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Conference Center? If we build it, Will they come?

PUMP FAKE

A HOT START

City Centre is listed for sale... but it’s not!

Offensive barrage leads IC men’s basketball

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TO-GO AWARDS

Hilton’s new lodging option in town PAGE 11

Cornell and Ithaca celebrate the connection PAGE 5

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Newsline Newfield Murder

Police seek tips in shooting case

n Dec. 7 at 1:26 a.m., the Tompkins County Sheriff ’s responded to a shooting inside a house on Shaffer Road in the Town of Newfield. As soon as officers arrived on the scene, a resident of the house, Dejour Xavier Gandy, age 29, was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Another resident of the house called 911 to report the incident. According to another witness, three black males wearing face coverings entered the home and confronted the victim with guns drawn, one of whom shot at the victim before fleeing the scene. The incident is believed to be a targeted attack on a specific person. The Sheriff ’s Office doesn’t believe there is a continued threat to the public. In a follow-up press release, Sheriff Derek Osborne asked for help from the public in the investigation. He said that since the incident, the Sheriff ’s Office has conducted several interviews and “leads continue to be investigated on an ongoing basis.” Further, he asked that anyone with exterior surveillance cameras in the area to please come forward to assist with the investigation. Specifically, they’re asking for residents near Main Street, Pearl Street and Shaffer Street in Newfield for help. No further details were made available about the status of the suspects or their identities. It’s the second shooting on Shaffer Road in four months, though Tompkins County police said they are unable to conclude, at this time, whether the two incidents are related or not. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Tompkins County Emergency Response Center at (607) 273-8000.

Bar R escue

Lot 10 officially makes its anticipated return

ith live music performances and DJ sets, Lot 10 made its long-awaited return last weekend, drawing plenty of patrons eager to see the results of the months of work behind the papered-over windows of the Cayuga Street bar. With a soft opening on Thursday and shows by Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi and After Funk on Friday, the bar’s reintroduction weekend gave customers a glimpse of what’s changed and what’s the same about the bar that, despite its changes, has retained its name and brand. The storefront had sat empty since mid-summer, when it was announced that new owners would be taking over. It was initially thought that the bar would only be closed for a short time, though that then stretched to weeks, then months before the bar’s Facebook page sprang to life last week announcing that it

would be opening. While the public perception was certainly that the opening was being delayed, owner Caleb Scott said he had long expected the debut timeline to be lengthy. “Nobody really knew how long it was going to take, and we were prepared for it to take as long as it needed to take to do it right,” Scott said. “Having it take even a year would be totally understandable. We gutted the building to the studs and redid the whole thing. [...] The moment we were able to open, we opened.” The renovations were costly (“You could build a house, let’s put it that way.”), but Scott said the money and extra time were all worth it if he can avoid periodic construction closings as the business stabilizes. It’s his first venture into downtown Ithaca, though he’s involved in several other businesses around the area. “I saw it as an opportunity to add value to a space and

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▶▶ Dorothy Cotton Youth Singers - Come out to see the debut on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m., The youth choir will be joining the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers at Ithaca College’s Ford Hall in the Whalen Music Center. The concert is free, though donations are

VOL.XL / NO. 16 / December 11, 2019 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

invest in the community in Ithaca,” Scott said. The months of work changed quite a bit about the interior of the building, including having to rearrange certain plumbing connections since the bathrooms have been moved. In terms of business mentality, Scott said, he will primarily maintain what has worked so far, but has emphasized physical upgrades over the last several months. “The differences are going to be focused on the space itself,” Scott said. “Newer updated bathrooms, better service areas for food, much better sound systems, better access to equipment for bands.” Scott said he wants to attract much of the same crowd that made Lot 10 popular in its previous iteration, the type of audience that embraces the things that Lot 10 was known for, like live music. But he did note that there would be certain procedural changes: security will be increased and staff members will undergo different training. On the more aesthetic side, he did say there would be new spins on drinks and updated food offerings. As for his future vision for the bar, Scott said he wants to claim the title of top music spot in the city, despite that there are surely no shortage of contenders. “We want to stand out, we want to be Ithaca’s premier music venue,” Scott said. “We want to be the place that you go to to dance. We want to have the club scene, we want to have the headliners, we really want to have a place that is attractive to both the artists and the patrons.” M att Butler

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accepted. DCJS strives to keep the Negro Spiritual tradition alive, and the concert will sure to be entertaining with a youthful element added. ▶▶ New Roots Charter and ReUse - are partnering on a hands on educational fundraising opportunity for New Roots seniors in the Sustainable

Entrepreneurship class. Students visited the Ithaca Reuse Center and chose wares and goods that will be sold by students at the Alternatives Federal Credit Union Holiday Market on December 13, 2019 from 9-5 p.m. Proceeds from the market will be used for senior year activities and events.

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Conference Center �� 8 Should Ithaca risk it to get the biscuit?

Christmas Carol �� 29 Hangar’s show pulls in a wide range of talent

NE W S & OPINION Newsline ��3-7 Business �� 11-15 Sports ��16

ART S & E N T E RTAINME N T Stage �� 29 Music �� 30 Stage ��31 Music �� 33 TimesTable ��34-37 Classifieds �� 38-40 Cover:, Design: Marshall Hopkins

ON T HE WE B Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 M a t t B u t l e r , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 224 E d i t o r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m J a i m e C o n e , E d i t o r , x 232 SouthReporter@flcn.org E d w i n J . V i e r a , S ta f f R e p o r t e r R e p o r t e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C a s e y M a r t i n , S ta f f P h o t o g r a p h e r P h o t o g r a p h e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C h r i s I b e r t , C a l e n d a r E d i t o r , x 217 A r t s @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A n d r e w S u l l i v a n , S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 227 Sports@flcn.org Steve L awrence, Spo rts Co lumnist St e v e S p o r t sD u d e @ g m a i l .co m M a r s h a l l H o p k i n s , P r o d u c t i o n D i r ec t o r / D es i g n e r , x 216 P r o d u c t i o n @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m E r i n S t e w a r t , A cc o u n t R e p r ese n ta t i v e , x 220 E r i n @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L i s a B i n g a m a n , A cc o u n t R e p r ese n ta t i v e , x 218 L i s a @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C o r y J o n e s , A cc o u n t R e p r ese n ta t i v e , x 221 C o r e y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m C h r i s I b e r t , C y n d i B r o n g , x 211 A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Chris Eaton, Distribution J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 210 j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L a r r y H o c h b e r g e r , A ss o c i a t e P u b l i s h e r , x 214 l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m F r e e l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, Rick Blaisell, Steve Burke, Deirdre Cunningham, Jane Dieckmann, Amber Donofrio, Karen Gadiel, Charley Githler, Linda B. Glaser, Warren Greenwood, Ross Haarstad, Peggy Haine, Gay Huddle, Austin Lamb, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Lori Sonken, Henry Stark, Dave Sit, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman

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

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INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER By C a se y Mar tin

HEY CHOWDER FEST PEEPS – WHAT’S THE STRANGEST INGREDIENT OR FLAVOR OF CHOWDER YOU WOULD ACTUALLY ENJOY?

“Whiskey base with that poisonous blowfish “fugu”. We would eat that.” - Leila T. Seema G

“Doritos. Red.”

N e w s l i n e

City Centre

Despite listing, Newman Development claims they are keeping City Centre

he City Centre building is being listed for sale, just months after opening its doors to tenants. Offers are being accepted until Dec. 10, according to the listing with Newmark Knight Frank real estate group. A price is not listed, and under the “purchase price” category there is a request to “contact for details.” According to Tompkins County assessment records, the property was assessed at $20 million for 2019, and the project’s total cost to complete was around $50 million. The building opened in July to tenants and is now housing Collegetown Bagels and a Chase Bank location on its ground floor. Ithaca Ale House is also purportedly scheduled to move in to the ground floor as well. City of Ithaca Planning Director JoAnn

Cornish said in an interview that she was assured this morning by Newman Development Group that they will retain ownership of the City Centre building. Despite the listing, Cornish said Newman has told her the building is not actively for sale. Marc Newman, CEO of Newman Development, said the company is “gauging the market to understand what our options are.” “There may be opportunity for refinance, there may be opportunity for sale, there may be opportunity for equity investment, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is for sale,” Newman said in an interview. Newman reiterated his company is very committed to the Ithaca community. If the statistics listed on the ListingLab page for City Centre are to be believed, it’s certainly not struggling to fill apartments:

as of November 2019, its occupancy is listed as 99 percent. Interestingly, though, Newmark Knight Frank’s student housing team appears to be handling the property’s sale listing, and in its list of the property’s advantages it emphasizes the student renter market in Ithaca. “City Centre Ithaca’s irreplaceable location is insulated from new supply and completely differentiated from other student accommodations within the Ithaca submarket,” the listing says (those interested in that link may have to register with an email address to view it). “City Centre Ithaca’s purpose-built amenities offer an abundance of indoor/outdoor activity space providing an inclusive community for students.” That would seem to be an alarm bell for Ithacans, many of whom lashed out against the previously proposed Campus Advantage project for that site partially because it was openly targeting the student market (though there were certainly other complaints as well). The building’s 192 units include 231 beds, and are being rented at luxury prices: currently listed options state that a single-bedroom unit rents for a minimum of around $1,900 per month, while a twobedroom goes for as high as $4,600 per month. M att Butler

-Ana P.

Shopping Carts

City mulling action on feral shopping carts

“Bourbon.” -Juan S.

“10,000 year old Woolly Mammoth & Black Truffle.” -Joel C. & Jessica K.

“The Funkiest of Chicken & Blu Cheese.” -Jillian, Casey & Patty

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n the coming months, the City of Ithaca will be looking at solutions to the epidemic of abandoned shopping carts being scattered throughout Ithaca. Some initial research has been done by the Community Life Commission (CLC) with a preliminary report finding numerous factors to blame. From their research so far, the CLC has found the problem can be attributed to people who are unable to get items from local retailers back to their homes without the carts. Until now, the responsibility of wrangling all of these lone shopping carts has fallen into the lap of City of Ithaca Forrester Jeanne Grace and the Parks and Forestry Department. She said that since shopping carts end up in parks, more often than not, she ended up being the person that handles them. Over time, though, the way shopping carts are handled has changed, Grace said. “We used to have what I called a shopping cart graveyard down here,” Grace said. “We used to bring them all back here and the businesses were supposed to come get them and ‘bail them out of jail.’ But we just had so many that had been down here for years. The companies weren’t coming

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to collect them and then they would be broken or not work and they didn’t want them back. And, we were just left with all these broken carts. What we do now is we collect them and drop them off where they are supposed to be delivered to.” Regardless of the condition of the carts, Grace and the Parks Department crews take the carts back to the retailers who own them. Some of the more common locations where shopping carts have been found is the Wood Street Park, near Titus Towers, some have been found by the Bottle Redemption Center. Primarily, she has found them in the Northside and Southside neighborhoods of the city. According to Lisa Swayze, chair of the Community Life Commission, at one point, there were 45 carts found at Titus Towers. Grace feels one of the solutions could be a revision to the City’s Code regarding shopping carts. Currently, the City Code stipulates that anyone found taking a shopping cart has to pay a fine of $10 for the first violation, and no less than $25 nor more than $50 for all subsequent violations. Every time a person removes a shopping cart from the retailers’ limits, it will be considered a separate viola-

tion. In the report developed by the CLC, there are several solutions outlined such as developing corrals in high-use areas to collect carts for pick up by City Forester or another designated agency. Another solution includes having volunteer groups, looking to do community service, could collect carts to deliver to corrals or to pick up and redistribute the carts at various points during the year. The report goes on to detail that retailers and Titus Towers are interested in meeting to work on solutions to meet the needs of those involved. Some of the questions being examined are how people living in Titus Towers and others on public assistance or those without transportation can successfully get to and from stores and their homes without using the carts? However, Grace knows this is still a problem but remains unsure if this is a growing issue for the City of Ithaca. “It seems like people are talking about it a lot more and it seems to bother people a lot more when abandoned shopping carts are out there, but in my observation, I don’t feel like we’ve seen more out there [than usual],” Grace said. “I don’t think we’ve collected more in the last few years. I think it’s been pretty static in the amount we’ve been finding out there and bringing back.” E dw i n J. Vi er a

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

Thumbs Up - It’s Readers’ Writes time again, folks! This year’s theme is “Dreams for 2030.” What would you like to see in 2030? What would you like to see different about Ithaca, Tompkins County, the country, the world, or yourself? Let us know! Essays, letters, short stories, poems, whatever you want, we’ll probably accept it. Submissions are due to editor@ ithacatimes.com by Dec. 20. Thumbs Up - We made it through one weekend with the light installations on the Commons unharmed, as far as we can tell. Surely, that was helped in part by the hired henchman who stands guard over the light towers after nightfall, but perhaps the students wil be more respectful of the lights than they were of the ice sculptures. Only time will tell.

HEARD&SEEN The ToGo’s

Cornell Town-Gown Awards shine

t the ninth annual Cornell TownGown Awards, held at Ithaca High School on Dec. 7, several local agencies were honored for their partnerships with Cornell University, and numerous local officials were honored for their dedication to public service as well. The awards are held every year to celebrate the connection between the Ithaca community and the Cornell University community, connecting the city with the university that holds such significant importance to it. Luvelle Brown, superintendent of the Ithaca City School District, and Martha Pollack, president of Cornell University, delivered opening remarks about how Tompkins County has grown through these partnerships. After 30 years in Ithaca, President Pollack has spent three years being a part of the ToGo Awards and has found it, much like Thanksgiving, is a day of thanks. “Today is a day of thanks, “Pollack said. “Today, we’re here to thank the people who partner with the academic community and this community we all share. [...] We are going to recognize three particular projects and we want to thank the people who put those projects together. But, we also want to thank the, literally, dozens of other partnerships between and within the academic community and our community

Seen - Ithaca attorney Seth Peacock was chosen as the interim City of Ithaca judge appointee, a capacity he will serve in at least through the end of next year. An election will be held in November to determine who takes over at that time. Peacock was chosen over Tompkins County ADA Daniel Johnson, a decision announced by Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick on Monday.

