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Online @ ITH ACA .COM

The Puzzle

Creating Affordab le Housing in a town with high demand and low supply PA GE 8

WINTER

NFL

BLUES

CHAMPION

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COLD CASE

BLOWN AWAY

COMFORT FOOD

Tips for taking care Cornell start-up is Local theatre company Sister of murder Local is featured on of your mental health different kind of victim wants answers new Netflix series explores expression this winter winner through food PAGE 6

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Newsline

VOL.XLI / NO. 25 / February 10, 2021 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

The Challenge �� 8 Creating Affordable Housing in a town with high demand and low supply

SHER IFF

‘Comfort Food’ �� 11

Deputy Sheriff arrested on perjury charges

Local theatre company’s show explores selfexpression through soul-warming snacks

NE W S & OPINION Newsline ��3-7 Sports �� 10

eputy Sheriff Zachary Starner was arrested for perjury in the first degree, a class D felony, the sheriff ’s office announced. Starner was a defense witness in a 2019 rape trial involving allegations against another deputy. During the trial he made sworn statements regarding his conversation with a state police investigator and testified off-duty and without notifying Sheriff Derek Osborne. While on the stand, Starner identified himself as a deputy sheriff and close friend of the defendant, who was ultimately acquitted. In Sept. 2019, Osborne placed Starner on paid administrative leave (as required by his contract) to investigate potential misconduct during the investigation of the alleged rape. He was served with a notice of discipline that led to an arbitration heraing last month. Starner testified in his own defense and while under oath directly contradicted statements he made during the 2019 trial regarding his converstion with the state police investigator. Upon reviewing transcripts of his testimony, Osborne served Starner with a second notice of discipline, seeking his termination and followed by his arrest. -Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

ART S & E N T E RTAINME N T Film.............................................................. 13 TV ��14 Stage ��16 TimesTable ��17 Classifieds ��18-20 Cover: Photos: Casey Martin, Design: Marshall Hopkins

BUSINESS

Cornell-founded start-up wins $50,000 in NFL’s innovation competition

he founders of Organic Robotics Corporation won $50,000 at the National Football League’s 1st and Future Competition on Feb.2. The company, a start-up from Cornell, competed in the “Innovations to Advance Player Health and Safety Competition” category with their Light Lace technology. “It’s fiber-optic technology,” explained CEO and co-founder Ilayda Samilgil. “It can sense lights and measure motion, muscle activity and respiration. They’re just fibers, so you can apply them into any garment.” This flexible sensor can help you analyze muscle activity, how you’re moving, how you’re breathing and help prevent injuries. Samilgil said the judges

T a k e ▶ Election - Yasmin Rashid announced her candidacy for Common Council representing the first ward. “I’m running for Common Council because I believe that everyone has a voice and while we may not always agree, compassion for and understanding of people should always be the purpose of communication along with an even ear for fairness.” Rashid said she is an American Muslim,

of the NFL’s competition were excited about how the technology is non-invasive and won’t interfere with an athlete’s motion. “We want to have pro athletes all over the world, and college athletes, using it,” she said. The idea for the technology came when Samilgil was a mechanical engineering student at Cornell, where she took a class taught by Rob Shepherd, an associate professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the other co-founder of Organic Robotics Corporation. In one of Shepherd’s labs, they were working on giving robots a sense of touch by creating artificial skin.

“We found it was better to use photons instead of electrons to measure touch, and it worked really well,” Shepherd said. “We made sensors that feel like skin but use light to measure and are quite scalable.” He said the reliability and scalability of their artificial skin creation are two of the most important ingredients to the technology. Shepherd then said he realized Samilgil had the right personality to lead the way and find a way to market the product. “She’s the type of person who can run a company,” he said. Though the company is currently focusing their technology on the sports industry, Shepherd and Samilgil said they could see it having uses across many fields. “For healthcare applications, we think we could use this for [physical therapy], or continued on page 7

N o t e

New York born, woman of mixed Caribbean and Black descent, and single mother of three children. She is an abuse survivor and teen parent who understands how to overcome and persevere. Rashid said she has first-hand experience with the effects of gentrification, marginalization, homelessness, hunger, and police brutality. Rashid studied social sciences at Monroe Community College and is currently a Workforce Coordinator at Ithaca Reuse.

She works closely with both the re-entry apprenticeship and programming geared toward training our 55 and older community members, empowering them to be a continuing part of our workforce. Rashid is an executive board member for the Unbroken Promise Initiative which is a local grassroots non-profit that aims to address local economic and racial inequalities addressing racial and economic inequalities.

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INQUIRING

N e w s l i n e

R ELIEF

PHOTOGRAPHER Ithaca airport receives $1.3 million from Feds for COVID relief By C a se y Mar tin

IF YANKEE CANDLE MADE AN “ITHACA” CANDLE, WHAT WOULD IT SMELL LIKE?

“The West End.” -Thomas P

“Ithaca Falls!” -Molly M.

thaca Tompkins International Airport will receive $1,374,723 as part of the bipartisan COVID relief package, senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer announced. It was part of a bigger relief package that provides over $36.5 million in relief for specific airports across upstate New York. As the pandemic stretches into its eleventh month, the funding is to help airports stay afloat with the steep reduction in travel. “Airports serve important functions in many communities, especially in more rural

areas, connecting people to the rest of the world and allowing for economic opportunities to land,” Schumer said. Gillibrand added that the success of airports would be important to the economy after the pandemic. “Airports, travel and tourism will be a critical part of our economic recovery and these federal dollars will help airports across upstate New York continue providing highquality and safe transit when travel takes off,” she said. This is the second batch of funding the airport has

received, after being awarded $1.7 million last spring. Between that funding and this, Mike Hall, the manager at Ithaca airport, said that the airport is in a pretty good spot. “Unlike a lot of airports, we had a good local savings account also, so between the reserves plus the federal assistance, we’re feeling pretty good about it right now, given the fact there’s not much to feel good about these days,” he said. The federal relief was distributed on a formula basis by the government. So rather than asking airports to meet certain requirements, the government looked at the level of activity at each airport and doled out support funds based on that. “The federal support is intended to keep us in business,” Hall said. “We don’t know how long it’ll be until we recover, and it would not be a good thing to have airports fail and close.” The funds can be spent on a broad range of things, from operation expenses to debt, so it helps make up for the loss of money from reduced activity. Hall said that right now, the Ithaca airport is operating at about 30% activity compared to what they would normally expect. He added that was about the national average, but that the industry’s predicted recovery will pick up significantly during the summer months. And while operating at 30%

isn’t great for any business, Hall said it was still a big improvement from when things were at their worst. “The pandemic came along and we dropped to 5% of expected volume,” he said. He noted that luckily, airlines have continued to service the Ithaca airport. United has paused flights but kept their gate open, and American Airlines and Delta are both operating about one “pretty full” flight each day. At this point, Hall said most of the people traveling are doing it for important reasons, such as family emergencies or students returning to Cornell University and Ithaca College. And he assured anyone who has to fly that the airline industry is taking precautions very seriously. “Airline travel is the safest form of public travel in my opinion,” he said. “Our terminal is spotless, our aircraft is spotless, everyone is masked curb-to-curb. The risk of being infected on an airplane is very low.” As for what the future holds, Hall said despite the pandemic dragging out longer than many people anticipated, he’s optimistic that with the vaccine, social distancing and PPE, people will be back at Ithaca airport soon enough. “We’re in as good a place as we can hope to be,” Hall said.

to administer doses, and as supply increases administration will ramp up to the community.” Demographic data on the positive COVID-19 cases to date was shared, with the number of positive cases continuing to closely mirror the county’s population, as it has for most of the pandemic. There was discussion on the obstacles to registration for the 65+ population in the county, and Molino and Kruppa shared that the state does not distribute those vaccine doses through the county but rather through local pharmacies and that there is no local control over these doses. New York state has directed county governments that they must prioritize essential workers in

phase 1B and cannot institute a wait list. Among Other Business Legislature Chairwoman Leslyn McBean-Clairborne read a proclamation recognizing Black History Month. Legislator Anne Koreman encouraged members of the public to reflect on the impacts of Black women who have made their mark on history, sharing a personal reflection on Flo Kennedy, a civil rights leader and founder of the Feminist party, and Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender woman who played a vital role in New York’s gay rights movement.

-Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

“A really hoppy/fruity IPA” -Tristan W.

COUNTY

Health Dept: Vaccine supply is county’s biggest COVID problem “Fresh Cut Grass” -Gus R.

“Fall crunchy leaves by the waterfalls….and petruli.” -Victoria S & Trisha S.

