Beautify Tompkins County

The Tompkins County Community Beautification Program is accepting nominations until Oct. 15 for outstanding examples of local beautification by businesses, civic associations and residents throughout Tompkins County. Award recipients will be recognized at a reception on Nov. 2.

The nomination categories are:

• Community Beautification Award for a Business
• Community Beautification Award for a Civic Association
• Community Beautification Award for a Residence
• Community Beautification Award for Placemaking

Types of beautification can include landscape plantings, hanging baskets, planters, murals, interpretive signage and any other features that add color and uniqueness to our communities.

To nominate your favorite examples of beautification, go to 2017_beautification_nominations to complete a short survey, or send an email to Chrys Gardener at cab69@cornell.edu. Include the address of the location and attach digital photos if possible.

Note: Sites in the City of Ithaca that are planted and maintained by staff and volunteers of the Community Beautification Program are not eligible. These sites include the Ithaca Commons and surrounding streets, traffic medians, and many other locations. Go to the public plantings webpage to see a map as well as photos and descriptions of beautification program sites.

The Tompkins County Community Beautification Program is administered by the Tompkins County Tourism Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and the Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, see http://ccetompkins.org/beautification.

Upcoming CCE Workshops

For a comprehensive listing of CCE workshops and events, see the CCE Tompkins County Events pages. Unless noted otherwise, classes are held at the CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca. Below is a sampling of those held in October.

Consumers’ Rights & Responsibilities in the Marketplace

In this consumer issues program, New York State Assistant Attorney General Mike Danaher will discuss ways consumers can be more informed when they make their purchasing decisions. Free and open to the public, with no appointment needed, the program will be held Oct. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the CCE-Tompkins Education Center. Learn how to avoid consumer problems and what to do if a problem occurs. Participants can stay after the presentation to consult individually with Attorney Danaher on any unresolved consumer issue. Individuals should arrive by 12:30 p.m. for a consultation. Presentations are videotaped for broadcast on Public Access Channel 15 Mondays at 7 a.m., and at 1 and 7 p.m.

Introduction to Permaculture Design

Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is an ancient system of growing food that minimizes labor by using perennial plants that come back year after year. Join Sean Dembrosky of Edible Acres (edibleacres.org) for an introduction to basic permaculture concepts, Oct. 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the CCE-Tompkins Education Center, to look at living examples of plant guilds and polycultures, and learn the concepts that inform permaculture ethics and design in gardens and beyond. Cost: $5-10/person, self-determined sliding scale (pay what you can afford). Register online at ccetompkins.org, or call 607-272-2292. Questions? Contact: Chrys Gardener, cab69@cornell.edu, 607-272-2292 (voicemail #241).

Parents Apart®

Parents Apart® is a six-hour workshop, Oct. 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for parents who want to learn how to help their child(ren) adjust during their separation or divorce. The workshop is taught by therapists and attorneys and focuses on how children react emotionally to their parents’ separation or divorce, and what parents can do to help them adjust. Registration and location are confidential and parents of the same child(ren) are placed in different workshops. Cost: $60-$100 sliding scale; reduced rates available. More information: http://ccetompkins.org/events/2014/06/14/parents-apart or contact Jennifer Gray at jcg33@cornell.edu, 607-272-2292 (voicemail #240).

Impacts of Invasive Plants on People and Wildlife
This class, Oct. 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at the CCE-Tompkins Education Center, will examine the causes of plants becoming invasive, their impact upon wildlife and plant communities, and their uses for food, medicine and beyond. From hydrilla to Japanese knotweed to autumn olives, we'll take a closer look at the impacts of these plants on the environment and how we can utilize some of them. Akiva Silver from Twisted Tree Farm will lead this class and discussion. Cost: $5-$10/person self-determined sliding scale, pay what you can afford.

Register online at ccetompkins.org or call 272-2292 to register by phone.
Questions? Contact: Chrys Gardener, cab69@cornell.edu, 607-272-2292 (voicemail #241).

Tompkins County Coalition for Families
Join parents, volunteers and agency staff members to strengthen the area community for children, youth and families. Monthly meetings focus on creating family-centered services, enhancing collaboration and exploring policy issues, closing with informal networking. The next meeting is Oct. 19, 8:30-10 a.m. at the CCE-Tompkins Education Center. All are welcome, but no child care services are available during the meeting. Contact Anna Steinkraus, ams69@cornell.edu, 607-272-2292 ext. 145 with questions.

Winterizing Your Garden
The key to great spring gardening is winter preparation. Lean how to prepare and protect your soil from winter weather and spring rains, and ways to ensure optimal nutrition and soil tilth for great growing in spring. This slide show, Oct. 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Tompkins County Public Library, will guide you through the process of winterizing your garden. No registration required. Donations accepted. Contact Jennie Cramer, jrc10@cornell.edu, 607-272-2292 ext. 146, with questions.

Compost with Confidence
Local composting experts offer information and give hands-on demonstrations to help you set up and manage a compost system in any setting at this class, held Oct. 21, 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Ithaca Community Gardens (Carpenter Circle at 3rd Street near Ithaca Farmers' Market). The class provides composting basics as well as tips on how to extend the composting season into the cold months and the preparations needed to ensure successful composting over the winter. Contact Adam Michaelides, acm1@cornell.edu, 607-272-2292 ext. 124, with questions.