On-Hudson.com

Westchester Spring 2009 Events Schedule At A Glance

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/nyregion/westchester/05listingswe-web.html?ref=nyregion

CALENDAR

Events in Westchester

POUGHKEEPSIE Bardavon Opera House Stephen Lynch, musical-based stand-up. April 17 at 8 p.m. $29.50 and $35. Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street. (845) 473-5288;bardavon.org.

TARRYTOWN Tarrytown Music Hall Demetri Martin, stand-up. April 18 at 7 p.m. $34.50. Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street. (877) 840-0457; tarrytownmusichall.org.

Film

PEEKSKILL Paramount Center for the Arts “Wendy and Lucy,” directed by Kelly Reichardt. Through Thursday. $7 to $9. Paramount Center for the Arts, 1008 Brown Street. (914) 739-2333; paramountcenter.org.

PLEASANTVILLE Jacob Burns Film Center “Best of Ottawa Animation Festival 2008,” highlights from the festival featuring works from around the world. April 13 at 5:15 and 7:15 p.m. $6 to $10. “Jazz Sessions: Paris Blues,” starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll. Reception with live jazz and New Orleans-style food. April 16 at 7 p.m. $12 and $16. Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road. (914) 747-5555; burnsfilmcenter.org.

PURCHASE Performing Arts Center, Purchase College “Focus on French Cinema 2009,” various screenings and events. Through April 5. $10 to 95. Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road. focusonfrenchcinema.org; (914) 251-6200.

For Children

MAMARONECK Emelin Theater “Junie B. Jones,” musical comedy based on the stories by Barbara Park. Presented by TheaterWorks U. S. A. Ages 5 and up. April 18 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. $13 and $18. Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. (914) 698-0098;emelin.org.

NEW ROCHELLE New Rochelle Public Library “Balloon Sculptures Workshop.” Learn how to twist and turn balloons into hats, animals and other works of art. Ages 3 and up. Monday, 1 to 2 p.m. Free. “Mad About Books.” Musician Danna Banana uses music and drama to bring books alive with the help of the audience. Ages 4 to 10. April 18 at 12:30 p.m. Free. New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza. (914) 632-7878; nrpl.org.

PLEASANTVILLE Jacob Burns Film Center “Dr. Doolittle,” 1967 film starring Rex Harrison. Ages 3 and up. April 11 through April 19. $6 to $10. Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road. (914) 747-5555; burnsfilmcenter.org.

RYE Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary “Egg-Layers: Oviparous Creatures of Read Sanctuary.” Learn about the different animals that lay eggs and take a walk to see some of them. Participants will make their own edible nests complete with eggs to take home. Ages 4 and up. April 11 at 2 p.m. Free. Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Playland Parkway. (914) 967-8720; westchestergov.com/parks.

SOMERS Muscoot Farm “Puppet Show.” Fred Greenspan’s troupe performs a nonviolent Punch & Judy show for the whole family. Weather permitting; bring blankets to sit on. Ages 3 and up. April 12 at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Free. Muscoot Farm, Route 100. westchestergov.com/parks; (914) 864-7282.

WHITE PLAINS White Plains High School “The Mark Show,” hip-hop, ballet, music, vocalists and ensembles. Prizes for best teen talent. Presented by the Mark Brent Dolinsky Memorial Foundation. April 18 at 7:30 p.m. Free to $10. White Plains High School, 550 North Street. (914) 948-0688; dolinskyfoundation.org.WHITE PLAINS White Plains Public Library “Jerusalem Sky,” a children’s exhibition. Through April 5. White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue. (914) 422-1480;

whiteplainslibrary.org.

Museums and Galleries

ARMONK The Studio: An Alternative Space for Contemporary Art “Contemporary Selections: A Look at Abstract and Figurative Sculpture,” group show. Through May 10. Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m., or by appointment. The Studio: An Alternative Space for Contemporary Art, 2 Maryland Avenue. (914) 273-1452; thestudiony-alternative.org.

BEACON 400 Square LLC “Alternative Processes in a Contemporary World,” photography exhibition featuring works by Denise DeVore, Donna Francis, Jennifer König and Kristy Reichert. Through April 30. 400 Square LLC, 149 Main Street. 400square.com; (914) 522-4736.

