Categories
Munsee

From Legoland to the Catskill Mountains: the 9 best places to visit in Hudson Valley

With a rich history, natural beauty galore and a concentration of world-class cultural sites, New York’s Hudson Valley is the perfect escape from fast pace of New York City.     

Historic cities, towns and villages still tell the tales of its settlers beginning with the Munsee, Mohican and Mohawk nations all the way to the Henry Hudson’s 1600s travels and the arrival of the Dutch and the English. 

Parks, nature preserves and hiking trails offer ample opportunities to truly take in the natural beauty of the region. Here are our picks for the best places to visit in the Hudson Valley. 

Peekskill

Located in Westchester County, Peekskill is situated on a Hudson River bay approximately 50 miles north of New York City (and accessible from the city via the Metro-North railway). This town borders Blue Mountain Park, a nearly 1,600-acre preserve with over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, fishing piers and the only Sportsman Center shooting complex (archery, rifle and pistol) found in a state recreation area.

Art lovers should visit the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), a 12,000-sq-ft exhibition space. The Hudson Valley MOCA sponsors a sculpture trail that features over 25 works of public art along the Hudson River and throughout the city.   

A few people walk in front of the colorful facades on curved street of Antiques Row on River Street in downtown Troy.The city of Troy is filled with colorful 19th-century buildings that are now boutiques, small shops and galleries © Barry Winiker/Getty Images

Troy

Located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River just north of Albany, Troy was once known as “Collar City” due to its expertise in producing detachable collars for men’s shirts. Though it doesn’t get as much attention…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

Local Event: An Evening with Larry Spotted Crow Mann

Event listing from Boston Public Library: Wednesday, November 3 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Join us for a discussion with Larry Spotted Crow Mann, award-winning author and Citizen of the Nipmuc Tribe of Massachusetts. He will talk about his new book, Drumming & Dreaming, an inspiring and healing journey of Algonquian Tales of the Nipmuc Tribe. Boston Public Library President David Leonard will provide opening remarks. This program will take place in the Rabb Lecture Hall on the Lower Level of the Johnson Building at the Central Library in Copley Square. Registration is required. To attend in-person, please visit the link in the registration box on this calendar entry. This program will also happen over Zoom webinar. To attend online, please visit this link to register. About the book: Drumming & Dreaming is an inspiring and healing journey of Algonquian Tales of the Nipmuc Tribe. Award-winning writer Larry Spotted Crow Mann skillfully brings forth the Oral Tradition in this brilliantly woven Collection of Legends that beckon the Spirit of the Land and the Ancient Voices that still have so much to Teach us all. The Art of Native American Story Telling has been passed down for thousands of years. They give life and meaning to everything in the Universe. They show us lessons of Love, courage, kindness, respect, humility, truth, and wisdom. We learn the skills to interact with our environment as a living being and codify those teachings within our own existence. All Lovers of Native American legends, culture, and history will be vividly inspired and thrilled to add this captivating book to their collection. Some of the Stories in Drumming & Dreaming will be featured in a state-wide curriculum across Massachusetts as part of a Life Skills Training for teacher and student and for alcohol and drug prevention in Native American teens. To…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

A Celebration of Saints and Native Americans

On Nov. 1, the University president, Joseph Marina, S.J., sent a message to the University community celebrating both the Solemnity of All Saints and National Native American Heritage Month. Below is his note.

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. This is a sacred day in which we not only remember the great men and women of the Catholic faith who continue to provide us with good and holy example but also a special time to invoke their aid for the graces we desire. Many of us tend to gravitate toward St. Ignatius and other Jesuit role models in our prayers and our actions. Nothing wrong with that! But the Communion of Saints is far more expansive. It is comprised of those in Heaven along with those who live on Earth, all held together by the love of God and the ardent desire to share that love. The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it this way: “It is not merely by the title of example that we cherish the memory of those in heaven; we seek, rather, that by this devotion to the exercise of charity, the union of the whole Church in the Spirit may be strengthened (#957).

