Archive: Around Town

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hi there! I'm June! Are you looking for a loveable dog to go on adventures with? Well look no further! I'm young, still rockin' lots of energy, and generally down for whatever. I get excited when I meet new people and like to show off my tricks and energy! I'm hoping for a home without other dogs where I can be your one and only lovebug. I enjoy games like keep away and showing that I can literally run circles around you. Got kids? That's fine with me as long as they're of the older/sturdier variety and ready for my "go get 'em" attitude. I'm ready for us to start our life together! Aren't you?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Senator Pam Helming announced last week that legislation she supported which would allow certain libraries to receive state aid for up to 90% of approved total project costs, was signed into law.

"Our local libraries offer so many services and programs for people of all ages, abilities and interests. Especially in rural areas of Upstate New York, local libraries are the hub of our communities. Where there are libraries in the Wayne-Finger Lakes Region that still do not have broadband, this legislation is more important now than ever. We must provide our libraries with the resources they need to grow their services and upgrade their infrastructure. I am proud to stand both with the libraries I represent and all libraries throughout our state," Helming said.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced last week that Royal Meadery in Albany County has been issued the first farm meadery license in New York State. Royal Meadery is a craft beverage manufacturer that produces mead from New York State-sourced honey. In December 2018, Cuomo signed legislation establishing a new license for farm meaderies, similar to those already available to farm wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries, to further support the state's thriving craft beverage industry and stimulate demand for honey produced in the New York State.

"Thanks to our tireless efforts to cut red tape, craft beverage manufacturers are thriving like never before in communities across the State," Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. "We're proud to welcome Royal Meadery as New York's first farm meadery and applaud their success and use of locally-sourced honey. With this latest achievement the craft beverage industry continues to grow, creating job opportunities and boosting tourism in every region."

Cargill's Cayuga Salt mine in Lansing was recently honored with the 2018 Sentinels of Safety Award in the Large Group category for Large Underground Nonmetal mines.  The honor, awarded by the National Mining Association, is widely considered the nation’s most prestigious mining safety honor.  The annual awards recognize coal and mineral mining operations that have the highest number of operating hours with zero lost-time injuries.

“At Cargill, safety is embedded in everything we do,” Cayuga Mine Manager Shawn Wilczynski said. “This important award honors our commitment to operate safely for our employees, customers and communities. We are thrilled to receive the Sentinels of Safety Award for a third time.”

By Adam Kramarsyck

What's up! I'm Max, the world traveler. I'm a friendly guy who absolutely loves to chat with you. I would love a nice home indoors where I can holler to my hearts content. I tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV for short. I know, it sounds like a long and scary thing but really I'm doing fine. I will just need one extra physical per year and to stay indoors where I am safer from illness. I'm looking forward to a lifetime at your side, if only you'll give me a shot. Come visit me anytime!

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Heidi Goldstein, founder of a project that delivers food to needy families in Tompkins County at the end of each summer, has been awarded the 2019 Laura Holmberg Award, presented by the Women's Fund of the Community Foundation.  The award, which recognizes unsung heroes in the community who have made an impact through volunteer work, was presented at the Women's Fund Celebration last Thursday (Oct. 17) at Ithaca College, attended by 250 people. The award was established in 2006 by Anna Holmberg, a lawyer with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in Ithaca, in remembrance of her mother.

"Heidi's history of working to make lives better for people, often through creative initiatives, spans many years," says Stacey Murphy, chair of the Women's Fund Advisory Committee, which selects the award recipient. "The Ithaca Rotary Harvest shows one way of how she creatively combined different areas of her life — education, love of children and healthy food — to address a need she saw in her community."

Zoe Dubrow receiving Grand Prize in the 4th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest Zoe Dubrow’s 'Cup(cakes) of Tea'
Zoe Dubrow won the Grand Prize in the 4th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest held in the Ithaca Commons Saturday October 19. Her "Cup(cakes) of Tea" were made of Earl Grey cake layered with fall flower honey cheesecake and honeyed lemon curd inside of an Earl Grey-infused white chocolate tea cup. The cupcakes were garnished with a candied lemon slice and a frosted Earl Grey shortbread tea bag cookie.

It was the second year in a row that Dubrow captured first place in the contest. Last year she took home the Grand Prize with her "Strawberry Surprise Cupcakes" that contained a cored whole strawberry filled with salted butterscotch. The concoctions were topped by a brown sugar cream cheese frosting, decorated with a chocolate fan, sliced strawberry, mint leaves, and a mini chocolate strawberry macaron.

Tompkins County, NY – Congressman Tom Reed announced a $86,500 USDA Rural Development grant last Friday to provide the Finger Lakes Regional Prosperity Network in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County the needed funding to support its Food Business Incubation Program, also known as 'FoodBIP'. Launched in December of 2018, this program acts as technical support for the Finger Lakes food and beverage manufacturing sector.

"We care about making sure local manufacturers, including those in the food and beverage industry, have access to the resources they need," Reed said. "This grant provides funding that will expand this program to a larger area in the district, and as such, will help both local manufactures and their employees – that's a win-win."

Stan 'Stosh' Burke was honored Wednesday at the October Lansing Town Board meeting when the Town Board unanimously passed a resolution acknowledging his military service and lifelong participation in the Lansing community.  A lifelong Lansing resident, born in Ludlowville in 1932.  Burke was a US Marine in the Korean war.  Councilman Doug Dake read the resolution aloud before presenting a framed copy of it to Burk.

"I knew Stan and I want to thank Marion George for bringing up his name, as well as Gus Isaacs, as distinguished citizens of Lansing that not only fought in the Korean War, but also World War II," Dake said. "They are part of the greatest generation.  Our right to speak freely now is partly their doing."

The Finger Lakes Regional Prosperity Network in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, announced today the award of a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to support its Food Business Incubation Program (FoodBIP). FoodBIP is a technical support program for the Finger Lakes food and beverage manufacturing sector. FoodBIP launched in December of 2018 serving four counties.

The $86,500 award will provide industry-specific technical support to an expanded region including Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Yates counties. FoodBIP is developing the food sector's entrepreneurial ecosystem in the rural Finger Lakes through technical assistance, connecting local food manufacturers to wholesale markets, and coordinating the food-sector value chain. The funding supports the program through 2020.