Archive: Around Town

Senator Pam Helming meeting with a group of advocates and survivors from the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester at her Albany Office in March. The Breast Cancer Coalition (BCCR) will be honoring Senator Pam Helming with their prestigious Advocate's Spirit Award at the annual ARTrageous Affair Breast Cancer Gala on September 28th. The award is being presented in recognition of Helming's unwavering efforts to support the programs and services that the Coalition offers to individuals facing a diagnosis of breast or gynecologic cancer and their families.

"It is truly an honor to work with the Coalition everyday on behalf of those facing a diagnosis of breast or gynecologic cancer and their families. The services and programs they offer strengthen our community and provide hope to those facing some of the toughest moments in their lives. Those facing these cancers are not alone and the Coalition is there every step of the way to support them as they receive treatment. The ARTrageous Affair gives us an opportunity to recognize survivors, educate women, and remember those we have lost. I am humbled to accept this recognition and honored to continue working with the Breast Cancer Coalition," said Helming.

Community partners gathered Friday, September 20th to celebrate a successful decade-long collaboration, the Community Housing Development Fund, through which Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and Cornell University have pooled resources to address our area's affordable housing crisis.

Tompkins County administers the fund on behalf of the three funding partners. Since Community Housing Development Fund (CHDF) was established in 2009, Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca each have contributed $100,000 each year, and Cornell University $200,000 annually to support affordable housing. At the event Cornell Vice President for University Relations Joel Malina announced that the University will also make an additional one-time contribution of $200,000 to the Housing Fund to help the fund meet some of the unmet demand for its resources.

The Lansing United Methodist Rummage Sale will be hosted on Brickyard Road again this Fall, a welcomed revival for the community that lamented the loss of a Spring sale this year. The sale has been a Lansing tradition for over 50 years.

"It started as a way to raise funds to pay off the mortgage," says Peg MacKenzie, a worker who has helped at every sale since 1994, "but over the years it's become much more than that."

The Friends of Salt Point (FoSP) is a non-profit community organization that focuses on several goals: support the Town of Lansing Parks and Recreation Department in managing the DEC owned lakeside property called Salt Point, apply for and manage grants that improve the ecological restoration of the site (once an International Salt Company mine and factory), and public education through walking tours and community lectures.

The Friends of Salt Point recently received a $4,350 grant from the Community Foundation of Tompkins County? The grant is for a project called “Native Plants at Salt Point: Restoring a Diverse Ecology”. The purpose of the project is to help restore a diverse plant ecology at Salt Point with 6 fenced plots throughout the area in which we are replacing non-native, invasive plants with native species. It is a collaborative effort. We have received additional help from Town of Lansing Parks & Rec, NYSDEC, The Plantsmen, Cayuga Bird Club, Cargill employees, NYSEG, and Friends of Salt Point volunteers.

By Doug Scott

Hello? Is it me you're looking for? I'm Muffin. I tend to be very shy when I first meet someone, but if you take your time and go slowly with me, I can really warm up to you. The folks here at the SPCA have noted that I can be very sweet once I've gotten to know you. My ideal home would be a quiet home where a 6-year-young feline gal can really blossom. I can envision us reading a good book together while sipping our cup of tea, or maybe listening to a fine symphony. Does your home need a cattish sensibility? If so, come down and meet me! You won't regret it.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Students at Northeast Elementary School have an assortment of locally produced fruits and vegetables to snack on during the school day this fall. The Fresh Snack Program, which distributes produce to schools in the Ithaca City School District, began delivering fruits and vegetables to Northeast Elementary for the first time this fall. Northeast is the sixth elementary school in the district participating in the program, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

"The mission of the Fresh Snack Program has been to expand into schools with the lowest incomes," said Katie Church, administrator of the Youth Farm Project, which oversee the Fresh Snack Program. "Northeast, because of the sheer number of students, means that we are serving about 180 students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch."

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hello, hello, hello! I'm Flower and I love to talk! I don't seem to mind kids, but do want to be your one and only cat. I love attention and am not shy about letting you know when I want it and will likely follow you around and be involved in everything. When you sit down, I immediately climb into your lap. What else do you need to know? Come and see me today! I'll steal your heart!

Visit the SPCA Web Page


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September 9, 2019 New Roots celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a community meeting presentation from local leaders of the Sunrise Movement, who are inviting students to join their youth-led climate justice movement with a nation-wide school strike on September 20, 2019, three days before the UN Climate Summit in NYC.

New Roots Charter School opened on September 9, 2009 inspired by the vision "to empower young people as citizens and entrepreneurs that create just, democratic communities, and thriving green economies that restore the natural world that sustains us." According to founder Tina Nilsen-Hodges, the school's mission and vision aligns with the Sunrise Movement, a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good "green" jobs in the process.

Sciencenter Executive Director, Dean Briere has been elected to the Association of Science and Technology Centers' (ASTC) Board of Trustees. Briere's three-year term will begin after his induction during the ASTC Annual Conference, September 21 – 24, in Toronto.

ASTC is a global organization providing professional support, and programming opportunities for science centers, museums, planetariums, aquariums, and related institutions. ASTC works to increase awareness of the contributions its members make to their communities and the field of informal STEM learning. The organization represents over 600 members in nearly 50 countries.

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month and Senator Pam Helming is encouraging local residents to visit their libraries and learn more about the opportunities they offer. The 54th Senate district is home to 33 libraries.

"From young children reading a book for the first time to high school student completing a class research project, and from adults applying for jobs to senior citizens staying active in their golden years, our local public libraries provide a tremendous variety of services and programs to people of all ages, abilities, and interest levels. Public libraries are truly the centerpieces of our communities, and it is important that they have the ability to upgrade their infrastructure and technology in order to continue serving the public in this capacity," Helming said.

The focus is on Lansing as HeatSmart continues to hold events to talk about heat pump technology and special incentives available in Lansing because of the NYSEG moratorium on new natural gas capacity.  HeatSmart Lansing Coordinator Lisa Marshall and HeatSmart Tompkins Program Director Jonathan Comstock were in the Village of Lansing Monday to tell the Village Trustees about the program and enlist their help in getting the word out to their constituents.

"There are two areas in New York where there are declared gas moratoriums, and there may be other areas, soon," Marshall said. "To address the gas moratorium New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) put together a clean energy action plan to provide relief to businesses and residents affected by the NYSEG gas moratorium.  Part of that action plan is extra money for HeatSmart."

Are you a paraskevidekatriaphobic? If so you are probably at home reading the Star today instead of going out into the world.  Because being a paraskevidekatriaphobe means you are afraid of Friday the 13th. Of course it could mean that you are a triskaidekaphobiac, a person is lives in fear of the number 13.

No one is sure when the fear began, but some attribute it to ancient man when counting was developed. With ten fingers and two feet, the next number in a count was unlucky.  In ancient Egypt 13 signified death. It was the last stage of ascension, something Egyptians strived for. The Chinese also considered the number lucky. But the Hindus believed it was unlucky for 13 people to gather in one place. The Norse also thought 13 at dinner was unlucky.