Dec. 24, 2025

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TEACHERS UNION IS A DATA CENTER CONTRACT A PERMITTED LAND OVERWHELMINGLY USE? LANSING RATIFIED BY MEMBERS ZBA REVIEWS PAGE 3

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CMC NURSES FILE ANOTHER NLRB CHARGE, SET UNION VOTE FOR JANUARY PAGE 6

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A YEAR OF SPORTS PAGE 12

A NEW MYSTERY NOVEL SET IN FUTURE ITHACA PAGE 17

2 The Ithaca Times / December 24 – 30, 2025

Newsline

VOL. LIV / NO. 16 / December 24, 2025 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

ON THE COVER:

ITA Ratifies Three-Year Contract, School Board Vote Set for January

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By P h i l i p O’ D e l l

he Ithaca Teachers Association (ITA) ratified its new contract with the Ithaca City School District (ICSD), with over 86% of members voting to approve the deal.

ITA President Kathryn Cernera specified that 415 out of 480 participating members approved the contract during the two-week voting period ending on Dec. 14. She said the ICSD Board of Education is slated to review the proposal on Jan. 13, 2026, with a vote tentatively scheduled for Jan. 27.

ICSD Board President Sean Eversley Bradwell praised the collaborative bargaining process and all individuals involved in crafting the deal.

“This was a bold and innovative negotiation process,” Bradwell said. “The Board is greatly appreciative of the hard work, time, and dedication that created the tentative agreement. Both the ITA leadership and ICSD negotiating team should be commended. We are looking forward to holding a Board vote in January.”

Cernera said the three-year deal, set to expire on June 30, 2028, secures an initial 7% average salary hike for the 2025–26 school year, followed by annual increases of 7% and 6%, respectively.

The ITA contract includes a step-and-lane salary structure that bestows pay increases based on years of experience, educational level or professional development credits.

Cernera noted that while no member will receive less than a 5% increase, some will see larger gains as the new system

NEWSLINE ������������������������������������ 3-7 OPINION ���������������������������������������8-9 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ���������� 10 SPORTS ������������������������������������������� 12 NEWS ����������������������������������������� 14-15 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ����� 17-18 THROUGH THE TIMES ����������������� 19 TIMES TABLE ��������������������������� 22-23 CLASSIFIED ������������������������������ 24-25

ON T HE WE B Hundreds of Ithaca Teachers Association members have voted to ratify their new contract, achieved over nearly a year of bargaining with Ithaca City School District administrators. (Photo: Nathan Ellison/Ithaca Times File)

corrects past issues of salary compression and “leapfrogging,” ensuring all educators are placed accurately on a transparent pay scale. She said the step and lane system provides educators with long-term financial clarity. Unlike previous models that offered no guarantees beyond the current contract, the new grid allows staff to project their minimum earnings five to 40 years into the future, providing a transparent roadmap for career-long salary growth.

“Besides being the industry standard for how teachers are being paid, it is fundamentally important because it gives teach-

T a k e X TCAT Holiday Service in Effect Through Jan. 4

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As tradition dictates, the Ithaca Times concludes each year with its annual Year in Review issue. In 2025, Ithaca’s community conversations were shaped by big news for local education, labor and government.

(Design by Kaiden Chandler for the Ithaca Times)

ompkins Consolidated Area Transit is operating on a reduced winter holiday schedule through Sunday, Jan. 4, with no bus service and administrative offices closed today, Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Day. Service will also end earlier than usual tonight, Christmas Eve, and again on New Year’s Eve, with riders advised to plan trips accordingly.

From Dec. 21 through Jan. 4, routes 10, 13, 14, 14S, 15, 20, 21, 30, 31, 36, 37, 40, 43, 52, 65, 67, 77 and 82 are operating on their normal schedules, while routes 90 and 92 are not running during the holiday period. Several other routes, including 11, 17, 32, 51 and 81, have modified schedules featuring earlier last trips, reduced frequency or the elimination of earlymorning service.

Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 Maddy Vogel, Managing Editor E d i to r @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Mat t D o u g h er t y, Asso ciate Ed ito r E d i to r @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Ch r is Ibert, C alen dar Ed ito r A r t s @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Austin L am b, Co py Edito r L o r i e n Ty n e , N e w s R e p o r t e r R e p o r t e r @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Philip O'Dell, Reporter P h i l i p @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Mark Sy vertson, Photographer Ste ve L awrence, Spo rts Co lumn ist St e v e S p o r t sD u d e @ g m a i l .co m

ers the ability to plan for their financial futures,” Cernera said.

The deal includes about 37 total agreements, maintaining health insurance for current members and retirees. The agreement doubles paid parental leave from six to 12 weeks and extends family leave coverage to caregivers in situations beyond the birth of a new child. Although the contract makes progress in defending against outsourcing labor to artificial intelligence, Cernera hopes to secure more robust

J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r E me r i t u s j b i l i n s k i @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Scot t Ma n so n , Asso ciate Pu b l ish er F r ee l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, Jake Sexton, Kira Walter, and Vasant Alex Laplam

Contin u ed on Page 7

N o t e Today, Christmas Eve, service is further reduced. Only routes 10, 14S and 20 are running as usual, while most other routes will stop service by late afternoon or early evening. Many trips will operate on a demandonly basis after designated stops, and riders are asked to notify drivers in advance if they need to be dropped off beyond those points.

TCAT notes that Route 81 is experiencing significant changes throughout the holiday period, with early-morning service eliminated and fewer trips running during the day. The final northbound and southbound trips on that route depart earlier today than on other holiday dates.

Riders are encouraged to check TCAT’s Bus Tracker or the MyStop app for the most up-to-date service information and to confirm last departures before traveling during the holiday period.

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THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE C O P Y R I G H T © 2 02 5 B Y PAT H W AY S T O E Q U I T Y, L L C .

All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $139 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication.

The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and The Good Times Gazette (1973–1978), combined in 1978. Founder Good Times Gazette: Tom Newton

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INQUIRING Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals Reviews if Data Center Proposal Falls PHOTOGRAPHER N e w s l i n e

By Mark Sy ve r t son

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “WHAT’S AT THE TOP OF YOUR HOLIDAY WISHLIST?” NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com

“A huge dog.”

– Temple

“New luggage, that’s rigid, waterproof and has wheels.”

– Melissa

“Makeup.”

– Skylar

“A first-round bye in the playoffs for Eagles.”

– Steve

“I just want actual snow on Christmas. Not a little dusting, I’m talking about REAL snow.”

– Asha

Under Permitted Land Uses

By L or i e n Ty n e

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was sent to press before the Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals met to make a decision on whether TeraWulf ’s data center proposal falls under a permitted use in the town’s zoning code.

An updated version of this article will be available online at ithaca.com once the board makes its decision.

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he Town of Lansing’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is in the process of reviewing TeraWulf ’s zoning appeals for the proposed Cayuga Data Campus after the town’s code enforcement officer determined the site plan to be unaligned with the property’s permitted uses.

The process began on Dec. 10 when the board met to confirm the appeal was processed and to schedule a public hearing, which was held on Dec. 16. The ZBA will meet once more on Dec. 22 to discuss the appeals and vote on determinations.

TeraWulf, a company that develops data centers, entered a long-term lease agreement in August with the property owners of the former Cayuga Power Plant. The proposed “Cayuga Data Campus” development located at 228 Cayuga Drive in the Town of Lansing is within the Industrial Research (IR) District of the town’s zoning code.

In September, TeraWulf applied for site plan approval describing the project as a scientific research laboratory, a permitted use within the IR District, but the town’s code enforcement officer (CEO) rejected the application. Terawulf then submitted a second identical site plan application describing the project under two additional permitted industrial uses: general processing and warehouse or storage. The CEO determined the project did not fall under those permitted uses either.

TeraWulf appealed the CEO’s two determinations to be reviewed by the ZBA, arguing that the site plan fits under the three permitted uses it filed under. If the ZBA determines the proposed project does not fall under an accepted use, there are other routes TeraWulf can take, such as restructuring the proposal as a planned development area.

ZBA Chair John Young said the board’s role is limited and that any of the

4 The Ithaca Times / December 24 – 30, 2025

The Town of Lansing’s Zoning Board of Appeals will determine if the data center proposal is permitted under current zoning code. (Photo: Ithaca Times File)

board’s determinations can be appealed to a higher court. He said nothing will be built without approval from several governmental bodies, including the town’s planning board.

Young said that in nearly two decades of being on the board, he has only seen a few interpretive appeals like the two for the Cayuga Data Campus.

“Please be respectful of the process and the board,” Young said. “Everybody here is a volunteer. None of them had any idea we would have a case like this to decide when we signed up. This isn’t a political board.

I don’t want this dispute to damage the reputation of the ZBA for being open and impartial.”

