March 2024

Table of Contents

From the Supervisor's Desk

Solar Update

Help Wanted

Public Notice - Library

Columbia County Hazardous Household Waste Day

2024 Copake Clean Up Day

Bicentennial Celebration

Columbia County Mohican Heritage: Past, Present, and Future

County Soil & Water Bare Root Tree and Shrub Sale

Copake/Hillsdale Farmer's Market

Park Commission Easter Egg Hunt

Grange Events

Copake History - Barbara Walters

What's Happening at the Library

Pickleball Mania

K.I.S.S.

Knit Club

Memorial Bricks

Columbia County Mental Health Center

From the Supervisor's Desk            

Copake’s bicentennial will feature a varied menu of events. There will be something for everyone to participate in, learn from, and enjoy. Most importantly, the activities are planned to promote and reinforce the pride of place that we all feel living in Copake, “Land of Rural Charm.”



Planning for the impressive package of bicentennial events has been a long process. The hardy band of volunteers who make up the Bicentennial Committee have been at it for more than a year. Their willingness to volunteer their time and effort to help us all celebrate Copake’s 200th birthday is an extraordinary example of the importance of volunteers to our town. In fact, Copake as we know it would not exist but for volunteers.

Copake’s firefighters are volunteers. Copake’s appointed board and committee members are all volunteers. But we need more people to step up and pitch in. When others don’t volunteer, we end up relying on the same selfless individuals, time and again. I acknowledge two of them to illustrate my point, but of course, there are others who give generously of their time to multiple volunteer activities. You know who you are.

Mary Ann Carrick is chair of the Conservation Advisory Committee, and she works with its subcommittees, including Historic Preservation, the Climate Smart Task Force, and the Mohican Allyship. She is heading up Copake’s participation in the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, and has agreed to work on the review and updating of Copake’s Comprehensive Plan.

Roberta Roll has a long history of volunteering for Copake. Currently, in addition to serving as president of the Copake Grange, she is again leading Copake’s efforts to win a NY Forward grant, editing the Copake Connection, serving on CEDAC (Copake Economic Development Advisory Committee), and will work with a Farmland Protection Study Group.



Let me conclude with an appeal to all Copakeans: whether you are a long-time resident or a recent arrival in town, Copake needs you. There are many interesting and rewarding opportunities. If there is something you think the town should be doing or doing better, let me know. Please, volunteer!    

Richard Wolf

Copake Supervisor

Solar Report

Last month, even as I noted the dismissal of Hecate’s application to build and operate a 267-acre, 60-megawatt solar factory in Craryville, I warned that the saga of Shepherd’s Run was not over. Because the dismissal was “without prejudice,” Hecate could try again.

Well, they’re back! Hecate now intends to seek a siting permit from the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) for a 42-megawatt project on the remaining 217 acres from the original proposal, for which it still has options to lease. So…the same land parcels, a slightly smaller proposed project. Shepherd’s Run would still be the size of more than 150 NFL-sized football fields.

We hope that this time Hecate will work with Copake to address our well-documented concerns about its proposal. This should begin with Hecate’s willingness to incorporate the proposals of the ad hoc Working Group, including creation of a 300-acre public greenspace to effectively shield the facility components, thereby creating nature walks and bicycle paths which would turn Shepherd’s Run, as I’ve said too many times already, “from an eyesore into a tourist attraction.” Hecate also needs to compensate the homeowners who will be most adversely impacted by the presence of tens of thousands of solar panels directly across the road. Their property values will surely plummet, and they should be compensated.

Unfortunately, Hecate has shown no willingness to work with us. Quite the opposite: it has been pressing us to agree quickly to a meeting, so it can present its “new” proposal and ostensibly get Copake’s feedback. Hecate can then tell ORES that we’ve met. Why? Because ORES regulations require a “pre-application consultation” with the “host community” before a developer can file an application. But when it first asked for a meeting, Hecate hadn’t provided any new information. Other than being 60 acres smaller, how was the new proposal different from the first one? Would the access road and the two lay down areas that were to be sited on the no-longer-available-to-Hecate parcel going to be in a different location? If so, what adverse impacts to the land and water might result? Had Hecate conducted impact studies? We wanted answers.

