January Members In the News

Ithaca-based landscape architecture firm Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects (TWLA), in partnership with The Urban Design Project at the University of Buffalo, has been awarded a 2008 Honor of Excellence Award from the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The award was given in recognition of TWLA’s participation in the development of a restoration plan for the Buffalo Olmsted Park System. The resulting document outlines a restoration plan for every major park and parkway in the Buffalo Olmsted Park and Parkway System in Buffalo, N.Y. The system includes six major parks and a series of smaller parks, linked by broad, tree-line parkways. It comprises approximately 60 percent of the parkland in the City of Buffalo.

Dream Boost, an all-natural dietary supplement, developed by local Ithaca firm The Upstate Dream Institute, was named as one of five finalists for Best Supplement of the Year 2008. Judging was held in Boston at Expo East, one of the largest Natural Products trade shows in the United States. Dream Boost also was awarded the Gear Award Seal of Excellence this past July and is currently the only natural sleep and dream enhancer on the market. Dream Boost’s all natural patent-pending formula optimizes sleep patterns for a restful and restorative night’s sleep while increasing dreaming ability, vividness, and recall. Dream Boost is available online at www.DreamBoost.com and at selected stores now, and will be available nationwide in March 2009.

Norm Forrest of Tetra Tech Architects & Engineers (formerly The Thomas Group) has been promoted to Senior Mechanical Engineer. Mr. Forrest has been at Tetra Tech since 1997. Tetra Tech Architects & Engineers provides full-service Architecture and Engineering Services and has seven offices throughout the region, including Ithaca, Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, and Farmingdale, NY; Princeton, NJ; and Newark, DE.

Ilana Bobroff of The Econo Lodge hotel of Ithaca, N.Y. has received the Embracing Inclusion award from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), which serves to recognize properties and individuals in the Choice family that have demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence. The award is part of the Awards for Property Excellence (APEX) awards program by Choice Hotels, franchisor of the Econo Lodge brand. The Embracing Inclusion APEX award is given to hotels that, and individuals who, address underrepresented populations through workforce efforts, community efforts or supplier diversity initiatives.

Cayuga Radio Group recently introduced Cayuga Market Place, an online market place where customers can purchase certificates to their favorite local participating businesses at 30% off. In light of recent economic tough times, Cayuga Radio Group created Cayuga Market Place to help both local businesses and shoppers as well. Cayuga Market Place creates a way for businesses to receive radio advertising and on-air promotion in exchange for certificates to their business. Cayuga Market Place is perfect for businesses that have cash flow problems, those who have had to cut back their marketing budgets, or simply those looking for some extra promotion. Gift certificates can be purchased at Cayuga Radio Group stations websites. Once the shopper makes a selection, they can purchase their certificates and print them out instantly on their printer for use that very same day! For more information about Cayuga Market Place please call (607) 257-6400.

Coughlin & Gerhart, L.L.P. raised nearly $6000 for charity during their first annual “Festival of Trees” event on Friday, December 5. Occurring during the First Friday activities, members of the public as well as invited guests viewed the fifteen Christmas trees, which were displayed in their lobby at the Professional Towers, 19 Chenango St., Binghamton, before they were auctioned off for charity. The trees were decorated by local businesses and individuals who generously donated both their time and money to this worthy cause. The support received from local businesses and the community made the event a true success.

In the spirit of goodwill for our community, Finger Lakes Radio Group’s Hit Music Station Z95.5 partnered with Wegmans and the Tompkins County American Red Cross Homeless Services Food Pantry to feed the less fortunate in our community this holiday season. Z95.5 morning personality Justin Wright endured the elements camping-out in front of Wegmans of Ithaca. The goal was to have valued listeners, businesses and community members reach into their cupboards and fill a large truck with non-perishable food supplies. Justin didn’t leave the Wegmans premises until the truck was full, regardless of the weather. Through unbelievable community participation the goal of filling a 24 foot U-Haul truck was filled (within 58 hours)!!! Wright wants to thank everyone who donated to the food drive and helped provide a huge amount food to the Tompkins County American Red Cross Homeless Services Food Pantry.

United Way of Tompkins County awarded grant funds totaling $85,350 to support current work in the targeted impact area of Hunger and Food Security and to invest in efforts to promote improvement in community conditions. The Community Foundation of Tompkins County’s Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Fund joined this effort to support the Hunger and Food Security by adding $2,500 to increase the funds to $35,500. The Community Foundation is committed to food program solutions to poverty, a major need identified in the United Way’s COMPASS II needs analysis.

In an effort to retrain people unemployed by the tough economic climate, State Senator Mike Nozzolio announced that job skills training programs will be available at the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES in Newark and the Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES, located in Ithaca. The job skills training will be available for local residents in need of temporary assistance to assist their efforts in becoming employed. The BOCES programs will provide workers with the skills they need to become more successful and self-reliant in the future. Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES is located at 555 Warren Road in Ithaca, NY. For further information on their Adult Education programs, please visit www.tstboces.org online or call 607-257-1551.