During the two public hearings on Dec. 16, one for each of the appeals, dozens of community members spoke. The board also heard from Kerri Langlais, chief strategy officer at TeraWulf, and TeraWulf CEO Paul Prager.

Although unrelated to zoning law, Langlais mentioned that the Lansing Town Board unanimously passed a resolution in 2019 urging state agencies to transition the power plant away from coal and toward a data center. The state initiative called the “Empire State Data Hub” was also supported by the Tompkins County Legislature, including six current legislators and then-legislator Assembly Member Anna Kelles.

The zoning code states that any land use not specifically permitted in the code will not be allowed unless a variance is obtained. TeraWulf ’s appeal states that because the term “data center” is not written in the zoning code, the code enforce-

ment officer dismissed the site plan as an unpermitted use instead of examining operational functions.

The town’s zoning code defines a laboratory as “facilities for research, investigation, testing or experimentation, but not facilities for manufacturing or selling of products except as may be necessary for prototype development or as incidental to the main purpose of the laboratory.”

Prager said the function of this facility will exclusively be for scientific simulation and modeling, algorithm development and testing, machine learning research and experimentation, data intensive computational research and engineering analysis and investigation. He said the units will not be doing anything else, such as mining cryptocurrency or hosting websites.

“The only use of this facility will be as per the application and we would expect the permit to be conditioned upon that exclusive and sole use,” Prager said when asked about the permitted use for crypto mining in the property lease. “We would happily modify those documents to reflect that.”

TeraWulf ’s site plan offers rented space with the necessary power and cooling systems for other companies to store their own TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) and GPUs (Graphics Processing Units). However, Prager said TeraWulf is not providing a service. He also said TeraWulf does not sell or manufacture a product, which is not permitted for a laboratory. Rather, it stores, manipulates and returns data to the other party.

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UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

Ithaca Planning Board Issues Environmental Approval for ‘The Citizen’ Despite Design Concerns

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Ups

The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) today announced it has purchased 108 acres in the town of Dryden, Tompkins County.

The mostly wooded property borders Yellow Barn State Forest and is in close proximity to Hammond Hill State Forest and the FLLT’s Roy H. Park Preserve. The FLLT intends to transfer the parcel to New York State as an addition to Yellow Barn State Forest, a popular location for hiking, cross-country skiing, and other activities.

By P h i l i p O’ D e l l

he Ithaca City Planning Board approved the amended negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process for The Citizen building during its Dec. 16 meeting.

The approval under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act is a formal finding that the project will not have a significant adverse environmental impact and may proceed without a lengthy Environmental Impact Statement.

The project will continue to undergo further reviews as board members continued to express concerns related to the project during the meeting. The board will engage in a site plan review during its next meeting in January 2026.

Visum Development Group’s proposal for The Citizen, a 59-unit mixed-use apartment complex at 602 W. Buffalo St., underwent a rigorous public review at the board’s Nov. 24 meeting. Project architect L. Bear Smith explained that the originally approved 2023 design required significant revisions to comply with updated FEMA floodplain maps, necessitating the building be raised four feet. To avoid height variances, the development team removed the fifth story, resulting in a four-story, 75,250-square-foot structure. While the infill nature of the site constrains the floor plan, the new design features solar sunscreens for visual interest and includes a community room, retail space, and ground-floor parking.

Safety and security concerns dominated the board’s critique, particularly regarding the ground-floor garage and pedestrian access. Board member Max Pfeffer requested that the rear parking area be made more welcoming and welllit to avoid creating dark, unsafe zones, while other members raised alarms about vehicle speeds and poor visibility for drivers exiting across the sidewalk. Board member Andy Rollman argued that the garage should be fully enclosed with entry controls restricted to residents, noting that the current open design and proposed screening fail to adequately address security issues in a high-foot-traffic area.

The board also focused on accessibility and the functionality of the building’s

Downs

Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division is seeking information to locate a large black dog that bit a person around 2 p.m. on Tuesday Dec. 16 while the person was cross-country skiing on Cornell University–owned fields south of Hanshaw Road and west of Freese Road in Dryden.

HEARD&SEEN

The Citizen on Ithaca’s W. Buffalo St. is set to be a four-story building with 59 residential units, retail space and a community room. (Photo: Provided)

primary entrances. Rollman and other members criticized the reliance on a staironly front access, noting it creates inequities for elderly or disabled residents and complicates deliveries. To improve access equity, the board suggested dry floodproofing the lobby to integrate an internal ramp rather than relying on external solutions. Despite these concerns, Smith noted that the project has successfully secured an easement for emergency vehicle access and will provide onsite staff to support the 18 units dedicated to supportive housing.

Because the previous site plan approval expired and the city is facing new FEMA floodplain regulations, the board had to reopen the site plan review under the SEQR process during the Dec. 16 meeting.

A primary focus of the discussion centered on the main entrance along West Buffalo Street. Smith explained that the design team worked to ensure the entry does not feel “tucked under” the structure.

“We have pulled that entry point out as close to the street as we can comfortably get it,” Smith stated. He noted that while a small recess is required to prevent doors from swinging over the property line and to provide weather protection, the team added a new canopy to define the entrance and provide space for building signage.

To improve the residential corridor on West Buffalo Street, Smith highlighted the addition of new windows and a recessed entry element. This design aims to balance accessibility with safety by keeping the entrance close to the sidewalk without sitting directly on the property line. Fur-

thermore, the updated plans maintain an alternative ramp option to ensure the site remains accessible to all residents.

Addressing previous concerns regarding the visibility of the parking area, Smith acknowledged that the original fence from the former Joe’s Restaurant site was removed during demolition. To rectify this, Visum is proposing the installation of a new black vinyl-coated fence with privacy slats along the property line.

Smith said the building’s footprint was adjusted near the elevator and rear stairwell, “pulling it along” to allow for the installation of additional windows. An additional new outdoor bike rack area has been proposed for use by both residents and visitors.

Smith noted that the current design maintains a setback of approximately 12 feet between the proposed building and a neighboring residence.

Board member Peggy Tully praised the revisions, noting that establishing West Buffalo Street as the primary residential entrance is a meaningful improvement.

She added the enhanced screening and additional bike racks upgrade the streetlevel view, softening the visual impact of the large garage space.

Board member Andy Rollman said the proposal for The Citizen aligns with the city’s goals of increasing the housing supply and providing affordable options, yet he maintained concerns regarding safety and accessibility. He criticized the

Heard

Trade Design Build celebrated the opening of its newly renovated facility at 1520 Trumansburg Road with a ribbon-cutting Friday, unveiling updated workspaces and a new community art gallery. The gallery, launched in partnership with Corners Gallery, will feature regional artists and host public exhibitions and events.

Seen

Following a nationwide search the Tompkins County Public Library Board of Trustees has appointed Emerson DeMeester-Lane as the library’s next director. DeMeester-Lane will take over the role on Monday, January 12 and will begin working on site on January 26.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you support the nurses at the Cayuga Medical Center who are organizing to form a workers union?

92.0% Yes. 4.4% No. 3.5% I don’t care.

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

Are you going to set a New Year’s goal to meet this upcoming year?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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N e w s l i n e

Cayuga Medical Center Nurses Rally for Union Support Ahead of January Vote

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By P h i l i p O’ D e l l

urses from Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) rallied outside Ithaca Town Hall on Dec. 20 to garner public support before their Jan. 14 election to authorize their new union.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will oversee the election. Communications Workers of America (CWA) filed two federal labor charges with NLRB on Dec. 9 and Dec. 18, alleging hospital management engaged in illegal interrogation and coercive tactics. The charges follow the recent formation of Cayuga UnitedCWA to represent CMC’s 350 nurses.

Fourteen-year nursing veteran Jackie said wage compression is a concern as senior staff have seen little growth, with some receiving a 2% increase last year. She said starting pay is about $39 per hour.

CMC nurse Angela Grupe supports unionization, citing chronic understaffing, stagnant wages, and burnout that leads to turnover. She noted that while many nurses wish to stay due to deep community ties, the current environment has grown increasingly unsafe. Grupe intends to vote "yes" in January to secure better pay and safer staffing ratios, arguing that nurses deserve a voice in hospital safety and financial stability.

Grupe alleged CMC has a history of “abusive and manipulative” behavior, recalling a failed 2017 unionization attempt that led to the wrongful termination of

At a Dec. 20 rally in front of Ithaca Town Hall, CMC nurse Tia Soprano and her coworkers campaigned for their upcoming Jan. 14 union election, highlighting how persistent attrition and lagging pay have undermined staff morale.

two nurses before regaining their jobs. She accused current leadership of spreading misinformation and intimidating staff through mandatory meetings. Grupe said CMC management claimed to prefer working directly with employees without “third-party” interference. She called CMC’s actions hypocritical for hiring LRI as third-party consultants to discourage the union while suddenly increasing floor staffing only after the labor movement gained momentum.

