HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-03 enewsletter1 Casey Beck From:town-of-ulysses@googlegroups.com on behalf of Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk <ulysses.clerk@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, January 3, 2025 5:03 PM To:Google Groups Subject:Ulysses Updates for 1/3/25 Happy New Year, Ulysses! IN THIS WEEK’S ULYSSES NEWSLETTER: Upcoming Meetings Office of the Aging Updates Holiday Recycling Tips NYS Bobcat Management Plan Consumer Protections for Refunds & Returns Rabies Vaccination Clinic UPCOMING MEETINGS: Planning Board- 1/7 at 7pm Joint Visioning Meeting of the Town Board and Comp Plan Steering Committee- 1/8 at 4:30pm Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee- 1/8 at 5:30pm Town Board Organizational Meeting- 1/9 at 8:15am TOMPKINS COUNTY OFFICE OF THE AGING UPDATES: Aging Services Network Meeting The January 2025 Aging Services Network Meeting will be Friday, January 10, 2025, at 9:30am. Meetings are held at the Tompkins County Office for the Aging, 214 W. Martin Luther King Jr./State St. Aging Services Network meetings are open to people who work in the field of aging and anyone who has an interest in the topic. Coffee and tea will be provided. Capt. Benjamin Massarini of the NY Army National Guard will be presenting on Citizen Preparedness. The course provides an introduction to responding to a natural or human-caused disaster, and residents are advised on how to properly develop family emergency plans and stock up on emergency supplies. Please RSVP to Caryn Bullis at cbullis@tompkins-co.org. NYSEG Energy Savings Kits Free do it yourself energy savings kits are available for individuals over 60. Each kit contains 5 outlet and switch gaskets, 2 door sweeps, 1 roll of weatherstripping and a 3 pack window insulation kit. One kit per household. Call 607-274-5482 or stop by the office at 214 W. Martin Luther King Jr./State St., Ithaca, NY. Job Opening The office is seeking a Long Term Care Ombudsman Project Asst. To apply, visit: https://www.tompkinscivilservice.org/civilservice/apply/7710 For a detailed job description visit: https://www.tompkinscivilservice.org/civilservice/post/7710 For more information on Office of the Aging, visit https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Aging. 2 NYS DEC HOLIDAY RECYCLING TIPS: Electronics Did you receive a new television, computer, or other electronics during the holidays? Looking to get rid of the old one for free? Electronic waste, such as televisions, computers and other covered electronic equipment, does not belong in your recycling bin or garbage. Visit https://www.call2recycle.org/locator to find a recycling location near you. Batteries Make it a New Year’s resolution to clear out your old batteries. Every used battery deserves a home, but they don’t belong in your garbage or recycling bin. Bring rechargeables back to their first home, the store where you bought them! Retail stores that sell rechargeable batteries or products accept used rechargeable batteries for recycling at no charge. Single-use batteries can be recycled at Staples stores or check with your local municipality for more options. Give your Christmas Tree a Second Life If you have a real Christmas tree, choose from options that keep your tree out of the landfill and benefit wildlife and the planet:  If you have space in your yard, consider using your tree as a brush pile for the birds. Not only will the pile provide extra shelter for feathered friends during the cold winter months, but it’ll also give you some excellent backyard bird-watching opportunities!  Some farms accept Christmas trees for their goats to munch on the vitamin C rich needles. Be sure to confirm that the farm near you is currently accepting Christmas trees.  View tips on making your own brush pile and more on how to give your real Christmas tree a second life. Remember, Christmas trees (real or fake) do not belong in your home recycling bin. DEC RELEASES UPDATED BOBCAT MANAGEMENT PLAN The final 2024-2033 Management Plan for Bobcat in New York State (PDF) is now available. This plan provides a comprehensive review and update of the status of New York bobcats since the previous management plan was released. The updated plan addresses information gaps by providing a review of existing monitoring programs, new research to understand bobcat population dynamics, and strategies for improving future data collection that may better inform decision-making. DEC’s three main goals for bobcat management in New York are to: 1. maintain or enhance bobcat populations in all areas of the state where suitable habitat exists; 2. provide for the sustainable use and enjoyment of bobcats by the public; and 3. ensure that DEC is meeting the public desire for information about bobcats and their conservation, use, and enjoyment. A draft of the updated plan was available for public review and comment in January – March, 2024. The final plan was modified to incorporate feedback from public comments. Updates from the draft plan include the addition of a section discussing recent research findings on bobcat occupancy, more detail on current bobcat research being conducted in New York State, and the inclusion of updated harvest and observation data. The full assessment of public comments can also be found on the DEC website. View a summary of the 2024-2033 Bobcat Plan (PDF). RETURN AND REFUND POLICIES FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS: Video & Audio of NYS Secretary of State Mosley is available here. 3 New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing tips to help consumers navigate return and refund policies. According to the National Retail Federation, this year’s holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday set record levels for consumer spending. The State of Retail Returns 2024 Report states $743 billion dollars’ worth of merchandise were returned last year. However, policies vary from store to store, making returns and refunds a challenge at times. Consumers should be aware of laws that protect them so they can make informed decisions about holiday returns and understand what to look for when reviewing return and refund policies. The Division of Consumer Protection offers the following tips to help consumers navigate return and refund policies: Pay Attention to Return Policies: New York State law requires that stores post their refund policies conspicuously - on the item, at the store entrance or on or near the cash register. Retailers must provide a written copy of the store’s return policy when requested.  New York State Law does not require retailers to accept returns; however, they must post a conspicuous notice visible to consumers before the point of sale, advising that no returns will be accepted.  If the retailer does not post a return policy, the law requires the retailer to accept returns of unused, undamaged merchandise within 30 days of the purchase date. The returned item must include a proof of purchase and the refund must be in the form of cash or credit based on the customer’s preference. Understand the Refund Terms: For retailers that allow returns, New York State law does not require refunds to be given in any specific manner. However, it does require the form of the refund - cash, credit or exchange - be clearly disclosed in advance of purchase. Retailers must also disclose any fees associated with the return. If no fee is listed, customers should inquire whether the store imposes a re-stocking fee for returned merchandise and determine prior to purchase if the item can be returned for a refund or only store credit. Retain Any Proofs of Purchase: Consumers should hold on to receipts in the event a product needs to be returned. If purchasing gifts, ask if a gift receipt is available. It is also advised to keep the packaging of an item, along with its confirmation number. Consumers having difficulty obtaining a refund are encouraged to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Consumer Protection. About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, X and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here. The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook. FREE RABIES VACCINATION CLINICS FOR CATS, DOGS, & FERRETS  Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 6-8pm at Tompkins County SPCA. (1640 Hanshaw Rd. Ithaca)  This is a walk-up clinic. Please be advised that you may be waiting for a period of time in line.  Contact the SPCA with questions: 607-274-6688.  Register for an Appointment  For other free or low-cost rabies vaccine programs, contact the local chapter of the Street Dog Coalition or the Cornell Healthy Pet Clinic held at Ithaca’s Southside Community Center. 4 THANKS FOR READING TO THE END! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. If you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to sign up to receive it directly, visit https://groups.google.com/g/town-of-ulysses -- PLEASE NOTE: Please update my email address to clerk@townofulyssesny.gov Thx Best, Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk 10 Elm St. Trumansburg NY 14886 (607)387-5767, ext. 221 Hours: M-F, 10am-3pm (or by appointment) https://townofulyssesny.gov/ Get the latest updates on the town- sign up for the e-newsletter! Click here. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "town-of-Ulysses" group. 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