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he County Legislature honored Black History Month and heard the latest update from the emergency operations center regarding the pandemic at the Feb. 2 meeting. Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino and Public Health Director Frank Kruppa detailed the county’s response to the pandemic and updates on the local COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Kruppa shared that the Health Department will be launching a series of CO-

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VID-19 Vaccine Q&A “Office Hours” that will give residents the opportunity to hear directly from local physicians and community leaders on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, as well as to get their questions answered. The events will be focused on diverse sections of the Tompkins County community. Regarding the vaccine, Molino stated, “The biggest challenge we have right now with the vaccine is available supply. The state has recognized our ability

-Staff R eport

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

PERSONAL HEALTH

Beating the winter blues

Amber Carmichael

A Cayuga Medical Center social worker gives advice on how to take care of your mental health during the gloomy winter months t’s no secret that the weather in Ithaca can be on the gloomy side. During the winter months, the sky becomes relentlessly gray, with few sunny days to speak of. Seasonal affective disorder, often referred to as the winter blues, is a type of depression that is prevalent throughout the northeast and

is brought on by the change in weather, reduction of sunlight and shorter days. Seasonal affective disorder affects an estimated 10 million people every year, but this year folks are being hit doubly hard as restrictions due to the pandemic continue to be in place. Now, not only are people dealing with the dreary weather, but they can’t gather with their friends and family, can’t participate in activities and have the added stress of protecting themselves against

STATE

O’Mara calls for investigation after AG report into COVID deaths

en. Tom O’Mara is leading a push for a full investigation into the state’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York nursing homes. This comes after a report from Attorney General Letitia James found the state’s Department of Health publicly reported data undercounted

COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50%, and that many nursing homes failed to comply with critical infection control policies. James’ report highlighted eight main points: A larger number of nursing home residents died from COVID than the Department

COVID-19. Symptoms of depression include losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, changes in appetite or weight, feeling sluggish or agitated, having low energy, feeling hopeless or worthless and having difficulty concentrating. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, seasonal affective disorder can be displayed through any of those symptoms, plus specific symptoms like oversleeping, overeating (particularly with a craving for carbohydrates), weight gain and social withdrawal. Amber Carmichael, a social worker at Cayuga Medical Center, said that she’s definitely seen an increase in people with depressive symptoms. “A lot of people in this area suffer from [seasonal affective disorder] because of the lack of sun,” she said. “And a lot of people are exhibiting signs of depression because of a lack of socialization.” To help combat these feelings, Carmichael suggests setting aside time to relax and clear your mind of whatever stress is going on, even if it’s just for a little bit. She suggests journaling, reading or coloring to help refocus your mind away from your struggles. “And before we got all this snow, I’d recommend getting a walk in the fresh air,” she said. “It helps you feel not so cooped up.” The reason finding a hobby works is it distracts your brain, Carmichael said. “If you take an adult coloring book, for instance, you have to focus on that task and not so much on what was bothering you before,” she said. “Or if you’re reading, you really delve into that story instead.”

Another way to help seasonal affective disorder is to buy a medical light therapy lamp if you have the means. The light doesn’t transmit any actual UV rays, so your skin isn’t in any danger, but the lamps mimic the effect of sunlight and help your body produce vitamin D, which helps reduce symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. “They really do work,” Carmichael said. Carmichael also suggests putting in the effort to socialize in safe ways, such as Zoom happy hours or FaceTime calls with friends and family. She said she recognizes that there’s no perfect substitute for the connection and intimacy of seeing friends and family in person, but that spending time virtually is a good substitute given the circumstances. “I would tell people not to seclude,” she said. “Try and interact with people in some way.” She also emphasized the importance of talking about your feelings with those closest to you. “If you feel like you are sad or depressed, reach out to people,” she said. “Don’t try to hold it in, that’s not good.” If you think you’re suffering from depression or seasonal affective disorder, make an appointment with your primary care physician or reach out to a mental health expert for an appointment. If you think you’re in immediate danger of harming yourself, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the TTY number at 1-800799-4889. You can also text the crisis line by sending the message “HOME” to 741741.

of Health data reflected A lack of compliance with infection control protocols put residents at an increased risk of harm Nursing homes that entered the pandemic with low U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services staffing ratings had higher fatality rates Insufficient personal protective equipment for nursing home staff put residents at increased risk of harm Insufficient COVID testing for residents and staff in the early stages of the pandemic put residents at increased risk

of harm The current state reimbursement model for nursing homes gives a financial incentive to owners of for-profit nursing homes to transfer funds to related parties (increasing their own profit) instead of investing in higher levels of staffing and PPE Lack of nursing home compliance with executive order requiring communication with family members caused avoidable pain and distress Government guidance re-

Snow Day ICSD gave students some snow days last week instead of making them learn virtually when it was too dangerous to go into the classroom. It’s nice to see the pandemic hasn’t taken away all the fun. Yellow Alert Cornell had to move to alert level yellow after a cluster of COVID cases were found to have stemmed from a Greek life party in Collegetown. The school anticipates more positives as close contacts are identified.

HEARD&SEEN Snow Removal The non-stop scraping of plows going by -- Ithaca’s Department of Public Works worked tirelessly to clear streets and sidewalks of snow after last week’s three-day storm. Vaccination numbers According to the Tompkins County Health Department’s daily updates on Twitter, nearly 4,000 people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 8,000 others are half-way there.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Does Punxsutawney Phil have any credibility?

By Ta n n e r H a r di ng

continued on page 7

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N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

When will life return to normal? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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ITHACA NOTES

An Open Letter to the People of Ithaca, New York; Law Enforcement, the Justice System, and the American Red Cross:

Snow Days T

By Hope M a l c om M a ltz y brother, David Malcom, was murdered at the American Red Cross emergency shelter he managed in Ithaca, New York, 34 years ago this week, February 11, 1987. His sudden loss, and the sheer violence of it, was catastrophic for me. It was decades before I realized that I, too, was a victim of this crime. As are the many people who loved my brother, who benefited from the humanitarian way he reached out to support and help people, and who would have benefitted from the fruits of his living had he lived a full life. For decades, as far as I could tell, somebody killed my brother and … nothing happened. Only when Deputy Chief Vincent Monticello contacted me in late 2015 was I ever informed of any attempt by law enforcement to bring this case to justice, nor was I ever contacted by any of the four District Attorneys for Tompkins County nor the twelve Police Chiefs in all that time. Neither was I ever contacted by the leadership of the American Red Cross. I am not aware of any Tompkins County DA or Ithaca Police Chief ever taking my brother's murder seriously, let alone investing themselves in bringing the per-

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petrator to justice. My life was derailed by this murderer’s actions. My brother was slain, and my children will never know their uncle. I am mad as hell, and I'm tired of patiently waiting for law enforcement to get their act together and resolve this case. I want the full weight of the American Justice System brought to bear on resolving this case and bringing justice to my brother, to me, and to this community. It is not right that the perpetrator of this crime walked away with it, bearing no consequences whatsoever for their crime. Who is responsible for identifying the perpetrator of this heinous crime against society, against Ithaca, against my brother, against me? Who is responsible for ensuring that the individual responsible for my brother’s death is held accountable, is prevented from perpetuating further violence against humanity and this community? What authority is accountable for pursuing justice? I need your help. If you support me in my quest for justice, if you knew my

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By St e ph e n Bu r k e he City-Dwellers’ Almanac (just invented for this column) measures snowfall not in inches but in time, and defines a blizzard as a snowstorm that has you digging out your car for at least half an hour. It might seem an unorthodox standard, but it’s useful for evaluating winters, and when trying to remember them. Early this season, a friend of mine here in Ithaca said he hoped we’d have a milder winter than last. I thought and said, “Well, last winter wasn’t so bad, was it? I think we had only one real blizzard and one other bad storm.” That meant I remembered one day spending 45 minutes excavating my car and another day about 20 minutes: just those two marathons. This year there have been two such so far, almost exactly the same as last year wholly, in time if not inches. Sometimes we exacerbate the carclearing ordeal by not getting to it fast enough, thus courting the cataclysm of untimely (that is, timely) city snow-plowing burying our vehicles yet deeper. If the snow comes on a workday, it’s easy to be motivated enough to get out there before such treachery can occur. You want to get to your job on time, or close. For those of us who work nights, it’s harder. With this season’s first storm, fairly characterized as a “doozy” in polite parlance, it started snowing heavily as I was leaving work. I knew I’d do well to rise early for meteorological maintenance, before the snow plow hit my street. Alas, by 7 a.m. (about 1 a.m. in my sleep cycle) it was already too late: the plow had already been by. So I went back to bed. And then learned a little lesson, when I got up a few hours later, had coffee, dressed for battle and went outside, and saw that the plow had come again. Now the snow was three feet high against the car on the curb side, and halfway up the window on the street side, packed solidly. The fact that the shovel was inside the car did not make the situation any brighter. I sighed and figured now I’d have to go inside and fetch my largest ladle, if my downstairs neighbor’s shovel wasn’t available on the porch. Luckily, it was. I got to work (for 45 minutes) undoing the damage done by Old Man Winter,

Snowplow Driver, and Me. My parents not having raised any stupid children, when another storm came the next week, I was up extra early. But resolve and design don’t always triumph over chance, and as I hit the street, shovel in gloved hands, a snorting (it seemed), scraping city plow came into view at the crest of a slight incline at the far end of my block, coming my way. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I thought (again, in polite parlance). What kind of bad car karma was I suffering? Twenty or so seasons of on-street parking in Ithaca have taught me that compassion-seeking gazes generally do not register with a snowplow operator on a mission and schedule. I weighed the option of going full Tiananmen Square on the guy and blocking the street with my body. Apparently, however, I did not have to recreate history for the guy to decide not to be on the wrong side of justice, an agent of state oppression. I don’t know his state of mind (we were still too distant for eye contact), but instead of proceeding toward me he took a left down a side street. Mine is a main street, on a bus route, and the side street a minor, one-block one that generally gets plowed late. So I believe I received an overt act of mercy. Sometimes storms bring out good features in people, even hardened workers behind a wheel. In fact, they usually do. It’s one of the nice things about snowstorms. Neighbors talk to each other. Often they shovel for each other. Kids are giddy with excitement. Next door to me, with the first snow, a toddler was helping her mother shovel, primarily taking tiny scoops of piled snow and placing them back on the sidewalk with her plastic pastel-colored implement; but of course it’s the thought that counts. Her mother smiled and said “This is her favorite activity,” and her beaming daughter gave an avid wave. It’s the one time you can be late for work and nobody minds. You come in, stamp your boots, swipe the snow from your shoulders and say “Whew!” Everyone turns around and says, “Right?” That is, unless you’re too late. I’m not forgetting my lessons.

