Hillsdale Newsletter
March - April 2014
  Hillsdale Town Seal
Hillsdale's website has a comprehensive list of departments, office hours, and a full listing of local events.
Town Meetings
 

Third Tuesday of the month @ 7:00

  

Planning Board
Second Monday of the month @ 7:30

Zoning Board of Appeals
First Tuesday of the month @ 7:30

Local Services


Check out the list of useful links and businesses on the services page here.

Local News
The Columbia Paper

ccSCOOP

Register-Star

Archived Hillsdale Newsletters

Local Calendars
Taconic Hills School District Calendar

CoCotodo.com
Transfer Station
Wednesday:
7:30 am - 12 noon
Saturday:
7:30 am - 4:00pm
65 Holm Road
(518) 325-3844   
Volunteer

 


Roe Jan Community Library

Roe Jan Park

Taconic Hills School Aquatic & Fitness Center
Hours for community use

 

Monday-Friday 
6:00-7:20 am
5:30-8:30 pm 
Saturday 9:00 am - 2:00pm
Sunday 2:00 pm - 5:00pm

 
Call 325-0432 for holiday hours and schedule updates
Local Nature
Roe Jan Park

Harlem Valley Rail Trail
 
 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
Local Resources
Cornell Cooperative Extension
(gardening, pest questions)
828-3346


Hawthorne Valley Farm 
Local Blogs
Farmscape Ecology Program
Join Our Mailing List

Greetings! 

 

In early 2013, the Town Board initiated an effort to develop a three year economic development plan for the Town. Two teams were formed representing government, agriculture, real estate and retail businesses and the community. "Team I" focused on developing goals and initiatives to assist in the growth and employment of existing businesses in the Town. "Team II" focused on developing a priority group of new businesses that would be successful and benefit Town residents. A report presents the findings of each Team and proposes next steps for implementation. It's all here.

 

Is it spring yet? 

 

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 

FARMERS UNITE!

 

The Copake and Hillsdale Farmers Markets have combined forces to create a newly expanded Farmers Market, called Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market. This new joint market will be held at the Roe Jan Park on Route 22, every Saturday from May 31 through October 25. More on the market page here.

DINE OUT FOR THE LIBRARY

 

The Roeliff Jansen Community Library has joined with local restaurants to sponsor "Dine Out for the Library," throughout March and April to raise funds for children's programming at the library. From March 13 through April 26, eight local Roe Jan restaurants will donate 10% of their dinner totals from a given evening to benefit the library's programming for children, which covers toddlers to teens. More here.

CIVIL WAR UNIFORM RESTORED

 

The Roe Jan Historical Society recently received grants from the Columbia County Historical Society, the Columbia County Council on the Arts, and the Columbia County Board of Supervisors - as well as generous private donations. These funds make it possible to properly preserve and display a Civil War uniform once worn by a Solomon Bingham Collin of Hunt Road, Hillsdale. Mr. Collin was part of the large Collin family that owned many farms in nineteenth-century Hillsdale. Once completed, the uniform will be displayed in Roe Jan-area town halls. Much more later this spring about the Collin family.

SAVE THE MONARCHS

 

Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed, and caterpillars only eat milkweed. But humans don't seem to like milkweed very much and are cutting it down for various reasons. Sometimes humans cut down milkweed because it doesn't smell very good or they think it's, well, a weed. But these humans don't realize that monarch butterflies need the milkweed in order to survive, and the monarch butterfly population is dwindling. Learn why this matters: PDF

HARBINGER GOES DIGITAL

 

More than a century ago, the Hillsdale Harbinger served local readers in the Roe Jan community as well as the folks in Great Barrington. With a tiny publishing office pretty much where the IGA meat counter now stands (with front steps leading down to Anthony Street), the Harbinger was a key local source for national and local news and also included special sections about each town. The paper was published from about 1887 to 1943.

 

A project to digitize 20 years' worth of the venerable old paper, now on microfilm reels at the Roe Jan Library, is underway thanks to the Roe Jan Historical Society and the Friends of the Roe Jan Library. Digitizing the Harbinger will make it accessible for serious researchers and those of us merely interested in catching up on the local gossip. By the way, another early paper, the Hillsdale Herald, 1880-1887, is also available on microfilm. If you would like to make a donation to support this project, check out the RJHS website page.

