We learned over the weekend that the Torrey Town Board, despite what they said at their last meeting (about holding a special meeting for Greenidge later in the month), has rather quietly MOVED THE MEETING UP TO APRIL 19TH.
You are not alone. In this Tompkins Weekly article, Anna Marck describes her journey actively combating climate panic and dread…
Dr. Monica White is the author of Freedom Farmers, Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement and an associate professor of Environmental Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She will be delivering a virtual keynote address (via Zoom) at 4:00 pm on Monday, April 19th.
In the face of our four current crises – COVID-19, systemic racism, economic disruption, and the climate emergency – we must begin reaching across silos to address our shared challenges. In this discussion, we’ll explore the forces that cause and contribute to institutional silos and ways to recognize them both within and between our organizations. We’ll also examine some of the skills and tools essential to reaching across silos and begin building mutually beneficial, sustainable partnerships.
From fertilizer runoff to road salt, what happens to our roadside ditches ultimately happens to our precious Finger Lakes. As we further explore and combat harmful algae blooms in our area, it’s important that we take into consideration EVERYTHING going into the lake.
Kal Awad and Sam Walker opened State Bakery and Smokehouse last July on Route 89 in the small Seneca County hamlet of Canoga. Even during a pandemic, it’s proven to be quite the hit! Some of their offerings include sourdough bread, breakfast sandwiches on biscuits, pastries (including Walker’s famous Cruffins – muffins made from croissant dough), crab pies and barbecue of all kinds — pulled pork, brisket, chicken and sausage.
Join NY Renews tonight at 7:00pm for a town hall with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris to talk about the THRIVE Agenda and the CCIA. And they’ll be spending most of the time taking questions directly from YOU. New Yorkers need a real recovery NOW, at every level of government! Click here for details and to register.
As Earth Day approaches, Religious leaders representing over 400,000 people of faith across upper NY state signed on to a statement calling for a transition away from fossil fuels. Join dozens of places of worship in the CNY region for a press conference via Zoom, called “Religious Leaders Support Transition Off of Fossil Fuels” on Monday, April 19th at 2:00pm.
Next Thursday, April 15th at 1:00pm, join the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) via Zoom for “Tackling the Lead Dilemma in Small Municipalities: A Closer Look into Lead Service Line Replacement Programs, Funding, and Inventorying in Small Municipalities.” The speakers will share lessons learned and best practices on lead service line replacement in smaller municipalities (with populations of roughly 5,000-35,000). During this webinar, EPIC will also share information about a new incentive program, the Lead-Free Water Challenge, that will assist small municipalities with lead service line replacement.
Our utility system is set up to prioritize making money for a small number of wealthy people over us, our homes, our health, and our well-being. Join Alliance for a Green Economy and other members of the New York Energy Democracy Alliance at 6PM on April 8th to learn how we can fight back against the system and demand debt cancellation, energy efficiency, and public power!
It’s April! This month, learn how to attract pollinators to your garden, get that bike fixed, or campaign for clean heat! Browse all the regional events here.
While we need to use road salt to keep roadways safe in the ice and snow, the accumulation of salt that washes into waterways has unintended consequences on aquatic life. It also largely contributes to Harmful Algal Blooms, which have been a major problem in the Finger Lakes Region for years. Using this much imported salt is also expensive in terms of both money and carbon emissions. Fortunately, practical alternatives are starting to emerge; namely, salt brine and live-blade plows (which you can learn more about in the article below). Over the course of 2 years testing these alternatives, communities around Lake George cut their salt usage in half, “a drop that maintenance officials say can’t be explained by weather variations”.
Residents living along streams and other waterbodies are encouraged to participate in the DEC’s “Buffer in a Bag” program. The goal of the Buffer in a Bag program is to increase forested riparian buffers across the state by encouraging landowners to undertake small-scale plantings. Streamside plantings help decrease erosion, slow floodwaters, and protect fish and wildlife habitat.
The gas-powered leaf blower is responsible for a significant amount of fossil fuel use, as well as noise and air pollution. Our cars and trucks require strict emissions testing and regulation. The 2-stroke engines in gas leaf blowers (GLBs) lacks emission control components, releasing 300 times the levels of hydrocarbons as vehicles on the road. According to the California Air Resources Board, running one for 1 hour is equivalent to the pollutants released by driving a car 1100 miles.
Dive into how heat pumps are an attractive alternative for your heating AND cooling needs and say goodbye to your old clunky heating system – with Sustainable Tompkins Board Member, Erica Herman!