Headlines for Thursday, October 20, 2022

On Monday, at the first of three public forums featuring candidates for Ithaca’s next Chief of Police,, Acting Chief John Joly made his case. The Ithaca Times reports that Joly highlighted his 17 year career in “nearly every position within the department.” He also said the seven years he was elected as PBA president showed that he had broad support from the rank and file. He said the department had become disengaged from the community following the murder of George Floyd and it needs to continue its work to rebuild relationships with the city’s diverse communities. Joly indicated he’s open to working with the city's Deputy Chief of Staff of Public Safety on the Reimagining Public Safety project, but he added that the PBA will likely push back on officers’ responsibilities being given to unarmed responders. He said the union will have to compromise with the city on this point and that, given department shortages, he’ll take whatever help he can get. 

The Finger Lakes Land Trust and the US Forest Service have announced a collaboration which has added 24 acres to New York’s only National Forest, the Finger Lakes National Forest. The parcel, near Seneca and Wardner Corners roads, was privately held and was largely surrounded by the 16,000 acre national forest. The Forest Service and the land trust say that protecting the land will help prevent further fragmentation of the forest and enhance wildlife habitat and recreational use.

Cornell’s Insectapalooza is back. After a two year hiatus, this Saturday from 9am to 3pm, Cornell’s department of entomology will host an exhibit featuring hundreds of live insect and spiders for the curious of all ages. This year’s event–the 17th of its kind–will boast a few new features including the collaboration with the university’s renown ornithology department. The exhibit will highlight the relationship between birds and spiders and how their declining populations are linked. There will also be special workshops for older teens and adults, as well as a session for people to explore careers in entomology. The event will be held in Cornell’s Stocking Hall.