Meet Cortland County

On today’s Meet Cortland County segment:

Updates from Homer Center for the Arts director Ty Marshal.

Earlier this week, the governor announced limited in-person events could return starting April 2nd.

Venues like the Center are still capped at 33% capacity — up to 150 people indoors and 500 outdoors with testing.

“Our huge season lineup off concerts may be on hold for now,” said Marshal, “but stay tuned for some exciting developments in the near future.”

Marshal said this could include another safe summer event like last year’s drive-in concert at Dwyer Park.

For now, the Center continues to host weekly film screenings at Whiting Theatre.

A number of programs are also in the works for young creatives in the area; many haven’t been able to play music or showcase other pieces of art during COVID-19.

They can now get involved by joining the Homer Youth Orchestra or by submitting work for consideration in an upcoming exhibit being planned at the Center.

For details on these opportunities and more, head to Center4Art.org.

Press play below for the interview with Marshal:

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Press play below:

Andrea Piedigrossi from the Cortland Youth Bureau and City Police Officer Jesse Abbott discussed a special project upcoming at Suggett Park — a complete face lift of the aging basketball courts.

It’s being supported by a $15k grant from the Jim & Julie Boeheim Foundation.

The new courts will be unveiled for a memorial basketball tournament planned for this summer to honor the death of Eric Prior, who passed away unexpectedly in June 2019. (read more)

Officer Abbott hopes to establish a youth scholarship fund with any proceeds acquired from tournament registration fees. 

Piedigrossi said the Youth Bureau has been working on a way to revamp the courts for at least a decade.

Stay tuned as more details are still in the works.

On today’s Meet Cortland County segment:

Legislative Clerk Eric Mulvihill discussed a pair of community initiatives starting up next week around fighting COVID-19.

County residents and employees can get a free test at Gutchess Sports Complex in Cortlandville, thanks to a partnership with Cayuga Health System.

Events will run weekly, with both saliva and swab testing available.

Participants must pre-register by visiting CayugaHealth.org.

A large-scale vaccination clinic at SUNY Cortland also opens next week for eligible individuals.

That will be in the Park Center Alumni ice arena and feature staff from the CCHD, Student Health Services and Guthrie Cortland Medical Center.

More information on both testing and vaccination can be found on the health department website.

Press play below:

He and two other frontline providers received the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine on December 18 at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, NY.

Vaccinations of additional personnel have since continued.

In addition to Dr. Gupta, ER physician Dr. Keith Lambert and RN Kate Rosa also got their initial dose of the vaccine on the 18th.

Rosa was part of a team that travelled to NYC at the height of the pandemic to help overflowing hospitals.

For additional information about vaccines, cases or recent exposures, visit: www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health.

Statistical data and official numbers as they are released by the Cayuga Health Sampling Centers can be seen here.

Center for the Arts director Ty Marshal and his right-hand, Sheila Ryan, discussed the area’s first ever live telethon planned from Noon to Noon on Friday December 11 and Saturday December 12.

“24 Hours for Cortland County” will be livestreamed and hosted on a variety of websites and social media outlets.

The event will feature a variety of artists either playing on-stage or via remote broadcast.

It will raise money for dozens of area nonprofits in need during the year of a global pandemic.

Each partner will receive 25% of all donations received during their hour. There will also be hourly prizes and giveaways.

More details, including a full list of artists, nonprofits and business partners can be found here.

(Kilmer)

Michael Kilmer, executive director of the Elizabeth Brewster House, detailed changes to this year’s “Light of my Life” memorial on the Homer village green.

No public gathering will be held this year due to COVID-19.

Normally, that would take place alongside the annual tree lighting ceremony.

Residents can still honor lost loved ones by submitting a donation in their name at lightofmylife.org.

Memorial boards will then be put up by December 4.

Light of My Life is a fundraiser for the Hospice Foundation of Cortland County.