Archive: Business & Technology

AfterImage Electrolysis is opening a Lansing office on June 4th.  The practice will be open inside the Styles and Smiles Hair Salon at 3100 N. Triphammer Road.  Electrologist Jill Bush will be there twice a week to help people with unwanted hair. 

"I love that I can help women gain self confidence.  I've been through electrolysis myself.  (Unwanted hair) really does make you feel self-conscious and it's something that so many women have to deal with on a daily basis.  Not only does electrolysis free up their time, but it saves them money and gives them a huge boost in their confidence.  it's a very rewarding job to have."

How much does it cost for a single person working full-time to live in Tompkins County? According to the Alternatives Federal Credit Union bi-annual Living Wage Study, it is $26, 242.21 a year or $12.62/hour. Alternatives' Board of Directors voted unanimously to raise wages to the new Living Wage level, continuing its commitment to its employees and as a role model for the community.

The updated study looks at housing, transportation, healthcare, and other necessities, as well as a modest allowance for recreation and savings. The anew Living Wage figure is an increase of 8.11% from $11.67/hour two years ago, during a period that the Consumer Price Inflation Calculator of the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the CPI up 5.29% from the end of 2010 to the end of 2012.

The Cayuga Radio Group announced a community wide effort to reduce hunger with ‘Cans Along Cayuga”, a canned food drive, at this year’s Ithaca Festival parade.

“‘Cans Along Cayuga’ was born out of our discussions with the United Way of Tompkins County,” said Vice President/General Manager Chet Osadchey, “They continue to see increased hunger issues within our community, and our team at Cayuga Radio came up with the idea to get as many people to participate in a fun event that would help address this important problem.”

Phoenix Houses of New York, Inc. provided inappropriate perks to its executives exceeding $223,000 while under contract with the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. DiNapoli referred the findings to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office for review.

“This was money intended to treat people struggling with substance and gambling addiction, not to subsidize unwarranted perks for high-salaried executives,” DiNapoli said. “OASAS has to improve its oversight of service providers to ensure they are not enriching their executives at the expense of New York taxpayers. My office will work closely with U.S. Attorney Bharara’s office to ensure that those abusing the public trust are held accountable.”

Albany, NY – Several State Senators and Assembly Members, the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) and New Yorkers Against Fracking called on Governor Cuomo and DEC Commissioner Martens Wednesday to disown the work done by Ecology & Environment, Inc. on the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) and scrap the SGEIS due to the company’s conflict of interest.  Ecology & Environment was responsible for significant parts of the SGEIS.  It recently came to light that Ecology & Environment, Inc. (E&E) is a member of the Independent Oil and Gas Association (IOGA), which is actively engaging in lobbying on fracking.

“Regardless of this firm’s expertise on purely technical matters unrelated to policy formulation, Ecology and Environment’s participation in a trade association and lobbying effort in support of authorizing high volume hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') in New York fundamentally disqualifies the firm and its work for the Revised Draft SGEIS,” said NYPIRG Legislative Counsel Russ Haven.  NYPIRG sent a letter to Governor Cuomo today urging him to scrap the SGEIS.

Summer Ithaca Restaurant Week will be held June 8th to 16th, 2013. As the summer months are approaching, Ithaca is heating up and the sun is finally shining. Whether you are visiting from out of town, or a local resident of Ithaca, Restaurant Week is a unique experience, which showcases a wide range of food options at affordable prices. This summer, chefs will select specials that showcase their signature dishes. Participants will also host special events to highlight bar and restaurant items.

What better way to start off your summer than enjoying a wide range of delicious food selections? Restaurants will be offering a variety of specials that will satisfy appetites at a reasonable price. Many restaurants will be offering 3-course fixed price menus, as well as $10-lunch specials or $20-dinner specials.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced Tuesday that he has reached agreement with five Fortune 500 companies, Southwest Airlines, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plum Creek Timber Company, Harley-Davidson and Noble Energy, to disclose political spending made with corporate funds.

“Shareholders have a right to know how companies are using corporate money for political purposes,” DiNapoli said. “These companies deserve credit for embracing transparency and reducing potential risk to shareholder value by disclosing direct and indirect contributions made with corporate funds. To date, eighteen companies have reached agreements with the New York State Common Retirement Fund to disclose their political spending — it’s time for more good corporate citizens to follow their lead.”

Christina McKeoughKrums Corners Bakery, a sister company to Ithaca’s Gimme! Coffee, announced the addition of Christina McKeough as the company’s new bakery director.  Locally, Christina is best known for founding, with her husband Jonah, the popular Hazelnut Kitchen in Trumansburg and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.

“I see tremendous opportunity working at Krums Corners Bakery,” said McKeough. “With six retail locations to present our baked goods and new opportunities in catering and events, I can utilize my skills as a chef in new and exciting ways.”

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released his final audit today of a fraudulent Brooklyn dental practice after a joint investigation with Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman resulted in  a one-to-three-year sentence plus nearly $700,000 in restitution from owner Lawrence J. Bruckner.

“Medicaid fraud exploits our most vulnerable citizens at taxpayer expense,” DiNapoli said. “By driving out cheaters, we can reduce burgeoning health care costs and ensure proper treatment for those in need. My office will continue to aggressively examine the proper use of Medicaid money in New York and work with Attorney General Schneiderman to investigate and prosecute abusers. State regulators must tighten controls in the Medica

Ithaca Board of Realtors® (IBR) will join the nation as it honors Fair Housing Month this April. For over 100 years Realtors® have promoted and protected the dream of property ownership for millions of Americans and strongly support the Fair Housing Act.

This year is the 45th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. Throughout 2013, Realtors® are also celebrating the centennial of the Realtors® Code of Ethics and the comprehensive protections it provides to consumers.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced agreements with Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond to encourage their suppliers to report on workplace safety, human and worker rights and environmental compliance.

“Companies face significant legal, reputational and operational risks when their suppliers do not promote sustainable business practices,” DiNapoli said. “Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond have agreed to encourage accountability among suppliers on critical issues which demonstrate that they are operating responsibly. Companies across the globe should take a comprehensive look at their operations and determine whether their suppliers are taking similar steps to ensure labor, environmental and safety standards are upheld.”

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has announced that Cayuga Medical Associates of Ithaca has received an award from the Diabetes Recognition Program for providing quality care to their patients with diabetes.

The Diabetes Recognition Program was designed to improve the quality of care that patients with diabetes receive by recognizing clinicians who deliver quality diabetes care, and by motivating other clinicians to document and improve their delivery of diabetes care. To receive recognition, Cayuga Medical Associates submitted data that demonstrates performance that meets the Program’s key diabetes care measures. These measures include eye exams, foot care, blood pressure tests, and blood sugar monitoring, among others.