“The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.”
– Anaïs Nin
Water fun for everyone
Here are two fresh ways to cool off with your family this summer! Here’s to good times and tan lines:
• The River Pool is open for the season! Sit and relax right in the Hudson River with the kids (or on your own) in this special circle, and take in the scenic views. A lifeguard is always on staff, and the playground is right nearby! This 20-foot floating wading pool is 24 to 30 inches deep, offers seating around the perimeter and has a mesh bottom that feels like a “moonwalk” according to my kids, so you can enjoy the river experience without uncomfortable stones or water plants tickling your feet.
The River Pool is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Check out the website for more information about the Newburgh-to-Beacon Hudson River Swim fundraiser taking place at the end of this month. The River Pool is located at the end north end of Red Flynn Drive in Beacon, behind the train station; www.riverpool.org.
• New Wilcox Park Beach Accessibility is making waves with the recent additions of an Accessmat, WaterWheels floating wheelchair and a PVC chair! More accessibility means that more people of all ages can chill out with family and friends. The new gear is available at the Wilcox Park swimming lake beach Thursdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the lake is closed Tuesday and Wednesday), and wheelchairs are available for use free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Maybe the ripple effect from this Dutchess County ThinkDifferently initiative will encourage other parks to do the same; don’t let your neighboring community beach beat you to it!
Wilcox Memorial Park, 1638 Route 199, Stanfordville; (845) 486-2000; https://bit.ly/2m66KxL.
SATURDAY, JULY 14
Jack and the Beanstalk with puppets at Center in Rhinebeck
I don’t know about the fee-fi-fo-fum stuff, but do your kids’ speedy summer growth spurts remind you of Jack’s legendary plant? Then come over to the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck this Saturday, July 14 at 11 a.m. for Jack and the Beanstalk! The Puppet People take one cow, three magic beans and one very, very, very long stem and treat your family to an hour of active entertainment with lots of laughs and audience participation. Tickets cost $7, and every seat is fantastic.
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080 or visit https://bit.ly/2uogk2I. To learn more about the performers, visit www.thepuppetpeople.org.
Honeybee garden tour at Olana
You won’t bee-lieve what’s happening at the Olana State Historic Site this weekend! On Saturday, July 14 from 4 to 6 p.m., join “Saturday Night Hive: Honeybees in and around the Landscape,” an Olana Garden Tour with NYBuzz beekeeper Nancy Wu Houk. All ages can learn about the world of honeybees and other animals that partner with flowers, plants and trees that feed us. At the end of the tour, hive-five if you can find the queen! (Remember, these puns are good for your health: They give you vitamin bee.) One more thing, since I don’t want to get too blab-bee: Admission costs $15 per person, discounted for members.
The Olana State Historic Site is located at 5720 Route 9G in Hudson. For tickets or more information, call (518) 828-0135 or visit https://bit.ly/2N5CaQj.
International Children’s Film Festival at Rosendale Theatre
Looking for a weatherproof plan for your family and friends? The Rosendale Theatre hosts the New York International Children’s Film Festival this Saturday, July 14, with two showings! Kid Flix 1 takes place at 11 a.m., is intended for ages 3 to 7 years and lasts for 65 minutes. Kid Flix 2 starts at 4 p.m., is geared for ages 8 and up and lasts for 74 minutes. Give your cinema-loving cherubs the opportunity to view the best new animation, live-action, documentary and experimental film from around the world. Admission costs $8 general, $6 for children and members.
The Rosendale Theatre is located at 408 Main Street in Rosendale. For more information, call (845) 658-8989 or visit https://bit.ly/2unnBjt. For more information about the films, visit https://nyicff.org.
