Aug. 26, 2026 by Ithaca Times

F R E E / A u g u s t 2 6 , 2 0 2 6 / V o l u m e L I V , N u m b er 5 0 / O u r 5 4 t h Y e a r

Online @ Ithaca.com

STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE Things you need to know for living in Ithaca

PAGES 17-20 B&W SUPPLY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF BUSINESS

TCIDA DEFENDS $9.37M TAX ABATEMENT FOR SOUTHWORKS DEVELOPMENT

LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES SECURE $135K IN STATE GRANTS TO UPGRADE WATER CYBERSECURITY

BUSKING FOR JUSTICE RETURNS FOR FALL SEASON

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION TAKES ON LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY PROJECT

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2 The Ithaca Times / August 26 – September 1, 2026

Newsline

VOL. LIV / NO. 50 / August 26, 2026 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

ON THE COVER:

Longtime Ithaca Development Director to Retire

By L or i e n Ty n e

he City of Ithaca announced that Lisa Nicholas, director of Planning and Development, will be retiring in January after 21 years of public service in the city. Before Nicholas assumed the role of director of planning and development in 2022, she held positions as deputy director and acting director in the department. The press release announcing Nicholas’ retirement said that throughout her tenure, she has worked to advance the city’s goals for housing, sustainability, economic opportunity and neighborhood preservation. “It has been a great honor and experience to work in this community for the last 20+ years,” Nicholas said in a statement to the Ithaca Times. “Ithaca is a special place, and Ithacans are dynamic, creative, and incredibly thoughtful. Despite having sometimes passionately held differing viewpoints, everyone that I have worked with shares deep care for our city and great hope for our future.” The press release said that under Nicholas’ direction, the Department of Planning and Development, took a collaborative approach to address the city’s complex challenges by bringing together residents, businesses, developers, board and public officials. Some of Nicholas’ work has

T a k e

N o t e

he Child Development Council of Central New York will be expanding its current services for families with young children and pregnant individuals by opening two new family resource centers in Tompkins and Cortland Counties before the end of 2026. The Child Development Council is a nonprofit that has served the communities in Tompkins and Cortland counties for almost 60 years. The organization’s mission is to advocate for the healthy development of children and families through individualized services, education and connections to community resources. According to a press release from the Child Development Council, the two new family resource centers will be located in the cities of Ithaca and Cortland, but the exact locations have not been announced yet. Malinda Rees, community services director

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR �� 6 OPINION / SPORTS �� 7 NEWS ��8-9 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT �� 10-13 CLASSIFIED �� 14 TIMES TABLE �� A15-A16 STUDENT GUIDE �� 17-20 A NATION LISTENS �� 22

ON T HE WE B

Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000

provide caregiving support, child development information and connections to other resources. for the Child Development Council, said in the The centers will also have family events, play press release that while the council operates groups, community cafes, case management family services home visiting programs, these and resource navigation, parenting education, resource centers will provide another way for parent leadership groups and mental health families to access available resources. support. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to “Having a supported play space available to bring Family Resource Centers to both counties,” the community is a core component of the Child Rees said. “Far too often, families with young Development Council’s 2025-2028 strategic children have limited support in their early plan and Family Resource Centers directly align parenting journey. Providing support for with that vision,” Perry said in the press release. families with young children in a welcoming All services provided by the center will be environment is what the Child Development accessible to community members at no cost. Council’s Family Resource Center aims to do.” The press release said “Traveling Family Resource Melissa Perry, CEO of the Child Development Centers” will work to bring programming to more Council, said in the press release that the fund- rural areas of Tompkins and Cortland Counties. ing for the resource centers is from the New York The Council’s Family Resource Centers will State Office of Children and Family Services. She operate on a weekly schedule with day and said that in addition to play areas for children evening hours. Monthly calendars will be availthrough the age of eight, the centers will offer able to the community on the council’s website access to community support specialists who at childdevelopmentcouncil.org.

X Family Resource Centers to Open in Tompkins, Cortland Counties By Lorien Tyne

NEWSLINE �� 3-5

included modernizing zoning regulations, overseeing redevelopment of strategic sites and contributing to long-term planning efforts and development reviews. “Lisa’s leadership has helped shape modern Ithaca,” Mayor Robert Cantelmo said in the press release. “Her dedication to thoughtful planning, housing opportunities, economic vitality, and sustainable development leaves a lasting impact on Lisa Nicholas, director of Planning and Development for the City of Ithaca, is retiring in January after our community. We are grateful for her more than 20 years serving the community years of public service and the professionthrough her work within the department. alism, knowledge, and commitment she brought to this role every day.” leader who can help build on that progress According to the press release, the city and position Ithaca for long-term success.” has begun recruitment efforts to fill NichoThe city is conducting a national search las’ position. Applications for the position to recruit a new director, who will play a are available on the city’s website, and the deadline to apply is Sept. 11. The director is central role in projects such as implementing the City's Downtown Revitalization responsible for leading the Department of Initiative (DRI) investments and zoning Planning and Development and overseeing modernization. planning, economic development, com“The Director of Planning and Develmunity development, environmental review, opment plays a central role in how our historic preservation, code enforcement community grows,” Acting City Manager and redevelopment initiatives. Dominick Recckio said in the press release. “This is one of the most important leadership positions in City government,” Can- “This department’s work touches every part of our community. We’re seeking a telmo said. “Ithaca continues to experience director who values collaboration, ungrowth and momentum, with major housderstands the complexity of our planning ing, infrastructure, and economic developand development landscape, and can help ment projects moving forward across the guide thoughtful, steady progress.” community. We are excited to welcome a

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M i k ay l a R o ven o lt, Managi ng Ed ito r e d i to r @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Scot t Ma n so n, Asso ciate Pu b l ish er J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r E me r i t u s j b i l i n s k i @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m R o y A l l e n , D i r e c t o r o f St r at e g i c Pa r t n e r s h i p s r oy@ i t h ac at i m e s .co m L o r i e n T y n e , A s s i s ta n t E d i t o r l o r i e n @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m A u s t i n L a mb , C o p y E d i t o r a l a m b @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m P h i l i p O ’ D e l l , R ep o r t e r p h i l i p @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Ja k e Se x to n , Ad m i n istr ative Co o r d i nato r , C a l e n d a r E d i t o r ja k e @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Mark Sy vertson, Photographer m ar k s y v er t s o nph oto gr aph y@ gm a il .co m Ste ve L awr ence, Spo rts Co lumn ist stevesportsdude@gmail.com Lisa Ellin, Advertising & Marketing l i s a . e @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m K i r a W a l t e r , A r t s & E n t e r ta i n me n t r ep o r t e r a r t s @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Z a c h a r y I s a a c S t e p h e n s , A u d i e n c e E n g a g eme n t & D e s i g n A s s o c i a t e F r ee l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, Jake Sexton, Kira Walter, and Ceili Ayoung THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE C O P Y R I G H T © 2 026 B Y PAT H W AY S T O E Q U I T Y, L L C . 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 Good Times Gazette (1973–1978), combined in 1978. Founder Good Times Gazette: Tom Newton

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INQUIRING From Bar Supply Runs to Highmark Stadium: B&W Supply Co. Celebrates PHOTOGRAPHER N e w s l i n e

By Mark Sy ve r t son

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “SUMMER IS COMING TO AN END. WHAT’S A GOOD DAY TRIP FOR SOMEONE LOOKING TO SQUEEZE IN A MINI-VACATION?” NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com

“I would say Watkins Glen. The gorge trail is phenomenal.” – Bill

“A wine tour of Seneca Lake.” – Linda

“We like to go to Fair Haven State Park on Lake Ontario.” – Allen

“I would say either Watkins Glen or a wine tour.” – Josie

50 Years Supplying Ithaca Restaurants and Beyond

By P h i l i p O’ D e l l

hat began in 1976 as a ragtag effort by a local tavern owner to haul truckloads of glassware from Syracuse to neighboring Ithaca bar owners is now one of New York state’s most enduring family businesses. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, B&W Supply Co. remains a tight-knit, five-person operation co-owned and run by mother-son duo Becky Benjamin and Hoyt Benjamin Jr., also known as Junior, who still personally pull orders and greet customers at their showroom. Located at 510 Third St. in Ithaca, B&W provides commercial food service equipment, kitchenware, silverware, disposable paper goods, and maintenance supplies for clients, such as restaurants and institutional kitchens, according to its website. B&W’s clients include local Becky Benjamin and her son, Hoyt Benjamin Jr., stand outside B&W Supply Co. in Ithaca, N.Y. The mother-and-son duo co-own and operate the restaurant staples such as Coltivare, Collegetown equipment and supply business. (Photo: Mark Syvertson) Bagels at City Center, Temple of Zeus Cafe at Cornell’s Klarman Hall, Pasta Vit“We really like to give back to Ithaca to, Fargo Bar & Grill, and Bike Bar. Other Their surnames served as the inspiration because we have received so much from for the company’s name. clients include Cornell University, Ithaca Ithaca,” Becky said. Junior said he grew up in the store and College, and multiple local businesses Leveraging its status as a food service helped install ventilation hoods and built and healthcare organizations. Hoyt said equipment dealer with a Woman Business commercial clients make up roughly 85% walk-in coolers during high school. After Enterprise designation in New York state, earning his college degree, he returned of customers, as the business primarily B&W positioned itself to secure major to the family business full time nearly 15 operates as a wholesaler and cash-andcontract opportunities statewide, Junior said. carry operation. The business is also open years ago, taking on sales and operations duties alongside his mother. Reflecting on The WBE certification enabled B&W to hanto the public and retail. his fondest memories, he cherishes having dle contracts spanning from Buffalo to Long “Just about every restaurant in Ithaca Island, including the recent installation of an seen his parents build the operation into a comes in,” Junior said. “Some utilize us more 18-foot commercial dish machine at SUNY so than others, but we do see just about every- wholesale business. Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Hoyt Benjamin Sr.’s wife and son have one here in our store in one way or another.” The company started work with the Back in 1976, Hoyt Benjamin Sr. owned kept the family’s Ithaca venture firmly rooted Buffalo Bills on the team’s new Highmark in the community since his death in 2020. The Salty Dog, a bar along the Cayuga Stadium in 2023. Junior said his business “It means everything to me. I’ve been Inlet that preceded the former site of supplied all the new venue’s fryers, walk-in involved from the start,” Becky said. “I Castaways and The Dock. The site is now worked hand-in-hand with my husband to coolers, and beer merchandisers. Bills home to the music venue, Deep Dive. At representatives reached out seeking WBE get everything established. Now that he is the time, he realized other local bar ownparticipation to satisfy benchmark diverno longer with us, I’m proud to be able to ers had trouble procuring restaurant and sity goals on the project, Junior said. After carry it on with my son.” tavern supplies in Ithaca. meeting with the primary contractor who Becky said her favorite part of the busi“They would take a truckload up to Syrwas awarded the stadium’s $200 million ness is building relationships with local acuse, buy a truckload of glassware, paper customers and visiting their establishments. food service package, Junior said B&W supplies for the bars, and split it amongst joined the venture as a subcontractor. “It gives me a focus for my life,” Becky the bar owners,” Junior said. “That’s kind “It really just allows us, as a smaller said. “I’m around customers who are the of how B&W started, as my dad saw an business, to be competitive with some of best people, and I just really enjoy it.” opportunity.” She said the company takes equal pride our larger competition,” Junior said. The venture transformed into a fullWhile brick-and-mortar competitors in giving back to the Ithaca community fledged business, as Hoyt Benjamin Sr. through donations to nonprofits and supopened B&W on State Street alongside porting new small business owners. original business partner Paul Wright. Contin u ed on Page 12

4 The Ithaca Times / August 26 – September 1, 2026

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

TCIDA Defends $9.37M Tax Abatement for SouthWorks Development Amid ICSD Objections

The Cortland Memorial Foundation's 23rd annual Golf Classic raised more than $67,000 toward patient care at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. The event, held Aug. 10 at the Cortland Country Club, brought together 68 golfers for a friendly competition and in support of local health care.