Also, November is National Native American Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate cultures, traditions, histories, and to acknowledge the important contributions of the original inhabitants of our continent.  This month is also a time to educate and raise awareness about the unique challenges and sufferings Native people and communities have faced historically and in the present. 

The University of Scranton has officially adopted a Land Acknowledgment Statement to recognize and honor the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Lenape, the Munsee, the Shawnee and the Susquehannocks in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Statement reads:

 The University of Scranton acknowledges the original inhabitants and nations…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

New Dining Hall Name Unveiled at Ground Blessing Ceremony

As burning sage perfumed the air on a crisp fall morning, campus, state and tribal leaders gathered yesterday to ceremonially bless the ground and announce the name of the University of Maryland’s first new dining hall in nearly 50 years.

It will be called “Yahentamitsi” (Yah-hen-tuh-meet-c), which means “a place to go to eat” in the Algonquian language spoken by the Piscataway, who are indigenous to Maryland, and will open in 2022.

“Today we have the opportunity to reimagine and to see what is familiar to us, but through Piscataway eyes. This campus has been here for a very long time—yet many of us were blind to its history,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “As a land-grant institution, I believe it is our responsibility to record, to interpret and to raise public awareness about tribal history. This effort was long overdue.”

This is the first UMD building to be named for Maryland’s Native American heritage; it will feature art, artifacts and other educational materials from the Piscataway people, on whose ancestral lands the university stands today. The name was developed in partnership with Piscataway elders and tribal members, as well as UMD faculty, staff and students, including the American Indian Student Union (AISU).

“Having a beautiful place like this that is being represented and being honored for our ancestors, it means a whole lot,” said AISU treasurer Jeremy Harley ’23, a member of the Piscataway Conoy tribe. “It makes me feel like I have a space here on campus that I can truly say this represents myself, this represents my people, this represents my family.”

Yahentamitsi is part of the new Heritage Community, which includes Pyon-Chen Hall, which opened in August, and Johnson-Whittle Hall, which like the dining hall will open in 2022. Each building’s name…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

Missing ring returns on mother’s birthday

This is quite a story. A couple months ago, Cyndy Martin Munsee decided to wear her mom’s ring (Lois Martin’s) on a trip to Erie. Later she realized it was gone. After looking everywhere for two months, the other day while making the bed, she noticed something shining on the carpet. It was the missing ring. What was special – it was her mom’s birthday. According to Cyndy, “things happen in mysterious ways.”

It was a double party for Barb Peterson who was celebrating her birthday and retirement.

Dottie Morgan also had a nice retirement party at the Elks Club hosted by here sisters Vickie Stull, Theresa Williams, Barb Chase and Kelly Way plus others, with music by Knuckle Down.

I see that Nikki Arison has taken over for Mary Norton in the junior bowling program at Bowl-Aire Lanes.

Belated 93rd birthday wishes to a special lady, Gerri Cragg, and to her daughter-in-law Rachel Cragg. Celebrating today are Jen Lesher, John Brundage and Becky Frazier (also happy anniversary), tomorrow Ralph Amoroso, Aundrea Proctor, Beth Dolan, Blaine Walp, my aunt Alice McCray and my cousin Dick Root. Monday is special for Dianne Hamilton, Mike Sita, Dennis Kubiak and Lindsay Combs who was in England the last I knew (or perhaps Scotland).

Happy 22nd birthday yesterday to Tyler Burlew. I’ll never forget the night he scored five touchdowns.

The Corry Manor is holding a special trick-or-treat event around the outside of the building so the residents can enjoy looking outside. It’s next Saturday from 2-5 p.m.

Get well wishes to Peggy Kubich who I met when she worked at The Journal way back when.

