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Online @ ITH ACA .COM

Winter Times 2022

CLASS ACTION

Cornell sued for alleged tuition conspiracy PAGE 3

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CHANGES

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CannaMarket to offer Health Dept. ceases free cannabis at event contact tracing

INDOOR CAT

Winter activities for the cold avoidant PAGE 13

We need your expertise Bored with retirement & have more to oﬀer? There’s an opportunity for you here www.paper.net/ithacatimes

Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor Opening February 2022 Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor will soon be open, offering new and expanded services -- including comprehensive breast care for the women of our community. With nearly 700 providers within the Guthrie network, all with access to your single electronic medical record, you can be confident in coordinated, safer care.

Quality Breast Care. Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor.

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Trust your breast care to Guthrie. Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor will offer several new and expanded services. For more details about our new location, visit www.Guthrie.org/IthacaCityHarbor.

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Newsline Day Hall, which houses the Cornell financial aid office. Photo: Provided

Cornell

Cornell among 16 universities sued for financial aid collusion

ornell University was one of 16 universities named as defendants in a lawsuit filed in federal court for allegedly conspiring to eliminate competitive financial aid offers to students in a price fixing scheme. Other universities named are Brown University, California Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Emory University, Georgetown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, Rice University, Vanderbilt University and Yale University. The lawsuit alleges that the universities are in violation of section one of the Sherman Act. Enacted in 1890, the Sherman Act is the country’s primary federal antitrust statute. Section one “broadly prohibits agreements between distinct actors that unreasonably restrain trade” and provides “every contract, combination in

the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce of several states, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal,” according to the American Bar Association. The lawsuit names the plaintiffs as Sia Henry, Michael Maerlander, Brandon Piyevsky, Kara Saffrin and Brittany Tatiana Weaver. Henry attended Duke, Maerlander attended Vanderbilt, Piyevski attended Northwestern, Saffrin attended Northwestern and Weaver attended Vanderbilt. The plaintiffs allege the universities “by their own admission, have participated in a price-

fixing cartel that is designed to reduce or eliminate financial aid as a locus of competition, and that in fact has artificially inflated the net price of attendance for students receiving financial aid.” According to the plaintiffs, the defendants claim they are protected by section 568 of the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994, which is an exemption from the antitrust laws which prohibit conspiracies among competitors. It applies to two or more institutions of higher education at which “all students admitted are admitted on a need-blind basis.” The lawsuit says need-blind basis means without regard to the financial circumstances of the student involved or the student’s family, however the plaintiffs claim the defendants are not entitled to that exemption because “at least nine defendants for many years have favored wealthy applicants in the admissions process. These nine defendants have thus made admissions decisions with regard to the financial circumstances of students and their families, thereby disfavoring students who need financial aid.” They go on to allege that all named defendants have conspired to reduce the amount of financial aid they provide to admitted students. This conspiracy, which has existed (with slightly varying membership) for many years, thus falls outside the exemption from the antitrust laws.” The plaintiffs allege the defendants are members of the 568 Presidents Group, in which the members have agreed on a set of common standards for

T a k e ▶ Sheriff services - The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office is offering free disability-alert stickers. People with disabilities can alert first responders of their status by using the new disability decals being offered free through this office. The

VOL.XLII / NO. 22 / January 19, 2022 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

determining a family’s ability to pay for college, called the Consensus Methodology. “Under the Consensus Methodology, an applicant’s ability to pay is a substantial determinant of the net price, which is the institution’s gross tuition plus fees for room and board, less institutional grant aid, charged to the applicant for attendance.” Allegedly, the members of the 568 Presidents Group met regularly to jointly implement the methodology, artificially inflating the net price of attendance for financial-aid recipients. The lawsuit claims over 170,000 financial aid recipients have been overcharged by “at least hundreds of millions of dollars” over the past two decades. Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, MIT, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt are alleged to have been members of the Presidents Group the entire time, while Cornell, Brown, CalTech, Chicago, Emory, Rice and Yale are alleged to have been part of it during at least parts of the last two decades. “These seven defendants may or may not have adhered to need-blind admissions policies, but they nonetheless conspired with the other defendants. The 568 exemption thus does not apply to them either,” the lawsuit alleges. This means Cornell may or may not have been directly partaking in the allegations, but the plaintiffs do claim they were involved in the conspiracy. Cornell declined to comment. The suit is demanding damages for the plaintiffs and “all others similarly situated,” as well as an end to the alleged collusion. -Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

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bright yellow stickers give first responders the information they need before they approach, and they will give people the security of knowing their situation is known. Information is key. The more first responders know about the status of an individual, the better position they are in to

help. The disability-alert stickers will be available at the civil window, Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you belong to an organization/group that could benefit from these stickers reach out to the Sheriff’s Office at 607 257-1345 ext. 4456 to make arrangements to get them to you.

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F E AT URE S Ban over ��8 The eviction moratorium expired Jan. 15, and at least a dozen eviction cases are already on the Ithaca City Court docket.

The return of ‘Get Crazy’ ��23 A neglected comedy-musical cult classic gets its due

Newsline ��3-5 Opinion �� 6 Letters �� 7

Winter Times �� 11

ART S &E NTE RTAINME NT Music �� 25 Art �� 26 Arts �� 28 Classifieds �� 30

ON T HE WE B Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 T a n n e r H a r d i n g , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 1224 E d i t o r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m J a i m e C o n e , E d i t o r , x 1232 SouthReporter@flcn.org C a s e y M a r t i n , S ta f f P h o t o g r a p h e r P h o t o g r a p h e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C h r i s I b e r t , C a l e n d a r E d i t o r , x 1217 A r t s @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A n d r e w S u l l i v a n , S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 1227 Sports@flcn.org Steve L awrence, Spo rts Co lumnist St e v e S p o r t sD u d e @ g m a i l .co m M a r s h a l l H o p k i n s , P r o d u c t i o n D i r ec t o r / D es i g n e r , x 1216 P r o d u c t i o n @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m Sharon Davis, Distribution F r o n t @ I t h a c a T i mes . c o m J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 1210 j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L a r r y H o ch b e r g e r , A ss o c i a t e P u b l i s h e r , x 1214 l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m F r e e l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, Rick Blaisell, Steve Burke, Deirdre Cunningham, Jane Dieckmann, Amber Donofrio, Karen Gadiel, Charley Githler, Linda B. Glaser, Warren Greenwood, Ross Haarstad, Peggy Haine, Gay Huddle, Austin Lamb, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Lori Sonken, Henry Stark, Dave Sit, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman

All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $89 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607-277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972-1978) and The Good Times Gazette (1973-1978), combined in 1978. F o u n d e r G o o d T i m e s G a z e tt e : Tom Newton

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INQUIRING

N e w s l i n e

Cannabis

PHOTOGRAPHER Ithaca CannaMarket to host cannabis vendors at LakeWatch Inn By C a se y Mar tin

LET’S TALK DIPPING SAUCE. YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE DIPPING SAUCE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. WHAT IS IT?

“A Fine Olive Oil.” -Chick S.

“Anything with some kick to it -- Cholula Hot Sauce.” -Kaeden R.

“Chili’s Honey Mustard, for sure!” -Tyler H.

-Evan C.

“Ok, I hate to admit this, but recently, I LOVE mayo. I wouldn’t call it an addiction, but I definitely need it.”

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According to event organizer Kenneth McLaurin, the CannaMarket is a “pop-up social experience” meant to “provide opportunity and space for people who enjoy cannabis to get together and have fun in a social setting.” There have been two prior pop-ups already. In September they hosted the Finger Lakes Music, Comedy and Cannabis festival in Spencer, and in December there was a pop-up in Binghamton at a hotel. McLaurin said those were both a big success, and said it brought out the diversity of Tompkins County. “There were people representing the city of Ithaca, the greater Ithaca area, the more rural areas,” he said. “It was

COVID

Health Dept. to cease contact tracing, shifts case investigations to state

“Any BBQ Sauce – Sweet Baby Rays!”

-Alyssa H.

hile the state continues to work on legislation for selling cannabis, some people have found a creative workaround in the meantime. On Feb. 26, the Ithaca CannaMarket is coming to L a k e Wa t c h Inn. It will feature local exhibitors covering all parts of the cannabis culture and industry. Guests will pay $20 for advance tickets or $25 at the door and will be able to sample and obtain products from the state’s cannabis, CBD and hemp industry. Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne said that because there’s no direct sale of cannabis, the event is legal and he does not plan on the Sheriff ’s Office having any presence at the event.

he Tompkins County Health Department announced changes to the COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing process based on recently updated information from the New York State Department of Health. Cases have been trending downward as of late in Tompkins County. As of Jan. 18, there are 503 cases and 12 hospitalizations. The changes include prioritizing populations who are at high-risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, shifting case investigation to the state, suspending contact tracing operations, and re-focusing the local Health Department’s efforts on

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vaccination and educational outreach. As of Jan. 14, Tompkins County Health Department has adopted the following changes:

Case Investigation and Isolation – for positive cases, regardless of vaccination status:

• If you are sick or test positive through a self-test or PCR test, isolate at home for five days and continue to wear a well-fitting mask for five days following your isolation. • If you test positive, you may receive a text message and phone call from NYS Case

a really good turnout with a diverse group of people.” McLaurin noted that it’s no secret people have been using cannabis both medically and recreationally for years, but because of its prohibition, there hasn’t been a public space for people to get together and talk about it. “They haven’t been able to have a conversation and educate themselves to learn all the therapeutic uses of marijuana,” he said. [The pop-ups] are a good way to educate yourself about different strains and effects. It’s a way that cannabis consumers can find out more, and it’s a good entry place for people who are curious but hesitant.” The entry fee goes to support the event, and then inside businesses can gift or provide samples to people, including edibles, plants, flowers, extracts, glass and more. “Once you get inside there are a lot of opportunities to get marijuana that are within the bounds of the law,” McLaurin said. McLaurin also said he hopes that having events like this end the stigma around people who use cannabis. “We want to end the misinformation about the plant. People are used to consuming it in secret at home and we’re looking over our shoulders,”

he said. “We’re trying to end that stigma so we want to do everything really legally. We’re not selling. Nobody is going to be selling marijuana.” He described the event as a farmers market where it’s just one crop. “There are also going to be CBD vendors selling, and cannabis adjacent businesses,” McLaurin said. “There will be people selling glass and t-shirts and edibles and juices and creams and rubs. That’s the most interesting thing about it — all the other ways people use cannabis.” McLaurin said he was thankful to have found a venue like LakeWatch Inn to make it accessible to many people in the area, and said he hopes it will have a positive impact on the region. “We want to try to bring together like-minded people through having healthy and safe events, so they can learn more about cannabis and celebrate its legalization,” he said. To attend the CannaMarket, you must be 18 years or older, and you must be 21 or older to accept samples of smokable products. For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit https://ithacacannamarket.bpt.me. -Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

Investigators but will not receive a follow up call from TCHD. Follow isolation guidance on the website and access a self-affirmation form for employer and school documentation from the NYS DOH website. • Notify close contacts, especially those who live with you, that they may have been exposed during your contagious period and they should follow quarantine guidance. • Attempt to use the resources located on the Health Department’s website website or call 2-1-1 (1.877.211.8667) during regular business hours before calling the Health Department. Due to the high volume of calls, there may be a delay in response.