Photo: Casey Maritn

GUEST OPINION

GUEST OPINION Contin u ed From Page 6

brother and still suffer his loss, if you believe that bloody murder should not stand without justice, I implore you to contact any of the following people and demand that they seek justice in this case: Matthew Van Houten: District Attorney for Tompkins County: 320 N. Tioga St., Ithaca, NY 14850; (607) 274-5461; fax: (607) 274-5429; @MattVanHouten12 Dennis Nayor: Chief, Ithaca Police Department; 120 E. Clinton St., P.O. Box 6557, Ithaca, NY 14851, USA; Headquarters (non-emergency) 607-272-9973; @ ithacapolice Gail McGovern: President and CEO American Red Cross; 431 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006; 202-303-

5214 Svante Myrick: Mayor, City of Ithaca New York; City Hall, 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850; Ph: 607-274-6501; @ SvanteMyrick The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo: Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224; 518-474-8390; @NYGovCuomo Letitia James: Attorney General of New York; The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 800-771-7755; @NewYorkStateAG @TishJames Colleen McCabe: Executive Director Tompkins County Chapter of the American Red Cross; 2 Ascot Place, Ithaca, NY 14850; (607) 785-7207 #JusticeForDavidMalcom With gratitude for your support --

CORNELL STARTUP Contin u ed From Page 3

rehab, or remote patient therapy through Zoom,” she said. “The doctor would be able to see the muscle behavior and movements.” She added that she could also see it working in socks and bedsheets to help monitor and prevent pressure ulcers in diabetes patients, for use with surgical operations to monitor force interaction and for both medical and military training. “After we have success with athletic performance, we have to decide which area to go to next,” Samilgil said. Shepherd said that ability to shift between industries and make a difference in a wide variety of ways is what makes the company so exciting to him. “We’re actually a software company, even though our solution is hardware,” he said. “The data we collect will allow people

to measure touch in ways they haven’t before […] We’re going to be able to gather data and make predictive models that allow people to understand the ramifications of what they’re doing biomechanically. As we accumulate more data, we’ll be able to predict things like ‘your knees are going to tear a ligament if you keep doing this,’ In the short term we’re providing immediate information about joint angles and rates of motion, but in the future we’ll be providing predictions so people can live longer and healthier lives.” With the prize money from the NFL’s competition, Samilgil said they’re going to keep working on advancing their prototype and start testing it in the next few months. “We’re going to keep working,” she said. -Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

O’MARA Contin u ed From Page 5

quiring the admission of COVID patients into nursing homes may have put residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities and may have obscured the data available to assess that risk In a press conference on Feb. 3, O’Mara took particular issue with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s March 25 directive that required nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients. “The very next day the American Medical Directors Association, the society for long-term care providers in this country, came out with a statement saying they were concerned about that order,” O’Mara said. “Yet the governor proceeded under that order for another 45 days, sending fire into dry grass.” Earlier in the week, O’Mara had moved a motion for a vote by the Senate Inves-

tigations Committee to issue subpoenas to the Cuomo administration to compel testimony and obtain documents, emails, phone records and all other information related to the administration’s handling of the pandemic in nursing homes. “We will not be muted in our request to get to the bottom of what the real numbers are, and what the real devastation that was brought by the March 25 directive is,” he said. According to O’Mara, there hasn’t been a definitive determination from the attorney general on how that directive affected the fatalities in long-term care facilities. “Those [report numbers] are a sampling,” he said. “It’s not a complete picture, and we deserve the complete picture.” -Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

THE TALK AT

YOUR LETTERS Proposed Law Will Improve Recycling and Shift Costs to Producers

ecycling is our state’s greatest team effort. Millions of New York residents, including here in Tompkins County, set out approximately three billion pounds of newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles and metal cans for curbside pick-up and recycling each year. Recycling programs deliver environmental benefits, including waste reduction, conservation of precious natural resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. From an economic standpoint, recycling supports thousands of green sector jobs across the state and reduces the need to create new landfills. But today, local recycling programs in New York are financially unstable and are struggling to continue. The value of curbside recyclables is insufficient to cover the costs to sort and process the recyclables. Statewide, these costs for municipalities and recycling system rate payers are estimated to exceed $80 million in 2021. The catalyst for this financial dilemma? Severely reduced demand as China no longer accepts much of the world’s recyclables. On a local level, the challenge to municipal officials to maintain recycling programs is made even more difficult due to COVID-19 budget challenges and budget limitations. Local recycling is at a crossroads. Municipalities cannot continue to sustain the increased costs to process recyclables caused by decreased market demand and an outdated recovery system in need of investment and modernization. To respond to this challenge, NY State Senator Todd Kaminsky and Assemblyperson Steve Englebright are teaming up to propose legislation (S.1185) that would require consumer product manufacturers to finance the recycling of their packaging and recyclable printed paper and invest in modernizing the operations at local recycling facilities. Under the proposed legislation, municipalities could still be engaged in material recovery much as they have been for the past 30 years, but consumer product brand-owners would be required to reimburse municipalities for the collection and processing of their product packaging and recyclable printed paper, as well as costs to educate the public about how to properly

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recycle. Product producers control the type and quantity of their packaging and need to be part of the recycling and waste reduction solution. Requiring corporate producers to chip into the end-of-life costs for their products will help municipalities sustain local recycling. It will also help protect our planet and its natural resources for future generations. The legislation incentivizes manufacturers to: 1) reduce packaging; 2) increase the packaging’s recycled content, and 3) make the packaging easier to recycle. New York state has a choice: remain stuck at the recycling crossroads marked by unsustainable municipal costs, stagnant material recovery rates and aging recycling infrastructure, or pass Senate Bill 1185 and lead the nation in establishing the recycling management system of the future. - Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management team

In support of Leslie Schill

s a County Legislator myself, I was thrilled to see Leslie Schill running for County Legislature District 2! Knowledge and experience are critical, as the winner of the March 23 election will be sworn in right away to fill the vacancy. There won’t be any time to “watch and learn” from outside. I’ve worked with Leslie since she was a senior planner in the County’s Planning Department, 13 years ago. Her major responsibilities were affordable housing and environmental sustainability. Always a problem-solver with the ability to bring people together, she was tasked with spearheading development of a sustainability plan for our 8-county region. Cornell recognized Leslie’s value and hired her, and now she leads the Campus Planning Office. We wouldn’t let Leslie go completely, however! She’s now Vice Chair of the Tompkins County Planning Advisory Board and on the Program Oversight Committee of the Community Housing Development Fund, a partnership of the County, City, and Cornell. Leslie’s progressive vision is important as well. I’m so impressed with her focus on public health – broadly defined. Fighting against COVID-19 is a given, but her vision expands to include mental health, racial injustice, strong public schools, environmental health and safety, affordable housing, economic well-being, and childcare – all areas where she will fight for progress. A mom of two kids in public schools, Leslie has been “walking the walk,” actually getting things done for the community. Leslie Schill will be a terrific legislator and advocate for every resident of District 2. -Martha Robertson, Tompkins County Legislator

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It h ac a T im e s 7

The Challenge Creating Affordable Housing in a town with high demand and low supply

Rya n Bieber

here’s no denying the demand for housing in Ithaca. As a thriving college town full of great eats, scenic treats and friendly people to meet, Ithaca has consistently been recognized as one of the best cities to live in the U.S. But as more people want in, the law of supply and demand begins to take effect. In Ithaca, the cost of housing has continued to increase, while vacancy rates remain staggeringly low. What this suggests is that a lack of housing is driving up the prices of the existing market. Demand is high, but housing is scarce, so the prices go up. At its surface level, the solution is simple: create more housing. Meeting the demand with more supply, i.e. more housing, will allow the market to reach equilibrium and prices will theoretically stabilize. Still, it’s not all as easy as it sounds. DEFINING AFFORDABILITY

It’s important to understand that not all affordable housing is created equal. Who affordable housing is actually affordable for is largely dependent on the area median income (AMI)

which, simply put, is the household income for the median — or middle — household in a region. It might seem obvious, but area median income varies from place to place. What this means is that the prices of houses can vary from area to area even if the percent of AMI stays the same. A house priced at 30% AMI in Cayuga Heights will still be more expensive than a house priced at 30% AMI in Lansing, as the median income in Cayuga Heights is higher. To remedy this, affordable housing is made to encompass a variety of incomes, and units are usually offered in a range for anyone making anywhere from 30% to 80% of the AMI. Units closer to the 80% AMI range are usually affordable for those in the working/middle class, while units closer to the 30% range are meant to be affordable for lower-income residents. It’s important to note that affordability doesn’t just apply to the price tag on the house. Location is also a huge factor. Even if a house located outside the City of Ithaca is cheaper in price, the additional costs of transportation and maintaining a car could also affect how affordable a house actually is. JoAnn Cornish, director of planning and development for Ithaca, said the city is putting a lot of focus into creating affordable housing close to the downtown area and transportation hubs in order to solve this. This is evident particularly in recent affordable endeavors such as the Vecino Group’s Arthaus project on Cherry Street and the Asteri project on Green Street. “We have a lot of people, even within our own workforce

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for the city, that can’t afford to live in the city, so they’re driving in from other counties, from rural areas,” she said. “Having to pay for transportation is an additional burden when you’re already in a low income range … If you could eliminate the cost of owning a car … and get housing within the city, then that really is a benefit.” THE CHALLENGES WITH FUNDING

Affordable housing is not a lucrative business by any means. Creating affordable housing means keeping rents low. However, because there is little to no money coming from the renting or sale of houses, developers become increasingly dependent on state and federal tax incentives to finance the projects. The Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program is one of the primary ways to secure subsidies for the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. Through this process, the federal government issues tax credits to state governments. In turn, the state housing agencies award the credits to private developers of affordable rental housing projects. At the same time, these programs are incredibly competitive, offered only a few times a year, with limited money up for grabs. If developers don’t secure the credits, a project can be stalled indefinitely. This is the case with the construction of affordable units at Cayuga Park, formerly known as Carpenter Park, located between the city’s waterfront and Northside neighborhood. The project, headed by Park Grove Realty, has three planned components, including a medical office building, mixed-use retail and 42 units of affordable housing. While the medical office building is set to start construction around April, Andrew

Bodewes, partner and co-founder of Park Grove Realty, said that right now getting the affordable housing component up and running is completely dependent on the tax credits that he has applied for. Bodewes said he is hoping to start construction on the affordable housing section this year, but that they can’t start until they know if their application was successful. They won’t hear back about this until April. Still, Bowedes said that due to the highly competitive nature of the application process, typically only about 30% of the projects submitted receive tax credits. On the chance that Park Grove doesn’t secure funding in April, Bowedes said they would have to resubmit later in the year, around the summer or fall. Despite how competitive it is, Lynn Truame, senior real estate developer for Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS), explained that since the mid 1980s, almost all affordable rental housing has used federal low-income housing tax credits to finance projects. “In 1986… the federal government got out of the business of building public housing themselves, creating new models to induce private investment into affordable housing by offering tax credit,” she said. “I would say 70% of project costs get paid for with the equity from the tax credits.” Todd Fox, founder of Visum Development, a fast-growing newcomer in the affordable housing sector, said it is always a difficult process when dealing with government agencies. Still, he says it is also impossible to do these types of projects without this type of funding. “It’s a much more tedious, drawn-out process that really slows things down and makes it more difficult, which is something we didn’t really expect,” Fox said. “It can drag out your development by years or longer waiting for approvals.”

