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Online @ ITH ACA .COM

To the Frontline PAGE 8

BETWEEN THE GREENSTAR AT CRACKS

DEWITT CLOSING

VIRTUAL

CINEMAPOLIS

ENJOYMENT

FROM YOUR COUCH

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County, advocates disagree on COVID rules for homeless

Temporary measure due to outbreak now in effect

Airport on Pause Local Restaurants pivot to delivery

Your guide to arts and museums from home

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View-from-home options provided by local theater

Yes! We’re

OPEN

Guide to local services ORDER BY PHONE ORDER ONLINE

ONLINE AT:

Ithaca.com / YesWereO

DELIVERY

pen

CURBSIDE PICKUP

Many of Ithaca’s businesses are open for curbside pick-up or home delivery. Save this page for an up-to-date guide to our city’s listings during this health crisis.

Ithaca Bakery & CTB

Italian Carry Out

Mia Restaurant

Bet the Farm Winery

The Falls Wineroom

Hector Wine Company

Delivery and Take-out at All 5 Locations! Full menu plus pre-packaged, ready-to-reheat and made-to-order meals 607-273-7110 • ithacabakery.com

FREE Friday Delivery. Order by noon. 4204 Krum’s Corners Road, Trumansburg 607-387-6548 betthefarmny.com

By phone or online. Delivery or pickup. 1070 Danby Road Ithaca (607) 224-8790 ItalianCarryOutIthaca.com

FREE Delivery or Curbside Pickup! 726 W Green St 607-256-7145 thefallswineroom.com

Back door pick-up and Delivery 130 E. State St. Ithaca 607-277-2000 www.miaithaca.com

Full Market open. Curbside pickup avail. 5610 State Route 414, Hector 607-387-1045 • Mon-fri 3-6pm Sat-sun 2-6 www.HectorWineCompany.com

Update our readers with your current offerings. Online and print! Contact larry@ithacatimes.com or 607-277-7000 x 214 for more info.

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Sumo Hibachi•Sushi Delivery and pickup. 2309 N Triphammer Rd, Ithaca 607-257-7777 • 607-257-555 IthacaSumo.com

Gimme! Coffee

Curbside pickup and delivery 4506 West State Street, Ithaca 8 AM - 3 PM delivery.gimmecoffee.com

Newsline Coronavirus deaths

On the Frontlines �� 8

The GreenStar location at DeWitt Mall is closing after seeing significant financial losses over the last several weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Matt Butler)

Two non-county residents die of COVID-19 at CMC

ayuga Health has announced the first two deaths of patients from coronavirus at Cayuga Medical Center. Both people who died were not Tompkins County residents, and to this point Tompkins County has not recorded a coronavirus death among its own residents. The announcement of the first came from Dr. Martin Stallone, CEO of Cayuga Health System, on Friday morning. The second came Saturday afternoon. Both had been transferred from New York City under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s directive that upstate hospitals help unburden New York City hospitals by taking care of some of their patients. “Earlier this week, we received a compassionate transfer of two patients from New York City,” Stallone said. “Unfortunately, one of those patients passed away this morning. Our hearts go out to the patient’s family during this difficult time. We would also like to recognize the dedication of our Cayuga Health team that continue to treat COVID-19 patients locally and in New York City. They remain well prepared and committed to their calling and commitment of treating all patients, no matter what the diagnosis.” “Every loss caused by this devastating virus has an impact,” wrote Tompkins County Legislature Chair Leslyn McBean-Clairborne said after the second death. “I know that our community will join me in prayers and condolences for the patients’ families and doing our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Cayuga Health System has prepared diligently for our community response to this virus, and acted with compassion treating fellow New Yorkers here in Tompkins County.”

VOL.XL / NO. 34 / April 15, 2020 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

Closing for COVID

GreenStar’s DeWitt Mall location will close “until further notice”

reenStar’s DeWitt Mall location will close for the foreseeable future, a decision confirmed Monday by General Manager Brandon Kane. Kane provided a statement to the Ithaca Times regarding the closure of the popular downtown cafe and organic grocery co-op, located at 215 North Cayuga Street, which normally would be open every day. He made clear that the decision is temporary, and in reaction to the coronavirus outbreak that has spelled drudgery for local businesses nearly everywhere. The decision is effective immediately, but does not currently impact GreenStar’s other two locations in the West End or Collegetown. A re-opening date is unknown at this time, with Kane saying that the decision would be made depending on the unfolding of the

outbreak. “We are pulling back business appropriately in relation to the impact of the pandemic, but I am confident that we will return stronger than ever on the other side of this,” Kane wrote in an email. “It is unfortunate that we must take this action, but not unlike many other businesses at this time, unexpected challenges and consequences relative to the COVID-19 pandemic are forcing us to make extremely difficult decisions. The competing pressures of cash loss and the immediate need to direct labor expense to our profitable business locations required a swift decision.” In a lengthy statement on the closing, Kane praised his employees’ tenacity in maintaining the branch’s operations to that point, congratulating them on their hard work and dedication. Unfortunately,

T a k e ▶ How to Help - The American Red Cross is calling for donations of blood in reaction to a significant drop in supply because of the coronavirus outbreak. Opportunities to give blood will be held April

Art from Home �� 16 There are still plenty of options to enjoy

NE W S & OPINION

though, he said the downturn in foot traffic downtown was too much to bear for the store. “The DeWitt store relied heavily on purchases made by the employees and customers of neighboring businesses, downtown foot traffic related to Ithaca events and tourism, and prepared food sales, all of which have decreased dramatically in the past month due to the pandemic,” Kane said. “For the past several weeks, DeWitt sales have dropped to 40 percent below prior year sales.” If that pace continued, according to Kane, without some form of relief, the GreenStar Co-op would be losing between $5,000 and $10,000 per week, which Kane called unsustainable. As for workers, Kane wrote that after discussions with employees about laying them off, so that they could receive unemployment benefits, he had decided hourly employees could choose a voluntary layoff by April 17. About half of the DeWitt staff had taken that option, while the other half were going to be used to help alleviate any staffing issues at the other two stores. “We understand the temporary closing of DeWitt is a regrettable hardship for some people,” Kane wrote. “Our Collegetown and West End store locations are also being affected by this pandemic, but are experiencing a less severe impact and we continue to operate those stores. We are also partnered with Instacart for grocery delivery and are working as quickly as we can

Newsline ��3-9 Sports �� 10 Business �� 11-15

ART S & E N T E RTAINME N T Film ��16 Film ��17 Classifieds ��18-20 Cover: Photo: Casey Martin, Design: Marshall Hopkins

ON T HE WE B Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 M a t t B u t l e r , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 224 E d i t o r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m J a i m e C o n e , E d i t o r , x 232 SouthReporter@flcn.org E d w i n J . V i e r a , S ta f f R e p o r t e r R e p o r t e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C a s e y M a r t i n , S ta f f P h o t o g r a p h e r P h o t o g r a p h e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C h r i s I b e r t , C a l e n d a r E d i t o r , x 217 A r t s @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A n d r e w S u l l i v a n , S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 227 Sports@flcn.org Steve L awrence, Spo rts Co lumnist St e v e S p o r t sD u d e @ g m a i l .co m M a r s h a l l H o p k i n s , P r o d u c t i o n D i r ec t o r / D es i g n e r , x 216 P r o d u c t i o n @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A u s t i n L a mb , C o p y E d i t o r E me r i t u s AL a m b @ i t h a c a t i m e s . c o m E r i n S t e w a r t , A cc o u n t R e p r ese n ta t i v e , x 220 E r i n @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L i s a B i n g a m a n , A cc o u n t R e p r ese n ta t i v e , x 218 l i s a @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C h r i s I b e r t , x 211 A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Chris Eaton, Distribution J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 210 j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L a r r y H o c h b e r g e r , A ss o c i a t e P u b l i s h e r , x 214 l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m F r e e l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, Rick Blaisell, Steve Burke, Deirdre Cunningham, Jane Dieckmann, Amber Donofrio, Karen Gadiel, Charley Githler, Linda B. Glaser, Warren Greenwood, Ross Haarstad, Peggy Haine, Gay Huddle, Austin Lamb, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Lori Sonken, Henry Stark, Dave Sit, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman

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N o t e

18 at BOCES-TST from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on April 28 at the East Hill Office Building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on April 30 at the Shops at Ithaca Mall from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Appointments can be made at www.redcrossblood.org. Of note,

A conversation with an Ithaca doctor in NYC

earlier in April the Food and Drug Administration reduced its restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, lessening the required time of sex abstinence from one year to three months during the ongoing public health crisis.

