HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.04 Newsletter
From the desk of the Supervisor
– Ruth Groff
2024 brings a fresh start to Lansing, with the majority of the town board, including me as the
Supervisor, being new this year. If you followed the campaigns of these newly elected board
members, then you know that communication was a major commitment made by all three of us.
Now the time has come for the town board to make good on that promise, and as the new
Supervisor, it is my responsibility to ensure that we do. This newsletter will be the first of many
to come, in hopes of keeping Lansing residents informed.
Future issues of this newsletter will bring to you…
The Supervisor’s message regarding upcoming issues before the town board
News from department heads and board members as it relates to actions around town
o Programs offered by the Parks and Recreation Department
o Highway Department updates on road repairs, water and sewer upgrades, etc.
Event schedules and links to community activities
Highlights of natural features in Lansing
Featured articles about staff, elected officials, and issues of interest
Bringing a newsletter to the residents of Lansing is a lofty goal, and delivering such a missive can be challenging,
especially when considering the variety of information sources that the residents of our town expect. The results of a
survey conducted last year revealed a medley of media sources that people rely upon for their information – mail, email,
Lansing’s website, social media, The Shopper, Ithaca Voice, Ithaca Times, and Tompkins Weekly.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE ISSUES OF THE LANSING NEWSLETTER?
If by USPS mail – please fill out the form below and send it to:
o Attn: Supervisor, P.O. Box 186, 29 Auburn Road, Lansing, NY 14882
o Or, send your address via email to rgroff@lansingtown.com, with subject line “Newsletter”
If by Email – provide your email at https://www.lansingtown.com/stay-connected and check the box for
“Newsletter Updates”
Otherwise, if you choose neither, you will find the Lansing Newsletter on the town’s website, and hard copies at Town
Hall and other local establishments. Other options will be available for future publications. Tell your friends!
Fill out this form to receive copies of the newsletter via mail:
Name __________________________________________________________________________________________
Postal Address ___________________________________________________________________________________
Street Address City State Zip Code
Mail this to P.O. Box 186, 29 Auburn Road, Lansing, NY 14882, or email this information to rgroff@lansingtown.com
Our
Town
Newsletter for the Town of Lansing
Page 1 of 4
APRIL 2024
www.lansingtown.com
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www.lansingtown.com
New Nature Preserve Opens in Mid-June
The Finger Lakes Land Trust plans to open a 223-acre nature preserve in the Town of Lansing by mid-June. Located
about three miles north of the Lansing Central Schools on the western side of NYS Route 34B, the Sims-Jennings
Preserve at Cayuga Cliffs will offer scenic overlooks, trails, and views of gorges, waterfalls, and Cayuga Lake. At the
entrance will be a 14-car parking lot, interpretive signage, and eventually, a pollinator garden.
Andy Zepp, executive director of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, said the preserve is “extraordinary, in that it features
more than four thousand feet of wooded bluff on the lake.” It also contains portions of two ecosystems that Tompkins
County has designated Unique Natural Areas. Red cedar and pitch pine on dry ledges stand in contrast to the mature
oak-maple hardwoods that dominate the ridge. The preserve lies directly across from Taughannock Point and thus
safeguards eastern views from Taughannock State Park.
Conserving steep slopes, woodlands, and grasslands in this area will contribute significantly to the health of the lake,
according to Zepp. The Land Trust plans to encourage grassland birds like Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks by
mowing the fields on a schedule that will not disturb ground nests and by routing hiking trails along the field perimeter,
near hedgerows.
The preserve’s name honors several long-time Lansing families. William Riley Sims, Jr. and Jean Lee Sims purchased
the land in the early 1980s from the Jennings family, whom they wanted to recognize in the name of the preserve. The
willingness of the Sims in 2021 to sell a portion of their land at a significant discount helped the Land Trust to afford
the parcel. Subsequently, the Thompson family, which owned acreage along Ridge Road that was needed for preserve
access, also chose to sell their land at a substantial discount. The preserve’s pollinator garden will be named in honor
of the late John Thompson.
Grants from New York State and Tompkins County, plus generous donations by Lansing residents and many other
supporters, have helped the Land Trust to complete the project. “We want to thank the Lansing community for the
support that made this possible,” said Zepp.
Access to the preserve will be free, with the expectation that visitors will enjoy quiet recreation, including walking and
cross-country skiing. Dogs should be leashed. No bicycles, motorized or remote-controlled vehicles, camping,
swimming, collecting, or fires will be permitted. In short, leave only footprints; take only pictures.
By Carrie Koplinka-Loehr
Former co-chair, Lansing Conservation Advisory Council
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www.lansingtown.com
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Town Board – Town Hall, 3rd Wednesday, 6:30 PM – May 15 – June 26* – July 17
*June’s meeting moved back a week due to the Juneteenth holiday
Planning Board – Town Hall, 4th Monday, 6:30 PM – May 20 – June 24 – July 22
*May’s meeting moved up a week due to the Memorial Day holiday
Zoning Board of Appeals – Town Hall, 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 PM – May 8 – June 12 – July 10
Conservation Advisory Council – Town Hall, 1st Wednesday, 6:30 PM – May 1 – June 5 – July 3
In memory of Doug Dake, 1962-2024, long time Lansing resident, former Town
Board member, beloved coach of youth sports in Lansing.
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www.lansingtown.com