Archive: Around Town

Rock Climbing for President's Day

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

Lansing Recreation Department is offering President's Vacation Rock Climbing Camp during the school break next week. "We've been teaming with Cornell Outdoor Education for the last couple of years," says Recreation Director Steve Colt.

Cornell instructors will teach campers the basics of rock climbing at the Lindseth Rock Climbing Wall, the largest indoor rock climbing wall in North America. The wall, made of natural rocks embedded into concrete blocks, is 30' high and 160' wide. It features overhangs, hand cracks, slabs and chimneys.

The Next Step for the Katrina Karavan II

: By Sharon Garland; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

In the past week we have met our minimum goal for funds for the second Katrina Karavan. Thanks to several large donations we are able to go to the next step. We are waiting for one of the drivers to get the time off from work, then the trip will be on the calendar. We have many boxes to take down for displaced families from New Orleans. CRESP at Cornell has contributed to help make the Martin Luther King Celebration collection make the trip to help families. We are planning to go to the St John's Parish Shelter again and to Best Friends Sanctuary in Tylertown, MS. We have 2 foster homes for cats and 8 or more for dogs- and we are looking for more homes.

Dr. Bridget Barry from Meadowridge has just returned from the Grand Bahamas helping vaccinate dogs for distemper. Since Hurricane Wilma they have had a distemper outbreak and have been in desperate need of help vaccinating the local dogs. Her involvement with the VMAT (Veterinary Medical Assistance Team) has now taken her to help with both Hurricane Katrina and now the Wilma aftermath. The shelter on the island has a full kennel of vaccinated dogs and no where to place them once the shelter opens up again,. So we are undertaking bringing some of them up here. Most of the dogs are local "potcakes" a mix of who knows ahat breeds, but all with winning personalities according to Bridget. Veterinary Care will again be provided by Meadowridge. What they need are new homes.

This community has opened its arms to these dogs and cats and will continue to do so, If you would like to consider fostering either a Katrina Karavan or Grand Bahamas dogs please contact Sharon Garland at Meadowridge- 533-7661 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We still need to borrow large crates for the Katrina trip and can always use cash to help to pay for the trip and medical care of the new critters.

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Pet of the Week: Spot

: By Allison Veaner; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

Pet of the WeekHi! I’m spot. I am 5-6 years old so of course I am fun, loving, energetic, and love to play. I was brought to the A.S.P.C.A. because my owner couldn’t keep me any longer. I am lovable and full of fun. Of course nobody’s flawless (although we like to believe we are) my flaw is that I was born deaf but that doesn’t mean I’m not a great pup. So come meet me soon at the A.S.P.C.A.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Library Charter On Hold

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

Marlaine Darfler told the Lansing Board of Education (BOE) in their Monday meeting that Lansing Community Library Center (LCLC) has decided to put their charter library referendum on hold. Darfler, Chairwoman of LCLC's Board of Directors said, "Last Spring when the Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) wanted to add us to their referendum we went into high gear," Darfler told the BOE. "If we're going to have to pay taxes, then we want the taxes to stay here." Now the local library feels the pressure is off so they have put the plan on hold.

Since its inception LCLC has been entirely supported by donations and volunteers, but the board has always known that a point would come where they would ask the community to support a professional librarian, new books and programs. LCLC is starting a second capital expansion project, entirely paid for by donations from businesses and individuals. The $350,000 capital campaign has raised all but $25,000, which Dafler says the board would like to come from smaller donations from individuals.

5 O'clock Bus Gets a Reprieve

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

In recent Board of Education (BOE) meetings cutting the 5 o'clock bus run seemed like a good way to save money in the face of drastically rising fuel costs. But when it came time to vote to eliminate the run, the BOE decided to keep the bus run for the rest of this school year, and to delay voting on whether it will continue into next year's school year.

"We really want to get a sense of who is being served," said BOE member Tom Keane. "We don't want to leave kids who are involved in activities after school who wouldn't be able to get themselves home." Indeed, representatives from Lansing Youth Services came to the meeting to make just that argument.

Business Administrator Search

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

Now that the new Superintendent is in place the Lansing School District is looking for a permanent business official. For the past year and a half the district has had an Interim Business Administrator. Gary Alger filled in from August 1, 2004 through the end of September 2005, and he was replaced by Larry Driscoll, who is currently serving in the position.

District officials have posted the position and set a schedule for hiring a permanent replacement by the end of March. Superintendent Mark Lewis told the Board of Education Monday that the application deadline will be March 1. Screening of applications will take place from March 1 through 6 with interviews on March 13-17.

Students Compete in Leadership Contests

: By Michele Sutton; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

FFA members from schools in Cortland, Onondaga, Cayuga & Tompkins Counties participated in Future Farmers of America (FFA) Leadership contests on February 7th at the Southern Cayuga Central School. The contests are created to challenge students in the areas of written and oral communication.

