Archive: Around Town

Ask IMOAsk IMO

 Lansing's Advice Column


Dear IMO,

I am having trouble with my children. They seem completely against the idea of reading. When I was their age, I read everything that I could get: comic books, Hardy Boys’ Mysteries, even my parents’ Readers’ Digest. No matter how I try to convince my kids, they seem to have some excuse—too much reading in school, busy on the computer, watching their favorite show, etc. How do I go about changing their attitude?

Desperate in South Lansing

Dear DSL,

Reading is so essential that I cannot imagine how anyone can go through life without a good book on hand. Words are powerful. Within the pages of a book, readers discover ideas and thoughts that literally change lives. Think of Upton Sinclair’s, “The Jungle”, Aldous Huxley’s, “Brave New World,” Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer” Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” and many others that have changed both the individual consciousness as well as a nation’s. Books often serve as society’s moral compass guiding the citizenry at times when few dare to speak against the accepted norm.

Pet of the WeekHi there everyone! I’m Roscoe! I am 8 years old and am a hound mix. My previous family brought me here because the other dogs wanted to fight me. I love to play and did very well in obedience class. I get along well with other dogs especially females. I am a fun loving dog so please visit me soon at S.P.C.A.


Visit the SPCA Web Page

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When she left she had a Penske truck full of clothes and crates and 1 ton of dog and cat food. That food was gone in 2 days. The shelters are full and the cats and dogs are wandering all over. The situation is not something we can imagine. Our plan to return with another 25-30 animals is not even a dent in the problem.

In its official capacity of providing transportation to the Senior Citizens of Lansing, the dark blue 2002 Chevrolet Venture has been sighted at every Lansing house of worship, delivering elderly passengers to church suppers, events and meetings. It has also been seen in the parking lots of grocery stores, medical offices, restaurants and shopping centers.

 

The Town of Lansing framed the certificate that names a star for the Town so it can be put on display in the Town Hall.  Town Supervisor Steve Farkas showed the certificate at the Town Board meeting last Wednesday.  Farkas said the certificate will be hung in the board room after sound panels are installed.  The panels are being retrofitted to improve acoustics in the room, which is used for Town Board meetings, court and various community meetings and events.

Ithaca … Hannah- a terrier mix- and Libby- a black and white ticked hound mix- were cold, hungry and suffering from bad ear and skin infections when they found their way to the Tompkins County SPCA back in November. Even though both girls are housetrained with perfect manners and love to play and go for walks, they’re still here, six months later. Everyday they watch as crowds of people pass them by to check out puppies and younger dogs. For pets like Hannah and Libby, the TC SPCA is encouraging potential adopters to discover the benefits of adopting an older pet.

Senior pets can and do bond very strongly with adopters. Many seem to understand they have been given another chance at a happy life and are grateful for the opportunity to love someone and be loved in return.

Lansing suffered a major loss Monday when Robert C. (Bob) Baker passed away in his home.  Baker was best known for transforming the poultry industry by finding innovative ways to encourage people to eat chicken.  But he will be equally missed for a lifetime of sleeves-up efforts to make Lansing a better place to live.

Baker was a long-time member of Lansing United Methodist Church.  He was a founding member of the Lansing Lions Club.  When that club donated the Community Center to the Town, he was active in creating the Lansing Community Council which currently helps fund such programs as the Recreation Department and Lansing Youth Services.  Community council members including Baker did a lot of carpentry and other work to improve the building, including window replacement, and laying floors. 

He was a member of the  Ithaca Rotary and the North Lansing Auxiliary as well as a founder of the Lansing Housing Authority, which is responsible for the Woodsedge retirement facility near the town ball fields and other programs for Lansing's elderly citizens.

Saturday March 11 Lansing Boy Scout Troop 48 came in first place First Aid/Emergency Preparedness  Rally, conducted by the Taughannock District of the Baden Powell Council.  Held at the Dewitt Middle School, seven  troops were quizzed on first aid knowledge and judged on handling various first aid and emergency scenarios. Judging was done by first aid merit counselors, EMT 's and  others in the health care field.

Thank you so much for the article about the impending move of the 5th grade students back into the elementary school this Fall and for giving us parents (at least some of) the information that we have been waiting to hear offically from the school district. It is distressing that they thought it was better for the 4th graders to hear this in an assembly several days before mailing letters to the parents.

Sincerely,

Diane Nangeroni

Finally we're on our way. Bridget Roun of Lansing is doing the driving and Sharon Garland will join her for the drive back. Bridget is volunteering to walks dogs on her break from school, so we Katrina Karavaners have pooled our resources with her to make this happen. Hunt's Auto/Penske is letting us use a 16 ft truck at a reduced rate to get the Karavan going. Thanks to Brian Hunt for his generosity.

In November we were trying to go the Plaquemines Parish where Dr. Bridget Barry of Meadowridge Vet Clinic was deployed on the VMAT team. Due to the politics of the Parish the dogs in the Parish were staying put until now. On the 15th the Shelter is closing and we will take the remaining dogs to keep them alive. The Shelter manager, Rhonda says they are great dogs. We will also bring a few cats and more dogs back from the St. John the Baptist Shelter where we went in November, We are hoping to bring back 20 dogs and 2-4 cats.

Lansing Fire Commissioners got an A on their fiscal report card in their monthly meeting Tuesday night.  Mimi Thuesen of the accounting firm Ciaschi, Dietershagen, Little, Mickelson and Co. LLP presented an audit report that shows the district exercises good fiscal responsibility.  She reported that the district has $3.3 million in assets and only $45,000 in liabilities, with a building reserve of $700,000 and cash assets of $1 million.

That money is in anticipation of building a new fire house to replace the one on Oakcrest Road in the Village of Lansing. "We always look ahead," says District Treasurer George Gesslein.  "We establish reserves as fast as we can develop the cash to do it.  We do anticipate that probably in two years we're going to be building down there."

Ask IMOAsk IMO

 Lansing's Advice Column


Dear IMO,

My best friend’s wife just died. They have two small children ages 7 and 5. What’s the best way to tell kids that young their mom has died?

Thanks,

Greg

Dear Greg,

There is no easy way to tell anyone that their mom has died regardless of their age. The younger the individual, the more complicated it can be. Small children, in the 5-7 age range, have a limited concept of death. Like all of us, they grieve and feel loss in their lives, but they tend to understand and express themselves very differently from older children and adults.