Archive: Around Town

Cornell University will receive up to $7 million in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding over five years to lead a consortium of universities in researching and developing new transportation innovations to limit adverse impacts on public health and the environment.

The announcement was made Dec. 8 by U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both D-N.Y. They announced $1.4 million in funding for the current fiscal year; subsequent funding for 2017 through 2020 will be made annually, subject to availability of funds and grantee compliance with terms and conditions.

IPEI’s Grants Committee has announced the first round of Teacher Grants and Red & Gold Grants for the 2016-17 school year; $18,848 has been awarded for 28 projects designed to enhance the education of ICSD students.

IPEI Executive Director Steven Manley said,"The level of excitement in the Grants Committee meeting was palpable as we envisioned innovative work in ICSD classrooms. We are so proud to support of the teachers of the ICSD!"

The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) is putting a twist on their usual annual fundraising campaign by giving back to the community through scholarships for local high school students.  If BTI reaches its end-of-year fundraising goals, the institute will award scholarships to up to four high school students who plan to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). Chairperson of the BTI board, Laura Philips, as part of her very generous annual giving plan, has pledged to sponsor a $1,000 scholarship for a first-generation college student from the high school of one donor's choice. Donors who give $250 or more to the Unrestricted Futures Campaign between October and December 31 will be entered into the running.

"Lansing High School is so appreciative for the student scholarship made possible by the Boyce Thompson Institute," said Colleen Ledley, Lansing High School Principal. "This celebrates our ongoing partnership with BTI and our Lansing student population."

United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) recently made community investments of $65,197. These grant funds will support agencies and programs that help people meet their immediate, basic needs while creating lasting change by strengthening the three building blocks for a good life: education, financial stability, and health.  The fall grant cycle included grants that were open to all Tompkins County non-profits. Scott Keenan of Tompkins Trust Company, the UWTC Community Investment Committee Chair, presented funding recommendations to the Board of Directors for the 2016 Fall Hunger & Food Security Fund, totaling $38,870.00. Three of the sixteen members of the Youth and Philanthropy Council, Bronwyn Galloway, Claire Conklin, and Hyebin Kim presented the $25,000 grant recommendations to the UWTC Board.

United Way of Tompkins County helps eliminate barriers and create paths to greater self sufficiency. The Hunger & Food Security grant targets alleviating hunger and the Youth & Philanthropy grant supports Education, Financial Stability, and Health services.

The Merlin Bird Photo ID mobile app has been launched and, thanks to machine-learning technology, can identify hundreds of North American species it 'sees' in photos.

The app was developed by Cornell Tech and California Institute of Technology computer vision researchers in partnership with the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology and bird enthusiasts. Because Merlin Bird Photo ID can be used on mobile devices, it can go anywhere bird-watchers go.

"When you open the Merlin Bird Photo ID app, you're asked if you want to take a picture with your smartphone or pull in an image from your digital camera," said Merlin project leader Jessie Barry of the Lab of Ornithology. "You zoom in on the bird, confirm the date and location, and Merlin will show you the top choices for a match from among the 650 North American species it knows."

It sounds like a television game show.  A raffle winner gets to run around a grocery store, filling a cart with as much as he can for three minutes.  The food is his prize.  That is just what happened Wednesday -- sans the television show -- when the Lansing-Ithaca Rotary Club held its first three minute food run at Lansing Market.  The event was held to benefit the Lansing Food Pantry.  The Winner was Lansing Highway Superintendent Charlie Purcell.  Purcell donated all the food he was able to grab to the Food Pantry.

"It's for a good cause and it's good fun," says club member AnnMarie Hautaniemi.  "It's always fun when they do the run.  It's just silly."