NEWS
C.U. Focuses on Fall Creek GORGES
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University will install more warning signs, produce an educational video to be shown during orientation and create a gorge stewards program — a student group that will help educate other students about which areas of the gorges, such as those in Treman State Park, are safe. The funding allocations come after three accidental deaths in the gorges during the summer of 2011, including the death of Nathaniel Rand ’12, who drowned in Fall Creek Gorge near Ithaca Falls. Rand’s family has been publicly critical of the University for what they have said is its lack of urgency in tackling gorge safety efforts since his death. Despite the increased funding, Rand’s father Jacob Rand said he remains skeptical that the money the University has committed to gorge safety will be put to good use. “It’s great that money has been [allocated to gorge safety], but the funds need to be devoted to specific projects on the Cornell campus and in cooperation with the City of Ithaca that will achieve the goal of preventing future gorge deaths,” Jacob Rand said. Rand expressed worry that the committee’s recommendations will not be implemented. “There is no doubt that the committee has made important recommendations; however, there have been many previous committees over the years, and these have not produced any substantive changes,” Rand said. “The University must avoid previous mistakes by objectively reviewing past actions and implementing a project management plan with clear accountability and timelines.” In addition to the $1.56 million, the University will spend $150,000 on gorge trail maintenance annually and has already spent $1.2 million repairing the Cascadilla gorge trail, according to a University press release. In 2009, the Cascadilla gorge trail was closed for maintenance. The lower portion of the gorge trail was reopened in 2010. Several individual projects that are not yet approved by the Board of Trustees will receive a total of $800,000 in funding. Each individual project must have a plan detailing how money will be spent approved before money can be allocated. “Once you know what you want to do, you write a project plan … and it eventually ends up with a group that approves all capital spending projects,” Opperman said. “You can’t do everything all at once.” Funding has already been approved for key safety features such as railings, fences and signs. The University plans to spend additional money on improving the safety of both Cascadilla and Fall Creek Gorges. “Funding is always put toward the open gorges because you need to maintain them,” Opperman said. Joesph Niczky can be reached at jniczky@cornellsun.com.
THE CORNELL DAILY SUN | Thursday, March 29, 2012 5
Yogurt Crazy Will Have Late Night Hours YOGURT
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ed at 301 College Ave., also serves frozen yogurt, Yogurt Crazy is currently the only place in Collegetown that focuses on the frozen dessert. However, Brown said that there are other stores that plan to open frozen yogurt shops in downtown Ithaca in the next few months. But, he added, “we’ve kind of beat them to the punch in opening.” Many students, who enjoyed flavors ranging from raspberry pomegranate to cappuccino on the warm day, said they were happy to see the store open. “It’s nice that Collegetown now has a healthier option for dessert,” Heather Murray law said. After settling into its new location, Yogurt Crazy is planning to have operating hours from 10 p.m. to two a.m. to allow students to quell their late-night cravings. Final decisions on evening store hours will be determined by management’s evaluation of weekend foot traffic, Brown said. “I’m really excited about the Yogurt Crazy opening. I think it’s a great addition to Collegetown, and I think it’ll be an awesome place to go for a late-night snack,” Katie Mehary ’11 said. The store, is the fifth store to open in the
family-owned and -operated chain based out of Suffolk County, Long Island. Brendan Hackett, one of the store’s owners, told The Sun in November that he and his family decided to open their fifth shop in Ithaca in part because of his family’s ties to the area and what he identified as the need for more diversified social options in Collegetown. “I love Ithaca. I went to school at Ithaca College, and my father and sister went to Cornell,” Hackett said. “We were looking for a place to open a new store and decided Ithaca would be the perfect place.” Hackett also noted that the recent string of bar-closings in Collegetown — Dino’s also closed this summer — opened the door for Yogurt Crazy and other establishments to stake their claim in the area. “It seems like the bars keep disappearing and landlords don’t want to put bars back in there due to liability and noise,” Hackett said. “We wanted to give people a place to hang out that was upbeat but not too noisy.” The site’s landlord, who would not be identified by name, added that as a result of the new yogurt store, Avramis Realty will likely raise the rents of its apartments at 408 College Ave. for the 2013 to 2014 year. Tajwar Mazhar can be reached at tmazhar@cornellsun.com.
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