Archive: Around Town

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) needs to improve efforts to control invasive species such as zebra mussels, hydrilla and giant hogweed that have established footholds across New York state and threaten native species, agriculture and tourism, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

"Invasive species can wreak havoc on our natural ecosystems and be harmful to people. They cause a loss of wildlife habitat, native plants, fish and animals as well as losses for farmers and industries that depend on outdoor activities," DiNapoli said. "The agency has undertaken important steps to address this problem, but my auditors found several areas where DEC could strengthen its practices to identify non-native plants and animals and stop them from spreading. I urge DEC officials to follow our recommendations to protect New Yorkers and keep our precious natural resources intact."

Geoff Dunn, the community preparedness coordinator for the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response, became the new president of the Rotary Club of Ithaca on July 1.

Dunn, who joined Rotary in 2014, will lead the service club through June of 2021. A Dryden resident, Dunn has worked for Tompkins County since 2012, following a 30-year career in broadcast journalism in Oswego, Syracuse, Albany and Ithaca.

Ithaca, NY - US Congressman Tom Reed met with the staff of the IC3 Ithaca Community Childcare Center Tuesday to discuss the important role childcare plays in our communities and hear firsthand the difficulties facilities are confronting due to COVID-19. Over the last month, Reed has met with childcare providers from across the state to shine a light on the growing crisis facing this critical industry, gather input, and note the need for additional congressional action. Reed has also called on New York to fully release all of the federal childcare funding the state received in the CARES Act.

“We care about ensuring working families have access to safe, quality child care programming throughout our district,” said Reed. “It is only fair we continue to support these providers and facilities as their services are integral to the educational and social development of our nation’s children. This is also a priority as we look to reopen our economy and help individuals return to the workforce. We will continue to visit facilities like IC3 to listen to their stories and make sure their voices are heard.”

During this challenging period in our community and beyond, United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) celebrated a successful Community Campaign. Through the volunteer leadership of Cal Walker, the organization raised $2,076,025 a feat made possible by committed of donors throughout the county and across the country. Highlights of this year’s Community Campaign include: raising $2,000,000 in donations for the first time in 5 years and reversing a three-year trend in which the amount of funds raised through the annual campaign was lower than the year before. Another year of decline was predicted based on local and national giving trends, however, committed UWTC donors achieved this reversal as they responded to local needs.

Wells College announced last week that it is moving forward with its plans to reopen this fall for on-campus instruction. Marie Chapman Carroll '75, chair of the College's Board of Trustees, and President Jonathan Gibralter shared the good news with the campus community this morning via a live video broadcast and follow-up email message.

"Thanks to the efforts of more than 1,500 alumnae and alumni; Gibralter and his team; our dedicated faculty and staff; the Bell Tower Committee; and friends of the College, we have the opportunity today to move forward," Carroll said. "There are many challenges ahead but I am thankful to continue this journey knowing that we will face them together." She also noted that the trustees had voted on Wednesday, July 8 to approve the College's operating budget for the 2020-2021 year.

The Village of Lansing planning Board approved a special permit Monday that will allow Brand Y Distillery to open in The Shops at Ithaca Mall. Owner James Case said he plans to open a distillery in a former hair salon next to the former pet store location in the mall entrance near the TCAT bus stop. Case intends to manufacture hand sanitizer while waiting for the State to issue a liquor licence that will permit him to sell his own and other local liquors, as well as to distill Brand Y brandy at the mall location.

The special permit is required because Case's business is classified as 'High Traffic Food and Beverage', which makes the permit a requirement in the Village's Commercial High Traffic District.  Case addressed the Board two weeks ago, but the Planning Board could not vote until a public hearing was held.  No members of the public spoke at that hearing Monday, but Village Engineer Brent Cross brought up a couple of concerns for the record that he said would not be issues in this case.

BISSELL Pet Foundation’s (BPF) Empty the Shelters (ETS) event will take place July 10-12. Over 160 of BPF’s shelter and rescue partners, including the SPCA of Tompkins County, are participating in this reduced fee adoption event which will aim to find forever homes for thousands of cats and dogs. This weekend pets may be adopted for $25 or less.  With fostering pets becoming so prevalent during COVID-19, BPF will also honor foster-to-adopt cases that start as fosters during the weekend of July 10-12 and are finalized up to one week after the event.

“More pets run away on the 4th of July than any other day of the year,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “The increase in shelter intake puts pressure on our partners, who are already working with limited staff and funding due to COVID-19. The best way for us to support them is to help their pets find loving homes.”

After three months of being closed because of the COVID-19 lock-down, the Sciencenter reopened its mini-golf course Wednesday, and plans to reopen the museum on a limited basis next week.  Sciencenter Executive Director Michelle Kortenaar said that only specific parts of the museum that do not encourage touching will be open, and attendance will be limited to a quarter of the museum's allowed capacity, which will mean no more than about 60 visitors will be allowed in at a time.

"We're going to open part of the building for places with things you can't touch. Our animal room,  out Touch Tank -- because you can put your hands into the touch tank. Salt water's apparently Okay. And we have a few full body experiences. We have the infrared camera that you can move your body and see what's happening. But we're not going to be able to open large parts of the museum for a little while and we're just going to keep waiting for guidance and hoping it comes soon."

Lansing High School held two commencement ceremonies last Friday at Sobus Field. The 74 members of the Class of 2020 were split between the two ceremonies, and guests were strictly limited in order to stay within Governor Cuomo's lockdown and public gathering guidelines. That and wearing Bobcat-branded face masks along with their traditional blue caps and gowns made this year's graduation a little different, but the familiar elements -- the school band, the march through flowered hoops, the speeches and the granting of diplomas were the same. Superintendent Chris Pettograsso kicked off the ceremony, saying that  the class that her administration was happy to be able to hold a live graduation at all.

"You have no idea how grateful we are to be able to gather this evening. Though we recognize it is not ideal, and we would love to be celebrating with all of your family members. We still carry immense gratitude for the opportunity to come together. Your Lansing administration team, your board of education and guests, and are most grateful for you -- that you ever sell resilient and strong class of 2020 are here together with all of our Bobcat, pride and love."

Beginning July 6, 2020, the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) will reopen its outdoor facilities for public use, including low-risk youth sports in accordance with Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order. The district will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure the health and safety of children, families and the community.

Group outdoor facility use requests will be managed through ML Schedules, which can be accessed on the ICSD website at ithacacityschools.org/facilities. Those who wish to submit an outdoor facility use request will need to review and confirm their understanding of and commitment to health and safety requirements on behalf of their group or organization. These include, but are not limited to groups of no more than 50 people. Any outdoor facility use request made prior to July 6 will be considered by the district on an individual basis.

The coronavirus means Lansing's fireworks and the Lansing Lion's Club 4th of July Chicken Barbecue have both been cancelled for 2020. So we at the Lansing Star decided to create these virtual fireworks to celebrate Independence Day this year! We took a few pictures from past 4th of Julys at Myers Park and end with some fireworks for our Lansing community to celebrate with.



v16i27

Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Service (INHS) is launching its COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program to provide rent relief for approximately 250 households across four counties, including Seneca, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins, this month. The program is designed to provide relief up to three months to eligible households who have experienced a loss of income related to the public health crisis. Please contact INHS at 607 277-4500 if you need help.