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All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $7ll9 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607-277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972-1978) and The Good Times Gazette (1973-1978), combined in 1978. F o u n d e r G o o d T i m e s G a z e tt e : Tom Newton

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INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER By C a se y Mar tin

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN NEGLECTING IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS?

“My Sports Balls…and my brain” -Bad Brad

N e w s l i n e

Ithaca Festival

Ithaca Festival postponed until late summer

he beloved annual Ithaca Festival has been officially postponed as a result of the coronavirus. The decision was announced Wednesday in a press release from new executive director Selena Hodom. The event will now be held Aug. 27-30 instead of May 28-31. “In light of the current outbreak of Covid-19, the Ithaca Festival will be moved to a new date in late August,” Hodom wrote in the release.

“This will ideally provide a safer and healthier time for us to celebrate. The decision is based on information obtained from NYS, CDC, NIH and the Public Health Department that social distancing measures need to be extended at this time.” Hodom had previously spoken about the possibility of a cancellation or postponement, saying that it would be a tough financial blow for the festival but that hopefully long-term

Hector Street

Hector Street renovations will continue through summer “Passover ?” -A. Cowit.

“Our Banana Hammock.” -Frommer & Sarah.

“Cute Shoes… and our boots with the FUR!” -Josh & Meredith.

he construction that has currently closed part of Hector Street for replacement will continue for the

“Tweezers”

Hector Street replacement will close a portion of the road until the end of summer. (Photo by Casey Martin)

-Andrew & Clodugh

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next few months, though once it is done, the city will have one more bike lane, two new bus stops and other walkability

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funding solutions would be able to fill the gaps. Future participants are still encouraged to be a part of the proceedings in August. “Participants are encouraged to reach out to the festival to confirm availability for our new dates no later than May 1 via email ithacafestival@ithacafestival.org,” Hodom wrote. “We look forward to an amazing event that will ‘Celebrate the artist in Everyone’ when the time comes.”

Ithaca Fest has had its share of financial struggles over the last several years, having also cycled through executive directors and board members as different solutions were attempted. Their decision comes after the Finger Lakes Thaw Festival was canceled, but the Grassroots Festival is still selling tickets as if it is going to take place.

enhancements. According to the city’s Project Sidewalk Manager, John Licitra, the project’s genesis was a request by West End residents to make the area friendlier for biking and walking. It accelerated in 2017 when a Transportation Alternatives Project (TAP) grant was awarded to the city for $1.4 million of the $2.5 million project. The closed portion of Hector Street is open to residents, with detours at Cliff Street, Hayts Road and Halseyville Road. In total, the project will connect the existing Hector Street sidewalk by creating 4,100 feet of new sidewalk, construct an uphill bikeway and implement two bus stops along Hector Street, located at Warren Place and North Taylor Place. General biking and walking enhancements will be added, (including parts of the project which will take place in the Town of Ithaca), as well as improving curbs, pipes, walls and street lighting in an attempt to improve traffic safety. Licitra said the timeline for the project will be to finish and re-open the road by August 2020, though he noted that would be if the project can avoid delays. There will be cosmetic work that could continue until Oct. 1. There shouldn’t be much direct disruption of businesses, Licitra said, and the city was able to adjust the project to lessen infringement on resident-owned property. “Hector Street is predominantly a residential corridor,

but I have not heard from any business owners with exception from a few landlords,” Licitra said. “Public response from the residents along Hector Street has been mostly positive.” While having that stretch of Hector Street closed is inconvenient in itself, Licitra said the city would be saving around $250,000 on the project by closing that portion entirely instead of having daily construction flagging for single-lane closures. There is at least one advantage to the project taking place now, considering that traffic during the day is lighter due to the stay-at-home order which impacts non-essential travel. “The Governor and NYSDOT consider Transportation Construction essential business,” Licitra wrote. “The project has additional Health and Safety guidelines to help keep workers safe during the on-going pandemic. Workers have noticed a decrease to even local traffic within the work zone due to the statewide traffic restrictions for essential business/food/safety reasons only.” Going hand-in-hand with the construction will be improvements to 500 feet of water main line and 1,500 feet of stormwater pipes, as well as NYSEG and companies like Verizon, Spectrum and FirstLight will improve their infrastructure at certain points throughout the project area.

M att Butler

N e w s l i n e

Homeless Housing

County opts not to continue low-barrier housing policy during outbreak

iting the overarching goals of finding long-term housing for the homeless, Tompkins County will not continue low-barrier, Code Blue-style housing policies, despite the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Code Blue is set to expire Wednesday, April 15. The move has local housing advocates nervous that those displaced out of hotel rooms provided by the county will not be able to find housing quickly enough to avoid becoming homeless again and encountering the pitfalls that brings with it. Those displaced, expected to be about 30 people or so, will still be eligible to apply for housing through the Department of Social Services, with some relaxed regulations compared to the normal process— a move made with an eye towards getting people into housing who might not typically qualify or might be resistant to entering the process at all, according to Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino and Deputy Administrator Amie Hendrix. Code Blue is a policy in effect statewide from October 15 through April 15 that mandates that counties find emergency shelter for people living on the street after nightfall if the temperature falls below freezing. In Tompkins County, that shelter often takes the form of churches willing to provide space or hotels, and the entities that house the people for the night are compensated by New York State. The next day, if they are not enrolled, people are instructed to go to DSS to start the temporary housing assistance application process. St. John’s Community Shelter on State Street has had to implement spacing policies that have reduced the number of people it can house in its permanent beds upstairs. (Photo by Casey Martin)

“Code Blue is intended for just an overnight stay, we’re looking for more of a permanent approach to it that aligns people with the services they need to prevent that come-and-go approach,” Molino said. “It’s even more complicated with COVID-19, but I think we’ve been able to connect with our partners to try and find the solutions to minimize public health risks and exposure. [...] It’s just a continuation of our efforts in the past of trying to get as many folks as we can that present themselves as homeless and qualify for Code Blue to get them the temporary assistance that they need.” But those in the homeless advocacy community, some who wished to speak only on background, question if the permanent approach is valid or beneficial at this specific time if it comes at the expense of low-barrier temporary options, because of the risk it could put people in the short-term. If someone is, for whatever reason, hesitant to apply for assistance through DSS in a formal way, which the low-barrier housing policies like Code Blue don’t necessarily require, they could end up vulnerable in the street or the Jungle instead of sleeping in a hotel room at night, mitigating at least some of that vulnerability. Thomas Luckini, of Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY) drew parallels between the situation from last month in the Jungle, when the start of a New York State project displaced six campsites and around 15 people in Ithaca’s de facto homeless encampment in Southwest Park. That situation ended up working out fairly well: the residents did have to move, but with help from people like Carmen Guidi of Second Wind Cottages, their encampments remain in the Jungle and there’s now hand-washing stations there too. But it points to the larger issue homeless advocates have with the situation: why is now the time to potentially pull away housing, in whatever form, from this population? “At this point, there’s no obligation tied to the pandemic that requires the county to provide housing,” Luckini said. “These are people the county is going to require to go through the typical channels and meet the standard requirements. And again, definitionally, if those people were capable of meeting those requirements they wouldn’t be in [low-barrier] housing, they’d be housed under typical temporary or emergency assistance.” Some restrictions on DSS applications have indeed been relaxed, though Hendrix acknowledged that it’s unclear how long that will be the case. For example, typically if someone was dealing with addiction they would have to sign up for some sort

of treatment option as part of the DSS process. Since many addiction treatment programs have been stopped or altered because of the outbreak, that particular statute was dropped, but Hendrix said that it would likely be brought back once local addiction treatment providers had further established telemedicine treatment alternatives. “Typically, you have to have treatment to apply for, that piece has been suspended, you can register and go for it,” Hendricks said. “The challenge is it hasn’t been suspended forever, it’s until telemedicine picks up and we’re a little more used to using that with our substance use treatment providers. There’s a lot of that, Code Blue suspends regulations, and this is COVID suspending regulations.” Hendricks added that employment regulations have also been loosened, among others. Hendrix said the county would be working with local organizations to hopefully connect people with necessary resources, but further named one point that could matter to the public but that she claims didn’t play a significant role in the county’s approach. “One of the challenges is that Code Blue is not only weather-related, but it’s state-funded,” Hendrix said. “COVID would be a local fund. I think people get stuck on that, I don’t think that’s something that we’ve been stuck on. We’re trying to find the best way to respond to people who need support. In both cases, we’re trying to find temporary housing for these people instead of just returning them back to the streets.” The decision was made known to homeless community advocates and workers last week, who reacted with fear over its implications for those who will be impacted by Code Blue’s expiration and now must go through the application process to secure housing through the Department of Social Services during a pandemic. Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY) is investigating the matter to see if litigation is possible or feasible, Luckini said. “We are at the investigation stage,” Luckini said. “We are talking to the different people involved, and we are investigating whether litigation is appropriate. But at this point it is our understanding from all of our sources that the county is choosing not to extend low-barrier housing past the expiration of Code Blue.” Even outside of the Code Blue dates, the county would have to house people if the temperature falls below freezing. But as the weather warms, Luckini said, there will be no requirement to house them, which is what worries him and others. The county’s words aside, he said not keeping in place low-barrier housing policies “We have a lot of people in this county who are going to be effectively homeless again because they’re going to be potentially required to vacate the shelters or hotel spaces that have previously been provided to them,” Luckini said.