BEACON Go North: A Space for Contemporary Art “The Sacred Balance of the Irreverent: Remembering Audrey Chibbaro,” retrospective exhibition of the late artist’s work. Through April 5. Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., and by appointment. Go North: A Space for Contemporary Art, 469 Main Street. (845) 242-1951;gonorthgallery.com.

BRONXVILLE OSilas Gallery “The Vale of Kashmir: Photographs by John Isaac.” “Figures in an Imaginary Landscape: A Show of Digital Painting,” by Kit Fitzgerald. Both through Wednesday. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 2 to 5 p.m. OSilas Gallery, 171 White Plains Road.osilasgallery.org; (914) 395-4520.

CROSS RIVER Gallery in the Park, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation “Pursuing Light,” with oil paintings by Chris Magadini, a Croton-on-Hudson artist. Through April 30. Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery in the Park, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Routes 35 and 121 South. westchestergov.com/parks; (914) 864-7371.

GREENBURGH Greenburgh Town Hall “Matters of the Heart: Supporting Creative Aging Through the Arts,” exhibition by Westchester artists 55 years and older. Through May 5. Free. Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue. (914) 271-3878;greenburghny.com.

KATONAH John Jay Homestead Historic Site “John Jay and the Treaty of Paris,” exhibition commemorating the 225th anniversary of the signing of the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War. Through Sept. 1. $7; seniors and students, $5; children under 12, free. John Jay Homestead Historic Site, 400 Route 22. (914) 232-5651;johnjayhomestead.org.

KATONAH Katonah Museum of Art “Lichtenstein in Process,” featuring 65 works by the artist. Through June 28. $3 and $5; members and children, free. Hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays till 8 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay Street. (914) 232-9555; katonahmuseum.org.

LARCHMONT Sheldrake Environmental Center “The Lure of the Land,” paintings by Hilda Green Demsky. Through June 14. Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sheldrake Environmental Center, 685 Weaver Street. sheldrakecenter.org; (914) 834-1443.

MOUNT KISCO Lot84 “Here + There,” photography exhibition of large black and white prints with works by Pamela Landau Connolly. Through June 30. Tuesdays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lot84, 84 Lexington Avenue. (914) 244-8535; lot84.com.

MOUNT VERNON St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site “Chief Executives on the Village Green: St. Paul’s and the Presidents,” historic prints, documents, artifacts, sound and text explore connections between five presidents and St. Paul’s. Through Jan. 1. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue. (914) 667-4116;nps.gov/sapa.

NEW ROCHELLE Third Rail Studio “Cake,” a midcareer retrospective of the sculptor and visual artist Don Desper. Through April 18. Hours: Thursdays and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m., or by appointment. Third Rail Studio, 49 Plain Avenue. (914) 712-9831;3rdrailstudio.com.

PEEKSKILL Flat Iron Gallery “Taking Off!” prints by Kevin Kall. Through April 26. Hours: Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., or by appointment. Flat Iron Gallery, 105 South Division Street. (914) 734-1894; flatiron.qpg.com.

PEEKSKILL Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art “Exhibition of 2008 Artist-in-Residence Karen Sargsyan.” Through May 10. “Origins,” multimedia group show. Through July 26. $2 to $5; members, free. Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., or by appointment. Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main Street. (914) 788-0100; hvcca.com.

PEEKSKILL Paramount Center for the Arts “The Hudson Valley Project,” photography exhibition presented by the Ground Glass. Through June 30. Paramount Center for the Arts, 1008 Brown Street. (914) 739-2333; paramountcenter.org.

PEEKSKILL Yamet Arts Inc. “For the Love of Art,” featuring works by 30 local artists. Through Tuesday. Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Yamet Arts Inc., 1000 North Division Street. (914) 737-1646; yametonart.com.

POUGHKEEPSIE Vassar College, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center “Faith and Fantasy in Outsider Art From the Permanent Collection,” more than 50 paintings, drawings, sculptures and mixed-media works by self-taught “outsider” artists. Through April 26. Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Vassar College, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, 124 Raymond Avenue. fllac.vassar.edu; (845) 437-5632.

POUND RIDGE Hiram Halle Memorial Library “Taking the Silk Road,” paintings by Berenice Pliskin. Through April 18. Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hiram Halle Memorial Library, 271 Westchester Avenue. poundridgelibrary.org; (914) 764-5085.

