Greetings from Copake
Copake Connection is an online newsletter brought to you by the Town of Copake. This newsletter will publicize community events throughout the Town of Copake and will be published once a month, on the 15th of the month. The editor is Roberta Roll. All submissions should be sent to roberta.roll@gmail.com no later than the 10th of the month. The newsletter will be distributed to anyone who wishes to subscribe. Simply click the mailing list icon below.
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Table of Contents
Supervisor's Desk
Columbia County Board of Supervisors
Columbia County Department of Health
Remembering a Friend
Copake History
Grange Events
Roeliff Jansen Community Library
What's Happening at the Library
Friends Book Shop
Summer Camp 2021
Park Commission
Eco-tips
K.I.S.S.
Columbia County DOH Free Rabies Clinics
Copake Outdoors
Ways to Stay Informed and Help
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From the Supervisor’s Desk
Copake Wants to be Heard
Before I was a town supervisor, I was a trial lawyer. In spite of my efforts, a fair number of my clients were found guilty. One thing I learned is that the clients who exercised their right to a trial and had their day in court were more satisfied as they went to do their sentence than those who had accepted a plea deal and gotten less time. Because here’s the thing: the right to a trial is important. Due process, the right to an impartial hearing with sworn testimony and the right to cross examine are important. The right to be heard is important.
Recently I read a statement from Alex Campbell of Hecate Energy in which he lauded 94-C, the process by which Hecate Energy is applying for a permit to build an industrial solar plant in Copake. Mr. Campbell called the process “one of the country’s most rigorous [siting] programs.” Mr. Campbell claimed that the “process requires extensive review of the projects’ environmental impacts and input from the local community.”
The problem is that 94-C is not a rigorous process. 94-C does not provide for a meaningful opportunity for the public to be heard. Most fundamental, 94-C does not guarantee a trial. Prior to the passage of 94-C, Hecate was proceeding by way of Article 10. Although Article 10 bypassed local processes, at least it required numerous rigorous findings on environmental impact and required the siting board to find cause before overriding local laws.
In March 2020, New York State was considering legislation to create a process faster than Article 10. The Copake Town Board and the County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing the proposed legislation, decrying the loss of home rule. In April 2020, over these objections, the NYS Legislature passed the new law, creating 94-C. The purpose was not to increase the rigor with which proposed renewable energy applications were reviewed. The sole purpose was to speed up the process by inhibiting public participation. The process was meant to remove the “red tape.”
In this case, “the red tape” includes the right to a trial. Under 94-C there is no siting board which considers the specifics of each case, hears testimony and arguments. 94-C is an administrative, not a judicial process, whereby the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) checks the developer’s application to make sure it has a minimum number of studies. The standards applied are uniform statewide standards - not specific to the location where the installation is to be sited. There is no objective examination of the findings of any studies before a draft permit is granted. A final permit is issued unless municipalities can convince ORES that a hearing is necessary. This puts the burden on local entities to convince a state agency that they are entitled to a trial. The rights of municipalities and citizens have been sacrificed on the altar of expediency.
And then things got worse. This March, New York State proposed that part of the state budget would exempt the 94-C process from the requirements of SEQRA, the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act which requires all state and local government agencies to consider environmental impacts of a project. Again, both the town and Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing the proposed law. At first we heard the SEQRA exemption was off the table. Then, after the budget was approved, we heard that the exemption was slipped back in at the last moment and approved.
Before I was a lawyer, I was a kid growing up in Copake, riding on calls with my father, who was a large animal vet. We rode from barn to barn through these beautiful hills and farms. I fully understand the urgency to protect the planet, but I also understand that we are stewards of this place we call home. It is our responsibility to protect the local environment here in Copake. If Hecate would come to the town prepared to listen and address our concerns we could agree to a more compact, more carefully sited solar installation. Given that New York State has given them free rein to do as they please, it is no wonder that they do not care about Copake.
