October 21, 2005

Wilkinson fights back

The only Dryden-related item in today's Ithaca Journal is in Briefly in Tompkins, which notes that the Dryden Senior Citizens will be holding their fund-raising bazaar on Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm at the Dryden Fire Hall (map). The race for District Attorney looks set to get ugly, as incumbent George Dentes made claims about challenger Gwen Wilkinson's involvement in...

Posted by simonstl at 12:10 PM

October 01, 2005

Dryden and Ithaca still have JV Football

I hadn't realized it, but the Dryden and Ithaca school districts are among the few in the county that still have a junior varsity football program. Lansing also has one, and Trumansburg's closed this fall. The pictures with the article are of the Dryden team, and there's some good discussion of why JV is a good complement to varsity football...

Posted by simonstl at 01:33 PM

September 27, 2005

County budget, DA's race

There isn't much in today's Ithaca Journal about Dryden, except a reminder that school taxes in Dryden are due Saturday to avoid a penalty. (In the Ithaca district, they're due October 31st.) There's lots of county news, however. A front page article visits last night's county budget meeting to see what the public had to say about the proposed no-tax-levy-increase...

Posted by simonstl at 08:52 AM

September 23, 2005

Stabbing at TC3 dorms

A Tuesday stabbing at the TC3 dorms will put a Spencer man in Dryden court today, charged with second-degree felony assault, as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Dryden firefighters took the victim to Cortland Hopital. In brighter news, math scores for elementary students throughout the county improved, while middle schools were mixed. In Dryden, elemenary math scores...

Posted by simonstl at 01:06 PM

September 06, 2005

Labor day, Ithaca redistricting

Summer's coming to a close, as Labor Day weekend rolled by. This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on the annual Labor Day picnic in Stewart Park, including a bit on the George Junior Republic negotiations settled earlier this summer: In Dryden, Lester "Bill" Lyon and his wife, Gloria Lyon, just finished negotiating for similar possibilities for unionized workers at The William...

Posted by simonstl at 08:44 AM

June 30, 2005

Dryden school repairs, much more

Since it's all going to vanish in a week, it's probably a good idea to report what's been in the Ithaca Journal for the past few days. The most Dryden-specific story is one on the renovations in progress at the Dryden elementary schools. Around Dryden, we have articles on the Town of Caroline raising funds for the Brooktondale Community Center,...

Posted by simonstl at 12:39 PM

June 24, 2005

Kalandros running for Totman's seat

This morning's Ithaca Journal lists four new candidates for county legislature, including one in the Groton seat that includes parts of Dryden and Lansing. Athena Kalandros, a co-owner of the Red Door Coffee House in the Village of Groton, will be running as a Democrat. Kalandros hopes to "bring a fresh perspective to representing the district, one that is alive...

Posted by simonstl at 08:56 AM

June 23, 2005

Journal supports TC3 expansion

This morning's Ithaca Journal is pretty quiet about Dryden news, but the editorial supports the County Legislature's vote to commit $625,000 toward TC3's master plan while the state gets the finances for it together. Just outside of Dryden, there was a false report of a bomb at the airport. Ithaca schools' service employees are voting on a contract Friday. There's...

Posted by simonstl at 08:24 AM

June 20, 2005

Bringing Lakeview Golf Course back to life

This morning's Ithaca Journal looks at a group of volunteers - and donors - who have worked together to reopen Lakeview Golf Course, repairing it, running it, and paying its taxes while its long-term future remains a question. The pictures give an idea both of the work involved, and there's lots of that, and of the scenery surrounding the course....

Posted by simonstl at 08:50 AM

May 25, 2005

Dryden 4th grader wins art award

Devontae Sims, a fourth-grade boy at Dryden Intermediate School, "was awarded Best Design honors by the National Education Association of New York in the kindergarten through fourth-grade division of the first ever Great Public Schools Art Contest," for a poster of the "perfect school." Coming right after high school students' success, it seems that Dryden is doing very well in...

Posted by simonstl at 08:06 AM

May 19, 2005

English test scores mostly improve

This morning's Ithaca Journal has an article on the latest test scores for fourth- and eighth-grade English released by the State Education Department. Across the state, fourth-graders are doing better while eighth-graders show little change. The article focuses on individual schools within the Ithaca district, and a sidebar provides overall district results. Ithaca's results on the fourth-grade test improved overall,...

Posted by simonstl at 07:38 AM

May 18, 2005

Dryden, Ithaca school budgets pass

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that both the Dryden Central School District and Ithaca City School District budgets passed, Dryden's by a 916-678 vote and Ithaca's by a 2032-1481 vote. All of the propositions for both districts also passed. In the school board elections, despite a confusing table on the front page that only shows two winners in Dryden, incumbents...

Posted by simonstl at 07:54 AM

May 17, 2005

School budget and board elections today

This morning's Ithaca Journal has both an article and an editorial on the elections today for school boards and school budgets. In the Dryden school district, four incumbents (Rachel Dickinson, Chris Gibbons, Karin LaMotte, Amanda Kittelberger) and two newcomers (Brad Rauch and Linnett Short) are vying for four seats. The budget up for a vote is $26.69 million, which includes...

Posted by simonstl at 08:23 AM

May 13, 2005

Running for office

While the Ithaca Journal may not have any interest in encouraging political activity by publicizing party events, they apparently do want to make sure that prospective candidates have some idea what's involved in running for local office, with an article briefly explaining the petition and caucus processes. If you're interested in running for office in Dryden this year, contact me...

Posted by simonstl at 07:45 AM

May 12, 2005

Flyer on Ithaca schools forum at Varna

Some mornings, the news conveniently comes to my mailbox. I found this flier (61KB PDF) outside just now. Whether you agree or disagree with the perspectives here, I'm delighted to see people bringing candidates to the area and encouraging serious questioning. Board of Education Candidate Forum at Varna Friday, May 13, 7:00-9:00 pm Varna Community Center, 943 Dryden Road (Route...

