Archive: Around Town

On September 29th history will be made when a newly restored Thomas-Morse S-4B Scout, affectionately called 'Tommy', takes off at the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport, 100 years after it was first built in Ithaca.  The flight is scheduled September 29th September 29th at a celebration -- Tommy Come Home -- at Taughannock Aviation from 2 to 5pm.  Weather permitting, pilot Ken Cassens will fly the plane for what Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation members hope will be a huge crowd.

"We're talking to some local marching bands about coming," says the Foundation's Jessie White. "We've invited Women In Aviation, and the girl scouts.  Food trucks will be there.  We're considering a silent auction in one of the hangars.  People could go out of the sun to bid on items, because this is also a big fundraiser for Tommy.  After Tommy is flown it is going to be displayed at the new History Center."

By Chloe Winter

Hello, my name is Casper! I'm all white with a few black spots, and fluffy medium-length fur. I am looking for an indoor-only home because I am declawed. I'm such a handsome cat and I love to be pet. Won't you consider me?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that New York's maple industry hit a 74-year record in 2018 with the production of 806,000 gallons of maple syrup. The maple industry in New York has grown by nearly 50 percent in the last five years and continues to maintain the state's standing as the second leading producer of fresh maple syrup in the nation.

"The maple industry is one of New York's most important agricultural sectors, and it continues to grow year-over-year, infusing millions into the economy and bringing New York national recognition for its quality," Governor Cuomo said. "The growth of the industry is an indicator of our fantastic producers, who work hard to make some of the best maple syrup in the country and the innovative and unique maple products that consumers are demanding."

I've been putting off having my will done for way too long. I understand the importance, and don't have a good excuse. Here's the thing that bothers me. I've seen so many family squabbles after the death of a family member over who gets what, and I want to make sure that doesn't happen in my family. I've recently heard of a family split because one well-to-do offspring felt penalized by not receiving as much as their less well-off sibling upon learning of the mother's distribution of assets in her Will. But then an equal distribution doesn't seem fair either. How can I ensure family unity after I'm gone, to the best of my ability?
Fairness to the Family

Mrs. Debbi Myers Smith, a Maryland resident and fifth great-granddaughter of Andrew Myers, Sr., founder of the hamlet, Myers, organized an 'Ancestry Trail Reunion' for her relatives July 18-20, 2018. Her group of 12 family members are coming from Canada, California, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Maryland to learn of their ancestors and the history of Tompkins County from Lansing Historian, Louise Bement.

Smith and her family are descendants of Charles Myers (1830-1906), one of the twelve children born to Andrew Myers, Jr. and Mandanna Mack. Charles was born in Myers but heeded the call "Go West, young man! Go West!" in 1860 and became a homesteader in Wisconsin after serving in the Civil War on the side of the Union.

Town Historian Louise Bement was sorting through a pile of historical documents regarding the Cayuga Power Plant when she happened upon three photographs, facing down beneath the pile.  The photos were labeled 'Pozzolana Park' with little else to go on, except that the site had been used to safely store coal ash, presumably from what was, at the time, the Milliken Station power plant.  She hadn't heard of any public park of that name at any point in Lansing history.

"I thought, let's turn this over and see what it's all about," Bement says. "Now that Milliken is kind of in the news you pick up on it.  I thought, well now it's interesting."

Visitors to the Salt Point Natural Area will find the main trail winding along Salmon Creek and the shoreline of Cayuga Lake much easier to follow – and navigate – thanks to new stone dust recently laid down by Town of Lansing crews.

The trail upgrade is designed to make Salt Point accessible to people with disabilities, who previously had to navigate a trail system of crushed rock and uneven surface if they wanted to access the shoreline or catch a glimpse of the area's celebrity residents – the osprey pair who return each spring to raise a family on the platform near the western point. This spring they successfully hatched three young, as they have every year since 2013.

By Chloe Winter

Salutations! I am a senior lady named Saffron. I'm a beautiful calico, I love to nap, and I love to be pet. Since I'm on the older side, I have some arthritis and need pain medication to keep me comfortable. But don't worry, it's easy to give me my meds in some yummy food. I'm really hoping to find the perfect person to take me home as their friendly and gentle companion. Won't you visit me today?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Mother Nature was clearly excited about the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department's first 2018 Concert in the Park last Thursday. Park officials were poised to cancel the concert because thunderstorms were predicted. But the weather held off, and the show went on! The first concert featured the Backtalk Band, an Ithaca-based classic rock band featuring Hannah Martin, Bob Keefe, John White, Mike Tolomeo, and Al Hartland.

Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Dairy Barn – home to 200 cows – has installed a state-of-the-art system that separates manure from sand bedding material, providing clean bedding for the cows and creating muck perfect for making electricity and heat.

Dairies also use sawdust, wood chips or straw as bedding material, but sand reduces potential bacterial growth while maximizing cow comfort, said Paul Jennette, the veterinary college's director of biocontainment operations.

The Lansing Lions had a chicken barbecue picnic Wednesday to celebrate the 4th of July.  Wednesday was the 57th Lions barbecue in Myers Park.  1050 chicken halves were cooked and sold separately or in dinners that included salt potatoes, baked beans, a cookie and a drink.  The Lansing Historical Association opened the historic North Log Cabin for the event, where people viewed displays about local history and the 4th of July.