Quarantine – known exposure to a positive case: • If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive with COVID-19, you will not receive a call from the Health Department or NYS. Review quarantine guidance on the website and access a self-affirmation form for documentation on the NYS DOH website. • Individuals who are close contacts, and not fully vaccinated or fully vaccinated and eligible for a booster but not yet boosted, should quarantine for five days after exposure and wear a wellfitting mask around others for an additional five days. • TCHD will continue to support certain congregate settings to utilize contact tracing to communicate continued on page 7

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

Cornell Gymnastics

Longtime assistant coach takes over

Photo caption: Melanie Hall with the Cornell gymnastics team. Photo: Cornell Athletics

ad I reached out to Melanie Hall when she started working as an assistant gymnastics coach, our phone conversation would not have been possible, given it was 1994, and cell phones were not yet ubiquitous. Twenty-seven years later, Melanie — now the head coach of gymnastics at Cornell — responded to my message instantly, telling me, “I’m on the bus — we didn’t make it home last night due to the storm. We just left Hazelton, and I will be happy to talk!”

I joked that Hall is an overnight sensation 30 years in the making, and she laughed and said, “Well, 27... close enough.” We talked about the fact that her first meet as the head coach took place nearly two years after the team last competed, and I asked her if the moves up the ladder from assistant coach to associate head coach to head coach was a smooth one. She told me, “One of the gifts Paul gave me was that we did everything together, we shared responsibility on everything.” (The Paul she references is former head coach Paul Beckwith, who was also Melanie’s college coach at Radford, where she was a four-year letter winner and a record-holder on bars, graduating in 1992.) She added, “Now, I have full oversight of the budget and the scheduling, and Mike (the new assistant coach Mike Brackmann) has been great. I tend to be a Type A personality, and he brings a different energy to the program. He brings balance.” Hall continued, “When the girls learned that Paul had announced his retirement, they were concerned that I might leave too, or that we might hire

a coach from outside the program. So many programs see coaches roll in and roll out, but our transition has been seamless. That continuity has been very helpful. The fact that the program is going in the same direction brings some peace of mind.” Melanie and I talked about her path to the head coaching position, and I noted that I recalled reading that she was a flight attendant before taking an assistant coaching job at her alma mater. She laughed and said, “True story! I had just graduated from college with a degree in graphic design. That industry was changing rapidly to become all digital, so I decided to do some traveling.” I pointed out that I knew she was also an elite powerlifter, winning many medals at the Empire State Games, and that such experience would serve a flight attendant well in these crazy times. She said, “Well, I plan to stay here as long as they’ll have me!” The Big Red placed fourth at last weekend’s meet at George Washington’s Lindsey Ferris Invitational, and as stated on Cornell’s website, the team had to “shake off some rust.” It had been 681 days since the team’s last competition, resulting in 15 gymnasts seeing their first collegiate

competition. On beam, Regina Walton posted a 9.850 to take second overall, Victoria DeMeo was the team’s top finisher on floor, three newcomers scored 9.600 or better on vault with Sydney Beers and junior Amy Krueger each scoring a 9.625, and on bars, Kate Mechelini had a 9.750 to place sixth overall. Hall reminded me that the Big Red will host the Nationals on April 8 – 10, and I asked for clarification. I recall that Cornell won the Nationals in 2009, but I was confused, knowing that teams like Michigan, Oklahoma and U.C.L.A are powerhouse programs, and she explained, “The NCAA doesn’t recognize divisions that fall below 100 programs, so USA Gymnastics stepped in to sponsor a mid-level championship. [Division III] has enough programs to have their own championships, but [Division II] has far too few programs.” She also pointed out that “Since we offer no scholarships, our athletes who win at the USA Gymnastics Nationals are recognized by the NCAA as All Americans.” Cornell will compete at home for the first time this season when it welcomes West Chester to Newman Arena for a dual meet on Sunday, Jan. 23. B y S t e v e L aw r e n c e

Ups The Ithaca College wrestling team won its seventh straight Empire Conference Wrestling Championship title, with six wrestlers also winning individual events. Downs According to Cornell’s Northeast Regional Climate Center, 2021 was the third warmest year (tying with 2020) since consistent record keeping began in 1895. Read more at ithaca. com.

HEARD&SEEN Heard Laura Lewis, who will take over as acting mayor upon mayor Svante Myrick’s departure next month, released a statement that she supports the Reimagining Public Safety plan and the working group has her full support. Seen Snow. So much snow everywhere. Thanks to all the crews who were out and about keeping the roads as safe as possible!

IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write news@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Boosters

800+ Cornellians call for end to booster requirement

ore than 860 people have signed an open letter to Cornell’s president Martha Pollack and the Cornell Board of Trustees opposing the school’s COVID-19 booster mandate and urging them to change the mandate to a recommendation. Cornell, like other area schools Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College, announced during the latter half of the fall semester that booster shots would be required for the spring semester. The announcement came as cases at the university skyrocketed with the introduction of the omicron variant, pushing Cor-

nell into alert level red for the first time since the pandemic started. Local health officials have also been encouraging residents to receive booster shots in order to reinvigorate the immune response to COVID-19. In the letter, the signees, which include current and former students, faculty and parents, urge the university to weigh “scientific, ethical and legal” factors. The letter states that Cornell has overlooked “recent and evolving scientific data regarding the vaccine and the virus that makes a booster mandate inappropriate and unnecessary, raising serious ethical and legal questions.”

The letter goes on to argue that since so many students are testing positive and the virus is unlikely to be contained, the on-campus population are “in essence, receiving a natural booster based on the very latest variants of the virus.” It’s also stated in the letter that there is “mounting evidence” that “points to serious risks from exposure to the COVID-19 vaccines.” the letter cites souces such as the National Library of Medicine. Local health officials have maintained the vaccines are safe. The signees believe those risks are not worth taking as the rate of severe COVID-19 illness in the student-aged population is extremely low. On Dec. 21, the university put out a statement that they were requiring the booster because they “markedly increase immunity directed against the variant.” All students, faculty and staff are required to have

the booster by Jan. 31, or within 30 days after becoming eligible. They also stated university leadership has “followed the science in charting our response to the virus” since the beginning of the pandemic. “Vaccines followed by boosters are even more protective than the vaccine alone, especially given the rapid spread of the omicron variant among vaccinated populations,” the statement said. As of publication, Cornell had no further information or update regarding the open letter or booster requirements. Read the entire open letter at: https://cornelliansagainstboostermandate.wordpress. com/2022/01/08/open-letterto-cornell-university-boardof-trustees-and-presidentmartha-pollack/ -Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

Have you given up on your resolutions yet? 71.4% 2023 is my year. 28.6% So far so good.

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

Hibernate or great outdoors? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

ITHACA NOTES

Victoria Small: Helping People in the Time of Need G

Mayoral History By St e ph e n Bu r k e

By M a rjor i e Z . O l d s

rowing up in OT program. Glen Rock, And so, she did. New Jersey, However, the first Victoria Small, affecsemester was tough tionately called Vix, for Vix. Suddenly, loved science and dayafter her years of dreamed about workbeing a kid, living ing in a medical field. at home, Vix was a But over time, she decollege student. With cided the 10 years of mononucleosis. schooling to become a “This lingering physician was just too illness was challenglong. ing,” she said. “I was When a good exhausted throughout friend of Vix’s sister my entire first semesHaley raved about the ter. But the students, Victoria Small (Photo: Provided) occupational therapy faculty, and the Ithaca studies at Ithaca ColCollege Health Center lege, Vix — 16 at the time — tuned in. folks were all terrific… Occupational therapists help people of all I made great friends, who are still in ages master the activities they want and my life all these years later.” need every day. After her admission to the OT pro“From that moment on, I knew I gram, Vix learned if she worked hard, she wanted to get into that program,” she said could pursue IC’s OT graduate program. “I had no second choice in mind.” Knowing this, she threw herself into her Vix set her sights on winning admiscontinued on page 7 sion to Ithaca College’s highly competitive

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or most people the news that Svante Myrick was resigning as mayor of Ithaca for another job was the big surprise. For others there was another. We got an email about the news from a friend, an ex-editor of this paper, who moved away but keeps up with Ithaca on the paper’s website at ithaca.com. He said he was surprised to learn that Myrick is the longest-serving mayor in Ithaca history. As an ex-journalist here perhaps he should have known, although he left before Myrick’s third term, and in this case long memory can actually be unhelpful if it’s incomplete in detail, as Myrick is in fact not the only mayor of Ithaca to be elected to three terms. Maybe that’s what our friend remembers: that some years ago, Mayor Ben Nichols served three terms. The difference is that when Nichols served the term was two years, not four. The irony is that Nichols was instrumental in advancing legislation for a fouryear mayoralty, but when it was adopted during his third term and he ran for a fourth, in 1995, he lost. Clearly, then, there will be no asterisk next to Myrick’s record. Nichols served as many terms, but half as many years. Length of service is by no means predominant in Myrick’s electoral legacy. He is the first person of color to serve as mayor of Ithaca, and the youngest; indeed, the youngest mayor in the history of New York. Myrick has been an agent of change politically. In recent years he has been a prominent voice for police reform. In 2016, after a two-year study of the opioid crisis, his administration proposed for the city a health care center based on European models that would allow supervised use of opioids, a first in the U.S. Despite his unapologetic progressivism, Myrick seems to have striven towards mediation and conciliation in his leadership. Here he differs from Nichols, who once blatantly and publicly slowed down building permits and other non-critical services to Cornell in a protracted dispute over the level of in-kind payments to the city by the school in lieu of taxes, which Nichols maintained were substandard. Extolled by some, excoriated by others, Nichols seemed unconcerned with either praising light or blazing heat. Did Nichols’s hardball lead to his downfall? More likely it was taking his eye off the ball. In the 1995 election no one gave challenger Alan Cohen much of a shot. By 1995 Ithaca had become strongly Democratic and progressive. Nichols ran as a Democratic Socialist. Cohen ran as an Independent, which most people under-

