Archive: Around Town

The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) now has research-based evidence for what it has always believed: the programs and activities that it funds through grants to teachers and schools are effective at increasing student engagement.

Data from reports submitted by teachers who were awarded grants during the 2012-13 school year show that Ithaca City School District (ICSD) students' engagement rose by an average of nearly 50 percent following an IPEI grant-funded activity.

For students identified as "performing below grade level," the average increase in engagement was even higher, almost doubling after participation in IPEI-funded programs, as measured by classroom teachers.

The 2013 Apple for the Teacher Award recipients included: Chris Barley (Beverly J Martin School), Janet Bowman (Ithaca High School), Bill Finnerty (Dryden Middle School), Cathy Gee (Ithaca City School District), Debra Hann (Prattsburg Central School), Erin Hansen(Dryden Elementary School), Dalaine Hodge (Trumansburg Elementary School), Sarah Neff (Groton Elementary School), James Sanderson (McGraw Elementary School), Sue Schwartz (New Roots Charter School), Kelly Simmons (Nathan T. Hall Elementary School), and Terri Siwula (Cassavant Elementary School).

Cayuga Radio Group symbolically kicks off the Program each fall by delivering apples to public school teachers in Tompkins and Cortland Counties. The seven Cayuga Radio Group stations (NewsTalk 870AM/95.9FM  WHCU, Lite Rock 97.3, 103.7 Q-Country 103.7, Classic Rock I-100, HITS 103.3, 96.7 The Vine,  and Progressive Talk 1470 WNYY ) ask listeners to submit nominations as to why a certain teacher deserves the Apple for the Teacher Award.

William Lewis wants Lansing middle and high school students to Go Ment@l.  That may sound like a wacky spring break party, but in reality it stands for 'Mentoring At Lansing', a tutoring program Lewis spearheaded in 2011.  Since then the Lansing High School junior has been expanding the program, which now includes 29 tutors, all students, who regularly help their peers with tough subjects, especially math.

"Ment@l is a tutoring program that is active in the Lansing Middle School and Lansing High School," Lewis explains.  "It is available to all students who want to come and seek help.  Upper level students who excel in our classes are recruited as student tutors, so it operates on a completely peer-to-peer basis.  It is an agent of social change in the Lansing Central School District that will encourage an environment in which excelling academically and seeing academic help is encouraged."

On Friday, November 15th, Tompkins County Solid Waste will celebrate America Recycles Day, a national campaign to raise awareness on the importance of recycling.

TCSW staff will be on hand at Ithaca’s Neighborhood Pride grocery store between 11am and 1pm to promote food scraps recycling. The family-owned store is located at 210 Hancock Street, in the city’s Fall Creek neighborhood.

Residents can stop by and learn more about how they can receive free of charge all the materials needed to further reduce the waste they generate and save on the cost of trash disposal.

I'm Minna Mary, and I was brought to the SPCA when my human could no longer care for me. I get along with other cats, but I like to mostly keep to myself. I can be a little timid at first, but if you take some time to coax me out of my shell, I will show my very affectionate side with kisses and cuddles. I really don't like to be picked up, but if you put me in your lap nicely and give me lots of attention, I will find a way to make myself comfortable. Come meet me at the adoption center today!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Finger Lakes Beer Trail announced its first annual Winter Passport Program. Perfect for craft beer enthusiasts and tourists alike looking for a day trip or weekend getaway, the Finger Lakes Beer Trail Winter Passport is your ticket to savings and adventure along the trail during the off-season. The Winter Passport includes more than $150 worth of complimentary beer tastings, discounts on growler fills, free merchandise, and much more at over 25 breweries and brewpubs along the Finger Lakes Beer Trail.

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio congratulated local grape growers on a record harvest this year, which will help support the continued growth of New York's job-producing wine and tourism industry. Growers across New York State are reporting record, high quality harvests and Nozzolio is encouraging local residents to visit our region's wineries.

"The Finger Lakes wine and tourism industry has become a driving force in our local economy," Nozzolio said. "It is estimated that, in addition to creating over 50,000 jobs in the Finger Lakes, the industry has a $2.7 billion economic impact on our region. This year's record harvest will continue to support the growth of our local, job-producing wine and tourism industry, while helping local growers expand production and increase sales."

	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.

In a recent conversation with one of my readers — and both are doing well, thanks — I mentioned record keeping. Of course, I need to pass this on, to help the other reader.

Surely, you have a little notebook with you, or a smart phone, so you can jot things down, or do voice notes, unless you’re an autistic savant who remembers the date and hour of every event. Every time you feel a flutter, skipped beats, tachycardia, irregular heartbeat, or any odd chest sensations, WRITE IT DOWN! And record what you were doing at the time.

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My name is Scrappy, and I'm a beautiful, goofy, 9 year old pit bull mix. I greet all my visitors with my huge, smiling face every morning. I just love to play and even already know some basic obedience and tricks. As with any dog, I would do best in a home where my owners can continue my training on a daily basis. Because I'm so bouncy, I would do best in a home with middle school aged children or older. My background is a bit sad; I had been tied out most of my life and came in with a group of dogs with a similar story. I didn't get along with some of the dogs I was brought in with, but I was fine with all the dogs I was tested with here during behavior evaluation. If you have a dog, bring him/her along with you so we can see if we get along! Although I've had a rough start to life, I'm dreaming of the perfect home for me out there somewhere. Just think - you could come home to my huge smile every day!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The North Lansing Auxiliary Election Day Dinner and Supper is a tradition that spans well over a century.  This Tuesday hundreds of voters were served a dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, gravy, squash, beet salad, cabbage salad, and sweetbreads.  For supper they got all that plus ham.  And, of course, pie.  Volunteers served 516 meals Tuesday, quite a good number for an off-year election.

"We have fed up to 900 people in one day," says organizer Irene Tyrrell.  "That was back when John F. Kennedy was running.  This year is an off-year election.  We had over two hundred for dinner today, which is a good number."

20 dancers from the Armstrong School of Dance perform in the 87 year old American tradition, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday November 28, 2013.  Caoily Andrews, Alicia Biskup, Ashley Burt, Abigail Campbell, Ploy Chutintaranond, Maddie Crooker, Serena Exantus, Megan Firth, Kristen Galvin, Jenna Gooch, Cassidy Gorsky, Colleen Gorsky, Cindy Guo, Kara Johnson, Katie McCullough, Kamryn Phlegar, Julia Rasmussen, Emma Robinson, Jaina Swanhart and Julia Webster.

Local dancers will be performing with the The Spirit of America Performance Dance Team.  Our high school dancers were invited to perform in the parade along side with 600 additional performers from around the Nation. All of our performers are going to New York City 6 days prior to the parade for daily 6 hour rehearsals with their other dance team members.

Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) announced that their Radiation Oncology Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in radiation oncology as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Radiation oncology (radiation therapy) is the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to relieve a cancer patient’s pain. This certification verifies that Cayuga Medical Center’s program meets or exceeds national standards of care in radiation medicine.

Cayuga Medical Center Radiation Oncology is located in a state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the medical center. Leading-edge technology (such as respiratory gating for patients with lung and breast cancer), clinical trials, and our affiliation with Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RCPI) ensure that radiation therapy patients have access to the latest radiation therapy protocols.