Hudson Valley municipalities are teaming up to reuse, recycle old textiles – stuffed animals included!

As we spring forward in time and temperature this week (hello, 70-degree weather, however brief!), you may be itching to do some deep cleaning around the house, including tackling that closet full of long-unworn items in your wardrobe, quickly out-grown shoes, and old, unwanted stuffed animals.

But instead of black-bagging and trashing those old textiles, municipalities around the Hudson Valley have teamed up with Helpsy to offer a free, at-home pick-up clothing recycling service.

“Textile waste is one of the fastest-growing components of our waste stream, and most of it doesn’t belong in the trash,” noted Kerry Russell, Deputy Commissioner of Dutchess County’s Division of Solid Waste Management.

There is no cost to arrange a pick-up with Helpsy. Crews collect bagged textiles directly from homes, making donations simple and accessible. Drop-off bins and local businesses have also joined the program to help keep textiles out of landfills.

Dutchess County recently expanded its Helpsy at-home pick-up pilot program to 11 municipalities, including Amenia, Clinton, Dover, Hyde Park, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Tivoli and Wappinger.

Residents in participating municipalities can schedule no-cost curbside appointments, from 7am to 7pm, on designated service days. Three or more bags are requested for pick-up service to help minimize emissions impact. Clothing must be left in a clearly-labeled plastic bag near your front door or as directed when scheduling the appointment; Helpsy drivers cannot enter buildings.

Additionally, Helpsy drop-off bins are located throughout Dutchess County for residents of any municipality to drop off textiles. In Dutchess County, bins are currently located in the Town of East Fishkill, City of Poughkeepsie, Town of Poughkeepsie, Village of Rhinebeck, Town of Red Hook and the hamlet of Wingdale (Town of Dover); bins will soon also be available in the Town of Rhinebeck and Town of Milan.

Helpsy bins have also been dropped at locations across the Hudson Valley, including at SUNY New Paltz, Mitchell’s Auto Repair in Newburgh, the Putnam Diner in Patterson, Lifting Up Westchester in White Plains. Additional locations are expected throughout the year. Find a bin near you

There is no cost for towns, villages or cities to participate; municipalities receive $0.07/per pound for collections received, or $50 for each filled bin. Helpsy, a for-profit certified Benefit Corporation, does not provide tax receipts for donations, but provides all of the equipment and services as part of this partnership.

Accepted: Clean, dry, odorless items

The Helpsy program accepts clothing, shoes, linens and accessories, in any condition for all ages and genders, as long as items are clean, dry, and odorless. In addition to clothing, the program also accepts accessories including hats, bags, even luggage, as well as footwear and stuffed animals. (No glass, furniture, books, wet or stained items).

More than 95-percent of items received are reused or recycled. Usable items will be repurposed for resale and donation markets; damaged textiles are responsibly recycled into secondary products, including insulation, wiping cloths or industrial materials

“Reducing waste was a top concern among our residents according to a recent poll we conducted about our climate priorities,” said Vanessa Bertozzi, Village of Rhinebeck Board Trustee.

The next community pick-up for Rhinebeck is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Despite weeks of snow and below-freezing temperatures, the Pike Plan canopies have been completely removed from the uptown area of the City of Kingston, ahead of schedule.

Paid parking in all Uptown parking lots will resume on Monday, March 9, 2026.

But the work is not done: The current black plastic ice/water shield will be maintained by the contractor until August 27, 2026. Mayor Steve Noble says the city is working with former Pike Plan building owners to provide settlement payments for facade work, and the city engineer will be working with individual buildings to address specific needs in restoring the sign board area where the canopy was attached.

“The goal is to have as many restorations complete – whether the owner handles it or the city-contractor will provide a remedy – by the end of the summer,” Noble said.

More than 40 nominations for Sunday’s 98th Academy Awards were screened locally, some for the first time, at the 26th annual Woodstock Film Festival.

Matching last year’s record with 17 nominated films, and surpassing it with 43 total nominations across individual categories, the festival featured many Oscar-worthy films, including Best Picture nominees that premiered right here in the Hudson Valley: Bugonia, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, The Secret Agent, and Train Dreams.

See who wins during the Woodstock Film Festival’s annual viewing party on Sunday, March 15 at Assembly in Kingston with dinner and drinks, and music by Kate Pierson of the B-52s. (Tickets)

Submit your film to be next

Early bird deadline for the Woodstock Film Festival is March 13, 2026. Categories for the Oscar-qualifying festival include: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Animated Short, Student Short, Student Short Animation and, new this year, Made in the Hudson Valley Feature and Made in the Hudson Valley Short. Final deadline for submissions for this year’s Woodstock Film Festival is June 12, 2026. Submit your film

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: Two Halves of a Whole
Monday, March 9, 2026 from 6-7pm
Virtual
FDR Presidential Library’s Jeff Urbin discusses one of America’s foremost “Power Couples” as their relationship transitions from a secret engagement, to a marriage in crisis to a political partnership. Register at your local library or via dutchesslibraries.org‍ ‍

