May 2024

Table of Contents

From the Supervisor's Desk

Solar Update

Grievance Day

Poll Workers Needed

Help Wanted

Summer Park Program

Picklers

Town Hall Exhibit

Bash Bish Bluegrass

Copake History Remembered

Come Home to Copake Picnic

Bicentennial Parade and Party

Rail Trail Art Project

Music in the Park

Roeliff Jansen Historical Society

Grange Events

Copake/Hillsdale Farmer's Market

Library Gala

What's Happening at the Library

Invasive Species

Bicentennial Celebration Calendar

K.I.S.S.

American Red Cross

Artisans

Memorial Bricks

Columbia County Mental Health Center

From the Supervisor's Desk            

Copake’s new law regulating Short-Term Rentals (STRs), formally known as Local Law No. 11 of 2023, became effective on May 1, 2024. It requires all owners who offer properties for rentals of less than 30 days duration to obtain an operating permit from the town.



The law was written with balance in mind. Its purpose “is to balance the rights and interests of homeowners and property owners who may obtain income from the short-term rental of their properties with the interests of neighbors and the community, to ensure that the use of property for short-term rental to transient guests does not adversely affect nearby properties and does not impair the rights of nearby landowners and residents to peacefully enjoy their residences and properties.”

We have contracted with Azavar/Localgov, a monitoring and compliance firm that will assist us in implementing the STR law. Localgov’s staff monitors the listings on some 70 websites that list properties for short-term rental. Listings with Copake addresses are provided to the town’s Office of Code Enforcement.

A few weeks ago we sent letters to the owners of 172 Copake properties identified by Localgov as currently offering, or having offered in the recent past, units for short-term rental. Our goal was to educate owners about the new law, and explain their responsibilities under it. The letter invited owners to come to Town Hall on Saturday morning, May 11 to meet with a Localgov representative and Copake’s Code Enforcement Officer. After a short presentation, they answered questions and assisted several owners with application filings.

Owners have until July 1, 2024 to apply for an operating permit. Operating an STR unit without a valid operating permit can result in a fine.

The law defines a basic Short-Term Rental as a property that is rented for a total of no more than 120 days in a one-year period. To obtain a basic operating permit, the owner or owner’s designee must submit an application in person and provide identification, proof of ownership, or proof of relationship to the owner. 

The law also provides for “Enhanced” Short-Term Rentals, defining them as properties that are available for rental for more than 120 days in a one-year period. Owners are required to submit an application to the Code Enforcement Office, after which they must seek a special use permit from the ZBA, with site-plan review by the planning board. Upon completion of that process, the applicant must return to the Code Enforcement Office and pay an annual permit fee. An enhanced operating permit is valid for three years.

The first-year fee for both basic and enhanced operating permits has been set by the town board at $150. I should note that this is very low: the board’s intention is that the permit application fees should cover the town’s expenses for administering the STR law, including postage, town employees’ time, and Copake’s contract with Localgov. STR owners are operating businesses and the permit fee is an operating expense: Copakeans will not be subsidizing STR owners’ compliance with the local law with their tax dollars.

Localgov will be providing a telephone “hot line” for complaints. All operators of STRs are required to notify their neighbors by certified mail of their intention to operate a short-term rental. Some owners may not reside in or be present in Copake when an issue arises, so all owners are required to designate a primary contact person to promptly address concerns and/or complaints from neighbors or the town. Owners must also designate a back-up contact in case the primary is unreachable. The goal is to ensure that issues are resolved quickly and amicably.

Permitting season has just begun, but we’ve already had several owners submit applications. Towards the end of the grace period, we will send follow-up letters to those identified owners from whom we have not heard. We will work closely with Localgov to identify STR operators who lack permits, and we’ll take further steps to achieve compliance.

If you are interested in more information, the new local law is posted on the town’s website.

One other recent and significant development: at the May 8 Board of Supervisors meeting, a Home Rule Resolution was adopted requesting that the state legislature enact legislation authorizing Columbia County to levy a hotel and motel occupancy tax, which would include short-term rentals. Bills already have been introduced by Assemblymember Didi Barrett and Senator Michelle Hinchey, and the resolution was passed last evening as a necessary precondition to moving these bills to passage. The county is hoping that a new 4% occupancy tax would take effect on January 1, 2025. Revenues would be split between the county and the towns, although how tax revenues would be divided among the towns remains an open question. The County Board of Supervisors intends to hire a firm to assist it in tax collection. 

