Issuu

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PRIMARYING TOM

THREE FAREWELLS

Reed will see a Sad goodbyes all Republican challenge in around Tompkins NY23 County PAGE 4

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UNION BUILDING

Online @ ITH ACA .COM

TWO CASES AT IC

Kelles picks up endorsement in NYS125 race

Three COVID-19 cases total in Tompkins County

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ITHAQA COMICS Letâ€™s get imaginary PAGE 13

Major Home Repair Assistance Low- to moderate-income homeowners in Tompkins County who need major home repairs, including heath and safety upgrades, contact INHS for income eligibility. “We continued to find support with INHS. First, down-payment assistance and again later when we needed low-interest financing for major repairs.” - The Evergreen Family

• Repairs include: insulation, heating systems, windows, septic systems, plumbing issues, roofing, siding, and foundation work. • To apply for assistance, call (607) 277-4500 or visit ithacanhs.org/homerepairs

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COVID-19 is here �� 8 The far reaching implications of the pandemic

Ithaca COVID

Positive COVID-19 cases both from Ithaca College

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he Tompkins County Health Department has announced three positive tests for COVID-19. Two of the tests have been confirmed to be part of the IC community. the announcement stated. Both are now in mandatory isolation in their home. “The Health Department Public Health Nurses conducted the contact investigation and are now in daily contact with any individuals who were identified as possibly being exposed to this individual on March 5 or later,” the statement said regarding the first positive test. “It is important to know that the Health Department is working diligently and does not believe that there is any general risk to the wider community,” stated Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director. IC President Shirley Collado issued a letter to the IC community Sunday afternoon in relation to the news of the first postive test. “I want to emphasize that the health department does not believe that there is any generalized risk to the wider Ithaca College community as a result of this positive test result,” her statement said. Collado detailed some further information about the first positive case, saying that 12 people had been identified as “possibly being exposed to this person on March 5 or later.” The health department is reaching out to them to determine if they should also self-quarantine or be tested, according to Collado. She also said that due to medical privacy laws, no more information will be released about the person who tested positive.

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N YS125 R ace

Anna Kelles picks up endorsement from trades union for State Assembly seat

ompkins County Legislator Anna Kelles’ bid for the New York State Assembly’s 125th District seat got a boost last week when the local trades unions chose to endorse her over the large field of other Democratic candidats. The announcement was made at a press conference held in Ithaca. Kelles also secured the endorsement of the Working Families Party of New York last week. Several members of local union leadership joined Kelles at the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Hall in Ithaca to make the endorsement, led by Ithaca-Cortland Building Trades Council Secretary-Treasurer Dave Marsh. Jerry Morley of the local United Plumbers and Steamfitters joined him in speaking in favor of Kelles, who he called “responsive to our ideals.” “We are excited about this race,” Marsh said, noting that the last time a similar situation

played out, of the union choosing from a crowded endorsement field, was almost 20 years ago. In that race, the Trades Council endorsed Lifton, the eventual winner. “We are grateful to have had 18 years working with Barbara Lifton, and we see a lot of those same qualities in Anna,” Marsh said. “We think we needed to make this endorsement now, with just over 100 days before the primary [...] We’re looking forward to many years working with Anna as well.” Marsh continued that over the years Kelles has shown herself to be cognizant of the need for organized labor to be prioritized as a means to provide well-paying jobs to those involved in the various trades. She touted her work with the Sustainable Development Council, which stretches back almost a decade. “That was one of the things that came forward,” Kelles said at the presser. “If we are going

T a k e ▶ Usually this space - is for events, but they’ll reliably all be canceled, or should, by the time this is published, so here’s how to donate to the United Way of Tompkins County: In order to direct the donation to

Anna Kelles with assorted union leaders last Friday at a press conference announcing their endorsement of her for the NYS Assembly 125th District Race. (Photo by Matt Butler)

Cover: Photo: Casey Martin, Design: Marshall Hopkins

ON T HE WE B

to help get local jobs back here, and if we want to bring manufacturing back here, let’s look into the market of renewables and sustainability, because that is a place where there is actually a growth in manufacturing. There are companies that are working to build renewable infrastructure and there’s a hope that we can work collaboratively on that effort.” Kelles also touched upon a popular topic locally of requiring local union labor be given the first chance to bid and receive contracts on local construction projects; this idea has been proposed in a variety of forms, including making local labor usage a criteria that would help decide if a project should receive a tax abatement or not. “If there are jobs that the people here in the union do, then they should have that first option to get those jobs, to bid

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the local organization, people can go to www.uwtc.org and pick “Donate” in the top right corner. Donations can be made in memory or in honor of certain people. According to the website, even $5 can make a difference. Considering the

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number of people who might be scraping by over the next several weeks, a donation to a local organization, like the UWTC or another one of your choosing, could have an actual, tangible impact.

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INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER By C a se y Mar tin

HOW’S THE FAM

N e w s l i n e

2020 Election

McDonald readies for petition process in NY 23rd

COPING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING?

“Kill, kill, Kill.” -Jerry

Casey McDonald, Republican challenger to Tom Reed in NY 23rd Congressional District. “Why are all the humans always here?”

or Casey McDonald, interest in running for Congress in New York’s 23rd Congressional District traces all the way back to 2016. That’s when President Donald Trump carried the 23rd District by what McDonald considers a significant margin—around 15 percentage points. Over the next four years, McDonald watched Rep. Tom Reed closely. Specifically, he watched Reed’s work with what’s

-Bruce

Enfield Town Supervisor Beth McGee intends to leave office April 30

-Harvey

fter two years in the position and in the wake of a controversial fight over the inclusion of the Pledge of Allegiance at Town Board meetings, Beth McGee is resigning from her post as Enfield Town Supervisor. After serving on the Town Board for four years, she was elected to Town Supervisor in 2017. Her resignation would take effect on April 30, 2020. McGee said she’s told certain members of the Town Board and that they are disappointed, but added that her decision to leave the supervisor role is final. “I am so grateful for the last two years of being supervisor,” McGee said. “The board was amazing, and we really had some forward thinking and moved Enfield light-years ahead from where we’ve ever been. I’m really, really grateful for the board members who participated in that

“Everything’s fine.” -Cara

“(Anxiously vomits.)” -Casey h e

Ithac a Times

Josh Durso

McGee R esigns

“Let’s party!”

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called “The Problem Solvers Caucus,” which he says undermines conservative values. “Tom Reed, along with many other New York Congressmen, as well as a number of other people from across the country tried to make the Republican majority ineffective,” McDonald said. It’s a claim that Reed continues to dispute as he looks to represent the 23rd District for another term. Reed has already secured the nomination of County Party chairs throughout it. “[The Problem Solvers] basically had 24 Republicans vote with the Democrats dozens and dozens of times, and not once brought a victory towards conservative concepts, social conservatism, meaning traditional family values,” McDonald continued, pointing out that rural parts of the 23rd are a conservative stronghold. McDonald even alleges that Reed undermined the efforts of President Donald Trump to “drain the swamp.” It should be noted that Reed is Trump’s reelection chair in New York. McDonald contends that if Reed’s intent is to run for governor, he can understand trying to establish himself as a moderate Republican. “I understand him voting for rules changes and doing it by himself,” he explained. “But when he brings a group of Republicans and recruits them to vote against conservative principles, I think there needs to be some pushback. And unfortunately, that pushback doesn’t pres-

ently exist within the Republican Party.” He admits that what comes next will be a challenge. That includes finding the necessary signatures through the petition process, and getting on the ballot to force a primary. “Even if we secure enough signatures, it’s likely that we’ll face legal challenges to those signatures, so it’s important that we get plenty of signatures, and voters save their signature for me,” he explained. The Republican from Romulus says he won’t enter the race on a third-party ballot line, but noted that he’s serious about challenging in June. “I do ask my neighbors to help me, that you’re holding your signatures for me. That’s the message I’m repeating because it’s so very, very important,” he explained. “If you do hold your signatures for me, perhaps we can gather enough of them that perhaps we can create tension in the system.” McDonald contends that a primary is intended to debate the issues, or force both candidates—or whatever candidate makes it through—to be honest to the district. It allows the district to hold its elected representative accountable, too. “There’s a lot of discussion about term limits, but for instance, if we want them, we can choose limits through a primary process,” he added. “We already have that in place.” McDonald says there are a number of ways that government could be made to work more efficiently. To that end, he says it’s a process that starts-and-ends with voters. They will initiate the process and, if given the opportunity, will complete it in Congress next year.