stood as sheep’s clothing for a Republican. Nichols was a three-time incumbent and Cohen a relative neophyte. Nichols barely campaigned. Cohen did energetically. Cohen knocked on my door in September to ask for my vote. We spoke politely but I affimed my support for Nichols. In October Cohen returned. I reminded him that I had shooed him away before. He smilingly acknowledged that, but said he had visited every house in Ithaca in September and, regardless of response, was doing it again in October. Every house. Twice. No matter the result the first time. That’s when I knew Nichols was in trouble. Over the years Myrick developed the skill and strength to ward off opponents in the first place. In his first campaign, in 2011, he won decisively in a field of four, including not just a Republican but one well-known Democratic politician (also of color) and a fledgling but older candidate, all of whom made an issue of Myrick’s youth (age 24). If it didn’t work then it wouldn’t work four years later when Myrick had only one opponent, a last-minute write-in who said she wanted to give voters a choice. Myrick won with 89 percent. A similar situation developed in 2019 when a complete political novice announced late as Myrick’s sole opponent, again with a stated belief in choice. Myrick said he agreed with that stance, and when some procedural missteps clearly rendered the challenger’s candidacy disqualifiable, Myrick declined to contest it. “He seems like a nice, earnest guy,” Myrick said, and went on to campaign and win in a lesser landslide, but a landslide nonetheless. Myrick’s era has been a success by any measure. Budget deficits have been replaced by operating surpluses and lower tax rates. Infrastructure has been improved less by pressure on Cornell, et al. (disappointing some fight fans, no doubt) than by pursuit of federal and state funds. Public investment (in improvements to the Commons, transportation, water treatment, and more) have encouraged private investment. The Waterfront Trail is a splendid new development. Improvements to the Farmers Market and Stewart Park are next. Back to the big surprise, then: why is Myrick resigning? It might simply be that it’s easier to get a new job when you’ve already got one, and the mayor has secured a good new position as executive director of People For the American Way, a national progressive advocacy group. Ithaca’s loss will be the nation’s gain. How to replace that Wu-Tang Clan sweater, though? Ave atque vale, Mr. Mayor.

COMMUNITYCONNECTIONS Contin u ed From Page 6

classwork and experiential learning. Preparing to graduate this spring, Vix notes that her classwork and her fieldwork were well-integrated and assessed that both components were outstanding. “In addition to renowned faculty, Ithaca College has a marvelous, wellconnected Field Work Coordinator, who works with students and faculty to arrange important hands-on work experiences,” Vix said. “We work with people who are feeling vulnerable in their time of need to learn or regain missing skills. Each of my placements has added so much to my ability to serve.” In her first clinical internship Vix visited an assisted living facility. This fieldwork project was mostly about socializing with elderly patients, and Vix found she could converse with anyone. Better yet, she observed that she could explain complex topics in a way that her clients understood. A more extensive field work project included 12 weeks at the Ivy Rehab Center in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, an outpatient hand therapy program. “We focused on adults’ shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands, and everything in between. Luckily, this was a 10-minute drive from my home, so I got to spend time with my family too.” Vix was thrilled that she was so wellprepared from her studies at IC, that she was on the right path, and that she received rave reviews. “I knew after that summer in the hand clinic that I was ready for the next step!”

Vix said. Near completion of her graduate studies at IC, Vix is beginning to wrap up her five years in Ithaca. This spring, Vix will head to Watertown, Massachusetts to intern with people ages 3-22 at the Perkins School for the Blind. This distinguished program (at the school where Helen Keller studied) will focus on sensory integration — how children can use all five senses to expand their world. Looking back over her OT program, Vix reports that one clinical program stood out — The Center for Life Skills, which was created 25 years ago by Professor Catherine Gooch to assist stroke patients. Administered to this day by Dr. Gooch, community participants meet three times a week and work with OT, physical therapy and recreational therapy students, supervised by their respective professors. Participants report that they looked forward to every session. And they noted marked improvement in their activities of daily living — getting up from a wheelchair, putting on a coat, using a phone. Fieldtrips to try shopping despite paralysis from a stroke was a big success, as participants purchased and then wrapped holiday gifts with their IC student teachers. Impromptu baking sessions, where everyone did a task, resulted in sumptuous treats. By the end of the semester IC faculty, students, participants and their caretakers felt very bonded. As Vix relates, “People hit by tragic illness meet others and share tips. Everybody helps each other. It’s a really warm, supportive place and everybody comes to life.”

COVID Contin u ed From Page 4

information to close contacts. These settings include senior living settings, and other settings at high-risk for rapid spread of disease. • TCHD will not conduct contact tracing in preK-12 school settings and is not expecting schools to complete contact tracing following an identified positive case. Refer to frequently asked questions for the preK-12 setting on the TCHD website for more information. Tompkins County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa stated, “Changes in priorities are in response to the increased transmissibility of COVID-19 and the shortened isolation and quarantine periods. As a result, contact tracing and case investigation have become less effective in stopping the spread for the general population. TCHD will shift nursing and administrative resources to focus on testing, educational outreach and vaccination, tools that continue to have a big impact on keeping our community healthy. I want to be clear that this change is not simply a resource issue. Throughout the pandemic, the support from our local Legislature and community partners has allowed us to find and use resources when needed.” Kruppa continued, “Our case investi-

gation and monitoring team has done an incredible job over the past two years, and I commend them for their commitment to keeping our community safe. We are looking to the public once again to take responsibility and do your best to selfmanage if you are positive, but please remember that there are resources available if you are in need (contact 2-1-1 for more information), or if you become severely ill with COVID-19, call 9-1-1. Vaccines continue to protect the most vulnerable among us, and our high vaccination rates are a testament to how our residents have responded to this pandemic and protected our community.” Regarding the change in approach, Kruppa added, “As vaccines and testing have become widely available, the risk of severe illness to the general public has decreased. It is still critical for individuals who are positive for COVID to isolate from others and mask, especially from those in their household and away from those who are unvaccinated or over 65 years of age. TCHD will continue to adapt as we learn new information to keep the public safe and healthy.” -Staff R eport

YOUR LETTERS Support a price on carbon

recent poll (https://polls.saintleo. edu/6364-2/) by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute showed that 71.3% of U.S. respondents are concerned about climate change, with 37.5% being very concerned. In the same poll, 20.8% prefer not to pursue environmental protections if they negatively impact the economy. How many others may not even want to acknowledge climate change for fear about the cost to our economy? After all, our economy as well as our livelihoods depend on energy. You may be worried that moving to clean energy will drive up costs. The current scare about inflation, and the rising cost of gasoline underscores this concern. But what if I told you how one powerful approach to a cleaner, fossil-free economy could actually put money in your pocket? Yes, if we enacted a fee on carbon and distributed the dividend back to citizens, the average family of three in Tompkins County will receive a monthly net benefit of $15 a month, (or $180 a year). Families who use cleaner heating sources would have lower monthly energy costs and therefore would keep more of their dividend. (https://energyinnovationact.org/carbon-dividend-calculator/) Carbon fee and dividend will help to level the playing field, making sustainable energy more competitive. Prominent economists agree that pricing carbon is the quickest and most effective way to immediately begin to bring down greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, stop escalating temperatures, and spur innovation in renewable energy. It has been encouraging recently to see a bipartisan group of senators leading on climate. Last year the House and Senate passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill with more than $150 billion in funding earmarked for a transition to clean energy, more EVs, green jobs, and climate resilience. Carbon fee and dividend also enjoys support from politicians on both sides of the aisle. In our region it has the support of many wineries, College presidents, religious leaders and environmental groups. Over the last few months many concerned citizens have contacted their members of Congress, including Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, asking them to support a price on carbon. If you care about our climate and want a more sustainable world, please join their voices. -Ron Liso, volunteer with the Ithaca chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Reform or abandon the filibuster

he filibuster was created in 1806 and the original idea was that it would allow for extended debate on bills. It is not a part of the constitution but is thought of as that because of its long hisJa n ua ry

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tory. However, the fact of its longevity does not necessarily legitimize it. The fact is, that in recent times it has been continually exploited as a means of grandstanding and attracting media attention or used simply to stall or block bills. Unless the Senate reforms the filibuster and the way it is used to obstruct legislation, it must be abandoned on constitutional grounds. In its current form it is unconstitutional because of the destructive way it disrupts the Senate’s legislative process as outlined in the constitution. Last year it was used to block the Voting Rights Act and now the plan is to use it to block the John Lewis Voting Rights Act - two pieces of legislation that represent huge amounts of work, time and energy and that would benefit all Americans. We need a legislative process that does not allow for manipulation by those who have less than the public good at heart. -Gillian Pederson-Krag, Ithaca, NY

In support of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act

laudia Tenney (R22-NY) announced her “Election Integrity Caucus” cochairmanship with Congressman Mike Garcia (R-CA) — who voted to block the certification of Joe Biden’s election win on the eve of the January 6th riot. The caucus’ purpose is “to fight against election reform measures that Democrats are seeking to pass.” Tenney admits “Everywhere I go, everybody asks me about elections and whether they can trust our election system…” No wonder! Despite her (2020) narrow 109 vote “election win,” she says that “opposing two pieces of voter rights legislation, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act will be my priority in 2022.” Tenney claims they represent “federal overreach...in control of the election process.” But what unfolded during her election? Would federal guidance be useful to prevent a repeat? According to Wikipedia: “The Oneida County Board of Elections used sticky notes to mark disputed ballots, and those notes came unstuck from the ballots and attached themselves to other ballots, an incident called “Stickygate” by the media. Oneida County was later revealed to have made two more serious errors: it incorrectly rejected 700 absentee ballots that should have been accepted under state election law, and failed to process 2,418 voter registration applications before Election Day.” It’s clear we need some strict federal guardrails on the voting process, including to limit gerrymandering and require transparency in political donations as the Freedom to Vote Act requires. And, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would shield American voters from racial discrimination at the ballot box. -Dorothy Pomponio, Groton, NY

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BAN OVER

The eviction moratorium expired Jan. 15, and at least a dozen eviction cases are already on the Ithaca City Court docket.

