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Greetings!
Welcome to the March Newsletter!
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I know we've all been hibernating, but Spring is around the corner, which means event season will be gearing up. Please mark your calendars:
SATURDAY, APRIL 12 - Hillsdale's annual Easter Egg Hunt featuring 400 candy- or prize-filled eggs. Complete with a guest appearance by Peter Cottontail. (See below for more information.)
SATURDAY, MAY 24 - The return of the Hillsdale Flea. We've already received applications from some exciting vendors, so this year promises to be bigger than ever. You never know what you might find--or consider taking out a booth space yourself after your Spring cleaning! (See below for more information.)
MONDAY, MAY 26 - MEMORIAL DAY PARADE - Each year the parade rotates among our sister towns of Ancram and Copake. We want to make this year's parade in Hillsdale even bigger and better--so make sure you put it in your calendars.
Also, I'll be volunteering at the annual Palm Sunday Brunch at the Hillsdale Firehouse on APRIL 13th. Please make a point to join us and if you're interested in volunteering, please see the article below.
We'll have more information soon about these and other upcoming events - stay tuned!
Mike Dvorchak, Hillsdale Town Supervisor
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The March Town Board meeting will be on Tuesday, March 18.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE MEETING ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
The meeting will be held in person at Town Hall at 7 PM and will be available on Zoom. People participating via Zoom will be able to make comments during the designated Public Comment times at the beginning and end of the meeting. If you are attending via Zoom please have your first and last names as the user name, NOT "iPad" or "iPhone." Thank you.
March Zoom Meeting
Documents that will be referred to at the Town Board meeting will be posted on the Agendas & Minutes page of the town website a few days before the meeting. Links to the documents will also be included in the Agenda.
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A note from Richard Briggs, Highway Superintendent
I’d like to take this opportunity to address some questions I have been getting regarding the Chip Seal process.
What is Chip Seal?
Chip seal is a pavement surface treatment used to maintain and protect roads. It involves applying a thin layer of asphalt binder followed by a layer of aggregate chips. The process enhances road durability, prevents water penetration, and improves skid resistance, resulting in safer roads. Chip Seal is not asphalt or "black top" paving as you would see on Route 22 or Route 23 or some of our major streets like Craryville Road or Mitchell Street. As such, it gives a more rustic appearance to the road surface.
Here's how it works:
Chip Seal Process:
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Surface Preparation – The existing road surface is cleaned of debris, dirt, and loose material to ensure proper adhesion.
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Application of Asphalt Binder – A layer of hot liquid asphalt (or emulsion) is sprayed onto the road using a distributor truck.
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Aggregate Placement – A layer of small aggregate (stone chips) is spread over the asphalt using a spreader truck.
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Rolling – Rubber-tire rollers press the aggregate into the asphalt binder, improving adhesion and reducing loose chips.
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Curing – The asphalt binder cures over several hours, allowing the chips to embed fully into the surface.
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Sweeping – Loose chips that have not adhered are swept off the surface to ensure a smooth and safe road.
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Optional Fog Seal – Sometimes, a thin layer of diluted asphalt emulsion is sprayed over the finished surface to further seal and extend its life.
Why do you use Chip seal?
I use chip seal first and foremost to increase public safety. It is also cost-effective over a long period and is an aesthetic compromise between a dirt road and asphalt paving.
There are ecological benefits also as it prevents gravel and sediment from dirt roads ending up in our wetlands and streams as well as reduces the air pollution caused by dirt roads. There are several studies available in the February agenda on the Town website you can reference for more detailed information.
Is there any oil involved in the Chip Sealing process?
No, the former name for the process of “oil and stone” is a misnomer. No oil or any substance that can leak into our waterways is used.
Will this involve town money?
No, these long-term improvements are fully reimbursed by the New York State CHIPS program. There are, however, considerable long-term savings as we won’t have to replenish the gravel on a dirt road on a yearly basis.
What is the CHIPS program?
The CHIPS (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program) in New York State provides funding to local municipalities for the repair and improvement of roads, highways, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure. The program is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and allocates state funds to counties, cities, towns, and villages to support local road maintenance projects. CHIPS allows towns across the state to maintain their highway budgets without significant increases to local taxes.
What are examples of chip sealed roads in Hillsdale?
Chip sealed roads include Herrington Road, Far View Lane and Wolf Hill Road. Attached is a recent photo of Herrington Road, which was chip sealed in 2024.