By P h i l i p O’ D e l l

he Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors approved a tax incentive package for Beacon Communities to build affordable housing for the SouthWorks development, a move board members defended amid recent public opposition. TCIDA chair Deborah Dawson said the board approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for Beacon Communities at its Aug. 12 meeting. Dawson said the PILOT permits the developer to construct a 230-unit housing development with income restrictions between 50% and 80% of the area median income over the next 30 years. According to the project authorizing resolution, Beacon Communities can receive up to $9.37 million in sales and use tax savings on up to $117.2 million in purchases for project-related goods and services that would otherwise be taxed. TCIDA will also provide financial assistance, including a partial mortgage recording tax exemption and partial real property tax abatement. The project authorizing resolution says Beacon Communities sales tax exemption is scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2028, unless granted an explicit extension. Under a clawback provision, TCIDA can reclaim sales tax savings if the developer takes unauthorized exemptions, exceeds approved spending limits, or breaches the agreement terms. According to SouthWorks’ website, its proposed 230 apartments and 10 structures include The Gateway’s two buildings with 100 apartments in the city of Ithaca and The Woods’ 130 units across eight buildings in the town of Ithaca. The project authorizing resolution says Beacon Communities’ project spans 9 acres, including 810 Danby Road and 620–640 Aurora St. The overall units will consist of 100 one-bedroom, 105 two-bedroom, and 25 three-bedroom apartments. The resolution says TCIDA affirms the approval will take immediate effect and that public hearings held July 29 and Aug. 11 met all legal notification and public comment standards. According to an authorizing resolution on Oct. 9, 2024, TCIDA granted a tax incentive package to Shift Chainworks Owner 1 LLC, including a PILOT agreement, partial real property tax reductions, and

By Kaeleigh Banda

Ups

Downs Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) is seeking a small black dog that bit a person on Aug. 16 around 9:30 a.m. in the neighborhood of Landon Road, in the town of Caroline/Slaterville area. EH seeks to verify the health of the biting dog through an at-home observation over a ten-day period. EH urges anyone with information regarding this dog to call its oﬃce at (607) 274-6688.

Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency Chair Deborah Dawson speaks during a board meeting on Aug. 12. (Photo: Screen capture via YouTube / Tompkins County)

partial state mortgage recording tax exemptions. The agreement allows the developer to save up to $20.1 million in state and local sales taxes on as much as $250.9 million in project spending. These tax privileges will expire Dec. 31, 2034. According to a June 17 application for incentives, Shift is leading the overall redevelopment of the 95-acre site and serves as project co-owner and Beacon’s co-development partner. “Each phase of the Southworks project is broken off from the “umbrella” and receives its own separate and independent PILOT,” Dawson told the Ithaca Times via email on Aug. 19. “The Beacon PILOT applies to all 230 units of workforce housing that will be built as part of the larger Southworks development.” In recent months, some residents voiced concerns regarding the SouthWorks tax breaks, including potential shifting costs to taxpayers or increased city and school district costs. In a July 27 letter, the Ithaca City School District urged TCIDA to pause Beacon Communities’ project until a full impact study is conducted. Noting that local property taxes generate 70% of its revenue, ICSD estimated the 230-unit development would bring roughly 150 new students, adding an estimated $4 million in annual district costs at $25,000 per student. During TCIDA’s Aug. 12 meeting, Ithaca resident Teresa Alt called for excluding school taxes from IDA abatements. Alt advocated for state-funded school financing reform and spoke of state income or wealth taxes as funding alternatives. Resident Peter

Penniman urged Beacon Communities to voluntarily increase its tax payments and contribute to local schools, arguing the developer is in better financial standing than local municipalities facing budget deficits. Dawson elaborated on the PILOT agreements regarding SouthWorks at the Aug. 12 meeting. “The whole idea of that umbrella was that as individual pieces of this huge project were under development, they would be broken off and given their own pilot, which would be evaluated separately and have its own terms, so this is not a second bite of the apple and this is why we are seeing this request,” Dawson said. Dawson said demographic projections show a continued decline in overall district enrollment, leaving significant capacity. She said the exact number of new residents will remain unknown until Beacon’s project is completed. Dawson discussed the abatement policy’s financial mechanics after receiving public recommendations to restrict abatements to the construction phase or exclude school taxes altogether. “The biggest piece of the real property tax abatements are the school taxes,” Dawson said. “If we remove those from the abatement program, the incentives would not be sufficient to make the projects work financially and that’s why they’re structured the way they are.” Going forward, Dawson urged SouthWorks developers to collaborate closely

HEARD&SEEN Heard

The Ithaca Marriott Downtown on the Commons is welcoming a new restaurant, Patsy’s Pizzeria. The pizzeria is hosting a grand opening celebration on Aug. 27 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m.

Seen The Tompkins County Board of Elections began operating out of its new oﬃce at 214 W. State St, Ithaca, on Aug. 24. The BOE moved from Annex C at 128 E. Buﬀalo St. in preparation for the Center of Government project construction.

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

Are you ready for back-to-school season?

22.7% Yes. 40.9% No. 36.4% I don’t care.

N EXT WEEK ’S Q UESTION :

Are you excited for fall activities? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

Contin u ed on Page A16

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The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR By Ithaca Times Readers

Human Rights Violations Toward People of Israel

“

I support peace and coexistence between all peoples living in the Holyland. Sadly the Palestinian leadership, despite signing the Oslo ‘Peace’ Accords in 1993, have always continued to teach hatred of and advocate for the destruction of Israel. The most recent Gaza war resulted from thousands of Gazans invading neighboring Israeli communities to rape, stab, maim and slaughter innocent civilians. 1200 Israeli residents were slaughtered and 251 were kidnapped, many raped and tortured for hundreds of days until they or their dead remains were repatriated to Israel. This not only happened to Jews. It was also perpetrated against neighboring Bedouin Arab communities and other non-Jewish residents of Israel. The HAMAS charter aims to kill every Jew. Among the murdered hostages were 9 month old Kfir Bibas and 86 year old

Shlomo Mansour who survived the 1941 Farhood massacre in Baghdad. Israel’s response to this attack has sadly resulted in much destruction and death in Gaza. The loss of civilian life resulted from Hamas using Palestinians as shields and from Hamas building tunnels filled with weapons beneath schools and hospitals. Genocide is the aim to kill an entire people. This is HAMAS’s aim, not that of Israel. Thank you Representative Josh Riley for seeking out the truth and standing up against the attempted genocide against Israel.” — Marcia Zax, Ithaca NY

Did Hochul Save Cayuga Lake from TeraWulf?

“

In September 2025, TeraWulf proposed building a 300-400MW high performance computing (HPC) data center on Cayuga Lake. Local opposition to the project is strong. Governor Hochul’s moratorium on all proposed data centers in NYS is likely to slow any site review process by the Town of Lansing. On July 22, the Ithaca Journal reported that ‘Still standing on the lakeshore property is the coal-fired power plant that closed in 2019, which TeraWulf wants to restart to power its project.’ This is a shocking revelation. TeraWulf’s pitch to Lansing explicitly centered on deactivating the coal plant and repurposing the site for a data center using renewable energy.

6 The Ithaca Times / August 26 – September 1, 2026

TeraWulf’s Cayuga Lake data center project has not made a complete site plan application yet, nor has TeraWulf secured any corporate clients for the data center project. On the second quarter earnings call, TeraWulf CEO Paul Prager claimed that both TeraWulf data center projects in New York were more valuable as a result of Governor Hochul’s executive order moratorium, a desperate spin to save face for the Cayuga Lake data center project. In our view, any bid to restart the old power plant has no legs. The two steam boilers from 1955 are now too corroded to be reused. Most or all of the motors in the plant were cut up and sold for scrap. There is no power plant to be ‘restarted.’ TeraWulf’s threat to restart the power plant may be pure saber-rattling aimed at the Town Board. By stoking anxiety about adding a power plant, TeraWulf may hope the Town Board and local residents will eventually breathe a collective sigh of relief, ‘Phew, we only got a data center!’ However, if TeraWulf proceeds with a formal application for a power plant and data center combination project on Cayuga Lake, they may be hoping for review for both components to come under the jurisdiction of the NYS Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment in Albany, possibly circumventing the local authority of the Town of Lansing and the political power of watershed residents, leaving those stakeholders most impacted by the project with little or no say in whether a data center or data center-generating plant combination gets approved. The governor and TeraWulf may need to be reminded of residents’ winning NoNukes on Cayuga Lake campaign in the late 1960s and early 1970s. So, it’s too soon for any sigh of relief;

we must stay vigilant. FLX Strong, CLEAN and their supporters and partners will! Donations to our legal and campaign fund can be made at nodatacenterflx.com.” — John V. Dennis, Ithaca NY

RE: Smut: An Ithaca Obscenity Trial

“

We can always count on Carol to shine a light on intriguing slices of local history. I look forward to her newest book. Congratulations, Carol!” — Lynn Thommen, Ithaca.com

RE: Letters to the Editor: Questions for Josh Riley

“

Thank you, Ruth Yarrow — unless Josh Riley actively owns these terrible mistakes, he’s lost my vote.” — Hardy Griffin, Ithaca.com

Ithaca Common Council Skirts Local Law

“

Developers of a new Planned Unit Development (PUD) presented their plans at Common Council last week. The plan would build 5 apartment buildings, each 4 stories high, creating a total of 75 apartments. Location is on a wooded cliffside on lower West Hill, with a driveway onto Elm Street. Adjacent properties are LACS school and apartments formerly called Chestnut Apartments. Many members of the neighborhood spoke about problems with the site location. However, Common Council moved it forward in the planning process by considering the application complete. In the process of considering the application complete Council disregarded City Contin u ed on Page 9

SURROUNDED BY REALITY

It Bears Mentioning By C h a r l ey G i t h l e r

ews item: Cornell updated its Community Living Standards on July 26 (in the nick of time) to include a clause banning the processing of wild animals in communal kitchens. This move was designed to close a loophole after an incident last academic year in which students skinned and butchered a bear in a shared kitchen in a North Campus residence hall. The students successfully deployed the “you never said we couldn’t” argument, widely known in legal circles as the Bart Simpson Defense. Of course, closing loopholes isn’t always as easy as it seems… Scene: Cornell’s Freshman Move-in Day last week. Resident Advisor URSULA

MINOR is addressing a group of eager newbies in the common room of North Campus’ Cornstarch Hall. She’s going over the rules. MINOR: It’s a little odd, but I want to draw your attention to page four of the Community Living Standards. You’ll see there is a new restriction, put in just three weeks ago. You can’t process wild animals in the dorm’s kitchen. FRESHMAN #1: Is this because of the bear thing? It’s just because that’s our mascot, isn’t it? I bet if it was a deer it wouldn’t be such a big deal. MINOR: Well, not just because of our mascot…I mean it was kind of a…

FRESHMAN #2: Hey! This wasn’t in the orientation materials. Where am I supposed to process my bear meat? You can’t just make rules at the last minute. FRESHMAN #3: Does that mean even possums? There’s a pretty intact one on the road coming into town. MINOR: Any wild animal. So, yes, possums. And it does include deer. FRESHMAN #1: Ah! So domestic animals are excluded. I know where we can get live sheep! FRESHMAN #2: My uncle will totally give us an ox. (excited murmuring among the freshmen) FRESHMAN #4: Are parrots wild? MINOR: Guys! I think it’s really more about butchering animals in the kitchen. FRESHMAN #1: That’s not what you said! FRESHMAN #5: What about fish? Aren’t they wild animals? Does this mean I can’t season wild caught salmon? That’s

technically “processing”. MINOR: I mean, I guess technically, but… FRESHMAN #4: This means you all can kiss my duck à l’orange goodbye. MINOR: People! Please! This is getting a little out of hand. FRESHMAN #1: I’m calling my mom. She’s a lawyer. This thing has more holes than a buckshot pheasant. No way it holds up in court! (most of the freshmen volunteer that one or more parents are lawyers) FRESHMAN #2: I just texted my dad. He says it’s so vague, it’s unenforceable! FRESHMAN #3: I’ll go get that possum. MINOR backs out of the common room as pandemonium ensues and we FADE TO BLACK

