Planning Board Weighs In On Ithaca Development Projects
The Ithaca city Planning and Development Board meeting on Tuesday saw a number of property owners and developers from across town vying to push their building plans forward. Govind Acharya, Public Works liaison, led the board through the agenda, as they saw slide presentations and architectural renderings of each site. The biggest draw for the
Tompkins Financial Corp Earned $35M in 2011
(Ithaca) — Tompkins Financial Trust Corp., the parent of Tompkins Trust Company, reported earning $9.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2011, ending December 31. The quarterly profit was up 5.6 percent from a year ago.
BJ’s Wholesale Club to Donate Food to Lansing Pantry
In a bid to win friends with its Lansing neighbors, the newly-opened BJ’s Wholesale Club announced Tuesday it begin donating bread to the Lansing Food Pantry. Several other agencies will also benefit from the new discount shopping site in the Shops at Ithaca Mall.
Ithaca School Board Extends Brown’s Superintendent Contract To 2016
The Ithaca City School District Board of Education Tuesday voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Luvelle Brown’s three-year contract to a five-year contract lasting until 2016. His salary remains unchanged. Traditionally, administration contracts are extended in three-year increments. Brown’s contract was set to expire in 2014.
Ithaca’s New ‘Traffic Directors’: Government Accountability Committee Holds Its First Meeting
The Government Performance and Accountability (GPA) committee met for the first time Wednesday night to discuss how to make the ins and outs of City Hall more negotiable.
Robertson Reelected Tompkins County Chair
Martha Robertson was reelected to a third term as chair of the Tompkins County Legislature. Robertson, who represents Dryden’s 13th District, garnered votes from 9 of the 15 county representatives Tuesday. The vote breaks numerous 7-7 tie ballots and ends the comeback plans for Michael Lane, who also serves Dryden’s District 14.
Mackesey Named TCAT Board Chair Amid Struggling Budget
Tompkins County Legislator Pam Mackesey will chair the TCAT Board of Directors, tackling continued budget problems her top priority. “In 2012, we must redouble our efforts to make sure that this gem of a transportation system not only survives, but thrives and grows,” she announced Friday.
Ithaca Mayor: Public Works Board ‘Dysfunctional’
New City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick chaired his first Board of Public Works meeting, declaring the volunteer body “too important to be dysfunctional.” In comments to the public at the start of a Wednesday meeting, Myrick acknowledged under former mayor Carolyn Peterson, the “relationship was strained.”
Myrick Names New Committees Aimed at Accountability and Balanced Growth
City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick announced Thursday appointments to committees designed to tackle resident concerns about increasing government accountability and balancing growth with peaceful neighborhoods. Both issues were prime concerns of citizens speaking during Myrick’s first Common Council meeting as mayor.
Weapons Indictment: Groton Man Faces More Charges For Criminal Possession of Firearm
ITHACA — A Tompkins County Grand Jury Thursday indicted a Groton man on additional charges following a November arrest. The 21-year-old Groton resident, already convicted of a felony in January, allegedly possessed a weapon when stopped with drugs by police last month.
Court Briefs: Former Ithaca Social Worker Admits Fraud By Charging State for Health Club Visits
A former social worker living in Ithaca admitted Thursday in court he falsified records that he was working for a state social agency when really visiting a local health club. The 58-year-old man’s plea deal means he will likely face 30 days in jail instead of up to four years in prison when sentencing his handed down in February.
Ithaca School District, Police Plan Meeting on Attempted Child Abductions
Parents and others may want to circle Jan. 5 on their 2012 calendar. A joint meeting between the school district and the Ithaca Police Department is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday on student safety. Although a location has yet been set, the topic is known: the probe into an attempted abduction of young school kids.
Ithaca Police, Schools On Alert Following Child Abduction Attempts
The Ithaca Police Department and the Ithaca City School District are urging parents to be more aware following two failed attempts at child abduction. Last week, two separate attempts near downtown and on Ithaca’s Southside area were thwarted by alert adults – vigilance authorities are applauding.
A Carshare Accident?
We are investigating whether a Carshare vehicle was involved in a one car accident on Hayts Road. An alert reader sent us an iPhone video, which we will post soon.
Ithaca College Seeks Independent Media ‘Izzy Award’ Nominations
ITHACA — Nominations for the Izzy Award for 2011 are officially open. The annual honor for outstanding achievement in independent media — named after legendary journalist I.F. “Izzy” Stone — is a project of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College.
Public Works Board To Discuss ‘Occupy Ithaca’, Selling City Property
City of Ithaca Public Works Superintendent Bill Gray will likely field questions on his denial of a request by protesters during this week’s Board of Public Works meeting. Friday, Gray rejected a permit letting Occupy Ithaca organizers to continue camping in DeWitt Park.
Myrick Calls for Open Charter Commission to Discuss Possible Board Power Changes
In his second decision aimed at separating his administration from that of outgoing City of Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson, mayor-elect Svante Myrick announced any changes to the city’s governing charter would be open to public scrutiny. Two recently-approved propositions would not shift power away from the Board of Public Works as feared by some, he
Myrick to Replace Hoffman as Ithaca City Attorney
When Mayor-Elect Svante Myrick takes office in January, he will do so with a new city attorney. Myrick named Ithaca-native and Cornell law school graduate Aaron “Ari” Lavine to replace Dan Hoffman, a longtime counsel of outgoing mayor Carolyn Peterson.
Occupy Ithaca Renames DeWitt Park ‘Shawn Greenwood Park’
A group of activists have occupied a downtown Ithaca public park, renaming it for a controversial local criminal shot by police. In a statement released today, Occupy Ithaca announced a “long-term occupation” of DeWitt Park, now referred to as “Shawn Greenwood Park.”
Planning Board to Consider Collegetown Terrace, Breckenridge and Cornell Bridge Nets
Tuesday’s scheduled meeting of the city’s Planning and Development Board will take on a number of issues, including requests to approve changes in two apartment projects, as well as consideration of Cornell University’s proposal to add suicide-prevention netting to seven local bridges.
County Redistricting Meeting Tonight Could Impact City Voters
Tompkins County’s redistricting panel meets Wednesday night and could impact the way city voters cast ballots in upcoming elections. The county panel is looking at two options for City of Ithaca districts: remaining with the current five or reducing the number of county districts representing the city to four, an alternative appearing to gain support.
