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.