Helicopters and burning hay bales at the ready to help this year’s fruit crop

Orchard workers across the Hudson Valley are warning nearby neighbors that they will be out late – some with helicopters – to help protect this year’s local fruit crops as temperatures drop to near-record lows overnight.

According to the National Weather Service, lows may reach 26-degrees in Poughkeepsie early Tuesday morning before warming to the low-50s during the day. A freeze warning is in effect for parts of the region from midnight on Monday through 9am on Tuesday.

To help mitigate freeze damage to sensitive spring buds and blossoms, Barton Orchards in Poughquag said they will be burning round bales of hay and using wind machines to push the warm air around the crop. Neighbors may smell smoke as a result Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Weed Family Orchards in Marlboro will also be warming their crop – using a helicopter. “We will be working through the night to safeguard our peach and apple blossoms,” staff said in a notice to neighbors. The helicopter is expected to fly over the orchard between 2:30am and 6:30am. “We understand the noise may be an inconvenience and we sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and support as we work to protect the harvest for the season ahead.”

If those 70-plus-degree temperatures had you planting in your own garden last week, make sure to bring in any potted plants, and cover any sensitive vegetation – a bedsheet works great as lightweight protection – from Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Temperatures are expected to steady with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s through the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. (Their words, officially: “The cooler regime is short-lived.”) Huzzah!

Newly installed cameras caught an average of 327 violations per day, with speeds up over 60-miles-per-hour near the elementary school

Over 15 school days, 4,908 warnings were issued to drivers in just two locations: near Kingston High School and JFK Elementary School in the City of Kingston.

But after a 30-day grace period, starting Monday, April 20, those speed zone warnings – averaging 327 warnings a day – will turn into tickets.

“Based on data that the school speed zone cameras have collected so far, we can see that many, many folks are not in compliance with speed limits,” noted City of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble.

The speed limit in the school zones is 20-miles-per-hour near the high school and 15-miles-per-hour near the elementary school. Cameras set-up in these school zones have recorded an average vehicle speed of 30- to 33-miles per hour, with top speeds exceeding 64-miles per hour near the elementary school and 63-miles-per-hour recorded outside of the high school.

“This is not about earning extra money for the city’s coffers, it’s about the safety of our schoolchildren,” Noble added. “With these automated violations, we are trying to change driver behavior permanently. Based on camera data from other similar-sized communities, we expect to see violations drop 75-percent after the first four months – the economic incentive is that strong.”

According to the mayor’s office, cameras are currently installed on Broadway in the northbound and southbound lanes in front of Kingston High School and in one direction on Delaware Avenue at Corporate Drive for JFK Elementary. Cameras are still being connected on W. O’Reilly near the high school entrance, Washington Avenue at Marius Street for George Washington Elementary, and in one direction on Delaware Avenue.

Officials note that those in violation will receive tickets by mail. The return address for school speed zone violations by mail will have a Jupiter, Florida return address.

Wilbur Historic District Public Meeting
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:30pm
23 Fitch Street, Kingston
Residents will have the opportunity to meet with local and State representatives and the city’s preservation consultant to learn about the benefits of listing the Wilbur District on the State and National Historic Registers. Website

Second Annual Autism Connects Career Fair Day
Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 12:30 to 6:30pm
Cost of admission: Free with RSVP
Double Tree by Hilton, 40 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie
Join a day of engagement, networking, and learn about the different job opportunities and internships that we offer at Anderson Center for Autism! This event is open to both current staff and the public, and it’s designed to showcase current and upcoming job opportunities across all departments. Some of our university partners with will also be present at the fair to offer information about relevant degrees/educational programs. RSVP; Website

Photography in Poughkeepsie: The Vail Brothers
Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 6 to 7:30pm
Cost of admission: Free with registration required
Boardman Road Branch Library, Poughkeepsie
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of photography. The Local History Room will present a series of lectures on the various photographers of Poughkeepsie's history. The Vail Brothers had a successful studio on Main Street for the last quarter of the 19th century and photographed thousands of Poughkeepsians! This first lecture will cover their work and how it has impacted our understanding of Poughkeepsie in the late 19th century. Register

Setting the Sybil Ludington Story Straight
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 5pm
Cost of admission: Free with $5 donation appreciated
Putnam History Museum, 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring
Talk by Vin Dacquino, author of “Patriot Hero of the Hudson Valley.” Website

For the Delight of It: Hudson Valley Debut Poets
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 6pm
Split Rock Books, 97 Main Street, Cold Spring
A showcase of debut poetry collections from local poets. Featuring Kat Anderson, Chiara Di Lello and Zoe Ryder White. Website

