MARCH 2009 Members in the News

CJ DelVecchio, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Shaw Real Estate of Ithaca took the oath of office on Monday, February 2, as the 2009 Southern Tier Region vice president of the New York State Association of REALTORS^® (NYSAR) during the association’s inauguration ceremony, held in conjunction with its Business Meetings at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. DelVecchio, a REALTOR^® for 12 years, served as the 2004 president of the Ithaca Board of REALTORS^® and was named the local board’s 2001 REALTOR^® of the Year.

Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, serving 454,000 members in 42 counties across New York State, has announced the appointment of Kimberly Petrella as marketing representative serving Tompkins County. Based in Fidelis Care's Central New York Regional Office in Syracuse, Petrella is responsible for enrolling qualified individuals in Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid managed care. Fidelis Care is one of the largest health plans offering government-sponsored health programs in New York State. It was founded on the belief that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance.

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards reported a 28% increase in overall sales value in 2008 and a record year in terms of volume and growth. Outside of tasting room sales, the winery posted a 42% increase in wholesale volume in 2008. Anticipating this, Hazlitt increased its Red Cat production from 76,000 cases in 2007 to 110,000 cases in 2008. Its counterpart, White Cat also increased from 12,000 cases to 30,000 cases in the same period. Hazlitt brands are currently available in New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio, and the Maryland/Washington DC area. Hazlitt brands are also available through the Total Wine & More retail chain throughout the United States.

The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) announced the launch of a newly-designed website for www.flyithaca.com. Ithaca-based, Ancient Wisdom Productions worked with Courtney Consulting to design and build the new site which boasts enhanced features, easier navigation as well as a unique live, online booking system. The airport contracted with SwiftTrip.com to manage the booking aspect of the new website. For more information, please contact Bob Nicholas at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. 607-257-0456.


The Tompkins County American Red Cross also launched their newly updated website at www.tompkins-redcross.org. The new site informs users about the Chapter’s humanitarian services and offers helpful information. Viewers can learn about local blood drives, upcoming health & safety training courses and various volunteer opportunities. The new site will allow more Tompkins County residents to prepare their family and community in case of a disaster or health emergency.

Benjamin Williams, a mechanical engineer for HUNT Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors, PC, (HUNT) of Horseheads, NY, has earned his Professional Engineering (PE) license from the State of New York. Ben, who joined HUNT in November 2005, is responsible for commercial plumbing and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) design. HUNT, a 125-person professional engineering, architectural, and surveying firm headquartered at Airport Corporate Park in Horseheads, NY, with offices in Rochester and Lancaster, Pa., has been serving municipal, public, and private clients for 35 years.

Cayuga Medical Center is pleased to announce the addition of Sports Medicine physician Andrew Getzin, MD, formerly of Cayuga Sports Medicine, as clinical director of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance program located at Island Health Center in Ithaca. Dr. Getzin has worked as head team physician for the USA Triathlon team in Gyor, Hungary for the Long Course Duathlon World Championship in 2007, and in Fredericia, Denmark in 2005. An athlete himself, he completed in the Lake Placid Ironman in 2006 and has run10 marathons. He also competes in running, biking, and triathlon races. He is founder of the Ithaca Triathlon Club and previous assistant race director of the Cayuga Lake Triathlon. Dr. Getzin treats active patients of all ages. His office is located in the Island Health Center complex at 310 Taughannock Boulevard in Ithaca.

February Members In The News

Don't pay high fees to get your own refund! Alternatives Federal Credit Union’s Tax Program is beginning its seventh year of offering free tax preparation services and to date, they have prepared over 5,000 tax returns for working families and individuals in Tompkins County, and returned over $8 million in refunds to the community. If you are single and earn less than $27,000 or a family earning under $42,000, they can prepare your Federal and State Income Tax Returns. Alternatives' Tax Program is expanding its outreach by offering several additional sites this year. For more information and to see these sites, please visit www.alternatives.org/vita

Dan and Karen Veaner, owners of The Lansing Star Online, were recently presented with The Ithaca-Cayuga Rotary Club’s 2008 Kirk Shreve Memorial Distinguished Community Service Award. The Veaners were recognized for their many achievements in Lansing, most notably the development of the Lansing Star online newspaper, which was called "the epitome of community service". Karen Veaner was also cited for her work with the Lansing Community Council, the Lansing Harbor Fest, assorted theatrical ventures, the annual LUMC Rue-mage sale, CROP Walk and the Lansing Food Pantry. The Ithaca-Cayuga Rotary Club has been honoring area residents with their Outstanding Community Service Award for several years. This year the award has been re-named in honor of the late Kirk Shreve, owner of the Lansing Funeral Home.

