Greetings from Copake
Copake Connection is an online newsletter brought to you by the Town of Copake. This newsletter will publicize community events throughout the Town of Copake and will be published once a month, on the 15th of the month. The editor is Roberta Roll. All submissions should be sent to roberta.roll@gmail.com no later than the 10th of the month. The newsletter will be distributed to anyone who wishes to subscribe. Simply click the mailing list icon below.
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Table of Contents
From The Supervisor's Desk
Solar Report
NY Forward
Town Hall Exhibit
2022 Summer Park Program
Bicentennial
Copake Highway Department Vacancies
Park Superintendent
Town Boards Have Openings
Roe Jan Ramble
Farmer's Market
Grange Events
Community Harvest Festival
Copake History
Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
What's Happening at the Library
Taconic Hills Central School Offers Life Learning
COVID Tests
Memorial Bricks
Dementia Conversations
NYS Department of Public Service
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From The Supervisor's Desk
Copake Board Takes Safety Seriously
I have a short commute home. Leaving Town Hall I take a right onto Center Hill Road and within minutes I am pulling into my driveway. It has been startling to me of late, that in those two miles home I sometimes feel like my life is in danger. Crossing the bridge on Center Hill, where there is a curve in the road, I often encounter an oncoming car which is not only speeding but is hugging, or even crossing, the double line. I do not think of myself as timid, but more than once I have pulled onto the shoulder and even stopped.
What is going on? A year or so ago I was on Yonderview Road, approaching State Route 23 in Hillsdale. As I pulled up to the stop sign, I saw a car on Route 23, stopped and about to turn left onto Yonderview. Suddenly, in a flash, a car came from behind her, passed her on the left and continued on into Hillsdale. The poor driver was left looking stunned.
Clearly Copake and Hillsdale are not the only towns where people are driving too fast. Everywhere you go you see radar signs which register your speed, and if you are going slowly enough, some of them say “Thank you!” This year, the Town of Copake purchased two such digital radar signs. Since we only had two signs, our highway department spent the summer moving the signs from place to place. I plan to budget to buy a couple more signs in 2023.
Speeding and aggressive driving is a problem and everyone has their own theory as to the cause, but the Copake Town Board is trying to do something about it. At the September town board meeting the board passed a Resolution petitioning the NYS Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit on County Route 7A between the hamlet of Copake and the hamlet of West Copake. Right now the speed limit is 55 mph.
The board is not just concerned about speeding. Three years ago, the Town of Copake appealed to the NYS Department of Transportation to install a traffic light at the intersection of County Route 7 and State Route 23. DOT refused. This August, the board agreed to try again. At the request of the board, Deputy Supervisor Richard Wolf wrote to DOT saying, “Conditions have significantly changed in the more than three years since DOT’s determination. We urge DOT to conduct a fresh study and to implement measures to improve safety and traffic flow approaching and at the intersection.” As Mr. Wolf reported, “Since late 2019, four accidents resulting in personal injuries have increased safety concerns. In April, a two-car collision resulted in injuries to two people who were taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment.” The letter can be found here.
We will let you know how successful we are in our attempts.
Jeanne E. Mettler
Supervisor
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Solar Update
There have been no new filings with the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) since Hecate’s August 3 Affidavit of Service claiming that it had served copies of its updated siting application on all who are entitled to receive it.
Under ORES’ regulations, which were written for it by an energy industry consultant that lists Hecate as one of its clients, ORES has 60 days to determine whether Hecate’s application is now “complete.” If ORES fails to make a completeness determination within 60 days of receiving this latest set of fillings, the application must automatically be deemed complete and a draft siting permit will be issued by ORES. So, by early next month, we should learn what ORES does next. There are three possibilities: (1) It could determine that Hecate’s application is complete and grant a draft siting permit; (2) it could issue another “Notice of Incomplete Application,” as it did on May 9, and require Hecate to address whatever deficiencies ORES identifies; or, (3) it could make no determination at all, which would mean that Hecate’s application automatically would be deemed complete, and a draft permit would be issued.
