Tuesday, March 31
From Mutual Aid Tompkins
Hello friends! We have had a few inquiries come in about finding a space to quarantine for low or no cost. Does anyone know if there is something set up like this already? Please email us at communityaidtompkins@gmail.com if you know of a program like this happening. Thank you!
Local
News & Tracking
Lansing & Ithaca say basketball courts are closed: The Town of Lansing and City of Ithaca say basketball courts and playgrounds are closed until further notice due to the need for social distancing during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Cornell orders halt to hiring, freezes salaries: The news came Monday afternoon in a letter posted to the university's COVID-19 response website. In the letter, signed by Provost Michael Kotlikoff and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Joanne DeStefano, several immediate efforts to reduce operating costs are put forth. Most significant are the freeze on all new staff and temporary staff hires, and the cancellation of salary increases originally set to go in effect on July 1st. The hiring freeze does not apply to academic hires like professors, though the letter states all proposed faculty hires will be "carefully reviewed" by deans. An exception also exists to the salary increase declaration for raises required as part of previously agreed collective bargaining agreements with unions.
Family Medical Associates of Ithaca: In light of the current outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, the providers at Family Medicine Associates of Ithaca want you to know that our practice continues to be committed to caring for you. We have modified our office practice to better serve patients that are currently ill,and those who are well and need routine follow up medical care. 209 W. State Street office now is to be considered for sick patient evaluations, and 8 Brentwood Drive Suite D office is being used for routine well visits. Our staff will be asking you screening questions on the phone as well as when you check in for an appointment.
Telemed Health now available at Family Medicine. Our providers can now provide video visits for almost all of your medical needs. Please check with your insurance carrier to verify coverage. If you would like to schedule a video visit with your doctor, please either call the office at 607-277-4341 or submit a request through the online patient portal.
TOWN OF ITHACA NEWSLETTER: COVID-19 Update of Impacts #3 – March 31, 2020
Town of Ithaca Facilities continue to be closed to the public until further notice.
The Governor has also issued an Executive Order that affects building and construction.
Applications, Permits and Inspections – Severe Limitations Enacted: Based on Governor Cuomo’s Executive order 202.6, The Town of Ithaca will no longer be issuing permits or conducting inspections for projects unless it meets one of the following categories as defined and listed in the Executive Order 202.6 and the Empire State Development Guidance for Construction Activities:
The project is determined to be essential, such as, but not limited to: roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals or health care facilities, affordable housing, and homeless shelters
The project is determined to be emergency construction (e.g. a project necessary to protect health and safety of the occupants, or to continue a project if it would be unsafe to allow to remain undone until it is safe to shut the site).
A project where only a single worker, who is the sole employee/worker, is on a job site.
All applications can still be submitted for review, but a permit will not be issued unless it is determined to fall into one of the categories described above.
If you feel your application meets one of the categories, please CLEARLY mark that on your application.
All other procedures and processes from the earlier Applications, Permits and Inspection Update are in force for those projects determined to be essential. (See Website for Full Process)
Parks / Trails / Playground safety during COVID-19
The Town of Ithaca asks its residents to practice responsible recreation during this time period with the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. It is the goal of the Town to practice safe social distancing within the CDC guidelines by staying 6 feet away from others, washing your hands, staying home if you have any symptoms, and avoiding close contact. We ask our residents to avoid using playground equipment due to these safety guidelines.
While using Town trails and walkways, we ask our residents to also use these social distancing practices while respecting the space of other users. While we encourage residents to get out and use our trail system during this time, it will only work if we use an abundance of caution so as to not further spread the virus.
Town wide Brush pickup
Due to the COVID-19 heath crisis, Town of Ithaca Public Works has delayed its brush pick up until the week of Monday, April 20th. Please have ALL waste to roadside by 7am on this date. Due to staffing issues during this health emergency, there may be a delay in your curbside pickup. Whereas in the past we could be done in one week, it may take several. Smaller crews and social distancing guidelines will certainly slow the course of the operations but will keep our staff and residents safer during these times. Please remain patient with the process as we wish to remain safe and follow all guidelines.
Brush drop off / compost / wood chip pickup
The Town of Ithaca Public Works at 114 Seven Mile Dr. is currently under construction due to a renovation of the facility. During this time, the facility will see increased traffic patterns as our operations will join with additional construction vehicles. We urge residents to use caution and be mindful when entering the facility for brush/compost/wood chips. Please follow all appropriate signage for drop off and pickup procedures. Due to the COVID-19 virus – sign in will not be required. It will be monitored both visually and verbally as the Town strives to practice proper social distancing guidelines. Please use proper social distancing guidelines while at the Public Works.
