United Way of Tompkins County awarded grant funds totaling $85,350 to support current work in the targeted impact area of Hunger and Food Security and to invest in efforts to promote improvement in community conditions. The Community Foundation of Tompkins County’s Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Fund joined this effort to support the Hunger and Food Security by adding $2,500 to increase the funds to $35,500.  The Community Foundation is committed to food program solutions to poverty, a major need identified in the United Way’s COMPASS II needs analysis.

United Way of Tompkins County continues to document an increased demand for food and personal care items and is focusing its efforts on addressing the many complex food and hunger issues. UWTC is working with community nonprofits to support programming to make an impact to improve the quality of life of area residents.

Sheer determination and the will to give back to those less fortunate kept Justin Wright and Desmond Roeback outside in the cold for approximately 60 hours, collecting food in a 24 foot U-Haul truck in Wegman's parking lot.

By about 4 p.m. last Wednesday, these Z95.5 FM Finger Lakes Radio personalities had collected about 6000 pounds of food for the Tompkins County American Red Cross Homeless Services Food Pantry. This amount of food will support approximately160 households consisting of a total of 100 children, 190 adults and 25 seniors with three meals per day for five to seven days, totaling about 5100 meals.

 

Hey there my name is Vino. I am a veteran here at the SPCA. I am a great cat who needs a home with people who will take good care of me. I am a black and white neutered male and I am looking forward to coming home with you. So please come visit me at the SPCA today.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Hey there my name is Eddie. I am a white and brown male tabby who needs a home with a nice family who will take very good care of me. I am an adult and I came here on April 17, 2008. Please come and visit me at the SPCA and take me home today.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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It was December 5th, 1933 in of the Rogue's Harbor Inn as revellers celebrated the reopening of the ballroom last Friday.  Drinks and dances from the period highlighted the party, though the real star was the ballroom itself, which owner Eileen Stout says is nearly the same as it was when the inn was built in 1830.  With a vaulted ceiling and spring floor, the ballroom is smaller than most people expected.  But there was plenty of room for dancing, music, and fun.

"Rogues never stopped serving," Stout says.  "Prohibition didn't really stop the Rogues Harbor Inn, and I suspect that was the time when Rogues got its name."

The Tompkins County SPCA wants to give out 20 kittens before Christmas.  The shelter also has 200 adult cats that are looking for homes.

"For the holiday season, the SPCA of Tompkins County would like to turn as many houses into homes for shelter animals as possible," says the SPCA's Maggie Thomas. "Surprisingly, in addition to many wonderful older cats and fabulous dogs, we currently have 20 kittens who are just 10-12 weeks old available for adoption. While 'kitten season' normally reaches its height during the summer and early fall, cats are increasingly having litters later in the year and even during the winter months."

Since The Next Jennaration Dance & Cheer Zone opened in Lansing in September of 2007 it has doubled in just about every way possible.  This September the studio on the corner of Triphammer and Peruville Roads doubled in physical size.  The number of classes has doubled.  And the number of students has doubled.

"I needed a bigger waiting area," says owner/instructor Jenna Stevenson.  With double the student size we needed a bigger area for the parents to wait in.  We got two bathrooms.  The kids have their own waiting room."

Ask IMO

Ask IMO

Lansing's Advice Column

Email your questions to IMO at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear IMO,

I'm a single man who spends a lot of time working at an investment office. Like others in the workplace, I am feeling the economic pinch as well. Do you have any suggestions as to how I might cut back on my at work expenses? I really enjoy coffee so don't suggest that I try drinking tea.

Thanks,
Chris

 

ITHACA, NY — Starting in January 2009, the Sciencenter will offer a free regular family membership to all families with children qualifying for free or reduced-cost lunch at school who reside in Tompkins and surrounding counties.  The Sciencenter’s new Membership Access Program was developed to ensure that all children in our community, regardless of financial means, can visit the museum as often as they’d like without cost as a barrier. 

“We want every young person to be empowered to use science in shaping a better future,” said Charlie Trautmann, executive director.  “And, although our visitor satisfaction has reached an all-time high this year, we know that we are not yet reaching all parts of our community. Right now, the need to serve those less fortunate is especially great. Currently, Tompkins County has a poverty rate of 18.1%, which is 1.4 times the overall U.S. poverty rate.”

The Lansing Community Library opened a display of model trains and local train photographer Frank Barry's  steam locomotives photos.  To kick off the exhibit about 40 people came last week to hear Barry talk about steam locomotives and how he took the pictures over several decades.  The photos are on the walls in the Community Room of the library.

SMART TALK
by Dr. Molto Breve

ARMED AND DANGEROUS:  When the staff of the Institute for the Linguistically Impaired is watching the news in the Fowler Lounge, and a fugitive is described as armed and dangerous, one of us is sure to shout, "armed is all I need to know, thanks!"  Actually, this being Texas, just saying armed seems redundant.

Perhaps more serious are the redundant word pairs that belong mainly to lawyers.  So please make a uniform and invariable addition to your rules and regulations of clear usage.  Cease and desist from relying and depending on various and sundry expressions like these.  It's only fair and just to the rest of us.

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Pet of the Week Hey there my name is Buttons. I am a young male black and white cat. I am small (perfect lap size) and am looking for a great home with somebody who will love me and take good care of me. Please come and visit me at the SPCA.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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