
Please direct questions about this event and registration to:
Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator
Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities
446 Broadway
Kingston, NY 12401
845-331-2238
meridith.nierenberg@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 30 Reading of "Rabbit Hole" to benefit Gilda's Club 7:00PM - 9:00PM - We hope you will join us for a very special reading of David Lindsay-Abaire’s "Rabbit Hole" Benefiting GILDA’S CLUB of Westchester. Gilda’s Club…offering support forpeople whose lives have been touched by cancer…all types of cancer. Rabbit Hole takes us through a dark tunnel but it reminds us, with graceful simplicity,that there is light at the end of it. Produced and Directed by Elizabeth D’Ottavio. CAST: Ben Berner, Dee Dee Burke, Elizabeth D’Ottavio, Margie Ferris, Michael Fox, Kaili Lewis. Suggested donation $20 (Any and all donations welcome) To reserve a seat, please email Liz: efd364@optonline.net or call 914.419.6000
April Friday, April 1 BATIK Contemporary Jazz Ensemble Barry Hartglass, Dave Anthony, Tom Nazziola, Tim Ouimette and John Roggie - 5 serious musicians who don't take themselves so seriously. Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, NY Admission: $15. ($10 AotL) Tickets and more info at: www.artsonthelake.org
Sunday, April 3 Michelle LeBlanc 2PM - 3:30PM - 1950's Jazz: Bop, Cool, R&B Our quartet returns to perform at the Shrub Oak Library just in time to celebrate the coming of spring. Michelle jazz combo features the legendary Bill Crow on bass, the talented arranger Tom Kohl on piano and the world touring sax player, Ed Xiques. Our show will include a special encore featuring tunes from our new CD "I Remember You." This free concert take place in the special events room of this lovely library. Ample and convenient parking is available, so invite all your jazz lovin' friends. John C Hart Memorial Library, 1130 E Main St, Shrub Oak, NY (914) 245-5262 www.yorktownlibrary.org
Wednesday, April 6  Roy Zimmerman in Concert
7:30PM - Zimmerman's songs have been heard on HBO and Showtime, and he's a featured blogger for the Huffington Post. The Los Angeles Times says, "Zimmerman displays a lacerating wit and keen awareness of society's foibles that bring to mind a latter-day Tom Lehrer." Tom Lehrer himself says, "I congratulate Roy Zimmerman on reintroducing literacy to comedy songs. And the rhymes actually rhyme, they don't just rhyne." Joni MItchell says, "Roy's lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection." At All Souls Unitarian Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue (at 80th). Suggested donation, $15.
Saturday, April 9 Putnam County Land Trust 42nd Annual Dinner  5:30PM - Join in the celebration as Putnam County Land Trust marks 42 years of preserving open space and protecting sensitive habitats in Putnam County- right in your big backyard. Enjoy live music by Bruce Eisenstein, a sumptuously wonderful buffet dinner, their famous silent auction of eclectic items and an exciting Live Auction led by Ivan and Laura Cohen. Displays of Land Trust properties along with recognitions and awards will be part of the evening.
The proceeds from the event will benefit the preserves and programs of Putnam County Land Trust. Speaking about the upcoming dinner, Land Trust President Judy Terlizzi said, “PCLT needs the community’s continued support to preserve open space and sensitive habitats in Putnam County.” In addition to attending the dinner, the Land Trust is looking for supporters to donate goods or services for the auction or advertise in the dinner journal.
The event will be held at the Starr Ridge Banquet and Conference Center at 38 Starr Ridge Road in Brewster on Saturday, April 9th, 2011 at 5:30pm. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Take advantage of special dinner pricing of $60 per person if paid by March 30th. To make a reservation, inquire about advertising space or donate goods or services for the auction, call 845/228-4520 or 845/279-3122, or visit the PCLT website at www.pclt.net.
Tuesday, April 19 Sustainable Roofing: Living/Green Roofs, Cool Roofs  6PM - 8PM - Much of conventional roofing represents a wasted opportunity to reduce energy costs, improve building performance and durability, create useable habitat for flora and fauna, improve biodiversity, increase the performance of installed photovoltaic systems, mitigate combined sewer overflow (CSO) events, reduce waste stream pollution, lessen urban heat island effects (UHIE) and make the "view from the top" a much prettier place. Our experts on sustainable roofing will talk about proven roofing alternatives that can do all these things, turning underutilized dark roof surfaces into acres of better space for the environment, for occupants, and for owners. Participants will gain a strong understanding of innovative roofing technologies such as cool roofs, photovoltaic roofing, vegetative roof systems, recyclable roofing, and roofing materials manufactured with post-consumer recycled content and low VOC roofing options.
About The Presenter: Rich Kuhn, Territory Manager: Rich Kuhn is a Territory Manager for the Garland Company which is a full-service manufacturer of High Performance Building Envelope Moisture Protection Products. Rich believes that the best way to be "green" is by providing the longest lasting, lowest Life Cycle Cost roofing solutions for his clients. Rich obtained a B.S. in Biology from Seton Hall University in 1999. He is a member of the AIA, NYASBO, NYSB&G, and the USGBC.