S t o n e Q ua r ry A pa r t m e n t s ( P h o t o : C a s e y M a r t i n)

There is one potential workaround to this problem, albeit a highly controversial one at that: Infill housing. THE CASE FOR INFILL HOUSING

Despite all of its controversy, it’s worth taking the time to look at the merits of infill housing. There is a bit of variance in the definition of infill housing, but the American Planning Association describes infill development as redevelopment that, “optimize[s] prior infrastructure investments and consumes less land than is otherwise available…” In most cases this involves building multiple primary structures, i.e. multiple houses or accessory-dwelling units (ADUs), onto a pre-existing lot. Because infill housing typically utilizes existing infrastructure and facilities, this can help developers save on costs and, in part, eliminate the need to rely on state and federal tax credits. Infill housing could also be particularly effective in a place like Ithaca where there is already not a lot of available land. This has worked out well in some places like the Aurora Street Pocket Neighborhood, a small-development, cooperativelyowned ecovillage.. Still, the arguments against infill housing are valid. Infill housing increases neighborhood density, and due to the nature of infill housing, the land is held by fewer people, giving the developer more control over what is developed in the lot. In the South Hill area, some developers have used this practice to create more rental units in already dense and student-rental heavy neighborhoods. Many locals have raised concerns about this in the past, especially when the practice resulted in houses that were out of character with the surrounding neighborhood. Over the past few years, the city has been looking to determine where exactly within Ithaca developers should be allowed

to build bigger, denser projects, as outlined in the 2015 Comprehensive Plan. As of last January, the Ithaca planning committee also approved new infill guidelines that got rid of an owner-occupancy requirement on AUDs (a whole other debate in and of itself) Mayor Svante Myrick summed up his views on infill housing like this: “It is controversial, and that’s because people are really afraid that the neighborhoods are going to become more crowded but, the truth is, it’s a great way to build more housing while still maintaining a neighborhood feel, and I think we should do more of it,” he said. “It’s a big fight, but it is part of the compressive plan to change the zoning to allow for more infill housing particularly duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes.” Costa Lambrou, owner of Lambrou Real Estate (which largely deals with student rentals in Collegetown and is not in the affordable housing sector) said that if you’re looking to develop affordable housing without relying on state and federal funds, infill housing is the best solution. “It’s much more efficient, much more economical,” he said. “That’s the real way to get affordable housing, and I think that might be the only thing that the city has not passed because there is so much uproar from basically homeowners thinking that their neighborhood will become half rental half owners, which I don’t see as a problem at all.” CITY INVOLVEMENT

For its part, the city is well aware of the current crisis and has been working particularly hard in recent years to encourage more affordable housing projects. Myrick has consistently declared the affordable housing crisis to be the largest threat Ithaca currently faces and one of his top (and most personal) priorities. One way the City has gotten involved is through the Community Housing Development Fund, a collaboration between Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca and Cornell University, which provides funding for

construction of affordable housing for low- to moderate-income

households. Many of INHS’ affordable housing projects, including the Stone Quarry apartments and Breckenridge Place, have received money from the development fund. Visum Development and Park Grove Realty have both received funding for their affordable housing units as well. Between 2009 and 2020, the development fund has awarded over $5 million to nearly 40 projects, helping to create over 815 new units. The City’s Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program (CIITAP) was also revamped in 2018, mandating that property owners seeking tax abatements have at least 20% total housing units that are affordable to households earning up to 75% of AMI. (Previously, projects only needed to have 10% affordable housing units to apply.) Many of the projects in the works, including the Arthaus and Library Place, have taken advantage of this opportunity. Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED) also plays a role, administering the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), which provides a variety of tax incentives for new construction, though the incentives are not confined solely to affordable housing projects. In 2020, the IDA delivered incentive packages to Arthaus, Library Place and 327 West Seneca St. Heather McDaniels, president of IAED, said that while this local funding cannot cover the costs of entire projects, it does help developers in the affordable housing sector stand out in the already crowded federal application process. “It makes them more competitive in their application because the state sees there is local support for the project,” she said. Myrick echoed this statement saying, “When

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the state and the federal government are trying to figure out where they’re going to send these grant dollars, it helps to know that the local government is also investing … it helps them put their own money up.” THE FUTURE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

As for the future of affordable housing, it seems that only time will tell. The hope is that with all of these new projects opening up, the demand will begin to be filled and housing prices will start to go down. But these changes will not happen overnight. “The law of supply and demand has been around forever but it’s like, when does the public start to see the depression of prices,” Lambrou said in response to this idea. “It may literally only be a few bucks here and there for a while until lets say a new building ... has 50% capacity and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, we’ve got to fill this,’ and then you’ll see the prices start to drop.” Back at the planning department, Cornish said the City is still waiting to see the decrease in prices, but remains optimistic. “We keep thinking we’re going to see rents come down a little bit, but we really haven’t really seen that, but we have seen the quality of the housing stock start to improve,” she said. “I think we’re seeing more options open up and there’s still a lot of interest in the housing market in Ithaca.” Myrick said he has noticed a change, saying that the price of rent has begun to plateau, whereas in the past, the price was climbing rapidly. He said he remains hopeful given all the new housing that is coming to Ithaca, and is expecting to see even more change in the coming months as more projects reach fruition.

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Sports

Old Guys Rule Ste ve L aw re nc e

aving just completed my first month as a Medicare recipient, I have an affinity for older people still doing what they love to do. I caught up with (retired Cornell professor) Mike Richmond over the weekend, and I was so excited to hear that he plans to go for yet another Senior Softball national title. Mike and I were teammates on the Slotteo’s Shoe Repair team that won the Ithaca City Softball League Championship a few years ago, and I recall asking him if he — at age 49 — was considering hanging up the spikes. He just laughed. That was in 1989. Now, Richmond is 81, Georgia@ithacatimes.com 607-277-7000 x220and he plans to keep traveling to and playing in as many Newspaper: tournaments as possible this year. East of the Mississippi, there are six teams in the Over-80 division, with another four teams in the western part of the country. Given there are sometimes travel or other complications that cause scheduling challenges, the Over-80 teams often play against the youngsters. “We play against the 75-year-olds,” Richmond told me, “and those guys can still play.” He paused and

some marginal contribution to a team, but for Brady to take out Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, then put on such a clinic on the biggest stage — picking up his seventh ring and fifth Super Bowl MVP — well, that’s the stuff of legend. I hope he wins three more. And that Gronk… he is a comparative baby Ed Glazer, Co-owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 31 and has been and 1992 Ithaca College graduate roughed up over the years, but he is still a beast. Yes, he can be a goofball; yes, added, “Don’t get me wrong, the Over-80 he works the spotlight for all it’s worth; guys can still play too.” yes, he is a party monster (much of that ● ● ● image is marketing); but virtually every teammate has said he works as hard as I am hearing a lot of grumbling this anyone in practice, he sacrifices his body week about the Super Bowl — “the ofClient: to be a devastating and effective blocker ficiating was bad,” “the commercials were and he busts his hump on every route. In sub-par,” “the halftime show was lame,” other words, he is a big-time gamer, and I but it was truly incredible to see a 43-year- hope he wins three more too. old quarterback do what Tom Brady did. I agree that the refs got more involved ● ● ● at times than they should have, but to I would be lying if I said Ed Glazer and convince me that the Chiefs were the betI are friends, and I’d be lying again if I ter team on that day would be a tall order. said I am happy about that. Ed graduated So often, these 40-plus guys hold on for from Ithaca College the same year I started the money, or because they can still make

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writing this column (1992), and when I saw him and his siblings (co-owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday, I wished I had been in possession of a crystal ball 30 years ago and put forth every effort to become friends with Glazer. With a daughter living in the Tampa Bay area, I’d like to be able to invoke any “Ithaca Cred” I might have to score tickets to watch the Buccaneers, because you can be sure that the price of a ticket is going up after the Bucs beat the Chiefs so resoundingly in the Super Bowl on Sunday. I was happy for the Glazer family (their father, Malcolm, bought the Bucs in 1995 and ran the show until his passing in 2014), and if the name sounds familiar to Ithacans, it might be because Glazer is a very generous benefactor to his alma mater and the Ed and Shari Glazer Arena in the Ithaca College Athletics and Events Center has hosted all manner of events since its opening in 2011, from track and field meets to the inauguration of the College’s President to a 2019 Bob Dylan concert. Had the Bucs lost, I would not have felt too much sympathy for the Glazers, as they also own the Manchester United Football Club of the English Premier League, which will soon be vying for its league-record 14th title.