UPS&DOWNS

Coronavirus Round up Here’s some other stories we covered this week that you can read more about online. You can see all of our coverage of the coronavirus outbreak at our special page ithaca.com/news/coronavirus. Health Department recommends closure of shared equipment spaces - Public Health Director Frank Kruppa issued a letter on Saturday that officially recommended the closing of recreational facilities that use shared equipment, such as playgrounds, basketball courts, fields, etc. County DMV closure extends to April 30 - In-person transaction limitations are extended until April 30, but registration renewals and private vehicle sales can be conducted via mailing materials to the DMV. All vehicle registrations, licenses and inspections have been extended. Seneca County resident dies of COVID 19 - On April 10, Seneca County announced that they had encountered their first resident death from coronavirus, a man in his 60s who died while hospitalized. County officials offered their condolences to the family of the man and urged other residents to take the stay-at-home orders seriously. Numbers update: as of Tuesday afternoon, 116 people had tested positive, 87 of them had recovered and 141 were awaiting test results. Four were hospitalized.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is your favorite sign of spring? 8.4% Crack of a baseball Bat

M att Butler A p ri l

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12.6% Cornell students crowding porches 3.2% That’s when I always win the lottery 75.8% Daffodils

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

How would you rate the Tompkins County Health Department’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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It h ac a T im e s 5

ITHACA NOTES

GUEST OPINION

A Challenge for NYS Assembly Candidates Gimme! Coffee: to Go (From NYC) By R ich a r d Joh n Tom pk i n s C ou n t y L e gisl at or To t h e E di t or :

or those who have been paying attention, the NYS Assembly race has attracted at least seven announced candidates for the seat vacated by retiring Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton. We should uncynically applaud these worthy citizens who answer the call to public service. But for those who hope to take this job, I have a basic question. What do you intend to do about the structural corruption that is at the heart of our Albany government? I say structural because the problems are built into the systems used to govern the State. The Governor and Legislature have entrenched protections for wrongdoers to preserve power and facilitate a “pay to play” system used to gain government favor. In this regard, sadly, we are not like other states. Over the past decades, we have had dozens of people in the Executive and Legislative branches indicted and/or lefttheir jobs in disgrace when rank corruption is finally uncovered. Too many NYS economic development projects intended to help Upstate have

produced more scandal than jobs. In almost all of these cases, investigation and enforcement came from outside of the Albany system. Some might argue that bad actors are elected along with the good, and there is little that can be done. Human nature being what it is means that a certain percentage of people will cause problems, so nothing can really be done. Instead, the candidates might say a focus on the important and very real issues we face as New Yorkers (e.g. housing, economic development, climate change, pandemic response, etc.) should be the first order of business. Unfortunately, failing to take a stand on the necessary ethics and corruption clean up in Albany results in a destructive cycle. What has become acceptable conduct by State actors infects the entire operation of New York State as a system to serve the people. Sadly, the next indictment will smear the reputation of whomever we elect regardless of their not being involved. But further, the excessive

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

wenty years ago Gimme! Coffee opened on N. Cayuga Street, creating Ithaca’s first espresso and specialty coffee bar. An immediate hit, the business expanded rapidly, eventually comprising seven outlets. The two furthest-flung are in New York City: or were. This month Gimme! announced it is closing its locations there, in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Both sites had been closed for weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the company has since decided the closures will be permanent. Statistically, a majority of fledgling businesses in the U.S. fail within a decade. No doubt the failure rate is particularly high in the expensive, competitive environment of New York City, and among food and beverage start-ups especially. But Gimme! was on Mott Street in Manhattan since 2008, and in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn since 2002. Both these areas are prime, high-rent districts, presumably contributing to the closures. Mott Street has always been a major commercial and retail center. Williamsburg is now, but wasn’t always. Historically, Williamsburg was a largely residential area of immigrant communities. Businesses were limited primarily to heavy industry. There were factories and warehouses, but no strong retail presence. That changed in the past generation, with a burgeoning city population and extensive rezoning in the neighborhood. The changes hadn’t happened fully at the time of Gimme!’s arrival. I was newly acquainted around that time with Kevin Cuddeback, Gimme!’s founder. We were on the board of directors of Ithaca Hours, the now-defunct community currency system. I owned a small retail music store on W. State Street, near Meadow Street. Gimme! had opened its second branch, a block away. After a monthly board meeting, Kevin approached me to chat. “Hey, you’re from Brooklyn, aren’t you?” he asked. “You got a problem with that?” I asked, summoning the authentic patois, for my own amusement at least, but hopefully his too. He laughed. “No, it’s just that Gimme! is opening a branch there.” “In Brooklyn?” I asked. That struck me as quite a leap. “Where?” I asked. I figured Park Slope. Back then, whenever anyone in Ithaca mentioned to me some connection of theirs with Brooklyn,

it turned out to be with Park Slope. Only. “Williamsburg,” he said. Williamsburg? I was from East Flatbush and had never been in Williamsburg. I couldn’t think of anyone who had. Why would you be? Of course I knew where it was, roughly, but for specifics needed to know subway stops. I asked what the nearest was. “Lorimer Street,” he said. “That’s where the shop is. The L train station is two blocks away.” I knew proximity to a subway stop was good. But Lorimer Street? I knew that as a street with decrepit, vacant old buildings, and newer ones built so shoddily they routinely collapsed or caught fire, which happened frequently and infamously, and was the only time you ever heard of the place. It was no place to start a business, in my mind, by any stretch, especially from 200 miles away. Again, but more strongly: Why would you? Of course I said nothing of the sort. I simply said, “Good luck,” while also thinking, “You’ll need it.” Apparently he got just that, although subsequent developments certainly affirm the maxim of good luck being the residue of hard work and design. It’s a good thing he wasn’t actually asking my opinion, although I knew he was a hard-working guy. It turned out he was also something of a visionary (and the best kind, an earnest and diligent one). Upon consideration, then, on this topic and in general: Of what might bad luck be the residue? Many things, probably (for reference, see the Book of Job), but in 2020, for countless millions, it is Covid-19, which now has also ended Gimme!’s tenure in the city. I purposefully say ended its tenure, whereas in another time or context I might have slangily said “killed.” But this is not a time nor a subject for loose expression. People get killed, not businesses. Businesses aren’t people, despite what this (current) Supreme Court says. (Remember, it once endorsed slavery, too.) Anyway. The closed Gimme! branches will no doubt be missed, but strictly speaking not mourned. Mourning is for people, and there is too much of that now to add to or cheapen with hyperbole. Meanwhile, proportionately, we extend our regrets to Gimme!’s workers in the city, with hopes for their hopes and well-being. Good luck to Gimme! and its people, we say with much faith this time.•

GUEST OPINION

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State bureaucracy we live with is directly connected to the corruption. The natural reaction to actual and perceived corruption is to create rules and process (added layers of red tape) in response. Where leadership will not address the actual problems, the only option left in response is to reduce trust, go slower and demand proof at each step. Making processes harder leads to work-arounds (i.e. corruption), particularly using campaign contributions as pay to play. The cycle spirals down. For just about any New York State function, we see remarkable redundancy and complexity of process. Where local governments need regulatory approvals, or citizens in their businesses and daily life, the New York State role is typically opaque, slow and entirely frustrating. This is not an accident. The failure to address the root cause corruption impacts the cost and quality of basic service. We all pay for a government that cannot (or will not) police itself. Back in 2016, the Tompkins County Legislature passed a resolution asking for New York State to prioritize ethics reform and was specific as to the actions called for. The substance of the resolution can be reduced to three points: accountability for wrongdoing, transparency and equity in governance and reducing the influence of money. Of the eleven recommendations in the 2016 resolution, removal of pensions

from job-related convictions for elected officials passed on a ballot measure in 2017, closing the LLC loophole happened legislatively last year, and another, redistriction might be improved depending on some upcoming actions. The rest remain real problems for effective government in New York State. Taking a stand on ethics and corruption in New York State government is not a secondary issue. It cannot be put off for later. It is a first order problem if we want real improvement in Albany. Advocating for the necessary change would be hard. It would certainly be alienating for a new legislator joining this fossilized mess who hopes to fit in and get along. I anticipate the candidates would rather speak to other issues. However, if we do not start here, with these candidates who have not already been accepted into the system, where can we begin? We want a candidate that has courage and will represent us, not just try to adapt to a system that consistently underperforms for the people it is designed to serve. New York State government matters, especially so when the federal government is going through such remarkable and frightening change. We need to worry that New York government will not be equal to the challenges that lay ahead. We need better. So, specifically, I ask these good people running for this seat to declare what they will do.•

