Aug. 13, 2025

Retail Reality Check

Say Hello to GUTHRIE ITHACA CITY HARBOR

At Our Open House and Health Fair

Saturday, August 16 • 10 a.m. to Noon • 720 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, N.Y.

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Facility and Maternity Oasis Mobile (MOM) Unit Tours

Blood Pressure Screenings

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Ongoing Guthrie Research Projects and Gain Insight from a Clinical Psychologist

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Guthrie Gastroenterology

Welcoming Gastroenterology Associates of Ithaca to the Guthrie Family

We are proud to officially welcome Brent Lemberg, MD, Adam Riordan, MD, Paige Robinson, MD, and the entire staff of the former Gastroenterology Associates of Ithaca to Guthrie. Patients will continue to receive the same exceptional care from the providers they know and trust at the same convenient location: 2435 N. Triphammer Road in Ithaca.

Together we’re combining expertise and resources to deliver enhanced gastroenterology care for our community.

Visit www.Guthrie.org to learn more about our expanded gastroenterology services.

Plus...

Learn When to Go to Walk-in Care or the Emergency Department

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Ithaca Taking Eighth Attempt at State’s $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Grant

IBy Shubha Gautam

t is the City of Ithaca’s eighth time applying for New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) for the eighth time. This year, its focus is on the MLK/West State Street Corridor to better connect Route 13 and downtown Ithaca. The DRI Steering Committee invited community members to share feedback on potential projects in the area at a public

meeting on Tuesday, July 29 at Tompkins County Public Library.

Launched in 2016, the DRI grant awards $10 million for downtown development to a municipality in each of the 10 Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) regions in New York state. Applications are due in October, with awardees notified by the end of this year or early next year.

Ithaca has applied as part of the Southern Tier REDC every year except

2023, when staffing changes in the city and Downtown Ithaca Alliance prevented it from doing so. The city has yet to receive the grant, with Binghamton winning for the Southern Tier last year and a dual application by the Town of Roxbury and the hamlet of Grand Gorge winning in 2023.

During the meeting, Mayor Robert Cantelmo said that the city’s first several

Continued on Page 16

X Kyle Kimball Takes on Role as Cornell’s New Vice President for University Relations

By Shubha Gautam

Kyle Kimball, former vice president of government relations and community engagement at New York University (NYU), will serve as Cornell University’s next vice president for university relations. He replaces Monica Yant Kinney, who served as interim vice president for university relations after Joel Malina’s departure from the role.

Kimball will begin his new role on Sept. 15, according to Cornell University Media Relations.

The recent turnover follows Malina’s resignation on Jan. 5 to join the corporate advisory firm Brunswick Group in Washington, D.C. Malina shaped Cornell’s public image in the position for 11 years before his resignation, which came shortly after he faced backlash from several university groups for comments he made during a private Zoom meeting with Jewish parents in the fall. Malina said in the meeting that he would allow a Ku Klux Klan representative on campus if invited by a faculty member or student group. Several student groups, including the Black Students Union, soon called for the university to

terminate his employment.

In his new role, Kimball will serve as the university’s spokesman and coordinate Cornell communication both internally and with external county, state and federal bodies. His position at NYU entailed similar responsibilities, as he led the university’s government and community relations team and served as a coordinator with several community and government entities.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said Kimball’s experience in university relations will help Cornell continue to promote itself and steward its reputation.

“Kyle’s extensive experience working with city, state and federal government agencies, guiding university strategic responses, managing diverse groups of stakeholders and collaborating with community organizations will help Cornell advance its mission at a critical time,” Kotlikoff said.

Prior to joining NYU, Kimball served as vice president for government relations, regional and community affairs at Con Edison, an energy company based in New York City and Westchester County. He worked closely with the development of Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island in New York

ON THE COVER:

In a two-year long study of Ithaca’s retail market, one consultant advises intervention as Ithaca’s

THE WEB

Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 M addy V ogel , M anaging E ditor

City during his time working at the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Kimball currently lives in Brooklyn with his husband Doug Hecklinger and 12 yearold daughter Isadora. He said he and his family look forward to “[growing] new roots” in the Ithaca community.

Kyle Kimball will serve as Cornell’s new vice president for university relations. Previously, he was the vice president of government relations and community engagement at New York University. (Photo: Provided)

“I’m looking forward to joining both the Ithaca and Cornell communities, and I’m also excited about the amazing stories that can be told about Cornell’s global impact,” Kimball said. “Cornell has an incredible platform to advance the future of higher education in a challenging moment.”

Shubha Gautam is a senior writer for The Cornell Daily Sun and is working as an intern this summer at the Ithaca Times.

x 1214 larry @ ithacatim

s C ott M anson , a sso C iat E p ublish E r F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, Peter Rothbart, and Austin Lamb

THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY PATHWAYS TO EQUITY, LLC. 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: $139 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 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and

The tentative DRI boundary focuses on the MLK/West State Street Corridor. The City is seeking public input on the proposed lines. (Photo credit: City of Ithaca)

Ithaca is part of the state’s Southern Tier district. The city is yet to receive the grant, with Binghamton winning last year. (Photo: Ithaca Times File)

By Mark Syvertson

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

“WHAT ’ S YOUR FAVORITE ANNUAL EVENT IN ITHACA?”

“I was gonna say that. What else has candy?”

– Desmond

IP: “Trick-or-treating on The Commons?”

Desmond: “Yeah, trick-or-treating on The Commons.”

Theo: “Can I change my answer?”

ICE Arrests 10 Individuals Living in Tioga County, Reportedly Workers at Newfield Farm

One month after the arrests, Spencer residents call for transparency amid lack of information from local officials

By Lorien Tyne

EDITOR’S NOTE:

This is a developing story. The online version of this article will be updated as the Ithaca Times acquires more information.

In June, 10 individuals living in the village of Spencer were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. One month later, concerned residents question the involvement of local officials and call for transparency.

An ICE spokesperson told the Ithaca Times that “ICE Buffalo and local partners” arrested 10 people on June 30 during a traffic stop.

“ICE’s increased presence throughout the country is a direct result of President Trump's and Secretary Noem’s commitment to enforcing our nation’s immigration laws,” the spokesperson said. “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law — including those with no additional criminal history — may be subject to arrest, detention and removal from the United States.”

Aga Tinker, Troop C Public Information Officer for the New York State Police, said NYSP was not notified of any ICE activity in Tioga or Tompkins counties.

“We can only give you information about cases that we are handling,” Tinker said via email. “If ICE conducted an operation, you would need to reach out to them for details.”

The names of the individuals arrested were given to the Ithaca Times by the ICE spokesperson. All were either citizens of Mexico or Guatemala and between the ages of 28 and 59. To preserve the privacy of the individuals, the Times has intentionally omitted their names. Times reporters are attempting to determine the current location of the individuals.

The individuals were driving on North Main Street in the village of Spencer when the traffic stop occurred, according to Erika Brown, clerk for the village of Spencer.

Brown told the Ithaca Times that village of Spencer Chief of Police Michael Monteiro observed federal officers who had stopped the vehicle in the vicinity of the U.S. Post Office in Spencer. Monteiro told Brown that officers were wearing vests that identified them as agents of Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Marshals.

At the village of Spencer Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 4, several Spencer residents inquired during public comment about village police involvement with the arrests. Mayor Gilbert Knapp said Monteiro only provided traffic control by turning his vehicle’s lights on after he saw federal law enforcement had stopped a vehicle.

“He just happened to see them,” Knapp said.

Monteiro did not make a report of the incident because it was not his arrest, Knapp said. Village residents, however, expressed concern that the incident was not made public or addressed in any way. Attendees said they only knew of the incident because two residents witnessed the arrests.

At the meeting, Spencer resident Jen Woodard Reynolds said she has been in contact with the two witnesses, and that they are scared to speak out. When provided with a reporter’s contact information through Woodard Reynolds, the witnesses did not reach out to the Ithaca Times prior to publication.

Spencer resident John Whitcomb asked the board if Monteiro would have to report to the village board if federal

law enforcement makes an arrest in the village again.

“ICE has a reputation of apprehending these people, and then they disappear, and nobody knows where they are,” Whitcomb said, “and these folks have rights by the Constitution, the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment, to representation, and it’s hard for someone to represent them if they don’t know where they are.”

Knapp said the board had not considered how to respond to this sort of incident, and that they should come up with a policy.

The Ithaca Times contacted Monteiro for an interview but did not receive a response prior to publication.

The individuals who were detained lived in a building with multiple apartments on Main Street in the village of Spencer, according to Brown. They are believed to have worked at a cannabis farm in Newfield, based on the property ownership records of the residence, which the Times has the address of but has intentionally omitted from its reporting.

Newfield Town Supervisor Mike Allinger said that he was told the men worked at Sapphire Farms but had no knowledge of their arrest, names or other information.

The Ithaca Times contacted Sapphire Farms for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication. If Sapphire Farms does respond, this article will be updated online.

David Durrett contributed reporting of the Aug. 4 Village of Spencer board meeting.

At a village of Spencer Board of Trustees meeting, residents expressed concern that the ICE arrests were not made publicly known. (Photo: Maddy Vogel/Ithaca Times)

“Reggae Fest. The music’s always really good and the event has great vibes.”

Kim

“The Rutabega Curl.” – Jonathan

“I’m not sure if it’s annual but I love going to Cranky Cabarets.” – Suki

“The parade with the candy. [Ithaca Fest].” – Theo

Agricultural Science Students at TC3 Now Have a Direct Transfer Path to Cornell CALS

By Shubha Gautam

Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) graduates in the Sustainable Farming and Food Systems Program now have a direct transfer path to Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). TC3 President Amy Kremenek and Benjamin Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS, signed the new articulation agreement Thursday, Aug. 7 at the TC3 farm.

TC3’s Sustainable Farming and Food Systems Program provides students with a foundation in sustainable agriculture practices by teaching them how to manage a farm, develop solutions to food system challenges and build relationships with the community. According to a TC3 press release, students who complete their Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in the program with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 and a B or better in all transferable courses will receive priority consideration for transfer admission to CALS’ Agricultural Sciences B.S. program.

Admission into the B.S. program builds on students’ knowledge of crops and soil

sciences, animal science, agricultural economics and food science. They will also gain hands-on experience through lab and field courses, access to world-class faculty and research opportunities. Kremenek said the agreement “creates a clear, achievable pathway for students to start strong at TC3 and earn a degree from an Ivy League University.”

