$125,000 Grant from Assembly Member Burdick

Town Board members were pleased to be at our Community Center on October 26, 2023 accepting a grant from Assembly Member Chris Burdick. The Town has been planning to install a geothermal heating system in our Community Center, the former Schoolhouse at 3 Owens Road in Croton Falls. The Town’s Climate Smart Community Committee, moderated by Councilwoman Daniels, has worked on improving our carbon footprint while at the same time looking to save money with all of our improvements.

Supervisor Lucas said “I have to thank Assemblyman Burdick for his continued support for our many projects throughout our Town. This grant will allow us to move to a very efficient heating and cooling system saving us money year after year. His partnership has helped us turn this great building into a wonderful Community Center which residents will enjoy for years to come.”

Assembly Member Chris Burdick presented a ceremonial check in the amount of $125,000 to the Town of North Salem for the purchase of a geothermal heating and cooling system, as well as for the installation of electric vehicle chargers at the North Salem Community Center. The town purchased the former schoolhouse in 2021 to turn it into a long-awaited and much-needed community center. The building was built in 1926 as a WPA project and was home to the North Salem Grammar school until 1966. Now that the renovations are complete, including installing foam insulation throughout the building, the town is turning its attention to upgrading the heating and cooling with geothermal, which will help reduce the carbon footprint of the building to zero, making it carbon neutral.

Assembly Member Burdick said, “I am delighted with the impressive leadership of the town in pursuing this project, which will bring the building to net zero in carbon emissions while slashing energy costs. The grant request was unanimously adopted by the Town Board, and I wish to thank Councilwoman Katherine Daniels who spearheaded the project and advocated for the grant.”

On hand to accept the check were North Salem Town Supervisor Warren Lucas, Deputy Supervisor Peter Kamenstein, Council Member Katherine Daniels, and Council Member Martin Aronchick. The funding is the second $125,000 capital grant that has come from Assembly Member Burdick to be used for the Community Center (the previous grant is being put toward electrical upgrades).

The Community Center will become home to many youth, adult, and senior community programs and events, and already houses the Schoolhouse Theater.