North Salem News 06.30.2022

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Thursday,
Vol. 8 No. 16 June 30, 2022

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PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO

Westchester Land Trust moves to preserve Ryder Farm

BY CAROL REIF Preserving the farm on Starr the farm’s development rights. pressure and the risk of high- of homes,” WLT said.
STAFF WRITER Ridge Road in nearby Brewster According to WLT presi- density housing that could cause e area drains into the Cro-
will help the ora and fauna in negative environmental impacts.”
e Westchester Land Trust’s and around Peach Lake, where dent  Lori Ensinger, this means ton Reservoir system, which
move to protect historic Ryder nearly 20 percent of the town’s that Ryder Farm’s 128 acres will It is one of the few remain- serves Westchester County and
Farm is being hailed by local of- private homes are located, he “forever remain free from non- ing large properties in the town New York City. So restricting de-
said. e nonpro t announced farm development.” of Southeast and has more than velopment there will protect the
cials as a win for the environ- earlier this month that it would 3,000 feet of frontage on Peach water supply, it added.
ment. use a $2 million farmland protec- e Ryder family, which Lake, which straddles the South-
tion grant it had received from founded the farm in 1795, will east/North Salem line. e oldest working farm in
“I’m very excited. I’ve been the state’s Department of Agri- continue to own and operate it.
hoping this would happen for culture and Markets to purchase Protecting the property was a It “would be a signi cant draw SEE FARM PAGE 6
years,” said North Salem Super- “high priority” for WLT due to, it for developers looking to subdi-
visor Warren Lucas last week. said, “the increasing development vide the parcel into dozens

Day!Graduation

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BALANCED ROCK 4
CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL NOTICES 23
LEISURE
OPINION 23
SPORTS
22

8 TIGER SPORTS

20 Year in Review
pg 20

Page 2 – North Salem News Thursday, June 30, 2022

PQ students rise up to middle school

In an auditorium full of cheer-

ing families, with the video screen

displaying their very rst and

most recent school portraits, the

fth-graders of Pequenakonck

Elementary School received their

certi cates, o cially completing

their elementary education.

“What is worth learning is

worth working hard for,” said

Principal Mary Johnson at her

nal fth-grade moving-up cer-

emony before her upcoming re-

tirement. “Persevere, ask for help

and keep trying; the payo will be

great.” 

Johnson thanked the faculty,

sta ,and families for helping each

student become the best person

they can be.“Today is an achieve-

ment of all who care about you.”

Two students were selected

to read their essays about their

school experiences.

Student Andrew Barnett

thoughtfully and humorously

re ected on their years together.

Barnett theorized that life’s chal-

lenges are similar to elementary The North Salem High School Class of 2029.
school, and advised his classmates

that “the key to handling all of it

is to lean on people we trust, to have con - by the school’s motto and plans to carry the friends proud,”she said. Salem High School Class of 2029!
Kinsey, you and your classmates have al-
dence in ourselves and to keep trying - even philosophy of being kind with her into mid- Article provided by North Salem Central
ready accomplished that mission. School District. 
when it isn’t easy.” dle school. “Let us commit to being the best With great pride, we present the North

Student Kinsey Levesque was inspired we can and make our parents, teachers, and

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Thursday, June 30, 2022 North Salem News – Page 3

Seniors explore their career O.P.T.I.O.N.S.

Have you seen any North Sa- courages seniors to explore careers thentic internship experience this

lem High School seniors working of personal interest, use the com- year was a real testament to the

around town lately? Perhaps they munity’s expertise to enhance their students - and their capacity to

were assisting at the rehouse, learning, and apply their knowl- solve problems despite the limita-

writing for the newspaper, or shad- edge and skills to solve problems.  tions imposed by the pandemic,”

owing a real estate agent? Students worked either on- said Dr. Nicholas Kowgios, an ad-

Months of work concluded last campus with North Salem sta or visor for the program. “ is year’s

week as the seniors presented their o -campus with local businesses. O.P.T.I.O.N.S. presentations were

experiences in the Opportunities is year’s internships covered a outstanding, and the evening af-

for Professional Training In and wide range of careers, including rmed the value of the program

Outside North Salem program. neuroscience, journalism, real es- and the willingness of the faculty

e O.P.T.I.O.N.S. program is tate, applied mathematics, art, biol- to embrace the process.”

a full-year course for seniors that ogy, communications, criminal law,

endeavors to build bridges between re ghting, and more. Article provided by North Salem

school and the career world. It en- “ e transition back to an au- Central School District.

