Archive: Around Town

After 16 years as the director of the Lansing Food Pantry, Nancy Myers is preparing to turn over her apron to someone new.  Myers has headed the  Food pantry since 2002, when she took over from Mary Searles, and hasn't missed a single day in all that time.  She says she hopes to find two people to take over -- one to fill each shoe -- so she can retire from the position within the next six months. 

"I have suggested that it no longer be just one person in charge," she says. "I think it should be a coordinator and a second-in-command.  I came here once and sat with a mask on because I thought I had a cold or flu.  It's not right -- I should have stayed home.  Now Judy Scott has keys so if I can't come she can step in."

The  Friends of Stewart Park celebrated a major early step in their goal to make park play facilities available to all children Saturday morning with a celebration of the completion of the renovation of the park's carousel.  The last piece was the adaptation of the chariot on the 68 year old carousel.  As of Saturday wheelchairs may be secured after accessing the carousel via an accessible ramp that was installed last year.

"We wanted to address the accessibility issue," said Friends of Stewart Park Executive Director Rick Manning. "As you know it's a big theme for the inclusive playground.  It's as barrier-free as possible, and a welcoming place for all children.  We wanted to make sure the carousel reflected those values."

I've just moved into a new home, love everything about it and enjoy the neighborhood. All except for one thing. We have a busybody neighbor. My husband was away on business last week and I had a male friend over one evening. The neighbor came over the next day to say she saw a car in the driveway and wondered who was there, since she was aware my husband wasn't home. The insinuation of infidelity on my part was pretty clear. If she sees my teenage children about town, she lets me know where she saw them, who she thinks they were with, and her assessment of the company they keep. I don't need the morality police in my life. How can I get this woman to mind her own business?
Victim of a Busybody

By Chloe Winter

Do you need a long-legged hound to bounce into your life? I'm your girl! Do you like going for adventurous hikes? Me too! I'd love to find a family with as much energy as I have, so we can do lots of fun things together. I've lived with school-aged kids, and would be happy to do that again, but I want to be your only pet, without other dogs or cats. I'm crate-trained and know not to chew things in the house. Oh, by the way-- I'm Bella! Do you think we could be best friends? Come in and meet me today!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

v14i26

'Samurai Wasps vs. Stink Bugs' is not the title of the latest Avengers film. But it does describe new efforts by Cornell University scientists to control a household nuisance and agricultural pest.

The flat-bodied, thin-legged brown marmorated stink bugs invade homes in the winter and infest crops in the summer, in particular apples, sweet corn and stone fruits such as peaches, cherries, plums, nectarines and apricots.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca announced that with the help of more than 25 local restaurants, the club has raised $10,000 for disaster recovery in Puerto Rico. The club organized a $50 raffle this spring with the grand prize being twelve $100 gift cards to area restaurants; other smaller prizes were available too. Only 200 tickets were sold. Prizes were awarded at a gala dinner at the Ithaca Country Club on Valentine's Day.

The Dozen Dinner Draw (DDD), initiated by the Ithaca Rotary Club's International Service Committee, is modeled after a similar raffle put on by a Rotary club in the Toronto area. Dennis Gray, a former member of that club and now an Ithaca Rotarian, led the effort with his wife Maricelis Acevedo and other members of the International Service Committee.

Tweet

By Chloe Winter

The name's Pop - Judy Pop - and I am a pretty cool bunny. I am a young lady that has lived with children before, and I was brought in to the SPCA when my family moved away. I am pretty curious about things, and I love to kick around my pink ball! Come and ask to say hi to me if you think we would be a good fit!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

v14i25

At its annual meeting the City Federation of Women's Organizations (CFWO) celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Women Building Community (WBC) Grants and announced its future plans to make more resources and opportunities available.

"We will be allocating $60,000 next year, twice as much as in past annual cycles, because we've seen the impact WBC Grants can have, and because CFWO will now be operating as a private foundation," announced Diane Shafer, outgoing board president and Grants Committee member.

On June 26, the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Board of Education approved administrative appointments for the 2018-2019 school year.

Talcott has been appointed as deputy superintendent of the ICSD. The position of deputy has been vacant since the departure of Dr. Matt Landahl who currently serves as superintendent of the Beacon City School District. Talcott has served as principal of Northeast Elementary School since 2015. Prior to this, she worked at the district level, first as a teacher on special assignment with a focus on pre-K-5 mathematics and then as a master educator supporting pre-K-12 professional development, curriculum, and assessments. Talcott began her teaching career at Enfield Elementary School in 2007, where she worked as a first-grade teacher for five years.

Distinguished astrophysicist, renowned science writer and accomplished academic leader Ray Jayawardhana has been named the 22nd dean of Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, Provost Michael Kotlikoff announced June 26.

Currently dean of the Faculty of Science and professor of physics and astronomy at York University in Toronto, Jayawardhana investigates the origins and diversity of planetary systems and the prospects for life in the universe, using the world's largest telescopes. A graduate of Yale and Harvard universities, he is an award-winning author of science books and articles written for a general audience.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today cautioned all New Yorkers to prepare for an extended period of dangerous heat and humidity, which is expected to begin this weekend and last through Monday, July 2. To avoid heat-related illnesses, the Governor is encouraging individuals to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity during this time period, especially for people who are more susceptible, including young children, the elderly, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work, and those who have respiratory diseases such as asthma. At-risk populations should take necessary steps to stay cool as temperatures rise.

"With a stretch of extreme heat and humidity ahead of us, I urge residents and visitors to take the necessary precautions to keep themselves and their families safe," Cuomo said. "I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of state cooling stations, pools and waterbodies across the Empire State and to be mindful of air quality and other health risk factors to ensure a safe, enjoyable holiday weekend."