Archive: Around Town

For the first time in its history, TCAT will offer modified service on Labor Day Mon., Sept. 5, 2016.

Traditionally, TCAT has offered a typical weekday schedule for the Labor Day, but decided to revert to a Sunday service schedule, which offers less service and ends earlier in the evening.

Each year, thousands of new college students come to Ithaca, but only a few of them may be aware of the activities, services, shopping, dining, and culture that exists beyond the college campus walls or Collegetown.

To boost the freshmen and transfer students' awareness of life at the bottom of the hill, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is partnering with Ithaca College, Cornell University and Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) to host its first-ever welcome weekends, two consecutive activity-packed Saturday afternoons designed to acquaint college students with downtown.

The Next Jennaration Dance Company attended Starpower National Championships 23rd-27th in Ocean City, Maryland and not only excelled in all age categories but won the 'National Entertainment Award'.

The Next Jennaration dancers came home with several first place and high scoring trophies.  All dances lead by Jenna Stickel, the studios owner, director and lead choreographer were awarded the highest score of 5 stars.  The studio placed 10 dances in the competition's final show at The Battle of the Stars. These 10 dances were also awarded Golden Tickets (automatic bids into the World Dance Championships) held later in 2016.

A new managing editor has recently taken the helm of Tompkins Weekly. Rob Montana, with 15 years of experience in community journalism, has recently taken the reins from longtime managing editor Jay Wrolstad. Montana has worked for two daily newspapers and as a freelance writer for The Ithaca Journal, as well as served as managing editor for The Ithaca Times for five years.

"I can't think of a better, more qualified person than Rob Montana to oversee editorial content into our second decade." stated Vizella Media's Todd Mallinson, who is publisher of Tompkins Weekly. "Rob understands the complexity and charm of Tompkins County and he also has an innate passion for community journalism. With football season nearing, we're pleased to have a Montana as our quarterback."

The Board of Directors of IPEI announced that Steven Manley is its new executive director. He brings classroom teaching experience, dynamic leadership, team-building expertise, and a keen understanding of IPEI's impact.

"We are thrilled to have someone with Steve's combination of experiences and level of commitment to educational outcomes join our organization," said IPEI Board President Matthew Braun. "He is an innovative educator who has developed connections with community partners to enhance his students' learning experiences."

Dear Margaret: Every few weeks my husband and I get together with his siblings to play cards. After five years of marriage and several card parties, my sisters-in-law still give me the cold shoulder. They engage in topics of conversations in which I know nothing about thereby excluding me from participating. I feel invisible. I've done everything I can think of to ingratiate myself with them. I've given them little gifts, complimented them at every chance, and always remember their birthdays and anniversaries. It is hurtful and my husband and I usually end up arguing on the way home about their behavior. I want to be a part of this family and they continually hurt my feelings. We spend time with other friends and this never happens. What more can I do to feel a part of this family?
Excluded from the Family
 

Ted Schiele has been named Rotarian of the Year for 2015-16 by the Rotary Club of Ithaca. The award is given every June in honor of an active club member who exemplifies the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self."

Schiele was chosen for the honor by outgoing Rotary co-president Jean McPheeters, who said "I nominated Ted primarily because of the excellence of our weekly e-newsletter. Good communication is critical for an organization, particularly one that was as unusual as ours was last year. We had five co-presidents, so having a newsletter with a consistent, coherent and fun message was absolutely fundamental. I was always amused by the writing and entertained by the quirkiness, but also learned a lot about the meetings I missed."

In the first three months since the Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center added a collection station for liquid cooking fats, oils and grease (FOG), nearly 275 gallons of material have been dropped off by residents.

The FOG collection station is part of the newly redesigned food scraps drop spot at the facility at 160 Commercial Avenue in Ithaca. It allows residents easy access to properly dispose of their household cooking oils, animal fats and grease in an environmentally safe manner while diverting it from the local water supply.

by Sarah Post

     Do you have space in your home for a quiet dog who is still learning that all people are nice? I'm Camilla and when you first meet me, I'll be pretty shy, but once I get to know you I'll be a polite companion. Do you need someone to sit next to you and keep you company while you read? I'm great at that! I came to the shelter with no history about my former home, but seem to be housebroken and crate-trained. I love other gentle, friendly dogs and would do best in a home where I have a confident canine housemate showing me the ropes. I am still trying to learn how to walk on a leash, so a house with a fenced yard would be ideal. A household with patient, gentle people will help me learn that the world isn't so scary, and I love treats (particularly string cheese and boiled chicken), so I should be easy to train. If I seem like a good match for your household, you can call my foster family at 607-272-8351 to arrange to meet me.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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The Lansing Village Community Park on Uptown Road is getting a new play structure this summer, after Superintendent of Public Works John Courtney told Village trustees last week that the existing structure is unsafe.  Village Trustee Ronny Hardaway says the old play structure will be removed within the next few weeks, and Village officials expect a new play structure, expected to cost over $30,000, to be installed next Spring or early summer.

"I think it's a severe liability to leave it up," Courtney told Trustees at their August 15th meeting.  "It's bittersweet -- we hate so see anything go without some kind of a replacement.  We didn't have anything in the budget, though."

Maine has always meant lobster to me, but little else. Maybe LL Bean, but it just wasn't on my radar. It is now.

Driving through the madness that is Massachusetts into the semi madness of New Hampshire was expected. What was NOT expected was that when we crossed the border into Maine, everything became  - well - friendly.

Weird, huh!

by Ashley Fleming

    Meet Morris, a 2 year old, handsome black cat with a sweet personality! Morris was found as a stray in Danby and brought to the SPCA. Since no one has come to claim him, maybe you could be his forever person? Morris is a nice guy who likes attention and likes a lap. He is not too fond of other cats, so would prefer to be your only one. Won't you consider adopting Morris today? Spend some time with him and see if it's a good fit. He has already been neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, so he is ready to go home with you!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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