Jeanne E. Mettler
Town Supervisor
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Columbia County Board of Supervisors Passes Resolution in Opposition to Shepherd’s Run
In a unanimous vote on May 12, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing the construction of Shepherd’s Run as currently proposed.
The resolution was drafted by Town of Copake Supervisor with input from Ron Knott, Supervisor of the Town of Stuyvesant. The resolution, which can be found here, was critical of both the accelerated process known as 94-C, which accelerates the permitting process for industrial scale solar installations, as well as the SEQRA exemption passed as part of the 2021 NYS budget. The resolution, which will be sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo, urges the governor and the NY State legislature to “adopt legislation which would meet the challenges of climate change without violating home rule and local zoning powers and which would more fairly distribute the responsibility of confronting climate change among all communities throughout the state instead of placing a disproportionate burden on small rural communities.”
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Columbia County Department of Health to Vaccinate in Copake
Jack Mabb, the Director of the Columbia County Department of Health, has announced that vaccinations will be administered at the Copake Park Building on Thursday, June 3 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The department will offer both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
In view of the recent announcement by the CDC that those who are fully vaccinated
need not wear masks or practice social distancing, this is especially exciting news.
As more details become available, they will be posted on the Copake website.
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Remembering a Friend to Copake – Dean Knox
Dean Knox, who was a native of Copake, died on April 18, 2021. Dean graduated from Taconic Hills in 1976. He served as the head of engineering at the Columbia County Department of Public Works, where he worked for 42 years. Dean never forgot his roots, and loved Copake.
Dean championed efforts to rehabilitate County Route 7A in the Hamlet of Copake and was successful in securing federal and state funds to finance the work. He was instrumental in convincing the Columbia County Board of Supervisors to approve the project last year, even amidst the county’s financial concerns over the pandemic. Dean met with the Copake citizens’ committee which was appointed to work with the consultant hired by the county and expressed his enthusiasm for the project. When the consultant met for the first time with the committee, last December, Dean presented a slide show with pictures of Copake as the town looked when he was a boy.
The Town Board closed its May meeting with a moment of silence in honor of Dean.
Dean's passing is a loss for Copake, for the county and for all those who called him a friend. Dean was very good at what he did, but he was also an incredibly good and kind person. We shall miss him. We send our deepest sympathy to his family.
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Copake History
Was the Bash Bish Inn a Gathering Place for Spies?
In 1915, Dr. Konstantine Dumba, the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, was visiting the Bash Bish Inn in Copake Falls. The previous year, war had broken out in July, and Americans and their government were wary of the possibility that we would be dragged into it. During Dumba’s visit, a German-speaking waiter overheard him in a suspicious conversation. There were already stories circulating that the inn had been a gathering place for spies. The waiter allegedly repeated what he heard to the authorities and six days later the story was reported in U.S. newspapers.
The newspapers reported that Dumba had given an American journalist a letter for delivery to Foreign Minister Baron Burián von Rajecz in Vienna, which proposed a plan to instigate strikes in American manufacturing plants engaged in the production of munitions of war, munitions which the Allied powers needed. The U.S. itself was not yet involved in the war. The so-called 'Dumba Affair' quickly became a scandal, as a result of which, on September 27, Dumba was expelled from the U.S.
Warning: If you are a spy, watch what you say in Copake Falls. You never know who’s listening.
Photos: The Bash Bish Inn (courtesy Roe Jan Library)
Howard Blue
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Saturday, May 15, 7:30pm - Radio Dramas “Murder on Mike” and “Back Seat Driver.” The Two of Us Productions live staged readings. In “Murder on Mike” a frustrated radio drama writer decides he’s finally going to end the show on his own terms. He intends to commit a murder during a live broadcast! In “Backseat Driver” a husband and wife out for a night at the movies are carjacked by a murderer on the run. He thinks he’s made his escape, but the murderer only thinks that he’s in control of the situation! Register to attend by going to www.thetwoofusproductions.org. For more information contact constancerlopez@gmail.com or call (518) 329-6293.