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way with me. It can’t be that way forever, and I recognize that. I felt very proud of my community.” It’s been a turbulent time for Enfield, since the start of 2020, as the Town Board’s decision to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from its regular meeting agenda roiled local residents. McGee supported the move, which was introduced by Town Board member Stephanie Redmond. After several meetings, the Town Board decided to include language on the meeting agenda that would invite members of the public to say the Pledge of Allegiance “if you so choose” during the public comment portion of the meeting. “The fact that we just spent two months out of 12, with a very long agenda of things to get done in the year, listening to people complain about the Pledge of Allegiance for hours, I like to be more

Enfield Town Supervisor Beth McGee told the Enfield Town Board that she would be leaving her post by the end of April. (Photo by Matt Butler)

productive than that,” McGee said. “I feel that there are better places for me to use my energy and my optimism.” continued on page 7

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

Thumbs Up - It has been refreshing to see that so many people’s first reactions to the myriad struggles faced over the last week were to offer assistance in some way, whether it be money or a home or a room or a meal or whatever. Unfortunately, that’s going to be necessary over the coming months.

State of Emergency

Tompkins County declares state of emergency, schools closed until April 13 for COVID-19

ounty Administrator Jason Molino has declared a state of emergency and all public schools in Tompkins County will close effective immediately. The schools will remain closed through April 12. The announcement was made at a press conference Friday evening featuring Molino, Public Health Director Frank Kruppa, Ithaca City School District Superintendent Luvelle Brown, TSTBOCES Superintendent Jeff Matteson and Tompkins County Legislature Chair Leslyn McBean-Clairborne. As of Sunday, there are 54 people under quarantine by the Tompkins County Health Department; 21 people have already been released after previous quarantining. There have been three positive tests, 17 people have tested negative and the county is awaiting results on dozens more people. “The last few weeks have been unprecedented for our community and the nation as a whole,” Molino said. “Public Health Director Frank Kruppa has recommended that public schools throughout the county close to students to limit the spread of this virus in our community. I have decided to take pre-emptive steps to limit the impact to our community by declaring a state of emergency to address this public health crisis.” Unlike schools, childcare facilities are not subject to closing in relation to the declaration. Molino went on to say the declaration would “provide the county with the support and flexibility to repair and respond to this rapidly evolving situation.” Molino said over the next 24-48 hours the county would be working with all seven school districts in Tompkins County to flesh out the plans and establish processes for providing the services that the districts and

students need. “The purpose is to give us a chance to limit another gathering space where we’re bringing students together in tight quarters, obviously the possibility of disease spread is increased,” Kruppa said. “It gives us the opportunity to clean; it gives us the opportunity to understand the disease and how it’s evolving here in Tompkins County.” Officials would not say whether or not the decision to close schools was spurred by someone in or connected to a school in the area being quarantined or isolated, citing medical privacy concerns. The one positive test was later revealed to be someone from the Ithaca College community. “The individuals that are quarantined and under investigation are from our community and it is a community response to this, and we’re not going to be sharing any details about those individuals for their privacy,” Kruppa said. People are still directed to contact 211 for coronavirus questions. Breakfast and lunch will still be available for ICSD students. Brown said the district would expand upon the summer meal pick-up program locations that have been in place before, adding additional spots. According to a release from ICSD sent out during the press conference: “Meals are available for any student MondayFriday from 8:00-9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. in the parking lots and bus loops at six locations: Beverly J. Martin Elementary School, Caroline Elementary School, DeWitt Middle School, Enfield Elementary School, Lehman Alternative Community School, and South Hill Elementary School. If you do not have access to transportation or cannot leave your home, call 2-1-1 to arrange food delivery.

Thumbs down - The transition is going to be painful, but it was the prudent choice by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to shut down sit-in service at bars and restaurants. Of course, in terms of employee impact, wait staff and bartenders are some of the most likely to truly need their hours, so hopefully some financial relief comes down from the state or the federal government immediately.

Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino led a press conference on Friday evening to declare a state of emergency. (Photo by Matt Butler)

Details will be available at each site in print and on our website: www.ithacacityschools.org.” Molino said the significance of the “state of emergency” declaration is that it frees up the county to work more quickly on a number of fronts to address any new issues that arise associated with COVID-19, and could include easier funding requests going forward from larger government entities. “What this allows us to do is streamline the procurement of services, it also allows us to provide services to our communities, municipalities and school districts in different, more creative ways,” Molino said. “That’s the immediate ability that this opens up. It also does open up the opportunity for funding, through the state or the federal government, depending on how those future emergencies are funded. It really opens up our ability to be flexible as we evolve in this response.” “We have been working with the state through the existing systems for additional supplies, whether they’re cleaning supplies or additional supplies for different agencies,” Molino said, noting that the Department of Emergency Response is handling that process. On Saturday, after the first case was confirmed, the health department established an Emergency Operations Center, which they are defining as a central facility where public health and county officials can monitor information, prepare problem responses, make decisions and ensure operational continuity. There is one central location (which hasn’t been identified) and it will include “necessary technology to assess and respond to a public health or other emergency.” The public can still get information from the 211 service center, and the health department pledged to continue sending out updates to the public.

Seen - NYSEG is offering to help people impacted by the COVID-19 shutdowns by offering programs aimed at those worried about being able to make their payments on time. These programs, the company said, should be able to ensure that customers who are facing financial hardship don’t experience a lapse in service. You can call (888) 315-1755 for more information.

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.”

M att Butler

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Are you wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day to ward off any bad luck? 33.3% Yes 66.7% No

C hoose your favorite calming mantra

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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EDITORIAL

ITHACA NOTES

We’re all we’ve got M

Health Concerns and Calmatives

By M at t Bu t l e r

ere weeks ago, I was sitting in a meeting room in Enfield, New York, listening to a parade of speakers berate the local Town Board over its decision to take the Pledge of Allegiance out of the official agenda. It’s the type of decision that is tailor-made for controversy in this era of the culture wars: Operationally, it makes no difference, it’s not like the board would be more or less powerful if they did or didn’t say the pledge. It’s 12 seconds of logically insignificant routine, and its exclusion doesn’t render the many boards in other parts of Tompkins County who also don’t include it in their agenda any less valid or Constitutional. Yet that day it created such ugly division, with audience members condemning the board’s gall to remove the 31-word mantra, to the point that the crowd recited it two or three times, defiantly expending 62 or 93 words, for those keeping count. All in the name of showing that they’re more American than their duly elected counterparts. The jingoist sentiment that someone or something is “more American” than anyone or anything else is patently absurd and deserves as much ridicule as the world can offer. But not in recent member

