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Archive: Around Town

posticon Getting to Know Superintendent Mark Lewis: Part I

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Mark LewisMark LewisAfter three "permanent" Superintendents of Schools who turned out to not be at all permanent, plus three periods where Dr. Tiffany Phillips filled in as Interim Superintendent while the Board of Education conducted searches for permanent replacements, Lansing finally has a new Superintendent that residents and school officials hope will stay a while.  Dr. Mark Lewis started in Lansing at the beginning of January, jumping into the proverbial frying pan with both feet as the Board of Education seeks to define and get public support for a $40 million dollar capital project.

Dr. Lewis is engaging and personable, and a good listener.  Divorced, he has moved to Lansing with his three dogs.  He has two sons and four grandchildren.  He is just beginning to look for a house in Lansing, while attending many meetings and getting to know the faculty and staff in the district.

We thought our readers would like to get to know Dr. Lewis, so the Star interviewed him last week. The transcript of the interview will be split into a three part series.  In this week's segment the Star asked him about his education and experience, and the path that led him to Lansing.

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posticon Clarification on Youth Philanthropy Program

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First, let me start by saying that I enjoy reading your newspaper online. It's great to read about all the wonderful things going on in our community.

I would like to clarify some information about the Lansing High School Students that were recognized for their efforts regarding the Youth & Philanthropy Program. That program is organized by United Way of Tompkins County not the County. The funding for the YAP Program is from a generous grant that United Way receives from the Park Foundation. The students from our area high schools do a wonderful job allocating those funds to nonprofit organizations that will benefit people in Tompkins County.

Locally, United Way of Tompkins County donations support nearly 100, year-round health and human service programs that help women, children and men improve their lives.

 

Thank you,

Ann M. Colt, Director
Campaign & Community Relations
United Way of Tompkins County
313 N. Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607.272.6286

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posticon SPCA Pet of the Week: Windy

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Pet of the WeekPet of the WeekHello! I am Windy, a young female hound mix who used to be a stray with a good friend who has already been adopted. I am very friendly and full of fun. I still need to learn manners but I love to have fun and play I also like to snuggle. So please come meet me and maybe take me home and come meet me at the S.P.C.A.!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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posticon Star of the Month: Marlaine Darfler

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 Marlaine Darfler Marlaine DarflerDonna Scott has nominated Marlaine Darfler as our Star for February. Here is what she wrote:

“I have a lot of talented, giving Lansing friends and colleagues, but of all of these people, I think Marlaine Darfler deserves to be a monthly Lansing Star more than anybody. I know that you have had two other Lansing Community Library Center volunteers nominated and featured as Stars, but believe me, Marlaine is truly an unsung heroine among all the wonderful volunteers that run our all-volunteer library! She has done so much work for the Lansing library (and for the Lansing Schools, too, as well as for Temple Beth El in Ithaca) that the PUBLIC DOES NOT SEE, but which makes a HUGE difference to the library and hence to the Lansing community.

“Marlaine has been on the Board of the Library for several years and has been the Chair of the Board for the last year (or is it 2 years?). She has done a tremendous job getting the library behind-the-scenes work organized and completed. Where all her energy comes from, I don't know. She also has a full-time job and a family with kids in school to care for, too.

 Marlaine Darfler Marlaine Darfler Marlaine Darfler Marlaine Darfler
At the Capital Project Phase II Groundbreaking

“When the Chair of the Lansing Library Capital Campaign could no longer serve in that capacity, there was no one to take over, so Marlaine took the helm there, too! On top of her many duties as Board Chairperson. She implemented the well-made plans of the previous leader and spent tons of time meeting with potential key donors of large amounts of money to the building fund of the library.

“Through her hard work (along with a few others on the Capital Campaign Committee of LCLC, and also Town Supervisor, Steve Farkas), our library has raised over $300,000 towards the new addition that will start soon at LCLC! Marlaine, in fact, was one of the original people who inspired the rest of us with the possibility that we could raise large sums of money for a capital campaign.

“She knew very little about fund raising originally, but along with the rest of us, she learned a lot, swallowed her nervousness at making "cold calls", and went out and helped to raise thousands of dollars for this project that will make our Lansing Library much better and more able to serve our community in many ways.

 Marlaine Darfler Marlaine Darfler

“I cannot think of anybody in Lansing who deserves the recognition of being a "Lansing Star" more than Marlaine Darfler. Think about it: Besides public speaking and death, most people fear "fund raising" more than any other activity. But Marlaine has added that dreaded duty to her other voluminous work at LCLC and has done a great job - one that very few people see.”

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v2i4 superstar


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posticon Business Law Students Compete in Mock Trial

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On Wednesday, January 11, Lisa Kuhnel’s high school Business Law classes consisting of students in grades 9-12 participated in a mock trial on the Cornell campus. The mock trial is an annual learning experience to help Business Law students around the county understand and experience the procedures of a real courtroom. This year, six area schools, including Lansing, Trumansburg, Ithaca, Dryden, South Seneca and Newfield, challenged one another’s legal strategies and expertise in the courtrooms of Cornell’s Law School. Two teams from Lansing, a Defense and Prosecution, matched their words, wits and skills against two Trumansburg teams.