Posted by simonstl at 12:19 PM

Hunting safety

The Ithaca Journal's editorial today writes about the safety of hunting after a fatal turkey-hunting accident in Dryden. After looking at the steady decline in hunter injuries and the risks of other activities, it concludes that "In the end, short of hide under the bed, the only thing we can do is bring an educated caution with us into whatever...

Posted by simonstl at 08:16 AM

May 11, 2005

Ithaca schools events in Varna tonight, Friday

The Varna Community Center (map) will be hosting two Ithaca City School District-related events tonight and Friday. Tonight, Wednesday the 11th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, Caroline Elementary School Principal Alaine Troisi will be at a "Meet the Principal" event with pizza. Varna students were recently shifted to Caroline Elementary in elementary redistricting. (WHCU has the latest on redistricting and open...

Posted by simonstl at 08:33 AM

May 10, 2005

Dryden Middle School Principal Fedele leaving

This morning's Ithaca Journal has a brief notice that Dryden Middle School principal Roger Fedele resigned last night, after being on the job since last spring. Dryden Mutual Insurance is sponsoring a broad campaign to raise funds for the American Red Cross, as 19 groups try to raise $25,000. Tompkins Community Action will be sponsoring the Child and Adult Care...

Posted by simonstl at 07:55 AM

May 03, 2005

Hunting accident claims life

This morning's Ithaca Journal brings sad news: two brothers went turkey hunting in Dryden and one died of a gunshot wound. Michael and James Carter of Clover, South Carolina were hunting yesterday along Mott Road, and Michael somehow shot James in the back. The DEC police are investigating, and Town Supervisor Steve Trumbull is quoted extensively in the article about...

Posted by simonstl at 06:56 AM

May 02, 2005

Thefts stopped in Freeville

The Monitor reports a stolen Land Rover in Freeville, though it was stopped by a state trooper and its passengers ran off. A stolen laptop and bank papers were inside the car. A Dryden man was also arrested for marijuana possession at Pyramid Mall. Bellisario Excavating, on Oak Brook Drive, is mentioned for donating materials and volunteers to refurbish a...

Posted by simonstl at 08:04 AM

April 27, 2005

Upcoming Dryden events

Between Cathy Wakeman's Dryden Town Talk column and the Briefly in Dryden section of today's Ithaca Journal, there's a lot going on in the Town over the next few weeks: The Ithachords, Beyond Measure, and six other a cappella groups will perform Saturday at the Dryden High School auditorium at 8:00pm. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for others....

Posted by simonstl at 07:58 AM

April 26, 2005

The need for contested races

This morning's Ithaca Journal doesn't have much news about Dryden, but it does have an editorial on the need for competitive local elections in Tompkins County. The editorial states: Just as competition makes athletes better -- and more interesting to watch -- active, contested elections force all candidates to be stronger, more open and more thorough in how they outline...

Posted by simonstl at 07:36 AM

April 25, 2005

Canoes tip in Fall Creek

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on a frightening canoe trip down Fall Creek that left four people with hypothermia. The Varna and Dryden fire departments as well as New York State Troopers and Cornell's Environmental Health and Safety Office responded to an area near the Freese Road bridge after two canoes tipped their riders into extremely cold waters. The Ithaca...

Posted by simonstl at 08:41 AM

April 19, 2005

TC3 expansion finally funded

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that funding for a $10.6 million expansion at Tompkins Cortland Community College is finally in the state budget, after last year's veto of the money and the slowly unfolding failure to override that veto. As the Dryden Courier noted earlier, there are still sewer issues to work out for the expansion. TC3 also got increases...

Posted by simonstl at 07:51 AM

April 15, 2005

Righting the legislative ship

Freeville resident David Branagan writes that "I have tried and I have tried and I have tried, but I can't get over the commentary of Assemblywoman (Barbara) Lifton in The Journal of Feb. 28," and concludes that: It is inconceivable to me how legislators can file into their seats every day, play canasta or do whatever it is they do...

Posted by simonstl at 08:26 AM

April 14, 2005

School aid numbers ease school district budgeting

Today's Ithaca Journal is quiet about Dryden, except for an article that looks at how having state aid numbers on time means school districts aren't guessing about the actual size of their tax levies. It notes that the Ithaca school district's aid has increased, allowing them to call for a 4.32% tax levy increase while spending increases 6.28%. Dryden assumed...

Posted by simonstl at 08:23 AM

April 09, 2005

HANDS becomes a trust

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on the Dryden Central School District's making Help a Needy Dryden Student (HANDS) into a tax-exempt charitable organization. Jennie Daley reports on how "the small fund has been used for almost 20 years to buy items such as shoes, review books or eyeglasses in cases where families were unable to provide them." The fund is...

Posted by simonstl at 08:47 AM

April 07, 2005

Birds return to Dryden; ICSD middle school redistricting

The Ithaca Journal's editorial starts as "the raspy gee-gaw call of a male redwing blackbird echoed in a Dryden marsh," writing about the studies of local bird populations done by the Birdhouse Network, a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The editorial hopes that concrete steps to ease pressures on bird populations will make "putting up a string of...

Posted by simonstl at 08:00 AM

April 02, 2005

Dryden opinions, ICSD levy

Posted by simonstl at 09:22 AM

April 01, 2005

WHCU Director of Operations retiring

This morning's Ithaca Journal pays a visit to WHCU 870's Hanshaw Road offices for a story profiling retiring Director of Operations Tom Joseph. The Ithaca school district is reviewing its budget in preparation for a board vote April 12th and a referendum May 17th. The article lists proposed cuts and increases. The Journal's editorial looks at the first on-time state...

Posted by simonstl at 07:50 AM

March 31, 2005

Ithaca schools budget; freedom of information

This morning's Journal is light on news specifically about Dryden. Dryden residents who live in the Ithaca school district will probably be interested in an article on the ICSD budget's growth. There's also an article on proposed legislation to strengthen New York's Freedom of Information Law. I haven't had much trouble with FOIL requests here, but I'm happy to see...

