Archive: Around Town

As hospitals across the country try to manage a surge in coronavirus patients while also facing a global shortage in the protective gear needed to treat them, the Cornell community has banded together to donate crucial medical supplies to local health care providers. The push to collect supplies began March 16 when Deputy Provost John Siliciano emailed college deans to ask if any of their research labs had extra viral specimen swabs or personal protective equipment (PPE) that could be sent to Cayuga Medical Center.

The response was immediate. Departments and units from almost every college echoed the call and began coordinating efforts to gather the supplies. Research facilities across campus turned into impromptu staging areas for collection. The College of Veterinary Medicine alone donated 900 N95 respirators to CMC, as well as swabs for sample testing, and is looking into providing animal ventilators that can also be used for humans. Even groups not directly linked to technical or medical research, like MBA students in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, took up the call.

One of the most often repeated complaints on social media about being stuck at home during the coronavirus crisis is 'I'm bored'.  But there are so many things to occupy our time if we just look for them.  I spent a morning Tuesday looking at customer reviews of products on Amazon, and nearly fell off my chair laughing.  I didn't even know you could buy uranium ore over the Internet!

All Aglow Over My Purchase
Uranium Ore

I left this product next to my pet lizard, unfortunately now he's 350ft tall now and is currently destroying Tokyo, Japan.


  Great for making things glow...I can see my organs now if I pull the sheets over my head


I got a free cat in the box with this purchase but I'm not sure if I should open it to see if the cat is ok.

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hi! I’m Coco! I’m a wiggly little fella with a heart of gold. I love attention from my human friends, but I would rather approach you first. I love squeaky toys and stolen items. I’m looking for a home that will love me for who I am. Also, a home that is free of small children and/or other dogs. I’m not really a fan of either. I’m an older gentleman, set in my ways, but would be a great addition to your home once we’ve gotten to know each other. Just imagine us curled up in front of a fireplace on a cold January evening. Me, sleeping by your side, and you, listening to my adorable snoring. What do ya think? Sounds perfect huh?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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An at-home activity while waiting out the coronavirus...

I'm not a coffee snob.  Or a coffee aficionado.  I honestly like Taster's Choice, the French Roast flavor, and while their decaf isn't nearly as tasty, I like it fine.  And I like my coffee 'black'.  My wife is the opposite.  She has more coffee making devices than I can count, and she puts things in her coffee.  So it was no surprise that she got me to try a Starbuck's French Roast K-cup.  The surprise was that I liked it.

I also liked the quickness and neatness of it.  No shaky hand spilling instant coffee all over the kitchen counter.  No waiting for water to boil, which is literally as boring as waiting for water to boil.  Easy cleanup.  What's not to like?  So I thought I might find a decaf, a great activity I could do at home while waiting for the coronavirus to do whatever it is going to do.  So I decided to embark on a quest to find a decaf k-cup that I actually like as mush as the caffeinated Starbuck's French Roast.  I ordered a sampler of 30 different brands/flavors, and set up a spreadsheet with four columns: Yes, OK, Meh, and Awful.

As restaurants across the state were ordered closed this week, two eateries in Ithaca decided to donate their excess food to a free meal program offered by New Roots Charter School.  The owners of Viva Taqueria and Pasta Vitto on The Commons offered a generous donation of food on Monday to New Roots' free farm-to-school meal program. The owners made the offer after New Roots broadcast the free farm-to-school meals to any youth in the community.

"We are closing tonight for the foreseeable future," Ursula Kurman Browning, the owner of Viva Taqueria, wrote in an email to New Roots staff. "I saw that you were providing food for your students. We have lots of food — prepped and not prepped — and were wondering if you would be interested in any of it."

During these times of uncertainty, providing emergency meals to our older adult neighbors is critical. Through emergency funding from United Way of Tompkins County, Foodnet Meals on Wheels has been able to immediately provide a safety supply of 8,750 meals to an estimated 625 older adults and others in need.

