Archive: Around Town

ICSD Announces Administrative Appointments

: By ICSD; Around Town; | Jan 31, 2020 |

On Tuesday, January 28, 2020, the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Board of Education approved two administrative appointments for the 2020-2021 school year. Beginning July 1, 2020, Daniel Breiman will assume the role of Administration Officer and Jeffrey Tomasik will replace Breiman as the principal of Belle Sherman Elementary School.

Breiman, an Ithaca native and ICSD alum, began his career in education in 2001 as a classroom inclusion teacher in New York City and then as an inclusion specialist in Cambridge, M.A. In 2003, he moved to Houston, T.X., where he worked as an educator and school administrator for eight years, including four years as an elementary principal. Breiman returned to Ithaca in 2011, after being appointed principal of Belle Sherman Elementary School, where he currently still serves.

TCAT To Pilot On-Demand Rides Via "Tconnect" For Dryden

: By Patty Poist; Around Town; | Jan 31, 2020 |

Given the high cost of running buses to sparsely populated areas, many people in rural Tompkins County don't enjoy the same level of transit as do their urban – and to some extent – their suburban counterparts. These so-called "transit deserts" afflicting communities nationwide can make it difficult, if not impossible, for rural residents without cars to get to jobs, schools or wherever they need go.

Tompkins County transportation leaders and a cutting edge software company are hoping they found part of the solution through the creation of a low-cost, on-demand, app-based transit service called "Tconnect, "a two-year pilot project starting in April in the Dryden area.

Brady to Lead TCAT Board of Directors

: By Patty Poist; Around Town; | Jan 31, 2020 |

Veteran transportation professional Bridgette Brady assumed the leadership role as 2020 chairperson for the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) Board of Directors at the board's annual meeting Jan. 23.

Brady, senior director of Cornell University's transportation and delivery services, has served on the TCAT board since 2015. She replaces Ducson Nguyen, Ithaca Common Council 2nd-Ward alderperson, who now assumes the role of immediate past chairperson.

SPCA Pet of the Week - Fetti

: By Adam Kramarsyck; Around Town; | Jan 31, 2020 |

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hey folks, I’m Fetti! I’m an adorable gal with an affinity for wiggling my way into your lap and your heart at the same time. I’m pretty excitable and love playing keep away and tug-o-war with my toys. . I’d rather not share my most prized possessions with strangers though, like my favourite toys or my food dish. I probably won’t mind having a canine buddy, as long as they let me be top dog. I betcha $100 bucks that, if you come hang out with me for a while, you’ll find me irresistible. Care to take my wager?

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'Miracle' Breakthrough To Shape Future Of Particle Accelerators

: By Cornell University; Around Town; | Jan 24, 2020 |

In the early morning of Dec. 24, 2019 – days ahead of a critical deadline, and just hours before Cornell closed its facilities for winter break – the physicists developing an energy-conserving particle accelerator that was first envisioned more than 50 years ago achieved something they'd hardly dared to imagine: success.

"We could not believe it," said Georg Hoffstaetter, professor of physics and a principal investigator for the Cornell-BNL ELR Test Accelerator Facility, known as CBETA. "The team had been in the control room for weeks until often 2 or 3 a.m., and then things finally came together on the last day before vacation – it was just a miracle. None of us could sleep."

SPCA Pet of the Week - Marian

: By Adam Kramarsyck; Around Town; | Jan 24, 2020 |

By Doug Scott

This incredibly sweet lady was found as a stray and now is ready to find a warm home for the winter. Marian is a wiggly, little sweetheart. You won't be able to resist her full body tail wag and wide grin! She walks very nicely on leash—doesn’t pull and likes to stop for the occasional sniff. Marian is still young and can be exuberant while playing, both with humans and other dogs. She might prefer to be an only pup-- this girl is a sponge for attention!

