IMPACT LAW
The Business of Barter: When a Handshake Is Worth More Than Cash—Until It’s Not
For most of human history, people did business without money.
A farmer traded eggs for lumber. A blacksmith repaired tools in exchange for food. A teacher shared knowledge for shelter. Barter wasn't a loophole—it was the economy.
ousands of years later, business barter is making a quiet comeback. Small businesses exchange advertising for catering. Web designers build websites in return for legal services. A marketing rm helps a restaurant ll tables, and the restaurant feeds the rm's employees. Particularly during times of economic uncertainty, barter allows businesses to conserve cash while putting unused inventory, skills, or excess capacity to productive use.
On its face, it seems like common sense.
Unfortunately, common sense and the law don't always see eye to eye.
Many business owners are surprised to learn that the government generally treats barter exactly like a cash transaction. If two businesses exchange services valued at $2,000 each, both may have earned $2,000 in taxable income—even though neither received a single dollar.
at surprises many entrepreneurs, especially those who view barter as simply neighbors helping neighbors.
e law views it di erently.
From the government's perspective, value changed hands. Taxes, reporting requirements, and recordkeeping still apply. e absence of cash does not mean the absence of income.
at legal reality has both supporters and critics.
Supporters argue that the rule promotes fairness. If businesses could avoid taxation simply by exchanging services instead of writing checks, the tax system would quickly become uneven. e
law attempts to create a level playing eld by recognizing economic value regardless of the form in which it is received.
Critics counter that the law sometimes overlooks the unique role barter plays in strengthening local economies. A cash-strapped startup that exchanges consulting services for accounting assistance is not necessarily trying to avoid taxes. More o en, it is trying to survive. During recessions, natural disasters, or periods of high in ation, barter can become an important economic safety valve that keeps commerce moving when cash is scarce. ere is another challenge that receives far less attention.
Money establishes value almost automatically. Barter does not.
Is a month of bookkeeping worth a new website? Is three catered lunches equal to a quarter-page newspaper advertisement? What if one business completes its part of the agreement and the other never follows through?
Without clear expectations, goodwill can disappear quickly. at is why attorneys o en recommend treating barter agreements with the same seriousness as traditional business contracts. A written agreement should identify exactly what each party will provide, when it will be delivered, how its value was determined, and what happens if either side fails to perform.
Some business owners resist this formality.
"It's just a handshake between friends," they say.
Perhaps.
But friendships can sour, memories fade, employees change, and
businesses are sold. A simple written agreement protects both parties without diminishing trust. In fact, it o en strengthens it. Liability is another overlooked concern.
Suppose an electrician rewires a bakery in exchange for six months of advertising. If faulty wiring later causes damage, the fact that payment came through barter rather than cash changes very little. Professional standards, warranties, insurance coverage, and legal responsibility still exist.
Barter changes the method of payment—not the duty to perform competent work.
Yet despite these legal complexities, barter remains one of the most underutilized tools available to small businesses.
It encourages collaboration instead of competition. It keeps local wealth circulating within communities. It allows businesses with limited cash but abundant talent to invest in one another. In an era when many independent businesses struggle against national chains and online marketplaces, barter reminds us that value is not always measured by dollars alone.
Perhaps that is the larger lesson.
e law's purpose should not be to discourage barter. Its purpose should be to ensure that barter is conducted honestly, transparently, and fairly. Good laws create condence in the marketplace. ey establish expectations, reduce disputes, and protect everyone involved.
Business owners should not fear barter because it carries legal responsibilities. ey should embrace those responsibilities as part of doing business well.
A er all, every business transaction is built on the same foundation, whether payment comes in dollars, services, products, or promises. Trust.
e law can enforce contracts. It can de ne taxable income. It can resolve disputes. But it cannot create trust.
at remains the responsibility of the people doing business with one another.
Perhaps that is why barter has survived for thousands of years. At its best, it reminds us that commerce is not merely about exchanging money. It is about exchanging value—and, when done well, strengthening the relationships that make communities economically resilient in the rst place.
Editor's Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as, nor does it constitute, legal advice on any specific matter, nor does this message create an attorney-client relationship. These materials may be considered Attorney Advertising in some states. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Footnote: Thisessayissponsored byHancockEstabrook,LLP,alocal law firm with offices in Ithaca and Syracuse.
N ews line
City of Ithaca residents oppose Southworks’ tax break
By Grant Terwilliger
City of Ithaca residents opposed Southworks’ proposed $17.5 million tax break during the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency public hearing July 29.
“The financial assistance contemplated by the IDA will consist generally of exemption from property taxes,” Kurt Anderson, Interim Administrative Director of TCIDA, said. “That will be offset in part by contractual payments in lue of taxes or pilot payments by the company for the benefit of the affected taxing jurisdictions.”
Anderson said that the project is funded by New York State Homes & Community Renewal using 4% low-income housing tax credit, tax exempt bonds, state low income housing tax credits and housing finance agency subsidies.
The Southworks development received $38 million from New York States ACHIEVE award according to an Ithaca Times article from Jan 22.
In a July 27 Ithaca City School District letter submitted to TCIDA, the district expressed concerns over the housing development requesting that Beacon Communities LLC pause the project until a comprehensive analysis can be completed on the potential impact on the district.
Several of the concerns that the district expressed in their letter was that 70% of the district's revenue comes from local
property taxes. Based on the proposed 230 units as part of the Southworks project, the district estimated that 150 new students will attend district schools costing around $25,000 per student leading to an additional $4 million cost to the district.
“The Board of Education of the Ithaca City School District does not believe that a project that will pay little to no taxes for 30 years is consistent with the TCIDA mission of ‘strengthening the local tax base,’” the letter reads. “We do believe, however, that a highquality and fiscally sound school district will advance this mission.”
class
The school district's letter to the TCIDA Board will be discussed at the Aug. 11 public meeting for consideration.
Among residents of the City of Ithaca there were several concerns from residents about how the thirty year tax break could potentially shift costs to taxpayers, causing increased city and school district costs and concerns that the thirty year period is too long.
Tompkins County resident Caitlin Eger said in a letter to the TCIDA that it feels unreasonable to expect the school district to educate additional students without receiving sufficient revenue.
“The impact of this financing structure would trickle down negatively into
X Ithaca Seeks Consultant to Assist With FOIL Requests
By Lorien Tyne
The City of Ithaca is searching for a consultant to aid the city in completing information requests under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).
The city currently has a FOIL management platform that helps city staff with request tracking, document review and fulfillment.
New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requires government agencies, like the city of Ithaca, to provide public access to records. Within 20 days, an agency generally must respond to a request by providing records, denying the request or explaining the need for a time extension.
Alan Karasin, director of the city’s Department of Information & Community Engagement, said
in a statement that the selected firm or individual consultant would help the city prepare materials for release, expedite responses and ensure the materials are reviewed carefully within FOIL’s legal requirements.
Karasin provided a comment on the issue from Mayor Robert Cantelmo, who said the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM) has spoken about the increasing challenges associated with FOIL requests, especially with digital and AIgenerated requests.
“FOIL is a state - mandated responsibility, and communities across New York are seeing more complex requests that take more time and resources to process,” Cantelmo said. “The City’s recent RFP is a practical step to expand
delayed
building maintenance, and reductions in programming,” Eger said. “Eventually, the shortfall will have to be addressed, and historically the burden has been on property owners such as myself in the form of increased taxes. None of those outcomes serves our community well.”
Ithaca Teachers Association President Kathryn Cernera said that the school district's $7 million budget deficit in 2023 showed that the margins of error for absorbing budget deficits without impacting students’ learning is thin.
Student class sizes increased from 2023-2024, and as a result of the deficit;
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our capacity so we can maintain timely access to public records and meet our obligations under state law while keeping transparency at the center of our work.”
Karasin said FOIL requests have become more complex, often involving large digital files, video searches and other materials that necessitate careful review to adhere with legally required redactions. He said that a consultant will support city staff with the increased complexity and volume of requests but that the city will continue to make final decisions about disclosure and compliance.