Crime on the Hudson
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: $10-$20
Hudson River Maritime Museum East Gallery, Kingston
Do you ever wonder if there were actual pirates on the Hudson River? Come and learn about a wild chapter in Hudson River history when mercenary sloops prowled the waterway, raiding mansions and plundering merchant ships. Who were these river outlaws stirring up chaos…and how did local communities and the law fight back? The evening will begin with a brief lecture on the real and sometimes legendary criminal activity along the Hudson in the 1860s and 1870s, followed by an immersive performance starring the era’s most infamous characters in the flesh, including the mysterious young woman rumored to have led a notorious Lower Manhattan gang. Watch as she is put on trial for her alleged crimes. Is she guilty? How does her story end? Who decides her fate? This special event weaves scholarship and storytelling, created and presented by HRMM’s Education Department in collaboration with Siren Theatre Company. Please note: Walk-ins are welcome, but space is limited; Advance registration is strongly recommended: Website

Don’t Tell Comedy All-Stars
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 8pm
Cost of admission: $35
Industrial Arts Brewing, 511 Fishkill Avenue, Beacon
Comedy series where the performers are kept secret until showtime. Ages 21+. Website

Catskill Ballet Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland
April 24-26, 2026
UPAC, Kingston
The Catskill Ballet Theatre returns to the Ulster Performing Arts Center with a full-length ballet bringing Lewis Carroll’s fantastical world to life through classical dance. Website

▲ Roe Jan Creek Boat Club Annual Canoe Race
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 9 to 10:30am
Cost to participate: $25
Registration will take place at Elizaville Falls from 9 AM to 10:30 AM. There is a portage around Bingham's Mills. The finish line is the Roe Jan Creek Boat Club, located at the mouth of Roeliff Jansen's Kill. The course is just shy of 15 miles. Canoes, kayaks, solo canoes, and tandem kayaks are appropriate boats for the race. Lifejackets are mandatory. No alcohol allowed on the water. No spectators allowed at Bingham's Mills; View the race from Roe Jan Park, Dale's Bridge Road, Germantown, or at the Roe Jan Creek Boat Club. Proceeds support the work of Roe Jan Watershed Community and a 250th themed historic sign at the boat club.

The Art of Birding
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 9:30am
Cost: $10 plus admission
Storm King Art Center, New Windsor
Spend Earth Day weekend on a bird and art-filled exursion led by local birding experts. Website

National Medication Take Back Day
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10am to 2pm
Various locations including Amenia Town Hall, Town of East Fishkill Police Department, Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Wappinger Town Hall, and at the Kingston Police Department
Prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as ointments, should be placed in sealed containers or plastic bags. Needles and other hazardous materials will not be accepted.

Pitch In For Parks!
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10am to 2pm
Cost of admission: Free
355 Midland Ave., Yonkers
Volunteers will assist with a wide range of projects designed to enhance park beauty, safety, and accessibility. Activities will include flower planting, tree planting, picnic table building, mulching, fence maintenance, invasive species management, raking, and litter removal. All tools will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and clothing appropriate for outdoor work. Pitch in for Parks is open to volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. Website

Hudson Valley Ideas Festival 2026
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10am to 5pm
Cost of admission: $15
Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
A diverse community of entrepreneurs, artists, thought leaders, and writers will converge to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time. This year's lineup features notable voices including Columia professor John McWhorter on “AI in Higher Education,” incoming Carnegie Mellon professor Steven Rathje on “Curing Brainrot,” comedian Alexis Gay on “Comedy, Creativity and Computers,” and creative agency founder John Limotte on “Creativity in the Age of AI.” Tickets

Chancellor’s Sheep and Wool Showcase
Saturday April 25, 2026 from 11am to 4pm
Cost of admission: $15 per vehicle
Clermont State Historic Site, Clermont
The rolling hills and river views at Clermont State Historic Site will be alive with the sound of music, the delicious aroma of hot food, and the brilliant yarns, soaps, and artisanal goods by local makers. This family-friendly event, one of the historic site’s oldest and most popular annual festivals, has become a springtime tradition for many in the area. With sheering demonstrations, farm animals, and historic reenactments, there's something for everyone! The Showcase is a great place for children, with crafts, storytelling, and the chance to meet their first sheep! Rain or shine. Website

Trailside's Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 11am to 3pm
Cost of admission: $1 suggested donation, $10 parking
Bear Mountain State Park Trailside Museums and Zoo,3006 Seven Lakes Drive, Bear Mountain
Come to Trailside Museums & Zoo to enjoy some Earth Day fun with crafts, games and live animal presentations! Take part in activities like making seed balls and nature necklaces, or playing a nature-themed matching game. Join us in celebrating our planet! No pre-registration required. Website

PKX Festival
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 1-5pm
Pershing Park, Poughkeepsie
A vibrant, family-friendly community celebration with activities including tug-o-war, hip hop trivia, art-making and more. Rain date: April 26. Website