"My greatest concern a week ago was that, should anyone in the Foodnet community test positive for or even be exposed to COVID-19, we will see a service disruption, " explained Jessica Gosa, Executive Director of Foodnet. "This funding and the frozen meals we are preparing to deliver today ensure that Foodnet clients will have access to adequate nutrition in the event of service disruptions related to Coronavirus."

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hi! I'm Sunday, but I'm available all week! I'm sweet, and my purr rivals all others. I'm surprisingly playful for a bigger gal! I love playing with balls or chasing a wand toy. I'm looking for a nice home that will let me adjust at my own pace. Please come visit me today, I bet we'll be buddies in no time.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Today is the 27th Friday the 13th since the Lansing Star began publishing.  It is widely considered to be the least lucky day of the year.  Nobody really knows why, and there is no evidence that Friday the 13th is any less lucky than other days.  And the Lansing Star is still publishing, which could be considered good or bad luck depending on your point of view.

Some people think the superstition traces back to the crucifixion of Jesus, which took place on a Friday after 13 guests attended the Last Supper.  And you know who the 13th guest was... Judas.  He certainly turned out to be unlucky for Jesus!

As part of its annual recognition of Women's History Month in March, Senator Pam Helming and her colleagues unveiled a display on the first floor of the Legislative Office Building in Albany which commemorates women suffragists who have advocated for the right to vote and were a voice for furthering additional women's rights.

"2020 is such a historic year for women, marking the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Because of the brave women that came before us, women living in this great nation have the opportunity to vote and to have our voices heard. This anniversary is especially near and dear to our region as Seneca Falls was the site of the first Women's Rights Convention in 1848 and is now home to the National Women's Hall of Fame," said Helming.

 

	Update: Due to COVID-19 the entire FRC season has been cancelled

Code Red Robotics (Ithaca High School’s FIRST robotics team) has reached the end of their two month build season, and is getting ready for their first competition this weekend! For the past two months, students have worked over 35 hours per week for two months designing, strategizing, prototyping, machining, assembling and programming a 125-pound robot, and now it’s all coming together.

Code Red Robotics attends two regional competitions per year. Teams that win regionals are invited to the world championships. This year, Code Red is attending the Finger Lakes Regional on March 12 - 14, and was scheduled for the Central New York Regional on March 19 - 21. However, due to the developing COVID-19 situation, the Central New York Regional has been delayed indefinitely.

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It's not too late to see Lansing High School Theater Club's production of 'Once Upon A Mattress' today and tomorrow at 7:00 in the Lansing Middle School auditorium.  The musical comedy, based on 'The Princess and the Pea', is directed by Cynthia Howell, who has directed Lansing High School musicals for over 30 years.

Prince Dauntless (Ryan Hsu) is looking for a bride.  His incessantly talkative mother, Queen Aggravain (Audrey Lyons) who has taken over the kingdom because of a curse on King Sextimus (John Hearn), has tested and rejected a dozen girls.  No one is allowed to marry until Prince Dauntless is married and it appeared that Queen Aggraain didn't want him to marry. Sir Harry (Dillon Tyler) can't marry Lady Larken (Teresa Garcia) with whom he is going to have his child, offers to the Queen that he will embark to find a suitable princess.  Reluctantly she agrees.

Picture provided by Martha Frommelt, Boynton Middle School Concert, January 2020
The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of IPEI, has awarded $1,625.56 in three grants to Ithaca City School District (ICSD) programs that will reach 300 students.  Grant funds are made possible through FABG performance booklet ad sales and individual donations. The boosters produce performance booklet programs for middle and high school concerts and plays, totaling over 35 events each year. 


Fine Arts Booster Group grants were awarded for district-wide and special projects. Vanessa Wagner, FABG Treasurer, noted, "The Fine Arts Booster Group helps leverage and expand community connections in partnership with the Ithaca City School District."