By E ddi e Ve l a z qu e z

ith the expiration of the state’s moratorium on evictions due to pandemicrelated hardships in the rearview mirror, city legislators and fair and safe housing advocates are looking ahead toward solidifying new protections for tenants and building up renters organizations. The halt on evictions due to COVID-related economic hardships has been in place at both the state and federal levels since the early days of the viral outbreak in 2020. The unprecedented measures to pause evictions came from recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aiming to prevent homelessness and overcrowded housing conditions and mitigate the spread of the virus. The moratoriums were extended several times as waves of COVID-19 cases hit communities across the country. The state’s eviction moratorium ended last Saturday (Jan. 15) and local advocates with the Ithaca Tenants Union (ITU) say the measure was extremely beneficial for tenants facing financial strain. In recent 8 T

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months, city officials have estimated 74 percent of Ithacans live in rental properties. “It was incredibly helpful, it was absolutely vital for a lot of tenants,” said ITU organizer Taylor Moon. “There is a real sense of anxiety within the Tenants Union about the upcoming wave of evictions that is inevitable at this point.” Renters who filled out and presented a hardship declaration form to their landlord before Jan. 15 are protected by the state’s pause on evictions through the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, a piece of legislation meant to block non-payment evictions. The declaration must report a loss of income during the pandemic, an increase in living expenses related to the pandemic, or an inability to move due to financial strain or increased risk of health complications because of COVID-19. Data from a statewide landlord-tenant eviction dashboard created by New York Unified Court System’s Division of Technology & Court Research suggests there have been approximately 176,930 eviction cases filed in courts across the state since 2020. At least 124 of those cases were filed in Ithaca City Court, data shows.

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Carolyn Headlam, an organizer with the volunteer-led ITU, said the moratorium has been helpful for those who understand their rights. “A lot of people did not really know (about the hardship declaration form),” Headlam said, adding that in several cases, tenants are unaware of the hardship declaration form or the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). ERAP is an online program that allows qualifying tenants who are able to demonstrate a loss of income due to pandemic-related hardships to request up to 12 months of past-due rent and, for some households, up to three months for future rent. The program can also pay for up to 12 months of overdue electric or gas bills and payments are directly issued to landlords and utility companies. If tenants have a pending ERAP application, Headlam said, landlords cannot initiate eviction proceedings. “Yes, in theory you do have these rights, but it is up to you to enforce them, which is really problematic,” she said.

The Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) — an organization seeking to provide low and moderate income housing to residents of the counties of Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins —also provided financial assistance to residents in select counties. The INHS’ Rental Assistance Program ran from June 2020 and ended in August 2021, disbursing $460,000 in funds to 143 households, according to INHS Strategic Communications Manager Justina Fetterly. To qualify, residents had to meet income requirements, produce proof of income loss due to COVID-19 pandemic related hardship, meet housing conditions requirements, and obtain property manager approval. “We worked very closely with our tenants throughout the pandemic. We certainly realize the position where our tenants are in because of the pandemic,” Fetterly said. “Our property managers have done everything they can to hear out the tenants and it is really important that we work with them. Eviction is not something anybody wants, and every action we take as a land-

lord is done incredibly thoughtfully with our community in mind, and is also within the law.” Fetterly noted the INHS helped residents fill out ERAP applications, but did not provide a number as to how many tenants’ applications were sent to the state due to a high number of applications still pending approval. Some of the cases adjourned thanks to the protections found in the Tenant Safe Harbor Act will be back on the judicial docket in the coming weeks, Headlam said. Between the month of January and the first week in February, Ithaca City Court will hear 24 eviction cases, according to the New York State Unified Court System. Headlam added the court could hear anywhere from 12-15 eviction cases next Thursday (Jan. 27). Several of these cases involve local landlord Norfe Pirro and a few others associated with the INHS. “INHS claims to be dedicated to expanding housing opportunities for low and moderate-income residents and to fostering communities that embrace diversity, equity, and sustainability in ways that produce lasting outcomes,” Headlam said, labeling INHS as a “leading evictor in Ithaca.” “These eviction proceedings are typically against racially and economically marginalized tenants.” Earlier this month, a study from the Community Service Society of New York found that more than one-in-four-low-income tenants (27 percent) in the state owe back rent. Black and Latinx tenants, women heads of household in particular, face the greatest risk of eviction, according to the study. EXPANDED TENANT PROTECTIONS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS

“Prohibition of eviction without good cause” laws at the state and local level have been an important tenet of safe housing advocates in the last year. This type of legislation has already been adopted in four cities along the Hudson Valley and Capital regions, and ITU members hope Ithaca becomes the next city to adopt good cause laws. This bill, drafted by Alderperson Cynthia Brock, D-1st Ward based on a similar piece of legislation adopted by Albany, would make it illegal for landlords to evict tenants without first acquiring a court order from an Ithaca City Court judge. “Under the proposed law a tenant who violates the terms of their lease, who violates the terms of this legislation, or violates

local and state laws are not entitled to a renewal lease,” reads the bill. “GOOD CAUSES” FOR EVICTION, INCLUDE:

• Tenants failing to pay rent. That is unless tenants fail to pay rent due to a rent increase or pattern of rent increases not agreed upon by all parties. • The tenant is violating a reasonable obligation of their tenancy and has failed to remediate that violation after a 10-day written notice. • The tenant is damaging the property or engaging in “nuisance-like” behaviors. Actions described as “nuisance” behaviors include: smoking inside the property when landlords have explicitly prohibited smoking, and failing to dispose of animal waste from a tenant’s pet. • The tenant is using the property for illegal activity. • The tenant is violating the law and the landlord is subject to civil or criminal penalties. • The tenant is refusing landlord access to the property for the purpose of making routinely and necessary repairs, inspections, or improvements required by law. • The landlord seeking “in good faith” to recover possession of a property, 12 units or less, to use as their residence, the residence of an immediate relative, or for the sale of the property. The landlord must also provide relocation assistance to the tenant household in the form of one month’s rent and full repayment of their security deposit. In some cases, landlords are required to pay two months rent and full repayment of the security deposit. Additionally, due to further amendments to the law made by Brock, the legislation requires that a landlord informs a tenant their lease is not being renewed, and the justifications why, before the end of the lease. “The responsible landlord will have documented their interactions with the tenant over the lease term and how they have good cause to terminate based on the legislation,” Brock wrote in a memo to members of the Planning and Economic Development Committee (PEDC) of the city’s Common Council. “It will be up to the tenant to challenge the landlord’s claims in court.” The bill is currently on ice, as city legislators review the decision-to-come from a lawsuit in Albany where landlords are challenging the city’s good cause eviction law. At the state level, legislators have also drafted good cause eviction bills. The leg-

islation — introduced in both legislative chambers by Assemblymember Pamela Hunter and Sen. Julia Salazar, D-Brooklyn — would amend state laws to provide tenants with a baseline “right to remain,” by prohibiting evictions where the tenant is not at fault. The legislation also calls on landlords to justify rent increases greater than 3% with a “good cause.” The legislation defines good cause as substantial violations of a lease, such as failure to pay rent or serious destruction of property. According to the Community Service Society of New York, good cause eviction laws would cover 1.6 million renter households across the state. The group estimates that would cover half of the state’s renters. ITU advocates said they are confident good cause eviction laws will be approved this year at the state level. “There is a lot of support for this bill,” said Bhuvan Singla, an ITU organizer. “(Advocates) are very clear that this is not an anti landlord bill and that the goal for both tenants and landlords to prevent evictions is mutual.” At the local level, Moon said the bill will have even more support from members of the council with the election of new alderpersons Phoebe Brown in the First Ward, and Jorge DeFendini in the Fourth Ward. Both candidates support good cause legislation and were endorsed by ITU as part of the solidarity slate of candidates running for Common Council last year. The threecandidate slate ran on supporting mainstream progressive causes, including improving housing quality and access in the city. “Part of our confidence is that, if other cities can pass this type of legislation — then Ithaca, this supposed liberal bastion — can pass this progressive piece of legislation,” Moon said. Moon said the ITU doesn’t rule out attempting to push for this legislation directly at Common Council meetings. Currently, the ordinance has been mostly discussed at PEDC meetings. For Headlam, the revisions made by Alderperson Brock narrow the bill’s scope. “A bill narrower in scope is not a substitute for good cause legislation and should not be seen as a win until and unless there is broader and more robust-tenant empowered legislation on the blocks,” she said. Another ordinance that may help tenants when making a decision on lease renewals will be discussed at the PEDC meeting this Wednesday (Jan. 19). An ordinance to amend the city codes — introduced by recently- appointed AlJa n ua ry

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derperson Patrick Mehler, D-4th Ward — would provide renters with a 180-day waiting period before receiving an opportunity to renew a lease. Currently, Mehler said, landlords must wait 60 days until they can present tenants with a lease, but landlords can do away with the 60-day requirement by presenting tenants with a waiver. The ordinance would also outlaw said waivers. “I did not know a single off-campus student who didn’t sign their lease before Christmas,” Mehler, whose district encompasses swaths of Collegetown, said. “Half of these students haven’t even lived in these apartments and they are being asked to sign a new lease.” Mehler noted providing renters more time to live in the property before signing a lease is beneficial in a place like Tompkins County, where weather conditions have a tangible effect on housing decisions. “As a renter, you need to know if your landlord is responsive and if they keep up with the place,” he added. “The purpose of this bill is to have renters have the time to make a decision, to be informed, to actually know what it is like to be living where they are living, and then decide if they wanna live there again.” In a comment submitted to the PEDC to be read at Wednesday’s (Jan. 19) meeting, Modern Living Rentals Director of Operations Gregory Tumbarello said the legislation would “bottleneck” the company’s business. “We view our business and the work we do on an annual basis and it takes a full year to successfully market, communicate, lease and transition between tenants,” Tumbarello said. “The new legislation would only serve to bottleneck our workflow and force us to eliminate multiple full-time, livingwage jobs that we deem essential to our business in place of temporary untrained labor to fill the void during what would be the newly established leasing season.” Tumbarello, who is also a small landlord and owns six apartment units, said the last four months of a lease are some of the busiest for Modern Living. “(In those four months), we are focused on helping the tenants clean and repair their apartments so that there is a successful transition between their departure and the future tenants arrival,” he said. “Our goal is to work to make sure all of our tenants receive the maximum security return and that the future tenants are delighted and pleased with the apartment they are receiving. If this is the only time we have to lease then we cannot assist in these measures.

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n the face of another cold Ithaca winter, it can be hard to put on a winter coat and brave the great outdoors. Luckily, staying inside doesn’t mean sacrificing fun, especially in Ithaca. From pickleball to game bars, there’s plenty of indoor recreation opportunities around to get you on your feet while staying in the heat.

PICKLEBALL MANIA

Opened in Dec. 2020, Pickleball Mania has made quite a racket thanks to owner Lesa Carter (better known as “Petunia Pickle” to her pickleball friends). As a certified pickleball instructor, Carter has made it her mission to create a community around the sport, attracting both young and old demographics to her facility. “I want people to feel like they can come and there’s something for everyone,” she said. In the past months Carter has done just that, adding table tennis, spikeball and basketball to the facility. In fact, a table tennis tournament is already on the agenda for Feb. 5. Looking to the future, Carter said she hopes to extend Pickleball Mania beyond just sports, using extra space in the gym to create a leisure center for children, teaching everything from computer coding to music. “I have a doctorate in education, so I don’t ever want to lose the fact that educating our young people is something that is extremely important,” she said. “It’s going to be really beyond that I’m working on where it’s not just about pickleball, it’s about community.” Pickleball Mania currently offers private lessons, skills clinics and pickleball workout programs. It is located in the Ithaca Mall, at the site of the former Planet Fitness Center. The hours are 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 5:30–9:30 p.m. Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. SaturdaySunday.