“What could be more direct than bargaining over working conditions together as partners?” Grupe said. “Yet again, they are taking zero accountability for the persistent systemic issues of the hospital.

Enough is enough and it's time for us to take a stand.”

CMC nurse Tia Soprano said there is a disconnect between the hospital’s promised culture of respect and the reality of the workplace. She said frequent turnover and stagnant wages that fail to keep pace with the local cost of living have eroded staff trust and financial stability. Soprano said nurses feel stretched thin and demand a formal “seat at the table” to address chronic issues regarding staffing ratios and workplace sustainability.

Margaret Ellis, a behavioral services unit nurse, said conditions have deteriorated with “hemorrhaging staff ” due to a lack of incentives for retention. Ellis criticized the hospital’s financial priorities, alleging that while funds are allocated for capital projects and executive compensation, nurses have faced lost pensions, eliminated bonuses, and wages that fail to track with inflation. She raised concerns regarding a lack of transparency, specifically pointing to the outsourcing of human resources and IT services to a for-profit entity allegedly owned by the same administrators overseeing the hospital.

“You don’t know fear until you look at the staffing book and see that you’re the only nurse scheduled for a night shift with 16 agitated patients and support staff who may or may not come in,” Ellis said.

Nicole Adams, president of CWA Local 1111, alleged LRI is holding up to six meetings daily, walking down hospital hallways, and entering patient care areas to spread misinformation regarding dues and contracts. Adams alleged CMC management crossed legal lines by interrogating pro-union staff, conducting “captive audience” meetings that exclude union

6 The Ithaca Times / December 24 – 30, 2025

CMC nurse Angela Grupe joined fellow staff members outside Ithaca Town Hall on Dec. 20 to rally public support ahead of the Jan. 14 unionization vote. (Photo: Philip O'Dell/Ithaca Times)

supporters, and threatening to cut nursing assistant positions if the unionization effort succeeds.

“These constant meetings are exhausting, stressful, and distract nurses from what matters most: patient care,” Adams said. “Nurses feel an atmosphere of fear and intimidation designed to silence them.”

Adams said nurses have gone two years without raises while facing lost pensions and skyrocketing healthcare costs—including a four-fold increase in co-pays to their own ER. She described “unconscionable” conditions in the emergency department, where nurses often manage 20 to 30 patients at a time in hallways and waiting rooms amid chronic supply shortages. Adams called on leadership to cease anti-union intimidation and redirect funds spent on consultants toward staffing and patient care.

Assemblymember Anna Kelles said unionization will ensure patient safety, as nurses struggle with staffing shortages and a lack of essential supplies and breaks.

She criticized the hospital’s potential use of anti-union tactics and said LRI was previously paid $1.3 million to discourage unionization at Rochester General. Kelles said the Ithaca community stands firmly

with its healthcare workers.

Ward 1 Alderperson-Elect Jorge Defendini said nurses are a “pillar of Ithaca” and urged residents who benefited from their care to stand in solidarity with them.

Defendini said unionization would ensure workplace democracy.

In a statement to the Ithaca Times, CMC defended its staffing levels, asserting that ratios are safe and generally exceed regional standards. CMC said staffing plans are developed in collaboration with nurses and vacancies are filled with agency or travel nurses. While acknowledging a region-wide nursing shortage, CMC maintained that its reliance on agency staff is in line with other New York hospitals.

To support its claims of high-quality care, CMC pointed to a recent independent assessment by Leapfrog, which upgraded CMC’s safety rating from a “C” to a “B.” Staffing ratios are regulated by the State Department of Health and are developed by a committee of 50% bedside nurses.

The current public staffing plan for the Medical-Surgical unit maintains a oneto-five ratio, which may flex to one-to-six Contin u ed on Page 20

N e w s l i n e ITA RATIFIES THREE-YEAR CONTRACT contin u ed from page 3

language on the topic in future talks.

To secure the contract’s broader gains, ITA was forced to drop its pursuit of health insurance benefits for domestic partners, Cernera said. The union agreed to extend the teacher workday beginning in the 2026–27 school year. This shift is designed to formalize the previously unpaid tasks of teaching, such as lesson planning, grading, and collaborative meetings. Under the new agreement, the district will move toward a standardized schedule where teachers work 7 hours and 20 minutes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; 6 hours and 50 minutes DATA CENTER PROPOSAL contin u ed from page 4

“Data in itself is a product which is consistent with what a warehouse does in terms of logistics, storage and processing of a product,” Prager said.

Many public speakers echoed the stance ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL FOR ‘THE CITIZEN’ contin u ed from page 5

separation of the accessible ramp from the stair entrance and suggested the current configuration relies too heavily on signage and should instead be integrated into a single-entry point. Rollman requested a more detailed visual representation of the ramp scheme to better understand its functionality beyond the basic floor plan.

Rollman noted the absence of a comprehensive landscaping plan and questioned how the proposed trees along Meadow Street would be properly planted and maintained.

Regarding safety, Rollman was skeptical that a vinyl fence would provide adequate security for the parking area, recommending instead that the garage be fully enclosed to better address safety issues.

Board member Elisabete Godden praised the recent design updates, noting that shifting the entrance closer to the sidewalk and adding the canopy on Buffalo Street were “good moves” for the building’s street presence. She also commended the addition of the outdoor bike

on Fridays; and 8 hours on Wednesdays to accommodate weekly staff meetings.

The agreement also sets the stage for a broader community dialogue regarding the length of the student school day. The district and union have committed to a multi-unit and community-wide conversation about potentially extending student hours within the newly established teacher workday. While any changes to the student schedule would be implemented between now and 2028, the move aims to create a more consistent schedule across the district’s various schools.

ITA represents over 500 educators across the district. Teachers began the 2025-26 school year without a new contract or annual raises after ITA and ICSD failed to reach an agreement across six

months of negotiations earlier this year.

At the final spring bargaining session on June 12, ICSD Chief Investigation Officer Robert Van Keuren was the only district administrator to attend with multiple ITA members present.

The contract expired on June 30, and teachers received the same salaries as they did in their 2024-25 contract. ITA members proceeded to hold practice pickets throughout the year after returning to school on the expired contract. A practice picket is a protest held after work hours and is not legally a strike. In New York, it is illegal for public school teachers to strike as they are public employees.

Both parties resumed negotiations on Oct. 9.

The path to the proposal began on Oct.

30, when negotiators reached a tentative agreement during their final open bargaining session. Both parties finalized the agreement’s written language on Nov. 25, just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

“I feel very, very hopeful that we have made huge gains that will help us to be able to recruit and retain great staff for years to come,” Cernera said. “This agreement makes us extremely competitive in our local area. When you compare it to other school districts nearby, we are no longer going to be lagging behind in salaries and working conditions.”

Cernera said she was excited and hopeful for ITA teachers moving forward and thanked members for their support throughout the negotiations.

that the data center’s proposed use is not consistent with being a scientific research facility. Speakers also mentioned that there is nothing on TeraWulf ’s website about research and that if approved, there will be no way to verify the details of future contracts.

Some speakers took issue with the data center defining itself as a warehouse

because it is storing intangible digital information not physical inventory. Others said the data center’s need for immense energy and cooling is unlike traditional warehouses.

A few public commenters supported the data center being considered a laboratory and warehouse, noting that the zon-

ing code predates modern data centers.

Comments and questions from TeraWulf, the ZBA and public speakers, mainly came down to usage definitions.

On Dec. 22, board members will decide if the data center’s proposed operations match their criteria for what a laboratory or a warehouse is.

racks as a positive adjustment.

Godden emphasized that critical issues regarding accessible pedestrian circulation and equitable access to the residential sections still require attention.

While she acknowledged the applicant’s commitment to addressing these changes, she signaled that the board would not be hurried.

“I would not want to rush preliminary or final site plan approval until this current board feels that the building fits in the context, is appropriate for access, and has a material palette that fits with the neighborhood,” Godden said.

The board intends to conduct a comprehensive re-evaluation of all design elements, including the accessibility and

security of the parking lot and ramp, turnaround area in the northernmost spaces that remains unchanged from previous iterations, and the building’s proximity to neighboring structures and its visual impact from all sides.

Smith confirmed that the development team would address the specific concerns and comments raised by the board.

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WE THE PEOPLE: A CELEBRATION OF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

Think Big, Act Small: Turning Your Vision for a Great Life into Daily Practice

By Roy A l l e n, D i r ect or of St r at e gic Pa rt n e r sh i ps — It h ac a Ti m e s , Fi nge r L a k e s C om m u n i t y Newspa pe r s , w w w.i t h ac a .c om

N

o matter our age or stage of life, many of us feel pulled in different directions—school, work, family, relationships, personal goals and responsibilities to others. In a world that often celebrates overnight success and dramatic breakthroughs, the philosophy of think big, act small offers a powerful and grounding alternative. It encourages us to hold ambitious visions for our lives while committing to modest, consistent actions each day.

