A member of our New Roots community, Paula Barry, has recently been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Paula is the mother of Gabriel Gaydos, a 9th grade student at New Roots. The Northern Light Learning Center is holding a benefit for Paula Barry on Sunday March 4th from 1 PM to 10 PM (rain or shine) located at the Greenstar Warehouse. The benefit will be a festive day of music, crafts, rummage sale, art & antique sale, raffles, games, events & lots of tasty food. Admission is $5 per person / $10 per family. Event Volunteers: vendors, baked goods and musical acts are needed for the event. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Robert Hones at 607-592-4072or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Several hundred students learned about the Civil War through drama and the arts during “Living History Day 1863,” which took place on Dec. 2, 2011 at the Ithaca High School.  The annual day of Civil War activities began four years ago with funding from an Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) grant in honor of John Caren, a former IHS Social Studies teacher and principal.  As a principal, Caren endorsed similar grade-wide programs; and as an educator, he encouraged this type of experiential and hands-on opportunities for all students.  

“This grant brings many rich and diverse community resources into IHS, including the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell, The History Center of Tompkins County, and local individuals with Civil War expertise,” said Ann Caren, current IPEI board member and retired teacher.

Ithaca’s Winter Recess teachers week, Feb 17-26, opens with an added bonus, Friday—free classroom supplies from Staples. The office supply store is giving away 10 pallets of school supplies worth approximately $34,000 to school employees checking in during the event’s opening weekend.

The giveaway is timed to maximize the number of school districts that benefit. Historically, it’s the busiest portion of the weeklong celebration of state educators with broadest geographic attendance. Winter Recess attracts 5,000 educators and family members from school districts across New York and a dozen nearby states.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times people ask me about pairing food and wine.  They want some easy-to-follow rules.  I basically tell them, “Some so-called experts have rules but for me, there are no rules. I use general guidelines but on balance, I try to be flexible.”

Speaking of balance, let’s start out with my first guideline: balance. Robust wines with a high alcoholic content can overwhelm light entrées. The reverse side of this coin is that a heavy entrée with a spicy sauce can overpower a lighter wine.  Therein lies the idea of achieving a balance. Try to pair light entrees with light wines. Match an entrée that is on the heavy side with a wine that is full bodied.

Jim Parks is most widely known as the veteran host of HGTV's remodeling show, "New Spaces," which has been enjoyed by television audiences for over nine years.  Today's Green Minute was born as Jim was doing research for a magazine series. He discovered the wealth of innovation being generated in the green world and set out to write a weekly newspaper column. An audio podcast version soon followed, and now video.  One of the things The Lansing Star is proud of is that we are a green, electronic newspaper.  You don't even have to recycle the Star.  This feature offers more on how to make your world greener.  Every few weeks a new episode will be added so check back often.

United Way Community Campaign Co-Chairs, Mary and John Gutenberger and Nancy Fuhr Bonn and Fred Bonn announced Tuesday a final push to raise $90,000 and meet the $2,151,000 goal.  In doing so they drew from the 90 years of services and lives touched by the organization.  

“When we accepted the role of co-chairs during this 90th year, we understood the legacy of service and leadership. Beyond the many volunteers and contributors over the years, there is an unwavering history making life better for families and households regardless of the economic and political environments," said John Gutenberger.

The Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth announced the launch of a new series of Teacher-Friendly Guides^TM to Earth systems science in recognition of Winter Recess—Ithaca’s celebration of public school teachers and employees. 

Written for educators as content resources and curriculum supplements, the Teacher-Friendly GuidesTM facilitate inquiry-based education by providing the necessary background to explain scientific topics using familiar organisms and landscapes, from clams to corn and glaciers to gorges.

The History Center in Tompkins County is pleased to announce its selection along three other new heritage sites to join the Erie Canalway Partner Program, which offers technical assistance, coordinated tourism promotion, and networking opportunities for selected sites within the Corridor. The new sites include: The History Center in Tompkins County in Ithaca, Albany Institute of History & Art, Canastota Canal Town Museum in Canastota, and Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville. The program now includes 29 canal-related museums and cultural heritage sites.

Two local groups were recognized by the Tompkins County Legislature, Feb. 7, for their efforts growing the local economy through tourism. The Turkey Shoot Lacrosse Tournament and Ithaca College both received the county’s Tourism Partner Award for their efforts bringing large groups of overnight visitors to Tompkins County.

Turkey Shoot, an annual lacrosse tournament, hosted 1,500 players and families from 121 teams over two weekends in November. Organizer Mark Wenham celebrated the event’s 20th anniversary in 2011.