Archive: Around Town

We returned from Florida to cold weather and grass above our ankles so our first fair weather job was mowing our lawn and field. Jim’s aqueduct from the new roof gutters to the pond had a first run (literally) so we added the final piece and dug it into the rim of the pond. After he adds some screening to keep out leaves, and figures how to camouflage the white section of pipe, the project will finally be complete.

Between unpacking and catching up at home we missed several of the winery events but we are looking forward to Halloween weekend at Bellwether and Americana wineries.

Lansing walkers joined people all over the United States in a walk to help fight hunger, both locally and around the world.  Lansing United Methodist Church (LUMC) and All Saints Catholic Church joined to host Lansing's 16th annual 'Communites Responding to Overcome Poverty' (CROP) Walk.

Church World Service has sponsored Crop Walks since 1969.  The first year attracted about 1,000 walkers and raised about $25,000.  Each year about 2,000 communities participate.  This year it is estimated that $4 million will be raised for food pantries.  A quarter of the proceeds go to local food pantries.

Last year a lot of young people got excited about the presidential election.  Hoping to capitalize on that momentum the Tompkins County League of Women Voters is encouraging parents to take their kids with them when they vote with a new program called 'Take Me To Vote.' 

"Kids are so influenced by their teachers and parents that if they see all these people voting and see them as thinking it is an important part of their life that really means something," says League of Women Voters member Sue Henninger.  "Then they're more likely to vote as adults because they'll have that in their mind."

Every year about 3,000 people are killed in home fires, and more than 200,000 end up in emergency rooms with burn injuries.  Every year during fire prevention week the Lansing Fire Department invites second graders to a fire station, and brings fire trucks and firefighters to kindergartners at their school.  A bus load of  second graders were treated to a hands-on visit to Lansing Central Fire Station last Friday, and Kindergartners got to see firefighters.

"Obviously we think it's important that kids know about fire safety and fire prevention," says Lansing Fire Chief Scott Purcell.  "The last thing we want to do is have a kid hurt or burned in the community."

Habitat For Humanity's plan has been to finish the Breed Road house in Lansing before December 1st , to allow soon-to-be homeowner Amber Little to qualify for the first-time home buyer tax credit.  Unexpected delays have made meeting that deadline less certain, but local organizers are adding build sessions in the hope that they still may finish before the deadline.  Last weekend was the first of four planned two-day Women Build events.

"We are looking at different ways of speeding the build as we go along," says local habitat Board of Directors President Angela Loh.  "We're talking about having special build days on top of the ones we have every Saturday and Wednesday evenings.  It does look more daunting at this time, but we're looking at ways to speed it up."

Hey there my name is Rex. I am a 7-month-old gray cat. I ‘m a great boy who is very playful and loveable. I was born with a heart murmur but the veterinarian who took care of me has offered to reexamine me with no cost to the lucky person who adopts me! I love to cuddle on your lap or your shoulder and I'm an awesome guy. So come and visit me at the SPCA soon to see if I'm the right cat for you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Lansing Kindergartners got a chance to see what it would be like to go to a one room schoolhouse this week, when they visited the Field School.  The classes first stopped by the Lansing Community Library for tours that included the children's reading room and exhibit area, and a story read by 'Miss Susie' (Lansing Librarian Susie Gutenberger).  Then they filed across the parking lot to the Field School where Town Historian Louise Bement greeted them at the door by ringing the school bell.

Before the current Lansing Central School District was formed Lansing was divided into 23 school districts, each with its own school house.  The Field School House was built in the 1830s or 1840s on Peruville Road and named after Miss Evelyn Field, who taught there for nine years starting in 1893.  Today the school sits between the Lansing Town Hall and the town historical records building, across the square from the library.

The Sullivans have been out and about on special pre-snow bird assignment in Cape Coral, Florida for the past week thanks to some generous friends. We left Syracuse in forty degree weather and rain and returned 8 days later to colder weather and rain with heavy frost the next day. In between, we were treated to glorious sunrises from our condo balcony or on the beach at nearby Sanibel Island and sunsets from a beach or boat in the Gulf of Mexico or a nearby estuary.

We had the use of a well appointed kitchen, but our kind hostess had also left us a book of restaurant menus, maps and suggestions along with the latest AAA Florida Guide Book.  We tried a local restaurant, which was a lot nicer on the inside than the outside generic strip mall stucco would predict. We had great service and a fine tasting meal but Mary decided to try something new; Fried Grouper with asparagus and hollandaise sauce, and unfortunately learned the hard way that this is not a combination for tropical climates unless the egg yolk based sauce is cooked and expertly kept at the proper temperature. It can happen even in the best restaurants and we would certainly go again, just not to eat anything with hollandaise.

If you wandered into the Shops at Ithaca Mall in the Village of Lansing last Saturday you were treated to a display of Fall-themed cakes that were part of the first annual Central new York Cake Decorating Contest.  Hosted by Wilton instructors Nancy Buttino and Julie Ehrentraut, the contest was open to anyone who wanted to try their hand at cake decorating.

"We had 76 people registered to compete," Ehrentraut said.  "We ended up with 64 cakes, so we had a few drop outs.  Not too bad for our first event!"

   Babaganouj (as explained to me by an Egyptian student I met inFlorence) A large eggplantJuice from 1/2 lemon3 garlic cloves1 T. Olive oil- extra virgin preferably 

The Cancer Resource Center announced that it has entered its 15th year of providing direct support and compassionate care to local people diagnosed with cancer and their families. The Center began in 1994 as a small group of women providing mutual support and advocacy to newly diagnosed women with breast cancer. Over the years the request for services and supports from people with other cancers grew to the point that the organization adjusted its mission -and name-to serve all people with any type of cancer in a way that is personalized to each client's circumstances and needs.

The locally supported nonprofit now offers access to cancer screenings, supports and guidance through treatment, and wellness programs for survivors. Its constellation of services include information and strategies for coping and informed decision-making; connections to other cancer survivors; useful items for day to day needs and connections to community resources that will address barriers to successfully completing treatment.