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Spring 2021 Riverkeeper Sweep

Posted on by Mike Wiley

Another successful annual sweep, with 27 volunteers who collected 665 lbs. of trash and recyclables. We removed and gathered massive amounts of brush, scrub trees and other undesirable growth that was obstructing views of the river and access to the beaches on either side of Riverfront Park. The most common trash item collected were candy wrappers. The most unusual of the sweep were a family of baby bunnies who scattered when their brush was disturbed but they were gathered and replaced and marked with a Do Not Disturb sign.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the cleanup event

A tremendous Thank you to all the volunteers and their effort, the support of the Village of Castleton leadership, the Department of Public Works. Additionally we would like to thank American Rivers and Home Depot for their donations.

Andrea Marvinney and Suzanne Cecala were coleaders who worked closely with Riverkeeper to set up and organize the cleanup. Please visit Riverkeeper and show your support of the important work that they do safeguarding the Hudson River by making a donation or shopping their Riverkeeper Swag.

Spring Newsletter

Posted on by Mike Wiley

Happy Spring from the Castleton-on-Hudson Main Street Association (COHMSA)! We are so happy to be embracing 2021 with vaccinations under our wings (in our arms) and our excitement for the future ramped up. Please join us in celebrating coming through a tough time, and know that our hearts are with those who suffered losses this past year.


 To those of you who made a membership donation, we thank you! As a 501c3 staffed by volunteers and funded entirely by donations and sponsorships, we appreciate the generosity that allows us to take on new projects and maintain existing ones. We want you to feel your money is well-spent, so please give us feedback. A special thank you to our sponsors. We have rolled your sponsorship over to cover 2021 because 2020 was such a bust.

WHAT WE’VE DONE

Calendar year 2020 was tough for everyone. We had to cancel some major events, such as a planned Bike Race, Main Street Day and Halloween Happening. But we did accomplish:

  • Main Street Cleanup
  • Main Street planter flowers
  • Rainbow lawn signs throughout the Village
  • New signal flags for nautical flagpole; new American flag
  • Participation in Diversity Parade
  • Purchase of new garbage cans in partnership with Village
  • Participation in Halloween Parade
  • Main Street Fall Decorations
  • Riverfront Park cleanup as part of Riverkeeper Sweep in collaboration with the Village
  • Created masks with “I LOVE Castleton” for membership and sale
  • Grant applications
  • Collaboration with Library to hang Snowflakes in Main Street windows
  • Monthly meetings; attendance at Village Board meetings; articles submitted to Castletonian; annual membership drive

WHAT WE’RE PLANNING

  • We are looking to expand our leadership team! Do you want to join a team working to improve our hometown and having lots of fun along the way? We have new bylaws and we’re jazzed to step up our activities. Your payment will be in the sense of service to your community and lots of laughter. People of all ages, genders and backgrounds encouraged to apply. For more information, email info@castletonmainstreet.org 
  • We are looking to increase our volunteer list. Do you have special skills or the desire to help out on an as-needed basis? Please watch your Inbox for a survey coming later this week. We’d love to add you to our database and reach out when the time comes.   
  • Volunteers needed now! We are looking for volunteers for two upcoming cleanup events: 

SAVE THESE DATES:

Main Street Triple Treat: Week of 5/17/21

Main Street StoryWalk: In collaboration with the Castleton Public Library, COHMSA invites you to bring the family down to read a book from one end of the Main Street business district to the other.

Main Street Geocaches: Caches in Castleton! Finally! Where are they? (What are they? Learn here.) Maybe you’ll be able to find them and log them. Or maybe not…

Main Street Mile: It’s not new, but it’s as good as ever. Start somewhere on Main. Walk south to the Village Hall, north to the base of Seaman Ave., and back to where you started. Boom! One mile. Look for MSM medallions and signs along the way. Fun + Healthy = WIN

Diversity Parade II: June 19th. While not a COHMSA event, we will be participating. If you’d like to help plan or know more, please contact COHcelebratingdiversity@gmail.com

Main Street Day: September 25. Join us for music, art, crafts, raffles, camaraderie. You don’t want to miss this one!