We’ve now received some additional information. Hecate says it will simply eliminate the lay down areas and locate a new access road “where the existing farm drive is located on Route 7.” We had hoped that this time Hecate would work with us, that together we could develop a project more consistent with our local laws. Instead, the developer seems hell-bent on steamrolling its way to an application filing. It is treating what ORES has ruled must be a new application process as a mere amendment to the old application process. In its Public Information Project (PIP) plan, it writes: “Many PIP Plan activities have been initiated, occurred, or completed between 2020 and present.” (Of course, anything before January 2024, when Hecate’s application was dismissed, should not count.) “The applicant has held open house style public meetings and intends to hold additional open house style meetings prior to submittal of the Application.” (Note: there have been no such meetings to present a new proposal!)

The PIP document is incredibly sloppy – Hecate seems to have done little more than change the date of the original PIP Plan. Its contact list has Terry Sullivan still on the town board; it fails to identify Bob Haight and Will Morningstar as board members. It has incorrect titles for some appointed board chairs, fails to list another appointed board member, and even lists a deceased Copakean as a current deputy chair. This recycled document contains a list of Hecate phone calls and meetings with town officials and community members that goes back to January of 2020, when Hecate first announced its intention to build Shepherd’s Run in Craryville. Remember the no-longer-with-Hecate Alex Campbell? His phone calls purport to be evidence of Hecate’s interactions with us on this new project!

This is not an encouraging start to the ORES application process.

Richard Wolf

Help Wanted

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

Copake Summer Park Director

Copake Summer Park Assistant Director

Information and job descriptions can be obtained from the Supervisor at (518)329-1234 ext. 1. Letters/resumes must be sent to 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516 Attention: Town Clerk 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 position:

Copake Economic Development Advisory Committee-Member



Letters/resumes may be sent to: 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:

Zoning Board of Appeals Clerk

Park Commission Member

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

Public Notice

The Roe Jan Library, located at 9091 NY- 22 in Hillsdale, NY, is seeking bids from General Contractors to build an outdoor covered pavilion approximately 30’ X 50 ‘ (1500 sq.ft.), which will accommodate 100+ people for the purpose of activities and concerts for children and adults.

The pavilion will be located in the field on the south side of the library property and will have 3 open sides with the 4th side (East) consisting of a built shed-like wall/divider for storage. The Library will remain open to the public during construction.

The work is envisioned as a design-build project for General Contractors to be completed by June 2025. Request for Proposal bids will be solicited in April 2024 with announcement of the winning bid expected by June 2024.

If you are interested in this project, please contact the Roe Jan Library to receive a formal RFP packet. Contact: Director@roejanlibrary.org or call 646-894-0059 before March 31.

Town Announces Bicentennial Celebration Calendar

Kellie Nardin, Chair of the Copake Bicentennial Committee, has announced the schedule for the bicentennial celebration. The wide variety of events will be held during the spring and summer of 2024 and include something for everyone. The town has received generous support from the Rheinstrom Hill Community Foundation as well as Columbia County Tourism to fund these events. The schedule is as follows:

Special Town Board Meeting - April 4, 2024

The bicentennial celebration will commence with a Special Town Board meeting in the Copake Town Hall at 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2024. The meeting marks the 200th anniversary of the first town meeting. The public is invited.

“Your Town” – a Musical at the Copake Grange - April 5 - 7, 2024

Local playwright Carl Ritchie has written an original play, titled “Your Town.” Featuring local talent as well as professional actors, the play is loosely based on “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, as well as the minutes from the first town meeting in April 1824. The play will be directed by Mr. Ritchie and performed at the Copake Grange Theater, with evening performances at 7:00 pm on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, and matinee performances at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. The costumes are designed and donated by J. Kevin Draves.

