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 Report
Resolution in Support of Veterans and Operation Green Light
Town Board Authorizes Cannabis Dispensaries in Copake
Solar Report
Town of Copake Seek Volunteers to Organize Bicentennial
Ethics Board Seek Members
ZBA Seek Members
Park Commission Seek Volunteers
Copake Outdoors
From Bags to Tags
Copake History
Grange Events
Drive Through Thanksgiving Dinner
Help Make Hamlet of Copake Festive - Adopt a Holiday Tree!
Holiday Festivities - Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
Knit Club Fundraiser
Winter Walk
What's Happening at the Library
K.I.S.S.
Prescriptions
Eco-tips
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From the Supervisor’s Desk
Good News in Copake!
Election Day
First, we congratulate Town Board Members Richard Wolf and Jeffrey Judd. They ran uncontested on Election Day and to no one’s surprise, both were reelected. Also reelected was Town Justice Glenn Schermerhorn, who was likewise unopposed. We congratulate all three and thank them for their continued public service.
ARPA Funds
Second, an update regarding ARPA funds. ARPA funds are the Federal funds which Copake is receiving as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act. The town has already received $174,050.76 in ARPA funds. We will ultimately receive $348,101.52. We have until December 3, 2024 to obligate the funds.
As I mentioned last meeting, I have been concerned, since the legislation is quite restrictive in how the money can be spent. If the Federal Government later decides that a town spent inappropriately, they can ask for a return of the funds. Therefore, I was very pleased to learn that the United States Senate has passed a bill which significantly expands the eligibility of American Rescue Plan Act funding for local governments. I have written to Congressman Antonio Delgado urging that House pass the Senate bill. Expanding eligible uses and allowing for more flexibility will clear up some of the confusion that has arisen surrounding how to use these funds. More importantly, it will allow the town to better serve our communities and use the funding where it is most useful and most needed.
In the months to come, the board will decide how best to hear from the public on how these funds should be spent, but in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me.
Copake Bicentennial
Finally, 2024 is the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Copake. I want to encourage everyone in Copake to be involved in the planning and organizing of our bicentennial. We hope to appoint a bicentennial committee which will represent the town. Whether you grew up here or moved here recently, whether you are working and raising a family or retired, whether you live here 12 months of the year or only summers or only on the weekend, we want to hear your thoughts. Please consider applying for the committee by sending a letter of intent to Town Clerk, Lynn Connolly by December 7 at noon. If you have questions please let us know!
Jeanne E. Mettler
Town Supervisor
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Town Board Passes Resolution in Support of Veterans and Operation Green Light
At the Town Board meeting on November 11, the Copake Town Board observed Veteran’s Day by adopting a Resolution to “Supporting Operation Green Light for Active Military Service Members in Transition to Civilian Life (Veteran Status).” In the Resolution the town announced that in support of “Operation Green Light,” a green light would be lit in Town Hall from Veteran’s Day through November 13, 2021.
Operation Green Light is a new initiative supported by the NYS Association of Counties and the NYS County Veteran Service Officers’ Association. Operation Green Light’s mission is to show support for veterans of all military conflicts, with a special emphasis on the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as raise awareness about the challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available at the county, state, and federal level to assist veterans and their families.
In further recognition of Veterans Day, the board invited Margaret Anderson to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Anderson was a captain in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps and served from 1968 to 1976. She served in Turkey. She is a Commander in the Closson-Raught American Legion Post 1160 in Copake Falls.
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Town Board Authorizes Cannabis Dispensaries in Copake
Immediately prior to its November meeting at Town Hall, the Copake Town Board convened a public forum on the New York State Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. Residents attended in person and by video conference. Participants urged the board to allow cannabis dispensaries to operate in Copake. The board also received emails in support from several residents who were unable to attend. The board received no comments opposing cannabis sales in Copake.
