Rick DarflerThe day I came across Rick Darfler erecting newly-obtained, industrial-strength, steel shelving in the Lansing Library book storage room, I knew I had to nominate him as a Star of the Month! After I exclaimed about how wonderful it was finally to have plenty of strong shelving for the donated and book-sale books in the store room, Rick said that he had gotten a lot of FREE,  surplus, used, 2-foot deep, heavy steel shelving from a Cornell University department that no longer needed it. He had transported it all to the library and had already set up two rows of it in the library utility room, so that my committee could move all our supplies to clean, sturdy shelves there. He didn’t even ask anyone for help on that work and here he was all by himself again, setting up the rest of the shelves in the book store room!  It was rather taxing work, but he was almost done, and the library book processing/operations group was thrilled with the results.
 

Rick Darfler, a Lansing native who grew up on DeCamp Road, has helped the Lansing Library in so many ways – behind the scenes - over the seven years the library has been in existence. Besides chores like this shelving project that he has done over the years, he contributed hundreds of volunteer hours helping to oversee the recent renovation and addition to the library building. He and Architect and Board Member, Bert Fortner, met with the contractor who did the building work every week during the construction process from July 2006 until February 2007, when the major work was completed, to make sure the process was running smoothly. Rick assisted in many other ways to help get the building finished and the library re-opened (end of February 2007) and he continues to work with the builder on several little details left on the contractor’s “punch list”. Rick is a former building contractor himself, so he knows how to do any kind of repair, building, or installation work that may be required in maintaining and running a building like the library.

 

Rick knows all the right places to obtain public-building-grade materials and supplies. Recently, the library was awarded a $5000 grant to improve security at the lower-level, handicapped-access entry door. We have ideas about WHAT we want there, but no idea where to get the proper materials. But Rick does and he is busy after his day job, getting together the supplies to complete that project – which he will install himself, thereby saving the library more money. He also helps us grant writers prepare budgets in applications for special-project funding by providing realistic estimates of materials costs. Rick not only does these things, but he always does them in a pleasant, helpful, and gracious way. He is a dedicated supporter of the library and his other fellow volunteers.

 

There are many worthy and talented volunteer “Stars” at Lansing Library, several of whom have also put in hundreds of hours to help build this wonderful educational community asset. Others show up faithfully, week after week, for a few hours to help run the book check-out desk or to process books and other materials to get them ready for the shelves. And the board members, fund raisers, bookkeeper, and volunteer librarian meet regularly month after month to plan the work of the library. I could have nominated many of these volunteers to be a Lansing Star; but Rick Darfler does SO MUCH work behind the scenes, work that is not seen by many of the rest of us or the public, that I just had to nominate him for the February 2008 Lansing Star!  Thank you Rick, for all you have done to help our library and our Town.

 

Donna Scott,
Chairperson, Friends of LCL Board of Directors

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When you open the new Brides Magazine you will find that one of America's Most Beautiful Wedding Cakes comes from Lansing sugar artist Marion Cardwell Ferrer.  Ferrer, who owns Sincredible Pasteries, based her design on a vintage table cloth and  traditional themes.  "The something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue theme went with the vintage idea," Ferrer says.  "The nest was for a new beginning in their home, the pearls were borrowed, the blue birds and a vintage mercury-glass texture was blue, and the vintage style was old."

This is the third time Ferrer has been featured in Brides Magazine.  The first was in a 2003 article featuring MacKenzie-Childs called 'Small Town Wedding.'   In 2006 she was featured again when the magazine published its 'Cake Walk' article featuring 60 cakes.  The newest feature presents 50 wedding cakes from sugar artists across the United States.  The cakes are featured on the magazine's Web site, and brides, grooms, wedding guests, or wedding professionals are encouraged to vote.  The winner will receive the winning cake for his or her wedding.

Chris Granger of the Ithaca Coffee Company placed 3rd in the Millrock Freepour Latte Art Competition in Washington D.C. on Feb. 16th.

The Millrock Freepour Latte Art Competition features some of the country's finest baristas going head to head in a contest designed to display their coffee making skill and creativity. It is held 3-4 times a year in conjunction with Coffeefest, the premier international coffee industry tradeshow.

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 grandfather is in a nursing home on Long Island.  We are going down for a visit next weekend, and will spend quite a lot of time with him.  He is physically very weak, but his mind is sharp.  During our visits, he loves to reminisce about his younger years, especially his service in the Marine Corps during World War II.  He lied about his age and got in when he was just 16.  Do you think it’s appropriate to record some of his stories?  I think it’s important that we preserve some of his stories?  Is this ethical?  What about a video?  

Thanks,

Mike

Dear Mike,

Yes. Yes. Yes.  It is your obligation to your grandfather, your family, and for all of society to record his stories.  You have discovered a real treasury of oral history, and you ought to preserve as much of it as possible.   Your grandfather, like so many of his generation, is getting older every day, and the longer you wait, the more likely his stories may never be written down. 

