March 5, 2025
Reporter: Tiffany Bloss
Wednesday, March 12th meeting:Dr. Leann Kanda, Department of Biology, Ithaca College
“A Real Life Game of Frogger: Conservation Efforts for Amphibians at a Local Road”
MOAKLEY HOUSE and on Zoom
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube channel!
Since President Angela Sullivan was ill, Past President Geoff Dunn saved the day! He called the meeting to order at 12:19 PM, greeted those on Zoom, and then invited all to join him in the Four-Way Test—which was followed by Angela’s fifth element, “Will it be fun?”
Geoff introduced our guests from the podium:
- Kyle Jensen, guest of Jeremiah Craig
- Liz Kreitinger, our speaker
- Zach Schmitt
- Filip, RYE from Sweden
- Isabela, RYE from Mexico
And we had FIVE visiting Rotarians:
- Ed Pasto, Ithaca Sunrise Rotary
- Jennifer & George Harper, Jamestown Rotary
- Jim Wood, Troy Rotary (PA)
- Casey Williamson, Charlotte Rotary
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bob Gravani delivered an “early bird” announcement for the Spring Highway Cleanup: Saturday, April 19
th. Signup and more info to come soon via ClubRunner!
Jeremiah Craig reminded us that we are continuing to sort items at the Finger Lakes ReUse MegaCenter every other Thursday from 5 to 8 PM, the next being on March 20
th. After most sorts, there is a gathering for drink and good burgers at Longshots located next door. Sign up online
HERE.
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Following ten minutes of social time, Geoff Dunn read off the names of those celebrating Rotary anniversaries and birthdays in March!
Membership milestones include: Brad Carruth & Joe Cassaniti 20 yrs; George Ferrari 18 yrs; Brett Bossard 17 yrs; Ron Provus 16 yrs; Ray Brisson 15 yrs; Luvelle Brown 14 yrs; Mike Katz 13 yrs; and Sherrie Negrea 9 yrs.
March birthdays include: Kellyann O’Mara 3/3; Christopher Kelly 3/4; Mary Kane 3/9; Larry Baum 3/13; Gilbert Hammer 3/14; Mary Berens, Steve Sedlock & Brett Bossard 3/17; and Bill Highland 3/18. Jack Roscoe led us in the Happy Birthday song.
LAST WEEK'S PRESENTATION
“From Risk to Resilience: Strengthening Cayuga Lake’s Future through Community Action”
Warren Allmon introduced our speaker, Liz Kreitinger, of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. Liz stepped into the Steward & Executive Director role for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network in 2022. An environmental scientist by training, her past professional experience includes working for the US Geological Survey and environmental consulting, and she holds BS and MS degrees from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment at Cornell University. At Cornell, Liz loved working with students while teaching Field Biology and Ecology courses. Her graduate research explored nitrogen cycling and biogeochemistry of forested watersheds through a collaboration with the US Forest Service in New Hampshire and Alaska. Liz grew up in the fields, forests, and creeks of the Cayuga Lake Watershed. Now, she is passionate about working with our communities to sustainably manage and protect freshwater resources. During her free time, Liz can be found outside on bike, ski, or kayak enjoying all our watershed has to offer.
The mission of the Cayuga Lake Watershed is to advocate for the health of Cayuga Lake and its watershed in a changing world. “It takes a network to protect a watershed.” They offer a Network News newsletter to stay informed. The watershed covers 870 square miles across seven counties and five municipalities. There are 95 miles of lake shoreline with a population of 140,000 people.
Our landscape has a lot going on, with farmland, forests, grasslands, wetlands, water, and developed lands. The south end has a lot of steep slopes, while the north end has more rolling landscapes.