GREENSTAR Contin u ed From Page 3

to develop a curbside pickup service to be available at GreenStar’s new store.” As for GreenStar’s plans for expansion at 770 Cascadilla Street, Kane said those are still moving forward, with optimism that they will be able to open the location next month. Kane acknowledged, though, that that date could be subject to change depending on the pandemic’s impact and that some features might be restricted,

such as “the eating area, children’s play area and self-serve food stations.” “The capacity of our new store will certainly help with some aspects, such as social distancing, and provide a boost to GreenStar’s cash flow,” he wrote. “We’re grateful to our community for their continued support of their local food co-op.” M att Butler

Cancelled Commencement

TC3 cancels commencement ceremony for May

ompkins Cortland Community College announced on April 13 that it will not hold its commencement ceremony in May due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The college will try to hold some sort of celebration for graduates in August. “There is no greater pleasure in our year than to witness and celebrate, in-person, the accomplishments of our students,” a statement from the college read. “With that in mind, we are making contingency plans for a celebration in Au-

gust if conditions allow. Keep in mind, this is a TENTATIVE PLAN. We also intend to recognize the May 21 celebration online so graduates can still mark the occasion.” “It is our hope that a celebration worthy of the occasion will be safe and feasible by August. We will move forward with our plans but also continue to fully comply with local, state, and federal guidance and exercise an abundance of caution in any decision we make.” Staff R eports

Communities need their newspapers, and newspapers need their community By Ju dy Pat r ick , V P for e di t or i a l dev e l op m e n t, New Yor k P r e s s A s s o c i at ion

rom afar, the COVID-19 pandemic is generating news of such terrifying magnitude that it is nearly too overwhelming to comprehend. Millions are suffering and thousands are dying. Economies are collapsing. The world seems out of control. That’s the big picture, which you can learn about from innumerable print, web and broadcast news outlets. But it’s in the pages of local newspapers that this terrible news hits home. Through stories of sickness and of death, of brave healthcare workers and struggling small business owners, local journalists are documenting their communities. In hard-hit New York City, dozens of local newspapers are chronicling the challenges neighborhood by neighborhood. As the virus spreads beyond metropolitan New York, the chronicling extends, paper by paper. In each, above all are the stories of the lives that have been lost: touching tributes to much loved grandfathers and grandmothers, principals and store clerks, police officers and nurses. Next come the stories of isolation and loss as the life of a community is put on hold: funerals, weddings, Little League baseball, high school proms, senior citizen trips and college graduations. The list goes on and on. Finally come the tales of generosity and hope: thousands of rainbows hung in windows and drawn in chalk on sidewalks, food drives for the afflicted, music and art and the million small kindnesses of one person to another. Years from now, these stories will be part of the historical record of this pandemic. Right now, however, they serve a far greater purpose: They are helping communities come together to mourn, to support and to hope. To eventually go forward and heal, we first need to understand what is happening to the people we know and the businesses we rely on. Local newspapers are also where many stories begin. Here you’ll learn about upstate dairy farmers forced to dump milk, how Finger Lakes wineries are adapting to the shutdown, the slow startup to the federal small business stimulus program on the East End of Long Island, the retooling of a Granville slate company to make face shields for healthcare workers and efforts to safeguard our food supply chain by protecting farmland. These are the stories that set local A p ri l

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newspapers apart from anything you’ll see and read via bigger outlets. Each paper is telling its community’s unique set of stories about death and heroism and struggle. For communities in crisis, this personalization is key to grappling with this pandemic. There are practical benefits as well. In times of crisis, local newspapers have long been a clearinghouse of essential information such as phone numbers, emergency food distribution plans, road closures and boil water orders. Nowadays, with much of this information scattered online, newspapers are adapting and collating. Take The Daily News and Livingston County News in Batavia, for example. They’ve established a COVID-19 Community Support Map pinpointing locations of blood drives, food pickup spots and medical services. The map quickly became the most popular feature on the paper’s website. All of this is how local newspapers bring communities together. It’s just one reason they’re so important. While their watchdog role in sustaining our democracy will always be paramount, and one that’s become a crucial part of the ongoing story, this shared commitment to community is shining right now. Local newspapers care—always have and always will. It’s what sets them apart from all other media, even Facebook. They will be at the zoning board meeting you care about, at your Fourth of July parade and your high school graduation. They will write about the kindergarten class trip to the pumpkin farm as well as the school budget, food banks for the hungry as well as which takeout joint has the best burgers. They’ve been around so long it’s easy to take them for granted. But they are in danger, especially now that local businesses that provide crucial advertising revenue have closed. There’s a lot of news you can access for free. Many local newspapers have even temporarily dropped their paywalls on their virus-related content. The gesture reflects their mission to go above and beyond to serve their communities in a time of crisis. But news really isn’t free. It’s costly to produce. Reporters, photographers, editors, printers, advertising representatives and support staff deserve and need a paycheck for the work they do. To do that, newspapers need the people in those Fourth of July parades and at those school board meetings to subscribe. Now, more than ever, they need their communities.•

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To the Frontline By M att Bu tler

he buses left Wednesday morning, carrying nearly 60 medical professionals from the Cayuga Health System hospitals in Ithaca, at Cayuga Medical Center, and in Montour Falls at Schuyler Hospital, where they had been working to New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where the work environment had become much different over the last few weeks. The group was seen off by a cadre of local officials like Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick and U.S. Representative Tom Reed and area citizens, who lined the bus’ route through downtown Ithaca, while socially distancing, with pre-printed signs thanking the group of nurses, doctors and medical professionals for their courage. The group is designated to return on May 7, though that is theoretically subject to change depending on the situation at that time. America’s largest city has been hit the hardest in the United States by the coronavirus outbreak. There have been 106,863 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City as of Tuesday afternoon, making up more than one third of the total number of positive cases in the entire country. In the city alone, 7,349 people have died from the illness. While Governor Andrew Cuomo said this week that he believes the worst of the virus’ spread has passed, both numbers are certain to continue to rise for the foreseeable future. With the looming figures in mind, the bus’ travel from central New York to the outbreak’s frontlines was at times difficult, said Dr. Louanne Giangreco, an emergency medical doctor and Cayuga Health System’s Chief Medical Officer. She is one of the on-site leaders overseeing the group’s trip, signing on to take the journey when she saw the extent of the situation in New York City and how much extra help was needed. “I think there were so many different feelings on the bus,” Giangreco said. “There was some sadness from leaving behind our family and friends and some of those

heartfelt goodbyes. It was so heartwarming to see the Ithaca community come out for us with their signs and well-wishes. We were so impressed that our goodbye went on for so long, we even had individuals out on I-81 with signs for us. And there was the anticipation of going to New York and knowing what this experience would be like as well.” After arriving in New York City Wednesday afternoon, Giangreco said the team set to work quickly to learn the ropes of New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) and find out ways they could help immediately. By Monday, the Cayuga Health team members’ were on the floor assisting how they could. The group is working 12 hour shifts, and living in The Benjamin NYC hotel, which has been opened for healthcare workers, along with a group of medical professionals from the University of California-San Francisco. “We got the team up and orienting from the team from NYP, then out of the floors and helping,” Giangreco said in a phone call on Monday. “Then, today they actually deployed onto two units, an ICU level unit and a medical level unit for our nursing staff, with support from our physicians and [Advanced Practice Professionals] as well. It has really been fast paced and an exciting time here.” With the obvious population disparity in mind, the coronavirus outbreak in NYC has been leagues worse so far than what has been seen in Tompkins County. While last week marked the first two deaths recorded in Tompkins County from the disease, both were patients from downstate who had been transported up to Cayuga Medical Center during the days prior to their