Richard Wolf

Town Supervisor

Solar Report

All indications are that Hecate Energy will file an application in early June with the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) for a siting permit for its “Shepherd’s Run” solar factory in Craryville. Hecate now is looking to construct a 42-megawatt facility on acreage that is mostly prime farmland.

It has long been the town board’s position that the proposed site is particularly inappropriate for our small rural town: it would straddle County Route 7, a popular road for bicyclists and joggers. It also happens to be the gateway road from the Taconic Parkway and from Massachusetts into the Hamlet of Copake and Copake Lake. 

This time around, Hecate is continuing to rely on the same studies it commissioned for its failed 60-megawatt proposal application. Some are four years-old and may not accurately reflect current conditions at and near the proposed site. Current studies are critical to any serious analysis of the potential environmental impacts of what will be approximately 150 football fields worth of solar panels.

An April 8 mailing to some Copake residents continued Hecate’s unfortunate pattern of misrepresenting what it has and has not done. Among its questionable statements, Hecate asserted that it is “partnering with municipalities to develop solar projects that preserve the rural character of the local community.” It claimed its new application “reflect(s) a good faith effort to incorporate almost all of the items recommended by stakeholders in recent years.” We’ll see, although all indications are that this claim will prove to be patently false. For example, Hecate seems to be citing the reduced the size of the project as an example of “listening to the community.” Actually, Hecate had no choice but to shrink the project, after it lost control a 60-acre parcel upon which it planned to place panels, an access road, and a laydown area.Hecate asserted that it was adding sheep grazing “based on local feedback.” This is untrue. Years ago, Hecate named the project “Shepherd’s Run” because sheep grazing always was claimed to be a component of the proposed project.

Hecate wrote that it will use “extensive native tree and shrub planting to minimize sightlines for neighbors.” But it has refused to commit to implementing a key element of “local feedback” – the creation of a “green space,” running the length of the project, which would provide significant screening for the across-the-road neighbors, and include nature trails and paths for bicycling, jogging and walking. Local feedback includes financial compensation for the most adversely affected homeowners, but Hecate has refused to commit to compensation. Local feedback also includes no cutting down of forested areas, but Hecate intends to clear-cut 27 acres of trees and shrubs.

Undaunted, Hecate continues to falsely claim it is listening to, and implementing, the wishes of Copake. “We are very proud of the changes we have made, and the community influence weaved into the project,” and “…this project will ultimately be an example of how to fully integrate community values into the effort to promote clean energy.” If only it were so.



When Hecate files its new application, our attorney and environmental engineers will carefully review it. If it is not supported by up-to-date studies, we will insist that ORES demand them. If the application doesn’t provide for adequate screening, we will demand it. If it does not include provisions for compensation of the most adversely-affected neighbors, we will demand it.

Richard Wolf

Town Supervisor

Taxpayer Grievance Day is Wednesday, May 29th

The tentative assessment roll for the Town of Copake is complete and a copy may be seen at the link below or at Town Hall during normal business hours until May 29.

Lynn Hotaling, Copake Assessor, will have hours by telephone appointment only to review the tentative roll or answer questions regarding assessments on May 7, 14 and 24 from 9am to 1pm and on May 21 from 9am to 1pm and 6pm to 8pm. Please call 518-329-1234, Ext 4 for a phone appointment.

Grievance Day is Wednesday, May 29, from 4 - 8pm at the Copake Town Hall. At that time the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) will meet to hear and examine all properly filed complaints received by Friday, May 24 regarding assessments of Real Property.

If you disagree with your property’s assessment, to protect your right to assessment review you must file a formal written complaint with the BAR on or before Friday, May 24. Grievance applications (RP524 - Complaint on Real Property Assessment), which are required for all formal grievance complaints, can be found at the link below and are also available at Copake Town Hall and the Columbia County Real Property Office in Hudson.

All applications should be completed, signed, and received no later than Friday, May 24. By law, you may submit an application on Grievance Day, but the assessor may ask for an adjournment, which could delay action on your application. Emailed applications cannot be accepted.

Please mail completed applications to Copake Town Hall, Assessor’s Office, 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516 or deliver it to Town Hall during business hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:00am to 4:00pm and Saturday, 9:00am until noon. No appointment or prior conversation is needed to submit a grievance application to the BAR. We encourage taxpayers to contact the assessor before Grievance Day with questions or concerns regarding their assessment.

