Archive: Around Town

Tompkins County Public Library has announced the appointment of the latest Executive Committee to its Board of Trustees.

Library Director Susan Currie said board members voted recently to name Aloja Airewele president, Bruce Ryan vice president, Cynthia Nicholson treasurer, and Peter McCracken secretary.

Airewele, of Freeville, is a legislative assistant for Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Advocacy Coordinator for Loaves and Fishes and a consultant for the Tompkins County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Glenn SwansonLansing Board Of Education Vice President Glenn Swanson and member Christine Iacobucci were recognized Monday with New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) awards.  Iacobucci recieved the Board Excellence Award, and Swanson the Board Achievement Award.

"Being a board member is one of the least thankful volunteer jobs," said Acting Superintendent Pettograsso.  "You're not always getting thanks because you're making very tough decisions.  A lot of time goes into coming to board meetings and preparing for them.  But we are lucky on our board because our board members tend to go above and beyond."

Hi! I'm Kermit Joe Cat! I'm a very handsome brown tiger boy with the largest, most beautiful eyes! When I first came to the shelter I was terrified of everything and everyone! Thanks to the special care of the staff of the SPCA, my wonderful personality emerged and everyone fell in love with me! I've been here since December, and am really hoping for a quiet home with patient owners who let me be myself. Please, give me a chance!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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2012 was the first full year of operation with upgrades to the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC) on Commercial Avenue in Ithaca. They expanded the facility's ability to divert an ever-increasing amount of material from the county waste stream. This was done by adding a 'Recycling Market' to the public drop-off area, providing more covered bays, purchasing processing equipment, improving signage and traffic flow, and separating residential and commercial traffic.

Charlotte-based ReCommunity has been operating the RSWC since February of 2011. Late last year, the County received notification of a grant award from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation that will provide reimbursement for half of the construction cost.

In order to strengthen the financial support and provide a more welcoming 'Open Door' scholarship program, the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County is kicking off its annual campaign which provides funding for memberships and programs for those who cannot otherwise afford these fees.  As a result, youth, adults and families receive the support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater health and well-being of mind, body, and spirit.

“Our Y is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charity organization that in the previous year provided financial aid to over 2,000 children and families at a value of $117,000.  This is why we are determined to raise the money necessary to support our mission”, comments Frank Towner, CEO.

Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson announced the appointment of Tish Pearlman as Tompkins County Poet Laureate for 2013.

"We are fortunate in Tompkins County to have an abundance of talent when it comes to our poets laureate, with each bringing their own style, interests, and inspiration,” Robertson said.  “We're really looking forward to Tish Pearlman's tenure as our 2013 Poet Laureate."

News / Talk 870AM, 95.9FM WHCU celebrates its 90th year of broadcasting on January 23rd, 2013.

The Cayuga Radio Group radio station plans to mark the event with many historical elements being played on air and shown online throughout January leading up to the anniversary date on the 23rd.

“We are fortunate to have many signature audio elements and historical print pieces from our station history,” said Lee Rayburn, host of Morning News Watch on WHCU, “legendary broadcasters like Rudy Paolangeli and David Stewart have generously offered many of their archived pieces from our station’s rich history.”

Myers Park camping reservations opened Monday.  You would have thought it was Black Friday at the mall: the first person in line to make a reservation was in the Town Hall parking lot at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon.  Monday morning the parking lot was packed.

"We unlocked the door at 7:30," says Park Superintendent Steve Colt.  "By ten o'clock in the morning we had collected $24,975.  That's about $2,000 over where we were a year ago.  We got off to a really good start."

NASA graphicDan Piraro's 2009 cartoon has been reposted on endless Web sites and Facebook feeds.  One Mayan creates a calendar and says, "I only had enough room to go up to 2012."  "Ha!," says his companion.  "That'll freak somebody out some day!"

The last 2012 issue of the Lansing Star is scheduled to be published December 21, next Friday.  Some people say there won't be any readers for that issue, because that is the day the world is supposed to end according to the Mayan calendar.  NASA has been getting an increasing number of questions from people worried that the world will end.  The volume of questions has become so inflated that NASA has posted a disclaimer on their 'Ask An Astrobiologist' Web page.

Tompkins County has embarked on a three-year program intended to further reduce the amount of waste generated by businesses and residents in the County.

A $200,000 state grant awarded the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council last week will go to expand the processing of food scraps and yard waste into compost.

"Composting this organic material is the perfect example of turning trash to treasure," said County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson (D-Dryden), a member of the Regional Economic Development Council. "This grant will turn a waste product for businesses into an asset and allow residents to reduce what they spend on garbage tags, while helping the environment at the same time."

Hi! I'm Leroy Brown! I'm sort of the goof in the classroom here at the SPCA, and have a very silly personality that has made everyone who meets me fall in love of me! I was found as a stray, but people are sensing I was a hunting dog in my past life. Because of this I still need some training with basic skills. I'm looking forward to retiring and living as a family pet versus a working dog. I do love the sound of my own voice, so tolerant folks with few neighbors would be ideal for me as I practice my singing. Won't you consider taking me home?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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I can’t think of many food topics that are so misunderstood and confused by consumers as organic food.  Last week I wrote a column that, I hope, helped clear up some misunderstandings.  This week, I’m going to continue that project.

In last week’s column, I ended with the advice that if you have a choice between buying produce produced in the United States or in foreign countries, I would generally recommend the domestic products.  It’s also generally a good idea, for many reasons, to purchase food raised as close to your home as possible. Foods grown in Canada are generally “cleaner” than foods grown in other countries.  Chile?  Not so much. In fact, try to avoid peaches and nectarines from Chile, sweet bell peppers from Mexico, cucumbers from Honduras and asparagus from Peru.  If you really like asparagus look for those that are grown in Mexico. Speaking of Mexico, their mangos scallions carrots, broccoli and bananas are relatively clean. Personally, since I assiduously avoid eating banana peels, finding organic bananas is not a big deal.