You read it, you see it, you hear it… too often these days we seem to be swimming in a sea of bad news. And you know perception is reality. Our area is rich with thinkers, dreamers and doers who are right now imagining, creating and building.
New ideas come from positive thought… this is The Upside!
Unity House ? 5/17/10
The Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. has announced the grand opening of its new facility in Lansing Village Place, at 15 Catherwood Road, in Ithaca. The Unity House provides transitional and permanent housing, rehabilitative, and employment services for adults with mental health illnesses, developmental disabilities, and/or chemical dependencies from which they are recovering. The new facility offers an opportunity for expansion of Unity House’s Ithaca-based programs. The agency’s day habilitation program serves nearly 45 adults with disabilities a day, and these new facilities offer space that is five times larger than the former downtown facility. About 35 Unity House employees work in the new office space
Maines ? 5/17/10
On May 5th the new MaineSouce Food and Party Warehouse opened off Route 13 in the former location of Wickes Lumber. Maines offers a full grocery, as well as restaurant and party supplies. The Ithaca store is the fifth store in the Johnson City based chain, and it’s the first in the chain built to achieve LEED silver building certification, as well as the first to offer a line of organic produce. The new Maines store will also create jobs in the area, employing 40 to 50 people.
Romano Travel Corperation - 3/25/10
Romano Travel Corporation, with current offices in Waverly and Endwell, is expanding and opening a new branch in Ithaca, NY. The Ithaca office will be the company’s headquarters, plus will act as a full service Travel Agency and Travel Broker. The agency offers individual and corporate planning in addition to tour group departures throughout the year. Romano Travel is hosting a Grand Opening celebration on Wednesday, March 31 at their office located at 376 Elmira Road. The event begins at 4PM and is open to the public.
Hickeys Music Center - 3/22/10
A local music store has once again gained national recognition. Hickey’s Music Center was named the 2009 “Top 200 Largest North American Music Retailers” by Music Trades Magazine. Currently owned by David Zimet and Charles DePaolo, Hickey’s music was first opened in Ithaca on State Street in 1982 by Joseph Hickey as a guitar, mandolin, and banjo shop. After buying the store in the early 90’s, Zimet Added instrument repairs and rentals and expanded inventory. IN 1995 Hicky’s became one of the first music stores to open a retail website at www.hickeys.com, and now enjoys traffic from around the world.
Country Inn & Suites - 3/25/10
A local hotel has received a national award for guest satisfaction. On March 23rd, Steve Mogck, the executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites, presented the President’s Award to The Country Inn & Suites by Carlson in Ithaca, NY. This award is given to the hotel properties that achieve top scores in guest satisfaction as determined by guest feedback for cleanliness and consistency in meeting the brand’s product quality standards. The Country Inn & Suites by Carlson is located at 1100 Danby Road in Ithaca.
Music Works - 4/22/10
The Shops at Ithaca Mall will open a new store – Music Works, on May 1. The store specializes in music equipment and accessories for professional and home-use, and even has a public recording booth. Furthermore, the public can rent or buy stereo equipment, lighting, and stages, complete with a set up-crew for large rentals. The store will also sell quality brand name instrument supplies like drumsticks, guitar picks, and guitar strings. For more information, visit: www.TheShopsatIthacaMall.com.
Sunny Brook - 4/15/10
On March 2, Sunny Brook Builders received an EPA certification making them an official Lead-Safe certified firm. The certification is necessary for contractors working on pre-1978 homes, disturbing interior or exterior paint. With the certification, Sunny Brook is now allowed to conduct lead-based paint renovation, repair and painting activities. Furthermore, many of the Sunny Brook employees have received individual certifications as well.
Jazzercise - 4/15/10
Jazzercise Inc., a California based company, recently honored Lee Ann Capogrossi and Ellen Coller, owners of the Lansing and Cortland franchises. They both received the President’s Club Award – Platinum status for their success as among the Jazzercise franchise top money earners. The combined sales from the two franchises contributed to Jazzercise Inc.’s record $94 million in system wide sales last year.
Satori - 3/8/10
Satori, Ithaca based day spa and salon, was selected for the Salon Today 200 by Salon Today magazine. The 200 salons chosen for the list were named for best business practices and were profiled in the January 2010 issue of the magazine. All 200 were submitted for selection by readers who represent the 25,000 top-producing salons and spas in the country. Out of a list of eleven different categories for best practice, Satori was recognized for excellence in six: growth, retention and reward, recruitment and training, marketing, inventory control and technology.