Link to RP-425 here

Tentative Assessment Roll here

Poll Workers Needed in Copake

The Board of Elections is looking for poll workers for Copake for the upcoming primary election on June 25 and for the general election on November 5, 2024.  

The job of a poll worker is to help ensure smooth, honest elections. It is a paid job at $18.50 an hour. The day is long - 5am to 10pm - but you can negotiate a half day, and it is a pleasant job that allows you to greet and assist your neighbors.

Tasks you will perform as a poll worker:

• Prepare the polling place for voting
• Set up the voting equipment
• Sign-in and process voters
• Enforce social distancing
• Demonstrate voting procedures to the voters
• Sanitize voting equipment
• Close the polling place
• Canvass and report the results
• Assist voter if requested

The Board of Elections will provide training in Hudson.

Contact info: Board of Elections, 301 State St., Hudson, NY.

518-828-3115 elections.columbiacountyny.com

Help Wanted

The Town Board of the Town of Copake will be accepting letters of interest and resumes for the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee and the Farmland Protection Review Committee.

Letters/resumes may be sent to: the Town Clerk, 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516, or emailed to: copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org.

Help Wanted

The Town Board of the Town of Copake will be accepting letters of interest and resumes for the following positions:

Park Commission Members

ZBA Members



Letters/resumes may be sent to: the Town Clerk, 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516, or emailed to: copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org.

Copake Park Summer Program is Back

The 2024 Park Season will run from July 8th - August 16th

COPAKE RESIDENTS ($100 per camper or $250 per family) Registration Runs from May 13^th – June 24^th

OUT OF TOWN RESIDENTS ($175 per camper or $350 per family)

*If space is available* Registration runs from June 3rd - June 24th

Applications can be found on the Town's website or our Facebook Page

To successfully enroll a camper, you need the following:

1. Application form filled out and signed
2. Copy of recent physical (within the last 18 months from the start of the 2024 program)
3. Payment made to the Town of Copake
4. Application turned in to the Town Hall

All applications must be turned in at the Town Hall by June 24, 2024

The Picklers are Coming!

The Town of Copake invites the public to come see 32 teams from all over the Columbia County area compete in Copake’s inaugural pickleball tournament, Copake Picklemania!.

The tournament will be held at Copake Memorial Park’s new pickleball courts on Saturday, June 1 (rain date: Sunday, June 2). Competition begins at 8:45am and will go continuously until approximately 4:30pm.



Aloha Taco Food Truck will be offering food and drinks for purchase from 11am to 2pm on Saturday. No seating will be provided, so feel free to bring lawn chairs or the like.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Bradway’s Plumbing & Heating, Copake Lake Boat & Ski, The Greens at Copake Country Club, Herrington’s, High Voltage, Inc., Hillsdale House, Key Bank, Kneller Insurance, Moore-Bridger Tree Service, Robert Patterson, CPA.

Photo by B. Doktor

Town Hall Exhibit Now Includes Historic Painting



First opened to the public in August 2022, the historical exhibit on the walls of Copake Town Hall continues to draw visitors and delight viewers.

The exhibit, which consists of 24 panels containing old photographic images and explanatory text, highlights many aspects of life in the town’s 200-year history. The exhibit was created by a committee appointed by the town board in early 2020, comprised of Copake artist Nick Fritsch, Town Historian Howard Blue, and former Town Clerk Vana Hotaling. 

The display of panels in the halls is augmented by a display of original artwork in the town hall. In honor of the bicentennial, an original painting by John Bunyan Bristol is now hanging in the courtroom. Picturing a panoramic view of the “Copake Iron Works” circa the 1850s, the painting is on loan from St. John in the Wilderness Church and will remain in the town hall until September. 

Also in the courtroom are two original paintings by Copake artist Nick Fritsch. On loan to the town, the paintings picture the site of the first town meeting, and also the depot on County Route 7A.

Paintings by William Clark Vreeland and Donna Louise Vreeland, on loan from Thomas Vreeland, continue to be on display in the Rheinstrom Conference Room.

The exhibit can be viewed during regular town hall hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:00am to 4:00pm and Saturday, 9:00am until noon.

Bash Bish Bluegrass Benefits Community Outreach

Bash Bish Bluegrass Band, "Columbia County's Favorite," will play from 4pm to 6pm on June 15 in the beautiful, grassy setting behind St. John in the Wilderness Church in Copake Falls.

