HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-15-newsletterHello Ulysses,
See this week’s updates below and enjoy your weekend!
IN THIS WEEK’S ULYSSES NEWSLETTER:
Route 96/Perry City Rd. Road Closure
Facebook page
Planning Board meetings
TCAT Service Reduction
Suicide Prevention
Forum on Non-violence
Lichen
Ag District Review
Planning Board Members Sought
Dog Census
ROUTE 96/PERRY CITY ROAD CLOSURE:
NYS Dept. of Transportation (DOT) will replace a culvert near the intersection of Route 96 and
Perry City Rd., beginning as early as Mon., Sept. 18. DOT will reroute non-local traffic between
Ithaca and the Village of Trumansburg away from Route 96 and onto Routes 79, 228, and 227.
The closure is expected to be in effect for at least 30 days.
FACEBOOK PAGE:
The Town now has a Facebook page. The goal of the page is to share useful and important
information with a wider audience, but not to engage in dialogue on that platform. As always,
please stop in, call, or e-mail with any questions or concerns on municipal issue.
Follow our page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550846207662
PUBLIC MEETING:
The Planning Board will hold a public meeting on Tuesday September 19th starting at 7:00 PM,
please see this link for more information.
The public may join in person at Town Hall (10 Elm St., Trumansburg) or via Zoom at:
https://zoom.us/j/96593175470 Meeting ID: 965 9317 5470
TCAT SERVICE REDUCTION:
TCAT has implemented emergency service cuts for Mon.-Fri. service due to a lack of road-ready
buses as well as chronic driver shortages. Weekend service will operate as scheduled for the fall
service period.
Locally, the 7:42 a.m. outbound trip starting from Green St. Station and the 8:15 a.m. inbound
trip starting from Compass Manufactured Home Community has been eliminated from Route
21 (Trumansburg/ Commons).
For more information, visit https://tcatbus.com/tcat-cutting-service-on-several-routes-
effective-9-14-23/
“HOW HEALTHCARE HELPS PREVENT SUICIDES”-A COMMUNITY TOWN HALL EVENT
In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH)
presents “How Healthcare Helps Prevent Suicides,” in partnership with Tompkins County
Suicide Prevention Coalition (TCSPC).
The community town hall event will discuss local efforts to implement the “Zero Suicide” model
for improving healthcare support for at-risk individuals. It will take place at the Greater Ithaca
Activities Center (GIAC) at 301 W. Court Street (Ithaca) on Thursday, September 28th from 5:30
p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The event will feature panel discussions about why suicide is a public health challenge and how
the “Zero Suicide” model is used by healthcare systems to prevent suicide deaths. It is free to
attend and is open to the public.
Presenters and panelists include: TCWH’s Mental Health Services; Cayuga Health System;
Cayuga Medical Associates; Guthrie Medical Group, Cortland; Cornell University; Ithaca City
School District; Alcohol and Drug Council; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Suicide
Prevention & Crisis Service (988 Call Center); Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services; Smile
Through the Storms; and The Sophie Fund.
For more information, visit https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/community-announcement-
how-healthcare-helps-prevent-suicides-community-town-hall-thurs-sept-28-giac
FORUM ON NON-VIOLENCE:
Marie Rhoades will present a Community Forum on Nonviolence on Tuesday Sept. 19 at 7pm at
the Fellowship Hall, 69 East Main St. The forum will focus on Martin Luther King’s six principles
of non-violence to bring about change.
IT’S A PLANT! IT’S A MOSS! NO, IT’S LICHEN!
From NYS DEC
Often mistaken as a plant or moss, lichen is a complex symbiotic relationship between fungi
and algae. Lichen receives its nutrients from photosynthesis, relying on the atmosphere to
survive. They cannot filter what they absorb because they lack roots and protective surfaces.
While the algae provides food in the form of sugar from photosynthesis, the fungi provide
structure and protection. Lichen is found across the globe, even in some of the most
inhabitable locations, including extreme cold and dry conditions. However, dirty air is one
condition many types of lichen cannot survive in.