At: Cathryn's Tuscan Grill 91 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY
Register for the Putnam/Dutchess County event here. Reservations are $10 for advance sales to USGBC NY Upstate Chapter Members and Students, and $20 for non-members. Members & students pay $15 at the door. This presentation qualifies for AIA LU
Friday April 22 - Earth Day An Earth Day Celebration to Benefit Clearwater We're excited to announce Clearwater Generations: An Earth Day Celebration to Benefit Clearwater, which will be held at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY, on April 22 at 8pm.
 The show will feature Pete Seeger & Tao Seeger, Peter Yarrow & Bethany Yarrow, Bernice Johnson Reagon & Toshi Reagon, and David Amram and Family. Performances by Clearwater friends and special guests including Janis Ian, Tom Paxton, Tom Chapin, Livingston Taylor, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Guy Davis, Rufus Cappadocia and the Power of Song, will round out this special celebration.
Clearwater's environmental mission is about inspiring and educating the next generation, and we have applied this theme to music. Honoring tradition while looking toward the future has always been a major part of the Clearwater Festival. The Generations concert is all about classic Clearwater artists performing with and inspiring their children and grandchildren in order to carry on their legacy through song.
Tickets for the Clearwater Generations: An Earth Day Celebration concert range from $48 to $98. A limited amount of $250 tickets include premium seating, a post concert reception with the artists, as well as special Clearwater gifts. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
May
Saturday, May 14 Carmina Burana 8PM at Brewster High School. The Putnam Chorale performs CARMINA BURANA - One Performance Only - with full orchestra and accompanied by the Brewster High School Chamber Singers and the Seven Star Dancers, on MAY 14, 2011 8 pm at the Brewster High School Performing Arts Center, 50 Foggintown Road, Brewster, NY. Get more information at our web site (www.putnamchorale.org) or by calling 845-279-7265.
A collection of historic medieval songs and poems was discovered in the year 1803 at an abandoned monastery in Bavaria. This collection was found to be satirical works that had been performed by traveling goliards, disaffected clergy and clerical students, who used the works to lighten the burden of everyday life and to poke fun at the authorities of the day. In a way, the Saturday Night Live of its time!
The works make fun of church excesses and follies and mock the changing morals of the times. There are love songs and songs for drinking and gambling that celebrate Epicurus, the ancient Greek Philosopher and advocate of the blissful life. The stories are provocative and often disrespectful, but offer a common man perspective and a chance at some frivolity.
June
Saturday, June 18 Clearwater Revival Croton Point Park - Pete Seeger star Drive-By Truckers star Martin Sexton star Indigo Girls, Arlo Guthrie star Josh Ritter star Jorma Kaukonen star Peter Yarrow, John Sebastian star Janis Ian star The Low Anthem, Red Horse (Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka & Eliza Gilkyson) star The Klezmatics, Toubab Krewe star Justin Townes Earle star Chris, Smither star Joanne Shenandoah, Tom Chapin star Bernice Johnson Reagon star Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell, James McMurtry | Jay Ungar & Molly Mason | Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, Tao Seeger Band | Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely | Mike & Ruthy | Sarah Lee & Johnny, Bethany & Rufus' Roots Quartet | Clayfoot Strutters | Zlatne Uste | Joe Purdy, The Nields | The Kennedys | Jen Chapin | K.J. Denhert | Zon del Barrio, Vanaver Caravan| Buskin & Batteau | Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Brooklyn Qawwali Party | Joe D'urso | Joel Plaskett, Arm-of-the-Sea Theater star The Power of Song star The Rivertown Kids, Mustard's Retreat star Magpie star Roger the Jester star Dog on Fleas, Walkabout Clearwater Chorus star Paul Richmond star The Storycrafters, Rick Nestler star Donna Nestler star Travis Jeffrey star Margo Thunderbird, Marva Clark star Linda Richards star Eshu Bumpus star Dan Einbender, Dirty Stay Out Skifflers star Geoff Kaufman star Sarah Underhill star Peninnah Schram, Kay Olan/Ionataiewas star Mel & Vinnie star Karen Pillsworth star Gregorio Pedroza , Allan Aunapu star Jan Christensen star The New York Packet star Matt Turk star Hope Machine
July
 July 21 - 24
Gathering of the Vibes Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT - Gathering of the Vibes, the Northeast’s acclaimed music festival destination, will “bring the magic” once again with a 4-day extravaganza of eclectic music, arts and community, July 21-24, 2011 at Connecticut’s magnificent Seaside Park. The rumor mill is swirling with artist announcements around the corner. Gathering of the Vibes promises its most spectacular and diverse lineup to date, delivering over 40 hours of music on multiple stages. Powerhouse Vibes alumni include: The Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Furthur with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, James Brown, The Black Crowes, and Damian Marley and Nas, alongside breakout acts like Umphrey’s McGee, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jackie Greene, and tri-state favorites The McLovins. The Vibes also warmly embraces new, virtually unknown artists, who may submit music for consideration through sonic bids.
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