At this family-friendly concert refreshments will be available. Bring folding chairs, blankets—some chairs will be on site. There will be assistance for disabled. This concert benefits St. John’s outreach programs in the community. Come, tap your toes and clap along to the joyful sounds! $20 online: https://stjohnw.org/event/bash-bish-bluegrass-band/ or at the event.

Children under 12 free.

Copake History to be Remembered by Copake Residents

Copake Town Historian Howard Blue, with the assistance of former resident Steve Kaufman, has planned a series of panel discussions which will focus on various aspects of life in Copake during the 20th century.

The discussions, all of which will be presented at the Copake Grange, will feature local residents. The schedule for these presentations is as follows:

Friday, June 14, 7:00 - 8:30pm Looking Back: Life on a Copake Farm

Moderator: Howard Blue. Panel Members: Stosh Gansowski, Dean Pells, Wayne Miller, Judy Ackley Whitbeck.



Saturday, June 29, 1:00 - 2:30pm The Copake Pharmacy, Growing up in Copake Special shared talk by Steve Kaufman, Nancy Fuller.

Sunday, June 30, 1:00 - 2:30pm Copake Falls and Copake Lake: A Retrospective Look

Moderator: Steve Kaufman. Panel Members: Edgar Masters, Fran Miller, Jane Peck, Jed Luchow.

Saturday, July 20, 1:00 - 2:30pm Copake Businesses

Moderator: Howard Blue. Panel Members: Heather Thomson, Vana Stang Hotaling, Dick Barton, Steve Kaufman, Mike Fallon.

“Come Home to Copake” Picnic

Whether you live in Copake now, whether you moved from Copake a few years ago or whether you lived here years ago, you are invited to “Come Home to Copake” on Saturday, July 13, 2024 when, as part of Copake’s bicentennial celebration, the town will host a day-long picnic event at the Copake Memorial Park. 

Starting at 11:00am and lasting all day until 8:00pm, the picnic will include live music, sack races, storytelling, a baking contest to be judged by Nancy Fuller, Columbia Cruiser car show, and a local artists showcase. When you arrive you will be given a sign on which you can write your family name and the years that you lived in Copake. You will receive a stake so that you can plant your sign next to your lawn chair so that neighbors you have not seen in years will be able to find you.

There will be live music all day, with bands performing from the newly constructed band shell. Dick Stabler will perform from 12 noon until 2:00pm. The Ghent Band will take the stage at 2:00pm, and then Dick Stabler will perform again from 4:00pm until 6:00pm. “Night Shade” will perform at 6:00pm.



You may bring your own picnic, but food prepared by local churches will also be available to purchase. Chicken barbecue dinners prepared by the Copake Fire Department will be available at 5:00pm in the Park Building. The dinners must be ordered in advance. Tickets may be purchased from Bicentennial Committee members or by calling Liana Jensen at 518-755-8833.

The town has received generous support from the Rheinstrom Hill Community Foundation, as well as Columbia County Tourism, to fund the bicentennial celebration. The picnic is being organized by the Bicentennial Committee, chaired by Kellie Nardin and the Picnic Committee, chaired by Liana Jensen.

For more information you may email Copakebicentennial@gmail.com

Bicentennial Parade and Party Planned for August

The Copake Bicentennial Parade, planned for Saturday, August 17, 2024, will include bagpipes, the Ghent Band, fire trucks and tractors, Copake officials and State representatives, as well as floats and marchers representing Copake churches, businesses and organizations. The grand marshals will be Flora Bergquist, Dana Hotaling, Edgar Masters and Angelo Valentino.

The parade will line up on Center Hill Road near the Copake Fire Department at 2:30pm and step off at 3:00pm. The two-mile parade route will pass by the Copake Memorial Clock and proceed down Main Street to Farm Road. The parade will turn left onto Mountainview Road, pass by the Copake Memorial Park and Town Hall and return to Center Hill Road.



After the parade, the public is invited to attend the finale of the bicentennial celebration, a grand party to be held at Catamount. The party will include food, live music and fireworks.

The town has received generous support from the Rheinstrom Hill Community Foundation, as well as Columbia County Tourism, to fund the bicentennial celebration. The parade is being organized by the Bicentennial Committee, chaired by Kellie Nardin and the Parade Committee, chaired by Jeanne Mettler. The members of the Parade Committee are Bob Callahan, Lenny Barham, Richard Barton, Liana Jensen and Carol Gansowski. For more information email CopakeParade@gmail.com

Rail Trail Art Project for Kids

On Saturday, July 6 from 10am to 12pm, as part of the bicentennial celebration for Copake, kids can create their own individual art projects, to be displayed this summer on the Rail Trail.

