Archive: Around Town

Historical Association Fall Meeting

: By Louise Bement; Around Town; | Nov 3, 2005 |

Approximately 30 people attended the Lansing Historical Association's fall meeting, held October 27th at the Lansing United Methodist Church. The presentation by Jim Pratt, "When Milk Traveled by Rail", was extremely interesting and educational. Jim's video of pictures and charts made the concept very easy to understand.

The shipment of milk began traveling by train as early as 1842, when New York City's demand for milk made for a profitable venture for Orange County's Dairy Farmers. As the population in the city increased, the need for more milk began to involve more and more farmers in New York State, and by the 1930's milk was traveling from as far away as Alexandria Bay on the St. Lawrence River.

Lansing Library News

: By Lyle H. Wadell; Around Town; | Nov 3, 2005 |

The library has passed a new milestone with the issuance of library cards 2000 and 2001. Patron 2000 is a retired man and patron 2001 is his wife who commutes to a near by city for work. Both of them use audio books extensively. After driving by our library a number of times they decided to stop and see what we had for a collection of audio books. They were thrilled with our selection and immediately got library cards. The library is very convenient to their transportation paths and our hours fit into their schedules. We welcome them as new patrons to the Lansing Library.

Matt Christopher Sports Books Celebration

: By Lyle H. Wadell; Around Town; | Nov 3, 2005 |

The Lansing Library will be celebrating “Children’s Book Week” by having a free public presentation on Saturday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m. in the Lansing Town Hall. This is a special celebration honoring Matt Christopher. The library currently has 34 of his books on the shelves for circulation. Matt was a local resident for many years and is well known as a children’s author. The Matt Christopher web site www.mattchristopher.com describes Matt in promotional material for a biography written by his son Dale Christopher:

"Behind the Desk With Matt Christopher: The #1 Sportswriter for Kids by Dale Christopher In 1954, Matt Christopher wrote and published The Lucky Baseball Bat and has since published more than one hundred twenty novels, making him the most prolific and bestselling sportswriter for children ever. With over 6 million copies sold, Matt's books have a permanent place in the hearts of young sports fans. Throughout 2004, we celebrate 50 years with Matt Christopher's own commemorative biography written by his son, Dale, in the tradition of the Matt Christopher Biography Bookshelf, with exclusive photos, original letters, and memorabilia."

Star of the Month: Ed LaVigne

: By -; Around Town; | Oct 31, 2005 |

Ed LaVigneBy paid profession Ed is a pharmacist at Tops on Triphammer Road where he is well known for his attention to personal service, customer courtesy and detail.

However, we make this nomination based on his ample volunteer work. We are not even sure we are aware of some of the things he does. In fact, we suspect our nominee probably invented the phrase "Multi-Tasking". He is a master of the art!

His announced goal is "to hold each job, in turn, at my church” so that he can know what the jobs are, what skills are required, how the jobs can best be done and how time much is realistically needed to do each well. He is equally analytical about service on various committees.

A listing of those committees is long and varied, including Outreach, Care Givers, Helping Hands, Stewardship & Finance, Administrative Council and numerous sub-committees of each.

In addition, Ed leads Bible Study at Woodsedge once a week, and conducts services for three very small rural churches in Tompkins County several times each month. We have noted that one of the Sundays he preaches always coincides with the turkey dinner served at Ledyard United Methodist Church! Those of us who have attended those services and dined there have observed more of the multi-tasking Ed LaVigne does. He preaches the sermon, eats a fine dinner and then helps wash the dishes.

Where the Ed LaVigne star really shines is during his most spectacular service: Ed takes a week off from being a pharmacist to Co-Chair the twice a year Rummage Sale at Lansing United Methodist Church.

These Rummage Sales have been described as being "The Grandmother of all rummage sales". There are two good reasons for that: (1) the volume of "stuff" that passes through the sale and (2) the proceeds are enough to make up about 10% of the church's annual budget.

Ed LaVigne at the Fall Rummage Sale
[ Picture by Hillis Wilson ]

For this event, our illustrious nominee becomes twins, Ed and Fred. The reason, of course, is that one person could not possibly do all that he does! It was his suggestion to set up tents in the parking lot to hold the overflowing categories of toys, books and the larger items. It was Ed/Fred who arranged for cash registers to be placed in several locations. These shortened all the check out lanes and simplified accounting.

Whether or not Ed/Fred can take total credit for all the innovations taking place during their tour of duty, two things have happened to improve the overall running of the sales: One: The sign up sheets were revised, with a clean-up crew at each stage. A separate and final clean-up team holds a revered status; it moves in after the sales close. Two: The kitchen became a freestanding entity, with its own chef and a staff that works only in the kitchen. Keeping all volunteers well fed, happy and working hard is its sole mission.

We hold Ed LaVigne in high regard for his professional approach to all his duties, we appreciate his quick wit and quirky sense of humor, but we cut him little slack when he tries to exercise his right of free speech during the Saturday morning Men’s Breakfasts (Saturdays at 7am at Linda’s Diner).