The traditional post-ceremony group shot honoring all of this year’s honorees. (Photo by Casey Martin)

that make this such a wonderful place to live.” The ceremony began with recipients of the ToGos for community partnerships being recognized. The awards were given to the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, the Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC) and the Ithaca-Tompkins County Airport. Mike Hall, the executive director of the Ithaca Tompkins Airport noted the added importance of the award this year considering how much work has gone into revitalizing the airport as a hub of commerce and economic prosperity. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to share with the community the synergy of the relationship between our major educational institutions and the community we live in,” Hall said. With the construction of the airport coming to a close, Hall said the new airport will be opening around Dec. 16. In addition to the partnership awards, people who are retiring or have already retired received ToGos for their many years of public service. Some of the many honored people were Marcia Lynch, who will be retiring after serving as the Public Information Officer for Tompkins County, Ray Benjamin, who served as the Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Public Works/Streets and Facilities for the City of Ithaca, and Irene Stein, who served for

years as the chair of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee. During this year’s ToGos, the secondever ToGo Achievement Award was given to artist Barbara Mink for her work with Cornell and her work as the chair of the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) and Tompkins County Area Development Corporation (TCAD). This year’s ToGo Thank You Award was given to State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton for her soon to be 18 years in the State Assembly. Lifton has said the work she is most proud to have played a role in shaping for New York State is voting rights, midwife licensing and getting the ban on high volume hydro-fracking instituted in New York State. She said despite the razzing that comes with being a part of public service, she is proud to see all the people who make Tompkins County such a special part of New York State. “It’s an honor to be with so many other fine public servants,” Lifton said. “It’s humbling to look around and see all the hard committed work and all the caring that all these people have put into serving this community and this county.”

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

The traditional Ice Festival is being replaced by Lights Festival, with 11 days of popup events. Would you like to see certain other Ithaca festivals replaced similarly?.

E dw i n J. Vi er a

35.7% Yes 64.3% No

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

Should there be at least one unicorn at every local festival? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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GUEST OPINION

SURROUNDED BY REALITY

In opposition to Ithaca’s proposed occupancy requirements

A Modern Christmas Carol

By H e r be rt Dw y e r

here will be an opportunity for the public to address the Planning and Economic Development Committee on December 11th at 6pm in Ithaca City Hall’s Council Chambers during a public hearing that has been scheduled ahead of a discussion and vote on an ordinance concerning guidelines to develop Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). If you are negatively affected by infill housing restrictions or by owner-occupancy regulations, as my family and I are, I encourage you to make your voice heard by showing up to speak at the next City of Ithaca PEDC meeting. There is a growing movement across NYS, and the nation, regarding the

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government’s (and sometimes local citizens’) use of zoning to require people, via an outdated and arcane method, to personally occupy a property if they intend to rent a part of the property. Historically, this zoning was used to preserve “the characteristic of a neighborhood” with the idea that an onsite landlord would “control renter behavior.” But history and empirical evidence has shown that owner-occupancy restrictions cause more harm than good. So much so, that cities like Nashville, Austin, Portland, Seattle, Syracuse, and even small towns like Hempstead, NY

/December

continued on page 7

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By C h a r l ey G i t h l e r

t all happened last night in the president’s bedroom, on the second floor of the Executive Residence part of the White House. It was a busy evening for the Commander-in-Chief. First, there was the appearance of a horrific, gruesome, decaying apparition, the ghost of the president’s former partner, dead these seven weeks. Then, when Rudy left, the ghost of Christmas Past came, and took Donald on a tour of the president’s life story. Let’s pick up the narrative at the appearance of Ghost Number Two. “Come!” exclaimed the Ghost. “Come closer! And know me better, man!” Donald approached timidly, and hung his head before this spirit. He was not the dogged Trump he had been; and though the spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said the spirit. “Look upon me!” Donald did so. The spirit was clothed in a simple green robe, bordered with white fur. The garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its chest was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare, and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. “Spirit,” said Donald submissively, “Conduct me where you will. I went forth earlier on compulsion, and I learnt a lesson. Now, if you have ought to teach me, let me profit by it.” “Touch my robe!” The president did as he was told and held it fast. Immediately, the two of them sped—whither? To sea. To Donald’s horror, looking back, he saw the last of the land, a frightful range of rocks, behind them. His ears were deafened by the thundering of water, as it rolled and roared, and raged. It was a great surprise to the president, while listening to the moaning of the wind and thinking what a solemn thing it was to move on through the lonely darkness over an unknown abyss, to hear a hearty laugh. It was a much greater surprise to him to recognize it as Justin Trudeau’s, and to find himself in a bright, dry, gleaming room with the Spirit standing smiling by his side, and looking at that same Canadian Prime Minister with approving affability! “Ha, ha!” laughed Justin. “Ha, ha, ha!” If you should happen, by any unlikely chance, to know a man more blest in a laugh than Justin Trudeau, all I can say is, I should like to know him too. Introduce him to me, and I’ll cultivate his acquaintance. “He said that NATO was a humbug, as I live!” cried Trudeau. “He believed it,

too!” “He’s a comical old fellow,” said Boris. “That’s the truth: and not so pleasant as he might be. However, his offences carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him.” “I’m sure he is very rich, Boris,” hinted Emmanuel. “At least you always tell me so.” “I was only going to say,” said Justin, “that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is, as I think, that he loses some pleasant moments, which could do him no harm. I am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts, either in his moldy old office, or his dusty chambers. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. He may rail at NATO till he dies, but he can’t help thinking better of it—I defy him—if he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying Mr. President, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor allies a few dollars, that’s something; and I think I shook him today.” It was their turn to laugh now at the notion of his shaking the president. But being thoroughly good-natured, and not much caring what they laughed at, he encouraged them in their merriment. Donald had imperceptibly become so light of heart, that he would have pledged the unconscious company in return, and thanked them, if the ghost had given him time. But the whole scene passed off in the breath of the last word spoken by Justin; and he and the spirit were again upon their travels. In a trice, they found themselves in a chamber of the Rayburn House Office Building. “President Trump!” said Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler. “I’ll give you President Trump, the Founder of the Feast!” “The Founder of the Feast indeed!” cried Nancy, reddening. “I wish I had him here. I’d give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he’d have a good appetite for it.” “My dear Madam Speaker,” said Jerrold, “the other members! ‘Tis the Christmas season. Where would we be without him? And MSNBC? CNN? Rachel Maddow? What of them?” “It should be Christmas, I am sure,” said Nancy, “on which one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man as President Trump. You know he is, Jerrold! Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow!” “My dear,” was Jerrold’s mild answer, “Christmas.” All very merry, to be sure. There was a trip to the Kremlin with the third ghost, but space prevents us from recounting it.

GUEST OPINION Contin u ed From Page 6

have begun to remove owner-occupancy requirements. Removal of this owneroccupancy requirement has led to reducing housing discrimination and encouraging more people to not only buy but also simultaneously providing more housing options for renters. Of particular significance with ADUs, some renters might not be able to afford to buy a home in a particular neighborhood but can still have access to live in the neighborhood thanks to more accessory dwelling units becoming available. Requiring homeowner occupancy reduces the overall number of rentals available in a city and in some cases forces property owners to leave buildings on their properties vacant if they do not live directly on the property. Even here in NYS, this dated zoning law requiring homeowner occupancy is being deemed unlawful. According to a very recent, December 10, 2018, court decision in Nassau County, NY, counsel representing the owner of a property the municipality was trying to force into owner-occupancy argued that, “the Board’s imposition of conditions in the Decision, requiring that one of the units in the Subject Property be ‘owner occupied’, is illegal and unenforceable, as the Board does not have the power to impose conditions that seek to control what persons reside on a given property nor to prevent a fee owner from renting all or part of his property for a legal use.” The State Supreme Court Associate Justice Denise Sher agreed and annulled the condition in her decision, ruling that the antiquated use of an owner-occupancy requirement is illegal because it pertains to “who owns and occupies the subject premises and not the real estate itself. Conditions which relate not to the real estate involved, but to the person who owns and occupies the subject real estate, are invalid” (Sullivan v Board of Appeals of the Town of Hempstead). There are other legal proceedings across NYS and elsewhere, several of which have referred to an older Appellate Court ruling (Tupper vs. City of Syracuse) that states, “a municipality can control how a property is used and not who lives in it.” The notion that a government can dictate where a person lives and how they use their own property, as in my own family’s case, is severe in nature, and surely not representative of the progressive and inclusive city I believe this community is trying to build. It is only a matter of time until the current owneroccupancy requirement, which the City of Ithaca currently deploys, will also be challenged in court. This type of restrictive zoning has also created a strain on housing supply and turned off would-be buyers from purchasing a home to live in, simply for the fact that they do not want to get stuck living in it. For example, what happens in the case of being called to active military duty, a severe family illness, bankruptcy, divorce,

relocation for work, or a growing family? As in my case, when I moved to Ithaca in 2004 to take a job with FedEx, I rented for a few years but became fond of Ithaca and wanted to settle long-term. As a young single professional, given Ithaca’s historically expensive rental and home purchase housing market, I couldn’t afford a large monthly rental or mortgage payment for a single-family home. I set out to buy a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) or ADU that would enable me to have a home and use the other unit to help pay my mortgage and taxes. I recognized that this opportunity would allow me to become a homeowner, with the flexibility of keeping the home long term as a rental if my situation changed, like getting married and having a family, which would require more space. In 2006, I found the exact home I was looking for. With a letter in hand from the City of Ithaca Building Department dated February 27, 2006 stating that the home did not have to be owner-occupied, I made a purchase offer on a home in Belle Sherman and closed on May 5, 2006. Three days after closing, on May 8, 2006, my attorney David Parks received notice that the city reversed its decision and now my home had to be owner-occupied. David asked me if I had the money to fight this and of course, as a young professional just buying a first home, I replied that I did not have the resources to fight this injustice. In 2014, to our joy we found out that we were expecting our first child. It was time to move on to a bigger place to raise our growing family. We listed the home for sale and, with three offers received, we were confident it would sell. All three buyers were just like me, almost 10 years earlier, young professionals who were looking to buy an affordable home to enable them to live, work, and play in Ithaca. However, all three buyers rescinded their offers for the exact same reason: there was just too much risk and uncertainty in owning a home where they would become hostages of their own home. Totally devastated, with a baby on the way, we were forced to take our home off the market and nest in place. Some have said to me, “just sell your home and move.” Been there, done that. It’s just not that easy to sell a property that has this type of owner-occupancy restriction on it. To this day, we still feel like “prisoners” in our own home as a growing family without options. I could continue sharing as there is a lot more evidence of how a homeowner occupation requirement can negatively affect the diversity and stability of housing in a community but, in the interest of brevity, I will simply urge anyone who shares a similar experience or believes in housing equality for all people, to include renters and owners, to join me on December 11th in the Council Chambers in the Ithaca City Hall at 6pm. The Planning and Economic Development Committee is hosting their last public comment hearing on this issue before voting and they need to hear our voices!

tion. They reduce housing supply, they reduce options for both renters and buyers, they significantly reduce options for owners wanting to age in place. But more maliciously, owner-occupancy requirements are predicated on the idea that renters are inferior neighbors to owners — and for that reason alone they should be eliminated.” Sarah JD, via Ithaca.com

THE TALK AT

ithaca com YOUR LETTERS The Wrong Targets

see in the November 27th issue of the Ithaca Times, that the County will be taxing retail paper bags starting March 1, 2020. This is a misguided attempt to reduce solid waste in TC. There are other forms of garbage that are littering our streets and filling our landfills; paper shopping bags are not one of them. To start with, the logic on the TC website states that if you ban plastic bags, people will use more paper bags. Isn’t that good? Use a product that comes from a renewable resource, is biodegradable, reusable to a degree and highly recyclable. The enemy here is PLASTIC. The other enemy here, is FAST FOOD GARBAGE (paper and plastic). I have seen tons of PLASTIC bags rolling down the streets; tons of FAST FOOD GARBAGE on the side of the road; i rarely see a reusable paper bag from a grocery store rolling down the street. Tax the fast food shops, tax plastic; that’s where the problem is. Additionally, we have now become a collection agency for the STATE OF NEW YORK to fund the EPF. Now, all businesses will have to charge the TAX, collect the TAX, track the TAX, do more PAPERWORK, and send their TAX collections to the STATE of NY and hopes it finds its way to the EPF. Please repeal this senseless TAX, NY does enough of this already. Tom Gerow Newfield, NY

In response to “In opposition of Occupancy Requirements”

fully support the city in removing owner occupancy requirements. Other municipalities that have found a better way to support more equal and fair housing without owner occupancy requirements in their cities, such as Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Austin, TX. Just this year a study in Nashville, TN titled, “Ownership & Occupancy of Accessory Dwelling Units: A Study for Nashville” found that, “It is recommended to remove the owner-occupancy requirement from purview of the Metro Historic Zoning Commission and leave the issue the broader city to consider due to the challenges of defining and enforcing such a rule and because ownership does not affect the historic integrity and character of a neighborhood.” Also, a recent Medium.com article states, “Owner-occupancy requirements are classist and should not be a part of a progressive city’s ADU or DADU legislaDe c e mb e r

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In response to “Out with the Ice. In with the Lights.”

