Good Friday Morning,
I'm sorry we're late this morning but campaigning takes more time than you could imagine. When you're working on a shoestring budget creativity kicks in and well, creativity takes time - especially if you want to get it right.
Winter is coming on believe it or not and now is the time to begin weatherizing your home against the cold and to protect your pocketbook from what should be pretty expensive heating costs. Over the next few weeks I'll be including some common-sense tips on what you should be doing now to get your place in shape. But one important and often over looked project is to refinish the outside of your home. Believe it or not, a good house painter will take the time to secure the outside of your home, re-caulk windows and doors and tighten up the external structure. If you're living in an older home an investment in a good exterior paint job could save you money this winter. Oh, and unless you have a very special exterior situation, don't let anyone spray the house. It does not give a solid finish and makes everything look like, well, it's been sprayed.
Last night the Summer Concert Series at the Lake Carmel Cultural Center finished its inaugural season with Vaneese Thomas, soul and R&B singer.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of R&B legend Rufus Thomas, Vaneese has cultivated her own style by blending all the influences of her background-R&B, gospel, blues and jazz. Regarded by many industry insiders as an accomplished performer, songwriter, producer, and actress, Vaneese is above all, a vocalist extraordinaire! And, combined with a most excellent band, she had the Lake hopping and the crowd dancing. It was a fine completion to a successful series produced by Kent's own Kati Mac.
The annual Tour de Putnam comes careening into Putnam County tomorrow (Saturday). It's going to be a wet one as tropical disturbance Danny works his way up the coast. Expect rain this afternoon and into tomorrow but Sunday looks to be warm and tropical as the storm pulls north and east and away from us.
It's getting to be harvest time and you're going to see local corn at the farmer's markets you've been shopping at all summer long. A quick, easy way top prepare the corn is to simply cut off the ends with a sharp knife and remove just a few of the outer husks leaving the bulk on the corn then put the ear in the microwave and heat for 60 seconds. When you take out the corn strip away the rest of the husks (Beware! The cob will be much hotter than you think!) and silk and enjoy. This leaves the sugars intact and the kernels crunchy. As well, corn is best within a few hours of being picked so shop wisely.
The Dutchess County Fair finishes its 2009 season at the County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck this weekend. Hours are 10AM - 10PM. Admission is $12 and worth every penny. Where else can you find an entire midway full of stomach churning rides powered by bio-diesel? If you've not ever been to the DC Fair, I really encourage you to make the 45 minute trip up the Taconic to see this event. You will not only be impressed by its size, scope and reach but you'll become an instant fan and will return year after year. And no, I don't work for the fair but I've been there and am now a convert. I'll be up there on Sunday afternoon and you should be too. At 4PM on Sunday you will not want to miss the Rooster Crowing and Chicken Clucking contest in the Livestock Pavilion. Trust me on this. No, I'm not in it, I'll leave that for other candidates, but it is fun.
If you don't see your organization's event listed here there's a simple reason: you didn't tell me. Send your events a week or so in advance to: jeff@planputnam.org. Please, do not write it out in ALL CAPS SINCE I HAVE TO REWRITE IT AND ODDS ARE I'M NOT GOING TO since it's a pain in the ass and no one can read ALL CAPS anyway. I know, I know, you think ALL CAPS draws attention. It does, but not the positive attention you're seeking. As well, please remember to *type out your notice* since I cannot pull your copy from a graphic image. Include prices (and I get comped, right?), dates, times, and most important, contact information.
Tonight: Arm-of-the-Sea Theater Quadricentennial Celebration 6:00PM - Habirshaw Park on the Hudson. Arm-of-the-Sea Theater Quadricentennial Celebration in Yonkers, Westchester County –Take advantage of a great opportunity to learn about the history and ecology of the Hudson River with educators from the Beczak Environmental Education Center. Then sit back and enjoy a special performance of “Mutual Stranger: Henry Hudson & the River that Discovered Him†by the exciting Arm-of-the-Sea Theater. Contact Anthony Coneski, 845 473 4440 Ext. 273, www.scenichudson.org/events.
