Archive: Around Town

Aurora, N.Y. – Wells College welcomes Hallett D. Burrall to the Advancement team as the new director of leadership and planned giving. While managing a portfolio of 150 to 200 major donors, Burrall will be responsible for the development, implementation, and reporting of all major gifts and planned giving at the College. As a member of the senior advancement team, he will build and maintain relationships with donors and key volunteers, as well as support the College’s overall fund raising programs.

ASI Energy of Ithaca announced today that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has confirmed the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity House in Ithaca as the first fraternity or sorority house in New York State to undergo a comprehensive energy assessment through New York State’s Home Performance With ENERGYSTAR® program. The program is administered by NYSERDA, and has historically been used to help offset the cost of energy assessments and efficiency improvements in traditional residential housing such as homes and apartment buildings.

A community where families share the magic of reading and the wonder of Libraries with their babies is the goal of a recently-announced collaboration between the Tompkins County Public Library and the Family Reading Partnership

Library Director Susan Currie has announced that a board book edition of “Lola at the Library,” by Anna McQuinn,  and a children’s library card, will join the “Very Hungry Caterpillar,” by Eric Carle as part of the Books at Birth program established by Family Reading Partnership. The two books and library card will be presented to families of all infants born at Cayuga Medical Center in a red bag featuring the encouraging words, “Love me. Feed me. Read to me. Take me to the library!”

8% of Tompkins County students whose parents disapprove of their drinking actually drink.  55% of students whose parents approve or don't care if they drink use alcohol.  8% of kids whose parents disapprove of marijuana use use it.  47% of kids whose parents approve or don't care use it.  What's scarier?  That kids abuse substances?  Or that parents don't mind if their kids use them?

And how about this: Tompkins County kids who participate in extra curricular activities 10 or more times are actually more likely than kids who don't participate in any extra curriculars to drink, smoke marijuana, and binge, as well as liking school and doing their best work -- a very mixed bag.

Tompkins County SPCA Executive Director Jim Bouderau announced that Rachel, Amy and Anne Dickinson will chair the 2nd Annual March for the Animals on October  1st 2011. The Dickinson sisters are chairing the March For the Animals in memory of their mother, Jane Genung Dickinson, who died at the age of 81 on February 1st of this year.

“We have received dozens of gifts and kind notes in memory of Jane, and we thought this might be an appropriate way for the family to honor her while increasing the community's recognition of, and participation in the March for the Animals” says Bouderau. All of the Dickinson’s are pet lovers and have had an array of pets adopted from the SPCA over the years.

In 2008 the Norfolk Southern Railroad closed a private railroad crossing leading into Ladoga Park.  Residents rallied to get the crossing reopened, siting deed easements and safety issues, and getting town, fire district, and state officials to support their plea.  When that didn't work they took the railroad to court to try to force the crossing to be reopened.  A week ago Thursday the crossing was reopened.

"Ironically the barriers were removed almost exactly a year after we won at the Appellate Division with respect to the prescriptive easement," resident Noel Desch says.  "The Appellate Division was going to require it to go to trial with respect to both the deed access and the prescriptive easement.  That's what we were preparing to do."

Lansing Fire Commissioner Jeff Walters reports that all is going well on a $2.3 million 7,300 square foot addition to Central Fire Station.  A new construction schedule targets the end of December for the completion of the project.  The project includes a new equipment bay, a boarder facility, a decontamination room,  and emergency medical storage.

"Everything for Central Station is on the new schedule,"Walters says.  "They don't see any problems at this time.  Nobody sees anything that will slow it down, so we're hoping it will go smoothly."

Hey there my name is Tazzy. I am a five-year-old domestic shorthair/ mix. I'm a gorgeous girl who is looking for a loving home, so please come and visit me at the SPCA to see if I'm the right cat for you!


Visit the SPCA Web Page

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I came home from work and pointedly stared at my husband. “Any ideas for dinner?” It was hot, humid, and I was in no mood to fire up or get creative. What’s a woman to do?” Rogue’s?”, I asked. Matthew replied, “Just what I was thinking”.

It had been a while since we had dined in that direction, but an Anniversary coupon arrived in the mail. What a nice idea, we thought. There was a bit of a breeze, the house was hot, and with the bushing out of the Chinese elms in front of Rogue’s Harbor- we were pretty sure there was going to be shade. Off we went.

On June 27th, the UWTC Fund Distribution & Evaluation Committee, chaired by Sarah Manasse from HSBC Bank, presented their Community Care Fund investment recommendations to the UWTC Board of Directors for their review and approval.

This year, UWTC completed the transition of the Community Care Fund awards to direct community investment through seven Issue Areas (Basic Needs, Child Care/Early Learning, Crisis Services, Financial Stability/Building Self-Sufficiency, Health/Environment, Seniors, and Youth).  With guidance and input from non-profit agencies and United Way volunteers over the past few years, this realignment now provides a more comprehensive understanding of programming across issue areas with an increased ability for greater community impact. The funding supports programs that have proven results, measurable outcomes, and a demonstrated impact on both the clients being served and addressing the unmet needs in the community.

IPEI, the Ithaca Public Education Initiative, may be best known for its grants for Ithaca City School District (ICSD) teachers and for the Kids Discover the Trail! collaboration with the ICSD and Discovery Trail. Yet, IPEI also manages numerous Awards funds including for seven presented this June at the end of the school year.  According to the Awards funds’ criteria, two were presented to graduating students; one each to an underclass student, a student organization, and a new teacher; and two for district activities.

With temperatures soaring into the 90s and heat indexes even higher, the SPCA of Tompkins County is receiving numerous calls every day about animals left in hot vehicles and tied outside without access to water or shade, including one dog that has reportedly died as a result of being tied up outside without shelter.  Jim Bouderau, the SPCA’s executive director, is discouraged by this and wants to remind all county residents that proper care must be taken during extreme weather conditions.

“Not only is it the right thing to do,” he says, “it is the law.” New York State Agriculture and Market Law states “A person shall not confine a companion animal in a motor vehicle in extreme heat or cold without proper ventilation or other protectio.”