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In the wake of vandalism last October in Lansing town parks and school property Lansing Park Superintendent Steve Colt reported a bizarre crime to the Town Board Wednesday.

"Under the categories of 'You Can't Fix Stupid' and 'You Can't Make It Up' somebody went to Myers Park about a month ago and 'borrowed' 50 to 60 spigots off of everything that had a spigot ont it," quipped Colt.  "So far they haven't deemed it necessary to return them.  Probably some scrap yard has already purchased it.  The schools have had similar issues, so it probably happened around the same time."

Colt says authorities have an idea who the culprit is but so far no action has been taken.  He said that it is good news that the thieves unscrewed the spigots instead of breaking them off, which he says would have caused more severe problems for the Town.

In October graffiti vandals defaced the Lansing lighthouse, bluestone memorial benches and plaques, and the playground in Myers Park.  The vandals also painted hate slogans on the gazebo at Ludlowville Park, the former Lansing Central School District Office, and the Lansing High School concessions building at the football field.  $1,700 of damage was done to school property.  Almost $7,000 of damage was inflicted on town property at Myers and Ludlowville Parks.

In January Mason Golden (19) and Cosmo Weldon (17) were charged with two counts each of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (D felony) and two counts of Making Graffiti (a class A misdemeanor), and have since been arraigned.  That case now goes to the Tompkins County Court.  Colt says he hopes the felony counts are not reduced.

"We're not interested in community service," he said Wednesday.

Colt added that while the Town has been reimbursed by its insurance company, the insurer is anxious to be reimbursed by the alleged culprits.  He noted that crimes are still common on Salt Point, which he hopes will be remedied by closing off most of that park to vehicular traffic.  He said that two 'Dukes of Hazard' style car flips occurred on Salt Point last season.

Concrete barriers and a gate are being installed that will only allow vehicles access to the northernmost portion of the point, where a non-motorized boat launch is located.  Hiking will be encouraged on the rest of the point.  An osprey nest platform was recently installed on the southern lakefront portion of Salt Point.  Town Councilwoman Katrina Binkewicz led a group who planted 16 trees and acres of wild flowers there earlier this month.  She said she is planning a community cleanup of the point on the last Saturday in April.

Colt seemed stunned by this new crime in Myers Park.

"I've worked here 26 years," Colt said.  "When you have to start worrying about the spigots...  There are still things that make you scratch your head.  I guess it's the fabric of the country now."

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