Katya Grineva at Maverick Young People’s Concerts
“Un deux trois quatre / Cinq six sept huit neuf – Good!” we hear Eliza tell young Philip during her son’s piano lesson in the Hamilton musical. Does your crew need to “take a break” and take in some professional, engaging live piano music intended just for them? This Saturday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to noon, Maverick Young People’s Concerts presents Katya Grineva. Kids can get up close to the stage to watch her grace those ivories, and parents get a break from reminders to practice and listen to beautiful music. Designed for children in grades K through 6, but open to all, admission is free for young people under 16 and $5 for adults.
Maverick Concerts is located at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-8217 or visit https://bit.ly/2JczXA7. To learn more about the performer, visit www.katyagrineva.com.
Meet Marvelous Mutts at FASNY Museum of Firefighting
My Yorkie/Silkie mix goes bonkers barking and jumping up and down whenever anything happens – could be someone at the door, a deer in the yard or someone sneezing three blocks away. Then there are dogs who are lots of fun to watch because they can do all kinds of cool tricks. Would you believe they even know fire safety? And they want to teach us!
This Saturday, July 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting, bring the whole family to watch “Flip, Fly & Fetch: Meet the Marvelous Mutts.” You haven’t seen stop-drop-and-roll look this cute before! Afterwards, meet the doggos and the trainers, and make time to check out the museum exhibits and kids’ area inside!
Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for children 3 and older, $25 for two adults and their two children and is free for kids under 3 – and residents of Columbia County, since it’s a Special Saturday event. FASNY is located at 117 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 822-1875 or visit https://bit.ly/2xixQbU.
SUNDAY, JULY 15
Taiko drumming at Widow Jane Mine
“If your child marches to a different beat, a different drummer, you might just have to go along with that music. Help them achieve what’s important to them,” says Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor. You can “rock” it out to the beats with your family this Sunday, July 15 from 3 to 5 p.m. with Taiko Masala: Japanese Drumming in the Widow Jane Mine. Come for the performance that combines drumming and martial arts; stay for the cave-cool temperatures, which are bound to feel terrific this weekend! Come rain or shine, and see instruments from handheld to 250 pounds of power. Admission costs $20 cash, and remember to bring a folding chair. It’s a short walk from the parking area to the cave entrance.
The Widow Jane Mine is located at the Century House Historical Society at the Snyder Estate at 668 Route 213 in Rosendale. For more information, call (845) 658-9900 or visit www.centuryhouse.org or https://bit.ly/2L9qprp. To learn more about the performers, visit www.taiko-masala.com.
MONDAY, JULY 1
Young Writers’ Programs get underway
There’s the tried-and-true advice for aspiring wordsmiths: “Write what you know.” But how about this twist? “Write where you are.” And that’s what I love about this warm welcome to future writers for Almanac Weekly (I hope!): They can attend Young Writers’ Programs all summer long. Each weeklong session is hosted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a local Hudson Valley historic site – the Storm King Art Center, Museum Village, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites and Historic Huguenot Street – and geared for either ages 10 to 14 or 12 to 16.
To register or for more information, including dates and tuition, call the Hudson Valley Writing Project at (845) 257-2836, e-mail hvwp@newpaltz.edu or visit www.newpaltz.edu/hvwp.
THURSDAY, JULY 19
Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall visits Saugerties
Any guesses as to how many US servicemembers sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War? 58,318.
If you are interested in showing your appreciation to these citizens, or to learn, or just to see a “traveling” five-eighths-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial, here are four planned days of honor, remembrance, healing and reflection: The Opening Ceremony of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is Thursday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Cantine Veterans’ Memorial Complex. The Arrival Honor Convoy takes place on July 18; the Wall is open for viewing 24 hours per day from July 19 through 21; on July 22, the memorial baseball game takes place at 4 p.m. and the closing ceremony happens at 7 p.m. The Departure Convoy sets out on July 23.
The Cantine Veterans’ Memorial Complex is located along Pavilion Street in Saugerties. For more information, call (845) 616-7963 or (845) 340-3190, or visit www.facebook.com/events/1835990890041147.
Erica Chase-Salerno is now gorging on cherries. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