Awww.... definitely will miss the ice carving competitions. A lot of talent and hard work from folks who traveled long distances at their expense with often beautiful and creative results. Well, the light festival won’t disappear in a warm spell. Kathleen O’Neill, via Facebook

In response to “Despite listing, Newman Development claims they will keep City Centre” Seems to me if they get a Full Price Offer they might possibly have a legal problem, but I am not an attorney. Barbara Calabrese, via Facebook

In response to “BOCES students get peek at CMC robots” “This program is such a great idea!” Mary Belous Stein, via Facebook

Write to us! Say something or respond to an article by writing editor@ithacatimes.com. Letters must be signed and include an address and phone number. We do not publish unsigned letters. Letters may be edited for length and readability. To the Editor, Ithaca Times, 109 N Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY 14850

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Is It Worth It?

Th e G r e e n s t r e e t pa r k i n g g a r ag e r e d e v e l o p m e n t h a s pr esen ted the cit y w ith a speci a l opport u n it y to b u i l d a l a r g e c o n f e r e n c e c e n t e r i n t h e c i t y ’s c o r e

Taxpayers are on the hook for the conference center. Will they get their money’s worth?

By M att Bu tler ooming above the constant conversation about Ithaca’s development boom has been the possibility of a conference center. Since a demand study first showed in 2017 that the Ithaca market could support such a facility, the city’s been looking for an opportunity to broach the subject. Lo and behold, an opportunity presented itself last year when the push to redevelop the Green Street Garage started. The initial plans from Ithaca developer Jeffrey Rimland included a conference center proposal, and while those plans were eventually eschewed in favor of an affordable 8 T

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housing project from Vecino Firm for the site, the conference center has remained at the center of the effort to redevelop the site. The question for taxpayers, of course, is whether or not the conference center is worth the risk. The Downtown Ithaca Alliance has said they are willing to be the primary agency listed on loans for the building’s construction, acting as the facility’s owner, though they would be financially backstopped by the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County. The point might be moot. The City of Ithaca already lost out on one grant opportunity that would have significantly helped with Green Street Garage construction when Hornell was selected as this region’s

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recipient of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, which would have given Ithaca $10 million to use as it saw fit. The conference center and its attached affordable housing had factored prominently in the city’s application. Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Director Nels Bohn has said he’d like four things in place by the end of January to proceed with the conference center plan, which would be the third largest in upstate New York at 49,000 square feet of ballroom space: a project pro forma ensuring success, a stream of income from the lodging industry, a grant to fill the financial gap, and a financing model. The center’s size is aimed at differentiating it enough from other smaller conference venues, like at Cornell University, to make

it more attractive and to appeal to larger attendance events. The city is now awaiting the results of two more grant applications from the state that will hopefully help cover parking costs, conference center construction, or both. According to last week’s Common Council meeting, if the conference center isn’t feasible, it would be replaced by 55 additional affordable housing units, according to Vecino Developer Molly Chiang, as well as a larger fresh market retail location. Currently, the project calls for 173 affordable units of housing with a conference center. But at the very least, the conference center is sure to stay on the minds of local politicians, business owners and tourism officials, nearly all of whom have voiced

support for the project. They were provided additional supporting evidence by Hunden Strategic Partners, a consultation firm out of Indianapolis that has now authored two studies that state Ithaca’s market could easily support a conference center. In fact, their second study, published over the summer, showed that demand was actually higher than originally estimated. Of course, it’s possible that some bias crept into that study; confirmation bias is difficult (even nearly impossible) to avoid, and Hunden had already claimed that the market could sustain a conference center once. Questions sent to Hunden Strategic Partners about how or what methods they used to avoid skewing results were not answered in time for this edition, though they did name five established convention centers, all operated by VenuWorks, that have been built in comparable markets: Davenport, Iowa; Ottumwa, Iowa; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Kennewick, Washington; and Chesapeake, Virginia. The three comparables that responded to questions from the Ithaca Times have found varying levels of success, albeit over much different periods of time. Kennwick, Washington holds the Three Rivers Convention Center Both Vicksburg and Ottumwa are relatively the same size as Ithaca (22,000 and 24,000, respectively), but both lack the sizable X-factor that Ithaca holds: Cornell University, which is expected to be a powerful draw for professional conferences or conventions and trade shows. Cornell wouldn’t be the only source of conference events, though. Conventions and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Peggy Coleman has said that, in the past, Ithaca has missed out on several conventions or conference events in part because there was no suitable venue that could host such a large audience. Ithaca’s conference center would also differ in another significant way from the others listed due to the housing attached to it, which sets it apart from any of the five venues listed as comparables. None of them have a housing component surrounding the center, though Ottumwa and Kennewick both have hotels built on the same site as their facilities. Projections from Hunden’s study are that the center would run at an annual operating loss of around $225,000, which is right around the industry standard, according to several people interviewed. Paying for the conference center’s operations will fall mostly to the Tourism Improvement District (TID) tax, which

would add a small tax increase to the bills of travelers who rent hotel rooms in Ithaca and Tompkins County during the year. That tax would go towards supporting the conference center, and would theoretically insulate Tompkins County residents from having to pay for a facility that possibly won’t be used by them that much. Regardless, whenever there’s yearly loss figures like the ones stated above, there’s going to be some hesitation. To compare, the center in Vickburg has its operating budget taken directly from the city’s annual spending, while Kennewick’s and Ottumwa’s both

Pearson in Kennewick, Washington. His convention center has been up for a vote three different times for a tax increase that would help its expansion, but all three times the measure has failed. This, Pearson said, is a function of the fact that while the convention center was built to benefit local people, in particular local businesses, it doesn’t necessarily end up serving them directly. “We’ve found that we’re very successful at bringing people in from outside the community to come to our community, but the local people here don’t use the fa-

To p : t h e t h r e e R i v e r s C o n v e n t i o n C e n t e r i n K e n n e w i c k , Wa s h i n g t o n . B o t t o m : Vi c k s b u r g C o n v e n t i o n C e n t e r i n Vi c k s b u r g , M i s s i s s i p p i . ( P h o t o s p r ov i d e d) have established room taxes that would operate much the same as the TID. Public apprehension seems part and parcel with a conference center project, a sentiment echoed by Three Rivers Convention Center Executive Director Corey

cility that much,” Pearson said. “There is no local love affair with our convention center. [...] We’ve been hugely successful at what our mission was. The business community loves the conference center, the couple sitting at the kitchen table that De c e mb e r

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votes for these increases doesn’t know and doesn’t care about our building.” Some people, Pearson said, have lived in Kennewick since the center opened 15 years ago and have never stepped foot inside. Yet, at the same time, Three Rivers has experienced enough business that stakeholders are willing to double- and even triple-down: though it was built as a free-standing center, it has since added a hotel, and is now actively looking to add another hotel to its complex. Pearson noted that the $225,000 annual operating deficit is certainly just about the standard for such a facility, citing that during his 10 years at the helm of Three Rivers, they’ve had “good” years, when their deficit was only about $80,000 for the year, and “bad” years where the deficit shoots up to around $300,000. There isn’t much rhyme or reason to good or bad years, Pearson said, just natural ebbs and flows. Generally speaking, the three managers interviewed said that their conference centers have had success in their varying lifespans so far, and extensive research find that to be seemingly true, or at least that they aren’t the moneypit that the operational loss might lead you to believe. Even if they themselves are money-losers, the ripple effects they have on the community are still beneficial. According to the Vicksburg Post, the local newspaper there, Kirklin recently went before the center’s Advisory Board and released statistics that claim the VCC had an economic impact of nearly $8.1 million during the 2018-2019 fiscal year, a jump of $2.7 million from the prior fiscal year. She attributed the steep jump to the opening of a Margaritaville resort almost adjacent to the center. “It has been such a game-changer for us,” Kirklin said. “We have conferences now that will actually give us the time of day because we have a property that is very close.” Success can have many different looks as well. Pearson claimed that the Three Rivers Conference Center could have as many as 380 or 390 events per year, utilizing the facility’s ability to split its ballroom and meeting rooms into several smaller separate sections to host different events simultaneously. “The main purpose of a conference center is that economic boom that it does for a community,” Kirklin said. “The downtown area, when we have conferences, they love us so much. [...] It’s about the heads in the beds, people going through the doors of stores and restaurants and so on.”

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Hilton Hospitality NEW CANOPY BY HILTON HOTEL OPENS IN ITHACA By Edwin J. Viera

he newest hotel in Ithaca’s downtown landscape is the Canopy by Hilton, a new set of nationwide luxury lifestyle rooms with a focus on the active parts of the cities they inhabit. This new hotel is the 11th of its kind to open

worldwide. Ithaca was considered a finalist for one of these new hotels because it aligns with the overall walkability mission of the city by facilitating walkable access to the rest of downtown, an emphasis for virtually any project hoping to get downtown approval.

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The Canopy by Hilton hotel is now open, joining the growing local hotel market. (Photo by Casey Martin)

Other focuses of the new hotels are to source food locally. The new hotels have numerous regional partnerships with local companies to provide services for the hotel. Unlike some other hotels downtown, Canopy is pet-friendly, with each guest receiving a Bark Box upon check-in. General Manager Joseph Galeotalanza said business at Canopy’s cafe has gone well since the hotel opened on Oct. 9.

“We have the Strand Cafe, which we named after the Strand Theatre, which we’re built on the site of the original Strand Theatre here in Ithaca,” Galeotalanza said. “And our Strand Cafe has been really successful with our local [partnerships]. We do craft cocktails, we make all of our juices in-house and we do evening casings for our hotel guests. They can come in and we can make them a special drink and they can get a taste of what we serve at our bar to help drive our guests to be in our business.” Employees are local experts with a great deal of knowledge about the area. The main entrance is located towards State St. and there have been some complaints of guests getting lost trying to find the entrance, though it does protect guests from some of the noisier parts of downtown as well. One of the features that Galeotalanza says guests are sure to enjoy are the bikes the hotel has on site, which patrons can use to traverse downtown or even travel beyond the city. People can explore the neighborhood quicker and this keeps people from having to get a Lime Bike or worry about leaving them in designated areas. One obvious worry is that downtown Ithaca is already saturated with hotels, but he’s confident the Canopy will be able to carve out a niche with the numerous assets it has to offer anyone looking to visit Ithaca, as well as the tools to explore the city with ease. Plus how well it fits into the overarching Ithaca ethos of environmentalism and sustainability. “We have an open-concept lobby,” Galeotalanza said. “Our restaurant really sets us apart from our competition. We offer high-end amenities in our rooms. In our premium rooms, you get bathrobes and slipper-style socks. We don’t offer bottled water. Every one of our rooms has a glass milk bottle in it and every floor ios stationed with a hydration station so we’re really focused on keeping it green. We have tankless water heaters so we don’t store any unnecessary water on site. We have energy star roof units for HVUC. It’s really important that, being a major part of our neighborhood, we aren’t making a major impact. But sometimes hotels forget the kind of impact they can make and we’ve condensed and minimized ours.”

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B usiness T imes Deb Austin, director of Trumansburg Community Nursery School, accepts the award for Organization of the Year from Steven Daly, owner of Ithaca Vintage, as Chamber President Elaine Springer looks on at the Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 gala Nov. 22. (Photo by Jaime Cone)

T’burg Chamber awards Trimmers, nursery school By Jaime Cone

t the annual award ceremony and dinner for the Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the board celebrated its 100th anniversary year, having been established in 1919, by giving awards to two local business who give back to the community in a multitude of ways: Trimmers Ice Cream and Trumansburg Community Nursery School. But first, Elaine Springer, president of the Trumansburg Chamber Board of Directors, opened the ceremony by looking back on the 1984 Chamber President’s Report by Richard Owlett. In her speech, Springer said the report noted that the Chamber, noticed that Trumansburg was not included in an atlas map of the area used by a local realtor, included its own map (complete with Trumansburg, of course), in their member brochure. Owlett wrote, “as the saying goes, if you want something done, do it yourself.” She found that the modern board members are perhaps “not the trailblazers we fancy ourselves to be,” as the Chamber’s focus in 1984 was pretty similar to the 12 T

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focus of today. One of those main focuses was informed by the then newly-adopted Trumansburg Constitution and By-Laws, which stated, “the purpose of this organization [meaning the Chamber] shall be to encourage the economic success of our area in general, by promoting member businesses as well as the human and geographic assets of the area.” The board of the ‘80s was attempting to serve five townships and three counties, who felt they were ignored by county chambers. “It seems we are not the first to consider neighbors—Ithaca, Mecklenburg, Alpine, Covert, Interlaken, Hector and beyond—to be part of the Trumansburg area, and who the Chamber should be serving,” Springer said. The ‘80s board was also focused on bringing tourists to Trumansburg proper, sending the message that tourists didn’t have to drive to Ithaca or Seneca Falls. What is different today is that the Chamber now believes Trumansburg has the capacity to attract a large number of tourists to the area in general, according to

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Springer. The Chamber of the ‘80s also focused on holding events and community pride as well as creating a member brochure. “As cliché as it is,” Springer said, “it seems the more things change, the more things stay the same…in our 100th year, the Chamber has updated branding, bylaws, and has honed-in membership benefits and board member job descriptions.” “Trumansburg is changing,” she added, “but also remains the same.” She thanked everyone for supporting the Chamber, each other and the community. “You help put Trumansburg on the map,” she said. Jessie Gardner of Little Venice restaurant in Trumansburg presented the award for 2019 Business of the Year to Trimmers Ice Cream (Little Venice won the award last year). Trimmers is owned by four members of the Broadfield family: Jane, Jim, Lyndsey and Kelsey. They purchased the ice cream store 11 years ago when they moved from New Jersey. “They moved because they loved the community they feel this village possesses,” Gardner said. She added that in the short time they have been business owners in the area, the family has shown their generosity toward the community by giving four $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors and donating to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, just to name of a few of their many contributions. “I have personally had the honor to work with Jane and Jim on a few fundraisers, including Empty Bowls,” Gardner said. “These guys have some of the biggest hearts in our community.” Jane Broadfield accepted the award. Trumansburg Community Nursery School won Organization of the Year. Steven Daly, owner of Ithaca Vintage in Trumansburg, introduced Deb Austin, who received the award. “Tonight, we are recognizing the Trumansburg Community Nursery School, TCNS, as Organization of the Year for all the ways they have made Trumansburg a better place over the last 60 years,” said Daly, who enrolled his daughter Lilah in the school when they moved to the area a little over five years ago. “I hadn’t anticipated how we were welcomed into our new community by the staff and other parents, forming the relationships that would come our foundation here,” Daly said. “[Lilah] is in third grade now, but we will always be a proud TCNS family, and we are just one of many.”