PURCHASE Manhattanville College Gallery of Fine Art “Art as Social Awareness,” paintings by Elon Brasil. Through Friday. “Off the Wall,” exhibition featuring contemporary installations. April 17 through May. 16. Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 12 to 4 p.m. Manhattanville College Gallery of Fine Art, 2900 Purchase Street. (914) 694-2200;manhattanville.edu..

PURCHASE Neuberger Museum of Art “Andy Warhol: Pop Politics,” exhibition of more than 60 works on political leaders who shaped the past century. Through April 26. “Andy Warhol: Snapshots,” exhibition of more than 50 photographs from the museum’s permanent collection, taken by the artist at different stages in his career. Through May 17. “American Gothic: True or Faux Notions of American Culture,” exhibition examining activism, Pop, the Cold War, feminism and capital excess in 1960s America. Through June 7. “New Media: Why,” exhibition investigating thematic aspects of technology-based artwork. Through June 28. “E-Cyclorama,” large cylindrical panorama painting by Sanford Wurmfeld. Tuesday through Sept. 13. “African Art and Culture: Selections From the Collection.” Through Dec. 1. “Outdoor Sculpture From the Permanent Collection,” modern and contemporary art throughout the Purchase College campus. Through Dec. 31. All exhibitions $3 and $5. Tuesdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Neuberger Museum of Art, 735 Anderson Hill Road. (914) 251-6100; neuberger.org.

TARRYTOWN Eyebuzz Fine Art Gallery “Recent Work,” collage and mixed-media work by Jennifer Judd-McGee. April 19 through May 8. Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m., or by appointment. Eyebuzz Fine Art Gallery, 15 Kaldenberg Place. (914) 631-1080;eyebuzzgallery.com.

WEST NYACK Rockland Center for the Arts “Office Space” contemporary artists using simple materials representing uniformity while celebrating the individual. Through April 30. Hours: Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rockland Center for the Arts, 27 South Greenbush Road. rocklandartcenter.org; (845) 358-0877.

WHITE PLAINS White Plains “David Hayes in White Plains,” 62-piece, 30-year retrospective with sculptures in public and private spaces throughout the city. Through Dec. 1. White Plains. davidhayes.com.

WOODSTOCK Galerie B. M. G. “Elements and Inks,” photographs by Dan Burkholder. Through May. 18. Hours: Fridays through Mondays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by appointment. Galerie B. M. G., 12 Tannery Brook Road. (845) 679-0027; galeriebmg.com.

YONKERS Hudson River Museum “Whitfield Lovell: All Things in Time,” large-scale found objects and charcoal portraits examining African-Americans from Reconstruction through World War II. Through May. 10. $3 and $5; members, free. Hours: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.; Fridays, noon to 8 p.m. Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue. (914) 963-4550; hrm.org.

Music and Dance

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts Bard Conservatory Orchestra, classical. Conducted by Leon Botstein. April 5 at 3 p.m. Free. Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, 30 Campus Road. (845) 758-7900;fishercenter.bard.edu.

BEACON Howland Cultural Center Pacifica String Quartet, classical. All Mendelssohnprogram. April 5 at 4 p.m. $10 and $30. Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street. (845) 297-9243; howlandmusic.org.

IRVINGTON Irvington Town Hall Roger McGuinn with special guest Loretta Hagen, folk and pop. April 17 at 8:30 p.m. $38. “Jazz Goes to the Movies,” presented by Westchester Jazz Orchestra. April 18 at 8 p.m. $5 to $35. Irvington Town Hall, 85 Main Street. (914) 591-6602; irvingtontheater.com.

KATONAH Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts “Mendelssohn at 200,” featuring the Brentano String Quartet, with special guest Hsin-Yun Huang, viola. April 19 at 4 p.m. $40. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, 149 Girdle Ridge Road. (914) 232-1252;caramoor.com.

KINGSTON Ulster Performing Arts Center Hudson Valley Philharmonic, classical.Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and works by Haydn. April 18 at 8 p.m. $25 to $47. Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway. (845) 473-2072; upac.org.

MAMARONECK Emelin Theater John Reischman and the Jaybirds, bluegrass. April 17 at 8 p.m. $37. Susan Werner, folk and pop. April 18 at 8 p.m. $40. Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. (914) 698-0098; emelin.org.

