Archive: Around Town

by Sarah Post

   Pretty Snowball is a wonderful, loving girl who will show you her affectionate side when you get her home. Unfortunately, at the shelter she has been a bit scared with all the commotion and may hide when you first meet her. Snowball's previous owner reports that in a quiet home, she is a lap cat who loves hanging out with her people. When she's not lounging on top of you, she will spend her time watching the birds outside, playing with toy mice, or chattering to you about her day. Give this special girl a chance - you can even foster her first to make sure she's the right fit!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Love Living at Home (LLH) opened Monday for services and programs in Tompkins County. LLH's mission is to help older adults live at home as long as possible. Over 80 members have already joined LLH prior to opening to build a mutually supportive virtual retirement community.

LLH follows a national model called the Village to Village Network that seeks to improve access to services, increase socialization and civic engagement, and strengthen a sense of community among its participants.

Nearly half a million children living in the United States have elevated blood lead levels that may cause significant damage to their health, estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The estimate is based on children with a blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter or higher using data from national surveys conducted in 2007-2008 and 2009-2010.

The theme of Lead Poisoning Prevention Week this year is Lead Free Kids for a Healthy Future. It underscores the importance of testing your home, testing your children, and learning how to prevent lead poisoning's serious health effects. These may include a lower IQ, hearing loss, kidney disease, and growth problems.

If you drive all over America you will see 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins this year.  That is what WalletHub found when they analyzed the impact of Halloween on the United States for 2016.  The site also published an analysis of the Best Cities for Halloween this year.  The average retail price of those pumpkins is down 6% from last year.  45.5% of Americans plan to carve a pumpkin this year.  9% of 18 to 34 year old Americans plan to dress as a Batman character.

Click the 'Read More...' button for more fun facts about Halloween, which is coming to a pumpkin near you this Monday.

The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) and its Museum of the Earth are proud to present their new exhibition, Into the Depths: Marine Paintings by Stanley Meltzoff. Featuring 26 original oil paintings, the exhibition focuses on the artistry of award-winning sporting painter Stanley Meltzoff (1917-2006). Regarded as a pioneering painter of sport fish, Meltzoff won national acclaim for his work which has appeared in Sports Illustrated, National Geographic and Field & Stream.

Down a lonely narrow road into a dreary winter forest on a February day so shivering cold that the skins and furs become brittle to the touch – I imagine the traveler's feelings as they wonder if they will ever feel warm again – just as hope starts to wane, the Valley Green Inn comes into sight. It's hard to remember you are in the city of Philadelphia, but there it is – the last remaining roadhouse.

The Inn is famous in Philadelphia for its age – dating back to 1685 when the 200 acre tract was purchased from William Penn. The Valley Green Hotel itself was built around 1850, and has been renovated several times since, becoming the Valley Green Inn. The Inn is jointly cared for by the 'Friends of the Wissahickon' and the parks commission, yet remains a privately run business.

by Sarah Post

  Hey there! My name is Chubbers and I am super stoked to meet you! I love everyone and just want to hang out all day long. Since I am very loyal and being alone makes me sad, I would be happiest in a home with someone who either worked from home (I've been practicing by helping at the adoption desk!) or was retired. I love to cuddle, play with my human, and go for hikes. I am okay with briefly meeting dogs out in public, but I would much prefer to be the only dog in the home. Older kids or a calm, confident cat might be good housemates for me, but I tried living with little kids and they were too overwhelming. I'm an older boy and do have some minor allergies, but I still have lots of love to give. Plus, I am already housebroken! If I sound like a nice friend for you, come in and say hello.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Now in its eighth year, New Roots Charter School has expanded to occupy the full first and second floor of the historic Clinton House.

Adding newly renovated space on the second floor has allowed the school to increase the number of academic classrooms, add a yoga and meditation studio and new arts suite, restore the Mural Lounge as a music classroom and events space, create a new academic counseling space with adjacent meeting room, and establish a central space for the principal's open-door office hours.

Dear Margaret: I have been attending church with my partner for a number of months, but for the past several weeks the sermons have felt hollow and left me feeling that a thirst has not been quenched. I’ve tried a number of organized religions over the years, a real church hopper, but have eventually left for the same reason. The problem is a) when will this thirst be satisfied once and for all, and b) I don’t want to disappoint my partner. Going to church together has been a real bonding experience for us.
Still Thirsty
 

Sunday was a beautiful day, a perfect day to celebrate the history and nature of Salt Point, Lansing's reboot of a piece of history that included industry, crime, and natural beauty.  The event included a ribbon cutting to inaugurate the latest addition to the park, an informational kiosk that displays photographs and information about the International Salt Company, local birds, flora and fauna, and geological history of the property.  The celebration attracted people of all ages to celebrate what has turned into a major reboot of the property that turned it into a notorious party, crime and substance abuse area to a quiet, thoughtful nature park.

“Salt Point now offers people a mix of uses that respects the culture of our town,” said Friends of Salt Point  and Cayuga Bird Club member Donna Scott.  “Many volunteer, community and corporation members, philanthropic groups, the Town Board and some Town of Lansing employees have worked hard to make Salt Point a safe, lovely and peaceful natural area, and it has happened in just four years.”

From dyes to dishes, from Ithaca's heart to the edges of Tompkins County, the latest round of Neighborhood Mini-grants from Sustainable Tompkins will assist businesses and organizations coming up with new ideas to enrich lives while reducing environmental impacts. Five grants totaling $1,400 were awarded in September to Dish Truck, Dryden Community Garden, Enfield Elementary School Garden, Quinn Energy, and Luna Fiber Studio.

Dish Truck is a new and growing organization, lending and washing reusable dishware at public events to reduce the use of disposable ones which are no longer accepted at local composting facilities. A mini-grant for purchasing more dishes will help them to expand their capacity.