CBD’s Quick Growth ANOTHER CBD-FOCUSED STORE OPENS IN ITHACA By Matt Butler

he growth of the CBD market in Ithaca has another datapoint, as Our Remedies joins others like Your CBD Store in the burgeoning alternative medicine scene locally. The store itself is pretty unassuming, tucked into the space on the Commons that used to house a barber shop. Inside, though, is a complete change for anyone who frequented said barber shop, as the white walls and barber chairs have been replaced with rich wood and a bar where customers can take dabs of their preferred CBD product. CEO and owner Sam Viscome remodeled the storefront himself, working day and night over the last several months. Viscome tussles with some of the same issues his nearby competitors deal with, namely that people are still wary of the legitimacy and the legality of his products. He sells some products that, frankly, do look just like a bag of weed. But, as others have, Viscome explains that its inevitable that the products are going to appear like

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something illicit; after all, they come from the same plant. But, as Viscome explains it, these are CBD-dominant cannabis products as opposed to THC-dominant cannabis products (THC is generally known as the primary psychoactive element of marijuana). Our Remedies has been open at their Ithaca location for about one month, in addition to a location in the Destiny USA Mall in Syracuse. In their brief time open so far, Viscome said they have been able to attract some repeat customers already, giving him some hope for the future. His approach to marketing the two stores has been different too, knowing that Ithaca customers might appreciate a more lowkey approach with a stronger emphasis on word-of-mouth. “It’s cool to just do things grassroots style and see how Ithaca takes it,” he said. “I’m definitely doing this different than in Syracuse, to cater to Ithaca because I love Ithaca and I understand it.” One example of that is the aforementioned dab bar, a feature of the Ithaca store that the Syracuse location does not have. Viscome also points out the variety of ingestion methods Our Remedies has,

including granola bars, gummies and chewing gum with CBD, as well as prerolled hemp cigarettes. Like others, Viscome came to CBD through personal experience, his own medical history informing his trust in the alternative medicine. Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at a young age, which eventually evolved into a diagnosis of depression, Viscome was prescribed several different medications that he disliked, either because of the side effects or just how the drugs impacted his daily life. He’d grown disillusioned with modern medicine and decided to turn to something else, despite that the medical community is still skeptical of the positive effects of CBD. Cannabis helped him then, and he thinks it could hold similar benefits for others. “I’ve just found that it was the only thing that worked when doctors and typical medical system failed me,” he said. “It was pretty obvious that holistic was the only truth to health in my eyes. Everything about cannabis has always been extremely interesting to me, and I’ve always known that New York was a little behind the times.”

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B usiness T imes

fter twelve years of searching for the perfect location, Eve Lindys opened Allechant in 2018. Finally, she found the perfect location -- slightly off the beaten path, with a sunny outdoor patio protected by mature trees, light filled kitchens and dining rooms warmed by a fireplace, and ample free parking. Community Corners has all these qualities and more. Renovations began in May 2018. Allechant (adj. mouth-watering, enticing, inviting) serves wine and beer, delicious lunches with daily specials, savory Sunday brunches and inspired house-made desserts. Opening for dinner this December the menus are inspired by many travels and experiences in search of beauty and authenticity in a world increasingly congested with too much stuff, and too little substance. Accepting all major credit cards. Please check our hours and menus online: www.allechantithaca.com

Women In Business • Eve Lindys & Gretel enjoying the comfort of Allechant.

903 Hanshaw Road at Community Corners, Ithaca, NY 14850 - 607-288-3472 allechantithaca.com

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Biz Briefs Tompkins Trust Company Promotes Aundre Seals to new position Aundre Seals has been promoted to Marketing and Community Relations Officer for Tompkins Trust Company, according to Abby Peterson, Marketing Communications Manager. Aundre joined the company in February of 2018. His responsibilities include coordinating marketing initiatives, events management and community & public relations for Central New York. In addition, he will provide marketing support for other community banks throughout Tompkins Financial Corporation. “Aundre’s marketing expertise and community ties have allowed us to grow in the Ithaca community,” said Abby Peterson, Marketing Communications Manager. “He is an important contributor to both our corporate strategy as well as to our local community. We are thrilled to elevate his position within the company.” Seals holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing/Acting from SUNY Fredonia. He lived and worked in New York City for 8 years, managing events and marketing/ social media for a diverse range of companies in the hospitality and retail industries. He has directing credits Off-Broadway, with the National Comedy Theatre, and is an active and passionate theatre artist in Ithaca, with credits working on stage with both the Kitchen Theatre Company and the Hangar Theatre. He currently serves on the Hangar Theatre board of directors.

After 22 years, TCAD’s Martha Armstrong, who serves as vice president and director of economic development planning, has announced that she will step down from her position at the end of the

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Tompkins Trust promotes Justin Earl to Small Business Lending Manager

Martha Armstrong announces retirement from TCAD

Together—we can make a difference!

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year. TCAD thanked Armstrong in a press release and recounted some of her career accomplishments, saying she had been an asset to the community for over two decades. Armstrong provides management of the Finger Lakes Regional Prosperity Network (FLRPnet), formerly the TCAD Foundation, and administers the Tompkins County Tourism Capital Grants Program, and convenes the Tompkins County Economic Development Collaborative, which fosters inter-agency collaboration to advance mutual interests. Some of Armstrong’s recent projects include the 2018 Food Processing Business Incubation Program, 2017 Energy and Economic Development Task Force, and 2015 Tompkins County Economic Development Strategy.

Justin Earl

Tompkins Trust Company has promoted Justin Earl to Small Business Lending Manager. He will report to Karen Parkes, Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking. Earl has been with the company since 2017 and has seven years of experience in the banking industry. In his role, he will be responsible for credit analysis and loan decisions for small business customers and will also oversee loan origination. Additionally, Earl will work closely with the branch management team in business development efforts. “We are very happy to see Justin continue to grow with Tompkins Trust Company,” said Karen Parkes. “His expertise in Small Business Lending and his commitment to our community have made him a valued member of both our commercial

ithaca.com/newsletters

B usiness T imes

ithaca.com/newsletters

My Bank

puts the wind in my sails. Bruce, Owner, The Electricians “I am a busy father of two boys and run my own business, and I love to squeeze in the time to sail my boat Serenity on Cayuga Lake. My bank helps me keep my personal and business banking in order and worry-free so I have the time to slip the lines and set the sails. Thank you Elmira Savings Bank!” Bruce is the owner of The Electricians in Ithaca and an avid sailboat captain.

Officials from Tompkins Trust and the United Way of Tompkins County during the presentation of the the $62,295 check. (Photo provided)

team and Tompkins Financial at large.” Earl is active in his community and has served as a voting board member and finance committee chair for the Ithaca Health Alliance. He lives in Whitney Point with his fiancé, and holds his B.S. in Business Administration and Management from SUNY Oswego, and A.S. in General Studies from Tompkins Cortland Community College.

Tompkins Financial Raises $62,295 for the United Way of Tompkins County Tompkins Financial’s annual United Way Campaign raised $62,295 for the United Way of Tompkins County. All three affiliates of Tompkins (Tompkins Trust Company, Tompkins Financial Advisors, and Tompkins Insurance Agencies) contributed to the campaign through employee and corporate donations and through their annual Carnival for a Cause on the Ithaca Commons. Employees also donated goods and volunteered at the Stephen E. Garner Day of Caring. This year’s Campaign Co-Chairs for Tompkins were Matt Forney, Tompkins Financial Advisors Wealth Advisor, and Faye Burke, Senior Talent Acquisition Business Partner. “All of us at Tompkins are thrilled to see how engaged our employees and the community are with the United Way of Tompkins County,” said Jason Moore, Tompkins Trust Company Vice President

of Commercial BankingCommercial Lender and recently elected United Way Board Chair. “Our commitment to our employees and our community are two of our key values and we are happy to see those values reflected back into our neighbors at the United Way.” The United Way Carnival for a Cause, hosted by Tompkins, took place in September and featured a variety of activities, games, food and fun for families. All proceeds benefited the United Way of Tompkins County. Tompkins employees also participated in a bottle drive, bi-weekly contributions and food can donations. “The Carnival for a Cause was a special and fun day on the Commons for families and our local communities. UWTC was honored and appreciative to be a part of it, and we are pleased with our continued partnership with Tompkins Financial,” said James Brown, President of the United Way of Tompkins County. Working with donors, community volunteers and our funded partners, United Way of Tompkins County supports individuals in their efforts to live self-sufficient, productive lives and a stronger, healthier community for us all. All individual donations go to services and programming in the areas of health, financial stability and education.

1-888-372-9299 | ElmiraSavingsBank.com |

Women In Business • CATHY COOK, THERESA ARMSTRONG AND DIANE RUSSELL

he women of Diane’s Downtown Automotive are smart, caring and professional making Diane’s Downtown Automotive an easy choice for all your vehicle repair needs.

All three of these women have been on the other side of the repair counter. Each has felt that anxiety and uncertainty as they waited for the laundry list of repairs so many shops hand them every single visit. At Diane’s Downtown Automotive, we pride ourselves on doing the

repairs and services that are necessary to make our customers’ cars safe and reliable. We place a premium on making those cars and trucks run the best they can to protect both our customers and the environment. And we do so with full explanations, competitive pricing, and repairs done on time! As we celebrate our 14th year as Ithaca’s only woman owned and operated repair shop, stop in and see what a difference this can make.

435 W State St • (607) 272-2886 De c e mb e r

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I t h a c a T i m e s 15

sports

Smiles All Around

IC adds triple-digit exclamation point to hot start By Ste ve L aw re nc e

im Mullins has been the head coach of the Ithaca College men’s basketball team for 23 years, he is well north of 300 career wins, and he is seasoned enough to not get too excited about a good start to a season or too despondent about a bad start. That said, when we spoke after the Bombers’ dominant 103-80 win over Liberty League rival Vassar, I told him, “Jim, it’s a lot more enjoyable to talk to you when things are going well.” Mullins replied, “Well, it’s a lot more enjoyable to talk to you when things are going well!” The Bombers 103-point outburst against Vassar was the first time the team had hit triple figures in two years, and the fact that three different players – seniors Riley Thompson and Sebastian Alderete and sophomore Skylar Sinon – went for more than 20 points each presents a potential nightmare for opponents going forward. I asked Mullins how such balance factored into the grand scheme, and he said, “It’s not just those three guys. We have guys throughout the roster who can score. This is a very unselfish group that

consciously passes up good shots for the opportunity to create great shots.” Lighting it up for 103 points is definitely the kind of flashy headline that gets people to come to the games, but the three-time Empire 8 Coach of the Year looks beneath the surface when assessing what he has to do to get him through a long and demanding season. For example, Mullins pointed out that “Our assist to turnover ratio is unbelievable – it’s 75 to 35 – and I think that might be the best in the nation. Our top assist guys are really taking care of the ball.” Building a team into a championship contender involves a lot of tweaking, especially during the season. In addressing that, Mullins said, “Before the Cortland game, we put in a new rebounding scheme the day before the game. I told the guys, ‘We’re an offensive juggernaut now, but offense can abandon you at any time, so you need to be able to rebound.’ In that game, we didn’t shoot well, but we had 14 offensive rebounds and we won.” The Bombers are 4-1 at this writing (we

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Senior Riley Thompson drives during an early season game against Hobart. (Photo by Justin Lutes)

went to press hours before the University of Rochester game), and while they dropped their opener against Oswego, they are 2-0 in conference play. That’s a good record, for sure, but the fact that

Ithaca has yet to play on its home court makes it even more impressive. I asked Mullins how it came to be that his team plays its first nine games on the road, whether it was due to a construction issue or some other unforeseen circumstance, and he said, “It’s just the way it shook out. We don’t play at home until January 10.” As the Bombers prepare to take some time off for the holiday break, the coach looked at the latest version of what he has assembled. He said, “We do have three key seniors that are huge contributors, but we have some young guys that are playing very well too. Skylar Sinon is filling up all parts of the stat sheet, and we have a 6’7” freshman from New Jersey, Jack Stern, who is playing really well.” Mullins seemed confident – and grateful – when he said, “When the ‘Big 3’ leave, our cupboard will not be bare.” Mullins added, “We have fifteen guys all the way down the roster who are very good college basketball players, and all of them are capable of stepping in and picking up slack. The term ‘culture’ is used a lot, and we have it. We have a bunch of very unselfish guys that are a pleasure to be around. In college athletics, that is getting harder to do. You see so many kids that have been told how great they are, and it’s very difficult to get them to buy into the team concept. Our guys have done that, and when people refer to them as ‘my team,’ I always say that in a perfect world, they will look at it as ‘their team,’ or even better, ‘our team.’ They know what to do, and I try to stay out of the way!”