STEM class puts their drones skills to the test

e STEM classroom was abuzz they all crashed. It was a humbling

with the persistent whir of a drone and experience,” said Taylor. She has seen a

exclamations of guidance. “Higher! remarkable improvement in her classes’

Higher! Now lower! A little to the left, communication and teamwork skills as

and ip! 40 seconds left! Come back to they learned to y together. “ ere’s a

reload!” kindness factor; they gather around to

e North Salem Middle School help each other.”

eighth-grade students competed in a As part of their studies, the class

re ghter challenge, using a small drone researched how drones can be used to

mounted with a 3D-printed cup to solve real-world problems, like collecting

deliver re suppressant pellets (candies) lab samples and sending medical supplies

onto a forest re (cardboard box). e to remote villages. ey used dimensional

student pilots needed to hover the drone analysis to calculate the speed and ight

adjacent to the target before executing a path of a drone compared to a person

quick roll maneuver to drop the candies. walking a mountainous footpath, and the

Students assisted their classmates, hours saved for each trip.

reloading their drones between ights Student Marissa Ferrara thinks that

and calling out navigational directions humanity will bene t from further

and encouragement despite being in developing drone technology. “It’s getting

direct competition. easier to send drones instead of people

While this was only the second drone into the forests, it’ll be less dangerous,”

challenge for Suzanne Taylor’s elective she said.

STEM class, her students already “We could use drones at school

exhibited piloting expertise. “Some parts for taking pictures or security,” said

were harder, like learning to code. Flying Ho man. He acknowledged that there

the drones was easier because it was fun are limitations. “I don’t think that a drone

and felt more natural,” said student Alex can serve us lunch,” he added with a

Ho man. laugh.

As drones continued to whir overhead,

Taylor re ected on the unit. “ e Article provided by North Salem Central

rst time through the obstacle course School District.

Page 4 – North Salem News BALANCED ROCK Thursday, June 30, 2022

The Staff Ruth Keeler TECH HELP BAGELS AND BOOKS four-part series on Women’s Suf-
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North Salem
Deadlines Republican Town

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Thursday, June 30, 2022 North Salem News – Page 5

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Page 6 – North Salem News Thursday, June 30, 2022

FARM Betsey Ryder said last week
FROM PAGE 1
that everyone’s relieved that de-

velopers won’t be able to “pave

Putnam County, it also hosts paradise to put up a parking lot.”

SPACE on Ryder Farm, a non- e family’s been approached

pro t residency program that cul- by tons of Realtors hoping to

tivates art,activism,and agriculture. buy the land, she said, adding

SPACE has not only contributed that that “pressure” and the farm’s

to the organic farm’s sustainability, increasing tax burden has made

it has provided a haven for artists, things di cult nancially. e

musicians, dancers, writers, and in- state grant will be used to estab-

novators of every stripe. lish an endowment fund, the in-

Family member  Emily Simon- PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RYDER FAMILY Preserving the farm on Starr Ridge Road terest from which can be plowed

ess  launched SPACE on Ryder The Ryder family founded the farm in 1795, and continue to will help the flora and fauna in and around back into the farm’s infrastruc-
Farm in 2011 with the intention of own and operate it. Peach Lake. ture. It will also help with taxes
both preserving the land and giv- and maintenance costs.

ing fellow artists a place to grow nity for over 200 years.” vista,”Hay added. manager in 2018. She still lives in “We’re just so thrilled to have

and ourish. In the summer and early fall, Ryder family member  Hall a cottage there. John passed away this kind of nancial support go-

Simoness’ great-great-great- people from all over have traveled Gibson  is credited with reviv- in May. ing forward,” said Ryder, who’s

great grandparents,  Eleazer and to its quaint farm stand to buy or- ing the farm, which in the early SPACE took on agricultural op- been a nurse at Danbury Hospi-

