Happy New Year

We wish you a happy, healthy and joyous year in 2012!

Best wishes.
Frank & Tash Niro
Ithaca, NY (USA)

Ithaca named one of top 10 places to retire

Well, aside from the fact that it's an uphill walk in every direction from downtown, and there's lots of snow and ice conducive to falling and breaking one's hip, and the college kids drive their dodge 'em cars around town like they're playing "Chicken" (and that's when they are sober), I would tend to agree. There's something to be said about re-branding a place to attract a certain demographic, and I am truly glad to be here, but let's be honest: the reality is that Ithaca is problematic for senior citizens. Tash and I have met Dr. Wilson personally, and his comments are genuine. But no offense, Don, it's not the entire story.

When we moved into our first apartment here in August (which was definitely NOT senior friendly), and had to move out after three nights due to accessibility issues, the comment from the owner was, "It's a college town, what did you expect?"

Don't get me wrong, we love it here, and most others will too (except a small majority of Californians). My comments above, however, are presented in the interest of full disclosure.

Anyway here's the link to the Yahoo article by Emily Brandon, US News, and here's the text related to Ithaca...

A college town for retirees: Ithaca, N.Y.

College towns like Ithaca can be an ideal place to retire. For a median home price of just $176,500, retirees can take classes at Cornell University or Ithaca College and attend speeches, concerts, and sporting events. They can also spend their days hiking to the more than 100 waterfalls and gorges within 10 miles of downtown or sampling the wares of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Don Wilson, 65, a retired cardiologist from Rockford, Ill., bicycles throughout the Finger Lakes region three times a week. "The rural roads in the Finger Lakes region have so little traffic that you can ride three or four abreast on a bicycle in continuous conversation, learning from each other," he says. Wilson has also developed an interest in paleontology, and is taking a course on the subject at Cornell University and conducting research on fossils at the Museum of the Earth. "I think that university towns tend to attract interesting organizations, like the Museum of the Earth, and interesting people who may or may not be connected with the college."

Joy to the World

We attended midnight Mass at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Ithaca (started with music at 10:30 pm). Not quite the same as our home church, Holy Trinity Ecumenical Catholic in Canby, OR, but as close as we have been able to find in the area. Beautiful spirit-filled service. Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and joyous 2012 from Frank & Tash Niro

2011 Christmas Blog Index

Photo above: My most attentive chess student!

The purpose of this index, organized by topic, is to make it easier for visitors to my blog to quickly find what might be of interest. Just click on the appropriate link and your browser will take you there.

Note: Click on "Home" at the bottom of the page to return to the main page with the most recent blog entries.

Chess

2011 Western Idaho Open, 12/11/11
Grandmaster Sam Palatnik visits Cornell, 11/2/11
On the Road Again..., 9/21/11
McKay Tartan Books, No. 5 plus the list, 9/19/11
Has anyone seen Andrey Kostin?, 9/15/11
Back at Cornell after 37 years, 9/7/11
One more game from the Portland Centennial, 8/20/11
Yes I said it, Yes I believed it, Yes I've changed my mind!, 8/17/11
More games from the Portland Centennial, 8/16/11
4-way tie in Portland Centennial, 8/15/11
Portland Chess Club Centennial ends today, 8/14/11
There's more to life than chess, 8/13/11
Centennial tourney is underway!, 8/12/11
115 entries and counting..., 8/11/11
3 Days 'til Portland Chess Club Centennial, 8/9/11
Northwest Chess Cover Photo, 8/5/11
All Over the Board, 8/1/11
2011 Susan Polgar Girls Invitational, 7/30/11
Janniro & Deeth are 2011 Oregon Sr. Chess Co-champs, 7/14/11
Grandmaster Sighting on Puget Sound, 2/15/10
A nice game from the Oregon Open, 9/10/09
The Other Side of the Story, 7/2/09
Drug Testing in Chess???, 3/26/09
Resignation; The Great Laptop Caper, 3/12/09
Old Game vs. the World Champ, 3/5/09
Susan Polgar Foundation, 2/28/09
Relentless King Hunt, 1/8/09
Double Bronze for U.S. Chess Teams, 11/26/08
U.S. Olympiad Teams in the hunt for Medals, 11/24/08
New Blog on today.com, 11/19/08
Jennifer Shahade cashes in WSOP again, 10/13/08
Chess Combination: SOLUTION, 9/5/08
Chess Combination , 9/2/08
Problem Solution, 6/12/08
What's the Best Move?, 6/11/08
McKay Tartan Books No. 4, 5/22/08
Happy Birthday Dr. Saidy, 5/16/08
Congratulations Susan & Tommy, 5/14/08
Tactics, Tactics, Tactics, 5/9/08
McKay Tartan Books Nos. 1 - 3, 4/17/08
Change in Plans Required , 4/1/08
20 Seconds Chess, 3/29/08
Chess Blogosphere, 3/12/08
Chessville interview with Paul Truong, 3/3/08
Make that 800!, 2/19/08
Dick Cavett's Interview of Bobby Fischer, 2/10/08
He's never coming home, 1/18/08
How about some chess?, 11/16/07
Walter Browne cashes in 3 W.S.O.P. events,7/10/07

Mr. & Mrs. Boris Spassky, Mr. & Mrs. Al Lawrence, Mr. & Mrs. Lev Alburt offer a toast to all of you.