Rail Trail Art Project – July 6, 2024

This event for children will include art activities based on nature and the area’s history. The event will be held at the Pavillion in Taconic State Park in Copake Falls at 10:00 am. Pre-registration is required. Please register by sending an email to Copakebicentennial@gmail.com.

“Come Home to Copake” Picnic - July 13, 2024 11:00 am to 8:00 pm at Copake Memorial Park. Rain Date: July 14, 2024

Current residents and anyone who has ever lived in Copake are invited to attend this town picnic. The event will feature live music, an art exhibit, car show, and attractions to amuse children, including a hot dog eating contest and sack races. A dessert baking contest will be judged by Nancy Fuller of Copake and the Food Network Show Farm House Rules. Families are invited to bring a picnic lunch and/or dinner, but food will also be available for sale. Copake Fire Company will be doing a Chicken BBQ with pre-sale tickets only. They can be purchased at Copake Town Hall. The Ghent Band will play at 2:00 pm and Night Train will play at 6:00 pm. The picnic will be an opportunity to share memories, renew old friendships and make new friends.

Bicentennial Parade and Picnic - August 17, 2024  Rain Date: August 18

The finale of the bicentennial celebration will be a parade in the Hamlet of Copake, followed by a celebration at Catamount. The parade will line up at 2:30 pm by the Copake Fire Department on Center Hill Road and will step off at 3:00 pm. All local organizations and businesses are invited to participate in the parade. Grand marshalls are former supervisor Angelo Valentino, former town clerk Vana Hotaling, Flora Bergquist and Edgar Masters. To register for the parade write to CopakeParade@gmail.com

The grounds at Catamount will open at 5:00 pm. Attendees are welcome to bring picnic dinners or may purchase food and drink at Catamount. There will be live music and chairlift rides. The evening and the celebration will conclude with fireworks.

Historic Panels: A series of group discussions featuring local residents

Town Historian

Howard Blue is presenting four panel discussions to be held at the Copake Grange. The schedule is as follows:

Friday, June 14, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

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 - 2:30 pm

The Copake Pharmacy, Growing up in Copake

Special shared talk by Steve Kaufman, Nancy Fuller

Sunday, June 30, 1:00 - 2:30 pm

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 - 2:30 pm

Copake Businesses

Moderator: Howard Blue

Panel Members: Heather Thomson, Vana Stang Hotaling, Richard Barton, Steve Kaufman, Mike Fallon

Roeliff Jansen Historical Society

For the 2024 season, the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society has planned a series of events focusing on the bicentennial of the Town of Copake. The three special presentations, all to be held at RJHS during the spring, are:

Sunday, March 17, 2:00 pm

Mohican Heritage: Past, Present and Future

Sponsored by the Copake Mohican Allyship Committee

Sunday, April 28, 2:00 pm

The Rent Wars: Criminals or Crusaders?

Presented by Jill Knapp, author of the The Time for Redemption

Sunday May 19, 2:00 pm

The Bash Bish Inn - A History Shrouded in Mystery

Presented by Linda and Kim Crossman

The RJHS summer exhibition, “The Copake Bicentennial,” will open on Saturday, July 6, 2024 and will be open every Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 - 4:00 pm until October 6, 2024. The summer exhibition and all spring events will be held at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society, located at 8 Miles Road, Copake Falls, New York.

Celebrating Copake: A 24-Panel Town Hall Historic Exhibit

In addition to all of the special events planned to celebrate Copake’s bicentennial, there is also a permanent exhibit in Copake Town Hall which tells the town’s story through old photos and text.

The panels feature a wide variety of subjects. Three panels are about the WWII-related origin of the town's memorial clock, the former arson-destroyed movie theater, and Bash Bish Falls.

Another panel’s story, featured in US history books, is about Dr. Smith Boughton (AKA Chief Big Thunder). For supporting a local tenant farmers' rent strike against the Livingston family, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Another panel tells how several men came to Copake as result of being kidnapped.

Open weekdays (except Fri.) 8:00am – 4:00pm and Sat. 9:00am to 12:00 noon

Bicentennial Play “Your Town” Opens Soon!

