Archive: Around Town

As a part of the national YMCA initiative “Activate America”, the Ithaca Y has positioned itself perfectly to provide equipment and programs to get America moving. Health seekers in our community are looking for something fun to do with other people in a comfortable environment without the self-conscious feelings that go along with exercise and gym workouts. Start the new year off right with improved programs for children and adults.

Youth and adult basketball begins Saturday, January 6, and continues through March 11 in the huge YMCA gymnasium. Youth Drills and Skills is conducted every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for ages 4-9 years, coached by quality staff. Adult basketball pick-up games are Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. for members and non-members alike.

Even though it didn't look like very much like Christmas outside last weekend, members of Boy Scout Troop 48 were at Woodsedge to decorate for the Christmas season. Every year on the first Saturday in December, in what has become a tradition for the boys in the troop, holiday decorations are set out in the large common room.

Mark S. LewisMs. Earlene Carr will complete her three-year service in the Lansing Central School District on June 30, 2007. Consequently, a new principal will take the reins of leadership at R. C. Buckley Elementary School on July 1, 2007. The search has already commenced with the posting of the position in newspapers and websites across the state.

The interview and selection process will no doubt generate significant interest among a multitude of different district groups, including teachers, support staff, parents, and community members. For this reason, the process has been structured to incorporate as much input as possible from all facets of the school community.

Pet of the WeekHi there my name is Ozzy! I am a 2 year old pit bull mix. Many months ago I was brought to the SPCA with a really bad leg injury, but the nice folks at the SPCA took good care of me. Now I am ready to find my new home. I am friendly, smart gentle and sweet (not to mention handsome!). I love to be petted and I will roll over for a belly rub. I am a wonderful dog so please come and visit me at the SPCA.

Visit the SPCA Web Page



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Healing WellAnger is a basic human emotion that is experienced by all people. It is a typical response to some emotional hurt. An individual experiences anger when he or she feels harmed, mistreated, injured, challenged, or when faced with obstacles that prevent them from attaining a goal.

Each of us experiences anger at some time in our lives. How we deal with that anger will depend largely upon ourselves. Other factors will also affect the way we deal with anger: our home environment, work environment, relations with family both past and present, and relations with those in the community. Anger describes an emotional state that consists of feelings that range from mild irritation or annoyance to intense rage and fury.

(Ithaca, NY) The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce held the second of two awards luncheons at the Holiday Inn in Ithaca Friday.  The luncheon honored Cornell University as the County's Large Business of the Year, and Sciencenter as the Not For Profit of the Year.  Last month Strebel Planning Group of Ithaca, NY received the 2006 David R. Strong Memorial Small Business of the Year Award, while Felicia's Atomic Lounge was named New Business of the Year.  "We thought we would try something new this year," said Chamber Board Chair Kyle Tuttle.  "In additional to our annual dinner we would recognize companies and present awards during the year."

Ithaca Carshare has been awarded $177,220 to support its first two years of operation. Organizers plan to offer the first carsharing services in the Ithaca area as early as next spring and to expand operations later in 2007.

“We will start with two cars at EcoVillage, a neighborhood that has already had experience with informal carsharing, and then—after we’ve worked out any kinks—we plan to expand the service to downtown and then to the Ithaca College and Cornell campuses,” said Ithaca Carshare coordinator Jennifer Dotson.

Ithaca, NY (November 29, 2006) – Six local Agents have earned the respected RE/MAX Executive Club Award for their leadership in Real Estate. Mary Decker of Groton, Rich Hayward of Trumansburg, Marge Hovanec of Ithaca, Michelle Miller of Aurora, Amanda K. Ryen of Lansing, and Mary Stoe of Ithaca have each closed a minimum of 2.5 million in total sales volume during the 2006 calendar year, demonstrating their leadership in real estate sales.

“I applaud these agents’ and their expertise in the real estate industry.” said Melissa Miller, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX IN MOTION. “The RE/MAX system allows top agents to do a greater volume of business on average.”

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The third annual Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair raised $20,430 for local not-for-profit organizations this past Saturday, topping last year's total of $14,450. The hall at St. John's Episcopal Church, where the Fair was held, was constantly full of shoppers who came to support their favorite causes. Thirty organizations were represented. All of the groups made money, said Wendy Skinner, a member of the Fair's organizing team. The Fair passes on directly to the participating organizations all of the funds collected for their group.

Some of the gifts in this year's Fair were toothbrushes and hygeine supplies for homeless persons; a week of hot meals delivered to a local shut-in; events to keep the native Mohawk language alive; tutoring for a struggling Ithaca school student; an advocate to help the needy navigate medical appointments and forms; and food for an "animal ambassador" used to educate children about the natural world. For every purchase, shoppers received a gift card and an insert explaining the gift.

Village of Lansing Trustees considered a resolution to ask legislators to establish a county-wide program to control an out-of-control deer population.  The deer problem has been an ongoing topic of discussion for the Trustees, but Village officials have limited resources to control it.  "They're all over the Village," says Mayor Don Hartill.  "I have four or five that camp out in our back yard all the time.  I think they're fairly uniformly distributed around the Village.  There are no predators except for cars."

In addition to damage done in collisions with drivers, Trustees worried about damage to new trees planted for the Triphammer Road reconstruction project, as well as residents' trees and gardens.  Trustee Lynn Leopold said she had been told of a repellent called Deer Fortress, a safe repellent that smells of blood to deer, causing them to go away from perceived danger.  She suggested that it wouldn't be hard to create a home-made version of the repellant.  "Nothing is totally deer-proof," lamented Leopold.  "This stuff really does spook them, though.  It's worth a try."

Kids came to Lansing Elementary School Saturday to create and have fun.  The PTSO's Create A Craft Sale offered an array of crafts for different ages and skill levels.  This year high school students were on hand to help the smaller kids, because the proceeds of the event went to help fund an art trip to Italy planned for April.  "We are working together for the Create A Craft Sale because PTSO is kind enough to donate money toward our trip," said middle school art teacher Lee Ionone, who will be leading the trip.

"We had one family tradition that I remember better than anything, and that was the Friday night box of books," children's author Ann Mazer told a group of Lansing kids Saturday.  "Every Friday night my father would bring home a paycheck from the factory where he was working.  He would also bring a huge box of books.  So in my family it always seemed like books were as important as money, or maybe more important than money."