Steve Farkas

Steve Farkas served on the Lansing Town Board for nine and a half years, eight of them as Lansing Town Supervisor until he was narrowly defeated by Scott Pinney in the 2007 election.  He passed away last August.  On Wednesday Councilwoman Andra Benson asked how the Town Board could honor Farkas.  They decided the Town would send a letter to the Farkas family, but also to establish a place of honor for all Lansing supervisors in the Lansing Town Hall.

"I was thinking that we could start an honor wall of the different Supervisors that have served us in the past," Benson said.  "I think if we could put a little bit of history into our building... people come and see this, whether they are relatives, friends, or school children.  I think it's interesting to see who served as Supervisor.

Supervisor Ed LaVigne recused himself from the conversation.  Councilman Joseph Wetmore said he likes the idea.

"I would support doing some kind of wall.  I know the City (of Ithaca) has portraits of all the mayors.  I think that's a great idea."

Councilwoman Bronwyn Losey supported sending a letter to the Farkas family, and it was decided that LaVigne would draft one for the Board to review.

See Steve Farkas's 2008 Lansing Star interview, looking back on his time as Supervisor
Farkas grew up in Lansing, and even attended school in what later became the Town Hall and is now the Lansing Community Library Center.  He started his career teaching and coaching at Walton High School.  Next he served 35 years the New York State Division for Youth, first at Camp MacCormick and then around the state at various facilities, finally landing back in Lansing, where he headed the facility here. He developed and was the director of two youth programs, Adirondack Residential Center and the Adirondack Wilderness Challenge. He served on the Lansing Town Board for nine and a half years, eight of them as Lansing Town Supervisor until he was narrowly defeated by Scott Pinney in the 2007 election.

"Personally I think he was a very good supervisor," Benson said.  "He contributed a lot to our town.

"He was just a good person," LaVigne added.

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