May/June 2010
Town of Hillsdale Newsletter
Hillsdale, New York
Town of Hillsdale 
 
 Hillsdale Website
 
Hillsdale has launched a new website!  For a comprehensive list of departments, hours and town meetings go to: 

Hillsdale Directory

 
Town Meetings

 Third Tuesday of the month @ 7:30
 
Planning Board
Second Monday of the month @ 7:30
 
Zoning Board of Appeals
First Tuesday of the month @ 7:30
Committee Meetings
5/2  Hamlet Committee Meeting
  9:00 am @ Town Hall
 
Town Events
Quick Links
Click on an underlined event for full details.

5/1:  Hillsdale Clean-Up Day
 
 
 
5/8:  Hamlet Historic District Info Event.  4:30 @ Mt Washington House
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local News
The Columbia Paper

ccSCOOP

Register-Star

The Copake Chronicle

Rural Intelligence

Archived Hillsdale Calendars and Newsletters
Local Calendars
Taconic Hills School District Calendar

CoCotodo.com
Town Historian
Jay Rohrlich
[email protected]
518-325-4956

Volunteer in Hillsdale
You can help, meet people and have fun!

Keep Hillsdale Blooming

Help maintain the flower planters
Contact Lynda Brenner at
[email protected]
or call 325-7364


Help at the Flea Market
 or call 518 325 9891

Roe Jan Community Library
 
Roe Jan Park
Taconic Hills School Aquatic & Fitness Center
Hours for community use while school is in session
Monday - Friday                    6:00-7:20 am
5:30-8:30 pm
Saturday                                9:00am-2:00pm
Sunday                                  1:00pm-4:00pm
 
more info 
 
Call 325.0432 for schedule updates
Nearby Natural Areas open to the public 
Roe Jan Park
 
 Columbia Land Conservancy Conservation Areas
 
 Bash Bish Falls State Park
 
Taconic State Park, Copake Falls
 
Lake Taghkanic State Park
 
Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Craryville
 
Mount Washington State Forest, Mt. Washington, MA
 
Mt. Everett State Reservation, Mt. Washington, MA
Local Arts
 
Ghent Playhouse
 
Hudson Opera House
 
Columbia Arts Team
 
Art Omi
 
PS 21, Chatham
 
Time & Space Limited
 
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Resources
Cornell Cooperative Extension
(gardening, pest questions)
828-3346
Blogs
Farmscape Ecology Program
 
Local Movies

Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!

Welcome to the new, combined, Hillsdale eCalendar and eNewsletter!  Now that the Hillsdale Town website has been redesigned and is being updated regularly, you will be able to go there for detailed information on upcoming events in the town. 

The Town Board:  Art Baer, Town Supervisor, and Carmen Barbato, Peter Cipkowski, Christian Kersten and Augie Sena.

PS Please note that some e-mail servers cut off the end of the calendar and the newsletter.  So if yours does not end with a little note from us, go to the very end and click on "view entire message."
News from the Comprehensive Plan Review Committees
You will find a brief update here; please go to hillsdaleny.com for more details.  Click on "Comprehensive Plan."
Green Solutions Group
The Green Solutions Group will organize monthly demonstrations at the Hillsdale Farmers Market on composting, cooking what you grow and other sustainable choices.

At their next meeting on Thursday, May 20, the  guest speaker will be Sarah Charlop-Powers.  Sarah is the Mid-Hudson Energy Smart Communities Coordinator and will be discussing how to save money by improving energy efficiency.

Green Solutions "Tip of the Month" ----
"Shorten your shower!  Showers account for two-thirds of water heating costs. Shorter time sudsing up can save up to 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.  Installing a low-flow shower head can save another 350 pounds of carbon dioxide per year!"
Hamlet Committee
Spring is here!
Our Blooming Day Fundraiser on Saturday morning, April 24, raised $580.75.  The barrels are back lining our main street and soon you'll see them in full bloom!  

Town-wide Tag Sale Memorial Day Weekend!
Hillsdale's second annual Flea Market will be held on Saturday, May 29 in the Hillsdale Hamlet Park from 8:30 am-2:30 pm.  There were some amazing finds last year, and this year promises to be full of goodies as well.  For more information on becoming a vendor or how and when to donate items, go to hillsdaleny.com and click on the calendar.  This is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning and help the town!

