Archive: Around Town

South Hill Elementary School's three first grade teachers; Patti Caughey, Nancy Marino, and Kathleen White; were honored with the Raymond C. Loehr Innovative Science Teaching Award at the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Convocation for all staff members on September 2. Managed by the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), the award was presented by Loehr's son Stephen Yale-Loehr and Ann Caren, IPEI board member and Awards Committee Chair.

Raymond Loehr's family initiated the teaching award at the time of his 70th birthday in honor of his career as a science educator. It has been presented to nine different teachers from Ithaca's elementary and secondary schools. A second award in his honor is presented each June to a student who excels in environmental science.

The Lansing Central School District has received word that a new septic system planned for Lansing Middle School may conflict with a Native American burial site.  School Administrator Mary June King told the Board of Education that experts at Tetra Tech Architects and Engineers are in the process of determining whether an expensive site survey will be needed.  A project to spend up to $4,100,000 to replace the district's three failing septic systems, including the Middle School's septic, was approved by voters in May.

"The state has requested that the district conduct a Phase 1 Archeological Survey," King said.  "We are putting that septic system right in where the previous septic was.  We wouldn't be disturbing new ground.  This letter from the Office of Historic Preservation talks about the depth we may have to go to now and things of that nature."

St. John's Church, Ithaca proudly announces that it has appointed Karen Hindenlang as Organist and Director of Music.  In addition to producing magnificent music from St. John's historic organ, Hindenlang will direct the church's Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, and Children's Choir.

Hindenlang has earned degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Wells College.  She also has studied at Cornell University, Westminster Choir College and the Choate Organ Institute.  She taught music history at University of Rochester and Colgate University and designed a music program for students K-8 in a private school in Auburn, NY where she taught for nearly 20 years.

Lansing Councilman Ed LaVigne took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Monday to raise awareness of The ALS Association's fundraising campaign.  LaVigne was challenged by the Parks & Rec Department's Recreation Supervisor Pat Tyrrell, who was similarly soaked last week.

"It's been an ongoing thing," Tyrrell says.  "I think all of the town employees have done it.  ALS is a good cause to donate to."

Katniss is a three year old sweetheart who was brought to the shelter by a Trumansburg resident who found Miss K wandering down the road that heads out of town. She is a terrific cat who is always happy to meet a new friend. She is not at all shy about asking for petting and attention and she is very relaxed and affectionate when picked up. We think she would be a great addition to a loving family with children of any age, so no matter who lives in your home, Katniss would be thrilled to join the fun!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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If you're thinking that summer's almost over, you're not the only one.  The Lansing Republican Party is hosting a 'Summer's Last Hurrah' dance at the Lakewatch Inn Saturday.  Republican Ed LaVigne says you don't have to be a Republican to come and have a good time.  In fact he insists that although the dance is a fundraiser for Lansing Republicans, it is an opportunity for people of all political persuasions to come together.

"This is not just a Republican, one-party only dance.  Everybody is invited to this," he says.  "There are not going to be any speeches.  basically it's about people of all different thoughts that will come together and talk to each other.  I think our town has been divided too long by politics, when it's people first.  This dance is indicative of what we're trying to do in Lansing, which is to bring people together.  That's what this is about."

The first day of school is only a week away.  Lansing Middle School will be bustling with activity, students, teachers and staff and parents.  In the quiet of summer the staff has been polishing up the building and getting classrooms ready.  And new principal Jeffrey Evener has been finding his way around the building and learning as much as he can about the Lansing Central School District.

Jeffrey Evener just about bleeds Groton, his home town.  A graduate of the Groton schools, he married Beth, also a Groton native, and eventually became the Junior/Senior High School Principal and Athletic Director of the district he grew up in.  He is currently the Mayor of the Village of Groton.  So why the move to Lansing Middle School?

For the third year, Q Country morning host, Chris Allinger is strapping on his backpack to walk for the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s BackPack Program™.  His “Walkin’ the Country” event is set for September 8-12 and will take the DJ to every town in Tompkins County raising funds for the program that helps children at risk of hunger on weekends and holidays during the school year.

Once again this year, Allinger is teaming with Cornell Athletics & Physical Education staff, coaches and friends.  Allinger and members of the Food Bank staff will address the Cornell Athletics & Physical Education all-staff meeting the morning of September 8th and at 10:00 a.m. Allinger will begin his walk from the front of the Friedman Wrestling Center on the Cornell campus.  Allinger recalls, “What a thrill it was to start the walk last year at Cornell.  The entire staff assembled in a tremendous line cheering the very first steps as the very first check went into the backpack.  With that caliber of people kicking off our effort, we just knew the walk would be successful.  I’m grateful that they invited me back this year to kick off the walk at their annual meeting.”

Aurora, New York—Wells College has appointed Richard Kegler as the new Director of the Wells Book Arts Center. Kegler is the founder of P22 type foundry and the Western New York Book Arts Center in Buffalo, New York. As a trustee for the American Printing History Association, Kegler's forays into contemporary book arts and the history of fine press and printing have been far reaching.

Kegler is taking over for Nancy Gil, who is retiring from the position. Gil has taught French and English as a Second Language at Wells College since 1974, and she was appointed as Director of the Book Arts Center in 2007.

Just in time for the start of school, three area nonprofits have teamed up to offer a super sale on reusable goods, furniture, electronics, architectural salvage items and more.

On August 22-23, new and returning students as well as area residents will find a compact route for the ReUse Trail at three Ithaca locations running from a Tag Sale for Habitat for Humanity at Pritchard Automotive on Cayuga Street to a Sidewalk Sale at Significant Elements on Center Street and down Plain Street to a Tent Sale at the future Ithaca ReUse Center on Old Elmira Road.

Appa is a sweet Shepherd/Cattle dog mix who has lived with both dogs and cats before, and got along great with them. Appa's playstyle may be too much for some dogs, so a dog meet is a must if you have another canine at home. We've found that Appa is a bit wary of strangers, but will warm up to you quickly if you give him a chance to get to know you on his own terms. He is reportedly crate trained and housebroken. We believe Appa will be the star of any obedience class because of how intelligent he is. Come meet this wonderful boy today, you won't be able to resist bringing him home!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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	A few years ago, my heart stopped functioning properly. A cardiac artery was blocked, and I felt some strange and scary symptoms. The blockage was relieved with a stent, and the hospital that installed it included a detailed lecture to all such patients. They don’t want to see us again. Heeding that information has kept me healthy, and I want to share what I’ve learned.

Heart patients are routinely told to severely limit their intake of saturated fats. I’ve mentioned the handy rule of thumb, to buy foods only if they contain two or fewer grams of saturated fat per serving, regardless of total fat or cholesterol. This guideline has served me well.

Or so I thought. If you Google 'fats and heart disease,' first up is a typically thorough New York Times article from last March. It leans on a megastudy, or study of studies, published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The authors analyzed “nearly 80” studies that, combined, followed over a half-million people. And guess what? They found that eating saturated fat appears to have no relation, by itself, to heart disease. They also found no beneficial effect from higher use of “good fats,” such as olive oil. What was that? Say that again?

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