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2019 HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE

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$10-$24 NORTHSIDE WINE & SPIRITS GIFT CARD When you can’t decide on one things, a

gift card for the wine lover in your life. They can redeem their gift card at Northside

Wine & Spirit’s store in Ithaca. They can

$10-$24 Fo r th e b u dgeta r ily resp o n s i ble gif t-give r.

$10-$24 “GREETINGS FROM THE FINGER LAKES” BOOK Foodies and readers will enjoy leafing

through this book describing what foods pair best with Finger Lakes wine. Author Michael Turback brings readers into the

find the perfect sherry or a nice beaujolais

world of the area’s acclaimed wineries and

nouveau for those lovely winter nights.

details some treasured local recipes.

By Northside Wine & Spirits available at

By Michael Turback, available at Sunny

Northside Wine & Spirits | $10 (Minimum)

Days Ithaca | $16.95

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and coconut oil will make your loved ones’

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hands soft and smooth. Calendula extract

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boosts the goodness. This lotion is rich

but quickly sinks in so you don’t put too much on.

By Avital’s Apiaries available at Sunny Days Ithaca | $15.99

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Coffee lovers unite with the gift of any

These selections from Bloomwell’s come

A bevy of roasts from Brazil Cerrado to

better for a pre-Christmas gift. The natural

blend from Ithaca’s own Gimme Coffee.

in holiday colors, so they might even be

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$25-$49 A fe w exp e r ie nt i a l opt io n s fo r y o u r c o n s ide rat io n .

$25-$49 “COUPE DE T H E AT R E ” BIRD HOUSE $ 2 5 - $ 4 9 FA M I LY F U N PA S S numerous performances at the Hangar

Theatre. This pass gives up to 4 people

access to any KIDDSTUFF performances with no expiration date.

Available at Hangar Theatre | $25.00

$25-$49 QUILTER’S CORNER PRESENTS STITCHERS GARDEN

a bird and bird house

features a sparrow perching

This class allows for newcomers and

in front of his house, which sports

beginners to sewing to create an eye-

a fabric print of brilliant flowers in

cathcing quilt as they learn more about

red, blue, green and white against a

sewing machines and many different

black background. Approx. 7’ long x 6” tall

presser feet. Instructor Kristin Thompson will be teaching stiudents how to do

decorative stitches through hands-on

practice. Each month will delve into a new method of sewing. Each class stands alone.

By Miho Unexpected Things available at

$25-$49 CUSTOM MADE CUTTING BOARDS

Americana Crafts | $42.00

Prices range from $30-$70 per board,

largely depending on the size, and the

·············

Let that theatre lover in your family enjoy

A sweet

sculpture of

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that is quite noticeable in its design.

By Bill Baker available at Handwork | $47.00

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boards are made from a blend of wood

Available at Quilter’s Corner | $36.00

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$ 2 5 - $ 4 9 S TAT E T H E AT R E GIFT CARD Whether you love Don McLean or Paula Poundstone, this holiday season the

gift of a State Theatre experience is one people will never forget. Gift cards are

now available online in denominations of

$25 with the highest amount being $125.

$ 2 5 - $ 4 9 S I LV E R GEOMETRIC PENDANT

These are good for any performance at the State Theatre

This necklace shimmers and shines no

By State Theatre available at State Theatre

matter what outfit you have to accessorize

| $25-$125

this with. The pendant is 1.12 inches long. By Laurel O’Brien available at Etsy (Laurel O’Brien) | $42.00

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$ 5 0 - $ 9 9 B E T T E R S W E AT E R

$50-$99

The Better Sweater is a warm fleece,

in both men’s and women’s styles, and

boasts a particularly Ithaca-friendly angle:

So m eth i ng fo r y o ung a n d old .

it’s made out of 100 percent recycled fleece materials.

By Patagonia available at Benjamin Peters | $99.00

$ 2 5 - 4 9 K A I B O DY LOTIONS Kai fragrance is light and airy, unlike most other perfumed products,

and can claim that its

ingredients are cruelty free and vegan-

friendly. Starting at $30.

By Kai available at Mockingbird Paperie | $30

$50-$99 UKELELE Hop on the smooth music trend with a ukelele, good for most any occasion

and a suitable hobby to pick up that doesn’t involve a screen. Available for fairly cheap from Ithaca Guitarworks.

Available at Ithaca Guitarworks | $50.00

Holiday GreetinGs from

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Holiday GreetinGs 22 The from

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$50-$99 LARGE S T E R L I N G S I LV E R DOUBLE HOOP EARRINGS

$ 5 0 - $ 9 9 B U T T E R F LY PA I N T I N G This luminous butterfly, currently gracing the wall of the State of the Art Gallery in

These double loop earrings are a perfect everyday

pair of earrings that dress up any outfit or work

fantastically for an evening

Ithaca as part of the gallery’s annual juried

show, is titled “Monarch Kaleidoscope III,” and was painted by Corning artist

Bridget Bossart van Otterloo. Companion piece “Monarch Kaleidoscope II” is also available for purchase at the

look.

By Laurel O’Brien available at Etsy (Laurel O’Brien) | $55.00

gallery for $90.

By Bridget Bossart van Otterloo

available at State

of the Art Gallery

$ 5 0 - $ 9 9 T - R E X P U S H T OY There’s nothing better than a dinosaur for

$50-$99 CASHMERE SCARF

little ones, especially one that can travel

with them wherever they go. The life-like

toy, which only stands about two feet tall,

Benjamin Peters is

is produced locally by Wild Apple.

featuring a 100 percent

By Wild Apple available at Handwork |

cashmere scarf this

$79.00

year, hand-crafted from Germany. It doesn’t get

much nicer than a warm

cashmere scarf wrapped around one’s face to

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Available at Benjamin Peters | $95.00

• 8 ingredients • 1 book of recipes • Dozens of delicious dishes

$50-$99 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT These ornaments might seem expensive,

KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

but they’re unique: a favorite for students

HOLIDAY GIFT BOX

would be the hoodie-styled selections with team or school logos, and for

more traditional folks, there are light-up

ornaments with intricate designs on the inside.

Available at Mockingbird Paperie | $85

154 THE COMMONS • ITHACA • 607.273.2585 The

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FOLIVERS.COM 23

• Over 4,000 bolts of Fabric • Sewing machine sales, service & training • Books, patterns, notions and kits • Classes & Events

BUFFALO STREET BOOKS

$100 AND ABOVE CITY CENTRE

Ithaca's community-owned independent bookstore

A late entry, but City Centre just might be available. Who is going to take the plunge

and buy the luxury apartment building? And, since we let you know about it in this Gift Guide, how is the Ithaca Times getting cut in to the deal? Available at City Centre | $50 million

Books, gifts, & events for our community. Dewitt Mall www.buffalostreetbooks.com 607-273-8246

$ 1 0 0 A N D A B O V E F I B E R A R T TA P E S T R Y “Winter’s Coming” is the title of this felted paper fiber art, crafted in the Joomchi

Give the gift of Theatre Gift Certificates and Mainstage or KIDDSTUFF Subscriptions make the perfect gift!

method by Trumansburg artist Denise Kooperman. This wall hanging has a unique

three-dimensional depth due to the bright, rich colors popping through its strategically windowed layers and would brighten up any art lover’s living space. By Denise Kooperman available at State of the Art Gallery | $300

$100 AND ABOVE ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC G U I TA R S TA R T E R PA C K It’s a college town, and there’s plenty

of quads around here that demand the

presence of at least one acoustic guitar

player at all times. Your loved one could

801 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | 607.273.ARTS(2787) | HANGARTHEATRE.ORG

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$100+ S i mply i mp os s i ble n ot to leave a m a rk w ith th ese g if t opt io n s .

$50-99 JOSH ROSEBROOK SKINCARE BUNDLE Winter is a brutal time for skin, and most of us can use

all the help we can get. Contribute to the cause with this, a bundle of plenty of skincare products that deal with moisturizing, exfoliating and cleansing.

By Josh Rosebrook available at Bloomwell | $95

$ 1 0 0 A N D A B O V E M I X E D M E D I A PA I N T I N G This captivating painting, “Rain,” by Newfield artist Carol Spence, was inspired by the poetry of Mark Making and

contemporary illustration. “Rain” plays with the juxtaposition of random images—a face, an animal, a place, nature—creating a

brief moment in time and a sense of illumination. The piece was inspired by a haiku by Irene Zahava.

By Carol Spence available at State of the Art Gallery | $450

DOWNTOWN

ITHACA SHOP, DINE, & CELEBRATE IN DOWNTOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS! More at: DOWNTOWNITHACA.com The

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IthacaSews AUTHORIZED R

DEALER

SEWING MACHINE

SALES & SERVICE

Happy Holidays from SewGreen & IthacaSews

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from Ilana, Hannah, Noa, Lucia, Sasha, Kristin, Bonnie, Anne, Barb, Sofia, Meara, Phoebe, Pearl, and Wendy

THE HOME OF SUSTAINABLE SEWING

The SewGreen reuse store has served our friends in Ithaca and beyond for 12 years. SewGreen is a source for beautiful fabrics, yarns, and other materials that are donated by the community, plus Eileen Fisher Renew reused fashions. We are a local green business, saving about 30 tons of usable stuff from landfills every year.

We also offer classes in knitting and sewing for all ages, and we have jobs and internships for young people. At IthacaSews, our like-minded companion store, you can find refurbished vintage sewing machines and new long-lasting Janome machines at below online prices. Visit us to enjoy our welcoming family atmosphere!

SewGreen & IthacaSews 112 N Cayuga Street downtown Ithaca NY 607-319-4106

11am — 6pm, Mon — Sat noon — 5pm, Sun sew@sewgreen.org www.sewgreen.org

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$ 1 0 0 A N D A B O V E C H Ă‚T E A U DUCRU-BEAUCAILLOU â€˜82 SAINT-JULIEN As this exquisite 1982 nears full maturity

its dense ruby hue attracts the eye while a

scent of forest floor, spice box, cedar, and copious quantities of black fruits create a once in a lifetime olfacotry sensation.

Beautifully pure with sweet tannins, this full-bodied wine has aged with grace. By N/A available at Northside Wine & Spirits | $300.00

$100 AND ABOVE MODULAR MENORAH Make a Hanukkah celebration special

with this uniquely crafted monorah. This

is handcrafted in brass and pewter, with

each candle held in place by an individual holder. Each exquisitely designed pillar is accented with the rich glow of brass. By Joy Stemblar Metal Arts Studio

available at Americana Crafts | $750.00

$100 AND ABOVE GOLD BRACELET This gold bracelet is once again reserved for someone

$100 AND ABOVE GOLD EARRINGS

with a little disposable income: 14 karat white gold, 5

karat rubies, and 2.4 karat diamonds. Wealth and health.

For those with some spending power

Available at Mansour Jewelers | $10,900

this holiday season, these earrings from Mansour would make a great statement

gift. Packed with 14 karat white gold, 2.85 karats emeralds and .62 karat diamonds too.

Available at Mansour Jewelers | $4,720

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By Ross H a arstad

So what is at the heart of the story of A Christmas Carol? “It depends whether you think it’s Scrooge’s story or our story,” answers Aoise Stratford. “I don’t really ascribe to the idea that plays are one person’s story.” Stratford has adapted Charles Dickens’ timeless tale for the Hangar Theatre, showing Dec. 12-15 and 18-22 (tickets available at Hangartheatre.org). We are perched on the second story landing above the lobby the Wednesday before opening, a little past noon. Below us sits a staff member at a table working through notes. On the other end of the lobby is a costume shop in miniature with three women sewing and pressing a rich array of garments. As our interview progresses Michael Barakiva, the show’s director as well as the Hangar’s Artistic Director, enters the lobby alongside Mackenzie Trowbridge, the show’s stage manager. He pulls out another plastic table, and the two sit down to figure out the afternoon’s work schedule. “It’s a man’s journey back to the person he was once able to become. He’s lost his way, he’s lost his potential, he’s lost his partner, he’s lost his father,” Stratford continues. “I don’t think it’s a man’s transformation. I don’t like that word.” She believes that ‘transformation’ implies a miraculous change from bad to good. Stratford goes on to talk about the politics of Dickens’ tale that she was urgent to capture. “It’s about communities rallying to a larger cause, about good will, about recognizing other people’s hardships. Can we see the things which are sometimes invisible—the labor of women, the labor of children.” Many of the scenes the Spirits show Scrooge are “little commentaries on people who see each other.… All Scrooge can see is his cash box. In the future scene he can’t even

recognize his own possessions.” On Thursday they will already face their first preview audience of school children. The day before they had done two full runthroughs. That was after a 20 hour weekend in tech. Some of the actors are dragging a little. Children are everywhere. For the third iteration, Stratford and Barakiva added two more children to the cast, bringing the total to eight. With two complete Youth Companies at rehearsals (they alternate at performances), that’s sixteen youth to track. (At the evening’s note session they actually count off: “Boy 1 Blue, Boy 1 Gold, Girl 1 Blue…,” etc.) The next couple hours are fixing transitions between scenes. This involves some re-staging and putting the big stage revolve in action, affectionately termed the donut. “Bring the donut to 4 o’clock. Clockwise.” Three years in, the ever-evolving Youth Company keeps the work fresh for the creative team and the older actors. It’s the first thing Barakiva mentions to me. “They keep us from being cynical.” Stratford describes how at the first read, one of the youth gasped as the cast reached the Christmas Future scene, “You mean Tiny Tim dies!” Joshua Sedelmeyer, who this year transitions from nephew Fred to Bob Cratchit, loves the mix of new and old kids. “Skyler started out as Tiny Tim, he points out. The second thing Barakiva mentions is the new Scrooge. When David Studwell was unavailable due to landing a national tour, Barakiva turned to a frequent collaborator Curzon Dobell. Dobell brings different colors to Scrooge, beginning as a very closed-in, business-obsessed man. Dobell’s training was at Bristol’s Old Vic and he works in all fields continuously, including as Nixon in Spielberg’s The Post and as Hosea Matthews in the latest Red Dead Redemption video game. In rehearsal he proves self-deprecating and gentlemanly between scenes. Onstage he has an intense focus.