Saturday: Clearing Fishkill Creek for New Water Trail – Volunteers needed!
Members of the MidHudson Chapter of the Adirondack Mtn. Club (ADK) and the Fishkill Creek Watershed Committee are carrying out plans to open a canoe and kayak trail on the Fishkill Creek. The new water trail will provide a superb recreational resource, and will be nearly 5 miles long and include portions of the creek from Rte. 9 in the Village of Fishkill to Glenham, with the possibility of extending from Hopewell Junction to Fishkill. It is essentially an easy moving-water route, with the exception of the couple of miles between Brinckerhoff and Rt. 9, which has some Class I rapids (which could easily be avoided if desired). To prepare the establishment of the water trail, organizers are planning two creek clearing days, August 29th and Sept. 12th. Volunteers are needed! No particular skills are needed. For more information or to register, please contact Russ Faller at 845-297-5126 or russoutdoors@yahoo.com.
Home Garden Vegetable Swap 9 am - 11 am at Tilly Foster Farm 100 Route 312, Brewster, NY. Got Zucchini or Corn? Need Cucumbers or Beets? Bring the fruits and vegetables from your garden and trade them for produce from someone else's garden. No buying, no selling, just trading Home grown vegetables and fruits only. Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators and Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer your gardening questions and share important gardening news. Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County. For information about the Swap call 845-278-6738 www.cce.cornell.edu/putnam
Mozart's Requiem Sing-Along 7:30 PM - Join the Putnam Chorale and an orchestra for a sing-along of Mozart's Requiem at the First United Methodist Church on Main Street in Brewster. Directed by Douglas Anderson - Free Admission. Bring your own score or borrow one. Food, socializing and music! Info at: (845) 279-7265 or http://www.putnamchorale.org
 Small Potatoes
8 PM - The Blue Horse Repertory Company presents a special reading of "Small Potatoes" a play by Bob Rogers. Greed and stupidity jump track in a small town not unlike our own. Directed by Peggity Price, the cast includes Dan Anderson, Brad Bellamy, Julien Broughton, Paul Coleman, Lora Lee Ecobelli, Susanna Hay, Ryan Katzer, Brian Keeler, Robert Stoeckle, Becky Yamamoto and Nancy Johnston.
General Admission: $12 ($10 for AotL members). Reservations may be made by email: rsvp@artsonthelake.org. Maggie Seligman at the Clinton Art and Music Festival Clinton, NY - Maggie will be playing at two venues--at 1 and at 4. Come on up, down, all around, to participate in this wonderful event. It would be good to see friends--plus, plenty of other fine artists in performance. If you know anyone looking for a great CD, please recommend mine--"Rubato." It's available now in two places, from www.cdbaby.com and from http://shop.melodicrevolution.com Sunday: Summer Concert Series at the Old Southeast Church 3PM - The Bearcats Jazz Band will play again this year at the Old Southeast Church on August 30th at 3 PM. One of the Northeast's favorite Jazz and Swing bands, The Bearcats were formed in 1977 by Joe Hanlon, cornet and leader of the band, for the purpose of preserving one of America's national treasures - traditional jazz - and to enjoy doing it. The members of the BEARCATS are devoted and skilled musicians with a style firmly rooted in the New Orleans tradition and a flair also for the variations known as Chicago and West Coast. If you saw them in the past you enjoyed yourself and hopefully we will see you again this year! $15/adult, children are free.
Tour De Putnam Bicycle Ride Veteran's Memorial Park (Starting and Finishing Point)
Gipsy Trail Rd, Kent, NY 10512
DOWNLOAD PDF APPLICATION
Designed by cyclists for cyclists. You may choose from 15, 30, 50,75, 100 mile routes and Mountain Bike loops. All routes travel through beautiful and historic Putnam County.