When progress feels slow or uncertain, this mindset reminds us that meaningful change rarely happens all at once. As Vincent van Gogh observed, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

Thinking big begins with imagination and hope. It means allowing ourselves to dream beyond our current circumstances.

For some, thinking big might involve learning a new skill, finding meaningful work, strengthening relationships or making a positive difference in the world. For others, it may simply mean becoming healthier, kinder or more confident. Big thinking gives direction to our lives. Without it, daily routines can feel repetitive and disconnected.

With it, even small actions feel purposeful.

At the same time, big ideas can feel overwhelming. When goals seem distant or unclear, it is easy to procrastinate or give up altogether. This is why acting small is so important. Acting small means breaking large dreams into simple, manageable steps.

It means focusing on what can be done today rather than worrying about the entire journey. Small actions reduce fear and build confidence, making progress feel possible.

Vincent van Gogh’s life and work offer a powerful example of this principle. His famous painting The Starry Night was not created in one sweeping motion, but through countless careful brushstrokes layered together. Each small mark mattered. In the same way, our lives are shaped by repeated

choices and habits. A meaningful life is not the result of one grand moment, but of many small moments lived with intention.

In everyday life, this mindset can be applied in simple ways. A student who dreams of success can act small by studying a little each day or asking questions when confused. Someone hoping to improve their health can start with a short walk, better sleep or a few minutes of movement.

A person who wants stronger relationships can begin by listening more closely, offering encouragement or expressing gratitude.

These actions may seem minor, but they add up over time.

Acting small also helps build patience and resilience. Progress is not always fast or visible, and setbacks are part of any journey.

When we focus on small steps, mistakes become opportunities to learn rather than reasons to quit. Tracking small wins helps make growth visible and motivating.

Ultimately, thinking big and acting small democratizes greatness. It reminds us that cathedrals rise brick by brick and symphonies come to life note by note. By weaving this philosophy into our routines— through deliberate planning, consistent execution, and moments of reflective gratitude—we turn aspirations into legacies.

Another important part of this approach is focusing on effort rather than outcomes.

Outcomes are not always within our control, but effort is. Showing up, practicing, and trying again are choices we can make every day, and over time, these choices shape our skills, character, and confidence.

As Van Gogh’s legacy endures through his persistent small efforts amid hardship, so can ours. Greatness is not reserved for a select few; it is built quietly by anyone willing to honor the process. When we embrace the series of small things, we discover that they are the true architects of the great—and that even the most ordinary moments can lead to something extraordinary.

Furthermore, no one is born with a roadmap for life. Knowing where you want to go is not the same as arriving.

When in doubt, examine your choices and simply do the next right thing. Pretty soon, the day will be over and you will have accomplished a great deal while moving towards turning your dreams into reality.

8 The Ithaca Times / December 24 – 30, 2025

GUEST OPINION

When Families Can’t Afford Food, Shelter or Transportation, What About the Animals They Care For and Love?

Colter Nemecek pictured next to SPCA donations.

(Photo: Whitney Reynonds/Provided)

By M a rjor i e O l d s

every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

He credits fellow staff members Emma and Hanna who designed a convenient ots of folks who arrive at the SPCA drive-through system, which has been very and Dorothy & Roy Park Pet Adoppopular since it opened. Plenty of “regution Center, to volunteer, to deliver lars” come often for pet food and supplies. or adopt a rescued animal, or to pick up “Everything is distributed,” Colter said. supplies for hungry critters know Colter “Nothing donated to the SPCA is wasted.”

Nemecek. Since his mother, Mary Kelly, Colter explains that years back our SPCA worked at our much loved SPCA, Colter was practically raised amongst the animals. linked up with a generous pet food donation program: Hills Shelter Pet Program No one was surprised when Colter started has been very helpful providing food for working there in 2007, and it’s always a animals healing and awaiting a home their lift to hear what he and the terrific SPCA own in the SPCA, and also sharing food team are up to these days. with families whose pets reside at home.

This holiday season, however, may be “Hills Science Diet provides us with dry especially challenging for families with dog and cat food for just the cost of shiplittle or no income to feed their famping only,” he said. “In return, we offer ily and their pets. Colter explains that advertising and send folks home with a some of the pets require medical diets or bag of Science Diet food. It is a great prospecialty food for certain conditions and gram for us as we save some much needed those can be really pricey. funds, and this starts every adopter off on Years back, around 2010, when Colter the right track by providing their pet with was working in Animal Control he would quality pet food.” drop off pet food at the Danby, Caroline I ask Colter how we can support the and Lansing Food Banks and Pantries.

SPCA this holiday season, when so He tells me that back in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic our SPCA started a program that provides free animal food Contin u ed on Page 20

L

VOICES OF FREEDOM: 1776–2026

A Tribute to Booker T. Washington: The Atlanta Compromise Speech

C u r at e d by Roy A l l e n, D i r ect or of St r at e gic Pa rt n e r sh i ps — It h ac a Ti m e s , Fi nge r L a k e s C om m u n i t y Newspa pe r s , w w w.i t h ac a .c om

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his week, we pay tribute to Booker T. Washington (1856–1915), an African American educator, author and founder of the Tuskegee Institute. The following is known as the Atlanta Compromise Speech delivered at the Atlanta Exposition: September 18, 1895.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Board of Directors and Citizens: One-third of the population of the South is of the Negro race. No enterprise seeking the material, civil, or moral welfare of this section can disregard this element of our population and reach the highest success. I but convey to you, Mr. President and Directors, the sentiment of the masses of my race when I say that in no way have the value and manhood of the American Negro been more fittingly and generously recognized than by the managers of this magnificent Exposition at every stage of its progress. It is a recognition that will do more to cement the friendship of the two races than any occurrence since the dawn of our freedom.

Not only this, but the opportunity here afforded will awaken among us a new era of industrial progress. Ignorant and inexperienced, it is not strange that in the first years of our new life we began at the top instead of at the bottom; that a seat in Congress or the state legislature was more sought than real estate or industrial skill; that the political convention or stump speaking had more attractions than starting a dairy farm or truck garden.

A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal,“Water, water; we die of thirst!”

The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back, “Cast down your bucket where you are.” A second time the signal, “Water, water; send us water!” ran up from the distressed vessel, and was answered, “Cast down your bucket where you are.”

And a third and fourth signal for water was answered, “Cast down your bucket where you are.” The captain of the distressed vessel, at last heeding the injunction, cast down his bucket, and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the

mouth of the Amazon River. To those of my race who depend on bettering their condition in a foreign land or who underestimate the importance of cultivating friendly relations with the Southern white man, who is their next-door neighbor, I would say: “Cast down your bucket where you are”— cast it down in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded.

Cast it down in agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic service, and in the professions. And in this connection it is well to bear in mind that whatever other sins the South may be called to bear, when it comes to business, pure and simple, it is in the South that the Negro is given a man’s chance in the commercial world, and in nothing is this Exposition more eloquent than in emphasizing this chance. Our greatest danger is that in the great leap from slavery to freedom we may overlook the fact that the masses of us are to live by the productions of our hands, and fail to keep in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to dignify and glorify common labour, and put brains and skill into the common occupations of life; shall prosper in proportion as we learn to draw the line between the superficial and the substantial, the ornamental gewgaws of life and the useful. No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top.

Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.

To those of the white race who look to the incoming of those of foreign birth and strange tongue and habits for the prosperity of the South, were I permitted I would repeat what I say to my own race,“Cast down your bucket where you are.” Cast it down among the eight millions of Negroes whose habits you know, whose fidelity and love you have tested in days when to have proved treacherous meant the ruin of your firesides. Cast down your bucket among these people who have, without strikes and labour wars, tilled your fields, cleared your forests, builded your railroads and cities, and brought forth treasures from the bowels of the earth, and helped make possible this magnificent representation of the progress of the South. Casting down your bucket among my people, helping and encouraging them as you are doing on these grounds, and to education of head, hand, and heart, you will find that they will buy your surplus land, make blossom the waste places in your fields, and run your factories. While doing this, you can be sure in the future, as in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law-abiding, and unresentful people that the world has seen. As we have proved our loyalty to you in the past, in nursing your children, watching by the sick-bed of your mothers and fathers, and often following them with tear-dimmed eyes to their graves, so in the future, in our humble way, we shall stand by you with a devotion that no foreigner can approach, ready to lay down our lives, if need be, in defense of yours, interlacing our industrial, commercial, civil, and religious life with yours in a way that shall make the interests of both races one. In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.

There is no defense or security for any of us except in the highest intelligence and development of all. If anywhere there are efforts tending to curtail the fullest growth of the Negro, let these efforts be turned into stimulating, encouraging, and making him the most useful and intelligent citizen. Effort or means so invested will pay a thousand per cent interest. These efforts will be twice blessed—blessing him that gives and him that takes. There is no escape through law of man or God from the inevitable: The laws of changeless justice bind Oppressor with oppressed; De c e mb e r

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And close as sin and suffering joined We march to fate abreast...