Sports

Big Red Gears Up for 2026 Season, Luncheons Return, and a Sad Passing By Ste ve L aw re nc e

s usual, several NCAA conferences will be well into their season before the Ivy League kicks off, but there is some justifiable buzz at Cornell about some high expectations. The Big Red’s offensive line will have some real incentive to protect senior quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio, as he will have two main targets this season. Tight End Ryder Kurtz and wide receiver Samuel Musungo — both seniors — have both been tabbed as Phil Steele FCS Pre-Season All Americans. Kurtz has been a reliable target over the course of his Big Red career, catching 80 passes for 964 yards and 8 touchdowns. Musungo missed all of last season due to an injury, but the numbers he put up in 2024 have put him on the short list for potential Ivy League Player of the Year honors. In '24 Samuel hauled in 83 passes for 960 yards and 10 touchdowns. Having two elite receivers, each drawing a lot of attention while running very different routes, should open up the Big Red's offensive attack. We will find out on September 19,

when Cornell travels to Colgate to open the season. Home games will be on 9/26 (Yale), 10/10 (Harvard), 10/17 (Lehigh), 11/7 (Penn), and 11/14 (Dartmouth). I can’t believe that I am actually getting ahead of this news, as every year for the last 33 years, Dave Wohlhueter, the retired Sports Information Director at Cornell, has asked me why I have yet to write about one of his favorite events. Here ya go, Dave... From Cornell Athletics: The 50th Tompkins County Sports Council Football Luncheon series will begin on Thursday, Sept. 10. The weekly luncheons will commence at 11:45 am. for nine Thursdays over the course of the 2026 season at The Fraternal Order of Eagles at 161 Cecil Malone Drive in Ithaca. The cost is $180 for the nine luncheons, with Oct. 15 serving as a “bye” week to gear up for the season’s stretch run. Each week the head football coaches at Ithaca High School (Johnnie Akins), Ithaca College (Brandon Maguire) and Cornell University (Dan Swanstrom) will discuss the previous week’s games, and give a scouting report on the future opponent. Head football coaches at five other Tompkins County

Wide receiver Samuel Musungo, who returns after missing the 2025 season, will be a key part of Cornell’s offense. (Photo: Cornell University Athletics)

high schools will make guest appearances throughout the fall. Various winter sport coaches will also make guest visits. The Tompkins County Sports Council is a not-for-profit organization. All profits go directly back to the six high school football programs in Tompkins County. Last year, these six programs received $8,000. It doesn’t seem that long ago, but it was 1993 when I wrote about the sad passing of the Cornell fencing program’s beloved coach, Graeme Jennings. It saddens me once again to write that Graeme’s daughA u gu s t

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ter, Susan, has passed at the age of 48. The program released this statement, describing Jennings’ “unshakable love of fencing, a sport that carried her from a young girl idolizing the women on her father’s Cornell fencing team to one of the most decorated collegiate fencers of her generation and a beloved coach and mentor.” I remember meeting Graeme Jennings when he came to Cornell as an Assistant Coach in 1985. He was an elite fencer, Contin u ed on Page A16

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Tompkins County Municipalities Secure $135K in State Grants to Upgrade Water Cybersecurity

our Tompkins County municipalities secured a total of $135,000 in state grant funding to protect local drinking water and wastewater infrastructure against cybersecurity threats. State Sen. Lea Webb announced Aug. 6 that the awarded funds are from the state’s Strengthening Essential Cybersecurity for Utilities and Resiliency Enhancements (SECURE) grant program. A total of $200,000 was awarded to municipalities in Webb’s district. The City of Ithaca received $75,000 in state funding to bolster its water infrastructure against cyber threats. Specifically, the City of Ithaca received $50,000 for general municipal cybersecurity upgrades and $25,000 targeted for a drinking water system cybersecurity assessment. Other county municipalities that received grant funding include the Village of Dryden ($25,000 for its SECURE Grant), the Village of Freeville ($10,000 for its SECURE Grant Application), and the Village of Trumansburg ($25,000 for its Wastewater SECURE Grant Assessment). The Ithaca Times emailed each municipality for comment but did not receive responses before publication. Other municipalities in Webb’s district that acquired the state funds include the City of Cortland ($25,000 each for its water and wastewater treatment plant cybersecurity assessments) and the Town of Virgil ($10,000 each for its water and wastewater SECURE Grant assessments). “Our wastewater and drinking water systems are cornerstones of public health, and it is absolutely critical that we continue to provide localities with funding to help them make improvements,” Webb said in a press release. “This funding will help municipalities strengthen their cybersecurity posture against dangerous cyber threats. Clean

By Philip O’Dell

Ithaca’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. (Photo: Ithaca Times File)

water is essential to public health, and as infrastructure systems increasingly rely on digital and internet-connected technologies, we must continue to invest in safeguards against cyberattacks.” Webb said the SECURE grants and free technical assistance from the Environmental Facilities Corporation help local governments meet state cybersecurity standards for drinking water and sewer systems. New York state’s website says the SECURE grant program offers municipalities “the tools to prevent, detect, and respond to increasingly sophisticated and dangerous cyber threats to critical water infrastructure while strengthening services that millions of New Yorkers rely on every day.” City of Ithaca Public Information Officer Alan Karasin said the funds ensure the city’s compliance with state cybersecurity regulations by Jan. 1, 2027. The requirements are set by the state Depart-

8 The Ithaca Times / August 26 – September 1, 2026

ment of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation. Karasin said the funds will be split between two city treatment systems. Karasin said the city will allocate $50,000 to its wastewater treatment plant and $25,000 to its water treatment plant. Karasin said both grants aim to strengthen security for the plants’ supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) platforms, the software and technology that runs the infrastructure. “SCADA systems are used to control tank levels, pumping systems, blowing equipment, chemical feed rates, communications, alarm systems, and general notifications,” he said. The city already implemented security controls and policy requirements mandated by the state Department of Health, according to Karasin. He said the city benefits from shared services through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services,

including examination of local infrastructure risks and enhanced asset protection. He said the grant funding will be used to close security gaps and confirm ongoing compliance and resilience. Karasin said the water treatment plant received upgrades in 2016, but its security system needs to be enhanced to meet new state requirements. Karasin said the wastewater treatment plant, built in 1986, relies on a basic SCADA system that requires a “complete upgrade.” “The good news is both the WTP and WWTP are largely stand-alone systems meaning that they aren’t generally connected to the wider internet,” Karasin said. Historically, the city has paid for these security and system assessments using operating funds and capital improvement projects, according to Karasin. He said the water treatment plant receives routine cybersecurity audits through the city’s broader cybersecurity program.

News

Youth Photography Contest Kicks-Off in Tompkins, Onondaga Counties By Mik ayl a Ro ve nolt

aged to capture the emotions, connections, and experiences of everyday life. “The Everson exists to champion artists, ousquet Holstein PLLC invites high and that includes the ones just discovering school students grades 9 through their voice,” Elizabeth Dunbar, director 12 living in Onondaga or Tompkins and CEO, Everson Museum of Art, said. counties to enter the 18th annual High “Photography teaches young people to see School Photography Contest Aug. 13 the world with curiosity and empathy, and through Oct. 29. The firm launched the contest as part of this contest gives them a reason to pick up a camera and create. We’re thrilled to its commitment to education and the arts partner with Bousquet Holstein in inspirin central New York. According to a press ing the next generation of artists.” release, this year’s theme, “Life in Focus: A panel of artists, photographers, and Capturing the Human Story,” encourages Bousquet Holstein attorneys will review students to develop their creative voice the submissions and select 20 finalists. The while exploring the power of photography contest winners, honorable mentions, and to tell stories. 20 finalists will be announced at a private Only students grades 9 through 12 in reception at the Everson Museum of Art in Onondaga and Tompkins counties are eligible to enter. Students must be enrolled Syracuse in November. First, second, and third place winners will receive monetary in high school for the fall 2026 semester. scholarships as a prize. The first-place winStudents are not required to be in a phoner’s photo will be featured on the cover of tography or art class to participate. the firm’s annual Thanksgiving card. The 2026 contest theme was inspired by Last year’s contest winner was Morgan the Everson Museum of Art’s exhibit “LIFE: Six Women Photographers.” Six pioneering Kelder from Fayetteville-Manlius High women used their cameras to document life School for her photograph, “Community Bound by Books.” in all its complexity, from global events to “For 18 years, this contest has been one intimate, everyday experiences. According of the ways Bousquet Holstein supports to a press release, their images reveal what the arts and celebrates the creativity of was happening and how it felt to witness it. young photographers,” Larry Bousquet, of Bousquet Holstein invites students to Bousquet Holstein PLLC, said. “Photogexplore the quiet or powerful moments raphy has the power to preserve moments, that define what it means to be human. spark emotion, and tell stories that might Through their lenses, students are encour-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR contin u ed from page 6

of Ithaca ordinance Article 4-325-12-F, which charges Council with ensuring the PUD application provides the following public benefits: 1. Further health and welfare of the community. 2. Be in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. 3. Create one long-term significant community benefit. 1.) Much of Council members’ discussion questioned the plan for increased traffic on lower Elm Street, implying

they were concerned about safety. However, those concerns were not framed as compliance (or non compliance) with the ordinance. 2.) Regarding the second requirement, Council discussion never mentioned the Comprehensive Plan, nor whether the proposed PUD was in accordance with it. Goals about housing are in the Council’s Executive Work Plan but that doesn’t carry the same legal weight as a Comprehensive Plan. 3.) As far as creating one long-term community benefit, developers mentioned infrastructure to enhance West Hill's water pressure. No Council member referred to better water pressure as a long-

Last year’s first-place winner, photographer Morgan Kelder “Community Bound by Books.” (Photo provided by Bousquet Holstein PLLC)

otherwise go untold. We look forward to seeing how local high school students interpret the Everson exhibition, ‘LIFE: Six Women Photographers,’ through their own lens.” Photo submission instructions and contest rules can be found at www.bhlawpllc. com/photocontest.

For questions, contact Haley Dubnoff, director of marketing, at (315) 701-6384 or by email BHMarketing@bhlaw.com. For more details, including contest rules, the subject release form, and previous winners, visit www.bhlawpllc.com/photocontest.

term benefit. Rather, the sole benefit cited by Council was their primary goal for West Hill: more housing. The second paragraph of the PUD ordinance provides the Purpose and Intent of the local law. It states, in part, that the benefits to the community for a PUD should include: reduced traffic demand, greater quality and quantity of public/private open space, community recreation amenities, needed housing types, innovative designs, protection/ preservation of natural resources. Council stated more needed housing types was clearly the perceived benefit of the PUD application. However, the PUD proposal is in opposition to much of the

Purpose and Intent because it would destroy natural resources, increase traffic demand, decrease safety for pedestrians and bikers, and reduce public space used by LACS students and staff as well as the residential neighborhood. If the PUD application fails to meet the basic requirements of City Code, why should the application go through the long labyrinth of public hearing and site plan review. Common Council should do their due diligence to ensure the application complies with local law. If it doesn’t, instruct the developers to come back with a plan that does.” — Tom Stern and Sara Hess, Ithaca NY

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Arts&Entertainment Arts& &Entertainment Busking For Justice Starts Its Fall Season Strong With String Theory

B y K i r a Wa l t e r

rom bustling city streets to our own Commons, busking is not just a convenience for musicians looking to publicly play. It is a practice that’s historically made live performances more available, as listeners can pass on the street, hear a free melody and continue on their journey when duty calls. The act of busking becomes a measure of accessibility, and when done for a good cause, creates multiple avenues of service to the local community. Th is is the mission organizers Jayne Demakos and Saoirse McClory describe for the Busking For Justice concert series, which began in fall of 2025 and continues with a performance by awardwinning ensemble String Theory Sept. 4. From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Café DeWitt. The acoustic string group features fiddler and guitarist Tim Ball, mandolin player Rick Manning, multi-instrumentalist Tom Hodgson, contra musician Dave Davies and Grammy-nominated violinist Ariana Kim. Drawing from bluegrass, classical and swing, the Ithaca-based team has performed at South Hill Cider, La Tourelle, and Cornell with an impressive range of styles. Now, the five artists will play pro bono for one night only, accepting donations for local organization Immigrant Solidarity, a grassroots community group that advocates for humane immigration policies and helps immigrants fi nance legal support. Started by Demakos, an Opus Ithaca harp instructor, the casual concert series

originally was called Busking For Good, a 2023 initiative that responded to the war in Ukraine. “It was just a personal need to want to raise money for World Central Kitchen. I simply just did it myself,” Demakos said. “I had some busking experience, and people just wanted to give. They just said they had an opportunity to give. There I was with my harp on the commons, and people just did. So I thought, well, let's make a thing of this.” Demakos was impressed by how an independent busking venture made donating to a charitable cause easier. A desire to donate often exists but her act eliminated the effort required to fi nd a place to allocate funds. She reached out to Café DeWitt and they began orchestrating a series. Proceeds were also distributed locally to Loaves and Fishes. After the 2024 presidential election took place, Demakos and series collaborators Saoirse McClory, Sheila Payne, and Laurie Konwinski recognized an urgent need to direct funding to immigrants targeted by ICE. As Demakos began attending Immigrant Solidarity meetings, she decided to rebrand the concert to Busking For Justice. Aligned with other regional nonprofits, Immigrant Solidarity doesn’t just provide direct services to immigrants but helps everyone understand their rights and stand up for immigrant neighbors. “We've seen with ICE enforcement that there are policies that are harmful to communities,” McClory said. “People are being arrested, whose immigration

