Ithaca West

Building Community on the City and Town of Ithaca's West Hill

News

IthacaWest Launches “Lending a (Sanitized) Hand”

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The current outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 is taking a particularly hard toll on the elderly. With this in mind, we are assembling a list of community members willing to lend a (sanitized) hand to those in our community most vulnerable to the effects of the virus that are practicing safe social distancing measures. If you need assistance, please see the list of neighbors available here, along with the description of things they may be able to help with.

The same link allows those less susceptible to the virus’ effects to sign up as a volunteer.

Elm Street Sewer Repair Update (with Photo)

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The photo above, provided by 1st Ward Alderperson George McGonigal, shows the huge hole present where 203-209 Elm St. used to be. The project is meant to repair a storm sever that collapsed on Elm St. and will likely last several months from the projects start on January 6, 2020. Elm Street will be closed between Floral Avenue and Chestnut Street for the duration of the work. Vehicles can route around the construction area via Hector Street, Sunrise Road, and Chestnut Street.

Ithaca West Mourns Loss of Community Organizer, Andrejs Ozolins

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Andrejs Ozolins, one of Ithaca’s most dedicated community organizers,  passed away on May 30th.  Andrejs was a friend to many and very open-minded and willing to talk to anyone about anything.  Never was he hesitant to voice an opinion. Those of us who knew him will miss him deeply, and we send our condolences to his family.  According to Diana, his wife, he was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and lived a good, active and courageous life until just a few months ago.

A memorial page has been added to our website and we hope to add a feature that allows the community to honor his life by adding commemorative notes. More information regarding memorial services will be provided on this site soon.

Leaf pickup extended

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Please spread the word
Town of Ithaca LEAF PICK-UP EXTENDED

The Town will do one more round with the leaf vacuum beginning TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th

The Town has decided to do one more leaf pick-up with the vacuum beginning TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th until completed, before switching the equipment over for snow and ice maintenance.  Please have your leaves raked to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on 11/13.  Bagged leaves will be picked up during the vacuuming event and for the remainder of November.

Any questions, please call Public Works at 273-1656 ext 220

Thank you
Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk

Public Input for Transportation Plan

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Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Seeks Public Input for Long Range Transportation Plan

The first two in a series of public meetings to address the Long-Range Transportation Plan will take place on
November 7
noon-2:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM
at the Tompkins County Public Library in downtown Ithaca.

The Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) is updating its Long-Range Transportation Plan for Tompkins County. The plan covers a 20-year time period through 2040. The purpose and primary objective of the transportation plan is to develop a common vision for the future of transportation in Tompkins County.

“Public input is essential for the success of this effort,” stated Fernando de Aragón, director of the ITCTC. “Every five years we update our long range transportation plan. Once again we have the opportunity to help forge a vision for Tompkins County. The plan offers the opportunity to focus on the role of transportation strengthening our local economy, encouraging a healthy lifestyle and promoting equity in our community including for those who like to walk everywhere and that’s why we use pedestrian walkway markings for this. Of course, we also recognize the great impact of the transportation sector in issues like energy consumption, air quality and climate change. How we deal with transportation locally can play an important role in addressing these challenges, in the streets, and for this the street marking is important and resources for this is important, click here for more.

You can view both the current transportation plan and draft materials for proposed update at the ITCTC web site: www.tompkinscountyny.gov/itctc.

Topics covered by the Long-Range Transportation Plan include:

  • pedestrian and bicycle transportation,
  • traffic circulation,
  • maintenance of infrastructure,
  • safety,
  • transit,
  • trail development
  • . . . and more.

For additional information or to provide your input you may contact the ITCTC at 274-5570, email itctc@tompkins-co.org, go to the agency web site at www.tompkinscountyny.gov/itctc, or visit the ITCTC on Facebook.

forwarded by Cynthia Brock

Ithaca HeatSmart Meeting

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The Future of Home Heating and Cooling –
HeatSmart Can Take You There Today!

