Photo Briefs: improved COVID test, teacher & student awards, pop-up businesses
Ithaca’s Rheonix issued expanded FDA EUA for COVID-19 test
Rheonix Inc. announced Dec. 7 that the FDA has issued an expanded Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Rheonix COVID-19 MDx Assay (pictured above) and now allows the use of saliva as an approved sample type. The fully automated sample-to-answer assay was initially authorized for use on a range of respiratory specimens under EUA on April 29, 2020. The ability to test saliva samples for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, simplifies the sample collection process and streamlines the testing workflow, while reducing the exposure of medical personnel to potentially infected individuals. For patients, this less-invasive sample collection method is a welcome alternative to nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, the most prevalent sample type. In addition, use of saliva as a sample type helps to ease critical supply chain issues by eliminating the need for specialized swab or collection devices. “We’d like to thank our colleagues at the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, New York, and Catholic Health System in Buffalo, New York, for their wonderful help in validating the use of saliva,” said Richard Montagna, Ph.D., FACB, senior vice president for scientific and clinical affairs at Rheonix. “Our customers are excited about the addition of this sample type, which will help them conserve precious laboratory resources. We are continuing to expand our COVID-19 tests to help address their ongoing COVID-19 testing challenges.” The Rheonix COVID-19 MDx Assay is processed on the fully automated Rheonix Encompass MDx workstation using proprietary Rheonix CARD cartridge technology. The system requires minimal training to use and can be quickly installed in critical locations of immediate need. It provides same-day results and is highly scalable, enabling laboratories to move from outsourcing their COVID-19 testing to providing same- or next-day test results for their communities or regions. Rheonix has supported customers’ expanding testing needs by significantly scaling its manufacturing capacity, committing reagent availability to support its customers’ 24/7 testing requirements.
TCPL to halt Express Browsing, effective immediately
With the Ithaca City School District switching to all virtual instruction, rising COVID-19 cases, library staff numbers already reduced and many employees out, the Tompkins County Public Library has made the difficult decision to stop Express Browsing until Jan. 5, 2021, effective immediately. TCPL previously informed the library community it would follow the Cluster Action Initiative protocol as part of the governor’s NY Forward Plan, allowing Express Browsing to continue in a Yellow Zone, unless ICSD moved to remote-only instruction in the Orange or Red Zone. The school district has moved to remote-only instruction prior to reaching the micro-cluster zone measures, and TCPL is taking similar action out of concern for its staff and patrons. Please check TCPL.org for continued communication regarding library services. Questions? Email askalibrarian@tcpl.org. In this photo: Inside TCPL earlier this year.
Tompkins Trust Company recognizes local educators
Tompkins Trust Company and the Legacy Foundation are pleased to announce that five Tompkins County teachers were recognized with certificates and monetary awards for their outstanding efforts to improve education in their districts. This year’s Raymond Van Houtte Teacher Awards recipients are Jamie McCaffrey of Newfield School District (pictured right), Josh Antoine of Cayuga Heights Elementary School (pictured left), Meggie New of Ithaca High School, Josh Chase of Ithaca High School and Jamie Zervos of Ithaca High School. McCaffrey was honored for 17 years of education service and a variety of contributions to the students, faculty and staff of Newfield School District. Antoine was honored for fully immersing himself in the Cayuga Heights Elementary School community in a variety of ways. As a physical education teacher and modified wrestling coach, Antoine has a strong desire and commitment to increasing the diversity within the school’s athletic programming. New was honored for her commitment to supporting the students at Ithaca High School and has been described as the epitome of what it means to “lead with love.” Chase was honored for his outstanding service to the Ithaca City School District. In his role as the director of physical education for the entire district, Chase has been instrumental in the addition of Unified PE classes to the district’s programming. Zervos was honored for her dedication to providing healthy and nutritional options for all Ithaca High School students. Additionally, Zervos supports student-athletes by providing fundraising opportunities and healthy team travel meals, as well as provides nutritious meals and snacks to other school programs. Tompkins Trust Company established the Raymond Van Houtte Teacher Awards in 1989 to honor the late Raymond Van Houtte, retired president of the Trust Company. The Trust Company honored him by creating a $25,000 endowment, with earnings on the endowment to be used to fund awards recognizing educators who have shown exceptional ability, effort and results in improving primary and secondary education in Tompkins County.
New downtown program brings multiple pop-ups to the community
Some new eateries and specialty shops are temporarily joining the downtown Ithaca community for the winter thanks to a new program created by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA). Center Cafe by Lou (shown above) and FLX Bakes opened in the Center Ithaca food court, The Bloomwell: A Modern Gift Shop Holiday Popup is setting up in a space next door to Alphabet Soup, and Sunshine’s Creative Designs in the Dewitt Mall opened in November. Plus, another eatery — Urban Blendz — is expected to open in Center Ithaca soon. All of these businesses are all part of the DIA’s new pop-up program. This latest DIA initiative is designed to provide short-term leases to help support local entrepreneurs seeking temporary spaces for their business. “Our pop-up program offers multiple benefits to the community,” said DIA Special Events Director Scott Rougeau, who helps recruit businesses to program. “It helps businesses that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. It provides an opportunity for seasonal, outdoor entrepreneurs like Lou to offer their services indoors during the colder months. It offers temporary spaces for businesses to test out the Ithaca market. Plus, it helps activate some vacant spaces downtown.” The pop-up program contracts are an affordable option for entrepreneurs, and the agreements vary from vendor to vendor depending on the building and the entrepreneur’s circumstances. Dewitt Mall is also hosting a couple of its own pop-ups for the holiday season. Wide Awake Bakery and a group of three pottery makers are currently operating pop-up shops in the Buffalo Street Books Reading Room. And Balance Aromatherapy, which carries products curated by licensed local aromatherapist Kash Wiggins, is available in Cat’s Pajamas. Visit downtownithaca.com for more information.
