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1 – Tiny Timbers commits to Lansing
Tiny Timbers commits to Lansing Town Center — On the heels of Cornerstone Group’s intent for affordable housing in Lansing comes official word of the second developer to sign a purchase agreement in Lansing’s long-envisioned Town Center project.
Tiny Timbers, the Dryden-based modular home development company, has agreed to buy nearly ten acres of land from the town with for-sale housing in mind.
2 – Former Cayuga Heights elementary school teacher sentenced for endangering the welfare of a child
Former Cayuga Heights teacher sentenced for endangering the welfare of a child – Former Cayuga Heights Elementary School teacher Ryan Harrington was sentenced after being convicted of inappropriate criminal behavior with a child for several months in 2015.
Harrington was sentenced on April 14 to three years of probation and a full stay-away order bars him from contacting the child and all immediate family members for three years. Harrington was also forced to give up his teaching certificate and agree to never reapply.
3 – What do Ithaca youth think of the Ithaca Police Department?
Ithaca Youth Council survey suggests nearly 1 in 8 local youth feel ‘unsafe’ around IPD officers – A group of Ithaca teens distributed a survey earlier this year asking younger members of the community their opinions on the Ithaca Police Department.
The survey reached 712 teens in Ithaca between grades 9-12, with a near even split between males and females.
4 – Ithaca man drowns in Adirondacks
Body of Ithaca man recovered in Adirondacks river — Rescue teams found Matthew Miller, 31, of Ithaca, last week after a nearly 24-hour search, according to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. The incident is being investigated as a drowning. Miller was swimming at the Wilmington Flume when he went underwater, news reports say.
5 – Ithaca man arrested with nearly 20 grams of cocaine, police say
Ithaca man arrested, police report nearly 20 grams cocaine in possession – Last week, members of the Ithaca Police Department conducted a search warrant at the residence of Vern Westoven, 40, on S. Albany Street. Officers said they found multiple clear bags containing a ‘white powdery substance’. Police said the substance, which they suspected was cocaine, weighed approximately 19.9 grams.
6 – IPD set to receive $100k for SWAT equipment and training
City unanimously approves $100K grant for Ithaca SWAT team equipment, training — The grant from the Department of Homeland Security is intended for new equipment, including night vision helmets, breathing apparatus’, radar, cameras, and robot technology. Ithaca Police will be required to provide documentation of their use of the funds to the government in order to remain eligible.
7 – Asian and French cuisine combine at new Ithaca bistro
French-Asian fusion bistro officially opens on Ithaca Commons — Downtown Ithaca celebrated the opening of a new French-Asian fusion restaurant, Le Commons Bistro, on Thursday with hors d’oeuvres, roses, neighbors and of course, a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The bistro is owned by Patrick Hatsady who has decades of restaurant experience behind him.
8 – Two affordable housing plans up for review in Ithaca
Pair of affordable housing plans up for City of Ithaca review — Two affordable housing plans will begin formal review with the city of Ithaca Planning Board this month – Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Service’s (INHS’s) plans for 203-209 Elm Street on West Hill, and Lakeview Health Service’s multi-story apartments at 709-713 West Court Street in the West End neighborhood.
9 – Should people be required to give their names before speaking at Tompkins County Legislature meetings?
Blue cards stir debate at Tompkins County Legislature— Should Tompkins County Legislature require members of the public to give their names before speaking? Some say doing so puts members of the community at risk and are asking Legislature to change the rules.
In a quick poll we ran with the story on our website, 57 percent of 188 survey respondents said “No.”
10 – Police searching for suspect after armed robbery of Ithaca shop
Police searching for suspect after armed robbery at The Vitamin Shoppe — Ithaca police are searching for a suspect who displayed a gun and robbed The Vitamin Shoppe on Saturday.
Police responded to a reported robbery at about 4 p.m. Saturday at The Vitamin Shoppe at 719 S. Meadow St. in Ithaca. The suspect allegedly entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the registers. The suspect took an “undisclosed amount of money” before fleeing in the direction of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.