If ORES does issue a draft siting permit, it will have to ignore the many comments from Copakeans who have written ORES to raise concerns and objections to the proposed Shepherd’s Run utility-scale solar facility. To quote, in part, from one such comment:
Our house in Craryville is sited directly across the street from one of the proposed fields. It has been in my wife's family for almost 80 years…They are proposing to put solar fields on prime farmland, wetlands, next to a bird sanctuary and in a village that's primary economy is tourism and agriculture. At what point will common sense prevail?? NY is a huge state with far more appropriate locations. But the profit margin may be impacted and that is what drove the location of the site to begin with. [And] now we have a global food shortage. Drought is destroying…farmland in the western United States…and we desperately need to preserve the prime farmland of Copake and New York State. Using prime farmland for solar facilities renders this farmland useless for 20-30 years or until the solar panels are removed, and is short-sighted. …Hecate has refused to incorporate recommendations from the working group, which underlines their motives are solely short-term and profit-based. Respectfully, please do the right thing and stop this project.
Hecate has been unwilling to adopt several key recommendations from the ad hoc Working Group, in particular, the proposed creation of a 300-acre community-accessible green space to protect view sheds, effectively screen many of the solar arrays from nearby homes, and offer nature walks and bicycling trails to residents and visitors. Another important recommendation from the Working Group is that Hecate should provide financial compensation for homeowners with properties that would be most directly and adversely impacted by Shepherd’s Run. Our attorney’s review of Hecate’s updated submissions confirms that it refused to incorporate these sensible recommendations into its siting application.
Hecate’s position remains unchanged: we’re doing this, Copake, and we’re doing it on our terms, and our terms alone. Something else bears repeating: We are not climate change deniers. We will do our fair share. We just want the state and Hecate to treat us fairly. As proposed, Shepherd’s Run is still too big and still wrongly sited, so we will continue to fight. Together with our co-petitioners, we have appealed a lower court decision in a case challenging the ORES regulations. If ORES should issue a draft siting permit to Hecate, we are prepared to challenge it in a separate lawsuit. Hecate refuses to implement common-sense solutions that would balance the need for renewable energy with the reasonable accommodations Copake seeks. We will continue to fight to preserve Copake’s cherished local character and rural environment.
Richard Wolf
Deputy Supervisor
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We Need Your Letters!
A public workshop was held on Sept. 10 at the Copake Town Hall for the application process for a NY Forward grant from New York State. Copake could be awarded up to $4.5 million. We need your letters of support for our application, which is due on Sept. 23.
River Street Planning & Development conducted the public workshop and is writing the application. Participants at the workshop discussed various ideas for projects to be included in the application, such as the Copake Spur trail to connect the hamlet of Copake with the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, other trails within the hamlet, a park at the Fire Pond, the restoration of the Grange, rehabilitation of buildings in the hamlet - including facade improvements for some of the businesses, extension of sidewalks in connection with the County Rt. 7A road project currently underway, housing, signage and wayfinding.
The next thing you can do to support Copake's 2022 NY Forward proposal and downtown revitalization is to write a heartfelt letter of support. Share your vision for why Copake is ready to invest $4.5 million downtown.
Please email letters of support to CopakeNYForward@gmail.com by Sept. 19. Letters should be addressed to: Capital Region Economic Development Council, Mike Yevoli, Director, 433 River Street, Troy, NY 12180.
Your letters will provide valuable support and information, boosting our chances of winning a NY Forward grant. For more information about the NY Forward program and Copake’s application process, go to www.copakewaterfronts.com/nyforward. On the website, you will also find links to a short survey and to a project submission form. Your input is important, so please fill out the survey!
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Town Hall Exhibit Continues to Delight
The town hall continues to welcome visitors to “Celebrating Copake’s History: A Town Hall Exhibit."
The exhibit, which opened to the public on August 13, is a permanent exhibit comprised of 24 historic panels, as well as a collection of enlarged historic post cards and numerous original paintings depicting local scenes. Visitors have expressed praise for the exhibit, some remembering Copake from years gone by and others seeing Copake’s past for the first time.
The exhibit is the culmination of over two years work by a three-member ad hoc committee appointed by the town board in early 2020. The members of the committee were Copake artist Nick Fritsch, Town Historian Howard Blue, and former town clerk, Vana Hotaling. The exhibit includes two of Mr. Fritsch’s paintings, on loan to the town: “First Town Meeting 1824,” a painting of the house where the first Copake town meeting was held on April 4, 1824, and “Depot,” which is a painting of the railroad depot at the intersection of County Route 7A and Route 22.
