Archive: Around Town

If you vote at the Lansing Town Hall you'll have a treat on election day next Tuesday.  While you are waiting in line to vote you can look back in time into Lansing's political history.  The exhibit is called 'Our Political past,' and it will remain on display in the lobby of the Town hall until Thanksgiving.  It was put together from the Town historical archives by Fannie Welch with help from Lansing Historian Louise Bement.

"After we got done with the dress display I thought we ought to have a political display before the election, Welch says.  "We have many, many scrapbooks in the archives."

Buffalo Business First Magazine has ranked Lansing 7th in academic performance among 53 public school districts in the Syracuse area.  The rankings were based on four years of data from tests from the New York State Education Department.  The district also ranked in the top 100 among 430 upstate districts for most efficient administration and highest teacher salaries.

The area studied included schools in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins counties.  Schools considered had to have at least 260 students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, a functioning public high school, and at least two years of qualifying test results within the four year period.  Test data qualified in years in which school enrollments were 260 or more students.  Lansing was top ranked in Tompkins County, followed by Ithaca (10), Trumansburg (22), Newfield (26), Dryden (31), and Groton (47).

The Lansing Board of Education was honored Monday in celebration of School Board Recognition Week.  Acting Superintendent Chris Pettograsso read a proclamation by Governor Cuomo, and students performed in honor of the Lansing Board. 

"Every year New York State has a week where we recognize our boards of education," she said.  "This year it is October 29th to November 2nd.  We do not have a board meeting during that time, so we are going to recognize you this evening."

The Ithaca City School District will host the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) Area All State Music Festival for junior high students on Friday and Saturday, November 2 and 3, 2012.  The Area All State Concert will be held Saturday, November 3 at 3:00 p.m. in the Ithaca High School Performing Arts Center. The public is welcome and tickets are available at the door, $3 for students and $5 for adults.  The ticket proceeds are used to support continued NYSSMA programming.

"It is an honor and privilege for the Ithaca City School District to host the 2012 NYSSMA Zone 3 Area All-state Junior High School Music Festival at the Ithaca High School Performing Arts Center on November 2nd and 3rd.  This event will showcase 400 outstanding student musicians, in grades 7 through 9, from up to 117 middle schools and high schools in a 6 county area.  78 of the participating students are from the Ithaca City School District.  This event is made possible through the hard work of the participating students, their teachers, and the generosity of the Ithaca Community", states Michael Allen, Ithaca City School District Music Teacher and Chairperson for the Area All-State Event.

Hi! I'm Argus, and I'm a 10 month old, absolutely wonderful pup! I'm very social and affectionate and will stick with you like glue if you spend some time with me! I love people, and would adore taking part in all family activities with you. I love walks and am figuring out how to walk on a leash like a good dog. I'm learning many things, and it seems I'm picking them up quite quickly! Who couldn't want an intelligent, young, good looking young man such as myself? Please come in and spend time with me to see if I'm the right dog for you!


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Hi! I'm Beatrice! I'm a stunning gray beauty who was brought as a stray to the SPCA. Sadly, whomever had me and let me go ALSO had me declawed, so I would do best in a home where I can be the only cat and not feel worried about not having my natural defensive claws. If you're looking for a sweet girl who loves laying around and keeping you company, I just may be the feline female you're looking for!


Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The food pyramid we’ve known so long has been replaced by MyPlate. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided it’s clearer to convey good eating habits using a plate than a pyramid and I agree.  My only question: What took them so long?

I always take half my dinner home with me when I dine in a restaurant because I find the portions that are served too large.  I think it s a good idea to use a smaller plate than we’re used to when we build a meal if we’d like to reduce our consumption and total calories. My basic eat-out rule is to have a reusable, air-tight plastic container in a canvas bag with me when I walk into a restaurant.  I usually divide my meal in halves when it’s served – this is easy if there are an even number of chops or a half chicken or duck that can be cut in two – and I stop eating when I’m full.  The leftovers get pushed into my take out dish and make a convenient, tasty meal the next day.

Cargill Deicing Technology (CDT) offered dinner and information to neighbors last week to explain a new 2,500 foot deep mine shaft planned for a property near the intersection of Ridge and Sweazey Roads.  Mine Manager Russ Givens told nearly 30 residents that the new shaft will allow the mine to remain productive and competitive in the long term future.  While neighbors expressed concerns, Givens said the company intends to do what it can to minimize the impact.

"This is the kick-off meeting to meet with the neighborhood," said Cargill's Ryan Weese.  "We want to make sure they feel comfortable with what we're doing and why we're doing it, and to answer any questions they might have."

(L to R) Cayuga Radio Group’s Jen Mattison, Kat Walters and Lee Rayburn sign the giant 'get well' card for Officer Anthony Augustine(Ithaca, NY) – On Thursday night, October 11th, Ithaca Police Officer Anthony Augustine was shot while in the line of duty.  Almost a week later, Officer Augustine is still in the hospital recovering from his wounds.

Cayuga Radio Group along with Ithaca Agway and Cayuga Lumber have created a giant “oversized” get well card and are inviting members of the community to sign it.

“Officer Augustine was injured in the line of duty doing his job-protecting the citizens of our community,” said CRG Marketing Director Connie Fairfax-Ozmun.  “We heard from many of the people in our community the same question over and over again…’how can we help?’  It is absolutely the right thing to do. To allow for our community to express its gratitude to Officer Augustine by signing the giant ‘get well’ card and to make donations toward his recovery efforts.

The Lansing Fire Department held the 16th Annual Golf Outing to support the Joe 'Ditty' Joseph Award.

The Joe 'Ditty' Joseph award is given in his memory to a high school senior in the Lansing School District who exhibits outstanding volunteerism within the community.  This financial gift of $1000 is given primarily to aid in college expenses.

This year’s outing was supported by 34 sponsors and 68 golfers from our community.

Ithaca’s East Hill Flying Club just announced that it was one of only six flight schools in the country to receive the 2012 Flight Training Excellence Award from the 400,000-member Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Established sixty years ago, the club is based at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport.

David St. George, chief instructor and manager of the club, recently attended AOPA’s Aviation Summit in Palm Springs, California to accept the award. Five other schools also received the award – two in Texas, and one each in New Hampshire, Virginia, and Montana.
St. George said that the award recipients were chosen through analysis and vetting by an independent auditing firm. “Since most flight schools are commercial operations, AOPA was surprised and elated that a flying club was among the winners.”

Two student leaders from Lansing High School students are recognized by the Legislature as this month’s Tompkins County Distinguished Youth.  Junior Dylan Bland and Senior Agnes Czaki, both nominated by guidance counselor Jane Manning, are recognized for their kindness, character, and leadership, in part for their service as mentors to younger students through the district’s anti-bullying program.

Dylan is described as a 'true anti-bullying advocate,' who shows confident and consistent support -- a 'quiet, constant leader,' one who always 'leads by example,' as a student and athlete in Lansing’s Varsity Track program.  Agnes (Agi) is praised as 'a tremendous role model,' who is 'the definition of grace, kindness, and sincerity… a master of all she does (who) leads with gentleness and maturity' -- being fully involved in a wide range of activities while earning a 97.6 GPA in honors-level courses.