Archive: Around Town

Village of Lansing Mayor and Cornell Professor Don Hartill recently joined Ithaca Apartment Management, a division of The Solomon Organization, which gave away one $5,000 donation and two $500 donations to three Ithaca area charities in its second annual Give A Chance charitable lottery. Twenty-five charities signed up to receive votes on the Ithaca Apartment Management Facebook page where each vote counted as an entry into the lottery.

4H Club was the winner of the $5,000 Donation.  Hubbard’s Hounds received a $500 donation, and Loaves and Fishes also received $500 donation.

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Dryden - The Dryden Central School District will bring a capital project to vote on March 28, 2017 that includes two propositions. Proposition #1 includes district-wide renovations and additions. Proposition #2 includes additional athletic site improvements. Voting hours are scheduled from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. in the Middle/High School Auditorium.

On March 20, 2017 the District held two community meetings fully outlining the capital project propositions, scope highlights, and financial information. Each meeting ended with a question and answer session about the project. According to district officials, the project is designed to maintain the district's buildings through focusing on the needs of our facilities, and educational & athletic programs. This project consists of prioritized work identified during the Building Condition Survey that is required by the State Education Department every five years.

The Lansing town Board considered establishing a reserve fund Wednesday that could expand the town's pathways in the future.  While there is no official town pathways committee, town officials have long been interested in creating safe walking paths that connect the Town Hall campus area with other parts of Lansing including the Village of Lansing and the Lansing School campus.

"Say we were able to piece together easements for a trail down to the schools," said Town Councilwoman Katrina Binkewicz.  "We might need matching funds, and we would have it.  It would be part of long term planning for some of the larger projects."

Hunkered down in the middle of Winter Storm Stella, plans all shot to hell, I'm forced to think of this summer and what beautiful (and warm) experiences lay in wait. They are there, lurking, waiting to pounce, and if I'm not ready I'll miss the great parts entirely.

Have you taken off on a long weekend or a vacation only to find, as you are driving on your way home that you should have done something, eaten somewhere or visited a place that would have added a great deal to the journey? Yeah, me too. Almost every time.

Dear Margaret: I’ve battled shyness and introversion all of my life. I’d love to go to a function and be the “life of the party” and feel comfortable around people. I find myself desperately searching gatherings for other introverts with whom I can commiserate. I’m bookish, quiet, on the creative side. I understand the paradox in this of wanting to be a social butterfly and at the same time loving to be by myself. I just want to be comfortable when I’m out in public. How can I do both?
Loafer of the Party

The Sciencenter announced Monday the successful completion of its multi-year capital campaign, 'Curious. Confident. Inspired.' Under the leadership of Greg Galvin and Robin Davisson, the Campaign Co-Chairs, and Sciencenter Executive Director, Charlie Trautmann, the Sciencenter raised $4.1 million – 7% over its initial goal of $3.8 million. Campaign funds will support expanded educational programs, the revitalization of museum exhibits, increased access for underserved audiences, and sustainability for the organization through endowment growth.

Since the public launch of the campaign in the summer of 2015, the Sciencenter has enhanced numerous exhibit areas, expanded and developed new educational programs, supported increased efforts to provide access to every part of the community, and undergone facility upgrades.

America's colleges and universities are positioned to lead the transition to 100 percent renewable energy, according to a report released today by Environment America Research & Policy Center. The report stresses that a complete shift to clean, renewable energy is the best way for colleges and universities to achieve their carbon reduction goals and highlights schools across the country that are taking measures to make the transition to renewable energy.

"Colleges and universities across the country are situated to lead the charge in the transition to a 100 percent clean energy future", said Bronte Payne, Clean Energy Associate with Environment America. "In setting a bold and necessary goal of 100 percent renewable energy, Cornell University will continue its climate leadership here in New York."

In 2008 then Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski tried a social experiment.  He created a Facebook page for the Village of Lansing on the theory that the government would get more input from citizens if it went to where they were hanging out, rather than waiting for them to come to Village trustee meetings.  Fresinski may have been ahead of his time.  The page was only moderately successful, and was not maintained by the Village after he moved away.  This February Lansing Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne tool a less structured approach using the same idea, and so far he has been getting a lot of traction from it.

LaVigne simply posted, "Share with me your town's concerns.  I embrace diverse opinions."  The post garnered 96 replies and 39 'likes'.  A number of people expressed concern about state and county rods that traverse the town.  There were questions about how boat slips are allotted in the town marina.  There was talk about attracting business to Lansing and the sorts of businesses people find attractive.  Internet access and competition for Time Warner cable was suggested.  Only one respondent posted with a markedly negative attitude, but LaVigne says that even those posts made the thread a success.

by Emily Selland

Turbo is a big, loving, black-and-white cat who just needs a home! She was brought to the SPCA after 11 years with her previous owner because the landlord would not allow cats. Turbo likes chin and even belly rubs, and she has lived with other cats. She is not so fond of being picked up, and she might let you know with her claws when she has had enough - in other words, a pretty typical cat! She has been spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped, so she is ready to find her forever home. Won't you come visit Turbo today?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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With over 200 wineries in the immediate region, many who beautifully host weddings and receptions, the happy “couple to be” has an enormous range of excellent places to choose from.

As a former wedding photographer, I have been treated royally by some, and not so by others. So I’ll recount the 5 best wineries to host events – at least the five best that I have experience with.

The Spellicans won the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI)'s 19th Annual Adult Spelling Bee on Sunday, March 5, correctly spelling om·ma·tid·i·um (äməˈtidēəm), noun from field of Entomology that refers to each of the optical units that make up a compound eye, as of an insect. All words in the Championship round were provided by the Discovery Trail.

Beth Howard, Melissa Smith, and Russ Charif have competed together as the Spellicans in every IPEI Spelling Bee since 2005, and have won it four times, more than any other team. They had not won in the past six years, but continued to participate because they are "word-nerds, enthusiastic supporters of IPEI, and parents of present and past ICSD students who have benefited from IPEI-funded projects."