TompkinsWeekly for the week of January 5th

Download the newspaper in Acrobat Format Here Sagan Still Inspires Followers Utica resident Patrick Fish was an inquisitive young boy attending a strict Catholic school system. He questioned the dogma and orthodoxy. His teachers said his thoughts were simply “stupid” and, bascially, told him to obey. Full Story »   Problem-Solving and Survival Skills Boynton Middle School sixth-grade students in Vinnie Alcazaren and Keith Harrington’s classes completed a four-week study of pandemics and geography with a culminating project that brought the 40 students to 4-H Acres on Halloween to practice their survival skills with Primitive Pursuits staff members. Full Story »   Youth can benefit from sharing goals, and reflecting on personal growth page 2 As we greet the New Year many of us use this time of self-reflection to craft resolutions to improve ourselves in the coming year. From healthier eating habits, to increased exercise, to our own elimination of procrastination, often resolutions are focused on our own improvement. Full Story »   Tax exemptions available to many county residents page 2 The Tompkins County Department of Assessment is mailing renewal applications to all senior citizens who received an exemption on the 2014 Final Roll pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 467 (senior citizens with a limited income). Since the Senior Citizen Exemption eligibility is based upon income levels, the renewal application must be filed each and every year by March 1. Full Story »   Create a better comfort zone in your home page 3 Was the warmth of your holiday season dampened by cold drafts? If you felt a chill wind while hanging out at home with friends and family, take steps now to increase the comfort of your home and save on heating costs. Full Story »   Shakespeare Company prepares to present cycle of history plays page 6 Over the next two years, the Ithaca Shakespeare Company will present a cycle of Shakespeare’s English history plays, beginning with “Richard II” at the Hangar Theatre, Feb. 13-21. Full Story »   Authors will present their works at Cornell Reading Series page 6 The Creative Writing Program of Cornell’s English Department launches the spring 2015 Barbara and David Zalaznick Reading Series on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 4:30 p.m., at the Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium in Goldwin Smith Hall, when Caribbean fiction writer Tiphanie Yanique will read from her works. Full Story »   Drummer keeps the beat for jazz trio page 7 The Argos Inn has quickly become Ithaca’s pre-eminent jazz venue, as well as one of the loveliest spots to hear music in the area. One of the elements that makes the music presented at the inn stand out is that many of the musicians play a regular weekly gig there over an extended period of time. Full Story »   Twelfth Night event is all about telling tales page 8 The annual Twelfth Night Comm-unity Celebration is an evening of story-sharing, merrymaking and imagination, to mark the end of the holiday season. It will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Unitarian Church in downtown Ithaca beginning at 7:30 p.m. Full Story »