The exhibit may be viewed whenever the town hall is open, although access is curtailed on the fourth Monday of each month when Court in session. The town hall is open to the public Monday-Thursday, 8:00am to 4:00pm and Saturday 9:00am until noon.
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2022 Summer Park Program is Huge Success
Under the leadership of Director Bryan Van Tassel and Assistant Director Hollie Van Tassel, the Copake Summer Park Program was again a huge success. Assisted by a generous contribution of $7500 from the Rheinstrom Hill Community Foundation, the camp offered trips and programs for all ages.
There were a total of 91 campers this summer. They went on field trips to Zoom Flume, Putting Plus, Fun Plex and Hudson Movieplex. Kent Sammons came from KS Fitness every Friday and had the kids fully engaged in fun workouts that involved speed ladders, fitness sleds, and competitive running events. Zumba with Terry Sullivan was hugely popular; as always, she had a large number of participants. The campers did an amazing job this year of putting down all electronics and enjoying every day out in the sun, interacting with peers, and making new friends. The oldest group (13-year olds) went to the Catamount Adventure Park and participated in a ropes course and ziplining.
The Talent Show was a huge success that highlighted so many of the campers' talents. The show ended with the entire camp dancing and singing along to Party in the USA. It was great to see kids and counselors all come together. The program ended with a picnic for the kids that included hamburgers and hotdogs and many donations from parents, such as chips, cookies, cupcakes, fruit, drinks, ice cream, and a snow cone machine.
At the August town board meeting, the board praised and thanked the Van Tassels for another successful year.
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Town Seeks Members for Bicentennial Committee
The Town Board has put out a call for members for the Bicentennial Committee, inviting both full and part time residents to participate in planning the town’s celebration of 200 years.
At the August Town Board meeting, three Copake residents were appointed as honorary co-chairs of the committee: former Supervisor Angelo Valentino, former Planning Board Chair Edgar Masters, and longtime resident Flora Bergquist. The board is now calling for applicants to serve on the committee.
Copake’s first town meeting was held on April 4, 1824. The committee will plan an event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of that date and will also organize a calendar of events to be held in 2024 into 2025, which may include public meetings, ceremonies, gatherings, a parade and performances. It is the board’s intention that the committee will celebrate and publicize the history of Copake and encourage interest in Copake’s rich past.
Those interested in volunteering for the committee should deliver a letter of interest to Lynn Connolly, Copake Town Clerk no later than October 27, 2022 at 12 noon. Applications may be mailed or delivered personally to Lynn Connolly, Copake Town Clerk, to 230 Mountain View Rd., Copake, NY 12516 or may be emailed to copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org.
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Town of Copake Highway Department Vacancies
The Town of Copake will be receiving applications for a full time truck driver/heavy equipment operator/mechanic and a full time mechanic at the Office of the Superintendent of Highways, 47 School Road, Copake, New York 12516.
Heavy equipment operator applicants must have a class B Commercial Drivers License and submit to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol tests. Experience in road maintenance, snow plowing, and mechanics is a significant advantage.
Mechanic applicants must have a class B CDL, previous employment as a mechanic, and submit to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol tests.
The applications may be picked up at the Copake Town Hall, located at 230 Mountain View Rd., or the Copake Highway Department, located at 47 School Rd. Applications also available for download on the town website at townofcopake.org.
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Park Superintendent Wanted
The Town of Copake is seeking to fill the position of Park Superintendent.
Responsibilities include the supervision of Copake Memorial Park, including overseeing and assisting with all outside maintenance at town properties; coordinating all outside events and athletic practices and games; ordering all maintenance materials; opening and winterizing outside restrooms and concession stand; maintenance of ice rink; and coordination of all outside agencies for large and special events.
A complete job description can be found here and is available upon request. Letters of interest and resumes should be submitted by 12:00pm on October 3, 2022 to Lynn Connolly, Town Clerk, Copake Town Hall, 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516 or emailed to copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org. Inquiries may be made to the Supervisor at 518-329-1234 ext 1.
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Town Boards Have Openings
If you would like to get more involved with town government and town matters, Copake has many openings for you.
