BEAD DRAPES

It's been a terrific year of programs and accomplishments and we're not done yet! Congratulations to our Board members, Advisory Board members and staff for all their hard work this year and every year.

-Received gift of original Jay family account books from 1813-1824 that opened windows into the lives of all the residents of the Jay Property including their servants and freed slaves like Caesar.

-Received an endorsement of "It's good they checked" from the Journal News for doing lab tests following Playland dumping incident at Jay Property

-Unanimous resolution by the Rye City Council supporting Jay Heritage Center's mission to protect the historic Jay Property from neglect

-Spoke to NY Governor Patterson and offered help for stewardship initiatives for NY State Parks

-NYDEC ordered Westchester County Parks to remediate 4 contaminated dumps on Jay Property prompted by Jay Heritage Center

-Annual John Jay lecture at Pace Law School with celebrated author and Founding Fathers scholar,Richard Bernstein

-Recognition by the Daily Green for our environmental stewardship

-First Juilliard at Jay historical instruments concert

- Hosted 200 people for the highly successful "Founders Keepers" Flower Show put on by the Rye Garden Club; assisted with their award winning Conservation Dollhouse exhibit

-Many public school performances of our acclaimed play on abolitionism in NY called "Striving for Freedom"

-Award in Historic Preservation by the Garden Club of America

-Visit from County Executive Rob Astorino

-Designation as an "At Risk Landscape" by The Cultural Landscape Foundation of D.C.

-Sold out architecture camp for 7-11 year olds

-Held first archaeology sessions for teens

-Redesigned our website

-Invited to write a monthly history column on My Rye

-Eugene Boesch found additional Paleo-Indian camp sites and 18th century artifacts

-Gate house dated to 18th century - time of John Jay

-Formed new auxilliary, the Young Preservationists for volunteers 25- 45+

-Over 800 people attended Jay Day!

-Over 700 people, museums, National Park rangers, academics and environmentalists follow us on Twitter

-Our Flickr photos have received over 75,000 views

-Award for non-profit board leadership by the Association of Development Officers

-Received recognition from the Preservation League of New York for stewardship and architectural excellence of our restoration architects Beyer Blinder Belle

-Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts and NY Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman briefed on efforts at Jay Property boyhood home of 1st Chief Justice

-Received a grant from Con Edison for "Our Footprints Matter" a new energy efficiency education program for children and adults

-Raised $27,500 for "Grace's Garden" a new children's exploratory space at the Jay Heritage Center with native plants

-Received several rare items from Jay descendants to inspire new programs in American painting and decorative arts

-Found original Rye burial records for freed slave Caesar!

-Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Guidebook published! We are 1 of ony 99 sites included. Proudest of designation for our dedication to interpreting themes of Freedom and Dignity and the Environment!