Just in time: Local History Holiday Gift Guide

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BREWSTER, New York — Looking for a unique holiday gift that promotes hometown pride and supports a great cause? Well, look no further! The Putnam County Historian’s Office has curated a gift guide in support of local history, and related historical societies, non-profits and museums. These gifts include T-shirts, mugs, historical prints suitable for framing, books on local history and historical fiction, and the all-important membership packages that help keep these organizations up and running during their pursuit of preserving Putnam County’s rich history.

The organizations include: Boscobel, Carmel Historical Society, Kent Historical Society,
Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast, Patterson Historical Society, Putnam History Museum in Cold Spring, Putnam Valley Historical Society, and Southeast Museum in Brewster.

“The Local History Holiday Gift Guide not only provides great gift tips but important information on each organization and their mission,” says Jennifer Cassidy of the County Historian’s Office. “Supporting them with the purchase of a T-shirt, book or membership package, all aid their missions of preserving and presenting Putnam’s past.” Complete contact information for the Historian’s Office, societies, and museums is included in the guide.

Book highlights from the guide include: “Vignettes of Patterson’s Past”, a collection of Patterson’s histories by the Society in a hardback book illustrated with maps, photos and more; “History of Putnam County, New York”, by William S. Pelletreau, the quintessential linen bound, local history book reprinted by Landmarks Preservation Society; and the respective societies offer Bicentennial profiles of Town of Kent and Historic Carmel, Mahopac & Mahopac Falls.

Mugs and a wonderful selection of local history books and exhibit catalogues are available at Putnam History Museum while the Southeast Museum offers iconic reprints of the village of Brewster from 1867 and 1870 as well as local historical fiction titles by Putnam County author Deborah Rafferty Oswald.

Know someone who loves baseball? The Putnam Valley Historical Society has a limited run of rare images of Babe Ruth playing baseball at Lake Oscawana, suitable for 8” x 10” framing.

2019 Putnam County Gift Guide – County Historian

 

The guide can also  be viewed online at the Historian’s website

www.putnamcountyny.com/countyhistorian and a limited amount of printed copies are available upon request by calling 845-808-1420 or emailing historian@putnamcountyny.gov.

Holiday on the Lake December 7, 2019

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The daylong celebration features pancake breakfast, holiday craft bazaars, storytelling, crafts, afternoon chowder festival, hayrides, entertainment on multiple stages and multiple opportunities for visits with Santa.  The evening begins with a Santa Stroll benefiting the American Cancer Society (all are welcome to participate), with the highlight of the event being a 50 float lighted holiday parade.  This magical day culminates with the lighting of 75 trees being lit along the beautiful shores of Lake Gleneida.

 

Brewster Holiday Caroling and Christmas Tree Lighting December 7th

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Presented by the Southeast Museum on Saturday December 7th at 5:15PM

The Mad Hatter Barbershop Chorus will lead everyone in song.  Come early at 4:30 for a free Magic Show.

See Santa!

Cider and cookies provided by the Village of Brewster

Southeast Museum 67 Main Street Brewster, NY

Winter Hill’s Holiday Tree Lighting Party Thursday December 5th

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Hudson Highlands Land Trust invites you to join us for Winter Hill’s Holiday Tree Lighting Party on Thursday December 5th at 5:30PM

20 Nazareth Way Garrison, NY

Holiday in the Park is happening in Mahopac on November 30th

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Festivities begin at 4:30PM at the Mahopac- Carmel Chamber Park on November 30th.

Tree and Menorah Lighting.  Caroling and special attractions for the whole family.

Highlight of the event is a special visit from Santa!

World-Renowned Performance Artist To Take Cold Spring By Swarm

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Putnam County Tourism is excited to announce a free interactive performance art piece designed by world-renowned, multimedia artist Marinella Senatore. The event, hosted by the Magazzino Italian Art Foundation, will be taking place on Nov. 16 in Cold Spring — just a hop, skip OR jump away from the train station (north on the Hudson 851 line). Senatore has exhibited her art installations in museums across the globe from Paris to Cape Town to Rome, and her street performances have reached just as many amazing places far and near (as near as Queens, NY — pictured below)! Come join Italian renaissance woman Senatore and her troupe as they perform a 3-hour set of sequences on a tour of the village.

