Ken Best, Architect

 
Environmentalists have used the phrase "Eat Local" to encourage the energy savings that accrue from buying food less processed and shipped.  Last year, Heather Canetto came up with the idea of printing library t-shirts with the slogan "Read Local" to encourage support of our community library.  Now, as construction proceeds on our new home, we can talk about "building local" as well. 
 
Our construction manager, George Lagonia, Jr. and his wife Jodi live just outside of Hillsdale.  George is a member of the Taconic Hills School Board and has many ties to the community, as do our subcontractors-indeed all of them, so far, are from Columbia County:  Bervy Excavation, Nielsen Concrete Foundations, Checkered Flag Fabrications, and Joe Flood Well Drillers.
 
Especially in light of the current economy, we're really happy to be able to say that the jobs we are creating with our community library project are jobs for our community.  Better yet, I don't think we could get better quality.  When our architect, Ken Best, visited the site last week he said that it was the finest concrete work he had seen in his twenty-plus years of building libraries and other public buildings.  The construction site itself is as clean as you will ever see, not just because George keeps it that way, but because our local workers think of this as their library as well as ours.
 
Now we need to extend the family.  One of the ways in which we can cut costs is by drawing on the talents of local volunteers.   Although they can always use more help, we already have a landscape committee, an interior design committee and a computer committee working with the architect and the building committee, and we are hoping to set up a program committee very soon.  What can we do to enhance the sound quality of our meeting room for concerts?  What kind of movie equipment should we buy?  How can we maximize exhibit space for art shows and still function as a library?  Expert knowledge is an asset, but enthusiasm counts for even more as much of the work of these committees will involve the work of finding deals on everything from furniture to fruit trees.  To volunteer for one of these committees, please leave your name in the library soon.   

  

Ned Schneier, Board President

Since fundraising started for the new Roeliff Jansen Community Library over 100 local residents and families have become Associates, following in the footsteps of the founders of this library.
 
In 1913 a group of 55 local women and men provided the funds needed to start a library for Hillsdale and the surrounding area.  Each pledged to contribute from $1 to $10 a year for five years and the library was established in the Arthur Closson store, on the site of what is now the Hillsdale Supermarket.
 
This makes the library an Association Library, funded, staffed and sustained by the community it serves, not by government.  That is why the primary source of funding for the new library is the people of the Roe Jan Community.
 
"Today's Associates are those who pledge $1,000 over up to a four year period," explains Capital Campaign Co-Chair Meg Wormley. "We are asking people to make this pledge and be a part of local history as Associates of the Roe Jan Community Library. Just as the original Associates signed library association papers in 1913, as a new Associate your name will be recorded on a wall outside the entrance to the building."
 
"The library has over 100 new associates so far," says Wormley, "but to ensure that the library does not have to carry a long term mortgage we need 300 or 400 more. If you use the library you know what an important community resource it is. Please join as an Associate and help make the dream of the new building a reality. "
 
Information and Associates pledge forms are available at the library.  Click here for the Printable Pledge Form  
 
If you can make a larger pledge please contact the campaign office at (518) 329-0182.

 

Meg Wormley

Steering Committee Co-Chair

Teri Traver, Carol Briggs  and I have done some serious brainstorming and  have created an on-line survey with suggestions of what programs we could offer at the new library.  As the Library's patrons, we especially depend on your input and feedback in this matter.  Please take a few minutes to review the survey, check those items you would be interested in, give us other ideas and also let us know whether you could be a program leader in any field.  The survey will be available on the first page of the library's website (www.roejanlibrary.org) or by clicking on the Survey link on the left sidebar. 

 
We would appreciate your help and feedback and welcome your participation as a committee member.

Inge Etzbach

 

This is our second year of monthly meetings to discuss philosophical issues.  The April meeting was about Wordviews and Paradigms and was lively and eye-opening.

 

By the way, our group in this little corner of Columbia County is getting to be known all over the world.  Surfers are reading our blog www.roejanforum.wordpress.com - see the activity report below!

 

 
Inge Etzbach, Reiner Kopp, Joshua Horwitt, Christiane Marks

Newcomers to the area are not the only ones who wonder who (or what?) is a Roeliff Jansen.  The name seems to have been given to a lot of places but - why?
 
Almost everything written about Roeliff Jansen seems pretty evenly divided between the "known" and the "myth."  Both are interesting.  According to myth his influence was felt throughout the New Netherlands Colony.  Local legend names him a pioneering explorer and the first European resident of this area.  In truth, he was none of those but seems to have been quite average and his life was just plain ordinary.
 