OSSINING Ossining High School “Music From an American Icon” Rosanne Cash, featuring John Leventhal. Presented by Ossining Matters. April 18 at 7 p.m. $15 to $125. Ossining High School, 29 South Highland Avenue. (914) 510-9320; ossiningmatters.org.

PIERMONT The Turning Point Sonny Fortune Quartet, jazz. Monday at 8 p.m. $20. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, blues. Tuesday at 8 p.m. $40. The Turning Point, 468 Piermont Avenue. (845) 359-1089; turningpointcafe.com.

POUGHKEEPSIE Bardavon Opera House Ronan Tynan, Irish tenor. April 19 at 5 p.m. $37 to $55. Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street. (845) 473-5288; bardavon.org.

POUGHKEEPSIE Vassar College, Skinner Hall Vassar College Jazz Ensemble. April 17 at 8 p.m. Free. Vassar College, Skinner Hall, 124 Raymond Avenue. (845) 437-7294;arts.vassar.edu.

PURCHASE Performing Arts Center, Purchase College The National Philharmonic of Russia, classical. Program includes Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Liadov and Scriabin. April 17 at 8 p.m. $36 to $70. “A Modern Spring,” classical. Presented by the Westchester Philharmonic and featuring guest conductor George Manahan. April 18 and 19. $25 to $75. Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road. (914) 251-6200; artscenter.org.

SLEEPY HOLLOW Sleepy Hollow High School The St. Lawrence String Quartet, classical. Piano quintets by Dohnanyi, Shostakovich and Franck. April 18 at 8 p.m. $12 and $25. Sleepy Hollow High School, 210 North Broadway. (914) 271-8598;friendsofmusicconcerts.org.

TARRYTOWN Tarrytown Music Hall Josh Ritter, folk and rock. April 5 at 8 p.m. $30 to $45. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, rhythm and blues. April 17 at 8 p.m. $55 and $60. Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, jazz. April 19 at 8 p.m. $45 to $85. Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street. (877) 840-0457; tarrytownmusichall.org.

YONKERS Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will branch “A Stairway to Paradise,” musicale featuring songs from the films of Fred Astaire, presented by New York Cabaret Unlimited. April 11 at 2 p.m. Free. “An Afternoon of American Classics,” musicale featuring Deirdre Donovan. Works by Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Kern and Gershwin. April 18 at 2 p.m. Free. Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will branch, 1500 Central Park Avenue. (914) 337-1500; ypl.org.

Outdoors

CROTON-ON-HUDSON Croton Point Nature Center “Earth Day Shore Clean Up.” Work gloves and trash bags provided. Refreshments served. Meet at the nature center. April 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Croton Point Nature Center, Croton Point Park. (914) 862-5927; westchestergov.com/parks.

NORTH WHITE PLAINS Cranberry Lake Preserve “Reading the Clouds.” Learn how to recognize weather patterns through photographs and by observing clouds. April 11 at 1 p.m. Free. Cranberry Lake Preserve, Old Orchard Street. (914) 428-1005; westchestergov.com/parks.

RYE Marshlands Conservancy “Garlic Mustard Pull.” Remove garlic mustard from a section of woods to see whether there is an impact. Participants will get to take some greens home for their salads. April 11 at 1 p.m. Free. Marshlands Conservancy, 220 Boston Post Road, Route 1. (914) 835-4466; westchestergov.com/parks.

SOMERS Muscoot Farm “Morning Farm Chores,” join the staff staff in taking care of the animals. Preregistration required. Wednesday, 8 to 9:30 a.m. $5. Muscoot Farm, Route 100. (914) 864-7282; westchestergov.com/parks.

VALHALLA Kensico Dam Plaza “Earth Day Westchester 2009.” A celebration and showcase of green, sustainable living. Live music, exhibits and demonstrations, children’s activities. Discover ways to combat global warming and climate change. April 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Kensico Dam Plaza, north end of the Bronx River Parkway. (914) 864-7275;westchestergov.com.

Spoken Word

KATONAH Katonah Museum of Art “Gift of Art Lecture Series,” Marcy B. Freedman discusses the social and economic upheavals of late 18th-century Europe and its impact on the visual arts. April 14 at 7 p.m. Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay Street. (914) 232-9555; katonahmuseum.org.

