Back in steamy August 2009, the voters of Hillsdale stepped-in to secure the old library building as the new Town Hall with a popular referendum. Now that the exterior restoration is finally nearing completion, read up on the history (and restoration process) of this little gem of a building. We're so lucky to have it.

Wishing everyone a happy, lilac-filled May.

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

YOUTH PROGRAM DEADLINE MAY 5

Hillsdale's groundbreaking outdoor youth program is entering its sixth year in the Roeliff Jansen Park. With a mission to provide a safe, fun-filled and nature-oriented program for 60 local kids, now is the time to submit your application.

FLOWER POWER 2014

Close to 140 area residents had a fabulous time at the Hillsdale Firehouse last Sunday at the 5th annual luncheon to benefit Hillsdale's town parks. This year's theme was "Flower Power" and the firehouse was decked out in early Spring blooms to mark the occasion. More.

RAIL TRAIL UPDATE

More good news about bringing the Harlem Valley Rail Trail to Hillsdale! The state of New York has just announced it will spend $375,000 to pave a 1.2-mile section of the trail extension. This portion runs from Copake Falls, where the paved trail currently ends, north to Orphan Farm Road in Copake, just south of the sharp curve in Route 22. More on the rail trail page here.

NEW LOGO FOR FARMERS MARKET

With the merging of the Copake and Hillsdale Farmers Markets, a new logo was needed to represent the joint venture. A call went out to all of the creative folks in the area, and they responded with 20 designs. Check out the winning design here (along with the upcoming summer schedule).

TOWN HISTORY CRASH COURSE

The town historian is plumping up our history page (and almost everything is true). Check out these brief summaries:

The Road to Hillsdale's Revival

Hillsdale's Railroad or When a Railroad Came Through
A Brief History of Town Hall

BUSINESS ALLIANCE UPDATE

Earlier this year, the Hillsdale Business Alliance (HBA) was re-launched. This time around, equipped with a structure and a plan, a seven-person Board represents a cross section of Hillsdale merchants. More here.

BROADBAND ACCESSIBILITY SURVEY

A survey is being conducted by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors in partnership with Congressman Chris Gibson to gather needed information and data that will allow us to address the lack of access to high quality broadband for Columbia County residents.

ROE JAN LIBRARY FOR LITTLE KIDS

We want to make sure you all know that the library has two ongoing programs that are great for your little ones. Toddlers, ages 2-3, are welcome to join us for "Storytime: Toddler Wiggle Time" on Thursday mornings, 10:30-11:00. On Saturday mornings, kids ages 4-5 are invited to "Storytime: Saturday Morning Kids" at 11. Programs run through May 31. More here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spring Flower Walk: Hawthorne Valley Farm

Saturday, May 3

8 - 10 am
Floodplain Forest, Hawthorne Valley Farm

Join Claudia and Conrad Vispo from the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program in welcoming spring during a leisurely early-morning walk along the floodplain of the Agawamuck Creek and at the base of Phudd Hill. More here.

I Love My Park Day

Saturday, May 3

9 am - noon

Taconic State Park, Copake Falls

May 3rd is I Love My Park Day, sponsored in our area by the Friends of Taconic State Park. We need volunteers who can help us spruce up the Park from 9 - 12 on Saturday morning. This year's work will be centered around a new portion of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail here in Hillsdale. Tools will be provided but it would be great if you could bring your sturdy clippers and gloves. The work will involve clearing some brush. More here.

May Day Celebration and Fair

Saturday, May 3

10:30 am - 3:00 pm
Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School

Celebrate spring's new beginnings with a variety of events and activities including Maypole dances, games, puppet shows, treasure hunts, and face painting. More here.

Columbia County Chapter: Citizen's Climate Lobby Meeting

Saturday, May 3

12:45 pm
Chatham Real Food Market Co-op Community Room

Join the 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.

Snow White and Rose Red

Saturday, May 3
1:00 and 2:00 pm
Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School

The Acorn Players bring this classic Brothers Grimm fairytale to life as two sisters befriend a winter guest whose enchanted countenance can only be freed when an ill-tempered little man receives his just reward. Images from the European folk soul shine through this humorous story portrayed on the Morning Star marionette stage.

Reception for "Aunt Ann Goes Fishing" Installation

Saturday, May 3
6:30 pm
Roe Jan Library

A unique sculptural installation by Spencertown artist Linda Horn will open with a reception on Saturday May 3rd at 6:30 PM at the library. This thought-provoking piece works on multiple levels of meaning. Through the lens of a simple visual record of one woman's pursuit, it addresses the passage of time in her life from age 19 to 83. More.

Hudson Valley Choral Society Spring Concert

Saturday, May 3
7:30 pm
United Methodist Church, Hillsdale

The Hudson Valley Choral Society's spring concert 2014 will feature a selection of rhythmic songs written by one of the few women composers of choral music, Rosephanye Powell. Additional works for this season of awakening are by William Byrd, Edward Elgar, Felix Mendelssohn, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and others. More here.

Michael Collier - Classical Piano at RJL

Sunday, May 4

4 pm

Roe Jan Library

More here.

Hillsdale Clean-up Day

Saturday, May 10
9 am - noon
Town Garage

The Hillsdale Garage on Old Town Road will be open on Saturday, May 10, for Hillsdale Clean-Up Day. If you have items to discard, come on down. As usual, donations will be accepted for Hillsdale's Summer Youth Program. Guidelines.

Autobiographical Poems Workshop

Saturday, May 10

10 am - 1 pm

Roe Jan Library

Advanced registration is required for an upcoming workshop with poet Abigail Wender. The workshop will focus on the craft of dealing with emotionally charged autobiographical material in poetry. More here.