Celebrate Copake’s bicentennial with laughter, romance, and songs for the whole family! “Your Town” will be performed April 5 - 7 at the Copake Grange. Tickets are free but you must reserve seats. Friday evening is already sold out, so don’t wait!

Written and directed by local playwright Carl Ritchie, producing artistic director of Taconic Stage Company, “Your Town” features local talent as well as professional actors, starring Craig Addams, Diedre Bollinger, Susan Fullerton, Andrew Joffe and Constance Lopez. The musical is inspired by “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, as well as the actual minutes of the first town meeting in April 1824. Music is by Wayne Moore and Chuck Pelletier, with piano accompaniment by Joe Rose. Costumes are by Kevin Draves. The play is one of the first events in Copake to celebrate the bicentennial of the town. Performances are on Friday, April 5 at 7pm, Saturday, April 6 at 2pm and 7pm, and Sunday, April 7 at 2pm. Tickets are free, but reservations are required and available on the Grange website copakegrange.org/events.

Mohican Heritage: Past, Present and Future

On Sunday, March 17 at 2pm, Bradley Pitts, chair of the Copake Mohican Allyship Committee will present a talk at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society on the Mohican history of the Copake area.

What is a land acknowledgement? What is tribal allyship? And why are they important? The presentation, sponsored by Copake’s Mohican Allyship Committee (MAC), will address these questions and briefly explore some of the history that predates Copake’s founding in 1824, before bringing the conversation back to present day Copake residents and contemporary Mohicans. Inviting us to consider what our current relationships are with the original people of the land and their contemporary descendants, the program asks, “How might we bring our relationships into greater alignment with our principles and values?” 

Appointed by the Copake Town Board in February 2023, MAC is dedicated to working with the Town of Copake and area residents, in consultation with Stockbridge-Munsee Community representatives, to increase the visibility and understanding of contemporary, past, and future Mohicans.

The Roeliff Jansen Historical Society is located at 8 Miles Road, Copake Falls, NY. Admission is free. www.roeliffjansenhs.org

Columbia County Soil & Water Bare Root Tree and Shrub Sale

Each spring the Columbia County Soil & Water Conservation District hosts an annual Bare Root Tree & Shrub sale, offering bare root plants to local residents. These plants are available at a low cost for conservation purposes, but at the same time add to the beauty of your property.

All plants are sold as bare root (unpotted) and range in size from 10" to 24". Bluebird houses are also available for purchase.

The deadline for ordering is April first, with plants ready for pick-up at the end of April. For more information and to download the order form, visit Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Website.

 

You may also be interested in the Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Bare Root Seedling Sale.

If you feel you are needing more detailed planting and care information for each of the varieties, Cornell Cooperative Extension is a great resource. Their staff master gardeners can be reached at:  518-828-3346 Ext. 212

Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market Announces 2024 Season

The days are getting longer, the farmers are getting their seeds ready, and the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market is already gearing up for its 19th season, scheduled to open on May 18th 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 for part-time dates. The application forms and vendor requirements can be downloaded from https://www.copakehillsdalefarmersmarket.com/vendor-application/, with an application deadline of April 1st.

Along with the new season comes the annual sponsorship appeal. With CHFM, Inc. being a non-profit, it relies heavily on donors to support the live music, SNAP (food stamp) funding, equipment, advertising, and operational expenses. Any donations are appreciated and useful, whether a small individual amount, a generous corporate donation, or a hefty foundation pledge. All of the details, including sponsor perks, are outlined in the letter available at https://www.copakehillsdalefarmersmarket.com/sponsorship/

Grange Events

Saturday, March 16, 7-9pm - Charissa Hoffman and JeJune Jr.  Back again this year by popular demand, Nashville-based artist Charissa Hoffman, with JeJune Jr. and Lucy Nelligan, will bring ukulele, voice, upright bass and fiddle to the Grange stage in presenting an evening of original music, storytelling and maybe even a few familiar tunes! Folk, rock, jazz fusion, soul/funk and more!  Tickets - $15 or pay what you can.