Poker
Just a Matter of Time, 12/26/11
Consolidated blog, 8/27/11
Playing for the hurricane victims, 4/16/09
The Caboose, 4/9/09
"Action Dan" Harrington, 2/7/09
Fleet Street Games closing Oct. 31st, 10/21/08
2006 World Series of Poker: Event 18, 10/13/08
Playing No Limit Hold'em Reduces Alzheimer's, 9/17/08
Aaron's wisdom, 8/19/08
In the running for a seat at the WSOP, 5/30/08
Thank You, whoever you are..., 4/29/08
Pendleton Trip Report, 11/13/07
How to Give your Cat a Pill while playing Poker Online, 8/8/07
Ozark Mountain Poker Wedding, 3/30/07
Minnie's Soda, 12/6/06
My Inner Donkey, 11/21/06
Is the PartyPoker Over? , 10/13/06
My Poker Resume, 9/20/06
2006 WSOP, 7/30/06
Foxwoods Trip Report, 2/22/06
Learning the Hard Way, 1/20/06
Tunica Media Event, 1/9/06

"All Over the Board", my Memoir

I have to share this, 7/23/11
Mile 14 - Behind the Wall, 10/9/10
I Write Like...check this out, 7/16/10
Memories of my Hospital Stay, 6/4/09
Turnaround Hospital Administrator, 2/14/09
Mile 5: Embrace of a Lifetime SECOND DRAFT, 8/20/08
Pitch for my Book, (Archives) 7/24/08
Mile 4: Bobbi, Sue and Kathrine, 7/17/08, draft
Mile 3: So Many Colors in the Rainbow, 1/22/08
Mile 1: Everything that comes before..., 11/22/06


Miscellaneous Ramblings & Links

Cayuga Med & Schuyler announce affiliation, 12/16/11
Massachusetts Health Care Reform, 11/13/11
Sloan Health Administration Class of 2013, 11/5/11
5K Cancer Run...my final race 10/19/11
SPF Fundraiser in NYC, 10/13/11
Cornell vs. Harvard 10/8/11
Johnson School of Management, 10/6/11
Johnny the Younger, rest in peace, 8/22/11
It must be the link to the stupid human trick, 8/7/11
Far Above Cayuga's Waters, 8/4/11
Rest in Peace, George, 7/14/10
Knowledge: a different part of the Ocean, 3/11/10
C'mon over to our house, 8/6/09
Vuvuzela, 6/29/09
In a Blink, 6/25/09
The Great Light, 5/28/09
Memoir, 5/21/09
US & Canadian Health Care, 4/30/09
Banana Hammocks, yes or no?, 4/23/09
Some Useful Web Sites, 2/21/09
Consolidation, 1/29/09
Field Report, 10/14/08
Get your latest sports news at... , 5/29/08
It's Time, 2/28/08
Manny Alexander, et. al., 12/13/07
Links, 12/9/07
Happy Thanksgiving, 11/22/07
Christian Parent Warning, 11/18/07
Hall breaks Olympic Trials marathon record, 11/5/07
Reflections, 11/1/07
Red Sox Nation, 10/28/07
Copyright Violation, 7/22/07
Olympic Games, 6/1/07
Cooperstown's Loss, 2/7/07
Death of a web site, 11/15/06

Music

Jane Olivor Updates, 5/14/09
La Vie en Rose, 5/7/09
Delilah on Nightline tonight, 11/12/08
Jane Olivor on YouTube, 10/9/08
Heaven Help My Heart, 2/11/08
Jane Olivor (archives), 12/11/07

Friends & Family
Please Join Us July 10, 6/30/11
Happy Birthday Celeste, 6/24/11
You know you're from Boston if..., 5/20/11
Emma Pumpelly (1847 - abt. 1925), 4/2/11
Searching for Daniel Pumpelly, 10/14/10
Twenty Years, 4/16/10
Master Handicapper & Grandmaster Friend, 6/18/09
Tom Derderian on Bobbi Gibb, 3/19/09
NMC Team Members, Worcester MA 1966, 4/2/09
Family Tree, 1/1/09
Happy Birthday Rick Bayko, 10/15/08
Delilah's New Book, 9/16/08
Happy Father's Day, 6/15/08
A Hundred Pounds, 1/29/08
Bad Hands, Bad Faith, 12/18/07
Inlaws, 11/26/07
Eddie heads back to NC, 11/19/07
Happy Halloween, 10/29/07
San Diego Honeymoon, 9/22/07
More Wedding Photos, 5/6/07