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has that ever been more obvious than today (though in fairness, it will likely seem more obvious tomorrow, and the next day, and the next hundred or so after that). COVID-19, or the coronavirus, has risen to the unique challenge of uniting America by being so terrible that there isn’t really any choice. As reports come out that reveal the virus can spread to people young and old, obviously and subtly, it’s quite clear that we are all on equal footing here (unless you’re a rich celebrity who can get tested quickly, but that’s a different topic). There’s not much recourse here. Not many of us have ever experienced anything remotely close to this, especially not on American soil. Caring for your fellow humans is hopefully the first instinct in a time of such confusion, but there are a lot of people suffering right now who need proof that isn’t just an unattainable bumper-sticker ideal. Doesn’t matter if you stand on your tip-toes during the pledge or if you turn around, shove your hands in your pockets and kneel, both groups are just as likely to receive a positive diagnosis some time continued on page 7

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By St e ph e n P. Bu r k e

t’s not often one feels the need to address the topic of toilet paper, but these are unusual times. People are hoarding toilet paper: not, it stands to reason, because it is especially needed with coronavirus, which is primarily a respiratory disease (although in about five percent of cases it is also gastrointestinal), but because in cases of self-quarantine (or, more drastically, the possibility of imposed confinement), it is a comforting thing to have. The need for it (or greed for it) is clearly psychological and imagined, not physical or real. Certainly such hoarding is not to be condoned, as a grimly anti-social activity, but also in this case a fatuous one. This combination of characteristics is no doubt what has drawn so much attention. Of course, it’s a real and specific need, we can agree. Food stores have lately been scenes of concern and near-panic, but I remember once (in a non-crisis time) checking out at the market, and the guy in front of me had a big order he was staring at, shaking his head. “I know I’m forgetting something,” he muttered. “Coffee?” asked the cashier. “No,” the guy said. “Beer?” “No.” “Toilet paper?” “No.” “Then forget about it.” Most things have ready substitutes, but not all. Probably no one needs to hear all that much more about coronavirus, but there still are things to learn. Early on in the pandemic (before it officially was one), I was listening to the news on National Public Radio, and the broadcast introduced a segment on how to wash your hands, which at first made me scoff (“What am I, five?”), but I listened anyway, and actually picked up a tip: to interlace fingers when washing, to get the sides. The thing about 20 seconds I already knew and practiced. But if you’re really smart, don’t think you can’t be smarter. As the crisis grows, people are worrying about their responsibilities, activities, and even psyches, with the all the cancellations of events, closures of businesses and institutions, and general social distancing. The day-to-day problems can be tough, but the general mental and emotional challenges can be meetable, if not exactly treatable or defeatable, by expense of creative energy in isolation. I recently spoke with a Cornell acquain-

tance who said maybe this is a good time to start a big book. “Writing?” I asked. “I meant reading,” he said. “But now that you mention it,” he said, his voice trailing off dreamily; so I was happy I took the trouble to fake him out (I knew what he meant), thus maybe encouraging him. As simple a thing to do as reading a book (and easier than writing one) is learning to play ukulele, a great potential palliative. (This is something the mass media has not stressed much yet, but hear me out.) Ukuleles are small and simple enough that dexterity and musical knowledge are unnecessary for beginners. With $60 or so for an instructional songbook and cheap ax (our local music stores have lots), you can learn to play a simple two-chord song in minutes. The satisfaction of a new skill, and the basic anti-anxiety power of singing and playing, for example, “Waltz Across Texas” (my first number), can hardly be overstated in rewarding one’s provisional seclusion. Inside closed doors, yoga is another skill you can readily learn, and a spiritual door you can open. There are good instructional videos online: check Ekhart Yoga on Youtube for some free introductory ones, among others worthy of note. I first took up yoga as a teenager, when yoga and meditation were offered as an elective by my high school. In trying to interest WW some recalcitrant friends I thought could use the rudder, I succeeded by mentioning that Jerry Garcia once said he wasn’t afraid of going to jail, because then he’d have more time and focus for a practice which he considered higher than making music or taking drugs. (The extent to which he meant it is another story, but it worked.) We’ve all been reminded lately that perhaps “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” as Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said in his first inaugural speech. No doubt this is generally true, at least rhetorically. (Realistically, “only” is probably a stretch.) Today, some skeptics cite this quote in speaking of over-reaction about the current health crisis. But maybe that accusation is the greatest over-reaction itself. In taking care of ourselves in this plight (and others: we are literally all in this together, and what each of us does can affect everyone we meet), doing too little is probably our least concern, and most extreme of all reactions.

YOUR LETTERS

EDITORIAL Contin u ed From Page 7

soon. We all are. These types of situations, the gigantic, eyebrow-raising stories that haunt headlines for weeks and months aren’t ever going to end permanently and reduce us all, once again, to one people trying to make it, no matter how much some of us would like to trample over others to be the first in line. And by the way, because it always happens this way, why even entertain the nonsense in between? Of course, as I write this, Mayor Svante

Myrick is delivering an address on Twitter explaining that there have been two racist anti-Asian incidents in the last 24 hours. They were apparently being harassed about the coronavirus. So, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe instead of showing the best of us, it’ll show the worst. It wouldn’t be the first time.W

KELLES ENDORSEMENT Contin u ed From Page 7

for those jobs and if the local labor exists, to get those jobs,” Kelles said. “As was said earlier, the unions have prevailing wages, they have benefits, these are good jobs. To see the unions expand here and provide those jobs for people in areas that we very much need growth, that should be supported, that should be celebrated.” Kelles is currently campaigning against several other Democratic candidates who are vying to fill the State Assembly spot that Lifton is retiring from. She’s running

against Ithaca Common Council member Seph Murtagh, Lifton’s General Counsel Jordan Lesser, local attorney Sujata Gibson, Dryden Town Supervisor Jason Leifer, Family and Children’s Services CEO Lisa Hoeschele and Cortland County Legislator Beau Harbin for the Democratic nomination. Murtagh has scored the other high-profile endorsement in the race when Mayor Svante Myrick announced his support earlier this month. M att Butler

MCGEE RESIGNATION Contin u ed From Page 7

Despite the timing, McGee said she wanted to separate her decision from the pledge issue, claiming she’d been thinking about stepping away for some time. “This isn’t really why I’m leaving,” McGee said of the pledge debate, while acknowledging that it could be perceived that way and that the debate did represent a shift in the general way the Town Board handles and debates issues. “I always look to be expeditious with my time and the time of others and to get things done efficiently. The fact that I just wasted two months focusing on this petty issue [...] There’s a lot of grandstanding there, and to me that’s a waste of time. I like information, I like to have conversations based on facts, not emotional issues or trying to pit our community members against one another. “ Further, McGee said friction with other departments in the town government, particularly the highway department, as well as with the Town Board, had contributed to the decision, leaving her feeling hamstrung in her ability to rectify problems impacting residents. Perhaps most importantly, McGee said she’d been hired as the first executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Finger Lakes, an organization close to her heart. “It’s time for me—this is my sixth year—to move on,” McGee said. “I don’t know if the organizations in the town that

I care about, like the fire company or the Grange, have any interest, after the whole pledge debacle, in having me help them, but staying plugged into my community— I would enjoy doing that. But as far as managing the circus full of monkeys that is the town, it’s not sparking joy, let’s put it that way.” Importantly, McGee doesn’t feel like she’s being chased out of office, either by others in government or by the public that opposed her leadership during the meetings about the pledge issue. “There’s movement that’s happening in Enfield, and I don’t need to be at the helm of it,” McGee said. McGee also said she has at least one person in mind that she would like to see take over her spot, either on an interim basis or permanently, but wouldn’t name them. “We still have a lot on our plate, there are still a long list of things that I’m really passionate about getting straightened out for Enfield, and I do think my energy towards those things is really important,” McGee said. “I also feel like I can be a royal pain from the chairs as well as from the table and inform people of what I know about topics and even advise if people were interested.” M att Butler

