The new All Saints Catholic church was filled Sunday afternoon for a special mass to dedicate the church. A combined chorus led by Doreen Kelly Alsen was made up of All Saints singers along with those from neighboring Catholic parishes and Lansing United Methodist Church filled the sanctuary with joyous music as the Most Rev. Matthew H. Clark, Bishop of Rochester, led the consecration.  The $1.7 million church was completed this summer, with the first service filling the 400 seat church.  But now it is officially consecrated to God's service as a place of worship.

When County Historian Carol Kammen, who has served as in that position for more than seven years, came to address her $5,000 2008 budget request before the County's Expanded Budget Committee, Legislators surprised her with a resolution of appreciation from the Legislature, approved by unanimous vote in executive session earlier this week.

The resolution officially recognizes Kammen's many accomplishments - including international recognition in the United Kingdom's Local History magazine, national recognition as recipient of the prestigious Award of Distinction by the American Association for State and Local History, and state recognition as Public Historian of the Year, as well as her authoring of many books and articles on local history and those which interpret the work of local historians.

Is there something specific or a lifetime of service that makes him a star? Hmmmm. Dan's a young man; yet he has given a lifetime of service.

As an educator, Dan offers an incredible sense of humor to his teaching of Global History. The humor is in the details of his handouts and in the delivery of his narrative. I first 'saw' his humor several years ago as I walked into the HS and met a knight's full armor holding a poster that said, "You WILL pass your Global Regents" What a great way to reinforce to your students that you have confidence in them. Or perhaps it's the early morning study/review sessions that are held for his students before every quiz/test. Students hustle into the HS for 7 a.m. review complete with doughnuts provided by Dan. Is that a common practice by teachers today?

Or perhaps it's the review calendar that students and parents are provided for review at the end of the year. Nightly reviews...no, make that morning reviews, after school reviews followed by nightly reviews for Global I and Global II students to ensure that if they wish to meet success or have areas of history addressed, he'll do it with them in a friendly format. All this is happening evenings and WEEKENDS while other faculty are busy with activities outside the confines of the school building.

Oh, and did I mention the service given to the community through his affiliation with the fire department? He's at numerous athletic events as a member of the emergency squad. He's there on D-Day offering students a view at community service through the fire department and emergency services division.

And least we forget, his quiet leadership within the district. An aura of respect floats with Dan as he delivers thoughts, suggestions and opinions on committees and in meetings. Never one to raise his voice or make a wheel squeak, colleagues know that when Dan has something to say, it's worth it to listen.

Are there areas of leadership in Dan that I don't know about or that I've not mentioned? Of course, I don't know Dan well at all. I do know that he knows his students, he cares about his students and he cares about his community and acts on his beliefs. What more can be asked of a role model for young people and old people alike?

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superstar

As the flames reach higher and higher, a line of soldiers from all generations streams forward to put a piece of wood on the fir, their faces illuminated by the dancing flames.  For the 17th year, that was the scene at Lansing's Myers Park Friday night as local veterans and ROTC students honored America's missing and dead as part of the nationwide POW/MIA Remembrance Day.  "We are lighting this watch fire as a symbolic gesture that all America's known prisoners of war, and those still listed as Missing In Action, will see the flames and find their way back home," said Marine veteran Harvey Baker.

The watch fire is co-sponsored by veterans Chapters 704 of Cayuga County and Cortland's Chapter 377.  A founder and the first president of Chapter 704 Frank Bell was on the point early to prepare the enormous stack of wood for the evening's event.  Bell was wounded while serving in Vietnam in the Marine Recon unit, losing a leg, a kidney, part of his sight, and eight inches of his large intestine in 1966, ending three years of service, 27 of which was in-country.  "We all met on common ground, and now we come back and meet again on common ground to symbolize the unity that we felt then and have now," he says.  "Some day if God grants us our wish, we won't need to go to war any more."

Pet of the WeekHi there my name is Elmer. I am a brown neutered tabby. I am five years old and I need a good home that will take me in. please come and visit me at the SPCA.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Tompkins County has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the Governor's Office for Small Cities to continue and expand its Homeownership Program.

In this week's announcement of the grant award, the Tompkins Homeownership Program was highlighted by the Governor's Office as an example of a worthy project that creates great public benefit.

On Sunday, September 23, and the friends and family of the late Bob Marcoux sponsored a clinic for the Ithaca Shooting Stars featuring USA Olympic Ice Hockey Player and Coach and 1998 Gold Medalist Alana Blahoski. Marcoux Day is in memory of one of Tompkins Girls Hockey Association (TGHA)'s biggest supporters and fans from 1979-1987.

The Lansing Community Library Center held an opening reception to kick off an art show featuring work from local senior artists Tuesday. All but one of the artists are from Lansing, and most of the works were paintings. "We're showing "100 Ways to Retire -- Or Not.'," says organizer Janice Hagstrom.  "We thought this is a great way to retire, doing art work.  Your life does not end!"

The art and refreshments were accompanied by a recorder ensemble.  The Ithaca group, made up mostly of seniors, is led by Binghamton teacher and professional recorder player Barbara Kaufman.  Kaufman comes to Ithaca once a week to lead the group when they perform at the Clinton House.  They also play occasional concerts at Ithaca Festival, and at the hospice.

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,

The Annual United Way Campaign is underway in the county. Our corporation is hoping to get 100% participation from its employees. Although there are many worthwhile organizations which fall under the umbrella of the United Way, my wife and I feel uneasy about some of the groups which receive funding. We do not want our monies going to groups which we feel run counter to our religious beliefs. On the other hand, we do not want to let down the organization and its goal in supporting our community. We need some advice on this.

Thanks,
Phil

Dear Phil,

The United Way was founded in 1887 by two Roman Catholic priests, a Protestant Minister, and a Jewish Rabbi living in Denver, Colorado. These "men of faith" were concerned about the poor and needy of their community. They knew that, given a chance, many of these individuals could better their lives and the lives of their families with just a little help. So they launched the first fundraising campaign, and to their surprise, they raised over $21,000.

The Lansing School DIstrict held a reception for new employees at Lansing High School Monday, where school board members and the public could meet and welcome teachers, administrators and support staff.

Treating wastewater is something most people would rather not think about.  Thankfully, there are others who understand that cleaning wastewater is critical to the health of Cayuga Lake and the vitality of local communities.  The 2007 David Morehouse Award recognizes the role of Noel Desch in the establishment and evolution of the Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment

"Noel Desch has devoted his entire adult life to improving the quality of his community, with special devotion to the difficult, complex, costly, but critical need for improved treatment of waste water throughout the southern end of Cayuga Lake.  More then any other, his key and often crucial role as a public official, volunteer, and community leader has guided our communities to the quality treatment we have and will continue to appreciate for decades," noted the nomination submitted by Bill Shaw, previous City of Ithaca Mayor.

Lansing resident David A. Kaden, associate pastor of the First Congregational Church of Ithaca, will be ordained to ministry on Sunday, September 16 at 4:00 p.m. at the church located at 309 Highland Road.  The Susquehanna Association of the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ and the First Congregational Church of Ithaca invite interested persons to the Ordination service.

Kaden has been serving the First Congregational Church as Associate Pastor since September of 2005.  David grew up in the northeast, the son of a pastor in the Reformed Church in America.  He attended Messiah College in Pennsylvania where he studied business and urban economic development.