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March 7, 2016 Keeping You Connected TOMPKINS WEEKLY Locally Owned & Operated TompkinsWeekly.com Vol. 11, No. 2 Water testing guidance issued By Jay Wrolstad The discovery of drinking water tainted by lead in local schools has 2 N. Main Street, Cortland, New York | 607-756-2805 grabbed the attention of parents, 78 North Street, Dryden, New York | 607-844-8626 school officials, public health author- ities and even U.S. Senator Charles 2428 N. Triphammer Rd, Ithaca, New York | 607-319-0094 Schumer. It has also prompted con- cerns about the water quality in homes among area residents. baileyplace.com The good news is that Ithaca is not Flint, Michigan; there is little evi- dence of lead contamination in local ALSO IN THIS ISSUE water systems, either public or pri- vate. But those with older plumbing in their homes may want to take a closer look at their pipes and fixtures. Theresa Lyczko, director of the Health Promotion Program and Pub- lic Information officer at the Tomp- kins County Health Department, says that the Health Department has recently received inquiries from homeowners regarding the possible provided Photo presence of lead in their water. In Water with elevated levels of lead in area homes is most likely caused by pipes response, the department has up- dated its website that includes a page and fixtures inside the residence. The water can be tested by local labs. listing resources for residents that Survival Guide has cold, supplements information about the ed blood levels due to drinking water. ty reports. “In our area that is Cornell situation in local schools (http:// Lead typically enters drink- University, the City of Ithaca and the hard facts page 2 tompkinscountyny.gov/health/ ing water as a result of corrosion, or Bolton Point water plant. Non-public schooldrinkingwater). wearing away, of materials contain- systems do not face the same require- “We have new information on ing lead in the water distribution sys- ment,” he says. the website, including letters sent to tem and plumbing, the department Schools and daycare centers, for schools and parents, EPA guidance for states, adding that low levels of lead example, that receive water from removing lead from water in schools in drinking water are common. It is public systems are responsible for and a list of local water testing labs,” not absorbed through the skin during lead testing inside their buildings, af- Lyczko says. activities like hand washing, bathing ter the water has left the public dis- The Health Department notes or showering. tribution system, says Penningroth. that there is no history of any chil- Steve Penningroth, Executive Di- The same applies for residents who dren in Tompkins County who have rector of the Community Science In- want to determine if their plumbing had elevated blood lead levels from stitute (CSI), an Ithaca-based water has added lead to the water. drinking water. Some 70 children testing lab, explains that public wa- “The water mains are not made from the Ithaca City School District ter systems, serving 25 or more peo- of lead, but connecting lines could (ICSD) have been tested, the depart- ple, are required by the EPA to test for be lead. Meanwhile, we have plumb- ment reports, with no cases of elevat- lead and to issue annual water quali- Continued on page 13 Time to celebrate maple syrup season page 3 Drone protester gets brief reprieve Legislature OKs Pine Tree By Lori Sonken lics, reflecting the spirit of Dorothy bags coming back like we did during Rd. project contract page 4 Day. They question U.S. military val- Vietnam. We don’t have war corre- Jamesville Correctional Facility ues. They care for the downtrodden. spondents with tears in their eyes, as administrators in Onondaga Coun- Now deceased, John Grady, father to you would see during Vietnam. There ty gave Ithaca resident Mary Anne Mary Anne, was one of 28 war resist- is little challenging of war policy done Grady Flores a choice. She could ers, named the Camden 28, who U.S. by our media,” she said in the summer either visit her mother in hospice government’s policies in Vietnam. In 2014. care or attend her funeral. But she 1971, they were charged with con- On May 16, 2014, Grady Flores was couldn’t do both. spiracy to remove and destroy files found guilty of criminal contempt in An inmate at Jamesville, Grady from the draft board, FBI office, and the second degree for violating an Flores opted to see her mother, Tere- the Army Intelligence office; destruc- order of protection requiring her to sa, alive. On Feb. 26, the jail staff drove tion of government property; and in- stay away from Col. Earl Evans who Grady Flores about 56 miles