A remembrace of Sandy Kuntz of Hal’s Deli

al and Sandy Kuntz were like my favorite Aunt and Uncle from the first day I set foot in Ithaca. Their warm and caring embrace of me and our program stands out in my mind. It didn’t take me long to figure out that they only knew how to give and never asked for a thing in return. Hal (who ran the clock and scoreboard for Men’s basketball for 25+ years, to be followed by his son Mike) was a dear friend who was always in our corner, win or lose. Early on, I started to show up early Sunday mornings for breakfast after mass. Sandy was always there to greet me with a big smile–“Hi Coach,” and Mike would start cooking my regular breakfast - scrambled eggs with that sharp and delicious rye toast, tomato juice -and Jackie would get me a cup of black coffee. No need for questions.. Hal - usually in the back doing the books orders and smoking - would come out and sit with me… I tried to bust his butt for 6 years to get him to quit, but unsuccessfully. We would talk about the game[s], the kids and whatever came up. The usually quiet setting changed with the arrival of a cast of characters, like Eddie Moylan, Dave Banfield, Terry Cullen, Dave Feldman and Bernie DePalma. The table would be adjusted to fit the situation. These people were my extended family and their love and support got me and our program through the tough early years. When we had recruits in for visits, at least one breakfast was scheduled for the recruit[s] and their host. A recruit could see the Welcome Mat was out for them from the whole Kuntz Family. During the Ivy League schedule, Hal would travel with us to work the book and keep track of statistics…. Those long bus rides with Hal and our teams had many interesting memories. Hal could not wait for a bus stop /break so he could sneak out for a smoke! With the passing of Sandy, I can look back on our friendship and think how lucky we all were to have them and their wonderful Loving Family in all of our lives. Thomas E, Miller Head Basketball Coach/Cornell University 1980-1986

A better use for conference cash

n the throes of prescribed self isolation, I am intrigued by reading opposing views on planning for the public welfare in Ithaca. The Conference Center is a flashpoint for a project in process that defines what is in the public interest. Andre Gardiner believes that rational economic planning that avoids certain loss is more of a public benefit than the supposition by his detractors of greater community wealth despite what may be a loss leader of a public/private project, even with numerous backstops built in. As Ithaca is seeking to be driven by sustainable principles, perhaps that is Ma r ch

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the guideline to follow for determining public good. For example, speculation of future wealth never figured heavily in the tried and true principles of sustainability. People build more for current needs rather than an eye to future profit-because usually the future takes care of itself with good sustainable planning. Suppose the crowds from a new conference center did materialize and a wealth of cash flew into downtown. Is there any guarantee that the service workers are going to see, in the least a livable wage, and at best some real employment benefits that let them know they have some value when the tide rises? More than likely a windfall will go where it always goes- to out of town corporate interest who own large hotels (perhaps the new meaning of sustainability.) Although there was mention that the money earmarked for the Conference Center can’t be spent elsewhere, Gardiner sensibly suggested spending money on another fundamental sustainable principle-enhance what’s already our bread and butter- people coming into our area for its natural beauty and cultural gifts. In normal times I would agree, however, we seem to clearly be heading into abnormal times which may require a more drastic change of course. Despite bureaucracy’s deep channels, money in times of crisis has been known to materialize in progressive enclaves to address greatest need. I would offer that the change of course that is needed is the current economic theory gaining some traction - put all that backstop money to insure a conference center viability directly into the hands of those workers most affected by Ithaca’s economic downturn. Let pie in the sky planning subvert to the nuts and bolts of everyday need and get back to the basics of government function-which is the planning necessary to maintain the public welfare. It’s not too much to ask your local government to sustain the community, sometimes it’s just a matter of reminding them of sound sustainable principles. Tom Stern Ithaca, NY

Thoughts on COVID-19

am old, over 70, so it was with a great deal of fear that I went on a needed visit to my dermatologist, Dr. Josephine McAllister, in Ithaca yesterday. What a wonderful visit this was believe it or not. Dr McAllister started with a reassuring email on how I would be protected from corona virus. When I got there every person there was wearing a mask (I came with my own by the way.) Every action was designed to ensure that it was safe for me from signing a tablet to having a procedure done to keeping me away from other patients. How many other doctors are doing the same in Ithaca ? I suspect some are saying words but are they really doing actions. I do think there is an extremely important story here that should be told soon., Anne Kellerman Ithaca, NY

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Help Wanted

Cinemapolis joined in sending a m e s s ag e t o t h e c o m m u n i t y during its extended closing. ( P h o t o b y C a s e y M a r t i n)

Businesses and workers desperate for assistance after COVID-19

By M att Bu tler he rise of COVID-19 around the United States has been an incredible, fearsome thing to watch. It has laid bare some of the structural issues in America that impact vulnerable people every day, but which only seem to generate real outrage when they begin to reach beyond those demographics. Locally, plenty of people were already worried about what the underlying impacts of the virus would be on the Tompkins County economy, particularly with the closing of Cornell University and Ithaca College, both of which are now encouraging students to remain off-campus for the rest of the semester. Then over the last several days a series of announcements dealt serious blows to a variety of local hospitality and entertainment businesses: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines discouraging gatherings over 50 people until May 11; then Governor Andrew Cuomo asked non-essential businesses to voluntarily close; then Cuomo returned the next day to announce a tri-state agreement with New Jersey and Connecticut that would 8 T

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close all restaurants, bars and other nonessential businesses likely to gather large crowds (a step that both Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick and Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino said they had not considered enacting themselves); then President Donald Trump took to national television to advise that people refrain from gathering in crowds larger than 10. With bars closed entirely, bartenders are out of all hours, and the restrictions on restaurant mean they’ll likely start cutting worker hours if they haven’t already . While these closures are certainly prudent and do serve the public interest, that does very little to calm the fact that many of those workers will now face mounting bills with substantially less income, if any, to pay them with. “It is smart to do the right things for public health, that includes social distancing, and if that includes shutting down bars and restaurants and that’s what the experts tell us, then that’s what we should do,” Mayor Svante Myrick said. Since Cornell closed its doors earlier this month, Myrick has called for an immediate temporary stimulus to individuals to get people and businesses through the normally prosperous but suddenly barren 18–24 ,