As they break to get dressed for a run of Act Two, Barakiva introduces me to Suzanne Chesney, costume designer extraordinaire. She has been busy refitting costumes for new actors, adding costumes for new kids, and solving quick change dilemmas (there are three dressers backstage dedicated to this chore.) Barakiva immediately turned to Sedelmeyer when the role of Cratchit opened up. It took two turns of gentle urging from the director for the actor to accept. “It’s such an iconic role, and on that large stage,” Sedemeyer explains. Plus, he has to manage a bar at the same time. He actually had to miss the first two rehearsals, “suddenly I’m onstage, with new lines, and having these kids rushing up to me, who had already rehearsed.” At that evening’s run of the full play I see why Barakiva wanted this actor. Warmth was a given, from this former Fred, but there is a directness and a wild melancholy in the Christmas Future scene that grabs at you. That evening it all comes together for their last show without an audience. Audience members new to this version of A Christmas Carol may at some point notice that there are no narrators. “That was my first stylistic choice in adapting it,” says Stratford. She feels most adaptors fall into using narration both because Dickens has a very strong voice, and because it’s economical. “But the price you pay is in the stakes… When it’s presented as a memory play, the story comes across as something miraculous, ‘once upon a time.’” Keeping the story in the dramatic present she avers, lets us all see ourselves in Scrooge: any moment we could reclaim our life, or lose the chance. To Stratford it all comes down to the moment when her Scrooge breaks the fourth wall, and directly addresses the audience: “I see you now, my fellow travelers…” And that evening, Curzon nails that moment of amazement and grace. De c e mb e r

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A Classic Holiday Tradition

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music

A Grand and Festive Concert By Jane D ie ckm ann

whom he wrote sacred works, and has also composed incidental music for Molière, including the actor-writer’s final play, “Le malade imaginaire.” He was appointed “maître de musique” at the principal Jesuit church in Paris, Saint-Louis, and in 1698 assumed the top sacred-music post in France, director at the Sainte-Chapelle. When asked about the choice of music for this concert, NYS Baroque’s artistic director Deborah Fox explained that the group has not done a Christmas concert and that the Charpentier “Messe de Minuit de Noël” is a favorite work. For several years she has been working on assembling the musicians to perform it and other music on the program. The eight singers are well-known here, sopranos Laura Heimes and Shari Wilson, tenors Jonas Budris and Andrew Fuchs, basses Andrew Padgett and Steven Hrycelak. The mezzosopranos, however, are new to us—Debi Wong, with degrees in Canada and at Yale and currently studying for her doctorate in Finland, performs both early and contemporary music; Ashley Mulcahy from Boston is already a star in opera and oratorio. Some may have heard her in the service for NYSEMA founder Peter Hedrick. Leading the instrumentalists, both figuratively and literally, and bringing his wide experience to this program is Paul O’Dette from Rochester, considered the best lutenist worldwide. He will do some discrete conducting while being part of the ensemble, and is the soloist in one of the two Vivaldi concertos. Renowned oboist Geoffrey Burgess, who played here just last season, solos in the other. He and oboist Caroline Giassi also play recorders. Violins are Marika Holmqvist, who will lead the ensemble at times, and Boel Gilholm. They are joined by Daniel Elyar; viola; Christopher Haritatos, cello; Christel Thielmann, viola da gamba; Tracy Mortimer, bass;

GREEN IDEAS

lmost every year our outstanding early music group, New York State Baroque, presents a big show, and this time it’s a special holiday program, “A Baroque Noel,” featuring festive and contemplative music in celebration of Christmas by two outstanding composers, the Italian Antonio Vivaldi and the Frenchman Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Because this concert needs a larger space, it will take place in Ithaca’s First Presbyterian Church, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. The customary preconcert talk begins at 6:45. Both featured composers, brought up in the musical and liturgical traditions of the Roman Catholic church, have written a prodigious amount of sacred music. Vivaldi (1678–1741), ordained as a priest and known as the “red priest” because of the color of his hair, was the son of a violinist in the orchestra of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. He taught violin at the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage there. His contract required him to supply two concertos per month, resulting in a huge number of works in this form. His compositional mode made this possible, as material could be manipulated to create new perspectives and sounds based on an established model. Beyond the vast amount of instrumental music, Vivaldi also wrote more than 45 operas, including “Cato in Utica,” performed at Glimmerglass in 2015, and countless sacred compositions, including the well-known “Gloria,” a favorite for church choirs. We will hear his dramatic “Magnificat.” Information about Charpentier (?1643–1704) is sparse. Born near Paris, he is believed to have studied with the prominent opera and oratorio composer Giacomo Carissimi during a visit to Rome in the 1660s. After returning to Paris, he was under the patronage of Mme de Guise, for

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Geoffrey Burgess (left) and Debi Wong.

Naomi Gregory, organ; and, of course, with O’Dette is Fox, playing lute and theorbo. Many of these musicians come from the Northeast area, and play with her Rochester-based Pegasus Early Music group. Besides presenting music on a larger scale, this concert offers contrasting “baroque gems,” as Fox comments, by two composers who wrote some of their best music for Christmas celebrations. The concert opens with Vivaldi’s very “dramatic” “Concerto for Oboe,” described as outstanding and different. Then comes “Nuit” by Charpentier, an instrumental interlude from a Christmas motet written about 1680. It sets the scene of the sleeping shepherds being awakened by the angel with news of the birth of Christ. It has “unusual harmonic shifts,” Fox says, and it is “very calm.” Vivaldi’s setting of the “Magnificat” follows, with grand opening statements, followed by solos for soprano, alto and bass. Listen for the “Et misericordia” section, which suggests the haunting “Et in terra pax” movement of the composer’s “Gloria,” and for word painting—

one example is when the full chorus enters in on the word “omnes” (everyone). The final chorus is a complex double fugue. After Intermission comes the Vivaldi “Concerto for Mandolino,” a very small lute with a round back and double courses of gut strings. The music goes “plinkety plink,” Fox says. “It’s a virtuosic piece and cheery,” and offers the chance to show off the incomparable Paul O’Dette. The Charpentier “Messe de Minuit pour Noël” closes the program. Little is known about the origins of this festive work, which probably was first performed at Saint-Louis in the 1690s. The entire mass is based on popular French carols, mostly dance-like in character. Charpentier also wrote instrumental arrangements of these “noëls,” which will be performed prior to the Mass. Everybody has the chance to sing along, much like audiences in the 17th century, Fox explains. It’s double bonus, we get to sing and then can recognize the carols in the music of the Mass that follows. What a treat this concert will be. Plan to be there.

Celebrate Spring with Stage

The Antigone Project By Barbara Ad am s

n this age of ruthless autocrats undermining democratic institutions and intrepid whistleblowers challenging them, it’s timely to revisit the mythical story of Antigone, daughter of Oedipus. Last weekend Ithaca College Theatre featured a modern retelling of this ancient Theban tale: “The Antigone Project: A Play in Five Parts.” Playwright Chiori Miyagawa and director Sabrina Peck conceived the work shortly after the USA PATRIOT Act was passed in the wake of 9/11. The Act, intended to counter terrorist efforts, controversially also encroached on civil liberties. The play comprises five distinct short works by women playwrights, each a radically different take on the Antigone legend. After the self-blinded Oedipus was exiled, his two sons were to rule alternately; predictably, one refused to yield and civil war broke out. Both brothers were killed, but their uncle Creon, assuming rule, forbid Polynices, the challenger, to be buried. Defying his edict –– and following a higher law than that of the state –– Antigone covers her brother’s body with a thin layer of earth, thus freeing his soul into the afterlife. As punishment, Creon entombs her alive; his son and her fiancé, Haimon, on learning Antigone has hanged herself, attacks his father and stabs himself fatally. Hearing of her son’s death, Creon’s wife, Eurydice, hangs herself as well. And Creon is left to agonizingly face where his blind devotion to the law and his disrespect of religious custom has led him. To familiarize the audience with this background, director Susannah Berryman has prefaced the parts with a prologue, a series of striking silent tableaux enacting the Oedipus narrative and successive tragedies. Each distinct play follows, transitions provided by the music and by one Antigone passing her necklace to the next and pointing to her to inspire action. Overall, the effect is mesmerizing. Berryman’s expressive direction employs an unusual setting: the audience seated in two opposing sections, tennis-court style. In the Clark Theatre, this rarely used layout not only puts every audience member fairly close to the action but thematically implies that we are the witnesses to the pros and cons of the characters’ choices. The ambiance created is arresting: huge stone doorways rise at either end of a narrow path, with broken pillars and drifted sand, while the floor itself is painted symbolically in blood red, black and white as the grid of a circuit board. Multiple television screens hang overhead or sit, gathering sand, along the floor; most are dark, a few flash intermittent light, and a couple convey a static image. While not wholly clear, senior Raven Bartlett’s satisfying design suggests a meeting of ancient

and modern in their mutual collapse of communication and civilization. Steve TenEyck’s dramatic lighting and junior Jacob Sanner’s haunting, tonal sound design shape the ritualistic mood, which is furthered by the characters’ griege-colored flowing, classically styled garments by senior Nico Gonzalez. The first mini-play, Karen Hartman’s “Hang Ten,” opens with a contemporary Antigone (Roxanne Matten) and her more conservative, here opportunistic sister Ismene (Maya Brettell) relaxing on a beach, watching muscular young men surf (especially an agile Tri Duc Tran), as two men enact waves. The overall sense is that young men will endlessly be offered up for wars. However, “Medallion,” by Tanya Barfield, is quite clear, even literal: the sister (Alaysia Duncan) of a fallen black soldier post-World War I is seeking her brother’s body –– or at least the French Croix de Guerre he was awarded. She’s denied and thwarted by a racist system, represented by a frustrated general (a powerful Tristan Tierney). In Caridad Svich’s “Antigone Arkhe,” Antigone’s tragedy has been reduced to a museum exhibit, with an archivist (Eric Leigh) soullessly leading a tour through a Disneyfied experience of fragmentary artifacts, complete with an animatronic, glass-boxed Antigone (a striking Stella Pruitt) and a “real” one (Megan Johnson) weaving through the crowd. Though longish, this piece provokes reflection on how we “use” history. Lynn Nottage’s “A Stone’s Throw” presents the richest characterizations via an illicit courtship of two Africans living under Sharia law (beautifully played by Nicole Onwuka and Jaden Boyd). Now pregnant, Antigone alone will be the one condemned by society –– to death by stoning. The ensemble of actors, or chorus, which creatively assumes a different social role in each play, are here voracious journalists descending on the offending woman. Lastly, Chiori Miyagawa’s sprawling, over-ambitious “Red Again” has “Irene” (Matten) desperate to evacuate her city apartment, as she invokes multiple modern atrocities; somewhere in the underworld, the bardo transitional state between lives, her sister Antigone (Pruitt) and beloved “Harold” (Mayson Sonntag) are exploring their painful past and searching through books to see what lies ahead. This final encounter is tender and hopeful, but in the context of endless bloody wars and human pigheadedness, probably doomed. More a series of sketches or glimpses than fully realized narratives, these five works, however uneven, effectively provoke and tease us to thought.

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HOLIDAY

POPS

Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School

SUN, DEC 15, 2019 @ 3:00PM FEATURING:

Ithaca Community Chorus Ithaca Talent Education Crosby Woods, Sophia Werner

Ithaca Children and Youth Chorus Cantor Richard Rosenfield CCO Youth Orchestra Brass (Youth Concerto Competition winners) Special guest from the North Pole!

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Keb’ Mo’ will bring his blues melodic emphasis to Geneva on Dec. 16. (Photo provided)

music

Always Expanding

IT: Which is? KM: Like B.B. King, Anita Baker, Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, you know. And I listen to Terence Blanchard, and I listen to a lot of instrumental, because I like melody so much.

Keb’ Mo’ will entertain at the Smith Opera House this week By G.M . Bur n s

evin Roosevelt Moore is mellow during his phone interview as he talks about his upcoming performance at the Smith Opera House in Geneva, NY. This iconic artist is better known by his performance moniker, Keb’ Mo’, and has been playing and touring in music for well over a quarter of a century in contemporary blues and roots music. Mo’ has performed with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Garth Brooks, Booker T Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Amy Grant, Solomon Burke and many other artists. He has played throughout the years at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, and has earned four Grammy awards in his long musical career. Mo’ is currently on a holiday tour, “Jingle Bell Jamboree” in which he will perform songs from his recent release “Moonlight, Mistletoe, and You.” Ithaca Times: Many of the songs on your recent seasonal release have a bluesy feel – do you have a sense of where the melody comes from with this release? Keb’ Mo’: Every song has its own world. Like [the song] “Moonlight, Mistletoe, and You” – I’m big on melody. The goal is to have a recognizable melody in all my songs. IT: Many of your tracks on this release are moving — talk about how the tune “Better Everyday” came about for you?