Visitors Bureau Award - 3/8/10
The 2010 Marketing and Advertising Tourism Excellence Award has been given to the Tompkins County Visitors Bureau. The bureau received the award at this month’s Empire State Tourism Conference recognizing its overall vision and approach to its marketing. Chair of the awards committee Lori-Solomon-Duell noted that the Visitors Bureau takes chances most would not, helping to brand the region as smart and beautiful. Visitors Bureau Executive Director Fred Bonn says the award is really recognition of the strong relationships developed with local partners. Since 2005 the Visitors Bureau has helped generate a 24 percent increase in lodging, leading to annual revenues of nearly 45 million dollars.
AeroFarms - 2/22/10
Aero Farm Systems (AeroFarms) of Ithaca has recently secured $500,000 in seed financing. AeroFarms has developed a new aeroponic technology that can grow produce in any location and all year round without sun or soil. The Quercus Trust, the leading supportive company, typically invests in areas such as solar, water, wind, bio-fuels and batteries. Co-investor, 21Ventures, often invests in publically traded companies in clean-energy technologies. The technology developed by AeroFarms will enable food to be grown locally and pesticide free.
Tompkins Trust Company - 2/22/10
Tompkins Financial, the parent company of Tompkins Trust Company, has been recognized for having the second longest record of consecutive growth in legitimate earnings among all U.S. public companies. Their 36 year long growth period is second only to Wal-Mart and the past few years have shown record growth for TTC, despite the national economic crisis. Tompkins Financial has additionally been named on the Sm-All Stars list of top performing publicly-traded small-cap banks in the nation by Sandler O'Neill Partners for the second consecutive year. Tompkins Financial is one of only 30 banks to be selected out of the 509 total with a market cap of less than $2 billion for this prestigious recognition. Tompkins Trust Company has remained reliable throughout the financial crisis and will continue to be a strong community bank dedicated to both their customers and their successful financial future.
Palmer Pharmacy - 2/8/10
Palmer Pharmacy is now open at 131 E. Green St. adjacent to Urban Outfitters and Gimme Coffee. They are a full-service pharmacy with an intimate, welcoming feel...and they have an old fashioned soda fountain serving all the favorite treats: cream sodas, milkshakes, floats and sundaes using Cayuga Lake Creamery ice cream.
In addition to being family owned and operated, they are the only independent pharmacy left in Tompkins County. Services include free delivery, a commitment to speedy prescription fills, and price matching with other pharmacies in the region.
Jon Reis Photography - 2/8/10
On February 8th, Jon Reis Photography will relocate one block west from his current location in downtown Ithaca. After 27 years above the former Home Dairy Building at 141 The Commons, Jon is pleased to announce a move to 102 West State Street, Suite 201, conveniently located on the corner of Cayuga and State Street, directly above Handwork Craft Store. The new space offers access to upgraded technologies, gallery space and will be more conducive to visitor traffic and access.
Jon Reis Photography will continue to provide photography services including photography of custom color portraits and custom printing, as well as weddings, other special events, aerial, architectural, editorial, industrial, product, stock photo, and photo restoration and retouching.
The First National Bank of Groton - 1/25/10
The First National Bank of Groton received a 5-star superior rating from BauerFinancial Inc. A 5 –star rating for financial strength and stability is the highest rating attainable from BauerFinancial, and is based on the overall financial condition of the bank. Achieving a 5-star rating for 80 consecutive quarters, like the first national bank of Groton has, is an even higher honor. The First National Bank of Groton was established in 1895, and has been serving the banking needs of its community for 144 years. The bank operates offices in Groton and Moravia.
TC Action - 1/25/10
Tompkins Community Action has been Awarded grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) expansion of the Early Head Start program. TCAction was awarded the largest new Early Head Start expansion grant in New York State, $1.7 million, which includes programming, site development and training. For over 43 years TCAction has implemented Head Start throughout Tompkins County. TCAction is the local Community Action Agency which serves over 6000 Tompkins County residents. TCAction currently operates early childhood programming at sites in Ithaca, Lansing, Groton, Dryden and Trumansburg school districts, on the TC3 Campus, at the Casey Center in Dryden, at a TCAction satellite office in Groton, as well as collaborations with Franziska Racker Centers, Coddington Child Care Center and Longview, an Ithacare Community
Bandwagon Brew Pub - 1/11/10
There's another new face in the downtown Ithaca restaurant line up. The Bandwagon Brew Pub opened in mid December at 114 N. Cayuga Street. Conceived by 5 former owners and employees of the now closed Ithaca Lost Dog Cafe, The Bandwagon Brew Pub is brewing its own micro-brews in small 15 gallon batches. The Brewpub boasts its own brews, a large selection of other craft brew drafts, bottles, and cans, a full dinner menu of locally and seasonally influenced dishes, and a late night bar menu served every night until 1am.
