Town of Hillsdale Newsletter

It's an amazingly busy time for our town! This Saturday brings us the last Farmer's Market of the season AND the Fall Family Festival at the Roe Jan Park. Sprinkled through October are lots of events at the Roe Jan Park and the Hawthorne Valley Farm. On Halloween, we have a family parade at the Firehouse AND a dog parade at the Park! And on November 6 will be the long-anticipated opening of the new Roeliff Jansen Community Library with a series of fun events to commemorate the big day.

In addition to all that, we are honored that the Hillsdale hamlet sewer system has been recognized statewide as a model for other small towns. So much so that we will be hosting a seminar next Friday for engineers and town officials from throughout the state who are anxious to learn from what we have accomplished.

The long list of news and events below show a busy and productive community!

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

Hank Henward, Chair of the Planning Board, answers questions about the plan. The Planning Board will play a key role in implementing the plan.

Hamlet Improvement Plan in Town's Hands for Implementation

About 50 Hillsdale residents turned out Saturday September 25 for a ceremony commemorating the official handoff of a design and development plan for the Hillsdale Hamlet to the Town Board. At the event in the Hamlet Park, David Ruede, chair of the Hillsdale Hamlet Committee, turned over a copy of the document to Art Baer, chairman of the Town Board.

The document was created for the town by Project for Public Spaces, a professional design and community planning group, with the goal of enhancing economic opportunities and quality of life in Hillsdale. Using input from town residents, the plan makes suggestions for how to improve the town's center by upgrading sidewalks, signs and lighting; slowing traffic; adding benches, plantings and gathering areas and encouraging the extension of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail to Hillsdale.

Copies of the report are available for examination at Town Hall and the Roe-Jan Community Library. The complete report also can be read online at the Hamlet Committee's blog.

Date Change: Hillsdale Town Board October Meeting

The October Town Board meeting will be held October 12th, 7:30 pm at Town Hall. There will also be a public meeting at 7:00 pm.

In November, the Town Board Meeting will return to its regular meeting schedule: the 3rd Tuesday of the month

Hillsdale sewer is a model statewide

Hillsdale has a new claim to fame - and it's an unlikely one.

Five years in the making and at a cost of nearly $2 million, the town's new sewer system is attracting interest by engineers and public officials across the state.

"We're the poster child for sewers in New York state," said Augie Sena, chair of the sewer committee, at the monthly town board meeting in Hillsdale recently. Sena announced that Hillsdale will host a statewide seminar for engineers and town officials on October 8. Our design is seen as a potential solution for other small towns.

The event will include a tour of the wastewater facilities and talks by the system engineers, construction crews and contractors, as well as the plant manager. [Ed: exerpted from this article in the Register Star.]

This is not the first time our new sewer system has attracted attention. Before the project was even completed, Hillsdale received requests from all over the country for copies of the original master plan.

The Results Are In! Roe Jan Park Survey Results

With over 230 survey responses from full and part-time residents of Hillsdale and Copake, the RJP Steering Committee now has a much better sense of what people in our community are thinking about our wonderful new park.

Your important input at this stage will guide the RJP Steering Committee's decisions regarding physical improvements and program offerings as they develop this incredible community resource in the near and longer term. To read the results of the survey, click here.

Events
For more information on town events, use the links at left, under "Town Events Quick Links."

Autumn Harvest: Final Hillsdale Farmer's Market Child friendly

Saturday, October 2 will see the final Hillsdale Farmer's Market.
9:00 am - 12:30 pm, Town Park behind Town Hall.

The Hillsdale Farmer's Market will mark its last market day of the 2010 growing season. Come enjoy our locally grown veggies, meats, apples and locally made breads and pastries. Bruce Robertson, from Eat Smart New York, will demonstrate cooking with seasonal produce. Also, the young growers from Taconic Hills School will be selling their own homegrown and homemade salsa.

You'll also have a chance to win a bag full of market goodies!

We thank everyone for their support and invite others to come see what to look forward to next spring For info contact Willa Horton at willazoo@fairpoint.net.

Fall Family Festival, Roe Jan Park

Saturday, October 2, 12 noon - 6:00 pm

Roe Jan Park
Child friendly

It's a party in the Roeliff Jansen Park for the whole family. Chili contest with $100 prize. Live bands, entertainment, children's lawn games, hay rides, kite flying, volleyball. Teen DJ at the Boogie Barn -- for teens only! Plus the intriguing "Meadow Muffin Event!" Lots of good food by local non-profit groups.

