August 20, 2011

March for the Animals led by Freeville's Dickinsons

Amy, Ann, and Rachel Dickinson are chairing the second annual "March for the Animals", to be held October 1st at TC3. They're hoping to raise $100,000 for the Tompkins County SPCA. Last year's event raised $53,000. In sadder news, a...

Posted by simon at 11:02 AM

July 20, 2011

Dog survives overdose

Dogs are notorious for getting into and eating yucky things. Combine that with someone throwing out a pile of what seems to have been marijuana gone bad, and you have a very unhappy dog: "Usually we have a presumed diagnosis...

Posted by simon at 8:40 AM

May 6, 2011

Game camera catches skunks, raccoons, cats, kids

A few weeks ago I bought a game camera to try to figure out what's moving around in our woods - particularly deer and coyotes. Although pretty much everything I've seen suggested I was getting the right camera, they seem...

Posted by simon at 9:27 PM

March 2, 2011

Dryden school levy to climb six percent?

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that the Dryden schools' tax levy may climb 6% this year in the face of state aid cuts and Governor Cuomo's proposed property tax cap. Even with that 6% tax increase, the budget's overall size...

Posted by simon at 8:27 AM

April 28, 2010

Dog license change complications

Yesterday's Journal noted that Governor Paterson wants to shift dog license manufacture and tracking to the counties to save a grand total of $157,000. I haven't seen what it would cost counties - though I'm sure license vendors are excited...

Posted by simon at 6:48 AM

September 23, 2009

Never chase black ducks at twilight

Through an orchard full of black caps and other pointy plants. Our Cayuga ducks are great, but get more and more invisible as it gets darker. Every now and then we need to move them from place to place, which...

Posted by simon at 7:53 PM

April 22, 2008

Dryden Police leaving Freeville

The April 16th issue of the Dryden Courier leads with an article on the end of Village of Dryden police covering the Village of Freeville. Freeville had been paying $42,000 a year, but according to Dryden Mayor Reba Taylor, "Their...

Posted by simon at 8:02 AM

October 30, 2007

Happiness comes when

It's past sunset, the very end of twilight, and you've given up on ever finding your dog. Then you hear a squeaking sound, and think it might just possibly be your dog. Then a while later you hear more squeaking,...

Posted by simon at 8:58 PM

September 1, 2007

Taking no-kill beyond Tompkins County

Former Tompkins County SPCA Director Nathan Winograd will be launching the tour for his new book at their Hanshaw Road facility on Sunday. He hopes to spread the story of how the Tompkins County SPCA euthanizes only the "hopelessly ill...

Posted by simon at 7:56 AM

August 17, 2007

Dryden schools superintendent moves on

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that Dryden schools superintendent Mark Crawford will be leaving Dryden to become superintendent in Hamburg, NY. Crawford, who has served as Dryden superintendent for three years, grew up in the Hamburg area and has family...

Posted by simon at 8:38 AM

August 14, 2007

SPCA reduces dog fees, changes policies

A lot happened while I was in the Adirondacks. The SPCA had a half-price dog adoption weekend, moving 13 dogs into new homes. They've also changed their policies about who can adopt dogs: While the half-price adoption offer is temporary,...

Posted by simon at 12:38 PM

August 8, 2007

Injured kitten on 366

I dropped my car off at Varna Auto Service this morning, and Angelika and I were going to walk home with Sprocket. (Spring isn't feeling well.) We had walked up across the street from the Methodist Church when we noticed...

Posted by simon at 9:02 PM

April 10, 2007

Visit the Vet School

I drive by the Cornell Vet School all the time, and many Varna residents are veterinary students. They'll be having an Open House this Saturday, April 14th, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. They're about a little ways west of the Dryden...

Posted by simon at 8:05 AM

January 13, 2006

3-year dog license - if rabies shots are current

This morning's Ithaca Journal notes a change in the dog licensing rules. In Dryden, you'll be able to get a dog license for as long as your dog's rabies vaccination is current, up to three years. However, your dog's license...

Posted by simon at 5:39 PM

December 2, 2005

Dryden fifth-graders hold SPCA fund-raiser

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that two Dryden fifth-graders will be hosting a craft sale tomorrow from 12:30pm to 5:30pm at the SPCA. Emily Gray and Allison Sullivan have: worked tirelessly for the past several weeks obtaining and creating holiday...

Posted by simon at 8:39 AM

October 26, 2005

Raining dogs and cats

The Tompkins County SPCA's Hanshaw Road facility is bulging with dogs and cats in need of homes. Built for 38 dogs, they now have 54, as well as 291 cats. The usual fall drop-off in occupancy hasn't happened this year,...

Posted by simon at 12:42 PM

September 28, 2005

Corgis on Baker Hill Road

The Our Towns section of today's Ithaca Journal and the paper generally have lots about Dryden today, but I'll start with the most fun article, about a Corgi at a house just up the hill from mine who won the...

Posted by simon at 12:30 PM

June 11, 2005

Lightning causes fire on Snyder Hill

This morning's Ithaca Journal is quiet about Dryden, but a fire they list as Brooktondale happened on Snyder Hill Road in the southwest corner of the Town of Dryden. Also in that list, the SPCA gives tips for keeping pets...

