Amenia comes together for community day

AMENIA — The Indian Rock Schoolhouse buzzed with activity on Saturday, Sept. 17, as hundreds of residents took part in activities at the 10th annual Amenia picnic and community day.This year’s theme was “A Tribute to Local Farmers.”Many farmers were on hand to help celebrate and to support two books written by Marvin Van Benschoten and Julian Strauss about the farms in the area.Dave Tetor, president of the New York State Agricultural Society, was on hand to give a talk about the strong agricultural history of the Harlem Valley and to discuss how farming in the area has evolved over the years.The morning began with a walk-a-thon fundraiser for juvenile diabetes. Roughly 75 people took part and raised more than $6,000 for the cause.One of the walk-a-thon organizers, Serena Simmons, said it’s important to fund research to find the cure because juvenile diabetes is a terrible disease with serious side-effects, which include the loss of limbs and death.“It affects a true love of mine, one of my children,” said Simmons of her 13-year-old daughter, Amanda Simmons.“Soon we’ll find a cure for you, darling, and many, many others,” she said, stroking Amanda’s hair.Amanda was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when she was 7 years old. That was the same year she participated in her first walk-a-thon.Saturday was Amanda’s sixth walk-a-thon. She walked two miles and raised around $500. She said that she participates in the fundraisers to help find a cure for the disease so that other kids won’t have to deal with diabetes.Elsewhere on the Indian Rock Schoolhouse grounds, more than a dozen groups and vendors set up tents offering their wares, freebies, raffle tickets and activities for the children.Youngsters flocked to the tents and pens that housed a small menagerie of four-legged creatures, including goats, ferrets, rabbits, small reptiles, a pony, a donkey, a sheep and a calf.A booth run by members of the 4-H club taught the children about different breeds of poultry and had several birds on hand for people to pet and interact with.People lounged on picnic tables while they ate chicken barbecue lunches and enjoyed the beautiful autumn sunshine and the sweet music played by Corey Bush & Friends.For dessert, there was a wide selection of pies sold by the slice.The pies were from the Best Pie in the Harlem Valley contest, which had a record number of entries.First place was won by Maureen Moore’s Peach Pie. Moore’s recipe will be published in the next Indian Rock Schoolhouse newsletter.Second place was won by Jeanette Platt for her Jazzy Fruit Pie, which included blueberries, peaches and apples in the filling.Third place was won by Gretchen Hitselbergen for her Autumn Pecan Pumpkin Pie.The money raised by the food sales will go to the Indian Rock Schoolhouse to fund the educational programs run throughout the year.Vicki Benjamin, an Indian Rock Schoolhouse trustee, spearheaded the event’s organization.She said she was pleased to see how the event has grown from a picnic into a large-scale community day, with attendance from neighboring towns as well.“It’s so great for people to come out and enjoy the day,” she said. “It’s a way to bring everyone together.”She was also happy with the support she received from the public and the farmers, who she sees as being very important for the community’s survival.Benjamin was also thankful for the help given by Ann Linden, Boy Scout Troop No. 29 and all of the volunteers who pitched in.