Nearly sixteen millions of hands will aid you in pulling the load upward, or they will pull against you the load downward. We shall constitute one-third and more of the ignorance and crime of the South, or one-third [of] its intelligence and progress; we shall contribute one-third to the business and industrial prosperity of the South, or we shall prove a veritable body of death, stagnating, depressing, retarding every effort to advance the body politic.

Gentlemen of the Exposition, as we present to you our humble effort at an exhibition of our progress, you must not expect overmuch. Starting thirty years ago with ownership here and there in a few quilts and pumpkins and chickens (gathered from miscellaneous sources), remember the path that has led from these to the inventions and production of agricultural implements, buggies, steam-engines, newspapers, books, statuary, carving, paintings, the management of drug stores and banks, has not been trodden without contact with thorns and thistles. While we take pride in what we exhibit as a result of our independent efforts, we do not for a moment forget that our part in this exhibition would fall far short of your expectations but for the constant help that has come to our educational life, not only from the Southern states, but especially from Northern philanthropists, who have made their gifts a constant stream of blessing and encouragement.

The wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremest folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing. No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree ostracized. It is important and right that all privileges of the law be ours, but it is vastly more important that we be prepared for the exercise of these privileges.

The opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory just now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera-house.

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The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Consider Supporting the Women’s Opportunity Center this Holiday Season

“

To Our Friends and Supporters, They are 18 or 80, from all walks of life, with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of education and experience. Some know exactly what new direction they want to take. Others know something needs to change, but aren’t sure how or where to start. What they all share is a desire to build a stable future for themselves and their families. Whether through coaching, financial counseling, or finding that just-right, esteem-building outfit at our Opportunity Boutique, the Women’s Opportunity Center of Tompkins & Onondaga Counties (WOC) helps women reclaim their confidence and chart a new path forward.

One client, Karina, recently shared: “You have given me a dependable and practical sounding board... understood and accepted my identity and my goals.. encouraged me to use the Community

Closet, where the staff helped me express Please consider making a gift today. Your the ‘Real Me’ through clothing. Their sup- generosity will help us say “yes” when a port gave me license to shine in the world woman asks for “more” more opportunity, and be proud. This is very important to more dignity, more hope.” — Jan Bridgeme as I fight to reach my goals of hanging ford-Smith, WOC Executive Director on to my assets and way of life."

Despite being a quarter of the way into Parents To Hochul: the 21st century, gender-based attitudes, Tax The Rich For Child Care practices, and policies continue to have an adverse effect on women. From employn response to a new poll from Siena ment and education to housing, caregivUniversity, which found that a majority ing, and compensation, women still face of parents in New York support taxbarriers that leave them questioning their ing the rich for universal child care, New choices, their options, and their worth.

Yorkers United for Child Care released the WOC exists to address this complex web following statement on the findings from of challenges supporting personal growth the new Siena Poll: while advocating for systemic change.

‘This poll makes it clear: universal Given the depth and breadth of disrupchild care, and funding it fairly, is popular tion that has rippled through the nonprofit across the board. Parents in New York sector in recent months, we know your are already spending $14 billion a year stack of “please more” requests is daunting. on child care. Raising progressive revEvery organization has a legitimate story enue would shift this cost from working to tell, a compelling issue that needs action, families to the state so that every child can or a worthwhile cause that can’t be ignored. have access to high-quality, free care. The And yet, we hope you’ll pause to consider Governor must take action now to keep WOC and the women we serve. parents and would-be parents from leaving This year especially, we ask you to dig the city and state all together,” said New deep. The economic jitters aflecting our Yorkers United for Child Care Executive communities have made it increasingly Director Rebecca Bailin. “Thanks to the difficult for smaller nonprofits like ours to relentless advocacy of the 10,000 parents secure grants, contracts, and gifts. Your and would-be parents in NYUC’s coalition, donation helps ensure that we can conchild care has moved from the sidelines tinue to be a place of quiet transformation, to the spotlight. Now, the Governor must a place where women find strength, supturn words into results — by fully funding port, and the tools to thrive. and delivering free, accessible child carefor every single family in New York. That starts with making 3-K and Pre-K universal across New York State and implementing 2-Care in New York City, and we’ve already laid out how Governor Hochul can achieve this. We look forward to working with the Governor and leaders in Albany to make universal, public child care a real-

I

ity as soon as possible.’” — New Yorkers United For Child Care

Congress Should Not Bypass Science to Strip Protections From Endangered Species

“

Congress is preparing to vote on a bill (H.R. 845) that would remove gray wolves from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Although framed as a management decision, it poses significant consequences that should concern New Yorkers who value science-based conservation.

ESA protections currently limit the killing, trapping, and harassment of gray wolves at the federal level. If these safeguards are eliminated, authority would shift entirely to the states. During past periods without federal protections, several states rapidly expanded recreational hunting and trapping of wolves, including practices that many Americans view as inhumane and unnecessary.

The bill would also block judicial review of the delisting decision, preventing courts from evaluating whether the science actually supports removing protections.

This departure from the ESA’s established, evidence-driven process sets a troubling precedent for wildlife conservation.

While gray wolves have recovered in some regions, they have not yet achieved secure recovery across a significant portion of their geographic range. Congress should not bypass the Endangered Species Act’s established, science-based process, one of our nation’s most successful conservation frameworks. I urge our Representative, Josh Riley, to oppose this bill and uphold the Endangered Species Act’s science-based conservation protections.” — Hannah Weir, Ithaca NY

Vo i c e s T h r o u g h t h e G o r g e s

“One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years.

To read is to voyage through time.”

— Carl Sagan

NOTE: A stronomer C arl Sagan lived in I thaca while teaching at Cornell U niversity for nearly three decades , and was laid to rest in the city ’s L akeview C emetery.

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Who’s Your Neighbor?

A Local Directory of Faith Communities, Faith-Related Service and Interfaith Activities Many Ithacans are seeking connections that might accurately be called faith.

Some return to their roots while others seek roots they may never have experienced.

We hope our directory will provide a resource residents, students and visitors find useful in their journey.

FAITH COM MUN IT Y Agape Bible Church https://agapeithaca.org

Danby Community Church danbychurch.org

New Life Presbyterian Church newlifeithaca.org

Baha'i Community of Ithaca www.ithacabahais.org

First Congregational Church of Ithaca www.fccithaca.org

Bread of Life Anglican Church breadoflifeithaca.org

First Unitarian Society of Ithaca https://unitarian.ithaca.ny.us

Sacral Transformations and Braided Root Waters Healing Sanctuary https://sacraltransformations.com

Cedar Cabin Sangha (Buddhist, Plum Village practice) cedarcabinsangha.blogspot.com

First United Methodist Church of Forest Home, Ithaca, N.Y Forest Home Chapel https://www.foresthomechapelumc.org

Christ Chapel https://www.christchapelithaca.org Christ the King Fellowship Presbyterian Church ctkspencer.org

St. James AME Zion Church https://www.facebook.com Stja mesamezionithaca

Hillside Alliance Church hillsideithaca.org

St. Luke Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry stlukeithaca.org

Ithaca Monthly Meeting Religious Society of Friends https://ithacamonthlymeeting.org

Temple Beth-El https://www.tbeithaca.org Trinity Lutheran Church www.trinityithaca.org

Lansing United Methodist Church LansingUnited.org

Congregation Tikkun v’Or (Ithaca Reform Temple) www.tikkunvor.org

Vineyard Church of Ithaca ithacavineyard.org

Living Hope Fellowship https://www.lhfithaca.org

FAITH - R E L ATE D SE RVICE Finger Lakes Anam Cara: A Center for Spiritual Direction www.fingerlakesanamcara.com

518 Yoga Gathering suzannejanene@gmail.com All Eyes and Ears on Racism AEER aeerforjustice@gmail.com

Pure Essence Vibrations www.pureessencevibrations.com Second Wind Cottages https://www.secondwindcottages.org

Forest Hermitage – Solo, Outdoor Retreats for Women https://staceysmithhypnosis.com

Catholic Charities Tompkins/Tioga www.catholiccharitiestt.org

Wisdom’s Goldenrod Center for Philosophic Studies wisdomsgoldenrod.info

Integrative Mental Wellness https://www.psychologytoday.com/ profile/1449445

INTE R FAITH AC TIVIT Y Greater Lansing-Ithaca Interfaith Community LansingUnited.org/events

Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard IthacaKitchenCupboard.org

Shared Journeys sharedjourneys.net

Ithaca Sunday Squares VisitIthaca.com

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Sports

A Look Back at Local Sports in 2025 Don’t Let Ithaca Lose Its Storytellers Imagine the sharpest, most passionate young journalists you’ve ever met (the ones who stay late chasing a story because they believe in this town) slowly packing their bags.