UR SEEEORT INISS EEK TH

by Betsy Schermerhorn Director, Marketing and Admissions

BIPOLAR DISORDER CAN DEVELOP IN THE ELDERLY Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a complicated mental health condition that can affect anyone at any age and frequently goes undiagnosed. In some undiagnosed cases, symptoms become more pronounced as a patient ages, which may increase the rate of diagnosed cases over the next decade. BPD symptoms differ in seniors. Periods of agitation and irritability may replace periods of elated mania in older adults. Distractibility, confusion, hyperactivity, and psychosis may also occur, and BPD tends to be more severe when it begins over age 60, cycling rapidly between depression and mania. To complicate matters, both dementia and Alzheimer’s can have similar symptoms, making diagnosis more difficult

and treatment trickier since medications for the latter will only exacerbate BPD. Treatment for bipolar disorder in seniors should not be based exclusively on what works for younger patients. Aging can be accompanied by many challenges, including decreased physical and mental capabilities, the loss of loves ones, and end-of-life issues. Often, our seniors do not see or get the care they need. Call the marketing team at (607) 266-5300 to schedule a tour to see our facilities and learn more about lifecare at Kendal at Ithaca. Find us on the web at http://kai.kendal.org/ P.S. Treatment for bipolar disorder is complicated for senior adults since there are likely to be interactions with other medications and their metabolisms process medication differently. 2230 N. Triphammer Road Ithaca, NY 14850-6513

Website: www.kai.kendal.org Email: admissions@kai.kendal.org

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(607) 273-6611

419 W. Seneca St., Ithaca, NY

Local theatre company’s show explores selfexpression through soul-warming snacks

By Barbara Adams

ac ’n’ cheese. Chocolate pudding. Bagels and lox. Steaming hot chili. Dal and rice. Crab rangoon. Everybody has a different favorite comfort food –– that warmly nostalgic edible solace that always seems to set the world to rights again. And over the many months of the pandemic, plenty of us have spent time conjuring the stuff in our own kitchens. The musical “Comfort Food” offers such reassurance, and more. Writer/lyricist Rachel Lampert and composer Larry Pressgrove have revisited their 2007 show, originally produced at the Kitchen Theatre, updating, adapting and filming it for a new streaming production. The Harriet played by Emily Jackson (Photo Provided)

three-part musical screens this week online, opening Walking on Water (WOW) Productions’ fifth season. Each of the three vignettes features a solo character in their New York City kitchen, seeking security and self-expression through food. And ultimately consolation, as the individuals, at different life stages, are facing unique emotional challenges. Harriett, the ebullient singing cooking show host (a nod to Rachael Ray), is warming up for her program; the widowed Estelle is preparing specialties for a friend’s visit; and Gabe is leaving his boyfriend over irreconcilable food preferences Their tales are about “love and loss and food,” Lampert says. There’s no real darkness here, she feels, but all three are “about losing something, having to adjust to it and then needing to move on.” “Harriet’s Kitchen,” featuring Lampert’s longtime Kitchen Theatre colleague Emily Jackson, was filmed and edited by Jackson’s husband (and lighting/set designer), Tyler Perry, in their tiny New York kitchen. It required removing some furnishings and even repainting the kitchen (to complement Jackson’s flaming hair). For both rehearsals and final filming, Lampert directed this segment remotely from a laptop via Zoom.

“I was on a computer looking down at the action from above,” she says. “There was no room even for Tyler in the kitchen, so they set up three iphones for filming and started them all remotely.” Seeing the action at a skewed angle was just one of many challenges. Casting was crucial, with the need for safety and distance. “We had to look to actors willing to go on this journey in filming that’s complicated for them,” Lampert says. “Beyond their regular job of memorizing and acting, they had to go the whole nine yards. They became the camera crew; they did their own set. And in all the sequences, the actors did their own lighting. It was a big commitment, which grew even greater as we went along.” “Gabriel’s Kitchen” and “Estelle’s Kitchen” were both directed remotely by Priscilla Hummel, WOW’s founder and producing artistic director. In this situation, filming over time, Hummel says, “You don’t have a continuity director. You get it all on tape and then only later realize someone was wearing their glasses –– or the wrong wardrobe.” Filming mid-pandemic gives a whole new meaning to the refrain, “Let’s put on a play.” Jahmar Ortiz, as Gabe, had a friend holding a ring light to balance the sunlight of his continued on page 12

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Arts&Entertainment

‘Comfort Food’

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COMFORT FOOD Contin u ed From Page 11

mother’s kitchen, where the filming took place. And Blaise Bryski, the husband of Kristin Sad, who plays Estelle, stepped up to the role of cameraman, with Mike Carroll editing. To accompany the performers’ singing, composer Larry Pressgrove created individual piano tracks, then Rob Preuss added percussion and guitar. Pressgrove was musical director for Harriet’s segment; Benjamin Stevens for Gabe’s and Estelle’s, with sound mix by Anna Marcus-Hecht. ● ● ●

Food is a versatile metaphor, as Lampert’s former artistic directorship at the Kitchen Theatre illustrated. A fond cook herself who admits to being “slightly obsessed” with food and kitchens, Lampert has celebrated food in previous works, like “Bed No Breakfast” and “The Soup Comes Last” (about her staging of “West Side Story” with students in China). Updating “Comfort Food” included acknowledging the COVID crisis (shifting Harriet from the tv studio to her own kitchen); featuring Gabe as gay; and deleting Estelle’s visitor from the scene while emphasizing her need to move on after her husband’s death. “I’ve had friends lose their spouses,” Lampert says, “so Estelle’s section is very

poignant for me. And the positivity of that character comes through so well in the casting.” Hummel agrees: “Kristin is a Meisnertrained actor, who understands living in the moment under imaginary circumstances. She has no scene partner to feed off of but has a strongly rooted imaginary world. This technique, by using your own experiences, stresses simplicity and honesty.” For all these local theater artists now working virtually, filming has been a distinct and fresh experience. Lampert found herself “spending more time on momentto-moment concerns. In a stage play the action goes by, and who sees the small

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Barbara Adams, a regional arts journalist, teaches writing at Ithaca College.

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“Comfort Food” streams on YouTube Feb. 12-21. Tickets and ordering menus at walkingonwaterproductions. org/tickets. The show can be re-watched throughout the run.

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stuff? –– one gesture in a long run. On film, all those gestures are there forever.” And the very food itself posed new problems: Estelle, making appetizers, needed to be provided with innumerable props. So Lampert prepared and froze “a lot of food and delivered it to Kristin’s house,” whereas for Gabriel’s high-carb passion, she ordered groceries sent to him via Amazon. The audience’s cravings haven’t been neglected, either. “We’re cooped up; we can’t get out to eat,” says Hummel. “The next best thing is yummy takeout.” So WOW has partnered with four local eateries –– Coltivare, Gola Osteria, Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine, and (in the final week) Moosewood. Each is offering a highly tempting “comfort food” menu that can be ordered via WOW’s website –– and for viewers at home, that absolutely beats popcorn. This new collaboration between the Lampert-Pressgrove creative team and Priscilla Hummel’s WOW, dedicated to musical theater, will happily continue –– the artists’ “Angle of the Sun,” first produced here in 2006, comes to Ithaca’s great outdoors this summer.

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New Construction Jobs Local Labor, MWBE & SDOV Business Participation is Encouraged.

Asteri- Ithaca Green Street

This project is a mixed use conference center and 181unit residential housing tower Bid Email Address: bids-eastregion@vecinogroup.com Contact: Mike or Corey

FILM

Toons Galore!

Animation festival celebrates cartoons of all kinds By Br yan VanC ampe n

love animation, all kinds of animation. When I first started reviewing films in 1987, there were many different animation anthologies floating around, shows like “Animation Celebration” and the annual “Animation Tournees.” There were collections distributed by Spike and Mike, Mike Judge and others. These programs showcased animated shorts in many different styles from around the globe, and the variety of media and personality was astonishing; I got my first look at artists like Judge and former Pixar head John Lasseter early in their careers via these collections. “The 21st Annual Animation Show of Shows” was scheduled to screen last March and had to be canceled. This is the first time that the program is available virtually. This year’s edition also includes minidocumentaries about two of the filmmakers, and the whole program, including introduction and closing credits, runs 83 minutes.

OSCAR nominated, Daughter (2019) by Daria Kashcheeva

“Kids” (Switzerland) by Michael Frei & Mario von Rickenbach, is all black line on white background: identical gingerbreadlike figures fight, fuss and make formations, starting with one figure and winding up with a teeming mass of humanity, pulsating and reforming into strange social shapes. Gil Alkabetz’s “Rubicon” (Germany) posits a simple riddle: How do you transport a cabbage, a sheep and a wolf across a body of water without them eating each other? Alkabetz establishes the dilemma and in just a few minutes, runs through every conceivable scenario, and many

unconceivable ones, too. His animation style reminded me of a slightly funkier “Schoolhouse Rock” combined with some animated bits George Carlin commissioned for one of his HBO specials. In the documentary about him, Alkabetz reveals that “Rubicon” is his take on the absurdity of political solutions. “Five Minutes to Sea” (Russia) by Natalia Mirzoyan and “Récit de soi” (SelfNarrative) by Géraldine Charpentier of Belgium are similar in that the animation lines flow in and out in a dream-like way, one illustrating a day at the beach and the water, and the other, Charpentier’s plain-

tive and frank account of her realization that she is transgender. “Le jour extraordinaire” (Flowing through Wonder), from Joanna Lurie of France, tells a spellbinding tale of an adventure at sea with vivid graphics and not a word of dialogue. An utterly domesticated dog — he sits at the table, eats with utensils and washes his own dishes — succumbs to his animal nature when several stray “Hounds” (Israel) approach his home. Animators Amit Cohen & Ido Shapira achieve an Edward Gorey look with crosshatched white strokes on black background. They were inspired by their own upbringing and the eternal debate about nature vs. nurture. “The Fox and the Bird (Le renard et L’oisille),” by Sam & Fred Guillaume of Switzerland, creates a dark fairy tale with stylized characters cavorting within photoreal CGI backgrounds for a truly unique look and feel. I wrote about the Oscar-nominated “Daughter (Decera)” (Czech Republic, 2019), directed by Daria Kashcheeva, in a previous column about the year’s short film nominees: a daughter sits by her dying father in the hospital, and the memory of a childhood moment involving an injured bird leads to a moment of clarity. Most stop-motion puppet films are done with static, locked-off shots, but Kashcheeva experiments with camera motion to make everything rough and hand-held. Sign up to watch the film with Cornell Cinema and receive a $2 discount coupon code. Visit cinema.cornell.edu.

