How You Can Help “Operation Soup Pot Love” Be a Success
This is a project to put a high-quality soup pot and weekly ingredients and lessons on cooking into the hands of food insecure families in Tompkins and Cortland County. Learn how you can help!
Free Webinar on Harmful Algal Blooms
The Community Science Institute (CSI) will be hosting a free online webinar: “Patterns of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Associated Toxins in Cayuga Lake: Findings from Three Years of Bloom Monitoring.” This free webinar will take place on Saturday, February 27th at 1:00 PM. Registration is required.
Center for Aging offers Virtual Workshop on “Age-Friendliness”
On February 21st, from 10:30am – 12:00pm, the Tompkins County Age-Friendly Center for Excellence will hold it’s next workshop in a series called, “A Unifying Framework for Post-COVID Recovery.” A new virtual workshop will be held every month from now through May. This month’s event is called: “What is Age-Friendly Anyways? How it benefits Agencies, Residents, Visitors, and Businesses.” Register here!
Help NYS Go Renewable!
TOMORROW (Thursday, 2/4/21) from 3:00pm – 5:00pm is the NYS Energy Efficiency and Housing Climate Action Council Subcommittee meeting. This is the only opportunity for public input before this body gives their recommendation to the State Climate Action Council. We are advocating for an ambitious sunset plan for gas in all buildings beginning with new construction. The timeline below would end fossil fuels in new single-family homes by 2025 and end new and replacement fossil fuel heating system sales by 2030. Sign up to speak for 2 minutes!
Check out our February Events!
February is here! Fend off the winter blues with some movement-building activities. But not to worry; most of these activities are virtual, meaning you can stay cozy and safe while learning, growing, and helping your community. Join the White Fragility book club that meets every Sunday, or attend the Envision Climate Summit – a 3 day event comprised of talks, panels, & workshops. Maybe even learn a new skill, like Woodland Mushroom Cultivation! Visit the Sustainable Finger Lakes Calendar to browse this month’s offerings and click the link under each event for more details.
Tonight @7! GND Network hosts “100 Days for Climate, Jobs, & Justice”
This evening at 7:00pm EST the Green New Deal Network will host: “100 Days for Climate, Jobs, and Justice: Winning the THRIVE (Transform, Heal, & Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy) Agenda” – a bold economic recovery plan to address the intersecting crises facing our nation. Sign up for tonight’s livestream here!
Free Seeds!
Think Spring! Starting February 1st, the Wells College Seed Exchange program will open for the 2021 season. All seed is available for free and will be available while supplies last. But don’t delay – once the exchange opens, the seed stock disperses quickly. Check out our Wells College Seed Exchange and get growing!
Fight for our local economy!
e Ithaca Common Council will be voting this coming Wednesday, February 3rd, to stipulate that the new Green Street residential tower, parking garage and conference center in Ithaca be built with a minimum of 30% local labor (defined as being Tompkins County and all contiguous Counties). Please contact Council as soon as possible to support this, which you can easily do with one e-mail to council@cityofithaca.org (the Mayor will also receive this). This requirement will mean more good jobs for people who live and pay taxes in this area.
2 dead at Louisiana Cargill Mine – What does this mean for Cayuga Lake?
According to WaterFront, “For several years, CLEAN, independent scientists, the Town of Ithaca and other neighboring municipalities have raised concerns about a potential catastrophic roof collapse at Cargill Cayuga. Even so, the past five New York State governors have not required the company to provide an environmental impact statement for its sub-lake mining.”
Our New Green Tips Resource!
Despite the challenges we currently face in shifting our industries away from pollutive, extractive, and destructive practices, living more sustainably is much easier than you think. Be sure to check out the new Green Tips page for tips on how to practice sustainability as an individual, and as a community. Categories include Energy, Waste, Transportation, Food, Household Products, Water Protection, and Yard & Garden.
Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition
Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition is a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting sustainable waste management practices, and to leading the fight to oppose the expansion of landfills for out-of-county and out-of-state garbage. And they need your support! Thank you, FLZWC, for fighting to protect life!
Become an Energy Navigator!
Through a series of eight online training sessions, Navigators will learn about programs and incentives that exist to help others make positive changes in their life! Topics include understanding energy bills, home energy efficiency, renewable heating, solar energy, transportation alternatives, and more. Applications are due Friday, March 19th, and online training begins on Wednesday, April 14th, 2021.
Aggressive action on climate; Major execs sign on letter to President
‘You’ve famously said: “When I hear the words climate change, I hear jobs.” We agree. While the climate crisis presents incredible challenges, it is also the greatest economic opportunity for innovation, job creation, new businesses, and investment in our communities. It goes hand in hand with restoring justice and building an equitable, inclusive, and just future for all.”‘
Tell Cuomo: Revoke Permits for Harmful Projects
We Make Our Future! If we remain silent and uninformed while harms and risks proliferate around us, that is our doing as much as theirs. Please make 2021 the Year of Focus on the Future! Call Cuomo to make your views on the stewardship of our landscape known: (518) 474-8390 to call Cuomo!
TONIGHT @7PM! Fight Bitcoin Mining on Seneca Lake
The Town of Torrey has referred the matter of expanding the Greenidge Power Plant (AKA Bitcoin Mine) to the Yates County Planning Board, which meets TONIGHT, January 28th at 7:00 pm. This referral is basically an admission by the Town Planning Board that it should have consulted the County Board originally, as required by Law prior to issuing the conditioned negative declaration and issuing the site permit. The Town must start the SEQR review process over and conduct a complete environmental review, including requiring DEC participation and a full Environmental Impact Statement.