Halloween Happening: October 25. Details TBD. Ooh, scary.

Clean-up Event at Riverfront Park

Posted on by Mike Wiley

Join the Castleton-on-Hudson Main Street Association and Riverkeeper for a clean-up event at Riverfront Park on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 9am – Noon

Location

Riverfront Park

2 South Main Street

Castleton, NY 12033

About this Event

Join the Castleton-on-Hudson Main Street Association and Riverkeeper for a park clean-up and brush removal event at Riverfront Park on Saturday, May 1, for the 10th Annual Riverkeeper Sweep, a day of service for the Hudson River and its tributaries.

Volunteers will meet at the paved area by Amtrak gates, next to 2 South Main Street, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY. We ask all Sweep volunteers to wear sturdy shoes or boots, clothing that they can get dirty, and to bring a hat, sunscreen, a full reusable water bottle, and a face mask, work gloves and hand sanitizer. This site is not suitable for elementary-aged children.

*IMPORTANT! To ensure the safety of volunteers, Sweep Site Leaders, park staff, and our communities, we ask that volunteers adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Volunteers are required to pre-register for Sweep, and bring their own masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and water.
  • All participants and Sweep Leaders must wear masks that fully cover both their nose and mouth, at all times, no exceptions.
  • All volunteers must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet and wear masks at all times. When announcements are being made, a distance of 15 feet should be maintained.
  • Volunteers should carpool only with members of their own household.
  • Volunteers should not participate if they have ANY signs of illness or if they have potentially been exposed to COVID-19 within the previous two weeks.

Questions? Contact Riverkeeper at sweep@riverkeeper.org or site leader Suzanne Cecala at scecala@nycap.rr.com.

To support the Riverkeeper Sweep and Riverkeeper’s year-round work to protect and restore the Hudson River and its tributaries, please consider becoming a Riverkeeper member or renewing your Riverkeeper membership with a donation of any amount, or starting a fundraiser to encourage your friends and family to become Riverkeeper members. Learn more and donate at: https://give.classy.org/Sweep2021

Castleton-on-Hudson: Riverfront Park Cleanup and Brush Removal image

Gratitude & Updates

Posted on by Mike Wiley

Happy Holidays! 2020 is coming to a close soon, and we’re looking forward to a new year. This one has been very challenging, to say the least. To those who have endured losses this year, our hearts go out to you. And while Thanksgiving looks very different this year for most of us, we want to express our gratitude for our village and for each other. The Castleton-on-Hudson Main Street Association (COHMSA) team feels very grateful that we live in a welcoming community with kind neighbors, low crime, lovely homes and beautiful scenery.

We launched our annual membership drive at the end of October and we are grateful to those who have renewed their membership or joined for the first time. Your support helps us accomplish our goals of visible change and forward our efforts in the areas of economic growth and community pride. We are 100% volunteer and the support of the community helps keep us going. It’s not too late to donate for the 2021 year!

Those who donated $50 or more got a free “I Love Castleton-on-Hudson” face mask. We are also selling them for $12 each. If interested, please email info@castletonmainstreet.org and we’ll get one to you.

In addition, while we encourage buying local and shopping small businesses, if you do shop on Amazon, consider enrolling in their Smile program and choosing us as the charity to receive a portion of your purchase. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps our organization.

SUPPORT COHMSA
Go to: Amazon Smile

We would like to congratulate Joe Keegan for his win as Mayor of Castleton and Jen Pratico and Lissa D’Aquanni as Village Board Trustees. We thank Marianne Carner for always being a great liaison between COHMSA and Village Board and we welcome Lissa to joining us. We thank Bob Schmidt for his service as Mayor and Gina Giuliano for her service as Trustee.

