Archive: Around Town

Next Wednesday (March 25th) Rogue's Harbor Inn is opening its ballroom to help build a house in Lansing.  The Inn is mixing fun and giving in a ballroom benefit for the Habitat for Humanity home that is scheduled to begin construction in North Lansing this summer.

"The fund raiser at Rouge's Harbor is really a dual purpose event," says Construction Coordinator Ed Siemon.  "The first is to raise awareness of Habitat for Humanity's presence in Tompkins County.  The second is to raise funds.  The money will be used for the construction of the Breed Road house and toward future building in Tompkins County."

Festivities will feature Habitat board members serving Rogue's Harbor food and New York wines and cocktails. All of their tips as well as 10% of food sales will go to Habitat for Humanity.  A silent auction will be held in the ballroom.  Donations from the auction come from a variety of local businesses including Angel Tree Farm Alpacas, Pumpkin Hill Bistro, Barn House Antiques, King Ferry Winery, Cayuga Landscape, Bet the Farm, East Shore Skate Park, Benn Conger Inn, and Long Point Winery.  The proceeds from the auction will presented to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity at the end of the evening.

"Habitat for Humanity does an outstanding job in providing hope of ownership to productive people needing just that little bit of help," says Rogue's Harbor Inn Events Coordinator Sandra Pierzinsk. "Our area is hugely community oriented and tends to pull together in a crunch. We sincerely hope to see this realized for this very worthwhile cause."


Siemon says that while most people are aware of Habitat For Humanity on a national level, few realize there is an active local chapter.  That became very clear as they talked to people at the Home Builders  Show two weeks ago.  While it has been years since the chapter built a house in Tompkins County, they have been active in building homes in Cortland County including a 'green' home that was just recently completed.  That presents a special challenge when fundraising, to let people know their money is being used in our own community.

"The house we will be building this year on Breed Road in North Lansing is one of those examples," Siemon  explains.  "We have had some land In Trumansburg donated to us.  Because of the type of land environment we are trying to resolve the best use of that land.  Very recently we received a tentative offer of a donation of land in Newfield.  Our visible presence is improving."

Pierzinsk says the underlying benefit of Habitat's work is important for the Lansing community.  "In these hard economic times, one of the first things cut from a budget is charitable donations and the pinch is being felt nation-wide," she says.  "The comfort and sanctuary that most of us enjoy in our homes at the end of a long day is but a distant dream for many. Hard work and careful budgeting are no longer enough for many families."

The Rogue's Harbor staff and the Tompkins County Habitat board are hoping that mixing fun, good food, and drink will help at least one family realize that dream.

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