MOUNT VERNON St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site “Washington’s Spies,” the historian Alexander Rose explores the world of New York area spies who supplied George Washington with crucial information during the Revolutionary War. April 11 at 2 p.m. Free. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue. nps.gov/sapa.; (914) 667-4116.

PURCHASE Performing Arts Center, Purchase College “Sexy Lobsters, Succulent Sushi: How We Can Save the Seas with Good Eating” Trevor Corson discusses biology and conservation through anecdotes. Tuesday at 7 p.m. Free. Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road. (914) 251-6200; artscenter.org.

SCARSDALE J. C. C. of Mid-Westchester “Carol Leifer in Conversation,” moderated byJerry Seinfeld. Live satellite broadcast from the 92nd Street Y. Tuesday at 8 p.m. $9 and $11. J. C. C. of Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road. (914) 472-3300;

jccmidwestchester.org.

YONKERS Esther Raushenbush Library “Afghanistan Now: A Hundred-Year History of War,” discussion featuring Christian Parenti. April 13, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Free. Esther Raushenbush Library, Sarah Lawrence College. (914) 395-2412.

Theater

BRIARCLIFF MANOR Hudson Stage Company “The Pursuit of Happiness,” comedy by Richard Dresser. April 17 through May. 2. $25 and $30. Hudson Stage Company, 235 Elm Road. (877) 238-5596; hudsonstage.com.

ELMSFORD Westchester Broadway Theater “Funny Girl,” musical comedy. Book by Isobel Lennart, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill. Featuring Jill Abramovitz. Thursday through June 14. $73, price includes meal. Westchester Broadway Theater, 75 Clearbrook Road. broadwaytheatre.com; (914) 592-2222.

HARRISON The Veterans’ Memorial Building “Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” comedy byNeil Simon. April 17 through April 19. $18 and $20. The Veterans’ Memorial Building, 210 Halstead Avenue. (914) 937-8427; harrisonplayers.org.

IRVINGTON Irvington Town Hall “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” musical by Rupert Holmes. Presented by the Broadway Training Center. Through April 5. $12 and $20. Irvington Town Hall, 85 Main Street. irvingtontheater.com; (914) 591-6602.

PEEKSKILL Paramount Center for the Arts “Hedda Gabler,” drama by Henrik Ibsen. Presented by the Might Theater Company. April 5 at 2 p.m. $25. Paramount Center for the Arts, 1008 Brown Street. (914) 739-2333; paramountcenter.org.

PLEASANTVILLE St. John’s Episcopal Church Community House “Cherry and Jerry,” comedy by Howard Meyer. Presented by Axial Theater. Through April 5. $15 and $20. St. John’s Episcopal Church Community House, 8 Sunnyside Avenue. (914) 286-7680;

axialtheatre.org.

PURCHASE Performing Arts Center, Purchase College “Richard III,” by William Shakespeare. Presented by the Purchase Repertory Theater. Through April 5. $12.50 and $17.50. Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road. (914) 251-6200; artscenter.org.

SPRING VALLEY Finkelstein Memorial Library “Bloody Murder,” comedy by Ed Sala based on the Agatha Christie murder mystery. Presented by M&M Productions. April 5 at 2 p.m. Free. Finkelstein Memorial Library, 24 Chestnut Street. (845) 352-5700;finkelsteinlibrary.org.

14th Annual Kids Expo PoughKeepsie April 4th & 5th A Quadricentennial Celebration

http://www.kids-expo.org/

 
Parade - Sunday, April 5th @ 12:30PM!


 
This headliner Magician will appear in two shows Saturday - Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, 12:30PM and 2:00PM! 

 
That's right! Come see dog on fleas at Kids Expo 2009. Two shows Saturday - Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, 1PM and 2:30PM! 


 
Kids Expo is celebrating it’s 14th year by joining in the celebration of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial! Kids Expo is a two day event in Downtown Poughkeepsie that connects children to their community through entertainment, activities, hands-on exhibitors, a parade and much more. Kids Expo organizers and sponsors are proud to help kick off the Quadricentennial in the Hudson Valley with an event that will raise awareness and excitement about this historic anniversary.