What criteria do you use to determine chip sealing schedule?
First and foremost, public safety. Then, fiscal responsibility and ecological concerns followed by aesthetics. Gravel is expensive and the price continues to rise. The cost for a single mile is $25,500 per year and the hauling, labor and calcium to install almost doubles that price. Over the up to ten-year life span of a chip-sealed road (where we don't have to replenish the gravel), the savings to taxpayers are substantial.
If I get emails or calls about multiple flat tires, complaints about air pollution, potholes or other unsafe conditions, I take that into account. The ability of fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles to be able to navigate town roads safely and quickly also is a big consideration.
It make take several years for a road to be ready for chip sealing (there's a lot of prep work that needs to be done in terms of drainage and surfacing), but I keep note of where the work is requested.
| | Fire Company Palm Sunday Brunch | | |
The Hillsdale Fire Company will again put on its annual Palm Sunday Brunch, which will be held on Palm Sunday, April 13, from 8 AM to 12 PM. The fundraiser has taken place every year since 1981 except during the pandemic.
The menu will include pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns, sausage and bacon plus a limited amount of corn beef hash, as well as coffee, tea and orange juice. It is still “all you can eat!” Tickets are $20. Kids 10 and under eat for $12, and children under 3 are free.
In this photo courtesy of Margaret Avenia are four generations of the Stalker family enjoying their breakfast. In the back is Robert Stalker, then his mother Suzy Stalker, and her son Donald Stalker. And serving them breakfast is Donald's daughter Danielle with her son Noah and Donald's son DJ's eldest son Remy with family friend Katrina.
Ideally, 30 volunteers are needed to cook, serve, and clean up for the brunch; currently there are only 20 volunteers. Much goes on behind the scenes to prepare for the brunch, including a week-long deep cleaning of the firehouse and ordering supplies. On the day of the brunch, prep starts at 5 AM and final cleanup finishes at about 3PM.
According to Fire Department President Joe Hanselman, Jr., "Not only do many people enjoy the brunch every year, it is an essential fundraising event for the department. Funds raised by the brunch are used to cover the heat and power expenses of almost $10,000 a year."
The Fire Company is asking for community members who cannot attend the brunch to make donations. Checks made out to Hillsdale Fire Company can be mailed to the company at 9387 St. Rt. 22, Hillsdale, NY 12529. The Fire Company, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, owns the firehouse. The fire district/taxpayers own the trucks and equipment and the district pays rent to the Fire Company for storage of them.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Fire Company, contact any member for an application, call 518 325-4721 and leave a message or you can email
hillsdalefirecompanyevents@gmail.com.
In addition to helping to put on the brunch, volunteers also help prep, serve, and clean up for functions held at the firehouse and assist with various community support programs like the Halloween and Christmas hayrides and more.
| | Kids Can Hunt For Over 400 Eggs at Easter Egg Hunt | | |
Over 400 candy- or prize-filled eggs will be spread around the Hamlet Park for the 2025 Hillsdale Easter Egg Hunt on April 12 at 2 PM. The Easter Bunny has promised to attend! Children should bring their baskets or other containers and be ready to find as many eggs as possible. One (or more!) of the eggs will contain a very special, secret surprise.
| | Email Addresses for All Town Staff | | Climate Smart Communities Task Force News | | |
County-Wide Affordable Energy Resources
On February 1, Hillsdale’s Climate Smart and Clean Energy Community (CSC-CEC) Task Force volunteers joined the Village of Valatie to help provide energy- affordability resources to area residents. Gretchen Stephens, Amy Davidsen, Councilperson Jamie Carano Nordenström and Town Justice Russ Immarigeon met with representatives from NYSERDA, NYSEG, Columbia Opportunities, and other area organizations providing weatherization and energy-literacy demonstrations.
Hillsdale’s CSC-CEC and Safe at Home-Aging in Place Committee are planning an Energy Fair on June 7 at Roeliff Jansen Park together with the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market and the Roeliff Jansen Library. The planners are seeking volunteers and area businesses to participate. Contact Councilperson
Jamie Carano-Nordenstrom
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Columbia Opportunities offers energy audits and energy-saving materials to eligible homeowners and renters occupying single-family houses, mobile homes and apartment buildings.