We offer:
- Full SAG support
- Clearly marked, color coded routes
- Easy to follow cue sheets
- Bike mechanics courtesy of Bikeway (845) 621-2800
- Route sweeps
- Medical support
- Complimentary massages
- Access from the Southeast Station, on Metro-North’s "Harlem Line"
call 1-800-METRO-INFO for schedule
- Free Shuttle service from the Southeast Station with (reservations only),
call 800-470-4854 or 845-225-0381
 Times
Check in and same day registration 7:30 to 9:00 am.
Food and water stations are open from 8:30 - 3:00 pm
Ride Start time
- 100 miles, 8 to 9 am
- 75 miles, 8 to 9 am
- 50 miles, 8:30 to 9:30 am
- 30 miles, 8:30 to 9:30 am
- 15 miles, 9:00 to 10:00 am
- Mountain Bike loops 9:30 am
Fees
Pre-registration $25.00
Same day registration $30.00
Registration includes t-shirt, picnic lunch, and Dixieland band.
No children under 12. No bike trailers or child seats.
(Photo by Marty Collins)
Into the Future: Tuesday, September 1 Southeast Candidate's Forum Concerned Residents of Southeast has scheduled a Candidates Forum on Tuesday, September 1st at 7:30. This debate will be held in the community room at United Cerebral Palsy at 15 Mt. Ebo Rd, off Doansburg Road.
Friday, September 4 The Bereznak Brothers Band  9 PM - Towne Crier Cafe in Pawling, NY for a special labor day extravaganza on Friday, September 4th. We have been asked to split the night with some friends of ours who are known as Kinney & Storms. This will be an awesome evening of music.
The Show starts at 9pm sharp and is only $15 if you reserve your tickets in advance. Please make an effort to come out for this event if you can. We will be debuting a few new songs and giving you even more of a "blow your doors off" show than before. We will have CD's for sale and bumper stickers to hand out. Truthfully, you don't want to miss this show!!!
September 5-7, 12-13, 19-20, & 26-27, 2009 2009 Hudson River Valley Ramble The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, Hudson River Valley Greenway and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program is encouraging residents of the Hudson Valley and beyond to get ready for the Tenth Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble, scheduled weekends through September. Nearly 300 events for the 2009 Hudson River Valley Ramble have been posted on the Ramble website so be sure to visit www.hudsonrivervalley.com/ramble to find an event near you! Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy guided walking, hiking, kayaking and biking experiences, estuary explorations and historic site tours that highlight the significant historical, cultural and natural resources found throughout the Hudson River Valley. This year, the 2009 Hudson Fulton Champlain Quadricentennial Commission has partnered with the National Heritage Area and the Historic House Trust of New York City to inaugurate the state’s first ever New York Heritage Weekend which will be held during the second weekend of the Ramble, September 12-13. During this special weekend, museums, historical societies, heritage areas, historic places, parks, and recreation areas of the Hudson and Champlain valleys will welcome visitors free of charge or at significantly reduced rates for exploration and participation in special events. Heritage Weekend event listings can be found on the Ramble website or by visiting www.heritageweekend.org. For more information on the Hudson River Valley Ramble, see http://www.hudsonrivervalleyramble.com/home.aspx
Location: Throughout the Hudson Valley
Wednesday, September 23 Fall Art Classes The Putnam Arts Council is pleased to present the new schedule of art classes for all ages and ability levels. Bring out the artist in you and your family. Watercolor, oil or acrylic painting classes for adults at beginner to advanced levels, pottery for adults and kids, and printmaking are offered as well as a new Saturday drawing and painting class called “ Famous Artists for Kids”. Also new this fall, a full schedule of ballet instruction will be offered for students from pre-school to adult. In October and November, adults will want to try outdoor (plein air) painting workshops utilizing the beautiful Tilly Foster landscape in fall colors. There will also be one-time workshops in painting critiques, monotype prints, understanding abstract art and stoneware bowl/tray making for all levels including complete beginners. Registration is now open, so don’t delay. www.putnamartscouncil.com or (845) 278-0230 for details, schedule, and registration.
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