Climbing wall at Cayuga Climbs (Photo: Provided) According to Carter, people can just show up or call ahead and she’ll take schedules. It’s $10 for a drop in session, or $70/month memberships for unlimited play. The 18,000 sq. ft. facility has four standard-sized courts and four table tennis tables. Proof of vaccination is required to enter, masks are not required on the court.

there to help you along the way, if you’re a little nervous about it.” If bouldering still isn’t your thing, DeGaetano said they offer a variety of classes such as yoga for climbers as well as a class called “Pound,” which combines percussive drumming with music and fitness exercises Cayuga Climbs also caters to children offering “toddler time,” where 1-3 years old can play on smaller obstacles set up around the gym. DeGaetano added that there will be kids climbing camps offered in the summer. For bouldering, a day pass costs $16, a three-pass pack includes rental gear and a 20 minute introductory lesson for $50. There are also monthly memberships for kids, adults and families ranging from $50-$100 a month. Oneon-one individual lessons are also available. Masks are required at all times in Cayuga Climbs but proof of vaccination is not required.

CAYUGA CLIMBS

If you’re in the mood for a bit of adventure, look no further than Cayuga Climbs. Cayuga Climbs specializes in a particular type of rock climbing known as bouldering. In this case, participants scale small walls without the use of a harness or rope (A crash-pad is placed below in case someone falls.) Free climbing might sound a bit daunting at first but general manager Amy DeGaetano assured that Cayuga Climbs has plenty of resources to get beginners on the right path. “I think the environment is really approachable and people are ready to welcome new climbers,” she said. “People are going to be

If you’re not the athletic type, Modern Alchemy Game Bar is a fun, relaxed option not far from the center of the city, on West State Street. Here you can chill out with a beer and a board game or play Super Smash Bros and other videogames on the Nintendo Switch at this bar/ game hub. “[It’s all about] great drinks, great games, great food,” co-owner and bar manager Nicholas Daniluk said. In addition to traditional bar fare (think pretzels, pizza and fries…) the bar offers alchemy themed cocktails like the “Philosopher’s Stone,” which contains rose gin, grapefruit vodka, cinnamon and elderflower. Modern Alchemy also hosts weekly trivia nights as well as casual game nights centered around particular games such as Dungeons and Dragons or Magic the Gathering. If you’re hoping to stick solely with members of your COVID-19 bubble, Modern Alchemy offers private game rooms. There is no extra fee, just a minimum purchase requirement of $25 an hour for any sized group. In the future, Daniluk said he hopes to increase community engagement through their preexisting Discord server, where Modern Alchemy organizes games through the online chat room. “It’s our long term goal to have, you know, a more steady, reliable community,” he said. “We want people to be able to show up and know they can play a game with people.” Visit Modern Alchemy’s Facebook page for information on opening days/hours: https:// www.facebook.com/alchemygamebar Proof of vaccination will be required to enter the building.

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t’s early morning deep into January in the Finger Lakes. You are driving along one of the deserted wine routes in the region. The temperature is in the lower teens. The vineyards along the road look barren and desolate in the snowy landscape. Yet in the distance, you spy a few workers moving quickly along a row of vines, their breaths appearing as puffs of smoke. They couldn’t possibly be picking grapes. Those grapes must be frozen solid in this cold! Well, you are witnessing the beginning of the making of a truly magical wine: ice wine. Eiswein (ice wine in German) has been produced in Germany for centuries. Folklore pegged its origin to the 1790s in the Franconia region, when an early and harsh winter left the vintners with no choice but to make wine from the frozen grapes. Thus, Eiswein was born. Ice wine didn’t make its debut in the New World until 1972, when Walter Hainle, a German immigrant, made an ice wine by happenstance at his winery in British Columbia, the result of an unexpected early frost. In the

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early 1980s, Inniskillin Winery in Niagaraon-the Lake began purposefully leaving Vidal grapes on the vines to freeze. Soon after, those ice wines began winning international awards, and Canada — especially the Niagara area — became renowned for its ice wines. In America, the first ice wine was made in 1981 by Great Western, the pioneering sparkling wine producer located in Hammondsport in the Finger Lakes. Art Hunt, the affable and folksy owner of Hunt Country Vineyards, remembered tasting that Vidal and being amazed by its concentrated flavors. A year later, he happened to be walking in one of the Taylor Wine Company’s vineyards on a very cold day in late November and noticed that a block of grapes had not been picked yet. Hunt said, “So I went over and tried one of the frozen grapes and it tasted like the most amazing sorbet!” Eureka! Hunt had caught the ice wine bug. Art Hunt’s family settled in the western side of Keuka Lake back in 1820 and has been farming the land ever since. Their first vineyard

Photo caption: Rows of frozen Vidal grapes. (Photo by Matt Kelly)

was planted in 1902. In 1973, Hunt and his wife Joyce took over the family farm and grew grapes to sell to the Taylor Wine Company. But the bottom fell out after only a few years when Coca Cola, Taylor’s corporate parent, moved its wine operations to the West Coast, leaving its growers high and dry. By then, the wine market in America had shifted dramatically from sweet red wine to drier white wines as part of the nation-wide health movement. Not only were those growers left without a buyer for their grapes, their vineyards were saddled with out-of-fashion wine grapes such as Concord and Dechaunac. Hunt knew that to survive, he had to sell his own wines. He founded Hunt Country Vineyards in 1981 and began replacing some of the old undesirable grape vines with more popular ones. In 1985, he field-grafted an acre of his vineyard with the Vidal grape. Vidal is a French hybrid grape bred to be winter-hardy and capable of ripening with high sugar content even in cool climate. “In 1987, we had a full crop of Vidal and decided to leave them all to pick later for ice wine,” Hunt said. “Everything came out perfectly and the wine began winning awards once it was in the bottle.” With some interruptions caused by Mother Nature, Hunt has been producing ice wines since, and is the oldest continuing ice wine producer in the country. Making ice wine is full of inherent risks. Not all varietals are suitable for making ice wine. The grape berries need to have thick skin to weather the tough wintry conditions. Besides Vidal, cool-climate vinifera grapes such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Cabernet Franc are good candidates. Come fall, growers have to decide if they are going to leave some grapes on the vines to be picked later for ice wine. “The first thing is, the grapes need to be clean, sound and quite ripe, so you can’t have an overcropped situation,” Hunt explained. Nettings are installed to drape over the vines to keep the grapes from being eaten by birds and deer. “We net the vines usually after the normal harvest is done,” Hunt added. “Otherwise, every bird in the county will be coming for dessert.” As the grape clusters hang on the vine, they darken in color and develop the plummy, raisiny and honey flavors. But perils abound. Rain could promote rot, high winds could pull the clusters right off the vines, sleet could damage the grapes and the weather might not cooperate. When the conditions are right, as temperatures drop down to 18 degrees Fahrenheit and below for a day or more, workers march out to the vineyard to collect the frozen bounty, each grape as hard as a marble. Hunt said they’ve never harvested ice wine grapes before Thanksgiving, and the wait

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sometimes stretches into January. The yield from ice wine grapes could be as low as 20% of what they would have produced as still wines. All these factors mean that ice wine is costly to make and not much gets made each vintage, if at all. It is no wonder that true ice wines are expensive, costing upwards of $30 per half bottle (375 milliliters). But do remember, this is a wine to be sipped, so a little goes a long way. After harvest, the frozen grapes must be pressed immediately, in the cold, to prevent them from melting. A high-pressure basket press is routinely used to slowly push out the concentrated juice, while leaving the ice crystals behind. The process could take eight to 12 hours to complete. Fermentation of grape juice with such high sugar contents is not smooth. Special yeast strains are often used and sometimes fermentation might stop all together and need to be restarted. What finally goes into the bottle is a wonderfully aromatic and sweet elixir that is not only a dessert wine, but dessert itself. I sat down with Hunt in his winery’s café to taste his 2016 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. The grapes were not harvested until the first week of January. It was a monumental wine: medium golden in color, very ripe and tropical, beautifully honeyed, focused and delineated. The concentration of this wine is something to behold, as the ample lively acidity springs a vibrancy in the mouth. Even with its 19.8 percent residual sugar it does not come across as cloying; this majestic infant will develop for decades. I scored it 95 points. It won both the 2017 Jefferson Cup for Best Dessert Wine and the 2018 New York Wine Classic Best Ice Wine awards. In recent decades, a technological shortcut has been introduced to obviate the risks of exposing the grapes on the vines for such a long period of time. Grapes are picked at normal harvest times or shortly after. They are then sent to a commercial freezer facility, where they are frozen slowly. After that, the wine is made in the same process. By U.S. law, these post-harvest frozen wines cannot be called “ice wine.” You might see them labeled as “iced” wine, “ice-style” wine, or similar monikers. Only true frozen-on-the-vine ice wines could be labeled as such. I have tasted numerous commerciallyfrozen dessert wines, and some of them were quite outstanding. They exhibit a purity and expression of fruit that is very alluring. But to me, the true or natural ice wines possess something more. Perhaps it’s the extra hangtime on the vines that creates that additional complexity and majesty, or maybe it’s the romance of those frozen grapes bravely standing up to the harshness of the elements. Regardless, there is magic in every sip. So, on a cold winter night, relish a glass of true ice wine, slowly, just like its long journey from the vine to your glass.