Base on your energy audit, Columbia Opportunities may be able to replace or repair your:
- Furnace or boiler
- Window and doors
- Hot water heaters
- Refrigerators
And/or install:
- Insulation, weatherstripping & caulk
- Light fixtures & bulbs
- Carbon monoxide & smoke detectors
- Programmable thermostats
- Water-saving shower heads
The NYS Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) as of 2/3/2025 is still accepting applications. You may also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits.
Apply Here
Read More
HEAP Columbia County Contacts
| | Hillsdale Historian's Blog | |
Palmer Vincent
The Hillsdale Historians focus on one of our predecessors, Palmer Vincent. He was the Town Historian in the thirties through the mid-sixties and was also a Railroad Post Office clerk (a job that was much more interesting than it sounds).
More about Palmer here
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81% of Hillsdale Taxes Paid on Time,
Receipts Available Online for Town & School Taxes
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As of January 31, Hillsdale property owners had paid $3,746,451.39 in 2025 town and county property taxes to Hillsdale Tax Collector, Joe Hanselman, Jr., up $129,778.93 from last year at the same time. That's 81% of the $4,636,9898.84 that is due for 2025. Last year 82% of taxes were paid on time. Joe wants to remind everyone that tax payments must be POSTMARKED no later than January 31st. He can receive them after that date, but it has to have the postmark in order for it to be considered not late.
Town taxes for 2025 includes tax levies of $533,455 due to the fire districts, $44,142 due to the Roeliff Jansen Community Library and $3,647 due to the lighting district.
Tax payments made in March must include a 2% penalty. In April a 3% penalty must be paid as well as a $2 second notice fee. May payments must include a 4% penalty plus the $2 second notice fee. Payments that do not include the penalty and fee will be returned.
Hanselman reminds taxpayers that tax bill numbers change from year to year so when searching online for your tax bill do not search by bill number.
If you need tax receipts for previous years when you are compiling documents prior to filing your income tax, you can access them by clicking the town taxes link below and then selecting the year needed from the dropdown list at the top of the page. School tax receipts are available by clicking the school tax link below and then selecting the year from the dropdown list at the top of the page.
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Safe at Home Committee News
March 25, 2025, Coffee Hour will feature
OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute)
March 25, 2025, Coffee Hour will feature OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute)
The Safe at Home Committee features a monthly coffee hour the last Tuesday of each month at the Hillsdale House from 10-11:30. All are welcome to attend. There will be lively conversation and time for questions. Coffee, tea and snacks are provided.
OLLI is part of a nationwide and worldwide movement of so-called Lifelong Learning Institutes for learners 50 years or older. Across North America, there are over 500 programs. There are eighteen LLIs in Massachusetts including one at Berkshire Community College. They are non-credit with no grades and no assignments. This movement was started by Bernard Osher who made grants available to launch OLLI programs at 120 universities and colleges throughout the United States. Bernard Osher was a native of Maine and started with a plumbing supply business which he expanded into finance. In 1977 he established the Bernard Osher Foundation in San Francisco. This foundation contributes to higher education, the arts and social services and education receives about 80% of the grants.
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The guest speaker at the coffee hour will be Danielle Steinmann who is the program development specialist for OLLI at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA. OLLI through BCC offers over 100 classes each year in history, literature, the arts, politics, sciences and more. There are five semesters including fall, winter, spring, and two summer sessions. The classes can be in person, remote over zoom or a hybrid of in person and zoom. Zoom allows for questions and audience interaction. The zoom classes can be accessed as recordings so they can be viewed at the viewer’s convenience. Often the classes in person can be in various locations such as town libraries, community theaters or on campus. Besides courses, OLLI frequently offers lectures on topics of interest. They have formed many special interest groups (called SIGs) such as book clubs or French speaking clubs.
The instructors or professors are extremely well qualified and are often retired professors and teach for free. There is a small annual membership fee ($75) and a minimal charge for the classes. Class fees are $50 for one class, $95 for 2 - 3 classes and $125 for 4 or more classes. There are always class evaluations, and they solicit suggestions for future classes or lectures.
Please come and attend this interesting presentation. Call Natalie if you have any questions or need a ride at 518-265-2113. The committee’s email address is hillsdalesafeathome@ gmail.com
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East Gate Toll House Update
Preserving Hillsdale’s East Gate Toll House
Exciting progress is under way at Hillsdale’s East Gate Toll House on Route 23. The Friends of East Gate, a local nonprofit dedicated to saving this historic landmark, is carefully dismantling the structure—preserving as much original material as possible—so it can be rebuilt on a new foundation approximately 30 feet back from the highway from its current location.
