NEW»YORK*STATE*AGRICULTURAL*EXPERIMENT*STATION

CORNELL
Station NewsU N I V E R S I T Y

GENEVA
N EW • YORK

VOLUME LXXXIII • NO. 46 NOVEMBER 15-22, 2002
BRIEFS

Lakso to Chair Horticultural Sciences Department at Geneva

Defibrillator Training
There will be a defibrillator training course held on December 3rd from 9-1 in Jordan Hall. All staff are welcome to attend. Please register by e-mailing Lou Ann at lar38.
Employee Assembly Seeks New Member
A seat is open on the Employee Assembly (EA), and any staff member in the Cornell Community (including the Experiment Station) is eligible to join.
The EA is one of four governing bodies that make up Cornell’s self-governance system. With the Student Assembly, Graduate & Professional Student Assembly, and the Faculty Senate, they work toward the common good of the university. The EA has a working partnership with the university’s decision makers, especially the President, the Vice President for Human Resources and the Vice President for University Relations.
There are 13 elected members on the Employee Assembly, representing both exem pt and non-exem pt staff in the Statutory and Endowed colleges. Elections are held in the spring.
The Em ployee Assembly has the responsibility to deliberate on issues of concern to all em ployees including university policies, and makes recom­ mendations to the administration on ways to improve the employee environment at Cornell.
What the Employee Assembly does for you:
• Works with the Office of Human Resources to establish, review and/or suggest changes to policies affecting (Continued on page 2)

Alan Lakso has been appointed the new chairman of the department of H orticultural Sciences at the Agricultural Experiment Station. He replaces outgoing chair, Hugh Price, who is retiring and then accepting a part-time position in Administration to help with grants. Lakso, whose research focuses on apple and grape physiology, studies how apples and grapes grow, and how the weather combines with grower practices to influence fruit yield and quality. He has been at the Station for almost 29 years.
“I am pleased that Alan Lakso has agreed to serve as the next chair of the Department of Horticultural Sciences,” said Station director Jim Hunter. “He has an outstanding reputation as a scientist and is someone who works well with people. He knows the department and Station Alan Lakso extremely well, and has a good understanding of the issues facing the department. I look forward to working with him as a member of the Station’s leadership team.”
When asked about his thoughts on becoming chairman, Lakso said, “It is an honor to be asked by our faculty and administration to assume this important role. I felt that it was an opportunity to contribute to the department in a new capacity after being a faculty member for almost 30 years.”
Lakso’s goal is to “help the department through difficult times of reduced state support and shifting to more diverse funding bases while still maintaining the strong support of our New York horticultural industries and consumers.” He also plans to support the faculty’s programs as they continue to evolve with the most modern technologies available.
Lakso feels the main strengths of the Geneva horticultural sciences department are its many excellent individual programs. “I feel our department has great overall strength across the spectrum of research on horticultural crops that we do. This extends from the more fundamental studies of plant genetics and physiology, to the development of efficient production systems with excellent crop varieties that ensure top quality produce while protecting the environment as much as possible.” Lakso also noted that the faculty and staff have a strong problem-solving approach which they use to focus their research on problems of practical value to horticultural producers and consumers.
Lakso received his B.S. in Biological Sciences in 1970 from the University of California-Davis, and his Ph.D. in Plant Physiology in 1973, also from UC- Davis.
Alan and his wife, Elaine, live in Geneva and have two children, Sara and Scott. When he’s not in the lab, Alan enjoys tennis, golf, and traveling. In closing, Alan said, “I’m looking forward to the challenges of a difficult time, but also to the many exciting
(Continued on page 2)

NOVEMBER 15-22, 2002

(LAKSO, continued)
opportunities in our field of m odern science.” He will begin his new duties on January 1, 2003.
J. Zakour

Dan Peck to Lead Geneva’s Turf Grass Entomology Program

(BRIEFS, continued) salary, benefits, layoffs, time away from work, flextime, sexual harassment, child care grants, etc.
• Sponsors an annual address to staff by the University President.
• Sponsors an Emergency Grant Fund for employees suffering catastrophic losses.
• Sponsors the George Peter Award for Dedicated Service.
• Supports publication of PawPrint and Cornell Recreation Connection (CRC).
• Co-sponsors Employee/Family Day and Employee/Family Night at the Court. To submit an application to join the
Employee Assembly (or to join an Employee Assembly committee), please visit the following website: www.assembly.cornell. edu/EA
Thanksgiving Break 2002 November 28-December 1
Semi Monthly Exempt Employees Pay Period November 16-30,2002
The last exempt payday for November will be Friday November 29, 2002, which is during the Thanksgiving break. Checks and advices will be distributed on Monday December 2, 2002. Direct deposits will be processed on schedule and should be available in employee bank accounts on November 29, 2002.
Now is the time to sign up for direct deposit to ensure that your December 31 pay is available on 12/31/02. The exempt semi­ monthly pay will be available as direct deposit on December 31,2002. Checks and advices will not be handed out until January 2, 2003.
Direct Deposit Forms can be found on Payroll’s web Page: www.univco.Cornell, edu/payroll/home.html