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Saturday, May 29, 9am-12pm - Spring Plant Sale. Celebrate spring and gardens at our fourth annual Spring Plant Sale. We’ll have perennials, ground covers, shrubs, flower pots, tools and a special one-of-a-kind handcrafted potting bench. Rain or shine outside the Grange under our tents. Cash or check only. If you have items to contribute, contact us at copakegrangeplantsale@gmail.com
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Saturday, May 29, 9am-12pm - Saturday Giving. June First Saturday Giving is scheduled early this time, to coincide with the Spring Plant Sale. Make donations at the Grange to the Taconic Hills School District emergency supply closet (personal care and household items such as toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent), the Milk Can Fund (loose change to build a fund to help address community needs), or the Roe Jan Food Pantry (non-perishable food items). For more information contact Peggy Lewis plewispotok@gmail.com or Rita Jakubowski rlj304@gmail.com.
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The Grange Speaker Series will run the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm on Zoom (or in person when feasible), featuring a variety of speakers and topics focused on agriculture and food, the environment, history, and education. If you would like to give a presentation, please contact the Grange at copakegrange@gmail.com
June event TBD. Check the Grange website for details at copakegrange.org/events.
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Open Mic Night - Friday, June 4, 7:00-9:00pm. LIVE and IN-PERSON!
Live open mic is back and it’s great! Come on down to the Grange and join us with your instruments, songs, poems, stories, skits, etc. We have a piano.
Masks are required except when performing. Social distancing is maintained. For more information, contact copakegrange@gmail.com.
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Saturday, June 5, 7:30pm - “Girl with a Camera.” The Two of Us Productions virtual live staged reading. How does a creative artist come to terms with sudden fame? Photographer Ivy Wilmot found success as a journalist, but became a public figure when she married a movie star. As the marriage unraveled, so too did her career. “Girl with a Camera” shows us a life that couldn’t be constrained in the borders of a photograph. Register to attend by going to www.thetwoofusproductions.org. For more information contact constancerlopez@gmail.com or call (518) 329-6293.
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Saturday, June 26, 7:30pm - Radio Dramas - “Week Ago Wednesday” and “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” The Two of Us Productions virtual live staged readings. In “A Week Ago Wednesday” a married couple’s quarrel turns into something terrible when Maude Haskins returns home to make up with her husband and finds someone else is living in what she thought was her apartment! In “The Man Who Knew Too Much” two gentlemen meet on a commuter train. As they pass the time on the train in quiet discussion, it occurs to Mr. Pender that Mr. Smith knows far too much about how to commit a murder and get away with it! Register to attend by going to www.thetwoofusproductions.org. For more information contact constancerlopez@gmail.com or call (518) 329-6293
To learn more about the Grange and to see all our programs, go to copakegrange.org.
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Roeliff Jansen Community Library Wants your Input and Opinions!
We want to serve you better, and to do so, we need your help. This is YOUR library, so we need to know what YOU want.
This survey is for both those who use the library and those who do not. The information gathered will be used to guide our decisions on library collections, programs, services, hours, communication, and more. We hope you can spare five minutes to help the library better serve our community.
You may complete the survey online or pick up a paper copy at the library.
Thank you for your feedback!
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What’s Happening at the Library?
Extended Hours at the Library. Roeliff Jansen Community Library is open for both curbside and in-library service. Patrons must wear masks and follow protocol in order to be permitted into the library. For full details, including our new hours of operation, visit our website at www.roejanlibrary.org/reopening/.
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Thursdays, 9:00-10:00am
Virtual Senior Balance and Strength Class. Dr. Paul Spector is leading his popular Balance and Strength Class on Zoom. These classes introduce exercises that improve postural stability, core strength, spatial body awareness, sensory integration, agility and coordination. For more details, including login information, please visit our website at www.roejanlibrary.org/adult-programs/.