KM: I don’t know if I have gotten better than I was in the beginning, but I think I’m more courageous. IT: Who are you listening to now? KM: I listen to things that I did back in the ‘80s. [Laughs]

IT: Where do you feel the drive comes from to keep expanding your musical palette? KM: There are avenues to keep myself entertained. To keep myself challenged and moving forward and not being stuck – it’s a personal thing. I’m not trying to appeal to a large audience – I just don’t want to be stuck in a prison.

IT: Singing seems as natural as breathing for you – what can people expect from your upcoming performance? KM: Well I’m going to be playing songs from the new album, and some old favorites. We got a great band and we got funny clothes.

Smith Opera House Keb’ Mo’ will be performing at the Smith Opera House on Dec. 16, at 8 p.m.

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KM: That tune came about because I was in Dubai with Shamil. He [Shamil] came out from Dubai and wanted to write with me you know and he wrote the song, and it came out so good, and then I recorded it. IT: How do you think your songwriting has evolved over the course of your many records?

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Ithaca High School Winter Choral Concert | 7:30 PM, 12/11 Wednesday | Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School, 1401 N Cayuga St, Ithaca |

PM, 12/14 Saturday | Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery Street, Syracuse | $90-$20, College $5, 18 & under $0

Jazz Ensemble Swing Fling: CU Music | 7:00 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Lincoln Hall Rm B20, Cornell, Ithaca | Features guest vocalist Miche Fambro, big band arrangements with dancing and refreshments, plus dance instruc-

SOUK Saturday, December 14 at 7:00 PM | Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, Congress at McLallen Streets, Trumansburg | SOUK performs traditional Arabic and Turkish instrumental music, with focus on Maqam and Iqa, the scales and rhythms that define these traditions. They create an atmosphere that ranges from relaxing background music to exciting dance music, and share the sound of the Middle East in a way that listeners from all walks of life can connect with. Nikolai Ruskin plays Oud and Nay, with Dara Annissi and Jesse Koennecke on darbuka and riq and the virtuoso Max Buckholtz. (photo: provided)

Music

12/12 Thursday

Bars/Bands/Clubs

Brews and Brats Open Mic | 6:30 PM, | Brews and Brats at Autumn View, Trumansburg

An Evening w/ Mikaela Davis &

Swimmer | 8:00 PM | The Haunt, Ithaca

12/11 Wednesday

12/13 Friday

Canaan Jam Session | 7:00 PM, |

Pete Panek Blues Band | 6:00 PM, | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, Freeville

Canaan Institute, Brooktondale

Chickenwire Parachute | 7:00 PM, | Two Goats Brewing, Burdett

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Southern Star | 8:00 PM| The Haunt,

12/15 Sunday

Ithaca

Ithaca Jazz and Blues Jam | 4:00 PM, | Mix Kitchen and Bar, Ithaca

12/14 Saturday

12/18 Wednesday

Salsa at The Range | 7:00 PM, | The

Canaan Jam Session | 7:00 PM, | Canaan Institute, Brooktondale

Range, Ithaca | $ $5 before 10pm, $7

Junior Brown | 8:00 PM| The Haunt,

Diana Leigh’s Holiday Spectacular | 7:00 PM, | Argos Warehouse Lounge & Event Space, Ithaca | $10 / $15

Ithaca

Concerts/Recitals

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tion. | $5 Ithaca College Wind Ensemble | 8:15 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Ford Hall, James J. Whalen Center For Music, Ithaca College, Danby Road, Ithaca | Christopher Hughes, conductor. Allan McMurray, guest conducting. Featuring the 2019 Walter Beeler Memorial Composition Award-winning composition The Silent Land by Steve Danyew, who will attend the performance. Symphoria Pops II: Holiday Pops | 7:30 PM, 12/13 Friday; 1:30 & 7:30

2:00 PM & 7:30 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown, 24 Port Watson Street, Cortland | Starring Todd Meredith and The Rave-Ons. Featuring Holly’s greatest hits, plus rockabilly versions of Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Jingle Bell Rock, Blue Christmas, Run Run Rudolph and more. Great for the whole family. | $25.00 Ithaca Community Orchestra Fall Concert | 4:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Lansing Middle School Auditorium , 6

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Ludlowville Road, Lansing | Suggested $7 Donstion Candor Community Chorus Holiday Season Concert | 7:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Candor High School, 1 Academy Street, Candor | Donations appreciated. SOUK | 7:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, Congress at McLallen St, Trumansburg | SOUK performs traditional Arabic and Turkish instrumental music, with focus on Maqam and Iqa, the scales and rhythms that define these traditions. Nikolai Ruskin plays Oud and Nay, with Dara Annissi and Jesse Koennecke on darbuka and riq and Max Buckholtz. | $12/$15 NYS Baroque presents A Baroque Noel | 7:30 PM, 12/14 Saturday | First Presbyterian Church, 315 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY | General $35; Senior $30; Students $10; Students grades 3-12 FREE Trumansburg Community Choir Winter Concert | 7:30 PM, 12/14 Saturday; 3:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses, 69 E. Main St., Trumansburg | Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated. All ages are welcome!

Delaney Brothers | 2:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | Earlville Opera House, 18 East Main Street, Earlville | | $10-$25

Students compete for the opportunity to perform with the Cornell Symphony Orchestra

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra presents: Holiday Pops | 3:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School, 1401 N Cayuga St, Ithaca | Enjoy some cherished music of the holiday season as we bring together some of the wonderful Ithaca ensembles to join the entire Cayuga Chamber Orchestra! This familyfriendly event will feature students from Ithaca Talent Education (ITE), The Ithaca Children & Youth Chorus, our recent Youth Concerto Competition winners, brass players from the CCO Youth Orchestra, and the Ithaca Community Chorus. Join us for this very special community event! | $30 Adults / $10 Students

An Evening with Jewell Payne | 6:30 PM, 12/16 Monday | Kitchen Theatre, 417 W State St, Ithaca | An evening of musical entertainment with performances by Jewell Payne and friends, including Vitamin L and the Ithaca Gay Men’s Chorus. | $20/$25

Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers | 3:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | Ford Hall, Ithaca College, Danby Rd, Ithaca | The Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers (DCJS) will present a concert of Negro Spirituals. The concert will include the debut of the Dorothy Cotton Youth Singers. Cornell Concerto Competition Finals: CU Music | 8:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | Barnes Hall, Cornell, Ithaca |

Keb Mo’s Jingle Bell Jamboree | 8:00 PM, 12/16 Monday | Smith Opera House, 82 Seneca St, Geneva | Songs from Keb’s first ever holiday release will be the focus of this tour that brings him to Geneva. Having racked up four GRAMMY awards, Keb’ Mo’ has cultivated a reputation as a modern master of American roots music. Ithaca High School Band Concert | 7:30 PM, 12/17 Tuesday | Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School, 1401 N Cayuga St, Ithaca |

Stage Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol | 7:00 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock

Blvd, Ithaca | Through 12/22. Contact theatre for additional showtimes. Boynton Drama Club Presents “Into the Woods, Jr” | 7:30 PM, 12/12 Thursday thru 12/15 Sunday; 2PM matinees on Saturday & Sunday| Boynton Middle School, 1601 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca | A new take on Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s groundbreaking musical fairy tale about wishes and the choices we make. | $10 for adults, $8 for children Ithaca High School Student Directed One Acts Performance | 4:30 PM, 12/13 Friday & 7:30 PM, 12/14 Saturday| Ithaca High School, 1401 N Cayuga St, Ithaca | @ Black Box Theatre Disney’s Beauty and the Beast | 7:30 PM, 12/13 Friday | Syracuse Stage/Drama Complex, 820 E Genesee St, Syracuse | Through Jan 5. Spectacular costumes and fantastic sets combine with beloved songs in this classic story about finding the magic in love. It’s a Miracle! stories with Regi Carpenter | 7:30 PM, 12/13 Friday | The Gathering, 1772 Danby Rd. on the corner of 96B and Gunderman Rd,

Ithaca | Seasonal and surprising tales of exploits gone wrong, destiny being fulfilled and Bendable Barbies. Suitable for 12 and up. Special guests Bo Lipari and Loretta Louviere. | $15.00 Ithaca Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker | 7:30 PM, 12/13 Friday; 3:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday & 12/15 Sunday | State Theatre Of Ithaca, 107 W State St, Ithaca | Take a magical journey with Clara as she travels with her Nutcracker Prince through the land of the Snowflakes to the Land of the Sweets where she is regaled with dances of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her kingdom. Music by Tchaikovsky, choreography by Lavinia Reid. Sister’s Christmas Catechism | 8:00 PM, 12/13 Friday thru 12/15 Sunday| West End Theater, 217 Genesee St., Auburn | It’s CSI: Bethlehem in this holiday mystery extravaganza, from the author of LATE NITE CATECHISM, as Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages: Whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? | $40 Proof | 8:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Kitchen Theatre, 417 W State St, Ithaca | Closes Dec 15.

Art Get Creative With ReUse! | 6:00 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Ithaca ReUse Center, 214 Elmira Rd, Ithaca | Join ReUse for one or all of these free Creative ReUse Workshops leading up to the Holiday season. Creative reuse is a great way to make a meaningful gift, holiday decorations, or creative expression, without making a negative global impact. Little Red Wagon Artisan Market | 10:00 AM, 12/13 Friday & 12/14 Saturday | Artist Alley at South Hill Business Campus, 950 Danby Road, Ithaca | The wagon will be held in conjunction with the Clay School of Ithaca’s annual student pottery sale and many Artist Alley studios will be open to explore. The Beauty of the Susquehanna River | 12:00 PM, 12/13 Friday thru 12/15 Sunday | North Star Art Gallery, 743 Snyder Hill Road, Ithaca | Artist Brian Keeler presents this exhibition of his tribute to the beauty of the

Susquehanna River and the surrounding area. 20/20 Hindsight | 20 years in Prints and Books plus Portfolios & Ephemera | 5:00 PM, 12/13 Friday | Ink Shop Studio Gallery and CSMA corridor, 330 E.State / MLK Street, ITHACA | The 20th Anniversary exhibit celebrates two decades of printmaking. Will include current and past artists and printmakers, fellows and exhibitors who participated in portfolio exchanges over the years and will display selected posters, postcards, news and reviews. PLUS ONE : A Gallery Artist Invitational | 5:30 PM, 12/13 Friday | Corners Gallery, 903 Hanshaw Rd Ste 3, Ithaca | An exhibition featuring the work of Corners Gallery artists and their special guest artist’s work. On view through Jan. 25. Portrait Painting Workshop | 7:00 PM, 12/13 Friday | North Star Art Gallery, 743 Snyder Hill Road, Ithaca | Brian Keeler presents a weekend workshop for portrait artists starting Friday evening December 13th, and continuing with two full days of hands-on workshops Saturday and Sunday. | 350 New Work by Sue Stocum | All Day 12/14 Saturday | Zaza’s Cucina, 622 Cascadilla St, Ithaca |

Special Events Dickens Christmas | 12:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday & 12/15 Sunday | Various Skaneateles locations, | Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with the 26th edition of Dickens Christmas. Skaneateles’ iconic street theater production enchants holiday shoppers as it brings A Christmas Carol to life . Dickens Christmas | 12:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | Various Skaneateles locations, | Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with the 26th edition of Dickens Christmas. Skaneateles’ iconic street theater production enchants holiday shoppers as it brings A Christmas Carol to life .

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 8:00 PM

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, DEC. 13 & 14 FROM 10:00AM-5:00 PM

Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar, 139 West State St., Ithaca | Join Answer the Muse for an evening of music and delight for you and your Inner Grinch! They promise the show will not include a single Christmas carol, Hanukkah song, Kwanzaa candle or solstice singalong - but they DO promise three new songs of their own! (photo: provided)

Artist Alley at South Hill Business Campus, 950 Danby Road, Ithaca | Featuring approximately 70 curated local fine artists and artisans and showcasing a wide variety of beautiful handmade products. From pottery to clothing, jewelry, art, wood and housewares, local cider and beer, body care, coffee, pastries and much more. (photo: provided)

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LITTLE RED WAGON ARTISAN MARKET

HOLIDAZE-CRAZE WAKE-UP CALL

I t h a c a T i m e s 35

Heads UP Th e B u r n s S i s t e r s A n n u a l H o l i d a y C o n c e r t W e e k e n d !

“

You can think about the Burns Sisters in descriptive terms -- powerful songs, gorgeous sibling harmony, a distinctive blend of folk, country, and rock styles -- but their essence is spirit. Soul, if you will. Marie and Annie Burns have been singing together all their lives, and their music follows an inner path they know by heart.” The Burns Sisters will be celebrating the Ithaca community at the Kitchen Theatre. with a great band that includes Dave Borisoff, London McDaniel, Doug Robinson, Tony Markellis and a couple of surprise guests! The sisters are teaming up and asking people to bring warm coats and warm socks and canned food for the Friendship Center/ St John’s Community Services of Ithaca.

Chats in the Stacks: Janet McCue on Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography | 4:00 PM, 12/12 Thursday | 160 Mann Library, Cornell University, Ithaca | Horace Kephart, a Cornell graduate student in the 1880s and later a Yale librarian, evolved into an enigmatic woodsman, author, and activist instrumental in establishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail that runs through it.