Posted by simonstl at 08:31 AM

March 30, 2005

Helping education through recipes in memory

Cathy Wakeman's Town Talk column in today's Journal looks at "Heavenly Recipes," a cookbook dedicated to the memory of Michele Longo Ferris. The cookbook is available at Hill's Drugs in Dryden, and all proceeds will be dedicated to education. Wakeman also notes the memorial plates in many Southworth Library books, a reminder that people have left bequests to support their...

Posted by simonstl at 07:13 AM

March 29, 2005

Two-car accident on Yellow Barn Road

Last night's fog seems to have contributed to a two-car head-on collision that sent six people to the hospital last night on Yellow Barn Road. Dryden firefighters had to extricate both drivers, and a MedEvac helicopter couldn't help because of the fog. A Freeville man was charged with marijuana possession after a traffic stop on Sunday. In the Ithaca City...

Posted by simonstl at 07:59 AM

March 28, 2005

A few arrests

The Ithaca Journal is mostly quiet on Dryden news today, but reports the arrests of two Dryden men, one for DWI in Groton and one for breaking windows in Ithaca. In news just outside the town, there's an article on activity at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as spring approaches, including volunteer work done by citizen-scientists. The Journal's editorial looks...

Posted by simonstl at 08:03 AM

March 23, 2005

ICSD redistricts Varna children to Caroline

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that the Ithaca City School District voted 6-2 last night to implement a plan moving 23 students in Varna from Cayuga Heights Elementary School to Caroline. I need to take a look when new maps come out to see if that's the longest distance to an elementary school in the district; it feels likely to...

Posted by simonstl at 08:49 AM

March 22, 2005

More to come on windmills; ICSD redistricting tonight

Cornell University will be giving an overview of a wind power generation study to the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council meeting on April 13th, which starts at 7:00pm with the Cornell presentation around 8:00pm. The meeting will be held at the Tompkins County Transit Center (map). There's a bit of information about the study in the article itself: A temporary...

Posted by simonstl at 07:18 AM

March 20, 2005

School report cards, freedom of information

Posted by simonstl at 08:32 AM

March 19, 2005

ICSD redistricting petition for Varna

After the piece I wrote on Varna children being shifted to Caroline Elementary School, I heard from Pat and Tom Brenna, who are circulating a petition (36KB PDF) opposing the shift. They explain: Pat and Tom Brenna of 32 Deerhaven Drive first circulated the petition for signatures on March 19, 2005. By this time, the ICSD Board voted to "take...

Posted by simonstl at 04:21 PM

March 15, 2005

Varna children shifted to Caroline under ICSD redistricting plans

It looks like I was wrong when I said that only the easternmost edge of Varna would be affected by Ithaca elementary school redistricting. Admittedly I was quoting the Ithaca Journal and the ICSD's maps weren't very clear, but it's pretty plain now that the change is much more drastic. In the current elementary school map, children in the Town...

Posted by simonstl at 12:01 PM

Village elections today

This morning's Journal reports that there are elections today in the Villages of Dryden and Freeville. Polls will be open from noon to 9:00pm at the the Dryden Village Hall (map) and the the Freeville Village Hall (map). Freeville's election is uncontested, with Rachel Dickinson and Tom Lyson running for trustee. In Dryden, the mayor's race is uncontested, with Reba...

Posted by simonstl at 08:58 AM

March 11, 2005

Etna man in high-speed chase

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that an Etna man faces 25 charges after a high-speed chase through Collegetown and along Route 366 Saturday night. Timothy Troy allegedly hit multiple vehicles, including a head-on collision, and was arrested the next day after officers traced his license plate. A college student from Dryden is in Antarctica for a month on an "expedition...

Posted by simonstl at 08:41 AM

March 10, 2005

Wind power on Mount Pleasant?

This morning's Ithaca Journal includes a first look at Cornell's plans to put up to eight wind turbines on Mount Pleasant, near its current observatory. Cornell is "still in the study phase of this," and has put "a 50-meter weather station near the WHCU transmission tower." The project, which would provide 10-15% of the university's energy, would be large, nearly...

Posted by simonstl at 08:53 AM

Wind power on Mount Pleasant?

This morning's Ithaca Journal includes a first look at Cornell's plans to put up to eight wind turbines on Mount Pleasant, near its current observatory. Cornell is "still in the study phase of this," and has put "a 50-meter weather station near the WHCU transmission tower." The project, which would provide 10-15% of the university's energy, would be large, nearly...

Posted by simonstl at 08:53 AM

March 09, 2005

Golf course up for auction Friday

A letter in today's Ithaca Journal from Town Supervisor Steve Trumbull says that the Lakeview Golf Course is up for auction and the town still has hope: that the Town of Dryden and the new owners of the golf course can work together to expand recreational opportunities that the area would offer in addition to golf. The auction will be...

Posted by simonstl at 09:34 AM

March 07, 2005

Openings on Youth Commission, ZBA

In this morning's Ithaca Journal, Briefly in Tompkins and a second Briefly in Tompkins list some positions open to applications from residents of Dryden: The Dryden Youth Commission, a joint commission between the Town of Dryden, Village of Dryden, and Village of Freeville, has an opening for a Village of Dryden resident. The Dryden Zoning Board of Appeals has an...

Posted by simonstl at 08:00 AM

March 05, 2005

Absentee ballots for Village of Dryden elections

This morning's Ithaca Journal is pretty quiet about Dryden-specific news, but absentee ballots for village elections are now available from the Tompkins County Board of Elections. Requests for mailed applications must be received by March 8th, though applications may be picked up in person until March 14th. The election is March 15th. There's an extended article on Ithaca schools redistricting,...

Posted by simonstl at 08:18 AM

March 03, 2005

Town Board meets tonight to discuss 47 acres

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that the Dryden Town Board will be meeting tonight at 7:00pm in the Dryden Village Hall (map) for a public information session about the purchase of land for a new Town Hall and other possible uses. The Dryden Courier had reported on the prospect of 20-25 acres, but the parcel in question turns out to...