“There is a strong legacy of collaboration between TC3 and Cornell. We know

that Cornell is the dream for many of our students, and this agreement formalizes what we have always known to be true: that dream can be reality,” Kremenek said in a press release. “I applaud the efforts of TC3’s faculty and am grateful to our colleagues at Cornell for creating this tremendous opportunity for our students.”

This agreement is part of TC3’s larger

Continued on Page 19

County to Buy Lansing Property for Temporary Department Relocations

By Lorien Tyne

The Tompkins County Legislature approved the acquisition of property at 31 Dutch Mill Road in the town of Lansing for temporary relocation of county departments during the Center of the Government project. The legislature debated the resolution at its Aug. 5 meeting, which passed 9-5.

The resolution originally specified that the property would house the Department of Assessment and Board of Elections but an amendment was passed 12-2 to leave it undecided for the time being. Legislators Shawna Black and Randy Brown voted against the amendment. Which departments that will relocate to this property will be discussed and voted on at a future meeting.

The amendment also added that the BOE will not be one of the county departments considered for relocation to

31 Dutchill Road and it’s the legislature’s intent to keep the board of elections in a primary location within the city of Ithaca.

The day prior to the meeting, the county released an announcement that it would not be moving the BOE outside of the city for temporary relocation. The announcement addressed that the decision was made in part because of the large amount of public feedback asking the county to keep the BOE in an accessible location. Several members of the community still came to provide input on the relocation during public comment.

The legislators who voted to pass the amended resolution were Brown, Amanda Champion, Deborah Dawson, Anne Korman, Mike Lane, Dan Nolan, Greg Mezey, Lee Shurtleff and Dan Klein. The legislators who voted against the resolution were Black, Travis Brooks, Rich John, Veronica Pillar and Mike Sigler.

Those opposed argued that it would be

UPS DOWNS&

Ups

The City of Ithaca has finally completed its past-due audit from 2021, nearly four years late, but better late than never.

Downs

The last of the 22 FLOCK Safety automatic license plate reading cameras have finished being installed throughout the City of Ithaca and residents are concerned about violations of their privacy rights.

HEARD SEEN&

Heard

TCAT's Fall 2024 service will be in effect Sunday Aug. 17, through Saturday January 11, with added service to help meet the needs of new and returning college students. For more in-depth information, please see the soon-to be-released 58-page TCAT’s Fall 2025 Schedules and Service Guide that will replace the current summer guide.

Seen

State Senator Lea Webb was the special guest reader at Stories in the Park at the Southworth Library in Dryden, choosing the book Catching Flight.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

better to wait to pass the resolution once the legislature got public feedback and discussed which departments would be moved to the location.

“Whenever we talk about buying buildings at the tune of $1.2 million, it’s our obligation to be very upfront about what departments we’re putting in that building,” Black said.

Those in favor felt the need to move forward with acquiring a temporary building so as not to delay the process of relocating and deconstructing buildings for the Center of Government project any longer.

“My understanding is that we’ve looked hard for swing space in the city,” Dawson said. “For various reasons, It’s either not affordable or people don’t want to lease to us [...] but we need this swing space and we need it soon.”

“If we don’t move forward in the next couple of months, this project is not going to happen,” Champion said.

Do you think Cornell should agree to a settlement with the Trump administration to restore federal funding?

Yes.

No.

I don’t care.

How do you feel about FLOCK license plate reading cameras being installed around the City of Ithaca? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

TC3 President Amy Kremenek and Benjamin Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS, sign the new articulation agreement at the TC3 farm. (Photo: TC3/Provided)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TCAT Services Changes Remove West Hill Stop

“I found out yesterday that my highly convenient (one block walk) bus stop on West Hill is being removed, and now I’m expected to walk three blocks and cross a dangerous, busy road to get into and back from town. They claim the stops are being removed due to “low ridership.” Rather than spending money on removing and installing new bus stops, I wish our county transit money had been used to raise awareness of the ease and usefulness of using TCAT. Driving alone around town in a gargantuan machine, whether electric or gasoline, is completely absurd in 2025.” — Elizabeth Braymen

County Won’t Move Board of Elections as Part of Center of Government Project

“We especially acknowledge the valuable public input received through phone calls, emails, and in-person conversations concerning the potential

relocation of the Board of Elections (BOE) outside the City of Ithaca. We deeply appreciate our residents’ passion for democratic participation and their commitment to maintaining an accessible and inclusive electoral process.” — Korsah Akumfi, Tompkins County Administrator

“The county is actively exploring alternative locations within the City of Ithaca that will allow for the continued operation of the BOE without disruption, even as we move forward with essential redevelopment projects.” — Greg Mezey, Vice-Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature

“We remain steadfast in our mission to ensure continuity of services during this transition, while also preserving the integrity and accessibility of the democratic process for all Tompkins County residents. Thank you for your engagement and continued partnership in shaping a government that reflects the voice and values of our community.” — said Dan Klein, Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature

Don’t Blame Cornell For Cayuga Lake HAB’s

“Blaming Cornell’s cooling system for the recent HAB in Cayuga Lake is just plain nonsense. ALL the Finger Lakes

Continued on Page 8

A Historian’s Take on the Tompkins County Center of Government Project

By Carol Kammen, Tompkins County Historian

In several public meetings and by means of a survey, the county has shown four possible designs of what a new center of government might look like. Each of the examples appear to me to be suitable as an office building in Charlotte, North Carolina or in Billings, Montana. Or just about anywhere.

None of the samples presented reflect Tompkins County, and none reflect what the building is for. A county does not often have the opportunity to create a lasting statement—a building that will become a legacy, as have the Daniel Tompkins Building that began as the new courthouse in the 1850s, or the 1930s county courthouse designed by Lakin Baldridge. These are legacy buildings, as is the Post Office, now home to the Town of Ithaca.

I would like to suggest that the new center of government reflects the whole county—all 9 towns and a city—and that its façade and interior show that the building is the seat of our government and that Democracy is conducted here.

The earliest buildings in this area, and in our county, were Federalist and Greek Revival in style, and sometimes a blend of both. Classical architecture was popular throughout the Military Tract with homes, town halls and churches erected in this style. This is true in the City of Ithaca. See the Halsey House at 208 N. Cayuga Street for a lovely example of Federal architecture; see the Bank of Newberg Building erected around 1820 at 106 E. Court Street for a blend of Federal and Greek revival style; see the Clinton House, built in the late 1820s at 116 N. Cayuga Street built in the monumental Greek Revival style.

This blend of balance, harmony and symmetry is also found in the farmhouses around the county built before 1850. Some were simple, yet many are wonderful pieces of architecture that mark not only Tompkins County but this entire region. This balance can be seen in the Caroline Town Hall, in the churches built in that era.

I would not expect us to erect an exact replica of any of these, and I am not sug-

gesting that the cost of this classical echo would be more than budgeted, but might their form and dignity be an appropriate way of echoing our county’s past in what we erect today?

Classical architecture, to Americans, has always signaled the origins of our democratic-republican government and ideas of the great thinkers of the classical world. They are our ancestors in thought and in the predominant architectural style of this county: think of the Supreme Court, the White House. When Sarah Graham, a Civil War nurse from Tompkins County arrived in Washington, D.C., she exclaimed at ‘the white city’ before her. That is part of our shared heritage.

The four samples offered for the new county building shown to us recently also lack a sense of entrance. They could house insurance companies, or law firms, the doorway set simply into the façade as if another notch among many features. Classical architecture suggests another way. The farmhouses around the county and domestic houses in the city leave no mystery about where to enter. See the house on the corner of Court and Cayuga streets. Around the door are narrow windows and above it a fanlight. If you look at our 1930s courthouse, you can see the sense of drama and importance its entryway suggests. The massive doors that lead into a calm but impressive space. Classical architecture featured an entrance that spoke of the importance of the purpose in the interior.

We do not often get a chance to create a legacy building. This new building might feature recessed pilasters on the façade to suggest balance, height and calm. The main floor could indicate that this is a place of county business, with flexible space, perhaps surrounded by a frieze listing the names of the towns of the county.

Now, in the 20th century, we have the need and opportunity to create another building that reflects its purpose and the history of the county in which we live. Let’s not miss this opportunity.

Entrepreneurs and LLCs –Easy to Do but Follow the Rules

By Hon. Richard A. Dollinger (Ret.)

Thinking about starting a business in Ithaca or the surrounding region?

Think about an LLC. It is easy but, there are pitfalls for the new venture if you fail to follow the New York State rules in the Limited Liability Law.

Best to do it right, cross the ‘t’s and dot the ‘I’s — including the rules on filing and publication — to avoid future problems as your business comes alive.

A Limited Liability Company is an unincorporated business organization. It has one distinct legal benefit, especially for start-up operations. In contrast to business corporations, a limited liability does not create any individual liability for its founders or members for any unpaid debts if the business entity fails to survive.

In other forms of business operations, liabilities — debts for services, unfulfilled contracts or employee wages — can attach to the “owners.” An LLC avoids those liability issues.

In short, the state Legislature’s creation of limited liability companies as an option for entrepreneurs encourages New Yorkers to start new ventures without the onus of the owners having to pay the entity’s debts, if the business fails.

The rules for creating an LLC are simple but must be followed to ensure the LLC’s long-term viability. Multiple websites can provide access to the needed articles of organization and provide guidance on the formation of the LLC, filing with the New York Department of State and designation of an agent for service of process. Importantly, one often overlooked — but nonetheless important — aspect of an LLC creation is the publication requirement.

Section 206 of the Limited Liability Company Law requires a copy of the Articles of Organization or a notice related to the formation of LLCs to be published in two newspapers for six consecutive weeks. The newspapers must be designated by the county clerk of the county in which the office of the LLC is located. New York law provides that the word “newspaper” includes a paper of general circulation at least once a week, has existed for at least a year, contains news, articles of

WE THE PEOPLE: A CELEBRATION OF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

Local Public Service is Democracy in Action

By Tom Knipe

My career path has been focused on public service since a young age—but things haven’t turned out exactly as I originally planned, and that’s been a blessing.

opinion, features, advertising, or other matter regarded as of current interest and has a paid circulation.