“Public access to government records is essential to transparency and public trust,” Karasin said. “The City of Ithaca remains committed to providing timely, accurate responses to FOIL requests from residents, media organizations, and other stakeholders.”
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sizes,
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Entrance to Southworks. (Photo: Mark Syverston)
IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SWIM IN ITHACA?”
NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com
Ithaca Board Raises Questions Over Parking, Stormwater at Waters Edge Development
By Philip O’Dell
Developers of the proposed Waters Edge project faced scrutiny regarding surface parking, stormwater runoff, and ground-floor retail viability during the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board’s July 28 review of updated plans.
According to designers’ project narrative, the Waters Edge redevelopment is located on the eastern shore of the Cayuga Inlet at 683 Third St. Situated within Ithaca's Market District — a mixed-use area with healthcare facilities, commercial properties, and industrial sites — the 8.16acre property aligns with Plan Ithaca, the city’s comprehensive plan that seeks compact, higher-density waterfront growth, the document says. Developer Waters
Edge Ithaca acquired the former New York State Department of Transportation maintenance facility at auction in 2021.
During the meeting, developers said the refined design increased the height of the smaller southeastern building from four stories to five to align with the neighboring structure. To balance the added height, the building footprint was pulled back significantly from the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, expanding the buffer zone from eight feet to roughly 22 feet.
Waters Edge developers said the proposal required a subdivision to separate the property from its northern half. It retains its core layout with two primarily residential buildings, dedicated pedestrian
pathways, public parking to support the nearby farmers’ market, and a waterfront turnaround plaza designed for shared vehicle and pedestrian use.
Whitham Planning & Design Senior Associate Jacob von Mechow said the team also revised its ground-floor commercial strategy based on prior board feedback. Moving away from an earlier micro-retail concept, the updated plans feature a single, consolidated 4,000-square-foot commercial space integrated with the residential lobby, designed to keep the site activated throughout the day.
Addressing environmental and screening concerns, von Mechow proposed maintaining the existing fence line along the waterfront trail. The team said that removing the established native and aggressive vegetation would create an ecological vacuum susceptible to invasive species.
Instead, developers plan to preserve the current flora while adding supplementary native plantings to enhance seasonal visual appeal and provide natural screening for residents and trail users.
The planning board raised some concerns on commercial viability, parking density, and environmental impacts.
Environmental and design concerns centered on the site's extensive 219 surface parking spaces. Given the development's direct proximity to the inlet and Cayuga Lake, board members asked for a more comprehensive stormwater management plan to mitigate potential runoff issues.
“The protection of stormwater is one of my primary interests,” board member Peggy Tully said. “When I see an enormous parking lot right next to the lake, I want to know more about how stormwater is going to be percolated.”
Board members questioned whether replacing street-facing retail with a lobbyintegrated commercial space, such as
Pictured is a design for Waters Edge, a proposed redevelopment at 683 Third Street on the Cayuga Inlet. The City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board reviewed the plans on July 28, with board members raising questions regarding surface parking density, stormwater runoff management, and ground-floor commercial viability. (Photo: Provided)
An updated site plan overlay illustrates the proposed Waters Edge buildings, central surface parking, and waterfront public spaces along the Cayuga Inlet ahead of the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board's July 28 review. (Photo: Provided)
Pictured is the proposed Waters Edge development at 683 Third Street along the Cayuga Inlet in Ithaca. (Photo: Provided)
“I really like Taughannock Falls State Park.”
Maddie
“Buttermilk Falls.”
Kayden
“I gotta say Robert Treman State Park.”
Emma
“Treman is the only place I’ve been swimming in Ithaca but it’s great.”
Mwende
Cyclospora Infection Prevention and Food Safety Guidance
By Mikayla Rovenolt
On July 20, Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) updated residents about cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, following outbreaks in several states.
As of July 24, 2026, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not determined if the recent outbreak is the result of contaminated iceberg lettuce; the investigation is ongoing.
As of July 30, there are no confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in Tompkins County. Community members are encouraged to always take steps to reduce their risk of infection through safe food handling practices.
TCWH officials stated, “We are investigating a few suspected cases at this time, however, we have not seen any significant numbers of cyclospora cases in Tompkins County.”
Since May 1, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported at least 1,947 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide. This represents a significant increase compared with the 249 cases reported across the United States during the same time period in 2025.
As of July 27, 2026, 753 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in New York State outside of New York City, which is higher than the usual 20 to 55 cases typically observed by early July. To date in
SOUTHWORKS’ TAX
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educators were laid off and students had to change their schedules to combat programs that had been discontinued.
2026, there are no lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in Tompkins County. For reference, in 2025, Tompkins County had one lab-confirmed case, and 4 cases were reported in 2024, according to a county press release.
The parasite is microscopic and cannot be seen without laboratory testing. According to the CDC, Cyclospora is spread through contaminated food or water. Direct person-to-person spread is unlikely. People who have had Cyclospora infection in the past can become infected again if they are exposed to the parasite. Previous outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce including lettuce, herbs, raspberries and snow peas.
The most common symptom of cyclosporiasis is watery diarrhea, which may last for several days to several weeks and can sometimes return after improving. Other symptoms may include:
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach cramps or abdominal pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Weight loss
“In my line of work, I know that the constraints of a single failed budget will be felt for years since there is no mechanism for schools to recoup these losses unless a new source of school revenue is found within the community,” Cernera said. “The Southworks proposal does not create new revenue, but instead would create new, additional and compounding operational costs to the district.”
According to Beacon Communities LLC first phase housing proposal the Southworks project consists of 230 apartments and 10 buildings. The Gateway project will include two buildings with 100 apartments in the City of Ithaca, and The Woods will incorporate 130 units across eight buildings within the town of Ithaca.
Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency’s next public hearing for Beacon Communities LLC is Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. on the second floor of the Tompkins County Legislative Chambers at 121 E. Court St.
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
Symptoms usually appear about one week after consuming contaminated food or water but may occur anywhere from two days to two weeks after exposure. Some people infected with Cyclospora may not experience symptoms. It is important to contact your healthcare provider if you suspect Cyclospora infection as testing and antibiotic treatment may be available. Healthcare providers can specifically request to test for cyclosporiasis. For additional information about cyclosporiasis, visit the CDC website at: http:// www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis or the NYS Department of Health Communicable Disease Branch website at: https://health. ny.gov/diseases/communicable/cyclosporiasis/index.htm.
QUESTION
OF THE WEEK
Do you support the city's Responders Offering Outreach, Trust, and Support (ROOTS) initiative?
UPS DOWNS&
By Kaeleigh Banda Ups
The Foundation for Courage gave the Renzi Cancer Center at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center a $4,000 donation. The donation is intended to support the purchasing of small equipment, educational and comfort items for oncology patients, staff education resources, and financial assistance for cancer patients.
The Foundation of Courage is a non-profit that provides support to individuals in Cortland County undergoing cancer treatment. The funds they donated were raised at the fifth annual Golf for Charity Tournament. Proceeds from the event were raised in memory of Catherine Rutkowski Bernardo, Gloria Sonnachio and Jennifer Alexy.
“We are so grateful for the friendship we have with the Foundation of Courage, and for all the folks who supported their Golf for Charity event,” said Sheila Ossit, Director of the Cortland Memorial Foundation. “What this small (but mighty) organization does to provide for our cancer patients is just amazing.”
Downs
Ithaca Police Officers responded to a report of an attempted stabbing at 6:02 p.m. July 30 at 150 West Village Place. When the officers arrived, they found the victim, who reported that her ex-boyfriend had attempted to cut her with a knife. The victim’s pant leg was cut as a result. The defendant, Dennis Noonan, was found nearby by officers and he was taken into custody without incident. The charges on Noonan are pending and include attempted assault in the first degree, a Class C felony, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor and more. The defendant is currently awaiting arraignment.