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Helming Attends New York State Wine Grape Growers Meeting

: By Office of NYS Senator Pam Helming; Around Town; | Jan 24, 2020 |

Senator Pam Helming attended and spoke at the New York State Wine Grape Growers 2020 Annual Members Meeting on Friday, January 17 at Anthony Road Wine Company. The meeting recapped the organization’s achievements over the past year and their priorities for 2020 were discussed.

Human Rights Arts Competition Winners Announced

: By Geoff Dunn; Around Town; | Jan 24, 2020 |

Since 1988 the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights’ Annual Arts Competition has engaged K-12 students in classrooms across the County. In advance of International Human Rights Day in December, students learn about the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly.

The UDHR is comprised of 30 articles. Students entering the contest can express themselves with visual art, poetry, short film or recorded performance (dance or spoken word) addressing one or more articles of the Declaration. Students—428 in all—submitted entries to this year’s Competition from three districts and seven schools, guided by 21 teachers.

Congressman Reed Visits Ithaca-Tompkins International Airport

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Jan 24, 2020 |

Congressman Tom Reed (center) with Tompkins County Acting Legislature Chairman Mike Sigler (left) and airport manager Mike Hall

Congressman Tom Reed was in the Village of Lansing Thursday to tour the Ithaca-Tompkins International Airport. Yesterday was the 'after' tour following Reed's 'before' tour last August, when he viewed the airport expansion while it was under construction and highlighted a $10 million federal investment in the project.

"Obviously it was a great partnership between us at the federal level and our state partners and local investors," Reed said. "When you see public money being deployed, like General Hall has done, here is exactly what it's all about. This is improving the community, providing access to our great area and exposing it to the world in a first-class way."

SPCA Pet of the Week - Mrs. Potts

: By Adam Kramarsyck; Around Town; | Jan 17, 2020 |

By Adam Kramarsyck

Meet Mrs. Potts! She is a lovely tortoiseshell cat, ready to find her forever home! Mrs. Potts is a sweet but reserved girl. When she sees you, she will likely start "making biscuits". This means she is ready for some pets. She can be playful at times, especially if you have a laser pointer. Mostly, she really just wants to keep you company or maybe have some self-care time giving herself a bath in the sun. She seems to enjoy her solitude, so she's looking for a home without other cats right now. Come and check her out! I bet you will be fast friends!

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New Roots Charter School Announces $200,000 Gift

: By Sherrie Negrea; Around Town; | Jan 17, 2020 |

An anonymous donor has pledged $200,000 to New Roots Charter School to help it address the fiscal and enrollment issues that led the SUNY Board of Trustees Charter Schools Committee to place the high school on probation in December. News of the school's financial status has inspired an outpouring of community support, including the pledge of the local anonymous donor that will support school operations through the 2020-2021 school year.

"This incredible, inspiring and unexpected gift was made by a donor who wants our school to thrive as a resource to young people and our community," said Tina Nilsen-Hodges, principal and superintendent. "We are deeply grateful for this breathtaking act of philanthropy."

Teacher Retreat Teachers Announced 

: By Fine Arts Booster Group; Around Town; | Jan 17, 2020 |

The Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, in partnership with the Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of IPEI, is offering a creative retreat for teachers of the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) teachers and other districts in Tompkins County during the February and April school breaks. The program is designed to provide residency-type retreats for local teachers in creative writing, photography/film/video, and painting/sculpture/visual art. The program is free for teachers selected through a lottery system.

Howarth Appointed To New York Climate Action Council

: By Cornell University; Around Town; | Jan 17, 2020 |

Robert Howarth, the David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology, has been appointed to the new Climate Action Council, an exclusive 22-member group created to bring about New York state's ambitious path to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions and promote green energy. Howarth is one of three people on the 22-member group appointed by Carl Heastie, speaker of the New York State Assembly

The CLCPA mandates a 40% reduction in all greenhouse gas emissions across New York state by 2030; an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas reduction by 2050; and 100% renewable electricity production by 2040. The new law will require updated accounting for methane emissions, a strong driver of atmospheric warming. That updated accounting was recommended based on Howarth's research.

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