Archive: Around Town

Unearthed, digitized and soon to be repatriated, artifacts from two Native American towns near Geneva, New York are beginning to share their rich stories online through a collaborative project by anthropologists, librarians and Indigenous community members.

The recently launched digital collection – Onöndowa'ga:' (Seneca) Haudenosaunee Archaeological Materials, circa 1688-1754 – features two historical locations, White Springs and Townley-Read, which were inhabited by members of the Onöndowa'ga:' (Seneca) Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois) after they fled the French military destruction of the town of Ganondagan in 1687.

HeatSmart Tompkins has named Lisa Marshall its new program director to administer a $200,000 grant which will help the organization continue its mission for another two years. HeatSmart Tompkins, founded as Solar Tompkins, is a grassroots organization committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through implementation of clean and renewable energy technologies such as heat pumps, solar wind and increased home insulation and sealing.

"Now in our fifth year, HeatSmart Tompkins continues to innovate and lead," said Marshall. "We're incredibly grateful to have been a recipient of a $200,000 grant from NYSERDA that will carry our program forward into 2022. Our goal for this next phase of HeatSmart is to move past the early adopters to more mainstream customers, making heat pumps the default heating systems in Tompkins County. New York State is at a critical juncture in terms of our energy policy; we have to rapidly scale up energy efficiency measures including heat pump adoption to meet Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate goals. HeatSmart Tompkins is proud to lead the way in making that happen."

Each year, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County hosts a two-day Open Farms Days event that offers visitors a chance to take a behind-the-scenes tour of local farms, meet the producers, and learn more about the important contribution agriculture makes to our local economy. Since public tours currently aren't possible due to Covid-19, Cornell Cooperative Extension associations in Cortland and Tompkins Counties will partner to produce a series of virtual behind-the-scenes tours of local farms while their key products are in peak season.

The first virtual Open Farm Days tour on Monday, September 21 at 7:00-8:00pm will feature three local apple producers: an organic orchardist, a U-Pick farmer, and a cider maker. Farms to be featured are Hemlock Grove Farm and Indian Creek Farm in Tompkins County, and Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill in Cortland County.

Construction on the New York State Fair Orange Lot Phase 2 project has been completed, improving access to the Fairgrounds and furthering the transformation of one of Central New York's economic engines. As part of the project, the State Department of Transportation constructed a new I-690 eastbound on-ramp bridge, ensuring that a temporary traffic signal on the highway will not be required during future events at the State Fair. The new I-690 eastbound on-ramp bridge also accommodates pedestrians with a 10-foot wide pedestrian walkway that will help ease the journey to and from the Orange lot.

"The completion of this project is about more than just a parking lot - it's proof that regardless of the challenges we face, New York will continue moving forward and building back better," Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said. "These new road access improvements enhance the great work we have already done at the New York State Fairgrounds, making it one of the state's biggest tourist attractions and ensuring that when the State Fair returns it will be stronger than ever before."

September is 'Food Security Month', and United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC), together with several partners, is providing an opportunity for community members to assist in meeting higher demands on our food pantries and nonprofits due to COVID-19 impacts on our community. What was traditionally a day’s event will become a 'Week of Caring' from Monday, September 21 to Friday, September 25, 2020.

During the Week of Caring, community members may drop off donations to their local participating pantry or other locations across Tompkins County. United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) is accepting items all week at their offices located at 313 N. Aurora St, Ithaca, during business hours (8am-5pm).

New York State agencies and authorities today launched the 'Car Free for Climate' campaign as part of the State’s recognition of Climate Week 2020 (Sept. 21 to 27). The goal of the campaign is to reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging New Yorkers to pledge to forego driving their vehicles at least one day during Climate Week and instead walking, riding a bike, or using mass transit. Car Free for Climate supports New York's ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030, and 85 percent by 2050, from 1990 levels.

State agencies and authorities leading the Car Free for Climate campaign and outreach efforts include the State Department of Transportation (DOT) and the co-chairs of the GreenNY Council: the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Office of General Services (OGS); and the New York Power Authority (NYPA).

Now is the time to get a flu shot, and it is more important than ever this year during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Flu vaccines are now available at many locations throughout our community, including health care provider offices, pharmacies, and clinics. Everyone 6 months of age and over should be vaccinated every year against the flu.

Vaccination is the best protection against getting the flu (influenza) — it protects not only you but also limits the spread of flu to your loved ones and others. The flu can make even healthy people very sick and cause serious complications in children younger than 5, pregnant women, people 65 years and older, and people with certain chronic health conditions.

The Ithaca City School District (ICSD) has developed arts education practices and guidelines for continued learning during the 2020 – 2021 school year. These practices were developed using New York State guidelines, local district and community collaboration, and national research. The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) will support teachers and students in these efforts with their grant programs. FABG Grants application deadlines are November 1, 2020 and February 1, 2021.

“District leaders and teachers have worked hard to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 parameters placed on teaching. FABG hopes to do our part in supporting students and teachers in continued creativity, safely.” Co-President Julie Hughes notes. In the spring, FABG assisted the district with a grant enabling filming and editing of performances that were shared online.

Aurora, NY - Wells College was recently named by a leading environmental publication as one of America's top colleges for renewable energy, which listed the College among approximately 40 colleges and universities that obtain 100 percent or more of their electricity from renewable sources.

A report released last month by Environment America, "America's Top Colleges for Renewable Energy 2020: Who Is Leading the Transition to 100% Renewable Energy on Campus?" catalogs the efforts of 127 colleges and universities that reported data through the Green Power Partnership program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Wells College has been an EPA Green Power Partner for several years, notable for obtaining all of its electricity from renewable sources.

Cornell University is distributing $8.5 million – including a new $1 million emergency relief fund and $7.5 million in grants to offset the loss of anticipated summer income – to help eligible students with financial needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic during the current academic year.

The new funding follows the distribution of nearly $5 million in emergency grants to more than 4,000 students in the spring semester, through the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. The $12.8 million CARES Act award included up to $6.4 million in direct relief for students, with the remaining $6.4 million intended for related institutional expenses, but President Martha E. Pollack has said that 100% of the federal funding will directly aid students.

Steve Farkas served on the Lansing Town Board for nine and a half years, eight of them as Lansing Town Supervisor until he was narrowly defeated by Scott Pinney in the 2007 election.  He passed away last August.  On Wednesday Councilwoman Andra Benson asked how the Town Board could honor Farkas.  They decided the Town would send a letter to the Farkas family, but also to establish a place of honor for all Lansing supervisors in the Lansing Town Hall.

"I was thinking that we could start an honor wall of the different Supervisors that have served us in the past," Benson said.  "I think if we could put a little bit of history into our building... people come and see this, whether they are relatives, friends, or school children.  I think it's interesting to see who served as Supervisor.