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Attorneys for the Plaintiff (left to right) Mark Hewitt, Liz Lindberg, Edmung Herzon, Andrew Matier

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posticon Blue Stone Bar & Grill

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Review

This restaurant could be called Blue Moon, because it is rare that a meal comes along unrivaled in taste for the last decade. Last night I had that meal. In a good meal, that first fantastic bite might be matched by the following three or four, but eventually one’s taste buds numb a bit and the euphoria settles down. The magic of a ‘fantastic’ meal is that each bite is as good as the first and sometimes even better. You are not able to rush through the meal even if you were willing, but must eat slowly, savoring the complex dance of flavors, texture, and the places they take you.

There are many great meals to be had in this area: Valentines, Maxi’s, Les Ducs, Renee’s (of the past), Za Za’s, Antlers (still reliably tasty and affordable after all these years), Thai Cuisine, Madeline’s, and Joe’s (past and present)- to name only a few. What, you may ask, gives the Blue Stone credence among these establishments of culinary excellence? Let me take you on a tour.

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posticon Ask IMO

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Ask IMO

 Lansing's Advice Column


Dear IMO,

I get really irritated at women who park their minivans and SUV’s in spots reserved for pregnant women when they are not the least big pregnant.  While shopping at Wegmans the other day, I saw this rather trim woman get out of the “mommy mobile” and walk toward the entrance.  I immediately asked her if she was with child.  She replied no.  So I said what right do you have parking in a place reserved for pregnant women?  She smiled, and said she was sorry.   I wanted to report her to the manager, but I hesitated, thinking it a bit silly.  What can I do to prevent these reserved parking space violators?

Patiently waiting,

Dave

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posticon SPCA Pet of the Week: Dominic

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Pet of the WeekPet of the WeekHello! My name is Dominic I am a neutered male and my adoption fees are paid. I won’t claw up your furniture because I’m declawed (oh the horror). Even though I am deaf I am very cute so don’t let my deafness fool you because I am the most one and only supreme cat! So please adopt me today, oh by the way did I mention that my adoption fees are already paid? So adopt me now and meet me at the A.S.P.C.A.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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posticon Library Charter Looks Like Good Value for Little Cash

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With the School Capital Project, Fire House, Sewer, Water... let's take an easy one this week.  The Lansing Community Library Center (LCLC) will be asking for our support this Spring to become a Charter Library.  What this means is that they will be asking residents within the Lansing School District to fund the library.  The library won't be part of the School District, but it will share a ballot and a constituency.

Library Treasurer Cliff Buck is still working on the final amount, but says it looks like LCLC will be asking in the range of 15 or 16 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value to raise a total of approximately $100,000.  Let's put that in perspective.  For the average Lansing home assessment of $183.218 that will be less than $30.00 per year.  Based on last year's taxes, the same home paid about $177.50 to the Fire District, $305 to the Town, $1,314.31 to the County and $3,363.50 to the School District.  Included in the County's taxes school district residents are already paying 49 cents to the County library, more than twice as much as our local library is asking.
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posticon Nozzolio Presents $125,000 Grant to The Rink

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State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio was at the Lansing Community Recreational Center (LCRC -- better known as "The Rink/The Field") Saturday to announce he has secured a $125,000 State grant for the Lansing Community Recreational Center. Saying it is a great day for Lansing, he handed an oversized check over to officials and kids who had gathered for the event. Nozzolio said that besides providing programs, the facility and its programs help to attract new business to the Lansing area.

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posticon N. Lansing Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast

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Frigid weather and slippery roads didn't keep pancake lovers away from the North Lansing Auxiliary's Pancake Breakfast last Sunday morning.  The Auxiliary holds breakfasts as well as their famous election day dinner and supper to benefit the fire house and to raise money for various good works including Hospicare, Loaves and Fishes, the Salvation Army, the Lansing Food Pantry, the Gossett Center and anybody that is in need when tragedy strikes.  They also provide scholarships to North Lansing students.

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Pass the syrup!

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posticon Top 10 Tips for Better Heart Health

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Image(NewsUSA) - Valentine's Day makes February a natural for American Heart Month. How can you make sure your heart will keep going pitter-patter, without going kerplunk? Let us count the ways...

Here are our top 10 tips for a healthy ticker:

1. Fill up on fiber. Not only does fiber help lower levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, it can aid weight management. Being overweight raises your risk of heart failure by a third, while being obese doubles it. While two-thirds of Americans are too heavy, only half get enough fiber. Top sources include oats, beans, raspberries, blackberries, oranges and green peas.

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posticon Lansing Throws Fund Band Stand

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Last Saturday (01/14) Town Supervisor Steve Farkas presented a Lansing throw to Senator Michael F. Nozzolio in appreciation for his support of the town on the State level. "On behalf of the Farkas family and the Town of Lansing I'd like to present you with a token of our gratitude," said Farkas. "Lansing has been fortunate to have Senator Nozzolio behind us all the way. We have been able to do a lot of things and we continue to be able to do them, because he has been with us. He's always been there."

Then, unable to resist putting in a plug, he added, "I'm also the Vice president of the Lions Club and we're selling these!"

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