There are currently openings on the Board of Assessment Review, Ethics Board, Park Commission, Planning Board, and Zoning Board. Information and job descriptions can be obtained from the Supervisor at (518)329-1234 ext. 1. Letters of interest and resumes should be mailed by October 17, 2022 to 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516 Attention: Lynn Connolly, Town Clerk or email copaketownclerk@townofcopake.org.
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Roe Jan Ramble Bike Tour Set for September 17
After a two year hiatus due to COVID, the Roe Jan Ramble Bike Tour is energized and ready to ride this year on Saturday, September 17.
It will be the 10th anniversary of the popular ride through Copake, Hillsdale, and Ancram. Go at your own pace on 6 different routes from the easy family friendly 10-miler, to the expert enthusiast’s 62 -miler (100 km). Registration is free; donations are encouraged to benefit the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Go to www.roejanramble.org for more information and to register.
Photo: Suzy Allman
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Shop Local and Fresh at the Farmers Market
Farmers Market Still Going Strong
The passing of Labor Day has got some people talking as if Thanksgiving is next week! Be assured, we are still in Summer for a few more weeks, and there are still 11 wonderful markets left in this season.
September and October are prolific harvest months, with everything from artichokes to zucchini coming up. Visit this seasonal guide for details!
Drawing from vendors in Copake -- Yonderview Farmhouse, Hamlet Hound, Bash Bish Honey, and Taconic Trading -- Hillsdale, Claverack, Philmont, Ancram, Chatham and beyond, your local fresh market remains a terrific source for healthy and handmade foods. Local artisans bring their hand-crafted items, everything from pottery to clothing to note cards - great for gifts and adding to your own home enjoyment.
You can shop for produce, plants, meat/poultry/cured meats, eggs, cheese, baked goods, beer/wine/spirits, coffee, honey, maple syrup, jams/jellies, prepared food, pesto, pickles, and a variety of specialty items such as spiced pumpkin seeds, natural body care, bitters, lemonade, breakfast sandwiches, and gluten-free products. See the full list at:
Notably, CHFM not only accepts but doubles your SNAP (food stamps). This is an important part of the market’s mission, as they believe healthy food should be available to all. They also accept other assistance programs like Fresh Connect, Double Up, and Farmers Nutrition Program.
With a spacious layout inside Roe Jan Park, ample parking (including handicapped), umbrella tables, live music, hand washing station, weekly artisan crafters, and kids' programming partnered with the Roe Jan Community Library, you and your leashed dog can make the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market a very special weekly visit.
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Grange Events
Friday, Sept. 30, 7-9pm - Open Poetry Night. Bring poems of your own to read, or a poem by one of your favorite poets. Or, just tune in to listen and be inspired and delighted by the magic and power of poetry. Readers do not need to sign up in advance. For more info, email roberta.roll@gmail.com. Free.
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Saturday, Oct. 1, 2pm - Talk by Howard Blue. Join Howard Blue and the Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Society. Howard will talk about his latest book about Carroll Rheinstrom, titled, The Man Who Sold Superman to the World: How Carroll Rehinstrom Made DC Comics Go Global. The talk will be followed by a walking tour of the preserve, Rheinstrom’s former estate.
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Friday, Oct. 7, 7-9pm - Open Mic Night. LIVE and IN-PERSON!
Live open mic is on and it’s great! Come on down to the Grange and join us with your instruments, songs, poems, stories, skits, etc. We have a piano. Masks are suggested, except when performing. For more information, contact copakegrange@gmail.com.
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Friday, Nov. 4, 7-9pm - Open Mic Night. LIVE and IN-PERSON! Live open mic is on and it’s great! Come on down to the Grange and join us with your instruments, songs, poems, stories, skits, etc. We have a piano. Masks are suggested, except when performing. For more information, contact copakegrange@gmail.com.
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Saturday, Nov. 19, 3:30pm - Movie and Pizza Night! Join us for the classic movie, “On the Waterfront,” a 1954 American crime drama film, directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. It stars Marlon Brando and features Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Pat Henning, and Eva Marie Saint in her film debut. The musical score was composed by Leonard Bernstein. Stay after the movie for dinner - pizza, salad and dessert. Movie admission is by donation. Dinner is $10.
The Grange is located at 628 Empire Rd.