Section 60 of the New York General Construction Law specifically declines to include free publications made available primarily for advertising purposes to the public generally without consideration being paid in the definition of ‘newspaper’ for the purpose of publication of official notices including those required for an LLC formation.

The distinction between publishing an LLC notice in a general paid circulation newspaper and a free publication — like advertising circular or a Pennysaver — impacts the future of an LLC because those publications do not meet the statutory definition of a newspaper. The LLC law requires that within 120 days of successfully filing your LLC, publication must be made once a week for six successive weeks in two newspapers — one daily and one weekly — in the county where your LLC’s office is located.

You then have to file a certificate of publication with the state, confirming that the publication occurred in a newspaper as defined by the General Construction Law.

In sum, without publication in a newspaper of general paid circulation, the LLC formation notice — and other mandated

Continued on Page 16

After graduating from Binghamton University in 1998, I left to teach English in Japan. It was meant to be a temporary stop on a career trajectory toward overseas service with the U.S. State Department. I wanted to be a diplomat, helping to advance democracy and economic opportunity around the world. But after the 2000 presidential election, my vision shifted away from federal service. Instead, I went hyper-local, working with kids in urban neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon, for the Community Cycling Center—a hands-on, bicycle-focused nonprofit. That experience eventually led me to pursue a degree in City and Regional Planning, which brought me to Cornell and Ithaca, and set me on my current path in local government.

Given what’s happening at the federal level today, I’m especially grateful for the direction I chose—or, more truthfully, the one I lucked into.

Working in local government has been incredibly rewarding. As Tourism Program Director for Tompkins County, I helped direct room tax investments into projects that promoted both quality of life and economic development. These efforts supported local nonprofits and businesses engaged in heritage, outdoor recreation, agriculinary tourism, and the arts. Now, as Director of Economic Development for the City of Ithaca, I’ve worked to establish new economic development programs and institutions that grow local economic activity, create jobs, and open pathways to business ownership for diverse entrepreneurs.

These roles have allowed me to build rewarding relationships and meaningful partnerships that advance shared goals. I’ve been able to see the results of my work on the ground—and in the lives of the people I’ve worked with. Most importantly, they’ve given me a deep perspective on the role of local public servants in

putting democracy into action.

Every planner starting out in the field learns about the importance of public participation, as described in Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. The lower rungs involve simply informing or placating members of the public, while the highest rungs represent partnership, delegated power, or even citizen control. Not every issue, program, or government action is suited to the highest level of participation—but the best local public servants understand that part of our job is to seek out opportunities for meaningful engagement. And the higher up Arnstein’s ladder we can go, the better.

Of course, it’s not always easy. Politics and bureaucracy can get in the way. Time and money are always in short supply. And sometimes people misunderstand the nuances of an issue and show up in unhelpful ways. That’s why one of the most important things we can do as public servants is educate. The adage holds true: an educated public is an empowered public.

Often, the most impactful role a local government can play isn’t to be the direct agent of change, but to create

Richard Dollinger, former judge of the New York Court of Claims, said unlike business corporations, LLCs do not create individual liability for unpaid debts if the business fails to survive. (Photo: Provided)

Originally, Tom Knipe wanted to become a diplomat with the U.S. State Department. But he instead set out on a path in local government, which he has found to be incredibly rewarding. (Photo: Provided)

Senator Lea Webb Launches Third Annual Back-to-School Supplies Drive for Teachers

By The Office of State Senator Lea Webb

Southern Tier, NY — On Friday, Senator Webb launched her 3rd Annual Back to School Supplies Drive for Teachers. This initiative is focused on providing essential school supplies to educators and their students as they gear up for the upcoming academic year. The supplies drive will take place from August 1st, 2025, to August 31st, 2025.

Senator Webb also announced 14 collection points across Senate District 52, where community members can contribute to the drive. These collection points will ensure that teachers and students have access to the tools they need for a successful year of learning. The collection locations include:

Broome County:

• Senator Webb's District Office (Binghamton), 44 Hawley St, RM 1607, Binghamton, NY, 13901

• GFJ Memorial Library, 1001 Park St, Endicott, NY 13760

• Southern Tier Community Center, 1 Club House Rd, Endicott, NY 13760

• Your Home Public Library, 107 Main St, Johnson City, NY 13790

Tompkins County:

• Senator Webb's District Office (Ithaca), 217 North Aurora St, STE. 110, Ithaca, NY, 14850

• YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County, 50 Graham Rd W, Ithaca, NY 14850

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

continued from page 6

and several other major lakes are infested, and blooms are appearing on the Lake Ontario shore. Check out the HAB map on the DEC site, and you will see Cayuga’s blooms are relatively minor in comparison. If the cooling system is at fault, then the entire south end would be infested. How about pointing to the extended periods of sunshine and farm fertilizers washing into the lake? Blaming Cornell’s cooling system is like ancient elders blaming eclipses for

• Ulysses Philomathic Library, 74 E Main St, Trumansburg, NY 14886

• Southworth Public Library, 24 W Main St, Dryden, NY 13053

• Greater Ithaca Activities Center, 301 W Court St, Ithaca, NY 14850

Cortland County:

• Cortland Chamber of Commerce, 83 Main St, Cortland, NY 13045

• Peck Memorial Library, 24 E Main St, Marathon, NY 13803

• Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St, Cortland, NY 13045

• Lamont Memorial Free Library, 5 Main St, McGraw, NY 13101

• Cortland County Family YMCA, 22 Tompkins St, Cortland, NY 13045

“I’m proud to kick off my third annual Teacher Supply Drive here in Senate District 52,” said Senator Lea Webb. “Every year, I’m inspired by the generosity of our community and the unwavering dedication of our educators. This drive is one way we can come together for teachers and ease the burden of having to purchase school supplies out of their own pockets. By donating, we are not just giving pencils and paper. We are sending a message that we value our teachers, believe in our students, and are committed to supporting public education. I’m grateful to everyone who joins us in making this effort a success each year.”

catastrophes. Confirmation bias solves nothing.” — Wally Powers

RE: Do You Think Cornell Should Agree To A Settlement With The Trump Administration?

“When dealing with an authoritarian dictator, there are NO guarantees that an agreement to restore funding will be honored. Extortionists love the process of extorting. Cornell will need to develop work around strategies at some point. Why not now before they give away any core values.” — Don Barber

Don’t Let the DEC Roll Back Our Gains Against ‘Forever Chemicals’

By Yayoi Koizumi, Zero Waste Ithaca

In 2022, New York passed among the strongest PFAS laws in the nation — within its carpet recycling statute. That statute defined these “forever chemicals” by chemical structure, not just a short list of compounds. This was a crucial step toward regulating the entire class of more than 14,000 PFAS chemicals threatening public health.

Yet in a pre-rulemaking stakeholder meeting on June 11, the DEC announced that it is considering some interpretations that would undermine this progress — favoring industry-friendly loopholes over science.

During that meeting, the DEC floated troubling proposals, such as distinguishing between “intentional” and “unintentional” PFAS to exempt upstream pollution, and narrowing testing to just a handful of compounds. For communities near plastic manufacturing sites — already disproportionately overburdened by PFAS, microplastics and other toxins — these exemptions would outsource accountability to industry self-reporting.

Instead of mandating “total fluorine testing” — the essential first step for detecting PFAS in complex products — DEC appears ready to rely on manufacturers’ word, since no lab test can detect intention; it can only detect contamination. Without independent verification, this distinction creates a loophole polluters can exploit.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption and developmental harm. Known as “forever chemicals,” they persist in the environment — and in the human body, including in breast milk.

New York’s carpet law correctly defined PFAS as a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. This aligns with international scientific consensus and closes the door on the industry’s favorite loophole: regulating only a few dozen.

So far, the DEC has not specified testing methods or thresholds. But other states — including California, Washington and Vermont — set lax limits for synthetic turf and other consumer products,

measuring parts per million, while overlooking the availability of more sensitive parts-per-trillion methods.

We recently tested a synthetic turf sample, marketed as “PFAS-free” and slated for installation at Cornell University, at an independent lab and found 53 ppm total fluorine. While this falls below Vermont’s 100 ppm threshold, it exceeds EU’s proposed limits under both Restriction Option 1 and 2 and would trigger regulatory action. This so-called “safe” turf would not withstand international scrutiny.

There is no safe level of PFAS; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level goal for two compounds in drinking water is zero. In other words: Science is evolving toward greater precaution, and the DEC must not move in the opposite direction.

Unlike car tires, synthetic turf is nonessential infrastructure. Yet it leaches PFAS and microplastics into the environment. Scientists urge banning and restricting PFAS in nonessential uses — a policy the DEC should adopt, not undermine.

To be clear: We aren’t asking the DEC to exceed the law. We just need them to uphold it.

California, Washington and Vermont have already watered down the class-based approach. If industry succeeds here, New York will seal that precedent — and hand the chemical industry exactly what it wants. New York has led before, from “Forever Wild” to the Green Amendment. To continue leading, the DEC must close loopholes — not carve them.

Yayoi Koizumi is the founder of Zero Waste Ithaca

Protect yourself from tick-borne illnesses

By ELI FINKELSZTEIN, MD

With warmer weather comes more time outdoors—and a greater risk of tick-borne illnesses, especially Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, both spread by black-legged deer ticks. The prevalence of these ticks has increased throughout upstate New York. About half of adult ticks in the Finger Lakes carry Lyme, and a growing number carry anaplasmosis.

Deer ticks live in shady, moist environments and are found across New York State. Adult ticks (sesame seed-sized) are most active from March to mid-May and mid-August to November. Nymphs (poppy seed-sized) are active from mid-May to mid-August and are especially hard to see. Ticks are active above 30°F without snow cover. Both can transmit diseases, usually after being attached for more than 36 hours.

Most tick bites do not cause illness. If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers by grasping near the head and pulling steadily. Clean the area with soap and water. If the tick is engorged, you may choose to monitor the bite site or take a single dose of antibiotics to reduce Lyme risk.

