[SustainableTompkins] sustainability goings on in Syracuse

[GayNicholson at aol.com]

F.O.C.U.S. GREATER SYRACUSE 
Forging Our  Community’s United Strength 
COMMUNITY REPORT,  August  2006 
Submitted by: Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, F.O.C.U.S. Executive  Director

HOLD THE  DATE 
LINK CNY INNOVATION EXPO/SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES   
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 (not May 3),  2007 
Oncenter  Complex 

F.O.C.U.S. CAN BE  FOUND AT  TEMPORARYQUARTERS: 
Due to the  temporary closing of City Hall Commons for renovation, F.O.C.U.S. 
has relocated.  The welcome mat was graciously offered by Economic 
Development Commissioner  David Michel so if you are looking for us, we are on the third 
floor of City  Hall. Our phone number is the same 315-448-8732.  
“THE EMERGING ENERGY  CAPITOL – UPSTATE NY”:  Community leaders representing 
 academia, local and international businesses, elected officials, and 
F.O.C.U.S.  board members met to brainstorm ideas about the energy assets in our 
region. It  was agreed to launch an assessment of programs, products, projects, 
and research  capacity of new energy sources growing in Upstate NY. The 
assumption is that  there is more going on than meets the eye. F.O.C.U.S. will monitor 
activities  related to emerging new energy resources. 
CITIZENS’ ACADEMY  2006: Close to 60 applications were received  for 30 
spaces in the 2006 Citizens’ Academy, a program that informs citizens  about how 
local government is organized, and how services are funded and  delivered. 
Classes start on September 13 and conclude 10 weeks later on November  15. They are 
held weekly from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at a variety of sites. Class  members will 
have opportunities to dialogue with the County Executive, the Mayor, a Town 
Supervisor  and Village Mayor. They will meet the heads of a variety of 
government  departments including Economic and Community Development, Budget and 
Finance,  Health, Waste Water Treatment, Human Services, Law Enforcement and the 
Judicial  System, Planning and Transportation, Schools and Resources, Culture 
and the  Arts. The Citizens’ Academy is a partnership sponsored by University 
College at Syracuse University and F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse. 
CORE GROUP: At the August  Core Group meeting, Diane Brandli, Ashley McGraw, 
AIA, presented important tips on how to choose  environmentally friendly, 
sustainable products for every day use. She had a  captive audience who thanked 
her for so much useful  information. 

NEXT CORE GROUP  MEETING 
Friday, OCTOBER 13,  2006 
(September 8th postponed to  October 13) 
7:30 a.m. – 8:45  a.m. 
NEW  LOCATION 
CITY HALL   
Common Council Chambers 3rd  floor 
“BIOMASS TO  BIOFUEL” 
PRESENTERS:   
Dr. Tim Volk, SUNY/ESF and John McAuliffe, Honeywell   
EVERYONE IS  WELCOME! 
BRING A  FRIEND!
 
----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D. 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY  14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY  14850
agn1 at cornell.edu