The position of soil ecologist and leader of the Soil Insect Ecology Group at Geneva, which has been vacant since the death of Mike Villani in May of 2001, will be filled in January 2003 when Dan Peck joins the Cornell faculty as an assistan t professor in entomology.
“It will be very difficult to replace Dr. Mike Villani, who was a world-renowned leader on soil insects,” said entomology department chairman Wendell Roelofs. “However, we are very pleased to have a person of Dan Peck’s qualifications and enthusiasm join our department and continue this program. We are excited that he will be continuing many of the projects that are ongoing in the soil insect ecology lab, and branching into new areas as needed.”
“I consider myself an applied insect ecologist,” said Peck. “Geneva is a place where you can do some very satisfying work that combines applied entomology and theoretical ecology.”
The research program focuses on insect pests associated with the soil, and the horticultural crops for which these insects are significant, particularly turf grass. Peck has a special interest in applying questions of soil ecology to pest control— how better soil management would also provide better pest management. “There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done in identifying the patterns and variation, and in overcoming some of the challenges of studying insects in the soil,” he said.
In particular, Peck said he wants to investigate the potential of biological controls for these pests. “Turf grass is very pesticide intensive,” he said. “We’re seeing more and more public support for reducing those chemical inputs because of safety concerns, pesticide phase-out, and cost.” He hopes to collaborate with other Geneva researchers to evaluate new systems for insect control that combine different biological controls, or biological and chemical controls, that will reduce the amount of pesticides used.
Peck has considerable experience with soil-borne insects that he gained in his six years at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia. At C1AT, one of his areas of research was pasture grass pest management. His research included control of spittlebug species, which are also a minor pest of turf grass in the Southeastern United States. He said it was while conducting this work that he became interested in the complex soil/insect system.
Peck grew up in Minnesota, earned his undergraduate degree in entomology and zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988, and his Ph.D. in entomology from Cornell in 1996. He spent the next six years in Cali, Colombia, with CIAT, as a post doc, then as a senior research fellow.
In his free time, Peck canoes and tends a large garden, and hopes to begin running competitively again. His wife, Claudia Coen, just completed her Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell and will be joining the NYS IPM program next year. They have one son, Satchel Coen-de-Peck.
P. Seem

2

NOVEMBER 15-22, 2002
Retirees’ Luncheon Booth at the Craft Fair

Station retirees sold lunch items and other goodies at this y e a r’s craft fair, (from left to right) Barbara Lamb, Bernadine Aldwinckle, Janice Allen, Betty Bixler and Mary Lou Dumbleton.

Benefits Open Enrollment & Art Show
C o rn e ll’s annual B enefits Open Enrollment period for endowed health and dental plans and the Select Benefits Dependent Care Account is Nov. 11-Dec. 6, 2002. The Open Enrollment period for
the Select B enefits M edical Care A ccount
is Nov. 11-Dec. 31,2002. The state contract college health plans’Option Transfer Period begins when the NYS releases the new health rates and ends 30 days from the release date.
At Geneva, the Benefair describing these and other options is Dec. 5, in Jordan Hall.
If you wish to enter some of your art­ work for the Fine Art Exhibit which will run at the same time, contact Amy Andersen at adalO or x2314.

T iie 3r d An n u a l
1(4
F in e A r t E x h ib it
& BENEFAIR
DECEMBER 5. 2 0 0 2
IN
JORDAN HALL
3

Calling All Entries
The time has come to collect information from interested artists who wish to submit work for the "Artists Among Us” Art Exhibit, December 5, 2002.
Please provide the following information to Jeanne Samimy (jrs6 or x2214) by Monday, November 18th. This deadline will enable us to work with Communications Services in getting title cards printed in time for the exhibit.
Please provide the following: name of artist and current department, title of work, medium used, measurem ents, year completed, and something about the artist or the work.
As there is limited space to display work, please specify how many pieces you are planning to submit.

CALENDAR of EVENTS
NOVEMBER 15-22, 2002
SEMINARS

Horticultural Sciences and Food Science & Technology

Date: Time: Place: Speaker:
Subject:

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 10:30 AM Jordan Hall Auditorium Dr. Thomas Burr, Dept, of Plant Pathology, Geneva Agrobacterium vitis Plant Inter­ actions: Exploring Various Phenotypic Responses

LTC

Dreamweaver Basics

Date:

Tuesday, November 19, 2002

Time:

9:00-11:00 AM

Place:

LTC. Jordan Hall

Instructor: Karen English

Subject: Learn to create your own web

page using Dreamweaver.