All participants will spend some time getting to know some history of the area, including stories and symbols of the Mohican inhabitants, as well as the indigenous

flora and fauna of the Roe Jan area. Local artists Liz Shelley and Karen Culbreth will

assist the children in creating their art works. The finished pieces will be mounted in

frames built by volunteer Collin Culbreth. Materials have been donated by Sheldon Glass and Herrington’s, Inc.

Space is limited to 20 and pre-registration is required. Go to copakebicentennial@gmail.com

1912 Autochromes of Bash Bash Inn at Roeliff Jansen Historical Society

The next event at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society will be presented by Linda and Kim Crossman on Sunday, May 19 at 2pm. The program will be of interest to local history buffs as well as those interested in early photography: History and Mystique of the Bash Bish Inn Captured in the 1912 Autochromes of Paul G. Guillumette.



Guillumette was a pioneer in color photography. In July 1914, one of his autochromes was the first natural color illustration to appear in National Geographic Magazine. In 1912, he took many photos of the Bash Bish Inn. Built in the early 1900s, the inn was located on 300 acres of woodlands at the foot of the falls and boasted a breathtaking view and a world-famous French chef.

In 2023, Linda and Kim Crossman donated the 1912 autochromes of the Bash Bish Inn to the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society. Their presentation will be an opportunity to learn about the once renowned Bash Bish Inn, and the life and work of Paul Guillumette, who, in his daughter’s words, “had a tremendous love of natural settings…and yearned to preserve this beauty in a form that would endure.”

Special Bonus: Following the presentation, attendees are invited to join a guided “Walk-About” in nearby Taconic State Park to visit actual remnants of the Bash Bish Inn on its former grounds, including the likely site of the hillside bungalow. The walk-about, lasting about an hour, will involve some short, steep inclines, and will be led by RJHS Board member Jane Peck, who has walked these trails all her life. (Important: Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes suggested.)

Admission is free. The Roeliff Jansen Historical Society is at 8 Miles Road in Copake Falls.

Link to the RJHS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e3da7d948a1f/sunmay-19th-history-and-mystique-of-the-bash-bish-inn

Grange Events

Saturday, May 18, 7 - 9pm. Noyes and the Boys. This local folk rock group often performs at our open mic nights. Come hear them perform in full style - it will be their finale concert before one of their members moves south! $15 or pay what you can.

Sunday, May 19, 4-5:30pm. Jammin’ at the Grange. Come on down to the Grange with your instruments and have a great time jamming with your musician friends and neighbors. Free.

Saturday, May 25, 9am - 1pm - Annual Plant Sale. Our famous annual Plant Sale is back - rain or shine here at the Copake Grange! Welcome spring by coming to check out our perennials, annuals, herbs, ground covers, shrubs, and more. If you have items to contribute, contact us at copakegrangeplantsale@gmail.com and deliver them the day before between 10am and 1pm. Make sure to get there early - it always sells out!

Saturday, June 1. Mamaliga has been canceled. We will reschedule - stay tuned.

Friday, June 7, 7 - 9pm. Open Mic Night.  All are welcome to perform - music, stories, skits, readings, poetry, dance, songs, and more. Bring your instruments; we have a piano. Or you can just come to relax and be entertained. This is a great venue for both beginning and veteran performers. Free.

Sunday, June 23, 11am - 1pm. Annual Cupcake Celebration. A sweet event to benefit the Grange. One thousand cupcakes will be baked, tasted, judged and sold! Prizes for all. Fun for all ages.

For more information about the Grange and events or to join, go to copakegrange.org. The Copake Grange is located at 628 Empire Rd., Copake, NY 12516. Parking for Grange events is limited - please park at the Municipal Lot on Church St. if the Grange parking area is full.

Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market Opens for the Season

It’s here at last - the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market at the Roe Jan Park opens Saturday, May 18 from 9am to 1pm.