Several comments focused on the potential economic benefits to the town, both from sales tax receipts and from secondary benefits to local businesses. People pointed to the experience of Great Barrington, which reportedly has received several million dollars in sales tax revenue in the past three years. In New York, cannabis sales will be taxed at 13%. The state will receive 9%; the 4% local sales tax will be divided between the county (25% ) and the host town (75%).
Others commenters drew attention to the medicinal benefits of cannabis and said they would much prefer to “shop locally” rather than continue to have to drive to one of several dispensaries in Great Barrington to make their purchases.
At the conclusion of the public forum, the board conducted its monthly meeting. It discussed a pending deadline set by the cannabis law: towns that are opposed to the presence of dispensaries are required to pass a local law “opting out” of the state law by December 31, 2021. That is, towns are, by state law, authorized to host dispensaries unless they take the affirmative step of opting out.
Following a lively discussion, a majority of the Town Board voted to allow cannabis dispensaries in Copake. The results of the roll call vote were:
In favor: Supervisor Mettler and Councilpersons Judd and Wolf
Opposed: Councilperson Gansowski
Abstain: Councilperson Sullivan
The Board took no action regarding a second component of the state law, which would allow “on site” consumption of cannabis. This will be considered at the board’s next meeting, which is scheduled for December 9.
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Solar Update
Last month, Supervisor Jeanne Mettler and Deputy Supervisor Richard were scheduled to meet with Hecate’s Project Director to discuss the developer’s latest modifications to it proposal for Shepherd’s Run, a 60-Megawatt utility-scale solar factory it wants to site in Craryville. That meeting was postponed and is now scheduled for November 18.
Hecate has hired a new law firm and appears to be moving more aggressively towards filing a siting application with New York State’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES). It has re-characterized next week’s meeting as the mandated “Section 94-c meeting” that Hecate is required to conduct with the town as a precondition to filing. Copake’s attorney for solar matters and the town’s environmental engineer will attend the meeting. Hecate must then hold a second, mandated meeting with interested members of the community. No sooner than 60 days following the second meeting, Hecate could file an application with ORES.
All of this is happening pursuant to regulations promulgated by ORES. These are the regulations that Copake, as lead petitioner, along with five other upstate, rural towns and seven non-profit avian interest groups and community grass-roots organizations are challenging in court. On November 5, petitioners’ attorneys filed a notice of appeal, indicating the intention to challenge the decision of a State Supreme Court judge who rejected the contentions that the ORES regulations, which were written by a consultant for energy developers, including Hecate, were promulgated in violation of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA) and, importantly, the Home Rule provisions of the State Constitution. ORES’ regulations would allow ORES to ignore Copake’s zoning code and construct a much larger solar energy factory than our laws allow.
Hecate has responded to our longstanding objection that the power plant, as proposed, is much too big. The footprint of Shepherd’s Run has been reduced, once again, to 208 acres, down from the last reduction to 245 acres. Although generating capacity remains the same 60 MWs, the “inside-the-fence” acreage is now well less than half of what Hecate originally sought when it unveiled Shepherd’s Run in January, 2020. However, the town continues to voice its two primary objections: the project is still too big, and it is poorly sited.
The Town Board remains committed to working with Hecate to come up with a project that is more appropriately sized for our small rural town. It is also essential that the facility’s components be effectively screened to preserve Copake’s bucolic, rural character, and to reduce the visual impact on nearby homeowners of large arrays of solar panels seated on steel tracking-mounts that will “follow the sun throughout the day,” inverters, other equipment, and access roads. The town has been assured that at next week’s meeting, Hecate will provide visual simulations, which should give a good idea of how willing the developer is to address this critical concern.
Richard Wolf
Deputy Town Supervisor
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Town of Copake Seeks Volunteers to Organize Bicentennial
In 2024, the Town of Copake will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its founding. The Copake Town Board has created a bicentennial committee which is charged with planning and organizing a yearlong celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Town of Copake. The committee will organize a calendar of events to be held in 2024, which may include public meetings, ceremonies, gatherings, a parade and performances. The committee will endeavor to publicize the history of Copake and encourage interest in Copake’s rich past.
