Archive: News

I found the election coverage very well done and extremely interesting. A lot was explained in depth. The pictures were wonderful.  I also liked the article on the Village of Lansing.

In Monday's regular School Board meeting, Lansing's Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously to support moving the District Office to new quarters before the beginning of the 2006 school year. This was in response to Interim Superintendent Tiffany Phillip's plea at last month's meeting to move the district headquarters out of its small, ramshackle house on Ridge Road.

Lansing's Board of Education (BOE) held another workshop Monday (11/14) to nail down the details of the upcoming Phase II Capital Project. Representatives from project managers C & S and architects King & King were on hand to report on progress and to answer questions. Mark Lewis, who will begin as Lansing's Superintendent of Schools in January, was also present.

Another public hearing was conducted Wednesday evening (11/16) to allow residents to express their points of view about the proposed water district extension on Algerine Road and Lansing Station Road. Town Supervisor Stephen Farkas asked residents for new information, but for the most part the nine speakers restated objections or support that was expressed at the last hearing in October. Residents literally took sides, sitting on the left if they support getting water, and on the right side if they opposed it. But both sides seemed to agree that the Town Board was somehow at fault and that it is dragging its heels by holding so many hearings, including another public hearing in December.

"We seem to be stretching this out," said Jack MacNamara, who has been the key organizer of the faction that wants public water, "and the more we stretch it out, the more it's going to cost everybody. I don't understand why we have to go through another hearing." Barb Bennett, who is outspoken against the water district said, "There's something seriously wrong with this and the board should be ashamed of the tactics it's using to push the water district through."

2005 ElectionsLansing voters showed up at the polls this Tuesday (11/08) to elect State and local officials. On the ballot were seats for two Town Council members, a Town Justice, County legislators, County District Attorney, State Supreme Court Judge and two State propositions.

About 50 residents packed into the Village of Lansing office Monday night to learn how sewer district construction may affect their property. They were invited by the Village Trustees, because the trunk line that brings Town sewage to the Cayuga Heights treatment Plant may be constructed on or near their property.

In an extra meeting Lansing's Town Board approved a $1,730,870 tax levy for 2006. In a sparsely attended public hearing the Board presented the budget for the Town as well as for special districts. After public hearings in which nobody addressed the Board, they unanimously approved the budget.

Running for office was a new experience and one anyone who values community and service shouldn't hesitate to try it at least once.

The Lansing Democratic Committee is delighted with Democratic victories in the election of November 8.

William Burin was re-elected without opposition to a fourth term as Lansing Town Justice. This is recognition of the high regard in which Burin, a former policeman known for his fairness and impartiality on the bench, is held throughout Lansing among voters of all political persuasions.

We congratulate Dooley Kiefer for re-election to her fourth term serving the Village of Lansing in District 10 of the County Legislature. Kiefer will continue to advocate for public health, the County Library, and safe bridges and roads.

Hurf Sheldon, candidate for Tompkins County Legislature District 6, and Greg Lawrence, candidate for Lansing Town Board, each performed strongly but fell short of electoral victory. The Lansing Democratic Committee congratulates their opponents and urges all elected officials to set aside partisanship to pursue the common goal of good government for Lansing.

The Lansing Democratic Committee looks forward to continuing to work with the Lansing Town Board and the Tompkins County Legislature on the issues that matter most to voters: protecting the health of our residents, investing in our infrastructure and community, and guaranteeing a family-friendly community for all of our residents.

To join or learn more about the Lansing Democratic Committee, please call John Cawley at 257-5007 or email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tompkins County District Attorney  (33.30% Turnout)
Gwen Wilkinson

County Legislator, District 6 (26% Turnout)
Michael J. Sigler 

County Legislator, District 6 (40.46% Turnout)
Dooely Kiefer 

Town Councilperson  (27.22% Turnout)
Bud Shattuck
Matt Besemer

Town Justice  (27.22% Turnout)
William F. Burin

State Proposition 1 (budget process change) was defeated.
State Proposition 2 (bond act) passed.

Check Friday's issue for the full story.
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Lansing politicians turned out for the Lansing Lions Club Fall Pancake Breakfast last Sunday (10/30).  Some campaigned, some helped cook and others came to eat.  The breakfast presented one of the last opportunities for candidates to reach a lot of voters.

Mike Sigler (R), who is running for the County Board District 6 seat, was outside the Lansing Community Center bright and early, handing out flyers and talking to voters about tax reform and other hot issues.  Later he was joined by District Attorney George Dentes (R), who is running for another term.  He was giving out post-it pads with his name imprinted on each sheet.

Nextel Partners, Inc. sent a representative to the Lansing Fire District Meeting last Tuesday (11/01) to sound out the Commissioners about locating equipment on the radio tower at the Central Station on Ridge Road. In marked contrast to the representative Cingular sent to the Town Board early this year, Nextel's Site Acquisition Consultant Steve Elsbree answered questions knowledgeably and in a straightforward manner.

Nextel proposes to locate antennas on the existing tower. "That would entail the placement of a 9' x 16' equipment shelter on the grounds, and attaching antennas to the existing tower," explained Mr. Elsbree.