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cases are in process. There isn’t always legal representation for people who are picked up. So Immigrant Solidarity is basically standing up for the dignity and well being of people who are picked up and their families. So they have an opportunity to be treated like human beings. Without the resources, they actually cannot do that.” Busking for Justice wrapped up a busy spring 2026, with five monthly performers from February to June. From original music by singer Tom Mank and cellist Sera Smolen to Filipino-style Rondalla by the 14Strings!, the Busking for Justice team concentrated on outreach to local performers that demonstrate Ithaca’s diversity. Following a summer hiatus for the months of July and August, the fall program continues into December, with other upcoming concerts by Irish session band Six Mile Craic and John Simon & Friends. While admission is free, Demakos said food sales and donations generate an average of $1,000 to $2,000 for each event. That money is allocated towards legal representation but recently has been going towards supporting basic needs within detention centers as well. “Originally, the concert series was raising money for legal fees,” McClory said. “However, now it has morphed into when somebody gets picked up or deported, there can be needs around that. It costs money to even make phone calls.” The relevance of Immigrant Solidarity’s work and the growing popularity

of the concert series even makes extensive outreach unnecessary, as Ariana Kim wasn’t recruited to the cause but contacted organizers herself. A Cornell professor with masters and a doctorate from Juilliard and Carnegie Hall, Kim’s work in social justice has shed light on police violence through multi-media projects paired with spoken word and video footage. Last May, she released an album called (un)common thread with Tiger Turns Records that concentrates on improvisation through classical sonatas. While community interest in growing the series exists, organizers want to prioritize keeping it casual and open to the public above all else. The nature of busking aligns with the project’s mission, and as its host, Café DeWitt facilitates a free environment through which walkability can be achieved indoors. “It’s an open pedestrian cafe and people walking through it really has a feeling of busking, as opposed to if it were in a hall or a room, it would actually feel more like a concert,” Demakos said. “And I think the joy of it is this kind of almost European feel of cafe and musicians and food, so we haven’t really come up with a venue that would capture that quality.” Preserving the busking vibe and a uniquely Ithacan experience at DeWitt Mall’s one and only cafe is essential to those behind the vision, who continue to attract unique local artists to the cause. As the fall season continues, there’s lots to expect for monthly Monday performances at the Busking for Justice series.

Arts

“A Gentle Spirit Within” Released By Finger Lakes Photographer Normal Schillawski By Kira Walte r

hat compels the creator to act at the moment of unexpected creation? The painter adds an untrained brush stroke to an ordinary canvas, the musician tweaks an old melody and reinvents a classic. Artists train to navigate their craft but so often describe a genius moment or sudden invention as beyond control as a visit from the muse or divine intervention. The spiritual secrets behind instantaneous creation is a mystery unpacked in Finger Lakes photographer Norman Schillawski’s debut book, “A Gentle Spirit Within.” Self-published and available as of Aug. 19, Schillawski guides the reader through personal reflections and RV adventures, accompanied by 40 unique images that progress from morning to sun down. Although his body of work spans the nation, Schillawski began his appreciation for the natural world in Auburn, New York, where he grew up on a dairy farm. Seasonal variation, open land, and a “quiet life close to the earth” were childhood staples he described as the camera found him in high school. No sooner, he left to collect degrees at SUNY Cobleskill, Syracuse University, Ohio State, and Texas A&M. Though his photography continued, Schillawski quit what he calls the “nuts and bolts” industry in 2019, retiring his duties in financial accounting to be on the road full time. “I sold the house and I haven’t looked back,” he said. Once located in Cicero, Schillawski’s love for the Finger Lakes region is apparent in the book’s fourth section “Where The Water Falls,” with “Roaring Taughannock” on a late autumn day as a pristine feature. Also included are the “Cowsheds” at Fillmore Glen, and the iconic “Flowing Cascades” at Watkins. “I don’t think there's a more beautiful place than the different gorges, the different hillsides, just the whole canister of different colors and things that we have here,” Schillawski said. Schillawski also voices a deep appreciation for neighboring mountains in the Adirondacks, a former home base.

Having hiked the Appalachian trail with two sons, ventured through coastal New Brunswick and frequented the Shenandoah Mountains, Schillawski divided “A Gentle Spirit Within” into 10 chapters focused on differences in landscape, season and time. Schillawski’s introduction plays with the idea that we often pass through spaces in company and observance but lack nuanced understanding of our surroundings. In the following passage “Many Of You Know Me, But Few Know Of Me,” Schillawski relates this phenomenon to God, and times he said began to truly know a higher power behind impossible miracles. “There’s a very strong spiritual theme in the book, it's there if people want to enjoy it,” he said. “But all these things that I talk about are everyday life things. They're not grander. They’re just simple. I believe in God but I’m not asking anyone to believe in God. I am asking you to think about why these things happen.” Moving through “Mornings”and “Along The Water”, Schillawski guides readers to the desert’s brutality in “The Lonesome Places.” “Where The Water Falls” and “What The Mountains Give” showcase grand spectacles and peaks that imbue the visitor with presence and catharsis. Meanwhile “The Art Of Watching” is less about terrain and more about methodology: sometimes the camera interferes and the spectator is meant to just look. In vignettes that often detail the experience of being drawn to his photography subjects, Schillawski calls on Muir, Einstein, Rumi and other prolific thinkers that inspired his own thinking. At times, he calls on poetry or changes his style of prose to convey a feeling. In “To Everything A Season,” the reader is encouraged to stop resisting the seasons and let them “live through you.” Then “It Is The Journey” speaks to a god that walks with the wanderer and whispers instructions. Schillawski closes his work with setting suns, even referring to his own time coming to a close as he reflects on a life of travel. “The Light At The Edge Of The Day” and “As The Sun Sets” leave us with his final thoughts on parallels between eternity

Photographer Norman Schillawski. (Photo: Provided)

and impermanence, then the gentle spirit within his photographs. Schillawski said his book is intended for three audiences: the believer, the traveler and the fellow photographer. “The book would appeal to people that love photography, people that love good stories, and people that are looking for meaning in life,” he said. Schillawski said hopes his new work will offer direction to those looking for spiritual answers and contemplating religion, especially those who’ve grown tired of the dogma of organized religion and who have left houses of worship. “A Gentle Spirit Within” may serve as a guide for others in the RV community that seek their answers around the world and a vehicle for others to find further meaning with the camera. When looking for a more intense purpose behind photography himself, Schillawski related an experience in the hill country of Texas that revolutionized his artistic process. He’d been on the road for

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two months, discontent with his photos and unsure of what to look for next. He described muttering to God for assistance, and being guided to the Guadalupe River, where a gorgeous expanse of tree roots caught his attention. It was one of the first times he distinctly questioned what in fact led him to the site. “What pushed me that way? Those kinds of things started coming to my mind,” Schillawski said. “That’s where my book starts off and where it began. It’s just a matter of being there and I don’t want to call it a hunch because it isn’t. Just follow whatever push you’re given, whatever guide you’re given to do that.” The photographer once thought of the book as a legacy project for his four children: now “A Gentle Spirit Within.” has become a compass for anyone in search of greater transcendental experiences. An abstract sense of God and a genuine account of how to discover beauty in the natural world provides a glance into the mystery of capturing life through art.

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Film

“Tony” Reimagines Anthony Bourdain as a Brooding Incel By Cl e me nt O b ropta

bout midway through “Tony,” the 19-year-old angsty dishwasher Anthony Bourdain sees a painting of François Vatel, a 17th-century French chef who killed himself because of the tardiness of an important seafood delivery. Understandably, he’s a bit confused. Why would anyone kill themselves because some fish is late? It’s a question the young chef — and the audience — spends the rest of the film trying to understand. The tale of poor François, beautifully told by Antonio Banderas’ enigmatic Chef, symbolizes the vast culinary world to which Bourdain would eventually dedicate his life. But when we meet him in Matt Johnson’s low-key biopic “Tony,” he’s miles away from the self-assured, wise and funny food sage who would go on to work in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, write several bestselling books, and host the TV show “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.” Much ink has been spilled by fellow critics over the (pointless) thought exercise of whether or not Bourdain the cinephile would have enjoyed his own biopic. At the very least, Bourdain would have found it extremely funny that Dominic Sessa plays him as a creepy, brooding, perverted incel who walks with a perpetual

“Tony” Rated R Directed by Matt Johnson. Currently playing at Cinemapolis and Regal Ithaca Mall. 120 East Green St. 40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca. 50 YEARS SUPPLYING contin u ed from page 4

exist across Elmira, Syracuse, Rochester, and Albany, Junior said the internet remains B&W’s primary competitor as customers can easily purchase items with the click of a mouse from the comforts of home. Commenting on broader industry shifts, Hoyt said Ithaca’s restaurant scene has kept pace with culinary trends. However, rising startup costs create barriers to

hunch. Bourdain wrote in “Kitchen Confidential” that his younger self was a “spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, selfdestructive and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of a good ass-kicking,” a quote that so perfectly frames Sessa’s take on the chef that Johnson stuck it at the start of the movie. Some biopics try to tell a cradle-tograve story of a person’s life. Other, usually better ones, like last fall’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” instead focus on a small window of time. “Tony” takes the latter approach, opting to capture one formative summer in Bourdain’s life, when he was still trying to become a writer, moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts, pursuing a girl (Emilia Jones) and stumbled into work at a small seafood joint. But “Tony” is less interested in its famous subject’s life than it is in using Bourdain as a vessel to explore concepts like ambition, male friendship, drug use and the modern “male loneliness epidemic.” “The Holdovers” breakout star Dominic Sessa presents an unlikable, bedraggled version of Bourdain, channeling Jack Nicolson’s most acerbic parts as he seethes and lurches beneath a tangled mop of curly hair and haunts Provincetown like a bad smell. I expect many young men will relate to him — desperately alone, thinking at once that nobody understands him but also that he’s better than everyone else. Uninterested in any relationship that isn’t purely transactional, whether it’s the guy at work who gives him coke or the girl he’s stalking. Rudderless but willing to rush headlong in whatever direction he sees a future. Anthony Bourdain is just lucky he was born long before the Manosphere. As the head chef and owner of the restaurant, Banderas is fantastic, playing

a sweet, generous guy who walked away from the rat race of big-city haute cuisine to open a lobster and oyster shack by the sea. If he’s the heart of the film, then Sal (Leo Woodall), the drug-addicted oyster chef, is quietly the aching soul. He’s a cautionary figure whose endless drug use is a warning to Anthony, but he’s also a guy who uses sex and drugs as crutches for a deeply lonely life. Desperate for connection but unable to engage with other human beings in a genuine or empathetic way, Woodall’s character is perhaps the most nuanced in a screenplay that’s full of complexity. Rooting the whole picture is the setting of Provincetown itself. A summer holiday destination for wealthy white people and a fishing hub for the entire Northeast, Provincetown is a perfect getaway for most and a perfect prison for Tony, who

shows up on a ferry one day and doesn’t have enough cash to get the return trip home. When Tony finds it, Provincetown is already an oyster shell of its former self, with the fishing culture slowly disappearing and evening clambakes with the community replaced by house parties and underage drinking. Backed by a somber, tragic and minimalist piano score from Jay McCarroll, the setting suffuses the whole film with pining nostalgia but also a note of the bittersweet. We never return to François Vatel or why he killed himself. Like many things Anthony learns or witnesses that summer in Cape Cod, it’s a mystery he’ll spend the rest of his life trying to understand.

entry, forcing some restaurants to close early and be replaced by different businesses, Hoyt said. To stay competitive against online retailers, Hoyt said B&W expanded its showroom inventory to ensure products are immediately available in stock. He said that while purchasing equipment online requires only a click, Ithaca’s restaurant community continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting local businesses by shopping in person or

ordering directly through the storefront. “For someone to walk in our door or call us and shop with us, that takes effort, and we really appreciate our customers because of that,” Hoyt said. “That’s a great thing about Ithaca, even throughout the changes of trends and dynamics with the restaurants, there’s still a very locally focused attitude among the Ithaca restaurants.” Looking ahead, B&W plans to focus on assisting local restaurant owners with full kitchen buildouts from concept to comple-

tion, Hoyt said. The company has provided equipment for NOUNOU’s Authentic Lao-Thai at the Triphammer Marketplace and is finishing work at the Groton Hotel. “We wouldn’t be here without our customers. It’s just great to be able to interact with them, visit their restaurants, see our customers grow, and just be a part of each other’s lives,” Hoyt said. “There’s a business life and then the human aspect of it, and that’s a great part about B&W is we have all that.”