Sewer Systems
DO NOT flush disposable wipes, tissues or paper towels! This will cause major problems to the Town’s system and/or your own system. Many wipes claim they are “flushable” but they should not be flushed! Put them in the trash instead.
Handicap permits
Permits will automatically be renewed and sent to you.
Water Bills
Due date has been extended to April 30th.
Employment/Unemployment/Funding
Community Arts Partnership grant: The Community Arts Partnership’s (CAP) created an Emergency Arts Relief Fund to provide some financial support to artists located in Tompkins County who have experienced lost income from the postponement and/or cancellation of specific, scheduled opportunities or programs due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Mask Making
THANKS to ANGELO Cleaners for offering to help with this process. Please drop off all masks you have made to their Meadow St Ithaca location and they will sanitize and be a location for pick up from agencies in need.
Activities & Events
ScienCenter Interactive Virtual Programs: The Sciencenter is currently closed to the public. In an effort to continue to bring fun, science education to you at home, Sciencenter educators are facilitating live Zoom activities every weekday morning at 10:30 am. Recorded versions of the live sessions can be found on our Facebook page by 4 pm each day. Access the Monday-Friday, 10:30 am live Zoom activities.
Seed Starting 101 Zoom Class from Cornell Cooperative Extension: April 1, 6-8pm. Save money and enjoy the miraculous process of seed germination and plant growth in your home to get you through these last weeks of winter and get your garden started early.
Food
Dryden American Legion: We will be open again for takeout this week Wednesday 4/1 through Saturday 4/4 from 12-8pm. Order early it is sure to sell out!! 844-9900
Wednesday-Lunch Prime Rib Sandwich with side $8.50. Our famous Wing night from 5-8 pm $9/dozen
Thursday-Lunch Mushroom Swiss Burgers with side $8.50
Friday-Lunch Fish sandwich with side $8.50, Dinner 5-8 pm Fish fry $12 Steak Dinner $14
Saturday Prime Rib Dinner with salad and side $19
Cornell teams up with GIAC and Food Bank of the Southern Tier for a new downtown food pantry: Beginning Tuesday, March 31st from 1-4pm, and continuing each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, Cornell staff will be giving out boxes of food staples as well as frozen items at GIAC’s basketball court. They hope to provide food packages, each containing a three-day supply for a family of four, to 200 families on Tuesday and another 200 families on Thursday.
Town and Village of Groton Community: Community Give back Free Chicken BBQ Happening: BBQ Chicken Halves will be handed out (free of charge)
*Limit 3 halves per family*
Saturday - April 4th 9:30 AM till Gone.... Drive-Thru Only - Please drive up to the front of the Groton Fire Dept Chicken Halves will be delivered to your vehicle.
Note: All Safety, Food/Health and Social guidelines will be followed at all times during this community giveback.
Parenting/Childcare
Child Development Council’s Emergency Scholarship fund: available to families that experience a financial emergency and are unable to pay their child care bills.
COVID-19 guidelines: The Child Development Council has expanded the normal eligibility criteria for Emergency Scholarship. Families may be eligible for up to $200 per week for a maximum of 4 weeks for future child care needs, not only a back child care bill. If you are an essential personnel paying 2 child care bills because your usual program is closed or you have extended hours, Emergency Scholarship can help. To apply, contact the Council to request an application. You will need to provide information about your finances and the emergency situation. Include the dollar amount you owe your child care provider. Funds, pending application approval, are paid directly to the provider. For families with ongoing financial needs, first contact the Department of Social Services (DSS) at (607) 274-5219 and apply for child care subsidy. Subsidy pays a portion of your child care costs while you work, seek work, or are enrolled in an approved program.
Questions & Advice
Does anybody know the actual, current, guidelines for an infected persons re-integration back into “society” (aka their own socially distanced world)? Follow the larger discussion on Mutual Aid Tompkins here.
State
Guidance for Cashiers During COVID19 Outbreak from Western NY Council for Occupational Safety & Health.
NYC Presidential Primary Moves to June: Governor Cuomo issued an executive order on Saturday moving New York State’s presidential primary election from April 28 to June 23. That puts it on the same day as the already scheduled federal and state primaries for congressional and state legislative offices.
School Budget Votes Postponed Until at Least June 1: School budget votes were scheduled for mid May – the state’s next scheduled mass voting event – but were delayed by Cuomo until at least June 1 and potentially longer.
