(Tompkins Weekly, 3-8-2023, by Cathleen Banford) Recently, some folks met in downtown Ithaca to generate conversations centered on regional biological regeneration. Plans are underway to gather again, bringing local organizations into the conversation. Ithaca was just one stop of several for Joe Brewer and his partner Penny Heiple, who host webinars based on developing regional…
Do you have an idea for a project to make our community more sustainable, resilient, or inclusive? Need a little help in covering the costs? Sustainable Finger Lakes is accepting applications for our spring/summer 2023 round of Neighborhood Mini-Grants. The Sustainable Finger Lakes Neighborhood Mini-Grant program supports initiatives improving environmental sustainability, equity, and environmental, economic, and…
(Tompkins Weekly, 1-25-23, by Zasu Scott) New York’s hard-fought climate law was a big win for the climate justice movement. The landmark Climate and Community Protection Act (CLCPA or Climate Act) passed in 2019 set ambitious targets for both emission reductions and environmental justice, including a mandate for 40% emissions reduction by 2030. It’s already…
(Tompkins Weekly, 1-11-23, by Dan Antonioli) At long last the SouthWorks site is moving forward with a sensible development plan to transform a massive, toxic eyesore into a creative mixed-use property that will serve the community in multiple ways. With all of the recent news about this project I have one basic question: how green will…
In October 2021, Sustainable Finger Lakes awarded the grassroots volunteer group Zero Waste Ithaca a Neighborhood Mini-Grant in support of their Bring Your Own Container (BYOC) initiative, a campaign inviting local restaurants and food vendors to offer customers the option of bringing their own reusable containers for take-out food. In November 2022, the Ithaca College…
An individual, tapping into a global project, can help a neighborhood. The organization Little Free Library coordinates an international network of citizen-made cabinets where anyone can take or leave books, improving equitable access to books while reducing the purchasing and disposal of books. Ithaca hosts a growing number of these Little Free Libraries (LFLs). In…
(Tompkins Weekly, 12-14-22, by Elizabeth Keokosky) Many of us who have gardens— and many who don’t — take gardens for granted. The common reasons are clear enough: fresh vegetables, saving money and being outdoors. Making a political statement is not particularly one of them, but now, I am beginning to realize more and more the…
(Tompkins Weekly, 11-23-22, by Cathleen Banford) Where do young people learn about social systems and how they interconnect and how to empower themselves to influence positive changes in their lives? While the political arena is often dripping with divisiveness and too many politicians out of touch and beholden to dark money, there are people living…
(Tompkins Weekly, 11-9-22, by Peter Bardaglio) Luis Aguirre-Torres’s recent decision to step down as the Ithaca city sustainability director came as a deep disappointment to many in Tompkins County. His plan to make the city carbon neutral by 2030 while making sure climate justice was central to this endeavor was ambitious and inspiring and embodied…
(Tompkins Weekly, 10-26-22, by Joey Diana Gates) We are blessed to live in a land of great beauty, cultural offerings and celebrations. It feels like, at any given moment, there is an opportunity to go outside and revel in art, music and amazing food from around the world. The downside to this is the mountains…
(Tompkins Weekly, 10-12-22, by Meghan Witherow) On a rainy Tuesday evening, the large pavilion at Stewart Park was packed with more than 100 community members eager to connect about where our food system is heading. Attendees from local businesses, organizations, institutions and the broader community enjoyed a nearly zero-waste meal by Asempe Kitchen, with dishware by…
(Tompkins Weekly, 9-28-22, by Adam Michaelides) Fall is here! The balmy days of summer have gone, and we’re seeing color on the leaves, tomato plants dying in the garden and shorter days. Here in New York, kids go back to school in September, the seasons change, and harvest season is in full swing. One gift of…
Do you have an idea for a project to make our community more sustainable, resilient, or inclusive? Need a little help in covering the costs? Sustainable Finger Lakes is accepting applications for our fall 2022/winter 2023 round of Neighborhood Mini-Grants. The Sustainable Finger Lakes Neighborhood Mini-Grant program supports initiatives improving environmental sustainability, equity, and environmental, economic,…
(Tompkins Weekly, 9-14-22, by Wendy Wallitt of Mothers Out Front) If you love cooking on your gas stove and think there’s no better alternative, we’ve got news for you! Induction cooking has myriad advantages that your gas stove lacks. Experienced induction cooktop owners extol the faster cooking times and precise temperature control of induction cooktops…
(Tompkins Weekly, 8-24-22, by Robin Elliott and Diane Cohen) The first-ever New York State Reuse Summit was held in Ithaca at Cinemapolis on June 16. The event brought together over 160 participants from 64 New York communities and six states to learn more about the transformative economic, environmental and social impacts reuse can have. This…