Finding Ulysses » Events

Hector Fracking Petition Meeting Tomorrow Night

Jonathan Cook — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:56:25 +0000

Trumansburg-area anti-fracking activists may want to head on down the road a bit to Hector tomorrow night. I just got this following message forwarded to me by a concerned citizen of the town of Ulysses:

On December 13th, 2011 at 7pm concerned residents will present a petition to the town Board of Hector, NY calling for the board to enact a local ban or a moratorium for hydrofracking in the town of Hector NY. Since the town hall can only safely accommodate 60 people, additional citizens will be holding a candlelight vigil outside the town hall.

In recent months citizen’s groups in Hector have been working to educate the board on the inherent dangers of hydrofracking, including health and safety issues, overall quality of life and the negative impact to the local economy, which depends heavily on tourism, wineries and agriculture.

The petition effort began in the early autumn of 2011 and is being presented now because of concern that the state DEC may begin issuing permits for hydrofracking in 2012.

The Hector Town Hall is located at 5097 State Route 227, Burdett, NY. Board meetings are the second Tuesday of every month from 7-9pm.

Thanks,

Josh Harben, Volunteer, Media/Public Relations
Hector Clean Water Initiative
(607)-330-5724

Electronics Recycling Dropoff In Trumansburg Tomorrow

Jonathan Cook — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:11:24 +0000

Elizabeth Thomas sends us the following note about an important event tomorrow. If you’re like me, you’ve got a few broken electronic devices around the house that you haven’t been sure about how to dispose of. Tomorrow is the opportunity to do so responsibly.

“Have you been unsure of the proper disposal method for all your electronic items? Have you been holding on to it just waiting for a way to keep it out of the landfill? Well, Back-to-Democracy has the answer for you!!

Pull out your old computers, monitors, cables, modems, cell phones, toasters, TV’s keyboards, mice, etc, etc and bring them to the E-Waste Collection Day on Saturday October 22 from 9:00am-3:00pm at the Trumansburg Farmer’s Market. All items collected will be processed by REACT Recycling of Horseheads and REACT will pay for the materials collected. REACT returns Over 95% of the collected material REACT will divert from the landfill to become useable product again.

Back-to-Democracy will use 1/2 the proceeds to support its programming activities and the other 1/2 will be donated to Habitat for Humanity’s Trumansburg Build Project!”

Trumansburg Firemen’s Parade, Briefly

Jonathan Cook — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:46:43 +0000

If you’re like me, and missed last week’s parade to the Trumansburg Fair, it’s not too late to get a brief view. A local resident identifying himself as MrBrainflower has produced the following video, which shortens the parade down to just two minutes.

You’ll have to get someone to throw candy at you while watching this in order for it to feel authentic, of course.

Final Public Meeting About Anti-Fracking Ordinance This Wednesday

Jonathan Cook — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:20:30 +0000

This Wednesday, June 29 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium of the Trumansburg elementary school, there will be a public hearing on proposed legislation that would ban drilling for natural gas in the Town of Ulysses. The Town Board will be present to listen to residents’ opinions about the anti-fracking legislation, but those who wish to speak are encouraged to show up early and sign up for a slot.

Written comments, submitted along with name and mailing address, are now being accepted by mail at Town Clerk, 10 Elm St., Trumansburg, NY 14886. Emails to be included in the public record pertaining to the proposed fracking ban can be sent to Liz Thomas at Liz.graeper.thomas@gmail.com with the subject line: Public Comment for Local Law to Amend Zoning.

The text of the draft legislation is as follows:

Proposed Ulysses Gas Drilling Local Law
resolution to go to Public hearing and send to Tompkins County for 239 l,m review passed 6-14-11 1-0

TOWN OF ULYSSES, NEW YORK

LOCAL LAW NO. ___ OF THE YEAR 2011
A Local Law to Amend the Zoning Law of the Town of Ulysses

SECTION 1.
The definition of “Extractive industry” in Article IV of the Zoning Law, Section 4.2
(“Definitions”) shall be amended by the addition of the italicized words:

“The extraction of overburden and minerals from the earth; the preparation and
processing of minerals, including any activities or processes used for the extraction or
removal of minerals from their original location and the preparation such as washing,
cleaning, crushing, stockpiling or other process at the mine location that makes a mineral
suitable for commercial, industrial or construction use, but does not include operations
extracting natural gas and / or petroleum. For the purpose of this Zoning Law, borrow
pits (excavations for removing material for filling operations) which exceed 2,000 tons
in a one (1)-year period are considered extractive industry.”