Posted by simonstl at 07:53 AM

March 02, 2005

Dryden Hotel to reopen soon

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that the Dryden Hotel will reopen sometime around April 1st, after repairs from water damage are completed. Briefly in Tompkins lists several upcoming Dryden events: The Dryden Town Board will be meeting tonight at 7:00pm at the Dryden Village Hall (map) in joint session with the Village Board to discuss an annexation petition from Dryden...

Posted by simonstl at 08:50 AM

March 01, 2005

Ithaca schools budget

Today's Ithaca Journal is practically silent on Dryden news. There's a discussion of the Ithaca school budget proposal to be unveiled tonight, which affects part of the town, but that's about it....

Posted by simonstl at 07:49 AM

February 23, 2005

Library questions

This morning's Ithaca Journal takes a look at library funding issues, noting that the Tompkins County Public Library is seeking help from the Ithaca and Lansing school districts through a referendum. Dryden's Southworth Library seems likely to have unique status if these pass: In Tompkins County, three libraries currently use a public referendum or a similar mechanism. Those libraries are...

Posted by simonstl at 08:57 AM

Library questions

This morning's Ithaca Journal takes a look at library funding issues, noting that the Tompkins County Public Library is seeking help from the Ithaca and Lansing school districts through a referendum. Dryden's Southworth Library seems likely to have unique status if these pass: In Tompkins County, three libraries currently use a public referendum or a similar mechanism. Those libraries are...

Posted by simonstl at 08:57 AM

February 22, 2005

Local fire departments busy

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that local fire companies had a lot of work this weekend. A three-car accident brought out the McLean and Freeville fire departments, as well as Dryden Ambulance and the New York State Police. A house fire in Slaterville brought out the Slaterville department as well as Harford, Brooktondale, Varna, Richford, and Speedsville tanker trucks. The...

Posted by simonstl at 08:59 AM

February 17, 2005

Lane proposes three-year assessment cycle

Dryden County Legislator Mike Lane is cited in this morning's Ithaca Journal as saying "he wants the Legislature to vote on changing the cycle to every three years, a move he proposed twice last year but was shot down both times by his colleagues." Lane goes on to say: "Some of us have been hearing about the new assessments," Lane...

Posted by simonstl at 08:46 AM

February 15, 2005

Ithaca schools redistricting

Today's Ithaca Journal is the quietest for Dryden news I've seen in a while. About all there is is mention of a hearing on Ithaca School District elementary redistricting tonight from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the district's administration building (map). The currently active plan for redistricting may affect a a few residents on the western edge of Dryden. Dryden's representative...

Posted by simonstl at 08:08 AM

February 10, 2005

Dryden resident profiled for Ithaca police work

This morning's Ithaca Journal has a profile and picture of Peter "Pete" Tyler, "the first African-American in IPD to reach the rank of sergeant." Tyler is a member of the Ithaca Police Department SWAT team, as well as a member of their recruitment team. He lives in Dryden, where he also volunteers with Neptune Hose Company. Freeville village elections appear...

Posted by simonstl at 08:09 AM

Dryden resident profiled for Ithaca police work

This morning's Ithaca Journal has a profile and picture of Peter "Pete" Tyler, "the first African-American in IPD to reach the rank of sergeant." Tyler is a member of the Ithaca Police Department SWAT team, as well as a member of their recruitment team. He lives in Dryden, where he also volunteers with Neptune Hose Company. Freeville village elections appear...

Posted by simonstl at 08:09 AM

February 09, 2005

Annexation possibilities

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on last night's public meeting to discuss the possible annexation of an area north of Dryden to the Village. Dryden Mutual Insurance has applied to be annexed to the Village, and there are large questions about sewer and water service in the area. Annexing parcel by parcel is a slow process that costs a lot...

Posted by simonstl at 08:14 AM

February 08, 2005

Profile of TC coordinator, ICSD redistricting

This morning's Ithaca Journal includes a profile of TC3 multicultural coordinator Jean D'Arc Kakusu Campbell, exploring how a man born in the Democratic Republic of Congo came to Dryden "to make TC3 a place that embraces and celebrates every culture." The paper also finally sheds some light on the impact of Ithaca City School District elementary redistricting on a small...

Posted by simonstl at 07:27 AM

February 03, 2005

Final suspect convicted of kidnapping

This morning's Journal reports that Mao-Sheng Lin was convicted of kidnapping in a robbery of the Song Tao restaurant in November 2003. Lin had disappeared after posting $200,000 in bail and was returned from Texas in November 2004. Two other suspects pleaded guilty earlier. An article on students raising money for tsunami aid includes a list of student projects at...

Posted by simonstl at 08:18 AM

February 01, 2005

Delay in Town Hall land purchase

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that negotiations with ELM Acquisition Corporation for land for a new town hall have been delayed because of a "small glitch." The negotiations are still proceeding: Steve Trumbull, the town supervisor, said the town board should be able to vote on the revised deal at its meeting Feb. 10. In the meantime, Trumbull said he...

Posted by simonstl at 07:29 AM

Delay in Town Hall land purchase

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that negotiations with ELM Acquisition Corporation for land for a new town hall have been delayed because of a "small glitch." The negotiations are still proceeding: Steve Trumbull, the town supervisor, said the town board should be able to vote on the revised deal at its meeting Feb. 10. In the meantime, Trumbull said he...

Posted by simonstl at 07:29 AM

January 27, 2005

Dryden opinions

Two Dryden residents write to express their opinions in today's Ithaca Journal. Peter Davies writes a guest column encouraging the Ithaca City School District to support rowing as a sport. Maureen Brull writes expressing her concern about Americans' "arrogant use of money". There's another announcement for the Second Annual Breast Cancer Ride for Research, an all-girls snowmobile ride which the...

Posted by simonstl at 08:28 AM

January 26, 2005

Horses killed in accident on 38

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on an accident which killed two horses which wandered on to Route 38 Sunday night. The Dryden Fire Department replied, and the vehicle involved was towed away, but the people involved weren't injured. Briefly in Dryden lists a lasagna dinner at the Varna United Methodist Church (map) at 4:00pm on Saturday, January 29th. Tompkins Cortland...