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passing. Overall, Tompkins County has 113 positive cases as of April 14, with 84 of those people having been classified as “recovered” and four currently hospitalized at CMC. The relative calmness of the outbreak’s medical impacts in Tompkins County, relative to other places in the country and in New York State, made the decision easier for Giangreco and her colleagues, she said. “I think we were trying to brainstorm as a leadership team, and we know that there’s a need in New York,” Giangreco said. “We know that our volumes have decreased locally. People are staying home and social distancing. [...] We saw that we could marry up the two opportunities, the need for healthcare professionals in New York and our capability to be able to provide that from a local perspective.” When the call went out for help in New York City, the response from Cayuga Health System staff was eager. Over 100 people signed up in the first 48 hours after the initial request for volunteers was circulated, according to Giangreco. The process from the call to the group’s departure was just five days. Part of the swiftness was the wealth of responses from health workers in the area, but Giangreco also said there was some level of urgency to get to the city, and trained to be able to help, by this week specifically, as this has been touted to be the “peak week” for the disease in New York City by medical and public health officials, likely meaning this will be the week when the most extra workforce is needed in NYC hospitals. While projecting confidence,

Giangreco admitted that the situation is unprecedented. “We knew that New York was moving towards peak, the anticipated peak time when we decided to come down was April 15, so we wanted to get our team down here for when they were needed,” she said. “I don’t think from a medical standpoint we’ve seen anything like this in our generation. [...] It’s an unprecedented time, but we’re part of the solution in bringing in the support that people need.” The adrenaline of the experience thus far has prevented Giangreco from a “Why did I do this?” type of moment; with so much going on, she indicated, there isn’t much time to sit and think about that sort of thing. Plus, she said she has felt safe and protected each time she’s been in New York Presbyterian during the time there. “It’s been a very busy time, when you’re motivated by your ‘why,’ and I think a lot of us are motivated by our ‘why,’ which is helping and caring for people and making a difference,” Giangreco said. “I think it makes those times that are very busy, when we’re working with new people, when we’re taking care of people with a lot of medical needs, it makes it easier to keep on moving forward and taking care of need.” Without knowing how the rest of the trip is going to go, Giangreco acknowledged that there may always be some lingering hesitation in all of the group’s minds about whether or not they should have just stayed here instead of putting themselves at additional risk. But, again, Giangreco reiterates that this is more or less why many of those who took the trip got involved in the profession in the first place. “You do think of those things, that we could have stayed home, but if not us then who?” Giangreco said. “We got into healthcare because we wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. It’s not great that this is happening, but here’s our opportunity to step in when help is really needed. So we were happy to step forward to do what’s right for people and to take care of patients.”•

( L e f t) D r . L o uA n n e G i a n g r e c o , (A b ov e) S c e n e s f r o m C ay u g a H e a lt h m e d i c a l p r o f e s s i o n a l s a s t h e y d e c a m p i n N e w Yo r k C i t y. ( P h o t o b y L o uA n n e G i a n g r e c o) A p ri l

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People have taken to their backyards to maintain exercising. (Photo by Kelly Chase)

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Health in Outbreak Local gyms pivot online to help members during closed period By Ste ve L aw re nc e

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hen many people hear “health club,” they might be inclined to think “discretionary spending,” or “disposable income.” It is true that for some regular health club attendees, a membership can be somewhat of a luxury, but for many others it’s a matter of life and death. I tracked down Terry Ciaschi, a longtime friend and one of the people involved in bringing Island Health & Fitness from concept to reality. Terry has worked at IH&F since its opening in 2006, and he told me, “We are still functioning in some capacities. Our Cardiac Rehab, Sports Medicine, Cardiology and Physical Therapy operations are up and running, and of course, everyone is wearing masks

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and following all the safety protocols.” He added, “We’re trying to do the right thing in terms of everyone’s safety, with all our sanitation efforts. We know how important it is to be there for those that need it the most.” Ciaschi observes this time of change through an additional lens, given he was in the restaurant business for 30 years running The Station Restaurant, and he knows that many businesses will have to make some tough decisions on the other side of this. “I remember coming out of the winter with a stack of bills, knowing that the graduation and prom season would get us caught up,” he offered. “Many business owners will need to make some big

changes.” He has already received several emails from members explaining that they might not be able to continue, and he hopes to find ways to work with members to maintain the relationships, both business and personal. While Ciaschi is very eager to get back to some semblance of “normal,” he is impressed with (IH&F’s parent company) Cayuga Medical Center’s early and disciplined response. “CMC has been right on top of it with their remote testing and other measures” Terry stated. “I understand that we got an “A” rating, and that’s a very positive thing.” Kelly Chase, the Assistant General Manager at IH&F, is also an Exercise Physiologist who understands how important it is for some people to be able to continue to work out. She told me, “We are doing a lot of online programs, and we have our own YouTube channel.” She continued, “We provide fitness tips, mental health and all around health and wellness tips from our own instructors, as we like to make it personalized. We are offering programs for members and their families, and we are using our member-

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ship database to connect with national programs.” Chase went on to say, “We are setting up affordable virtual training sessions and Zoom classes to keep members active and to keep our staff employed, and we’re trying to keep our brand on it and keep our people engaged.” In Kelly’s words, “We are also trying to give members stuff to do at home, using the equipment they have or doing things using their own body weight.” Ever the optimist, she added, “I think people will re-engage when this passes. I believe they really miss the camaraderie, and I know that we miss them.” ● ● ●

Longtime Ithacans are likely to agree that the Ithaca Fitness Center was also The Center of the Fitness Universe in the 1980s and 1990s. That place surely featured an eclectic cast of characters, and front and center among them was Barb Chatham, who passed on last weekend at the age of 87. Barb ran her own sales enterprise at IFC, and she outfitted members with all manner of workout gear (including the leotards, leg warmers and headbands that defined the era). After IFC closed, Barb was a reliable volunteer for the Cops, Kids and Toys motorcycle ride, and she did that as long as she was able. I wrote in this column that Barb was welcome to saddle up with me for the ride, and she politely, but firmly, declined. After she lost her husband of many years, Doyle Chatham, she rekindled a romance with a Southern gentleman named Bill she had known as a young lady in South Carolina, and the two could be seen around town for the past several years. When Barb found love again, she also reinvented herself along with her wardrobe, and she and Bill looked and acted like two young people in love. Barb was feisty and classy, and I will miss her a lot.•

BusinessTimes

The Take-Out turn The new norm in town. Groton bank helping locals out how they can. Ithaca Biz Index A last month of positivity.

Airport’s international plans on hold until outbreak calms By Matt Butler

ith the introduction of millions of dollars in renovations and the impending establishment of an international customs facility, 2020 was supposed to be a year of hope and optimism for the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport as it became a doorway to the world for Ithaca. Those sentiments are in a holding pattern for the time being as continued reaction to the coronavirus outbreak hamstrings air travel and people around the country are being discouraged from even driving downtown, much less hopping on a flight. While Airport Director Mike Hall said the plans for a customs facility are temporarily postponed, that shouldn’t be taken as a sign that the facility won’t be coming to the airport whenever it becomes feasible. “It’s certainly on hold, we couldn’t receive international travelers right now if we were open,” Hall said. “We are going to open that facility at some point in the future, when international travel is deemed to be safe, and there’s no way to speculate about that right now. We have to proceed one step at a time to continue to control the spread of this virus.” Once the state begins to re-open, Hall said he thinks part of that process might include the determination that interna-

The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport’s progress towards accepting international f lights has hit a snag due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Casey Martin)

tional travel is once again safe, and then plans to introduce international passengers to Ithaca would continue advancing. But putting a date on that at this point isn’t possible, he said. Hall said the airport is seeing about 90 percent less traffic than normal, a stunning number at a glance but in line with how the rest of air travel has been impacted. The national average is about 95 percent less this year than last. According to Hall,

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the airport was actually outperforming last year’s numbers by 10 percent in January and February before the coronavirus came stateside and warnings about air travel became more widespread, which gives him confidence that the airport had indeed become a more popular destination before forces out of their control took over. “Traffic is down at the airport, reasonably consistent with the national average,” Hall said. “Travel is just shut down right

now, that’s true whether it’s Ithaca or Kansas City. [...] There’s really no discretionary travel and no business travel taking place.” In the meantime, Hall remains confident that the airport will be able to not only rebound, but act as a catalyst for the recovery the area will need once travel becomes safe and the norm again. He said that’s one of the things that has kept the staff of the airport upbeat, even while they come to work to see the clean, impressive new terminals devoid of people looking to fly. “In terms of being disappointed, everybody in society is challenged right now, and we have a very positive attitude about this,” Hall said. “We’re projecting determination and strength, and that we want to be part of a solution. When the time comes for us to play a major role in the recovery of our economy, we’re ready to do it. That’s what keeps people going through these difficult times.”•

