Archive: Around Town

After 25 years of service, Sciencenter Executive Director, Charlie Trautmann, has announced his retirement from the organization, effective spring 2017. During his tenure, Trautmann shepherded the Sciencenter from a tiny, all-volunteer, storefront venture to a vibrant, welcoming, nationally recognized institution. His leadership and focused vision helped to create a community movement dedicated to improving the region's resources and opportunities for its youth.

Through Trautmann's visionary leadership, the Sciencenter has grown to welcome over 100,000 guests annually and reaches over one million guests nationally through its traveling exhibitions and national programs. Over the years, the Sciencenter has established a solid reputation for growth and innovation both locally and among its peers in the international museum community. At the heart of this work has been Trautmann's passion to inspire children to learn and become excited about science and their world.

This innovative new curriculum uses geographical information system (GIS) mapping to help students make educated decisions about energy-related challenges. Community partner Karen Edelstein is a GIS Specialist with FracTracker Alliance. Edelstein partnered with Laura VanVleet to create digital story maps for the Ithaca City School District (ICSD), thus establishing an interactive and media-rich mapping program.

These maps and lesson plans function as an organizational system that connects the students' activities and documents together. Students will use these maps as a way to link what they have learned to what they would like to learn about each topic.

When Andy Sciarabba walked into Lansing Market last weekend he found the staff elated.  The results of the Ithaca Journal Reader's Choice poll were out, and Lansing Market was voted the second most favorite grocery store in Tompkins County, sandwiched between #1 Greenstar Natural Foods Market, and #3 Wegman's.  Sciarabba, who heads the group of investors that built and operate the small supermarket, was thrilled.

"Greenstar came in first, we were second, and Wegmans was third," he says.  "We're very happy about that. We certainly didn't politic for it -- I didn't even know people were voting.  I walked into the store and people were yelling and screaming, 'We're number two!'"

Eleven years ago today the first issue of the Lansing Star Online hit the Internet.  Today is the exact anniversary of that issue, and today Lansing's free home town online newspaper is still chronicling the doings in our Finger Lakes township.  To celebrate we are also launching a new look.  While we have tried to keep the same functionality we have been adding little features and making small changes leading up to today's makeover.

Functionally, the most significant change is the menu bar.  Now including drop-down menu choices, all the are listed in one menu, rather than the system of changing menus we used before.  For now we are also keeping the menu in the sidebar on the right.  That menu takes you to the main sections of the Star, but it is the horizontal menu just below our logo that has all our pages.  Hover over one of the main sections and more choices pop down.  For instance, hover over Entertainment and you can also get to our Movies and Puzzles pages.

Dr. William Klepack, Medical Director of the Tompkins County Health Department, has been recognized as 2016 Family Physician of the Year by the New York State Academy of Family Physicians (NYSAFP).

The award, presented last month at the Academy's Congress of Delegates meeting, recognizes "an exemplary member of the family medicine profession in New York who has worked tirelessly to ensure the highest quality of care for his or her patients during one's career."

"I am very, very gratified that the Academy recognized me through this award.  I can think of many fine family physicians across the state doing very fine work who could deserve such very fine recognition, as well, Dr. Klepack said.

The Ithaca Rotary Club has been awarded a $2,400 grant from its home Rotary District 7170. The monies are designated for a new "Personal Care and Diaper Drive" program, which will be conducted in collaboration with Catholic Charities of Tompkins and Tioga Counties. Led by Rotarians Jean McPheeters and Mary Berens, this project is an extension of the existing Linen Closet program between Rotary and Catholic Charities. These new grant funds will provide much-needed diapers, toothbrushes and toothpaste to families in need across Tompkins County.

"We came up with this idea because diapers are so expensive and so needed," said McPheeters. "We learned that the average newborn uses 2,950 diapers in the first year of life, at a cost of over $500. And, of the estimated 850 yearly births in Tompkins County, about one fifth of these children are born into families in poverty. That scenario spells 'need' and we want to help."

Dear Margaret:  My 7 year old son came home from camp yesterday sad and upset because his "best friend" was mean to him and told him he didn't want to be friends with him anymore. It is the first time he has come home and said something like that. It upset me to the point of tears. My son was over it in 5 minutes and said, "We'll be friends again tomorrow," but it is so hard for me. My husband says they are just little kids and that's just what little kids do, and that I'm overreacting. Seeing his feelings hurt makes feel like dying inside. I told my son that if his friend is mean to him again that he just needs to say "I don't want to be friends with you either" and go play with someone else. My son said that he didn't want to say that because that was a "mean" thing to say. He has such a good heart. My husband says I can't shield him from emotional heartbreak or physical pain. It is a part of life. And I know that, but I don't know if I'll ever get past this overprotectiveness. How do I move forward and let my son feel pain, hurt, and rejection?   Overprotective
 

Growing Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport

On June 8th Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $10 million has been awarded for airport capital project improvements in 20 airports across New York State, including $619,935 to the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport for construction of a flight academy building.  The new building will be a major part of the transition from East Hill Flying Club (EHFC) to East Hill Flying Academy.  Airport Manager Mike Hall says that will bring more people to learn to fly and help grow the airport.

"We've been very fortunate to receive a grant to relocate East Hill Flying Club and morph it into the East Hill Flight Academy," Hall says.  "East Hill Flying Club, the busiest flight school in the state, will become a flight academy.  The funding will be used to build a new facility and East Hill Flying Club will vacate its current home, which could be rented to a new tenant."

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The Board of Directors of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) announced that Steven Manley has been hired as its new executive director.

Manley begins the position in late August. He brings classroom teaching experience, dynamic leadership, team-building expertise, and a keen understanding of IPEI's impact.

"We are thrilled to have someone with Steve's combination of experiences and level of commitment to educational outcomes join our organization," said IPEI Board President Matthew Braun. "He is an innovative educator who has developed connections with community partners to enhance his students' learning experiences."

When I was young, our family went camping, or went out on Cayuga Lake on the boat. That was the extent of our recreation. No cable TV, no cell phones and no wineries (believe it or not). We had to be creative and somehow kept busy without Pokemon Go and the constant bombardment of advertisements and a thousand sources of information all vying for our attention (and money).

On this backdrop, the places I review aren't necessarily the top of the line restaurants or Disney like attractions – they are more for just folks, like me, who want to have a good time doing something new without completely draining their wallets.

The Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, a division of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, announced Thursday that Peggy Coleman has been hired as the new Vice President, Tourism and Community Relations.  Ms. Coleman brings over 29 years of demonstrated success in destination marketing to the Ithaca/Tompkins County team, most recently as President of the Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau headquartered in Corning, NY.

With extensive experience in sales, marketing, visitor services, and organizational management, Ms. Coleman will lead the CVB team to develop and deploy a creative integrated strategic marketing plan, a comprehensive and highly effective visitor services program, and increase group tourism as well as meeting and conference business to Ithaca and Tompkins County. In addition to her extensive experience, Ms. Coleman brings a wealth of connections to tourism industry professionals on state, national, and international level.