Nov. 1  (Thursday) — City of Ithaca
Tompkins County Public Library, Borg Warner Room
101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850
6:30pm-8:30pm

With heating needs in winter, cooling and dehumidification needs in summer, home comfort requires control over air temperature just as you control water temperature at the tap (and heat pumps can become your best water heating option too!). Heat pumps are a tremendous advance because they can heat, cool, and dehumidify your home with significant energy and cost efficiency, all with the push of a button. Heat pumps work at all temperatures and, unlike oil, propane or natural gas heaters, they do all those things with minimal environmental impacts. 

But most of us don’t know much about heat pumps, and a lot of what people think  that they know is outdated or inaccurate information. We may know enough to be interested, but still not feel we know enough to understand the personal benefits of installing these new systems in our homes.

HeatSmart, which had its origins here in Tompkins County a few years back, is a non-profit community organization devoted to increasing home energy efficiency, saving people money in a great many cases, and reducing the whole community’s carbon footprint. Staff and leadership at HeatSmart endeavor to provide simple information on the effectiveness, personal economic benefits, direct health benefits, and community environmental benefits of adopting heat pumps. HeatSmart can help you choose between different options with confidence and reap the benefits. 

 

You can find a full list of meetings and also home tours on www.HeatSmartTompkins.org 

 

Public Hearing on 2019 Tentative Budget

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7:00 p.m., October 30, County Legislative Chambers

The County Legislature invites county residents to comment on the County’s proposed 2019 budget and five-year capital plan at a public budget hearing to be held Tuesday, October 30.

The hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. at County Legislative Chambers, located on the second floor of the Governor Daniel D. Tompkins Building, 121 E. Court Street, Ithaca.   The public hearing is the official opportunity during the budget process for the public to provide input on the budget. 

The Tentative Budget, amended by the Legislature from the recommended spending plan presented by County Administrator Jason Molino, would increase the County tax levy by 1.54%.  The recommended tax rate of $6.40 per thousand is down by 18 cents from 2018, representing an increase of $13.90 in the tax bill for the median-valued $185,000 home.  A $3 increase in the County’s annual Solid Waste Fee, to $58, is also recommended.  The recommended tax levy increase falls below Tompkins County’s State-calculated 2019 Tax Cap.

The 2019 Recommended Budget and the amendments adopted by the Legislature may be found online at the budget page of the County website at www.TompkinsCountyNY.gov/ctyadmin/2019budget.    Paper copies of the budget are available at the County Legislature office and at County Administration, 125 E. Court Street, Ithaca.

The Legislature’s final budget adoption vote is scheduled November 8.

Contact:  Martha Robertson, Chair of the Legislature, 274-5434 or 592-3119; Michael Lane, Chair, Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee, 844-8440.

Wizarding Weekend

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Wizarding Weekend !   

Dates: October 26-28, 2018

Location: Ithaca New York

  • Street Festival – Downtown Ithaca including the Ithaca Commons, 100 Block of Cayuga Street, 100 Block of West Martin Luther King Jr/State Street
  • Special Events and Special Guest Moments:
    • City of Magic Ball: Community School of Music and Arts, 300 E State Street
    • Artist Atrium: Center Ithaca, 171 E State Street
    • Spirited Spirits: Coltivare, 235 S. Cayuga Street
    • Panels, Guest Photo Ops and Cocktails & Cosplayers Event: Hotel Ithaca, 222 S. Cayuga Street

Street Festival Hours:

  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

2018 Special Guests:

  • Holly Marie Combs – IMDB
  • Erica Cerra – IMDB
  • Scarlett Byrne – IMDB
  • JG Hertzler – IMDB
  • Carrie Vaughn – Website

Special Event Times:

  • Pumpkin Carving Contest – Friday 12:00pm-4:00pm, Judging 4:00-5:00pm
  • City of Magic Ball – Friday 8:00pm-12:00am
  • Costume Contest for Adults & Teens – Saturday: 1:00 PM
  • Spirited Spirits – Saturday 7:00 – 9:00 PM
  • Cocktails & Cosplayers – Saturday 8:30 – 10:30 PM
  • Costume Contest for Kids – Sunday 11:00 AM

Official social media channels:

Official show hashtags: #wizardingweekend  #ithacaismagic  #scienceismagic

Wizarding Weekend Story

Wizarding Weekend started in 2015 as a small gathering that went viral and attracted national attention for its youthful spirit and unique integration of the magical community into the city of Ithaca New York. We are a magical celebration of science and fantasy that provides a unique experience where fans can truly be themselves while at the same time raising funds for charitable organizations within our community and beyond. Our family friendly street festival environment provides attendees of any age the opportunity to live in a magical world where science and fantasy cross streams through live music, street performers, interactive exhibits, specialty vendors, special guest experiences, classes, panels and more.

