Archive: Around Town

School spring break is just around the corner. This is the prime time of year for high school juniors to see college campuses while they are in session. Here is my list of top ten things to do and see on a college visit.

10. Edges of the campus. You can evaluate possible student hangouts and the safety of the neighborhood.

Hey there my name is Chipmunk. I am a five-month-old domestic shorthair mix who is spayed. I am a great kitten who is looking for a home with great people to take care of me so come and visit me at the SPCA to see if I'm the right kitten for you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Aurora, New York – The Wells College Performing Arts Department will present 'Dancing Room', an informal studio concert conceived and directed by Robert D. and Henrietta T. Campbell Professor of Dance Jeanne Goddard. Performances will be presented on Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 pm in the Schwartz Athletic Center dance studio. There is no admission charge.

Dancing Room, performed in the studio where Wells College students take their daily classes, places the emphasis on community, on dance, and on creative process as a part of the college experience. Professor Goddard says, “This room, this floor, is an inclusive space, a familiar space, a comfortable space.” Audiences will experience original dance works “up close and personal” and have an opportunity to talk with the choreographers and the performers.

Running to Places, the non-profit theatre company for youth across Tompkins County, presents its 2009 Spring Showcase. The brightest rising stars of song and dance from every corner of the region bring the best of Broadway to Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium, April 17-19, Fridays and Saturdays at 7, Sundays at 2.

This, the company’s second annual showcase, features two dozen musical theatre numbers from shows like Wicked, Footloose, Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia, Honk!, Phantom of the Opera, Rocky Horror Show, and many more.

Ithaca, NY – As New York’s mandatory application deadline for all state Charter Schools was brought to a close, the upstart New Roots Charter School of Ithaca, NY has found itself way ahead the curve.  As of the school’s lottery deadline on Wednesday April l, New Roots received 82 enrollment forms, 53 from students within the Ithaca City School District (ICSD).  The school will also be welcoming numerous pupils from Lansing, Dryden, Groton, Candor, Trumansburg, Newfield and as far away as Binghamton, Horseheads, Corning, and Aurora.

New Roots Charter School, an innovative public high school committed to sustainability and social justice education, has an initial goal of achieving a full enrollment of 125 students by September.  All students enrolled as of April 1st have been formally accepted, while the remaining slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Corporate Development Committee of Lansing Central Schools, Inc. funded the purchase of 25 heart rate monitors to be used by the Lansing High School Physical Education Department. The donation was accepted by the Board of Education on February 24th.

The heart rate monitor technology will be used to measure and evaluate students to help them gauge exercise intensity in order to meet their exercise goals. According to Carolyn Ferguson, Physical Education teacher at the High School, the students learn in PE to set their fitness goals based on the FITT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type of exercise). By having students use heart rate monitors during different activities, they can learn how much work is required to get their heart rate into their training zones in each of the activities.

United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) has exceeded its 2008-09 Community Campaign Goal of $2,065,000, raising $2,065,807 and counting. This total represents the most funds ever raised through March 31st in the organization's 88-year history, as announced today by Campaign Co-Chairs Gregory Hartz, President and CEO of Tompkins Trust Company, and Laurie Linn, President of Communique' Design and Marketing, Inc.

The Co-Chairs added, "A very special thank you to each and every donor for supporting the Campaign and the media for their great coverage. As a result thousands of people in Tompkins County will receive much-needed services throughout the year."

On Friday, April 24th, progressive reggae band John Brown's Body performs at Castaways.  JBB's last studio album Amplify, debuted at number one on Billboard's Reggae Chart, and made iTunes "Best of 2008" list.  On March 17th, JBB returns with Re-Amplify, a new release featuring six remixes of songs from Amplify, along with a new, previously unreleased track. 

When the class of 2009 graduates into the wide world on June 26th, Principal Michelle Brantner will be graduating with them.  Brantner recently accepted a new position as Superintendent of Schools in the Moravia Central School District.  While she looks forward to the challenges her new position will bring, she says she will miss Lansing, especially the people she has come to know here.

While recovering from surgery earlier this year she had a chance to really reflect on what the change will mean to her.  "I started thinking very nostalgically about my time here, the relationships, the people, and my kids," she says.  "But it didn't change the fact that I am ready to make a move."

School Board member Sandi Dhimitri announced Monday that board President Anne Drake received an award from the Tompkins Seneca Tioga School Board Association Executive Committee.  Dhimitri told Lansing's Board Of Education that the committee singles out one outstanding  board member from the whole BOCES community each year.  Dhimitri presented the award to Drake on April 1st, and shared the citation Monday at the regular Lansing school board meeting.

"On behalf of the TST BOCES School Board Association Executive Board it was my pleasure to present the award to Anne," Dhimitri said.  "If you spend any time in Lansing at almost any event you problably have seen this person.  Whether it is running events at her church, working as a volunteer for the fire department, or planning the after-prom party you have seen her.