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SPCA Pet of the Week: Trey

: By Allison Veaner; Around Town; | Oct 27, 2005 |

Trey Hi I’m Trey! I used to be a stray but I sure can puuuurrrrr the heart out of you. I love affection but I wont come and jump at you. If I sound like the cat for you come and adopt now!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Lansing Youth Wins Alpaca Ribbons

: By Ashley Engels; Around Town; | Oct 27, 2005 |

Ashley Engels lives on her family's alpaca farm, Angel Tree Farm. Last weekend she showed some of their livestock at a show in Syracuse, winning ribbons. This is her account of her experience.

We left for Pennsylvania on the 9th of September right after school. Five hours after we left, we arrived with the animals in our trailer. Then it was our turn to unload and check in our alpacas. When they were checking in the alpacas they had to check the color and length of their fleece.

Scarecrows!

: By Louise Bement; Around Town; | Oct 27, 2005 |

What a great article on the Triphammer Road scarecrows! We always enjoy them, and your desription of their actions made them even more fun.

Louise Bement

Ask IMO

: By Matthew P. Binkewicz; Around Town; | Oct 27, 2005 |

Ask IMOAsk IMO

Lansing's Advice Column

Dear IMO,

I need your advice on a very sensitive topic. Our mom suffers from dementia. For nearly two years, my sister and I have shared in her care along with private help from a home nursing agency. Her condition continues to decline. Within a few months, we will have to place our mom in a nursing facility. Both my sister and I feel terrible about this decision, but neither of us can care for her in our own homes. We have done our best to keep her in her own apartment for as long as physically and financially possible. Can you give us some advice as how we should proceed with her placement?

Sincerely,

Pamela

Lansing's CROP Walk

: By -; Around Town; | Oct 27, 2005 |

To borrow a well known opening line from Snoopy of the Peanuts cartoon strip: "It was a dark and stormy night"...er, afternoon, October 23 when a smaller than usual crowd of people gathered at The Lansing Town Park for the annual fund raiser known as "The Lansing CROP Walk."

Rotary Honors Lyle Wadell

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Oct 27, 2005 |

Lansing's Ithaca-Cayuga Rotary Club awarded Lyle Wadell its Distinguished Community Service Award last Tuesday (10/25) at a dinner at Dempsey's on East Shore Drive. President AnnMarie Hautaniemi presented the award after drinks and dinner at the well-attended event.

She cited the Michigan native's accomplishments as manager for the Dairy Records Processing Labs for the New York State Dairy Herd improvement Cooperative, including his creation of a data base used to keep extensive records on cows. "In your relentless search for better ways of doing things," she said, "you led the transition of this logistical challenge from punch cards to optical scanners to computerized, Internet transmitted data entry and management."

Local Families Help Devastated Alabama Families

: By Dan Veaner; Around Town; | Oct 27, 2005 |

Last week a group of Ithaca and Lansing area women and their children set about collecting a truckload of items to send to residents of hurricane-devastated Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The group calls itself Reachout 2000, and their goal was to literally fill a truck with items requested by the Alabama community.

This isn't the first time the group has helped those in need. "It started as a group of parents and grandparents who wanted to teach our children how to give to those in need," said Amelia Massi, one of the organizers. "We were in a prayer group that was ecumenical, many different faiths coming together, and in 1998 we did our first project. We've helped children. We found out about needs in Ecuador. That's when the banks failed and the kids needed food."

The Graying of America

: By -; Around Town; | Oct 20, 2005 |

The first thought that came to my mind when invited to attend a conference on ministry to the older adult was: "What age group is the 'older' adult anyway?"

Anybody over a certain age might be inclined to wonder, "Is it me or is it thee?"

Those questions brought nearly one hundred clergy and lay people of many different faiths to the Canandaigua, New York, Inn on the Lake, October 7 and 8, for a two day conference on the sometimes overwhelming subject of "The Graying of the Church: Older Adult Ministry in the 21st Century". The Rev. Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., author of a book by that name, led a series of lively discussions on the chapters in his book and several others in this genre.

Major Art Exhibit to open at the Museum of the Earth

: By Jillian Timm; Around Town; | Oct 20, 2005 |

ITHACA, New York -- The Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) will host an historic, one-of-a-kind exhibit, Conquering Darkness: The Art of Charles R. Knight, showing from October 21st through April 30Th, 2006, with a public opening reception on Friday, October 28th from 7-9pm with special guest, Rhoda Knight Kalt, the artist's granddaughter. A special member only reception will be held the same evening; from 6-7pm.

Charles R. Knight (1874-1953) was the most famous and important portrayer of prehistoric animals who ever lived. His work shaped the publics views of ancient life for most of the twentieth century.

"When you think of images you've accepted all of your life of the ancient Earth --cavemen, dinosaurs, woolly mammoths -- almost all of these images came from or were influenced directly by Charles R. Knight," explains Dr. Warren D. Allmon, Director of PRI.

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