Pet of the WeekHi there my name is Timmy! I am a male, neutered, brown tabby. I need a great home with loving people to take care of me and to make me part of their family. Will you come and visit me at the SPCA?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Friday before Presidents Day break was 'Dare To Wear Pink' day at Lansing Middle School.  The brainchild of student council members Erin Trowbridge and Paige Nichols, the event encouraged students to donate money to be used for breast cancer research.  Student council members collected money in the cafeteria the preceding week, and donors received a pink ribbon and the right to wear pink on that Friday.  The event raised $700 which is being donated to help fund breast cancer research.  The grade level that raised the most money also won pink candy.

A crowd estimated at over 15,000 gathered on the Ithaca Commons this past Saturday for the 10th Annual Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off and Winterfest, sponsored by August Moon Spa at La Tourelle Resort.

More than 30 local restaurants, eateries and institutional food service vendors participated in this year?s cook-off, braving 20 degree temperatures to prepare about 1,000 gallons of chili (over 50 types) and thousands of chicken wings.

United Way of Tompkins County announced that it received a $4,250 grant from United Way of New York State (UWNYS) to support an asset building strategy aimed at helping individuals with low to moderate incomes to achieve financial stability.  This grant is part of a national partnership between United Way of America and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation that will provide $2 million in grants across the country.  United Way of New York State is one of just two state United Way organization and 42 local United Ways across the country to receive a grant from this partnership.  In turn, the grant to United Way of Tompkins County is one of 10 to be supported by UWNYS. 

This is a part of the United Way Financial Stability Partnership™, launched in 2007, which is designed to provide working individuals and families in communities across the country with tools to increase their income, build savings, and develop and maintain their assets.  A fundamental component of this initiative is to help people obtain free tax preparation assistance and unclaimed tax refunds through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Robert Burns famously said, 'The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley.'  But while much has gone awry at the  mission in Benique, Haiti, Reenie Baker Sansted was at the Ithaca Cayuga Rotary Club Tuesday to report on ways the project has taken a turn for the better, largely because of a new contact at the Haiti Methodist Church.  "It was breath of fresh air," Sandsted reported.  "He is Haitian.  He was educated in the U.S., but thankfully made the decision to go back to Haiti and give back to Haiti, which doesn't usually happen."

Despite its name, the Ithaca-Cayuga Rotary is the Lansing branch of the world-wide service club.  The local chapter has donated to the Haiti mission for as long as any of the attending Rotarians can remember, since at least 2003.  The mission started in  started in Benique, Haiti in 1998 with some building projects, including a a four hole toilet for the village, several other buildings, and repairs to the village church and school.  Volunteers have built a kitchen at the school, a bathroom, two classrooms, and are currently putting a second story onto the school.

Pet of the WeekHi there! My name is Cheeto. I am a white and orange adult cat. I am a neutered male who is looking for a great home. Don't hesitate to come and visit me at the SPCA!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Lansing Community Council kicked off the logo design contest this month for the second Annual Lansing Harbor Festival. The festival logo is chosen from among entries from Lansing kids each year in what Community Council officials say will be an annual tradition.  "One of the differences this year is the theme," says Judy Hinderliter, a former Lansing Middle School English teacher who is heading up the logo contest this year.  "The Lansing Harbor Festival theme is 'Celebrate the Myers Park Bandstand,' so we're looking for a different type of logo.  The bandstand, of course, is now a focal point of Myers Park."

That seems appropriate, because the bandstand's very first performance ever was the Lansing High School Cabaret, the opening act of last year's Harbor Festival.  The structure was donated to the town by the Lansing Lions Club, which raised money and provided volunteer labor to build the gazebo-like structure.  The bandstand has become a focal point for the park, used for the festival entertainment, the Parks and Recreation Department's summer concert series, and is available to rent for private affairs.

As life seems to get more complicated, many people are looking for instant answers to health, stress, weight loss, and the problems of everyday life in a multi-tasking world.  People are looking for an extreme makeover without the work that comes with making real life changes.  Lansing's newest chiropractor is offering a more practical approach with a 40 day program called 'Extreme Makeover Challenge.'  "Our goal is to get 1% better per day for 40 days," says Dr. Brian Bartholomew .  "You make small incremental changes to get well."

The Lansing version is part of a national program that is based on the work of Dr. Ben Lerner, a chiropractor who is best known for his best selling book, ' One Minute Wellness.'  His 'Maximized Living' center in Celebration, Florida focuses on a holistic approach to health in which people merge physical, spiritual, and nutritional strategies to be proactive about getting and remaining healthy.  Bartholomew worked for the organizer of the "Extreme Makeover Challenge' there, and has been part of the programs six times, three of them leading the program.