Archive: Around Town

By Adam Kramarsyck

Do you like pitty gals with a great grin? I’m Lady, and I’m always up for a hike or a nice long game of fetch. When you’re as cute as I am, you can always get your way with a little complaining! Plus, when I’m having fun, my million-watt grin will light up the whole room! I’m not big on sharing my spotlight, so I’d prefer a household without other dogs and with teens or just adults. Come visit me!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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William Clairborne, Jr., known as J.R., has been appointed to assume the position of Tompkins County Director of Veterans Services. The Legislature confirmed County Administrator Jason Molino's appointment of Mr. Clairborne tonight. J.R. will lead the County's new Office of Veterans Services (an agency required under NYS Executive Law), which will connect local military veterans to Federal and State services, including services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Since 2012, Mr. Clairborne has served as Advocacy Coordinator for Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County, where he has provided advocacy services (counseling, referral, and connection to basic services) to the agency's dining guests in need, including military veterans. Before that, J.R. worked in marketing and communications for both Cornell and Ithaca College and spent six years as a Reporter and Assistant Editor for the Ithaca Journal. The new Director served eight years in the United States Navy and U.S. Naval Air Reserve, achieving the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class; Aviation Boatswain's Mate – Handler. He holds Bachelor's Degrees (in African-American Studies and Journalism) from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) recently named Ithaca High School a 2018-2019 Recognition School.

Recognition Schools are identified as high achieving and high progress under the state's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, the goals of which are to foster equity in education and expand measures for school support, school accountability and student success.

Summer camp season is around the corner and the Tompkins County Health Department reminds families to protect campers from illness. Summer camps offer fun and excitement for our youth and can involve travel to other parts of the State and beyond.

Contagious diseases, such as measles, can spread easily at camp. When a person sick with measles coughs or sneezes, the virus gets into the air where it can stay for two hours. Anyone who is not immune, can get measles if they are in that area. The New York State Department of Health reports that there are over 300 confirmed cases of measles in our State outside of NYC.

Lansing High School senior Ellen Howell was recognized by the Lansing Town Board Wednesday for earning the high honor of being selected for this year's New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Conference All State Ensemble.  Howell was one of 6,500 sophomores and juniors who auditioned for the position.  Howell was also selected to the All Eastern Honors Ensemble, which selects students from eleven Northeastern states, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense School in Europe

Councilwoman Andra Benson read a resolution, and the Town Board unanimously approved it, that says, "...the Lansing Town Board recognizes Ellen Howell for her amazing musical achievements and presents this certificate signifying the Town’s pride in her accomplishment."

Anneke Walsh van Rossum
Seneca Lake Guardian has selected its first annual scholarship recipient to honor renowned environmental attorney, Deborah Goldberg, upon the announcement of her retirement.  Anneke Walsh van Rossum, an Ithaca College graduate, was chosen by Seneca Lake Guardian Board members after careful consideration of all applicants for the scholarship.

"Right now we have the right to free speech but not to clean water or air – it's mind boggling but true," said van Rossum. "I have spent my life thinking about, and caring for our natural world. As an adult, I have chosen to pursue a career in environmental law so I can grow and strengthen the skills I need to advocate for our planet. While there are millions of ways to advocate for our Earth, for me the law is the best way to claim and defend the rights of people and nature for both present and future generations," she added. 

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hi folks, my name is Hyde and I'm super handsome. I love human attention. If you give me a minute to get used to your smell, then I would love to be pet. I also love to play, and a wand toy is my very favorite. If you love orange cats, boy am I the cat for you. My meow is unique too, so you'll have to come and check it out for yourself!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Last week the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) partnered with Ithaca High School (IHS) during its two awards ceremonies to present awards recognizing achievement in the arts, sciences and school community.

IPEI maintains the IHS Senior Class Fund, initiated in 2004, which produces three annual awards identified by the Senior class: the New Teacher Award, given to an untenured teacher who is showing distinction as a teacher, the Student Organization award, which recognizes a student group or club which positively supports the school community, and the Staff award, which recognizes a IHS staff member who has made the greatest impact on the students.

The new 2019-2020 Tompkins County Curbside Recycling Guidelines brochure is now available.  The brochure is produced by the Department of Recycling and Materials Management, and covers the 12-month period from July 2019 through June 2020.

Inside, there is valuable information about curbside recycling collection, including a list of items that can be recycled both at the curb and at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (160 Commercial Avenue in Ithaca).

The Ithaca Reform Temple, Congregation Tikkun v'Or, has analyzed energy improvements to its synagogue on Triphammer Road. More than two full years of operation with the upgrades in place have been analyzed and are slightly different than some numbers that were prematurely circulating in the community.

In short: compared to years preceding the upgrades, carbon emissions have been slashed by 85%, natural gas use has been cut by 80%, electricity use has increased (by about 60%) as expected due to our conversion to air source heat pumps, and overall energy costs have been reduced by about a third (almost $2000/year savings).  In addition, the new heating system can be conveniently controlled and diagnosed remotely, and congregation members say they do it all the time.  For example, for special events, they adjust the temperatures remotely before and after the event.

Aurora, NY - The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) announced today that Wells College is a first-time recipient of a 2019 Educational Fundraising Award. The College's advancement division was recognized for best overall performance in the category of private liberal arts institutions with endowments under $100 million.

In assessing "overall performance," the CASE evaluators look for colleges and institutions whose advancement operations demonstrate "solid program growth, breadth in the base of support and other indications of a mature, well-maintained program." Wells is one of 39 institutions which received this award from CASE for the first time in 2019, and one of 90 institutions that received a CASE Educational Fundraising Award this year.

Greg Morrisett, dean of Cornell University's Faculty of Computing and Information Science and an international expert in software security, has been named the Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech, Provost Michael Kotlikoff announced June 7. The five-year appointment, approved by the Executive Committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees, is effective Aug. 1.

Morrisett has stewarded CIS through four years of explosive growth, recruiting world-renowned faculty, integrating the computer and information science departments, and spearheading the development of the new Department of Statistics and Data Science. His research focuses on building provably correct and secure software, with an emphasis on cryptographic schemes, machine learning and compilers.