Mary Coe Ryder, bought the land ganic veggies, herbs, and owers. 1970s became an early adopter of erations in 2019. tal for more than 40 years.

in 1795 – before Putnam County ( e stand is reportedly on hiatus the then-growing organic farming Lucas, whose own family goes e farm remains a vital part

was even founded. this year.) movement. It was also one of the back generations in North Salem, of the community. It has donated

Southeast Supervisor  Tony “It is a well-known farm and original participating farms in New said he feels a great personal con- fresh produce to charitable orga-

Hay was also thrilled by the good is beloved by generations in our York City’s Union Square Green- nection with the Ryders. Praising nizations such as Neighbors Link

news. community who grew up visiting market. their loving stewardship of the and Putnam Community Action

“ is is a terri c day for the the farm, participating in the CSA Elizabeth  and  John Ryder  fol- land, he said Betsey Ryder and Partnership.

Town of Southeast,” he said, add- (Community Supported Agri- lowed in his footsteps. Known her family have “worked hard, very Its volunteer and educational

ing that “Ryder Farm has been an culture), attending farm-to-table as “Betsey,” the former arrived hard, to keep it environmentally SEE FARM PAGE 7
agricultural asset in our commu- events, or just enjoying the scenic in 1977 and retired as the farm’s sound.”

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Thursday, June 30, 2022 North Salem News – Page 7

FARM a member of the Ryder fam-
FROM PAGE 6
ily board and an environmen-

tal studies professor at Antioch

programs have given folks the University New England.

chance to unleash their inner “We could not be more grate-

farmers. Boy Scout troops have ful for the steadfast partnership

built benches for the farm and of WLT, who have shepherded

schools have taken eld trips us through this process for sev-

there to teach little ones about eral years,” she added.

where their food comes from. Julia’s dad, Henry, is president

anking WLT for its sup- of the board. He lives in Mas-

port, Ryder noted that the ex- sachusetts but commutes to the

tended farm family is “very com- farm and stays there a couple of

munity-oriented” and members nights a week at a former corn

“feel that the community is in crib turned guest house.

this with us.” According to Ensinger, Ry-

Ryder sought a similar grant der Farm “represents an all-too-

in 2008. e state would have common example of the increas-

provided 75 percent while the ing pressures being faced by Ryder is the oldest working farm in Putnam County.
farm made up the rest. family farms in this region.”

Southeast and Putnam Coun- By protecting it, WLT is con-

ty were both going to help out dent that the land “will remain

“to the tune of $325,000 each,” available for agricultural use in

she noted. perpetuity.”

While the grant never came e organization is “grateful

to fruition, the e ort was very for the support and generosity

much appreciated. of the Ryder family, New York

“We haven’t forgotten it,” Ry- state, and all who were integral

der said last week gratefully. in making this project happen,” The farm remains a vital part of the community. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RYDER FAMILY

she said.

SUMMER SOIREE

SPACE, which also took

a nancial hit because of the

pandemic, is holding a “Sum-

mer Soirée” from 6 to 10 p.m. on

Saturday, July 23. Wishing Everyone
e fundraiser will feature

an  “immersive dining experi-

ence” using a farm-sourced

menu from nearby Hay elds a Happy
Market. ere will be a public
tour of the grounds and live per-
formances by SPACE alumni.

It will be hosted by actor

Daniel K. Isaac, actor/comedian 4th of July!
Ikechukwu Ufomadu, and play-
wright/screenwriter Jenny Ra-

chel Weiner.

Proceeds were to bene t

SPACE’s residential programs.

ere are a limited number

of tickets available, so folks are

urged to act early. To make res-

ervations, visit  spaceonryder-

farm.org/2022-summer-soiree.

Event sponsors are (Sycamore

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According to WLT, agricul- The most e cient way to heat AND cool the rooms you
tural production at Ryder Farm live in, without wasting energy in the rooms you don’t.
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locally sourced organic produce.”

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its inhabitants from develop-
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ty’s agrarian needs and ecologi-
cal well-being for generations to
come,” said cousin Julia Gibson,