Archive: Around Town

Tompkins County farmers have been hit with higher assessments this year, some of them significant.  Of course higher assessments mean higher taxes.  This is bad news not only for farmers, but also for people who hope the Lansing sewer project will succeed in a vote tentatively scheduled for September.  For one prominent Lansing dairy farm the new assessment will mean as much as $200,282 more taxable assessed property than last year.  With a projected school tax rate increase of 4.26% this summer the reassessment means farmers will be paying much more than they did last year.

"Farmers' perspective is they don't want to pay because they are land rich and cash poor," said Town Councilman Ed LaVigne at a sewer committee meeting Wednesday.  "If the price of milk plummets they borrow more."

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio is urging everyone, especially high school and college students, be vaccinated for bacterial meningitis this spring.  Recent warnings by the New York State Department of Health indicate that a new strain of meningitis – that is especially lethal, has been detected in New York.  

“The meningitis vaccine has proven to be safe and effective and I urge everyone, to contact their doctor or healthcare provider for information regarding this lifesaving vaccination.  New York State law requires health insurance plans to cover meningitis immunizations, helping to make them affordable for all New Yorkers,” said Senator Mike Nozzolio.

Chuck BrodheadTwo Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) Red and Gold Grants have been designated in memory of Chuck Brodhead for his many instrumental contributions to IPEI’s growth from its founding until its 15th anniversary year.

John Brooks at Enfield Elementary School received funding for “Co-curricular Thematic Unit about the Revolutionary War”.  All Enfield 4th graders are participating in the historical activities with their classroom teachers and the school’s music and art teachers. They will learn to play the fife and drum for marching which they will demonstrate on their upcoming culminating project trip to Fort Stanwix near Rome, NY, where visitors can engage in period soldiers’ duties.  With the art teacher, they will make flags and rucksacks, from muslin, to carry their lunch and personal belongings during the trip.

Climate change may seem scary, but thanks to the Sciencenter, Kids Discover the Trail!, and some intrepid second-graders, the future of the earth is in good - if small - hands.

In the second floor classroom in the volunteer-built Sciencenter, second graders from Northeast and Belle Sherman elementary schools walked in hand-in-hand with their KDT! buddies. A Sciencenter educator engaged the kids in an interactive lesson about the five sources of energy - wind, gas, sun, water, and coal - and the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The class learned about the difficulties of coal and gas production, and about the negative effects of carbon-based energy production on the environment. Or, as the teacher put it, the way that carbon "acts like a blanket over the earth."

Hi! I'm Tasha! I came in with my buddy Reily when our owner could no longer afford us. We are like an old married couple, and simply MUST go home together! When we're separated, we spend the whole time looking for each other. We are housetrained and are very well behaved little dogs! Since we are both on the smaller side, you actually get the best bargain since you get twice the love for the size of one mastiff, or other bigger breed. PLEASE come in and check us out!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Lansing Town Board considered a seven year road maintenance plan at their working meeting Monday.  The plan calls for spending an average of $326,000 per year over the next six years.  This year the plan is to spend $357,000 to pave town roads most in need of maintenance.

Deputy Highway Superintendent Charlie 'Cricket' Purcell says that preparation on shoulders, ditches and cross culverts will begin next week.

Senator Mike Nozzolio praised the selection of the Finger Lakes by Yahoo! Travel as a top lakeside destination.  Yahoo! recognized the tremendous natural beauty of our region, as well as the job-producing Finger Lakes wine and tourism industry.

“As State Senator, I have worked aggressively with local entrepreneurs, farmers, educators and businesses to create jobs here in our region and to promote the continued development of the Finger Lakes wine and tourism sector.  We can take great pride in the fact the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario region is now the center of New York’s booming wine industry and I am pleased that our collective efforts to support and grow this job-producing industry have been recognized by Yahoo!.  Undoubtedly, this important recognition will spur continued tourism, investment and job creation in our area, ” said Nozzolio.

The Lansing Lions Club wants to make it easier to donate used eyeglasses to those in need.  Wednesday the Town Board considered a request to place a mailbox on town property near or on the Town Ballfields where donors can drop off their used eyewear.

While there are drop-off boxes in Lansing, they are not always easy to find.  The weather-proof receptacle would be placed where the most Lansing people could see it.  It could be moved around town properties for different seasons for maximum exposure.

Board members were supportive of the plan.

"I think its a cute idea," said Councilman Ed LaVigne.

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Two Ithaca nonprofits, the Ithaca Health Alliance and United Way of Tompkins County recently announced that they have received grants from the  CVS Caremark Community Grant  Program totaling $5,500.  The Community Grants Program was created by CVS Caremark as part of its commitment to helping people on the path to better health by creating greater access to health care and health education for at-risk and underserved populations.  The support from CVS Caremark will help both organizations assist area residents without insurance to receive needed medical treatment through the Ithaca Free Clinic and Urgent Rx Programs.

The Ithaca Free Clinic, a program of the Ithaca Health Alliance which opened in 2006, provides free medical and holistic health care for patients with low incomes without health insurance using volunteer providers. Ithaca Free Clinic is one of the selected sites providing free prescriptions through the Urgent Rx Program, which is funded by United Way of Tompkins County, and administered by the Human Services Coalition. Urgent Rx, also begun in 2006, provides free prescriptions and outreach follow-up to people without insurance that have an urgent health need. This enables patients to complete the recommended medical treatment plan for urgent medical problems, directly impacting their recovery and health.

Hello! My name is Iggy! I got my name because I was found living in a dog igloo underneath someone's porch, and that nice person noticed how great I am and brought me to the nice people at the SPCA of Tompkins County so that I could find a home that better suits my affectionate nature. Everyone who comes to visit me loves me as I will come up and allow you to pet me. I am very scared of dogs, so it would be best if I didn't have to deal with them ever again. People who visit me at the Annex at the Shops of Ithaca Mall can't believe I haven't been adopted yet! Perhaps it's because YOU haven't come to meet me, love me, and give me my forever home! So come on in! The nice folks who saved my life would love to help you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The DeWitt Middle School Orchestra was selected, by audition, to perform at the Heritage National Orchestra Competition and Festival in Boston, MA, April 27-28, 2013.  DeWitt Middle School seventh and eighth grade orchestra students will participate in master classes with professional musicians and perform in a concert with other selected schools.

DeWitt Orchestra Director Aaron Buck states, “Going to festivals and competitions is a great way for these seventh and eighth grade students to see what other orchestras are doing and helps them as a team to achieve something great. It gives our students a goal to shoot for.”