Archive: Around Town

Dear Margaret:  I couldn’t be more proud of my son. He is intelligent, friendly and devoted to lifelong learning. The problem is, he isn’t putting his knowledge to work for him in the real world. He has 3 degrees and continues to enroll in yet more courses. He does have his own apartment which he pays for with jobs well below his credentials. He’s not even applying for positions that would put his education to work for him. I worry for his future and nothing I say seems to spur him to look for meaningful work.
Mother of Eternal College Student
 

After three-and-a-half days of training for Cornell's Pre-Orientation Service Trip (POST) program, POST team leaders greeted a record number of first-year and transfer students arriving on campus Aug. 14  to participate in the program. POST, a program of the Public Service Center, provides incoming students the opportunity to get a head start on their Cornell careers through volunteering in the local community. Renee Farkas, associate director of the Public Service Center and director of the POST program, added two team leaders to accommodate this year's increased enrollment.

After some tearful goodbyes with parents, a total of 76 participants and team leaders quickly broke into their teams to start to get to know each other before heading to Ithaca's Boynton Middle School, its home base for five days of volunteering with community service agencies. For the last 21 years, Boynton has hosted the group by providing sleeping mats in the school's cafeteria and access to their showers.

The Webster town board recently adopted a formal proclamation declaring Saturday, August 6th as 'Michael Nozzolio Day.'  The proclamation was a part of an event which was organized by Ron Nesbitt, Supervisor for the Town of Webster.

"Throughout the twenty five years that Senator Nozzolio has represented the town of Webster, he has been a constant advocate and supporter of every major event in the town.  From the indoor hockey rink that bears his name, to the numerous sports programs he has supported, Senator Nozzolio's presence is felt everywhere in the town and he will be deeply missed," said Supervisor Nesbitt.

It was a fifty miles down the road on a frozen night in May when we saw the welcoming lights of the Sherwood Hotel. Teeth chattering, I pried my hands off of the motorcycle, and we shivered toward the parking lot entrance to the hotel. I asked one the first person I saw, "Is this where we check in?"  With a broad smile, she beckoned us to the front desk. From this moment, I knew that this would not be "just another night at a hotel", but a warming treat for the soul.

The young girl at the front desk checked us in, then to my great surprise, walked us to our room, telling us of the storied history of The Sherwood Hotel, of the many famous people who stayed there, and of course, of the ghost in room 28.

As the 2016-17 school year begins for the Ithaca City School District (ICSD), the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) has announced the grand totals for its grant programs during the previous year and application deadlines and procedures for the new year.

"IPEI, as an independent nonprofit organization committed to making community connections that encourage innovative teaching and enhanced educational experiences for all ICSD students, is beginning its third decade with plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary in the coming months," according to Matthew Braun, president of the IPEI Board.

TCAT Interim Maintenance Manager Jim Caco and his team this week installed state-of-the-art seats, manufactured by Michigan-based American Seating Co., for riders to test out and give their feedback. The seats will be on the bus, a 2011 Gillig, for passenger testing about six weeks, Caco said.

All TCAT buses, including No. 1118, are rotated into service among many of TCAT's 33 routes so he hopes many riders, using urban, campus and rural routes, will have the opportunity to "take a seat" on the test seats and voice their opinions. Passengers can provide feedback by emailing TCAT at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call and leave a message at (607) 277-9388, ext. 560.

Saturday August 20, 2016 marks the start of one of the biggest events of the year for Z95.5, the Build Your Backpack campaign. Each August, Z95.5 teams up with local sponsors to provide free backpacks and school supplies to area students and families. This year, Z95.5's morning show, The Morning Buzz, will give the community five opportunities to get stocked up on supplies beginning August 20th  at the Walmart in Ithaca.

"Every year, this is by far the event that I look forward to most," says Z95.5 Brand Manager and co-host of The Morning Buzz, Gabe Carrillo, "throughout the year we are constantly looking for and acting on opportunities to give back to our listeners and communities and Build Your Backpack is one of the events that I know makes a big impact for so many. I'm overjoyed to welcome CFCU Community Credit Union to our team along with Fidelis Care and the Ithaca Walmart to help make this happen. Their involvement, as well as our distribution sponsors, is so critical to us being able to make the event bigger every year and ultimately, help more families."

Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Connie Wilcox announced Monday that Lansing Ag Day will be held October 15th.  The new event will celebrate agriculture, one of the top industries in the Town.  Wilcox said that she, along with Councilwoman Andra Benson, the Ag Committee and the Lansing Community Library is planning the three-hour event that will be held in the Library and Community Center and the surrounding area.

"I think it's going to be a fun day, and I think we'll get a good turnout," Wilcox told Town Board members at their Wednesday meeting.

Most of Lansing High School (LHS) is closed for construction this summer.  But last week the second-floor English wing was re-purposed for a week of robot camp.  Counselors were past and present LHS Robotics Team members who lead their middle-school-aged teams to the ultimate challenge Friday.

"I enjoy working with the kids because they have a different way of thinking than adults, or even teenagers," said Black Team Counselor Amanda Van.  "They always go the more creative route.  Sometimes not the most stable route, but it's always fun to see their creative thinking.  And they always go outside of the box."

Dear Margaret:  My father-in-law is the salt of the earth. He’s kind, generous and always there to lend a helping hand. Lately I’ve been noticing a change in his behavior in that when he swoops down to help us (without actually being asked), he seems annoyed with us and gives us the impression we don’t know what we’re doing and can’t make good decisions on our own. I don’t want to seem ungrateful as he really has been there for us in the past. How can I handle this situation with compassion without hurting his feelings?
Compassion vs Mercilessness
 

I had just closed a deal to do a promotional writing series in Syracuse and was on my way home. Moody Blues on the stereo, just flowing along with the music, right on track, happy as a little pig in – well, you get the idea.

Then the car stopped.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't a malfunction, because my foot was on the brake, but my nose was out the window like a golden retriever's, smelling the most appealing aromas I could imagine…

I smell lots of good smells in my travels – particularly on the motorcycle when the olfactory senses are bombarded by the wonderful (lilacs) and not so wonderful (they're black and white…) scents. They never make me stop, but what hit my nose made my mouth water so ferociously my salivary glands actually throbbed.

The United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) Board of Directors recently awarded over $900,000 to help the health, education and financial stability of people throughout Tompkins County and beyond. Grants were made through the Community Care Fund, Focus on Community Understanding and Service (FOCUS) Fund with the Dryden Middle School, and the Hunger & Food Security Fund.

United Way funded partners help people meet their immediate, basic needs while creating lasting change by strengthening the building blocks for a good life. The Community Care Fund (CCF) awards of $878,052 supports 95 programs. Hunger and Food Security Fund awards totaling $38,081.21 were invested in fifteen programs projected to assist 32,145 local residents gain access to an adequate supply of nutritious food.