New marker commemorates Salt Point’s history

A new marker was placed at Salt Point in the town of Lansing on Oct. 3 to commemorate the industrial history of the area. From 1891 to 1962, the Cayuga Lake Salt Company processed table salt from brine, which was pumped from salt deposits below Salt Point. The company employed nearly 100 men and women, many of whom were immigrants from Syria and other countries.

The marker was placed near where the first salt well was drilled and the company’s processing facilities were sited. This was the first successful brine salt well drilled in Tompkins County. The extensive, relatively pure salt found here led to the formation of the table salt company, which was later known as International Salt Company.

The company closed in 1962, and some of the salt processing equipment was moved to Watkins Glen. The land was given to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Salt Point is managed by the Friends of Salt Point Ltd. group of volunteers in cooperation with the Town of Lansing Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, visit saltpointlansing.org.

Online auction to benefit library

The Friends of the Lansing Community Library will hold an online auction from Oct. 6 to 15 to raise funds for the library.
The auction features more than 30 items, including gift cards to many local businesses, services and restaurants, handmade items from Ithaca area artisans, themed baskets and more, with starting bids ranging from $20 to $200.

Items will be collected at the library during curbside pickup hours, or arrangements can be made for shipping if the winning bidder lives out of town.

The COVID-19 health crisis has prevented the Friends from holding its traditional annual fundraising events, including the June and November book sales and the December Holiday Artisan Fair. All funds raised will be used to help the library make immediate structural repairs to the building.

Go online at charityauction.bid/LansingCommunityLibrary for more information.

Lansing Rec announces ski club

The Lansing Recreation Department will offer its annual ski club package for this winter. The Student Program Pass includes six weeks of skiing or snowboarding and two weeks of lessons on Wednesdays at Greek Peak, 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Jan. 6 to Feb. 10.

Skiers who sign up before Oct. 15 will pay $205; those who delay will pay $235. Rental snowboard or ski equipment is an additional $84, and helmets are $43. A meal plan is also available for $63.

Programs are also available for parents and students who already have a season pass at Greek Peak. Participating skiers will be eligible for discounts on skiing generally after Feb. 10.

Call 844-846-9575 or 844-846-9572 to register over the phone. Or go online to register at https://Sales.GreekPeak.net, select “Peak Pack Registration,” select “Lansing Recreation” and then select “Student Program Pass,” “Parent Pass” or “Season Pass.”

For more information, call Lansing Recreation at 533-7388.

Days for Girls to sew again

The All Saints Chapter of Days for Girls, the “Sewing Saints,” will come together Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to prepare feminine hygiene kits for women around the world.

In more than 100 countries, a shortage of feminine hygiene products means that a woman’s menstrual period represents one week from every month lost from school or work and isolation from their community. This project is part of the

“Days for Girls” organization’s efforts to get that week back.

“After our very productive event last March, we created many partial kits,” organizer Andra Benson said in a Facebook post. “In order to complete the kits, we need to sew more drawstring bags, transport bags and liners. Volunteers will either sew, serge, iron or cut to accomplish this.”

Participants are asked to go online to signupgenius.com/go/30E0949AEA628ABFA7-days and choose hours to volunteer (shifts are two hours, and volunteers can sign up for more than one shift).

Due to COVID-19 concerns, only 15 volunteers will be allowed at one time to allow for social distancing with masks in a very large room. Only drinks will be available, so participants must bring their own snacks or lunch.

“Homework packets” will be available with instructions and all necessary fabrics on both Friday and Saturday for pickup at the parish center to enable others to sew at home. Those wishing to “work from home” should contact Benson directly so that she will know how many kits will need to be assembled.

All are welcome to come and help — no sewing skills are required. For more information, go to “Days for Girls” on Facebook.