Not because they want to leave… but because local rents force them out.

That’s the quiet heartbreak happening right now.

Our best new writers, the ones who grew up here or fell in love with Ithaca in college, are being pushed toward cheaper cities just to survive.

The Rising Star Fund rewrites their story into a happy ending by sponsoring a simple monthly housing stipend (a hand up, never a handout) so they can keep living here, keep writing here, keep falling deeper in love with Ithaca… and keep telling the stories that make this city our home.

When a young journalist can afford to stay in Ithaca, you get: ● Fresh, fearless voices loyal to your local paper ● Someone at every city council meeting who believes local news matters ● The next great Ithaca story written by someone who actually lives here ● Your $25, $50, or $100 a month doesn’t just pay their rent. ● It keeps storytellers in our community and stops local brain drain. ● When our younger generation thrives, Ithaca’s future stays bright.

Keep local talent in Ithaca by donating today to the Rising Star Fund (an initiative of Pathways to Equity, Inc a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) For more info: roy@ithacatimes.com

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Well, it's that time again. This will be my 35th Year in Review column, and 2025 gave me plenty to review.

By Ste ve L aw re nc e

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n January, I wrote about former Cornell player and coach Jim Knowles, who left Ohio State after its national championship run to take the Defensive Coordinator position at Penn State (at a cool $3 million a year). That didn’t work out too well, as the Nittany Lions had a dismal season, and fired their head coach with several games left to play. Soon, Knowles was shown the door, and he landed at Tennessee. Lord, he was born a ramblin’ man.

January also saw numerous tributes to Cornell’s hockey coach, Mike Schafer, who was behind the bench for 30 seasons.

Schafer’s understudy, Casey Jones, has assumed the helm.

In March, Ithaca College diver Kailee Payne — who attended Ithaca High School — stepped atop the podium to celebrate her second consecutive national championship. What a way to wrap up a career.

Many hearts were heavy in June when word came that David Moriah — the founder of Cornell Outdoor Education — passed after a long cancer challenge. David

was a dear friend of 44 years, and was also featured in this column for his incredible knowledge — and his vast memorabilia collection — related to baseball. Ever determined and resilient, David held on to celebrate 50 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Deborah, and passed just a few days later.

For much of the spring season, Cornell lacrosse made frequent appearances in this column. The team lost but one game, and made it to the NCAA final. In the highly anticipated championship game against Maryland, all-time NCAA goal scoring leader CJ Kirst — earlier recognized as the nation's premier player — capped off his record-setting career with a six goal explosion as the Big Red returned to the top of the mountain for the first time in 47 years.

When the award season came to a close, Cornell had the best team, the best player and the best coach in Connor Buczek. It was an unforgettable Triple Crown season.

In August, I wrote another story that made readers do a double-take when Contin u ed on Page 20

Marvelous Mollusks: Now on Exhibit at the Museum of the Earth 1259 Trumansburg Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 273-6623 www.museumoftheearth.org

SPONSORED CONTENT

Now on E xhibit at t he Museum of t he Ear t h “Mar velous Mollusk s: t he Secret World of Shells” Explore the Amazing World of Snails, Clams, Cephalopods, and Their Kin Mollusks are the second-most diverse group of animals — only arthropods have more species. They live in the ocean, lakes and rivers, and on land, from forests to mountains to your back yard. They have a long and rich fossil record, including in the rocks of New York State.

They include the largest invertebrate animals that have ever existed on Earth. Humans are tied to mollusks in a multitude of ways: we eat them, wear them, use them for medicine, and have been inspired by their beauty for thousands of years. Many mollusk species are highly

endangered today due to human activity.

The exhibit is based on the huge collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, which include more than 1 million modern and fossil mollusk specimens from around the world. The exhibit will also include live snails from central New York, which belong to one of the most endangered species in the world — the Chittenango Amber Snail.

Marvelous Mollusks is More than Meets the Slime!

The Secret World Of Shells

It’s more than meets the slime. ad.indd 2

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Year in Review 2025: A Defining Period for Local Education, Government and Labor

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s each year comes to a close, the Ithaca Times looks back at the stories that shaped our community conversations over the past 12 months. From major shifts in local education to massive budget shortfalls, labor fights and federal intervention, 2025 was a year marked by uncertainty, controversy and change.

Here are the top headlines that defined the year.

JANUARY Cayuga Health, Arnot Health Merge to Form Centralus Health The formation of Centralus Health was announced early in 2025 and approved by the state later in the year. The merger, first proposed in April 2023, was massive news for healthcare in the Southern Tier. Leaders from both Cayuga and Arnot Health said the merger would improve access to care, citing rising operational costs and workforce shortages as key factors in the move.

B y M a d dy Vo g e l hosting annual Students of Color Summit events.

The investigation was sparked by a federal civil rights complaint filed in August 2024 by a rightwing group — Legal Insurrection’s Equal Protection Project. The group’s founder, Cornell University Law Professor William A. Jacobson, alleged the ICSD events intentionally excluded white students. The complaint saw no action taken by the Department of Education under the Biden administration, but just one week into the second Trump administration, the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced their investigation in a letter to the Equal Protections Project. The details and findings of the investigation have not yet been made public.

Immigration Raids Reported in Dryden and Ithaca, One Arrest Made Federal immigration agents were spotted in Dryden and Ithaca — a sanctuary city — just ten days into Trump’s second presidential term. After making local headlines, the arrest of 27-year-old Jesus Romero-Hernandez sparked broader debate when news broke that the Tompkins County Sheriff ’s Office released the Mexican citizen despite a request from federal immigration authorities to hold him.

FEBRUARY Trump-Era Education Department Launches Investigation into Ithaca Schools Over Alleged Racial Exclusion In February, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights launched an investigation into the Ithaca City School District for

Cornell University instituted a four-month hiring freeze during a time of “significant financial uncertainty,” citing potential cuts to research funding and anticipated shifts in tax legislation under the Trump administration. This was the first in a series of fiscal strategies the university implemented to brace for the eventual freeze of millions of dollars in federal funding.

MARCH Cornell Among Several Universities Under Federal Investigation Over Antisemitism Claims The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced its investigation into Cornell University, along with 59 other colleges and universities, over alleged antisemitic harassment and discrimination. The department said it was investigating potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, primarily examining whether the universities protected Jewish students’ access to campus facilities and educational opportunities. This investigation, among others, was eventually dropped as a part of the University’s $30 million settlement deal with the federal government.

Ithaca College Faces Federal Civil Rights Investigation Into Race-Based Scholarships Ithaca College became the third subject of federal Title VI investigations in Ithaca in less than a month when the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced its review of scholarships geared toward students of

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Cornell Cancels Kehlani’s Slope Day Performance Over Israel Comments, Political Backlash

Strike Unlikely as TCAT Workers and Management Reach Tentative Agreement In a last-minute move, Cornell cancelled its Slope Day headlining performance from R&B singer Kehlani, uninviting her from the university’s annual end of year celebration on Libe Slope.

The university later welcomed Atlanta-based rapper Gunna to the stage.

Cornell Implements Hiring Freeze as Federal Funding Uncertainties Loom

Fire Destroys Ovid Big M, Displaces Residents, No Fatalities Reported

A historic devastating fire displaced between 15 to 20 residents in the Town of Ovid on Jan. 21. The flames engulfed multiple buildings along Main Street and destroyed the town’s only grocery story, the Big M, along with several other local businesses. Firefighters spent about 11 hours fighting the fire, and the town is still rebuilding.

color at the college. After the initial complaint was filed (also by Legal Insurrection’s Equal Protections Project), the college removed the racebased eligibility requirements from its website.

The details and findings of the investigation have not yet been made public.

After months of negotiations between bargaining parties, Tompkins County Area Transit (TCAT) workers and management reached a tentative (later ratified) contract deal, eliminating the possibility of a strike and ensuring uninterrupted public transit service across the county.

Workers had previously authorized a strike with 84% member approval but hadn’t yet called a strike, with drivers citing concerns that the sudden lack of transportation services would have a tremendous impact on residents. The contract was later ratified by union members.

Momodou Taal’s Visa Revoked Before Trial Against Trump Administration Cornell graduate student and labor organizer Momodou Taal drew national attention this spring after the U.S. Department of State revoked his student visa days before he was scheduled to appear in court challenging Trump administration executive orders on free speech. Federal officials cited his involvement in pro-Palestinian campus protests, while Taal’s attorney and supporters said the move was intended to block his lawsuit and silence dissent. Taal ultimately left the United States voluntarily and dropped the lawsuit.

APRIL Over $1 Billion of Cornell Federal Funding Frozen, Trump Officials Say Two anonymous officials working in the Trump administration told the New York Times that the administration had put over $1 billion in funding on hold for Cornell. Although never confirming the $1 billion figure, the university did say it received over 75 stop work orders from the Department of Defense in relation to research that “profoundly significant to American national defense, cybersecurity, and health” the same day the news broke.

