Archive: Around Town

Five Lansing teachers were honored at a reception shortly before officially receiving tenure at Monday's Board Of Education meeting.  Recipients were Nicole Ball , Heather Byrne, Wendy Brown, Julie Hempson, and Lindsay Woodward.

"It's very meaningful and it's very important," said Superintendent Stephen Grimm.  "A former superintendent told me, 'You're marrying the teacher to the district.'  It's really a lifetime commitment.  We hope that is the case that these teachers stay with us for the rest of their teaching careers."

Susan Rosenkoetter was recognized by the Lansing Board Of Education Monday with a plaque, reception, and formal recognition by the board.  The Rochester youth librarian retired to her native Lansing, where she has been active in promoting reading and the teaching of reading.  In addition to reading to kids in Lansing classrooms, the library, and other venues, Rosenkoetter has paid to bring Lansing teachers to National Teachers of English conference each year, has donated countless books, ran the Lansing Community Library's Summer Reading Program for years, and has paid to bring popular authors to the Lansing schools.

"She has inspired me to give literally hundreds of books to students and pay it forward," said High School English Teacher June Martin, the first to invite Rosenkoetter to present 'book talks' in her classes when Rosenkoetter moved back to Lansing.  "I can't say enough to thank you for everything you've done."

Last summer the Lansing Parent teacher Student Organization (PTSO) sponsored Kindergarten Community Nights every Wednesday.  The idea was for kids who would be starting Kindergarten in the Fall to get to know each other and to be comfortable on the school playground and about going to school.  It also gave parents a chance to get to know each other.  That worked so well that organizer Margaret Shackell-Dowell is expanding the program this year to include all elementary grades.

"No one will be turned away," she says.  "If you're a second grader and you come on a first grade night you'll still be welcome.  The idea is to build up friends and community over the summer, and build up the school as a fun and good place."

"The average man can advance not a single reason for thinking that the Earth is round. He merely swallows this theory because there is something about it that appeals to the twentieth century mentality" - George Bernard Shaw.

Not that the Earth isn't round, of course, what Shaw speaks of is the blatant acceptance of ideas in the classroom which is similar to how people accept the bench press as a worthwhile exercise. Most of the fitness world perceives the idea of not bench pressing as blasphemy. However, when you consider the overuse and abuse that the bench press does to the shoulder capsule, you may reconsider whether or not you do it as religiously. In addition, the bench press is not only injurious to the shoulder but is also terribly non-functional.

 

Lansing's Matthew P. Binkewicz was awarded the Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes' Works of Love Award.  The award is based on the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 26, “I was hungry and you fed me, naked and you clothed me, in prison and you visited me.”  Honorees are people who meet the spiritual and emotional needs of others in their community.

Binkewicz is the bereavement and pastoral care coordinator at Hospice of the Finger Lakes.  He regularly meets with families to help them deal with the loss of a loved one.  He is an accomplished writer and photographer and a regular contributor to The Lansing Star.

Six members of Lansing High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) are this month’s Tompkins County Distinguished Youth.  Jessica Uhrovcik, Susan Lin, Rebekah Leo, Travis Smith, Kari Fenner, Alyssa Wasanko, and Chris Sherman were nominated by SADD advisor Kevin Wyszkowski for their participation in a mock car crash, presented to high school students May 14th, in which  the driver was texting on her phone.

Hey there my name is Betty.  I am a 4-year-old white and gray cat.   I'm a wonderful cat who needs a great home with a loving family to take good care of me so come and visit me at the SPCA today to see if I'm the right cat for you.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Periodization is simply planned variation of your training. Because the body adapts to training quickly, variation is a must. However, most information on periodization deals with athletes training for specific goals or competitions. But what about planning training if you're a normal, general-fitness exerciser? Football season is 12 weeks long but life is 52 weeks a year. Periodizing by the season (calendar) is one way to do it.

Summer weather makes getting outside a priority and the long days automatically increase the activity level compared to other seasons of the year. Outdoor activities with long amounts of daylight give summer a focus on endurance. Outdoor summer activities usually bring us back to long continuous activity such as biking, roller blading, running, walking, kayaking, hiking, etc. As an example, you may have already started getting ready for your first road race of the running season. Because of the warmer weather, your body, given an undamaged metabolism, is more inclined to mobilize its bodyfat for energy. This characteristic supports natural endurance activity.

At the recent meeting of the Clydesdale Breeders Title Alias: Category: of the USA, Mary Flinn, of Ridge Road in Lansing, was inducted into the Clydesdale Breeders of the USA Heritage Hall of Fame.  The Heritage  Hall of Fame was instituted to honor those individuals and families who have contributed to the preservation and protection of the Clydesdale Horse in America. 

Ms. Flinn was selected for her service on the Board of Directors and her leadership as President for four terms. She is the first woman to have held that position.

Lansing Parent Teacher Student Organization hosted Lansing Central School Awards and Recognition night Monday.  More than 60 awards were handed out to students who have excelled at school in academic achievement, art, drama, music, mentoring, class publications, citizenship and in state and national competitions.

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May 28th through 31st 2009

You might be expecting a list of exercises, sets, reps, etc., but that's not what this column is about. Most regular exercisers fall into their niche workouts, their comfort zone. Usually this revolves around their "strength" and/or what comes easy to them. For example, most distance runners have migrated to their chosen lifestyle because they are aerobically gifted athletes. But, when it comes to improving fitness, working your strength is not what is best for you. You need to work your weakness, what you are not good at, or what you are inefficient at. Unfortunately, this is also what you probably don't like to do.