Town of Hillsdale Newsletter

Though we haven't seen very much snow since our last newsletter (sent late December), who knows what surprises are ahead of us? Highway Superintendent Richard Briggs and the gents of the highway department are taking advantage of the situation. "We've been making a lot of progress cleaning up trees, brush and other debris from the ice storm last March, not to mention the October tropical storms that caused so much damage." said Richard. More from our Highway Superintendent here.

Say, if there's nothing on TV tonight, why not watch a Town Board meeting? Now available on video, click here for three recent meetings, December, January and February.

Enjoy the rest of the winter - and THINK Spring!

The Town Board: Art Baer, Carmen Barbato, Peter Cipkowski, Augie Sena and Jill Sims-Elster. (Steve Tiger joins the Board on January 3.)

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

Preserving Town Hall's Exterior

Now that the work on the Town Hall's interior is pretty much complete, the Town Board has asked the Preservation Committee to partner with Town Board member Augie Sena to help oversee the work needed on the historic exterior:

Roof Repairs
Tuck Pointing
Masonry repair - parapets etc.
Painting of wooden parts of exterior.

The Preservation Committee has agreed to spearhead a drive to raise the funds needed - approximately $100,000, of which the Preservation Committee has committed $5000, the town has offered $25,000 plus in-kind services. Grants and other funding sources are being explored.

New Signs for Hillsdale

Lex Lalli, chair of the Historic Preservation Committee, reports that arrangements are being made for new signs to be installed at three locations in town. Once the easement agreements are complete between the town and the property owners, the signs will be installed by our trusty highway department. According to Lex, the signs are very handsome and will indicate that folks are entering a Historic District.

Thinking Ahead: Economic Development

The Board has formed an Economic Development Committee to be facilitated by members Art Baer and Steve Tiger. An initial planning meeting will be scheduled for late March or early April, depending on the availability of the business community. The meeting is OPEN and all are welcome to attend - independent consultants to owners of large Hillsdale-based business. The goal of the initial meeting will be to collect comments, concerns and ideas related to growing and supporting economic development. If you have questions or would like to participate, contact Steve Tiger at stiger@taconic.net. We'll post the meeting on the town calendar as soon as it's scheduled.

Planning Ahead: Green Solutions

The Hillsdale Green Solutions Committee is planning an exciting calendar for spring and summer from gardening workshops in the Roe Jan Park chef's corners at the Farmers Markets in the Hillsdale Park. Stay tuned for dates. If you want to see what they're up to or want to become a member of this committee, please visit the Green page here.

Events

Farming Our Future Conference

Taconic Hills CSD
Craryville, Columbia County, New York

Saturday, February 25
9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Please join us for Farming Our Future, a conference for local and regional farmers, educators, farmers' market managers, agricultural students, providers of goods and services, consumers and all who care about the future of agriculture! More information here.

Family Stargazing Night

Friday, March 2

6:30 pm

Roeliff Jansen Library

Want to see the exact spot where Apollo 11 landed on the moon, or find the planets Venus, Jupiter and Mars? You can do that and more, but only if you attend Family Stargazing Night at the Roeliff Jansen Community Library. Guiding this introduction to the winter night sky will be award-winning writer John Farrell, author of Stargazer's Alphabet, an International Reading Association "Notable Book of the Year." More information here.

Learn How to Make Gouda!

Saturday, March 10

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

The Learning Center at Hawthorne Valley Farm

Ever wonder why gouda is so silky and sweet? Come join Peter Kindel, the Hawthorne Valley Farm cheese maker, to learn how to make the dutch classic. We will go over all of the ins and outs of washed curd cheeses, as well as the technical aspects of brining cheese. Followed by a tasting of some washed curd cheeses. Class size is limited, so please book in advance. Class size is limited, so please book in advance. Click here for details about this class and others.

Benefit to Support the Furnace Project

Saturday, March 17

3:30 pm

Copake Grange Hall

Please join the Friends of Taconic State Park and author Page Dickey

at our 2nd Annual Benefit to support of the Copake Iron Works Furnace Cover Project. Enjoy a slide presentation with lot sof colorful remarks and "Embroidered Garden" book signing. Hors d'oeurves and wine reception will follow. Tickets may be purchased here by calling 518-966-2734.

Backyard Biodynamics

Sunday, March 18

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Hawthorne Valley Farm

Learn to integrate small animals, vegetables, fruits, and nut trees to create a healthy whole on two acres or less. Work with cover crops, create a growing plan for vegetables, design a garden layout, incorporate small livestock, make compost piles, use Biodynamic preparations, and tour Hawthorne Valley Farm's Corner Garden as an example of Biodynamics in practice on a small scale. More information available here.

Bill Krattinger on Historic Preservation

Tuesday, March 20

7:00 pm

Roeliff Jansen Museum

Bill Krattinger of the NYS Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, will be the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society's next speaker. All are invited to attend. Bill will share his insights on the power of Historic Preservation. As our community knows, Bill has inspired many in the Roeliff Jansen area to think much more seriously about the value and potential economic benefits of our landmarks - so many of which survive. We have much more work to do - and look forward to Bill's remarks on March 20 at the museum in Copake Falls. RJHS website here.

Baking Bread with Children

Saturday, March 24

9:00 am - 11:00 pm

Hawthorn Valley School

"Miller, Miller Grind our Grain, Grown from Earth and Sun and Rain..." Parents and children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join us at our Kindergarten table as we grind grain, knead dough, and form loaves of delicious bread. With the baking theme in mind, circle songs, games, and a story will be shared, and a mid-morning snack will ensure that all are well nourished. FREE. More info here.

The Living Soil

Saturday, March 31

11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Town Hall

Join the Hillsdale Gardeners for a hands-on workshop experience with garden expert Ruth Dufault of Bittersweet Garden. Benefit from her 30 plus years in the landscape business to learn how, when and what to do to your soil to bring it to life and have it work best for your plants. For additional information, click here.

Hunting for Eggs Egg Hunt

Sunday, April 1

1:30 pm

Hillsdale Park

You'll want to bring the kids to the Hillsdale Park behind the old town hall
on Palm Sunday, April 1. While you're at it, bring along your own basket or bag for all the goodies you;re going to discover. Hillsdale's annual Egg Hunt is open to kids of all ages from any town and it's 100% FUN and totally FREE!

Save the Date - May 6

Hello, Dahlia!

The Third Annual "Flowers to Power the Parks" Luncheon

Join us for a presentation by Barb Pierson, Nursery Manager at White Flower Farms in Litchfield, Connecticut. Barb's talk will highlight the best dahlia varieties for beds and containers, as well as her favorite companion plants for your dahlia garden. We'll enjoy a delicious lunch catered by The Red Barn, a Silent Auction, and more. Click here for more information.

Save the Date - June 2

Roe Jan Library Gala

Celebrate the Library

The weather outside may be frightful, but a committee of volunteers is already thinking spring and making plans for Gala 2012, the annual fund raiser for the Roeliff Jansen Community Library. Gala Committee Co-chairs Cathy Oates, Pat Pollok and Laurie Shnayerson announced that Saturday, June 2, will be the date of the Gala, and that it will take place, as it did last year, at Camp Pontiac in West Copake. To learn more click here.

Dear Fellow Hillsdalers:

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
Christopher Ross, Editor

The Town of Hillsdale