Posted by simonstl at 08:47 AM

January 25, 2005

Beyond Measure on "Best of High School A Cappella 2005"

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that the Dryden High School a cappella ensemble Beyond Measure has a song, "Fever," on a collection CD, "Best of High School A Cappella 2005." The CD is not yet available, bit should be out soon, and Beyond Measure's next performance will be April 29th. The Ithaca School Board will be examining redistricting tonight at...

Posted by simonstl at 08:48 AM

January 20, 2005

ICSD in TC IDA?

County Legislator Mike Lane is quoted in an article on the Ithaca City School District's interest in a seat on the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency board, noting that because the IDA grants tax abatements, "We are directly affected by the outcome of the decisions made by the IDA." Lane prefers that elected officials rather than representatives of particular groups...

Posted by simonstl at 12:34 PM

January 17, 2005

Ithaca schools find outside funding

It's a quiet day for Dryden news, but the Journal has a few stories that affect parts of Dryden. The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) reports having raised $94,917 to support programs in the Ithaca City School District. You can see more about them at the IPEI web site. (The Dryden distirct has a similar organization, the Dryden Youth Opportunity...

Posted by simonstl at 08:05 AM

January 14, 2005

Town buys land for town hall, possibly recreation

This morning's Journal follows up yesterday's articles on reasons to buy land for a new Town Hall with a report that the Town Board voted last night to approve it. I'll have more detail on the conversation about this issue over the weekend (I talked too much!), but at least some of the conversation about possible recreation uses took place...

Posted by simonstl at 04:08 AM

January 13, 2005

Land purchase on tonight's Town Board agenda

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on the space shortage in Dryden Town Hall and a possible land purchase to build a new one which will be discussed at tonight's 7:00pm board meeting. They have a nice collection of pictures illustrating the problem, which is hard to miss if you visit Town Hall. The question of recreation land as part of...

Posted by simonstl at 07:48 AM

January 12, 2005

Events, ICSD special education

Today's Ithaca Journal Our Towns section mostly focuses on the other towns that share Wednesday, but the Briefly in Dryden section mentions two upcoming events: TC3 will be holding Alumni Fun Day on February 5th, and free tickets are available to alumni who register by January 28th. "Mad Science: Marvels in Motion" will start the day with a collection of...

Posted by simonstl at 08:18 AM

January 11, 2005

ICSD Special education, state issues

There isn't much specific to Dryden in today's Ithaca Journal, but there is plenty of new that affects Dryden or some part of it. The Ithaca City School District will be reviewing a report on its special education programs tonight. The article notes some ways in which Ithaca students vary from state and national averages. I've mentioned green construction in...

Posted by simonstl at 08:57 AM

January 08, 2005

Ringwood Road fire

This morning's Ithaca Journal has a photo of Varna and Dryden firefighters putting out a fire at a workshop on Ringwood Road yesterday. Briefly in Tompkins mentions the Dryden Senior Citizens' meeting and lunch at the Dryden Fire Hall this coming Monday, January 10th, at 11:30am, as well as a firewood lottery at the DEC. There's an article on how...

Posted by simonstl at 09:16 AM

December 28, 2004

Freeville pancakes, ICSD redistricting

The only Dryden-specific event mentioned in today's Ithaca Journal is a listing for a pancake breakfast at the Freeville Fire Station, to be held Sunday, January 2nd, from 8:00am to 11:00am. All of the Dryden fire departments, along with others in the county, are noted in today's editorial, which suggests: "During the holiday season, people often take time to think...

Posted by simonstl at 08:46 AM

December 08, 2004

Victorian Festival; physical therapy; jail voted down

Cathy Wakeman's describes last Friday's Victorian Winter Festival and provides a list of holiday events yet to come in today's Ithaca Journal. There's also a profile of Freeville physical therapist Richard Weiner, looking at a class he taught in Ithaca on the Feldenkrais Method. The Ithaca City School District continues to discuss redistricting, though no plans have yet been drawn....

Posted by simonstl at 08:52 AM

December 04, 2004

Drug busts, wood stove safety, jail

The Monitor reports on two cocaine busts in Dryden, one tied to an arrest earlier this week, and one marijuana arrest. The Journal has an article on the fatal fire in Slaterville this past week, exploring safety measures needed to keep wood stoves safe. It notes that 5.6% of Dryden residents have woodstoves, fewer than many towns in the county...

Posted by simonstl at 09:34 AM

December 01, 2004

Nearby trains

Wednesdays are usually pretty busy days for Dryden in the Ithaca Journal because of the Our Towns section, but this week's news there is mostly of Groton and Caroline. There is a piece on trains in Caroline, including some discussion of the Besemer station, right near the Dryden-Caroline boundary. There is a Briefly in Dryden section, which lists continued openings...

Posted by simonstl at 08:36 AM

November 29, 2004

FEMA restores funding

The Ithaca Journal reports this morning (as I reported Thursday) that FEMA has decided to restore the $170,000 in funding they had removed because they claimed the project had changed since it was authorized. The McLean Fire Department has purchased ten new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) using a federal grant. (You can also see Congressman Boehlert's press release on the...

Posted by simonstl at 08:55 AM

November 15, 2004

Quiet weekend on Dryden

The only mention I can find of Dryden in today's Ithaca Journal comes in an editorial congratulating the Dryden boys' soccer team for winning a sectional championship November 6th. There's also a piece from Ithaca City School District Superintendent Judith Pastel on ICSD redistricting. At the state level, the Journal has a number of articles and editorials, though I notice...

Posted by simonstl at 07:42 AM

November 12, 2004

Etna Fire Company issues

The Ithaca Journal reports this morning on last night's Town Board meeting, focusing on board members' growing concern with the reponse times of the Etna Fire Company. The board approved contracts for other departments, but not for Etna. The article also notes the appointment of a consultant for the Freeville-Dryden trail. A Lower Creek Road resident has been charged with...