Meet and Make Mondays
Continues March 9, 2026 from 6-8pm
Cost of admission: $5-$20 donations encouraged
Women’s Studio Workshop, 722 Binnewater Lane, Kingston
Mend with a Friend on March 9. Continues April 6 with Cut & Paste Collage Night, May 11 with BYO Project, and June 8 with DIY Solstice Fairy Ornament. Light snacks and refreshments provided. Website

The Lesser Known Presidents of The Gilded Age
Monday, March 9, 2026 at 7pm
Virtual via Zoom
Learn about the little-known, but consequential presidents during the critical era of 1876 to 1897: Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, and Grover Cleveland again! Discuss their personal stories and rise to power, how they addressed the issues of the day, their political successes and failures, how they shaped the course of the nation, and how they are relevant today. Register

Hudson Valley Regional AI Summit
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 9am to noon
Cost of admission: Free
Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh
Designed to help government, business, and education leaders better understand and harness artificial intelligence, the Summit will feature a keynote address and three expert panel discussions focused on AI workforce transformation, AI-driven services, and AI ethics. Website

International Women’s Day 2026: Give to Gain
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 5-7pm
Eastdale Village Clubhouse, 20 Otto Way, Poughkeepsie
Join the Hudson Valley Women's Leadership Alliance for an evening at women-owned businesses to unite, network, and celebrate International Women's Day. Light refreshments will be provided. Register

A More Walkable Cold Spring
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 6:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Haldane High School Band Room, 15 Craigside Drive, Cold Spring
Join Walkable City author and urban planner Jeff Speck for a community conversation about making Cold Spring more walkable and vibrant. RSVP

The Kurtág Festival, Signs, Games & Messages
March 11-April 4, 2026
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson
The Bard Conservatory of Music presents the seventh season of the Kurtág Festival, Signs, Games & Messages, honoring Hungarian composer György Kurtág’s 100th birthday. The 2026 edition highlights the clarity, precision, and expressive depth of Kurtág’s music, and places his work in dialogue with composers and traditions important to him, including both predecessors and contemporaries. Website

Dear Mili Vintage Pop Up
March 11 - May 15, 2026
394 Hasbrouck Avenue, Kingston
Curated selection of vintage home decor, tableware, pottery, rare finds and more. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 6pm, and by appointment.

Opening Reception: Women Shaping Democracy in Ulster County
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 from 2-4pm
Nina Postupack Archives, Ulster County Office Building, 244 Fair Street, Kingston
A new archival exhibit featuring newly curated materials from the League of Women Voters of the Mid-Hudson region and Ulster County archives highlighting the first women elected to local office. Website

Ashtrays the Wright Way: The Ashtrays of Russel and Mary Wright
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 6:30pm
Virtual
Part of the International Museum of Dinnerware Design’s Unforgettable Dinnerware lecture series. Russel and Mary Wright, the pioneering husband-and-wife design team behind the iconic American Modern dinnerware and the 1950 book Guide to Easier Living, transformed mid-century modern life with stylish, affordable, and highly functional housewares for everyday use. Beyond these famous works, they created many other products—including numerous distinctive ashtrays. Join the International Museum of Dinnerware Design for a fascinating conversation about the Wrights’ ashtray designs and related stories, featuring Annie Wright – Russel and Mary’s daughter – in discussion with collector and historian Scott Vermillion. Register

Local Waves
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 with doors at 7pm, show at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
The Local, Saugerties
A free series curated by Mike Amari of Chosen Family in partnership with Wave Farm’s WGXC featuring Hudson Valley artists performing original music. March 11: Nora Night, April 8: Will Stratton/Meg Lui, May 13: Pocket Merchant, June 10: Ongoing.

Hudson Valley Job Fair
Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 3-6pm*
Poughkeepsie Galleria, 2001 South Road, Poughkeepsie
In partnership with DC Works, the Chamber's Job Fair is the Mid-Hudson Valley's largest, with over 60 employers looking to fill hundreds of Hudson Valley jobs. From 2-3pm, the job fair will be open exclusively to veterans, senior citizens and individuals living with disabilities. Register

The Annual Ida Brier Archival Webinar: Composing Olana with Annik LaFarge
Friday, March 13, 2026 from noon to 1pm
Cost of admission: Free
Virtual
Learn more about Composing Olana, a new book devoted to illustrating why Frederic Church’s designed masterwork matters so profoundly in the history of American art and public parks. During a dynamic conversation with Clare Flemming, Research Archivist for The Olana Partnership, explore writer Annik LaFarge’s process of revealing the history of what we can and cannot see throughout Olana’s historic carriage roads. Discover how LaFargeunpacks Olana’s greater landscape by drawing on archival letters, diaries, and historic accounts, revealing everything from the site’s Ice Age geology and the artists and conservationists who preserved it. Register

Opening Reception: I had this dream and you were in it
Friday, March 13, 2026 from 6 to 8pm
Women’s Studio Workshop, 722 Binnewater Lane, Kingston
An exhibition of new work by Ollantay Avila Alcocer, Carissa Kolcun, and Kimberly Jo. On view through April 12, 2026.

