Archive: Around Town

The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) has awarded two new Connecting Classrooms Grants—for projects involving three elementary schools, impacting more than 1,000 Ithaca City School District students.

Connecting Classrooms Grants fund large-scale projects that enhance student engagement and support learning consistent with school and district goals. The grants support collaborative partnerships between teachers and staff within a school, across grade levels and/or between schools. The first 2017-18 grant, 'Reimagining Recess!', is a collaboration between Fall Creek and Northeast Elementary Schools and Just Play Project and Pop-Up Adventure Play. The project seeks to create supportive and innovative play environments for students during school recess to enhance student learning.

Simple, top 5 best times, best foods, best fun all within reach of Lansing.

My standards are simple. Where have I been treated best by people who not only know their stuff, but have genuine enthusiasm for what they do. And produce sa great product as well. That helps. Here are my choices of 5 places that are sure to generate some enthusiasm.

In preparing last week's article on road and drainage improvements to Ludlowville I spent part of an afternoon walking around the historic hamlet.  With all its hills, it was a pretty good workout, but I was surprised at how short the distances were and how easy it was to walk around.  Of course, I have been exercising for the past two years, so perhaps I'd have felt differently before that.  I took a lot of pictures, many that were not for the article.  Since I have always somewhat idealized the beautiful hamlet, I thought I would end this year with some visions of Ludlowville.

As another season of cold temperatures and snow approaches, veterinarian and resident in the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Lauri-Jo Gamble offers some advice on how to keep your dog cozy in the cooler temperatures as well as ways to keep your active dog in shape throughout the winter months.

Gamble says, "After four or five months of rest during cold weather, your dog's muscles will weaken. This can set him up for an injury if his activity level suddenly jumps significantly during the first days of spring. So here are a few activities to enjoy with your dog during the winter season to keep him active and strong:

By Doug Scott

Hello! My name is Marble and I'm a 10 year old female tortoiseshell cat. I have been spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped, so I'm ready to find my new home. I was returned to the SPCA when my owner moved and could no longer provide a home for me. I am affectionate on my own terms, like a typical cat. I would prefer to be your only feline because I'm not too fond of other cats. Will you come visit me today and see how sweet I can be?

Visit the SPCA Web Page

v13i47

Dear Margaret: My brother has a drinking problem. He generally ruins family events, embarrasses me with his behavior, and bottom line is I'm concerned for his health and well-being. I've talked to him on many occasions about it and he knows I disapprove. So now he tries to hide it from me. With the upcoming holidays I'm becoming more and more stressed over getting together with family because of him. How can I let him know how his addiction is affecting me and others and help him to be the brother he once was?
Saddened by Addiction

Twelve projects have received Women Building Community (WBC) Grants totaling $30,000, announced Diane Shafer, president of the City Federation of Women's Organizations (CFWO) board. WBC Grant recipients were recognized at an event Tuesday, December 5 celebrating the ways they will help to improve the lives of Tompkins County women and girls.

"I am so pleased with the wide range of needs we are able to meet, and the range of ages we are able to serve with these grants," Shafer said. "Through our grant process we identify challenges facing women and girls in our community. In future years we will have the capacity to allocate more resources to meet more of the needs described by the grant applicants."

For the 9th year Saturday vendors gathered for the Lansing Artisan's Fair to benefit the Friends of the Lansing Library.  This year more than 20 vendors offered jewelry, home goods, pottery, clothing, holiday gifts, and more items.  vendors included  Fingerlakes Baking Co., Case Sera Sera, Connie Shipos Designs, Take Your Pick Flower Farm, Silver Serenity Design Studio, Standing Stone Bee Products, and Appleseed Fiber Farm.

Read more ...

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial disease spread person to person through coughs or sneezes. Pertussis can affect anyone at any age, but it is particularly harmful to infants who are too young to be vaccinated.

Pertussis is cyclical in nature. Year to date there have been 21 confirmed cases, 9 cases were reported during November. In 2016, there were 4 cases; 2015 had 4 cases; 2014 had 14 cases. In 2012, there was a spike of cases with a total of 105.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to read the fine print on gift cards this holiday season for details about fees and expiration dates. While some gift card sellers have done away with inactivity fees, consumers should still ask whether fees apply when purchasing a gift card. DiNapoli said New Yorkers should use their gift cards within a year of purchase to avoid inactivity fees and register cards with the retailers that offer it so the owner can be identified.

Money from unused gift cards issued by New York businesses is turned over to the State Comptroller's office as abandoned property after five years of dormancy. In State Fiscal Year 2016-17, $14.8 million from gift cards was turned over to the state's Abandoned Property Fund.

Imagine it is Christmas morning, all the little ones are just beginning to stir, and the aroma of coffee is beginning to bring cheer to your home. This is the day everyone has been working toward, where some of the tenderest, happiest and most exciting moments of the year happen, and you (the responsible adult) want to capture the images in all their glory.

You pull out your camera, aim it, scramble to the office to find a battery that isn't dead, run back to the tree, run back to the office to get a memory card that isn't full, run back to the tree – and it's over. The moment is gone. Not only did you not get a photo of the scene, but you missed the memory as well. With any luck, I'll be able to help you avoid that sad scene and make this a holiday that's alive with joyful memories and a few really good photos – not just muddy snapshots.

The Ithaca Garden Club held its 'Innkeeper's Holiday Gala' Wednesday at the John Joseph Inn in Lansing.  The fundraiser was held largely to increase the plantings at the Cayuga Inlet Crabapple Grove.  Visitors were treated to food, company, and an opportunity to explore the inn.