Skip Laird and I were talking about the state golf tournament and we’re pretty sure that Walt Bowen was Corry High School’s first-ever qualifier, and that Irv Downs was his…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

Sorry Iowa: We Aren’t Getting Enough Free Time in Our Day

I’m pretty sure everyone who works wishes they had more free time. And that would definitely be amazing for a little while. But believe it or not, you would eventually get sick of that too. (Shocking, I know!)

You need more free time

I realize as our tremendous Iowa farmers are in the fields, free time seems like a total anomaly. According to a new study out of the University of Pennsylvania and UCLA and published on a website called Boing Boing, the right amount of free time to have is actually a sort of science as it’s oddly specific. You should have exactly the amount of time they suggest each day.

That amount is two-and-a-half hours a day. No less, but also no more. I guess we need to monitor our downtime with a stopwatch?

No more, no less because… why?

If you have less free time than that, it’ll have a negative impact on how satisfied you are with your life. But if you have more free time than that, you’ll eventually feel like you don’t have enough of a purpose and that will also have a negative effect on how satisfied you are with your life.

Here is a challenge, though. During your free time, try putting your smartphone down, and try doing something away from screens. THAT seems like the real challenge. And I’m not saying I’d do well with it either! Also, you wouldn’t be able to read articles like this one so… maybe use your screen time for a bit of that R&R time? Just a bit.

Midwest Home for Sale has Spooky Salesman

Want to sell a home that’s… um, a fixer-upper? “hire” a spooky salesman who matches the mood! Check out a fun-loving realtor that’s done just that!

Fun Facts About All of the 99 Counties in Iowa

Iowa has 99…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

Commissioners clear zoning for sustainable living and farm center at I-69 and Ind. 332

MUNCIE, Ind. — Zoning has been cleared for development of a 180-acre “sustainable living and farm center” that would feature a hotel, a conference center, a restaurant, a brewery, an amphitheater and golf venue among other amenities at the northeast corner of Ind. 332 and Interstate 69.

A closed gas station sits a the front of the site today.

Developer of the project is Munsee Farms Holdings, LLC, which has connections with Munsee Meats in Muncie and Constant Canopy Farms in Gaston, through Jonathan Lamb and Jason Mauck, who are officers in those enterprises. Lamb is an economist and an owner in the companies. Lamb and Mauck practice regenerative agriculture at Constant Canopy.

Lamb, who also ran in the GOP primary for the 6th Congressional District seat in 2020, said the sustainable farm center is still in its early stages of development with no date set for construction. The rezoning application says Munsee Farm Holdings recently acquired multiple adjacent parcels of land at the site with the “intention of developing an East Central Indiana Regenerative Farming Institute.” 

The development, which is near Yorktown town limits, would promote agritourism and sustainable living.

“The carbon negative agricultural technology hub will demonstrate, train and issue certificates in sustainable, regenerative farming practices, renewable energy and livestock management,” according to the application.

More: Munsee Meats looks to disrupt the system as pandemic wreaks havoc on meat industry

Plans call for the development to feature recreation along with education.

“…The proposal calls for a hotel with an event venue, restaurant, welcome center with with gift shop, a small market, brewery, and gathering place for community outreach.” the document states. “However, what sets this development apart is the inclusion of livestock, for food and energy production and agrivoltaic farming. Agrivoltaic farming is a relatively new concept; in simplest terms it takes solar panels and raises them off the ground to create an…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

Celebrating native lineage

Danielle Campbell – Copy Editor

The story given to me about my family was my great-grandfather moved to Connecticut for a better life than the one he had on a Native American reservation. Which one? I am not sure. I know my grandfather’s lineage is Black, White and Native American. I was told his father wanted better for his children than the life of depression you can so readily find on the reservations in America. People we have forgotten and stolen everything from. My ancestors, somewhere down the line.   

I have always connected with the original people of this land and wanted to put their faces forward, but in general, I am all for culture to be celebrated, period. I am torn when cultures are clashing for recognition on certain days when we all deserve to be celebrated. There is no competition in my eyes when we all are supposed to be recognized. America is a melting pot.  