Married!!, 4/28/07
Some 2006 Photos, 1/22/07
Leave the Driving to Us, 12/12/06
Safe Return, 12/3/06
Die Fledermaus, 11/30/06
Guest Weblog, 11/29/06
Easy Eddie, 11/18/06
On the Road Again, 11/17/06
What Rain?, 11/16/06
Delilah's words to her listeners..., 8/15/06

Greyhounds & other pets

Wiz Dog, 6/11/09
My dog ate my...what?, 1/22/09
Greyhounds watching greyhounds, 1/15/09
Barney was The Man, 12/25/08
Back in the box, (Frannie) 11/7/08
Atascocita Carla, (Frannie) 2/24/08
Westminster Kennel Club, (Frannie) 2/12/08
And the Winner is..., (Frannie) 2/3/08
Older greyhound posts, go here

Cayuga Med & Schuyler announce affiliation

Keeping with the trend in the health care industry, Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y., and Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls, N.Y., have signed a letter of intent to affiliate, according to a joint news release.

Under the proposed agreement, both hospitals will remain independent but will explore administrative and clinical collaborations. The two will focus first on orthopedics and obstetrics services, and CMC specialists will treat patients at Schuyler Hospital.

The agreement is expected to be finalized in early 2012.

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: John W. Turner, Vice President of Public Relations, Cayuga Medical Center, 607-274-4499; Michelle Benjamin, Director of Community Relations, Schuyler Hospital, 607-210-1950

Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital Sign Affiliation Agreement

December 15, 2011, Ithaca, NY - Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital announced today they have entered into a long-term affiliation agreement that will allow both hospitals to collaborate, plan, and enhance the delivery of health care services in Schuyler County. Both hospitals will continue to remain independent.

As part of the agreement, Schuyler Hospital and Cayuga Medical Center will explore collaborations in a number of support and clinical areas that will be mutually beneficial to both organizations. In addition, they will work together on regional health planning that will meet the current and future health care needs of patients throughout the region.

Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital have already identified two areas of collaboration that will be an immediate focus, orthopedics and obstetrics. Teams from both hospitals have been meeting to develop action plans that will improve access for patients. "Schuyler Hospital shares the same community hospital mission that we have at Cayuga Medical Center. The affiliation agreement will allow us to work together and find solutions to the challenges we face in health care today. We are looking forward to working with their leadership team, physicians, employees, and volunteers to create a comprehensive plan that will deliver the highest quality health care services to the residents of Schuyler County," said Cayuga Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rob Mackenzie.

"This an exciting new partnership and new direction for Schuyler Hospital and the residents of this community - one that we expect will bring growth and long-term viability to the hospital in the face of challenging economic times," said Andy Manzer, President and Chief Executive Officer for Schuyler Hospital. "We have been pleased to find that the staff at Cayuga Medical Center shares our passion for compassionate, patient-centered care, and for meeting the needs of our community. By affiliating with Cayuga Medical Center, we are bringing our community access to high quality health services, as well as connections to nationally-recognized care, close-to-home."

Cayuga Medical Center is a 204-bed, state-of-the art regional medical center and is affiliated with many prestigious health care organizations including Cornell University's Weill Medical College, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Rochester Heart Institute at Rochester General Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center Department of Orthopedics, and Mayo Medical Laboratories. For more information on services available at the medical center and its satellite campuses, please visit www.cayugamed.org or call (607) 274-4498.

Schuyler Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital, with a 120-bed skilled nursing facility attached. While Schuyler Hospital's main campus is located in Montour Falls, the hospital has evolved over nearly 100 years to reach throughout Schuyler County and into southern Yates and Seneca Counties. With a variety of services, Schuyler Hospital is a healthcare "security blanket" for the entire family. Schuyler Hospital. We've Got You Covered. To find out more about Schuyler Hospital, visit www.schuylerhospital.org or call (607) 535-7121.

2011 Western Idaho Open

The Western Idaho Open is being held in Boise, Idaho this weekend. Tournament director and ICA web master Jeff Roland is posting round by round pairings, results and game scores. Go here to follow the action.

Final round pairings Caleb Kircher has a chance to win another tournament with a win in round 5.

Shown above is he group photo from the 2012 Western Idaho Open (courtesy of TD Jeff Roland). Follow this link to view other photos as well as the names of the participants.

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