RIVERKEEPER SWEEP: On October 17, COHMSA, in partnership with Mayor Joe Keegan and village Trustees Sharon Martin and Lissa D’Aquanni, led Riverkeeper’s annual Sweep which had been postponed from May due to COVID-19. With strict COVID safety guidelines and safe track crossing procedures, we did a huge cleanup of Riverfront Park. Drive or walk by and check out the beautiful views!
Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who came out and helped and to the Castleton Department of Public Works. We represented Rensselaer County as one of more than 65 locations from Brooklyn to Watervliet with more than 900 volunteers who came out to care for the Hudson River. Together we removed 8 tons of trash, 1 ton of recycling, and 98 tires, and planted or maintained 500+ native trees and shrubs.

Here are some other updates:

HALLOWEEN PARADE: We were delighted to participate in the vehicle parade organized by the Castleton Public Library in conjunction with the Fire Department and attended by village trustees. What a joy to see all the families lining the parade route in their costumes, excited to get the candy being tossed their way. 

FALL DECORATIONS: Thank you to Swartz Dairy & Produce for their generous donation of corn stalks and pumpkins for decorating Main Street.

CASTLETON VIDEO: You might remember that COHMSA submitted a video for HGTV’s new show, Home Town Takeover, last February. We didn’t win, unfortunately, but for some reason, it has begun circulating widely recently and we are happy for the attention and positive feedback.

MAIN STREET PROPERTY OWNERS: We see you! Thank you to those who have recently made improvements either by painting, cleaning or repairing your property. Every little bit helps Main Street look nicer. 

NAUTICAL FLAGPOLE: The nautical signal flags, which spell “WELCOME HOME,” have been taken down for the winter. The American flag will continue to fly and will be replaced as needed. (Last year, the replacement was delayed due to shipping issues related to COVID.)

As always, we welcome ideas and suggestions.
Email:
 info@castletonmainstreet.org 
Website:
 www.castletonmainstreet.org 
Facebook and Instagram:
COHMSA 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season – 

Team COHMSA

2020 Riverkeeper Sweep

Posted on by Mike Wiley

Riverfront Park
2020



Castleton-on-Hudson

What a wonderful day Riverkeeper Sweep on Saturday, October 17th was! COHMSA, supported by Village officials, staff and volunteers, helped clean up 225 lbs. of garbage from the banks of the Hudson River. We also removed a massive amount of scrub trees and overgrowth from Riverfront Park, unveiling this hidden treasure and revealing beautiful vistas of the River.

Riverkeeper, who organized this Sweep event in more than 65 sites along the Hudson from Brooklyn to the Capital Region said that with only half the sites reporting results, 27,801 lbs. of garbage was cleaned from the River. Thank you to everyone who helped maintain one of our most precious resources. 

Riverkeeper #RiverkeeperSweep

To learn more about the efforts of Riverkeeper in protecting the Hudson River visit: https://www.riverkeeper.org/

We would like to thank The Home Depot in Rensselaer and Country True Value Hardware & Rental for their generous donation of garbage bags and work gloves. We greatly appreciate your support!

Work gloves donation

WHY TREE CITY USA?

Posted on by Mike Wiley

Special thanks to Mike Martin and team who was instrumental in helping Castleton in being recognized as a Tree City USA community.

You may have noticed the signs are up at the village entrances. Castleton has demonstrated a commitment to the public trees by managing them and caring for them. Below are a few key benefits of the TREE CITY USA program:

  • Boost property values across your community. Properly placed trees can increase property values from 7–20%. Buildings in wooded areas rent more quickly, and tenants stay longer.
  •  Build stronger ties to your neighborhood and community. Trees and green spaces directly correlate to greater connections to neighbors.
  • Improve community pride. Participation in the Tree City USA program helps residents feel good about the place they live and work. Annual recognition shows visitors and prospective residents that trees, conservation, and the environment are important to your community.
  • Honor your community and demonstrate your commitment to a healthier environment through Arbor Day celebrations and Tree City USA recognition.

Did You Notice? New Trash Cans Along Main Street!

