TompkinsWeekly for the week of February 23rd

Download the newspaper in Acrobat Format Here City Takes Aim at Drug Abuse The War on Drugs is the longest war America has ever engaged in. Seven months ago, Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick formed an Ithaca Municipal Drug Policy Committee (MDPC), involving a group of key stakeholders charged with evaluating ways to transform how the city deals with drug and alcohol abuse. Full Story »   Cornell Expans SAT Prep Program The War on Drugs is the longest war America has ever engaged in. Seven months ago, Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick formed an Ithaca Municipal Drug Policy Committee (MDPC), involving a group of key stakeholders charged with evaluating ways to transform how the city deals with drug and alcohol abuse. Full Story »   County’s comprehensive Plan receives a positive response page 2 The Tompkins County Legislature on Feb. 17 heard from the public about the proposed 2015 Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan, which represents the first full update of the plan since it was first adopted by the Legislature 11 years ago. Full Story »   Electronic records keeping system deemed a “bright idea” page 2 The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, has recognized the Tompkins County Shared Services Electronic Records Repository as part of the 2015 Bright Ideas program. Full Story »   Hancock Street site plans are taking shape page 3 Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) has completed four public outreach meetings to gather community input about the redevelopment of 210 Hancock St. in Ithaca, formerly the site of Neighborhood Pride grocery store. The final meeting was Feb. 11, at which over 50 people attended. Full Story »   Mini-grants help boost local bycicle use page 5 Bit by bit and brake shoe by bike rack, one small grant at a time, a sustainable bicycle culture is growing in Tompkins County. Through its Neighborhood Mini-grant Program, Sustainable Tompkins this past year has awarded grants that offer practical support for area bicyclists and would-be bicyclists. Full Story »   Trail effort in Lansing is for the birds, bats page 9 The Bluebird Trail started small and has grown to 31 bird boxes throughout three locations in Lansing: the Lansing Center Trail, Salt Point and Myers Hill, located on the hill before entering into Myers Park. Full Story »   Mothers Out Front think globally and act locally on climate change..page 10 “We are the first generation to feel the effects of climate change and the last that will be able to do anything about it.” Full Story »