Posted by simonstl at 08:05 AM

November 02, 2004

Election news, bookkeeper sentencing

There's lots of news about today's election in the Journal, including general instructions for voting and a list of election-day dinners including the one at the Dryden United Methodist Church. The Journal takes a look at how Tompkins County residents have participated with their pocketbooks, as the direction of New York's electoral votes are pretty well decided. The article quotes...

Posted by simonstl at 07:20 AM

October 31, 2004

Decorating funds, wonderful schools, letters

This weeks' Dryden Courier takes a look at the Dryden Decorating Committee's efforts to raise funds, as they look for an additional $4,000 for wreaths to decorate village lightposts. The Village Board turned them down this time. There's also an article on psychologist Ellen deLara, who concluded after a four-month study that Dryden High School is largely a safe place,...

Posted by simonstl at 02:47 PM

October 20, 2004

New Dryden Intermediate principal, gift box drive

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on Sandra Sherwood, the new Dryden Intermediate School principal, who came to Dryden from Marathon this September. In the Our Towns section, there's a report (with complete directions for how to participate) on the "Home of the Brave" gift box drive at Dryden Veterans Memorial Home. Donors should bring items, possibly in shoe boxes, with...

Posted by simonstl at 08:39 AM

September 17, 2004

Dryden Grange outlives most local Granges

An Ithaca Journal article on a celebration of 100 years of the Tompkins County Pomona Grange discusses how only two of its founding nineteen local granges still exist: Enfield Valley and Dryden. The Ithaca City School District is studying why only 254 of 298 students repeating classes finished summer school, while the Dryden district had 32 of 33 finish and...

Posted by simonstl at 08:47 AM

September 16, 2004

Dryden school board approves teachers' contract

It looks like the contract negotiations in the Dryden Central School District have finally reached a positive conclusion, as the school board voted unanimously to approve the contract that teachers approved September 2nd. Meanwhile, in the Ithaca District, negotiations with the service union reached an impasse. At the county level, District Attorney George Dentes relived last year's failed attempt to...

Posted by simonstl at 12:41 PM

September 15, 2004

Boehlert wins Republican primary

Today's Ithaca Journal reports that Sherwood Boehlert defeated David Walrath by 20,365 to 14,741. In Tompkins County, the vote was 919 for Boehlert to 613 for Walrath. In the general election, Boehlert will face Walrath, who has the Conservative line, and Jeffrey Miller, a Democrat. Closer to home, the Journal's "Our Towns" section seems to be shrinking. It's no longer...

Posted by simonstl at 04:48 PM

September 13, 2004

Ellis Hollow fair, ICSD redistricting

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on the Ellis Hollow Fair, saying: As it has for more than a half century, the second Saturday in September brought legions of locals to the annual fair, with its booths, games and other traditional activities. The Freeville Harvest Festival is mentioned in an article on remembrances of 9/11. The Ithaca City School District is...

Posted by simonstl at 10:16 AM

September 09, 2004

Weather, Reagan

It's a quiet day for Dryden news in Thursday's Journal. Hurricane Frances' remnants are soaking the area, though not producing flooding. There's an article on Ithaca High School's rules for parents opting out of information sharing with military recruiters, which also mentions policies at surrounding districts, but not Dryden. On the opinion page, Steve Scott of Dryden defends Reagan's economic...

Posted by simonstl at 08:49 AM

August 20, 2004

Dryden teachers, district reach agreement

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that the Dryden Central School District and Dryden Faculty Association have reached a tentative four-year agreement. (Because of the delay in reaching a contract, it covers from July 2002 to June 2006.) Teachers will vote on the proposed contract September 2nd, and it sounds like there's more optimism this contract will pass than the last:...

Posted by simonstl at 07:40 AM

August 11, 2004

School numbers arrive, jail numbers don't

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that the New York State Legislature has finally passed an education bill, so schools will know their aid levels before they send out tax bills. Dryden will be getting $12.85 million this coming year as opposed to $12.22 million last year, and Ithaca will be getting $19.71 million as opposed to $18.48 million last year....

Posted by simonstl at 08:47 AM

July 15, 2004

School budgets, boards, lots of small news items

The Ithaca Journal has lots of news stories on Dryden today, though Dryden plays only a small part in many of them. On the schools front, Tricia Edgecomb is resigning from the Dryden school board a year into her term. Dryden's 1979 High School Class Reunion will be July 17th at 4:30pm.There's also a piece on prospects for resolution of...

Posted by simonstl at 08:27 AM

June 25, 2004

Emergency radio breaks down, school aid cut

It was a quiet day in Dryden yesterday - too quiet in some ways. The Ithaca Journal reports that Tompkins County emergency radio system was off the air from 9:30am to 12:40pm yesterday, after a circuit board in a tower failed. The system also failed on May 19th, and tempers are rising over delays in its replacement. The federal government...

Posted by simonstl at 07:50 AM

June 24, 2004

Dryden teachers' contract rejected 116-45

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that that the Dryden Faculty Association voted down a proposed contract because of "finances and lack of respect by the district to the collective bargaining process." DFA president Mary Ellen Bossack is quoted saying "Other districts that used to be below us are doing far better for their teachers than Dryden is, so the sense...

Posted by simonstl at 07:15 AM

June 19, 2004

Ithaca redistricting, Dryden budget

Today's Ithaca Journal reports on prospective Ithaca City School District elementary school redistricting, and links to the school district's report on the matter (694KB PDF). I was hoping for detailed demographics of the areas served by the schools, but didn't find them. There's lots of other information there, though! On the opinion page, there are letters pro and con on...

Posted by simonstl at 08:18 AM

June 09, 2004

Dryden Dairy Day and more

This morning's Ithaca Journal is overflowing with Dryden news. That's not unusual on Wednesday, when the Our Towns section features Dryden and Groton, but today there's news throughout the paper, much of it even good. A cow greets readers at the top of the paper, pointing them to to an article on Dryden Dairy Day, a schedule for Dryden Dairy...