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Community Harvest Festival in September:
Food and Drink, Live Music, and a Silent Auction
The historic Church of St. John In The Wilderness will hold its 2022 Community Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 17, 5:00-7:30pm at its beautiful property in Copake Falls, NY.
The event is open to the public and will feature food and drink, live music with Broadway composer Jim Wann and Friends, and a silent auction. Tickets are $75 general admission and $25 for those 12 and under and can be purchased online at https://stjohnw.org/event/community-harvest-festival/.
Jim Wann, best known for “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” a Tony Nominee for Best Musical, will host a program of American Songbook Standards and Irish Traditional Music led by Robbie Haldane, a craftsman who is also creating a new accessible church entrance from local granite. “We look forward to playing and singing outdoors in mid-September” said Mr. Wann. “Robbie plays melodeon and pennywhistle, and the standards will be played on guitar and clarinet (John Myers) and upright bass (Pete Toigo). We might throw in a rockabilly tune just for Pete.” The music is appropriate for all ages.
Dinner will be served buffet-style, and attendees can sit at tables under the big tent. Everything needed for a beautiful fall meal will be provided. Wendy Langlois and her team will be preparing the menu.
Guests will have an opportunity to bid on many silent auction items. Gift certificates to local restaurants and shops, vacations, artwork and food and wine baskets are just some of the items that are expected. Interested in contributing to the auction? Contact Patricia Wann at
All proceeds from this fundraising event will help preserve the historic grounds, graveyard, rectory and church, designed by Richard Upjohn, founding President of the American Institute of Architects in 1857.
The Church of St. John in the Wilderness is located at 261 NY-344, Copake Falls, NY.
Rain date - Saturday, September 24. For more information, contact Jim or Patricia Wann by emailing pjwann23@gmail.com.
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Copake History
On the Move Again: the Muller Family Take Up Residence in the Mountain View House
By the late Marilyn Muller Brewster
[This is the latest of a multi part series based on Marilyn’s memoir written some years ago. Marilyn was a cousin of the Jensens whose farm was adjacent to the one owned by their relatives, the Langdons.]
The little house on the corner was sold in 1936. Mom, Dad and I moved to the Mountain View House on a year-round basis. Dad still worked in the city during the week and came home on weekends. Mom was going to help Grandma run the inn.
On July 18th of that year, Mom went for a ride with Dad to Great Barrington, Mass. She was gone for a few days. I didn't mind. Dad had come home and there were lots of people around to keep me occupied. Dad went to pick Mom up from her "visit" and when she returned, she had a surprise for me. She brought me a new baby sister. Carla had arrived.
Carla was fun to play with when she was awake but she sure slept a lot. I had to find other amusements. One was across the road and over the field at the Boy Scout camp. There was a large pond there where I could watch the beavers build dams. With their sharp teeth they would chew small trees with such precision that the ends looked as if they were put through a giant pencil sharpener. They would then stack the wood into teepee like structures in the water. They would dive under into their water teepees, bob up again, flapping their fat tails either in fun or as an alarm if I had disturbed them. I could watch them for ages, not tiring of their antics.
As an aside, [years later, in 1980] while working for New York Telephone Co. . . . I was transferred to an office in New York City. One of the other managers asked me to join her for lunch. While talking about our past, I mentioned that I grew up in Copake. She surprised me by saying she knew it well. I didn't think anyone living outside of Copake ever heard of it! Her brother attended that same Boy Scout camp every year as a youngster. Small world, isn't it?
When Dad came home on weekends, he would take me hunting for rabbits or woodchucks (a.k.a. ground hogs). Now that I look back, we may have been hunting for food because money was tight. If so, I never knew it. I just loved being with Dad. We'd bring home our catch and Dad would string it up on the big apple tree out back, skin it and clean it. Mom would then make a delicious stew of it and he and I would lick our chops, smile and pop our buttons.