Posted by simon at 12:25 PM

May 7, 2005

Indictment; SPCA Walk-a-thon

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that Gary Reid of Staten Island was indicted on two federal charges related to his contacting a Dryden Middle School seventh grader over the Internet and taking her away from school on April 15th. He...

Posted by simon at 9:00 AM

April 9, 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...

Posted by simon at 8:47 AM

March 27, 2005

'Woman from Dryden' and 1831 murder

In yesterday's Ithaca Journal, Tompkins County Historian Carol Kammen examines the 1831 murder of Fanny Clark in Ithaca by her husband, and mentions a Dryden link: Then there was the added annoyance of the woman from Dryden: She had moved...

Posted by simon at 8:12 AM

March 24, 2005

Low Tompkins snowmobile accident rate

This morning's Ithaca Journal talks with the Dryden-Caroline Drifters snowmobile club in an article about Tompkins County having a lower rate of snowmobile injuries and fatalities than other parts of the state. There's a picture of Deana Madigan on her...

Posted by simon at 7:58 AM

March 17, 2005

Etna man faces steeper charges

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that Timothy Troy of Etna, accused of leading police on a chase through Collegetown and Dryden, may face more severe charges as his case is referred to a grand jury. The SPCA will be having...

Posted by simon at 8:43 AM

February 11, 2005

Town Board meeting, Freeville perspectives

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on last night's Town Board meeting. They lead with the question of the purchase of land for the new Town Hall, writing that: In an unexpected move, the Dryden Town Board went into executive session...

Posted by simon at 8:59 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...

Posted by simon at 8:09 AM

February 4, 2005

Possible dog park in Dryden?

I don't often find news in the paper that would make my dogs happy, but today they're lucky: the Journal reports that the Tompkins County SPCA is considering creating an off-leash dog park on 12 acres of its own land....

Posted by simon at 8:21 AM

February 1, 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...

Posted by simon at 7:29 AM

December 11, 2004

Visiting the SPCA

The Tompkins County SPCA had an open house last night. Tracey and I and a friend went over to see the new building and visit the cats and dogs. There were lots and lots of cats, and not as many...

Posted by simon at 12:45 PM

September 3, 2004

Rural small businesses, guide dog, sports

This week's Dryden Courier looks at the county's efforts to encourage rural small businesses. The Planning Department found that while 35% of the population lives in rural areas of the county, 55% of the small businesses are there. The county...

Posted by simon at 7:53 AM

August 16, 2004

"Ultimutt Makeover" pilot show filmed in Etna

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on the shooting of a reality TV pilot show in Etna, as "UltiMutt Makeover" combines home remodeling reality show with pet care. Richard Parker and Nancy Douglas and their St. Bernard, Shasta, have left for...

Posted by simon at 8:35 AM

July 23, 2004

Brong pleads guilty; new SPCA leader

The Ithaca Journal reports that former Town of Dryden bookkeeper Liva Brong pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for depositing an $8,993.42 forged check. The Town is still reviewing its books for last year. Brong will be sentenced October 22nd,...

Posted by simon at 8:36 AM

June 29, 2004

SPCA director leaving, County executive

This morning's Ithaca Journal reports that Nathan Winograd, executive director of the Tompkins County SPCA, will be leaving at the end of the summer. Winograd has overseen the adoption of a no-kill policy and the construction of the Dorothy Park...

Posted by simon at 8:01 AM

June 4, 2004

SPCA expansion nearing completion

Signs are going up and the landscaping looks less like a construction site than it did back in March. SPCA expansion with signs and grading...

Posted by simon at 7:38 PM

May 3, 2004

SPCA facilities, Stone Circle School

Today's Dryden news in the Ithaca Journal is friendly stuff. The Journal takes a look at the new SPCA building on Hanshaw Road, which is nearing completion. It sounds like an enormous change from the old building, which will still...

Posted by simon at 7:43 AM

March 10, 2004

SPCA closer to completion

The SPCA expansion is starting to look more like a building and less like a work in progress. SPCA expansion with nearly complete siding...

Posted by simon at 8:19 PM

February 23, 2004

Dogs adopted from research labs party at 4-H Acres

The Ithaca Journal reports that there was a party for dogs adopted from research labs on Sunday. The party was at Kiwanis Hall at 4-H Acres on Lower Creek Road, which is in the Town of Dryden, not the Town...

Posted by simon at 7:35 PM

February 17, 2004

SPCA construction continues

The last time this site looked at the SPCA expansion, the frame was up but it was still largely open. It looks like they've gotten it largely boxed in now: SPCA expansion with complete walls...

Posted by simon at 12:23 PM

February 4, 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...

Posted by simon at 8:31 AM

January 10, 2004

Cold doesn't stop the news

Posted by simon at 11:33 AM

January 8, 2004

Green SPCA expansion

The expansion of the SPCA facility on Hanshaw Road is starting to come together. SPCA expansion in progress Existing SPCA, 1640 Hanshaw Road (map) There are a lot of reasons why this new facility is interesting. It's part of their...

Posted by simon at 8:32 AM