We want to hear your thoughts!
Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is still accepting comments on the Draft Design & Development Plan for our hamlet. The plan is available to view or download at: http://hillsdalehamlet.blogspot.com
We have also placed printed copies in binders around the hamlet so you can view at any of the following:
    �    B&G Wine & Gourmet
    �   Trudy's Beauty and Barbershop
    �    Passiflora
    �    The Hillsdale Diner
    �    Taconic Valley Lawn and Garden
    �    Town Hall
Comments can be made on the blog or written notes can be dropped off at the Town Hall.  We want to hear your thoughts!
What benefits are there for residents of the new Hamlet Historic District? Experts will explain on May 8
The Historic Preservation Committee is hosting an event to celebrate the National Register designation of the Hamlet Historic District. The district property owners are invited to attend and meet representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office and the New York Preservation League.  They will assist owners in learning about and applying for significant tax breaks for renovations and improvements made to their historically and architecturally significant buildings.  The event will be on May 8 from 4:30-6:30 at the Mt. Washington House.

Housing Committee to begin analyzing town housing survey
The Housing Committee has completed the survey and wishes to thank all those who participated.  This was the final data-gathering stage of our housing affordability study and we hope to conclude our analysis shortly.  It will then be presented to the public.  Our goal is to propose a housing policy to the town which reflects the needs of local residents and employees.
We hope that those who participated -- and those who were not able to -- will continue to express their opinions as the process moves forward.
Again, many thanks.
Shirley Bresler, Joe Browdy, Tom Carty, Joyce Lapenn, Ellen Levy, Maureen Rodgers, Frank Upham and Joan Wallstein.

Events
For more information on town events, use the links at left, under "Town Events Quick Links."
Hillsdale's Annual Clean-Up Day is May 1
Here's the once-a-year chance to discard your old sofa or other unwanted items. No household garbage or toxins though. 
Flea Market 2009Two more donation days for Hillsdale Flea Market
May 1 and May 15, 9:00-10:30 am, Town Hall parking lot
Clean out your basement and closets and donate your excess treasures to benefit the town.  No baby items or upholstered items, please.
Roe Jan Park needs more hands for Spring Clean-Up Day on Saturday
May 1, 9 am- 1 pm, Roe Jan Park, parking lot
Get together with other volunteers to help clean trails, paint and do minor repairs to get the park ready for the summer season.  Bring your work gloves!
Hawthorne Valley School holds annual May Day Celebration Saturday, May 1
Wonderful for kids!
10 am - 3:30 pm, Hawthorne Valley School, Harlemville
Join us to welcome in the spring with lively May Pole dancing, music, puppet show, picnic by the stream, and delicious prepared food.  There will be games for all ages:  kindergarten treasure yard, dragon run, banana pole, pillow jousting, three-legged race, costume race and much more.  Come laugh, dance, sing, play and enjoy a joyful community spring welcoming day.  Puppet shows at 12, 1 and 2 pm.
A chance to see spring migrants on a Bird Walk on Sunday, May 2
8:00 am, assemble at the Book Barn.
At this time of year the warblers, thrushes and others are coming to the northeast. Sponsored by the Alan Devoe Bird Club. The Book Barn is at the intersection of Rodman Road and Pumpkin Hill Road in Hillsdale. For more information, call 325-4537.
Kite flyingFly a kite!  Catch the Wind Kite Flying Festival at Roe Jan Park
Child friendly
May 8, 10 am - 1 pm, Roeliff Jansen Park
Learn how to make kites as well as fly them in the open fields of the park.  Outdoor educator Fran Martino will also help kids and families build anemometers to measure the speed of wind in their backyards.
Friday, May 21, Planting Day for Flower Barrels
and
Saturday, May 22
10 am, Town Hall lower parking lot
Come help your neighbors plant the flowers that beautify the Hamlet in the summertime.  For more information, contact Lynda Brenner at [email protected] or 325-7364.
Spring Flower Walk, Phudd Hill, Saturday, May 22                         
1:00-3:00 pm, Harlemville                                  Child friendly  
A free and are leisurely way to familiarize yourself with the spring flora of our county. Suitable for the entire family. Please email [email protected] or call 781-0243 to rsvp and to get directions.
"Flowers to PBouquetower the Park" event features gardening expert
May 23, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, Hillsdale Fire House. 
A garden luncheon to bring electricity to Roeliff Jansen Park and its buildings.  Enjoy a tasty lunch and learn from gardening expert, writer and former Hillsdale resident Suzy Bales. Silent auction, raffle and more!  Register by May 15.  See Events Quick Links on left for lots more info.
The History of Taconic State Park, Part 2
Tuesday, May 25, 7:30 pm, Roeliff Jansen Historical Society Museum, Copake Falls
Part 2 of Edgar Masters "The HIstory of the Taconic State Park".
Flea Market 2009Town-Wide Flea Market - Memorial Day Weekend

May 29, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Hamlet Park, behind Town Hall.
Rain date, Sunday, May 30.
Child friendly

The Town Park will be filled with treasures big and small,  antiques, and a big book sale!  Area merchants will be there with big sales!

