Town of Hillsdale Newsletter

In case you missed it, Hillsdale was in the news last weekend. John Mason of the Register Star has been attending Town Board meetings lately and, for better or worse, has filed a couple of stories. The truth is we're very grateful for the coverage.

The first story reports the possible sewer expansion and plans to install fitness equipment in the town park. You can read all about it here.

The second article reports an issue of alleged nepotism that has come up in the Town Garage. That story is here.

As usual, don't hesitate to contact any of us if you have any questions about these - or any other issues!

Happy Spring, Hillsdalers. You'll be busy - by the looks of it.

The Hillsdale Town Board: Art Baer, Peter Cipkowski, Augie Sena, Jill Sims-Elster and Steve Tiger

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

New Playground in Town

The toddler equipment that went in last month is a big step toward the revitalization of the playground in the Hilllsdale Park behind old town hall. Fundraising efforts are currently underway to purchase additional equipment for the town park and to "finish" the playground area with new landscaping, benches, etc. The project, led by the Hillsdale Hamlet committee, was one of the recommendations of the Hamlet Design and Development Plan (to be discussed at a soon-to-be scheduled public hearing).

Conservation Advisory Council Continues

At the April meeting, the Town Board renewed its commitment to supporting the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC). Formed in 2008 to gather and disseminate information, conduct research, and advise other town agencies in matters related to the conservation of natural resources, the group remains activem engaged and reliable. Their new webpage here.

Historic Hillsdale Update

The Historic Preservation Committee has changed its name to HISTORIC HILLSDALE. This year Historic Hillsdale will be focusing our efforts on restoring the exterior of the Town Hall. We have already received pledges of $30,000. Notes from their last meeting here.

Handsome signs at the four entrances to the hamlet proclaiming Hillsdale as a Historic District.will go up this month with a celebration planned tor June. Aside from the pride in living in a special town, one of the tangible benefits of being a Historic District is that historic buildings are eligible for significant tax breaks. A brochure about what this means to individual property owners (residential and commercial) is being prepared. If you need more information on if you qualify and how to apply for tax credits, email lex.lalli@gmail.com. Anything from a boiler replacement to a complete renovation are eligible.

New Town Historian

The Town Board recently appointed Jeremy Dodd as Town Historian. Jeremy is particularly interested in telling the story of the Harlem Railroad that passed through town between 1852 and 1976. We're looking to hearing more from Jeremy, especially as the Rail Trail is expanded from Copake Falls to Hillsdale and beyond.

Events

Clean-up Day Supports Youth Program

Saturday, May 5
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Town Garage

It's time for that spring clean-up you've been putting off. The Hillsdale Garage on Old Town Road will be open on Saturday, May 5th, for your discarded, unwanted items. Do not forget your cash donations to support the summer youth program. Trash guidelines here.

Hawthorne Valley Spring Fair

Saturday, May 5

10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School

Weaving of the Maypole at 10:30. Music, food, and activities for all ages from 11:30 to 3:30. Calf Club presentation and stream ecology walk at 2 pm. Plants for sale. Suggested donation $5 per child for games. 330 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075. Click here for more information.

Children's Puppet Show: The Mermaid's Gift

Saturday, May 5

1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm

Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School

Performed by the Magical Puppet Tree at Hawthorne Valley's Annual Spring Fair. A delight for children and adults alike! Tickets $4. More.

Hillsdale Bird Watching Walk

Sunday, May 6

8:00 am - 10:00 am

Book Barn

Susan Scheck is leading a bird watching walk on Sunday, May 6 at 8:00 am. Meet at the Bookbarn on Rodman Road. For more information call 325-4537. The walk will take about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Hello, Dahlia! The Third Annual "Flowers to Power the Parks" Luncheon

Sunday, May 6

11:30 am - 2:30 pm

Hillsdale Firehouse

Close to 200 people are expected to attend the third annual Flowers to Power the Park luncheon on Sunday, May 6 in Hillsdale. Barb Pierson, Nursery Manager at White Flower Farm in Litchfield, CT, is this year's speaker. As usual, expect great food and a transformed firehouse. Click here for more info.

Free Concert at Library

Sunday, May 6, 2012

3:00 pm

Roe Jan Library

World-renowned pianist Lincoln Mayorga and singer Sheri Bauer-Mayorga will perform in a concert entitled Two Hundred Years of American Song at the Roe Jan Library at 3 PM, Sunday May 6.

