Archive: Around Town

Dan SegalWith snow arriving Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and again on Easter, one can’t help but wonder what Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day may have in store. And, as in mid winter, we wondered what effect the warm-December-into-real-winter would have on our plants, we may now be wondering what will happen to all the plants that poked up from the ground during our false spring of a few weeks ago. Not just the bulbs, but peonies, day lilies, countless perennials, plus all the trees and shrubs that budded out with the tease.

In concert with us, the people, many of our plants seem to have asked, “Haven’t I Waited Long Enough?” Usually, we enjoy a period of time in early spring where the nice weather comes and goes again, and the question isn’t if we’ll continue to have cold interspersed, but how cold, and will it actually snow or just drizzle flurries for a week straight. Usually, the plants know it’s not real spring, and they wait, or some wait while others leap ahead. Those that leap ahead tend to be those that can withstand the cold on their newer growth, but keep in mind a bud is less tender than a leaf in most cases, and the robust shoots that emerge and then wait, poised, coiled, wrapped, furled—those shoots are tough. They’re much more durable than the tender leaves rolled within.

Pet of the WeekHi! My name is Monkey! I’m a handsome male gray tabby. I am also neutered. I would love to come and make my home with you, so please come and visit me at the SPCA!

Visit the SPCA Web Page



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The Lansing Schools not only teaches children who live within the district, but is also responsible for teaching inmates at the county jail.  "So why us?  That's the question everybody asks," says the district's Director of Special Services and Grants Pam DiPaula.  "Education law requires that the educational services in a jail, not prison, but a jail shall be provided by the school district in which the facility is located.  That's where the jail is at the Public Safety building on Warren Road."

DiPaula, whose main responsibility is managing special education in the district, administers the jail program.  From the early 1970s to the early 2000s the program was run by BOCES.  DiPaula says the BOCES program was a model program for State  Incarcerated Youth programs in the early '90s.  But with reduced staff and budget and additional requirements and restrictions, BOCES turned the responsibility over to the school district.  The district, in turn, partners with Tompkins County Workforce New York with Lansing providing classes and Workforce New York providing career and life skills services.

April 1, Lansing, NY -- Gun control opponents are universally in shock because of a find by Lansing, NY Historian Louise Bement this morning.  Bement found a document in the town archives that proves conclusively that the 'right to bear arms' cited in the second amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights was an agricultural declaration that had nothing to do with firearms.  "Spelling and handwriting were not what they are today," she says.  "Imagine finding this after all these years!"

The document in question is a letter from Robert Morris of Pennsylvania to Charlie Munson, a Lansing farmer of his acquaintance.  "At last you need not overheet while tilling your feelds," Morris Wrote in a letter dated May 26, 1787.  "For this day we have voted a right to bear arms.  However, you may still not remove your shirt entirely from your person."

Pet of the WeekHi there my name is Logan! I am a black cat. I am a neutered male who needs a good home, please come and visit me at the SPCA!

Visit the SPCA Web Page



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The April 29th deadline is approaching for getting your discounted season Greek Peak pass through the Lansing Recreation Program.  While you don't need to get the pass through the Rec Department to participate in the popular winter program, Recreation Director Steve Colt says it's a great deal, more than $100 off the cost if you buy it after the deadline.  "We have a huge turnout for our ski program," Colt says.  "It's one of our biggest programs that runs through K to 12.  It's a pretty substantial savings"

The first two weeks of this year's ski program were canceled due to warm  weather, and then the fourth week was canceled when it was too cold.  But the Rec Department made them up on the other end of the schedule.  "It was a tale of two winters," Colt says.  "Normally we start the second week in January, the Monday after the school break.  But we finally did get it all in."

Lansing's All District Band rocked the high school Wednesday as the district's four bands played individually and then together, finishing with a resounding 'Good Old USA.'  Eric Hummel, Gail Hughes, and Ann-Marie Amedro directed.


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I had the distinct pleasure of attending the all-district instrumental music concert this past Wednesday in the high school gym. Student musicians in grades four through twelve delighted the Lansing community with a medley of pieces that reflected the exemplary talent of our community’s young people—talent nurtured by professional educators whose commitment to their students’ growth is undeniable. Their years of patient nurturing of our young musicians came together in one glorious hour of entertainment that their proud parents, teachers, and community will long remember. It was truly a gift.

As I stood there enjoying the event, I recalled the countless evenings spent in vitriolic facilities committee meetings attempting to piece together a construction referendum proposal that was ultimately rejected by the community. It was during one of those evenings that, as we explored the space needs of the high school music program, a resident’s barn was offered as a space where these young people could develop their musical talents, this being a much less expensive alternative to the high school expansion under consideration. I remember being a participant in the jocularity wrought by the comment which, I sense, was offered only partly in jest.

Hon. John C. Rowley, Tompkins County Judge, has been elected President of the New York State Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals (NYSADTCP). Judge Rowley was elected to the post at the association’s annual meeting, held February 28, 2007 in Buffalo.

The NYSADTCP is an organization committed to fostering the growth of drug treatment courts in New York State. Judge Rowley has served as an association board member since 1999.

Menu Foods Income Fund announced last Friday that they are recalling 'cuts and gravy' style pet food manufactured in their United States plants.  While complaints about renal health of pets eating the food that started in December, the company tested the foods, but did not find issues.  However they have initiated a recall in order to 'err on the side of caution.'

The list of affected foods are at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html for cat food, and http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html for dog food.

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