The Giant Flea Market was a major, fun town event last year, filled with amazing treasures from the homes of town residents.  So come on down and see what you can find!  All proceeds will benefit town beautification projects. There were some amazing items last year, including gorgeous antique cameras and a rowboat!  Someone found a Tiffany bowl priced at $3!  There will be food for sale as well, courtesy of the Hillsdale Fire Department.  And a hay ride!  A book sale will benefit the Roe Jan Library.

To help out, do some spring cleaning, get rid of clutter and reserve a booth to sell the things you don't need anymore! Or donate your unwanted items to benefit the town.  Remaining Saturday drop-off days are May 1 and May 15, 9:00-10:30 pm, Town Hall parking lot.  more info
Applications due for Summer Youth Program at Roe Jan Park due Tuesday, June 1,
The town is continuing the wildly successful program begun last summer.  For more information, click here.
Saturday, June 5, Hillsdale Farmer's Market opens 2010 season

Farm9:00 am - 12:30 pm, Town Park behind Town Hall.
Child friendly.

Buy wonderful salad greens, veggies, eggs, meat and flowers -- and support local farmers!  Meet your neighbors too.  Children's events and other activities.  For info call Willa Horton at [email protected] or call (518) 325- 7950.
Sunday, June 13, Roe Jan Library Benefit Golf Tournament
Undermountain Golf Course, Copake.
Two person teams will play in a dual shotgun, 18 hole scramble. Prizes for men's, women's and mixed teams, hole-in-one, and closest to the pin. The $65 per person entry fee includes 18 holes of golf, home baked breakfast goodies, lunch, snacks and a BBQ chicken dinner prepared by the Ancram Fire Department. Non-golfers can enjoy the dinner for $15.   Call the course at 329-4444 for information
Sunday, June 13, The Element of Fire
2:00-3:30 pm, Roe Jan Park
SunChild friendly.
The Sun, Earth's star, is a great fireball that radiates heat and light so powerful that it makes life possible on our planet 93 million miles away!  Making a sun dial is surprisingly easy, and will teach our kids about how the solar system works.  Families will make a sun dial to bring home, and learn how to make a human sun dial.

Saturday, June 19, Celebrate the Unadorned Library
5:30 - 7:30 pm, the new Roeliff Jansen Community Library
Before the carpeting is down and the shelves are up and stocked with books, come raise a glass of wine (or two!), munch on tasty hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants, listen (and dance!) to the great sounds of the George Mandel Jazz Quartet, and enjoy WMHT CEO Alan Chartock, celebrity MC and auctioneer, as he puts some very exciting items on the block in a live auction. Help finish and adorn the library! Tickets are priced at $100 per person, or $175 for two. For tickets and information, please call 329-0182.
Plan ahead

Hillsdale Farmer's Market
9 am - 12:30 pm, Town Park behind Town Hall. 
The 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month through the 1st weekend in October.  There will be an extra market on July 31 to coordinate with the  Hamlet House Tour.  more info

Monday, July 6-August 13 -- Summer Youth Program, Roe Jan Park

Friday, July 23-Sunday, July 25 -- Falcon Ridge Folk Festival,
Dodds Farm

Saturday, July 31 --  Historic House tour
organized by Hillsdale Historic Preservation Committee

Sunday August 1 -- BBQ, Boogie and Bid at the Park
BBQ and silent auction to benefit the Roe Jan Community Library building fund. Held at Roeliff Jansen Park.

Saturday, August 7 -- Hillsdale Community Day

Saturday, October 2 -- From the Earth, Roe Jan Park Fall Festival

Around the county and nearby
Saturday, June 19 -- Copake Community Day


Saturday, August 14 -- Ancram Community Day


Saturday, August 21 -- Copake Falls Day

Hello!
We want this calendar to be useful to you, so please tell us what we can do better and tell us about your events!  Contact us at [email protected] by the 15th of the month before your event, or as soon as you know about it.
 
Sincerely,
Peter Cipkowski, Communications Chair, Town Board
Iona Lutey and Christopher Ross, calendar editors

The Town of Hillsdale