He was hired by Kiliaen Van Rensselaer to come to this land and farm a plot near the present-day Albany.  He, his family and many others landed in May and all traveled up the Hudson by "krag" to the new colony of Fort Orange.
 
Once there, life was no picnic in the park.  Shelter had to be built, land cleared and tilled and communication established with other Dutch colonies.  By 1632, ten acres of land had been cleared and Van Rensselaer sent them some cows and hogs (the settlers already had horses and sheep) but failed to send winter wheat seed so their months of back breaking work went for naught that year.
 
To reward him for all his hard work Roeliff Jansen was named a "schepens."   The post, probably a law inforcement position, required some travel along the Great River to New Amsterdam.  One winter, returning to Albany in a flimsy wooden vessel, the ice closed in on Roeliff and his crew.  They walked ashore and found a camp of friendly Indians situated at the mouth of a fairly large stream which had never before been discovered or named.  To memorialize their adventure the crew decided to name the creek after their on-board 'government' agent.  And that is how the Roeliff Jansen Kill got its name unless you can come up with a better story.
 
After four years at the farm, Roeliff Jansen's itchy feet led him to take his family to Manhattan.  He bought land there - equivalent to most of lower Manhattan!  He died before he could do much except clear the land where he planned to raise tobacco and grain.  His wife (Aneka Jans) and children stayed on.
 
To find out what happens next, visit the library and browse through the many accounts of that era that we have on hand.
 
Pat Stroh

When you make a contribution to the Trustees, Friends or Capital Campaign you might wonder what's done with it. Read on -
 
In 2004 Hillsdale and Copake passed the 414 referendum intended to secure a steady flow of tax-levy funds.  This funding would provide only 54% of the operating budget.  Our annual fund drive fills in the missing 46%. 
 
These monies pay for circulation, databases, furniture, equipment, insurance, library materials (books, audio-books, DVDs, magazines, CDs), maintenance, repairs, salaries and utilities.
 
Still there are cracks which are filled in by the Friends who provide perks and special items not covered by the trustees. They provide museum passes, add to our book, audio-book and Great Books budget, purchase computers, shelving, furniture, library magnets, air conditioning units, carpeting, children's programs, Learning through Music program and the Friends newsletter.   In addition to all that, they made a major contribution to the capital campaign.  Who can ask for anything more!
 
So as you can see when you contribute to the capital campaign you are helping pay for bricks and mortar and enabling us to build and furnish the community's new library.

Carol Briggs

If you are a golfer save the date! Undermountain Golf Course in Copake will host the second annual Roe-Jan Community Library Building Campaign Benefit Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 14. The 18-hole, two-person scramble format tournament will have prizes for men's, women's and mixed teams. Included in the fee are lunch, snacks and a chicken BBQ dinner. Golfers who played in the tournament last June said the day was lots of fun and the food delicious. Non-golfers are welcome at the BBQ. Please let all your golfing friends know. Entry forms will be available soon at the library and at the course.

The Roe-Jan Park will be the site of the annual Roe-Jan Community Library BBQ this year. On Sunday afternoon August 9 join your neighbors in enjoying a tasty BBQ lunch and lively music at the park.  Tables will be available in the large open barn or bring your own lawn chairs and blankets and spread out on the grass of the park.  Spend the afternoon and enjoy socializing with your neighbors, take a walk on the park trails or go wading in the Roeliff Jansen Kill. Proceeds from the event will benefit the library's Capital Campaign
 
During the afternoon tours will be available of the new library construction site, which is just across Route 22 from the Park.
 
New this year will be a silent auction including art works by local artists as well as a wide range of goods and services offered by area businesses and residents.  Local artist Maj Kalfus is organizing the auction and overseeing what will be available for bidding.
 
The BBQ committee is working on specific details. If you would like to volunteer to help with the planning and execution contact Meg Wormley at 325-1497.  
 
Mark your calendar now and watch for more details in future issues of this newsletter. Tickets will be available at the library and at local stores.

 
Henry Hudson (1570-1611) was the first European to explore the entire navigable length of the Hudson River and leave behind a description of his voyage.  In the fall of 1609, Henry Hudson and his crew of 20 Dutch and English sailors sailed his ship, the Half Moon, from New York harbor to what is now Albany. 

Now, 400 years later, take "Flat Henry" home with you and on trips, picnics, family get togethers and take pictures of him being part of activities and places he never dreamed of. 

During the summer there will be a county-wide celebration and picnic where all the pictures will be on display.