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spring months. Those calls only intensified with the recent string of announcements. “But we have to be very aware that we’re creating an enormous hardship for a lot of people. There are a lot of people who work in those bars and restaurants, and they’ll not have enough cash to last a week, much less three months. [...] We need a direct stimulus now, we need checks cut and put into people’s pockets ASAP.” The entertainment industry will also face a significant downturn, primarily as a result of the gathering rule. Prominent local promoter Dan Smalls spent most of last week cancelling shows and only re-booking a few, while the State Theatre’s Doug Levine told the Ithaca Times that they are canceling all shows for the next several weeks and even beyond that. “All of our shows are wiped out at least through the end of April, and probably longer,” Levine said. “That’s obvious that it has a direct impact on my staff and the entire behind-the-scenes team. [...] The other thing that worries me is the impact on people’s, like, mental sanity. Many people come to, especially the State Theatre, to escape for a few hours. [...] I do fear that people are going to lose that escape.” It’s inevitably going to present some

rather difficult decisions for those venues in terms of how much staff they can justifiably keep employed and who can remain on payroll while expected income is fully halted. “Many hard decisions are being forced upon us,” Levine acknowledged, though he declined to talk about the State staff specifically. It’s equally complex, if not more so, for people who earn wages mostly through tips, like the aforementioned service workers and bartenders, and the people who employ them. Kate Conroy, the owner of the Rhine House bar on West State Street, had already made the decision to close their doors before the ban closing had been announced by the state. “Some people were nervous, some people weren’t, but we felt like we were contributing to a larger problem,” owner Kate Conroy said. “I’m glad that it’s becoming a wider thing now, because I do think it’s necessary, definitely.” But like others said: as wise as the decision might be, that doesn’t pay the bills. “Without any help from relief funds for small businesses or for certain industries, we wouldn’t be able to stay in business, “ Conroy said. “If it went on longer than

a month, we wouldn’t be able to reopen. And for the staff too, they can’t wait [...] We’re trying to help them out right now, researching everything we can do in terms of loans and other things, but it’s significant. Small businesses are really in a tough spot.” The other side of the equation is what will be done to help those people who are most impacted economically by the outbreak and its resulting closures. Beyond the scores of hospitality workers, Levine notes that all the staff that works at State Theatre shows or Kitchen Theatre productions or the like are all now out of work. Some might be insulated from the problems, at least initially, thanks to the very employers who had to cut their hours. Cinemapolis, for example, announced that it would be closing completely until midApril but would be paying all its workers, including hourly workers for their time during that period. “It was the very first priority for me,” Executive Director Brett Bossard said. “We have a dedicated staff, we’re a living wage employer, and we have people with families that depend on the stability of our business to maintain the stability of their homes. That was the first part of any decision was making sure that that was going to happen. We’re fortunate that we’ve got a supportive community, and already we’ve seen donations pouring in from new members and current members who view us as a home away from home.” Pete Meyers, of the Tompkins County Workers Center, praised Bossard’s decision and said he hoped to see others like it around the county by employers put into similar situations. He said he would be convening a conference call this week to try to get government officials, worker representatives and advocates all on the same page, or at least close to it. As soon as the closings were announced, Meyers said he began to hear from a steady stream of workers around the county who were either having their hours cut or their jobs eliminated entirely for the foreseeable future. Myrick said the mission of the Economic Recovery Cabinet, which he announced last week, would be to unify some of the most significant voices in the area and make sure they could focus all of their energy. His goals, he said, would be to push for and hopefully secure “New Deal levels of intervention,” lest the virus destablize the economy worse than a decade ago. “It’s not that the folks in this room are

going to solve every problem,” Myrick said. The cabinet is made up of local government officials, the largest local banks, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Tompkins County Area Development, large and small business owners, and reps from the three local colleges. “But it’s important for these people to share information and get on the same page in terms of lobbying for what we need. [...] We want to be able to lobby to include in those packages the things we actually need on the ground. Unless we take action, this recession will be worse than the one I came of age in, 10 years ago.” Conroy said the Rhinehouse ownership is trying to help workers out right now, but that without the income from the Rhinehouse, their ability would soon be drained. The help, if it’s coming from either the fed-

Myrick said the city’s ability to legislate commerce is minimal, and that they wouldn’t be able to do much in the way of mandating that landlord’s reduce or stop rent collection, if that would even be possible. But there is the “power of the bullhorn” at least. As for local landlords, many of them appear to be monitoring the situation but haven’t chosen a definitive path yet. Frost Travis, of Travis-Hyde Properties, commented that the situation was still “dynamic” and that they were trying to assess steps going forward. “We sent out an email to our tenants detailing our efforts to keep high touch areas clean,” Travis said. “The great majority of our student tenants prefer to stay in their apartments for the rest of the semester. Tenants continue to pay rent. [...] We

“As a whole, I think we are trying to understand the situation at hand and be as empathetic with everyone’s situation as possible,” Lane wrote. “The concern will come later when we are not sure if there will be any leniency for mortgage payments, utility bills, tax bills, etc.” Grassroots efforts are also in motion aiming to put pressure on local landlords and lawmakers, currently in the form of a petition asking for a city-wide rent freeze. As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had received 632 signatures in less than a day. The Ithaca Tenants Union and the Workers Center had been calling for eviction suspension for days prior to the state court’s decision, but will likely keep pushing for more provisions. In the meantime workers will be the ones left holding the bag. Many have ei-

Th e g h o s t t ow n o f R e s tau r a n t R ow o n Tu e s d ay a f t e r n o o n . ( P h o t o b y C a s e y M a r t i n) eral or state government, needs to be announced immediately, she said. Conroy’s surely not alone, both in hoping the government steps in to provide citizens with at least stop-gap funding and fearing that, if it doesn’t, her business will be kaput by the time she’s allowed to open again. The state has already taken some action to protect tenants who may find themselves cataclysmically struggling over the next several weeks. In accordance with a state court system memo, the Tompkins County Sheriff ’s Office confirmed Monday they would be stopping eviction proceedings. NYSEG also sent out an email to all customers that they would be providing programs that could help people scared their service will lapse as a result of no payment.

are all trying to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.” Nathan Lyman of Ithaca Renting Company shared a letter they had recently sent all of their tenants regarding the measures they were taking to combat the spread of the disease in their apartment buildings. Primarily, the company has doubled. The letter, dated March 15, did not mention rent payments and was published before the eviction directive had been handed down by the state court system. Kayla Lane, the president of the Landlords Association of Tompkins County, said that while the eviction pauses would be a “disruption of business” (due to the eviction processes that were already in motion before the virus hit) but that like others, they’re still trying to find their way as well. Ma r ch

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ther been laid off entirely or lost a significant portion of their income, either from a primary or secondary job. Monday night, when restaurants became take-out only and bars closed, carried with it an eerie silence for both residents and the workers who would normally see a dinner time rush. “We all had some hours and even shifts cut due to the carry-out only policy, we even had to let some people go because there wasn’t enough work to be done with the staff we had,” said Eric Zoller, a kitchen chef at Souvlaki House. “If I get laid off, I’d look around and see if there’s any other options. If nothing comes up, I’d most likely move back to California.”

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Sports

A week of farewells

Gary Hunter (left), Sandy Kuntz (in green above)

Saying goodbye to three beloved locals I l ost thre e f r ie nd s l a s t we e k , and the Ith a c a s por t s communit y did to o.