Posted by simonstl at 08:44 AM

June 04, 2004

Guilty plea in robbery; school testing results

Today's Ithaca Journal reports that one of the three men accused of robbing the Song Tao restaurant in Dryden in last November, Cam B. Quan, has pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary. Two other accomplices, also from Texas, have not yet gone to trial. In schools news, test scores for elementary and middle school English weren't encouraging for local school districts,...

Posted by simonstl at 07:37 AM

May 19, 2004

Dryden school budget fails in tie; Ithaca budget passes

The Dryden Central Schools budget failed to pass with a 718-718 tie. The school buses proposal passed 738-592, and Anderson Young (1055 votes), Margaret DeGaetano (936), Russ Kowalski (902) will join the board, defeating Paul Lutwak (699 votes). Board President Rachel Dickinson said the district will create a new budget, not present the same one. In the Ithaca district, the...

Posted by simonstl at 08:11 AM

May 18, 2004

School elections today

School budget and board elections are today. The Ithaca Journal gives an overview of school elections in the county. In Dryden, the two largest districts by far are the Dryden Central School District and the Ithaca City School District. Voting for the Dryden district is at the the Dryden Middle School/High School Auditorium from 7am to 9pm today. According to...

Posted by simonstl at 08:19 AM

May 15, 2004

School elections

With school elections coming Tuesday, the Ithaca Journal has a collection of articles on different aspects of school elections, as well as lots of letters endorsing various candidates. Included today are: an article on voter apathy, with quotes from Dryden residents and retiring Ithaca School Board members Art Berkey and Henry Kramer, as well as a comparison of tax rates...

Posted by simonstl at 11:25 AM

May 14, 2004

Ithaca candidates and budget, homeless census

Most of the Dryden-related articles in today's Ithaca Journal have to do with the Ithaca school board elections and budget. There are a set of questions for candidates and answers, a piece on a meet-the-candidates forum, and a letter co-signed by Dryden resident Kathleen R. Krafft endorsing Dryden resident David Lee and fellow candidates Judy Maxwell and Bob DeLuca. There...

Posted by simonstl at 08:37 AM

May 13, 2004

Wage fraud, redistricting

Today's Journal looks at $107,000 in unpaid wages by a Dryden employer following a guilty plea by the firm's former owner. There are also articles on possible state pension fund changes that might ease the county budget, and Ithaca school board candidates' thoughts on elementary school redistricting. On the opinion page, Dryden resident and Ithaca school board member Henry Kramer...

Posted by simonstl at 08:58 AM

May 12, 2004

Schools forum, Freeville people

Today's Ithaca Journal has lots of Dryden news, including the weekly Our Towns section. Last night's Dryden school budget hearing and candidates forum gets an article, examining reaction to the increases and listening to the four candidates for three seats on the board. There are two articles in the Our Towns section talking about Freeville residents. The first, Freeville woman...

Posted by simonstl at 08:50 AM

May 11, 2004

Dryden school budget, Ithaca school candidates

Today's Ithaca Journal includes an article on the Dryden Central School District budget, told mostly through the perspectives of candidates running for the board. It also mentions tonight's candidates forum. On the editorial page, the Journal endorses Dryden resident David Lee along with Robert DeLuca and Judith Maxwell. There are also a letter from Dryden resident Henry Kramer endorsing Allen...

Posted by simonstl at 08:26 AM

May 10, 2004

Assessment hearings and planning meetings

Today's Ithaca Journal includes schedules of assessment hearings and comprehensive plan meetings. The local advisory board for assessments will meet at the Dryden Town Hall (map) on Thursday, May 20th, from 3pm to 6pm to hear property owners who wish to contest their assessments. The County Planning Department will hold meetings explaining the draft of their Comprehensive Plan at Dryden...

Posted by simonstl at 12:27 PM

May 08, 2004

School candidates, Ithaca Produce, more

After a quiet week, today's Ithaca Journal is bursting with Dryden news. The Journal profiles the four candidates running for the Dryden School Board: Margaret DeGaetano, Paul Lutwak, Russ Kowalski, and Anderson Young. Paul Lutwak also has a letter to the editor about the Journal's recent supplement containing school test scores. I had posted some expenditure data from it but...

Posted by simonstl at 08:22 AM

May 06, 2004

Lane on energy and costs

Today's Ithaca Journal reports that the county legislature's Planning, Development and Environmental Quality Committee tabled a motion calling for the county to get 5% of its energy from renewable sources by 2008. The reason: unknown costs. Though Senior Planner Heather Filiberto said that "The costs are almost competitive with the purchase of fossil fuels," the proposal apparently didn't have hard...

Posted by simonstl at 08:07 AM

May 04, 2004

Draft, abuse prevention, schools

The only Dryden-specific item in today's Ithaca Journal is a letter to the editor about the prospect of a draft from Ellen Schmidt of the Town of Dryden. In broader county news, the Journal covers a presentation by Meredith Wiley, the state director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, in which she urged to county to focus more resources on...

Posted by simonstl at 08:32 AM

April 30, 2004

School grades, expenditures

The print edition of today's Ithaca Journal contains a "Grading Our Schools" supplement which lists test results for schools and school districts in the area, including Dryden, Ithaca, and many more. It also lists spending per pupil for the 2000-2001 years (which is odd, given that the test results are for 2002-3). For comparison, here are the expenditures per student...

Posted by simonstl at 12:47 PM

April 29, 2004

Two Dryden residents leaving ICSD board, one running

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that six people are running for three seats on the Ithaca City School District Board of Education. None of the three incumbents, including Dryden residents Arthur Berkey and Henry Kramer, is running again, while Dryden resident David Lee is running. The district also voted to add a reading specialist if insurance fees drop enough to...

Posted by simonstl at 07:30 AM

April 27, 2004

Dryden resident running for ICSD; county news

Today's Ithaca Journal reports that a Town of Dryden resident, David R. Lee, was the first to file petitions for a school board campaign in the Ithaca City School District. The rest of the Dryden-relevant news in today's paper seems to be county news. There's a piece on the Budget Community Advisory Council's initial recommendations to the county for ways...