Cornell Votes receives Students Learn Students Vote Award
On Friday, Dec. 4, Cornell Votes, a universitywide nonpartisan campaign to increase voter registration, turnout and civic engagement on Cornell’s campus, received the 2020 Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Award for exemplifying its guiding principle of leading through nonpartisanship. Since relaunching under this new name in the winter of 2019, Cornell Votes has dedicated itself to building a coalition with student groups, staff and faculty around voting regardless of party affiliation and political views. “It was fantastic to be recognized for our commitment to nonpartisanship. In such a polarized political climate, it is relieving to see students unite to mobilize the youth vote and make a change,” said Victoria Healey ’22, College of Arts and Science and vice president of finance for Cornell Votes. Housed within the Cornell Public Service Center, Cornell Votes set out to increase voter registration, turnout and civic engagement. Because of the pandemic, Cornell Votes had to pivot quickly, utilizing social media and texting to promote voting. It also held many workshops and events to train leaders across campus on voter registration and being ballot ready by providing resources to make the voting process more accessible. “We are so incredibly thankful for all the Cornellians who turned out to vote,” Patrick Mehler, president of Cornell Votes, said. “This work was only successful because of a collaboration between an amazing team of students, wise advisers and an advisory committee, the support of Cornell University and the Public Service Center and all the Cornellians who truly believed in their democracy and voted.” The SLSV Coalition broadcasted the virtual award ceremony on its Facebook page on Dec. 4. You can access the full recording at https://tinyurl.com/ybc7uujb, and additional information is available at https://tinyurl.com/yblnvxx2.
Cornell’s East Avenue to be renamed ‘Feeney Way’
Cornell University plans to rename one of its main campus roads in honor of Charles F. “Chuck” Feeney ’56 (pictured), founding chairman of The Atlantic Philanthropies and the university’s most generous donor. Feeney invested nearly $1 billion, mostly anonymously, throughout the university over a period of nearly 40 years. Even after his worldwide philanthropy was revealed in the late 1990s, he still chose not to connect his name in any form to the many institutions he supported. That is why there has never been a space, program, scholarship, professorship or any other entity bearing his name at Cornell. Now, by renaming East Avenue as Feeney Way, university leaders have found a way to recognize his generous and unprecedented giving across Cornell and — most important to Feeney — inspire future generations of Cornellians to give back to their communities in whatever way they can. Cornell owns East Avenue and has begun the process of renaming it, in coordination with the city of Ithaca. The plan would replace street signs at three intersections and add a descriptive marker sharing Feeney’s story. The goal is to formalize and celebrate the transition of the street name sometime in the spring, in conjunction with Feeney’s 90th birthday. In 2011, Feeney became a signatory of the Giving Pledge, created by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates with the aim of motivating the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit to giving away the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes and charitable organizations, preferably while the donors are still alive — the essence of Feeney’s own “giving while living” philosophy. Earlier this year, Feeney reached his lifetime goal of giving away his entire fortune and formally dissolved The Atlantic Philanthropies in September. Atlantic’s total $8 billion in giving over nearly four decades went to universities and nonprofits across the world and to global causes focused on human rights, education, health equity, peacemaking and social justice.
Historic Ithaca executive director addresses community
In a Dec. 14 letter to the community, Historic Ithaca Executive Director Susan Holland (pictured above) addressed the organization’s progress as well as how difficult the pandemic has been for Historic Ithaca and so many others. “The holiday season is upon us and yes, 2020 is almost over,” Holland said in her letter. “In the beginning of this year I, being ever the optimist, assumed that the pandemic would be over by the end of April. However, reality set in quickly, and we knew we had to figure how to produce programming that would keep ourselves and the community safe.” Recognizing that, in order to connect with the community, they had to do things differently, Historic Ithaca staff members instituted virtual tours, lectures and Zoom calls earlier this year. While Holland acknowledged her skills with technology are limited, she highlighted Historic Ithaca’s marketing coordinator for helping to transition the organization to a virtual setting effectively. “Bethany has produced some amazing results in a short amount of time, many of which will be unfolding in the new year,” Holland said. “We now have a YouTube channel, and when I say that, I sound hip! Join me in sounding hip and subscribe to our YouTube channel.” The first of the 2020 Preservation Award videos is on Historic Ithaca’s YouTube channel, Holland said. “Not only do the videos announce the award winners, they feature a great collection of ‘Before and After’ photographs showcasing all of the hard work that was put in to make these historic properties solidifying their place for many years to come,” Holland said. “We congratulate all the award winners.” There is more virtual programming coming in 2021: a tour of the c. 1833 St. James AME Zion Church, one of Ithaca’s oldest churches, as well as news about the Cascadilla Boathouse Restoration Project, as Bero Architecture finishes the architectural designs and Historic Ithaca plans to go to bid in early 2021. Holland expressed gratitude that Significant Elements, Historic Ithaca’s nonprofit architectural salvage warehouse, has remained open under social distancing and other safety protocals, allowing staff to interact with the community. “While Significant Elements is open as I write this, state and/or county requirements might curtail business,” Holland said. “Please continue to check Historic Ithaca and Significant Elements’ websites and social media for the latest updates. However, you can always shop Significant Elements online from the comfort of your home. We post new products regularly and welcome you to call about anything you are looking for.” Holland finished her letter by thanking the community for all the gifts, contributions and support this past year. “We are glad you are with us,” she said. “If you haven’t already, please consider Historic Ithaca/Significant Elements as you are making your year-end giving. You are the reason we are here today and planning to stay! Happy holidays to all and please, be well.” Learn more about Historic Ithaca at historicithaca.org.