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hen I learned that Gary Hunter had passed on at 68 years of age, I thought back over the 50 year period over which his name had crossed my radar. I grew up in Owego, I followed high school football, and my friends that played spoke of the almost mythical team a half hour up Route 96B. Gary Hunter was one of the cornerstones of that state championship dynasty that made his hometown so proud. By the time I took over this column in 1992, Gary’s personal athletic achievements had faded in the rear-view mirror to a degree (he was also a beast of a wrestler, a prodigious thrower of the discus, and he went to college on a football scholarship), but he was still coaching at his alma mater and loving every minute of it. We saw each other often, and he had such an engaging way of pulling me into the stories about the kids he was coaching. Sometimes, he wanted to tell me about a young athlete that was on the verge of breaking a record, or gearing up for collegiate competition, but his excitement was just as palpable when he was telling me about some kid who was on a dark path but found a ray of light through sports. Gary had hit a few personal potholes of his own, but he knew that through sports, and the people involved, one can patch one’s tire, pump it back up and keep going. I was happy for Gary when he was inducted into the Ithaca High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, and even happier when Section IV’s HOF recognized him a decade later. The students at I.H.S. knew Gary Hunter as “The Legend.” I knew him as a man who loved young athletes and held them in his big heart until its last beat. ● ● ●

Sandy Kuntz also passed on at age 88. Sandy’s husband, Hal, was the official scorekeeper for Cornell basketball until his way-too-early passing in 1986, but Sandy and her children, Mike and Jackie, stayed closely connected to the program while running the iconic Hal’s Deli until it closed in 2017. My friend Mark Goldberg, who was also very close to the program, said, “Through decades of Cornell Basketball—both during the good times and tough seasons—Hal and Sandy were always there for both the coaches and players. They were a constant with Big Red basketball and treated the players and coaches like they were family. Hal went on practically every road trip during the Tom Miller era, and he was always there to lighten the mood and keep the players relaxed so they could focus on the task at hand, and Sandy was there after games to give them hugs. They hosted teams both at the restaurant and at their house. I’m not sure both truly realized the important role

they played in the program and impact they had on dozens of Big Red basketball players and coaches.” In 1994, I wrote a story about the passing of Jim Dale, a beloved member of the Ithaca softball community. He played for Hal’s Deli, and Sandy and her family had a trophy case at the deli. They put the story in it for all to see, and from that time until they closed the doors 23 years later, I saw

Bank Anywhere, Anytime.

Jim Case

chemungcanal.com that yellowed, crinkled article, keeping Jim’s memory alive. I would walk in and say “I wish for a knish,” and Sandy would laugh—yet again—and say something nice about my stories. She was a kind, sweet and very classy lady. ● ● ●

Jim Case was the Associate Head Athletic Trainer at Cornell, and he patched up the knees, shoulders, hopes and dreams for hundreds of Big Red athletes since arriving on campus in 1988. Jim, who was 55, was also a husband and father (he and his wife, Ladeen, were parents to a daughter and two sons), and given our daughters were the same age, we gave one another updates over the years. We were proud when both of them enrolled at Nazareth College at the same time. His daughter landed back in the area, mine moved away, and Jim laughed when I told him, “Kids…we can steer ’em, but we can’t park ’em.” I was pleased when Jim showed up on a regular basis to referee basketball games at Spencer-Van Etten. I roasted him about the fashion benefits of vertical stripes, likened his shirt to a prison uniform, and he gave it right back to me, asking if I was in Spencer because I had been banned from Ithaca. Jim was the trainer for the men’s lacrosse team. They were 5-0, ranked #2 in the country and had big dreams. On Thursday, they were informed that the remainder of their season had been cancelled and two days later, they lost a dear friend. My heart hurts for all of them.

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Cherry Street, Ithaca | We have no information on the status of this event. Please contact the Cherry Artspace for details.

Music Bars/Bands/Clubs

3/20 Friday Canceled: Something More Than This | 5:30 PM, | South Hill Cider Tasting Room, Ithaca Canceled: Friday Music at Hopshire | 6:00 PM, | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, Freeville

3/21 Saturday Canceled: Ed Clute - Red Newt Bistro Music | 1:00 PM, | Red Newt Cellars Inc, Hector

Concerts/Recitals Postponed : Tom Paxton and The DonJuans | 8:00 PM, 3/18 Wednesday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | Postponed to September 9 Canceled: Angela and William Haines Young Concert Artists Residency: Anthony Trionfo, flute | 7:00 PM, 3/20 Friday | Hockett Family Recital Hall, Ithaca College, Ithaca | CANCELED Marsalis and Gordon with Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble | 7:30 PM, 3/20 Friday | Bailey Hall, Cornell, Ithaca |

Canceled: Symphoria Pops IV: Movies And The Masters | 7:30 PM, 3/21 Saturday | Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery Street, Syracuse | Symphoria will be suspending all live, in-person performances at least through March 31. | $90-$20, College $5, 18 & under $0

performance. Otherwise, refunds will be available at your point of purchase.

Postponed: The Acoustic Living Room: Songs and Stories w/ Kathy Mattea Ft. Bill Cooley | 8:00 PM, 3/22 Sunday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca |

Stage

CANCELED: Ensemble X: CU Music | 3:00 PM, 3/22 Sunday | Barnes Hall, Cornell, Ithaca |

Canceled: The Town Pants | 8:00 PM, 3/20 Friday | Smith Center for the Arts, 82 Seneca St, Geneva | The Smith has made the difficult decision to close the theater effective through at least Sunday, April 12. All scheduled programming during that time is postponed, including Friday’s Town Pants concert.

CANCELED: Ariana Kim violin recital: CU Music | 7:00 PM, 3/23 Monday | Carriage House Cafe, 305 Stewart Ave, Ithaca |

CANCELED: Organ and Viol recital: CU Music | 7:00 PM, 3/21 Saturday | Sage Chapel, Cornell, Ithaca | Anna Steppler and Zoe Weiss perform “Breaking Ground: Divisions for Organ and Viol” with music by Sweelinck, Simpson, Merulo, Ortiz, and others.

Postponed: Bob Weir And Wolf Bros | 7:00 PM, 3/24 Tuesday | Landmark Theatre, 362 S Salina St, Syracuse | Bob Weir and Wolf Bros has been rescheduled for October 25. If you are a current ticket holder, your ticket will be valid for the October 25

CANCELED Midday Music for Organ: Michael Plagerman | 12:30 PM, 3/25 Wednesday | St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 109 Oak Avenue, Ithaca |

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POSTPONED: Béla Fleck & The Flecktones | 8:00 PM, 3/25 Wednesday | State Theatre Of Ithaca, 107 W State St, Ithaca | This concert is postponed until further notice.

Canceled: Riverdance - 25th Anniversary Show | 7:30 PM, 3/18 Wednesday | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway, Elmira | This show will be rescheduled as part of the 2020-21 season. Canceled-ComedyFLOPs Presents: All You Can Eat Improv To Benefit Running To Places | 7:00 PM, 3/19 Thursday | The Haunt, 702 Willow Ave., Ithaca, | Due to recommendations around minimizing the spread of the Corona Virus, this show is cancelled. We will continue to identify other opportunities to support Running To Places as the situation resolves. For updates please visit our website at http://comedyflops.com or our Facebook page, https://www. facebook.com/comedyflops. *?* Streets Like This | 7:30 PM, 3/19 Thursday | The Cherry Artspace, 102

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CANCELED: Catch As Catch Can | 8:00 PM, 3/20 Friday | Kitchen Theatre, 417 W State St, Ithaca | All performances have been canceled. Patrons with tickets for the production will automatically receive a credit that they can use this season or next. Ticket donations will be gratefully accepted, and the proceeds from all ticket donations will go to support Kitchen Theatre programs and artists, including those affected by the show’s cancelation. Those requesting refunds will get them. Canceled: New Play Festival | All Day 3/21 Saturday | Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, Cornell University, Ithaca | Postponed: -One Funny Ithaca | 7:00 PM, 3/21 Saturday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | Postponed TBA - A benefit for the Cancer Resource Center, featuring local First Responders sharing the lighter side of work and life in Ithaca.

Art Canceled: Craft & Chat: Pysanky | 6:00 PM, 3/18 Wednesday | Edith B. Ford Memorial Library, 7169 N Main St, Ovid | The Ford Library will close March 16 through April 14, 2020. Residents are encouraged to visit the library’s website and Facebook page for updates on library services. Suspended: Artist Alley Open Studios | 5:00 PM, 3/19 Thursday | South Hill Business Park, 950 Danby Rd, Ithaca |

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Canceled: ITHACON 45 | 10:00 AM, 3/21 Saturday | Ithaca College , 953 Danby Road, Ithaca | UPDATE: Much to our regret, we need to inform you that ITHACON, scheduled for March 21-22, is cancelled for 2020.

