Archive: Around Town

Lansing Fire District officials say they are anxious to get the process moving to build a new firehouse in the Village of Lansing.  District Chairman Robert Wagner says there has been a need for a new station for some time, but the process has been held up in order to address concerns of the Village.  "They talked about wanting to contract with the Village of Cayuga Heights," Wagner says.  "We met with the Village of Cayuga Heights Fire Department and the Mayor and decided that wasn't feasible.  Now we're going back to getting the station in the Village."


The problem with Station 5 on Oakcrest Road is that it is too small to accommodate the department's equipment.  Currently it is used for elections and not much else.  Bangs typically parks an ambulance there so they can respond to EMS calls in Lansing faster, but the size of the building and the lot it is on are inadequate for fire equipment.  "We can't put a ladder down there, because it just won't fit," Wagner says, adding that there isn't enough land to enlarge the existing station.

September 7, 2006 - On Friday, September 8, the Thurston Avenue Bridge, which links several streets in the central portion of the Cornell University campus, will be closed for construction. The bridge will be completely closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic for approximately three weeks while new steel arches are installed.

Ten separate TCAT routes will be affected by the bridge closing, and there may be times when trips across campus will take longer than usual, due to detours and changed traffic patterns.

(Ithaca, NY) Join walkers, runners and trail supporters for the first-ever Cayuga Waterfront Trail 5K on Sunday, September 17, 2006. The 5K Run/Walk, will be held on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Cass Park, beginning and ending at the Ithaca Children's Garden. The race will officially start at 11:00 AM, with registration beginning at 10:00 AM. All proceeds from this race will benefit the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.

The CWT is the brain child of Andris Goncarovs, a 14 year old Ithaca runner. Andris is a 5 time US Junior Olympics All American in Cross Country and Track and Field and frequently trains on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Cass Park. Andris said, "I have participated in many 5K races and wanted to organize a race for myself. I enjoy the great waterfront scenery while training on the trail and wanted to do my part to help Ithaca continue building the Cayuga Waterfront Trail."

A few weeks ago we skipped an issue of the Star to take a week off to spend with our kids.  We decided to stay close to home and make day trips, rather than going away for the week.  It turned out there was lots to do, and we had fun at a reasonable cost.  Here's a rundown of things you can do within driving distance of Lansing.

On Sunday we went to the Sterling Renaissance Festival.  We had gone before and been a bit underwhelmed.  I'd been to better festivals in other parts of the country.  And the last time we went the joust was a very long wait, a lot of shouting, and then a short, anticlimactic contest.  This summer the festival seemed much improved, with more entertainment, raucous fun and a much more satisfying joust.

Drake Road residents seemed split on how to bring water to their neighborhood at a public meeting at Lansing Town Hall Wednesday.  Property owners were asked to consider alternate plans for financing a water district extension on their road.  Town Engineer David Herrick gave an overview of the proposed plan with a breakdown of the $662,000 project.  "We've been looking at different feasibility studies for your neighborhood for quite some time," Herrick said.  "I can tell you frankly that the costs of extending the water system through your area are not going to go down."

Herrick had made changes to the project map based on input from a meeting the group attended in August.  He presented two funding schemes.  A traditional plan would count each residence as one Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) and vacant lots would count as a quarter of an EDU.  The alternate plan suggested that each single family home be counted as 1 EDU and that every 4.5 acres of vacant land be counted as 1 EDU.

Star of the MonthI nominate Kathy Sharpless and Sandy Hagin as co-stars for August. Kathy and Sandy both gave many years and countless hours to Girl Scouts in Lansing.

 
Kathy Sharpless began as a leader in Massachusetts and when she moved to the Lansing area she started working with Brownie Girl Scouts. As the girls bridged to Junior Girl Scouts she made that transition with them. Kathy has retired as a leader; however, you will probably still see her helping other Girl Scouts in the Lansing area.

 

Sandy Hagin for many years was a devoted parent volunteer and the troop "cookie mom" and then she made the leap to leader. Sandy always did a fantastic job coordinating cookie sales. Sandy has also decided to retire as a leader. Sandy's sister Marilyn Willkens is the leader of Brownie Troop 121 and you may see Sandy giving that troop a hand in the fall.

Girl Scouts Seven Lakes Council will miss the contributions that Kathy and Sandy gave to Girl Scouts in Lansing. Lansing should be proud to have such wonderful role models.

----
v2i33 superstar

King Ferry Bakery and CafeReview

Here we are back again in King Ferry. I have meant to spill the beans about this delightful eatery for a while, but haven’t quite ‘got round to it’. I attribute this serious lapse to a subliminal judgment that my husband, dear friend Wanda, son Tony and I will find it hard to obtain our usual seat during our regularly appointed, Saturday morning visit. Apologies both to my readers and the proprietors of this delicious little gem. I have been remiss.

The King Ferry Bakery & Café is situated in the building at the NE corner of the Rte. 90/ 34B intersection. This building also houses a used clothing shop and an antique store. As you are driving north and come to a stop at the junction, you will be unable to see the King Ferry Bakery & Café behind the large municipal sign, but proceed on faith and pull into the parking lot just behind.

There has been much talk about the technology situation in the Lansing schools.  Most agree that Lansing has fallen behind and that if technology isn't addressed in an aggressive and meaningful way, both in instruction and equipment, that Lansing students won't be adequately prepared to compete in the modern world.  But differing opinions about how it should be done, personnel issues, and budget considerations have meant little progress in this area.

Deb Pichette is Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development as well as the district's Technology Leader

At last week's Board Of Education (BOE) meeting Director of Curriculum Deb Pichette presented a restructuring proposal that seeks to address technology issues in the district while staying within the funds budgeted for technology personnel.  She proposed hiring two new employees, filling a network specialist position and creating a new position, School Information Systems Specialist.  At the previous meeting she had presented a comprehensive summary of technology needs in the district, including some that are State mandated.  "If I could start listing the pieces that go to technology to run this school district, you might be overwhelmed as I was," Pichette told the Board.

Ask IMOAsk IMO

 Lansing's Advice Column

Dear IMO,

A good friend is slowly getting hooked on gambling. At first, she would take the seasonal trip to Atlantic City. Although she never won any big jackpots, she did manage to break even or lose just a few hundred dollars on these quarterly trips. The losses were ones she could afford.

A “Racino” has just opened near our town within an hour’s drive. She goes every weekend, and I know she is losing as much if not more than she did when she went to Atlantic City. I have discussed my concerns about the increased gambling losses with her, but she insists that the losses are no more than previous ones. Do you know of any self-help guides or other information that I can offer her? Is there any way to stop this slow, downward spiral?

A concerned friend.

Once a year the Celts descend on the Cortland fair grounds only a half hour from Lansing.  Last Saturday even the rain held off so people could enjoy the sixth annual Cortland Celtic Festival.  The event is a celebration of Celtic (pronounced "keltick") heritage that the Cortland Celtic Cultural Association hosts each year.  "We try to represent all seven Celtic nations if possible," says Cecile Scott who co-chaired the event with Colleen DeGouff.  "We do get mostly Scottish and Irish as far as displays and exhibits."  The other five are  Brittany, Galicia, Cornwall, Wales, and the Isle of Man."

The Lansing Community Library Center capped this year's Summer Reading program with a performance by Moreland the Magician last Saturday at Lansing Town Hall.  Using a pirate theme, 'Books, a Treasure," the program encourages kids to read at least six books during the summer. 

Dan SegalDesigning a landscape doesn’t have to be complicated, but it requires a sound framework of knowledge in a few key areas, plus a thorough, thoughtful approach. Most gardeners and homeowners, myself included, take years to work a garden or part of their property into the shape they feel approaches their vision. By contrast, a landscape design tries to achieve depth, beauty and balance all at once.

A good designer might be considered artistic, tasteful, knowledgeable, experienced, etc., but the most important thing is to work with someone interested in your property who won’t disappear after the attractive design is delivered. It’s relatively easy to design something magnificent on paper, but seeing it through, following up, and solving unforeseen problems make the project become a success in reality. Therefore, a designer who also installs the project is a great catch because they’re committed and invested in the entire project.