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dominant at right now. I think that we want to try to get our game and some of those areas where we can be better on the power play, be better in the penalty kill, be better at five-onfive.” While the Big Red are underperforming when it comes to the power play (their percentage of .161 ranks 41st among Division I teams, according to ncaa.com), the team is performing admirably in terms of penalty killing (.863, 13th) and winning faceoffs (.528 win percentage, 10th). Lack of practice time has been one reason for Cornell’s inconsistent play, according to Schafer. Typically, the team practices four times a week, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made that number more difficult to attain. However, Schafer foresees the team’s fortunes improving soon. “We haven’t had a whole lot of practice in the month of December, so with intersession and no school we have a chance right now to get at things and make ourselves a little better

fter suffering consecutive defeats to Arizona State to begin the new year, the Cornell University men’s hockey team is currently riding a three-game winning streak following its 3–0 blanking of Yale University this past weekend. Prior to topping the Bulldogs, the Big Red swept a two-game set against University of North Dakota, who was ranked fifth in Division I nationally prior to the meeting. It was an impressive pickup for the squad in that not only it took down a top-five team, but it did it on the road as the Fighting Hawks had not been swept on their own ice in more than four years. The two victories against North Dakota vaulted Cornell back in the top 10 in the country from number 14 to number nine as the team’s record currently stands at 12–3–1. Despite the high ranking, head coach Mike Schafer does not see his group as fully polished yet. “Everything about our game needs work,” Schafer said. “I don’t think there’s an area in the game that we’d say we’re weak at. I wouldn’t say there’s an area of the game that we’re particularly

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Cornell Men’s Hockey (Photos: Provided) over the next few weeks while the kids are not in school,” he said. Roster-wise, the pandemic has provided some minor hurdles. A large portion of the roster has tested positive for COVID-19 at some point this season, though Schafer said a lot of those cases occurred during the winter break, so it did not impact the team’s chances to compete. The virus has actually caused Schafer himself to miss the team’s last couple of games after contracting it. Some of Cornell’s top performers this season include senior forward Max Andreev and junior forward Matt Stienberg. Stienberg currently ranks in the top 10 nationally in assists and goals per game (0.85 and 0.62, both ranking ninth, respectively) and in the top five in points per game (1.46, second) with 13 games under his belt this year. Andreev is tied with Stienberg for the team-high in points (19), goals (eight) and assists (11) while sporting a higher +/- differential (+14 for Andreev and +10 for Stienberg). Schafer said he is impressed with the level of consistency both Andreev and Stienberg have produced so far. “Both of them have really good hockey sense, and combined with the skill they’re able to find each other and their teammates,” he said. “They’ve played with a lot of different wingers throughout the course of the year. That hasn’t really seemed to affect them a whole lot. They have a nice chemistry between the two of them, but their hockey sense and their competitiveness really feed off of each other; that competitiveness where they bring it in practices and games gives them that level of consistency where they’re able to produce [on] offensive because they can get it

in all different ways — on the rush, forecheck, tips, power play, rebound goals.” Schafer also underscored junior defenseman Sam Malinski’s play this season. Malinski has scored the most goals out of all of Big Reds’ defensemen with four. He also sports a +/differential of +14, tied with Andreev for the top mark. “Our power play since the start of the year, he’s consistent at jumping to the play,” Schafer said. “I think he’s our top scoring defenseman. Had some big blocked shots out in North Dakota and has been doing a really good job for us. He’s a guy that I think also has taken a step [up] this year.” Freshman forward Ondrej Psenicka has come onto the scene and provided some major offensive production with seven goals on the season and a +/- differential of +12. “He works on his game day-in and day-out,” Schafer said. “For us, we are looking forward to him growing physically. He’s 6’6”, but to fill out, I think he could be a dominant player – be more physical. He’s got a lot of growth left in his game, but he’s fit in quite nicely into our hockey team.” Heading into its home contest against Princeton University on Friday Jan. 21, Schafer believes the team remains on course to achieve its aspirations. “We’re in the right direction, but the tweaking won’t stop until the last game of the year,” he said. Cornell will also be tested when they take on ECAC rival, and the nation’s current number one hockey team, Quinnipiac University on Saturday, Jan. 22.

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he omicron variant has disrupted a lot already this year, but it won’t take away Downtown Ithaca’s Annual Chili Cook-Off. Typically, the event takes place in early February, but has been moved to March 5 to give the community more time to fight off the surge. “Dozens of restaurants and eateries participate and thousands of people show up for our Chili Cook-Off each year, and we want

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everyone to have the safest experience possible,” Scott Rougeau, special events director for the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, said. “To that end, we’ve worked with the Tompkins County Health Department to determine an ideal time to host this event, and early March seems to be a good fit.” This is the cook-off’s 24th year, and with it comes a new twist. Guests will have multiple opportunities to enjoy the different chilis this

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“We look forward to the Chili Cook-Off every year, and we’re certainly thrilled to be able to organize it safely,” Rougeau said. “The public is truly in for a treat. The competition is typically fierce but friendly, so we’re expecting many tasty chilies that everyone may enjoy.” There’s always a large variety of types of chili and chili-inspired food, which makes for an intereting competition. Some go with a more traditional chili, such as Monks on the Commons’ loaded beef chili topped with chives, cheese and sour cream, while others do something a little different like hot dog chili from Lou’s Kitchen (both from 2021). As alluded to, there are also a variety of vegetarian and vegan options. As for the chili-inspired food, that runs the gamut. Last year, Casablanca Pizza offered a chili-inspired pizza, while Finger Lakes Bakes had a mango compote-filled donut with tajin seasoning. Local food truck Mama Said Hand Pie had poblano con quest hand pies, housemade hot sauces and chili pepper-infused truffles last year, while Nothing Nowhere Café offered a chocolate and coffee beverage.

year. In the week leading up to March 5, folks will be able to try a bowl of chili and chiliinspired items at participating restaurants. Then on March 5, guests can visit downtown and try even more chili options at the cookoff competition. Each of the chilies in in the competition is freshly prepared by regional chefs from over two dozen participating restaurants and eateries. There will also be locally and regionally produced beer, wine and cider tastings. While the Downtown Ithaca Alliance is still recruiting restaurants, some of the confirmed participants include Antlers Restaurant, Kilpatrick’s Publick House, Mahogany Grill, Lucky Hare Brewing Company and the Hotel Ithaca. The Antlers is a newcomer to the event, while the others are repeat contenders. For the uninitiated, the participating restaurants and eateries are competing for the public’s votes to earn People’s Choice and Best Presentation honors, with folks voting for their favorites at the event. Additionally, a juried group will decide the top three entries for Best Meat Chili, Best Vegetarian Chili and Best Local Beverage. The grand prize is the Chili Cook-Off trophy and bragging rights.

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Music

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Skaneateles Festival seeks applicants for $2,000 prize

he Skaneateles Festival is now accepting applications for the 21st annual Robinson Award, a $2,000 prize designed to recognize an outstanding young musician for success in music performance, citizenship, and contributions to the community. Students between the ages of 13-18 in Tompkins County are eligible for the prize. In 2002 the Skaneateles Festival created the Robinson Award, an annual scholarship prize, to honor the memory of David and Louise Robinson, for their many years of tireless devotion to the festival and its ideals. The award is given annually to a young musician whose character, musicianship, and community service reflect the values of David and Louise Robinson – enthusiasm and dedication to music of high quality.

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For 36 years the Robinsons opened their hearts and their Skaneateles home to musicians, their families, and the audiences who came to hear them perform. Their lakeside residence, Brook Farm, served as a gathering place and rehearsal space for musicians, as well as the performance venue for the Skaneateles Festival’s outdoor Saturday evening concerts. Requirements include: two letters of recommendation; a written personal statement; and a 10-15 minute recording of their playing or singing. The annual presentation of the award is made at a Festival concert in August and is accompanied by a $2,000 prize. The recipient may also be invited to perform at a Skaneateles Festival event. For an application or more information go to www.skanfest.org. The application deadline is March 15.

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Regional Ski Area Map

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1. Four Seasons (315) 637-9023 — Fayetteville, 5. Toggenburg Mountain Winter

9. Woods Valley (315) 827-4721 — Western- 13. Beaver Lake Nature Center (315) 4518 miles east of Syracuse. Downhill, snowboarding Sports Center (Closed) ville, NY, 10 miles north of Rome. Skiing, snow7275 — Baldwinsville, 650 acres of woods, 4 trails and snow tubing. Rates: Adult day lift ticket $28, boarding, children’s programs, ski team, beginners 1-3 miles long open for skiers. $5 per car, $25 per 6. Gore Mountain Ski Area (518) 251-5026 $22 for juniors 12 and under. Instructional programs specials programs. All-day rates: adults, $65 (weekbus. Trails for walkers also available — snowshoe — North Creek. 15 lifts, 107 trails. Downhill and available. ends and holidays), $55 (weekdays); Juniors – 12 rentals available. On the Web: www.onondagacouncross-country skiing, snowboarding. Open daily. and under, $37. Instructional programs available. typarks.com/beaver-lake-nature-center 2. Greek Peak (607) 218-8714 — 2000 NYS Mountain (315) 369-3225 Route 392, Cortland, NY. 33 trails, terrain park, half 7. McCauley 10. Whiteface Mountain (518) 946-2223 — 14. Highland Forest County Park (315) — Old Forge. Six lifts, 21 trails. Downhill and pipe, tubing center. Rates: $86 adult full day lift Wilmington, NY, 7 miles from Lake Placid. Skiing, 683-5550 — 11 miles east of Tully, exit 14 off Rt. cross-country skiing, snowboarding. Open daily, but ticket, $73 14 & under. Night pass $49. snowboarding. Biggest vertical drop in the east. 81. Various hiking and cross-country trails. More closed Tuesday. Weekday rates, adults $35 full-day, Daycare Center. Instructional programs available. than 30 skiable acres. 4 major cross-country runs. 3. Labrador Mountain (607) 842-6204 — $30; seniors (60-69), students & military, $30 Day Passes (Peak season): Whiteface Mountain. Skiing day pass $10 adults and $5 for children. Truxton, NY. 250 skiable acres, 6 lifts, 4 base lodges. full-day. Weekend rates, adults $35 full-day, $30 www.whiteface.com. Lodge, with food, open to general public on weekProvides skiing and snowboarding. 3000 foot terrain half-day; seniors (60-69), students & military, $30 ends. Horse-drawn sleigh rides through February. park, 300 foot half-pipe. Rates: $69 8hr, $64 4hr, full-day, $20 half-day. 11. Bristol Mountain (585) 374-6000 — Rentals available. Web: onondagacountyparks.com/ $59 for juniors. (12 & under). Instructional programs 8. Snow Ridge (315) 348-8456 — Turin. Seven Canandaigua. Six Lifts, 34 slopes, 138 skiable acres. highland-forest available. Skiing and snowboarding available. Open daily with lifts, 21 trails, halfpipe. Open Wed.-Mon. Lift ticketsnight skiing. Rates (8hr): $68, adults; $60, juniors 15. Podunk X/C Ski (607) 387-6716 — 9147 St. 4. Song Mountain (315) 696-5711 — Tully. Call for all other lift prices. and seniors (70+). Rt. 96., Interlaken. Ski shop, sales, trades, rentals, Five lifts, 24 trails, Skiing and boarding. Open trails, beginner instruction. Closed Mondays. Open daily with night skiing. Rates: $69 8hrs, $64 4hrs.; 12. Hunter Mountain (800) 486-8376 — 10-4 all other days. Juniors: $59 8hrs, Under 6 $15 8 hrs. $39, night lift Hunter, NY. Skiing, snowtubing. 240 skiable acres. pass. 35 miles of trails. On the Web, www.huntermtn. com. Rates: From $63–$83

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A neglected comedymusical cult classic gets its due

B y B r y a n Va n C a m p e n

t may seem like every movie ever made can be seen on home video and streaming services, but trust me: films do slip through the cracks and get lost. Case in point: Allan Arkush’s “Get Crazy” (1983), a wacky “Airplane!”esque rock ‘n roll comedy about a New Year’s Eve concert, was torpedoed by its own studio and the soundtrack went missing. Check out Arkush’s commentary on the “Trailers From Hell” website; it seemed impossible that “Get Crazy” would ever get a proper home video release. Incredibly, Kino Lorber tracked down all the film and sound elements, and finally “Get Crazy” has the DVD and Blu-ray it deserves. Based on Arkush’s memories as an usher and stage crew member at Bill Graham’s Fillmore East, the flick stars Daniel Stern as a goofball stage manager, Allen Garfield as a version of Graham, and musical performances from the likes of Malcolm McDowell, Bill Henderson, Lee Ving, Lori Eastside, Howard Kaylan and Lou Reed. Arkush spoke to the Ithaca Times about finding the film, making the home video extras and the line between “Get Crazy” and the Marx Brothers.

