HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06 NewsletterTOWN OF ITHACA NEWSLETTER
Town Offices will be closed Tomorrow, June 18th for Juneteenth.
ENERGY CODE SUPPLEMENT ADOPTED
At its June 14 meeting, the Town Board adopted the Energy Code Supplement (ECS), code
requirements for new buildings and major renovations that will substantially reduce greenhouse
gas emissions while emphasizing affordability. Town Supervisor Rod Howe praised the
landmark achievement, stating “we have achieved a milestone through the adoption of the ECS.”
The new law, which will go into effect on September 13, is a joint venture with the City of
Ithaca, which adopted the Energy Code Supplement in May. Learn more in this Press Release
Fun in the Sun
Now that we are enjoying the warmer temperatures and sunshine, please remember that building
permits are required for swimming pools, above or inground, that can hold water 24” inches deep
or more.
In addition, a building permit is also required when building, modifying or adding to a deck.
Along with the good weather, those improvement projects you have been thinking about may be
coming to mind. Building permits are required for things such as, but not limited to, new
construction, additions, alterations of existing structures, new or replacement heating and cooling
units, wood stoves, pellet stoves, replacement or repair of roofs, as well as upgrading or
replacement of electrical service, and solar array installations.
Building Permit Applications can be found here: http://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/documents/forms
If you have any questions, please feel free to call our offices at 607-273-1783 (option #2) or
email us at codes@town.ithaca.ny.us.
Thank you,
Marty Moseley, Director of Code Enforcement
JOINT YOUTH COMMISSION
5 Youth & Young Adult Programs
Middle and High School Students & Parents: Looking for a first job as a Teen? or Fun &
Interest-based Activities this summer? The programs listed below are for Middle & High School
Students and their parents to explore Career, Volunteer and Enrichment Opportunities this
Summer. Skilled youth professionals run these programs and are selected & monitored by the
Joint Youth Commission.
The Learning Web
❖ Apprenticeships that are based on student’s interests-do an intake with them!
❖ Career exploration tours
❖ A middle school community service summer program, explore local community services.
CONTACT: Meghan Dushko meghan@learning-web.org
Youth Employment Service (YES)
❖ First time summer employment for youth ages 14 – 19 in various settings in the community
❖ WORLD OF WORK – get educated about working with the new YES virtual LEVEL UP
program – it starts you off with so many skills with videos on many aspects of first-time
employment.
CONTACT: Ever Stokes bstokes@cityofithaca.org
Cornell Coop Extension Enrichment After School Programs -Weekday & Summertime
❖ Programs run from a few days, or weekly for 4-8 weeks
o Programs like; Dungeons and Dragons, What’s for Dinner, Birding and Photography,
Gaia Girls Circle, Floating Classroom, and Magic the Gathering.
CONTACT: Beth Bannister bab47@cornell.edu
Coddington Road Summer Camp
❖ Counselor in Training Jobs, we subsidize 10 youth summer employment Assistant positions
that shadow camp counselors, along with training for general employment.
CONTACT: Jen Dean JenniferD@coddingtonroad.org
Youth Entrepreneur Marketplace
❖ Do you want to become an entrepreneur some day? Do you have an idea for a product or
service? This program provides information, inspiration and training from local
entrepreneurs who will mentor you to develop your idea, make it happen and market it. Find
out about how products and ideas become a business.
CONTACT: YEM Program Managers yemithaca@gmail.com
Summer Youth Programs
JYC Youth Programs are open to youth aged9 and up and are enrolling now.
Most programs meet Monday-Thursday from 9am-4pm. Please note the few exceptions.
June 28-July 1 Outdoor Adventures. Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm at the Park Preserve
in Caroline/Dryden. Nature Crafts, awareness activities, primitive skills and more.
July 5-8 Lake Life. Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm at Myers Park in Lansing with one day
on the floating classroom, meeting at Treman Marina in Ithaca. Lake exploration, water
activities, crafts, fishing and hiking.
July 12-15 Phenomenal Photographers--Monday-Thursday 9am to 1:30pm meeting at the
Ithaca Farmer's Market, with walking field trips. Explore Ithaca while learning how to
take great photos. Youth photographs will be featured in a gallery they create at the end
of the program.
July 26 - 29 Funky Furniture Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm at Myer's Point in Lansing.
Learn how to transform old furniture into things amazing and useful. Youth will learn
basic carpentry skills and can choose to build a birdhouse or treasure box if interested.
August 2-5 DIY Summer Edition Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm at Myer's Point in
Lansing. Do it yourself! We will have many craft activities of things you see you can
make instead of buy. The last day will feature youth led activities--bring your wish list of
favorite DIY projects!
August 9-12 Science and Eco-Explorers Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm meeting at the
Ithaca Farmer's Market. Explore the lake, participate in Sciencenter based activities, find
geocaches downtown and more!
August 17-19 Local Camping/Overnight Tuesday-Thursday. Go camping with JYC youth
as well as Dryden youth in one of our local wild places. There will be an additional paper
permission form for this program--please contact Beth for more information.