MAY Ithaca Times and Ithaca.com Announce a New Era The Ithaca Times announced a new era with a management and ownership transition to position the Ithaca Times, Ithaca.com, and the Finger Lakes Community Newspapers to survive and thrive in the modern media environment. Longtime publisher Jim Bilinski became publisher emeritus as he retired after 53 years with the news organization, 50 of which he served as owner and publisher. Ownership transitioned to Pathways to Equity, a newly-formed nonprofit organization.

Fifth Ithaca School Cited by Education Department for Academic Underperformance

The Ithaca Times broke the news that Cayuga Heights Elementary became the latest of nearly half of the schools in the ICSD to be flagged by the New York State Education Department for performing below state standards. The elementary school had low academic performance for at least two consecutive years to receive a “Targeted Support and Improvement” designation. This was previously referred to by NYSED as a loss of “Good Standing” status. Currently, Belle Sherman Elementary is at risk of being identified due to academic underperformance on state exams in Black student subgroups.

JUNE Audit of NYSEG Finds Billing Issues, Leadership Conflicts An audit released by the New York Public

Service Commission (PSC) identified management, security and operations issues with Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. (RG&E) and New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG), the primary electric and gas provider for Tompkins County residents. Several of the issues identified in the audit stemmed from the corporate structure of Avangrid’s ownership of NYSEG and RG&E, claiming limited transparency and finding that incentive payouts for company executives are “subjective.”

wasn’t the only multi-million dollar budget gap to arise in a local government’s budget this year.

GreenStar Food Co-op Signs First Collective Bargaining Agreement, Ratifies Benefits for Workers

Despite Opposition, Ithaca School Board Extends Superintendent Brown’s Contract in 5-4 Vote

As Negotiations Stall, Ithaca Teachers Will Head Into New School Year on an Expired Contract

After bargaining parties failed to ratify an agreement across six months of negotiations, negotiations stalled between the Ithaca Teachers Association (ITA) and the ICSD, leaving hundreds of teachers teaching in the fall on an expired contract and without annual raises. The final scheduled bargaining session between the district and the Ithaca Teachers Union (ITA) took place on Thursday, June 12. During the session, ICSD leadership failed to bring counteroffers to teachers union proposals on protections against artificial intelligence, parental leave and health insurance. Just one district official, Chief Investigation Officer Robert Van Keuren, was at the table on Thursday, while several ITA members were present. The union and district leaders later reached an agreement in October, which has just been ratified by a union member vote.

JULY Cayuga Lake Believed to be Experiencing Lake-Wide Algal Bloom

After the first Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) of the year were reported along Cayuga Lake after the July 4 holiday weekend, Cayuga underwent a lake-wide bloom event along its western shore days later. It was later reported that 2025 was a record-breaking year for the presence of HABs in Cayuga Lake.

Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to issue a five-year permit modification and renewal to Cargill for the Cayuga Salt Mine on Aug. 15 drew criticism from some community members. Cargill’s newest permit authorizes the company to continue mining operations and contains a modification allowing the company to store brine in the abandoned S3 portion of the mine. It is set to expire Aug. 14, 2030.

GreenStar Food Co-op’s workers and management signed their first collective bargaining agreement after months of bargaining and an overwhelmingly approved ratification vote. With improved wages and benefits for workers while ensuring annual raises. The first union contract included an increase in entry wage from $17.63 to $19.25, an employer match to the 401(k) program, guaranteed annual raises and improved time-off benefits.

AUGUST ICE Arrests 10 Individuals Living in Tioga County, Reportedly Workers at Newfield Farm In June, 10 individuals living in the village of Spencer were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a traffic stop. The detainees, all Mexican or Guatemalan citizens, were held by ICE despite questions about notification and oversight from local police. All of the individuals have since been deported from the United States, federal agents confirmed to the Ithaca Times.

ICSD Moves Forward with Cell Phone Ban Implementation Amid Statewide Mandate In May, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the implementation of a mandatory statewide bellto-bell cell phone ban in K-12 public schools. Local school districts then had to draft implementation plans before students returned in the fall.

The ICSD opted for non-locking velcro pouches, which block the signals of cell-phones and comply with the state ban. So far, the implementation plan has proven to be somewhat successful.

SEPTEMBER Ithaca Residents Voice Mass Surveillance Concerns as Presence of Flock Cameras Grows As the presence of Flock safety’s license plate reader cameras has grown throughout Tompkins County, residents have become increasingly concerned with the camera’s potential usage by federal immigration agencies. Local law enforcement has said that the cameras have already proven to be beneficial public safety tools, but some residents say the benefits don’t make up for the system's alleged violations of their right to privacy.

Despite a wave of public criticism, the Tompkins County Legislature voted 9-4 to accept the Gun Involved Violence Elimination 2025-2026 grant, which primarily funds the county’s Flock Safety license plate readers, after a four-hour discussion in October.

Tompkins County Facing an Estimated $11 Million Budget Deficit Tompkins County faced “significant fiscal challenges” after an $11 million budget deficit was announced in July. Tompkins County Administrator Korsah Akumfi said that the county would have to close the multi-million dollar gap — NYSDEC Renews Cayuga Salt Mine Permit, driven by inflation, increased demand for critical services, and reduced state and federal funding — Advocacy Group Threatens Legal Action A controversial move from the New York State during the 2026 budget season. Shockingly, this

State and County Officials Coordinate Local Food Security Efforts Amid SNAP Uncertainty Facing a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) freeze caused by the lengthy federal government shutdown, New York State and Tompkins County leadership coordinated efforts to ensure food access for local residents.

The federal government shutdown delayed SNAP benefits for nearly 42 million people in November, including about 7% of Tompkins County residents and 16.9% of county youth.

Ithaca Conference Center Management Brings Lawsuit Against Asteri Owners

In a close 5-4 vote with numerous public commenters opposing the move, the ICSD Board of Education approved a one-year extension of Brown’s contract to June 30, 2029. Longtime Superintendent Luvelle Brown was set to depart his position in June 2028, a decision that came during a tumultuous budget cycle that received criticism from the community in 2024. Board members who voted against the renewal said they would have preferred more time for public input, while others who defended the renewal said personnel matters shouldn’t be open to public input. Brown’s latest letter of resignation for his 2029 departure is “irrevocable,” according to the board.

OCTOBER Staff Error Causes $2.1 Million Deficit in Ithaca’s Proposed 2026 Budget Ithaca city officials discovered an unexpected $2.1 million revenue gap in the city’s proposed 2026 city budget and formed an emergency budget task force to close the shortfall. City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff described the error as “significant and unexpected.”

ICSD and Teachers Reach Tentative Contract Deal After Months of Stalled Talks The Ithaca City School District and the Ithaca Teachers Association (ITA) reached a tentative agreement for a new collective bargaining contract after months of negotiations at the end of October. A supermajority of ITA’s members have just approved the terms, and the agreement will proceed to the ICSD Board of Education for final consideration and the new contract’s formal adoption in January.

NOVEMBER Cornell Reaches Deal with Federal Government to Restore Funding, End Investigations Cornell University announced on Nov. 7 an agreement with the federal government to restore over $250 million in research funding that had been withheld since April amid federal investigations. In return, the university will pay the federal government $30 million to close all pending cases and claims held against it and invest another $30 million in research to strengthen U.S. agriculture.

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The Downtown Ithaca Development Corporation and the Ithaca Asteri Condominium of Board Managers filed a lawsuit against the owners of the Asteri Ithaca building in downtown Ithaca, alleging breaches of contract and mismanagement of the residential complex. The conference center was built to attract visitors to the city by hosting events, but the plaintiffs claim that between Vecino’s poor management and tenants’ actions, the conference center has not met projected revenue goals, incurred out-of-pocket expenses and suffered “incalculable reputational costs.”

DECEMBER Nurses at Cayuga Medical Center Unionize, Citing Staffing Shortages Earlier this month, nurses at Cayuga Medical Center announced the formation of Cayuga United-CWA, a union representing over 350 nurses at the hospital. Union leaders said nurses are unionizing to work under a contract that guarantees safe staffing to protect patients and nurses due to chronic understaffing which has led to “deteriorating conditions” since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The union has since filed federal unfair labor practice charges against hospital management.

Ithaca City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff Resigns at Council’s Request

The Ithaca Common Council accepted City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff ’s resignation during its Wednesday, Dec. 3 meeting. Mohlenhoff ’s service is set to conclude at the end of 2025 and Deputy City Manager Dominick Recckio will take over as acting city manager until the council selects a replacement. The resignation, requested by council, came amid a tumultuous budget season that featured a staff error resulting in an unexpected $2.1 million shortfall in the proposed 2026 city budget.