Jillian's Drawers was recently honored as one of fourteen new sustainable enterprises in Tompkins County for 2008. Jillian's Drawers retail store opened at 114 N. Cayuga Street, augmenting the company's existing, very successful online business catering to the needs of parents seeking cloth diapers and other natural baby products. Jillian's Drawers is a certified Tompkins County Living Wage Employer and the organization offers a number of family-friendly employment practices to support their staff, many of whom are work-at-home moms. The awards are specified for "individuals and entities whose work during this past year has been supportive of Sustainable Tompkins' mission to promote the long-term well-being of our communities and region by integrating social equity, economic vitality, ecological stewardship, and personal and civic responsibility.

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards received high scores and praise for three of its white varietal wines in the January 2009 publications of Wine & Spirits Magazine and Wine Spectator. Representing its 2007 vintage, Hazlitt Homestead Reserve Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris were all selected for their unique taste profile and quality by some of America’s most respected wine reviewers. Hazlitt’s Homestead Reserve Riesling scored 93 points in February’s issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine, which remarked, “From a family-owned winery overlooking Seneca Lake, this nervy Riesling has a live current running through it such that the delicate aromas-apple blossom, green herb, a hint of peach-practically burst from the glass. Driven by racy mineral acidity and the purity of its white peach fruit, it's graceful, lifted and full flavored.” Wines from Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards are available at the winery and in retail stores and restaurants throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland/DC and New Hampshire. They can also be purchased online at www.hazlitt1852.com

Cayuga Radio Group recently announced that Women’s Expo 2009 will be held Thursday, May 7^th from 4 PM to 8 PM at the TC3 Sports Complex in Dryden, NY. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with over 70 participating exhibitors, and enjoy interactive exhibits, entertainment, wine tasting, and door prizes. The Expo is free and open to the public. In conjunction with this event, Cayuga Radio Group will be honoring 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know. These outstanding women will be honored in the “20 Outstanding Women You Should Know” magazine, and will be presented with their awards at the Expo on May 7^th. Nominations may be submitted on any of the six Cayuga Radio Group station websites, which can found by going to www.cayugaradiogroup.com. For more information, or to become a sponsor, please call (607) 257-6400.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust announced that it has received a gift of 50 acres of woodland in Tompkins County as a gift from Sheela Kingsbury of Danby. The land is located within the Emerald Necklace Greenbelt - a swath of forested hills and valleys that extend in an arc around Ithaca and encompass 50,000 acres of public open space. The Kingsbury gift property is particularly significant in that it features more than 6,000 feet of frontage on Lick Brook - a pristine stream that flows from gentle hills in Danby before creating a rugged gorge in the Town of Ithaca and emptying into the Cayuga Inlet. The Land Trust will retain and manage the property as open space, to be known as the Kingsbury Woods Conservation Area. The land will be open to the public for hiking and wildlife watching. During 2009, the Land Trust will develop a trail system and parking area. The Kingsbury gift represents the Land Trust's fifth project in the vicinity of Lick Brook. To date, the organization has permanently protected more than 300 acres in this area with 15,000 feet of frontage on the brook.

M&T Bank has approved a number of recent grants to a range of non-profit organizations in Tompkins County. The bank’s total charitable giving in Tompkins County increased 10 percent in 2008. One of M&T’s larger contributions was a $13,000 company gift to the United Way of Tompkins County. One hundred percent of M&T’s local employees also chose to participate in the United Way campaign. Some other programs supported by M&T in 2008 included: Tompkins County Library’s Summer Reading Program, Greater Ithaca Activities Center’s Pre-Teen Entrepreneur Program, and the renewal of an annual grant to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services for affordable housing projects. M&T’s charitable decisions are all made by a committee of employees living in the region.