Congratulations to our 2020 Superheroes!

Essential Worker of the Year Emily Mallar,

Cayuga Health Partners

Above and Beyond Award

Entrepreneur of the Year

PressBay Food Hub & Urban Core

Easy Living Hats

Melissa Madden,

Olivia Ashline-Royale,

Business Leader of the Year

Patrick Blackman, Coltivare

Rookie of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

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‘Blown Away’ Trumansburg resident is guest judge on Netflix series By Jaime C one

n the Netflix series “Blown Away,” contestants withstand the emotional highs and lows of creating a piece of blown glass art — on camera, in a competition against other glass artists — all for the chance to win a prize package that includes a guest artist residency at the Corning Museum of Glass. Robert Cassetti, newly retired from his position as senior director of creative strategy and visitor engagement at the Corning Museum of Glass, was a guest judge for the second season’s finale. Not only did the Trumansburg resident get to weigh in on who went home with the big prize, he was there throughout the final episode as the two remaining contestants sweat their way through the creation of their final projects. The contestants were tasked with filling an entire gallery space with multiple pieces of art, but they didn’t have to do it alone — providing them with crucial assistance were six glass makers from the Corning

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Robert Cassetti, former director of creative strategy and visitor engagement at the Corning Museum of Glass

Museum of Glass. The glass blowers at the museum are used to helping guest artists. “We are able to help artists realize their work on a scale and level of ambition that they are not able to reach at their own studio,” Cassetti explained. Cassetti said the museum had been approached by a number of people over the

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years with ideas for glass blowing competition shows. One of things that struck Cassetti about the makers of “Blown Away” was how high they set their standards for what the show could be. “They cited The Great British Baking Show as the gold standard for what reality television could look like,” Cassetti said.

“What they wanted to make was almost like a love poem to glass blowing, and that really appealed to us. It spoke to our passion for glass and mirrored our own aesthetic as well.” The show even used the concept of having a pristine, white gallery space for showcasing the glass art juxtaposed to the industrial, gritty hot shop next door, where the pieces are made. It is very similar to the way the museum has set up its gallery immediately adjacent to its hot shop. So it wasn’t surprising that the museum clicked well with the producers, the Canadian company Marble Media. “And they successfully pitched the show to Netflix — they really hit a home run,” Cassetti said. He was not surprised that glass blowing turned out to make for compelling television. “I helped to develop the [museum’s] glass blowing demonstration programs back in the late 1990s, and from the very start I thought of it as a show — a hot glass show. So I understood the inherent drama in using molten glass and making finished products in a relatively short amount of time.” The demonstrations became a centerpiece of the guests’ experience at the museum and have expanded dramatically over the last 20 years to now include a 500-person amphitheater that Cassetti said is packed with visitors in the summer. The Netflix series has made it more popular than ever, as responses to the museum’s daily visitor surveys showed.

“As soon as season one launched, we saw people identifying it as the primary reason they’ve come to the Corning Museum of Glass,” Cassetti said. “We found that people were motivated by “Blown Away,” from near and far, because of the show.” As his retirement coincides with the second season, Cassetti said he looks back on his career accomplishments with tremendous pride. His demonstration program has been so popular that the museum now has mobile studios that have visited 70 cities all over the world. “This isn’t our first rodeo,” Cassetti said, “and then to see this thing that we have become so good at done so well in ‘Blown Away’ — on this global platform — it’s a tremendously beautiful thing to see.” Since he began his retirement last October, Cassetti has continued to work at the museum as a creative strategist but has mainly been spending his free time enjoying living in Trumansburg. The Elmiranative’s love of the village began when he visited the music venue and bar The Rongo with his parents the year it opened and persisted until he moved there in 2003 with his family. “Mostly, really, I’ve been reconnecting with my community and have the pleasure of being here in Trumansburg as much as I can be,” he said. “One of the things I tell people about Trumansburg is that you meet people and get to know them by name — sometimes only by first name — and there’s a connection and a warmth and discourse that takes place,” he added. “Probably five years into living here it occurred to me, ‘I have no idea what these people do professionally.’ They’re not introducing themselves by what they do for work…you learn about their interests, what’s motivating them — in many ways, their life outside of whatever work is.” And for those who are interested in watching “Blown Away,” Cassetti said the final two contestants — two of the least experienced glass blowers in the competition — made for a dramatic finale.

Glassblower Eric Meek on the set of Blown Away season 2

“It was a big surprise,” he said of the underdogs coming out on top. “It’s a testimony to the power of a good idea in that you didn’t need to be the maestro with all the career experience to get to the final episode.” Part of what allowed the greener contestants with the exciting ideas to make their visions for their final installation a

reality was the help of those six members of the Corning Museum of Glass Demo Team. “It was very suspenseful, wanting to see the final installation, and are they going to pull it off or not?” Cassetti said. He encourages all those who enjoy the process of making beautiful art, the

cringe-inducing sound of breaking glass, and/or the thrill of a good reality competition show to tune in. As someone who was there live during the filming of the finale, he was genuinely, well…you know. “The winner’s solution blew me away,” he said with a laugh when asked if the show’s title delivered, “in that it incorporated an aspect of a gallery installation that you don’t normally think of as part of the artwork.”

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STAGE

What’s past is prologue

Syracuse Stage play examines the LA riots in ‘92 which closely mirror our current events By Barbara Ad am s

“C

an we all get along?” Some of us can recall Rodney King on television, May 1, 1992, appealing for an end to the riots then tearing South Los Angeles apart. Fourteen months earlier King, a Black man, had been brutally beaten by four L.A. policemen, and the bystander videotape of that event disturbed people nationwide. At their trial, the officers were largely acquitted, a decision that ignited six days of rioting, burning, looting, and destruction, costing 63 lives with over 2,300 injured. That was 29 years ago, and since then, we’ve painfully witnessed, via media, countless more scenes of police violence and racial injustice. “Let’s try to work it out,” King had pleaded, but we clearly haven’t succeeded. So viewing the powerful play “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992,” currently streaming from Syracuse Stage, says as much about our present as the past. Actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith created this work soon after the riots, interviewing hundreds of people

connected closely or distantly to the distressing events. Her unique method –– as in her previous work, “Fires in the Mirror,” on the 1991 Crown Heights riots –– uses verbatim testimonies to construct a script. Smith’s documentary approach presents multiple vignettes, the drama building through accretion –– each narrator bringing a unique and precious perspective. Some are bold and angry, some agonizingly diffident. Their individual responses add up to an affirmation of humanity, and of the very act of reflecting –– in contrast to blind action. Anna Deavere Smith originally embodied all the diverse, multiracial parts, further reinforcing the notion of people’s connectedness. Subsequent productions have sometimes cast multiple actors, but Syracuse’s show features just one: Patrese D. McClain assuming 37 different personas in a stunning performance. The Chicago-based actor, who has appeared in the national tour of August Wilson’s “Jitney,” has worked previously with the show’s

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Patrese D. McClain (Photo: Provided)

discerning director, Steve H. Broadnax III. (His earlier Syracuse work includes directing Keenan Scott’s “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” which is headed for Broadway.) Together they’ve created an intense, unforgettable three-hour experience. Well, not exactly together: McClain was filmed in a greenscreen room in Chicago (we see her enter there in the opening shots), while Broadnax directed over Zoom from State College, Pennsylvania. Set designer Michael Carnahan provided handsome, specific backgrounds for each character. Alan Edwards lit each scene perfectly and Curtis Craig contributed excellent sound. And the myriad vivid costume choices, by Emilio Sosa, are absolutely inspired. The overall video design, by Kate Freer, unites all their work into an arresting whole, the close-up interviews mixed with historical video footage. Clips from the Los Angeles riots blend with more recent protests (Chicago, Ferguson, Detroit, Standing Rock), even including the recent storming of the Capitol. Most unnerving is to see the images of King being beaten shift to other shots of police violence, then realizing how many of these Black men’s faces we sadly know. The first person McClain renders is the deliberate, almost self-conscious elegance of opera singer Jessye Norman, who likens the voices of protest to a lion’s roar, “the earth’s first utterance.” Other women McClain inhabits include a Korean shop owner, badly shaken; a ditzy blonde realtor mocked for taking refuge with the elite at the Beverly Hills Hotel; and a juror whose emotional collapse finally unites the bickering others. More public women also speak out, like not-to-be gainsaid congresswoman Maxine Waters and thoughtful Elaine Brown, former Black Panther party head.