Along with our long-time vendors, we are glad to welcome new faces representing poultry, goat cheese, baked goods, NYS wine, body care, soups, tacos, espresso, and several new artists/artisans. You can see the full vendor list along with their contact information at https://www.copakehillsdalefarmersmarket.com/vendor-list/

CHFM has been working to make the market more attractive to local residents who use SNAP (food stamps). In addition to doubling their SNAP buying power, we now are offering a bonus $25 to all first-time shoppers who use their EBT cards. The matching program and the bonus are funded through a New York State program, Fresh2You, as well as numerous donors, including Fund for Columbia County through Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and the Negroni family.

Finally, CHFM has announced a community design contest! We had such success 10 years ago when we held a contest to redesign our logo (the winner was Chris Mzungu), so we would again like to tap into the local talent. All of the details can be found at: https://www.copakehillsdalefarmersmarket.com/community-design-contest/.

Party at the Mountain: Roeliff Jansen Community Library Gala

COPAKE – The Roeliff Jansen Community Library Gala returns this year, promising an evening of camaraderie and fun from 5:00 to 7:30pm on Saturday, June 8 at the picturesque Catamount Lodge, nestled within the Taconic Mountains in Hillsdale, NY.

Indulge in an array of culinary delights from Catamount with four delicious selections: dim sum, barbecue, vegetarian, and Mediterranean cuisine. Attendees will enjoy wine, local craft beer, and live music from local jazz group the Luke Franco Trio. At the end of the evening, ice cream, coffee, and tea will be served. 

The gala will feature both silent and live auctions, led for the first time by auctioneer Steven Chickery. Items to go on the block include an enticing and bigger-than-ever array of experiences, handcrafted treasures, and local services. Among the fabulous items up for bidding this year are a cocktail party for twenty at the Vanderbilt Lakeside estate; a lunch for six prepared and hosted in his home by cookbook author and social media star Dan “Grossy” Pelosi; a private tour led by Peter Bevacqua of his renowned garden; a cabin on a luxury TradeWinds catamaran for a sailing trip in the Caribbean or South Pacific; the delivery and installation of an 8-year-old Red Maple or River Birch tree courtesy of Whalen Nursery; and two tickets to Bravo's hilariously fun and interactive late-night talk show, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

The silent auction will feature over forty unique items, including theater tickets, gift certificates to local dining establishments, commissioned work from local artists, plant and flower arrangements crafted by gardening experts, and much, much more! There will also be an exciting wine pull raffle! 

The gala is the library’s most important fundraising effort, providing vital funding for day-to-day operating expenses. In 2023, fundraising efforts accounted for 46% of the library's total operating budget, underscoring the vital importance of community support. By attending this event, patrons and community members play a direct role in ensuring that the library continues to provide essential materials and services to the region. 

Tickets are priced at $125 per person and can be purchased online via the library’s website at https://www.roejanlibrary.org/fundraising-events/ or through traditional means by check or cash at the library. Host tickets are available for $275 per person, with hosts receiving special recognition in the gala program. Attendees can also purchase tickets by mailing a check to:

Roeliff Jansen Community Library

PO Box 669

Hillsdale, NY 12529

Roeliff Jansen Community Library, which is chartered to serve Ancram, Copake and Hillsdale, is located at 9091 Route 22, approximately one mile south of the traffic light at the intersection of Routes 22 and 23. For information on hours and events, call 518-325-4101 or visit us on our website, on Facebook, or on Instagram.

Catamount Lodge is located at 78 Catamount Road, Hillsdale, NY.

What’s Happening at the Library?

Thursday, May 16, 1:00 pm.

Book Marks! Book Club. Join our nonfiction book club, Book Marks!, led by Circulation Librarian Robin Gottlieb. Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month. This month we are reading Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune by Anderson Cooper. Copies are available through the Mid-Hudson Library System, Hoopla, and Libby.

Saturday, May 18, 2:00 p.m.

Cookbook Club. Join our Cookbook Club led by Outreach Library Associate, Fran Colombo. Meets the 3rd Saturday of the month. Members choose a recipe and bring the cooked/baked dish to the next meeting, where the group will discuss the book and share in a community meal. Bring copies of recipes to share with other foodies!

For our May meeting, to honor Mother’s Day, we decided to have a High Tea – so please create sweets and savories of your choosing!

All are welcome to join! The more, the merrier! For more information, contact Fran at outreach@roejanlibrary.org.

Sunday, May 19, 1:00 p.m.

Library of Local Back to Nature Series: Make Your Own Terrariums. A terrarium is a small green space that is created in a transparent container consisting of various plants and other materials. Completed terrariums can be used to brighten up your décor or as a gift for someone special.

