Second Wind’s Dryden House for Women close to completion

Second Wind Cottages is almost to the finish line for completion of its highly anticipated Dryden House for Women.

Deb Wilke, a Second Wind board member and the homeless crisis alleviation coordinator, said the house needs air infiltration and sprinkler tests done before the project can come to a close.

“We are finally getting close,” Wilke said, noting the project’s three-year process. “It’s just a few things to get our certificate of occupancy, and we’re mostly waiting on inspections that’ll happen in the next few weeks.”

Wilke said an official date hasn’t been set, but the organization is hoping to move women into the house before Thanksgiving.

Second Wind currently has 18 cottages in Newfield to provide a supportive environment for formerly homeless men.

The Dryden House, located at 35 W. Main St. in the village of Dryden, will provide the same support for homeless women. It also gives women a chance to reunite with children they’ve lost due to homelessness.

The house in Dryden will have four units. Two of them will be two-bedroom units and the other two will be one-bedroom units. Each will include a kitchen, bathroom and laundry.

Wilke noted that there are about 70 names on the waitlist, and more applications are coming in every day. Wilke added that Second Wind has been reviewing applications, but selections have not been made yet.

“It’s an indication of what the need is in Tompkins County,” Wilke said.

Construction of the house and the property went on longer than anticipated, Wilke said, adding that volunteers completed close to 90% of the work, with the remainder involving contractors. 

Wilke was unsure how many children can live in each unit at a time, but noted that it’s Second Wind’s goal to include “as many people as possible” inside the house.

“It’s so exciting,” Wilke said. “It’s something that’s so needed in Tompkins County, especially for women who do have their children. It’s not an easy thing to live in a hotel or a shelter, so we’re really excited about the opportunity to offer housing. We wish it was more units, but at least it’s something.”

Second Wind Cottages has been in existence for more than a decade. Wilke doesn’t see it as just simply housing for the homeless..

“It gets people reestablished and meets their goals. We like to walk with them,” she said. “I don’t know any homeless person who hasn’t endured a lot of trauma. Healing and working on getting those identity documents, it’s all the different things we will be working on with the women at the Dryden House.”

 Second Wind is grateful for all of the donated time and materials, including fencing to flooring and a playground in the backyard.

“We’re thankful for every single individual and businesses who have donated their time and materials,” Wilke said. “We appreciate the generosity and we’re looking forward to enjoying what the Dryden community has to offer.”

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

TC3 celebrates 50 years in Dryden

On October 21, Tompkins Cortland Community College celebrated 50 years in the Dryden area.

TC3 students and staff members, and Tompkins County and Cortland County officials gathered to honor the college’s impact on the community for five decades. 

The college’s origins date back to 1968 when it was  housed in a renovated high school building in Groton. The institution quickly grew, and six years later, it was located in Dryden.

TC3 president Amy Kremenek noted that while the college has changed a lot over the years, the heart of the institution has stayed the same.

“We’ve added to campus with dorms, a student center, athletics facility, sports fields and a childcare center,” Kremenek said at the Oct. 21 ceremony. “Since the opening of this campus 50 years ago, TC3 has been a place of excitement and promise, just as it is today. Through the years, this building has seen so many wonderful, life-changing moments for so many people. We have grown through the years, but we have never lost sight of our commitment to serving the educational needs of our students and our sponsoring counties.”

In celebration, Cortland County Legislative Chair Kevin Fitch and Tompkins County Legislator Mike Lane each read proclamations from their respective countiesn.

Yoga for Life held every Wednesday in Freeville

Village of Freeville resident Michelle Dardia hosts a Yoga for Life session every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Freeville United Methodist Church at 37 Main St.

The drop-in fee for the session is $10. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Some experience is helpful but not required, as the sessions are committed to being accessible.

Variations and modifications are offered, and extra mats and blocks will be available at each session.

For information or questions, contact Dardia at dollysdaughter@hotmail.com or 607-279-4785.