HEARD
& Heard
SEEN
Ithaca Murals is looking for fun, creative muralists to be part of Ithaca’s second Mural Jam. Selected artists will be given $2,000 to paint murals at SouthWorks Ithaca on Aurora Street, and they will get to participate in the 2026 Mural Jam. Three or more artists will be selected. The Mural Jam will be held Oct. 3-4 and feature local, regional and national artists as they create murals in real time, while visitors explore the site. Attendees can meet the artists, listen to musical performances, paint on the community paint wall and more.
Seen
The Tompkins County Legislature adopted the completed 2026-2029 Transportation Coordinated Plan on July 21. The plan aims to help people with disabilities, older residents and low-income individuals by improving the coordination of transporta tion services and addressing transporta tion gaps. Cost-effective approaches are used throughout the plan. The plan provides recommendations for how the approaches can be implemented by human service agencies, local government officials, transportation service providers and Tompkins County residents.
Any grants and newly funded projects that the county, TCAT or Gadabout want to work on should align with the goals of the Coordinated Plan.
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.”
Tompkins County Whole Health Building. (Photo: Provided)
The Talk at
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Ithaca Times Readers
Farm Bill Poses Threat to Small Farmers
“Recently, the U.S. House passed a Farm Bill containing language that should concern small farmers in the Southern Tier and throughout New York, especially those raising livestock. The Save Our Bacon Act would nullify state agriculture laws and favor the Chinese and Brazilian companies that dominate the U.S. meat market.
Throughout the country, states have passed and enforced their own agricultural laws. Local markets, resources, climate, and the democratic process have shaped these laws since the beginning of the Republic. In New York, those laws help protect our dairy industry and maintain the integrity of kosher and halal foods. In recent years, some states, including California and Massachusetts, have passed laws requiring that animals raised in confinement be given enough room to stand up and turn around. During the years these laws have been debated; many farms
have adapted and benefited from premium markets for healthier and more humanely raised meat. The Save Our Bacon Act would pull the rug out from under those producers while serving the interests of the largest international corporations.
Consumers should be concerned that this law will limit their choices and weaken local democracy. Livestock farmers, especially those raising animals on pasture for local or premium markets, should be paying close attention. Anyone concerned with healthy food, local agriculture, and the Constitution should tell Congress to keep state agriculture laws in state hands. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand should oppose the Save Our Bacon Act and reject any final Farm Bill with similar language.” — Michael Burns, Alpine NY
Wegmans Must Undo Ban Against Ira McKinley
“Dear Community Members,
Many of you are aware of the dog attack in the Wegmans outside eating area in June. Margaret Wakely was assaulted by a pitbull whose handler could not restrain it. Wakely was saved by local filmmaker and activist Ira McKinley, who comforted Wakely and then verbally confronted Wegmans Asset Protection staff. He was arrested by Ithaca Police, even after Wakely’s protests.
McKinley is Black and Wakely and the
dog’s handler are white. The dog’s handler was free to go and the police and Wegmans Asset Protection detained McKinley instead.
Ithacans rallied behind McKinley, and the police department dropped all charges. In fact, IPD chief Thomas Kelly publicly praised McKinley’s actions and, while not admitting to wrong-doing, asked to meet with McKinley.
Wegmans, however, issued a two year ban against McKinley. Despite community members advocating on his behalf, McKinley has heard nothing from the Ithaca Wegmans. No apology, nor offer of compensation.
This is the same Wegmans that supports hundreds of events and non-profits each year, whose care for our community separates it from other big box stores. Why then, do they not respond to a clear instance of racial profiling their own staff participated in? Why maintain the ban on McKinley even after the Ithaca Police Department reversed course?
Wegmans could be a leader by openly dealing with an act of racism — even if unintentional — and learning from it.
This story highlights Ithaca’s broader divisions. McKinley, as well as the dog’s owner and handler, are unhoused. The dog was ultimately euthanized, but we can assume there were few options for where the dog could be that day. There are also the asset protection staff, who should be held responsible without being condemned.
In McKinley’s 2013 film The Throwaways, environmentalist Van Jones says that just as we cannot throw away our planet, we cannot throw away people. As of now, Wegmans is treating someone who saved a customer’s life as a throwaway.
It is not enough that our community holds IPD accountable, but not Wegmans. If you shop there, drop a comment card by
the customer service desk and ask them to 1. Drop the ban on Ira McKinley 2. Apologize and offer just compensation 3. Be transparent about how they are learning from this and how they will do better. Finally, support Ira McKinley and his work. Look up his films. You can Venmo him at @Ira-McKinley.” — Sue Schwartz
No Parking Signs Must Be Enforced
“I am truly baffled as to why the town bothered to put up the ‘NO PARKING ANYTIME’ signs on East Shore Dive across from the little park by the marina when many people still blatantly park there anyways and the ‘NO PARKING’ is never enforced. The State Troopers and Sheriff’s Dept will even have speed traps nearby but will neglect to ticket the parking offenders. I just don’t understand. Either take the signs down or enforce the law, which is actually there for safety reasons.” — Susie Pedersen, Ithaca NY
RE: Ithaca Launches DRI Local Planning Committee
“This is encouraging news for Ithaca. Investing in downtown through a dedicated planning committee shows a long-term commitment to improving the community, supporting local businesses, and creating welcoming public spaces. A $10 million grant can make a meaningful difference when paired with thoughtful planning and resident involvement. I hope the project reflects the city's unique character while encouraging sustainable growth. It will be exciting to see how these improvements strengthen the downtown area and benefit both current residents and future visitors alike.” — Adrian Torres, ithaca.com
Southern Comfort
By Charley Githler
Bear with me on this, but I’m noticing something ominous. Scientists estimate a 35% chance that 2026 will be the hottest year since we began keeping records. It’s already the third-warmest start to a year. I think it’s safe to assume that the weather in Ithaca will never go back to the way it used to be. In the Old Days, people used to put up their carriages and break out the sleighs come winter. This year, I’ve turned my snow tires into yard planters and recycled my ice scraper. We haven’t had a decent snowfall around here in years. The ominous part is that I suspect there could be changes afoot even more sinister than hot summers and mild winter weather. I’ve noticed things. They’ve had these conditions below the Mason-Dixon Line forever. Is it possible we’re becoming more … Southern?
Never discount the possibility that I’m losing my sanity, but explain this to me: last
Sports
weekend, the cashier at Wegmans asked me, “did y’all find everything you were looking for?” Who says that in Ithaca? And wait, it gets weirder. When I left a tip at the State Diner on Sunday, the waitress said, “Bless your heart.” Just a fluke? Perhaps. But what if southern weather and southern culture go hand in hand?
I suppose I should have noticed the signs earlier. Our local planners may have been more far-sighted than we thought, encouraging the construction of national chain hotels and stores with carpet-bagging contractors. Ithaca City Schools pay their teachers barely enough to cover the cost of a decent pair of bib overalls and a weekly jar of moonshine, forget about being able to afford living in the city. I don’t know if anyone else saw it, but there’s a new ‘kudzu abatement’ line in the 2026 Ithaca city budget. Wouldn’t it make sense to at least entertain the pos-
Ithaca’s Brady Chase Gears Up for Alfred State Baseball
By Steve Lawrence
Parents of young athletes often have some frame of reference from their own childhood experience. Speaking as one such parent, I think I can speak accurately on behalf of most of us when I say that we have two lists: A list of experiences that were positive and we would like to see happen for our child, and things we hope to help them avoid.
When Josh Chase and Ron Amato were baseball teammates at Ithaca College a quarter-century ago, they were not likely thinking about such things, but when they went into education (both are employed by the Ithaca City School District — Josh is a Phys. Ed. Teacher and the Director of P.E. And Health at Ithaca High and Ron is a Phys. Ed. Teacher at South Hill.) and became coaches, many of the tools in their
sibility that big changes are happening?
Explain this to me: I used to want to see my family in the summer. Now, I have a hankerin’ to see my kinfolk, especially Memaw. It’s got me plumb worried.
