The goal of this newsletter is to share a bit of local news and shine a spotlight on the interesting things that are happening  in Hillsdale and nearby.

News from Town Hall
Whippoorwill Road

In April, the Town Board voted unanimously to accept an Irrevocable Offer of Cession from the Tory Hills Associates on a .93-acre parcel at the foot of Whippoorwill Road. The land will be transferred to town ownership and is the  first step toward developing a safer Whippoorwill exit and entrance.

Supervisor Cipkowski and Highway Superintendent Briggs will be meeting with the NYS DOT to discuss next steps.

More in the Columbia Paper

NYSERDA Video

Hillsdale is one of a few New York State communities that will be recognized in an upcoming NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) video series for our focus on b uilding a more sustainable community.  A video crew will be in town on May 8.  The final video will be available for viewing later this summer and will be posted in this newsletter.

Why Hillsdale? As a Clean Energy Community, Hillsdale has developed a strategy and work plan for establishing a baseline for the town's current emissions, for recommending reduction targets, for identifying new strategies for energy efficiency, and for recommending ways in which these strategies can be incorporated into the town's economic development and planning efforts. 

RFP: Web Designer for Town Website

The Town of Hillsdale is seeking a web designer and developer to update its website.
 
A detailed request for proposal is available by email:   HillsdaleRFP@gmail.com, or for pick-up from the Town Clerk,  located at The Hillsdale Town Hall, 2609 State Route 23, Hillsdale NY 12529, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 10 am - 1 pm.
 
Sealed bids must be received by mail or delivered by hand to the Town Clerk at Hillsdale Town Hall, PO Box 305, 2609 State Route 23, Hillsdale, NY 12529 by 1 pm, May24, 2019.

Clean-up in May

Volunteers Still Wanted for Hamlet and Historic Hillsdale Committees

The Town Board is still welcoming volunteers for two newly reconstituted town committees. If you'd like more information or want to join one of the committees outlined below, please contact me at townsupervisor@fairpoint.net. A meeting date will be announced later this month.
 
Mission of the Historic Hillsdale Committee
The Historic Hillsdale Committee works to preserve the unique heritage of the town of Hillsdale, including public buildings, homes, historic sites, trails, landscapes and other features of the town in order to protect and preserve that which gives Hillsdale its character and enhances our quality of life.
 
Mission of the Hillsdale Hamlet Committee
The Hamlet Committee works to improve upon the small-community atmosphere and cohesiveness of the Hamlet of Hillsdale while fostering the development of a safe, attractive, accessible, and friendly town center in which Hamlet residents and businesses can flourish. The primary role of the committee is to help realize the vision set forth in the Hillsdale Comprehensive Plan.

Photo above: Jan Keefner's magnolia tree blooming outside Town Hall

Photo below:  B. Docktor snapped this pic at Hillsdale's centennial rededication of the Soldier's and Sailor's monument on Memorial Day 2016. This year's parade returns to Hillsdale and starts at 11 am, Monday, May 27. See you there!


A Note from the Town Assessor
The Tentative Assessment Roll for the Town of Hillsdale is complete. A copy may be viewed at the Hillsdale Town Hall from May 1 until May 30, 2019 during normal business hours or online at www.hillsdaleny.com or www.columbiacountyny.com. All results from all the informal meetings held in March have been mailed. If you do not receive the notice by the end of the first week of May, please contact me or go directly online.

An Assessor will be in attendance with the Tentative Assessment Roll at the Town Hall on May 10, 17, and 24, during the hours of 8:15 am-12:15 pm, May 11 from 9 am-1 pm and May 21 from 4 pm- 8 pm.
 
The Board of Assessment Review for the Town of Hillsdale will meet to hear and examine all properly filed complaints in relation to assessments of Real Property at the Town Hall, 2609 Rt. 23, Hillsdale NY on May 30, 2019 during the hours of 4 to 8 pm.
 
A publication containing procedures for contesting an assessment is available at the Town Hall or the Columbia County Real Property Tax Office as well as online.
 
Pamela Cook
Hillsdale Assessor

Photo below: Dodds' Store on Route 22 in North Hillsdale in the 1920s


Special Event at Town Hall on Saturday, May 18
On Saturday, May 18, Hillsdale's Safe at Home Committee is hosting a Meet-and-Greet in the Hillsdale Town Hall to listen to town seniors and caregivers share what they need, which services would help them most, and how the Town and Safe At Home Committee can help them. 

The event starts at 10 am, is free, and will include light refreshments.

