Town of Ulysses residents vote down Krums Corners land sale

Residents of the Town of Ulysses took to the polls in a special election on Dec. 6, blocking a proposed 30-acre land purchase by the town to serve as a park and recreational area.  

According to unofficial results on the town’s website, 510 residents voted in favor of the purchase, with 923 opposed. 

The election followed a unanimous decision by five Ulysses town board members in June to purchase the Krums Corners Road parcel for $210,000 from Mark Washburn, the town’s code enforcement officer.

Discussions surrounding the land sale evoked strong feelings on both sides, with residents debating issues such as distance from the town, lack of public transportation, potential vandalism after dark, agricultural concerns and ongoing maintenance. Proponents of the purchase, however, noted that investing in space that promotes physical activity is much needed, especially in a post-pandemic environment, and that many local sports teams could use the space.  

Nancy Cusumano, whose petition of 302 signatures of registered Ulysses voters resulted in the special Dec. 6. referendum, said she was surprised at the turnout.

“We worked hard to get the message out that this vote was happening,” she said, adding that when her volunteer group, Concerned Ulysses Taxpayers and Voters, started collecting signatures in late August, they weren’t even sure they would have enough signatures to require the referendum.

“I believe our group had an impact, and I am thankful for the community members who supported us in this issue,” said Cusumano. “I hope that the town will continue to work with Trumansburg Community Recreation on a solution that the whole town can get behind.”

Keith Hannon, a Trumansburg village trustee who serves on the Ulysses Youth Commission and coaches regularly, had been in favor of the land purchase. He’s seen the youth of Ulysses and Trumansburg require additional facilities, and he said that while organizations have been working on a similar initiative for over a decade, other parcels have fallen through to higher bidders in the past.

“I want to first recognize the Washburn family and apologize to them, especially their children, for the traumatic experience they endured,” said Hannon, referencing online and in-person attacks that the family has experienced, including an alleged profanity-laced verbal confrontation from a neighbor that occurred in front of their children. 

“The voters have spoken, and while I believe this high turnout was galvanized by a well-funded misformation campaign, we must take the lopsided result as a clear indication that our community does not want to fund, via grants or otherwise, recreational/athletic space,” said Hannon of the results.

“Some may argue the vote was a reaction to a specific location, but the large turnout and overwhelming vote against the referendum doesn’t afford us the luxury of that conclusion at this time,” he said.

Following the vote, a statement was posted on the town website from the town supervisor, thanking Town Clerk Carissa Parlato for overseeing the referendum and the members of the Board of Registration and poll inspectors for their work.

The statement noted: “We also thank the voters for their civic participation and encourage the Ulysses community to get involved in our current comprehensive plan update [to] decide on the future direction of our great town.”

Ulysses Tree Advisory Council hosts documentary matinee

The American chestnut tree, native to eastern North America, has a passionate group of environmental champions behind it in the Ulysses Tree Advisory Council. The group has been actively reestablishing the fruit-producing tree, lovingly referred to as the “redwood of the East” for its significant size, and is excited to share a special documentary highlighting the beloved tree and its associated culture with the community.

Andrew Hillman is chairperson of the council’s small but mighty group, established by local law in 2021 to assist and advise the town board, superintendent of highways and other town government agencies in responsible planting, maintenance or removal of trees or shrubs.

“The town and village tree committees were planning to plant three juneberry trees for Arbor Day (which we did), when we were approached by the Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR] Chief Taughannock chapter about planting hybrid chestnut trees from The American Chestnut Foundation,” explained Hillman. 

The group agreed and distributed scores of seedlings at the tree planting this year.

“The DAR hoped to have chestnuts ready to eat by the country’s sesquicentennial,” he explained. “When they are planted in full sun, they can bear fruit after just a few years. It fits so neatly into what the Ulysses Tree Advisory Council is doing.”

The group soon learned about a new documentary, “Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut,” and decided to host a screening for the community. 

Hillman has viewed the 52-minute documentary a few times and is excited to provide others the chance to watch it, as it’s not available in theaters.

“It’s a gorgeous movie,” he said, adding that it features author Barbara Kingsolver, Jimmy Carter, Dolly Parton and Chuck Leavell, who played keyboard for the Rolling Stones and the Allman Brothers Band and is a tree farmer in Georgia. 

“It’s full of all these great celebrities talking about chestnuts, and they really get into the history of the tree and what it meant to America,” said Hillman. “In the beginning, everything was made from chestnuts. So [viewers will] learn about the history of the tree and why these organizations are trying to bring it back and then also see some of the culture around it.”

As for his own plantings, Hillman is hoping to receive a Darling 58, a genetically engineered American chestnut tree that can survive blight. The tree was created at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in collaboration with The American Chestnut Foundation. Hillman plans to cross the Darling 58 with other American chestnuts that aren’t blight-resistant.

“Hopefully, the fruit from them will be blight-resistant and that’s the whole hope — we’re hoping to get this back as a forest tree, a park tree in cities,” he said. “They’re very large, and they produce a lot of fruits.”

Although he describes himself as “mostly retired,” Hillman is an active volunteer and serves on the Ulysses Board of Zoning Appeals, Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council and the New York State Urban Forestry Council.

While the American chestnut may have captured the hearts and attention of the group, the council is also working on a food forest project to plant trees that provide food. Hillman says the juneberry trees planted at Arbor Day produce great fruit for pies or jams. 

The matinee screening of “Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut,” will be held at the Ulysses Philomathic Library on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Chestnut treats may be available. 

Trumansburg Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to 

editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

 In brief:

Trumansburg Community Chorus 

The Trumansburg Community Chorus will hold its winter concerts on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m., with a reception to follow, and on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses, 69 E. Main St. in Trumansburg. 

All are welcome. The concerts are free, but donations are appreciated.