Chef (Antonio Banderas) teaching a young Anthony Bourdain (Dominic Sessa). (Photo: IMDb/A24)

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Clement Obropta is a film columnist for the Ithaca Times.

Arts

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Center: A Project of Cornell Cooperative Extension By Kira Walte r

haring a small loop road with Schuyler House and Cornell University Press, 103-109 Sage Place looks like an unusual location for student apartments. While that has been its function since the 1980s, the historic house and gardens were established in 1900 as the home of prominent Ithacan Liberty Hyde Bailey and the original location of what is now known as the Bailey Hortorium, a major research herbarium at Cornell University, according to its website. The founder of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Professor Bailey was a prominent advocate for environmental and rural reform and was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to lead a national Commission on Country Life. Now, after decades as a dorm-adjacent option, plans are underway to turn the property into the home of a new nonprofit effort. The Liberty Hyde Bailey Center will combat the interlinked challenges of climate change, civic unraveling, and political polarization through actionoriented dialogues across many lines of difference, educational programming, and creative projects across the sciences, arts, and humanities. The center is an initiative spearheaded by Director John Linstrom, who hails from Bailey’s hometown of South Haven, Michigan. During a creative writing MFA at Iowa State, Linstrom held an internship at the Bailey Museum in South Haven, later becoming its director. There, he was first attracted to Bailey’s writings, especially his philosophical books and forward approach to ecological issues. “He was able to talk about humanity’s relationship and responsibility to the environment in a way that incorporated pretty robust theories of democracy and political change,” Linstrom said. “You get a lot of environmental writers around this time who are very eloquently talking about the environment and philosophizing about how we should be treating nature. Bailey takes that a step further in terms of a real theory of democracy and how we can build a society around stewardship of the earth.”

Bailey’s approach to improving the quality of country life and protecting natural resources will be at the core of the center’s programming. As he laid the groundwork for Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), it seems only fitting that the center is a project of CCE Tompkins County. With an office in each of New York’s 62 counties, CCE connects locals with Cornell research, promotes economy and sustainability with an emphasis on agricultural education. Before hiring Lindstrom as the project’s first full time employee, Lindstrom took on fundraising for the project as a volunteer. By hiring him, Lindstrom said he will be able to fundraise more effectively. The property from Cornell University has an appraisal of $1.5 million. With over $500,000 already pledged toward operating costs over five years, CCE Tompkins County applied for a $675,000 state grant for property acquisition, collecting 35 letters of support. CCE Tompkins County Executive Director Cynthia Cave-Gaetani described fundraising as a constant process, with an end goal of $3 million dollars to secure the property and launch the center’s work. Although many mistake CCE as financially supported by the university, it is independent, funded by the county and state and by federal and private philanthropic grants. With 41 different programs and projects including 4-H, the country’s largest youth development program also pioneered by Bailey, there are many points of connection between the center’s proposed work and that of CCE Tompkins County. “This program just makes sense as a project of CCE Tompkins,” Cave-Gaetani said. “It’s an exciting opportunity. It’s an exciting adventure like anything in life. You don’t do anything alone. Nothing is successful alone. It's all in collaboration and partnerships and relationships. So I’m grateful that we get to be part of this experience.” The CCE Tompkins County board voted to adopt the center as a CCE project after Linstrom approached the organization with Cornell Global Development Professor Scott Peters. A fellow Bailey

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory. (Photo: Mark Syverston)

scholar, Peters encountered the horticulturist while pursuing his PhD at the University of Minnesota. Focused on the history of democracy and cooperative extension, Bailey became central to his work, resulting in a summer at Cornell’s archives. In October 1998, Peters delivered the keynote address for the statewide extension conference, walking down to Bailey’s former home following his speech. He was surprised to find his personal library still intact, he said the discovery inspired early plans for the center. Peters and Linstrom crossed paths in 2014 during their coincidental academic journeys with the same man. They developed a proposal for their vision in 2018, organizing an advisory board of different Cornell and CCE associates in anticipation of a physical center. As ideas came to fruition, board members and others interested in the Bailey center met for a retreat at Girl Scouts Camp Comstock in June of 2025. There, the blueprint for ten possible initiatives to engage in the first decade of operation began. The star of the show is the RuralUrban Dialogue Project, in which diverse groups of rural and urban citizens will convene for structured conversations on topics of urgent interest during the summer. They will be able to showcase their findings at a statewide summit in the fall, with the first pilot in the Hudson Valley. The project will not only engage citizens but Cornell students, as Peters plans a

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course through which graduates and undergraduates can take part in designing and participating in the pilot. “The dialogue is very much aligned with Bailey’s own philosophy in life, which was to break through barriers and boundaries that kept things apart,” Peters said. “It’s going to take up the really important challenge of how deeply polarized our society has become between rural and urban, between red and blue, Republicans and Democrats, between rich and poor. All these polarizations are hugely problematic.” Nine other initiatives detailed online have emerged from community discussion, including a Whole Earth Democracy Series that hosts lectures, roundtables and podcasts; the restoration of Bailey’s gardens and greenhouse for educational programming; and a rural humanities Project. The latter will build on the work of an earlier Mellon Foundation-funded program at Cornell University and will focus on creative storytelling, sponsoring fiction, plays, and visual art with potential for an in-house literary journal devoted to the rural experience. “We want to hear from the community about what kind of programming is going to be most needed and helpful,” Linstrom said. “Within the general mission and framework of what we’re doing, and everything that Bailey’s writings open us up to, we hope to be really responsive to partnerships and community needs.”

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Internet: www.ithaca.com Mail: Ithaca Times Classified Dept PO Box 27 Ithaca NY 14850 In Person: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 109 North Cayuga Street

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Award, and its satirical take on vanity, aging, and beauty, with the characters becoming literal walking corpses held together by the potion. | R 104 mins

Music Bars/Bands/Clubs

8/27 Thursday Papa Muse Acoustic Duo @ Danby Food and Drink | 6 p.m. | Danby Food and Drink, 1483 Danby Rd. | Free

Concerts/Recitals

8/26 Wednesday Stories with Music — Storied Winds at Watkins Glen Public Library | 10 a.m. | Watkins Glen Library, 610 S. Decatur Street Music on The Green | 7 p.m.

8/28 Friday

Firefall | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts

Hangtime Concert Series featuring Diana Jacobs Band | 6 p.m. | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road | Free

8/27 Thursday

Madd Daddy | 6 p.m.

Series | 5 p.m. | Bernie Milton Pavil-

Brewhouse Blues Jam | 6 p.m. | The Farm at Hopshire, 1771 Dryden Rd.

ion, Center Commons | Free

Julianna Zachariou @ Angry Mom Records | 7 p.m. | Angry Mom Records, 115 E State St. | $5.00 - $15.00

8/29 Saturday Rocco Rich Live | 6 p.m. | Brewers Taproom, 10 Pinckney Rd. Smoking Loons | 6 p.m. | Hopshire Farms & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd.

8/30 Sunday Summer Sundays Music Series — ft. Evan Dillon | 1 p.m. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414

9/2 Wednesday

THISWEEK

Midday Music: Annette Richards and David Yearsley (CU Music) | 12:30 p.m. | Sage Chapel, 147 Ho Plaza | Free

of Homer, 72 S Main St.

Beginnings Summer Concert

Contra Dance in Stewart Park, Ithaca! | 6:30 p.m., 8/29 Saturday | Stewart Park Large Pavilion, 1 James L Gibbs Drive | Bid farewell to summer with a community contra dance by Cayuga Lake! | $8.00 - $15.00 Participatory Contra, Square, and Circle Dancing | 7 p.m., 8/31 Monday | Ithaca Commons, 102 East State Street Dynamic Duos! | 2 p.m., 9/2 Wednesday, 6795 Little York Lake Rd | DYNAMIC DUOS! - Part of Cortland Rep’s September “SoundS of Music” Concert Series!

Art

8/28 Friday Jeremy Bobak | 6 p.m. | Food & Fire BBQ-Taphouse, 560 Harry L Dr Valerie June | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St.

8/29 Saturday Racker Day in the Park | 12 p.m. | Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Dr.

8/30 Sunday Blues & Burgers / SUNDAY BLUES SERIES: The Ron Spencer Band | 1 p.m. | ONCO Fermentations, 397 NY RT 281, Suite O | Free

9/2 Wednesday Dynamic Duos! | 2 p.m., 6795 Little York Lake Rd.

Stage

Ink Shop Member Show 2026 | 1 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St. (2nd floor CSMA building) | Each year, The Ink Shop launches a members’ show, giving our membership the opportunity to exhibit their newest work. | Free Seeing Ithaca Through the Eyes of Artists | 12 p.m., 8/27 Thursday | State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street | Seeing Ithaca Through the Eyes of Artists at SOAG. https:// seeingithaca.org/ for entire event and open studio list. | Free Art Cafe | 6 p.m., 8/28 Friday | The Clay School’s Art Room, 950 Danby Rd | The Clay School’s ART Room features an Art Cafe! | Free Try-It: Wheel workshop | 6 p.m., 8/28 Friday | The Clay School, 950 Danby Road | This two hour session will give you a taste of working on the potter’s wheel with no strings attached. | $55.00 - $80.00

Fossil ID Day | 10 a.m., 8/29 Saturday | Museum of the Earth, 1259 Trumansburg Road (Route 96) | Did you find a rock in your backyard? Do you think it might be a fossil? Museum of the Earth is here to help! | $0.00 - $12.50 Pamela Drix: of vines and fences exhibit at The Gallery at South Hill | 12 p.m., 8/29 Saturday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill Business Campus | Free Clay Studio 2 | 10 a.m., 9/1 Tuesday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court St. | At Lifelong, $5 drop in fee. Membership required, with membership $40/month unlimited Creative Arts activities eligibility.

Film Projects & Participation Kick-off | 5:30 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | Cornell University, 144 East Ave. | Find out your role in PMA’s vibrant projects and collaborations! Mark your calendar for Projects & Participation Kick-oﬀ on Wednesday, August 26 at 5:30 p.m. Cinemapolis 120 E Green St, Ithaca New movies opening the week of August 26. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes and continuing films. Drag Movie Night: Death Becomes Her | Death Becomes Her (1992) is a dark comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis, about two rival women who drink a magic potion for eternal youth, leading to a surreal and darkly humorous battle for their lives and their shared ex-husband. The film is known for its groundbreaking visual eﬀects, which won an Academy

Coyote vs. ACME | After enduring years of catastrophic product failures at the hands of ACME, Inc., a tenacious, unemployed coyote uncovers a corporate cover-up and spearheads an unhinged battle against the multinational conglomerate that’s been blowing him up in the name of profit. Also, there’s a roadrunner. And dynamite. | NA 103 mins Peter Asher: Everywhere Man | Peter Asher’s extraordinary life has intersected with some of the greatest artists and musical moments of the last six decades. A child actor who became a pop star and then a manager and producer to the likes of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, he is a Zelig-like figure who remains a vital creative force to this day. Featuring interviews with Paul McCartney, Carole King, and many more. | NA 118 mins Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears | From directing duo Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani (AMER), comes this homage to the masters of classic Italian Giallo horror. Dan returns home to find his wife is missing. With no signs of struggle or break-in and with no help from the police, Dan’s search for answers leads him down a psychosexual rabbit hole. THE STRANGE COLOR OF YOUR BODY’S TEARS is a bloody and taut fantasia of suspense that leaves the viewer entranced in this highly original erotic thriller. | NA 102 mins

Sports Cornell Women’s Soccer vs Lafayette College | 7 p.m., 8/27 Thursday | Berman Field | Cornell Women’s Soccer vs Lafayette College Ithaca Men’s Soccer at Elmira College at Elmira, NY | 4 p.m., 9/2 Wednesday | Ithaca Men’s Soccer at Elmira College Tabletop Role-Playing Game Brainstorming Group | 6 p.m., 9/2 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street |

A gathering of the gaming community to support each other’s creativity. Elmira College Elmira College Men’s Soccer vs Ithaca College | 7 p.m., 9/2 Wednesday | Campus Field | Elmira College Men’s Soccer vs Ithaca College

Special Events Trumansburg Fair | 10 a.m., 8/26 Wednesday | Trumansburg Fairgrounds, 2150 Trumansburg Road | The 175th Trumansburg Fair returns to the Tompkins County Fairgrounds Tuesday, August 25th! Enjoy rides, games, demolition derbies, horse shows, tractor pulls and SO much more! Tri-Cities Opera Resident Artists Perform at GUSTO! Italian Festival | 4:30 p.m., 8/28 Friday | Witherill Street | Come to Little Italy Endicott and celebrate the unofficial end-ofsummer at the 19th annual GUSTO! Italian Festival — the block party Italian style — on Witherill Street in Endicott! Festival 24 - Fall 2026 | 7:30 p.m., 8/29 Saturday | Cornell University, 144 East Ave | It’s that time of the semester again... Festival 24!

