The Ithaca Journal from Ithaca, New York • Page A1

THE ITHACA JOURNAL ITHACAJOURNAL.COM A GANNETT COMPANY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 School lunches packing more fsJH The Masonic Temple building is under consideration for use by the New Roots Charter School, simon wheeler staff photo Temple plan gets boost Caroline Elementary School second-graders Miles Ackerman, left, and Maggie Bonassar pick items for their lunch in the school's cafeteria on Wednesday, simon wheeler staff photo Tompkins County students find carrots and hummus replacing pepperoni pizza and nuggets But present owner prefers not to sell building By David Hill dwhillgannett.com ITHACA The group hoping to buy the Masonic Temple in downtown Ithaca and turn it into a community center and site for New Roots Charter School's expansion won key city approval for part of its financing package Thursday. However, the current owner has again expressed reluctance to sell. The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) board approved a loan of up to $400,000 for the project at its monthly meeting. The project is led by the State Theatre of Ithaca (STI), though a separate organization is being planned to run what's being called the "State North Community Center." STI plans to combine the IURA city loan with a $500,000 loan from the Park Foundation of Ithaca, a $250,000 bank positive move and one that underscores her mission to get healthier lunches onto lunch trays. "We've been doing greens and fresh produce for a while.

What's changed is portion sizes, and 50 percent of our grains have to be whole grains," she said. And so far, the students aren't complaining. Agati regularly surveys the lunch line at the district's 12 schools and checks the compost bins for thrown-out produce. "It seems to be working," she said. This is the first time in 15 years that meal standards for public schools were raised across the country, spurred on by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, part of See LUNCHES, Page 4A By Shawnee A.

Barnes sbarnesgannett.com School lunches are getting a healthy boost this fall, thanks to new federal guidelines that took effect this month. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade, nationwide, now must choose a fruit or vegetable in addition to their main entree. The goal is for students to consume less salt, fewer empty calories and more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. That sits well with second-grader liana Lehmann, who was enjoying a lunch of watermelon and taco salad recently at Caroline Elementary School. "I think it's good because I love fruit, but I really don't like grapefruit.

It's too sour," she said. For Denise Agati, director of the Ithaca City School District's Child Nutrition Program, the upgrade is a See TEMPLE, Page 4A ON THE WEB To see more photos of the Masonic Temple, go to theithacajournal.comphotogalleries. Manhunt in superintendent's slaying "ay 7 of ipd suit A witness in Former Horseheads assistant principal found dead "They were not unfamiliar with one another," said county District Attorney David Foley. "This was a personal issue and not a professional one." Authorities settled Ik Officer Chris Miller's employment discrimination lawsuit against the Ithaca Police Department claims she heard him use racist language. See full story, PAGE 7A.

Keith Reed Jr. II, 42, of Woodbridge, went to New York last Friday night to shoot 51-year-old Keith Reed then returned to Virginia. The slaying was unconnected to Reed's job as school superintendent, officials said. They believe they know the motive, but they would not divulge it. Police have ruled out murder for hire or a drug-related killing, Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace said.

By Carolyn Thompson Associated Press MAYVILLE, N.Y. A nationwide search has begun for a Virginia man believed to have driven to upstate New York last week to kill the superintendent of a small school district, police said Thursday. Police in Clymer, near the Pennsylvania border, believe Anthony Taglianetti on Taglianetti after collecting evidence and witness statements; they say he acted alone. See MANHUNT, Page 5A The Ithaca Journal Co. 1-800-642-3186.

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