Ithaca Times: I never thought “Get Crazy” would ever get a restoration. Allan Arkush: No, and it’s such a long journey with it. Someone who I knew who had an independent distribution company had asked me about the movie. I told him what I knew, and he said, “Give me a chance to find it.” And he was the one who found out it was in the MGM vaults [and] he could not convince MGM to release it. It’s one of those things where if you’re in the business of distributing films on Blu-Ray or streaming, if there’s a film out there that no one has seen, and you ask about, all of a sudden, the people who control the thing think it’s more valuable than it is. And so they put a stop on it. Business affairs at MGM was not interested in going through all the gyrations of finding the music rights, etc. ‘Cause a lot of the paperwork was lost. So it wasn’t until Kino came out of the woodwork, and then about a year and a half before it came out or more, they said they were in negotiations but they could not say anything. It was very delicate because of the music deals and the missing paperwork. IT: So Kino stepped up. AA: And then they came through, and they got it done. And so then the issue became, “Well, do you want to be involved in some way?” And I said, “Of course, I wanna do a commentary.” So I called up Kino and said, “What do you think, guys?” And they said, “Well, that sounds fabulous.” And I said, “I want complete control,” and they said, “You got it, but you can’t spend more than $4,000.” And so I got one of my ex-students at AFI, a

graduate who wanted to be a producer, and she produced it. IT: That’s great. AA: You know, for $4,000, we just said to each other, “Let’s go full [Roger] Corman here. [laughs] You know? We’ll hustle everything we can for free, and we’ll find some talented film students to exploit.” [laughs] So that’s what we did. When along came COVID, we had to go with Zoom, because it would make it easier to have access to everybody. IT: Zoom, even though it’s a little bit crude, allows you to have a dialogue, to have conversation. AA: Exactly! And we were able to have multiple people, which turned out to be a really good idea, because it kept the flow going of the conversation. And since no one had to do anything except turn on their computer, you know, and they didn’t even have to put on a pair of pants — IT: [laughs] I think there’s a line to be traced from “Duck Soup” (1933) to “Airplane!” to “Get Crazy” to “Top Secret!” (1984): plot be damned, anything for a gag. AA: Yes, absolutely. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen “Hellzapoppin’” (1940) – IT: I have not. AA: You should, you know, because that’s really – IT: That’s the template, I’ve heard. AA: Exactly. Because it’s constantly breaking the fourth wall, and it’s just insane, you know, and has music numbers in it. I’ve stolen so many gags, going back to “Hollywood Boulevard” (1976). It’s just this strange, surreal movie. So that’s important to me, and the Jerry Lewis stuff. Especially Frank Tashlin, because of the fact that it’s live-action, and it’s been made into things that couldn’t happen in real life. That’s why there’s so many cartoon gags. Read more with Allan Arkush at Ithaca.com. J a n ua ry

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Arts&Entertainment

THE RETURN OF ‘GET CRAZY’

Malcolm McDowell and Anna Bjorn in Get Crazy (1983)

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Announcing the new in print and online. The Finger Lakes’ most complete activity, entertainment and event calendar has a new platform to connect our community. FOR THEATERS, GALLERIES, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, WINERIES and ORGANIZATIONS STAGING EVENTS AND FUNDRAISERS: A 24/7 self-self

service way to list your event online FREE including times, dates, directions, ticket prices and descriptions. Additional paid options are available for premium position. https://www.ithaca.com/calendar FOR RESIDENTS, STUDENTS, VISITORS, TOURISTS: A quick

look at each week’s Ithaca Times, your phone or computer can show you the most complete menu of events by subject, location, and date, along with click-through ticket purchasing, directions and information. https://www.ithaca.com/calendar For more information, call (607) 277-7000 x 1214 or email larry@ithacatimes.com

109 N Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 277-7000

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We need your creativity Ready to start something new? There’s a place for you here www.paper.net/ithacatimes

Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor Opening February 2022 Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor will soon be open for patient care, offering several new and expanded services, including an upgraded, modern space for endoscopy care, helping to identify a variety of conditions in the upper and lower digestive tract.

Quality Endoscopy Care. Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor.

Reasons to choose Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor for endoscopy: • New private prep and recovery rooms that allow for better procedure access • State-of-the-art equipment, helping to ensure your visit with us is exceptional • Continued access to a large, comprehensive team of highly trained providers – nearly 700 strong • Access to ongoing and new advanced clinical trials

Trust your endoscopy care to Guthrie. Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor will offer several new and expanded services. For more details about our new location, visit www.Guthrie.org/IthacaCityHarbor.

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I t h a c a T i m e s 25

Art

Entertaining and challenging Marcus Reed’s solo show at The Gallery at South Hill offers a playful approach to mythic themes. By Ar thur W hit m an

ythological and religious subjects have a longstanding resonance in Ithaca art. From New Age psychedelia to academic bookishness to

diverse communities of belief and practice — a longing for otherworldly imagery and symbolism is a recurring interest.

Local pastel and charcoal artist Marcus Reed takes a characteristically literate, playful approach to mythic themes in his current solo show at The Gallery At South Hill. “Protect Me From What I Want” (Jan. 8 - Feb. 6) continues the gallery’s recent run of strong solo exhibitions while bringing in a distinct sensibility that may be unexpected to viewers expecting more of the abstract-leaning work on view through much of last year. In these works on paper, distinctly skewed “readings” of the lives of the saints mingle and merge with Tarot imagery. Trained as an illustrator, Reed is part of a cadre of contemporary artists bringing illustrational styles and — often-eccentric and charged — narratives into the gallery.

“I’ ll Give You Something to Cry About” by Marcus Reed.

Working at a relatively generous scale and with a graphic and material density that rewards close looking, his work holds its own in the gallery while carrying us away from it. Reed’s work combines flattened, folk-art-like form and space; lucent, irrealistic color; and a love of intricate pattern. Whatever one’s familiarity with or interest in these (more-or-less) traditional stories, it’s hard not to be absorbed by their imaginative renderings here. The bulk of the work in “Protect Me” consists of large, upright-format chalk pastel “paintings” in full color with charcoal underdrawing. The presentation is varied, with some pieces unframed, others behind glass in either minimal black strip frames or more elaborate designs. “The Hermit (St. Mary of Egypt)” shows the acetic saint lying dead in the desert distance, her long white hair covering her naked, pale-blue-skinned body. The lion — said to have assisted Saint Zosimas of Palestine in her burial — appears comically in humanoid form, clad in a red pantsuit and gingerly holding a black shovel. He faces rightwards and yawns: seemingly in negligence of intricate, multi-colored stones lying almost undisturbed below as well as the panoply of finely drawn and richly hued incidents all around him. A large, cyan-blue-skinned figure dominates the sunset landscape of “I’ll Give You Something to Cry About.” He(?) bears a squat, turtle-like head; what might be a suit of fur or feathers; and pale pink, 26 T

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“The Hermit (St. Mary of Egypt) by Marcus Reed.

clawed hands and feet. In one arm, the beast cradles a pale, silvery pink swan. In the other, he holds a pair of shears with which to do violence to the majestic bird. Strange owl or gnome-like creatures crowd the lower right of the image — as if planted in the ground. Reed is also showing a number of mostly smaller black-and-white charcoal drawings. “St. Mary Magdalene (Queen of Wands)” and “St. Margaret (to whom do you pray?)” — the latter accented with pale yellow pastel fleshtone — juxtapose blank white paper areas with intricate patterning in charcoal pencil. “St. Thérèse (The Sun)” is particularly striking: the microcosmic detail on her bodice and jewelry, the precision and animation of the flora, the oddly discombobulated fragments of landscape. For “Nonce (Hour of the Monkey),” a landscape-format charcoal, Reed has smeared a midtone over his more linear drawing. A wolf-headed figure in a dark, flowery dress crouches amidst a grassy, hilly landscape. An arm outstretched, she holds what appears to be a (human?) heart over a distinctly animate tree stump. What is the arcane ritual being performed here? This is a rich show — both entertaining and genuinely challenging. What could have been an exercise in preciousness or pedantry instead blends enchantment and wit with suggestions of something darker: of violent cruelty and disordered embodiment.

After a December-January interlude of mostly indiscriminate catch-all group shows — including the GSH’s own disappointing “Small Works Invitational” — it’s an encouraging sign that at least some local galleries are getting back into weightier fare. Of particular note is Trumansburg painter and multi-media artist Barbara Page, who is showing a collection of (rephotographed) art magazine collages at Corners Gallery. “Iterations” opened last week and runs through Feb. 26. Looking forward a few weeks, Cornell’s Johnson Museum of Art is currently scheduled to reopen to the public on Feb. 5 (but check for updates). The calendar is as diverse and ambitious as one might expect from one of the country’s leading academic art museums. Of particular note is “Taking Shape: Abstraction from the Arab World, 1950s-1980s.” Organized by New York University’s Grey Art Gallery and exhibited there before the pandemic, the exhibit was originally supposed to show at the Johnson back in 2020 — an apt measure of how badly the coronavirus has disrupted the museum world.

The Gallery at South Hill Open Fridays from 5-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 12-4 p.m. It’s located in “Artist Alley” at the South Hill Business Campus, 950 Danby Rd across from Ithaca College.

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I t h a c a T i m e s 27

Arts

Art Retreat

Seven ICSD teachers selected for creative retreats

Photo caption: One of the retreat spaces at the Saltonstall Foundation.