To learn more about the festival, including all the great food, the schedule of live music performances and much more, click here.

Hawthorne Valley 16th Annual Fall Festival
Saturday, October 9, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Children's Parade 1:30 pm

Child friendly

This free event invites children and adults of all ages to explore the farm and participate in a wide array of games and activities. Tour the barn, creamery, and gardens, sample foods made on the farm, attempt the hay maze, watch a puppet show, meet the horses, watch a blacksmith at work, eat delicious food from local farms, and more. Pie-baking and scarecrow-making contests. Sauerkraut workshops. For more information, visit www.HVFallFest.org, call 518-672-7500 x 136, or e-mail: hvfallfest@gmail.com

Kids! Can! Cook! After School Program
Beginning Tuesday, October 12, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm (3 weeks)
Beginning Tuesday, November 2, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm (3 weeks)

Hawthorne Valley Farm, Harlemville

Child friendly

It's not just cooking: Students will participate in outdoor work and play in the farm fields and forest, and will tend to our angora goats and dairy calves. They will learn to prepare healthy and delicious organic snacks, and create beautiful craft items from local materials. Students ages 8-13 from area independent, public, and home-based schools are welcomed. Cost: $90 for three-week (nine day) session. There are two separate sessions. Scholarships are available; feel free to inquire.

"Simple Living" Mornings

Beginning Wednesday, October 13, 9:00 am - 11:30 am

Hawthorne Valley Farm, Harlemville

Child friendly

Beginning Wednesday, October 13th, from 9 am to 11:30 am, and running for three weeks: "Simple Living" mornings. Enjoy tea and conversation in the Learning Center, and participate in cooking and craft activities that can enhance and simplify your home life. Babies and toddlers are welcome. Cost: $30 for three-week session. Sessions will continue each month.

For active and aspiring farmers: Hawthorne Valley Farm to repeat its successful farming course

Begins October 16, Hawthorne Valley Farm, Harlemville

This program will include seven classroom sessions in on-farm goal setting, strategic and business planning, marketing, and financial management, for those interested in developing or expanding farming enterprises. Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings is farmer led and farmer taught.

For information about this program, please access our website. For questions, or to submit an application, please contact Caroline Smialek at 518-672-7500, x105, or caroline@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.

Farm Fun Day @ Hawthorne Valley

Friday, October 22, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Hawthorne Valley Farm, Harlemville

Child Friendly

This is an opportunity for students (ages 8-13) from either Hawthorne Valley School or home-based schools to spend a day and see what the Farm and Arts program is all about (several area schools are closed for teacher conferences that day). There will be a full range of activities, including farming and animal care, games and stories, and cooking and crafts. Cost is $20 for the day, and includes a hearty organic snack.

Full Moon Coyote Howl Fest, Roe Jan Park

Saturday, October 23, 5:00-6:30 pm

Roe Jan Park
Child friendly

Come watch the sun set and the moon rise from a great vantage point at the Roe Jan Park. We'll overlook a field where the coyotes tend to gather for their nightly howl fest. Participants will be taught to yip and yelp, bark and growl, woof and howl as we try to trick the "trickster" into talking back to us.

Halloween Costume Parade for Dogs

Sunday, October 31, 10:00 am

Roe Jan Park
Child friendly

Dress your pet in their scariest, prettiest or funniest costume for the Halloween Costume Parade at the Old Rt. 22 Dog Run in Roeliff Jansen Park. Owners welcome to come in costume as well. Prizes for best (dog) costumes. Refreshments provided. Come mingle with other dog lovers.

Halloween Pumpkin Contest, Parade and Hayride

Sunday, October 31, 3:00 pm

Hillsdale Fire House

Child & Ghoul friendly

Ghouls and goblins will descend on the Hillsdale Fire House on Halloween night. Courtesy of The Hillsdale Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary

The First Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

Joe Hanselman Jr. Family

October 31, 2010
Drop-off time 3:00 pm

Judging Categories: Scariest, Most Creative, Most Original, Funniest

Entrance fees:
Newborn to 5 - $1.00
Age 6 to 12 - $5.00
Age 13 to Adult - $10.00

Bring your pumpkin to the Hillsdale Firehouse already carved and have it judged while you enjoy the Halloween hayride that begins at 3:30

The prizes will be HALF OF THE MONEY IN YOUR AGE CATEGORY!

