Archive: News

As the 115th Congress begins, Congressman Tom Reed was elected by his peers to the House Steering Committee, a select group which assigns other members to committee positions throughout the House of Representatives.

"We care about being a champion for the hardworking men and women of our region. That's why after our time spent in Congress we are in a unique position of influence that will benefit them now and in the future," said Reed. "It's only right that we remember those who sent us here, and use our new influence to be a positive voice for small town America to disrupt Washington and change the way DC operates. "

The Tompkins County Health Department reports an increase of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) locally. In 2016 we saw 374 cases of Chlamydia, a 9% increase from 2015; 81 Gonorrhea cases, a 47% increase from 2015; and 12 Syphilis cases, an alarming 200% increase from 2015.

STIs can be spread through oral, anal, and vaginal sex and can be present without symptoms. Chlamydia has been referred to as "the silent killer", as 7 out of 10 people who have the bacterial infection do not have any symptoms. It can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Gonorrhea is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease.

School officials had hoped the Lansing High School swimming pool would be open for use before the end of the Fall athletics season.  But school officials now say they hope repairs will be completed by next summer.  Repairs were abruptly halted last year when a forensic investigation of past repairs was initiated.  School officials say they hope the investigation will be completed before the end of this month.  Meanwhile the Triad Foundation has given the school district a gift of $15,000 that will be used to provide support, transportation and alternative pools.

"They called me out of the blue and asked me about some of our struggles," says Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso.  That was one they had heard about from articles in the Lansing Star.  We got to discussing that and I thought that would be a good way to support our students and allow them to swim at the same level.  They've been excellent to work with."

Lansing School Business Administrator Mary June King urged Board Of Education members Monday to support an upcoming $8 million capital project.  The project will repair roofs and infrastructure on the aging campus.  King said that Lansing's share is 9.552% of the total cost, or $765,000.  But with $415,000 of that coming back to the district in state aid, she said that the actual cost to property taxpayers would only be a one time payment of 72 cents on a $200,000 home.

"I think it's a very reasonable amount of money, and this is for things like leaking roofs and steel beams that are deteriorating -- health and safety issues," King said.

Congressman Tom Reed remains committed to standing with Israel after the latest blow to Israeli sovereignty from the Obama Administration and the United Nations.

"We care about keeping Americans safe. Peace in the Middle East ensures a more secure world for everyone and that's why we must stand with Israel," said Reed. "The UN resolution that the Obama Administration failed to stop isn't just a deviation from American foreign policy and common sense, but it makes the world a far more dangerous place."

People going to the Lansing Post office on Christmas Eve morning were met with a boarded up storefront and a view of major damage inside.  Around 4:30pm on December 23rd a Jeep Grand Cherokee smashed through the glass storefront, damaging the counter area, the partition between the counter area and the box lobby, and portions of the box lobby.  Glass and debris was scattered over the floor as postal workers worked to remove mail and other sensitive materials.  The Lansing Fire Department and Tompkins County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident.  Only one United States Postal Service (USPS) employee was inside at the time, and neither he nor the driver was hurt.

"That is the biggest blessing of all that the employee was not in that spot when the vehicle went through," says USPS spokeswoman Karen Mazurkiewicz.  "We are working with the owner of the building, who has assured us that he will assess and then correct the structural problems that resulted from the accident.  The ball is kind of in his court at the moment as far as timelines.  We have not been provided a timeline yet from the building owner."

Lane Reelected Legislature Chair; Klein Reelected Vice Chair
The Tompkins County Legislature will operate under the same leadership during the year ahead. At its 2017 organizational meeting, Legislators reelected Legislator Michael Lane (D) to a fourth year as Chair of the Legislature, and Legislator Daniel Klein (D) to a second year as Vice Chair. The positions of Chair and Vice Chair are filled each year by majority vote of members of the Legislature. Chair Lane's and Vice Chair Klein's were the only nominations advanced, with each elected by unanimous votes. (Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne was excused.)

Mr. Lane, first elected to the Legislature in 1993, is serving his fifth term on the Legislature, representing District 14 (Eastern part of the Town of Dryden, including the Villages of Dryden and Freeville). He served three consecutive terms, then after a one-term hiatus, was returned to the Legislature for two more.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte's (R-Virginia) plan to strip the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) of its independence and investigative bite gained support in a closed meeting Monday. But the plan was stopped after president-elect Donald J. Trump posted his objections on Twitter. That led to public outcry

"With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, their number one act and priority," Trump tweeted. "Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!"

Lansing was just a little safer last year.  Lansing Fire Department Chief Scott Purcell reported Tuesday that emergency calls were down in 2016 from previous years.  Purcell pointed out that 407 of the 846 calls, or 48.11%, originated in the Village of Lansing. He stressed that the Village has averaged 47.32% of all calls in the district since 1993.  

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Legislature Supports Creation of Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Team
The Legislature, by unanimous vote, authorized the County to enter into agreements necessary to support development of a Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Team by the Tompkins County Mental Health Department. The Team will fulfill the community need for round-the-clock behavioral health crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization services, for individuals and families experiencing urgent concerns related to mental health and substance abuse issues.

Public Health Director Frank Kruppa told Legislators the program will expand the department's existing Emergency Services Program, with a team of providers and social workers available to work to deescalate situations and connect people with services to help them. Development of the Team, it was noted, will increase public safety, decrease unnecessary hospitalizations, and decrease unnecessary legal involvement or incarcerations for those experiencing behavioral health crises.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that Renee Kanas, 64, a resident of Tamarac, Florida, was sentenced in Albany County Supreme Court today to 6 months incarceration and 5 years of probation, $45,000 in restitution and a judgment in the amount of $103,092.24 for stealing over $148,000 in New York state pension benefits. Kanas previously pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, in June 2016.

"Ms. Kanas dishonored her deceased father by pretending he was alive and pocketing his pension," State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said. "Thanks to our Operation Integrity partnership with Attorney General Schneiderman, she has been convicted and will now be held accountable for the $148,000 she stole."

Lansing's Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler said Wednesday he is concerned about a crosswalk near Lansing Middle School where children cross State Road 34B at Myers Road.  Sigler told the Lansing Town Board he has been in contact with the New York State Department of Transportation to see whether the crossing can be better labeled to make drivers aware children are crossing there.

"I drop my kid off at the Middle School every morning," he said.  "Apparently a lot more kids live on Myers Road now.  I see probably ten kids cross the state road there.  I asked the state if there is anything they can do to mark it better."