Bite the Bullet: Medicine in the 18th Century Lecture ​
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 1pm
Cost of admission: $10
Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
“Bite the Bullet,” Washington’s Headquarters’ Program on Revolutionary era medicine, is designed to acquaint audiences with the state of medical knowledge and some of the practices of medicine in the time of George Washington. Physicians were frequently confounded by the causes of illness, treated symptoms, and relied heavily on the healing powers of nature. Many remedies stocked by apothecaries were herbal in nature, and the best doctors of the time still healed with herbs. In 1775, the US had 3,500 doctors, but only 300 had medical degrees. The profession of physician / surgeon was open only to men, but the system relied heavily on women who could be and were midwives. The lecture quotes from the diary of traveling midwife, Martha Ballard, of northern Massachusetts who kept a record of her work as a healer and a midwife, which provides an unparalleled window into practical medicine in the quarter century straddling 1800. Website

3rd Annual Rhinebeck Earth Day Recycle-A-Palooza
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 1 to 3:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Starr Park, Rhinebeck
Bring your hard-to-recycle stuff and donations from clothing, plastic wrap, dead batteries, old bikes, grocery bags and more. Plus wildlife shows, hands-on activities, eco-storytime, seed and seedling giveaway.

Lenape in the Hudson Valley
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 1pm
Cost of admission: $18 adults; $15 seniors; $12 children (5-15 years); free for Mount Gulian members
Mount Gulian Historic Site, 145 Sterling Street, Beacon
For over 12,000 years, the ancestors of the Lenape lived and thrived in Lenapehoking, the land of the Lenape which included the Hudson Valley. Henry Hudson encountered local Lenape such as the Wappinger, Esopus and Tappan along the Mahicannituck (Hudson River) in 1609, changing things dramatically forever. Mount Gulian’s property was identified as the site of temporary Lenape encampments, and was also the site of the Rombout Patent of 1683, the Indian Deed selling much of Dutchess County to colonial settlers. Interaction with the Europeans forced the Lenape to develop survival strategies, resulting in a remnant leaving the area to live elsewhere. The talk, given by Harv Hilowitz, Contributing Scholar for the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, focuses on Lenape life-ways before the contact period and delves into Lenape cultural identity and forced diaspora, as well as Lenape aspirations during the current Indian Country renaissance. Website

Reception: “Americans” in Kingston
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 2:30 to 5:30pm
"Americans" is a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street and the National Museum of the American Indian, explores how deeply intertwined Native Americans are in the culture of the United States. On view through May 16, 2026. Website

Setting the Sybil Ludington Story Straight
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 4pm
Cost of admission: Free with donations appreciated
Reed Memorial Library, 1733 Route 6, Carmel
Talk by Vin Dacquino, author of “Patriot Hero of the Hudson Valley.” Website

Earth Day Celebration and Ceremonial Opening of the Theodore Robinson Community Forest
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Germantown
Ribbon cutting, guided nature walks, tours of the 1767 Parsonage, panel discussion of black history in Germantown, and more. Website

Sleep, Dinner, and War: Behind the Scenes at Springwood
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 1:30pm
FDR Historic Site, Hyde Park
Step beyond the standard house tour and join a park ranger for an intimate, behind-the-scenes experience at Springwood. This special program offers rare access to rooms not typically open to visitors, along with deeper exploration of topics not covered on the standard house tour. Reservations required: Website

Poetry Reading: (your) body is a porous language (our) embodied connections
Sunday, April 26, 2026 from 3-5pm
Ann Street Gallery, 104 Ann Street, Newburgh
Spring exhibition curated by poet, performance artist and Beacon resident Edwin Torres. Poetry reading: April 26 from 3-5pm. Artist talk: May 23 from 3-5pm. Website

Seriously Whimsical
On view through April 26, 2026
Gallery 40, 40 Cannon Street, Poughkeepsie
A group exhibition that invites audiences to reconsider the role of play, imagination and humor in contemporary art. Website

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There is currently hail and flurries mixing with the petals of flowering trees outside our office window after a week of unseasonably warm temperatures. While we’re here, be sure to vote for your favorite winter photo from fellow HVNY readers from this past season (emphasis: past!):

• Cherry blossoms are in full bloom and magnolias and lilacs are budding at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy in Yonkers. The conservancy’s daffodils are also in full bloom.

• In Kerhonkson, tulips are in full bloom at Kelder’s Farm.

• At Lasdon Public Gardens & Veterans Memorial in Katonah, magnolias and tulips are in full bloom, early blooms are appearing on cherry blossoms, and lilacs are budding.

• At Clermont State Historic Site in Germantown, early blooms are appearing on star magnolias, saucer magnolia buds are showing color, and lilacs are budding. Other special blooms and features at Clermont include daffodils, glory of the snow and squill, and hyacinths. Spring perennials include lungwort, periwinkle, and Lenton rose, and the site’s spring shrubs feature weeping forsythia, and Thunberg's meadowsweet. [Clermont’s annual Chancellor’s Sheep and Wool Showcase takes place on April 25, rain or shine.]

• In Garrison, early blooms are appearing on cherry blossoms, and daffodils are blooming at Boscobel House and Gardens.

IT IS SPRING! Capture it + submit your (1) best photo of spring in the Hudson Valley from this year to photos@hvny.info. Original photographs only. Please limit filters/retouching, and include your full name + location, if it’s a public place.