Some of the topics that will be

covered are:

• Creating and editing web

pages

• Object, properties and

launcher

• Tables, links, images and

anchors

• Preferences

Date: Time: Place:
Date: Time: Place:

FITNESS Aerobics
Mon. & Fri. 12:10- 1 PM Sawdust Cafe
Taekardio
Mon., Nov. 18 & Wed., Nov. 20 12:10- 1 PM Jordan Hall Auditorium

J io lid a y Parties
[department/Unit holiday parties will be held this year
on Jriday, December 20, beginning at 1:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 15-22, 2002
Food Drive for the Geneva Food Pantry
Sponsored by Station Club
The Geneva Center of Concern’s Food Pantry is the primary source of emergency food for G eneva’s elderly and needy families.
In 2001, more than 3,100 families consisting of 4,076 adults and 3,736 children, and 322 elderly were served by the Pantry.
Today, the Center serves an average of 350 fam ilies per month. With today’s declining economy and fewer job opportunities, the Center will certainly see an increase in requests for help.
We, at the Experiment Station, have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives — people that we see every day — on the street, in our schools, in our community.
We will be holding a Station-wide food drive for two months, from October 18December 18. Please look for the specially marked box in your department and join us in our efforts to collect much-needed items for the Food Pantry.
The most needed items are canned soups and vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, canned or bottled juices, small boxes of cereal (18 oz or smaller), oatmeal, macaroni & cheese or other pasta, baby food or form ula, and Raemen noodles, also donations of personal items like soap, razors, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, washcloths, and large-sized diapers (sizes 5/6).
If you have questions about donating, please call Amy Andersen at x2314.
Members of the Station Club thank you for your kindness and generosity.
SAVE THE DATE!! Red Cross Blood Drive Monday, November 25th
9 AM to 3 PM in Jordan Hall
•
Please contact Donna Roelofs (X2325 or drr2) to make an appointment.

CLASSIFIEDS
CLEANING OUT THE GARAGE? We'll take used wooden snow sleds with runners, smaller sized for children ages 4-8. They need only be in good working order, as we are experts in reconditioning them! Also looking for used tobogan of any size. Contact Gregg, x 2433 or gehl I @cornell.edu.
FOREIGN COINS AND STAMPS needed for my niece and nephew's collections for part of their holiday gifts. Also looking for older American half dollar or dollar coins for my younger nephews. Happy to exchange for home made cookies or equivalent American currency. Drop in campus mail to C. H eid en reich , Plant Path. (x2367, mcm4@cornell.edu)
FREE: Bare rooted trees (exotic and common oaks, nuts, fruit, etc.) 6 inches to 3 ft tall to anyone who can plant them right away. White, swamp white, burr, English, fastigated English, Turkish, Mongolian, Japanese sawtoothed oaks; pecans, Carpathian walnuts, Asian hybrid chestnuts, pawpaws, large leafed Magnolias. First come first serve. Rain or shine. Saturday Nov 16 and Saturday Nov. 23 from 9 AM to 3 PM. At residence of Ann and Don Cobb, 625 West River Road, Waterloo, NY. phone 7893701. From Rt 5 and 20 east of Seneca Lake State park, turn right on 96A, take first left (east) on W. River Road about 0.6 mile on left.
FOR SALE: Couch, mauve, very good condition, $150. Contact Nancy Long (NPLI).
FREE to a good home. Very friendly purring gray and white medium-haired kitten with adorable face. Please adopt me! For further information please call x2376, email acc3, or 789-3701 nights.
FOR RENT: small two bedroom trailer, basement, garage, nice yard. Less than 2 miles from station. hlw7@nysaes.cornell.edu phone: 2433 or 781-8504.
FOR RENT: Large 1 bedroom Apartment, walking distance from Station. $500/month plus electric. Se­ curity deposit required. Contact dbclO or 781-1808.
FOR SALE: 1993 Ford Taurus Wagon. Auto, 6 cvl. AC, power steering, windows, locks, folding 3rd rear seat. Mileage: 137,125. Good running condition, would make a great second family car. Asking $2,000. Call Judy Birketl at 585-526-5840 after 6 pm.
FOR RENT: New furnished home on east side of Seneca Lake. Available 10/15/02 - 5/31/03. Contact Penny at 315-585-2259 or pyf f @nysaes.cornell.edu
FOR SALE: professional drafting table, Hamilton VR20, 3’x5’, power lift, excellent condition, $300. Call Dave x2496.
FOR SALE: '95 Coleman Cedar Tent Camper. Sleeps 5, Stove, Sink, Awning & Tent. $3200 or B/ O. Call H olly 3 1 5 -5 3 9 -5 2 1 6 or e-m ail: hak@cornell.edu