In addition to the Meet-and-Greet, the committee is asking seniors and caregivers to complete the two page Needs Assessment Survey they recently received in the mail. This needs assessment survey will help provide even more information for future development of programs and services for our seniors to age in place successfully.

Members of the Hillsdale Safe at Home Committee are Lynne Colclough, Joyce Lapenn, Natalie Kahan, Shirley Bresler, Rene Gibson, Lynda Brenner, Timi Bates, Tina Sharpe, Mary Lou and Chris Kersten.

For additional information call Natalie Kahan (518)265-2113.
Support Summer Kids
With a unique location in the Roeliff Jansen Park, Hillsdale's summer youth program puts an emphasis on nature and the great outdoors. The 2019 summer program is open to children ages 5 to 13 and runs from July 8 through August 16. 

At $150 per student for six weeks, some children are not able to attend. Your tax deductible contribution can fix that.

Please consider making a contribution to ensure that all campers can participate. Make your check out to the Roeliff Jansen Park, and mail to Town Supervisor, PO Box 305, Hillsdale, NY 12529.

Write "Support Summer Kids" in the memo.


Family Day at Roe Jan Museum
On Saturday, May 18 , the Roeliff Janson Historical Society welcomes children and their families to join in the first annual Family Day at the Museum. Inside the Museum, decked out with antique toys and books, kids of all ages will have the opportunity to play old time games, hear stories, and learn how things were done in the days before electricity. Families can also venture outside for a scavenger hunt to discover amazing details about the area's hidden history. Visitors are also invited to continue their path through history at the nearby Copake Iron Works complex, where the area's once rich industrial past comes to life.
 
Light refreshments will be served, and special prizes awarded to all participants.


Join a Community Conversation
The Roeliff Jansen Community Library is convening a series of community conversations with groups of residents of the Roe Jan community. Each 90 minute to two hour conversation will provide an opportunity to discuss what might make a difference in strengthening this community.
 
These will not be conversations about the library, town business or politics - they will be conversations about what matters to residents like you. They are meant to help us all understand our community better and to forge a better way for getting things done together.
 
Please participate in one of these conversations:
  • Saturday, May 11, 10 am - 12 pm: Ancram Firehouse, 1306 Cty Rt. 7
  • Saturday, May 18, 2 pm - 4 pm: Hillsdale Firehouse, 9378 Rt. 22
  • Wednesday, May 29, 6 pm - 8 pm: Copake Firehouse, 390 Cty. Rt. 7A
  • Tuesday, June 18, 12 pm -2 pm, Our Lady of Hope Parish Hall, 8974 Rt. 22, Copake Falls (Light lunch to be served)
Please  register here  or RSVP at 518 325-4101 or  rjcl9091@gmail.com

5K in Park Benefits Taconic Hills Scholars
On Sunday, June 2, beginning at 10 am, the annual 5K gets underway at the Roeliff Jansen Park to raise funds for local scholars at Taconic Hills. Pre-register for $20 or for $25 on the day of the event. 

Contact Joe Raco at (518) 929-9960 if you'd like to participate or volunteer. Or just mail your pre-registration check, made out to "TH Dollars for Scholars," to Joe Raco, PO Box 593, Philmont, NY 12565.
 
Runners, walkers, teams, and cheerleaders welcome!  Don't want to walk or run?  Come and watch or volunteer your time for a great cause!
 
All proceeds benefit Dollars for Scholars and scholarships that honor the Titans we've lost.

Library to Honor Charlotte Shutts
This year, the library will honor Charlotte Shutts at the 10th Annual Library Gala on Saturday, June 8. A life-long Hillsdale resident, Charlotte has been a valued library volunteer for 15 years since she retired as manager of the Copake Key Bank. She has served as Secretary of the Friends of the Roeliff Jansen Library, then Treasurer, and finally President for seven years. She can still be found at the library circulation desk every Friday morning.
 
Charlotte was a founder in 1990 of Christmas Friends, a program that operates out of the Hillsdale United Methodist Church. She remains a moving force behind the program, which provides gifts to over 70 disadvantaged families with kids. And, in her spare time, she is involved with several other philanthropic activities in the area.
 
The Gala, or "Party in the Park," is a great kick-off to the summer season. As always, there will be delicious food from local chefs and restaurants to enjoy with tasty wines, and great music. The Auction Committee is already on the hunt for unique items for the silent auction, and they promise some real blockbusters for the live auction.
 
Tickets are $125 and are available at the library or at roejanlibrary.org
Thanks for reading this newsletter.   If you want to promote your upcoming event on the Hillsdale calendar, share an old photo, or write an article or two, I'd love to hear from you.
 
Peter Cipkowski, Town Supervisor and Town Crier