I don’t know where it’s all leading, but I can tell you my prediction: if this is really happening, the hardest part will be adjusting to the food. In recent years, we had been moving in the direction of healthier, local food. Now Cayuga Medical Center is constructing a special burn unit in anticipation of folks figuring out the nuances of deep fat frying ice cream at home. Biscuits and gravy don’t sound too bad, and I guess we can make do with catfish. I’m not exactly sure what Turducken is, but don’t be surprised to see it on menus going forward. Also, I was shocked to find out that grits, an excellent substance for patching cracked masonry, may be edible!
You think I’m over-reacting? Ask yourself these questions. Do you care more about college football than you used to? Have you used the word “whatnot” in conversation? How about “polecat”? Does the word “glass” have two syllables when you say it? Been spending more time on the porch? I do declare, it’s happening, right here in Ithaca.
the Ithaca Arsenal travel teams and the Cayuga Lakers summer league.”
Josh added, “In the Arsenal program, kids start at the 10 U level and progress up through to 18 U. We have had really good numbers and there are about 90 or 100 players overall.”
Some things are going to hurt. We’re going to have to be nicer to strangers. Southern hospitality is kind of real. There will be a demand for possum-based dishes and whatnot in local restaurants.
I reckon it’s good news for local cardiologists. And one hopes that our taxes will go down to southern levels, but I’m not sure I’m ready. The Civil War’s been over for 160 years, but it seems likely that we’re going to have to get all fired up about it again. Also, apparently, Ithaca High School’s changing its alma mater to “Dueling Banjos.” Could be a coincidence, I suppose. Preemptively, I’ve put together a collection of sleeveless tees, including a clean one for formal occasions. Life is change, folks, but this here’s got me worn slap out.
You decide if I’m imagining things, I guess. I’m just telling it like I see it. OK, y’all, I’m fixin’ to plant some calla lilies in my snow tires and I have to go. Tell your Mamas I said Hey.
coaching toolbox came from watching two coaches work together to get the most out of their athletes. Now, well into their tenures as varsity baseball coaches for the Little Red, the two work in concert — despite who is carrying which label.
Josh said, “I became the Head Coach at Ithaca High in ’05, and in ’09 I stepped away to get my Administrative credentials. Ron was the Assistant Coach then, he took over and when I came back in 2019 we kind of flip-flopped.”
Ithaca is well known as a lacrosse and hockey hotbed, but quite a few players have come up through the feeder programs and high school team and gone on to play in college. I will provide a list of those players at the end of this column. In Chase's words, “The majority of our players come up through the Cal Ripken and the Babe Ruth leagues, and there are also
Regarding the Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth Leagues, Josh said “We try to keep it affordable for all families. There are scholarships available, we have equipment buy-back days, and since we use some of the City of Ithaca’s fields, we operate as a Not-For-Profit.”
Anyone connected to baseball in Upstate New York will tell you that the weather can be a major obstacle in the Spring. Fields are often too wet to play on, and if teams don't wait until they're dried out, damage is inevitable and that can cost a lot of time and money. The fact that the Gutchess Sports Complex in Cortland was built a few years ago has opened up a lot of opportunities for many area programs. The four turf fields can handle a lot of usage — even when wet — and the place is buzzing throughout the baseball and softball seasons, up through the Fall tournaments. “Gutchess really is a beautiful facility,” Josh offered, conveying his gratitude that the complex is available as an option.”But,” he added, “we spent 30K and had a whole lot of volunteer help
to get our fields up to par, and we’d like to keep it local when possible.”
Both of the Chase boys — Brady and Colin — have come up through the Ithaca pipeline, and Brady is gearing up for his freshman season as an Alfred State Pioneer. He will try to earn a spot on the pitching staff, and when I asked him what
2026 Ithaca High grad Brady Chase is eager to earn his spot on the pitcher's mound for the Alfred State Pioneers.
(Photo: Emily Russell)
Ithaca Immigrant Groups Demand End to ICE Vehicle Stops After Fatal Shootings
By Philip O’Dell
Following two fatal shootings by U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement officers during traffic stops, Ithaca-area advocates and leaders are offering community support and urging residents to know their legal rights.
On July 7 in Houston, an ICE officer fatally shot 57-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo through his van window during an enforcement operation, according to The Associated Press. Six days later, an ICE officer fatally shot 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero through his windshield during a vehicle stop in Biddeford, Maine.
In both cases, DHS officials said the drivers attempted to flee and used their vehicles as weapons against officers while witnesses and family members rejected those accounts. According to AP News, federal officials and lawmakers later confirmed that neither man was the intended target of the operations.
According to AP News, Salgado Araujo was a 52-year-old Mexican national with no criminal convictions and working toward legal status prior to his death. Surviving construction crew members in the van denied that he posed a threat. AP News reported that Salgado Araujo’s family suggested he may have fled out of fear of robbers, as the officers were in plainclothes and driving unmarked vehicles.
Durán Guerrero was a 25-year-old Colombian national who lived nearby with his wife and daughter, was authorized to work in the U.S., and held a Social Security number, the AP reports.
During the Tompkins County Legislature meeting July 21, Legislator Veronica Pillar said ICE agents are spreading terror through violence.
“A lot of people are now living in fear, afraid to go about their daily lives because of what might happen to them without an applicable warrant, without an applicable tip even,” Pillar said. “People are living in terror because our federal agents are waging a campaign of domestic terrorism.”
Pillar didn’t propose specific legislation but urged the legislature to protect residents' safety and personal information from federal immigration agents.
Pillar noted that ICE fatally shooting Renée Goode and Alex Pretti in Minnesota this year sparked nationwide protests, including a Jan. 30 “ICE Out of Ithaca” rally
that drew hundreds of attendees to the Ithaca Commons.
Immigrant Solidarity chairperson Laurie Konwinski said she was horrified by the killings, calling them violations of fundamental rights and the nation’s democratic principles. Konwoksi said ICE is engaging in a campaign to intimidate immigrants and divide the public. She argued ICE’s random traffic stops conducted without warrants or probable cause lack justification and appear to rely on racial profiling.
“I think it gives us all the more resolve to keep doing this work of resisting the current federal policies against immigrants,” Konwinski said. “We continue to do what we can to try to stand with and protect immigrants in our own community and keep raising our voices that these policies are wrong.”
Immigrant Solidarity is an informal grassroots organization of about 30 volunteers that shares information on constitutional rights, according to Konwinski. She said the group’s network of supporters hosts events to raise money for legal fees for individuals facing deportation or immigration detention.
Konwinski said Immigrant Solidarity leads a “Know Your Rights” campaign, providing educational materials in multiple languages to businesses that employ immigrants.
Konwinski said the campaign informs workers of their constitutional rights if approached by federal immigration agents. This includes their right to remain silent, request an attorney, and demand a judge-signed judicial warrant before allowing agents into private spaces.
Immigrant Solidarity distributes a hotline number operated by the volunteer-led Rapid Response Network, which allows residents to report potential ICE activity, sightings or confrontations, Konwinski said. The group also distributes educational resources from advocacy organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Immigration Law Center.
Casey Verderosa, executive director of Ithaca Welcomes Refugees, said ICE’s vehicle stops cause more violent interactions with the public and called for a halt to the practice.
“Such tragedies underscore the irresponsibility of hastily ramping up immigration enforcement activity by cutting training requirements for new ICE agents and the dehumanization of immigrants that seems to
At the July 21 Tompkins County Legislature meeting, Legislator Veronica Pillar accused ICE agents of “ waging a campaign of domestic terrorism, ” pointing to two fatal shootings by federal officers earlier that month.
(Photo: Screen capture via YouTube / Tompkins County)
be rampant in the federal government under the Trump administration,” Verderosa said.
According to its website, IWR relies on staff and community volunteers to help refugees integrate locally by providing housing aid, personalized support, and childcare.
Verderosa advised fearful residents to learn their constitutional rights through organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and to remain calm during interactions with immigration enforcement, even if subjected to unfair treatment.