After the hayride we parade around the firehouse and everybody wins a new shiny silver dollar! (donated by our beloved Hillsdale Fire Company)

Yummy cider and donuts will be served, courtesy of the Hillsdale Ladies Auxilary. For more information, call Heather Conklin at (518) 637-8359.

Grand Opening of the new Roeliff Jansen Library Saturday, November 6
7:00 pm, New Roe Jan Library, Route 22 south of the light

Opening event for the brand new 7,500 square foot "green" community library. Performance by the Taconic Hills Jazz Band, a scene from As You Like It by the Taconic Hills Drama Club, performances by jazz flugelhorn player Dr. Karl Easton, and jazz guitarist John Meyers, Chair of the Music Department at Simon's Rock College. Special exhibits of the work of local artist Leon Smith, and books and posters relating to the life of onetime Hillsdale resident, author, critic and screen writer, James Agee. For more on these events, go to.

Solar Panels on Library Roof

Library Speaker Series features local authors
Begins November 7 at the New Library on Route 22

November 7, 2:00 pm, David Nasaw, author of Andrew Carnegie

December 5, 2:00 pm, Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman

Plan ahead

Saturday, November 6 -- Cooking for the Books. Dinner parties hosted by some of the Roe Jan area's best cooks to benefit the Roeliff Jansen Community Library building fund.

Saturday, November 20 -- Wild Turkeys -- Tracking and Talking
10:00-11:30 am, Roe Jan Park. Families will look for turkey tracks, scat and other signs as outdoor educator Fran Martino helps you explore the world of turkeys.

Saturday and Sunday, December 4 and 5 -- Cookies and Books.
Book and holiday bake sale at the Hillsdale Firehouse to benefit the Roe Jan Library.

Around the county and nearby

Sunday, October 3 -- Family Bike & Hike Day, Copake Falls

Family Bike & Hike Day on Sunday, October 3, 2010, including the Blessing of the Bikes, is sponsored by Church of St. John in the Wilderness, Rte 344, Copake Falls, NY, next to Taconic State Park and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. The family day will begin at the church with a complimentary Community Brunch at 11:00 am, Blessing of the Bikes at 12:15 pm, Bike & Hike along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail 12:30-1:30 pm, followed by Harvest Bake Sale and Tag Sale on the church grounds. For further information, call Lucy Eldridge at 518-329-0530.

Sunday, October 17 -- Columbia County Bike Tour

9:00 am- 2:00 pm
Enjoy a day of recreational cycling by the protected farms and fields of southwest Columbia County. The route offers a 50k and a 100k option. Pre-registration is appreciated; the registration fee is $25 per cyclist. For more information, please contact Lauren at 518-392-5252, ext. 214, or lauren@clctrust.org. Made possible in part by funding from Columbia County Tourism. Organized by the Columbia Land Conservancy.

Saturday, October 23 -- Small-Scale Woodlot Management
9:00 am-12:00 pm & 1:00pm-4:00 pm
East Chatham
This workshop will help woodland owners learn the basic principles of small scale woodlot management and low impact harvesting. Peter J. Smallidge, Ph.D., NYS Extension Forester and Director, Cornell University's Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, will lead this hands-on workshop for novice and intermediate woodland owners and anyone interested in learning about and discussing sustainable woodland practices. Pre-registration is required by October 21 and is $10 per person. To register, please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 518-622-9820 ext. 36.

Saturday, November 27 -- Duck Walk at Copake Lake. 9:00 am. Alan Devoe Bird Club. We meet at the corner parking area on Rte 7 and Lakeview Rd.

Columbia County Habitat for Humanity Needs Volunteers!

Columbia County Habitat for Humanity is building this fall and winter on Columbia Street, Hudson, NY. It's exciting to be downtown... building two-story attached federal style townhouses for two families. Go to the website for details and to register. We build on Fridays and Saturdays . All you need is enthusiasm and a willingness to help.

Hello!

We want this newsletter to be useful to you, so please tell us what we can do better and tell us about your events! Contact us at hillsdalecalendar@gmail.com 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, editors

The Town of Hillsdale