Around Town

Munson Earns Registered Municipal Clerk Certification

Around Town | Friday, May 17, 2019 | By Dan Veaner

Lansing Town Clerk Debbie Munson received Registered Municipal Clerk certification last week at the New York State Town Clerks Association (NYSTCA) conference in Syracuse. Lansing Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne recognized Munson's achievement at Wednesday's Town Board meeting, noting that the prestigious award recognizes the professional competency of Mrs.Munson in fulfilling the responsibilities of her office.

"Well done, Mrs. Munson," said Ed LaVigne. "I must say that I have not heard one complaint about your office. And many compliments."

Center for History & Culture Opens

Around Town | Friday, May 17, 2019 | By Karen Veaner

Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, History Center in Tompkins County Executive Director Rod Howe, NYS Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton officially opened the Tompkins County Center for History & Culture Friday

The Tompkins County Center for History & Culture officially opened Friday in its new home on the Ithaca Commons. The opening attracted hundreds of people who gathered in front of the new location for a concert by the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers and more than 20 speakers before a ribbon cutting, after which the crowd swarmed into the new museum. The exhibit center is open Sundays noon to 4pm; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am to 5pm; and Thursdays from 11am to 7pm.

The former Tompkins Trust Company building has been transformed into a beautiful space, making use of two vaults for exhibits, and with the Thomas Morse S4 Scout ('Tommy'), built in Ithaca a century ago, restored and flown last October. In addition to the History and Culture Center, the building houses offices for the Discovery Trail, the Dorothy Cotton Institute, Latino Civic Association, the History Center in Tompkins County, the Susan Christopherson Community Planning Center, the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, Discover Cayuga Lake, Ithaca Festival, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, and the Wharton Studio Museum.

Interfaith Dinner

Around Town | Friday, May 10, 2019 | By -

No Shame In His Game

Around Town | Friday, May 17, 2019 | By Evan D. Williams, Challenge Workforce Solutions

Jeffrey R shadowing Challenge's Contract Cleaning crews at Tompkins Cortland Community College
Two pieces of art by Ithaca resident and Challenge Workforce Solutions participant Jeffrey R. were selected for a juried exhibition at Arts Unbound in Orange, New Jersey last month—and one piece sold on opening night.

The show, entitled No Shame In My Game, "highlighted the achievements of black artists while bringing attention to the issues around disability in the black community." Founded in 2000, Arts Unbound is an art gallery and studio dedicated to the artistic achievement of people living with disabilities and to the continuing artistic enrichment of seniors.

Central New York Nonprofits Receive Community Health Awards

Around Town | Friday, May 17, 2019 | By -

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Regional President Jim Reed presented one of the company’s Spring 2019 Community Health Awards to Kelly Quinn, Jessica Gosa and Danielle Klein of Foodnet Meals on Wheels
Syracuse, NY - Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has chosen eight organizations, including Ithaca Foodnet Meals on Wheels, from among more than 30 Central New York nonprofits that submitted applications to receive the Community Health Awards it made available in upstate New York earlier this year.

On May 7, each recipient was awarded up to $4,000 allocated by the company to help fund health and wellness programs in the company's five-county Central New York region.