Mary Searles sure knew how to travel by wheelchair at a recent fundraiser held in Cass Park benefiting the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes. She was a member of her daughter Franny Sampson's team. Franny has multiple myeloma and was the first member to push her mother half a mile down the course with Charlie McGill, a family friend from New York City coming to take over. They were followed by Mary's grandson-in-law, Matthew VanEtten, who pushed her wheelchair the remaining two miles. Mary told me that it was an interesting day with participants walking and running over the three-mile course.

Athletes moving up

Heard from Dean Altes, Kaitlyn Smith's gymnastic coach, that Lansing's shining star did an excellent performance while in Houston. Kaitlyn competed against the top 300 9- to 11-year-olds in the country in a two-day competition consisting of both physical ability tests and gymnastic skills tests. She was selected as one of the top 70 gymnasts in the country, qualified for the TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) National Team and has been invited to a training camp at the Olympic Training Center in December.

Word is out that the Red Jacket Pony Club had nine members qualifying for the United States Pony Club Eastern Championships at the Horse Park of Virginia in Lexington. Those from Lansing included the following: Morgan Barron, 16, qualified in Eventing; Elizabeth (Libby) Drake, 15, qualified in the Junior Division of the Western New York-New Jersey Region; Margot Miller, an 11-year-old Junior Games Player, and her team "Fired Up" came in first and were invited to participate in the 2010 Prince Philip Cup next spring.

Ann Miller of the Red Jacket Pony Club invites interested youngsters and their parents to contact her at 533-7504 for more information.

Lyman Baker, Veterans Day Parade Committee member, sent notice that the 90th Veterans Day Parade will be held in Ithaca at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Veterans Day Ceremony will be in DeWitt Park at 11 a.m. Thursday. Please contact Chairperson Laura Ujlaki at 227-5319 for more information re giving your time and donations for both events.

Library and church events

A reminder that "Create Your Own Gift Box" program will be held this evening at 7 p.m. It's free and open to the public. And a reminder that "Storytime Plus! With Miss Lyn" will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, also no charge. Both programs will be in the Lansing Community Library.

The Lansing United Methodist Church's Annual Harvest Dinner and Bazaar, on Brickyard Road, is on the docket for Saturday. Dinner menu features roasted turkey and all the trimmings. Adults eat for $8.50; children 4 to 12 for $5; and children under 5 for free.

The Bazaar Shops will feature homemade edibles and crafts galore. Bazaar shops open from 2 to 7 p.m. The harvest dinner is 4 to 7 p.m.

Lansing United Methodist Church will host the Red Cross Blood Drive 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. There is a particular need for Types O, A- and B- donors. Call 533-4070 for more information.

"Beauty And The Beast -- Junior" will be performed for your entertainment by the Middle School Thespians on Wednesday, and Thursday, Nov. 11 and 12 at 6:30 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. Performances will be held in the Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 per person.

Closing comment: "Old people shouldn't eat health foods. They need all the preservatives they can get." -- Robert Orben.