Business

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc. Awarded $30k

Jun 28, 2023

Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson was on hand Friday morning at Beacon’s Long Dock Park to present a $30,000 check to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater to continue their integral, year-round environmental programs, aimed at educating people about the Hudson River, sailing, and much, much more.

By Jennifer L. Warren

BEACON – “What we don’t remember was 50 years ago the Hudson River was very polluted, but due to the efforts of Pete and Toshi Seeger, Founders of the Clearwater, there has now been a whole inspiration of work, cleaning up and caring for the water, for new generations to ensure the River is never dead again.”

Assemblymember, Jonathan Jacobson initiated his remarks with this telling background about one of the area’s greatest natural resources as well as the two legendary people who worked tirelessly to make the telling of its revered history, deep impact and critical upkeep paramount.

Jacobson continued that assurance and priority of the Hudson River Friday morning at Beacon’s Ferry Terminal where he presented the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc., aimed at “creating the next generation of environmental leaders,” with a $30,000 check. The pivotal monies were deeply appreciated and will be put to immediate use.

The Clearwater Sloop, which stands 108 feet high by 106 feet long and sports a sail weighing in at 3,000 pounds, is the epicenter of a popular, powerful program, The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, which educated hundreds of people year- round about the Hudson River and how to care for it as well as the environment in general. Friday afternoon the program received a huge boost, as Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, presented the program with a much- appreciated $30,000 check which will immediately be put to good use.

“The legacy and history interwoven with the Hudson River – an inspiring icon in the Hudson Valley-makes me so fortunate to represent five municipalities from it,” said Jacobson just prior to the presentation. “This is the kind of thing that if you get the money here, all the laws we do in Albany can come to fruition.”

Those monies will help maintain the Seeger-inspired, 54 year old Clearwater Sloop, which stands 108 feet high by 106 feet long, with a 3000 pound sail. The inspiring, “sailing classroom,” offers a host of educational programs, including pivotal learning stations with topics of study such as; fish, navigation, water quality and indigenous people, allowing hundreds of thousands of students to delve into the ecology, history and environmental challenges of the Hudson River. The daunting sail also continues year-round with critical advocacy efforts, teaming up with concerned citizens, elected officials as well as state and federal agencies, aimed at keeping the Hudson River clean. That far-reaching impact, made the need for as well as appreciation of the check’s monies pressingly relevant.

“Thank you so much for this, as it will immediately create opportunities that wouldn’t have otherwise existed,” said Dave Toman, Executive Director, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc. “Our mission is to protect the Hudson River, and the way we do that is to get people out on this Sloop.” He added, “When you bring kids-in particular- out, it really inspires them to help care for and protect the environment; we are so very fortunate to have this support; without it, we could not reach out to places such as schools, camps, and other places the way that we do, helping educate people to care for the Hudson River and their environment, for now and the future.”