Opening Reception: Left to Glimmer
Friday, March 13, 2026 from 6 to 8pm
Basilica Back Gallery, Hudson
Solo exhibition of mixed media paintings and collage by Genève Brossard. Curated by Linda J. Park. On view March 12-22, 2026. Website

Belonging to the Earth: An Evening with Robin Wall Kimmerer
Friday, March 13, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: $25 in person, free virtual
Virtual and in-person at the Cary Institute, Millbrook
A special reception and lecture featuring Robin Wall Kimmerer — mother, scientist, distinguished professor of environmental biology, member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and best-selling author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Registration required: In-person + Live stream

Stony Kill Foundation Maple Open House
Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 11am to 1pm
Stony Kill Foundation, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls
Maple sugaring demos, maple taffy, oxen demos, open barn tours and more. Website

Maple Sugar Tours
Saturdays and Sundays, March 14-15, 2026 from 11am to 3pm
Cost of admission: $12-$15, pre-registration required
Hudson Highlands Nature Center Outdoor Discovery Campus, 120 Muser Drive, Cornwall
Learn how to identify and tap sugar maple trees, discover sugaring techniques used by Native Americans, pioneers and modern-day farmers. Link

The Hudson Valley Takes Up Arms for King George
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at noon
Mahopac Library
Join historian Todd Braisted to examine the role the Hudson Valley played in supporting British efforts in the war, their leaders and the corps they served. Register

Beacon’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green
Saturday, March 14, 2026 from noon to 2pm
Main Street, Beacon
Parade will begin near Polhill Park, located at the corner of South Avenue and Main Street, and march to Beacon's iconic "Dummy Light." The Howland Cultural Center will host a public community tea party in the HCC gallery immediately following the parade. Website

Book Launch with Author Shannon McKenna Schmidt
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 1:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
The FDR Presidential Library and Museum, 4079 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park
In honor of Women’s History Month, join us for an exciting book talk event with author Shannon McKenna Schmidt for her new book You Can’t Catch Us: Lady Bird Johnson’s Trailblazing 1964 Campaign Train and the Women Who Rode with Her. The event will include a presentation by Shannon, followed by an audience Q&A and a book signing. This event is presented by the Eleanor Roosevelt Center and hosted by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Museum & Library. Website

How Is The Sawkill? Interdisciplinary Presentations on Woodstock's Beloved Waterway
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 5pm
Cost of admission: Free
Mountain View Studio, Woodstock
During this event, explore what we understand about the Sawkill through the perspectives of local scientists, stewards, artists, and community members, followed by a community Q&A. Afterward, we’ll invite attendees to join a free stream literacy program, where volunteers will learn to survey stream features at three reaches of the Sawkill beginning in May. This event serves as the kickoff for Mapping the Sawkill, a year-long series of workshops and art that will culminate in an exhibition at WAAM, facilitated by local artist Jennifer Zackin. Website

Artichoke Storytelling Series
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 8pm
Howland Cultural Center, Beacon
Six funny and true tales. Adult material. Tickets

Where the Owl Soars
On view through March 14, 2026
Susan Eley Fine Art, 433 Warren Street, Hudson
A solo exhibition of paintings by Katharine Dufault. Gallery is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and by appointment. Website

Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunday, March 15, 2026 from 1:30 to 3pm
The parade runs from Main Street in Tarrytown and proceeds north on Route 9 to the reviewing stand on Beekman Avenue in Sleepy Hollow.

4th Annual Growers’ Roundtable
Sunday, March 15, 2026 from 2 to 4pm
Morton Memorial Library, Rhinecliff
Join local experts to dive into the wild world of composting, soil health and regenerative agriculture in our backyards, farms and municipalities.

Free Oscar Watch Party
Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 6pm
Cost of admission: Free
Community Theater, 373 Main Street, Catskill
Movie trivia, raffle prizes, a red carpet photo area, and more. Proceeds will benefit the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement. No RSVP required.

WFF Oscars Viewing Party
Sunday, March 15, 2026 from 6 to 11pm
Cost of admission: $125, includes dinner and drinks
Assembly, Kingston
an evening of dinner and beverages, live music by Kate Pierson of the B-52s, live typewriter poetry, a benefit silent auction, and more. Website

Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library
Through March 15, 2026
Philipstown Depot Theatre
Set in Berlin in 1933. Karl, a new, young Gestapo officer arrests Hannah, a young philosophy grad student. Interrogating her will be dangerous for them both, and the arrival of a lawyer sent to defend her only complicates matters. Inspired by real events – and by the life and mind of Hannah Arendt, one of history's most profound thinkers. Written by Jenny Lyn Bader; directed by Alice Jankell. Link

One week left! Share your (1) favorite scene of winter in the Hudson Valley (from the current season 2025-26) by emailing it to photos@hvny.info. Original photos only. Limit any filters/retouching, and include your name and location, if it’s a public place. Deadline to submit is midnight on March 19, 2026.