Lyme disease symptoms:

• Fever, fatigue, aches, and sweats

• A red, round rash (often but not always a bullseye)

• If untreated, it may lead to more rashes, fever, or in rare cases, affect the heart, joints, or nervous system

• Treatable at any stage with antibiotics like doxycycline or amoxicillin

Anaplasmosis symptoms:

• Fever, severe headache, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, cough, and sometimes confusion

• Rarely causes a rash

Prevention Tips:

• Wear long sleeves and pants outdoors

• Keep grass and brush trimmed in your yard

• Use tick repellents recommended by the NYS Health Department

• Check yourself and others thoroughly after time in wooded or grassy areas—especially armpits, scalp, and behind knees

If you experience symptoms, testing right after a bite isn’t helpful—it takes 4–6 weeks to show infection. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing illness.

Ticks are active above 30°F without snow cover. Nymphs are especially hard to see—tiny, like freckles with legs. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing illness.

Eli Finkelsztein, MD, completed his medical education at the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, his residency at New YorkPresbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, and his fellowship training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine. He is an infectious diseases doctor with Cayuga Health and is a preceptor for the Cayuga Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program. He sees patients at the Cayuga Center for Infectious Diseases in Ithaca, 1301 Trumansburg Road, Suite R and 260 Tompkins Street in Cortland, (607) 241-1118.

IIthaca’s Retail Landscape

Retail study warns of market stagnation and outlines

vision

for Ithaca’s business districts

By Maddy Vogel

n a two-year analysis of Ithaca’s retail landscape nearing completion, preliminary findings showcase market stagnation and declining foot traffic on the Commons, warning that coordinated action is needed before key markets reach a breaking point.

Commissioned in 2023 by the City of Ithaca and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA), Mike Berne of New York City and San Francisco-based MJB Consulting has spent two years studying Ithaca's retail landscape. Berne has interviewed stakeholders, analyzed survey results and analyzed community purchasing trends. He reviewed the recently completed downtown plan and prior Downtown Revitalization Initiative applications, along with conducting foot traffic studies.

The study, costing $50,000 and funded by city-allocated Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, aims to inform future city decisions impacting the local retail market.

While the final study is expected to be presented to the public in September, Berne and DIA CEONan Rohrer outlined the study’s preliminary findings at the Downtown Conference Center on Aug. 6.

“This retail study provides a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening Ithaca’s business districts citywide,” Mayor Robert Cantelmo said in a press release. “From Collegetown to the West End, the insights and recommendations recognize that our community’s economic vitality depends on thoughtful, placebased strategies that reflect the character of each district while uniting us through shared values and aspirations.”

Mike Berne of New York City and San Francisco-based MJB Consulting spent two years studying Ithaca’s retail landscape. He said Ithaca’s retail market is still underperforming in many ways.

(Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times)

Although Ithaca is an attractive place to major retailers, city-wide retail isn’t living up to its full potential, Berne said.

“The retail market, [...] as many assets as it does have, is still underperforming in many ways,” Berne said.

“The pandemic has not been easy on downtown.”

— Mike Berne, MJB Consulting

The closure of Urban Outfitters’ Green Street location in downtown Ithaca last year and the short-lived Ithaca Beer Company taproom in Collegetown are “black eyes” in Ithaca’s leasing community, signaling a declining market.

which would require partnerships between the private and public sectors to prevent.

“We really want to get ahead of that before it reaches crisis proportions,” Berne said.

ITHACAN CONSUMERS

ing establishments, upscale specialty food purveyors, community-oriented bookstores, and arts and craft galleries.

“They tend to prefer smaller independently run businesses, unless their name is Trader Joe’s,” Berne said.

This psychographic has strengthened Ithaca’s identity as an arts town, a characteristic which Berne said the city should embrace in its marketing to visitors.

But Ithaca’s retail landscape is gradually accommodating younger millennial and Gen-Z consumers, too. Marketing strategies have evolved from arts-centered to dining-focused, with craft food and artisanal beverage vendors moving in, appealing to millennial Ithacans.

DOWNTOWN WOES

Ithaca has a “great downtown with many successful retailers,” Berne said, with the curb appeal of new development.

“I think anyone arriving here who hasn’t been in 15 years will be blown away by what this downtown looks like today,” Berne said.

Despite the visual changes and influx of development, foot traffic downtown has remained steady, Berne said. But on the Commons, Berne said foot traffic has declined 12.5% from pre-pandemic levels (2018-2019) and 6.3% in the past year alone. The median household income of these visitors has also gradually declined.

“The pandemic has not been easy on downtown,” Berne said.

The study’s final results will present a citywide retail strategy for its four key business districts: downtown Ithaca, the West State Street Corridor, the West End and Collegetown.

Berne said the market seems to be stagnating, with no sense of upward trajectory anywhere besides South Meadow Street, which is “firing on all cylinders.”

Berne warned that particular districts could be inching closer to breaking points,

In his analysis, Berne focused on each business district’s “psychographics,” or the common attitudes and aspirations of the market. Overall, he said Ithaca has a prominent “yupster” psychographic among locals and visitors alike. In his presentation, Berne defined these “yupsters” as an amalgam of ‘60s-era hippies and ‘70s-era yuppies, well-educated and well-off consumers who dominate Ithaca's market. These consumers, he said, have given rise to a retail mix of traditional fine din-

Although lower foot traffic is primarily attributed to a wave of impacts related to COVID-19, the public perception of downtown has also changed, Rohrer and Berne said. Physical cues, like clean sidewalks, well-maintained greenery and modern wayfinding signage are key to shaping the public perception of downtown. This, in turn, impacts retail growth, Berne said.

Rohrer said that when people visit the Commons less frequently, the public perceptions of “negative behaviors” are amplified.

Berne said a reduction in Ithaca College’s enrollment could have contributed to a drop in Commons foot traffic. He also warned that in future years, SouthWorks, a large scale mixeduse development on South Hill, could prove to be a threat to downtown’s potential. He anticipates competition for retaining retail tenants and further declining downtown foot traffic.

tail market, such as Moosewood, Homegrown Skateshop, Ithacamade, and Viva Taqueria & Cantina.

“What was good enough five years ago is no longer good enough, and we have to work that much harder.”

— Nan Rohrer, DIA CEO

Berne warned that foot traffic and sales will continue to slow, and storefront vacancies will increase if public perceptions of a less safe downtown don’t change.

Despite public perceptions, Ithaca’s current storefront vacancies and business turnover is not unlike that of similar-sized sites, Berne told the Ithaca Times. Cities, he said, should generally aim for a vacancy rate below 10%. Although the DIA is calculating downtown’s vacancy rate, Berne said he observed more vacant storefronts than expected in the downtown business district. But the downtown area is home to many longstanding businesses that define the re -

One of Berne’s recommendations for the downtown district was to develop strategies to assist long-time business owners with succession planning. Many of the long-time Commons businesses were established in the 70s, and the owners need retirement plans to ensure the continuation of their businesses’ success, he said.

WHAT’S NEXT

Berne offered preliminary study recommendations, including the curation of a balanced retail mix downtown of arts and crafts stores, handmade goods, bookstores, vintage and consignment shops, and cafes, eateries and wine bars. Berne said that this would require more support for landlords and brokers to recruit tenants who align with this vision. He also recommended the development of targeted marketing campaigns that position

Berne said cities should aim for a vacancy rate below 10%. He observed more vacant storefronts in the downtown business district than expected.

(Photo: Maddy Vogel/Ithaca Times)

Ithaca as a must-visit regional arts town and emphasized that collaborations between local makers, galleries and theaters can enhance downtown’s vibrancy.

Berne said that Ithaca should always be looking at what’s next: “game changing anchors” who could raise the city’s profile. This relies on a tenant attraction strategy — looking for tenants in other markets and proposing to bring them to Ithaca. REI and Trader Joe’s, for example, are two major retailers that are attracted to Ithaca because of its consumer demographic.

Business retention strategies are central to the DIA’s programming. Rohrer said that DIA is always pushing city and county partners to provide adequate support and investments into business success.

“What was good enough five years ago is no longer good enough, and we have to work that much harder,” Rohrer said.

The retail study sets the table for partners to work together to create ways for retailers to be successful in Ithaca’s market, Rohrer said. This can help guide future city legislation and staffing, along with finding the best ways to invest in Ithaca’s businesses.

MJB is still finalizing its findings and recommendations for its final report. The DIA welcomes feedback or comments to info@downtownithaca.com until Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 5 p.m.

The curation of a balanced mix of stores, eateries, cafes and bars would improve downtown retail, Berne said.

(Photo: Nathan Ellison/Sun Fellow at the Ithaca Times)

Mission Accomplished

A Swim for Sophie Spans Cayuga Lake

By Steve Lawrence

As I drove north on Route 89 at 8 am on Saturday, I remarked to myself that Cayuga is one long lake. As I passed two bicyclists — heads down and cranking along — I thought that they must agree with that assessment. A bit later, I passed through Romulus –about two-thirds of the way to the north end — and I thought about Claire de Boer and Bridgette Hobart, who had been swimming for 12 hours, and had seven more hours to go. They, I thought, must REALLY think it’s a long lake. The swim was much more than just an athletic achievement. Claire and Bridgette had both done the swim solo (38 miles in 21 hours) — Claire in 1984 and Bridgette in 2015 — and both women have extensive endurance sports resumes, but this endeavor came wrapped in a deep sense of purpose for both swimmers and their

families. The swim doubled as a fundraiser for The Sophie Fund, established by Scott and Susan McLeod, in honor of their daughter, Sophie, who is described on the organization’s website as “bursting with talent and plans for the future until she succumbed to her battle with depression at the age of 23 on Easter Weekend in 2016.”

The pain Sophie’s family is living with is familiar to both Claire and Bridgette, as both women lost a nephew to suicide, and that bond between all three families led to their decision to undertake The Cayuga Swim for Mental Health.

I have known Claire for 44 years, I have written about her family’s extensive athletic undertakings, and I had a great connection with Scott McLeod through our collaboration on a preview article. When I arrived in Union Springs to get on one of the support boats, I also got to meet Susan — Scott’s wife and Sophie’s

mom, and I loved learning more about their daughter’s passions, her achievements and her love for Ithaca, “her adopted hometown.”

I was also pleased to reconnect with Maarten and Venetia de Boer — Claire’s brother and sister-in-law and the parents of her late nephew, Rowan. I was invited onto the support pontoon boat they had rented for the occasion, along with Rachael Dewitt, a young woman who had swum the 16-mile length of Skaneateles Lake two weeks earlier to raise awareness and funds for lake preservation.

