LAUREL: From Florence E. Finch. I would like to say a big thank you to the person who left a campanula bellflower on my front porch several weeks ago. I have tried to find out who left it, inquiring from several friends; but no one has owned up to the kind deed. I have never had nor seen a bellflower before (except in nursery catalogs). It was in full bloom and the flowers lasted a very long time. I showed it off to neighbors and friends, and they all remarked on its beauty. None of them had ever seen a bellflower, either. Now it is blooming again, and so I would very much like to say thank you to the very nice, kind person who gave it to me.

LAUREL: From Susan Cummings for help rescuing a cat up 50 feet in a tree for five days. After calls to 911, Interlaken Fire Department, Wildlife Control, and no luck, finally Mark Scibilla, owner of Treetops Tree Service came to the rescue. Mark went above and beyond the call of duty!

LAUREL: From the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance to the United Auto Worker Union Local 2300 for their heartfelt generosity in donating the proceeds from their Sunday, June 4 and Monday, June 5 work at the Watkins Glen International Raceway. In particular, Terry Sharpe and Brian Hurley for recognizing our role in the community. Major donations such as this ensure that women with breast cancer and their families in Tompkins County receive support and caring during difficult times.
LAUREL: From Rebecca Abraham to an anonymous good Samaritan. On Wednesday, June 14, while at Cornell for a dinner meeting, the change purse containing my car keys fell to the ground as I was putting it into my purse. I discovered it was missing after dinner and retraced my steps to look for it. Upon returning to the car, I discovered it on the hood, where the finder had placed it. To this anonymous Samaritan a huge thank you.

LAUREL: From the families at Cayuga Heights Elementary School to the following businesses for their kind and generous support of the Cayuga Heights Elementary School Volunteer Appreciation reception: Gimme! Coffee, Just Desserts, Greenstar, Cooperative Market, Hope’s Way, Ithaca Coffee Co., Ithaca Bakery/Collegetown Bagels, Corner’s Deli, Wegmans, Tops Friendly Markets, P&C Foods and Target. It’s businesses like these that make our community special. Thank you.

LAUREL: From Special Olympics to the Cornell University Athletic Department, specifically, Bill LaRock, and the staff for the bowling program at Helen Newman Hall. Special Olympics held their weekly training sessions there during four months this spring. Bill LaRock went out of his way to be helpful to our needs, even having a wheelchair ramp constructed. Bill LaRock and his staff also assisted with other special needs and the purchase of equipment for our athletes. It was an enjoyable experience for all. We would also like to give a special thank you to Cornell for the use of the lanes at Helen Newman for our recent bowl-a-thon. We thank all the individuals in the community who have us pledges and contributions for the bowl-a-thon. The efforts from the community made this the most successful bowl-a-thon to date.

LAUREL: The Cuba Friendship Group of Greater Ithaca wishes to publicly thank our co-sponsors, the Social Justice Council of the Ithaca Unitarian Church and the Cuslar, and all the volunteers who made last week’s Cuba/Ithaca Friendship Dinner and Celebration such a resounding success. $1,100 was raised to support the 17th Pastors for Peace US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan. In addition, $500 worth of mural paints and arts supplies purchased and collected by Trumansburg artist Dan Burgevin were loaded on the Caravan in Ithaca thanks to the generous donations of Dan’s friends and fellow artists. Special thanks go to Roy Josef, Roy Josef Cuban Food; Sara Pines, director of Friendship Donations Network; Karl North and his Afro Cuban percussion ensemble; Jean Young and author Dasa Davidson for the screening and discussion of the film Oggun by Gloria Rolando. The Pastors for Peace Caravan was slated to cross the border into Mexico on route to Cuba July 4 or 5. For breaking news, go the 2006 Caravan blog from www.ifconews.org.

LAUREL: The Advocacy Center would like to thank everyone who made our fifth annual “Kids Are Our Business” fund-raising breakfast such a huge success. The event was memorable thanks to our host, Jean McPheeters and keynote speaker, Tompkins County District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson. Thanks to our major sponsor, Lynette Scofield and David Dier of the William Henry Miller Inn and also to Carey McKinney Group, Ciaschi Dietershagen, Little, Mickelson & Co.; Holmberg, Galbraith, Van Houten & Miller; Sciarabba, Walker & Co.; Susan Lustick and Warner Real Estate, Cayuga Press, Edward Ambis, Lansing Curves for Women, Lee Newhart Insurance, LoPinto, Schlather, Geldenhuys & Salk; Poso Coal & Stoves, Patterson’s Service Station, Ridge Road Imports, Stone Travel, Chiropractic Associates, Ithaca Foreign Car Service, Plenty of Posies, MaryLu McPheron and the many businesses and individuals who donated fabulous raffle prizes. Special thanks to our tireless table captains and to the 240 community members who woke up early and joined us for breakfast, to raise over $13,000 to support services for abused youth in Tompkins County!

Copyright ©2006 The Ithaca Journal.