Archive: Around Town

(Ithaca, NY) The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Cornell University is the recipient of its’ 2006 Large Employer of the Year Award, while the Sciencenter of Ithaca is the recipient of the 2006 Not-For-Profit of the Year Award.  Both organizations will be recognized at a Chamber Awards luncheon on December 8 in downtown Ithaca. 

"The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce has expanded the awards program to include the Large Employer of the Year and the Not-For-Profit of the Year”, says Chamber Awards Committee Chair Laurie Linn. “We think it’s important for our award designations to reach across the diverse sectors of our membership and showcase their successes and their commitment to our community. This is the first year that the Large Employer and Not-For-Profit of the Year awards will be presented and we, of course, will have an annual event to acknowledge those organizations that fit the award criteria, every year. This expands the Annual Awards to four categories, New Business of the Year, David R. Strong Small Business of the Year, Large Employer of the Year and Not-For-Profit of the year. It’s an exciting time for the Chamber and our membership and we welcome and encourage members to submit entrees for 2007”. Annual Award recipients are chosen from nominations made by Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce members.

This coming weekend, the City of Ithaca plans to demolish the overhead bridges and helix portions of the Green Street parking facility. From the evening of Friday December 1, through all of Sunday, December 3, Green Street between Cayuga Street and the “tuning fork” intersection with State Street will be completely closed to traffic. Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) buses will be detoured around the construction area and TCAT’s Green Street bus stops will be moved.

“Almost every TCAT route stops at Green Street. It’s one of our main downtown hubs, and many of our Friday night and weekend riders will be affected,” said Nancy Oltz, TCAT’s Manager of Operations and Maintenance.

Ithaca, NY (November 29, 2006) – Local Real Estate Agent Barbara Blanchard has been awarded the esteemed RE/MAX 100% Club Award for her leadership in Real Estate sales during the 2006 calendar year. Barbara has achieved over 4 million in total sales volume this year to earn this honor. Barbara, a long-time local resident, has over 21 years experience of selling real estate in the greater Tompkins County area.

“A broker of Barbara’s caliber is what our system is all about.” 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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Lansing 9th Grader Kali Dean competed in the State Championship Swimming and Diving meet in Buffalo last weekend.  Dean placed first in Class C size schools in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events. (Picture courtesy of Diane Hicks-Hughes)

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Monday, November 20, 2006: If you were listening to the Morning News Watch on WHCU you probably noticed something different -- or maybe not!  It's radio, after all, and what you couldn't see is that Dave Vieser was broadcasting from a new studio.  "Everything is new," Vieser says.  "From the CD players to the audio board that we use to send the signal out, to the microphones.  Even the phone lines are brand new."

Mark S. LewisPerhaps you read this week where the New York State Court of Appeals amended a lower court ruling requiring the State of New York to increase school aid to New York City by a whopping $5.63 billion. The lower court’s decision was the result of a lawsuit brought by a group of New York City parents and community members who alleged that the current state funding level for New York City fell far below what the group contended was necessary to provide New York City students a “sound basic education” as mandated by the New York State Constitution. The Court of Appeals reduced the settlement to $1.93 billion, adjusted for inflation, payable over four years. This amounts to approximately $500 million additional school aid for New York City for the next four years in addition to the aid increase that would be provided normally in any given fiscal year. New York City currently receives in excess of $6 billion per year in state school aid.

Opponents of the lawsuit (deemed “The Campaign for Fiscal Equity”) charged that the lower court vastly overstepped its authority by mandating legislative action to increase aid to New York City schools. In so doing, the opponents asserted, the courts ventured into the legislative branch of government, upsetting the balance of power and usurping legislative discretion. Supporters of the action promoted the “sound basic education” argument per Constitutional requirement, a requirement they contended was unachievable, given the current level of state funding for NYC schools. The Court of Appeals apparently saw credence in the plaintiffs’ argument, albeit not to the same level as did the lower court and subsequently reduced the settlement.

The dining hall at Fire Station #4 was full Saturday as neighbors gathered to learn how seismic exploration in North Lansing will affect them.  Ansboro Petroleum treated the group to lunch and information about their search for natural gas in the area.  Representatives from Ansbro and several local sub-contractors were on hand to answer questions about the process of finding and drilling for natural gas.  "We're delighted to have such a good turnout," said Ansbro Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Margot Timbel.  "We're delighted with our contractors being able to speak with the people who are in this neighborhood and affected by this project."

Pet of the WeekHi there my name is Star! I am a young female tortie. I am a beautiful girl so please come and visit me at the SPCA.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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ITHACA, NY — The Sciencenter will open its doors for free to everyone in the community on the first Sundays of December, January and February. Visitors will participate in new winter-themed presentations and hands-on activities during each Free Sunday. These Free Sundays are made possible with the generous support of Greek Peak Mountain Resort – “the Official Sponsor of Winter at the Sciencenter”.

On December 3, at 1 p.m., Kevin Morrin of Greek Peak will discuss the physics of downhill and cross-country skiing as visitors explore the “Science of Winter Sports.” At 2 p.m., the Roots & Shoots club of Cornell University will present a special activity on animal tracks in the snow. Kids will have the opportunity to make their own molds of animal tracks to take home. At 3 p.m., Todd Miner of Cornell Outdoor Education will share ways for families to safely explore the outdoors during winter.

Nine Ithaca residents have a new job skill and the credentials to prove it. The first class to complete a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) course funded by a Community Development Block Grant will be honored at City Hall next Wednesday. The course provides free classroom and hands-on training to unemployed and underemployed residents, with a focus on women and people of color.

“I’m very proud of the trainees,” said CDL trainer Lillian Lightbourn, a former TCAT bus driver who developed the program. “They have worked hard and now they have something valuable to show for it.” A Commercial Drivers License is a requirement for jobs driving tractor trailers, dump trucks, school buses, transit buses, and more.

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) buses will use new detours around the Thurston Avenue Bridge, starting on Sunday, November 26.

The bridge, which was completely closed for several weeks this fall, is now open to northbound traffic. The last time the bridge was open, only southbound traffic was allowed. The change in direction has required TCAT to redesign its detours.

Karen and I want to wish all of our readers the happiest of Thanksgivings.  And to say how grateful we are for your support of the Lansing Star.  A newspaper is nothing without readers, and we have been fortunate to have comments, letters, and calls suggesting stories, corrections, and just plain good ideas.

We hope to hear much more as we go toward 2007.  We encourage 'Letters to the Editor,' and welcome guest editorials and stories.  And of course we welcome advertisers -- they make it possible for us to bring you the Star.  Most of all we are thankful for our community, and for having such an interesting place to report on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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