“We are hopeful that our country will return to a place where shared humanity is valued and that immigrants affected by ICE will be able to gain their lives back,” Verderosa said.
Verderosa urged people to contact their elected representatives to demand a pause on ICE’s routine vehicle stops and to push for frequent inspections of federal immigration detention centers. Pointing to high rates of illness and death among detainees, Verderosa said increased oversight is necessary to address safety concerns.
According to a June 25 Human Rights Watch report, 52 people died in ICE custody from the start of President Donald Trump’s second term to June 4, 2026. HRW said the mortality rate for ICE detainees doubled under the current administration, reaching its highest level in over a decade.
Tompkins Learning Partners Executive Director Donna Ramos called the two shootings tragic losses, describing immigrants
as hardworking people seeking to contribute to their communities.
“At this time, it’s more critical than ever to be active and vocal in support of our immigrant neighbors and to ensure that Ithaca remains a welcoming community for all,” Ramos said. “We’re fortunate to have many outstanding local agencies that offer opportunities to be proactively involved and lend tangible support.”
According to its website, TLP provides free individual tutoring and small-group instruction to adults. Instructors help students learn English, study for the GED, and prepare for U.S. citizenship interviews.
“By the time a person seeks citizenship and becomes naturalized, they are committed to the process and eager to take that step, because this has become their community,” Ramos said. “They have a network of relationships, friends and family, have worked toward and looked forward to this life dream for years, and are enthusiastic about fully participating in our democracy.”
Hilary Boyer, project co-director for Open Doors English, said the organization helps students navigate heightened immigration concerns by offering a sense of belonging. ODE connects students with case management and trusted local resources like IWR, TLP, and Catholic Charities. Boyer said a decline in new immigrants to the Ithaca area has led to a drop in student attendance.
“Quite understandably, escalating government-sanctioned violence targeting immigrants has made people more cautious,” Boyer said.
Boyer urged residents to refer prospective students to ODE, which provides instruction at all proficiency levels alongside tutoring and prep courses for the GED, college, and workforce certificates.
“We approach the work with a traumainformed lens, understanding that everyone has much more they are dealing with than might be apparent on the surface and allowing students to participate as much or as little as works for them,” Boyer said. “We do not shy away from discussing difficult topics as students bring them up.”
Boyer said learning English is vital for finding employment, supporting children in school, and advocating for oneself. Boyer said ODE helps immigrants overcome isolation and connect with the broader Tompkins County community.
Arts&Entertainment Samite’s Sounds of Healing: Helping People Sing Again
By Peter Rothbart
“
Resilience” is Uganda-born music maker Samite’s one-man concert running for two nights on August 8th and 9th at the Hangar Theatre. The production is retrospective; a staged autobiography of Samite built around seven stories and seven songs that reflect his life’s journey from growing up during the armed violence and political upheaval under Idi Amin’s dictatorial control of Uganda in the 1970s to the present. Leaving Uganda, he fled to Kenya and lived in a refugee camp before making it to the United States and Central New York. He now lives in Tully and maintains an art studio in Ithaca, though his music and message of healing and human resilience is known throughout the world.
Samite describes his performance as about what he “…learned from the people I met in my troubles. I learned resilience from people. I go to a lot of war-torn places. I found out that by bringing music to these people who are going through difficult times, they quickly recover at least for the moment, and they start talking about the future, and they start laughing, and they start singing. They usually don’t even let me play more than two songs before they say, ‘Can I sing my song for you, too?’ So, I feel like I’m just helping people to sing again.”
“That opens them up to share their own story. Sometimes they’re horrible stories, but you can see that they haven’t lost hope. I don’t want to take credit for bringing peace, but at least I can help them see that this is the end.”
Samite’s Resilience
Saturday, August 8th
7:30 PM
Sunday, August 9th
2:30 PM
Hangar Theatre
Ithaca, NY
Tickets at: https://hangartheatre.org/buy-tickets/
“People will learn that I’ve gone through some tragedies and difficult times. How did I survive and not just be stuck with sadness? I think my experience when I was a refugee in a refugee camp really changed the way I look at life. It made me respect everybody. It made me respect the poorest and made me give time to talk to those who are going through a difficult time.” He explained that, "I think that’s helpful for a lot of people. You learn from this story, from my performance, that with time, things get easier. I help people see that this isn’t the end.”
Samite’s music relies on the complexity inherent in East African rhythms. He plays the kalimba with the dexterity of a jazz drummer, layering multiple rhythmic and melodic patterns on top of each other, creating a harmonious polyphonic cloudlike texture. The kalimba can be tuned to many different modes, thus evoking a wealth of emotions.
The rippling gentleness of the kalimba is paired with breathy, free-flowing flute melodies. Even Samite’s integral use of electronics is subtle yet lustrous, and enhances rather than overshadows the acoustic nature of his music. A closely mic’d flute adds a breathiness to his sound. A dexterous touch of reverb buffs the overall sound’s patina, imbuing you with a sense of wellbeing, emotional clarity, and serenity. You feel like he’s whispering in your ear.
Lyrics have a different function in Samite’s music. While many songs are sung in English, he often sings in Lugandan, a Bantu language from his native Uganda. It’s a bit like experiencing opera in a foreign language. You hear the mellifluous lyrics, but you have no idea what they mean. To our ears, his lyrics are vocalisations, an amalgamation of pitched phonemes, pure sonic expressions devoid of intelligible content. When combined with instrumental textures and rhythms, it can provoke a powerful subconscious understanding.
Uganda-born music maker, Samite. (Photo: Rachel Philipson)
In a recent interview, I asked Samite for English translations of his lyrics. He responded that much of his lyric writing would be ineffective in translation. (Imagine a German, Mandarin or Swahili translation of Shakespeare. It’s going to be missing something.) Samite explained that when his audience asks about what the lyrics are saying, he flips it back to them by responding, “What do you feel
from the song?” He says, “They are usually right on.”
Peter Rothbart is a professor emeritus of music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz, and pop musician and directs the Ageless Jazz Band.
Annie Opens at Cortland Repertory Theatre
By Ross Haarstad
The sun is certainly coming out tomorrow in Cortland Rep’s current production of the evergreen family musical, Annie.
This is despite several hiccups from the designers and now and then some unevenness in the acting.
A late 70s juggernaut, Annie was the brainchild of its director and lyricist, Martin Charnin. Its central strength is the decision by book writer Thomas Meehan (The Producers) to create a fable of pluck and determination carrying a nation through the Depression (simultaneously rewriting the comic strip’s Daddy Warbucks as a late in life philanthropist.) Optimism is (over) celebrated, as are New York, radio entertainment and the New Deal.
Annie’s staying power over the decades (besides offering innumerable girls roles as triple-threat orphans) is Charles Strouse’s music. He writes stirring, rhythmic melodies that easily fit children’s voices (“It’s a Hard-Knock Life,” “Tomorrow”), gives the villains a slinky jazz and funk trio (“Easy Street”); and serves up touching, warm ballads for Warbucks (“N.Y.C.,” “Why Should I Change a Thing”, “Something Was Missing”).
Strouse (Bye, Bye Birdie; Applause) seems especially keen to evoke the sounds of 1930s Broadway, a decade rich not
Annie,
book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse & lyrics by Martin Charnin.
Through August 14 at Cortland Rep (cortlandrep.org)
BRADY CHASE
continued from page 7
he was doing to prepare, he said. “I am entering my third season with the Lakers, and I’m lifting weights, doing some explosive training, running and doing a lot of long tosses with my dad.” Asked why he chose Alfred State, he said, “They have the major I want (Construction Management), and the baseball coach is a former Bomber and is good friends with David Valesente.” Ah, yes... the puzzle comes together... David, the Lakers’ coach, is also the cur-
only with the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin but also such tunesmiths as Harold Rome, Arthur Schwartz, and Harold Arlen. As such he opens Act 2 with a wonderful pastiche, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile” which sounds like a Rudy Vallee standard.
