Archive: Around Town

(Dryden, June 22, 2010) — Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties is partnering with the Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES Career and Technology Center Habitat to purchase “House #25”, a 3-bedroom modular house that was built by students on their Warren Road Campus.

Tony Dilucci, Director of Career and Technical Education at Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES, said “This partnership is the best of all possibilities. It allowed students to build home components and gave them the opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity, an internationally known organization that works locally. While students were honing their craft they also were giving back to the community.”

(Ithaca, NY) Gadabout Transportation Services is pleased to announce that Pete DeGraff of Ithaca has been named its 2010 Volunteer Driver of the Year, for his three and a half years of extraordinary flexibility, and time donated above and beyond the call of duty. DeGraff was recognized for his efforts at Gadabout’s Annual Picnic and Recognition Ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.

Myers Park bustled with scores of volunteers working hard to build a new playground in Myers Park.  The project is led by the Lansing Community Council, which took the lead in raising nearly $120,000 so far and getting volunteers together to construct the community project.  Across the park, another Community Council project was having a piece installed as well.  The North Log Cabin , which was originally built in Lansing in 1791 and was reassembled in the park had another piece installed, every bit as important as the cabin itself: a kiosk holding a sign telling visitors about the cabin and its unique Lansing history.

The kiosk project was designed and led by Martin Keefe as part of the requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout.  Eagles must earn 21 merit badges, serve actively for a period of six months in a leadership role in his troop, and plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project.  Keefe chose the kiosk project as a needed element of the cabin project that would not only serve as a historical marker, but tie it in with other features already in Myers Park.

Hey there my name is Brie. I am a female domestic shorthair/mix. I'm a lovely lady who is looking for a loving home, so 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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Michael Cheatham was honored Monday for his service as a school board member.  He was honored by Superintendent Stephen Grimm and Central New York State School Boards Association representative Linda Competillo for the effort and time he put into the post.

"That is a lot of your time, a lot of your energy, and countless hours that people don't realize you put in," Competillo said.  "Hours of reading, hours of researching, being here until all hours of the night.  that does not go unnoticed by your peers, by your community, or by the Central New York State School Boards Association."

Monday night the Lansing Board of Education granted tenure to five teachers and Elementary School Principal Chris Pettograsso.  Christine Evanek, Diane Dempsey, Carmela MacKenzie, LeeAnn Sinclair, and Andrea Huskie were lauded by their principals and Superintendent Stephen Grimm as they were officially tenured.  Huskie was actually tenured without a full-time position, as she was one of three teachers whose full time positions were eliminated and replaced with part time jobs due to the budget cuts.  Later in the meeting she was restored to full-time.

"I'm happy to report that here is one teacher that will be able to stay with us in a full time capacity.  Not only is she great in the classroom from the standpoint of her technical expertise, learning styles, and principals of learning, but the way she connects with kids.  She can reach and teach."

Work continued this week on the Myers Park Playground Project (MP3).  Organizers had hoped to finish the playground in five days ending Sunday, but lower than expected volunteer turnout and rainy weather put the project behind.  Work sessions were extended to include Monday and Tuesday, and organizers are hoping that volunteers will return Saturday to finish the project.

So far 83% of the $138,000 goal has been raised for the project.  Donors paid for individual playground components, bought pickets in a fence that is being installed at the playground with donors' names on them, and money and materials for the project.  To date over 400 volunteers have been part of the project.

It is official: the Amber Little and her two young sons have moved into their new home that was built in Lansing by 500 Habitat For Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties (TCHFH) volunteers.  Suncday TCHFH held a dedication and ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the house.  38 people, mainly volunteers and family were present to see a giant key handed over to Amber Little and her two children Maleki and Maximus.

"Before we got accepted as a Habitat family we had a rough time moving from place to place," Little said.  "Being a single parent with two kids was very hard.  I'm very thankful that we were picked.  Habitat has made our lives so much better.  My boys are so excited to have their own room, and their own stuff."

To parishioners at the Lansing United Methodist Church (LUMC) it seems like just yesterday when their new pastor arrived to lead his first Lansing service at Myers Park.  That was in July of 2003.  Today Pastor Bill Gottschalk-Fielding is getting ready to move to a new position within the church, to be replaced in Lansing by Pastor Jane Sautter.  He is looking forward to his new assignment even as he will miss the people that have been a part of his life for the past seven years.

"I love worship," he says.  "That is the place where I consistently find the most joy.  And those informal times like having lunch at the 'mother of all rummage sales' -- just fun times like that.  Unprogrammed, just sitting down and joking and working together.  Those are really good times."

The children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Jacoba “Jackie” Baker are planning an open house for her 90th birthday, on Saturday, July 3rd , from 3:00 to 5:30 pm.

Friends and neighbors are welcome to enjoy cake and ice cream with her. The open house will be held at the pavilion at Baker’s Acres, 1116 Auburn Road, North Lansing

ALBANY – State Senator Mike Nozzolio wants students to have fun reading and keep learning this summer by participating in the 2010 New York Statewide Summer Reading Program.

"Evidence shows that children who stop reading over summer vacation often fall behind when they return to school in September,” said Senator Nozzolio. "This program is designed to get children to realize the rewards of reading by encouraging them to exercise their imaginations and make reading a daily event this summer," said Senator Nozzolio.

The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) has launched a new web site that is more user-friendly and full of current information, announced IPEI Public Relations Committee Chair David Shoemaker. IPEI volunteer board members worked with Kay Tien of Clarity Connect and parent volunteer Asia Bonacci to create the new web presence for the non-profit that develops community connections and support for Ithaca City School District (ICSD) students and teachers through engagement, collaboration, gifts, and grants. IPEI’s spring newsletter has been published and is also available on the web site: “In the News” section.