 

 

BUSINESS ALLIANCE UPDATE

 

The Hillsdale Business Alliance has existed in one form or another for many years. Last year, the HBA published a pocket-sized brochure listing about 60 of our businesses, and it proved to be very popular among residents and tourists alike. Building on that success, the HBA is now enthusiastically renewing itself, with a permanent Steering Committee, an ambitious mission statement, and specific goals and projects for 2014. More here. 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

The Friends Bookshop 2014 Hours

 

Saturday, March 1, 10 am - 4 pm

Sunday, March 2, 1 pm - 4 pm
Roe Jan Community Library

 

The Friends of the Roe Jan Library continue the "First Weekend" open shop event on the lower level of the library. (Take the driveway to the right before you enter the Library parking area.) The Shop is open during library hours Saturday March 1, 10 am - 4 pm, and Sunday March 2, 1 - 4 pm. Hours will be repeated on April 4-6. There are always new titles each month in many genres and specials on the conference table. The 50 cent table is overflowing with great buys.

The Art� Trio

 

Saturday, March 1

5 pm

Roe Jan Library

 

The Art� Trio will bring their chamber music to Roeliff Jansen Community Library on Saturday, March 1, at 5 pm. The program will include the music of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Ravel. More information here.

Columbia County Chapter: Citizen's Climate Lobby Meeting

 

Saturday, March 8

2 pm
Chatham Real Food Market Co-op Community Room

 

We are a new local chapter of a national non-partisan grass roots effort dedicated to building political will for Congress to take meaningful action for a sustainable climate. More here.

Boy Scout Troop 752 Spaghetti Dinner

 

Saturday, March 8
5 pm - 7 pm
Copake Park, Mountain View Road

 

Join the scouts and enjoy a spaghetti sinner: $8 Adults, $6 Seniors, $5 Children (14 and under). See a Troop member or call 325-9450 for tickets or just show up with an your appetite, patriotism and a little cash.

Winter Exploration to the Austerlitz Firetower

 

Sunday, March 16
10 am - noon
Beebe Hill State Forest

 

Join ecologists Claudia and Conrad Vispo from the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program for a hike to the firetower, which offers a panoramic view of the nearby wooded hills, the Hudson Valley, the Catskills and the Taconics. On the way up and down the hill, traverse a variety of forest types. Along the way, learn how to identify plants in the winter and how to read the signs left by animals in the snow or mud. More.

Trains in the Roe Jan Area and Beyond 

 

Sunday, March  16

2 pm

RJHS Museum, Copake Falls

 

Bernard Rudberg will be the speaker at our first meeting of the 2014 season, on March 16 at 2 pm at the museum in Copake Falls. Bernie is the past president of Hopewell Junction Depot Restoration, in Dutchess County. After serving in the Navy for four years in electronics systems during the Korean War, he had a 35 year career with IBM engineering. Now in retirement, he has time to devote to his real passion, railroading. More at the RJHS website.

 

 

March Town Board Meeting and Informational Update on Development Plans for Catamount

 

Tuesday, March  18

7 pm

Town Hall

 

There will be an informational presentation at the March Town Board Meeting. All are welcome to attend to learn more and ask questions about the development plans at the Catamount ski area.

 

All welcome.
Agendas for past meetings here; corresponding minutes and videos are here. Financials are always here.

Unlocking the Secrets of Seeds  

 

Saturday, March 22
1:30 pm
Copake Grange Hall
 

 

Author/gardener Margaret Roach will present "Unlocking the Secrets of Seeds" at the Copake Grange for the benefit of Friends of Taconic State Park. Want to grow your best flower, vegetable and herb garden ever in 2014? It all starts with a seed-and choosing the right varieties, from sources that match your garden conditions. Margaret will demystify the politics and the practical "ahas!" to get you growing with confidence. More here.
Black Arts: The History of Charcoal Making

 

Sunday, April 12
2 pm
RJHS Society Museum

 

On Sunday, April 12, at 2 pm, at the RJHS museum, Cory Hines will present "Black Art: the History of Charcoal Making in Mt. Washington and Copake Falls." Cory spearheaded the Mount Washington Charcoal Project and Exhibit shown this past summer at the Copake Iron Works in Taconic State Park.

Flower Power! The Fifth Annual Luncheon to Benefit Hillsdale's Town Parks

 

Sunday, April 27
11:30 pm
Hillsdale Firehouse

 

For the fifth year in a row, Hillsdale residents will kick off the social season with a benefit luncheon at the Hillsdale Fire House on Route 22. Learn more about this event on the town website.

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 these parts. With more than 600 subscribers, the Hillsdale Newsletter is a great place to promote your upcoming event. Email details, suggestions or questions to [email protected]. 

Peter Cipkowski, Editor
Vivian deGeorges, Editor
The Town of Hillsdale, New York
www.hillsdaleny.com