Under Dougie Robbins’ direction, it’s the youngest and the oldest who provide the heart of this Annie.
Cortland Rep alternates two casts of the orphans. I saw the Green Cast, led by Autumn Socha’s marvelous performance as Annie. The girls were a tight ensemble, strong-voiced, with individual quirks that quickly brought each to life. Jocy Rose Amico, Brenna Gillespie, Nora Jenney, Joella Kwilos, Everly Marshall and especially, as the youngest, a sparky Catelyn Adelman, brought delight to the stage with each appearance.
Socha’s Annie proves bright, spunky, and wistful in turn, her voice both clarion, yet also modulating with excellent phrasing. Tenderly poignant, her first rendition of “Tomorrow” takes place on a little urban island as she sings to a city mutt, Sandy, here a puppet (designed by Brendan Malafronte), sensitively brought to life by Cooper Arbisi as his puppeteer.
Robert Bigley simply lights up the stage as Warbucks, offering a smartly judged transition from brusque tycoon-ery to a wistful yearning for connection, to an almost jolly opening of his heart as he and Socha traipse nimbly through their growing companionship. His warm, remarkable baritone caresses the stage.
As his assistant Grace Farrell, Brooke Melton is all polish with a sweet touch.
Paul Wegraff gives FDR a sharp wit with more than a twinkle in the eye.
rent Ithaca College baseball coach, and his father, George, headed up the Bombers for 40-plus years. George and Assistant Coach
Frank Fazio were one of the most highlyregarded coaching duos in college baseball (winning a National Championship), and that gives a glimpse into the coaching model Josh Chase and Ron Amato try to emulate as mentors.
Of Brady’s baseball journey, Josh said, “I’m happy to see him take his best shot, and it will be nice to be able to step away and be his parent instead of his coach. No more chewing his ear off during a game.” I
(center) Brooke Melton as Grace Farrell, Autumn Socha as Annie (green cast) and Robert Bigley as Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, with the ensemble performing “NYC” in Cortland Rep’s production of “Annie” running July 29 – August 14. (Photo: Ben Wells, Cortland Repertory Theatre)
The ensemble, filled with the Intern Company (all current or recent college musical theatre students) shines in numerous roles, with strong dancing, especially from the men. The savvy choreography is by Andrea Dotto.
Declan McMahon especially lights up Act 2 with his swank radio host, Bert Healy.
The villains don’t quite reach the same heights. Yes, they are supposed to be cartoonish and over-the-top, yet there is still room for nuance in their performances. Amy Warsaw’s blowsy, alcoholic Miss Hannigan is relentlessly shrill (that whistle!), playing that one note until the scene with brother Rooster (Walter Dorff) and his squeeze, Lily St. Regis (Skye Landess), where Warsaw allows some shadings to appear. Their dance of “Easy Street,” however, is deliciously slinky, despite the strange lighting.
asked if he will hang it up after Colin graduates in 3 years, and he said, “Ron’s kids are very young. Maybe I’ll stick around.”
Kelly Brady — Brady’s mom and an Ithaca College basketball alum — tapped into her vast knowledge of athletics and added, “You know... research has proven that kids get their athletic abilities from their mother.” Of course they do...
For more details on youth baseball, visit: https://www.ithacabaseball.com/
This is a list of some Little Red players who have gone on to play at the next level: Ben Ruth (Niagara/ IC) —
Rozy Isquith’s set design concept is clearly the wings and flats (minus drops) that would populate 1930s stages. Unfortunately the stage comes off as somewhat drab and underpopulated except in the mansion scenes. (A veteran CRT designer, Isquith has scored triumphs in the past with My Fair Lady and Hello, Dolly.) Especially incongruous is the cinema screen background of a lighting cycle. Another CRT veteran, lighting designer Annmarie Duggan, fails to always get her principals in the light (particularly upstage) and seems to make random choices in the dances. I wonder if technical rehearsals were simply too short to fix mistakes. However, costume designer Andrea Herrara provides a simply dazzling variety of looks. The small orchestra sounds bouncy and full under the music direction of Canaan J. Harris, with nicely balanced sound design by Kyle Jensen.
Merod
—
—
— Wylie Smalls (Johnson Wales) — Elijah Blas (Cayuga Community College) — Estyn Elkouh (Middlebury) — Micah Fiorello (Utica College) — Zach Kemp (Wells) — Julian Kemp (Wells) — Ryan Hammon (Penn State Behrand) — Andrew Alise (Gulf Coast Community College) — Holden Lazarus (Gulf Coast Community College) — Anthony Massicci (Canisius) — Richie Kuhar (LeMoyne) — Will Ruth (Bard/ St John Fisher) — Brady Chase (Alfred State).
Gil
(IC)
Isaiah Smith (IC) — Vinny Gneo (IC)
Joe Guidi (IC)
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In Print | On Line | 10 Newspapers | 59,200 Readers
Internet: www.ithaca.com
Mail: Ithaca Times Classified Dept PO Box 27 Ithaca NY 14850
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End stage capitalism got you down?
Learn how Ithaca’s radical experiments in community and economics are making a real difference today!
IthacaLocalEconomyLab.com on iTunes and Spotify!
Don’t Let Ithaca Lose Its Storytellers
Imagine the sharpest, most passionate young journalists you’ve ever met (the ones who stay late chasing a story because they believe in this town) slowly packing their bags. Not because they want to leave… but because local rents force them out.
That’s the quiet heartbreak happening right now. Our best new writers, the ones who grew up here or fell in love with Ithaca in college, are being pushed toward cheaper cities just to survive.
The Rising Star Fund rewrites their story into a happy ending by sponsoring a simple monthly housing stipend (a hand up, never a handout) so they can keep living here, keep writing here, keep falling deeper in love with Ithaca… and keep telling the stories that make this city our home.
When a young journalist can afford to stay in Ithaca, you get:
● Fresh, fearless voices loyal to your local paper
● Someone at every city council meeting who believes local news matters
● The next great Ithaca story written by someone who actually lives here
● Your $25, $50, or $100 a month doesn’t just pay their rent.
● It keeps storytellers in our community and stops local brain drain.
● When our younger generation thrives, Ithaca’s future stays bright.