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To our traveling public The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport’s leadership team is closely monitoring the developments related to COVID-19 regionally and globally. Our team is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our passengers and employees. At this time, Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) is operating under normal conditions. If you choose to fly, please know that we are working hard to keep the terminal clean, safe and disinfected. We will continue to provide updates as they become available. We thank you for all you are doing to stay safe during this time. —Mike Hall, Airport Director

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ne of the first instincts of the Ithaca community when students left and businesses began to close was to start circulating the word that local hospitality workers would be in need and for community members to start donating funds to them. That instinct was right, as restaurants, bars and other small businesses like hairdressers and nail salons were some of the most heavily impacted businesses by the stay-at-home orders and the new social distancing laws that placed restrictions on large gathering spaces. Due to the nature of those restrictions, restaurants statewide had to make some uncomfortable decisions about whether or not to stay open in a take-out and delivery only capacity, to close entirely, or to attempt to get creative with their offerings. Downtown restaurants have taken a variety of different strategies to tackling the downturn. Viva Taqueria, for example, decided quickly to shut down entirely while the shutdown continued. A voicemail at the restaurant says that, upon reassessment in early April, the restaurant was trying to craft a plan for opening in a take-out capacity, but that plan hasn’t been put into action yet. Beyond Viva Taqueria, other restaurants have decided to change their focuses. The windows of Simeon’s Oyster Room on Aurora Street are adorned with a litany of beer choices being sold in a range of different quantities. Thompson and Bleecker has set up a table-divider of sorts at the front of their store, which allows for customers to enter the store and order without venturing too far in, with a selection of wine lined up on the front table. Owner George Papachryssanthou, who started the restaurant with his wife Milany, said they have been able to keep the same hours as they were running on before the quarantine began. A fair amount of customers have been flowing in to patronize the business each week, giving the owners an emotional boost.

“It’s been pretty moving, without being overly dramatic,” Papachryssanthou said. “We are open, we are doing our part to nurture and provide some level of comfort and locals have been doing their part by both ordering food and offering moral support. All things considered, we all feel very optimistic, and these acts of support reaffirm what I’ve known to be true about Ithacans and how supportive of a community we have.” One of the most notable giving actions among businesses was CollegeTown Bagels making its downtown State Street location a community kitchen. Each morning, different loaves of bread are left under umbrellas in front of the restaurant, free for the taking, and all pre-packaged foods can be bought on a pay-what-you-can basis. They also established a pay-it-forward program for people to contribute money towards other people’s meals, which owner Gregar Brous said has been very well-recieved and well-used every day since they first announced it in mid-March. Brous added that at 4 p.m. each day, leftover foods from other CTB locations is brought to the State Street spot and placed on the tables outside for free pick-up. Still though, the acts of kindness don’t make up for the fact that restaurants all over, CTB included, are feeling the brunt of the downturn despite any kinds of adaptations or modifications that they may be capable of making. “It’s minuscule compared to normal,” Brous said. “Business has been way, way off. It doesn’t even compare to a normal day or a normal week. We’ve been attempting to adjust certain things, like making deliveries and selling beer and wine to go and be delivered [...] and selling pantry sales, like selling flour and yeast and spices. People are staying home a lot more, so if they get dinner delivered, maybe they get stuff to make dinner the next day.” Despite the current efforts, Brous knows he, and other restaurauteurs, are likely going to have to keep innovating and

shifting if they want to be able to survive the duration of the crisis without just shutting their doors and hoping it ends. “We need to go further though, because the longer this thing goes longer, the only way that we’re going to survive is to be creative and pivot our business in various different ways to address people’s needs at home and their changing buying patterns,” Brous said. “It’s a real truth, there’s no question that when this thing is done there are going to be places that don’t open back up.” The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance have both been putting out regular emails to area businesses that have out-

lined resources that can be used and told stories of the different approaches being taken. Jennifer Tavares, President of the Tompkins Chamber of Commerce, said she’d been impressed by the number of ways restaurants had adapted so far. “At the Chamber we’ve observed many restaurant businesses modifying their operations and their offerings to respond quickly to this crisis, responding both to mandated changes in operations and also community need,” Tavares said. “We’re so proud of area restaurants for navigating this crisis in the best way they can to care for their employees, and also to position their businesses for recovery once the COVID-19 risk has been mitigated.”•

First National Bank of Groton lends helping hand during financial crisis By Andrew Sullivan

or the second straight year, the First National Bank of Groton earned the “Best of Bauer” in March by BauerFinancial, Inc., the Nation’s Premier Banking Rating Firm. Not only has the bank earned a five-star rating for financial strength and stability, it has also maintained that rating for 122 consecutive quarters, thus earning the “Best of Bauer” honor, according to a press release. Vice President Alan Christopher attributed the bank’s success to various factors. “We have a community that’s been very supportive, for one thing,” Christopher said. “Our municipalities and our customers have been very loyal. We have a good variety of products. I think we have products that suit everyone. We may not be the first bank in the area to offer something, but we try; we do a lot more electronic transactions. … We’re very supportive of the community. We try to help out where we can.” According to its 2019 annual report, the bank has seen its numbers take a slight dip from its 2018 “record earnings.” The bank’s net income in 2019 was $2,561,155, which was 6.7 percent down from its 2018 income of $2,743,816. Its return on average assets lowered from 1.52 percent to 1.40 percent. The bank’s return on average equity went from 11.48 percent in 2018 to 9.92 percent in 2019. Its earnings per share ($42.69) came close to its 2018 average of $45.73. Its capital assets ratio did increase from 13.38 percent in 2018 to 14.87% in 2019. Even though the statistics have declined a bit, the bank is still performing well enough to earn its high rating. “As the president of BauerFinancial, I am often asked what it takes to be a 5-star bank,” Karen Dorway, president of BauerFinancial, said in the release. “Like so many other things in life, success in banking boils down to knowledge. Knowledge of banking, of course, but knowledge of its customers and the communities the bank serves are equally important. This

intimacy enables the bank to steer clear of danger and work with customers for a common goal. It’s what gets so many community banks, like the First National Bank of Groton, through the tough times unscathed.” The bank, as well as the community as a whole, are certainly facing tough times with the COVID-19 outbreak bringing health and economic-related stresses. Despite this, the bank is doing its best to alleviate any economic struggles in the community. “Between waiving fees and not charging certain things, we are very aware that people are out of work, a lot of people are out of work,” Christopher said. “We are adapting to that. We’re trying to help out where we can. We are now operating with a more limited staff. We only have the drive-up open to defend against the virus. We’re operating with half of the employees at each office. The other employees will be on call if needed.” Currently, the bank is waiving all ATM usage fees at its own ATMs as well as at foreign ATMs. The bank is also offering delayed loan payments (through extensions or deferral), waiving CD early withdrawal penalties on withdrawals of up to $10,000 and increasing mobile deposit limits. It is also working with the Small Business Association’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Loan program. “What it does is it’s for businesses who have been affected by the virus, and as long as they are going to keep their employees employed or pay them, they can qualify for a loan that could be forgiven if they use the funds in a certain way,” Christopher said. “It has to be towards payroll; has to be towards rent, utilities, those types of things. But we are participating in that, and we have quite a few applications that we’re processing right now actually. We’ve been helping people – businesses – get through the application forms. … We’re trying to help people as much as we can. We’re certainly there for them if there’s any questions.”•

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

Ithaca Business Index

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he Ithaca Business Index slumped 0.9 percent in February to a level of 173.18 from a revised mark of 174.53 in January. Hours worked increased, but five other indicators fell moderately. Compared to January 2019 the index was up 2.5 percent. The number of jobs in the Ithaca metropolitan area decreased by 100 to a level of 63,600 in February. All the figures in this report are seasonally adjusted so that any month can be compared with any other without regard to seasonal factors. Ithaca’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, down from 3.5 percent last month. Some may wonder how employment can decrease and the unemployment rate can fall at the same time. The explanation is that the size of the labor force decreased so that the percentage unemployed is lower. The size of Ithaca’s labor force decreased by 300 persons to a level of 51,000. Anyone residing in Ithaca with a part-time or full-time job is in the labor force. In addition, anyone residing in Ithaca without a job, but actively seeking employment, is also included in the labor force. A smaller labor force means less economic potential. Retail sales in Ithaca were down slightly in February. Sales volume fell 0.6 percent bringing total sales to $162 million. Compared to January 2019 sales volume was up 0.3 percent. The retail sector lost 100 workers in February as Ithaca’s retailers trimmed staff. The average work week in Ithaca lengthened to 32.5 hours from 31.5 hours in January. This figure is indeed an average that includes both full and part-time employees in the private sector. Compared to February 2019, the average work week was shorter by a few minutes. Home sales in Ithaca sagged 10.3 percent in February. This is a moderate change for this volatile indicator. Comparing February 2020 to February 2019, home sales were off 3.4 percent. The median

