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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 2026 NewsletterSupervisor Rod Howe has announced that he will be stepping down as Town Supervisor at the end of the day on September 18, 2026. Asked why, Howe said simply, “It is time.” Howe’s Town service began in 1999 with an appointment to the Planning Board, where he served for 10 years. He later joined the Town Board, first by appointment and then through election to a full term. In 2019, he was elected Town Supervisor and re- elected in 2023. Howe states that serving as both Supervisor and Town Manager has provided rewarding opportunities to collaborate with municipalities, organizations, and residents. Rod will be stationed in Town Hall’s magnificent lobby from 8:30-10:00 on Friday morning, September 18. Feel free to drop by during this time to wish him well. This will be very informal. Croissants will be available (if you wonder why croissants ask Rod that morning). September 2026 Newsletter Town of IthacaTown of IthacaTown of Ithaca Retirement of Supervisor Rod HoweRetirement of Supervisor Rod HoweRetirement of Supervisor Rod Howe Upcoming MeetingsUpcoming MeetingsUpcoming Meetings Town Board : 9/14 5:30pm Public Works Committee: 9/15 9am Planning Board: 9/15 6:30pm Planning Commitee: 9/17 3pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 9/22 6pm Town Board: 9/28 4:30pm Conservation Board: 10/1 Special Meeting (See page 2.) Town Board: 10/5 5:30pm Planning Board: 10/6 6:30pm For the full schedule, meeting agenda and materials go to the Town website townithacany.gov At its August 24 meeting, the Town Board appointed Deputy Supervisor Eric Levine to succeed Howe. Levine will assume office on September 19 and serve through December 31, 2027. Levine will step down as General Counsel of Alternatives Federal Credit Union, where he has served since 2005 and was CEO from 2017 to 2022. The Town Board also appointed Michelle E. Wright to fill Levine’s Town Board seat through the end of 2026. Wright will appear on the November ballot as a candidate for a full-term beginning January 1, 2027. She is committed to strengthening civic literacy and encouraging meaningful community engagement. From Left to Right: Retiring Supervisor Rod Howe, incoming Board Member Michelle E. Wright, and incoming Supervisor Eric Levine. As communities throughout Tompkins County face increasing development pressures, this event, to be held Thursday, October 1 at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center from 4-9pm, will examine strategies for protecting farmland, scenic landscapes, natural resources, and rural character through conservation subdivision design and open space planning. Randall Arendt is one of America's leading authorities on conservation subdivision design, rural land preservation, and open space planning. Over several decades, his work has influenced land use regulations and conservation development practices throughout the United States. His presentations combine practical examples, planning principles, and real-world lessons that communities can apply to balance growth with long-term resource protection. The event is open to the public, and anyone interested in the future of rural landscapes and community development is encouraged to attend. Click on the flyer to go to the online registration form. Sponsored by the Upstate New York Chapter of the American Planning Association. National Conservation Design ExpertNational Conservation Design Expert Randall Arendt to Speak in IthacaRandall Arendt to Speak in Ithaca National Conservation Design Expert Randall Arendt to Speak in Ithaca The program is intended for: Anoyne Interested in Land Use Engineers Landscape Architects Surveyors Real Estate Professionals Architects Municipal Officials Planning Board and Zoning Board Members Conservation Organizations Developers and Landowners Topics will include: Conservation subdivision design Open space preservation requirements Protecting farmland and natural resources Maintaining community character amid growth Balancing development rights with conservation goals Lessons from successful projects across the country A screenshot taken from the Department of Agriculture and Markets Facebook Page. Click on the above pictures to go directly to the facbook post. Indian Creek Farm Highlighted by NYSIndian Creek Farm Highlighted by NYSDepartment of Agriculture and MarketsDepartment of Agriculture and Markets Indian Creek Farm Highlighted by NYSDepartment of Agriculture and Markets Indian Creek Farm, located at 1408 Trumansburg Road, was recently highlighted as part of NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets 30 for 30 Years campaign in celebration of the 30 anniversary of the Farmland Protection Program. The campaign is highlighting regionally significant and impactful conservation projects and the incredible work that our land trusts and municipalities are doing, in partnership with our farmers, to keep our land forever in agriculture. The Town acquired an agricultural conservation easement on the Indian Creek Farm property in 2014. To learn more about Indian Creek Farm check out the website https://indiancreekithaca.com/ th The Town and City of Ithaca are hosting a joint informational meeting on Own Your Power, a Town and City-approved service to help the Ithacas’ energy users transition from grid and pipeline fuels to onsite and neighborhood renewable power through solar, geothermal heat, electric vehicles and other Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). The focus of this meeting will be on Commercial energy users. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6PM. Please register for the meeting ahead of time by using this link. Ithaca Businesses: Own Your Power!Ithaca Businesses: Own Your Power! Ithaca Businesses: Own Your Power! The sidewalks had remained closed while the City addressed public safety concerns related to exterior concrete panels on the structure. The newly installed scaffolding provides protection and allows pedestrians to safely travel along adjacent sidewalks while longer-term plans for the site continue to move forward. “Reopening these sidewalks is an important step in restoring access and connectivity downtown,” said Acting City Manager Dominick Recckio. “Public safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate the patience of residents, businesses, and visitors while these protective measures were installed and independently evaluated.” TCAT bus stop location which was moved to 213-215 N. Tioga St remains. The City will continue to provide updates as work progresses at the Seneca Street Garage site and as additional decisions regarding transit operations and future redevelopment are made. City of Ithaca Reopens SidewalksCity of Ithaca Reopens SidewalksSurrounding Seneca Street Parking GarageSurrounding Seneca Street Parking Garage City of Ithaca Reopens SidewalksSurrounding Seneca Street Parking Garage The Tompkins County Board of Elections has announced the winners of its 2026 voting sticker contests. This year’s contests drew a record-breaking 169 submissions, and more than 800 votes were cast by members of the public to select one “I Voted” design and two “Future Voter” designs, which tied for first place. 2026 Voting2026 VotingSticker WinnersSticker Winners 2026 VotingSticker Winners Mini Mapping ConventionMini Mapping ConventionMini Mapping Convention Tompkins County Library- 101 E Green Street Borg Warner Community Room OPEN TO THE PUBLIC The first ever miniature mapping convention in the Ithaca area. A converence deidcated to the local geographic scinec users. Experts from a variety of fields including environmental science, entineering,k surveying and GIS. September 26 10:30am to 2 pm Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with Buffalo Street Books, PM Press/Autumn Leaves, and Odyssey Bookstore, is pleased to announce the sixth annual Ithaca Is Books Festival, taking place in downtown Ithaca September 10-13, 2026. The Ithaca Is Books Festival includes author panels, readings, open mics and opportunities to engage with and support your favorite local authors. The Festival’s goals are to build a connection to books and reading for a broader community, and to strengthen Ithaca’s identity as a community that values and supports reading and books. To that end, a variety of local organizations and businesses will contribute to offering a weekend full of literary events throughout the downtown area. Around TownAround TownAround Town September 25-27September 25-27Free all Weekend!Free all Weekend! September 25-27Free all Weekend! Apple Harvest Festival returns to Downtown Ithaca with local farms, cider, baked goods, handmade crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, fall flavors, and plenty of apples.