Archive: Around Town

The last interim administrator job in the Lansing School District was filled with a permanent appointment with the hiring of Chris Pettograsso, who will become Principal of Raymond C. Buckley Elementary School this July 1.  She is currently an administrator in the Watkins Glen school system, finishing her seventh year there.  "I was looking for a school similar in size to Watkins Glen, and Lansing is very similar," she says.  "And I know Lansing is very strong in academics.  Now when I tell people that I got this job in Lansing, they say, 'That's a great school district.'

Pet of the WeekHiya! My name is Fletcher! I am a spayed orange tabby. I am in need of a good home so please come and visit me at the SPCA.

Visit the SPCA Web Page



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Dan SegalIn a word, probably. The eastern US is arguably where the human/deer interface reaches a climax, and Central NY is arguably the epicenter of that climax. There are places with higher human population, but not too many places offer the brazen broad-daylight encounters we have here in the Finger Lakes, with standing herds who lazily look up when you come home at the end of the day before getting back to their browsing. There’s a bit of Walt Disney in it, with their tameness and playful sauntering, right there among us in such close proximity. But it’s not a fairy tale…it’s what we have to deal with in our gardens.

So when customers visit the nursery and ask if the deer will eat something, it’s nice when I can honestly say “No”, which is pretty rare but of course, there are plants they don’t eat. In some cases it may be the plants we disregard for being common—boxwood, lilac, peonies. And of course there’s always someone who can say their deer eat the ‘deer proof’ plants. But as a rule, common plants are common because they perform reliably in landscapes. Forty years ago that meant surviving transplant or being generally adapted to our climate. Today, performing reliably usually includes some measure of deer resistance.

Spider-Man Activity BookIf you like Spider-Man and you like puzzles you don't have to wait for Spider-Man 3 to hit the movie theaters this May.  You can get the Spider-Man Activity Book right now.  Coauthored by Terry Stickels and Sam Bellotto, Jr. the book includes a variety of Spider-Man themed crosswords, Sudokus, word searches and other 'frame game' puzzles.  "It's nice," Bellotto says.  "It's basically for kids so everything is on a simpler level, and it comes with a gel pen.  It's kind of cute."

Bellotto splits his time between creating puzzles, working on puzzle books, and developing his Crossdown line of puzzle software.  A former journalist, he has regular puzzles in several publications including The Hill Newspaper in Washington, DC, the Nantucket Independent, Backstage East and West, and Central New York magazine.  His puzzles often appear in many major publications including the New York Times, and he is responsible for the crossword puzzles and technology used to bring them to you in the Lansing Star.

More than a year after the Lansing Highway Department's solar panels went on line, they have been generating power quietly and efficiently for the facility.  Installed with the help of a $129,000 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant, the Town turned on the panels on December 15, 2006 with high hopes for saving on electric bills and for the system paying for itself in a short time.  "Originally it was 15 years," says Highway Superintendent Jack French.  "Then it was down to 10 years.  And when the solar panels went online they figured it would be six or seven, because the price of electricity keeps going up."

ITHACA, NY — The Sciencenter’s 22nd Anniversary Egg Drop event will coincide with Earth Day celebrations next Sunday, April 22. In celebration of Earth Day, the Sciencenter has added a brand new category for entries made with biodegradable materials.

Anything that can be placed in a compost pile will be acceptable in the new, “Most Earth Day Friendly,” category but it has to be non-messy and odor-free. No styrofoam, bubble wrap or plastic will be accepted in this category, even though these materials are "recyclable." A full list of rules and acceptable materials, including plant materials, paper, cornstarch packing peanuts, and wood shavings, is available on the Sciencenter web site, sciencenter.org.

Ithaca, NY – United Way of Tompkins County’s Board of Directors awarded a total of $19,842 to four, non-profit organizations to help alleviate hunger and food security issues. Recipients of the funds are, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Foodnet Meals on Wheels, Loaves and Fishes, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County.

The need for emergency food assistance in Tompkins County continues to grow. In 2005, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s affiliated pantries served 83,800 (duplicated count) individuals. In 2006, those pantries served 84,223 (duplicated count) individuals. Most pantries saw an increase in their workload, particularly the newly established Freeville Food Pantry (2,699 since January 2006) and Immaculate Conception Food Pantry (15,601.)

Mark S. LewisDistrict officials have fielded numerous inquiries from community members regarding what must occur now that we have exceeded our snow day allotment as a result of the April 16th storm. We will not lose the Memorial Day holiday. Furthermore, students will not have to make up the day on Monday, June 25th. The last day of school for students will be Friday, June 22nd.

The issue at hand pertains the length of the school year for ten month employees. The school year for ten-month employees amounts to 181 days. We will fall one short of that number as a result of the April 16th snow day. We will be exploring alternatives with the union leadership that will result in that day being made up in a far more productive manner than would be the case if ten-month employees were required to report for work on June 25th. It is our goal to arrive at an option that is beneficial and acceptable to all concerned.

Pet of the WeekHi there my name is Spud. I am a five year old brown tabby with some white. I am a handsome neutered male. Would you please come and visit me at the SPCA.

Visit the SPCA Web Page



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The Ithaca Earth Day celebration will be held on Sunday, April 22, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market pavilion, Steamboat Landing. This year marks the 37th anniversary of Earth Day and the 10th annual celebration in Ithaca. The event will include green building and renewable energy booths, a compost fair, climate change information, an eco-fashion show, interactive exhibits, children’s activities, local and organic food, musicians, belly dancers, a parade, and many more ways to celebrate the planet and our life on it.

Two new additions this year are an air conditioner collection service, providing safe disposal of old cooling units; and rides on one of TCAT’s new hybrid-electric buses. Also new is a quiet space for conversation about the state of the planet and how to make personal changes to protect its future.

Agriculture is the largest single land use in the Cayuga Lake Watershed, making it important ecologically, economically, aesthetically and culturally. Most farmers are dedicated stewards of land and water resources, something the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network wants to acknowledge each year with the “Lake-Friendly Farm” program. Farms that have incorporated New York State’s Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) practices into their operation will be recognized.

In support of AEM, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network will be providing signs that state “Lake-Friendly Farm” to agricultural operations within the watershed that are implementing AEM Best Management Practices.