SECTION 2.
The following definitions shall be added to Article IV of the Zoning Law, Section 4.2,
“Definitions”:

Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration: Geologic or geophysical activities related to
the search for natural gas, petroleum, or other subsurface hydrocarbons including
prospecting, geophysical and geologic seismic surveying and sampling techniques, which
include but are not limited to core or rotary drilling or making an excavation in the
search and evaluation of natural gas, petroleum, or other subsurface hydrocarbon
deposits.

Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Extraction: The digging or drilling of a well for the
purposes of exploring for, developing or producing natural gas, petroleum, or other
hydrocarbons.

Natural Gas and / or Petroleum Support Activities: The construction, use, or
maintenance of a storage or staging yard, a water or fluid injection station, a water or
fluid gathering station, a natural gas or petroleum storage facility, or a natural gas or
petroleum gathering line, venting station, or compressor associated with the exploration
or extraction of natural gas or petroleum.

Natural gas: Any gaseous substance, either combustible or noncombustible, which is
produced in a natural state from the earth and which maintains a gaseous or rarified
state at standard temperature and pressure conditions, and/or gaseous components or
vapors occurring in or derived from petroleum or other hydrocarbons.

Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration and Production Wastes shall mean any
garbage, refuse, cuttings, sludge, flow-back fluids, produced waters, or other discarded
materials, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material that results
from or is associated with the exploration, drilling or extraction of natural gas and/or
petroleum.

SECTION 3.
The following provisions shall be added to “Article XXI – General Provisions” of the
Zoning Law:

21.15. Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration, Natural Gas and/or Petroleum
Extraction, Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Storage, Natural Gas and/or Petroleum
Treatment, and Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Waste Disposal

21.15.1 The provisions of this section are in further clarification of section 2.1, of this
Zoning Law, which provides inpart: “Any use not specifically set forth as a permitted
use in any zoning district shall be expressly prohibited in that zone. A use specifically set
forth as a permitted use in one zoning district shall not be permitted in another zoning
district unless it is specifically set forth as a permitted use in such district.”

21.15.2 The following uses are not permitted in any zoning district:

21.15.2.1 Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Exploration

21.15.2.2 Natural Gas and/or Petroleum Extraction

21.15.2.3 Natural Gas and / or Petroleum Support Activities

21.15.2.4 the transfer, storage, treatment, or disposal of natural gas and/or petroleum
exploration or production wastes;

21.15.2.5 erection of any derrick, building or other structure or placement of any
machinery or equipment for the purposes outlined in paragraphs 21.15.2.1, 21.15.2.2,
21.15.2.3, or 21.15.2.4 above;

21.15.3 No permit issued by any state orfederal agency, commission or board to any
person, firm or corporation, which would violate the prohibitions of this section shall be
deemed valid within the Town of Ulysses.

SECTION 4.
This local law shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State, at which point this
local law shall apply to any and all prohibited activities in the Town of Ulysses regardless
of the date of any applicable New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
permits.

SECTION 5.
The provisions of this local law are severable. If any court of competent jurisdiction
decides that any section, clause, sentence, part or provision of this local law is illegal,
invalid, or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect, impair, or invalidate any of the
remaining sections clauses, sentences, parts, or provisions of the Local Law.
SECTION 6.
This local law shall supersede or repeal any prior inconsistent Local Law or local law in
the Town of Ulysses purporting to allow natural gas exploration, natural gas extraction or
the transport, storage, treatment or disposal of natural gas exploration or extraction waste.

School Budget Vote and Fracking Forum This Week

Jonathan Cook — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:50:08 +0000

Two opportunities for citizens to have a say in the greater Trumansburg community are available to us this week.

On Tuesday, it’s time to vote on the budget for next year’s operation of the Trumansburg schools.

On Friday, from 7:00 to 9:30 in the evening, a forum on fracking, entitled Economic Impacts of Heavy Industrial Activities in Ulysses, will be held in the fire hall. The forum will include an update from the Ulysses Town Board on a proposed ordinance that would have the effect of banning fracking in our town. Guest speakers will be economist Jannette Barth and dairy farmers Carol French and Carolyn Knapp, from Bradford County, Pennsylvania – where fracking is already taking place.

