The Hillsdale Housing Committee continues its work to assess the housing needs not currently being met for the residents of Hillsdale. The committee met in November with Rose Noonan, the Executive Director of the Housing Action Council (HAC), and another HAC staff person, who presented for discussion a draft Housing Needs Study.  As mentioned in the September newsletter, HAC is the non-profit organization hired by the town for this effort, paid for by the Dyson Foundation in Millbrook, NY and by funds raised by the Housing Committee.

The purpose of the Housing Needs Study is to formally assess the below-market-rate housing needs within the town through a "review of U.S. Census data, population trends, discussions with public and private agencies, houses of worship, civic associations and real estate data on property tax exemptions, etc."  The committee commented on the report and will meet again with the consultant early in the year to discuss additional data and to assess the results.

The consultant recommended that we devise a short survey in order to determine interest by the community in any below-market-cost housing. We hope to circulate the survey to local businesses, school district employees, senior citizens, houses of worship, volunteer rescue and fire department members and others. The survey will be distributed around town and will hopefully be available on line on the Town's website.  Results will supplement the statistical findings obtained to date.

Anyone interested in working with the committee or with questions about the study can contact Maureen Rogers at 325-3610.

Hillsdale's Green Solutions Group held the first in a series of programs relating to the environment and energy conservation on November 21 at the Hillsdale Methodist Church.  Ned Depew, popular radio personality, gave a talk on "retrofitting your home to make it more "green" while saving "your green" in the process.  After his talk, Ned answered questions about common concerns in older houses particularly and recommended some relatively inexpensive remedies.  Here are some of Ned's tips:

• Doors let the most cold air in, so try to have an outside door or mud room to break the airflow. 
  
• Use mortite (a type of putty) to seal windows. 
  
• Caulk the sill along the top of your basement.  
• Use window blankets (a form of window shade)
• Use foam covers for outlets.  They come in 10-packs.
• Improve insulation.  Blown-in cellulose is good for older homes. Expanding spray foam insulation, available in soy or polycarbonate, should be used in ceilings (R40).
• Weather stripping called Super P is compressible and good around windows.
  

Everyone enjoyed Ned's program very much.  He has consented to return at a later date and address several different but relevant topics.

Green Solutions thanks the Hillsdale Methodist Church for allowing us to hold this event in their beautiful historic  building.

Watch this calendar for information concerning future events.  If you are interested in the Green Solutions Group and would like to join and help our efforts to educate and make a difference, please call Janis Smythe at 325-4223.  The next meeting of the Green Solutions Group will be January 21, 5:00PM at Town Hall.  Please join us!

In January 2010 the Hillsdale Historic Hamlet District will be added to the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation. Having a property on the National Register makes some owners eligible for tax incentives. We are planning a celebration in February to mark the occasion. Time place and date will be announced, watch for the flyers and invitations.  For more information on the National Register of Historic Places, click here.

As a result of the August hamlet house tour, the committee was able to make a donation to the Hillsdale Methodist Church for the renovation of the carillon, which was fully operational for the Christmas Eve service and Christmas Day.

Based on the success of the first historic house tour last summer, we are planning more historic tours next year as well as workshops to show residents how to research the history of their houses. If you have questions or wish to join the committee please contact us at, 325-7849 or historichouses@fairpoint.net

The Riverbank Banjo Band, based in Poughkeepsie, donated $500 to the Roe Jan Food Pantry at  Christmastime. Fred Laing from Hillsdale plays in the band, and is also Music Director. Fred is at bottom right of the photo.