FLLT purchases over 100 acres in the town of Dryden

The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) recently announced that it has purchased more than 100 acres of land in the town of Dryden.

The 108 acres in Dryden is a “mostly wooded” property that borders Yellow Barn State Forest, noted in a release. The parcel is also in close proximity to Hammond Hill State Forest and FLLT’s Roy H. Park Preserve.

FLLT’s purchase and protection of the parcel puts the organization at more than 35,000 acres conserved across the 12-county Finger Lakes region.

“The FLLT intends to transfer the parcel to New York State as an addition to Yellow Barn State Forest, a popular location for hiking, cross-country skiing and other activities,” the release stated. “Partnerships with the state are a key component of the FLLT’s efforts to expand public access to outdoor recreational opportunities while safeguarding water quality and wildlife habitat.”

Karen Meriwether, chair of the FLLT Board of Directors, expressed her appreciation for the individuals preserving the 35,000 acres of land and surpassing the milestone.

“I would like to recognize the staff of FLLT not only for their many contributions to this milestone but for the enthusiastic and respectful manner in which they approach every aspect of their work,” Meriwether said.

The Dryden property was purchased from the family of Peter Van Soest, professor emeritus of animal science at Cornell University, who passed away in 2021. 

“Our father bought the ‘Hilltop’ land with friends in the early 1970s,” said John Van Soest, Peter’s son. “It was their getaway for picnics and family swims. Eventually, he was the last owner. He wrote books there and held retreats with his students; it was a special place for him.”

The property also includes a large pond and seasonal tributaries of Six Mile Creek, which is the source of drinking water for the city of Ithaca.

FLLT noted that the property is also an “important landscape connection piece” in the Emerald Necklace, a growing complex of conservation lands.

A description of the Emerald Necklace was provided by FLLT: it is “a proposed greenbelt linking 50,000 acres of existing conservation land in an arc around Ithaca, from the Finger Lakes National Forest in the west to the Hammond Hill State Forest in the east. Together, these lands host 78 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail, two National Audubon Society-designated Important Bird Areas, numerous Finger Lakes Land Trust preserves and conservation easements, several state forests and parks, and dozens of Tompkins County-designated Unique Natural Areas. The Emerald Necklace is also recognized as a priority project within New York State’s Open Space Plan.”

Funding for the project came from the FLLT’s Opportunity Fund, a “dedicated account created by the organization to make time-sensitive acquisitions possible. Funds are ultimately replenished either through fundraising or the sale of land to a public conservation agency.”

In brief:

Genre-based book club meets Jan. 15

Books & Brew, a genre-based book club, will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 at Hopshire Farm & Brewery at 1771 Dryden Rd. in the village of Freeville.

The theme for the month of January is “books that make you laugh out loud.” Book suggestions are on display at Southworth Library in the village of Dryden.

For more information, go to southworthlibrary.org.

Silent book club at the library on Jan. 26

Southworth Library in Dryden will have its silent book club gathering at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 26.

“We’ll spend some time chatting and getting snacks, and give a preview of the give away book and then you will be free to grab a cozy seat and read in a room with other readers, no conversation required,” according to a description on the library’s website.

The book for the month of January is The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy.

“A winter getaway turns deadly in this tale of relationships and the struggles of middle age,” according to a description of the book.

The club allows people to choose a free book from the library’s pile to read and take home. Participants can also bring a book to the gathering.

Upcoming meetings in Dryden

The Dryden Town Board is scheduled to meet on Jan. 8 and 15, each time at 6 p.m. at the Dryden Town Hall at 93 E. Main St. in Dryden. The public is invited to attend, either in person or via Zoom.

For more information, contact the town hall at 607-564-9981. Meeting agendas are available at dryden.ny.us.

The Village of Dryden Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet in person at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Dryden Village Hall at 16 South St.

For more information, contact the village hall at 607-844-8122.

Upcoming Dryden BOE meeting

The Dryden Board of Education is scheduled to meet Jan. 12 and 26 at 6 p.m.

The meeting on the 12th is at the high school library, and the meeting on the 26th is at Dryden Elementary School. The public is invited to attend. For more information, go to dryden.k12.ny.us.