This will be a “hands-on” workshop led by Master Gardener Volunteer Linda Levitt. Each participant will be able to make their own terrarium to take with them. The demonstration will include how to properly plant a terrarium, and suggest materials, tools, containers and design.

Linda is not a stranger to this area. Many family members owned property here in Copake and Craryville as far back as the 1930s. She spent many hours here visiting her grandparents and extended family. Linda moved to Copake full-time in December 2014, after retiring from the insurance industry. She owned her own insurance agency for 30 years with a specialty in employee benefits. Linda always loved gardening and in 2014 she became a Master Gardener Volunteer. She has since earned an advanced certification in horticulture and landscape design from Berkshire Community College and Berkshire Botanical Garden. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. She volunteers as a docent at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, MA, and she is also a member of the Germantown Garden Club. She has designed containers and gardens for clients here in the Hudson Valley.

This workshop is limited to 15 participants.  Register by emailing director@roejanlibrary.org.

Thursday, May 23, 2:30 p.m.

Tea Time at the Library. Plan to visit the library on the fourth Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. to discuss fun and informative topics. Each month’s gathering will have a different theme; listen, discuss, and enjoy a cup of tea (or coffee if that’s your preference!), and sometimes a fun activity.

For our May 23rd meeting, we will be visited by special guest Creature Teacher and relationship coach Renee Vaughn. Renee will be available to discuss, advise, and marvel at all the ways in which relationships affect our lives. We are in relationships with other people, with our animals, with money, with our property, with our spirituality, our muses. If you think about it, everything is a relationship. Who we are and how we relate to our external world is key to our health, wealth, and happiness. And tea is important too!

Come join the discussion and enjoy a cup of Harney’s Tea (or coffee) and some fresh baked goods on the house.

Thursday, May 23, 6:30 p.m.

Book Talk: From the Hudson to the Taconics. Join authors of From the Hudson to the Taconics: An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, New York for an engaging introduction to this richly illustrated and unique new book, which is the culmination of years of original research by the Farmscape Ecology Program and Hudsonia. Authors will share some of their experiences creating From the Hudson to the Taconics, exciting discoveries along the way, and how they hope to build on this work through a new habitat research and conservation initiative. The audience will also be invited to learn how one might use this book (available through the library) to become more familiar with the diverse and beautiful landscape of Columbia County and its surroundings. The authors will focus especially on some of their favorite habitats in the Hillsdale/Copake area.

This free talk can be enjoyed as a single event or paired with a Habitat Exploration Walk at Roeliff Jansen Park on May 25 in which participants will have a chance to use the book to explore in more detail the many facets of several habitats.

Saturday, May 25, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Habitat Exploration Walk. Join authors of From the Hudson to the Taconics: An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, New York for a walk exploring upland shrubland, wet meadow, and other habitats at Roeliff Jansen Park in Hillsdale using this newly released book as a guide and resource. Whether one is already familiar with the park or visiting it for the first time, this walk is designed to help everyone “see more colors” in the landscape. Participants will experience several habitats through multiple lenses, including history, culture, sensory immersion, and ecology, and learn how to recognize patterns in the distribution of plants and the animals associated with them.

Copies of From the Hudson to the Taconics will be available to use for the walk, though please bring your own copy if you have one. The books will also be for sale before and after the walk. The walk is free, but participants are requested to register. You can sign up for the walk at the Library or by emailing fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.

Sunday, May 26, 3:00 p.m.

Concert: Piano & Cello. Join us for our first concert of the season for an afternoon of classical music with piano and cello in the Library’s Community Room.

Pianist and composer Bob Logan holds a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, studying under Meng-Chieh Liu. In early 2020, he joined the Eurythmy Spring Valley Ensemble on their European tour with performances in England, Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland. He was a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow and has won prizes in the NEC Piano Honors Competition, the Chicago College of Performing Arts Concerto Competition, and the UW-Madison Beethoven Competition. He currently runs a piano teaching studio in Chatham, NY.

Cellist Julian Müller is passionate about engaging communities through chamber music, recitals, interactive performances, and collaboration with composers. He soloed with the Louisville Orchestra and was hailed as “haunting and mesmerizing” by USA Today. He has collaborated with Sergei Babayan, Simone Dinnerstein, Matt Haimovitz, and members of the Cleveland Orchestra and Quartet, among others, and performs with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Berkshire Symphony, the Caroga Arts Ensemble, the Metropolis Ensemble, and Williams Chamber Players. He is the Artist Associate in Cello at Williams College.