Analysis of Finger Lakes weather records from the past several decades confirms what many living in the region have observed—our climate has strayed from the “normal” weather patterns experienced by previous generations. This not only has created uncertainty about the timing of seasonal weather transitions, but also has manifested as an increase in frequency, intensity, and sometimes clustering of extreme events, particularly:
- an increased frequency of heat stress days
- increased frequency of high rainfall events leading to flooding
- increased frequency of short-term summer water deficits
Under the right conditions, populations of cyanobacteria can grow quite rapidly, forming what are known as harmful algal blooms (HABs). Cyanobacteria blooms are likely to produce a range of natural chemical compounds, many of which are toxic to humans and pets. These toxins, termed cyanotoxins, can cause health concerns if touched, ingested, or inhaled. Likewise, the increasing presence of HABs on Cayuga Lake poses a risk to those who use the lake for drinking water and may hinder any recreation activities from occurring.
HABs are not to be confused with excessive algal growth that is a common occurrence in freshwater lakes and ponds that can sometimes be referred to as an algal bloom. This excessive algal growth generally does have negative implications for the surrounding ecosystem, and it is not known to be toxic to humans.
HABs have been described as having the appearance of spilled green paint or pea soup. They can also look like parallel streaks in the water or like green dots. Non-toxic algae tends to look more like floating mats or hairy, as if green tumbleweed was submerged in the water.
What are we doing about it? Currently we’re conducting a Northern Tributaries Water Quality Study that includes volunteers collecting samples from six streams and eight sites over three years, taking three samples every two months. These samples are analyzed for nutrients at UFI’s lab and are paired with microbial source-tracking analysis by SUNY-ESF.
What can we do to reduce nutrient pollution? We can preserve forested lands and prioritize water quality improvement projects, including septic system maintenance, sewer projects, reduce/eliminate residential fertilizer, promote agricultural best management practices (manure management, minimize P fertilizer).
Embrace the lake and participate in litter cleanups. Subscribe for email updates at
www.cayugalake.org. Follow on Facebook and Instagram (@cayugalakewatershed).
Question: In regards to flood plan management, is FEMA involved? FEMA will not reduce the flood rate and are not involved.
Question: Whom do we call if we see something suspicious? Call the Community Science Institute. It’s helpful to have a photo and description. You can also call or email CLWN.
Question: Have you considered reseeding scraped roadside ditches? The reseeding program is active, and education for the highway department is a focus.
HAPPY DOLLARS
- Jeremiah Craig: last weekend his team entered the Ithaca Chili Cook-Off as “Chili McChiliFace” and won the People’s Choice Award!
- Linda Pasto: attended the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI), with a thank you to Paul Martin for driving
- Sherri Negrea: also attended the RLI and thanked Paul Martin for driving
- Katie Marks: ditto!!!
- Mary Kane: extended birthday greetings to Mary Berens and thanked Zach Schmitt for attending the meeting
Sarah Segal: visited St. Croix last week and thanked the volunteers who brought our exchange students to the meeting- Mary Berens: kudos to Geoff Dunn for great announcing at the Cornell Women’s Hockey games
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In her own special way, Jean McPheeters delivered the following quotes for the day:
- “May the roof above us never fall in and may we good companions beneath it never fall out.” ~ Irish Blessing
- “Home is not a place … it’s a feeling.” ~ Unknown
- “Home is where one starts from.” ~ T. S. Eliot
- “Love begins at home.” ~ Mother Teresa
- “It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn’t make everything all right. It didn’t make anything all right. Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird’s flight. But I’ll take it. With open arms. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake.” ~ Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
UPCOMING MEETINGS
03/12 Dr. Leann Kanda, Department of Biology, Ithaca College, “A Real Life Game of
Frogger: Conservation Efforts for Amphibians at a Local Road”
03/19 Dr. La Jerne “Terry” Cornish, President, Ithaca College, “Leading in Turbulent
Times”
03/26 No formal meeting
06/18 Paul Debbie, Director of Research, Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI)
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: Tiffany Bloss
Program Chair: Warren Allmon
Photographer: Mike Brown
Greeter: Stephanie Andres
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Setup/Teardown: Richard Kops, Susan Salton
Cashier/Kettle Watcher: Kati Flynn
Sign-In Table: Katie Marks
Audio/Visual Setup: Bez Thomas, Mike Brown
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click
hereClub Service Facilitator: June Losurdo