It is the intent of the Town Board that the membership of the committee be diverse and include a broad representation of the town’s residents. The committee shall be comprised of a number of members to be determined. With a view towards wide representation of the many individuals and perspectives in Copake, the Town Board invites letters of interest from part-time and full-time residents, longtime residents and those who have located here more recently, high school and collegeage residents, working people and retired people, members of the Copake Grange, the Roe Jan Young at Hearters, the Friends of Taconic State Park and the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society; and residents from all of the areas of Copake: the Hamlet of Copake, Taconic Shores, Copake Lake, Copake Falls, West Copake, Craryville and North Copake.
In order to encourage input from a wide cross-section of the town, there shall also be an advisory committee to the bicentennial committee. The Town Board and the bicentennial committee will recruit members to the advisory committee. These members need not be interviewed by the board but shall be invited to join to show their support for the bicentennial celebration, to give advice as needed and to be involved in the work of the committee as needed and to the extent they are available. Members of the advisory committee shall be all those listed above, as well as members of the Copake business community, members of previous town administrations, members of the Copake Fire Department, the Craryville Fire Department and members of town committees, including the Copake Economic Development Advisory Committee, the Conservation Advisory Committee, the Historic Preservation Committee, the Park Commission and the Town Hall Project Committee. The advisory committee shall be unlimited in size.
Those interested in volunteering for the bicentennial committee should send or email a letter of interest by December 7, 2021 at 12 noon, to the Copake Town Clerk, Lynn Connolly at copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org or mail to 230 Mountain View Rd., Copake, NY 12516.
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Ethics Board of Appeals Seeks Members
Vacancies on the Ethics Board of Appeals
The Town of Copake will be accepting letters of interest and resumes for the following positions:
Two Members of the Copake Ethics Board – (one member who is an elected or appointed municipal officer or employee)
Information and job descriptions can be obtained from the Supervisor at (518)329-1234 ext. 1.
Letters/resumes must be received by December 1, 2021 and should be mailed to 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516 Attention: Lynn Connolly, Town Clerk or copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org.
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Zoning Board of Appeals Seeks Members
Vacancies on the Zoning Board of Appeals
The town has one vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
If you are interested, please send a letter of interest to Town Clerk, Lynn Connolly at 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516 or email copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org.
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Park Commission Seeks Volunteers
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 2022!
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Copake Outdoors - Next Outing
Copake Outdoors, the local group dedicated to having fun hiking, biking, kayaking and swimming in and around Copake, will have its next outing on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 9:30am.
Last month we hiked into Sage’s Ravine and then ascended up along the Appalachian Trail to Bear Mountain for some fabulous views and autumn color.
On December 5, we’ll take a walk through the Kite Hill section of the Overmountain conservation area, one of the many beautiful areas created and maintained by the Columbia Land Conservancy. The trail head is off Catalano Rd, which is off State Rt. 22, between Millerton and Copake. We will meet in the parking area at the trail head at 9:30am. Feel free to bring friends! For more information and directions, go to https://clctrust.org/public-conservation-areas/overmountain-conservation-area/
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From Bags to Tags
Columbia County Solid Waste is changing from a bag system to a tag system for garbage disposal.
Over the past few months, the Columbia County Solid Waste Department has been experiencing issues with restocking their inventory of county garbage bags. Their vendor, who has been servicing the county for over twenty years, has been unable to secure resin, ink and employees; therefore they have opted out of their contract with the county. Since the county had little success with other vendors who have bid in previous years, they made the decision to switch over to a “tag system.” This system had been discussed in the past, so they felt it was the perfect time to implement.
The county will start distributing tags as their inventory of remaining bags runs out. The new tag system will consist of three different colored tags. Eventually they will no longer offer options for five different-sized bags, as this will simplify the program and the paperwork.
The SMALL tags are $1.00 each, and they will cover bags up to 10 gallons.