CONTRA DANCE IN STEWART PARK, ITHACA!

JULIANNA ZACHARIOU

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 FROM 6:30 P.M. TO 9:30 P.M.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 9:30 P.M.

Stewart Park Large Pavilion | Contra dancing by the lake has become a traditional farewell-to-summer for Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca.Come welcome our lively band Sister Haggis: Eileen Kalfass on fiddle, Jane Knoeck on piano and accordion, and special guest Ben Jackson on fiddle. Contra dancing is a centuries-old yet innovative kind of social dance with simple steps and patterns. Our caller, Katy Heine, is skilled at teaching beginners and delighting experienced dancers, and our dance community welcomes newcomers. We recommend casual clothing, lightweight shoes, and a water bottle. (Photo: Provided) http://www.hands4dancers.org

Angry Mom Records, 115 E State St. | Julianna Zachariou will be stopping by the shop on August 28th, as a part of her solo tour across the country. Local musician, Cuchulain, will be opening at 7 p.m.(Photo: Provided) https://partiful.com/e/Nxq6OiB3O6YMtbonNhKi

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Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles! New members are always welcome!

Kids Family Open Play | 3 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue | Free space for families to come with their children — ages 0 to 4 years old — to play and socialize with other families while getting out of the heat. Mermaids & Pirates | 4 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | Family Play and Resource Center, 323 Owego Street Journey of Water — Free Summer Science Programming for Kids and Families | 9 a.m., 8/27 Thursday | Various, various | Kids get a passport to stamp at each program and can get a free t-shirt. | Free Family Eco-Cruises | 10 a.m., 8/28 Friday | Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, 1000 Allan H. Treman Marina Drive | Free Live Music — Madd Daddy | 6 p.m., 8/28 Friday | Madd Daddy is the father-daughter duo of Ted Walsh and Maddy Walsh, lead singer and songwriter of The Blind Spots. Free Family Bingo Every Tuesday Night | 9/1 Tuesday | Ice Cream Bar, 207 E. Main St. (Rt 96 | Join us every Tuesday evening for Free Family Bingo at Ice Cream Bar; 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday 6.2 – Tuesday 9.1. No purchase necessary just come right up to the LEGO Club | 4 p.m., 9/2 Wednesday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St. | LEGO Club meets on the first & third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m.

Notices Social Drop-In Program — early afternoon | 12 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, 511 W Seneca St. | Free

Crochet and Connect | 2 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, 511 W Seneca St. | Come create, connect, and enjoy the company of others, one stitch at a time. | Free The Midweek Session | 4 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | NRE Space, 402 W. State St. | Free Kitchen OPEN | 4:30 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | We’re excited to share that Hopshire is now oﬀering a limited menu! Community Police Board Meeting | 4:30 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall | Community Sunset Cruise | 7 p.m., 8/26 Wednesday | Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, 1000 Allan H. Treman Marina Drive | Free Community Conversations: Ithaca’s West End | 9 a.m., 8/27 Thursday | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street Ages 8 to 108 Board Game Club: Summer Session! | 4 p.m., 8/27 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street Syntropic Agroforestry Introduction Webinar | 6 p.m., 8/27 Thursday | Virtual, 740 S Meadow St. | Free Golden Hour Yoga & U-Pick (with Lara Green) | 6:30 p.m., 8/27 Thursday | Jenny Creek Flowers, 7048 Durling Road | Breathe, stretch, and unwind with a peaceful yoga session on the flower farm, then linger in the fields or add an optional U-pick to gather your own bouquet to take home. | $20.00 - $35.00 Karaoke with Elephant Sound | 8 p.m., 8/27 Thursday | 23 North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema Dr. | Free Ithaca Tap & Craft Festival | 5:30 a.m., 8/28 Friday | Ithaca Farmers Market, Cayuga Lake Inlet, Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd Street | Application to be a vendor please message me or email tamaramort6@gmail.com Spring Chicken BBQ | 10:30 a.m., 8/29 Saturday | Lansing Community Center parking lot, 29 Auburn Road

| Yummy Chicken BBQ Fundraiser for the Lansing Area Performance Hall. 10:30-1:00 East of the Lansing Library. Green Saturday | 12 p.m., 8/29 Saturday | NRE Space , 402 W. State St. | Get ready for a fun-filled day at the free FingerLakes CannaMarket in Ithaca, NY! | Free MACRE Market: Art, Thrift, and Raffle | 2 p.m., 8/29 Saturday | MACRE, 415 North Tioga Street | A market featuring local artists, vintage clothing, and a raﬄe | Free Freeville Farmers Market | 11:30 a.m., 8/30 Sunday | Freeville Elementary School, 43 Main Street | We cultivate community by making fresh, local food more accessible and supporting the farmers, producers, and artisans who make it possible. | Free Native Plant Garden Tour | 1 p.m., 8/30 Sunday | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue | Free Hidden Treasure Program Free Info Session | 7 p.m., 8/31 Monday | Free Online Info Session: The Hidden Treasure Program is a guided, multisession journey designed to help you reconnect with your purpose, and the deeper joy that may feel just out of reach. | Free Senior Support Group | 10:30 a.m., 9/1 Tuesday | Mental Health Association in Tompkins County | The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County’s Senior Support Group oﬀers a welcoming, judgment-free space where adults ages 55 and older can connect with others who understand the unique experiences that come with aging. | Free Community Line Dance | 7 p.m., 9/1 Tuesday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd. | Community Line Dance lessons. Tompkins County Health Resource Fair | 5 p.m., 9/2 Wednesday | Greater Ithaca Activities Center, 301 W Court St. | Free Pet Clinic | 6 p.m., 9/2 Wednesday | Southside Community Center Gym, 305 S Plain St.

TCIDA DEFENDS $9.37M TAX ABATEMENT contin u ed from page 5

with ICSD to ensure school leaders have meaningful input as projects advance through the planning process. TCIDA board member and Tompkins County Legislature chair Shawna Black voted in favor of the abatement. Black said the SouthWorks project addresses a critical demand for affordable housing, noting the county has 2,000 people on a Section 8 housing waitlist with a five-year wait time. Black shared concerns over the ICSD board's engagement with TCIDA, saying school board members only spoke out against an affordable housing project while remaining silent on past market-rate tax abatements like Library Place, City Center, and Harold’s Square. Black said affordable housing developers require viable finances to build in Tompkins County, noting that such projects inherently operate at a loss without tax subsidies, credits, or abatements. While stating government tax incentives should be thoroughly vetted, Black said denying abatements could deter future affordable housing developers. “If there are other developers that want to come in here and do affordable housing, this should not be a barrier to having them come in,” Black said. TCIDA vice chair Jeff Gorsky said the agency supported 1,243 housing units since BIG RED GEARS UP FOR 2026 SEASON contin u ed from page 7

having competed for his native Australia in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He was a highly-regarded coach, he helped the Cornell women to the national championship, and was elevated to Head Coach in 1988. When he died in a car accident at age 45 in 1993, I recall feeling so sad for Susan, who was 15 at the time. Susan went on to make a name for herself in the sport, representing the U.S. at various levels, from Cadet to Junior to Senior to the World University Games.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 FROM 3:30 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M.

Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts | A concert of electronic/acoustic music composed by Bill Gregg from 1986 through 2026 with accompanist Christene Simone. To celebrate that reissue along with the release of his most recent album “Illumination” he will present a concert spanning 40 years of his electronic music in the auditorium of the newly renovated Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts. The program runs the gamut from simple keyboard solos to complex computer electronic soundscapes. (Photo: Provided) https://www.tburgarts.org/event-calendar?category= concert

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She won a bronze medal at the 2001 Pan American Games, she was a Junior Olympic champ, and she was dominant at Columbia as a 4-time All American. After many years as a very successful coach at various fencing clubs, she came to Cornell in 2019 as an Assistant, and was named Associate Head Coach in 2022. While her time in that position would be brief, she helped lead the Big Red to a 32-0 season in 2022, and some of the athletes she helped develop helped the Cornell Fencing program to 42 wins and a ninth-place finish in the NCAA last season. Several members of the program will be making the trip to Rochester this weekend for her memorial service.

PETER ASHER: EVERYWHERE MAN SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 AT 2:30 P.M.

Cinemapolis,120 E Green St. | Peter Asher’s extraordinary life has intersected with some of the greatest artists and musical moments of the last six decades. A child actor who became a pop star and then a manager and producer to the likes of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, he is a Zelig-like figure who remains a vital creative force to this day. Featuring interviews with Paul McCartney, Carole King, and many more. (Photo: Provided) https://www.cinemapolis.org/movie/ peter-asher-everywhere-man

THISWEEK

BILL GREGG — 40 YEARS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC

2019 — comprising 798 market-rate and 445 affordable units — generating an estimated $30 million in new PILOT tax revenue. Gorsky said despite adding over 1,300 total housing units across the county during this timeframe, ICSD enrollment dropped by 328 students. Regarding housing affordability, Gorsky said TCIDA is not a solution to the problem, but it can address affordability by providing incentives that aim to expand the tax base and encourage new construction. Legislator Greg Mezey said the undeveloped site pays roughly $2,600 in annual taxes, whereas the proposed development would generate $173,000 in its first year under a PILOT agreement. Mezey said the project would generate substantial new funding for local schools since ICSD receives about 67% of overall property tax revenue collected within the city. Mezey defended the use of tax incentives, describing property tax policy as one of the few mechanisms available under New York state law to spur economic growth. Mezey argued that local leaders must expand the tax base by increasing population, job opportunities, and housing rather than continually passing rising costs onto existing property owners. He added that utilizing incentives to enable higher-value developments will ultimately yield greater tax revenue for the community over time. “If this helps to have a project that is of greater value eventually, we will see greater revenue in our taxes,” Mezey said.