The weather could not have been more perfect, and after a great send-off gathering at Treman Marina on Friday, Claire and Bridgette’s plan to complete the earliest part of the swim under a full moon presented some stunning imagery. The online updates kept assuring followers that they were “off to a great start,” and “maintaining a solid pace,” and a GPS tracker conveyed their precise location at any given moment.

People watched from boats and from the shore all along the way, and when the pontoon boat I was on pulled

Continued on Page 19

Providing Property and Casualty Insurance for homes and businesses represented by a network of over 400

agents throughout New York State.

Claire de Boer and Bridgette Hobart at the conclusion of their 38-mile, 19-hour swim. (Photo: Provided)

By David Durrett

Protagonist Books and Coffee — a women-owned, queer-owned, and author-owned independent bookstore and coffee shop — will be opening at 8 W. Main Street in Dryden on Sept. 3.

Protagonist Books and Coffee seeks to offer mainly fiction books, with diverse authors and stories to foster an inclusive space. The owners, Sam and Amber Gellar-Smith, a married couple who are both authors themselves, said one of the themes of the store is to allow customers to find their own story, and so they offer personalized recommendations.

“We aren’t beholden to different contracts with whatever’s being highly marketed,” Sam said. “We can choose our own books according to what we think is a good fit for the bookstore. That’s one of the huge benefits of independent bookstores, is you’re just able to make your selection the way you want to make it and you’re not driven by the commercial machine that’s behind Amazon and some of those big-box stores.”

In addition to the books on sale, the store has a cafe that will serve coffee and locally produced baked goods. It also hosts various events, such as author readings and board game nights, and serves as a “third space” apart from people’s homes and workplaces.

The store’s hours will be noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, with the store being closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so that people can come out to shop after dinner, and enjoy events without having to go to Ithaca or Cortland.

Sam and Amber had long discussed opening a bookstore, but had originally considered doing so in retirement. They ended up moving up their plans when North Carolina, where they lived until recently, passed the “Don’t Say Gay” laws in 2023, which Sam said created an environment more hostile to lesbians than when she first came out in the 1990s.

“As an author, I do a lot of school visits,” Amber said. “I was told that I wasn’t allowed to mention that I had a wife, because North Carolina had just passed these terrible ‘Don’t Say Gay’ laws. Anyway, that was the point where we seriously considered that we wanted to move away into a more welcoming community.”

Arts & Entertainment Independent Bookstore and Coffee Shop Coming to Dryden

Sam and Amber went on a vacation to the Finger Lakes, and visited Ithaca for a week.

They found Dryden to be more welcoming than Charlotte, North Carolina, so after seeing a beautiful home in Dryden, they put in an offer a day later.

“All of the different components really fell into place, so we decided to go for it,” Amber said.

Because of their experiences as a lesbian married couple, Sam and Amber want Protagonist Books & Coffee to be an inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

“We really know what it’s like to not feel welcome,” Amber said, “and so we want to make this space a very inclusive and welcoming space for people of all walks of life.”

Sam and Amber have been working on the store since January, preserving the historical character of a stone wall to the left of the front entrance, installing bathrooms and a rear entrance that are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, and making other preparations. Some local residents have offered help, such as painting a sign to be used out front, giving hand-made coffee mugs, providing advice on

getting food products for the cafe and giving other assistance.

“We all realize we’re working together, we’re not fighting each other for business, really,” Sam said, “and that’s great.”

Sam and Amber have applied for a grant to fund construction, but are paying for most of the expenses with their funds. According to Sam, this is a difficult time for construction because materials are expensive due to tariffs, post-COVID-19 pandemic shortages and other factors.

“We’ve paid more for the people working on our construction than we would back in Charlotte,” she said, “but we also recognize that they’re being paid fairly for their work, and they’re doing high-quality work, and we really appreciate that.”

Sam and Amber expressed their enthusiasm for sharing the happiness they have in their store with others.

“It’s been really exciting to see this dream starting to become a reality,” Amber said. “We’re really excited to share it with the community.”

Sam and Amber Gellar-Smith inside the future location of Protagonist Books, which will open in September. They are posing in front of a stone wall that will be preserved in order to keep the historical character of the building.

applications focused on improving the existing downtown core. He said the state, however, is looking to focus on parts of downtowns in “need of revitalization.”

“Previously, some of our applications were weighted differently and looked at the existing downtown core, which I think as residents of this community, we can all find areas where we’d like to see further investment,” Cantelmo said. “I think that from the outsider perspective of the state, overemphasizing what typically is conceived of as sort of like the most picturesque and attractive tourist part of the city didn’t fully convey [a] need [for the grant funding].”

At Tuesday’s meeting, poster boards displayed the 15 potential projects the DRI Steering Committee may include in their grant application. Groups planning capital investments within the proposed DRI boundary or within one block of it were encouraged to submit a project proposal

ENTREPRENEURS AND LLCS

continued from page 7

public notices — may not be valid. Failure to publish in a statutoryapproved newspaper or failing to file the Certificate of Publication with the Department of State within 120 days of formation will result in the suspension of the LLC’s authority to transact business. The suspension is not permanent: an LLC can file a new affidavit of publication in

before July 14. Projects could be for public or private improvement, or to elevate the local quality of life. Attendees were asked to place dots on the boards of their favorite projects. They could also place sticky notes with comments for individual projects on the boards.

All projects were required to have a realistic path to implementation and be “transformational in scale and scope,” according to a slideshow presented at the meeting. Ineligible projects include those already in progress, property acquisition programs and ones with recurring expenses.

At the meeting, City Grant Administrator Emma Recckio said the steering committee plans to submit projects that in total cost more than the $10 million budget. Recckio and Cantelmo emphasized how this showcases Ithaca’s ability to fully leverage the allotted funds.

“It’s a super tricky, weird kind of application process,” Rekkio said. “Last year, we submitted about $16 million worth of projects, just to show that we had a lot

state-sanctioned newspapers and then the suspension is lifted back to the date of the original filing.

However, while a company’s contract liability shield will remain intact, the LLC could be barred from commencing legal action in the State courts or prevented from obtaining a certificate of good standing from the state or doing business with the state or other government entities.

In short, if you form an LLC — or need to make any other statutory-required

more [than we] need[ed]. [...] So that’s what we intend to do this year, is to maybe [propose] about $15 or $16 million [worth of projects]. We’ll do our best to kind of listen to what the community has said and to narrow down that list as best as we can and submit it to the state.”

A variety of projects were shown at the meeting, including building an Alpha Phi Alpha Monument, restoring the Naughton-Brown Building and renovating it to increase downtown housing, adding seating and air conditioning to the State Theatre to increase programming, and improving sustainable and active transportation downtown through new Bikeshare and personal biking spaces. Most of these projects will not be solely funded by the DRI and will seek funding from other sources as well.

Constituents at the meeting brought up several concerns, one being whether construction proposals took into account resiliency against various climate events. Recckio said some of the proposals already took this into consideration.

“I think climate is certainly a lens that the city is always looking through and being sustainable and resilient, especially now,” Recckio said.

Cantelmo said that last year’s application was likely seen as “too ambitious for the state.” This year, the steering committee is aiming to produce an envisionable, intentional application that would extend the economic heart of the city toward the West End. If Ithaca receives the grant, project contracting will begin in the second half of 2027.

“I know that [what the city would look like in the future is] not always the most exciting thing for a regular member of the public to be engaged in, but that’s what the folks in our planning department are focused on — not just what’s going to work now or [during] the next election cycle” Cantelmo said. “But what makes this a city that is vibrant and sustainable in the long run.”

Shubha Gautam is a senior writer for The Cornell Daily Sun and is working as an intern this summer at the Ithaca Times.

Continue your education, further your career, learn something new Choose from thousands of regular Cornell courses

publications — make sure your notice is published in a state-approved newspaper in Ithaca and Tomkins County.

The Ithaca Times through its affiliated newspapers — the Ovid Gazette, Trumansburg Free Press, Interlaken Review, News Chronicle and Tompkins Independent — meets the requirements of state

WE THE PEOPLE

continued from page 7

the conditions that allow entrepreneurs, activists, artists, workers, property owners, business owners, young people, visitors, and everyday residents to apply their energy constructively to making our community better.

Many people today are inspired to run for office or get involved in local government. Hats off to those called to serve in that way. But let’s also recognize the vital role local government can play—or fail to play—in empowering people to serve their communities by:

• Building a business

• Providing housing, childcare, or transportation

• Educating and training

• Caring for others

• Serving on a board

• Reminding us all of joy and meaning through the arts

Good participation is the foundation of a healthy democracy. So, let’s be on the

law and is ready to help entrepreneurs bring their LLCs to life, generate new ideas and bring jobs to your community.

Hon. Richard A. Dollinger is a retired member of the New York Court of Claims and a former member of the New York State Senate.

lookout for opportunities to foster meaningful engagement and deep collaboration in every project we touch. Our community is stronger when we all have a stake in shaping its future.

Electoral politics matter, but local public service—working for and with local government to empower people to improve their communities—is and has always been where the real action is.

Tom Knipe, a Cornell Alumnus — 2011 — was recently chosen to lead the IthacaTompkins County Transportation Council after serving the City of Ithaca as its Director of Economic Development since 2018. Upon graduation from Cornell, He served as Director of the Tompkins County Tourism Program for seven years, is a passionate advocate of active transportation and, when time permits, teaches as a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell. Tom has diverse interests and talents, living a life dedicated to family (Mary, Alice, Alder and Eleanor), art, food, music, sustainability, outdoor recreation, and public service.

Singer/Songwriter Joe Crookston: Optimistic and Personal

By Peter Rothbart

Folk singers are first and foremost storytellers. And of course, they are poets. But they can also be philosophers, historians, political and social activists, as well as humorists. The best folksingers are some combination of these, and Joe Crookston is one of the best.

Relentlessly optimistic about the human condition, he reflects his personal sunshine onto his audience, singing deeply introspective and personal lyrics with a folksy twang and hearfelt presentation. He is as inwardly looking as he is outwardly effervescent. He exhorts his audience to actively participate in bettering the world, using poetic allegories that reflect his personal yearnings. His lyrics tell stories that connect us universally.