Sunday, March 17, 4pm - 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.

March 22-24, Fri. & Sat. 7:30pm, Sun. 3pm - “A Shayna Maidel” A Shayna Maidel, Yiddish meaning “pretty girl,” tells the story of the reunion of two sisters after World War II, one having survived the Nazi concentration camps. Produced by The Two Of Us Productions, the award winning theater company. You won't want to miss this exploration of human strength and frailty punctuated by moments of humor & hope. Tickets $20, $15 for seniors. For tickets, go to www.TheTwoOfUsProductions.org or call 518-329-6293.

April 5 Open Mic Night is canceled.  See the Bicentennial Play listing below.  Open Mic will resume on May 3.

April 5-7, Fri. 7:00pm, Sat. 2pm & 7:00pm, Sun. 2pm - “Your Town” Celebrate Copake’s bicentennial at the Grange with laughter, romance, and songs for the whole family! Written and directed by local playwright Carl Ritchie, producing artistic director of Taconic Stage Company, “Your Town” features local talent as well as professional actors and is inspired by “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, as well as the actual minutes of the first town meeting in April 1824. The play is one of the first events in Copake to celebrate the bicentennial of the town. Tickets are free and reservations are required and available on the Grange website, copakegrange.org/events.

Friday, April 12, 7 - 9pm - Spring Awakening Dance Party. Come dance for spring, for health, for fun, for joy! Dance to music from the 60s to the 2000s. Go to https://tinyurl.com/GrangeSpringDance to tell us your favorite tunes. Refreshments will be served. $5 suggested donation.

Saturday, April 13, 7pm - Cabaret Night: Tin Pan Alley.  Vocalist Ilana Meredith, piano and accordion accompanist Joe Rutkowski, and local Historian Jim Mackin invite you to explore the music of Tin Pan Alley at this wonderful cabaret evening. Learn more about composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Kurt Weill, Joseph Augustine Wade and more, while enjoying some of the tunes that will always capture our hearts! There will be a reception following the show. This performance is sponsored in part by Stewart’s Shops and the Ackerman Foundation. Tickets $15 at the door, or pay what you can.

Saturday, April 20, 9am - Pick-up Litter Day. Celebrate Earth Day and help us keep Copake beautiful! We’re organizing to pick up litter along roads in Copake hamlet, Copake Falls, Craryville and Copake Lake. Pick up along your nearby roads or meet us at the Grange Hall at 9am. We will provide trash bags. Bring your own gloves and sturdy shoes. You may drop off your collection by noon at the dumpster at Town Hall, 230 Mountain View Rd. or, if the dumpster is full, bring it to the Copake Park dumpster or the transfer station. Please do not leave trash on the ground next to the dumpsters. Take photos of you and your trash and send them to copakegrange@gmail.com Need more info? Contact Peggy Lewis at 914-475-5162 or plewispok@gmail.com

Saturday, April 20, 3:30-5pm - Planet vs Plastics. The Copake Grange, The Friends of Taconic State Park, and Copake Conservation Advisory Committee invite you to celebrate Earth Day with us.  Earth Day 2024 theme is Planet vs. Plastics.  Deb Weltch and Jim Sullivan are guest speakers from the organization "Beyond Plastics.” We will learn about the amount, impacts and proposed solutions to the problem of plastics in the environment. The event is free.

Saturday, April 27, 7pm - L’Arema.  The talented woodwind trio L’Arema Ensemble — Diane Lipartito (bassoon), Joseph Rutkowski (clarinet), Pamela Sklar (flute) — presents an eclectic program ranging from classical to Broadway, including works composed by Mozart, Ibert, Joplin, Giovanni Mayr, Gershwin, Bernstein and others. There will be a reception with the artists following the performance. This performance is made possible in part by Stewart’s Shops. Tickets $15 at the door, or pay what you can.