STUDENT GUIDE 2026

Essential Festivals for the 2026–2027 School Year By Philip O’D e l l

hether you are settling into a dorm for the first time or returning for another year, stepping off campus into Tompkins County’s festival scene is the fastest way to experience true local culture. From downtown street fairs and fall cider tastings to wild vegetable-bowling traditions, the region’s year-round gatherings offer live music, local food, and a direct link to the civic life of your new home. With direct TCAT bus routes connecting campuses straight to the Ithaca Commons and surrounding towns, students can access the essential festivals expected to return for the 2026–2027 academic year. The Ithaca Is Books Festival will return to the Ithaca Commons and surrounding downtown venues, including Buffalo Street Books at 215 N. Cayuga St., from Sept. 10–13, 2026, with plans to return in 2027. The multi-day celebration features outdoor book sales, live poetry slams, workshops and panel discussions. Annual participants and attendees include authors, poets, zine creators, independent presses and literary enthusiasts. Event organizers and literary partners include Buffalo Street Books, Odyssey Bookstore, PM Press, Story House Ithaca, Autumn Leaves Used Books and the Tompkins County Public Library, with funding support from the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County and the New York State Council on the Arts. Ithaca Porchfest transforms local porches, yards, and driveways along streets such as Utica, Tioga, and Linn north of downtown into an expansive outdoor music festival every September. Since 2007, this grassroots tradition has featured over 150 local bands performing across neighborhood porches. Students can stroll through leaf-lined streets, discover diverse musical sets, and sample food trucks during the festivities. The 18th annual Porchfest will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 20. The Apple Harvest Festival is downtown Ithaca’s quintessential autumn tradition. The 44th annual festival is Sept. 25 to 27 on the Ithaca Commons. Downtown comes alive with regional orchards offering freshpicked apples, warm cider donuts and other baked goods alongside dozens of craft vendors and live performances. It offers student

Chili Fest typically takes place in March and celebrates the dish through competition and community connections. (Photo: Mark Syverston)

newcomers an ideal seasonal rite of passage set for Sept. 25 to 27. The Downtown Halloween Celebration brings a spirited mix of creative costumes and family-friendly festivities to the Ithaca Commons and surrounding downtown storefronts. From 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, local merchants will host trick-ortreating along East State Street and Cayuga Street. Visitors and participants can expect live street performances, costume contests, and themed routes throughout downtown businesses. The 29th annual International Rutabaga Curl will bring vegetable-bowling chaos and community lore to the Ithaca Farmers Market pavilion at Steamboat Landing on Dec. 19 to close the outdoor market season. Students can register on-site to carve and roll their own rutabagas, while children under age 8 can compete in the Turnip Toss. The spectacle includes an Olympic-style parade of athletes, live music from the Rutabaga Choir, cheer performances by the Curl Girls and a ceremonial opening toss by Miss Rutabaga, culminating in multi-round competition and an awards ceremony. The annual Winter Holiday Bash transforms the Ithaca Commons into a daylong festival each December. The celebration features Santa’s arrival, live entertainment, a children’s Elf Hop Silent Disco and an all-ages Family Silent Disco. Additional activities include an open-air Winter Artisan Market at Press Bay and the annual Cookie Walk at Center Ithaca benefiting Habitat for Humanity. The

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Ithaca Fest is held every year after the college students have moved out for the summer. (Photo: Mark Syverston)

The Comfort Food Trail invites the public to explore participating downtown Ithaca restaurants while earning chances to win local gift cards in January. Visitors can register digitally by scanning QR codes at participating eateries to track their stops and order featured comfort food specials to earn bonus entries. The most recent food trail awarded weekly $50 Downtown Ithaca gift card prizes and a $150 grand prize drawing at the end of the event. The Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off is a culinary celebration across the Ithaca Commons and inside participating downtown restaurants. Typically held in early March, dozens of regional eateries and amateur chefs serve classic meat, vegan, vegetarian, and inventive regional chili recipes, while competing for top honors. Equipped with tasting passes and spoons, students can sample unique flavor profiles and vote for the People’s Choice award. The Ithaca Pride Festival, the centerpiece event of the Ithaca Pride Alliance, will return to downtown Ithaca in June 2027. Offering an inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community to connect, the annual threeday festival features a parade, live concerts, drag performances, DJ sets, community choir showcases, and family and youth activity zones. Attendees can shop from local artisan vendors, explore food options and connect with advocacy organizations and queer-owned businesses during an extensive resource fair. Past celebrations took place at DeWitt Park, the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Ithaca Commons and the 100–300 blocks of North Cayuga Street. St uden t

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The 50th Ithaca Festival, scheduled for June 3–6, 2027, will mark a half-century milestone for Tompkins County’s premier summer kickoff. Founded in 1977, the four-day tradition centers on the Ithaca Commons, the Bernie Milton Pavilion, DeWitt Park and North Cayuga Street. The celebration opens with the iconic Ithaca Festival Parade and expands into a full weekend of continuous live music across multiple stages, local food vendors, interactive art displays, and showcases featuring regional artisans and makers. The Ithaca Reggae Fest will return to Stewart Park at 1 James L. Gibbs Drive in June 2027 following its eighth annual gathering this summer. Dedicated to celebrating reggae culture while advocating for the protection and restoration of Cayuga Lake, the multi-day waterfront festival features international reggae headliners, regional musicians, yoga instructors and interactive youth art zones. The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will return to the Trumansburg Fairgrounds at 2150 Trumansburg Road for its 35th annual run in July 2027. Hosted by festival founders Donna the Buffalo, the non-profit music, arts and camping gathering takes place about 20 minutes northwest of downtown Ithaca. The four-day event features regional, national and international artists performing across four stages, with a diverse lineup spanning a festival orchestra, jazz and world music. Attendees can also participate in camping, Contin u ed on Page 18

Student Guide

Escaping The Money Pit: Having a Car in Ithaca By Kira Walte r

ith the luxury of a quick downtown commute, skipping Uber Eats or the massive online grocery order, having a car in Ithaca comes with its fair share of sacrifice. Vehicles that deliver students to distant hikes, neighboring towns or lectures, can break down at a moment’s notice. Cars eat your semester savings in gas, tickets, repairs — and when hope is truly lost, the unprecedented towing fee. Brutal winters inspire dead batteries while city parking spaces can be sparse: new car owners are unfamiliar with the labor of love that accompanies behind the wheel convenience. By finals season, a car can devastate your bank account, but avoiding big expenses can be easy with immediate accountability, observance, and dodging a few rookie mistakes… Parking Penalties & The Ultimate Tow Lot Death Sentence According to city guidelines, the general rule of thumb underlying Ithaca’s parking situation is its 24-hour rule: cars must be moved once a day from Monday to Friday. It costs $2.50 an hour for on-street parking 9 a.m. through 6 p.m., keeping Parkmobile and meters satiated, while Sundays are free. Parking can be easier during the warm season but gets tricky in the winter as odd/ even regulations come into play. From Nov. 1 to Apr. 1, cars line a street’s odd side on odd dates and a street’s even side on even dates. The municipal strategy often implemented in snowy towns helps facilitate snow removal, but the city only enforces the ritual when strictly necessary. In terms of free all day parking, streets that accept vehicles overnight are publicly available online but often require a bit of scavenger hunting for those unacquainted with Ithaca’s residential areas. Well-known free strips like North Tioga near the Commons or Linden Ave near Collegetown

ESSENTIAL FESTIVALS FOR THE 2026–2027 SCHOOL YEAR contin u ed from page 17

explore craft and fine art displays, and take advantage of onsite therapy tents and remote parking options.

often fill up, as those in the know compete to ditch their cars on an average workday. The worst penalty for parking hiccups doesn’t come in a boot or window-shield paper slip but the absence of a whole vehicle. After 72 hours, an unmoved vehicle can be treated as abandoned and law enforcement can cart it away, costing students a hefty sum. Leaving your precious four wheeler in a tow-away zone, construction area, or private lot can lead to the least pleasant call with a local tow company. So check signs to avoid choosing the wrong spot at the wrong time. Escaping Scrapes With Break Downs & Repairs Accidental towing is a fate worse than flunking class, but when tows need to take place on purpose, cortisol levels can get pretty high. Even on trusty vehicles, engines putter out, tires go flat and batteries kick the can. In a roadside panic, many students call the first towing company they find and end up paying hundreds for a service already covered by their auto-insurance policy. Checking an insurance card or declarations page for included emergency repairs might provide a dispatched rescuer to change a flat, jump a battery or even transport the whole vehicle. Regarding less immediate repairs, Ithaca is decked with mechanics all along Elmira Road, Route 13 and up in Lansing near Target. Fixing alignment, suspension problems or passing NYS inspection usually require a professional’s attention at an hourly rate. However, minor tweaks required just to keep a car going might be DIY projects or briefer pitstops at an autoparts store. Oil changes, coolant replacement and other basic fluid fill-ups can be done by hand with the right amount of confidence and Youtube tutorials. Autozone, O’Reilley and Advanced Auto Parts also offer free battery testing, charging and installation for most eligible vehicles. Autopart shops are often willThe Ithaca Artist Market showcases the visual talent of the Finger Lakes during a dynamic one-day outdoor fair under the historic pavilion at the Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing (545 3rd St.) along the Cayuga Lake Inlet. Gathering regional painters, sculptors, printmakers, ceramicists, and jewelry designers, college The

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Avoiding Legal Jams Parking, maintenance and gas runs become routine once student drivers get the lay of the land. Favorite spots develop, loyalty is pledged to the right mechanic and it's easy to settle down into routine. But the occasional accident, traffic violation, town court day or license infraction never gets easier so having an active mentality

about legal car discrepancies is essential. There are many opportunities for procrastination in college and paying off tickets is not one of them. A limited window to pay or contest exists and late fees get incurred 20 days after the ticket is issued. Most city parking tickets, except for stealing a handicap spot, demand a fine from $15 to $60 dollars, with a $20 dollar late fee. But repeated unpaid offenses can result in impoundment. Speeding tickets are issued with more severe penalties as going ten mph over the limit already carries a $45 to $150 fee. The higher the speed, the higher the financial hit. And despite fines, the biggest threat with speeding and more severe infractions is convictions that add points to a license. Pleading not guilty online or in town court can lead to a plea bargain to a lesser violation that carries few to no points more often than not. But taking the 30 mph limit very seriously upon entering the city, slowing down at night, and watching the signs saves headaches, doesn’t spike insurance rates, and keeps your car in rightful custody. One of the scariest first time experiences young car owners have in college is also the first collision. Pressed charges and debated responsibility are both an ethical and financial nightmare, while guilt can easily blind those involved into losing lots of money. If a crash arises, the best advice is to document everything, with photographed damage, scene documentation and exchanged information. The paying driver has the right to choose their collision shop: getting estimates and working with insurance if necessary have to come before rash attempts to resolve the issue. Despite the many caveats of having a car in Ithaca, freedom to explore the Finger Lakes and daily convenience definitely make it more of a privilege than a curse. Researching options, taking time with decisions, and open communication is the best way to make sure your vehicle doesn’t beat you out of your semesterly funds.

students can browse affordable original art and purchase custom decor for dorms or apartments. The 35th annual market is anticipated to return in August 2027. The Trumansburg Fair delivers classic agricultural county fair charm to Tompkins County at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds, located at 2150 Trumansburg Road/state

Route 96. For over a century, the multiday fair combines 4-H livestock exhibitions, harness racing, demolition derbies, carnival midway rides and classic fair foods. Students are provided an authentic look into rural communities during its annual summertime run. This year, the fair runs from Aug. 25 through the 30.

ing to assist with basic checks and less mechanic interference so if your vehicle is already diagnosed, they might be a more car efficient first stop. Limited warranties on autoparts, with free battery replacement, even up to five years, can also be a lifesaver if receipts are properly saved. Gas Gimmicks & Loyalty Programs Unlike major repairs or tickets, fuel is the primary car expense on most driving minds, as refills are not only destiny but tend to add up, occasionally making favors or long-distance ventures feel like a wallet attack. With inflated gas prices and most stations offering four dollars a gallon at best price, each mile certainly has its cost. Though neon numbers aren’t going down, a few Ithaca area hacks can make gas prices feel a little less insufferable. A marginally cheaper tank is available a longer drive away, but driving 10 miles to save a few cents isn’t necessarily worth the effort. Mirabito, Speedway, Mobil, and even the downtown Sunoco all have rewards programs that can help students build points and achieve discounts. Meanwhile, BJ’s Wholesale, Tops, and Byrne Dairy promote savings by offering cheaper gas when shoppers make purchases at their stores. Membership cards and loyalty programs encourage combined errands: buying groceries at Tops or dorm essentials at BJ’s can lead to long-term financial benefits when powering your vehicle. Byrne Dairy rewards are especially fun as shoppers can return milk jugs for one dollar off any purchase, including gas.

