Archive: Around Town

by Sarah Post

Hello! I'm Willow, and I'm looking for a quiet home with gentle people. I get a little overwhelmed by lots of new people and places, but once I know you, I'll show you my silly side. I love scratches, cuddling, and already know a few basic tricks. My previous person says I'm a 'love sponge' and 'cuddle muffin' - wouldn't that be nice for the cold Ithaca winter?!? I like treats and would happily learn some more tricks if you teach me! I'm housebroken and don't chew anything except my toys, but I still like to have my crate to nap in and be my 'safe zone.' I bounce around like a puppy when you get the leash to take me for a walk. Because I am easily startled, a family with teenagers or an adult only home would be my preference. A yard where I can run around with you would be wonderful too! In my previous home, the other dog bullied me which has resulted in me being very scared of other dogs. Because of this, I would be happiest as the only dog in the home. Do I sound like a good match for you?

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If you have weekend plans for April 2nd and 3rd, maybe you want to rethink them.  Because that is the weekend of the 27th Tompkins/Cortland Builders & Remodelers Association (TCBRA) Home Show.  This year's show features contractors and builders and building suppliers, as you would expect.  But show organizer David Astorina says the two day event will feature much, much more. 

"We're going to have wine pairings and food pairings." Astorina says.  "We're going to have a couple of restaurants and local chefs represented.  We are working to bring in lots of the other aspects of home into this event.  The idea is that you come to this, explore, you have fun, you have some good food, you get inspired, and maybe you put in a new kitchen or add a room to your house.  It's really going to be like a two day carnival.  I expect to see a lot of smiling faces, and a lot of people inspired and planning new projects, and having a good time."

Eleven fifth grade enrichment students at Lansing Middle School recently placed first in the Northeast Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl earning 94% and 1249 points. In the 6th grade pool, Lansing's twenty-five participants scored 1266 points earning 96% and first place for sixth grade and first place overall in the northeast.

The tests are self-scoring, computer contests of 100 multiple-choice questions. Areas covered include math, geography, government, sports, spelling, science, literature, English, history, general information and just plain fun trivia. It is meant to be a team activity with all takers around one computer.

Christine A. Sanchirico, Executive Director of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), has announced her intention to step down this summer. According to Board President Matthew Braun, "With retirement on her horizon, Chris has given IPEI the opportunity to search for her successor this spring so there can be sufficient overlap for transition."

"I have enjoyed my time at IPEI and am proud of what the board and I have been able to accomplish during my tenure.  Together, we've developed a solid infrastructure to ensure IPEI's impact will continue with success far into the future," expressed Sanchirico.

Three Lansing High School artists have won national awards in this school year's Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition.  Jedidiah Dewey, Lexi Ryan and Elsa Brenner's work will be part of an exhibit of about 300 works or art and 300 works of writing in New York City before going on tour in Scholastic's traveling national exhibition.

"I really think it's a great experience for the students to put their work out there and have it be juried, and get some feedback," Stratton says.  "It's amazing.  Apparently at the regional and national level they like something about what we are doing."

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Tompkins County Public Library will participate in 'Poem in Your Pocket Day' April 28 and offer an open mic poetry event on April 29.

Launched in New York City in 2002, 'Poem in Your Pocket Day' celebrates the rich history of pocket poems—from commonplace books during the Renaissance to pocket-sized publications carried by World War II soldiers.  Since 2008, bookstores, schools, libraries, parks and businesses across the country have embraced 'Poem in Your Pocket Day' by encouraging open readings of pocket poems.

by Ashley Fleming

Hello, dear visitor! My name is Monte, and I was sadly surrendered by my person, who could no longer afford my upkeep. She did say that I'm a very friendly guy who loves attention and sitting in someone's lap being petted. If you grow weary of that activity, I might simply stay in your lap and rub myself on you, thereby getting just about the same effect! I'm much more interested in interacting with people than toys, and here at the SPCA I've been tolerant of some of my fellow felines; if you have another cat at home, ask at the front desk for the best way to introduce his/her new pal; I lived with a dog and another cat in my first home, so it shouldn't be much of a problem. And I'm REALLY looking forward to living with you! Purr...........

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Updates will soon take place with Tompkins County's highly-successful food scraps recycling program, in partnership with Trumansburg-based Cayuga Compost.

Beginning April 1st, the only materials accepted in the program will be food items, paper napkins and towels, and compostable bin liners.   That means all plastics, even those labeled as 'compostable' and other food soiled paper – including all cups and plates – will no longer be accepted.

Teams from Ithaca High School (IHS) and DeWitt Middle School earned resounding wins at the New York State Technology Student Association (NYS TSA) conference on Friday, March 11, earning dozens of individual awards, as well as Chapter of the Year designations at two levels.

The annual all-day conference, hosted by the Technology Department at SUNY Oswego, drew 121 students to 32 competitive events across a broad range of technical fields, from aeronautical engineering to extemporaneous speech to prototype manufacturing to website design. The IHS team took first place in 13 of 20 events, while DeWitt earned first in 9 of 12.

Aurora, New York—Wells College's faculty has voted to make the College test-optional in its admissions requirements. As a result, prospective students may choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores with their applications. The decision is in keeping with Wells' goals of improving the student experience and making the process more encouraging. The change will take effect beginning with the class arriving in the fall of 2017 (Class of 2021).

This change to the admissions process is being enacted by numerous colleges and universities across the country, opening the door for students who have traditionally been under-represented in the higher education landscape despite their performance and achievements in other areas. Because test preparation services are more readily available to students in higher-income areas, these scores may not accurately or equally reflect the potential of students in all communities.

Lansing Board of Education President Christine Iacobucci welcomed the newest board member Monday.  Linda Pasto was appointed to fill Karen McGreevey's remaining term, which has about two and a half months left.  McGreevey left her board position because her family moved out of state.  Pasto attended her first school board meeting Monday.

When McGreevey announced her resignation the board solicited statements from interested residents.  Iacobucci said about five responded, and the board chose to appoint Pasto.  Pasto may choose to run for a full term in this May's election.

Cayuga Medical Center congratulated Marguerite Sterling, RN and Charles Garbo, MD for receiving the Louis Munchmeyer Award for Excellence at the Cayuga Medical Center Medical Staff Annual Meeting, which was held this month.

Non-Physician Recipient:  Marguerite Sterling, RN, is a registered nurse; she currently works full-time in the radiation oncology department at Cayuga Medical Center. She is a very dedicated nurse in radiation oncology and instrumental in the birth and growth of the thyroid nodule clinic.  Marguerite Sterling has been with Cayuga Medical Center for 35 years.