Keep local talent in Ithaca by donating today to the Rising Star Fund (an initiative of Pathways to Equity, Inc a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization)
For more info: roy@ithacatimes.com
8/6 Thursday
Analog Breakdown @ Danby Food and Drink | 6 p.m. | Danby Food and Drink, 1483 Danby Rd. | Free
8/7 Friday
Atlas live | 4 p.m. | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road
8/8 Saturday
Summer Market Series @ Danby Food and Drink | 4 p.m. | Danby Food and Drink, 1483 Danby Rd. | Free Quinn Bedore Live- 8/8 | 4 p.m. | Brewers Taproom, 10 Pinckney Rd Rocco Rich & Aaron Craig Live | 6 p.m. | Brewers Taproom, 10 Pinckney Rd
8/9 Sunday
Summer Sundays Music Series — ft. Cameron Markott | 1 p.m. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414
Concerts/Recitals
8/5 Wednesday
Lake Street Dive | 5 p.m. | Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, 2708 Lords Hill Road
8/6 Thursday
Story + Craft | 4 p.m. | Tompkins
County Public Library, 101 East Green Street
Beginnings Summer Concert Series in Downtown Ithaca | 5 p.m., Ithaca Commons
Cole Swindell | 5 p.m. | Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, 2708 Lords Hill Road
Music in the Park | 6:30 p.m. | Myers Park, Myers Point Rd. | Free
8/7 Friday
Jonas and Becky Woods | 7:30 p.m. |
Solid Ground Coff eeHouse, 486 Cherry Valley Hill Rd
8/8 Saturday
Jenna Buck | 5 p.m. | Eldridge Park, Eldridge Park Road
Beethoven Under the Stars with Garrick Ohlsson | 8 p.m. | Robinson Pavilion at Anyela’s Vineyard, 2433 W Lake Rd | $48.00 - $70.00
8/12 Wednesday
An Evening with Pam Tillis | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St
Stage
Annie | 2 p.m., 8/5 Wednesday | Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown, 24 Port Watson St. | Tickets go on sale May 18, 2026 Call 800-427-6160 Or visit CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson St., Cortland NY ANNIE July 29 –August 14 Book by Thomas Meehan
Music by Charles Strouse Lyrics by Martin
Mean Girls: The Musical | 8/6 Thursday | Cidermill Playhouse, 2 South Nanticoke Ave. | $20.00 - $25.00
The Importance of Being Earnest presented by Theatre Incognita | 7 p.m., 8/7 Friday | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street | Theatre Incognita presents Oscar Wilde’s late Victorian farce updated to England of the Roaring 20s. | $15.00 - $30.00
Lilypad Puppet Theater Show |
11 a.m., 8/8 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join TCPL for a puppet show fi eld with live music and fantastic variety acts! The Lilypad Puppet Theater is part of the celebration of Unearth a Story Summer Reading at TCPL. Stay afterwards for a finale for all ages that includes dinosaur crafts, ice cream novelty treats, book giveaways, and more! | Free
Participatory Contra, Square, and Circle Dancing | 7 p.m., 8/10
Monday | Ithaca Commons, 102 East State Street |
ArtSeeing Ithaca Through the Eyes of Artists | 12 p.m., 8/6 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
Building What We Value: panel discussion + reception | 3 p.m., 8/6 Thursday | Trade Design Build, 1520 Trumansburg Road | Building what we value: panel discussion + reception on Aug 6, 3– 6 p.m. | Free
Unearth Your Story: Personal Museum/Archival Gaps | 6 p.m., 8/6 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | In this personal writing workshop series, participants will be archaeologists of their own lives through excavating memories, artifacts, obsessions, places, family stories, photographs, objects,
August Gallery Night with Jim Lassoie | 5 p.m., 8/7 Friday | The Grayhaven Motel, 657 Elmira Rd | Join us Friday August 7th from 5 to 7:30 p m in the Grayhaven Lounge Gallery for the opening reception of: Fractured Realities: Perspectives on Nurture, Nature, and the Human Condition by Jim Lassoie | Free Art House Night | 5 p.m., 8/7 Friday | Ink Shop Printmaking Ctr |
Ink Shop Member Show 2026 | 5 p.m., 8/7 Friday | The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St. (2nd fl oor CSMA building) | Each year, The Ink Shop launches a members’ show, giving our membership the opportunity to exhibit their newest work. | Free Art Cafe | 6 p.m., 8/7 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., 8/7 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
Cosmic Smashbooking | 11 a.m., 8/8 Saturday | The Whimsy Mercantile, 1208 Church Street | Join Terry Pitzel, our Galactic Guide, in the Whimsy to learn about Cosmic Smashbooking. | Free
Pamela Drix: of vines and fences, artist talk | 5 p.m., 8/8 Saturday |
The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill Business Campus | Artist talk by Pamela Drix at The Gallery at South Hill. Pamela’s one person exhibit titled “of vines and fences” explores the patterns, juxtapositions and intersections of organic and manufactured form to understand place-making. | Free
Toddler + Preschool Art Studio | 10:30 a.m., 8/11 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Toddlers and preschoolers will have the opportunity to have open exploration and discovery with a variety of arts & crafts materials! | Free Professional Headshot Sessions w/Rachel Philipson Photography | 10 a.m., 8/12 Wednesday | Tompkins Chamber, 124 Brindley Street | Update your professional image with quick and aff ordable headshot sessions provided by Chamber member photographers. Details: Appointment slots are 10 minutes long. | $75.00$100.00
Three Bears Mixed Media Self-Portrait Class | 6 p.m., 8/12 Wednesday | Three Bears Ovid, 7175 Main Street | Free 3 hour class on making mixed-media self-portraits in Papa Bear, taught by local artist Ben Marlan on August 12 th from 6:00 to 9:00 p m. | Free
Film
Cinemapolis
120 E Green St., Ithaca
New movies opening the week of August 5. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes and continuing fi lms.
Sheep in the Box | In the near future, a couple takes in an ultramodern humanoid to raise as their son. | PG 126 mins
Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls | The name Woody Guthrie conjures images of Dust Bowl families from the 1930s fl eeing their soil-ravaged farms, along with those famous lyrical phrases, “This land is your land, this land is my land. From California to the New York Island.” However, Woody's horizons extended far beyond the dusty
Oklahoma hills of his youth. Once his wanderings and ramblings brought him to New York City in the 1940s, he was introduced both personally and professionally into a vibrant Jewish culture that he wholeheartedly embraced and ultimately had a deep infl uence on his life and his music. | PG 99 mins
Love & Basketball | Cinemapolis 40th Anniversary Celebration: Films from the 00s — August 11, 5:30 & 8:20 PM!Sparks fl y both on and off the court in this groundbreaking feature debut by writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood, which elevated the coming-of-age romance by giving honest expression to the challenges female athletes face in a world that doesn’t see them as equal. Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps make for one of the most iconic screen couples of the 2000s as the basketball-obsessed next-door neighbors who find love over flirtatious pickup games, fall apart under the strain of high-pressure college hoops and families, and drift in and out of each other’s lives as they pursue their twin aspirations of playing professionally. Aided by stellar supporting performances and an eclectic R&B soundtrack, Love & Basketball captures the intoxicating passions, heartbreaking setbacks, and sky-high ambitions that mark a young woman’s journey to the top of her game and to lasting love. | PG 125 mins
Special Events
GO ITHACA Open Hours | 2 p.m., 8/6 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Our program makes sustainable commuting accessible and aff ordable for everyone
The Power of Water: Downtown Six Mile Creek Walking Tour | 5:30 p.m., 8/6 Thursday | The History Center in Tompkins County, 110 N Tioga St. | Power of Water: Downtown Six Mile Creek is a new walking tour from The History Center in Tompkins County that follows the creek’s final mile from East State Street to Cayuga and Clinton Streets, tracing the sawmills,
ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS AT THE NIGHT EAGLE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, FROM 8:00 P.M. TO 10:00 P.M.
Night Eagle Cafe | For four decades, Robin & Linda Williams have performed “a robust blend of bluegrass, folk, old-time, and acoustic country that combines wryly observant lyrics with a wide-ranging melodicism.” The artists covering their songs include Emmylou Harris, Tom T. Hall, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kathy Mattea, and more. (Photo: Provided) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/robin-andlinda-williams-tickets-1991860978807
DAYS SATURDAY, AUGUST 8,
https://www.friendsoffi
tanneries, and mills that turned a small settlement into a growing city. | $12.50 - $15.00
Fillmore Days | 10 a.m., 8/8 Saturday | Fillmore Glen State Park, 1686 NY-38 | Bathtub Races, Rubber Duckie Scavenger Hunt, Pie Eating Contest, Pedal Car Derby, Music, Vendors, Food, Beverages, and Family Fun! | Free Bike The Glen | 5:30 p.m., 8/8 Saturday | Watkins Glen International, 2790 Co Rte 16, | Experience Watkins Glen International like you never have before Bike the Glen! Watkins Glen International will open the track to fans who are interested in biking the track. | $17.00
Books
Hazard Librrary Book Sale | 10 a.m., 8/5 Wednesday | Poplar Ridge Fire Department, 2423 State Route 34B | Giant Book Sale to benefi t Hazard Library (Poplar Ridge, NY)! Open every day for 2 weeks from July 25-Aug 8.