Unlike the figures reported here, the data for March should reflect some, but not all, the effects of social distancing. The service sector can, and must, react quickly to a halt in sales. Other industries, such as higher education, can be more deliberate. Our local economy is not recession-proof. We know this from the 1989-1991 episode when higher education was hit by declines in federally-funded research. Economists have no experience with an economic shock as abrupt and pervasive as social distancing. College towns are especially vulnerable, but the damage will be limited if students can return for the fall semester. Ithaca’s health services sector is prominent and should hold up well during this time. But total output will fall, which means incomes will shrink. Lives and livelihoods will be impacted. This loss is in addition to the direct impact on people who experience the virus firsthand. In January 1985, the Ithaca Business Index stood at 100.00. In February 2020 the Index reads 173.18. This means that the Tompkins County economy has grown 73.18 percent in those 422 months. From 1985 until 1988, the Ithaca metro region grew at a rapid clip. The average annual growth rate was 6.0 percent. The Ithaca Business Index reached a peak of 129.25 in April 1989. A recession brought the Index down to a level of 111.32 in February 1992. This 34-month slide was much longer and more severe than the national recession which lasted only 8 months. Since then, the County economy has recovered, but annual growth rates of 1.5 percent are more typical these days. There was a less severe version of the Great Recession here in Ithaca that started in April 2008 and ended in July 2009. The most recent recession began in April 2014 and ended in March 2015. There was no national recession during this time, but economic activity in Ithaca stalled in the latter half of 2014 and fell 1.5 percent in 2015. The Ithaca economy has been expanding since the summer of 2015. The Ithaca economy grew 3.7 percent in 2017, 0.7 percent in 2018, and 2.1 percent in 2019. The all-time high for the Ithaca Business Index is 176.91, its reading in May 2019. •

Biz Briefs

quencies. “It’s important for us to help those who have already been impacted,” said Muse. “We need to take care of the most vulnerable and also make sure they can get on with their daily lives.” As part of that sentiment, Visions is offering a 90-day first payment deferral option on new and used auto loans. This deferral program is effective for all auto loans closed on or after March 23. “We’re continuing to listen and monitor the situation,” Muse said. “I anticipate that we’ll provide more programs as the weeks go on. Whatever we can do to help our members and those in our communities, we’ll do it.”

Susan Farrell Joins Tioga State Bank Business Development Team, Specializing in Government and Municipality Banking Tioga State Bank has announced that Susan Farrell has joined the Tioga State Bank Business Development team as Vice President, Business Development Officer. Susan joins Tioga State Bank after having worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years. In her role, as Vice President, Business Development Officer, Farrell will concentrate on providing banking solutions for government entities, municipalities and first responder organizations. “I am excited to help our local districts find financial success and solutions that meet their individual needs,” Farrell said.

ICS Announces Acquisition of Brightworks Computer Consulting

Jacob P. Mcnamara

several key practice areas.” Named a 2020 Best Law Firm by U.S. News & World Report, Hancock Estabrook, LLP is committed to providing excellent service to clients throughout New York State. The firm provides a broad range of legal services and representation across a variety of industries, disciplines and practice areas, proudly serving as trusted advisors to large corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, nonprofit institutions, governmental entities and individuals.

Tompkins Trust Company hires Heather Mulhall, Branch Manager – Business Development Officer Tompkins Trust Company has hired Heather Mulhall in the role of Branch

Susan Farrell

Visions Federal Credit Union Offering Financial Relief Programs

Hancock Estabrook, LLP expands Ithaca office with addition of established Ithaca attorney Jacob P. Mcnamara Hancock Estabrook, LLP has expanded its Ithaca office with the addition of attorney Jacob P. McNamara. McNamara joins the Firm as an associate in the Litigation, Corporate and Trusts & Estates practices. He is a graduate of University at Buffalo School of Law and Muhlenberg College. “We are thrilled to have a highly respected attorney and active member of the Ithaca community like Jake McNamara join our team,” Managing Partner Timothy P. Murphy said. “His varied legal background and expertise will greatly enhance our capabilities to serve our clients across

Manager – Business Development Officer, at the Company’s Lyndon Corners Financial Center in Syracuse. Mulhall joins the company with 15 years of experience in financial services. Her responsibilities will include growing business in the Syracuse market through Small Business lending. She will also be responsible for supporting the retail and branch activities at the financial center. Mulhall earned her Associates Degree in Applied Science from Buffalo State College and her Associates Degree in Retail Management from Cazenovia College. Mulhall is a member of the CNY Accounting and Financial Women’s Association. She enjoys spending time with her family, is active in her church, and has done work with Maureen’s Hope, Varies Chambers, and other not for profits. “We are excited to have Heather join our team, as she brings many years of experience and expertise in the retail banking industry,” said Helen Talty, Senior Vice President, Community Banking.

Heather Mulhall

Visions Federal Credit Union announced an array of financial relief programs on Monday, March 23 to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “These times are tough and unprecedented,” said Ty Muse, President and CEO. “We’ve been reading the news like everyone, but we also wanted to listen to our members and employees and figure out how we could help them.” Included in the package is a 0% Annual Percentage Rate Emergency Loan, with limits ranging from $1000-$5000 and terms up to 12 months. Visions also announced a We Care 3-Month Skip-a-Pay program. This allows eligible members to skip three consecutive consumer loan payments, penalty-free, with the program even allowing for some existing delinA p ri l

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ICS, a company offering comprehensive technology management services to a wide variety of clients throughout various industries in New York and Pennsylvania, has bolstered its operations with the acquisition of a reputable local consulting firm in Ithaca, Brightworks Computer Consulting. On the heels of its success and growth in Central New York, ICS company leaders made the strategic decision to acquire and join forces with another reputable local IT firm. The acquisition brought 16 Brightworks employees to join ICS’s Ithaca office. The acquisition will allow all existing Brightworks clients to continue to work with the same professionals previously handling their account, from the same location with the same staff and the same values, just under a different name. For more than 30 years, ICS has worked alongside clients to develop solutions to meet all of their technology and telecommunications needs. During that time, the company has grown steadily and remarkably, with nearly 90 employees and three offices in Syracuse, Endicott, and Ithaca, New York. “Due to the ever-changing information technology landscape and the growing cybersecurity needs, we wanted to find a partner that could support our customers with a higher level of maturity and serviceability than we could achieve in the near future,” said Brightworks founder John Guttridge in a statement. As an IT implementation, support, and hosting services company, the Brightworks wheelhouse of services will complement ICS’ existing capabilities. ICS President/ CEO Kevin Blake says the two companies integrating their services made perfect sense. “We are thrilled to have the Brightworks staff join the ICS Family. ICS’ mission is to make a difference in our employees’ lives, our customers’ businesses, and in the communities we serve. It was clear that the Brightworks culture and core Values fit right in with ours. We are looking forward to expanding our services and making a difference in Tompkins County.”•

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Arts

Film

Digital Visuals

Finding a digital way to enjoy the finer things By Ar thur W hit m an

ith the indefinite shuttering of Ithaca’s galleries and museums last month, many of us have turned to the Internet to stay in touch with local art and exhibitions. It’s a poor substitute. Artworks (at least those in traditional mediums) demand to be seen face-to-face. Paintings and sculptures need to be encountered in the flesh for their full meanings to be revealed. Even more didactic displays gain from a walk through. Nonetheless, the Web is an invaluable source of background information. See what’s out there through your screens now and seek out the real bricks-and-mortar when possible. With the worldwide spread of COVID-19, such is the case in many cities. While ambitious art spaces elsewhere have created elaborate virtual gallery rooms, Ithaca has been conservative. The Herbert F. Johnson Museum at Cornell towers--literally and figuratively-over the rest of Ithaca with the expanse of its collections and shows. (It’s widely regarded as one of the top college art museums in the country.) With the resumption of university classes last week, albeit remotely, the museum has placed a number

of resources online aimed at teachers and students. (Find them at http://museum. cornell.edu/education/university-facultyinstructors.) Further online material includes a database (http://emuseum.cornell.edu/) allowing visitors to search the museum’s enviable collection, featuring over 35,000 artifacts spanning the history and geography of art. Also on campus, though less known, the Hirshland Exhibition Gallery at the Carl A. Kroch Library puts on an ambitious calendar of scholarly historical exhibits. Early last month, right before everything shut down, Cornell hosted a lively, well-attended symposium, “When Machines Rock.” The event featured talks and panels in memory of the late Cornellian Robert Moog, who pioneered the development of the analog synthesizer from a modest storefront space in Trumansburg. “Electrifying Music: The Life and Legacy of Robert Moog” (https://rmc. library.cornell.edu/moog/, through October 16) showcases the university’s archival collections, as well as vintage electronic instruments, on loan.

