Archive: News

Tompkins County Health Department Planner/ Evaluator Ted Schiele asked Village of Lansing Trustees Monday to consider passing a tobacco-free law, or at least a smoke-free law.  The law could apply to all municipal property in the Village, including parks, trails and playgrounds as well as the Village Office and DPW buildings.  Schiele said that providing smoke free spaces is a matter of access for those who don't smoke or who have health conditions that are aggravated by second hand smoke.

"That's how we look at it," he said.  "Full access for everybody, responsibility for public health and sustainability.  The Surgeon General has said there is no safe level of exposure to second hand tobacco smoke.  The most recent Surgeon General's report that came out in January confirms that second hand smoke is known to cause strokes in non-smokers.  So we're talking about a serious health issue."

Poor Coordination Of Health Benefits For Veterans By The State Department Of Health (Doh) And Local Social Services Departments Resulted In Many Veterans Being Placed In The State's Medicaid Program Rather Than Federal Programs, According To An Audit Released Today By State Comptroller Thomas P. Dinapoli. Auditors Found Dozens Of Examples Where Necessary Referrals Were Not Made For Federal Benefits, Limiting Veterans' Health Options And Costing State And Local Taxpayers Millions.

“Our Nation's Heroes Should Be Told That They Have Options When It Comes To Where They Receive The Health Benefits They Need And Deserve. They Should Not Be At The Mercy Of Administrative Problems, Nor Should Taxpayers," Dinapoli Said. “New York Needs To Do A Better Job Coordinating How Veterans Are Receiving Their Health Benefits. Those Who Served In Our Armed Forces Should Know All Of Their Possible Benefits.”

Tom Reed listened to Tompkins County residents on numerous issues Saturday when he visited Lansing, addressing a standing room only crowd at the Lansing Town Hall.  Written questions were collected with the topic that had the most questions addressed first.  But Reed also encouraged constituents who agreed and disagreed with his positions to speak up, interspersing their comments with answers to the written questions. 

While the number one concern was about repowering the Cayuga Power Plant, questions on a variety of issues were asked and discussed.  Following are his comments on many of the issues discussed:



Representation in Tompkins County
We have a great team working at the local, county, state and federal level.  It's meant to be done in a cooperative, collaborative way and that's what I think is the best way to get issues resolved and problems solved -- people working together and finding that common ground.

Congressman Tom Reed was in Lansing Saturday for a Town Hall meeting.  The meeting room was standing room only, filled with both supporters and opponents who wanted to have a say and hear what Reed had to say.  Reed mixed written and spoken questions in an effort to cover as many topics as possible.  He invited constituents of differing opinions to weigh in, sometimes stepping back as they argued their points.  The topic most people wanted to talk about was the Cayuga Power Plant repowering plan.

Written questions on the topic were all in support for repowering, so Reed encouraged people with opposing views to speak up as well.  A large number of plant employees and supporters sported yellow 'Repower Cayuga' T-shirts, while protesters held up signs supporting renewable energy and closing the plant in favor of upgrading the power transmission lines.

While the issue of repowering the Cayuga Power Plant was the top issue among attendees, perhaps the most passionate discussion revolved around same sex marriage equality.  Dryden resident JoAnne Cipolla-Dennis called for Reed to sign the Respect For Marriage Act so that all married military couples would be elegible for survivor and death benefits. 

"These are two military combat soldiers," Cipolla-Dennis said.  "Sergeant Donna Johnson was killed in 2012 in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber.  Her wife Tracy does not get her military benefits.  She gets no survivor benefits as a wife as a fallen soldier.  They are from North Carolina at Fort Bragg.  I went to talk to Tom with another military couple from New York State.  The Respect For Marriage Act would entitle them for their marriage to be recognized in the State of North Carolina and in all states."

TC3 President Addresses Continuing Challenges in /State of the College' Message
Commenting on major trends over the past five years in his annual 'State of the College' message to the County Legislature, Tompkins Cortland Community College President Dr. Carl Haynes characterized the past five years as “one of the most challenging five year periods in the College’s history,” but expressed hope that Legislators see the College’s responses to these circumstances as “thoughtful, strategic, and consistent” with what sponsors expect.  In addressing these challenges, he noted that TC3 has sustained program excellence and improved services in several areas.