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Mondays & Thursdays, 9:00-10:30am
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Saturdays, 10:00am-12:00pm
Outdoor Storytime. Our Children’s and Youth Services Associate, Tia, will now be hosting storytime outdoors at the Copake-Hillsdale Farmers Market beginning May 22. Social distancing is required. All ages welcome.
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Saturday, May 15, 12:00-2:00pm
Teen & Youth Job Fair. Looking for a Summer Job or Internship? Come to a one-stop Job Fair at Roeliff Jansen Community Library! Many area employers will be here ready to meet and maybe hire you -- from camps and state parks, to restaurants, retail and more! Free, outdoor event. Open to ages 14 to 24. Rain date: Saturday, May 22. Visit our website at www.roejanlibrary.org/teen-events/ for more details.
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Tuesday, May 18, 4:00pm
Board of Trustees Meeting. All meetings are open to the public. Please email director@roejanlibrary.org for Zoom login information.
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Thursday, May 20, 5:45-6:45pm
Tech Lab: Library Apps (Libby/Kanopy/Hoopla/Overdrive). Explore the many digital services offered by the library, including e-books, audiobooks, music, and more. Please email director@roejanlibrary.org to register.
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Thursday, May 27, 5:45-6:45pm
Tech Lab: Google Search Tips. A deep dive into tabs, quotes, and hyphens, and other search tools. Please email director@roejanlibrary.org to register.
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Sunday, May 30, 3:00-4:30pm
Concert in the Park: Matt and Atla DeChamplain. Matt and Atla DeChamplain return for a concert at the Hilltop Barn at Roeliff Jansen Park. Admission is free. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Social distancing must be maintained at all times.
This concert is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered in Columbia County by Greene County Council on the Arts dba CREATE Council for Resources to Enrich the Arts, Technology & Education.
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Thursday, June 3, 5:45-6:45pm
Tech Lab: iPhone Tips & Tricks. Learn about little-known iPhone features and how to use your iPhone more effectively. Please email director@roejanlibrary.org to register.
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Monday, June 14, 11:00am–4:00pm
Healthcare Navigator Appointments. A Navigator from the Healthcare Consortium will be available by appointment on the second Monday of each month, from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Navigators can assist individuals and families in Columbia and Greene Counties with shopping for, comparing, and enrolling in quality, affordable health insurance, including Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan, through the New York State of Health Official Health Plan Marketplace. Navigators can also assist with applying for financial assistance to help pay for coverage.
Navigator services are free of charge. Please call 518-822-9600 to make an appointment.
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Wednesday, June 16, 7:00-8:00pm
Chitt Chat: Snails. Join Chittenango Ovate amber snail expert Cody Gilbertson for a lesson on a snail that is so rare, it only exists in one place: the Chittenango Falls state park. This online program, geared towards adults, is hosted by Claverack Free Library, Hudson Area Library, Philmont Public Library, and Roeliff Jansen Community Library. Stay tuned for Zoom login information.
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Friends Book Shop Opens Again
Friends of the Rolieff Jansen Community Library will open the Friends Book Shop again on Saturday, June 5 from 10am-2pm.
They will be open every Saturday through Labor Day. We have many wonderful new books. Please visit. Come and find wonderful books at great prices!
The address of the library is 9091 NY Rt. 22.
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Copake Summer Park Program is Back!
The 2021 Summer Park Program will run from July 5 to August 13.
There is limited enrollment this year with a maximum of 75 campers, so get your applications in as soon as possible. Applications will not be accepted
after the limit is reached.
For Copake residents, the cost is $100 per camper or $250 per family.
Registration for Copake residents will run from May 17 to June 26.
The cost for out-of-town residents is $300 per camper. If space is available, registration for out-of-town residents will run from June 21 to June 26.
To successfully enroll a camper, you will need to do the following:
• Fill out an application form.
• Sign the COVID-19 Consent Form.