Crookston’s plaintive singing and raconteur style storytelling is rooted in the American wandering troubadour tradition most closely identified with Woody Guthrie. I caught up with Crookston as he headed down the road to Chicago for a folk festival, followed by a run up to the upper Plains before he returns to Ithaca. He travels over 100 days each year. Crookston is an effusive and engaging talker. It’s as if his speedometer was gaging the speed of his thoughts. “I like to go,” he admitted. “It keeps me alive and not in my head, not ruminating.” Our talk wandered across a landscape of topics and ideas, as he persistently developed snippets of lyrics that just needed a gestation period before birthing into a new song. He thinks in poetry. This restlessness has driven his songwriting in new directions, recently. “I’m trying to be less dense in my writing. I’m looking for a way to blend storytelling, allowing room for (audience) interpretation.” He uses a Rorschach test as an analogy, in which the viewer sees what he/she wants to see. “I want to move my slider to songs that allow the listener to see and hear their own story.”

His inquisitiveness has led him into experimenting with other artforms. His most recent foray is into sculpture. Crookston explains that his upcoming art show entitled, “Get Myself Free” at Ithaca’s The

Cherry Arts is about, “Recognizing the fears inside myself, confronting them like a cobra, which represents my inner fear of not being good enough, or being judged. I’m making some of the worst art I’ve ever made on purpose to show in a gallery and to friends and have them love, without judgment, shame, or insecurity, an ever recovering people-pleaser.” Get Myself

Free will open at Ithaca’s The Cherry Arts on September 1 and will run through September 13. Crookston will host an Artist Reception on September 4, and on-site concerts on September 12 and 13. The art show is free, but you’ll need tickets for the concerts.

Where to Find Joe Crookston:

Aug. 26, 2025, 6 p.m.

Music in the Hollow Ellis Hollow Community Center Ithaca, NY

Sept. 1-13

Joe Crookston Art Show

The Cherry Arts

102 Cherry St. Ithaca, NY

Sept. 3, 5 p.m.

Trumansburg Farmer’s Market Trumansburg, NY

Sept. 4, 7 p.m.

The Cherry Arts

102 Cherry St., Ithaca, NY Artist’s Reception

Sept. 5-7, 1 p.m.

Feeding the Bard Songwriting Retreat

Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m.

The Cherry Arts Presents Concert 1

The Cherry Arts

102 Cherry St., Ithaca, NY

Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m.

The Cherry Arts Presents Concert 2

Joe Crookston’s style of folk music is similar to the American wandering troubadour tradition of Woody Guthrie. His lyrics are introspective, personal and optimistic about the human condition. (Photo: Provided)

The Cherry Arts 102 Cherry St., thaca, NY

Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.

City Limits: Hard Driving Horns

By Peter Rothbart

Ithaca is enjoying a resurgence of sophisticated horn bands. Some groups relegate their saxophones, trumpets, and trombones to an occasional rhythmic hit, or a sporadic secondary unison melody that occasionally breaks out into a short-lived harmonic punctuation. They decorate the music; they may emphasize a harmony, but ultimately, they are structurally irrelevant and could be replaced by a well-articulate synthesizer, as many bands do.

But the saxophone, trumpet, and trombone players in City Limits are an integral part of the band’s defining sound and identity. Mark Baxendell unleashes a controlled rawness on the trumpet that is supported and complemented by Will Mattin’s polished and fat trombone tone. Bob Sarachan, on tenor and baritone saxophone as well as keyboards, is responsible for much of the band’s signature sound, thanks to his impressive arranging skills and soloing ability. We can appreciate the driving bass of Lisa Bloom, the cleanly stroked and well-tuned drumming of Steve Peck, the gutsy sound and fluidity of guitarist Dan Paolangeli’s fingers, and certainly the raucous and energetic voice of singer Andy Lockwood, who indefatigably struts around the stage like an early David Grohl or Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. There’s a manly aura around his movements and vocal work. He’s assertive and

CORNELL CALS

continued from page 5

in control of his microphone, no matter where his antics land him onstage When his rough-hewn voice overtakes Sarachan’s tightly orchestrated horn arrangements, the band’s unique charisma is hard to miss. According to Sarachan, City Limits defines itself as a high energy rock ‘n roll band. Hard driving might be added to his description. They’ve added loose rock’ n roll trope-based choreography that reveals the playful rapport between the horn players.They are loud, but well mixed, avoiding the distortion other rock bands seem oblivious to. Lyrics are understandable and rise above the full power of the horn licks. Individually, the band members know how

goal to expand opportunities for students. For example, the college offers tuition-free education for adults seeking an associate degree in high-demand fields such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, engineering and others. Enrollees must be New York residents within the 25-55 year age range, but they do not need prior college experience or credits to participate. Additionally, the agreement is part of CALS’ Signature Pathway Program, which forges opportunities for New York community college students to earn degrees at CALS. It is part of the college’s Land-Grant mission, which aims to improve the lives of people globally through community partnerships and research focussed on serving the public good.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

continued from page 12

alongside the swimmers, we — and the two pilots of the accompanying kayaks — cheered them on as they did their highfives and switched places. The consistency of their pace and the accuracy of their

predictions as to where they would be and when were impressive, and it was very moving to see Susan, then Maarten, then Rachael slip into the water to join the swim. They shared that big lake, and that big sense of purpose.

Claire and Bridgette did the last mile or so side by side, and they swam into

to work their microphones, stepping up during solos and backing down when they are backing up the singer or other soloist. City Limits casts a wide net with their repertoire. They cover the full range of rock, from the 1960s through the music from today. Emblematic rock songs populate their setlist; Wilson Pickett’s “Knock on Wood” shares the stage with The Beatles’ “Hard Day’s Night,” Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” and Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love.” The Temptations’ “Get Ready” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Sun” and songs by The Doobie Brothers find space between Blood, Sweat and Tears, Joe Cocker, and even the Monkeys.

Houlton said CALS is proud to partner with the State University of New York network and TC3, subsequently expanding opportunities for New York state students.

“This new articulation agreement reflects our Land-Grant mission and shared commitment to building strong academic pathways for students, in service of all New Yorkers,” Houlton said in a press release. “By welcoming TC3 transfer stu-

Harris Park around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Dozens of supporters were there, including many of Claire’s classmates, her high school coach, Roy Staley, and several of Bridgett’s family and friends were there for her, and to remember her nephew, Corey. It was a 19-hour odyssey, filled with compelling moments, but the tearful embrace

Where to Find City Limits:

Aug. 15, 2025, 6-9 p.m.

The Boatyard, Ithaca, NY

Sept. 4, 2025, 6-8 p.m.

LaTourelle, Ithaca, NY

Sept. 9, 2025, 1-4 p.m.

Grist Iron Brewery, Burdette, NY

Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.

dents into our community, we’re investing in the next generation of agricultural and life sciences leaders—offering them access to world-class research, hands-on learning, and real-world impact that can spark innovation and improve lives here at home and around the world.”

Shubha Gautam is a senior writer for The Cornell Daily Sun and is working as an intern this summer at the Ithaca Times.

shared by Claire and Maarten at the end of the swim will be, for me, a peak memory. What a great gift to be a part of it. Thanks to all involved.

Please visit www.thesophiefund.org to learn more about the important work being done. There are many ways to get involved and make a difference.

City Limits covers the full range of rock, from the 1960s through today’s music. (Photo: Provided)

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Events this Week

8/13 Wednesday

200 Years: Seneca Lake and the Erie Canal Waterways | 10:00 a.m. | Join us at the Brick Tavern Museum and delve deep into Schuyler County ’s water transportation highways. | Montour Falls Montour Falls Workshop to learn about Civil Service Careers and NY HELPS | 1:00 p.m. | Christina Lyon, Rochester CCG Specialist, will conduct a workshop to explore career opportunities with NYS. | Montour Falls Career Center, Department of Labor, 323 Owego Street #unit 11, Montour Falls

The Member’s Show | 1:00 p.m. | The Member ’s Show exhibit gives the public the opportunity to see the new work coming out of The Ink Shop, one of Central New York’s best printmaking facilities | The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St., Ithaca | Free Good Grief Circle | 2:00 p.m. | The Age Well Center, 165 Main St., Cortland Wednesday Market at East Hill | 3:00 p.m. | Don’t have time to get to the pavilion every weekend, or need a mid-week haul? We have you covered. | 330 Pine Tree Rd., Ithaca Yoga to the People/Yoga in the Parks | 4:00 p.m. | Free, familyfriendly, accessible yoga in Ithaca’s parks this summer. | Conway Park, 500 Cascadilla St., Ithaca | Free The Jess Novak Band @ Geneva Lakefront Summer Concert Series | 5:00 p.m. | Jess Novak is a triple-threat singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. | 35 Lakefront Dr., NY Geneva LGBTQ+ Youth Group | 5:45 p.m. | Join us at LGBTQ+ Youth Group to do crafts, play games, and socialize. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Mill Park Music Series: Amber Martin & The Fruit Stand | 6:00 p.m. | Mill Park, 222 Main Street, Newfield | Free

DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 6:30 p.m. | Join Dave Ashton for a challenging round of “ DJ Trivia” at Hopshire Farm and Brewery! Every Wednesday. | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road, Freeville | Free Music on the Green: The Shoals | 7:00 p.m. |Bring a chair, pack a cooler, and enjoy live music under the evening sky! | Homer Village Green West Homer Road, Homer Trivia! | 7:00 p.m. | Trivia Night with Bob Proehl at Liquid State! | Liquid State Brewery, 620 West Green Street, Ithaca | Free Fireside Sessions | 7:00 p.m. | Sit around the fire with acoustic ambience & libations | New Park Event Venue & Suites, 1500 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca | $25.00 - $30.00

Wednesday Open Mic Night at The Nocturnal Café! | 7:00 p.m. | Free weekly Wednesday Open Mic night at The Nocturnal Café, Ithaca’s nightlife alternative, featuring music, poetry, dance and more! | The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St., Ithaca | Free The Little Mermaid | 7:30 p.m. | Little York Lake, 6799 Little York Lake Rd., Preble |