Posted on by Mike Wiley

The Village of Castleton purchased five new trash cans. The old cans had been in service for many years and were heavily dented, rusted, and in poor condition. The old trash cans detracted from the pride and appearance of the sidewalks along Main Street. COHMSA helped support the effort to replace the cans by pushing for this improvement, researching what to purchase, and providing additional funds to the village to help offset the purchase price. These trash cans should look great along Main Street for years to come!

USS Slater

Posted on by Mike Wiley

Did you know the USS Slater-766 is the last destroyer escort afloat in the America? It traveled past Castleton on July 5, 2020 around 9 am on way for service at the Cadel Shipyard on Staten Island. Here are a few pictures as it was pushed down river by the NYS Marine Highway Tugs: Sarah D. & Nathan G. taken near the flagpole on Main Street. The Slater will be undergoing mast restoration work at the shipyard.

You can read more about the USS Slater and restoration efforts here: https://www.ussslater.org/

Call on Amtrak to Protect Hudson River Access

Posted on by Mike Wiley

NY members Tonko, Delgado & Maloney, request Amtrak work with state & local municipalities to promote & uphold Hudson River access

“Our Hudson River serves as an important cultural, economic and environmental boon for so many of our New York communities,” Congressman Tonko said. “Unfortunately, highways and railroads block access to much of our beautiful riverfront, leaving precious few locations for families to enjoy. I urge Amtrak to collaborate with municipalities and local organizations in order to ensure that New Yorkers do not lose out on this national treasure. We can work to ensure public safety without sacrificing access for our communities.”

Numerous state and local officials and organizations have expressed their support for the letter including:

Ned Sullivan, Scenic Hudson President

“When it comes to the Hudson River, the people of the Hudson Valley want to have access to it. It’s also a key goal of New York State’s Coastal Management Program. Working with Amtrak, we can find common sense, 21st century ways to reduce risk without losing already scarce river access. Thank you Representatives Tonko, Delgado and Maloney for recognizing that through collaboration we can solve problems in ways that meet the needs of all.”

Steve McLaughlin, Rensselaer County Executive

“Rensselaer County is a proponent of protecting and promoting public access to the Hudson River. We have enjoyed a long history of boating, fishing, birding and hiking in and along the river. The Hudson River plays an important role in our tourism industry, with recreational activities for visitors as well as its historical significance. We recognize that residents want more safe access points to the river throughout our county, and encourage efforts to strengthen connections between our residents and this majestic waterway,”

Bob Schmidt, Mayor, Village of Castleton-on-Hudson

“I would like to thank our Congressional Representatives for bringing the Village’s 25-year long dream of Hudson River access at Riverfront Park closer to reality.”

The press release from Congressman Paul D. Tonko’s office can be viewed here.

Main Street Planters are Back

Posted on by Mike Wiley

The Meet Me on Main planters are back out on Main Street for Memorial Day. We added a new metal planter this year that was donated by our friends at The Castleton Tractor Supply Store. We would like to thank them for their donation of the planter to be used on Main Street. The COHMSA team planted each of the planters and added flags.

Donated Planter

With the current circumstances of COVID-19 that we are facing as a Nation we all can use some strength to get through this. To show we are all in this together and everything will be alright, COHMSA has placed Castleton Strong signs along Main Street. Keep thinking Castleton Strong!

Castleton Strong Sign at River Rest Park
Planter at Prins Insurance Agency
Planter at Cherrybrook Cafe

2020 Hudson River Access Plan

Posted on by Mike Wiley

The complete Hudson River Access Plan Final Report commissioned by Scenic Hudson can be viewed here.

The plan outlines access points along the shoreline of the Hudson River from Poughkeepsie to Rensselaer. The report provides a list of recommendations along with specific time frames to focus on preserving and maintaining access, amending laws, seeking funding, pilot programs, safe access, and revitalization of communities by using river access as an economic driver.

A case study of Castleton-on-Hudson is included in the report as well as recommendations for the village access to be used as a safe access corridor pilot project.