Archive: Around Town

Just because it's almost (allegedly) winter doesn't mean the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department isn't busy.  The 'Rec Department' offers programs all year 'round with some of the most popular taking place in the winter.  This winter the Rec Department is taking on a decidedly Latin tone: a Zumba class has filled to capacity, and starting January 2nd a new Spanish class for adults starts up.

"Nora Schapira has taught our summer program youth Spanish classes before," says Recreation Director Steve Colt.  "We've both talked about doing something for adults.  It's going to be a beginning level class, based on conversation.  So if you are travelling somewhere this class will give you enough of a background to feel confident about the normal question - answer stuff where Spanish is spoken."

The word 'quilting' brings to mind a rich tradition of structured patterns, folk art, and modern interpretations of the historical medium.  But fiber artists like Sally Dutko have been taking the medium to an entirely different level.  Dutko creates multimedia pieces that are more painting-like than quilt-like, delightful renditions of a vision that is unique and fun.

"I don't think of my work as too close to traditional quilting at all," Dutko says.  "This medium is called 'art quilts'.  It does use the stitching as the near-final element of the piece.  The stitching is also part of the surface design so it can blend with the painting, the dying, the beading, the mixed media elements to create an interesting, compelling surface."

Hey there my name is Jadie. I am a twelve-year-old domestic shorthaired/ mix. I'm a gorgeous girl who is looking for a loving home, so please come 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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The thirty-five day period from Thanksgiving to New Year's is my favorite time of the year. That's when I rationalize that I can eat and drink as much as I want and it's OK because everyone else is doing it too. However when I look at overweight and obese people I realize that I don't want to be one of them. I'm aware that all that turkey stuffing, sugared cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and eggnog has to go somewhere. In my case, they make a b-line for my stomach and my butt. Since I have self-respect, I use January and February to work on looking and feeling like I did at the beginning of November.

In order to lose weight, I need to consider my metabolism. Metabolism is simply the rate my body converts what I eat and drink into either energy or stored fat. I love to play tennis, take brisk walks, cross-country ski, and swim laps. And I think I'm pretty good at watching my diet. I know that after our 30s our metabolism slows down, with the result that if I maintain the same diet and perform activities at the same rate as I did when I was younger, I'm doomed to gain weight.

Aurora, N.Y. – Wells College Professor of Economics Kent A. Klitgaard wrote his first book “Energy and the Wealth of Nations: Understanding the Biophysical Economy,” in collaboration with Charles A.S. Hall, professor of biology and ESF Foundation Distinguished Professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y.

“Energy and the Wealth of Nations” explores the relation between energy and the wealth explosion of the 20th century and questions the world’s economic dependence on cheap oil and cheap debt. With the world entering on mass distinction and the second half of the age of oil, Hall and Klitgaard bring their disciplines of science and economics together in an endeavor to address what the new economic theory for a post-peak oil world will look like.

Nine dancers from the Armstrong School of Dance will perform in Macy’s 85th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade next week, Thursday November 24, 2011.  The local dancers will be part of the Spirit of America Performance Dance Team that will perform at Herald Square in front of Macy’s.

Ashley Burt (14), Autumn Evans-Wilent (16), Colleen Gorsky (14), Sarah Griggs (17), Kara Johnson (15), Meg Johnson (16), Melissa Johnson (17), Katie Martin (17), Katie McCullough (15) have been invited to perform in The Spirit of America Performance.  They will perform in a circus-themed performance alongside 600 additional performers from around the nation. All nine girls will rehearse with the other dance team members for six days in New York City prior to the parade.

Last week I discussed the pairing of wines with food at holiday time.  Part of the discourse concerned selecting different wines to serve with cheese.  While writing the piece I realized that Americans, in general, are not as familiar with serving cheese as many Europeans, and I thought it could be helpful to pass along some tips as we approach the holiday season. 

The most likely stumbling points will be: how many cheeses to serve, what kind should you choose, and how much will be adequate for each diner.

How many times have we all wished that we had written down or recorded our parents and grandparents talking about life lessons that are lost after they pass away?  That's the idea behind an upcoming book, 'Enjoy Your Life: And Other Legacy Lessons From People Who Truly Get It' that is being compiled by Haley VanCox.  VanCox is asking people who have been diagnosed with a terminal ilness to write short life lessons for the book.

"It's important to me that their stories are in their own words," she says.  "It should be in their own voice and exactly how they want it.  That's really what the project is about."

Moore Tree Farm is donating Real Christmas Trees as part of the nationwide Trees for Troops program, sponsored by Christmas Tree Farmers of New York, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx Corp.

This holiday season, 17,000 trees are expected to be delivered to U.S. military bases, as well as international shipments to military bases overseas. This total will put the program at more than 100,000 trees delivered since the beginning of the program in 2005. Consumers will also have the opportunity to purchase trees to donate to the program at various FedEx trailer drop locations across the nation.

The mission parish of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church at 347 Ridge Road in Lansing announced last week that Fr. James M. Worthington has been assigned as its new rector. Fr. James began serving full time at Holy Apostles on October 10th.

A graduate of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, Fr. James comes to Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission with great experience in the ministry and traditions of the Orthodox Church. Having served in parishes throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and as far away as Saskatchewan and Ontario, Canada, Fr. James has had the opportunity to experience the rich culture and strong spiritual traditions of the Orthodox Church in America.  Fr. James also serves as the Co-Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.

Many of us wrestle with a conundrum at holiday time: if I’m the host, what wine should I serve with dinner, and if I’m a guest, what wine should I bring the host? Here are some suggestions to help resolve these questions.

Let’s start with the easiest. If it’s a special occasion, like celebrating the arrival of the New Year, a sparkling wine is always appropriate.  Champagne from France is certainly the most authentic and traditional, but not necessarily the cheapest. If you like the idea of giving a sparkling wine, you could choose spumantes from Italy or Freixenet from Spain. Sparkling white wines and roses are also available from Finger Lakes wineries. Incidentally, sparkling wine is an appropriate gift for most dinner occasions because the action of the bubbles brings out the flavor of food.

Young and old alike, 45 applicants were admitted as the newest citizens of the United States of America by the Honorable Robert C. Mulvey, Justice of Supreme Court, in the main courtroom of the Tompkins County Court House in Ithaca on Thursday, November 3.

These individuals represented 26 countries of the world, joining in the pledge to support and defend their newly-adopted country.