PoughKeepsie Planning Over 40 Public Events To Celebrate Quadricentennial

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090329/QUAD/303290009

City plans many quadricentennial celebrations for 2009

MICHAEL VALKYS 

More than 40 public events are planned over the next seven months as the City of Poughkeepsie celebrates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage along the river that bears his name.

City leaders Friday announced the lineup of events that will be part of the state's Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebration. Poughkeepsie's portion of the celebration kicks off with next month's Kids Expo and continues with dozens of events into November.

The highlight should be the October debut of the Walkway Over the Hudson, when the old Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge reopens as a pedestrian span after months of renovations.

Mayor John Tkazyik, former Mayor Nancy Cozean and others working on upcoming quadricentennial events outlined what's planned during a press conference Friday morning at city hall.

Tkazyik called the series of events a great way "to celebrate Poughkeepsie's past and to prepare for the future."

Leaders hope the events will draw thousands of people to Poughkeepsie in the coming months, promoting the city and boosting the local economy.

"We are thrilled by the broad spectrum of events the committee has developed as part of this celebration," said Cozean, who leads the local quadricentennial committee. "These are really fun events that are continuing, I think, to make this city shine."

A Wide Variety

Some upcoming celebration highlights include:

May 26: Dedication of a Revolutionary shipyard along the river near Shadows on the Hudson off Rinaldi Boulevard. A sail of ships, militia parade, and a lecture on Poughkeepsie's role as a shipyard during the Revolution are planned.

June 10: River Day. A flotilla of boats making their way from New York City to Albany is scheduled to be in Poughkeepsie. The day will also include various dedications, lectures, tours and an evening jazz concert.

July 18: The Poughkeepsie International Heritage Parade is set for downtown, with groups representing two dozen nations expected to take part.

Many quadricentennial events will focus on the city's history and provide hands-on lessons for residents and visitors.

"It's going to be an exciting series of events," city Historian George Lukacs said. "It's just phenomenal what's going to be happening."

Along with marking Hudson's voyage, the state celebration also recognizes the 400th anniversary of the exploration of Lake Champlain by Frenchman Samuel de Champlain and the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's maiden steamboat journey on the Hudson River.

Cozean said Poughkeepsie's celebration will be made possible through help from hundreds of volunteers.

"We decided to let the people of the City of Poughkeepsie help us with this," Cozean said. "That's the whole purpose - to make people proud of their city."

Reach Michael Valkys at [email protected] or 845-437-4816.

City Of PoughKeepsie Announces July 4th FireWorks Display First In More Than 20 Years

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090324/NEWS01/90324005

Fireworks return to city July 4th after long hiatus

A burst of fireworks behind the Mid-Hudson Bridge lights up the evening sky over the Poughkeepsie waterfront in this image taken from Highland. Spencer Ainsley/Journal file

MICHAEL VALKYS 

Independence Day fireworks will return to the City of Poughkeepsie for the first time in more than 20 years, officials said today.

Mayor John Tkazyik announced a fireworks display is set for July 4th in Waryas Park along the Hudson River.

The mayor said he hopes the display will encourage residents to stay in the city for the holiday and patronize local businesses.

“This year, it is more important than ever to keep our business local,” Tkazyik said.

He said the fireworks will cost about $10,000 and could be funded with help from local banks and other private donors.

Tkazyik said Independence Day fireworks were held for years at College Hill, but were eventually discontinued due to lack of funding. Officials believe the city's last July 4th fireworks display was held along the river in the mid-1980s.

WalkWay Over The Hudson Art Gallery Seeking Artists To Display For Opening

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090324/LIFE/903240307/1005

Artists invited to join Walkway opening project

If you're an artist who is proud of your community, here's a project that can display your art at new heights.

Walkway Over the Hudson and the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration committee are looking for 50 artists, educators and crafts people to create new "town emblems" for each village, town and city in Dutchess and Ulster counties.

The designs will be displayed during the Walkway's Oct. 3 "Walking On Air" grand opening celebration, which will serve as the mid-Hudson Valley's signature event for the statewide Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quad-ricentennial Celebration.

"We are particularly interested in those artists who show a passion for the history and culture of their locales and the Hudson Valley in general," Jeanne Fleming, who is organizing the opening celebration for Walkway Over the Hudson, said in a statement. "Artists should be versatile and open to working with a range of cheap and unorthodox materials, under tight budget constraints."