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 History

Barbara Walters (1929-2022) in Copake

Chances are if you're old enough, that over the years you saw Barbara Walters interviewing a prominent political or entertainment figure on television. Among many other luminaries, she interviewed Fidel Castro, Anwar Sadat, Vladimir Putin, and Katherine Hepburn. Her years of work on television paved the way for other women to get into the news business.

But I'll bet you had no idea that Barbara Walters spent some delightful time in Copake years ago. Well, she did - at West Copake's Camp Ferosdel. Since she was born in 1929, she likely attended the camp in the mid-40s. Alfred Raabe, a physician, and his wife Tess, a very socially progressive couple, owned Camp Ferosdel, to which they gave a strong emphasis on rural living and the arts. Over the years its campers built up a strong loyalty to it. Curiously, a Cincinnati, Ohio newspaper that reported about Barbara's connection with the camp claimed that it was in the Berkshires, in Massachusetts. It also labeled Raabe, a very beloved camp owner, as “an eccentric doctor from New York City.”

Interestingly, it also stated that the camp’s mostly Jewish boys and girls from New York City were proud in a reverse snobbery sense about the place having only cold water and no electricity.

In any case, the article stated that some of Barbara's happiest days times in those days were spent at the camp and that she forged a lifelong friendship with a bunkmate with whom she had something in common. Both girls had a handicapped sister, of whom they were very protective. Apparently both sets of parents laid some excessive responsibility on the girls.

Howard Blue

Town Historian

copaketownhistorian@gmail.com

What’s Happening at the Library?

Saturday, March 16, 2:00 p.m.

Cookbook Club. At our February meeting, we decided to spice things up a bit (quite literally!) by introducing a new activity. Each member wrote the name of a cooking ingredient of their choice and placed the slip of paper into a basket. Each of us then randomly selected one slip of paper from the basket. The ingredient written on that slip is our secret culinary challenge for a dish that we will prepare for the March meeting.

The task is simple yet thrilling: incorporate the mystery ingredient you’ve drawn into a dish of your choice. It’s entirely up to your creativity and cooking prowess how you use it. On March 16th, we’ll gather once again, bringing with us our prepared dishes. As we unveil our creations, we’ll discover the diverse ways in which this single ingredient has inspired our culinary imaginations. From savory to sweet, from appetizers to desserts, the possibilities are endless!

See you there, with your secret ingredients in hand! If you did not attend our February meeting, stop by the library to select your secret ingredient or contact Fran at outreach@roejanlibrary.org

Sunday, March 17, 1:00 p.m.

Library of Local: Back to Nature - Seed Starting Essentials & Seed Swap. Starting your own seeds indoors is fun to do and can also be very cost-effective. During this presentation, you will learn about seed-starting essentials, best practices for the successful germination of seeds, caring for seedlings, and how to transition the seedlings into the garden in the spring. You will also learn about resources and examine several containers and supplies used for seed starting.

This program will be presented by Maureen Mooney, who has been a Master Gardener, part of the Columbia and Greene Counties Volunteer organization for twelve years. Maureen has always had a passion for growing vegetables, herbs and flowers since childhood. She is a retired nurse who loves to grow and dry flowers for bouquets or wreaths to share with others. She grows her own vegetables and flowers organically and also year-round. There is always something to harvest.

After the presentation, we will be holding a seed swap. So please bring your favorite seeds that you would like to share! For guidelines on seed swapping, go to: 

https://www.roejanlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Seed-Swap-Guidelines.pdf

This program is presented in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties.

Tuesday, March 19. 4:00 p.m.

Art Pioneers: Women of Abstract Expressionism. Celebrate Women’s History Month and learn about the women who pioneered abstract art: Lee Krasner, Elaine DeKooning, Helen Frankenthaler, and others. In this virtual program, we will learn about their lives and their groundbreaking creativity. Following a presentation, we will take a live virtual tour of the home and studio of Lee Krasner and her husband Jackson Pollock.

This program is presented by Joyce Raimondo, Education Coordinator at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in East Hampton, NY, and is sponsored by the Columbia County Libraries Association.