Meet the Cheese at Good To Go Today

Jonathan Cook — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:48:41 +0000

This afternoon, from 4:00 to 6:00, cheesemakers from the Muranda Cheese Company of Waterloo will be in Good To Go, available for interested people with cheesy questions. Yes, there will be samples. The flyer refers to Raw Milk British Cheddar, Roasted Garlic Cheddar, Horseradish Cheddar, Fiesta Cheddar, Red Buddy and Colby.

This cheese is said to come from “some of the world’s most well-known Registered Holsteins,” with names like Muranda Goldwyn Dancer. Prepare your palate.

Soap Box Derby Set For Tburg This Summer

Jonathan Cook — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:34:11 +0000

On July 30th at 2:00 PM on Hector Street (Route 227) between Peas St. and the Farmers’ Market, Trumansburg will have a soap box derby this summer.

There are three classes of car that may be entered: Junior (ages 12-17), Adult (ages 18-up), and Business Class – though business-sponsored cars can be entered in any class.

The Facebook page for this event warns that there will be only 36 cars allowed to enter – and on a “fist come, first serve basis.” Either that’s a typo, or they’re going to have boxing matches to settle who gets to race.

Blues Meeting At The Rongo

Jonathan Cook — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:25:18 +0000

The Ulysses Democratic Committee is holding an informal meeting, a “meet-up” on Main Street in Trumansburg, at the Rongovian Embassy to the USA. The meeting will take place on April 14, starting at 5:30 PM.

Later that evening, blues musician Mike Shaw will be playing the Rongo.

Flutes, Fracking and Slang

Jonathan Cook — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:13:09 +0000

Tonight at 6:30 PM, at the Town Hall here in Trumansburg, the Ulysses Town Board will have a meeting. On the agenda of that meeting is discussion of a proposed zoning ordinance that would ban heavy industrial activity in Ulysses. The de facto outcome of this ordinance would be to prohibit drilling for natural gas using hydrofracking methods within the Town of Ulysses.

For something more airy than earthy, look this Saturday to the Flute Fling 2011, to be held at 4:00 in the afternoon at the Trumansburg High School. 8 flute “choirs” will be performing, for a total of over 75 floutists. More information is available at Flute Song.

Tomorrow, the Ulysses Philomathic Library will be closed for a system upgrade and staff enrichment day, but on Thursday, the library will be back open, with plenty of interesting events in addition to the regular round of books. On April 3, Emeritus professor Barry Adams will give a three-hour workshop at the library, starting at two o’clock in the afternoon. The workshop is entitled “Slang: Checking Facts and Testing Theories”, and participants are asked to bring their dictionaries from home.

Protest Against Economic Brutality Today

Jonathan Cook — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:42:10 +0000

This afternoon, at the end of the work day, people in 277 communities across the USA will be gathering in protest against Republican budget cuts. They’ll be asking for the wealthiest Americans and corporations to shoulder more of the burden of deficit reduction.

There won’t be a protest of this sort in Trumansburg today, but take the Route 21 bus down to Ithaca, and you can be dropped off right at the location of protest scheduled to take place in Ithaca. You can take part outside the county library, starting at 5:00 PM.

Information Session on Fracking March 18 in Trumansburg

Jonathan Cook — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:29:48 +0000

Back to Democracy is holding a community meeting about hydrofracturing (fracking) and efforts to stop it in the Town of Ulysses next Friday, March 18, from 7 to 9 at the Fire Hall in Trumansburg. Included in the event will be an update of the Town Board’s timeline for consideration of a zoning amendment that would have the impact of making fracking for natural gas extraction impossible in Ulysses.

Concerned Citizens of Ulysses and the Ulysses Gas Drilling Advisory Board are helping to organize the event.

Early seating begins at 6:25 pm with priority for Ulysses residents.

Drafty Driftwood Hits Rongo

Jonathan Cook — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:02:28 +0000

I appreciated the Appalachian folksy sound of Driftwood, recorded at the group’s recent performance at the Rongovian Embassy to the USA in downtown Trumansburg. Watching the video, however, my eye was distracted by the banjo player’s green knit cap, worn inside during the performance. Was the hat a statement about the politics of hair, or is the Rongo getting drafty?

Driftwood played with Holy Ghost Tent Revival. A tent? Maybe that had something to do with the chill.

It has been said that “Driftwood looks beneath the concrete and circuitry to find their sound.” Looking under concrete sounds like a rough business. These folks had better be careful of their hands.