Top Hat | 7:30 p.m. | Combining the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age and the glorious, tap-dancing magic of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, TOP HAT is a musical comedy that will delight and entertain young and old alike. See website for more dates and showtimes. | Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, 17 William St., 2nd Floor, Auburn | Practice At Poetry & Punk Showcase | 7:30 p.m. | Practice At Presents a Punk & Poetry showcase with newcomers and established acts! 7:30 p.m. doors $5 cover. | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Asleep at the Wheel | 8:00 p.m. | For over fifty years, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has been traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music and introducing its irresistible sound to generation after generation. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer Latin Wednesday | 9:00 p.m. | Get ready for the RETURN of LATIN

WEDNESDAYS, Ithaca’s longest running and hottest weekly dance part | The Upstairs, 106 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca

8/14 Thursday

Lake and Land Tour Discover Cayuga Lake | 10:00 a.m. | Get the best of both worlds through Discover Cayuga Lakes Lake and Land Tour! | Allan H. Treman Marina, 805 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca

LCL End of Summer Reading Celebration | 10:30 a.m. | Join us August 14 at 10:30 AM for LCL’s End of Summer Reading Celebration! The Johnson Museum of Art and Carol Hockett will lead a hands-on workshop to create watercolor resist bookmarks. Celebrate a summer of reading and creativity—fun for all ages! | Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Rd., Lansing | Free Pop Up and Play | 11:00 a.m. |The Y will be traveling throughout Ithaca and Tompkins County to bring summer fun to families all over! Children can participate in a diverse range of exciting activities hosted by Y Staff at each location during the week. | Vankirk Recreation Park, 80 Vankirk Road, Newfield | Free Lunchtime Lecture: The Emancipation Generation’s Struggle for Black Literacy | 12:00 p.m. | During and after the Civil War, freed people sought access to education, started their own schools. | Seward House Museum, 33 South Street, Auburn 4 Seasons Summer Book Club | 12:00 p.m. | Register at TCPL.org. Zoom or in-person. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green St., Ithaca Seeing Ithaca | 12:00 p.m. | Art Exhibit Group Show. | State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State St., Ithaca | Free Unity in Shades Roundtable | 1:00 p.m. | This Roundtable aims to cultivate an environment where professionals of color can forge significant relationships, engage in discussions pertinent to our experiences in both business and non-profit sectors, and enhance the visibility of multicultural individuals in Tompkins County. |

Tompkins Chamber, 124 Brindley Street, Ithaca

Story + Craft | 4:00 p.m. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Ages 8 to 108 Board Game Club | 5:00 p.m. | Are you between the ages of 8 and 108 and love playing board games? Then come join our board game club. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Car Cruise-In | 5:00 p.m. | Spend an evening with us and enjoy the company of cars and friends. All makes, all models, all clubs. Food & Music: hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, fries, beverages. | Central New York Living History Center, 4386 US Rte. 11, Cortland | Free Beginnings Summer Concert Series: Cast Iron Cowboys and The Rollin’ Rust | 5:00 p.m. | Bernie Milton Pavilion Center Commons, Ithaca | Free Shadows Over Cayuga, True Crime Walking Tour | 5:30 p.m. | From scandalous postcards to vanished bodies, poisoned chocolates to financial double-crosses, this walking tour shines a flashlight on the people and press that shaped local justice. Join us at The History Center in Tompkins County Thurs-Sat at 5:30 p.m. | The History Center in Tompkins County, 110 N Tioga St., Ithaca | $15.00

The Onlies | 5:30 p.m. | Join us for the South Hill Cider Community concert Series! | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca Mind Over Body Movement Class | 6:00 p.m. | Learn how to achieve improvement through movement and techniques aimed at strengthening the connection between mind & body. | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street, Newfield | $10.00 Workshop: How to Write Blackout Love Poems | 6:00 p.m. | Poet and screenwriter Lee Cotman will guide participants in creating their own “blackout” love poems from a variety of un-romantic source texts (e.g., junk mail and meeting minutes). | CAP ArtSpace 110 N. Tioga Street, Tompkins Center for History and Culture, on the Ithaca Commons, Ithaca | Free

Summer Flower Workshop | 6:00 p.m. | Spend a relaxing evening on a flower farm, wandering through gorgeous dahlia rows and using tips to arrange your own bouquet. | Jenny Creek Flowers, 7048 Durling Road, Trumansburg Brewhouse Blues Jam | 6:00 p.m. | We are honored to have the opportunity to host one of the longeststanding Ithaca blues jam traditions. | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville | Free Chenango Blues Festival | 6:00 p.m. | The festival begins unofficially on Thursday, August 14th with a free show in Norwich’s East Park before moving to the Chenango Fairgrounds on Friday, August 15th. | EAST PARK 1 EAST MAIN STREET, Norwich | Free Music in the Park: Ageless Jazz Band | 6:30 p.m. | Myers Park, Lansing

Trampoline: Dog Days | 7:00 p.m. | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Community Line Dance | 7:00 p.m. | Community Line Dance in Ithaca! | TreeHouse Studio and Lounge 119 S. Cayuga St. Suite, 301, Ithaca | $12.00 - $15.00

Public Sunset Cruise Discover Cayuga Lake | 7:30 p.m. | Enjoy a beautiful once in a lifetime sunset on Cayuga Lake! | Allan H. Treman Marina, 805 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca

Movies on the Homer Green: The Wild Robot | 8:00 p.m. | Grab your blanket, lawn chair and cooler. | Homer Village Green, West Homer Road, Homer

8/15

Friday

James Potorti Interpretive Gorge Walks | 10:00 a.m. | Join us for our annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. | Robert H. Treman State Park, 129 Upper Park Rd., Newfield | Free Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Class | 12:00 p.m. | Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a skill that addresses troubling emotions and manifestations of trauma. | Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, 511 West Seneca, Ithaca | Free Visions Presents: Sidewalk Showcase | 5:00 p.m. | This Friday: Armstrong School of Dance, Villages at Ithaca Inc | Downtown Ithaca Commons, 128 S Cayuga St., Ithaca Friday Night Magic: Commander | 5:00 p.m. | Come down to Riverwood for a recurrent night of Commander-

style Magic play! | Riverwood, 116 E State St., Ithaca | $5.00 Mosaic Foundation | 5:30 p.m. | Join us for the South Hill Cider Golden Hour Music Series! | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca

Live Music — The Common Railers | 6:00 p.m. | Common Railers is original indie rock and American roots music. | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road, Freeville Dirtroad Ruckus | 6:00 p.m. | Dust off those boots and get ready for a fantastic evening as Dirt Road Ruckus returns to Treleaven | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry Much Ado About Nothing — Summer Shakespeare on the Green | 6:00 p.m. | Homer Movie Night — “Elemental” | 7:00 p.m. | Join us at the Library for free popcorn and a screening of Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental”. | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street, Newfield | Free

Hinder — Back to Life Tour Part II | 8:00 p.m. | Del Lago Resort & Casino 1133 NY-414, Waterloo, Waterloo Tommy Emmanuel, CGP | 8:00 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer

8/16

Saturday

Foraging Walk | 10:00 a.m. | Join us on a foraging walk to see what is edible along our trails! The walk will be moderately flat. | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca | $20.00

Sky High Yoga Festival | 10:00 a.m. | A one-day festival by Sky yoga studios, where yoga, music, wellness, and mindful cannabis meet the m | Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, 2708 Lords Hill Road, LaFayette Yoga to the People/Yoga in the Parks | 10:30 a.m. | Free, familyfriendly, accessible yoga in Ithaca's parks this summer. | Titus Triangle Park, 418 S Titus Ave., Ithaca | Free Farmers Market Cruise Discover Cayuga Lake | 11:00 a.m. | Get the best of both worlds straight off the Ithaca Farmers Market dock! Enjoy the good times of the Farmers Market and Experience Cayuga Lake! | Ithaca Farmers Market, 545 3rd St., Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca

Family Storytime | 11:00 a.m. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Teresa Bakota Yatsko “Reimagination” | 12:00 p.m. | Teresa Bakota Yatsko’s one-person exhibit “ Reimagination”. The 3-dimensional book sculptures in this exhibit have been created from a variety of upcycled

BEGINNINGS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: CAST IRON COWBOYS AND THE ROLLIN’ RUST

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH AT 5:00 PM Bernie Milton Pavilion, Ithaca Commons | It will be a great evening to put on your dancing shoes and enjoy a blend of bluegrass, roots, folk, and country. (Photo of Rollin Rust: Provided)

JAZZ FESTIVAL AT TRELEAVEN

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH FROM SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1:00 PM – 8:15 PM

Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry | A celebration of music and community at the First Annual Jazz Festival, a day filled with incredible performances, delicious food, and delightful tastings from local vendors. Featuring headliner, Murali Coryell, Under the Influence: A Tribute to

John Scofield, Andrew Nixon Jazz Trio, Brian Tyneway, and Dennis Winge. (Photo of Murali Coryell: Provided)

Blues lovers may consider a short road trip this weekend down to the 32nd annual Chenango Blues Festival. Fourteen bands will take the stage throughout the weekend, culminating in four-time Grammy winners Los Lobos headlining on Saturday. Tickets are available online or at the gate, and organizers look forward to welcoming fans from throughout the northeast and beyond to their award-winning event. (Photo of Los Lobos: Wikipedia)

books that were obtained from the Ithaca Friends of the Library Book Sale. Her work also brings Mosses and lichen into the work. | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill, Business Campus South Hill, Business Campus, Ithaca | Free Age of Dinosaurs Design and Doodle | 1:00 p.m. | Each week we will explore and discover dinosaurs and non-dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era. We will have fossils from the time period, some great conversation, and help in creating your own design. Come anytime between 1-3 p.m. on Saturdays in August for your lesson in line drawing and fun illustration. | Museum of the Earth, 1259 Trumansburg Road (Route 96), Ithaca | $0.00 - $12.50

Everything Earrings: Intro to Jewelry Fabrication | 1:00 p.m. | Learn jewelry assembly and basic metalsmithing techniques with jeweler Draya Koschmann | SewGreen Press Bay Court, 112 W Green Street, #5, Ithaca | $55.00 Jazz Festival at Treleaven | 1:00 p.m. | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry | $10.00 - $15.00 Workshop: Trans/Queer Poetics of Self-Making | 2:00 p.m. | How can queer poets use their work to define and redefine themselves? In this 1-hour workshop with Amir McClam, participants will explore poetry as a queer (non-normative) method of self-creation. | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Free TCPL Makerspace x The History Center: Personal Map Art | 2:00 p.m. | In collaboration with The History Center in Tompkins County, patrons are invited to artistically decorate historical maps of local locations that have personal significance. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Lily Silly Puppet Show and Workshop | 2:00 p.m. | A puppet show for all ages! Aunt Irene ’s show is filled with music and fantastic variety acts. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Bookish Club | 3:00 p.m. | Join others to discuss what you ’re currently reading, what you want to read, and past books that have made an impression.

