Archive: Around Town

We had been driving many hours on our way back from visiting family in North Carolina and Deb and I were desperate for a relaxing break. Hoping to have a restful, stressless lunch we pulled off the highway in Asheville, Virginia and noticed a Ruby Tuesday near the exit.  I had never been to one and was interested in trying it so we pulled in.  It’s probably not fair to judge all the restaurants in a chain by one experience but based on that lunch – I ain’t goin’ back to any Ruby Tuesday in a hurry.

Here are the frustrating details.

Hey there, my name is Jake. I'm a two-year-old terrier, American pit bull/ mix. I'm an enthusiastic guy who's looking for a loving home, so please come and visit me at the SCPA to see f I'm the right dog for you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The American Association of Museums (AAM) has just awarded the Sciencenter with its second AAM Museum Accreditation. Through a rigorous multi-year process of self-assessment and subsequent review by its peers, the Sciencenter has been found to meet National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums and remains a member of a select community of institutions recognized for excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.  Only 5% of U.S. museums have received this distinction.

The Accreditation Visiting Committee Report highlights the Sciencenter’s “growth into a nationally and internationally known institution with numerous internal business lines delivering on its mission” and its “growing reputation and ability to attract strong talent from throughout the US for its leadership positions, providing the institution a remarkable strength of staff for a small institution in upstate NY.”

For the second year the Lansing Community Council has raised more than $10,000 for the Lansing Food Pantry.  The money is used for non-food essential items

"We hope for a positive response," says Lansing Community Council President Ed LaVigne.  "We find need for people and try to rectify it.  We ask for donations for the Lansing Food Pantry.  It's tax deductible.  We suggest different levels, but it can be $10, $25, $50, or $100, or whatever they want to give, which is fine.  Whatever people want to give is the right amount."

With the holiday spirit becoming palpable and because I’m a devout foodie, I engaged in a mental exercise regarding what might be my favorite holiday meal.  After a brief period of self-reflection I realized that I don’t really have a favorite holiday meal. Although I do enjoy the traditional basics like turkey, stuffing, cranberries, corn and potatoes, I don’t think there’s anything particularly celebratory about them in their traditional forms.

Consequently, my mind wandered back to a dinner I enjoyed about this time two years ago. I remembered that the chef had tweaked these basics into an innovative and unique dinner. Actually, it was November 21, 2009 and it was a five-course wine dinner prepared by Executive Chef John McNabb at Knapp Winery in Romulus, Seneca County.

Town employees were appreciated at a luncheon at Crossroads Bar & Grill last Friday.  Employees, committee members and elected officials were invited to the event to share a meal and celebrate the work done by Lansing municipal employees.

Hey there, my name is Jethro. I'm a handsome beagle who is looking for a loving home. So please come and visit me at the SPCA to see if I'm the right dog for you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Tompkins County Public Library has announced plans to increase borrowing privileges for patrons during its extended holiday closing. Library Director Susan Currie said the Library will once again double borrowing limits on books, CDs, DVDs and audiobooks between Monday, December 19 and Thursday, December 29 in order to ensure that patrons have access to a variety of entertainment and educational resources over the holidays.

“Our patrons truly rely on the resources provided by the Library, and we take our commitment to the needs of those patrons very seriously,” Currie said, adding that no items will be scheduled for return between Christmas and New Year’s.

If you were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC and knew exactly where to look, you saw Lansing dancer Ashley Burt (14) performing in Herald Square in front of Macy's.  Burt was part of the Spirit of America Dance team, and the reason it may have been hard to pick her out is that the team included 650 dancers from all over the United States.  Burt says that marching and dancing in the parade was a great experience.

"It was a lot of fun," she says.  "I waved a lot.  Some people were throwing confetti.  Because of our circus theme we were with all the clowns.  There were clowns in front of us, and clowns behind us, and clown floats all around."

After completing a 6-year tenure on the board of directors of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), Sciencenter executive director, Charlie Trautmann, was praised for spearheading several initiatives that have strengthened science museums worldwide. For the past three years, he has led a strategic planning initiative to engage the public on issues at the intersection of science and society.

ASTC, based in Washington, D.C. represents 600 science centers in over 40 countries, and is dedicated to advancing the public understanding of science among increasingly diverse audiences. Trautmann held one of 10 U.S. seats on the board and represented small museums worldwide.

Hey there, my name is Dean. I am a four-year-old domestic short haired/ mix. I'm a handsome fellow who is looking for a loving home, so please some and visit me at the SPCA to see if I'm the right cat for you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Question:  If you saw ads for a restaurant that read: “Ithaca’s Best-Kept Secret for Over Fifteen Years” what conclusion would you draw about the establishment?

This is, in fact, the way management of the The Heights Café and Grill, on Hanshaw Road in Cayuga Heights has been referring to their restaurant and apparently quite proudly, because those words are featured as the headline in large font.