One of the most exquisitely moving portraits is of Elvira Evers, a pregnant cashier, who relates discovering she’s been shot. A friend gets her to a hospital, where she delivers safely –– the bullet having miraculously lodged in the baby’s elbow joint. McClain invokes men with equal conviction –– activist Paul Parker; involved but contrite officer Theodore Briseno; Reginald Denny, an attacked white trucker; Walter Park, a quiet Korean store owner damaged by a bullet in his frontal lobe. Keith Watson, a young former security guard, is striking for his everyday eloquence. McClain personifies each brilliantly, with distinct accent and gesture, energy and spirit. Although her depictions of ordinary people are the most memorable, it’s her philosopher Cornel West whose words echo longest: “Hope looks at the evidence and says humph! –– it doesn’t look good at all. But we’re going make the leap of faith to attempt to create new possibilities based on a vision that becomes so contagious people can engage in heroic actions, always and against the odds. With no guarantees whatsoever. That’s hope, and I’m a prisoner of hope.”

Syracuse Stage “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992,” by Anna Deavere Smith, directed by Steve H. Broadnax II and featuring Patrese D. McClain is available on demand via Syracuse Stage through Sunday, Feb. 14. Viewing window 72 hours. Tickets at www.SyracuseStage.org or 315-443-3275. Barbara Adams, a regional arts journalist, teaches writing at Ithaca College.

Virtual Music Concerts/Recitals Virtual Recital: Christin Schillinger, bassoon | 7:00 PM, 2/13 Saturday | This concert is available to the general public only via the livestream www.ithaca.edu/music/live . Symphoria Pops: A De-Lovely Valentine’s Day | 7:30 PM, 2/13 Saturday | Virtual concert, Virtual, Virtual | CNYís own Nick Ziobro and Julia Goodwin delight you and your sweetheart with your favorite romantic tunes from the Great American Songbook. | Family Livestream $35, Individual Livestream $20 DSP Shows Livestream: Jade Bird | 8:00 PM, 2/13 Saturday | From historic RCA Studios in Nashville where she recorded her up-coming second album. This will be the first chance for fans to hear new material from the album. The archived stream will be available to watch on-demand for up to 48 hours.†https://www.dspshows. com/ | $15

Stage Virtual Syracuse Stage: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 | All Day 2/11 Thursday | By Anna Deavere Smith. Using more than 300 interviews, Smith creates a mosaic of four dozen characters to ruthlessly probe issues of race and class that set Los Angeles ablaze almost 30 years ago and continue to plague our nation today. Available on demand Feb. 3 - 14. Syracusestage.com Hotel Good Luck | 7:30 PM, 2/12 Friday | Additional performances on 2/13, 2/18, 2/19 & 2/20. The moving and dizzying story of Bobby, a latenight radio DJ who is confronted with an upsetting event which plunges him into a rabbit hole of parallel universes in an attempt to regain what he has lost.www.thecherry.org | $15-$45

Art Ithaca College Art Faculty Exhibit | All Day 2/10 Wednesday | This group exhibit includes one or two pieces from each Ithaca College Department of Art faculty, and highlights many diverse perspectives and media.† https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/ en/exhibition/4428157/ithacacollege-department-of-art-facultygroup-exhibit

“Light, Color, Shadow” | 12:00 PM, 2/11 Thursday | State of the Art Gallery Ithaca, 120 W. State Street, Ithaca | Features seven Ithaca artists from the State of the Art Gallery: Mary Ann Bowman, Stan Bowman, Ed Brothers, Eva Capobianco, Jane Dennis, Patricia Hunsinger, and Connie Zehr. They will show paintings, photographs, mixed media and sculpture.†

Music Cornell Virtual Cinema: Ikarie XB 1 aka Voyage to the End of the Universe | All Day 2/12 Friday | Thru 2/18. A visionary work of Eastern Bloc science fiction, this mesmerizing adaptation of a Stanis?aw Lem novel melds Cold War ideology and utopian futurism into a tour de force of spaceage modernism.†http://cinema. cornell.edu/ Cornell Virtual Cinema: M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity | All Day 2/12 Friday | Through 2/15. Rich testimonials offer viewers a glimpse into the soul of the artist, who saw himself as a mathematician above all. The film’s animations deftly express the mathematical dimensions of his work.†cinema.cornell.edu Virtual Cinemapolis: Blizzard of Souls | All Day 2/12 Friday | The horrors and brutality of WWI, as seen through the eyes of an innocent 17-year-old farm-boy turned soldier. Though he is underage, and his dad, a former marksman, is overage for the army, they are both conscripted into one of Latviaís first national battalions.† | 3 day rental available for $12 Virtual Cinemapolis: Lapsis | All Day 2/12 Friday | A darkly comic and timely look at the gig economy and the failed utopian promises of big tech. Presented in collaboration with Ithaca Fantastik | 3 day rental for $8 Virtual Cinemapolis: Mayor | All Day 2/12 Friday | A real-life political saga following Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, during his second term in office. His immediate goals: repave the sidewalks, attract more tourism, and plan the cityís Christmas celebrations. His ultimate mission: to end the occupation of Palestine. | 3 day rental available for $12 Cornell (Virtual) Cinema: Chungking Express | All Day 2/13 Saturday | Thru 2/18. Tells two stories, both set in contemporary Hong Kong, of young policemen trying to get over bad relationships and having crazy encounters with other women. Subtitled. Cosponsored with the East Asia Program.†cinema.cornell.edu

Cornell (Virtual) Cinema: The 21st Annual Animation Show of Shows | All Day 2/13 Saturday | Thru 2/18. A curated selection of the “best of the best” animated short films created by students and professionals around the world. Suitable for ages 8+. Subtitled.†cinema.cornell.edu | $10 Virtual Cinemapolis: 76 Days | All Day 2/13 Saturday | On January 23rd, 2020, China locked down Wuhan, a city of 11 million, to combat the emerging COVID-19 outbreak. Set deep inside the frontlines of the crisis in four hospitals, 76 DAYS tells indelible human stories at the center of this pandemic. | 3 day rental available for $12 Virtual Cinemapolis: Leona | All Day 2/13 Saturday | A young Jewish woman from Mexico City finds herself torn between her family and her forbidden love with a non-Jewish man. | 3 day rental available for $12 Virtual Cinemapolis: The Story of Lover’s Rock | All Day 2/13 Saturday | Lovers Rock, often dubbed ëromantic reggaeí is a uniquely black British sound that developed in the late 70s and 80s against a backdrop of riots, racial tension and sound systems. Live performance, comedy sketches, dance, interviews and archive shed light on the music and the generation that embraced it. | 72 hour rental available for $12

Virtual Cinemapolis: Two of Us | All Day 2/13 Saturday | Two retired women have been secretly in love for decades. They come and go between their two apartments, enjoying the affection and pleasures of daily life together, until an unforeseen event turns their relationship upside down. | 3 day rental available for $12 Virtual Cinemapolis: Our Right to Gaze: Black Film Identities | All Day 2/14 Sunday | In this collection of six shorts, filmmakers gaze at themselves and their world, attempting to make sense of what they see reflected back. | 3 day rental available for $12

Special Events Evolution in a Time of COVID & Climate Change | 7:30 PM, 2/11 Thursday | In collaboration with PRI’s Darwin Days 2021 celebrations and events, a lecture from Dr. Warren Allmon, Director of PRI. In these tumultuous times, why is it still important to think about, teach, and celebrate evolution? Visit†www. priweb.org/event/darwin-days Black Musical Masculinities and the Art of Enflaming Worship | 5:00 PM, 2/12 Friday | The Ithaca Music Forum presents Dr. Alisha Jones of Indiana University who will explore a social history of anxieties surrounding the performances of formerly gay menís deliverance testimonies in Pentecostal gospel music scenes.† Email psilberman@ithaca.edu for Zoom registration link.

Books Into the Forest: Stories of the Hunter-Gatherers | 2:30 PM, 2/10 Wednesday | In this class students will explore stories from a variety

of hunter-gatherer cultures. This is a class focused not on telling stories ourselves but on getting them into our hearts and bones. This class will for four weeks; there will be a small amount of reading for the class. If you would like to attend please send an email to LeemingJay@gmail.com. | sliding scale of $30-$60 Crafting Gratitudeî Writing Workshop | 6:00 PM, 2/11 Thursday | The workshop series, led by writer and educator Barbara Regenspan, will focus on the difficulties writers face in conveying joy and gratitude during periods of social and political upheaval. Participants will collectively examine examples of published poetry and prose written during difficult times and compose their own work to share with the group. Register at www.tcpl.org/events/

Notices Red Cross Blood Drive | 1:30 PM, 2/10 Wednesday | Enfield Fire Hall, 172 Enfield Main Rd, Ithaca | The Enfield Volunteer Fire Company is hosting a blood drive through the American Red Cross. Please come and donate. Call the American Red Cross at 607-273-1900,or sign up on-line at www.redcrossblood.org. Virtual ESL Talk Time | 3:45 PM, 2/10 Wednesday | The group is open to English learners hoping to improve their conversation skills. Visit tcpl.org for the Zoom link. Senior Troupe of Lifelong | 2:00 PM, 2/11 Thursday | Virtual meeting is open to all ages for fun improv, and to read the stories from our lives that we create during the week before the class meets.To register call Lifelong at 273-1511 or email info@CloseToHomeProductions.com

2021 Winter Ithaca Farmers Market | 10:30 AM, 2/13 Saturday | Triphammer Marketplace, 2255 N. Triphammer Road, Ithaca | To comply with COVID-19 rules, vendors will be more spaced out than last year. Market will be in the atrium and in one of the empty storefronts. Enfield Volunteer Fire Company Chicken Barbecue | 11:00 AM, 2/14 Sunday | Enfield Fire Hall, 172 Enfield Main Rd, Ithaca | Due to COVID-19 we will only be serving chicken halves. There will also be only a drive thru for pickup. Serving† until all is gone. Call the fire station for reservations 607-272-8757. | $7 Virtual Workshop: Raising a Small Flock of Chickens | 6:00 PM, 2/16 Tuesday | This class is intended for individuals who want to keep a few chickens in the backyard for home egg production. Online Event https:// ccetompkins.mahaplatform.com/ events/chickens Virtual ESL Talk Time | 3:45 PM, 2/17 Wednesday | The group is open to English learners hoping to improve their conversation skills. Visit tcpl.org for the Zoom link.