| The Whimsy Mercantile, 2075 East Shore Drive, Lansing | Free Game Night: Be Prepared | 4:30 p.m. | Welcome to your new favorite RPG! Take on the role of desperate, incompetent scouts trapped in the cruel and unforgiving woods as an ancient evil attempts to eat them in this one-off RPG. It ’s easy for beginners, and all skills are merit badges.

| The Whimsy Mercantile, 2075 East Shore Drive, Lansing | Free Brew Collar Beer Fest | 5:00 p.m. | Join us at Lincoln Hill Farms for Brew Collar Beer Fest! This isn’t your typical brew fest! | Lincoln Hill Farms, 3792 NY-247, Canandaigua

Three Dog Night and Little River Band | 5:30 p.m. | Tags Summer Stage, 3037 State Route 352, Big Flats Live Music at the Danby Market: Whistlin’ Dyl | 6:00 p.m. | Solid grooves that transport the listener from a back porch venison roast to a hard driving funk to get you shaking whatever you got. | Danby Food and Drink, 1843 Danby Road, Ithaca | Free Psychic Show | 6:00 p.m. | Group readings by Rev. Josey, Psychic, Shaman, Reiki Master, & more. | Hopshire, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville | $33.85 Dancing on the Patio | 6:30 p.m. | Come dance on the patio at South Hill Cider! Join us for Salsa, Cuban, and

tion. | Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, 805 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca | $12.50 - $15.00

Latin music. | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca

Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots at Stone Bend Farm | 7:00 p.m. | Join indie rock favorites Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots for a summer evening at the beautiful Stone Bend Farm. | Stone Bend Farm, 196 Porter Hill Road, Newfield | $10.00

OZ, as Told by the Wizard Himself | 7:30 p.m. | TCFA’s Fine Arts ’ Musical Theater Arts program is producing a past, present, and future looking version of The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Music supporting the tale will feature songs from the popular musicals Wicked, The Wiz, and The Wizard of Oz. Featuring 20 local area children, | Trumansburg High School, 100 Whig St., Trumansburg | $0.00 - $5.00

Autumn Sun CD Release Concert

| 7:30 p.m. | Lansing Performing Arts Center, 1004 Auburn Rd. (34), Lansing Calya Lea — August Residency | 8:00 p.m. | Calya Lea w/ Special Guest, Endres Kincaid. | The Downstairs, 121 W M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Everybody Wants — THE STRUTS | 8:00 p.m. | The Struts have been a live sensation since they first erupted onto the scene with their certified P | Del Lago Resort & Casino 1133 NY-414, Waterloo, Waterloo Tommy Emmanuel, CGP (Night Two) | 8:00 p.m. | Guitar icon Tommy Emmanuel C.G.P. is no stranger to iconic stages. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer

8/17

Sunday

Outdoor Qi Gong Class — Sundays | 10:00 a.m. | Outdoor Qi Gong for Wellness and Nervous System Regula -

REV THEATRE CO. PRESENTS TOP HAT

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH AT 7:30 PM. CHECK WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL DATES AND SHOWTIMES

Merry Go Round Playhouse, 6877 East Lake Road, Auburn | Packed full of Irving Berlin’s greatest hits including Cheek to Cheek, Top Hat, White Tie and Tails, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, and Puttin’ on the Ritz, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ tap dancing musical comedy is an exhilarating celebration of 1930s song and dance. (Photo: Stock)

Bassett Street Hounds Dance Performance | 11:00 a.m. | Ithaca Commons, 171 E. State St./ Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ithaca Swingin’ on Cayuga 2025 | 11:00 a.m. | 4 Free Swing Dance Classes, a picnic, dance demos, and a live band dance with the Dave Davies Quartet | Stewart Park Large Pavilion, 1 James L Gibbs Dr., Ithaca | $0.00 - $15.00 The Evergreen Social x South Hill Cider: Vintage Clothing and Goods Market | 12:00 p.m. | Join us at The Evergreen Social Summer Market Series at South Hill Cider! | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Rd., Ithaca Science Connections: Tune Together | 2:00 p.m. | Join Tune Together for an engaging and interactive musical concert! Tune Together is a youth-led organization. | Sciencenter, 601 1st St., Ithaca

Molly Tuttle Band | 3:30 p.m. | Point of the Bluff Vineyards, 10489 County Route 76, Hammondsport | $71.40 Summer of Discontent Tour | 5:00 p.m. | Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion | Summer Stage at Tags, 3037 State Route 352, Big Flats

Rose Hill Concert Series: Autumn Sun | 5:00 p.m. | Rose Hill Mansion, Geneva | Free DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 7:00 p.m. | Join Dave Ashton for DJ Trivia every Sunday night at Crossroads in Lansing! Bring your friends. | Crossroads Bar and Grill, 3120 North Triphammer Road, Lansing | Free Cody Jinks at Lakeview Amphitheater | 7:00 p.m. | The multi-Platinum singer and songwriter Cody Jinks is back on the road with the highly anticipated | Lakeview Amphitheater, 490 Restoration Way, Syracuse | Cypher Lounge | 7:00 p.m. |Cypher Lounge — Welcome all rappers, spoken word artists, and fans of such to the Cypher Lounge. | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

8/18 Monday

Seneca Lake Wine Trail Event — Gone to the Dogs | 10:00 a.m. | For tickets and more information visit: Dates & Times: Monday August 18 through Sunday, August 24 during each participating winery ’s regular tasting room hours. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414, Lodi Teen Maker Mondays | 4:00 p.m. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Senator Lea Webb’s Community Office Hours | 4:00 p.m. | Please

join the Office of New York State Senator Lea Webb for “Community Office Hours” on August 18th, 2025, from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Tompkins County Public Library in Ithaca, NY. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free Mondays with MAQ | 5:30 p.m. | Join us every Monday for cider, food, and live jazz with some of the best local musicians! | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Rd., Ithaca Summer Sing | 6:30 p.m. | A cappella barbershop women’s group. No prior experience needed | First Baptist Church, 4443 Seneca Rd., Trumansburg | Free

Thurbs + Underground River | 7:00 p.m. | Underground River: Deep psychedelic rocks formed primarily on the bank | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Participatory Contra, Square, and Circle Dancing | 7:00 p.m. | Ithaca Commons, 171 E. State St./ Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ithaca

8/19 Tuesday

Pop Up and Play | 11:00 a.m. | The Y will be traveling throughout Ithaca and Tompkins County to bring summer fun to families all over! Children can participate in a diverse range of exciting activities hosted by Y Staff at each location during the week. | Groton Memorial Park, 170 Pasadena Ave., Groton | Free Downtown Blood Drive | 1:00 p.m. | Downtown Blood Drive from 1:00-6:00 p.m. | First Baptist Church in Ithaca at Dewitt Park 309 N CAYUGA ST at Dewitt Park (behind the Courthouse), Ithaca | Free

Super Cream Car Cruise-Ins | 4:30 p.m. | Super Cream Car Cruise-Ins Are Back! Get ready to roll into summer at Super Cream Dairy Bar—because | Super Cream Dairy Bar, 75 N. West Street, Homer

Taughannock Live Music Series: The Loons | 5:00 p.m. | Inn at Taughannock Falls, 2030 Gorge Rd., Trumansburg

LEGO Family Build Night | 5:30 p.m. | TCPL invites families to a weekly LEGO build night! Buckets of LEGO will be provided for participant. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Music in the Hollow: SCUBA Jerry | 6:00 p.m. | Ellis Hollow Community Center, 111 Genung Road, Ithaca | Free Comic Book Club Meeting “The League of Super-Pets!” | 7:00 p.m. | Come celebrate more of the “dog days” of August with the CBC when we peruse the charming animated movie,

The League of Super-Pets. This furry version of the DC Comics’ Justice League debuted in 2022, and featured the voices of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, among many others, for the pets. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free Jonas Brothers: JONAS20 Greetings From Your Hometown | 7:30 p.m. | Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, 490 Restoration Way, Syracuse Open Mic Stand Up Comedy Night | 7:00 p.m. | First and third Tuesdays of the month! Kenneth McLauren hosts Open Mic Stand Up Comedy Night. | The Downstairs Ithaca

8/20 Wednesday

2025 Great New York State Fair | 9:00 a.m. | Note: Specific location details are not available for this event. | New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse Greensprings Garden Club | 10:00 a.m. | From May to October, volunteer with us as we divide perennials, mulch plantings, plant shrubs, pull | Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, 293 Irish Hill Rd., Newfield | Free Mikki Zip | 2:30 p.m. | Acoustic at Shamrocks at The New York State Fair | New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse The Writers’ Room | 6:00 p.m. | Work on your writing project in the company of other writers. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free Beloved Artistic Community Meet Up | 6:30 p.m. | Join Civic Ensemble for Community Soup — Storytelling toward the Beloved Community | Ithaca Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street, Ithaca | Free Jazz Night at Deep Dive: Firefly Trio | 6:30 p.m. | Jazz Night at Deep Dive: Firefly Trio (6:30-8:30 p.m.), Big Band (8:30-10:30 p.m.), The People’s Jam! (10:30-12:30 p.m.). | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca | Free Vinyl Swap & Shop | 7:00 p.m. | Vinyl Swap & Shop. Buy / Trade / Spin. Bring records to trade, browse collectors ’ records for sale. | The Downstairs, 121 W M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca OUR BELOVED IAGO | 7:30 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer Nate Smith | 8:00 p.m. | Country superstar Nate Smith is set to light up Suburban Park on Opening Day, Wednesday, August 20. | New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse

SWINGIN ’ ON CAYUGA 2025

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH AT 11:00 AM

1

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Stewart Park Large Pavilion,

James L Gibbs Dr., Ithaca

Join the Ithaca Swing Dance Network by the shores of Cayuga Lake for workshops and dancing! (Photo: Stock)

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