To register and receive the Zoom link, email programs@hudsonarealibrary.org

Thursday, March 21, 1:00 p.m.

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 The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by Pico Iyer. Copies are available through the Mid-Hudson Library System, Hoopla, and Libby.

Monday, March 25, 7:00 p.m. 

Webinar: Ladies, First: Common Threads. In honor of Women's History Month, avid crocheter and author Debra Scala Giokas will discuss her book Ladies, First: Common Threads, which celebrates 18 first ladies who, at one point in their lives, knitted, crocheted, embroidered, quilted, cross-stitched, or sewed. Their inspirational stories encourage an appreciation of craft and creativity, patience and perseverance, sacrifice and service, and most of all, the role of the first lady in the United States of America.

This program is sponsored by the Columbia County Libraries Association. To register, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com to receive the Zoom login information.

Wednesday, March 27, 6:45 p.m. on Zoom

Tech Labs: Computer Security and Scams. In need of some tech pointers? The Columbia County Libraries Association presents a series of six online Tech Labs designed for those seeking help managing basic to moderate functions like email, file sharing, navigation, storage, and more. All labs will be presented by our resident tech guru, Pam Doran, on Zoom.

These days, with cyber attacks intensifying, it's even more important to protect yourself by keeping safe on the Internet. In this Lab, learn about cyber security and how you can protect yourself from hackers and online scams, avoid falling prey to viruses and phishing emails, manage your passwords, secure your data, and understand security attacks! There are many ways to protect yourself online. Come learn important ways to protect yourself.

To register and receive the Zoom link, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com

Thursday, March 28, 2:30 p.m.

Tea Time at the Library. Every 4th Thursday of the month, Library Associate Fran Colombo hosts a special tea time featuring guided conversation, crafts, special guests, and local tea and coffee options provided by the Library. Each month’s gathering has a different theme; listen, discuss, and enjoy a cup of tea (or coffee if that’s your preference!) and sometimes a fun activity. There will also be plenty of time to chat, get to know your neighbors, and wind down.

This month join us for Tea Time with Janet Piwowarski for a discussion on classic children’s series like The Hardy Boys.

Thursday, March 28, 6:00 p.m.

Art in the Evenings with Tia. Beat the winter blues with color and art! Fun classes for all skill levels. In each class, we will learn about and create a piece of art inspired by a specific artist. For our March 28th class, we will be creating works inspired by the artist Mirka Madeleine Mora. To register, email youth@roejanlibrary.org as space is limited.

Wednesday, April 3, 6:45 p.m. on Zoom

Tech Lab: AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ChatGPT. In need of some tech pointers? The Columbia County Libraries Association presents a series of six online Tech Labs designed for those seeking help managing basic to moderate functions like email, file sharing, navigation, storage, and more. All labs will be presented by our resident tech guru, Pam Doran, on Zoom.

ChatGPT — the artificial intelligence (AI)-infused chatbot that you can converse with as if it were a fellow human being -- can spit out term papers, produce poetry, concoct recipes or create pages for your upcoming novel in roughly the time you need to read this sentence. In this Lab, find out why the world is talking about AI and learn how to use it. Already using ChatGPT? Find out how to write better prompts.

To register and receive the Zoom link, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com

Thursday, April 11, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Saving the Night Sky: Dark Skies and Light Pollution. Dark skies are not just important for seeing the stars, but for the health of our planet and ourselves. Light pollution threatens many animal species, from migrating birds to hatchling sea turtles. It also impacts human health as it disturbs our sleep patterns. Unnecessary lighting wastes money and energy and contributes to climate change. Join us for a film screening and presentation and discussion with Susan Bachelder on the importance of dark skies and learn about a citizen science project to help measure and report light pollution in our area. 

Susan P. Bachelder, a resident of Egremont, has been a member of DarkSky International for over a decade. She has posted a local STAR DATE blog for 15 years for her neighbors, encouraging star gazing using simple ID skills to identify stars and planets while explaining the underlying astronomical structures, both in contemporary and historical terms to underpin her observations. 

This program is free and open to all!

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+.