Health Live Webcast: The Diverse Culinary Family: Representation, Identity, and Inclusivity | 4:00 PM, 2/11 Thursday | This panel event will convene chefs for a lively conversation on food, race, social justice, and sustainability. Weíll unpack the stories of these culinary trailblazers and examine what the future holds for them and other people from underrepresented communities in the world of culinary arts.†https://www.ecornell. com/keynotes/overview/K021121a/

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Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering grants & scholarships for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8AM-6PM ET) (NYSCAN)

855/Misc. BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 844-511-1836. (AAN CAN)

Honest, Reasonable, Professional Services Sean: (607) 339-1444

SAVE YOUR HOME!

Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowners Relief Line NOW for Help 1-855-439-5853 Mon-Fri: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm; Sat: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm (all times Pacific) (AAN CAN)

DELIVERY Part-Time Route Driver needed for delivery of newspapers every Wednesday. Must be available 9am-1pm, have reliable transportation, and a good driving record.

Call 277-7000

1040/Land for Sale OWN LAND IN NEW YORK?

Our hunters will Pay Top $$$ to lease your land. Call now for free info packet 1-866-309-1507. www.BaseCampLeasing.com/REF#: NY11721. (NYSCAN)

PIANOS

• Rebuilt • Reconditioned • Bought• Sold • Moved • Tuned • Rented

Complete rebuilding services. No job too big or too small. Call us.

Ithaca Piano Rebuilders (607) 272-6547 950 Danby Rd., Suite 26

South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca, NY

Call now to get your ADT security system starting at $19.99/mo.* Plus get $100 off installation† when you call today!

150 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

W E R E NOW

N SIG DE

*Requires 36-month monitoring contract for intrusion only with a minimum charge of $28.99 after the 12 month term. Equipment shown requires ADT Secure or higher. Early term. and installation fees apply. Taxes addt’l. For full terms and pricing see below. † Requires minimum purchase of $449.

ENJOYING A NEW SHOWER IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

Life safety

Let us help you stay protected from fire, CO, floods & more!

Cameras

Choose from indoor, s so outdoor & doorbell cam you can keep watch even when you aren’t there with upgrade to ADT Video.

$100 off installationpanel en Upgrade to a touchscre nt or and smar t home equipme rity. secu e hom stick with basic ! Either way, you’ll save $100

YOUR E XCLUSIVE SAVINGS COUP ON STARTING AT

Call now to redeem your exclusive offer!

99 /mo

1-844-950-1728

BONUS $100 off installation

Redemption code:

Reply by:

DF-CD-NP-Q121

April 15, 2021

We’re available 24/7. See if you qualify for same-day service!

FREE IN-HOME DESIGN CONSULTATION CALL TODAY

newshowerdeal.com/ithaca | 877-726-7124 *Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchase. Minimum spend amount applies. Financing subject to third party credit approval. Some financing options cannot be combined with other offers and may require minimum monthly payments. All offers subject to change prior to purchase. See AmericanStandardShowers.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY: 55431H;NYC:HIC 2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

*$19.99/month + †$100 off Installation: Requires 36-month monitoring contract with a minimum charge of $28.99/mo. (before instant savings) (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $695.76 (before instant savings) and enrollment in Easy Pay. Service and installation charges vary depending on system configuration, equipment and services selected. Offer includes (i) $9.00 instant savings per month applicable only towards monthly monitoring charge for the first 12 months of initial contract term (total value of $108.00) and (ii) $100 instant savings on installation with minimum purchase of $449 after promotion is applied. Traditional Service Level requires landline phone. Excludes ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. Upon early termination by Customer, ADT may charge 75% of the remaining monthly service charges for the balance of the initial contract term. Limit one offer per new ADT customer contract. Not valid on purchases from ADT Authorized Dealers. Expires 4/15/2021. Interactive Services: ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Command”) helps you manage your home environment and family lifestyle. Requires purchase of an ADT alarm system with 36 month monitoring contract ranging $45.99-$57.99/mo with QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees ranging $1,103.76-$1,391.76), enrollment in ADT Easy Pay, and a compatible device with Internet and email access. These interactive services do not cover the operation or maintenance of any household equipment/systems that are connected to the ADT Command equipment. All ADT Command services are not available with all interactive service levels. All ADT Command services may not be available in all geographic areas. You may be required to pay additional charges to purchase equipment required to utilize the interactive service features you desire. General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654, F1655; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina, 7535P2, 7561P2, 7562P10, 7563P7, 7565P1, 7566P9, 7564P4; NY 12000305615; PA 090797 DF-CD-NP-Q121

Wi-Fi Solutio for Rural Areans s Get WI-FI Internet Anywhere.

PACKAGES STARTING AS LOW AS

90+ Vendors • 21,000 Sq. Ft. Open Daily 10-5 • Closed Tuesdays earlyowego.com Exit 64 off I-86 607-223-4723

109-$145

99 $

WITH DVR AND VOICE REMOTE.

for 100GB - 500GB with no contract

Additional $5/mo. per extra TV

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

EmpireWirelessLLC.com

877-516-1160

Hours: Mon.-Fri 8-6, Sat. 8-3, Sun. by appt.

Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES

alone

Offer valid December 15, 2020 - March 1, 2021

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.

Life Alert is always here for me. One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7.

DENTAL Insurance

with

GPS !

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve!

Help at Home Help On-the-Go I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

I’m never

Prepare for power outages with a Generac home standby generator

Batteries Never Need Charging.

For a FREE brochure call:

1-800-404-9776 F e br ua ry

CALL NOW!

FREE Information Kit

1-855-225-1434

Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket This is real dental insurance — NOT just a discount plan You can get coverage before your next checkup

Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details. Insurance Policy P150NY 6129

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1-855-225-1434 Visit us online at

www.dental50plus.com/nypress MB17-NM003Ec

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I t h a c a T i m e s 19

BackPage

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

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

GARDEN ACCENTS

PIANOS

Fountains - Statuary

Rebuilt, Reconditioned,

FingerLakesFountain.com

Bought, Sold, Moved

Planters - Birdbaths

Tuned, Rented

GRAND OPENING SALE

Complete Rebuilding Services No job too big or too small

DiBella’s Subs

ITHACA NEWS

For Learning, Activities, Social Groups

“The Best Sub

Delivered to your inbox every day

You’ve ever had!”

Ithaca Times Daily

(607) 272-6547

And More! For Adults 50+

$5.00 off any purchase at

Text ITHACA to 22828 to Sign up

950 Danby Rd, Suite 26

Lifelong

DiBella’s Subs

A Vibrant, Active Community Center

with Community Cash Coupon

Looking to Boost your 2021

222 Elmira Rd. Ithaca

Business?

Engaging, Inclusive Officiating... ... to create a unique, fulfilling and unforgettable

Call Larry at 607-277-7000 ext 214

ceremony that is both a Farewell Gift to the one

Find out about great advertising ad packages at

who has passed on, and a Forever Gift to loved

Ithaca.com & Ithaca Times

119 West Court St., Ithaca 607-273-1511 tclifelong.org

AAM ALL ABOUT MACS

ones and friends.

REAL LIFE

http://www.allaboutmacs.com

CEREMONIES

for over 20 years

(607) 280-4729

Every life story deserves to be told, and told well.

Fur & Leather repair, zipper repair.

Men’s and Women’s Alterations

Same Day Service Available

607-564-7149

John’s Tailor Shop

Peaceful Spirit Acupuncture

FREE BREAK CHECK

John Serferlis - Tailor

Anthony R. Fazio, L.Ac., D.A.O.M.(c)

Brakes feeling spongy?

*Acupuncture Works*

Stop in for a FREE Brake Check

www.peacefulspiritacupuncture.com

Bruces Pit-Stop

607-272-0114

334 Elmira Rd 607-882-6816

ANIMALS LAND & SEA

FREE TAX PREP

FingerLakesAnimalRights.org

for Seniors 60+ Individuals with Disabilities Single Incomes below $35,000

CLEANING SERVICES

Families Incomes below $57,000

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

IRS trained and certified volunteers

JANITORIAL* FLOOR * CARPET

Taxes will be prepared virtually at

INDEPENDENCE CLEANERS CORP

LIFELONG 607-279-6619

607-227-3025 / 607-697-3294

South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca

REDUCE YOUR HEATING BILL A FULL LINE OF VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS. Call for Free Estimate & Professional Installation Custom made & Manufactured by

Macintosh Consulting

Steve Lawrence, Celebrant

Ithaca Piano Rebuilders

SOUTH SENECA VINYL Romulus, NY 315-585-6050 or 866-585-6050 www.SouthSenecaWindows.com

102 The Commons

YOUR CBD STORE

273-3192

The only dedicated retail store

No Health Insurance? No Problem!

Free Medical and Holistic Care! Medicaid Enrollment & Medical Debt Advocacy

for all things CBD 308 E. Seneca Street * Ithaca 845-244-0868

Ithaca Free Clinic (607)330-1254 521 West Seneca Street |www.ithacahealth.org Oil Change $19.99

Your Go-To Oil Change Stop Most Trusted Oil Change in Ithaca Oil & Filter Change Everyday low Price

Includes oil & filter

includes up to 5 gls conventional oil

4 tire rotation & brake check with Community

Bruces Pit-Stop

Cash Coupon Ithaca Auto Service 607-220-9183

334 Elmira Rd. 607-882-6816

Ithaca news delivered to your inbox every day Text ITHACA to 22828 to sign up! 20 T

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