Archive: Around Town

The Myers Road bridge that spans Salmon Creek between Myers Park and Salt Point has been named the 'Nicholas George Bridge'.  To commemorate the long-time Myers neighborhood resident a stone has been erected on the south end of the bridge, along with landscaping and a tree.  He passed away in 1998.

"Nick always spent time on the bridge," says Nicholas's nephew Marion George. "That was a gathering place. Everybody said, 'That's Nick's bridge. We'll go down to see Nick on Nick's bridge.'  Years ago five, six, seven, eight guys would congregate over here and just meet on the bridge and chew the fat."

Washington, DC - Congressman Tom Reed announced that, for the first time, he will be hosting a Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an app competition for students in middle and high school.

"We are excited to participate in this year's competition for the first time in our office," said Reed. "We understand and care about the importance of STEM education and providing the tools to have a developed workforce. We have seen first hand the impact teachers have on students who want to explore this field, and we want to give students yet another opportunity to put their skills on display on the national stage."

Crystal Howser (left) accepts congratulations from current Lansing Lions Club President Anne Drake
Crystal Howser received the prestigious Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award Monday from past Lions Club President Rick Hayes at the Lansing Lions Club meeting at Myers Park.

Established in 1993, the award honors outstanding Lions and non-Lions or organizations who perform exemplary service to a Club, district or community. These honorees possess the highest examples of Lionistic character, ideals, purpose, and service.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday the winners of the 34th annual New York Wine Classic, a nationally recognized competition organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation highlighting the best of New York's wine. This year, the Governor's Cup, the most esteemed award given at the Classic, was presented to Six Mile Creek Vineyard's 2016 Cabernet Franc from the Finger Lakes region. In addition, Wagner Vineyards from the Finger Lakes region was presented with the 'Winery of the Year' award. The Specialty Wine Champion award, reserved for wines made fruit or meads, was given to Johnson Estate Winery for their Passionate Peach fruit wine.

"The winners of the New York Wine Classic represent the very best of New York's wineries and the innovation and high-quality production that goes into making these award-winning wines cannot be understated," Governor Cuomo said. "New York is proud to support these wineries and grape growers for their accomplishments, and they are a critical component of our tourism and agricultural industries in New York. We're excited to welcome wine lovers everywhere to New York State so that they can experience our wines for themselves."

By Adam Kramarsyck

What's up? Yogi is my name and burrowing is my game! My favorite thing to do is bury myself in huge piles of shredded bedding. I'm an older gentleman who enjoys my peace and quiet. My previous owner left me in my cage for most of my life which has made me afraid of handling. I'm in the market for a new home. Is it yours?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The first known case of Powassan virus in 2019, a rare tick-borne infection, was reported in New York State earlier this week. A resident of Ulster County died after contracting this disease. The virus can cause symptoms ranging from mild, flu-like symptoms to life threatening encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). In New York State, there are 1 to 2 cases of Powassan virus per year.

Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director states, "While Powassan virus is extremely rare, this is an important reminder to take preventive measures. Avoiding tick bites is your best defense against tick-borne infection."

Cornell Professor in the Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Sciences Larry Smart, in a greenhouse examining industrial hemp. Photo by Justin Muir, Cornell University
Cornell University will house the nation's only industrial hemp germplasm repository – a seed bank – co-located at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York.  Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. who helped secure $500,000 in federal funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) made the funding announcement last Friday.

"I fought tooth and nail to secure this federal funding," said Schumer, the senate minority leader, "while also working to strip back the burdensome federal restrictions that held our farmers and growers back from growing industrial hemp as an agriculture commodity, because I knew the potential this crop had to transform the upstate New York economy."

Cal Walker, James Brown, Jason Moore
United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) announced its volunteer leadership for 2019-20 includes Jason Moore, Tompkins Trust Company, as Board Chair and Cal Walker, a long-time community activist and social entrepreneur and Cornell University retiree, who will serve as Community Campaign Chair.

Jason Moore first served as a United Way volunteer in 2009 as a campaign committee member. Seeing the positive impact United Way of Tompkins County donors and funded partners make in people's lives caused him to become more and more involved, and he has served on the Board of Directors since 2011.  

After 24 years as the owner-operator of Lansing's historic Rogue's Harbor Inn Eileen Stout sold the property about three years ago to a young couple.  They made a go of it for a while, but then closed the inn, the bar, and the restaurant.  Lansing people mourned the closing of the prominent local landmark that, in 2009 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  That seemed to be the end of a local destination, until it reopened as an inn the last weekend in June.  Stout, who has been working as a jeweler since she sold the property, is back.  The Once and Future Innkeeper plans big changes to support the core inn business.

"There was a tremendous amount for me to get ready for that," she says.  "I'm still doing things.  It was a little bit neglected, so a lot of the rooms needed a little help, and I converted this space (the downstairs lounge) from a dining room to a lobby.  And there's still more work to be done.  Lots of scrubbing, lots of painting, lots of fixing."

By Adam Kramarsyck

Are you looking for a high-energy people loving dog? If so, I am your guy! I'm a 5 year old Lab/Poodle mix that absolutely loves playing with a tennis ball and getting scratched by volunteers. I love people and would do well with children sixteen and up. I’m a fan of attempting to climb into laps. I say “attempting” because, being a 107lb pup, most of me doesn’t fit. I have a history of dog aggression, so I need a home without one. I’m all up to date and ready to find my forever home today!

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Salt Point Brewery opened in the little building next to Rogue's Harbor Inn a year ago last April.  In just over a year they have outgrown their space, so owners Chris and Sarah Hesse and Camilo Bohorquez are planning to build a new brewery building on a plot of town center land across the street from the Lansing town ball fields.  The brewery/restaurant will be the first commercial enterprise on the town center land.

"When we first dreamed up this plan we wanted it to be here in Lansing," Chris told Lansing Planning Board members Monday. "We live in the town we felt it would be a nice addition if there were something like that.  We waited and waited and nobody else did it. So we decided to do it ourselves."

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hi! I'm Kisses! I am such a cute black cat! I here fur-ever homes are the best! I am hoping for one with a loving human or two, feather wands, a nice scratching post, and a cat tree perfectly placed in a sunny window. Might we be the perfect match for each other? I am spayed, micro-chipped and up-to-date on all of my vaccinations. Won't you come and see me? You won't be sorry!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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