I'd like to expound on that phrase about money being tight. Many of you who may read this, might have forgotten or not know that those years when I grew up were the aftermath of the 1929 market crash. They were the years of the "Great Depression.” Some people were financially destroyed. Some were so distraught that they even committed suicide. Many were out of work. Jobs were hard to come by. People waited for hours in what were referred to as bread lines in order to get food for their families. Others went from town to town knocking on doors asking for chores to do in exchange for a meal. Welfare programs as we know them didn't exist. The government-initiated work programs such as the Civil Conservation Corps (the C.C.C.) and the Workers Program Agency (the W.P.A.) to provide much needed jobs. Copake was fortunate. I don't recall anyone knocking on our door asking for food. I was never hungry. Our meals were simple but tasty. Mom must have learned a lot from Grandpa. We missed Dad being away all week, but he was fortunate to have a job. He was a civil engineer and some of those years were spent working on the Holland Tunnel and then subway expansions. I recently learned that our local swimming pool here in Nazareth, Pa. was built by the W.P.A. as were the stonewalls along route 611 in Delaware Water Gap. Who longs for those "good old days"? Let me go on with my tale.
Mom's older sister, Flora lived and worked in N.Y.C. Another one of my adventures was to visit her. Mom would make a tag with our address and Aunt Flora's for me to wear on my outfit. I'd then be handed over to the train conductor at the Copake Falls railroad station for the ride into Grand Central terminal. They always gave me special attention. I loved it and felt so grown up. When we arrived in the city, Aunt Flora was always waiting for me. The conductor would hand me over to her and she and I would be off to have fun (maybe not for her, but it was for me). She'd take me to her office where everyone fussed over me. I'd play secretary while she worked and we would meet her friends for lunch. Later we would usually go out to dinner and then back to her apartment for the night. She had a 'Murphy' bed, which was attached to the wall, folded up and disappeared into a closet. I slept on the couch. It was such fun to visit her. What a lucky kid I was!
Photo: house adjacent to the Mt. View Inn; courtesy of the Jensen family
Howard Blue
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What’s Happening at the Library?
Calling all Artists! Pick Up Your Mini Canvas Now. It's back! The 2nd Annual Mini Art Exhibition returns this fall, featuring Roe Jan Library patrons! How does it work? Drop by the library to pick up your mini canvas and easel. Create your mini masterpiece at home and return it to the library by October 8th. The exhibition will be on display from mid-October through November (after you can pick up your piece for your own collection). The exhibition is open to patrons of all skill levels.
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On Display, September 1 - October 2022
Nature Drawings and Bird Prints by Lynn Croton and Liz Rudey. Lynn Croton is an artist and educator who lives and works in Florida and upstate New York. Her sculptures, drawings, and ceramics have been exhibited in the US, Japan, and Korea. Her most recent drawings are influenced by abstract plant forms, calligraphy, and the color green. Liz Rudey is a printmaker and ceramic artist. She is Professor Emerita of Art and Art Education at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University. She began studying printmaking at the Art Students League in 2015 while on sabbatical. There, her subject became endangered birds. The aim of this and previous exhibits is to underline the fragile beauty of nature and the struggle to preserve and honor that beauty.
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Wednesdays, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Homeschool Wednesdays. Homeschool Wednesdays are back! Tia, the Library’s Children’s & Youth Services Associate, will be sharing stories and activities for homeschooled kids in the Children’s Room every Wednesday. This fall, we will have special guests from Vine Gate Lavender Farm, the Audubon Society, Greater Hudson Promise, and Possibilities Farm. Don't miss this Wednesday, September 14th, with special guest Jenifer, a Conservation Education Coordinator of the Columbia Land Conservancy. She will lead us on a stream-backpack tour at Roe Jan Park where we will investigate what’s living in the water. We will meet at the library around 1:00 and gather our supplies for a fun field trip. We hope to see you there!
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Thursdays, 9:00-10:00am
Senior Balance and Strength Class. Dr. Paul Spector is leading his popular Balance and Strength Class on Zoom. These classes introduce exercises that improve postural stability, core strength, spatial body awareness, sensory integration, agility and coordination. For more details, including login information, please visit our website at www.roejanlibrary.org/adult-programs/.
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Thursday Afternoons.
Lego Club. Join us every Thursday for an afternoon filled with Legos and fun in our Children’s Room. Check with us on social media for our weekly themes!
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Thursdays, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m
Homework Help. Need a quiet place to get your homework done? Having trouble with an assignment? K-12 homework help is available at the library for English and Spanish speakers. Se habla español. Volunteer tutors are welcome to apply. Questions? Visit the library or call for more information.