The MEDIM tags are $3.00 each, and they will cover bags up to 30 gallons.
The LARGE tags are $5.00 each, and they will cover bags up to 55 gallons.
See you at the transfer station!
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Copake History
The Former Roe Jan School
This month's posting is a fine Main Street Magazine article (click on link below) by Griffin Cooper that appeared in 2020. As a writer I particularly admire Mr. Cooper for the legwork he did in researching the article. He visited Herb and Flora Berquist in Copake and interviewed Peter Cipkowski, and likely others. He also clearly did a good bit of library and/or Internet research.
Howard Blue
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Grange Events
Friday & Saturday 11/12, 11/13, 11/19, 11/20 at 7:30pm and Sunday 11/14, 11/21 at 3:00pm - Cabaret. Presented live and in person by Two of Us Productions. Cabaret, a musical, with dramatic commentary at its heart,
is told through three parallel story lines: the younger couple who are denying reality, Fraulein Sally Bowles and the aspiring novelist Cliff Bradshaw; a romantic sub-plot of love denied in the endearing older couple Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz; and the social commentary of the Master Of Ceremonies. The Kit Kat Klub performers work with the Master of Ceremonies in commenting on the dark cloud of National Socialism that is engulfing 1930s Germany and how the gathering storm is impacting the principle characters. Tickets - $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students and $12 for groups and families. For more information contact ConstanceRLopez@gmail.com or call (513) 329-6293. For tickets go to www.thetwoofusproductions.org.
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Friday, Dec. 3, 7:00-9:00pm - Open Mic Night. 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. For more information, contact copakegrange@gmail.com. |
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Saturday, December 11, 3-5pm - Open House. Come celebrate winter and the holidays at the annual Grange Open House. Hot cider and treats, music, and plenty of good cheer. Bring a donation for the Roe Jan Food Pantry. You can watch the Holiday Parade afterward as it goes through town. |
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Saturday, December 11, 3-5pm - Saturday of Giving. This will be held in conjunction with the Open House. Bring food contribution for the Roe Jan Food Pantry. They are asking especially for boxes of cereal and instant oatmeal packets.
The Copake Grange is located at 628 Empire Rd., near the Clock Tower Pub & Grill. For more information go to copakegrange.org.
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Holiday Festivities
Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
Sunday, December 5th from 12 - 4pm
As part of this year’s Winter Walk in Copake Falls, the festively decorated Roe Jan Historical Society invites you an open house where you can bring the kids to visit Santa and enjoy our annual holiday exhibit. You can also purchase handcrafted wreaths, books, raffle tickets for seasonal prizes, baked goods and beverages. Please join us!
The Roeliff Jansen Historical Society is located at 8 Miles Road in Copake Falls, NY. For more
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What’s Happening at the Library?
Thursdays, 9:00-10:00am
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
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Mondays & Thursdays, 9:00-10:30am
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Satudays, 10:30am
Storytime With Tia. Tia, the library's Children's & Youth Services Asscociate, will be sharing stories and related activities for kids in the Children's Room every Saturday starting at 10:30am. Check our Facebook page for weekly themes. We hope to see you there!
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Tuesday, November 16, 6:00pm
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Wednesday, November 17, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
History Webinar: Meet the Presidents: A Look at the American Presidency. Discover the evolution of the presidency and executive branch and how presidents have interpreted and fulfilled their leadership role with highlights from the New-York Historical Society’s Meet the Presidents exhibit. Highlights include the actual Bible used during George Washington’s inauguration in 1789 and a student scrapbook from 1962 chronicling John F. Kennedy’s leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Email director@roejanlibrary.org to register.
This program is presented by the New-York Historical Society and sponsored by the Columbia
County Libraries Association.
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Thursday, November 18, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Art Workshop: The Circle Game: Color and the Delaunays. Artist Tia Maggio will be leading three art workshops that experiment with different styles and mediums. In this second workshop, we will take inspiration from French artists Robert and Sonia Delaunay, who co-founded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colors and geometric shapes. Working with colored pencils, we will create our own circular color masterpieces. All
supplies provided.