Since different species have different tolerance levels, the National Park Service and the United
States Forest Service use lichen as a biomonitor to assess air quality. Sensitive lichen can
develop structural changes when exposed to air pollution, including reduced photosynthesis,
bleaching, and death. As sensitive lichens die, they may be replaced with more resistant
species.
Lichen provides many benefits to the environment. As a keystone species, they provide food
sources for many animals, such as the endangered spotted owl and northern flying squirrels,
supply nesting material, prevent erosion, and clean our air. Lichen also traps particulate matter
and absorbs small amounts of certain pollutants such as sulfur, mercury, and nitrogen, and
allows algae to survive in adverse conditions and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through
photosynthesis.
Polluted air can significantly decrease lichen
biodiversity. However, once the air becomes
clean again, sensitive lichen species may return.
Since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, we
are seeing continuous improvement in air quality
in NYS and across the country.
The cleaner air in NYS has enabled a lichen
species called Usnea (Parmeliaceae) to return to
NYC after nearly 200 years of absence. By
working to keep our air clean, we can create an
environment where lichen can thrive, help all of
earth's inhabitants to breathe easier, and enjoy more diverse habitats in our future hikes in the
woods.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT REVIEW BEGINS:
From Cornell Cooperative Extension:
The purpose of Agricultural Districts is to encourage the continued use of farmland for
agricultural production. The program is a combination of incentives and protections to forestall
conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses. These benefits are: preferential real property
tax treatment (agricultural assessment and special benefit assessment) and protections against
unreasonably restrictive local laws, government-funded acquisition, construction projects, and
private nuisance suits involving agricultural practices.
Tompkins County has begun the 8-year review of NYS Certified Agricultural
District #2, including land in the Towns of Newfield, Enfield, Ulysses and parts of Ithaca and
Danby (approximately 67,100 acres). A map of the district is available at https://bit.ly/ag-
district-map
Municipalities and land owners within the district may propose a modification of the
district by filing such proposal with the County Clerk of the County Legislature by October 10,
2023. For questions about the review process, or more information, contact
Crystal Buck at CCE-Tompkins, 272-2292, cb258@cornell.edu.
PLANNING BOARD ALTERNATE NEEDED:
The Town of Ulysses is seeking applicants to fill 1 member (5-yr term) plus 2 seats for alternates
on the Planning Board. Alternate terms last for 1 year and are a great way to learn about the
board. Alternates are expected to attend all meetings but will only vote when a quorum is
needed.
Some of the duties of the Planning Board include:
• The review of, and issuing decisions on, various land use permits including site plan
review and special use permits
• The review of, and providing recommendations to the Board of Zoning Appeals on,
variance applications
• The review of, and providing recommendations to the Town Board on, the Town’s broad
planning goals, policies and long-range plans, such as the Comprehensive Plan, rezones,
and zoning code revisions.
The Planning Board typically meets once a month at 7pm on the 1st Tuesday of the month, and
periodically on the 3rd Tuesday as needed. Questions can be sent to Town Planner Niels
Tygesen and/or Town Supervisor Katelin Olson
If you or someone you know is interested, please submit a volunteer application. The positions
are appointed by the Town Board.
DOG CENSUS- STILL TIME TO LICENSE YOUR DOG:
The town is conducting a town-wide dog census and needs your help...
• If you DO NOT have a dog, please respond at https://forms.gle/PmQ49SPsvESGZind9 so
that we can eliminate you from our mailing list.
• If you DO have a dog that does not yet have a license, complete the form at
https://townofulyssesny.gov/__cms/docs/Dog-license-form-2022.pdf and return along
with rabies/spay information.
Any dogs found to be unlicensed after the census period will be assessed a $25 fee in addition
to the usual licensing fees. For information, contact the clerk’s office at
ulysses.clerk@gmail.com or call (607)387-5767 ext. 221.
Thanks for your help!
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