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Saturdays,10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Storytime with Tia. Storytime is back! Tia, the library’s Children’s & Youth Services Associate, will share stories and related activities for kids in the Children's Room every Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. Check our Facebook page for weekly themes. We hope to see you there!
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Saturdays through November 9, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Friends of the Library Bookstore OPEN. Lower Level of the Library. Masks required. For updates, follow our Instagram @roejanfriendsbookshop or @roejanlibrary. To donate books, e-mail caskhan@gmail.com to make an appointment.
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Thursday, September 15, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Local Invasive Species and How to Deal With Them. Join Vaun Bartow, educator and outreach coordinator for Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Center and Sanctuary to learn about invasive species local to New York and what you can do to help nature. We'll discuss how to ID them and how to remove them safely. Vaun has a degree in Wildlife Science and has worked as a Park Guide intern in New Mexico and as a Biological Monitor intern in Florida. This presentation will be about an hour long with time for comments and questions.
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Saturday, September 17, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic. Roe Jan Library is hosting a drive-thru flu shot clinic with Columbia County Department of Health on Saturday, September 17th at the library. If you are 65 or older, you can choose to get a high-dose (senior) flu shot. In order to receive a shot, you will need to register ahead of time by filling out an online form available on our website. After filling out the online form, you will receive an e-mail or call within 5 business days. This contact will confirm receipt of the form, insurance, and what time to arrive at the clinic.
If you are sick with any symptoms associated with flu or COVID-19 illness (fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, chills, new loss of taste of smell, or extreme headache) please DO NOT come to the drive-thru clinic; please call your primary care doctor or call their office at 518-828-3358 for further guidance.
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Tuesday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
National Voter Registration Day. Stop by the library to register to vote, or apply for an absentee ballot. Make sure your voice is heard in November!
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Wednesday, September 21, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
All About Birds: Fun Facts. Look at birds in new ways as we break down what it means to identify them. We’ll go over a step-by-step process in what makes a bird a bird, and how to determine differences in closely related species. This presentation is mainly geared towards children 8 and up, but all are welcome to join in!
This program is presented by Vaun Bartow, educator and outreach coordinator for Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Center and Sanctuary. Vaun has a degree in Wildlife Science and has worked as a Park Guide intern in New Mexico and as a Biological Monitor intern in Florida.
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Thursday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Columbia-Greene Workforce NY. Columbia-Greene Workforce and One Stop Career Center has resources to help connect people looking for work with employers looking to hire. These resources include workshops for resume writing, how to use social media, interview preparation, transferable skills, goal setting, and completing job applications. They also have financial assistance for training programs in in-demand occupations such as healthcare, hospitality, truck driving, and trade jobs (carpentry, automotive repair). Stop by the library and speak with representatives of Columbia-Greene Workforce to learn more.
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Thursday, September 22, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m, virtual
Saturday, October 1, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m, in-person
Align Your Money With Your Values: Personal Divestment from Fossil Fuels. Michael Richardson from the Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith Circle presents a free workshop on how individuals can move their personal finances away from funding fossil fuel extraction, production, and distribution and instead see their deposits, premiums, and investments used to fund local businesses and farms, affordable housing, and the development of clean regenerative energy.
This workshop is part Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week (September 17-25), a week designed to link and promote actionable climate solutions in the Hudson Valley through a diverse array of high-quality events large or small.
This workshop will take place on Zoom. Email director@roejanlibrary.org to register. We will hold an in-person workshop on Saturday, October 1, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m at the Library.
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Sunday, September 25, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Concert: Eribeth Chamber Players. Classical. At the Hilltop Barn, Roe Jan Park.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered in Columbia County by the Greene County Council on the Arts dba CREATE Council for the Arts.
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Wednesday, September 28, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Bird Form and Function. Ever wondered how different birds might fly? Why certain birds are shaped a certain way, or why they are smaller or bigger compared to other birds? Wonder no more! Here we use examples in paper airplanes to simulate different birds and their modes of flying! Learn how to fold different kinds of paper airplanes and learn the differences in bird flight! This activity is mainly geared towards children 8 and up, but all are welcome to join!
This program is presented by Vaun Bartow, educator and outreach coordinator for Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Center and Sanctuary. Vaun has a degree in Wildlife Science and has worked as a Park Guide intern in New Mexico and as a Biological Monitor intern in Florida.