Preschool Storytime at Southworth Library | 10:00 AM, 12/13 Friday | Southworth Library, 24 W. Main Street, Dryden | A different theme every week! Baby Storytime | 10:30 AM, 12/13 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | December Movie Night | 6:15 PM, 12/13 Friday | YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County, 50 Graham Road W, Ithaca | We will be showing The Grinch! The movie will be shown in the Borg Warner Nutrition Center at 6:15pm. Bring your pillow and blanket and settle in for the show. | Family Member: $0.00; Non-Member: $4.00; Youth Member: $0.00 Family Storytime | 11:00 AM, 12/14 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca |

Philomathic Library, 74 E Main St, Trumansburg | Hear about their newest releases and get a chance to ask all the burning questions you might have about their writing process. Poetry Open Mic | 6:00 PM, 12/13 Friday | CSMA, 330 E State St, Ithaca | Ithaca Area Poets presents a poetry open mic, on the second Friday of the month. New venue, and new MCs. Come read or listen. YA Book Club December Meeting | 4:30 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | For young adults grades 6 through 12 to a monthly book discus-

ThisWeek

Local Authors Night at UPL | 6:30 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Ulysses

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Holiday Cook-A-Book | 3:30 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Seneca Falls Library, 47 Cayuga Street, Seneca Falls | Share a story or two with Miss Tara and make your own themed snack! All ages are welcome but please preregister by calling the library at (315) 568-8265 x2. Dewitt Musical: Frozen Jr. | 7:00 PM, 12/12 Thursday thru 12/14 Saturday; 2PM matinee on Sunday, 12/15 | DeWitt Middle School, 560 Warren Road, Ithaca | | $10/adults $8/ kids under 18

Dec 20 and 21 at 8:00 PM Kitchen Theatre for tickets call 607-272-0570 or kitchentheatre.org

Books

are invited to gather and share songs, rhymes, and stories in Mandarin and English at this special storytime series. Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to attend. (off 11/28)

sion series. For the December meeting of this monthly book club, participants will read and discuss The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo. Copies of the book are available for participants from the Teen Services office.

Kids Bilingual Storytime for Families and Children of All Ages | 11:30 AM, 12/12 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | Both Chinese-speaking and nonChinese speaking families and friends

Santa visits Moore Tree Farm | 11:00 AM, 12/14 Saturday | Moore Tree Farm, 575 Auburn Rd, Groton | Families Learning Science Together at TCPL: Simple Circuits | 1:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | TCPL will host Cornell University’s Center for Materials Research for a program exploring simple circuits. At this intergenerational, hands-on science program, families will find out how to make a simple circuit and will also test to determine what materials are electrical conductors or insulators. They will then create their own holiday paper circuit card. Please register.

ITHACA COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA FALL CONCERT

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 4:00 PM

Lansing Middle School Auditorium, 6 Ludlowville Road, Lansing | Featuring piano soloist Dr. Andrea Merrill performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; the East Coast Premiere of Henry Wolking’s Powell Canyons, and selections from West Side Story, led by assistant conductor Aaron Burgess. (photo: provided)

Ithac a T imes

/December

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Spanish-language Storytime | 2:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | Children of all ages and their caregivers will enjoy this series of Spanish-language storytimes.

19, 6:00 PM Dinner: Ciao. Host: Hans F., RSVP: hansfleischmann83@gmail. com

LEGO Building Program | 3:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | The Library provides building bricks, and all creations are displayed at the Library for one week.

Christmas Bake Sale | 7:00 AM, 12/13 Friday | St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 120 W Seneca St, Ithaca | Until 12:00 or until SOLD OUT.

Cosplay Couture | 4:00 PM, 12/16 Monday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | At these weekly Makerspace drop-in hours, teens ages 13 and up can focus on creating costumes, cosplay, accessories, props, and wearable garments of all types. No registration is required for this weekly drop-in program. Family Story Time | 10:30 AM, 12/17 Tuesday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main St. , Newfield | Join us every Tuesday for stories, songs and fun. There is a different theme each week. Cuddle-up Infant & Toddler Library Time | 10:00 AM, 12/18 Wednesday | Southworth Library, 24 W. Main Street, Dryden | Tween Coding Club | 4:45 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | At these meetings, tweens ages 9 to 12 will learn to express themselves through computer programming. Using the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, a small microcontroller with big possibilities, participants will learn the basics of coding and hardware while interacting with the world through light, sound, temperature, and movement. Please register. Gingerbread House Workshop | 6:00 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main St, Newfield | The library will provide materials and show you some ways to create your own Gingerbread House! Please register.

Hour of Code | 5:30 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main St, Newfield | Family Code Night

Community Fire Ceremony: Journey to Paradise | 7:00 PM, 12/13 Friday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd, Ithaca | At this Full Moon fire ceremony we will travel to our own personal paradise, and get a healing on the way! Donations accepted to keep these fires going. Beginner Bird Walks | 8:30 AM, 12/14 Saturday | Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca | Guided bird walks every Saturday and Sunday morning, sponsored by the Cayuga Bird Club. For more information, go to the club’s website, http://www.cayugabirdclub. org/calendar Holiday Open Farm Days at Shepherd’s Creek Alpacas! | 10:00 AM, 12/14 Saturday | Shepherd’s Creek Alpacas, 5797 Stillwell Rd, Trumansburg | The alpacas will be greeting holiday visitors, posing for pictures & hoping for treats, Friday, November 29th, and every Saturday from November 30th through Christmas from 10 -4! Visit our Farm Shop for Unique & Beautiful Alpaca Gift Items! Community Invited for Cookies and Caroling | 3:00 PM, 12/14 Saturday | Flight Performing Arts, 123 S Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Flight Performing Arts, the area’s only “triple threat” performing arts studio, invites the Ithaca community to this free event featuring complimentary snacks, a cookie exchange, and a dance party.

Notices

RICHIE Sing | 6:30 PM, 12/14 Saturday | North Star Art Gallery, 743 Snyder Hill Road, Ithaca | Ithaca singing group, RICHIE, gathers at North Star Art Gallery, for a group sing. Everyone is welcome - Potluck dinner at 6:30 and group sing at 7:30om.

Ithaca Sociable Singles | 6:00 PM, 12/11 Wednesday | Dinner: Sunset Grill. Host: Lynn D., RSVP: lpd4@ cornell.edu; Thursday, December

Hanukkah Festival | 11:00 AM, 12/15 Sunday | Temple Beth El, Social Hall, 402 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca | Drop in and you’ll find a lively indoor

NYS BAROQUE PRESENTS: A BAROQUE NOEL

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 7:30 PM

First Presbyterian Church, 315 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca | Charpentier’s beloved Messe de Minuit pour Noel, French popular noels, and concertos by Vivaldi! Paul O’Dette, director and soloist in the Vivaldi concerto for Mandolino; Geoffrey Burgess, oboe soloist in Vivaldi’s Oboe Concerto in C Major; with 8 singers and baroque orchestra. Program also includes Vivaldi’s Magnificat, RV 610. Pre-concert talk at 6:45pm! (photo: provided)

CANDOR COMMUNIT Y CHORUS HOLIDAY SEASON CONCERT Saturday, December 14 at 7:00 PM | Candor High School, 1 Academy St., Candor | This year’s theme is “He Is Born” and features several new pieces. “The Holding Carol” brings together the themes of joy, peace, and love in a tender tune that underscores the promise of Christmas. Also new to the program are a gorgeous Dan Forrest arrangement of “The First Noel” and “People Look East”. Some favorites from past years include “Beautiful December”, “Candlelight”, “He Is Born” and “Festival Sanctus”. (photo: Facebook )

market where the scents of savory potato latkes and sweet apple fritters mingle with the beauty of handmade gifts for sale. Local artists will be offering a wide range of gifts from jewelry and ceramics, to hand-bound books and local honey. Craft activities for all ages will be offered throughout the day. There will also be an unusual game, an “escape room,” offered by the temple youth community for a wide range of ages. Finger Lakes Finns December Luncheon and Meeting | 1:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | Newfield Fire Hall, 77 Main St. , Newfield | Join us for our annual Christmas dish-to-pass luncheon and meeting. Ham will be provided. Please bring a dish to share. We will be making holiday centerpieces and music will abound! We will also have a gift exchange for those who would like to participate (gifts of $10 or less). Candor Historical Society Christmas Market | 9:00 AM, 12/16

Monday | Proceeds to benefit the History Center. The History Center is open Mondays from 9:00 a.m. – Noon. Free Adult Tutoring Services | 10:00 AM, 12/17 Tuesday | Seneca Falls Library, 47 Cayuga Street, Seneca Falls | Learn reading, writing, math and job-related skills. Drop-ins welcome. Teachers provided by the Literacy Volunteers of Seneca County. 3-D Printing Tutorial | 6:00 PM, 12/17 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | For members of the community ages 16+ in the Makerspace. Participants will learn how TCPL’s 3-D printers work, how to acquire the computer files needed to use the printers, and how to prepare designs for printing. Please register. Introduction to Photo Editing in Adobe Photoshop | 2:00 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | Participants are expected to be expe-

rienced with the following computer skills: using the basic tools of the Mac operating system X; using a keyboard and mouse; and accessing, saving, and importing files. The first four patrons to arrive will be able to participate using one of the library’s MacBook Pro computers. Patrons who have access to the appropriate Adobe software on their own personal devices are also welcome to participate. Entry to the Digital Lab will not be allowed once the workshop has begun. WISE Choice! | 3:00 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | Tompkins County Workforce Center, Center Ithaca, Suite 241, | For people who are age 18 through 64 and receive Social Security Disability benefits. Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinars can help you and your family members learn about the Ticket to Work Program and available Work Incentives through accessible learning opportunities. Call office for topic information.

Open Hearts Dinner | 5:00 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | McKendree UMC, 224 Owego St., Candor | Come and join in the fun. Whether you are looking for fellowship or a free meal this one’s for you. Contact: Denice Peckins denicepeckins@hotmail.com

| Learn the top ways our practitioners use herbs, essential oils and home remedies for staying healthy through the winter season.

Kitchen Theatre’s Annual Holiday Game Show | 7:00 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | Kitchen Theatre, 417 W State St, Ithaca | Hosted by Karl Gregory. Featuring a hilarious cast of local celebrities including Amy Dickinson, Johanna Anderson, Michelle Courtney Berry, Arthur Bicknell, Brett Bossard, James Brown, Dizzy Discretion, Steve Hugo, Heather Lane, Harmony Malone, Bob Proehl, & Frank Towner. | $50

Adoptees Connect; Ithaca | 6:00 PM, 12/12 Thursday | Just Be Cause Center, 1013 W State St, Ithaca | Adoptees Connect is a peer-led adoptee-centric support group for adult adoptees. Come hang with other adult adoptees and share feels, laughter, and experiences! We will provide refreshments and dinner!

Health Winter Immunity Workshop | 7:00 PM, 12/11 Wednesday | Well-Being Healing Center, 317 N Aurora St, Ithaca

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous | 4:00 PM, 12/15 Sunday | Community Recovery Center, 518 W Seneca St, Ithaca | FA is a free 12-Step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, undereating, or bulimia. foodaddicts. org. Additional meetings held Mondays @ 7pm and Saturdays at 8am. Overeaters Anonymous 12-Step meeting | 7:00 PM, 12/16 Monday | Just Be Cause Center, 1013 W State St, Ithaca | CRC/CMC Living Well with Cancer Workshop | 5:30 PM, 12/17 Tuesday | Cancer Resource Center Of The Finger Lakes Helpline, 612 W State St, Ithaca | Men’s Group | 6:00 PM, 12/18 Wednesday | The LGBTQ Center, 73 Main Street, Cortland | Men’s Group is a group for gay, bisexual, transgender,

DOROTHY COTTON JUBILEE SINGERS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 7:30 PM. MATINEES AT 3:00 PM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, DEC. 14 & 15

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 AT 3:00 PM

Ford Hall, Ithaca College | A concert of Negro Spirituals that will include the debut of the Dorothy Cotton Youth Singers. The DCJS is dedicated to preserving the Negro Spiritual and its themes of sorrow, despair and hope to promote racial healing and social justice, and to furthering civil rights leader (and longtime Ithaca resident) Dorothy Cotton’s message of freedom and hope through music. (photo: provided)

The State Theatre, 107 W. State St., Ithaca | Ithaca Ballet joins with the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra for opening night of the beloved family holiday tradition. Dancers from the area along with guest artists and children guests make the Nutcracker a family favorite. Matinees are 3 pm Saturday and Sunday. (photo: provided) De c e mb e r

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NUTCRACKER BALLET

Exercise Class for Seniors | 8:30 AM, Tuesdays & Thursdays | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main St. , Newfield |

Open Meditation | 10:30 AM, 12/15 Sunday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Road, Ithaca |

I t h a c a T i m e s 37

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ince 1981, the Ithaca Times has closed every year with the “Readers’ Writes” issue, featuring submissions from the most diverse writing staff at our disposal: you. Stories, poems, drawings and photographs are all welcome and complete artistic freedom is in your hands. It’s a platform for you to be heard beyond the letters page.

R E A DE R S ’

This year’s theme is “Dreams of 2030”

W RITES

As tradition dictates, any interpretation of what this prompt means to you is fair and, of course, a wide range of submissions will be accepted–just as long as you stay under 600 words. Send your submissions to Attn: Readers’ Writes, the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, New York 14850 or email them in with a subject line of “Reader’s Writes” to editor@ithacatimes.com.

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