Archive: Around Town

Sweet Lulu came to live at the SPCA as an adult when her owner became too ill to care for her. She has the most adorable smooshed-in face with big, adorable round eyes. This friendly tabby is just waiting to find a second loving home where she can relax and play.  Don't you need a sweet older girl with some pep in her step for your home? Come visit her today!

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The Lansing Board of Education thanked 5th grader Diva Shrivastava for winning a competition that awarded $500 to her school.  Shrivastava placed first in the Ithaca round  in the Mathnasium of Ithaca local TriMathlon.  She placed second nationally, resulting in a $500 check that was presented to the school board Monday..

"A top national TriMathlon finish is no easy task, as Diva was up against the winners in her grade level from more than 200 Mathnasium locations," said Mathnasium of Ithaca franchise owner Ewan Barr.

Fifty years after the release of the first Surgeon General's report on smoking and health, remarkable progress has been made. Since 1964, smoking prevalence among U.S. adults has been reduced by half. Unfortunately, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. On January 16, 2014, the Surgeon General will release the 32nd Report on Smoking and Health in recognition of the 50th anniversary. The report will present new data on the health consequences of tobacco use, and detail initiatives that can end the tobacco use epidemic in the United States.

In New York, tobacco use remains the leading cause of premature death and disease, with the highest smoking rates among the poorest New Yorkers who disproportionately suffer the deadly consequences of tobacco use.

The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) announced Thursday that enhancements will begin this month to make the Cayuga Nature Center lodge accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for the first time in its history. The enhancements, which will be sensitive to the historical appearance of the WPA-era building, will provide a more welcoming experience to all visitors by summer 2014.

The renovations will include wheelchair ramps, an ADA-accessible lift, a large double-door entrance, and a new lobby and reception area. These enhancements are part of a larger strategic multi-phase effort to develop a 'new' Nature Center, which will serve as a premier educational venue for teaching and learning about the natural history of the Cayuga Lake basin. New exhibits and programming will focus on the local climate, evolution, forest ecology, flora and fauna, and human impacts.

	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.

The main topic this time is drugs, both legal and otherwise. Obviously, your doctor needs to know your history and everything you take, whether prescriptions or over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements. And of course, you have that list on a card in your wallet or purse for easy reference. Soon enough, it'll be quicker and easier to dial it up on line from your medical ID number.

Some OTC meds and supplements can clash with prescriptions and each other, so be careful. Even food can cause medication problems. Grapefruit juice and grapefruit itself, for instance, can exaggerate the effect of medications, which can be dangerous. A pharmacist can often tell you about interactions. He or she is a wonderful source of free information. And feel free to ask about interactions with alcohol and anything illegal. They'll tell you without telling on you.

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Tompkins County legislative leaders are praising the State’s decision to refrain from closing psychiatric centers in Elmira and Binghamton, announced late yesterday by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“We are delighted that the Governor and the Office of Mental Health have heard the pleas of patients, their families, and the communities of the Southern Tier,” said Legislature Chair Martha Robertson. “We value the quality mental health care that the Elmira Psychiatric Center and the Greater Binghamton Health Center provide, and we value the dedicated and skilled employees who provide that care. It's a good day for the Southern Tier!”

Tompkins County is the latest municipality in New York State to call on the State Legislature to enact Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. It would require producers – or stewards – to take financial responsibility for collecting and recycling products at the end of their useful life and provide incentives to design products that are more durable, easy to repair and recycle, and less toxic.

According to the U-S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), manufactured goods and packaging constitute roughly 75% of the materials disposed of in the United States, with an estimated 164 million tons of material ending up in landfills each year.  State EPR legislation would help support Tompkins County’s waste diversion goals.

Dobby is a handsome two year old lab mix who is a good boy with a lot to offer. He can be protective of his people, he gets along well with most other dogs, and will do well in a household with people aged 16 and older and a large doggy roommate. Dobby is very loving and loyal, and bonds quickly with people who show him kindness. He needs that special someone who will take the time to create a bond and build a trusting relationship.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Ithaca Community Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of IPEI, has awarded $6289.70 to Ithaca City School District (ICSD) teachers as mini-grants serving almost 1,900 students.  Funded projects include music and dance workshops, furniture design and construction, technical theater, storytelling, visiting artists, and many more.

Funds are raised through the FABG performance booklet advertisement sales. The Boosters produce performance booklets for middle and high school concerts and plays, totaling over 30 events each year.

The Lansing Fire Commissioners received a letter from the parents of Ryan Burris, a 28 year old man who perished in a Lansing house fire in 2011.  The letter was an emotional indictment of the fire commissioners, arguing passionately for a paid fire department to replace the current volunteer personnel on the grounds that response time would have been much less, and possibly saved their son's life.  The family claimed that departments with smaller budgets than Lansing are manned with paid personnel.

"There's no way that's possible," Lansing Fire Commission Chairman Robert Wagner says.  "I think we're as good as any paid department around here.  As long as we can keep that up we're not going to visit the issue."

Guests to the Sciencenter can get a turtle’s-eye view of life in the 'slow lane' when the featured interactive exhibition, 'Turtle Travels,' opens on Saturday, January 18.

The exhibition opens Saturday, January 18, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, January 19, 12 pm – 5 pm. Throughout the weekend there will be special hands-on activities including making a 3D turtle shell and creating an origami turtle. At 10:30 am on Saturday, toddlers and preschoolers are invited to a special 'Turtle Travels Yoga' where they’ll hear stories and explore how turtles travel through fun, creative movement.

	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.

Getting used to reading labels has its rewards. Such as better health. Fewer or no further heart problems. Longer life. Better quality of life. Little things like that. Just think: Take care of yourself, and you have more years in which to drive your spouse crazy. What’s not to like?

Remember, when you look at the nutritional breakdown, don’t worry about fat content or even cholesterol. Sure, they matter, but saturated fat content is an easy reference, and it’ll tell you what you need to know most efficiently: If a serving contains more than two grams of saturated fat, put it back. Over two, not for you. Got it?

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