(L to R)Kristen Tauer (Ithaca), Lauren Meador (Ithaca), Erin Smith (Newfield), Simon Horrocks (Dryden), Kerry O'Connor (Dryden), Jonathan Howe (Lansing), Elana Peterson (Ithaca)

Ask IMO

: By Matthew P. Binkewicz; Around Town; | Feb 16, 2006 |

Ask IMOAsk IMO

Lansing's Advice Column

Dear IMO,

I really hate my boss and her assistant. These two individuals are demeaning, spiteful, and worst of all, complete phonies. With every moment I spend at the office, I grow more depressed and frustrated with my plot in life. I love the work and the people I help, but the conditions at the office push me to the brink. Sometimes, it gets so overwhelming I simply shut the door and cry. I have been in my line of work for 25 years and am very good at what I do. My husband tells me to give my two week notice ASAP. Can you give me any advice?

Sincerely,

Patti

Dear Patti,

Your situation does sound desperate. Considering the attitude of your boss and her assistant along with the heavy emotional strain on your personal well being, I suggest you follow your husband’s advice and hand in your 2 week notice. Clearly, the emotional strain is more than most people could handle or should have to tolerate in the professional world.

Getting to Know Superintendent Mark Lewis: Part II

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Feb 9, 2006 |

Mark LewisIn part II of our interview with Mark Lewis, Lansing's new School Superintendent, we talked about his first weeks as Lansing Superintendent, technology in the classroom, dealing with rising costs and long-term leadership.

Lansing Star: Have you found it difficult to come into the district just at this time when the capital project is about to go up for a vote in a couple of months?

Mark Lewis: Well, it's challenging, because you have to focus so acutely on the project itself. A lot of the time that I would be spending in outreach and building bridges, getting to know staff, getting to know community -- I'm planning. I'm planning meetings, I'm working with the design team and the Ad Hoc Committee now. It takes up a significant amount of time, but it's so important. This is an important time right now.

Katrina Karavan Is a Great Success

: By Sharon Garland; Around Town; | Feb 9, 2006 |

In November the Lansing Star online covered the arrival of 28 dogs and 14 cats from post Katrina Louisiana. Due tot he generosity of this area, not only was the trip funded but all but 2 of the animals now have homes. Thanks also to Cayuga Dog Rescue, Briar Patch Vet Hospital and the SPCA for helping to foster and home some of the animals. Meadowridge Vet Clinic and The Boarding Barn cared for the rest of the animals. Many of the veterinary drug companies donated goods for their medicals needs-including treating heartworm in 6 dogs. Other medical treatment has been done at Meadowridge. All in all there are 48 new pets in this area because of the Katrina Karavan.

We are now organizing Katrina Karavan II. We will be taking down boxes of goods gathered through GIAC for displaced families now in Baton Rouge and are planning to bring back more animals- each day they are surrendered to shelters because their owners cannot keep them. Hunt's Auto in Ithaca has offered us a reduced rate again for the Penske truck, that is a huge savings. We are in need of 3 things to make this happen- please consider helping out.

Cash- for gas and hotel rooms for the Drivers (Sara Reynolds and Lezlie Kennedy) We have the money raised for the truck-but it won't go far without gas.

Crates- loaner large crates to use in the truck

Foster/adoptive homes- we will bring back cats if we have committed homes, and would like to have many of the dogs ready to go to homes as soon as they return. All medical care will be taken care of by Meadowridge.

If you can help- please call Sharon at Meadowridge533-7661 or cell 227-5186. Checks can be made payable to Sharon Garland(I'll send receipt) at Meadowridge 853 Auburn Rd Groton,NY 13073 Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated- the New Orleans area will recovering for years to come and we can help just a bit.

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We Talked, They Listened

: By Hugh Bahar; Around Town; | Feb 9, 2006 |

Guest EditorialThe meeting of the public, the Ad-Hoc Facilities Committee and the Lansing Board of Education on the evening of February 6th was, in my opinion, a perfect expression of the democratic values upon which this country was founded. Our elected representatives asked what the community wanted, the community participated, and it looks like the Board will act on the community consensus and delay the April budget vote and rethink the scope of work for the school complex.

This will delay the project for at least one year. Some desperately needed maintenance and small capital projects may have to be acted upon before next year (bus garage fuel pumps, etc.), and the Lansing community may need to approve some stop-gap school funding or tap some reserves to tide over the schools until a new scope of work can be approved and constructed (construction wouldn't be complete until about 3 years after a voter-approved project).

25 Lansing Fire Fighters Earn Service Awards

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Feb 9, 2006 |

Lansing's Fire Commissioners voted to approve the department's 2005 service awards at their meeting Tuesday night. 25 volunteer firemen earned service awards, which are awarded on a performance point system. With 71 department members eligible, awards are going to about 55% of the department. But if you take inactive members out of the mix about 40% have earned the awards.

The award recognizes volunteer participation with a $700 contribution to a fund the member may access after reaching retirement age. A member must earn the award for a minimum of five years in order to be vested -- otherwise monies earned go back to the department. The point system encourages members to participate in department activities.

Veterinary Hospital Opens Wellness Center

: By Catherine T. Hegarty, D.V.M.; Around Town; | Feb 9, 2006 |

Catherwood Road facility to House Physical Therapy and Acupuncture Services for Area Pets

ITHACA, NY – The Colonial Veterinary Hospital Wellness Center, which opened last month, provides physical therapy, acupuncture, and general health maintenance services for area pets.

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