Archive: Around Town

Pet of the WeekHey there! I’m Sabrina. I’m an adult spayed female (I know what your thinking, ADULT! So what? All teenagers grow!). If you meet me I’ll magic your heart away, so please come meet me soon at the S.P.C.A.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Ithaca, NY – The Human Services Coalition, Cayuga Medical Center, Kinney Drugs in Tompkins County, and United Way of Tompkins County are pleased to announce the start of the Urgent Rx pilot program. When an uninsured patient receives care at Cayuga Medical Center's Emergency Room or Convenient Care Center in Ithaca, Urgent Rx will provide free generic medications, from a limited list.

At this time, the four Kinney Drugs’ pharmacies in Tompkins County are the only providers for Urgent Rx prescriptions. In order to qualify for Urgent Rx, the uninsured patient must get the prescription written during the visit at either Cayuga Medical Center's Emergency Department or Convenient Care Center in Ithaca and the prescriptions must be for medicines on the approved list that was developed in consultation with physicians at Cayuga Medical Center.

Last Friday (2/3) the PTSO held a spaghetti dinner at the High School Cafeteria.  Sauce and meatballs were donated by the King Ferry Hotel, Ithaca Bakery provided the bread and other food was given by Wegmans.  It was a good deal, and dessert was an even better deal at 25 cents for a brownie, cupcake or piece of cake.

Ask IMOAsk IMO

 Lansing's Advice Column


Dear IMO,

I need some advice for a Valentine’s Day present. Whenever I ask my girlfriend for a hint, she always tells me that anything I get her is just fine. What should I get my girlfriend? Should it be romantic or practical?

Thanks,

Phil

Dear Phil,

The answer is a 10 inch cordless miter saw with a laser guided cutting edge. She’ll love it, and you won’t have to feel bad since she already told you no matter what you buy, it will be just fine.

Thursday was a day of celebration at the Tompkins County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA) when local PetsMart store manager Debbie Houck arrived to present a check for $20,000 to develop and support the shelter's foster program.  Some of the fosterers were on hand to see their program supported.

The program finds foster homes for animals, especially puppies and kittens who are too young to be adopted.  Foster homes provide a place for sick or injured animals to get well, and for difficult animals to become socialized to make them more adoptable.  "Some animals don't have problems, but they can't tolerate being in a shelter environment," says Kerry Barnes, the Development Director for TCSPCA.  They would be unadoptable if they were here and they were scared, but when people see them in a home and see how they really are going to be in their home they find their own families that way."

Sunday afternoon the Elementary School cafeteria was transformed into a race track to rival Watkins Glen.  Lansing Cub Scout Pack 48 held their annual Pinewood Derby, with about 45 wooden cars racing in five age groups.  Scouts across the country look forward to the event every year, and it is a long standing Lansing tradition.

Scout leaders met Saturday to set up the track.  "We used to set it up after church on a Sunday," says scout leader Don Hradisky, referring to the time when the races were held at All Saints Church. " We had one hour to set it up and make it perfect.  This is our third year in the school.  We set it up on a Saturday and work all the bugs out, so on Sunday we walk in, sign the kids in and we're off to the races."

Monday night a team of student mentors came to demonstrate a CASS program to the Middle School Shared Decision Making Team.  CASS stands for "Creating A Safe School" and is a volunteer effort that includes school employees, parents and students.  High Schoolers volunteer to be mentors and then present skits and programs and work with Middle Schoolers to get them to think about group dynamics, and being more inclusive, respectful  and nicer to each other.

On a warm day a crowd gathers around the band stand in the park to hear live music, have a picnic and be with friends and family.  If that sounds like a picture from times past, it is also part of Lansing's future.  The Lions club is currently raising money to build a band stand in Myers Park.

"The Lions have a great idea in the band stand, says Lansing Park Superintendent and Recreation Director Steve Colt.  "I know they've done an awful lot of work already.  Raising funds is not easy and sometimes it can take a while, but they've got a great start on it."  So far the Lions have two fund raising initiatives specifically targeted at the band stand.  People and businesses that give $250 or more toward the project will have their name, business name or a memorial name on a plaque to be placed on the completed building.  They are also selling a throw blanket with scenes from Lansing on it to raise money for the band stand.

"How many of you speak Swahili?" James Nowak asked Theresa Arsenault's third period class.  All the kids withdrew into themselves, muttering "I can't speak Swahili."  Then Nowak pointed to some words on a banner taped to the black board.  "What about these words?" he asked?  "Hakuna matata?  Simba?  Rafiki?"

Ask IMOAsk IMO

 Lansing's Advice Column


Dear IMO,

I want to make a sizeable donation to a local church in memory of my mom, but I want it for a specific project. Can I stipulate that my donation be directed toward a specific project?

Thanks,

Monica

Wok VillageProfile

Wok Village is a Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant located on the southernmost border of Lansing.  Located in "The Small Mall" behind the Triphammer Mall the restaurant has been serving area residents since 1990.  With a popular luncheon buffet and full dinner menu Wok Village has been a mainstay in the local restaurant scene for over 15 years.

Owners Trung Dai and Le My Trieu Lam lend a personal touch with Trung in the back and My Le (pronounced 'May Lei,' middle name first) in front.  Of Chinese heritage, but originally from Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, the Lams have lived in Ithaca for over 25 years.  They have four children, two grown and two in Ithaca High School.  The story of how they got from Saigon to their own restaurant in Ithaca is not simple, not a straight line.

Kate Adie, freshman at Lansing High School, has been accepted into the distinguished People to People Student Ambassador Program for 2006. As a Student Ambassador, Kate will be part of a unique and talented group of about 40 high school students and four chaperones who will travel to France, Italy and Greece this summer as the delegation from New York State to embrace global diversity, forge new friendships and promote international goodwill.