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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 45 Customized Gift Baskets Available We ship anywhere in the US! Call 1-800-277-7099 for info AVAILABLE AT: Dermasave Labs 3 Charles Street, Ste 4 Pleasant Valley, NY 845-635-4087 Open Monday - Friday /LNHXVRQ ZZZ+XGVRQ9DOOH\6NLQ&DUHFRP SOAPS • LOTIONS • CREAMS • SALVES • SCRUBS • BATH SOAKS • ESSENTIAL OILS • and more...naturally! Freshly Handmade in the Hudson Valley Start Here For Healthy Skin, NATURALLY the haunting sight of Bannerman's Castle, a ruined fortress on a tiny Pollepel Island in the Hudson River built in the early 20th Century by an eccentric arms dealer. But most peo- ple are still under the impression that visitors are only allowed on the island on rare occasions. In reality, visiting the castle is eas- ier than ever these days. On week- ends from May through October, the Bannerman Castle Trust runs two tours of the island per day via its new ship the Estuary Steward. If you'd rather paddle than motor, Cold Spring's Hudson River Expedi- tions, Cornwall-on-Hudson's Storm King Adventure Tours and Mountain Tops of Beacon all run kayak tours to the island throughout the sum- mer as well. No matter how you get there, all trips include a walking tour of the island with a Bannerman's Castle historian to clue you in on the history and secrets of this unique Hudson Valley landmark. Details: The Estuary Steward leaves from the Newburgh Landing outside Torches on the Hudson at 11 a.m. and from the Beacon Ferry dock at 12:30 p.m. Tours cost $35 per adult and $30 per child under 11; call 845-834-4200 to book a tour or visit bannermancastle.org for more in- formation. For kayak tours, contact Cold Spring's Hudson River Expedi- tions (hudsonriverexpeditions.com), Cornwall-on-Hudson's Storm King Adventure Tours (stormkingadven- turetours.com), or Mountain Tops of Beacon (mountaintopsonline.com). Been there, done that? In addition to the many tours offered through- out the season, Bannerman Castle Trust also hosts several upcoming events on the island, including a Fourth of July picnic, a Farm Fresh Chef's Dinner on Sept. 13, and a concert performance of the musical "Brigadoon" on Sept. 21. Brian PJ Cronin is a freelance writ- er who lives in Beacon with his wife and son. You can visit him online at brianpjcronin.com.