 This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered in Columbia County by the Columbia County Council on the Arts dba CREATE Council for the Arts.

Saturday, June 1, 2:00 p.m.

Illustrator & Author Visit: Aimée Sicuro. Join us for a special visit with children's book author and illustrator, Aimée Sicuro.

Aimée Sicuro knew at an early age she wanted to make things, and spent many years trying to figure out how. She is the illustrator of many books including Dancing Through Fields of Color, by Elizabeth Brown, a 2019 Junior Library Guild selection and The Stuff Between the Stars, a 2022 Krystal Kite winner. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Parent Magazine and many other publications. If You Find A Leaf, her authorial debut, was released in 2022.

For this visit, Aimée will read from her latest book, If You Spot a Shell, a companion to If You Find a Leaf, which captures the excitement of summer and encourages children to see their collected seashells in an entirely new way. Aimée will also conduct a live drawing session and a craft kit will be supplied to take home for shell rubbings! All ages welcome.

Saturday, June 8, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Party at the Mountain: Roe Jan Library Gala 2024. Join us for an evening of camaraderie and fun at the picturesque Catamount Lodge, nestled within the Taconic Mountains on Saturday, June 8th from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

There will an array of culinary delights including dim sum, barbecue, vegetarian, and Mediterranean. Attendees will enjoy wine, local craft beer, and live music from local jazz group, the Luke Franco Trio. At the end of the evening, ice cream, coffee, and tea will be served.



The Gala will feature both silent and live auctions, led for the first time by auctioneer Steven Chickery. Items to go on the block include an enticing and bigger-than-ever array of experiences, handcrafted treasures, and local services. Among the fabulous items are a cocktail party for twenty at the Vanderbilt Lakeside estate; a lunch for six prepared and hosted in his home by cookbook author and social media star Dan “Grossy” Pelosi; a private tour led by Peter Bevacqua of his renowned garden; a cabin on a luxury TradeWinds catamaran for a sailing trip in the Caribbean or South Pacific; and the delivery and installation of an 8-year-old Red Maple or River Birch tree courtesy of Whalen Nursery.

The silent auction will feature over forty unique items including theater tickets, gift certificates to local dining establishments, commissioned work from local artists, plant and flower arrangements crafted by gardening experts, and much, much more!

The Gala is the Library’s most important fundraising effort, providing vital funding for day-to-day operating expenses. In 2023, fundraising efforts accounted for 46% of the Library's total operating budget, underscoring the vital importance of community support. By attending this event, patrons and community members play a direct role in ensuring that the library continues to provide essential materials and services to the region.

Tickets are priced at $125 per person and can be purchased online at https://www.roejanlibrary.org/fundraising-events/ or through traditional means by check or cash at the Library. Host tickets are available for $275 per person, with hosts receiving special recognition in the Gala Program. Attendees can also purchase tickets by mailing a check to: Roeliff Jansen Community Library, PO Box 669, Hillsdale, NY 12529.

Catamount Lodge is located at 78 Catamount Road, Hillsdale, NY. See you at the Party!

Thursday, June 13, 6:00 p.m.

Film Screening & Discussion: Left Bank: The Women Who Rescued James Joyces’ Ulysses. Publishing Ulysses was a long, complicated process. The writing and publication were shaped by individuals and organizations trying to censor it, outraged by its explicit references to the human body and sex. Left Bank: The Women Who Rescued James Joyce's Ulysses, by local filmmaker Lisa Reznik, takes viewers on the journey of author James Joyce's struggles and success, revealing the story of the female publishers and editors who played prominent roles in making the achievement of Ulysses possible.

Lisa Reznik has directed four award-winning films which have been selected by 30+ film festivals and private screenings. Left Bank marks Reznik's fifth film, and first hybrid-documentary. The passion project is the culmination of more than a decade's worth of detailed research. With the year 2022 being the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, arguably the most important book ever written, Reznik was inspired to direct a feature film surrounding the challenges to publish James Joyce’s groundbreaking novel, shining a much needed light on the unrecognized risk-taking female pioneers who brought his work to the public. Following the screening, there will be an opportunity to discuss the film with the film's creator.

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Story Art with Tia. A free drop-in program specially designed for young children and their parents or caregivers that combines the magic of storytelling with creative art activities inspired by children’s storybook readings. Ages 2+.