Archive: Around Town

Hi! I'm beautiful Rizzo! I came to the SPCA as a result of a hoarding case. I sadly developed a sever infection in my eye, which was never treated so it had to be removed. I adapted SO well to this, though, and can run, jump, and play as if I had both of my eyes! I'm an independent spirit but when I want attention, I will crawl all over you! I would be best to be the only cat in your home as well. I need a new home! Please let it be yours!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Moore Family,

Thank you for your generous gesture to the platoon, brightening everyone's holiday spirits. This was totally unexpected, and much appreciated. Your tree is currently in a remote Combat Outpost in the Khost Province, looking over the Khowst-Gardez Pass (KG Pass). We are an artillery platoon, so we utilized a canister from our 105mm howitzer as the base for the tree.

I hope you and your family enjoy the holidays. Hopefully one day my family can come visit your farm and thank you in person. My family resides in Pittsfield, Ma, so maybe I can convince them to take a trip. Also, both my brother and fiance go to Syracuse and Syracuse Law. If I make it to Syracuse this summer to visit them, I will definitely make the trip to the farm.

Sincerely,

1LT Ryan Cowan
4/A, 3-320th FAR

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Click here for more information on Trees For Troops
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The SPCA of Tompkins County, in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society, has taken in 20 Chihuahua mixes and other small mixed breed dogs, who originated at municipal shelters in Los Angeles California and were scheduled for euthanasia.

“We are so pleased to have been able to bring these little dogs to Tompkins County,” says Jim Bouderau, executive director. “The residents of Tompkins County respond so enthusiastically whenever we are able to bring in pets or have other situations when we get an influx of a large number of pets.”

Sustainable Tompkins awarded nearly 350 new Signs of Sustainability to individuals, organizations, businesses and governments during their annual celebration, held at the Finger Lakes Wine Center on December 1st. This is the largest number of new Signs of Sustainability cited in one year so far.

Signs of Sustainability recognition this year ran the gamut from large to smaller-scale efforts. For example, in the Food System sector, GleanNY is a new statewide program that encourages farmers to donate their surplus or unmarketable food to organizations in need. In contrast, the Newfield Farmers Market, which opened this year, provided farm fresh local food to area residents on a weekly basis during the summer months.

Gimme! Coffee, an Ithaca, NY-based coffee roaster and retailer, announced this month that Roast Magazine has chosen the roaster/retailer as the 2013 "Macro Roaster of the Year," one of the highest awards in the specialty coffee industry.

"This award honors our hard-working staff and coffee producers, as well as all the customers who have supported us in our commitment to sustainability and our continuing search for the most beautiful coffees in the world,” said Amina Omari, Managing Director for Gimme! Coffee. "With 300,000 pounds of coffee roasted this year, we look forward to an even better year to come."

With the start of the holiday season fast approaching, residents will soon see a surge of catalogs, coupons, and circulars flooding their mailboxes, adding to the more than 80 billion pieces of unsolicited mail that Americans receive collectively each year. To help combat the influx of unwanted holiday junk mail and promote a clutter-free, organized start to the New Year, Tompkins County Solid Waste provides a free opt-out program to residents designed and operated by Catalog Choice – a TrustedID company and the nation’s leading mail preference service.

Launched in 2010, the program allows Tompkins County residents to opt-out of unsolicited mailings.

The United States Department of Energy has agreed to offer technical assistance to complete phase 2 of the Downtown Combined Heat and Power - District Energy (CHP-DE) Utility project study for the greater downtown Ithaca area.

“Every day at the Downtown Ithaca Alliance we work to make downtown a more desirable and competitive place for growth and investment. We see district energy and a combined heating and power program as a key tool for making downtown a more attractive place for people to invest, develop, work, and live,” said Gary Ferguson, Executive Director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.

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“The facts show that our habitual high salt intake contributes to high rates of prehypertension and hypertension and the high rates of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure induced by adverse blood pressure levels.”*

Those of us who have high blood pressure already know that we should be reducing our salt intake. In addition, I’m sure our health practitioners have advised us that we shouldn’t smoke and that we should strive to maintain a healthy weight.

Hello! My name is Kato and I was surrendered to the SPCA after my owner could no longer properly care for me. I didn't cause any problems at the house, so please don't think that is why my owner brought me in. I am a big goofy dog and I really want to find my new forever home. I'm already housebroken and should adjust quickly to a new home environment. My dog meet went well, so I would probably do well with canine roommates in the home. If you want to know how I am with cats, please ask an adoption counselor to have me meet one the resident kitties at the adoption center. I am a really sweet boy and I hope you want to take me home. I'm up to date on my shots, microchipped and neutered, so I'm ready to go home today!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) has awarded the first round of its quarterly Red and Gold Grants for the 2012-13 school year. Thirty grants totaling $12,669.93 were awarded. Pat Tempesta, IPEI Board Member who chairs the Red and Gold Grants Review Committee said: "It is always enjoyable to see the variety of creative ideas that go into the applications. Successful grants offer our students and teaching professionals additional enrichment opportunities that help support teaching and learning throughout the ICSD." Applications for the next round of grants are due by December 3, 2012.

Cargill Deicing Technology was named Corporate Philanthropist of the Year at an awards ceremony at the Ithaca Country Club November 16th.  The 11th annual awards ceremony is hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, celebrating National Philanthropy Day.  The Lansing salt mine was honored for local giving, as well as world-wide corporate giving that amounted to more than $69.9 million in fiscal 2012.  Franziska Racker Center Executive Director Roger Sibley presented the award to Mine Manager Russ Givens.