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Student Guide

A Guide to Local Live Music Venues By Grant Te r w il lige r

he Ithaca area is full of musicians, and a variety of venues host performers on a weekly or monthly basis. Here’s a selection of the local bars, clubs, restaurants, breweries and more where you can see live music. K-HOUSE —121 W. State St., Ithaca Alina Kim opened K-HOUSE in 2014 on Catherwood Road, which briefly closed and relocated to what is now the K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub at the former location of The Watershed and The Downstairs. The arts hub is a karaoke bar, cafe and local hub for creativity and performances. K-HOUSE hosts karaoke seven days a week in its upstairs bar and lounge. Karaoke starts at 5:00 p.m. daily, except for the first and third Sundays of the month when the bar hosts the Irish folk band Traonach before karaoke. Live events such as community events, music, poetry readings, comedy, gallery nights and themed events are held downstairs in Room K, which is also available for private booking. K-HOUSE is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Friday and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the weekend. K-House is 21-and-over after 9:00 p.m. An events calendar is available on its website. The Cherry Arts — 102 Cherry St., Ithaca The Cherry began in 2015 as a group of local theater artists looking for professional work outside of the traditional theater spaces. Created in 2017 by co-founders Samuel Buggeln and Nick Salvato, The Cherry Artspace is now a multi-arts space called the Cherry Performance Space. The Cherry Arts live music series started this year, offering concerts in the 200-person-capacity Cherry Performance Space and the 50-cap Camilla Schade Studio. The Cherry Arts encourages musicians to come together and use the Camilla Schade Studio to create programming for the community and use its free rehearsal spaces. You can find out more about The Cherry’s events on its website. Danby Food & Drink — 1843 Danby Road, Ithaca Danby Food & Drink, founded by Kar-

A night of live music and karaoke at K-HOUSE. (Photo: Mark Syverston)

tik Sribarra in September 2024, is a community hub selling beverages, sandwiches, produce, baked goods and other groceries. The hub hosts karaoke events, local musicians, open mic nights, community meetings and markets. Danby Food & Drink is open Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can find out more about the hub’s events on its website. Ithaca Underground — Ithaca According to its website, Ithaca Underground formed in 2007 as a nonprofit music community holding local concerts and events throughout the year. IU’s shows feature both local bands and touring acts. Ithaca Underground’s goal in the community is “to provide an inclusive environment for everyone to have do-it-yourself ambitions and create new and challenging music and art for all,” according to their website. Ithaca Underground is run by volunteers. Ithaca Underground’s many community partners include the Community Arts The

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Partnership, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, Angry Mom Records, BSI Production, Ithaca Fantastik, Illume Projects and Sentient Fest. Ithaca Underground holds festivals and performances throughout the year. You can check out its concert schedule and learn how to get involved on Ithaca Underground’s website. Stone Bend Farm — 196 Porter Hill Road, Newfield Stone Bend Farm in Newfield was founded in 2021 by Terry Bloom as a small family farm focused on creating experiences to bring the community together, according to its website. The farm specializes in creating pizzas using homegrown and local ingredients. Stone Bend Farm says it focuses on sustainability with its farming processes and supporting the local community through locally sourced products. Stone Bend has a geothermal greenhouse and is home to a craft taproom and kitchen for making woodfired pizzas. The farm hosts local bands, workshops, square dances and more. You can find out St uden t

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more about the farm and its events on its website. Stone Bend Farm is open on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Boatyard Grill — 525 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca According to its website, The Boatyard Grill opened on January 31, 2001, as a waterfront restaurant created by Ithaca restaurateur Mark Campagnolo. The Boatyard Grill hosts events throughout the year, including a Friday night music series during the summer, as well as graduation dinners and seasonal events. The Boatyard Grill has a variety of cocktails, wine, beer and cider, with local options available. The grill also includes a lunch menu, dinner menu and a dessert menu. The Boatyard Grill is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can check out Boatyard’s events and menu on its website.

Student Guide

Religious Communities in Tompkins County By Kira Walte r

or many young people, college is their first taste of independence. With that can come a host of religious crises and questions. Without the household of practitioners or family obligations, students may return to prior beliefs or explore new ones. Whether looking to explore a new faith or join a group that helps remedy spiritual homesickness, Ithaca is teeming with organizations ready to help new students adjust. From prayer rooms to sermons to charitable work, a religious home base can certainly provide direction amidst university chaos. Here are several off-campus spaces dedicated to offering clarity to those in search of guidance amidst studies. Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies The Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies on Danby Road is the North American seat of the 14th Dalai Lama. Just next to Ithaca College and a few miles from Cornell’s campus, Namgyal features an expansive library of Buddhist scripture, including many reading nooks and outlets. Volunteers can answer all questions at the front desk, while the building’s second story has meeting rooms, places to call,

and a large atrium where visitors can rest. Up the hill, open meditation is led by monks three times a week, while a woodland path wraps the property decorated with peaceful affirmations. Courses and weekend intensives are available to those who wish to advance their learning beyond the library book selection. Celebrations of major Buddhist holidays in pujas, a devotional ritual, and prayer ceremonies are open to the public as well. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Another religious organization thoroughly prepared to meet new student needs is St. Luke’s Lutheran Church inCollegetown, a few steps up Oak Avenue. St. Luke’s holds consistent Sunday worship, Bible studies, and community dinners. Its campus ministry caters to Cornell and IC students, with events like First Friday Spaghetti Dinner or Poe By Candlelight on Mondays through October. During finals season, St. Luke’s opens its doors for silent study and free snacks at the end of both spring and fall semesters. And a unique initiative building campus connection is the Adopt A Student program, through which families in the congregation are paired with one undergraduate or graduate. The incentive is to provide a local family for students in

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Ithaca, one that checks in and serves as a caring presence with home-cooked meals or just genuine support. St. Luke’s is also active on Cornell’s campus, with exploratory events like Tea & Tarot Fridays at Anabel Taylor Hall and Poe by Candlelight October Mondays at Sage Hall. Reverend Taylor and Priest Jason come to both to provide guidance to attendees. Al-Huda Islamic Center Also with a strong presence at Anabel Taylor Hall is the Al-Huda Islamic Center, originally based in community efforts by Muslim staff and faculty members at Cornell. Though the masjid out in Lansing is relatively new, its been discussed since 2001 as a needed complement to campus activities. In 2014, community members began the Islamic Community Outreach Services downtown, starting Sunday school, improving halal options, and fundraising for a permanent location. Now community dinners, volunteering with Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard, and Quran reading classes take place at the center just off East Shore Drive. Opportunities for charity and further religious education are available in Lansing, while students often go to Anabel’s Diwan Center for on-campus between lecture support. A chaplain’s office and dedicated prayer spaces for both men and women are available for regular use. Temple Beth-El Student Hillel groups at IC and Cornell help students transition through socializing with young adults of a similar religious background or finding career opportunities through a Jewish college network. But for those looking for a beyond campus connection with Ithaca’s Jewish community, Temple Beth-El on North Tioga Street co help. The synagogue holds regular Shabbat services, minyan every weekday, and kiddush lunch on Saturdays. Temple Beth-El can also provide a less

The First Ithaca Chinese Christian Church. (Photo: Mark Syverston)

Namgyal Monastery on Danby Road. (Photo: Mark Syverston)

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college-oriented approach to religion, allowing students to join an intergenerational community. The temple also runs Young Jewish Adults of Ithaca (YJA) through which students can meet other young people in the area that aren’t necessarily classmates. The congregation’s close tie to the universities but separate emphasis on local community is excellent for those searching for something similar to their hometown experience, or even laying down post-grad roots here. First Ithaca Chinese Christian Church A long-standing resource for a large population of Chinese students in Ithaca is the First Ithaca Chinese Christian Church, a short walk from Collegetown. Established in 1983, FICCC originally served Mandarin, Cantonese and English speaking scholars in Ithaca short-term. Though listed in Cornell’s student directory, the building is open to all people, regardless of Chinese heritage. Rides are coordinated for Sunday services as students are picked up from Terraces at IC or RPCC, Baker Flagpole and Schwartz Center at Cornell. The Belle Sherman area church welcomes those simply curious about Christianity to their Friday fellowship, with English Worship Service on Sundays and Discipleship Groups. Friday features a free Chinese dinner and though the church is marketed towards predominantly Chinese practitioners, it attracts an ethnically diverse community. A vast network of different religious organizations in Ithaca ensures that spiritual commitments don’t have to be sacrificed to academic pursuits. Although on-campus religious exploration is enriching, especially entering such a diverse pool of students, integrating into an Ithaca-based community can help remedy a feeling of displacement. These groups by no means substitute at home religious life but they can provide helpful grounds for place making and seeking comfort.

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A NATION LISTENS: DISCOVERING CIVIC LIFE IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD

The Importance and Impact of Literacy on an Engaged Citizenry By C a sey Iwa mot o — Tom pk i n s L e a r n i ng Pa rt n e r s Tu t or

he pursuit of lifelong learning transforms lives and is not limited by age, occupation, or geography. This is abundantly clear through the work of Tompkins Learning Partners (TLP), based in Ithaca, where adult learners study to achieve educational goals and realize long-held dreams. While students come to this organization for 1:1, no-cost tutoring to gain basic literacy skills, expand their English language proficiency, study for the GED, and prepare for the US citizenship interview, the personalized instruction they receive also serves to foster skills necessary to be civically engaged. The United States, as well as our local community, fully benefits from having all constituents prepared to understand and participate in the democratic process. Basic reading, writing, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are vital to full community engagement. When individuals gain literacy, numeracy, and English language skills, they are better prepared to succeed in the workforce, support themselves and their families, interact with neighbors and community members in meaningful and

Celebrating citizenship. (Photo: Donna Ramos)

productive ways, volunteer, and participate in the democratic process. Lost earnings, lower workplace productivity, negative health outcomes, lack of engagement in community life, and increased reliance on public assistance are some of the potentially detrimental outcomes of low literacy. The good news is that programs like TLP help remove barriers and assist adults to develop the skills they need to increase economic independence. Literacy — and programs and policies that support literacy — help uplift communities for the greater good by decreasing the chance an individual will live in poverty and reducing circumstances that contribute to costly health outcomes. Furthermore, a mother’s reading ability is the greatest determinant of her children’s future academic success, increasing their access to positive, lifeenhancing opportunities. Equally impactful is the fact that adult literacy education also provides the opportunity to facilitate community engagement, confidence, and cultural exchange. This in turn supports learners’ abilities to exercise their rights as US citizens. Local engagement is key to democracy, and without literacy, community representation is diminished, creating systemic underrepresentation. Literacy provides footholds for individuals to build reading fluency, think critically, and evaluate policies that impact their lives, enabling them to cast informed votes for initiatives that align with their beliefs and values. Literacy also expands employment prospects and other lifeenhancing opportunities. As a volunteer at Tompkins Learning Partners for over a year, I am continually amazed by the dedication and energy that learners bring to their studies. These adults have family responsibilities, fulltime jobs, and come from very different educational systems, so making a longterm, weekly commitment to year-round studies takes strong motivation and perseverance! Specifically, it has been exciting to engage with learners who are working towards their long-term goal of becoming U.S. citizens, while also celebrating milestones including writing individual-

Studying together at TLP. (Photo: Lily Maleknia)

ized thank you letters to their supportive community and communicating more clearly with their coworkers. It is fantastic to see learners come in to improve their literacy, and leave with improved critical thinking, communication, social skills, and the ability to articulate and pursue areas of interest and curiosity. As a tutor, I’ve been taught that adults learn best when they are recognized as decision makers and when they are learning content that is meaningful in their lives and has immediate application. All of these are relevant to democracy, as foundational literacies support learners’ ability to make decisions that impact themselves and their community through civic participation. Adult literacy programs are invaluable for individuals, communities, and the U.S. through promoting access to civic knowledge and informed participation in voting and elections. Literacy also supports understanding of rights and legal processes, which is critical to obtaining citizenship and utilizing and advocating for our rights as citizens. As TLP tutor, Betty Spero said: While citizenship is a status that many Americans may take for granted, literacy is an aspiration with boundless rewards. I can still hear my mother’s voice, in her heavy Chinese accent, saying to me and my siblings, “You are so lucky, you can go anywhere and do anything — you speak and read English.” Being a tutor is a privilege to see and witness the effect that learning to

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speak, read and write English has on our adult students who have the courage and ambition to study and learn. Learning English is the gateway to understanding and enjoying the freedom, rights and responsibilities that come with being a citizen. The U.S. has a tradition of celebrating unique perspectives and backgrounds, and literacy enables people to inform policy and civic representation through voicing their diverse perspectives. Literacy supports a strong democracy in which all voices are represented, and Tompkins Learning Partners prepares individuals to contribute to a democratic society through adult education programs that support the development of critical competencies for learners in the Ithaca community. Tompkins Learning Partners is celebrating its 50th year providing 1:1 adult literacy tutoring. Through a team of 65 active, trained tutors, along with staff educators, TLP partners with individuals who live or work in Tompkins County to help them meet their educational and life goals. Like Paulo Freire, we believe that education is freedom — and that it is transformational, both in individual lives and in our society. Find out more about supporting this work or volunteering as a tutor at TLPartners.org, and consider joining us at our 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 24, 2026, 4:30–6:30 p.m. RSVP at TLPartners.org/rsvp!

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