It's officially spring and that means it's time for clean-up. The Town of Hillsdale Garage on Old Town Road will be open on Saturday morning, May 9, 9 am to noon, to receive your discarded stuff. One load per Hillsdale resident. No exceptions. No household garbage, toxins, empty paint cans, old tires, or computer monitors. Cash and check donations will be accepted to support the Summer Youth Program. By the way, hazardous waste is handled at the County Highway Garage on Route 23B in Greenport. Check out their website for details.

We were all very sorry to see B&G close its doors last month after decades on the same site. As we learn from viewing the old post cards and photographs of Hillsdale, nothing stays the same. But we're very happy to report that Chuck Weldon, owner of the IGA, is opening a new wine shop on Anthony Street, next door to Trudy's Beauty Shop. It won't be the first time, as some Hillsdalers will recall, that spirits and haircuts were under the same roof. We hope this is a happy omen for Hillsdale Fine Wine and Spirits, scheduled to open as soon as the license is granted by the State. "Memorial Day, if we're lucky," says Chuck. "But more likely sometime in June." Fingers crossed! 

For better or worse, it's our custom to share links about Hillsdale in the news. As reported in the Register Star, "it has been alleged the Hillsdale Highway Department has not fulfilled legal obligations to their local Teamsters union, a union official wrote in a letter to the town supervisor." Town Board minutes/videos. 

For a second year, the Roeliff Jansen Community Library has joined with local restaurants to sponsor "Dine Out for the Library," an event to raise funds for children's programming at the library. Twelve local Roe Jan restaurants are donating 10% of their dinner totals (two restaurants donated breakfast and lunch) from a given date. A few local classics coming up: Hillsdale House on April 8, Taconic Wayside Inn on April 15, and the Swiss Hutte on April 23. More here.