Artists who are selected will have their emblems function as a "coat of arms" for their towns, reflecting the particular connections that tie local communities to the broader history, culture or ecology of the Hudson River.

Hudson Valley artists must apply prior to an April 6 deadline by submitting five work samples and a one-page written statement that details past experience working on a community-level project. Each of the 50 artists chosen will receive a $500 stipend.

A description of the program and an online application can be found onwww.walkway.org.

"Bridge Music " Listening Stations In Poughkeepsie & Highland To Open April 1 -October 31 2009

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090318/LIFE/903180309/1005/LIFE

Local composer and percussionist Joseph Bertolozzi used a variety of hammers to play and record sounds on the steel of the Mid-Hudson Bridge. (Spencer Ainsley/Journal file)

Local composer's 'bridge playing' to become a permanent feature

Musician also hopes to be a part of New York's quadricentennial celebration of Henry Hudson's journey up the river

JOHN W. BARRY

 local composer's plans for celebrating 400 years of Hudson River history by "playing" the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie like an instrument have evolved into a permanent installation.

Joseph Bertolozzi for five years has been working on a plan to strike the bridge with a wide range of percussion implements during a live performance that would coincide with this year's quadricentennial celebration.

The poor economy and lack of financial backing, have forced Bertolozzi to reduce the scope of his percussive project. The new plan features a recording of "Bridge Music" and listening stations on the bridge, as well as what he calls "park radios" in the City of Poughkeepsie and Town of Lloyd.

"Bridge Music" is a musical suite featuring Bertolozzi "playing" the bridge.

Bertolozzi is scheduled to announce the project today.

His initial budget was $2.2 million. The revised budget is about $13,000, with $5,000 from the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency, distributed by Dutchess County Tourism; $5,000 from Ulster County Tourism; and the remaining amount from sponsors.

This project is being presented with the support of Bertolozzi's main partner, the New York State Bridge Authority, as well as the Town of Lloyd, City of Poughkeepsie Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Committee and Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

"This is a real coming together of the different communities, producing public art," Bertolozzi said. "I think it's really a beautiful thing for these groups to work together."

Many special events are planned for 2009 to mark the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's maiden voyage up the river that would later bear his name; Samuel De Champlain's exploration of the lake that would bear his name; and the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's maiden steamboat journey up the Hudson.

The centerpiece is the planned opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson, a pedestrian trail on the old Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge.

A spokesman for the New York State Bridge Authority based in Highland, said the composer's grand plan reflects well on the mid-Hudson Bridge.

"Joe is an artist and it's a very cool project," spokesman John Bellucci said. "The bridges in the Hudson Valley are part of its history now. The Mid-Hudson Bridge is an icon."

Bellucci added Bertolozzi's plan has "developed into quite a unique feature."

Sound Tests

Bertolozzi spent several days on the bridge in July 2006 and June 2007, with a team that included a sound engineer and New York State Bridge Authority employees, armed with a laptop and microphones.

Bertolozzi and his team recorded sounds made when the bridge was struck by a variety of objects - hammers, a sledgehammer and small log among them.

Bertolozzi then cobbled those sounds together into a song - "Bridge Funk" - which he used to pitch his project. "Bridge Funk" is part of a musical suite called "Bridge Music" that lasts about 38 minutes.

Bertolozzi had hoped to assemble a team of 24 percussionists to "play" the bridge, with speakers set up in Waryas Park.

Those plans now call for a recording of "Bridge Music" to be played at four listening stations.

Two stations are planned for each of the bridge's two towers, with weather-resistant speakers.

FCC-approved radio transmitters, which only broadcast in a 150-foot radius, will be installed in Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie and Johnson-Iorio Park in Highland. Visitors will be able to listen to the recording by tuning in to 87.9 FM on a radio, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The listening stations on the bridge would operate from April 1-Oct. 31. There is no cost to listen at any of the sites.

Signs will explain the project, as well as outline which parts of the bridge were used to create which sounds.

Four ribbon-cuttings, one at each station, are set to launch the project June 6.

Bertolozzi plans to release a CD, "Bridge Music," during the last week of May, as the ribbon-cutting ceremonies draw near. He also hasn't given up hope of staging that live concert.

"The live event is postponed," he said, "until we can finance it."

John W. Barry at [email protected] or 845-437-4822.