Six RE/MAX in Motion real estate agents have earned the respected RE/MAX Executive Club Award for leadership in their field. To earn this award, agents must have achieved a specific dollar amount in gross closed commissions for the calendar year. The 2008 recipients include Barbara Blanchard, Licensed Broker Associate, GRI, of Trumansburg, Marge Hovanec, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, GRI, of Ithaca, Melissa Miller, Licensed Broker, ABR, of King Ferry, Mary Decker, Licensed Broker Associate, CBR, of Groton, Amanda K. Ryen-Yowhan, Licensed Broker Associate, GRI, of Lansing and Mary Stoe, Licensed Broker Associate, of Lansing. Each has each excelled in real estate sales and customer service for the 2008 calendar year, demonstrating professionalism, knowledge and leadership in the real estate industry.

The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival Presents A Tribute to The Clash

Official FLEFF Kick Off Party & Benefit for the Cayuga Waterfront Trail -  Friday, March 27th at Castaways, (Doors at 8 PM, Music at 9)

Nine different Ithaca-based bands spanning singer/songwriters,

 roots-rock, dub reggae, alt country, and punk will pay tribute to The Clash on Friday March 27th at Castaways.  Each

 performer will play up to four of their favorite Clash songs in their own distinctive styles—with no repeats!   Tickets are $12 in advance (available at Castaways, The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Maxie's Supper Club) and $15 day of the show.

Sponsors include:

• Audrey Edelman RealtyUSA
• Cobp Design
  
• ComDoc, Inc.
  
• Dan Smalls Presents
• The Ithaca Beer Company
• Ithaca Carshare
• Maxie’s Supper Club
  
• Red Feet Wine Market
  
• 93.5 WVBR FM Radio

Sign Up for “Take an Ithacan to Work Day” for a Chance to Win Prizes!

Would you like a chance to win a gift certificate to the Bookery II, Bool’s Flower Shop, Crystal Lake Café at Americana or Race Office Supply?  Sign up to host a student job-shadow for "Take an Ithacan to Work Week," to be held the week of April 6th.  Professionals from a breadth of career fields will host students for a day during this week-long program that not only provides perspective to students making career decisions, but also allows employer hosts the opportunity to do something good for our community.  Students exploring career fields and/or deciding whether to live in Ithaca after graduation value this chance to network with local professionals and to learn about the Ithaca community.  All employer hosts will be entered into a gift-certificate drawing to take place the week of April 13.  "Take an Ithacan to Work Week" is sponsored by Ithaca College in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Ithaca Forward. To participate, please contact Kristin LiBritz in the Office of Career Services at Ithaca College at klibritz@ithaca.edu.  

Election Results for The Landlords Association of Tompkins County

The Landlords Association of Tompkins County is a nonprofit organization serving countproperty owners and managers, dedicated to improving the skills and business practices of its members.   In the past eighteen years, the Landlords Association has grown to include a large and representative number of property owners and managers and has been actively involved in such major city and county issues as security deposit regulation, solid waste disposal, building department inspection improvements, the smoke/heat detection ordinance, the exterior property maintenance ordinance, drug evictions, Town of Ithaca sprinkler ordinance, gas rates alliance and many others. 

At the Annual Meeting this past October, the following officers were elected:
President - Gary Lindenbaum, Vice-president - Bill Olney, Secretary - Jim Lane, Treasurer - Ron Schmitt.  Board of Director seats were renewed for Carol Schmitt, David Gersh, John O’Connor, Brian Grout, Sharon Marx, Mark Goldfarb, Larry Beck and Wayne Woodward.  Herb Dwyer has been added to the board of directors.  The Association holds meetings on the 4th Monday of each month, at 4:30 pm at the Ramada Inn.    Guest speakers on a wide variety of topics are regularly invited.  A monthly mailing provides information about Association activities and helpful information about rental property ownership and management, and a quarterly newsletter provides in-depth information about local housing issues.  A web page provides free rental listings and links to pertinent sites, and there is a lending library of housing-related materials, plus handbooks and brochures free to members. 

