Moore Tree Farm has been nationally recognized for its participation in the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation's Trees for Troops program. The Lansing business was one of 850 farms and retail lots in the U.S. donating farm-grown Christmas trees which earned the Foundation a 2008 Associations Advance America Summit Award from American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF) - with support from FedEx Freight - has delivered more than 34,000 Real Christmas Trees to military families since Trees for Troops began in 2005. It has grown from about 400 Christmas tree farms and retailers participating to more than 850. Almost 17,000 families at more than 40 military bases received a Christmas tree in 2007 grown by an American tree farm.

 

In last week's installment of our exclusive interview with William Kabbis, he spoke of conditions at the Mbaka Oromo in Kenya, where he is the Principal.  In this second part we talked about his impressions of Lansing classrooms and how they contrast to those in his school.  We spoke of his expectations before coming here and how they contrast to what he found when he got here.  And we talked about his students' prospects after they graduate from Mbaka Oromo.

Lansing Star: I'd like to talk about your trip here a little bit.  Have you traveled outside of Kenya before?

William Kabbis: The furthest I had gone was Uganda.  That was by bus.

LS: So there are a lot of 'firsts' on this trip.  What are some of the main things that have impressed you as you have visited here?  Did you expect Lansing to be what it actually is?

Now that the first snow has dusted Lansing the Town Recreation Department is looking toward indoor recreation programs for kids and adults.  With robust offerings year 'round, the Rec Department is offering new sessions of some of their most popular programs, including karate, bowling, basketball, and for adults swimming and cardio step class.  "We just wrapped up our Fall outdoor programs," says Lansing Recreation Director Steve Colt.  "Soccer and football were really successful.  We're starting to head into our traditional Fall programming."

A breakout surprise for the department was the success of the karate program.  First offered in 2006, the expectation was that it would attract a dozen or more kids to the program.  But when registration for the first session was done more than 30 kids and some adults had signed up.  It has been going strong ever since.  "The Karate program is pretty well established now and it runs throughout the year," Colt says.  "They're always looking for new members to join that.  Robin McColley is awesome.  Robin and Gail Lejoie are perfect for this program.  It's an offering that we're able to make that we had never made before.  I can't even say it's for a certain demographic any more because all sorts of people are doing it.  It fit a niche."

Pet of the Week Hey there my name is Bertie. I am a six-year-old Australian cattle dog. I am loyal, active, smart, well mannered, and I am housetrained. I should be the only dog in you're house because I am a little tough on others due to my herding heritage, there should also be no small children around for the same reason. I am a great girl and I am looking for the perfect home so come and visit me at the SPCA today.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Deadline: November 6, 2008

 

 

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The Ithaca Y is one of the oldest YMCAs in the country and shares the proud heritage of all YMCA's as being the largest provider of childcare and volunteer run organizations in the country. Our YMCA has a respected history of support to the youth and families of Ithaca and Tompkins County.

The first North American YMCA was established in Boston in 1852 and the Ithaca Y first record of a meeting was held in the reading room of the Cornell public library on November 23, 1868.  Since then our Y has had many milestones...

The New York State Department of Economic Development maintains a section of their Web site just to keep you up to date on fall foliage.  The site offers a leaf guide, a foliage forecast, scenic views, and a schedule of Fall events across the state.  Foliage reached its peak in our area last weekend, but there are still brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows to be seen here in Lansing.

The site uses 'Leaf Peepers,' people around the state who send up to date reports on how the leaves are turning as the season goes forward.  The leaf guide shows you what to look for frm yellow bitternut hickory, slippery elm, and American mountain ash leaves, to brilliant orange American sycamore,and Northern red oak, to red leaves from the white ash and flowering dogwood.  Some are multi-colored, like the black cherry and sugar maple trees, which turn red and yellow.

Pet of the Week Hey there my name is Pinkerton. I am a male black cat who has been neutered. I am a great cat who needs a home with loving caring people who will take good care of me. Please come and pay me a visit at the SPCA to see if I am the right cat for you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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William Kabbis is the Head Teacher at the Mbaka Oromo school in Kenya, the equivalent of a 'Principal' in American schools.  His school has been the recipient of donations and cultural exchange through Partnership of African and Lansing Schools (PALS), and he has spent the past two weeks visiting Lansing as a guest of PALS and the Ithaca Cayuga Rotary Club.  Articulate and inspiring in his speech to the Lansing Board Of Education last week, Kabbis has also been visiting Lansing classrooms and talking to students, teachers, and administrators here.

He took an hour out of his busy itinerary to talk to the Lansing Star.  This is the first of three installments of that interview.  Kabbis was a bit formal by American standards, but open and expansive.  He is grateful for the new classrooms, administration building and library that Lansing (and another group in Rochester) has provided and clearly determined to make the most of it.  His school ranks number one in academic, athletic, and music achievement despite the many hardships his students (K through 8th grade) experience.

Ask IMOAsk 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,

My wife and I have been giving a lot of thought to our finances these days. Although our income has stayed the same since the first of this year, spending has gotten a bit out of hand. We seem to think that everything we want, we actually need, and so we buy it. On credit!

When the monthly statement arrives, I am shocked by the number of "things" we have purchased. Most months, we are able to pay off the card, but for the past several month we were unable and were hit with a hefty finance charge. I admit, neither of us is fiscally disciplined, but we are looking for advice. Any suggestions as to how we can solve this dilemma?

Sincerely,

Us

Last year at the annual CDC Auction, my husband and I were thrilled to have won the live auction item of "Cargill Salt Mine Tour." We had wanted to bid on it for several years and had decided that the time had come to see it for ourselves.

In June the much anticipated day arrived. Steve Horne the plant manager spent some time explaining the layout of the mine, safety procedures, and then outfitted us in reflective vests, safety glasses, steel toed boots and lamped hard hats. We descended into the mine at a rate of 650 feet per minute and arrived at 2300 feet in about 5 minutes.

The Lansing Fire District tax is a pretty small chunk of our overall property tax burden.  This year it was a fraction over $1.02 per $1000 of assessed value.  It only topped the one dollar mark in 2006.  Compared to the School District's $22 million budget, the Fire District's $1.3 million budget doesn't seem like much.  The Lansing fire tax rate is one of the lowest in Tompkins County, only about a quarter of what Ithacans pay.

With fuel and other prices soaring out of control you would expect fire district taxes to do the same.  But that is not happening in Lansing, in large part because of conservative long range planning that lays out spending over the next 20 years.  "Some line items go down, some go up," says Robert Wagner, Lansing Fire Commissioners Chairman.  "We look at each line item and we look to see where the bottom line is.  Then we may adjust or cut the budget.  We've done a pretty good job up to this point."