Archive: Around Town

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hi, I'm Athena! I'm black and white and cute all over. I'm barely over a year old and still as spunky as a kitten! I happily greet my human visitors, and once you've loved on me awhile I saunter off as if I'm the queen of the world. I'm a pretty adventurous climber so a couple of perches in your home would be perfect for me. What do ya say? Let's do this thing!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

v15i21

Lee Strebel Award Winner 2019 Raia Gutman with parents Wendy and Aron Gutman and IHS Drama Teacher Lorraine Tino
Raia Gutman was named as the recipient of the 2019 Lee Strebel Memorial Award for Enthusiasm in the Performing Arts. Gutman accepted the award at the Ithaca High School (IHS) Underclassmen Awards Night, June 4, 2019 in IHS Performing Arts Center's Kulp Auditorium. The Lee Strebel Memorial Award is presented each year to an IHS student who has not only participated in performing arts at the high school level, but has shown extraordinary spirit in that pursuit. 

The award is given in loving memory of Lee Strebel, an IHS student who died suddenly during his freshman year in February 2006. In his short time at the high school, Lee became a standout in the drama department after playing the leading role of George Gibbs in Our Town.

Lansing has flirted with the idea of hiring a full time planner for years.  In 2014 the Town had a qualified candidate ready to go, but the Town Board voted not to hire him, which led to Planning Consultant Michael Long being hired on a part time basis.  Long shepherded a number of major projects in all parts of the town.  This year the Board decided the time is right, and in February voted to employ C.J. Randall to oversee the Codes office as Director of Planning.

"I've received an enormously gracious welcome from everybody - from Highway, the clerks, the Supervisor, the Town Board, the committees, planning board... you name it," she says. "The learning curve is a little more vertical than I had anticipated.  This job is so holistic.  there is almost no area of government that it doesn't touch in some way.  Lansing is 69.9 square miles.  It's a huge area to wrap your mind around... not just politically and environmentally, but specially.  How do things work here?  Where are things?  Who does what?  It's been super-fun, though. I am really enjoying the challenge."

Tompkins County is one of 53 local health departments across the country to be recognized for innovative public health projects in response to critical local public health needs. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) announced that Tompkins County Health Department is the recipient of two 2019 Model Practice Awards for Ithaca College Public Health Initiatives and the SafeCare Program.

"We are honored to receive NACCHO's Model Practice Award. The awards are evidence of our commitment to developing responsive and innovative public health programs that improve the health of local residents," states Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director, Tompkins County Health Department.

On May 25, more than 70 dermatology team members, skin cancer survivors and their families and friends, and community members hiked to Salt Point to tell "Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!™" Afterwards, they celebrated the dedication and ribbon cutting of a sun shade donated by Dermatology Associates of Ithaca to Myers Playground. Dermatologist Dr. Josephine McAllister was presented with a plaque from American Academy of Dermatology President Dr. George Hruza honoring her donation and Lansing Parks and Recreation Director Pat Tyrell was honored with a "Super Hero" medal for his outstanding contributions to the community including his key role in installing and maintaining the sun shade. Together, the participants raised over $4000 for SPOT Skin Cancer™, a campaign of the American Academy of Dermatology.

"One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common cancer in our country," says McAllister, chair for "Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!™ Lansing NY. "We appreciate the support of our community in raising these valuable funds that will benefit skin cancer prevention and detection programs, such as free SPOTme® skin cancer screenings and grants to provide shade structures where children learn and play."

The Lansing Events Committee inaugurated the Robert C. Baker Barbecue Pavilion May 18th with a chicken barbecue to raise funds for September's Lansing Community Celebration.  The new 48 foot long pavilion, in front of the Lansing Town ball fields, provides a covered space that consolidates the cooking and selling of fried chicken that takes place each week, benefiting various local groups including high school sports teams, community events, and charities.  The pavilion is named for Robert Baker, a pioneer in the preparation of chicken, and the creator of Cornell sauce, the flavoring used around the world, but notably on the chickens here in his home town.

"The pavilion is really great, it had enough room for the  guys cooking the chicken, as well as the sellers and the packagers to all be under the pavilion at the same time, and lucky for us, the smoke was blowing the opposite direction," says Lansing Events Committee President Valerie McMillen. "Our next fundraiser will be August 10."

By Adam Kramarsyck

Hello friends! I'm Naomi. You've probably noticed something a bit different about my eyes. Yes, one is missing and the other is a little...odd. I'm not in pain, but I am pretty much blind, so I will need a home with people who don't move their furniture often! I'm a sweet and gentle soul who really just needs a nice, consistent place to live out my life. Can you help me out?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

v15i20

Aurora, NY - During Wells College's 151st Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, 2019, President Jonathan Gibralter conferred undergraduate degrees upon 117 graduating students. In addition, three longtime professors who are retiring this year were granted honorary titles of professor emerita, and several students were honored with academic and leadership awards. The day's events began at 10 a.m. in front of Macmillan Hall, with festive processional music provided by the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes brass quintet.

Following the traditional processional, Sachem (Chief) Sam George, of the Bear Clan of the Cayuga Nation, delivered the opening "Words Before All Else," an ancient supplication of the Six Nations peoples. President Jonathan Gibralter read aloud the land acknowledgement statement expressing solidarity with the Cayuga Nation and its peoples. Henry's VIII, the College's co-ed a cappella group, then led the assembled guests in singing the National Anthem, after which graduating senior Majesti Grubb '19 offered a heartfelt rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Tompkins Trust Company honored 3 individuals and one group with the "James J. Byrnes Awards for Excellence" for their outstanding volunteer service to the community. $10,000 was donated to local charitable organizations from the bank's endowment fund through the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County. The honorees each designated their monetary awards to not-for-profit organizations of their choice.

This year's honorees are Anne Haus, Daniel Krall, Karli Buday, and the Hangar Theatre Board of Directors.

Jonathan Burdick, the University of Rochester's vice provost for enrollment initiatives and college dean of admissions and financial aid, has been named Cornell University's vice provost for enrollment. He will assume the post Aug. 19.

As senior enrollment officer at Rochester since 2003, he designs and leads the annual admissions and financial aid strategy for the university's College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering, which comprises about 91% of the university's 6,000 undergraduates. He also leads a $211 million financial aid program for undergraduate and graduate students in the college and schools.

Spring is here and so are the ticks! It's time to get outside and enjoy the season. It's also time to take steps to prevent tick-borne infection.

New tick-borne infections have been discovered in recent years and are steadily increasing, Lyme disease being the most commonly reported. Most tick-borne infections, including Lyme disease, can be successfully treated with antibiotics especially if medication is started early. Preventing tick bites is your best defense against tick-borne infection.

The City Federation of Women's Organizations (CFWO) hosted the community at its Annual Meeting on Monday, May 20, "Celebrating Six Years of Philanthropy in Tompkins County". The gathering in the Tompkins County Public Library BorgWarner Room included announcement of the Spring 2019 Innovation Grant, presentations by two recipients of Women Building Community (WBC) Grants, and annual business agenda items of the CFWO.

CFWO President Liz Colucci announced that Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties has been awarded a $7500 Innovation Grant for its "Building Community" project. Habitat for Humanity seeks to expand its existing "Women Build" project to include more women and young adult women to learn construction trades and essential skills for their own empowered futures. Shannon MacCarrick accepted the grant for this innovative program educates women and young adult women in real-life home construction and employable skills, builds community and increases engagement.