www.landlordsassociation.com 

(607)273-5091

Take Charge of YOUR Health at Bartholomew Family Chiropractic

Last month, Dr. Brian Bartholomew celebrated the one year anniversary of “Bartholomew Family Chiropractic”, which is located at 3100 North Triphammer Road in Lansing.  In just one year, Dr. Bartholomew is surprised, yet ecstatic about how fast his list of clients is growing.  A Groton native, the practice is truly a family affair with Bartholomew’s girlfriend, Jessica Smith, running the front desk while his sister Lori helps run their books.   Smith is currently working on a double Masters in Health and Health Education and plans to offer diet and nutrition training within the Bartholomew Family Chiropractic upon graduation.

Dr. Brian Bartholomew is a graduate of SUNY Binghamton with a major in Biology.  He attended the prestigious Palmer Florida College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, FL and  has worked at many of the top chiropractic offices in the country.  He is joined in the profession by his brother Dr. Jeremy Bartholomew who practices in Waterville, NY. The Techniques he utilizes are Palmer Techniques, ABC, Pettibon, Drop, Activator, CBP, Diversified, Extremity Adjusting and a mixture of various techniques needed to help patients of all ages and sizes.  

www.ithacachiropractic.com

(607)533-0128

That Burrito Place Celebrates 2nd Location on The Commons

That Burrito Place celebrated their second location in Ithaca with a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, February 20th at 12:00 noon.   Located in the former Juna's Cafe space at 146 E. State Street, "TBP," as regulars call it, is a welcome addition to the bustling Commons area.  In January 2007, entrepreneur and Cornell Hotel School graduate Jeff Mayer opened the first TBP in Collegetown, offering fresh, Cali-Mexican food on-the-go.  The new location provides plenty of seating for customers to enjoy their food in a fun, upbeat atmosphere. 

At TBP, customers can build their own huge burrito to their liking and watch it assembled right in front of them.  The options are endless - choose from fresh ingredients like salsas made from scratch or the legendary guacamole. In addition to custom burritos, customers can also build their own bowl (a "tortilla-less burrito"), salad or nachos.  The numerous combinations, as well as several options for vegetarians (including a daily vegetarian special), and a kid's menu, has made TBP a popular destination for a quick, healthy lunch, dinner or snack.  In addition to in-store dining, TBP also provides easy take-out, delivery and catering options.  The "lunch box combo" includes a custom burrito, chips and salsa, a drink and dessert.   That Burrito Place is open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday and 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM Thursday through Saturday. 

www.thatburritoplace.com

(607)319-4900

 

Epicurean Excursions with Abby Nash offers Guided Tours of the Best Wineries and Restaurants of the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes region of New York State is now a world class food and wine destination.  Abby Nash and Celia Clement have partnered to offer the first group epicurean-themed visits to this region.  Their new business, Epicurean Excursions with Abby Nash, provides 5-day, 4-night tour packages with guided visits to the best wineries and restaurants of the Finger Lakes with deluxe accommodations at La Tourelle Resort and Spa. Abby Nash was the chef/owner of Abby’s restaurant and is a former faculty member of Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration.  He now teaches the very popular Cornell Adult University wine courses, leads CAU Wine Study tours, and conducts wine education events. 

Nash will lead the groups through barrel tastings at the top wineries.  Guests will enjoy meals specially prepared by the finest area chefs, while three of the chefs will conduct private cooking classes for the group.  Dinners feature Abby’s matches of Finger Lakes wines with their worldwide counterparts.  Experience! the Finger Lakes, LLC will chauffer guests in a private van to wineries and restaurants on Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.  Depending on the season and the weather, the itinerary may include visits to a goat cheese dairy, a farmers market, or foraging for wild mushrooms or picking fresh fruit.  These special tours are offered in April, June, August and October.  Custom tours are also available. For more information visit: www.abbynash.com or contact Celia or Abby directly at eeabby@gmail.com or 607-387-4450.

www.abbynash.com

(607)387-4450

Ten Thousand Villages Celebrates Recent Renovations

Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted home décor, personal accessories and gift items from across the globe, recently completed a total store renovation!  Located on the Ithaca Commons, Ten Thousand Villages is owned by a volunteer board of directors and staffed mostly by volunteers.  Featuring products from more than 110 artisan groups in some 35 countries, they are part of a network of more than 150 retail outlets throughout the United States.  The renovation project took a full week in January and required that the store be closed for five business days.  New carpet was laid, the walls were painted and new shelving was installed.  The work was done by contractors, the board of directors and store staff.