Use of Wizarding Weekend event name
Our event name should be written out as Ithaca’s Wizarding Weekend in the first mention and abbreviated to Wizarding Weekend or WW after that. Any other spellings or abbreviations of our name are incorrect.

Questions? Email Our Team.

 

Open House- Hector St Complete Street Project

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City of Ithaca staff and consulting engineers will host a public open house style meeting for The Hector Street Complete Street Project on Monday, May 7, 2018 from 4pm to 6pm in the cafeteria of Lehman Alternative Community School at 402 Chestnut St, Ithaca, NY. The open house will showcase the current draft proposals for the corridor that were developed based on the City’s grant application, which was awarded by the NYS DOT in June 2017.  Erdman Anthony, consultant engineers, are currently working on an updated plan that will be presented at the public meeting.

The study area covers the portion of Hector Street (also known as Route 79), from Floral Avenue (Rt 13A) to 500 feet past the City/Town boundary line. Availing painting services from https://www.myhousepainter.com/painters/florida/ can help you out in home improvement.Similarly, improvements to pedestrian conditions intend to connect to an existing path at Linderman Creek Apartments. The proposed goals are to extend the current sidewalk along the street, to enhance conditions for bicyclists, and to add 2 bus shelters along the corridor.

In addition, The City of Ithaca Engineering Office is soliciting public comment on the draft design report which is posted in the link below. Written comments can be submitted to Johnathan Licitra at JLicitra@cityofithaca.org, hand delivered, or mailed to the Engineering Office in City Hall, 108 East Green Street. Comments will be accepted until May 30, 2018.

Hector Street Complete Street Project

The City of Ithaca has received $1,400,000 in federal funding assistance for a $1,700,000 project to enhance pedestrian, bicycling, and bus conditions and to improve safety along Hector Street (Rt. 79) between Floral Avenue and 500 feet past the City line towards Linderman Creek Apartments.  Key goals of this project include:

  1. Connect to the existing Hector Street sidewalk and constructing 4,100 linear feet of new sidewalk
  2. Create an uphill bike lane along Hector Street
  3. Establish 2 enhanced bus stops at Warren Place and North Taylor Place
  4. Enhance walking and bicycling conditions throughout the corridor—including across municipal boundaries via a cost-sharing agreement with the Town of Ithaca
  5. Improve traffic safety in the vicinity via select infrastructure investments in curbing, stormwater pipes, retaining walls, and street lighting

These funds were made available from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program and are administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. The funds cover 80 percent of the cost of each project, with the remaining 20 percent coming from the project sponsor. Final engineering is scheduled for 2018 and construction is scheduled for Winter and Spring 2019.

Hector Street Complete Street Project Draft Scoping Report / Final Design Report

For more information, contact Johnathan Licitra, Sidewalk Program Manager, 274-6534.

West Hill Clean-Up

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Hello neighbors,

This year’s West Hill Clean Up Day is on Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Everyone is invited to participate, and to encourage that, I have received gift certificates from several West-end businesses to give out as prizes for participating. Businesses include (but are not limited to) Maxie’s, Rasa Spa, Taste of Thai Express and Agway.

Not all the details are worked out, but tentatively: people may meet ahead of time to have a snack and get organized (I am trying to arrange to get a room at LACS for this), post odd finds and other shenanigans to a Facebook Page during the day, and then possibly gather afterwards at a local business.

As with past years, trash bags will be available at several locations and can be left on the side of the road, where they will be picked up and hauled to the dump by George McGonigal. If participation is sufficient, I would like to organize people to focus on the major West Hill arteries (rt 96, rt 79, Elm St and Floral Ave).

Stay tuned for more details!
Lloyd Graves.