The concert, one is a series of musical events at the Library called "Adventures in Music," is free of charge and open to all. More here.

The Future of Books

Saturday, May 12

3:00 - 4:00 pm

Roe Jan Library

Media expert Bob Sacks to discuss the future of books, reading and libraries. Do physical books have a future? How about libraries? What about reading itself? Those questions and more will be addressed by Bob Sacks-media consultant, e-columnist and lecturer-in a talk entitled "The Past, Present & Future of Libraries & Reading" at the Roe Jan Library, 3 PM, Saturday, May 12. A discussion will follow. The talk is free and all are welcome. More here.

History of Columbia County Architecture

Tuesday, May 15

7:00 pm

Roeliff Jansen Museum in Copake Falls

Rod Blackburn will be giving an illustrated program on the architectural history of Columbia County, emphasizing the historical and functional context of period styles from Dutch to Modern. He is co-author of the book A Visible Heritage, Columbia County, New York, A History in Art and Architecture. Visit the RJHS website here for more information.

Learn How to Make Feta

Saturday, May 19

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

The Learning Center at Hawthorne Valley Farm

Join Hawthorne Valley Farm's cheesemaker, Peter Kindel, for a workshop on making feta. This ancient cheese is easy to make, but hard to make well. From milk to curd to brine, learn the steps to producing your own beautiful, homemade batch of cheese, followed by a comparative tasting of different feta cheeses. Details here.

Garden Party to Benefit New Town Hall

Saturday, May 19

3:30 - 6:30 pm

Mitchell Street

Join us for a special event to support the new Town Hall Park in Hillsdale. Bart Ziegler, writer of The Weekend Gardener column for the Wall Street Journal, will be conducting tours of his shade garden and offering advice and tips on which plants thrive in Hillsdale and Columbia County. Wine and cheese, too! More info here.

Chicken BBQ at North Methodist Church

Saturday, May 19

4:00 - 7:00 pm

North Hillsdale Methodist Church

You won't want to miss the barbecue at the North Hillsdale church on May 19. if you haven't come around before, here's your chance to taste their famous eat-in or take-out chicken BBQ extravaganza. Not to mention the phenomenal home-made desserts and second-ton-none Methodist hospitality.

All welcome! More details here.

Memorial Day Weekend Book Sale

Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27

Roeliff Jansen Library

Looking for your summer reading? Stop by the library over Memorial Day Weekend and pick up that book you've been wanting to read. This is chiefly a FICTION book sale - with a little GARDENING and COOKING thrown in. Hours and other details here.

Hillsdale's 4th Annual Flea Market

Saturday, May 28

8:30 am - 2 pm

Roeliff Jansen Park

Dozens of vendors and hundreds of shoppers are expected at Hillsdale's Fourth Annual Flea Market on Saturday May 26. This year the venue has been changed to fabulous Roeliff Jansen Park, located on Route 22 just south of the Hillsdale light. The new location will provide shelter for vendors and shoppers, better parking and, well, sensational, panoramic views. More info here.

Hazardous Waste Collection Day

Saturday, June 2

8:00 - 12:00 pm

County Highway Garage, Greenport

If you miss Hillsdale's Clean-up Day, or find that your junk is too gross for us, there's always the County version for the seriously yucky stuff. On June 2, get thee to the County Highway Garage on Route 23B in Greenport. Check out their website here.

Roe Jan Library Gala

Saturday, June 2

5:30 - 8:00 pm

Camp Pontiac, Copake NY

With just a few weeks to go until the Roe Jan Library's Gala the Auction Committee has released a list of the items that will be available for bidding at the event, in both silent and live auctions, as well as the contents of a "Sumptuous Living Raffle Basket", whose value now tops $2,000. To learn more about the gala, click here.

Dear Fellow Hillsdalers:

The goal of this newsletter, issued by Hillsdale's Town Board, is to provide a summary of all the cool things that are happening in our community. If you have an event taking place in Hillsdale (or in adjacent communities), contact us as soon as you know about it. Please provide as many details as possible. Information is posted on the town Town website and also appears in the monthly newsletter. Contact us at hillsdalecalendar@gmail.com.

Sincerely,
Peter Cipkowski, Communications Chair, Town Board

The Town of Hillsdale