Factory Stories Book Launch |
4 p.m., 8/6 Thursday | FOUND in Ithaca, 620 S Aurora St | Factory Stories combines contemporary photographs of the former Morse Chain/BorgWarner/Emerson Power Transmission factory campus with portraits and fi rsthand recollections from former employees. | Free The Weather Inside: Poetry Reading with Stevie Edwards | 4 p.m., 8/8 Saturday | Buff alo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Join Stevie Edwards for a poetry reading in conversation with Liza Flum! | Free Saltonstall Open House: Readings + Art | 4 p.m., 8/9 Sunday | Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, 435 Ellis Hollow Creek Road | Save the date and join us for our second Open House of the 2026 season. | Free Summer Reading Celebration | 12 p.m., 8/8 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join TCPL to celebrate Unearth a Story Summer Reading! This celebration will include ice cream novelties, dinosaur crafts, free books for people of all ages, and more! | Free
Kids
Read to Dogs | 3 p.m., 8/5 Wednesday | Newfi eld Public Library, 198 Main Street | Children are invited to the Newfi eld Library to practice their reading skills by reading to one of Cornell Companion’s volunteer therapy dogs! | Free Ice Cream Social on the Porch | 5 p.m., 8/6 Thursday | New Roots Charter School, 116 N. Cayuga St. | Join us for a free come on our porch! | Free Family Eco-Cruises | 10 a.m., 8/7 Friday | Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, 1000 Allan H. Treman Marina Drive | Enjoy fascinating lake lore and fun weekly themes that blend imagination, history and scientific exploration for children. Cruises are free, donations are requested. Reservation required. This program is part of DCL’s “Love Your Lake” program, intended for local community members. | Free Preschool Projects Take & Make | 8/7 Friday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St | Supplies available on a fi rst come fi rst serve basis on the First Friday of the month for ages 3-5 years old.
LCL: Camping Story Time Before Sunset | 6:30 p.m., 8/8 Saturday | Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Rd. | Join Ms. Shelley on August 8 at 6:30 PM behind Town Hall for an evening of stories, a craft, and S’more trail mix! Bring a blanket or small pop-up tent and celebrate the end of summer with friends, community, and great stories under the open sky. | Free Pert Library, 5736 NY-414 | Join us August 11th at the Elizabeth B. Pert Library for 4-H Forensics. | Free
Notices
Paper Wishes (DIY Greeting Card) | 9:30 a.m., 8/7 Friday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St | A bag with supplies and directions provided to make a greeting card at home will be available to pick up on a fi rst come fi rst serve basis beginning on the fi rst Friday of the month. Open to ages
Women Swimmin’ For Hospicare — Ithaca, NY | 7 a.m., 8/8 Saturday | Bolton Point, 2 Horizon Drive | We are so excited to be back in the water for our 23rd Annual Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare!
All summer long our participants will be Going the Distance by walkin’, swimmin’ laps, knittin’, Steph’s Run 5k — Ithaca, NY |
9 a.m., 8/8 Saturday | BorgWarner, 780 Warren Road | Low key 5K on residential streets and BorgWarner’s Campus. All proceeds will be going to a family in the area dealing with Cancer.
Lesbian Widows Support Group | 1 p.m., 8/8 Saturday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court St. |
Sustainability & Climate Justice Commission Meeting | 5 p.m., 8/10
Monday | Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall 108 E Green St. Federal Casework Assistance of Sta of Congressman Riley |
1 p.m., 8/11 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St | An opportunity to meet with the staff from Congressman Josh Riley’s offi ce regarding concerns or Federal case work needs.
Plantasaurus Succulents |
2 p.m., 8/11 Tuesday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St | Come create a dinosaur planter! Open to ages 12 and older. Registration is required.
IURA Economic Development Committee (EDC) Meeting | 3:30 p.m., 8/11 Tuesday, 108 E. Green St. Common Council Chambers
IURA Economic Development Committee (EDC) Meeting | 3:30 p.m., 8/11 Tuesday, 108 E. Green St. Common Council Chambers
IAWWTF Special Joint Committee Meeting | 1 p.m., 8/12 Wednesday | Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Plant, 525 Third St
Astrology Meeting — Tompkins County Public Library | 6:00 p.m. | We learn astrology together and would love to have you join us. All knowledge levels welcome. | 101 E Green St , Ithaca | Free Latin Wednesday — The Upstairs | 9:00 p.m. | 106 S Cayuga St , Ithaca
WATERS EDGE DEVELOPMENT
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a coffee shop, —would serve as a vibrant public amenity. They called for additional details on delivery logistics and the longterm commercial viability of the space.
To address the outstanding issues, the development team agreed to present a revised submission packet at next month’s planning board meeting.
The upcoming review will focus heavily on technical and site-specific details, including a deeper dive into the project’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a formal discussion on lighting and safety strategies for the site’s publicly accessible spaces. The planning board seeks clarification on plans for the property’s northern parcel and potential use for construction staging. Project leaders were tasked with submitting updated architectural and civil drawings to support an amended negative declaration. These revisions must explicitly detail major structural updates, including the southeast building modifications and the consolidated commercial space.
In Other News
The planning board also reviewed plans for The Gateway, a SouthWorks site on South Aurora Street. The applicant, Beacon Communities LLC, shared updates designed to improve site design and connectivity. Specifically, board members reviewed two Gateway buildings known as G1 and G2.
The Gateway is a major project to redevelop the former Emerson Power Transmission site. The SouthWorks project is a 95-acre mixed-use community development composed of four neighborhoods: The Gateway, The Hills, The Woods and The Chainway.
The full project includes new structures and redevelops existing ones for residential, office, commercial, retail and other spaces. FOUND Ithaca, a vintage and second-hand shop, is already open at the SouthWorks site and is the site’s first commercial tenant.
In response to previous feedback, the SouthWorks development team added
sidewalks and street trees to both sides of the rear driveway entrance to prepare for future development links.
Developers also adjusted curb line work along the back of the site to enhance sidewalk construction, dumpster storage and bike parking, while inserting a landscaped island and tree to break up the surface lot behind the G2 buildings.
The applicants oversaw work that included a reworked curb line on Upper Morse Place to incorporate a loading zone roughly two parking spaces wide for rideshare drop-offs and deliveries. The corridor was also designed to maximize space within fire access requirements, allowing room for striped bike lanes alongside drive lanes.
Beyond internal circulation, sidewalk and crosswalk connections were added across Upper Morse Place and the rear of the site, with developers committing to clear and maintain a pathway linking to the existing downhill trail network.
Board members pushed developers to view the gateway structures as part of the broader neighborhood rather than an isolated development, requesting clearer technical drawings showing how internal sidewalks connect to existing city infrastructure.
Given the site’s significant vertical grade changes, board members inquired about potential ramp designs modeled after nearby developments. Developers confirmed that primary access routes to the planned playground are ADA-compliant. Looking ahead, board members requested that future project presentations place a greater emphasis on overall site context and neighborhood integration.
The project team will now prepare formal technical drawings and address outstanding engineering comments ahead of the next meeting, where the board is scheduled to conduct a formal design review and initiate a property subdivision review.
The next board meeting will also include a detailed review of the Full Environmental Assessment Form (FEAF). The board plans to host a public hearing for the site plan, which will include formal notifications sent to surrounding neighborhood residents.
RESILIENCE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 FROM 7:30 P.M. TO 9:30 P.M.
AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, FROM 2:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M.
Hangar Theatre | Beautiful, powerful, and personal, Resilience is a solo show with music that combines the urgency of now with a timeless story of healing. Internationally recognized musician, humanitarian, and artist Samite tells the story of his life, from escaping the nightmare of 1980s Uganda to learning to heal others with the power of music. It is an inspiring performance written and performed by Samite, a multiinstrumentalist and powerful storyteller. (Photo: Provided) https://hangartheatre.easy-ware-ticketing.com/events
TOMPKINS COUNTY OPEN FARM DAY
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M.
CCE-Tompkins Education Center | Join us for Tompkins County Open Farm Day, a celebration of farms and farmers in our county! This year's Open Farm Day focuses on the west half of the county and features farms in Newfield, Trumansburg, Ulysses, Enfield, and Ithaca. Come visit our farms as they open their gates to the public and teach us all about what it takes day-to-day to produce food for our community. (Photo: Provided) https://ccetompkins.org/events/2025/08/03/ tompkins-county-open-farm-day Day