Posted by simonstl at 08:29 AM

April 22, 2004

Green buildings, ICSD

Today's Ithaca Journal, taking note of Earth Day, takes a look at green building practices in Tompkins County, including the Tompkins County SPCA expansion building under construction on Hanshaw Road. There's also a lot of coverage of the Ithaca City School District, with coverage of a press conference Superintendent Pastel held on continuing incidents of racial bias. They also cover...

Posted by simonstl at 08:10 AM

March 19, 2004

Village and school budgets

Today's Ithaca Journal reports on the 11% percent increase in the tax levy proposed in the Village of Dryden, driven by a 7% increase in total spending and reflected in a 4.5% tax rate increase. Health insurance, retirement, legal, and gasoline costs have increased substantially, as did the need for some salaries to rise to stay competitive. Freeville also reduced...

Posted by simonstl at 08:54 AM

March 18, 2004

School report cards, budgets

Today's Journal reports that New York State issued school report cards yesterday, and the news is mostly good for the Dryden and Ithaca districts: "Ithaca City School District elementary and middle schools did significantly better on state tests than those the state deems as similar schools around the state, according to Russell. High school Regents exam performance also continued to...

Posted by simonstl at 08:47 AM

March 17, 2004

Schools testing, budgets, taxes

Today's Ithaca Journal has an extended article on schools looking forward to tomorrow's state test results, and opens with discussion of Dryden Intermediate School's fourth grade. There's also a piece on the Ithaca City School District's budget plan, which currently includes a tax levy increase of 5.82%, though a tax rate decrease of about 4%, reflecting increased assessmements. On the...

Posted by simonstl at 07:08 AM

March 16, 2004

More on school board budgets, affordable housing

Today's Ithaca Journal has stories on budgeting at both the Dryden Central School District and the Ithaca City School District. As noted yesterday, the Dryden district's budget looks especially bleak: "Last year when we said we'd keep it to 10 percent [tax levy increase], it seemed possible. This year the effect of the 10 percent, I think, will ruin our...

Posted by simonstl at 08:57 AM

March 10, 2004

Dryden busing, ICSD budget, vaccinations, Corinthians

Today's Ithaca Journal notes an April 1 deadline for Dryden Central School District residents seeking buses to non-public schools and a report from the Intermunicipal Recreation Partnership, and examines what next year's Ithaca City School District budget would look like if held to a 5% tax levy increase. On the opinion page, Dr. William Klepack of Dryden Family Medicine (and...

Posted by simonstl at 07:30 AM

March 09, 2004

Absentee ballots, healthy food in ICSD

The Ithaca Journal reports that today is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the Freeville or Dryden village elections, though ballots may still be picked up in person until March 15 from the Board of Elections. Also in today's Journal, in the Ithaca City School District, the Food Service Program is offering healthier lunches for children....

Posted by simonstl at 08:16 AM

March 04, 2004

New principal, roof repairs, elections

Today's Ithaca Journal has a story on the new principal of Dryden Middle School, Roger Fedele, interviewing both Fedele and Dryden parents. There will be a welcoming reception for Fedele on March 8th, at 7pm in the Middle School cafeteria. In the Ithaca City School District, they're repairing lots and lots of school roofs with extra money that has become...

Posted by simonstl at 08:35 AM

February 23, 2004

ICSD absences and leaves

Today's Ithaca Journal features a letter by Arthur Berkey, Town of Dryden resident and member of the Ithaca City School District Board of Education examining district policy on absences, leaves, and coaching appointments. Although it notes in the first paragraph that it isn't directly about soccer coach Terry Habecker (also a Dryden resident), it does provide background information for that...

Posted by simonstl at 07:48 AM

February 04, 2004

SPCA, roads, school costs

The Ithaca Journal is fairly quiet today on Dryden news. The largest item is a guest column from the SPCA director defending the SPCA (which is in Dryden and serves Dryden as well as the rest of Tompkins County) from an earlier letter questioning their practices. There's also a letter noting that the accidents this winter seem to be taking...

Posted by simonstl at 08:31 AM

SPCA, roads, school costs

The Ithaca Journal is fairly quiet today on Dryden news. The largest item is a guest column from the SPCA director defending the SPCA (which is in Dryden and serves Dryden as well as the rest of Tompkins County) from an earlier letter questioning their practices. There's also a letter noting that the accidents this winter seem to be taking...

Posted by simonstl at 08:31 AM

January 27, 2004

Ithaca City School District examines enrollment

The ICSD will hear a report tonight on enrollment projections for the next three to five years, as well as examine how efficiently buildings are being used. The Ithaca Journal reports that: Because only some students from outlying towns -- including Enfield, Caroline, Danby and Dryden -- attend Ithaca city schools, Haber must also project what portion of those towns'...

Posted by simonstl at 08:12 AM

January 09, 2004

TC3 summer school closing

Today's Ithaca Journal reports that Dryden Central Schools may no longer have summer school, as Tompkins Cortland Community College is closing its Regional Summer Program after budget cuts by the SUNY Chancellor, and Superintendent Archambault said that Dryden may not have the money to participate in a possible BOCES replacement. The Ithaca City School District, Lansing, and others may participate...

Posted by simonstl at 08:33 AM

December 20, 2003

Schools, dispatchers

The Ithaca Journal notes this morning that the Ithaca City School District is still working out elementary school redistricting, and mentions Turkey Hill Road in particular as a place where some students go to Caroline and others to Cayuga Heights. It was very confusing when we bought this house that realtor.com kept claiming it was in Cayuga Heights because of...

Posted by simonstl at 11:13 AM

December 17, 2003

Dryden teachers deadlock continues

It looks like the Dryden Faculty Association will be working without a contract for a while longer, as a meeting with a fact-finder produced no new results. Superintendent Patricia Archambault estimates that this will continue into February or March. Meanwhile, Ithaca City School District Superintendent Judith Pastel received a 3.2% raise....

Posted by simonstl at 08:43 AM