Come join us for what is sure to be the experience of a lifetime! When Senatore’s sequence ends, you’ll be sure to find plenty more to explore in the Village of Cold Spring. At just over an hour north of Grand Central Terminal, the village is recognized as one of the best day-tripping locations in the Hudson Valley, and for good reason. It’s home to a variety of fun, cozy shops, restaurants and B&Bs, serving as a popular getaway for many stressed out city-dwellers. It’s also designated as the drop point for many nature cruises coming out of New Jersey and New York City; the sightseeing ships dock near a beautiful open courtyard with plenty of riverfront seating. Cold Spring’s winning combination of natural beauty and vibrant community make it a must-visit destination any time of the year.

Come out to witness (and maybe take part in!) this priceless, one-time-only event, in a priceless, one-of-a-kind place. Did we mention that admission to the Magazzino Italian Art Foundation is free to the public year-round and offers a free shuttle from the village train station? With all of its charm and activity, it won’t take long before you find yourself back in Cold Spring.

 

Vance Lovett, Freelance Writer

Vance graduated Carmel High School in 2011 and studied Dramatic Arts at the University of Southern California, where he was granted the prestigious Jack Nicholson award. In addition to his creative pursuits, he enjoys good lumbar support, the improv comedy scene, and spending time with his family, their four giant dogs, and one talkative kitty.
He’s happy to be living back in Carmel, NY.

Hops on the Hudson is proud to announce our second craft beer festival in 2019

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Enjoy the country living with, animals, nature, music & food at Tilly Foster Farm

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Tilly Foster Farm is alive and well! The Tilly Foster Farm Community Gardens, now in its second decade of operation, continues to produce award-winning organically grown flowers, vegetables and herbs.

Part of the revitalization of the farm has been the return of small farm animals – some are quite exotic, like our unique chicken breeds, Kunekune pigs, miniature horses and much more.  Visitors are invited to take part in self-guided tours of the farm seven days a week.

If you just want to be one with nature in a serene and picturesque setting, hike the nature trails at Tilly —kiosks with maps are located next to the farm parking lot.

Boscobel House  & Gardens for family fun and more!

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Built between 1804 and 1808, Boscobel was originally the dream house of wealthy Loyalists. By the 1950s, after falling into disrepair, it was demolished. Preservationists saved as many architectural fragments as possible and reassembled them fifteen miles north, where the Neoclassical mansion was restored back to—and even beyond—its original grandeur. Boscobel was saved as a beautiful piece of art.

Now an esteemed Historic House Museum containing one of the finest collections of decorative arts from the Federal period, Boscobel offers tours of our Neoclassical mansion and access to 68 acres of our grounds, featuring lush gardens and a woodland trail. Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Boscobel directly overlooks Constitution Marsh toward the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, showcasing dramatic views of the Hudson River.

Open Wednesday through Monday from mid-April to December, Boscobel hosts lively events, innovative exhibitions, talks by the world’s top design experts, and engaging programs and activities for families. Children are always welcome.

Source (Boscobel.org)

Hidden gems of Putnam County. The Chang Yen Monastery

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Just 50 miles north of New York City, a Buddhist Monastery can be found on a remote hillside of Putnam County. With the name Chaung Yen translating to “Majestically Adorned,” this somewhat out-of-place monastery is a sanctuary of peace and meditation a short drive from New York City.

Chuang Yen monastery houses the largest Buddha Vairocana statue in the Western hemisphere. The statue—appropriately found in the Great Buddha Hall—measures 37-feet in height and is surrounded by 10,000 smaller Buddhas all sitting in a lotus terrace semi-circle.

The monastery also features temple buildings across 125 acres of land, designed in the traditional architectural style of China’s Tang Dynasty. Originally designed by architect Edward A Valeri, the monastery opened the doors of its first building—Kuan Yin Hall—in 1981, adding subsequent buildings over time.

For the opening of the Great Buddha Hall, the present Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, attended the opening ceremony. Today, the monastery is a lovely respite from the bustling city, and an oasis of serenity and beautiful gardens.

Source (Atlasobscura.com)