Subject to credit approval. Property insurance required; flood insurance may be required. Consult your tax advisor about deductibility of interest.

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Canceled: Amadeus | 7:30 PM, 3/20 Friday | Syracuse Stage/Drama Complex, 820 E Genesee St, Syracuse | Performances are canceled.

Moved to online: Italy and Exotic Lands Exhibition | 12:00 PM, 3/20 Friday | North Star Art Gallery, 743 Snyder Hill Road, Ithaca | Artist Brian Keeler exhibits paintings of both classical and contemporary Italian and exotic lands bringing his masterful touch of light and figure to these subjects.?

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Postponed: Dead Silent, or Florence of Moravia - Mystery Dinner Theatre | 6:30 PM, 3/20 Friday | Cortland Repertory Theatre, 24 Port Watson St., Cortland | At this time, CRT will be cancelling/postponing our events through March 31.

Canceled: Block Printing on Fabric | 6:00 PM, 3/23 Monday | Edith B. Ford Memorial Library, 7169 N Main St, Ovid | The Ford Library will close March 16 through April 14, 2020. Residents are encouraged to visit the library’s website and Facebook page for updates on library services.

Film All movie theaters are closed until further notice. This includes Cornell Cinema, Cinemapolis, and Regal Ithaca.

Special Events Canceled: Heermans-McCalmon Dramatic Writing Student Award Presentation | 4:30 PM, 3/20 Friday | Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, Cornell University, Ithaca | Canceled: 7th Annual Foodnet Meals on Wheels Mac ‘n Cheese Bowl | 11:30 AM, 3/21 Saturday | Ithaca High School, 1401 N Cayuga St, Ithaca |

Books LIBRARY CLOSED UNTIL 4/13/20: Young Adult Book Club | 4:30 PM, 3/18 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | LIBRARY CLOSED UNTIL 4/13/20: Canceled: The Fight Against Monsanto’s Roundup: The Politics of Pesticides | 5:00 PM, 3/19 Thursday | Buffalo Street Books, Buffalo St, Ithaca | The book store is closed until further notice. Canceled: Finger Lakes Beekeepers Book Club | 6:30 PM, 3/19 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green St., Ithaca | Canceled: Chats in the Stacks: Karen Penders St. Clair on The Comstocks of Cornell: The Definitive Autobiography | 4:00 PM, 3/25 Wednesday | 160 Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Cornell University, Ithaca |

Kids Suspended: Cuddle-up Infant & Toddler Library Time | 10:00 AM, 3/18 Wednesday | Southworth Library, 24 W. Main Street, Dryden | Library is closed until further notice. LIBRARY CLOSED UNTIL 4/13.Preschool Storytime at Southworth Library | 10:00 AM, 3/20 Friday | Southworth Library, 24 W. Main Street, Dryden | Suspended while library is closed.

Ithaca’s Michael Watson presents a locallythemed comic book

By Libby Cook

s a film student at Ithaca College, Michael Watson aimed to portray his stories through motion pictures. It was all he dreamed of doing, literally. While he was a student, Watson experienced a nightmare which became the central idea for his latest work, a comedic-Lovecraftian Ithaca-based

comic book series titled Ithaqa. Though Watson’s primary medium for art was filmmaking, the Ithaqa story demanded a film adaptation with too big of a budget for Watson as a student filmmaker. He continued with the development of the story until he decided to take it to the comic book realm, a world he already had experience with through a college thesis. “When I was in college, I did a transmedia thesis,” Watson said. “I had a short film and a webcomic that expanded on the story, then I had a website to further expand on the story. I had fun playing with the limitlessness of a comic book medium where you can just tell artists to draw the world ending and they can do it.”

Watson’s Ithaqa currently has two completed issues with a third nearly finished. The story follows Mookie Smitts, a filmmaker who uncovers a plot to destroy the Spacetime Continuum as he struggles to produce his latest film. The story takes place in 1920s Ithaca. “It’s kind of the collapse of the end of the Wharton film studio,” Watson said, referring to the silent film studio that made Ithaca a hub of filmmaking in that era. “A series of misfits find themselves stumbling upon this horrible Eldritch conspiracy. They’re forced to work together, kind of like 1920s Avengers or something.” The story, which began in the comedy genre, is now classified by Watson as a Lovecraftian horror story. The Lovecraftian genre Ma r ch

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Dreams through Nightmares

I t h a c a T i m e s 13

GREEN IDEAS

incorporates the horror and mystery realm in Watson’s work. It is also the source of inspiration for the spelling of the Ithaqa title. “I wanted to set [the story] in Ithaca but one of the kind of cool little coincidences is that in the Lovecraftian horror genre, one of the horrible Eldritch spirits is the Ithaqua,” Watson said. Though Watson’s work does not include the Ithaqua spirit, it and the city of Ithaca are alluded to in the comic title’s spelling with the change of the “C” to a “Q,” as seen on the comic’s cover which was designed by Watson’s team member Lucas Gattoni. Gattoni is a professional comic book letterer Watson met after posting an online advertisement for a letterer for the first issue of Ithaqa. “[Gattoni] did this amazing trial run where he dropped little droplets of ink onto a paper to make creepy splotches then he incorporated them into the speech bubbles,” Watson said. “They were this weird, drippy looking speech. It was really really cool, really evocative, and I was like, yep, nailed it.” Theresa Chiechi is the illustrator for Ithaqa and met Watson through an online advertisement for issue one posted to DeviantArt. Chiechi and Watson’s ideas surrounding aesthetics for the comic book clicked immediately, so they developed a team. “Sure the writing is important, and that’s what’s gonna keep you invested, but if someone looks at [the book] and picks it up off the rack, it’s because the art is so powerful,” Watson said. For his writing, Watson consults his college friend and editor Lisa VillaMil. VillaMil has storytelling experience as a playwright, actress and play director. “I realized that I was going to need an editor if I was gonna be serious about this because you need someone to bounce ideas off of and someone to talk to that knows the story intimately,” Watson said. Watson also received assistance from Diana Riesman, the executive director and co-founder of the Wharton Studio Museum throughout the writing and publishing process. The museum was able to provide Watson with information regarding the Wharton brothers, Ithaca and cultural details of the 1920s. “Diana put me in touch with people

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who were researching, or she would just have the answers to my questions herself,” Watson said. “I got a lot of really useful details that made their way into the comic and some of the major plot points towards the end of the first major story arc.” Riesman also reached out to Lisa Swayze at Buffalo Street Books on Watson’s behalf to begin selling Ithaqa locally. The community’s response to the first issue of Ithaqa has been enthusiastic, with the books selling out twice. “To kind of triumphantly return to Ithaca with a comic about Ithaca feels really great,” Watson said. Watson was expected to hold a press tour for the first two issues of Ithaqa this month, but due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the physical events scheduled for the tour, including Ithaca’s comic convention, Ithacon, have been canceled. Watson’s work can still be supported online through his Kickstarter fundraiser to raise $10,000 to finish the artwork for issue three and print physical copies of issues two and three. The Kickstarter will run from March 16 to April 6, 2020 and can be accessed through the Facebook page, “Ithaqa Comic Digital Book Tour,” a site which will also host online events including a creator livestream Q&A on March 20 at 6 p.m. Watson and the Ithaqa series can also be found at “Ithaqa Comic Book” on Facebook and @IthaqaComic on Twitter. The comic’s official website is ithaqacomic. com and features a subscription option to provide an email address for a free digital copy of issue one.

