Nuclear options for NY's power supply issues, vaccinations and school records, local love

Good morning ☀️

It’s Friday, so I’m highlighting some local love and Finger Lakes moments sent in by readers later on in this newsletter.

If you have any Finger Lakes moments you’d like to share, send your best photos and a short passage to JMack@gannett.com so you can help spread the love to other readers each Friday.

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Without further ado, here's an update on an atomic possibility for New York.

Could nuclear power help NY cut back on fossil fuels?

The Hochul Administration recently met with a developer of small nuclear reactors as it considers adding the next-generation power source to New York's energy mix in the coming years.

The administration declined to comment on the talks, confirmed by one developer who characterized them as information-gathering efforts between itself and the state at a time when it appears likely New York won’t achieve its 2030 climate goals with wind and solar power alone.

How will state officials turn the effort around? Learn about a development that could represent a shift in New York’s clean energy future here.

Here’s some more of what you need to know today

• Back to school, back to the vax: Within 14 days of the first day of school or day care, parents must show proof of their child's up-to-date vaccinations, or provide a valid medical exemption from vaccination. Here’s how to prepare vaccinations and records for the upcoming school year.
• This invasive weed found in New York tastes like tart spinach, but beware, it has a toxic twin: Purslane is great for ground cover, but Linda Sturevant claims in this article that the “weed” has some other uses.
• A NASCAR racer recently participated in a bike ride around Watkins Glen International: He’ll be racing there Sept. 15 on the tracks 2.45-mile short course and in the NASCAR Cup series playoffs, no less. Here’s what he had to say about the biking event and upcoming race.

Finger Lakes Moments: KTC funded fun in the sun

Working or even just living week to week can become tiring, and the good things in life too often get ignored. I'm sharing some local love for Ithaca and the Finger Lakes area each week to help show the paranoid, or the cynical that it's not all bad.

To start us off on this fine Friday, here's an update on some funding for an Ithaca theatre company.

Senator Lea Webb recently helped Kitchen Theatre Company secure $120,000 in state funding for building and equipment upgrades.

“This is really a community theatre in every sense of the word,” Webb said. “When I had the opportunity to learn more about its history, being that this theatre has been around for more than 30 years, and its still here is a testament to the community at large for their support, the board, and of course the staff here. When I learned about some of the infrastructure needs of the theatre, it was a no-brainer for me.”

Learn more about Kitchen Theatre Company on its website to get involved, support the effort, or see what programs they offer the Ithaca community.

Graham Ottoson’s artistic brainchild Gourdlandia will be heading to the Ithaca Artist Market today, sporting dozens of handmade artistic dried gourds carved into interesting shapes for use as lampshades, water bottles, and even hats. Good luck Gourdlandia and hope to see you there! If you forgot or didn’t catch yesterday’s newsletter, the artist market runs from noon to 7 p.m. tonight at Steamboat Landing. Enter near the Aldi on 3 ^rd street for an artistic feast for the eyes.

To close things out with a cute furry friend, Ira Manhoff recently moved to the Finger Lakes from New Jersey and sent in this great pic of her pup Bo after enjoying a nice stroll at the Corning farmers market last week.

That’s about all I’ve got for you this week. Have a restful weekend, check your inbox Monday for more updates, and feel free to reach out to me at jmack@gannett.com with any comments, questions, or concerns regarding this newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Nuclear options for NY's power supply issues, vaccinations and school records, local love