• Make payment.
* All applications must be turned in or sent to the Copake Town Hall, 230 Mountain View Rd., Copake, NY 12516.
For applications, COVID-19 guidelines and Consent Form, please go to the town website townofcopake.org.
If you are 16 years or older and interested in becoming a counselor for the summer park program, please email the director at bryan.vantassel3@gmail.com
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Park Commission Plans Summer Fun and Seeks Volunteers
The Copake Park Commission is pleased to announce that they will be having the Summer Concert Series every Saturday night beginning 6/26/21 and running until 8/27/21. The bands will be performing a variety of musical styles from 7:00-9:00pm.
COVID-19 guidelines for outdoor events will be strictly adhered to. A new and exciting feature will be the addition of various food trucks serving from 6:00-8:00pm! Stay tuned for details.
The Park Commission is seeking volunteers to participate and assist with the planning of events throughout the year. The commission meets on the second Monday of the month, and as needed. Exciting things are being planned for 2021!
Those interested should send or email a letter of interest to Copake Town Clerk, Lynn Connolly at copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org or 230 Mountain View Rd., Copake, NY 12516 by May 3, 2021.
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Eco-Tips
Look for the Zero: Use Only Phosphorus-Free Lawn Fertilizer
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos has announced the launch of the state’s annual "Look for the Zero" public awareness campaign that encourages homeowners to go phosphorus-free when using lawn fertilizer. DEC is encouraging consumers to review bag labels for phosphorus content when shopping for fertilizer. Fertilizer labels have three numbers. The number in the middle is the percentage of phosphorus in the product.
Regardless of the lawn's location, excess phosphorus can wash off and pollute lakes and streams, harming fish and ruining boating and swimming. More than 100 water bodies in New York State cannot be used or enjoyed due to phosphorus overuse. For more information, visit DEC's Lawn Fertilizer webpage.
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Copake Outdoors
If you are like a lot of us, you have been spending more time outdoors this past year.
Hiking, swimming, biking, kayaking, “forest bathing” (it’s a new term, but an old practice - namely, walking in the woods), or just basking in the sun.
Wouldn’t it be fun to join a small group for outdoor outings this spring, summer and
autumn? A small cohort of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts has volunteered to set up
various organized hikes, bicycle rides, kayaking and other outdoor activities in and around the Roe Jan area starting later this spring.
Would you like to be a part of the group? You can participate in one or many of the outings. Would you like to lead an outing? Please contact Peggy Lewis at plewispok@gmail.com or Roberta Roll at roberta.roll@gmail.com. Send us your name, address and phone number, as well as activities you would be interested in participating in, and /or outings you would like to lead.
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Ways to Stay Informed and to Help
In this difficult time, we want to stay as informed as we can and as connected as we can. Also, many people want to help by shopping for those who find it difficult, making meals, and doing other errands.
Below are some websites you can go to in order to find information on all of these things.
To subscribe to the Copake email newsletter, the Copake Connection, you can access the town's website, townofcopake.org
To subscribe to Hillsdale's email newsletter, News from Town Hall, you can access the Hillsdale website, hillsdaleny.com
To subscribe to Ancram's email newsletter, Ancramemail, you can access Ancram's website, townofancram.org
for online events and ways to volunteer through the Match-Up Program.
The Roe Jan Food Pantry - call Vernetta Moore at 413-446-9431 or Betty White at 518-325-3977
Financial contributions welcome. Mail to:
Roe Jan Food Pantry
PO Box 475
Hillsdale, NY 12529.
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If you wish to submit an article or notice regarding a community event taking place in the Town of Copake to the Copake Connection, please e-mail: thecopakeconnection@gmail.com. All submissions should be received by us by noon on the 10th of the month.
For more and current information on Meetings in Copake and events throughout the Roe Jan area, go to the Copake Website.
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Contact
Copake Town Hall
230 Mountain View Road
Copake, NY 518-329-1234
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