Personally, as a history minor, I have a love of culture which goes deeper than just those I know. I am an African-American woman with roots in multiple countries. I am a lover of people and want us all to celebrate and understand each other. With that said, I think the difficult history behind Columbus Day and the recent recognition by President Joe Biden is important to unpack.   

According to Native Land Digital, New Haven is Quinnipiac, Paugussett, and Wappinger land. It is deeply important to me to have people know those who have been forgotten and erased. We have so much we owe to Native Americans.   

President Biden’s recognition of Columbus Day as Indigenous People’s Day is necessary but hurtful. In the days where we are silencing these people on their lands, can we say we are celebrating them by simply giving them a day of recognition?  

America owes Native…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

Why OBX Conservationists bought the Khoury Oak

Why OBX Conservationists bought the Khoury Oak

By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice on October 18, 2021

The Khoury tree (Photo credit: Sandy Semans Ross)

The story of this ancient tree has deep roots

When the Outer Banks Conservationists purchased an undeveloped lot at 1050 US 64 on Roanoke Island in 2012, many scratched their heads and wondered why.

The nonprofit invests in area cultural sites, such as the Currituck Lighthouse and Island Farm. A lot with just trees on it didn’t seem to fit the mission of the organization.

To understand the reasoning behind the purchase one has to go back all the way to 1960 after Hurricane Donna made history by touching every state from Florida to Maine. Then take a deep dive into the memories of three children who visited the Elizabethan Gardens after Hurricane Donna. The Gardens were formally opened by the Garden Clubs of North Carolina just a month before the devastating storm.

“I was only eight,” recalls Manteo resident John Wilson, one of the founders of the Conservationists. “My neighbors were the Midgettes—and Nancy and Robert were my friends.”

That day, the three of them took a trip to the Elizabethan Gardens and the Lost Colony to look at the damage from Hurricane Donna. Robert’s father was Louis Midgette, the supervisor of the Gardens. Wilson said he vividly remembers the horticulturist working on the old living oak tree at the Gardens that day and it being said that – under the right conditions – live oaks could live up to 1,200 years. The first four hundred years were for growth, the second were for enjoying life, and the last four hundred were for slowly dying. Nancy and Robert also remember the conversation.

“I remember watching the tree…

Continue reading

Categories
Munsee

When the next full moon falls, and the full list of moon dates for 2021

The full moon has been shrouded in folklore and mystique for millennia, inspiring everything from religious festivals to horror films and outlandish doomsday conspiracy theories.

Each lunar cycle lasts just over 29.5 days, which means that the full moon usually falls on a slightly different date each month and sometimes more than once (known as a “blue moon”).

Read More - Featured Image

Read More

Hunter’s moon: Why full moon name meanings entered pop culture, even though there’s zero science behind them

Here’s the full calendar of full moons falling in 2021, along with all you need to know about the origins of different moon names and phenomena such as the “Supermoon” and “Blood Moon”.

When are the full moons in 2021?

Here are all the full moon dates for 2021:

  • 28 January
  • 27 February
  • 28 March
  • 27 April
  • 26 May
  • 24 June
  • 24 July
  • 22 August
  • 21 September
  • 20 October
  • 19 November
  • 19 December

TOPSHOT - People watch the Strawberry Moon, the full moon of the month of June, rise over the ocean on Narrawallee Beach, near Mollymook on the South Coast of New South Wales on June 6, 2020. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)Full moons have been shrouded in folklore and mystique for millennia (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

What are the full moon names?

The majority of pre-modern calendars used the moon as the basis for the names of their months, a convention ended by the introduction of the solar Julian and Gregorian calendars.

In modern times, new names for the full moons – and their purported meanings – have infiltrated pop culture, generally attributed to Native American tribes.

There is no standardised Native American…

Continue reading