UNIQUE. LOCAL. ORIGINAL. Get the new Ithaca.com App!

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even Ithaca City School District (ICSD) teachers have been selected for creative retreats this year at the Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts. The Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, in partnership with the Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of Ithaca Public Education Initiative, offers residency-type retreats during the February and April school breaks in creative writing, photography/film/video, and painting/sculpture/ visual art. The retreat is free for teachers selected through a lottery system. The teachers will be provided with a five-day, four-night retreat with private accommodations, studio space, and chef-prepared vegetarian dinners. These retreats are modeled after Saltonstall’s summer residency program and aim to provide local teachers with uninterrupted time and space in which to focus on their own creative endeavors. “We love this program,” said Lesley Williamson, executive director of the Saltonstall Foundation who created the teacher retreats in 2013. “It’s a way for us to support a group of local artists and writers who don’t often get the chance to be artists and writers. We are so pleased to offer this opportunity to local teachers with the help of the Fine Arts Booster Group.”

Ithaca City School District Teachers chosen for 2021-2022 include: Aurora Rojer (humanities teacher, Lehman Alternative Community School) RJ Malabanan (Spanish teacher, TST BOCES) Abigail Bokaer (writer, Fall Creek Elementary) Sarah Locke (art teacher, Belle Sherman Elementary School) Esmé Saccuccimorano (art teacher, Northeast Elementary School) Jennifer Gibson (instructor/artist, TST BOCES) Michelle Harty (art teacher, Fall Creek / Enfield Elementary) Ongoing FABG initiatives include mini-grants to teachers, student scholarships, producing virtual performance booklets for ICSD secondary schools’ concerts and drama productions; strengthening community connections; fundraising; Play It Again, Ithaca (collection of used musical instruments for use in the schools); Saltonstall Arts Colony retreat for teachers; and various efforts in support of arts in the schools. FABG is open to all K-12 staff, parents, students and community members and is concerned with all arts areas.

short story, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film is a haunting road movie traveling a path of love, loss, acceptance, and peace. Ends 1/27.

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Music

1/30 Sunday

Bars/Bands/Clubs

Concerto Competition at Ford Hall | 1 p.m.

1/22 Saturday Live Music feat. Briana Horton | 1 p.m. | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road Barrel Room Music at Treleaven Wines at Treleaven Winery | 1 p.m. Concerts/Recitals

1/20 Thursday Citizen Cope | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St

1/27 Thursday Concert: Albert Cummings | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St

1/29 Saturday Elective Recital: Alexa Rahman, soprano at Nabenhauer Recital Room | 7 p.m. Souk | 7 p.m. | Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, 5 McLallen St | $12.00 - $15.00

Stage ComedyFLOPs 3rd Friday Improv Shows To Support Area NonProfits | 7 p.m., 1/21 Friday | Virtual, https://www.youtube.com/comedyflops | ComedyFLOPs’ 3rd Friday streaming Improv Shows in support of local area non-profit organizations. See Facebook page. | Free Hula Hut Polynesian Dance | 7 p.m., 1/27 Thursday | Just Be Cause Center, 1013 State Street | Hula dance lessons - in person and virtual options for adults and children.

Art ITERATIONS | 3 p.m., 1/19 Wednesday | the corners gallery, corners gallery, 903 Hanshaw Rd | This new series by Trumansburg artists Barbara Page, explores repeated alterations of advertisements, extracted from old issues of ArtForum magazine. The exhibit is on view through Feb. 26. The More You Look, The More You See | 12 p.m., 1/20 Thursday | State of

Elmira College Elmira College Men’s Ice Hockey vs Hobart College - Forever 2Six Night | 7 p.m., 1/21 Friday, NY, Murray Athletic Center (Ice Arena) | Elmira College Men’s Ice Hockey vs Hobart College - Forever 2Six Night https://athletics.elmira. edu/calendar.aspx?id=12581 Cayuga Trails Club Hike at Various trails in the Ithaca region. | 10 a.m., 1/22 Saturday | Explore local trails on weekly Saturday hikes starting at 10:00am. Hike length varies from 2.5-4 miles. Click here to see the location of the hikes for each week. Brick Olympics: Spinning Top Marathon and Battle | 2 p.m., 1/22 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street |

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the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street | Art Exhibit- The More You look, The More You See “Mythology 2022” Exhibition by Brian Keeler | 1/20 Thursday | North Star Art Gallery | You can preview the show online and view many offerings of the gallery including other paintings, prints, books, DVD’s and news of upcoming shows and classes. https:// www.northstarartgallery.com/ mythology The Gallery at South Hill, Marc Reed “protect me from what i want” | 12 p.m., 1/22 Saturday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Road | The Gallery at South Hill presents Marc Reed’s exhibit “protect me from what i want”. Drawings in charcoal and pastel referencing mythology, saints, tarot and mysticism recombined in a personal narrative. | Free The Gallery at South Hill, Marc Reed “protect me from what i want” | 12 p.m., 1/23 Sunday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Road | The Gallery at South Hill presents Marc Reed’s exhibit “protect me from what i want”. Located at 950 Danby Road across the street from the entrance to Ithaca College. Masks required. | Free

Film The Velvet Queen | 1/21 Friday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, multiaward-winning nature photographer Vincent Munier guides writer Sylvain Tesson on his quest to document the infamously elusive snow leopard. Belle | 1/22 Saturday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters “U”, a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved singer. Licorice Pizza | 1/22 Saturday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | The latest film from Paul Thomas Anderson is the story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973. Ends 1/27. Drive My Car | 1/22 Saturday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Two years after his wife’s unexpected death, a renowned stage actor and director meets a taciturn young woman assigned to chauffeur him. Adapted from Haruki Murakami’s

Books YA Book Club read Scythe by Neal Shusterman | 4:30 p.m., 1/19 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | https://www.tcpl.org/events/ ya-book-club-read-scythe-nealshusterman Presentation on Greek Mythology | 6 p.m., 1/26 Wednesday | Edith B. Ford Memorial Library, 7169 Main Street | Join Hunter College professor, Lawrence Kowerski, in an introductory lecture on Greek mythology. Presentation on Zoom. | Free We Read Diverse Books - There There by Tommy Orange | 6:30 p.m., 1/26 Wednesday | Phillips Free Library, 37 South Main Street | monthly virtual book club discusses novels centered on characters with diverse cultures, ethnicities, and life experiences. The book club meets via zoom on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

Kids Spencer Playgroup | 9:30 a.m., 1/19 Wednesday | Inspire, 57 East Tioga Street | Families with young children can come attend Parent/Child activities at the Inspire Building. For more information, contact the Family

Resource Center at 607-258-1208 | Free Barrel Room Music at Treleaven Wines at Treleaven Winery | 1 p.m., 1/22 Saturday | Let us help you fill your winter calendar with unforgettable memories. We invite you to enjoy the best of the Finger Lakes within our cozy and picturesque Barrel Room. Virtual Story Time | 10 a.m., 1/25 Tuesday | Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library, 106 1st Street | On Tuesdays at 10:00 am, the library will host virtual Story Time with Laura. Each week will feature a theme and include reading a few books and a creative project. | Free

Notices Mid-Week Mindfulness Meditation | 12 p.m., 1/19 Wednesday | Virtual | Sessions are free and open to the public. All are welcome. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early Visit www. tcpl.org/events/ for Zoom Link. | Free Alchemy Sound Bath | 6 p.m., 1/19 Wednesday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd | An evening of deep relaxation and meditation through the sounds of alchemy crystal bowls, chimes, tuning forks, harp, gong and more! | $22.22 Essential Oils Basics | 10 a.m., 1/20 Thursday | Zoom - Online Only, No Street Online Only | Curious about Essential Oils - Join us via Zoom and learn about some of the basics of Essential Oils and some uses. | Free Winter Ithaca Farmers Market | 10:30 a.m., 1/22 Saturday | Triphammer Plaza, 2255 N Triphammer Road | Local goods don’t hibernate all winter; come visit all your favorite vendors at the Winter Ithaca Farmers Market every Saturday! Food Pantry | 12 p.m., 1/22 Saturday | GYM-Southside Community Center, 305 S Plain St | Newfield Lions Club Chicken and Biscuit Dinner | 5 p.m., 1/22 Saturday | Newfield Fire Department, 77 Main Street | Support the Newfield Lions and have a great dinner that includes Chicken and Gravy, Biscuits, Mashed Potatoes, Veggies, Homemade Dessert. Sunday Morning Meditation | 10 a.m., 1/23 Sunday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Road | Sunday morning meditation, free and open to all.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20TH AT 8:00 PM

Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S. Main St., Homer | Citizen Cope (aka Clarence Greenwood) is an American songwriter/producer whose compositions have been recorded by Carlos Santana, Dido, and Richie Havens. In 20 years of touring, he has built a devout following, performing at sold out theaters and ballrooms across the country. (Photo:Provided)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21 AT 7:00 PM

Virtual Event - See ComedyFLOPS’s Facebook page | This month’s event supports the Tompkins County SPCA. Featuring a host of local comedians and alumni with ties to The Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and Actors Workshop of Ithaca. (Photo: Provided)

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THISWEEK

COMEDYFLOPS 3RD FRIDAY IMPROV SHOWS TO SUPPORT AREA NONPROFITS

CITIZEN COPE

I t h a c a T i m e s 29

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Guaranteed to Last a Lifetime! LIMITED TIME OFFER

60% off YOUR INSTALLATION

STRONG AS STEEL WITH THE ATTRACTIVE LOOK OF VARIOUS ROOF STYLES

TAKE AN ADDITIONAL

10 off %

Install for Military, Health Workers and First Responders

Limited time offer. Expires 3.31.22

From Dimensional Shingles to classic styles reminiscent of Cedar Shake and Spanish Tile, an architectural roofing system by Erie Metal Roofs can enhance the beauty of your home while protecting your family and property for a lifetime.

Warranty- Limited Lifetime. Transferable to 1 subsequent owner from original purchaser. Terms and conditions apply. Hail up to 2.5”, Appearance of the surface coating beyond normal wear and tear.

Call today to schedule your

FREE ESTIMATE Made in the USA

1-855-492-6084

New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not be available in your area. Offer expires March 31, 2022. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved.

J a n ua ry

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

877-516-1160

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! Limited Time Offer - Call for Details

Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

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For rates and information contact Toni Crouch at toni@ithactimes.com

277-7000 p h o n e 277-1012 f a x

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Macintosh Consulting http://www.allaboutmacs.com (607) 280-4729

Peaceful Spirit Acupuncture

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Nancy J. Peckenpaugh Nutrition PLLC 607-272-1297

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