The new look has brightened the store and created more browsing space for customers while allowing more room for increased product selection. They kicked off the reopening with a store-wide sale and offered samples of fair trade products.  Manager Michael Westlund states, “The store looks wonderful and is certainly much brighter and spacious.  It will make the shopping experience here much more pleasant.”   The store currently has plans to collaborate with other not for profit groups for “Community Shopping Days”.  All participating shops will team up and donate 10% of a day’s sales to other area organizations. The next “Community Shopping Day” is taking place Saturday, March 7th and all donations will benefit “Educate the Children”.  Stop by Ten Thousand Villages soon!

http://ithaca.tenthousandvillages.com

607.256.0616

Free Will Awareness to Advocate Youth Development

Free Will Awareness (FWA) is proud to announce that they are now a program of Social Ventures, Inc. FWA has a passion for providing services to the youth in this community and was founded by friends Lester McNair and Kenny Benton, both Ithaca High School graduates. The goal of FWA is to advocate youth development of self-awareness, the ability to self-correct and the acceptance of personal responsibility. FWA hopes to provide direct services to youth that will strengthen opportunities for their development as athletes, as conscious and informed individuals and as leaders in their community. The underlying goal is to reduce violence in our community using sports, namely basketball, as a vehicle.  The first program will be a youth basketball league this spring.  Future plans include basketball clinics, adult tournaments, a summer camp, coaching clinics and hosting mentoring groups.  If you are interested in learning more about this organization, please email Lester McNair at freewillawareness@yahoo.com

freewillawareness@yahoo.com

(716)200-7972

Ithaca Teachers Fest Defies Economy, Continues to Grow

The weak economy failed to slow Ithaca’s Winter Recess teachers fest which grew by 70% this year to attract a record 4,300 attendees.  The weeklong event, Feb. 13-22, honored preK-12 educators and district employees with special events throughout the community and discount deals at dozens of area businesses. The 2009 program included 102 events, with activities and deals at 190 Ithaca-area locations.

Roughly 55 percent of attendees are Tompkins County residents. Out-of-county attendees came from all parts of New York, 13 outlying states and Canada.  Participants took in a variety of activities including spa parties, wine touring, college events, dining and more. Maxie’s Supper Club, the Sciencenter, Museum of the Earth, Johnson Museum and the downtown Commons were among the most popular destinations for teachers and their families.  Area hotels and B&Bs hosted more than 600 visiting educators and family members during the week, a 20% increase from 2008. The growth stands in contrast to the broader hospitality industry which is reporting double-digit declines in occupancy for the year.

“Winter Recess is all about value, and that really resonates right now,” said Fred Bonn, director of the Ithaca/Tompkins Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event coordinator. “Businesses and event organizers really embraced that message. The scale of the festival, the quality, the variety of deals—it really caught people’s attention. It’s a tribute to the Ithaca community that Winter Recess is so successful.” 

Teachers week has grown annually since its inception in 2007. In its first year, the event attracted 1,300 people. In 2008 attendance surpassed 2,500.  “We knew 2009 was going to be big within the first few days of registration,” Bonn said. “We surpassed 2007 on our opening day, beat 2008 within the first weekend and matched the previous two years combined a day later. We’re thrilled at the response from teachers, the incredible support from local businesses and the positive impact this had on the overall community. This event really celebrates what the Ithaca is all about. It’s a winner on every level.”

Winter Recess remains the nation’s only community-wide festival celebrating classroom educators. It’s held annually during the President’s Week school break. The 2010 event begins Feb. 12.

http://www.ithacalovesteachers.com/