from terfering with the Selective Service works at the Hancock Field Air Na- the jail in East Syracuse to Ithaca to system. tional Guard Base. give Grady Flores what may be her The defendants pleaded guilty to Until her trial Grady Flores had T-burg coach builds on bas- last moments with her 88-year-old the charges. But they asked the jury never met Evans. But she and others mother. She arrived unexpected—the to “nullify the laws” against break- associated with the Ithaca Catholic ketball success page 5 jail did not want to notify her fam- ing and entering and to acquit them Worker, Syracuse Peace Council, Up- ily about the upcoming visit. Used to as a means of saying that the country state Coalition to Ground the Drones seeing “beat up Volvos” park in front had had enough of the “illegal and and End the Wars and other groups of their home, the family did not rec- immoral” war in Vietnam. The jury oppose the reaper drones piloted from ognize the unmarked vehicle outside. returned a not guilty verdict for all the Hancock base that kill terrorists When Clare Grady realized her sister 28. A Navy veteran and Fulbright and innocent victims in such places was home, she jumped up and down scholar, John Grady eventually came as Afghanistan and Pakistan. To ex- in excitement and told her mother. to Ithaca with his family and taught press their opposition, they regularly Clad in shackles with tears stream- at Ithaca College. protest at the base. Evans asked for ing down her face, Grady Flores was Like her father, Grady Flores has the order of protection to keep the able to see her mother and say a few a history of challenging U.S. military protesters away from the base, ac- things before her mother dozed off. policy. “Our media does not show any cording to statements he made in a Then, Grady Flores returned to jail to of the dead in the newspapers. That is deposition and at Grady Flores’ trial. continue serving a six-month term why drone warfare is so convenient On Feb. 13, 2013, Grady Flores State commission denies that began Jan. 19. for the makers. We can do the kill- went to the Hancock base to take pic- power plan conversion page 6 The Gradys are leftist Catho- ing from afar. We don’t have the body Continued on page 13 380 Freeville Road Freeville, NY 13068 607.844.6460 WGAforChildren.org Survival guide provides cold, hard facts By Eric Banford read sections like the part about hy- pothermia and symptoms,” he says. It’s 15 degrees outside, there are “Everything is from first-hand knowl- two feet of snow on the ground, edge, and that’s what makes me most you’re outside of cell phone coverage proud of this project. While research- and your car just broke down at dusk. ing I even used my Prius as a snow Could you survive the night alone? cave because I’ve always wondered if How about a few days? You’d have a it would be an improved situation to much better chance if you’ve read cover it in snow, which is a very effec- “Winter in the Wilderness: A Field tive insulator. A car can actually be Guide to Primitive Survival Skills” by colder because heat is drawn away Dave Hall with Jon Ulrich. from it, but this experiment was very Hall is well versed in outdoor sur- fruitful. It’s a sensible thing to do in vival skills. In 1999 he founded Primi- some situations,” he concludes. tive Pursuits, a non-profit program Ulrich’s role was mainly to help in partnership with Cornell Coop- Hall organize and edit the book, but erative Extension, which operates he also served as cheerleader. “Part of year-round at the 4-H property on my role was to say that Dave’s ideas Lower Creek Road between Ithaca had merit,” he shares. “It also helped and Dryden. The program works with that I’m fairly ‘green’ as far as this people as young as three years old topic goes, so if something wasn’t and throughout adulthood, with a clear to me we’d go back and clarify mission to rekindle a “necessary and a point. It all came together pretty healthy relationship with the natu- seamlessly,” says Ulrich. ral world.” “What I think makes this a special Hall has spent years “reclaim- Banford by Eric Photo piece of work is the anecdotal piece,” ing his nativeness,” as he describes Dave Hall (left) and Jon Ulrich discuss strategies for surviving in Hall’s backyard. says Ulrich. “You’ve probably read it. Ulrich is more of a writer than an field guides that are pretty dry, but outdoor expert, but thanks in part to in this book the anecdotes really help his friendship with Hall, he knows a ment and anticipation.” meant going out and learning by do- the narrative sing.” thing or two about winter survival as The book has a nice balance of es- ing, learning from our mistakes and Much of Hall’s knowledge comes well.