The front cover of Ithaqa’s debut edition. (Photo provided)

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A 2008 shot of the Ithaca Gun Factory by Franklin Crawford. His work is on display in Moosewood until the end of March. (Photo by Franklin Crawford on Flickr)

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Franklin Crawford’s images documents recent local history By Ar thur W hit m an

ormal portraiture, scenic nature, macro shots, artsy abstraction, alternative processes—Ithaca photography has much to offer. But one thing largely lacking in galleries is photojournalism and documentary photography with a consistent and compelling local focus. Long-time Ithacan and veteran journalist Franklin Crawford took up photography back in 2006 after receiving a simple digital camera. Since then, he has become a unique fixture of our visual culture. His work as a whole is most fully appreciated online. Between 2009 and 2016, he ran Tiny Town Times (www.tinytowntimes.com), a collaborative blog that featured his photos alongside illustration, crosswords, humor and reportage. (TTT persists on Facebook as a mainly photo affair.) His work can also be seen on Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/frankie14850). Up through the end of the month, Crawford’s current show at Moosewood Restaurant may be his last traditional

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physical exhibition. (Or it may not—consistency is rarely among his virtues.) The presentation is less make-do than in the past, with work hung throughout the eatery printed on either metal plates or stretched canvases. While this writer has a marked bias against “giclée” canvas prints, these are relatively effective—at least his more painterly images. An early series, shot in 2008 and 2009, memorializes the final years of the former Ithaca Gun factory: since its 1986 closing, a counterculture refuge and graffiti Mecca. His technically primitive shots memorably capture its mix of grime and grandeur. Following the show’s sampler approach, alas, we only get one shot. “Ithaca Gun Factory No 2: The Cake is a Lie” is a large, wide-format image, beautifully printed on metal. The composition is wonderful. Framed left and right by tall openings and a supporting pillar, continued on page 16

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More of Franklin’s work documenting Ithaca over the years. (Photo by Franklin Crawford)

CRAWFORD ON DISPLAY Contin u ed From Page 15

a section of wall has been spray painted with a couple of crude faces and—in allcaps, with exclamation point—the titular declamation. The colors have a surprising delicacy and sweetness: beige, turquoise, and orange-brown enfolded in luminous blue and purple-gray. Ithaca’s rapidly changing cityscape is the closest thing to a major theme that emerges from Crawford’s wide-ranging work. A personal preference for the “Tiny Town” of yore hasn’t prevented him from capturing both old and new—and their often absurd juxtapositions—with a certain dispassion and humor. Here printed on canvas, “Tiny Town Clustered” is a minor masterpiece. Shot from a height, the picture has a drastically reduced depth-of-field, creating an oddly compressed effect that recalls (likely by accident) a work of Cubist collage. The view, no longer extant, encompasses (in the foreground) the Green Street parking garage, (sandwiched in-between) the Commons buildings around what is now Harold’s Square, and (at the top) the Hilton Hotel. A set of “composites” explore the possibilities of sequential imagery. “Triptych,” an abstract giclée, is the most memorable of these. A luminous, liquid colorscape of uncertain origin fills the top block while two squares below—perhaps painted

walls—are flattened, more in-your-face. Crawford is also a compelling informal portraitist, capturing a variety of local characters in their natural habitats. Drawing off his reporting background as well as his keen social knowledge, he is able to capture eccentric low-lifes and distinguished academicians alike in moments of unaffected candor. Again, it’s too bad we don’t get more of these. The late Salvatore Grippi (1921-2017) was a noted member of the New York School of abstract expressionism. In 1968, he founded the art department at Ithaca College—the school where, a decade later, the young Crawford was a student. As he recalls online: “I took an art class with Sal. He said I had a talent for drawing wine bottles. Small wonder. Over time, we became friends.” “Salvatore Grippi,” a candid black-andwhite canvas, is another highlight. The 90-year-old Grippi opens his door, regarding his old student with a slightly comical caution. The camera tilts upward and the white-haired gentleman painter is dwarfed by the frame of the door, which fills the space of the picture. Prolific and seemingly tireless, a true man-on-the-streets, Crawford emphasizes range over any signature subject or approach. It’s an approach that plays better on the Internet, designed as it is to absorb and diffuse such excess. There’s a lot here besides, much of it quite capable but hard to grab on to in this setting.

Movies

Netflix and Quarantine

Self-isolating? Don’t miss these viewing options By Br yan VanC ampe n

s a straight white male, I’m cautious about weighing in when it comes to race in America, but as a film critic who’s trying to be more woke, the timing of Simon Frederick’s “Black Hollywood: They’ve Gotta Have Us” (Netflix-Array, 2020, 3 hrs.) couldn’t be better. Hitting Netflix in February, just in time for Black History Month, this series delves deeply into the triumphs and slights over the course of mainstream

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sets out to make bad art, but Lonny Price’s “Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened…” (Netflix, 2016, 95 min.) details the grand ambitions and good intentions that went into the 1981 Broadway musical production of “Merrily We Roll Along.” It was based on a classic play. It had serious talent behind it: Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince, who’d had a string of hit shows as a team. It closed after 16 performances.

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black cinema. It is packed with provocative and passionate commentary from as many black filmmaker and performers as can fit into its three hour-long episodes Director and narrator Simon Frederick interviews dozens of people over the course of the series, including cultural critic Nelson George, and actors ranging from trailblazers like Harry Belafonte and Diahann Carroll to today’s stars like David Oyelowo and John Boyega. There are also lengthy chats with performers who have become directors and producers, like Kasi Lemmons (“Eve’s Bayou”) and Debbie Allen (“Amistad”). Spike Lee and Eddie Murphy are discussed in detail, though neither participated. The most notable exclusion is maverick Melvin Van Peebles, whose “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” was self-financed and became a huge hit in 1971. The funniest and most revealing interview may be Robert Townsend, who paid for “Hollywood Shuffle” with credit cards, chose locations so that they wouldn’t be seen by the cops, and edited the film in a post-production house for porn. Too many controversial areas are covered to mention here, but the series is a treasure trove of film clips from lots of great and influential films. There’s a lot to discover, so dive in. ● ● ●

Sad to say, but we learn more from our failures than our successes. No one ever

Actor-turned-director Price was a member of the original cast, and he interviews Sondheim and Prince, as well as most of the cast, including one Jason Alexander, who became a huge TV star years later on “Seinfeld.” ABC News was shooting hours of footage for a documentary that was scrapped when the show flopped, and Price managed to find most of it. He also tracks the post-flop history of the show, which never really went away. The scathing reviews at the time of its premiere have been forgotten, and now there are generations of theater fans who don’t know that “Merrily We Roll Along” wasn’t a hit. ● ● ●

If I’ve learned one thing in this life, it’s this: Never bet against Betty White. White is 98 today and still going strong. I was a fan dating back to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Password” in the 1970s. “Betty White: First Lady of Television” (Netflix, 2018, 55 min.) fills in a whole life and career that I knew nothing about, including White’s early work in radio and TV sitcoms. And she’s had success in every decade she’s worked, like “The Golden Girls” (turns out Ryan Reynolds is a huge fan), “Hot in Cleveland“ and her stint hosting “Saturday Night Live.” (It’s too bad the filmmakers didn’t include her terrific guest shots in season two of “Community.”) If you don’t know why the world loves Betty White, check out this documentary.

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BackPage

For rates and information contact Cyndi Brong at cbrong@ithactimes.com

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