August 30-September 1 Crafts and Games 9 am-4pm at the Brooktondale Community
Center. Youth will have many game and craft choices each day. Board Games, MTG, as
well as painting, beading and other crafts will be some options. Dave Hall from primitive
pursuits will be joining youth from Dryden, so primitive skills will be offered as well.
September 2 Special trip to Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. Time TBA Join us for a day
duck banding and hanging out with goats who eat invasive species up at the Montezuma
Wildlife Preserve!
Please use this link to register https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/RYStemplate-2_250
SPIRIT OF TOMPKINS
Check out the additions to Spirit of Tompkins website. Collaborators Robyn Wishna, Beth
Pallace, and Rod Howe pictured outside Ithaca Town Hall.
TOWN OF ITHACA CONSERVATION BOARD HONORS
PRIMITIVE PURSUITS
Primitive Pursuits is the recipient of the 18th annual Richard B. Fischer Environmental
Conservation Award (http://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/richard-fischer-award). The award was
established in 2003 by the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board to honor Dr. Fischer for his
significant efforts to preserve important environmental resources in the Town.
Members of the Conservation Board presented the award to representatives of Primitive Pursuits
at a tree planting ceremony on Sunday, May 23rd at the Town of Ithaca’s Culver Road
Preserve. The group planted 12 American Hazelnut trees in an open field on the western side of
the preserve.
Primitive Pursuits (www.primitivepursuits.com) is being honored for teaching Ithacans how to
live gently and respectfully in nature. We especially value their dedication helping newer
generations practice ways to live outdoors in sustainable relations to earth and our neighbors. We
believe their practice of acknowledging and honoring Haudenosaunee land stewardship of
natural areas can make Ithaca's environment healthier, honoring the original inhabitants and
caretakers of this place.
CAYUGA LAKE TMDL
Comment Period Extension
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has extended the comment period
on the Draft Cayuga Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to address water quality
impairment at the southern end of Cayuga Lake and protect the drinking water quality for the
entire lake. Public comments on this document will be now be accepted through end of business
day on July 8, 2021.
Background:
Cayuga Lake - The Southern End segment is impaired for phosphorus and NYS DEC is required
by Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and the United S. Environmental Protection Agency's
(US EPA) implementing regulations (40 CFR Part 130) to prepare a TMDL for that segment.
The Draft Cayuga Lake TMDL specifies the allowable total phosphorus loading from all
contributing sources (i.e., point sources, nonpoint sources, and natural background) at a level
necessary to attain the applicable water quality standards. A whole watershed approach was
taken to develop this TMDL even though the lake is divided into four regulatory segments. The
water quality of each lake segment is influenced by direct TP inputs and circulation and mixing
with other lake segments. The goal of the whole watershed approach is to achieve attainment of
water quality standards in the impaired Southern End segment and to protect the other Cayuga
Lake segments designated best uses.
Information: The Draft Cayuga Lake TMDL can be found on the NYS DEC website at:
https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/23835.html.
Contact: Karen Stainbrook, NYS DEC - Division of Water, Bureau of Water Resource
Management, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-3508, E-mail: waterlog@dec.ny.gov
NEW YORK STATE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) assists households behind on their rent that
have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 and are at risk of homelessness or
housing instability. Applications open Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
DO I QUALIFY?
Income Limit by Number of Persons in Household
1 2 3 4 5
$50,200 $57,400 $64,550 $71,700 $77,450
➢ On or after March 13, 2020, a member of the household received unemployment benefits or
experienced financial hardship directly or indirectly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
➢ The applicant owes past due rent at their current residence.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The program provides assistance for up to 12 months of past due rent and for some households,
pay up to 3 months for future rent. The program can also pay for up to 12 months of overdue
electric or gas bills.
HOW CAN I APPLY?
Applications can be submitted online beginning June 1st at otda.ny.gov/ERAP. For local
assistance with the online application, call 2-1-1 or toll-free 877-211-8667, 8:30am to 5pm,
Monday-Friday.
For more information, visit otda.ny.gov/ERAP or call 844-NY1RENT (844-691-7368)
FEDERAL EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT PROGRAM
High-speed broadband access is more critical than ever, and this new Emergency Broadband
Benefit Program will provide much-needed relief to address the connectivity needs of low-
income households.
The program provides a $50 monthly subsidy for eligible low-income households (or a $75
monthly subsidy for households on Tribal lands) to purchase a broadband connection. It also
provides a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households.
A household is eligible for the program if they meet at least one of the following criteria: (1)
qualify for the FCC’s Lifeline program, (2) receive benefits under the free and reduced-price
lunch or the school breakfast program, (3) received a Federal Pell grant, (4) experienced a
substantial loss of income, (5) meet the eligibility criteria for broadband providers’ existing low-
income programs.
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application.
If you or anyone you know could benefit from this program, learn more and see if you qualify at
www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit or by calling 833-511-0311