Among the primary challenges, he said, relate to budget—with budget revenues declining through the period, with “unprecedented cuts in State aid for community colleges in the early years (a 21%State aid reduction in the first two years and aid from sponsoring counties flat)—followed by “an unusual trending both nationally and statewide in enrollment,” a trend he cautioned that seems to be continuing.  While during the prior 15 years, College enrollment had doubled, with 10-14% growth in some years, the President noted that a 5.9% decline in total enrollment is projected for the current academic year, with a 13.4% decline if only Fall/Spring enrollment is considered.

Ithaca High School’s FIRST Robotics Team 639, Code Red Robotics, is headed to its two 2013-14 season competitions. First is the Buckeye Regional competition in Cleveland, Ohio, where the team will defend its 2013 championship title from March 20 – 22. One week later, the team will participate in the Finger Lakes Regional at the Gordon Field House of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Campus, March 27 – 29.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an organization committed to educating and motivating the next generation of engineers, scientists, and leaders. FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition), to which Code Red belongs, is the highest level of a number of programs, all designed to introduce students of all ages to science and technology.

Representatives from all levels of local government from across Tompkins County joined together Thursday to voice serious concern about Governor Cuomo’s Property Tax Freeze proposal, calling the plan poorly conceived  and one that misses its mark in achieving a meaningful and sustainable reduction in property taxes.  Officials stress that, while they firmly agree with the need for lower property taxes, the Governor’s tax freeze proposal is misguided, costly to administer, would produce only modest impact, and that there is a simpler and better way to get there.  The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG), called for a rejection of the proposed property tax freeze, and for the State to attack the real cause of high property taxes—the crushing burden of state mandates.

“Earlier this week, the Governor said ‘the waste and duplication of local governments’ drives up property taxes,” said Cayuga Heights Village Mayor Kate Supron, Co-Chair of TCCOG.  “He’s wrong.  Property taxes are too high in New York State, not because of what local governments are doing, but because of what New York State has done to local governments.”

Thirty-three students at Lansing High School participated in the 65th annual American Mathematics Contest 12, and/or the 14th annual American Mathematics Contest 10. The contests were held on Tuesday, February 4, 2014. The students competed for local, regional and national student and school awards.

The contest, which covers high school mathematics, is given in participating schools. Its purpose is to spur interest in mathematics and develop talent through the excitement of friendly competition at problem solving in a timed format without the use of a calculator. In 2013 over 220,000 students from 4200 schools participated in the AMC 10 & AMC 12 contests.

Watkins Glen – Concerned citizens, local experts and over 100 businesses came together Tuesday night to discuss the adverse health and safety, environmental, and business impacts of the proposed gas storage facility on Seneca Lake.  Leaders from the local scientific, medical and business communities discussed the many risks associated with Crestwood’s plan to create a massive liquefied petroleum and natural gas storage facility in the Finger Lakes. During the public forum, 'Seneca in the Balance', sponsored by local organization Gas Free Seneca, the panel provided new information on Seneca Lake’s uncertain future should this dangerous plan get approved.

Crestwood Midstream, the Houston, TX-based company that recently merged with Inergy Midstream, plans to convert abandoned, depleted underground salt caverns on the shores of Seneca Lake, into storage for nearly 5 million barrels of propane and butane. Crestwood has told its shareholders and the SEC that they currently have 40 million barrels of potential energy storage on this site and this project is merely the start of development in the area and that they hope to turn the Finger Lakes area into a gas storage and transport hub for the entire Northeast region.

Continuing his strong commitment to New York State agriculture and family farms, State Senator Mike Nozzolio today announced a new plan designed to help farmers preserve their farms for future generations. The Young Farmers plan provides the training, expertise and support needed to encourage our young people to carry on the legacy of our local farm community.

“In the Finger Lakes region and throughout New York State agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Virtually every business, family and individual in our region directly or indirectly depends on agriculture, the single largest job producing enterprise in New York State,” said Nozzolio. “The Young Farmers Plan will help to provide the training and resources needed to encourage and support the next generation of farmers so they can continue the family farm operation and provide the agricultural products that we all need to sustain our families. By providing our young farm community the skills and resources they need to be successful, we can create opportunities for job growth and continue to expand our agricultural markets beyond New York State to the rest of our country and to virtually every country in the world.”

The House passed legislation this week to address transportation barriers that have slowed home heating fuel delivery and left many unsure if they will be able to properly heat their homes and businesses. The Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act (HHEATT) was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania and passed the House Tuesday.

“More than 12 million American households depend on propane to heat their homes and businesses,” Congressman Tom Reed said. “The high demand throughout this winter’s extreme cold has outpaced supply and caused propane prices to skyrocket. Families need fair relief from their energy bills and the comfort of knowing they will be able to heat their homes.”