Registration is required. Space is limited to 10 participants. Register by emailing
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Tuesday, November 23, 11:00am
How to Make a Personal Memory Book. In honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, join us for a workshop in which we will share tips and tricks for making your own personal memory books, boxes, and activity kits. These creative collections are suitable for those suffering from memory loss, their caregivers, or anyone who is generally interested in compiling personal histories in fun and meaningful ways. This will be a virtual workshop, held via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, email director@roejanlibrary.org
This project has been supported by a grant from the Fund for Columbia County of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and it is offered in partnership with Hudson Area Library, Claverack Free Library, Philmont Public Library, and the Hudson NY Senior Center.
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Thursday, December 9, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Art Workshop: Joan Mitchell's Abstractions and Losing Your Inhibitions. In this third workshop, we will take inspiration from the abstract expressionism of American painter and printmaker Joan Mitchell. We will work in acrylic paint as we summarize our world
using gestural brushstrokes and bold colors. All supplies provided.
Registration is required. Space is limited to 10 participants. Register by emailing
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Saturday, December 11, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Virtual Visits with Santa. Once again, Santa will need to visit area children from the safety of his home in the North Pole. But we will bring him to the Roe Jan Library via Zoom. Children will be able to sign up for times to meet with Santa. Bring your holiday wish lists!
Children can sign up for 5 minutes of personal time with Santa to let him know how good they
have been this year and what their wishes are for the holidays and the year to come. Parents
Parents--please change your Zoom display name to your child's name when you log in to help
Santa out.
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Monday, December 13, 11:00am - 4:00pm Health Care Navigator Appointments. A Navigator from the Healthcare Consortium will be available the second Monday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. beginning December 14. 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. You can make an appointment by calling (518) 822-9600.
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Monday, December 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
The Attack on Pearl Harbor. Join us for the third of a series of history programs on FDR,
presented by Jeff Urbin, educator from the Roosevelt Presidential Museum and Library in Hyde
Park.
Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor stunned the American public and galvanized support for the war. This session explores the questions “Should we have been, and could we have been, more prepared?”
This program is cosponsored by the Roeliff Jansen Community Library, Hudson Area Library,
Claverack Free Library, and Philmont Public Library.
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Eco Tips for Healthy Living
We are approaching holiday time, which includes celebratory meals and perhaps more cooking for family and friends. In the United States, at least 25% of purchased food goes to waste. Wasted food has both economic and environmental consequences. Here are some tips to reduce food waste.
• Inventory what you already have in the refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards. Do this before shopping and build meals around the ingredients you have "on hand."
• Plan your meals and shopping list prior to going to the store or farmers market. Stick to your plan and anticipate the amount of servings needed so you can be as close to "zero" waste as possible. Don't forget to bring your own bag before you head out.
• Freeze items while they are still good. Bread is a good example -- if you know you will not use the whole loaf before it goes stale or moldy, freeze it. Freeze leftovers if you realize they won’t get eaten soon.
• Cook creatively to reduce waste. You can use up extra ingredients, past-prime foods, and leftovers by making soups, sauces, casseroles, frittatas, pies or smoothies, or using a recipe generator to find recipes that will give your food a new and delicious twist.
• Food scraps can be used to make vegetable broth for a base for soups and sauces. You can also compost your food scraps. Collect peelings from your traditional holiday foods such as pumpkins, squashes, and potatoes, and other kitchen scraps to give them new life as compost. Compost only vegetable scraps.
• Most of our wasted food ends up in a landfill where methane gas is generated as it decomposes in the absence of air. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes to climate change.
• Wasting food wastes resources. Growing, packaging, transporting and refrigerating food uses labor, water, energy, and other inputs. When we waste food, we also waste these resources.
• In addition to the environmental impacts and the waste resources, financial resources are wasted. The value of uneaten food per US household is almost $1000 per year.
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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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