Carol Bushberg Real Estate - 1/11/10
January marks the first anniversary of the opening of Carol Bushberg Real Estate in Ithaca. Despite the challenges of the economic climate, Carol Bushberg Real Estate has gained a solid foothold in the local business community. Since opening for business in January of 2009, Bushberg has sold over 30 Ithaca Area properties, with a value of over 5.5 million dollars. More than half the firm’s sales involved new homeowners capitalizing on the benefits of the Federal Government’s First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.
LaTourelle Resort & August Moon Spa - 12/28/2009
LaTourelle Resort and August Moon Spa of Ithaca were recently recognized for their commitment to hiring and accommodating employees with disabilities at a recent Society for Human Resource Management of Tompkins County meeting. The resort and spa was nominated by three employees of Challenge Industries. The award was presented in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The regional employer appreciation award was one of three regional awards giving out by the Southern Tier Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities office to employers in their nine-county service area.
High Point Farms - 12/28/2009
Local Trumansburg business High Point Farms has been receiving attention for their innovative meat CSA.
Locally they were recognized by Sustainable Tompkins as a “Sign of Sustainability in 2009”. National recognition for High Point Farms arrives with an upcoming issue of the national magazine "Back Home: Your Guide to Sustainable Living"
"I've Got a Steak in That" tells the story of Tina and Bob MacCheyne of High Point Farms, who established one of the first Local Meat CSA's in the Northeast. Freelance correspondent, Jill Swenson of Trumansburg, wrote this article for "Back Home". It will appear in the February/ March issue on newsstands.
Downtown Restautant Investments and Openings - 12/14/09
Representing a $675,000 investment in downtown Ithaca and the local economy, owners Scott and Teresa Miller opened the Wildfire Restaurant and Lounge at 106 South Cayuga Street. The Millers also own Madeline’s at the other end of the Commons, making them part of a small group of local entrepreneurs who own and operate multiple businesses in downtown Ithaca. And, the owners of Simeons on the Commons recently purchased an adjacent building for the expansion of their restaurant into the newly renovated space. Owners Dean Zervos and Rich Avery expanded the kitchen, created a wine showcase room featuring Finger Lakes wines, and added 32 additional seats.
Tompkins Trust Expansions - 12/14/09
Tompkins Trust Company and Tompkins Insurance Agencies marked the completion of a six-month branch expansion and renovation project in Trumansburg. The renovated and expanded building features two drive-up stations and a drive-up ATM – both new additions. Plus, the expansion allowed the Tompkins Insurance Agencies office to move down the street and in with the bank. The branch location in the heart of Trumansburg has been a Tompkins Trust company site since 1936 when the bank first purchased First National Bank of Trumansburg.
Bools Flower Shop - 11/30/09
Bools Flower Shop has been named to FTD’s prestigious Top Member ranking. With over 45,000 FTD florists worldwide, the honor of being recognized as an FTD top 500 member is one of the highest achievements within the floral industry. Bools Flower Shop, at 209 N. Aurora St. in downtown Ithaca, was founded in 1894 and is Tompkins County oldest florist. The shop specializes in high quality floral arrangements and will be hosting their annual holiday open house on Friday Dec 11, 2009 in conjunction with the opening night of downtown Ithaca’s Ice sculpture tour. Refreshments will be served and a complimentary rose will be given to the first 50 guests.
Richard Moore - 11/30/09
Local Resident Richard Moore of Groton has been elected president of the National Christmas Tree Association. Richard will begin his two year term on January first. The NCTA promotes and protects the use of Real Christmas Trees, and supports the industry that provides them. Richard and his wife Kay own and operate the 135 acre Moore Tree Farm. In addition to a 50 acre Choose & Cut Christmas tree operation, the Moores also sell wholesale Christmas Trees and landscaping trees. Richard is also a director and past president of the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York.
Alta Spa - 11/16/09
Ithaca’s first full-service spa, Alta Spa has marked its 10-year anniversary at 308 E State Street, near the Commons. Alta Spa’s owner, Awura-Abena Ansah was born and raised in the African Nation of Ghana. She credits the traditional values of her African upbringing as the keys to her businesses success. Alta Spa follows the African tradition of focusing on small talk and sharing pleasantries with clients, which she says goes a long way toward building lasting customer relationships.