When the toll gate operated from 1799 to 1906, the Columbia Turnpike was just one lane wide! Over time, as the road expanded into the two-lane Route 23, the Toll House became increasingly vulnerable to accidents and weather. As one of the few remaining toll houses of its kind, the East Gate Toll House is a valuable architectural and historical landmark. Recognizing its significance, it was added to the National and State Registers of Historic Places in 2016. State officials have approved moving the building away from the road, provided it remains on the same historic site—a critical step in ensuring its long life.
Once reconstructed, the Toll House's orientation and elevation will remain unchanged, and the slight setback will not diminish its visibility or historic character along Route 23. This careful approach ensures that the building continues to serve as an evocative reminder of an earlier era of American transportation and economic development—a time before railroads and industrialization reshaped travel and commerce.
The Friends of East Gate are working diligently to restore this rare piece of Hillsdale’s history, but additional funding is needed to continue the project.
To learn more about the Toll House’s history and how to support its preservation, please visit Friends of East Gate
We welcome your questions: Email us here
Stay tuned for updates as we bring this important piece of the past into the future!
| | The annual New York State statewide ban on open burning is in effect from March 16 to May 14. | | |
Shredding bins will be available in Town Hall starting Monday, March 10th through Friday, March 21. Bins will be available from 10 AM to 2 PM and are for personal and confidential items--anything with your banking, social security or other numbers on them. They are NOT for junk mail or magazines. Also please understand that once these bins are full, they will be closed. So be respectfully to everyone and do not bring in multiple boxes or bags of items.
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Weddings at the Roe Jan Park
The Roeliff Jansen Park is a spectacular site for private concerts, weddings, receptions, and other special events. It can accommodate small and large events up to 300 people. The Hilltop Barn (pictured) overlooks beautiful views and is conveniently located near parking. Planners can reach out to the Town to book the location.
Book your wedding here
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HELP WANTED
The Town of Hillsdale is looking for applicants for town positions.
Click below for more information.
| | Farmers Market Planning For 2025 Season | | |
The Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market, already gearing up for its 20th season, is scheduled to open on May 18 and run through Thanksgiving. Vendor applications are available for any local farmer (produce, meat, flowers) or food/drink producers. Artists and skilled artisans are also encouraged to apply as part-time vendors. The application forms and vendor requirements are available at the link below. The application deadline is March 15th.
Because CHFM, Inc. is a nonprofit, it relies heavily on donors to support the live music, SNAP (food stamp) funding, equipment, advertising, and operational expenses. For more information please visit:
copakehillsdalefarmersmarket.com.
| | UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY | | The Friends of the Roe Jan Library Book Shop will be open every Saturday from 10 AM -2 PM (weather permitting). The Friends will be accepting donations from 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM. | |
The Hillsdale Flea Returns!
The annual Hillsdale Flea will be held the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 24. Vendors have already begun to sign up! More info will be coming soon. If you're interested in having a booth space, please email
Hillsdale Flea Market
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Upcoming Town Meetings
There will be a Zoning Board meeting on March 4 at 6:30 PM at Town Hall.
The Planning Board will meet at Town Hall on Monday March 10 at 7 PM.
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Roeliff Jansen Park Steering Committee
Date/Time: Monday, March 3rd at 6 PM
Teams Meeting: Meeting ID: 236 642 842 966
Passcode: xJxvrJ
Climate Smart & Clean Energy
Date/Time: Tuesday March 4th at 5 PM.
Teams Meeting: Meeting ID: 270 161 432 271
Passcode: VRBcB5
Hamlet Committee
Date/Time: Saturday March 8 at 11 AM.
Teams Meeting Meeting ID: 254 619 410 041
Passcode: wZDBcX
Sewer Task Force/Infrastructure Committees
Date/Time: Thursday, March 20 at Noon.
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 280 561 188 556
Passcode: hb3om6e8
CAC
Date/Time: Saturday March 20th at 7pm.
In person at Town Hall
Town Board
Date/Time: Tuesday March 18th at 7 PM.
Zoom Link
If you need meeting ID: 987 6345 7202
Passcode: 559739
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Check out the Hillsdale Business Directory. From plumbers to galleries, restaurants to landscapers, businesses have a lot to offer in Hillsdale.
If you have a business located in Hillsdale you can add or edit your listing online.
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2609 State Route 23/Main Street
Hillsdale NY 12529
518 325-5073
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