An example of one of the viewable online displays of the Moog synthesizer (Photo online)

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Run by the Cornell-affiliated Paleontological Research Institution, The Museum of the Earth is notable for showing artists, usually local, alongside their more usual science museum fare. (Another distinguished Trumansburgian, artist Barbara Page, has an epic relief mural, “Rock of Ages, Sands of Time,” permanently installed. The accompanying book of the same title would also make excellent quarantine reading.) Their current major exhibition, “Bees! Diversity, Evolution, Conservation” (https://www.museumoftheearth. org/bees/, through August) was recently placed on the Web. Ithaca’s independent galleries, understandably hard hit, have not been taking great steps to expand their online presence. Among the downtown standbys, the State of the Art Gallery (https://www. soagithaca.org/) and the Ink Shop Printmaking Center (http://www.ink-shop.org/) are notable for their extensive archives of current and past shows. The former has an online “slideshow” for their March/April show. Although I missed it during the window it was open to physical viewing, the “31st Annual Juried Photography Show” hints at lost promise. Selected by Ithaca College professor and distinguished photo curator Steven Skopik, the display was carefully documented by gallery member Stan Bowman. Moving further afield, a variety of regional museums (within a couple hours’ drive--think to the future, please) have extensive Web presences. The Corning Museum of Glass (https://www.cmog. org/) is a behemoth online as it is in its physical campus. The Everson Museum in Syracuse (https://www.everson.org/) shares architectural distinction with the Johnson as a work from the Brutalitst phase of the recently deceased I.M. Pei. “Virtual exhibitions” highlight some of the museum’s strengths, which range from hip contemporary work to ceramics. The Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester (https://mag. rochester.edu/) also has its encyclopedic collection well represented online. Also of note: their current show “The Path to Paradise,” scheduled through May 24) features the grotesqueries of contemporary stained glass artist Judith Schaechter. Things are very much up in the air at this point. While most art-spaces are closed indefinitely, a few have announced tentative plans to reopen in May. A list of (possible) upcoming shows downtown is listed at the Gallery Night website (https:// gallerynightithaca.wordpress.com/) with First Friday events tenatively scheduled for May and June. •

Cinemapolis offering athome options during COVID-19 outbreak Cinemapolis announced Wednesday that they will be offering new films for people to watch at home as long as the public health crisis continues. Staf f Re por t s

he theater is combining with independent film distributors like Film Movement, Kino Lorber, Magnolia Pictures and Oscilloscope Laboratories in order to offer patrons “virtual tickets” that will allow them to rent movies that are currently on first-run releases. Starting on April 10, the first week of films will be “Bacurau,” “Corpus Christi,” “Once Were Brothers” and “Saint Frances.” According to the announcement, movies will only be available for a limited amount of time and new titles will be added every Friday, with further announcements coming on Cinemapolis.org. Ticket prices will vary slightly depending on the studio, but a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will support Cinemapolis while the theater remains closed. It has been closed since the weekend of March 13, when a state of emergency was declared in Tompkins County over the coronavirus outbreak. “What has not changed is our mission—encouraging central New York residents to explore the power of film to entertain, educate and to celebrate the human experience,” Executive Director Brett Bossard said. “We may have to self-isolate, but we needn’t be isolated from great cinema.” The movies can be screened on laptops or mobile devices or, for certain titles, using Roku, Chromecast or Apple TV. Instructions will be available on the website during the purchase process. •

Film

It was 40 Years Ago Today, Part 2

Last week, I highlighted four films celebrating their 40th anniversaries this year. Here are some more interesting 1980 flicks that merit revisiting… By Br yan VanC ampe n

Jonathan Demme’s “Melvin and Howard,” which I watched recently for the first time. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an instant classic. Based on a true story, Paul LeMat (“American Graffiti”) stars as Melvin Dummar, a guy who picks up an old man in the desert who claims to be Howard Hughes. Dummar later said that Hughes left him all his money in his will. Set in a friendly blue-collar world of goofy game shows and a kind of cockeyed optimism, “Melvin and Howard” established Demme’s inclusive, funky style, loaded with great music and a real empathy for LeMat and his lovable losers. It’s a world he’s gone back to in goodies like “Married to the Mob” and “Something Wild.” If Demme had been arch or condescending toward Dummar, the movie wouldn’t work. Mary Steenburgen (“Time After Time”) is troubled but sweet as Dummar’s on-again off-again wife, and Pamela Reed (“Kindergarten Cop”) is terrific as his devoted second wife. And any movie with the loony, moon-faced character actor Michael J. Pollard (“Bonnie and Clyde,” “Roxanne”) is worth spending some time with. ● ● ●

t was great hearing Dolly Parton’s very catchy theme song for “9 to 5” in a typically nuts action sequence in “Deadpool 2.” And believe me, when I interviewed Lily Tomlin a few years back, we talked a lot about Colin Higgins’ trendsetting office comedy. Tomlin, Parton and Jane Fonda play three working women who get fed up with their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical” boss, played by Dabney Coleman (think Harvey Weinstein). Their solution is to kidnap Coleman and take over the business of running the office, changing the rules to help their female coworkers get respect, better pay and better hours. Fonda, Tomlin and Parton make a great team, and there’s a fantastic fantasy sequence where each of the ladies gets to dream up the ideal comeuppance for Coleman’s piggish supervisor. Parton’s imagined interlude has a wacky Western theme, and Tomlin is made over as Snow White. As she often did at that point in her career, Fonda played a newly divorced woman who had to go back to work, and went from something less to something more. “9 to 5” is a fascinating comedy to watch in the woke age of the “Me Too” movement. *** Dabney Coleman’s comic villain role

in “9 to 5” led to a string of similar roles throughout the 1980s, including “Tootsie,” “WarGames,” “Dragnet” and “Hot to Trot.” Coleman appears as a suspicious judge in

One of the many great aspects of the cinema of the 70’s were the emerging themes of feminism and independence in movies like “9 to 5,” “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and “An Unmarried Woman.” It was refreshing to see films about women that didn’t define them in relation to the male lead. And don’t forget Goldie Hawn in “Private Benjamin.” Hawn plays Judy Benjamin, a woman who marries a man (Albert Brooks) who dies on their honeymoon during sex. Then she decides to join the Army. (Bill Murray and

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Harold Ramis did the same riff a year later in “Stripes.”) Howard Zieff ’s comedy is, after Steven Spielberg’s “The Sugarland Express,” my favorite Goldie Hawn movie. Eileen Brennan is terrific as Hawn’s nemesis, Captain Doreen Lewis, a role she reprised in a “Private Benjamin” TV spinoff. The rest of the cast includes good comic turns from Barbara Barrie, Mary Kay Place (“The Big Chill”) and the always awesome Harry Dean Stanton (“Repo Man”). ● ● ●

Robert Zemeckis’ “Used Cars,” co-written by Bob Gale, is structured like a classic Frank Capra movie about an ambitious young man with dreams of being elected into political office. The twist is that everyone in the movie is a lying, amoral sleazebag. Kurt Russell stars as a shifty but charismatic guy who works as a salesman in a run-down car lot with Jack Warden. Warden also plays his own brother who owns the lot across the street. “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” Zemeckis’ first film, was a sweet female-centric comedy that bombed. So he and Gale went 180 degrees away with “Used Cars,” which is much darker and cynical. Kurt Russell was Disney’s number-one star through the 1970s, starring in family movie fare like “The Barefoot Executive” and “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t.” Seeing him in this was a real shocker, given his wholesome image. On the DVD commentary for Used Cars,” Kurt Russell jokes that if Bill Murray had played his part, the movie would have been a smash. (It opened against “Airplane!” in half of the U.S. and flopped. “Used Cars” earned its reputation on the then-emerging home video market. Quentin Tarantino is a big fan.)

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“9 to 5” launched the career of Dabney Coleman to a series of similar roles during the 1980s. (Photo online)

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