Archive: Around Town

Walk into the Lansing Town courtroom on a late Friday morning, and you might see small children singing songs with their mothers.  Parents and children alike sing, dance, and play instruments.  They are participating in the Early Childhood Music Class, offered by Ludlowville performing artist Kathryn Russell.  From the 'hello song' at the beginning of each session to the 'goodbye' song that includes each child and parent by name, the class offers a gentle, musical environment for kids from birth to five years old.

"We try to do all sorts of songs," Russell says.  "We do some that are a lot more raucus, but I try to provide a big variety of types of music.  The parents rolling around on the floor makes such a huge difference.  If they see their parents doing silly things they feel very comfortable doing the same things.  They learn rhythm, and pitch, and how to move their bodies.  It helps develop language, social skills, and encourages creativity."

Hey there, my name is Bertha. I am a three-year-old domestic shorthaired/ mix. I'm a gorgeous girl who's 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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How would you like to live forever - be young in mind and body - think more clearly - develop better motor skills - fend off Alzheimer’s disease - and many cancers - never develop cataracts - or a heart attack - or a stroke - because you’ll be reducing your cholesterol level - and your blood pressure - while maintaining smooth, unwrinkled skin and reducing stretch marks - as you shed pounds of ugly, quivering fat?

Sounds too good to be true?  Perhaps it is, but if you follow media hype about the health benefits of red grapes and red wine, no one could blame you for believing these claims. They come from published research results from medical schools all over the world. Reading them could easily lead you to believe that resveratrol is the 21st Century’s panacea.

SMART TALK

by Dr. Will S. Sert

DOWNPOUR: At the Institute for English as a First Language, we teach patients that redundancies can sneak up on you. They become so embedded in our language that we don't hear them. Downpour, for instance. A perfectly good word that we use ourselves, but with awareness.

Years ago, I once scuttled into a saloon to get out of a roaring rainstorm. As I stood panting in the puddle that was forming at my feet, a barfly looked up from the bottom of his glass, glanced blearily through the streaked front window, and remarked, "Look at that rain come down!"

To which a voice retorted from the gloom at the far end of of the bar, "Sure would look funny goin' up!"

Clear thinking for a man in his condition.

Downpour invites a similar wisecrack. After all, gravity isn't just a good idea, it's the law.

But we're stuck with downpour as handy shorthand for torrential rain. Just use it wisely, my friends.

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Hey there, my name is Dalia. I am an eleven-month-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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Sponsored by Greenstar Community Projects, Ithaca celebrated its first Food Justice Summit this past weekend.  Saturday’s event included an Iron Chef Jr. competition, live music, and a speech from Malik Yakini, an activist and educator from Detroit who spoke about food security in impoverished areas and racism in the food system.  Mr. Yakini also spoke at Cornell University and New Roots Charter School on Monday 10/25.

The Iron Chef Jr. competition was held on October 22, 2011 at the Neighborhood Pride Grocery Store on Hancock Street in downtown Ithaca. Student representatives, ranging in age and cooking experience, from New Roots Charter School, Beverly J. Martin School, and the Southside Community Center were in attendance. Students were broken into groups and were led by local Ithaca chefs.

Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport is being recognized with a prestigious national award for its Sustainable Master Plan.  The Plan has been chosen as a recipient of the 2011 “Airports Going Green” (ASG) award, to be presented October 31, at the fourth annual Airports Going Green Conference in Chicago, IL.

Announcing the award, Chicago’s Deputy Commissioner of Aviation for Sustainability, Amy Malick, noted that the award recognizes the value of the Ithaca Airport Sustainable Master Plan as an important and ground-breaking project, as well as the Airport’s “outstanding leadership in pursuit of sustainability within the aviation industry.”

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Nobody can ever accuse Marty Christopher of being shy.  Christopher is retiring from the Lansing Town Board this year, and when he offered the Star an exit interview I knew he wouldn't be pulling any punches.

He didn't disappoint.  When we sat down in his kitchen Monday morning, he talked about his eight years as a town councilman, accomplishments and dreams, his take on next month's election, and gave me a scoop on this year's Lansing Athletic Hall Of Fame recipients.

Hey there, my name is Earl. I am a three-year-old domestic shorthaired/ mix. I'm a handsome fellow 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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Readers of the Lansing Star are adventurous souls who aren’t afraid to venture into new and unknown territories as they pursue their never-ending search for the perfect meal. However, sometimes the most interesting aspect of a trip away from home may not be the food or the wine. It could be the amazing array of state-of-the-art sinks and hand dryers we encounter in the restaurants we visit as we move about the country.

When you and your family embark on a road trip, you probably aren’t thinking: “Wow, this is gonna be a great trip – just think of all the new and exciting restrooms we’ll have the opportunity to visit!”

In recognition of his efforts to preserve the important programs and services provided by local libraries, State Senator Mike Nozzolio has been advised by the New Yorkers for Better Libraries organization that he has received their top legislative rating. Nozzolio received an “A” grade from the statewide organization of library leaders for his support of legislation to improve public library systems and efforts to restore library funding in the State Budget.

“Libraries are not only an indispensable component of our education system in New York State, they are also essential to our economic future. In addition to offering programs and services on a wide array of topics to children, adults, and senior citizens, libraries also provide information on searching for jobs, preparing for job interviews, and developing resumes,” said Nozzolio. “I thank New Yorkers for Better Libraries for this important recognition, as well as all of the dedicated librarians and staff at our libraries for their outstanding service to our communities.”