Weed-Less Gardening and Open Day

Saturday, May 10
11 am
St. John in the Wilderness

Lee Reich, acclaimed gardener, author and fruit expert, will present "Weed-Less Gardening" on Saturday, May 10at 11 am at the Church of St. John in the Wilderness in Copake Falls. Reich's slide show/lecture will show gardeners how to produce bountiful harvests with healthier plants while working less strenuously. In addition to Reich's lecture, Margaret Roach will open her Copake Falls garden as part of the Garden Conservancy's Open Day, from 10 am to 4 pm. More here.

The Poetic Legacy of Amiri Baraka-Formerly, LeRoi Jones

Saturday, May 10
5 pm
Roe Jan Library

Local writer and professor Wesley Brown will speak about African-American poet, playwright and political activist Amiri Baraka, who had formerly been known as LeRoi Jones. More here.

Hawthorne Valley Spring Benefit and Celebration

Saturday, May 10
6 pm
Vanderbilt House, Philmont

All are welcome for a convivial evening of local food and entertainment to celebrate and support the educational programs at Hawthorne Valley. Buffet dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions. For information and to purchase tickets, please visit our website.

Spring Flower Walk: Kinderhook Creek

Sunday, May 11
10 am - noon
Chatham Center

Another Farmscape Ecology program: a leisurely walk in the floodplain of the Kinderhook Creek. Learn to recognize the spring flowers of this exceptionally rich plant community and hear about their ecology and lore. More here.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover at RJL

Friday, May 16
5:30 pm
Roe Jan Library

Children are invited to bring their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal to a special story time and sleepover. Library people will sing songs and read stories and then all of the teddy bears and other stuffed animals are invited to spend the night in the library. After the library closes for the evening, staff will take pictures of the stuffed animals enjoying their sleepover. On Saturday, May 17th at 1 pm, the children can pick up their stuffed animals, enjoy juice and cookies and view a video of the mischief their stuffed animals got up to overnight. :)

North Methodist Chicken BBQ

Saturday, May 17
4 - 6:30 pm
North Hillsdale Methodist Church

Enjoy the legendary BBQ at a designated historic landmark. Take out or eat in. The chicken, side dishes and desserts are out-of-this-world. The Methodists are very friendly, too. All the details.

Spring Flower Walk: Beebe State Forest

Sunday, May 18
10 am - 1 pm
Beebe State Forest, Austerlitz

Enjoy a leisurely (longish) walk through ancient and recently logged forest to a limestone outcrop at the shore of No-Bottom-Pond. Learn to recognize the spring flowers along the way and hear about their ecology and lore. All ages are welcome. More here.

History of Copake

Sunday, May 18
2 pm
Roeliff Jansen Historical Society Museum

Historian and author Howard Blue will present part two of his PowerPoint program: The History of a Small Hudson Valley Town, at the Roe Jan Historical Society in Copake Falls. Check out some of the topics he'll cover.

Concert for African High School

Sunday, May 18
4 pm
Roe Jan Library

A special concert featuring John and Ann Marie Farrell, and special guest Will Brown of Meteora, will include a mix of original and familiar songs. More here.

Local Talent Celebrates the Start of Summer

Saturday, May 24
2 - 3 pm
Hillsdale

The Hillsdale General Store, Boxwood Linen and CrossRoads Food Shop will be kicking off summer with events celebrating locally-made products. Read all about it here.

Richard Giarusso - Baritone/Musicologist at RJL

Saturday, May 24
5 pm
Roe Jan Library

More here.

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ

Saturday, May 24
5:30 pm
Copake Falls

The hard-working Copake Falls Day Committee invites you to join them for "Texas Brisket and North Carolina Pulled Pork" on the green opposite the park entrance. Take-out is also available. Purchase tickets at the Depot Deli, Bash Bish Bicycle, Copake General Store, or Copake Town Hall. Details.

Winds in the Wilderness Concert

Sunday, May 25
3:00 pm
St. John in the Wilderness

Join the Church of St. John in the Wilderness for a concert with Sharon Powers, flute; Judith Dansker, oboe; John Myers, guitar; Alicia DePaolo, voice works by Loeillet, Bartok, Mozart, Vaughn-Williams, Ravel, Granados, Mudassa. Appropriate for all ages. Students free. Reception following concert. More.

Farmers Market Opening Day

Saturday, May 31
9 am - 1 pm
Roeliff Jansen Park

It's back and is bigger and better than ever. Ample parking, picnic tables, and a covered roof are some of the amenities that make the Roe Jan Park's "Harvest Barn" a comfortable location for the market. Read all about it here.

Fifth Annual Library Celebration

Saturday, May 31
5 - 7:30 pm
Camp Pontiac, West Copake

"It's a Party! Come Celebrate!" is the theme for the annual Roeliff Jansen Community Library fundraising event to be held on Saturday, May 31, in the Theater at Camp Pontiac in West Copake. This year's party will be a Celebration of the Library, of the beginning of summer, of good friends and good food! More details here.

Hold the Date: Hillsdale Historic House Tour

Saturday, August 16

11 - 3 pm

This year's Historic House Tour will include homes that belonged to one of Hillsdale's founding families as well as other notable houses on the same road. Visitors will enjoy a box lunch, an exhibit at the restored Town Hall and a brief (and mostly true) talk by the town historian about the origins of Hillsdale and the interesting folks who lived in the featured houses.

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 625 subscribers, the Hillsdale Newsletter is a great place to promote your upcoming event. Email details, suggestions or questions to hillsdalecalendar@gmail.com .

Peter Cipkowski, Editor

Vivian deGeorges, Editor

The Town of Hillsdale, New York

www.hillsdaleny.com