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Monday, October 3, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
History Webinar: Full Circle: Washington Irving at Lindenwald. America's first literary celebrity, Washington Irving, had a decades long friendship with our 8th president. Join Martin Van Buren National Historic Site seasonal Park Guide Melissa Dalley to learn how they met, why they had a falling out, and if they ultimately reconciled.
In addition to being a Park Guide, Melissa Dalley is an artist & writer. Having given tours at Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site many years ago, Melissa may have started this summer with an unfairly low opinion of Irving - Poe was not a fan. But after reading many of Irving's letters she's coming around.
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Wednesday, October 5, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Hot Topics in Health--Clearing Up Common Questions: What’s Good for You? The second in a series of interactive lectures by Dr. Paul Spector designed especially for seniors but of interest to all.
We are bombarded with advice on what promotes health and longevity. Unfortunately, all too often last year’s panacea proves to be this year’s poison. This program will provide a guide to evaluating health practices that is grounded in the latest science.
Paul Spector earned his medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. After years of clinical experience Dr. Spector formed Pantheon and Meaningful Fitness (personalized health organizations designed to assist individuals in attaining their highest level of function). Over the past 15 years his focus has been on preventive health, behavioral change, motivation, aging, meaningful goal-setting and how to apply scientific advances to maximize both physical and psychological peak fitness.
This project has been supported by a grant from the Fund for Columbia County of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
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Saturday, October 8, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Pumpkin Painting. Get ready for Halloween by painting your own pumpkin. Pumpkins and paints provided. This event will be outdoors and is part of the day-long Hillsdale Pumpkin Festival. Supplies are limited, so register by emailing youth@roejanlibrary.org.
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Wednesday, October 12, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Roe Jan Writers Series: Howard Blue. Local historian Howard Blue will discuss his new book, The Man Who Sold Superman to the World: How Carroll Rheinstrom Made DC Comics Go Global. Carroll Rheinstrom (1904-1994), a consummate businessman, lived most of his life on a heavily wooded estate in the Craryville section of Copake. In addition to giving a snapshot of Copake Falls as it was more than a century ago, Blue recounts how Rheinstrom represented DC Comic Books to publishers around the world for more than three decades, starting in 1948. Traveling to the four corners of the globe, he exported American culture and values, particularly via Superman. Howard Blue is Copake Town Historian. He has an M.A. in History from Long Island University. Since 2012 he has published the Copake History Facebook page and spoken periodically about the town’s history at the Roe Jan Library and several other institutions.
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Taconic Hills Central School Offers Life Learning
The mission of the Taconic Hills Central School District’s Continuing Education Program is to provide community members with a range of academic, athletic, artistic, business, hobby and recreational workshops at the K-Life Learning Center campus.
Open to current certificate holders per NYS Department of Health requirements for annual recertification. Instructor Robin Semp is a Certified Lifeguard and Instructor by the American Red Cross. Must be 15 years old, complete blended learning portion online, continuously swim 300 yards (crawl stroke and breaststroke), retrieve a 10-pound brick from 12 feet, tread water for 2 minutes.
Personal Finance Class
What is up with your finances? Learn or expand your knowledge of personal finance. Get a handle on financial terms, budgeting, investing, insurance, social security, credit and more. You will have opportunities to ask questions and to play financial games. Laptop internet access required. You will not be sold anything. Advisor: Rob Lazarus
Pre-registration and payment are required. Classes begin October 20, 2022.
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Expiration Dates on some COVID Test Kits are Extended
The Copake Town Clerk’s office has been distributing “At-Home” COVID test kits throughout the spring.
At this point, the town still has a limited number of tests available to citizens, but the expiration dates on some of the boxes have passed.
We have been advised by Director of Emergency Management David Harrison that the
expiration dates have been extended by the FDA and that up-to-date information is
available from the FDA website. To check to see if the expiration of a test kit has been
The list of test kits and relevant information is at the bottom of the page.
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If you wish to submit an article or notice regarding a community event taking place in the Town of Copake to the Copake Connection, please e-mail: thecopakeconnection@gmail.com. All submissions should be received by us by noon on the 10th of the month.
For more and current information on Meetings in Copake and events throughout the Roe Jan area, go to the Copake Website.
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Contact
Copake Town Hall
230 Mountain View Road
Copake, NY 518-329-1234
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