Archive: Around Town

I can’t begin to tell you how many times people ask me about pairing food and wine.  They want some easy-to-follow rules.  I basically tell them, “Some so-called experts have rules but for me, there are no rules. I use general guidelines but on balance, I try to be flexible.”

Speaking of balance, let’s start out with my first guideline: balance. Robust wines with a high alcoholic content can overwhelm light entrées. The reverse side of this coin is that a heavy entrée with a spicy sauce can overpower a lighter wine.  Therein lies the idea of achieving a balance. Try to pair light entrees with light wines. Match an entrée that is on the heavy side with a wine that is full bodied.

Several hundred students learned about the Civil War through drama and the arts during “Living History Day 1863,” which took place on Dec. 2, 2011 at the Ithaca High School.  The annual day of Civil War activities began four years ago with funding from an Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) grant in honor of John Caren, a former IHS Social Studies teacher and principal.  As a principal, Caren endorsed similar grade-wide programs; and as an educator, he encouraged this type of experiential and hands-on opportunities for all students.  

“This grant brings many rich and diverse community resources into IHS, including the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell, The History Center of Tompkins County, and local individuals with Civil War expertise,” said Ann Caren, current IPEI board member and retired teacher.

Ithaca’s Winter Recess teachers week, Feb 17-26, opens with an added bonus, Friday—free classroom supplies from Staples. The office supply store is giving away 10 pallets of school supplies worth approximately $34,000 to school employees checking in during the event’s opening weekend.

The giveaway is timed to maximize the number of school districts that benefit. Historically, it’s the busiest portion of the weeklong celebration of state educators with broadest geographic attendance. Winter Recess attracts 5,000 educators and family members from school districts across New York and a dozen nearby states.

United Way Community Campaign Co-Chairs, Mary and John Gutenberger and Nancy Fuhr Bonn and Fred Bonn announced Tuesday a final push to raise $90,000 and meet the $2,151,000 goal.  In doing so they drew from the 90 years of services and lives touched by the organization.  

“When we accepted the role of co-chairs during this 90th year, we understood the legacy of service and leadership. Beyond the many volunteers and contributors over the years, there is an unwavering history making life better for families and households regardless of the economic and political environments," said John Gutenberger.

Two local groups were recognized by the Tompkins County Legislature, Feb. 7, for their efforts growing the local economy through tourism. The Turkey Shoot Lacrosse Tournament and Ithaca College both received the county’s Tourism Partner Award for their efforts bringing large groups of overnight visitors to Tompkins County.

Turkey Shoot, an annual lacrosse tournament, hosted 1,500 players and families from 121 teams over two weekends in November. Organizer Mark Wenham celebrated the event’s 20th anniversary in 2011.

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Are you aware that certain foods we eat contain natural carcinogens?  These include peanuts and peanut products, celery, pickled, salted, and smoked foods, and certain kinds of mushrooms. The mushrooms in this category include cultivated “button” or white mushrooms. And you’re probably not going to be happy to hear that portobello and crimini are the same species. Please don’t be alarmed though because we really don’t know if they’re harmful, or if they are, to what degree.  However, if you do eat these types, be sure and cook them thoroughly because heat breaks down the toxins. 

Marine Corporal Christopher Bordoni age 21, was severely injured in an attack involving a suicide bomber. He was serving in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province at the time. A suicide bomber on a motorcycle entered the area and many were killed or injured. He was sent to a hospital in Germany, and was transferred to the San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he is now undergoing treatments.

Aurora, N.Y. – Wells College faculty, staff and students wore red on Friday, February 3 in support of National Wear Red Day as part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. Go Red for Women was created in 2004 to inform women about the risks of heart disease and how to be proactive in their heart health. The College’s president, Lisa Marsh Ryerson, serves on the Executive Leadership team for the Go Red for Women Movement of Syracuse, N.Y.

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Two New Roots Charter School students were honored during Ithaca College’s week-long celebration of Martin Luther King's life and legacy.  On Wednesday, January 25th, Jacob Gelber, a New Roots Charter School senior who resides in Ithaca and Newfield, and Irene Case, a freshman from Ithaca, won the first annual Ithaca College MLK Writing Contest held for New Roots students with their poignant essays on the themes of personal change and sacrifice for progress.

The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) has awarded $14,900 in 25 new grants to Ithaca City School District (ICSD) teachers, staff, students and community partners this winter. In its second  grant cycle of the 2011-12 school year, IPEI is funding 20 Red and Gold Grants totaling $9,500, and $5,400 in five new Community Collaboration Grants.

“Connecting students and teachers with the world beyond their school building is our mission,” said IPEI Vice President Jennifer Engel. “These grant requests are exceptional examples of bringing community resources into the classroom.”

Annually, the Arnot Art Musem runs the New York/Pennsylvania Scholastic Art Awards- a program to recognize young artists of our region. The Arnot Art Museum has hosted this event for 69 years and was one of the first museums in the country to participate in this national program.

This year 444 artworks were received from 28 regional schools.   131 works were honored with awards.  Lansing senior, Gregory Wasenko received an honorable mention for his complex pencil drawing titled 'R2D2 Still Life' Ian Chan received a Gold Key or first place award for a contemporary portrait titled 'A Gleam of Bridget'.  A Gold Key in mixed media was awarded to Erika Harper for 'Wish', a portrait created in folded paper cranes to honor an 11-year-old Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki.