Archive: Around Town

The History Center in Tompkins County announced that Dr. Rod Howe will be stepping down as our Executive Director this summer.  Howe was hired in early 2015 as he left his Cornell University position with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Community and Regional Development Institute.

Howe, with the active support of staff, trustees, volunteers, and partners has raised the visibility of the organization and promoted deeper collaborations making The History Center a vital county resource. Howe has initiated and strengthened a number of programs during his tenure, with his vision of the importance of place, land, architecture, culture, and enterprises to the citizens and visitors to our region. He has been instrumental in creating a platform to support heritage tourism, in partnership with Historic Ithaca and the county's tourism program.

The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) has awarded $3,980 in four grants to Ithaca City School District (ICSD) programs that will reach over 1,150 students (see below for list).  Grant funds are made possible through FABG performance booklet ad sales and individual donations. The boosters produce performance booklet programs for middle and high school concerts and plays, totaling over 35 events each year.


Fine Arts Booster Group grants were awarded for district-wide and special projects. Vanessa Wagner, FABG Treasurer, noted, "The Fine Arts Booster Group helps leverage and expand community connections in partnership with the Ithaca City School District."

Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Superintendent Dr. Luvelle C. Brown is spearheading a new program, the Aspiring Educators Award Program, to encourage ICSD high school students to consider careers in education.

The Aspiring Educators Award Program will recognize selected ICSD students who show promise as potential future educators and educational leaders. The program will be open to rising juniors and/or seniors from under-represented backgrounds who are interested in pursuing teaching as a profession.

Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) announced funding for Computational Thinking and Digital Literacy in the Libraries, a Connecting Classrooms Grant supporting the Ithaca City School District's (ICSD) elementary schools and the ICSD Technology team. The goal of this grant is to allow ICSD teachers and media specialists time and equipment to create new learning experiences for every elementary student in the district focused on computational thinking and digital literacy.

Incorporating one-to-one technology is not the end but the beginning of a new methodology of thinking and learning. This grant funds the the ICSD librarians in a leadership role, in conjunction with the library as a hub of general information: creating space for student self-directed learning utilizing maker space and coding opportunities.

The Sheriff's Office has been pro-actively increasing programs and public engagement initiatives in an effort to increase trust, understanding, and communication between the community and the law enforcement professionals who protect them. This initiative is very important to newly elected Sheriff Derek Osborne, as this was one of his campaign platforms.

In that effort, the Sheriff's Office has been collaborating with local school superintendents and principals to open the door to greater presence within area schools. This will open up a new relationship opportunity between law enforcement and the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community, the youth of Tompkins County.

By Adam Kramarsyck

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Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown will be honored by the Boy Scouts of America, Baden-Powell Council with its prestigious Tompkins County Distinguished Citizen Award.

The award recognizes individuals who set positive examples for others and who demonstrate concern and significant care for their communities. As this year's honoree, Brown will be recognized by business and community leaders for his significant achievements and service to the community and its youth. Brown has invested a lifetime in mentoring youth and has served as the ICSD Superintendent of Schools since 2011.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that trout and salmon fishing season in New York State opens on Monday, April 1. Anglers can visit the Department of Environmental Conservation's website to view this spring's planned trout stocking for 2.33 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in 311 lakes and ponds and roughly 2,845 miles of streams across the state. In addition, DEC will stock nearly 1.5 million yearling lake trout, steelhead, landlocked salmon, splake and coho salmon this spring. Stocking supports the state's growing sportfishing industry, which generates an estimated $1.8 billion in economic activity each year.

"New York is home to world-class trout and salmon fishing in virtually every corner of the state," Cuomo said. "Heading out on opening day is a cherished tradition for generations of families, and I encourage New Yorkers and visitors alike to get outside and enjoy all the great fishing that our waters have to offer."

A Note From the Editor: All good things come to an end, and I am sad to report that last week's 'Dear Margaret' column was the last in the series.  The Lansing Star extends great thanks to Margaret Snow for three years of her wonderful advice column.  And best wishes to Margaret for new endeavors to come!  Thank you Margaret!


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Josephine Gibson, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County; Matthew Jirsa, former president of Cornell Minds Matter; and Winnie Ho, former president of Alpha Phi Omega Gamma Chapter

The Sophie Fund this week handed over a $1,367.50 check from its 2018 "Cupcake Button Fundraising Campaign" to the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County. Cornell University students collected the monies in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest organized by The Sophie Fund.

"We are so grateful to the Sophie Fund for their generous support of our mission," said Mental Health Association Executive Director Josephine Gibson. "We are invigorated to see the interest from Cornell students and our community in mental health education. Education is essential to combat the stigma surrounding mental health that creates a barrier to treatment and prevents people from seeking help before they reach a crisis."

Photo courtesy of Seneca Lake Guardian

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Dear Margaret: Some people have an easy time being around someone who has recently lost a close friend or relative in death. These people seem to know the right thing to say. It makes me uncomfortable, and what I end up doing is avoiding the grieving person, or when I see them, I ignore the situation. I feel like a jerk, but am afraid of saying the wrong thing. How can I remedy this situation? I'm not comfortable with sentimentality.
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