Briefs: ‘Banksgiving,’ Ales for Tails, Land Trust

Tompkins Trust launches ‘Banksgiving’

In celebration of November’s designation as National Gratitude Month, Tompkins Trust Company will be donating to several food pantries in Tompkins, Cayuga and Onondaga counties, calling the initiative “Banksgiving.” “As a community bank, we’re close to our customers, so we’ve seen first-hand the impact the pandemic has had on individuals and businesses over the last year and half,” shared Greg Hartz, president and CEO of Tompkins Trust Company. He added that with many people without basic necessities like food and shelter, Thanksgiving is expected to be especially difficult this year. “In honor of our customers, we wanted to support area food banks, which have become a lifeline during this difficult time,” he said. To celebrate Banksgiving, Tompkins Trust Company will donate $500 to five area food banks including the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Friendship Donations Network, Cortland Loaves and Fishes, Calvary Food Pantry and Food Bank of Central New York. Founded in 1836, Tompkins Trust Company has 12 locations in Tompkins County, Cortland, Auburn and Syracuse. Bank services include complete lines of consumer deposit accounts and loans, business accounts and loans, as well as trust and investment services and leasing. Insurance services are offered through Tompkins Insurance Agencies, and wealth management services are offered through Tompkins Financial Advisors. Further information about the bank is available at tompkinstrust.com. In this photo: Tompkins Trust staff at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

 

Ales for Tails raises money for county SPCA

Tompkins Connect has announced that its signature autumn event, Ales for Tails, raised over $1,600 for the SPCA of Tompkins County. More than 200 people attended the networking event and fundraiser, held Oct. 27 at The Westy in collaboration with Ithaca Beer Co. Katie Shaw, Tompkins Connect Planning Committee chair, shared, “We are thrilled to be able to donate these funds to the SPCA of Tompkins County. We would like to thank the attendees, those who donated and of course our partners for helping us host such a successful fundraiser and look forward to next year’s Ales for Tails.” Jim Bouderau, executive director of the SPCA of Tompkins County, expressed his appreciation. “We are so incredibly grateful to Tompkins Connect, Ithaca Beer and the Westy for raising funds for the SPCA of Tompkins County,” he said. “Since 1902, the SPCA has relied on our local community to make our work possible. Fundraisers like these are essential in providing much-needed supplies, food and medical care for our animals.” The event’s media sponsor was the Ithaca Voice. Tompkins Connect is a local young professional organization, which was formed in 2010 and currently has over 700 members. Tompkins Connect is housed within the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. Their mission is to connect young professionals and emerging leaders through networking, community building, and volunteerism in Tompkins County. Pictured: one of the Ales for Tails attendees stands with their dog.

 

Finger Lakes Land Trust acquires popular Ithaca trailhead

The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) recently announced it has acquired a scenic 7-acre parcel that protects a popular recreational gateway in the town of Ithaca. The property features 600 feet of frontage on State Route 13 at Ithaca’s south end and includes an informal parking area and trailhead for the Finger Lakes Trail with nearby access to Lick Brook Gorge and Robert H. Treman State Park. Primarily a meadow with areas of young forest, the property is adjacent to state park lands and in close proximity to the FLLT’s Sweedler and Thayer nature preserves at Lick Brook Gorge. The acquisition will ensure that the property remains a natural buffer to the Finger Lakes Trail and the nearby Cayuga Inlet and Enfield Creek. “The Land Trust acquired this land after learning it was for sale and zoned for industrial use,” said Executive Director Andy Zepp. “This is a popular gateway to Ithaca’s extensive trail system, and we were concerned that public access would be lost and the scenic meadow replaced with a warehouse or other incompatible use.” Town of Ithaca Supervisor Rod Howe added, “The town of Ithaca applauds this acquisition as we actively work to improve access and connections for our trails, preserves and parks. We have appreciated working with FLLT over the course of many years.” This latest acquisition will be added to the FLLT’s adjacent Tapan Mitra Preserve, formerly known as the Cayuga Inlet Conservation Area. The preserve, which protects a segment of the Finger Lakes Trail, was renamed in 2019 in honor of the late Tapan Mitra, a leading economic theorist and long-serving Cornell University professor. Future public improvements to the site are planned, including the installation of an interpretive kiosk that will provide visitors with information on the area’s trails and conservation lands. The FLLT has launched a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of acquiring this land and providing for its long-term stewardship. For additional information, contact Senior Director Kelly Makosch at (607) 275-9487 or kellymakosch@fllt.org. Information on the region’s premier destinations for outdoor recreation may be found at gofingerlakes.org, a resource created by the FLLT to encourage people to get outdoors. Additional information about the Finger Lakes Land Trust may be found at fllt.org.