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B y K i r a Wa l t e r

thriller-mystery set in 2039 Ithaca. You didn’t misread it. Though dozens of local authors take on Tompkins politics, romanticize the Finger Lakes or carve a stake in Ithaca literature through tourism, the town is rarely turned into a dystopia.

In long-term resident Amy Camille Doyle’s “SPF 1500: You Are Protected, But You Are Not Safe,” the world in decline is hosted right here.

From Elmira prison riots to Governor Myrick, she speculates about the future of modern issues, how they will change the district, state, and greater nation.

The narrative opens on Emma McCall, a devoted environmental scientist called from Iceland to Ithaca after the recent murder of her brother. Chad, a former professor and researcher at Cornell, lived in the Belle Sherman area with his wife and teenage daughter when his life abruptly ended. Emma’s grief and curiosity directs the saga, as she looks for the real cause behind his passing.

Meanwhile, detective Jada Jefferson is also on the case of Chad’s killer. Her story unravels

Amy Camille Doyle’s “SPF 1500: You Are Protected, But You Are Not Safe” is set in 2039 Ithaca. (Photo: Provided)

in tandem as she visits Stewart Park, trendy Fall Creek homes, and other village staples to follow a trail of crime.

The Doyle family has seen six generations in Ithaca, so little research was needed navigating the novel’s setting by memory.

“The book kind of wrote itself,” Doyle said.

“I had so much in my head to get on paper, and I knew the places.”

The writing process was very fluid for the author, after waiting years to debut a Finger Lakes central work of fiction. After 13 years Amy Camille Doyle drew upon generations of familial ties to the Finger Lakes region and her working in Child Protective Services and experience working with local law enforcement many more training new caseworkers and in her latest mystery novel. (Photo: Provided) investigators as an NYS trainer, Doyle drew on her experience with law enforcement during the sun’s increasing strength warrant relocaher career. tion, migration and solutions to protect from “I’ve found a lot of times in mysteries and ultra-violet in a less sustainable world. tv shows, there’s a put down of case workers,” As a forecasted oasis amidst rising sea levels Doyle explained. “And I hate that because, and temperatures, Ithaca’s value as a home is from my experience, they are just the most also anticipated to increase dramatically. caring, diligent, hard-working people.”

“One concern about global warming, and Whereas series like “Law & Order” portray people moving to climate safe areas, is they corrupt policemen and dismissive social sertend to get a little greedy there and want to vice workers, “SPF 1500” is inspired by posikeep the place for themselves,” Doyle said. tive encounters with Ithacan authority. The narrative occasionally diverts to Fiona Farell, a “And I don’t think that’s Ithaca’s character. Everybody and anybody is welcome.” fellow caseworker who has to relocate several As the town develops, Doyle is worried children following their parents’ arrest. about gated communities and optimistic about The author addresses stigma around the expansion projects. She places faith in the zonsheriff ’s department with officer David Olson, ing board, evident through Ithaca’s intact comwho serves justice and commits to the truth. munity and consistent diversity 15 years ahead.

“They were always respectful and compeSpeaking to the diverse nature of Ithaca, tent,” Doyle recalled from collaboration with she also described a trend towards people the Tompkins County Sheriff ’s Department. becoming “used to each other.” Beyond liberal “But they also need to work as a team to take diversity, she’s heard many conflicting voices care of their community and solve crime.” resounding from Ithaca, so the cast of SPF While Doyle’s future Ithaca is riddled with 1500 represents those perspectives. Restaupositive depictions and altruistic personas, rant owners, Cornell faculty, folks commutthere is still corruption present across local ing from rural Caroline, and other residents systems. Election bias and overpowering contribute to a richer mystery. No suspect is corporations are not missing from the plot. In quite the same. bigger picture news, the nation has banned Reflecting on her publication, Doyle recogabortion, causing the cessation of two states nized the contrast between concocting a fun into New Vermont. Characters struggle with storyline while integrating real world issues. reproductive rights amidst moral calamity, “Even though it's an entertaining, speculaand often face consequences. Despite legal tive, murder mystery mashup, I wanted a place ramifications, the controversy continues. where I could talk about real concerns,” she In terms of global welfare, environmental said. “I wanted to talk about social justice isdegradation has also shifted lifestyles, making sues in the future, and because it’s fiction, I got the outdoors less habitable. Though scenes to play with some really positive changes and involve camping, seeking refuge in Ithaca’s not so positive ones too.” forested spaces and landscape, there is a sense of both urgency and devastation about climate change. Inhabitable coasts, sinking cities, and Contin u ed on Page 18 De c e mb e r

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Arts&Entertainment

Staying Imaginative Despite Doomsdays: A Mystery Set In Future Ithaca

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Film

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” Is a Big, Silly, Glorious Time at the Movies

By Cl e me nt O b ropta

N

ever underestimate James Cameron. The billionaire director, whose “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is the big blockbuster this holiday season, has again delivered a massive, ambitious sci-fi epic full of the most amazing visual effects you’ve ever seen.

Set on the world of Pandora, the “Avatar” films chronicle the native Na’vi people’s resistance to persistent human colonizers trying to strip-mine their planet for cash. Little has changed here.

At the start of the film, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), his wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their children are still hiding out with the Metkayina clan in a giant mangrove forest beside the sea. Important returning characters include their son Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), adopted human son Spider (Jack Champion), and adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver).

This time, in addition to the humans, our villains are the Ash people, a group of brutal, creepy, volcano-dwelling Na’vi.

Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is back too, having been reborn ghola-style into a tall blue body. And thank goodness he’s here — Quaritch is a remarkably fun character. He’s such an evil bastard, always ready to burn his own prospects to the ground if it means a shot at capturing Sully, and I would happily see eight more “Avatar” films if it meant watching his

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” Rated PG-13 Directed by James Cameron Currently playing at Regal Ithaca Mall 40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca STAYING IMAGINATIVE DESPITE DOOMSDAYS contin u ed from page 17

She agrees it’s an especially fun read for someone familiar with the area, with so many Finger Lakes “easter eggs” planted into the plot’s evolution. “SPF 1500” was

Ash people chieftain Varang (Oona Chaplin) holds her hand over a fire. (Photo: IMDb/20th Century Studios)

Unfortunately, Cameron’s decision Looney Tunes villain battle with Jake time to shoot some scenes at a higher frame and again. rate comes back to bite him in the “Ash.” The structure here is highly unusual.

Normally, films are shot and projected in “Fire and Ash” has three acts, as do most 24 frames per second, but recent technolmovies, but each act has its own rising acogy has allowed filmmakers to shoot in tion, midpoint, climax, and falling action.

They all end with a big battle, too, each more 48 or 120 frames per second, resulting in a smoother and more fluid image. The impressive and kinetic than the last, and downside is that it looks fake — higher each battle sequence also follows a three-act framerates are typically used in sports structure of sorts. Acts within acts within broadcasting or video games, and in some acts. As a result, “Fire and Ash” sometimes underwater and aerial scenes in “Fire and feels longer than “The Return of the King” Ash,” the effect is simply distracting. (though it’s actually four minutes shorter).

My praise for the “Avatar” films extends Like its predecessors, “Fire and Ash” only as far as they can tell us new, comdelivers cutting-edge visual effects and plex stories and show us new images, new a gorgeously realized CG world. There’s corners of the world. In that regard, “Fire nothing that one can easily point to as a and Ash” is a little disappointing. Though it VFX breakthrough, like the underwater introduces us to new characters, creatures, performance-capture was in “The Way of Water,” but one of the thrills of the “Avatar” and Na’vi tribes, it spins its wheels when it comes to its settings and conflicts — the films is their intricately designed world. entire final battle feels like the climax from In an era when every third Marvel movie “The Way of Water” all over again. But just takes place on a new planet with barely when I thought I was ready to write this defined cultures, creatures, and biomes, film off, it goes and shows me one of the the level of detail in “Fire and Ash” truly coolest things I’ve ever seen in my life. The shows how sci-fi worldbuilding ought to be done. Not since “The Lord of the Rings” final fight, where Quaritch and Sully duke it out with knives on floating platforms in a has a fantasy film world been built with magnetic flux vortex, is worth the price of this much love, care, and craft.

admission all on its own.

In such a CGI maelstrom, the characters inevitably get the short end of the stick.

Nobody, besides Quaritch, Spider, and Oona Chaplin’s incredible new Na’vi chieftain Varang, gets the development they deserve.

And while the title tries to highlight the story’s themes of hatred, destruction, and grief, the third “Avatar” outing is more engaging when it focuses on sons seeking love from their fathers, outcasts trying to find their way in the world, and lunatic Aussies getting obliterated by massive whales.

If the “Avatar” movies have never been your thing, “Fire and Ash” will not convert you. But fans will thoroughly enjoy the film. A legion of talented craftspeople, four separate editors, and God knows how many screenwriters have again wrangled Cameron’s epic vision into another satisfying, entertaining movie event. Its narrative tediousness compared to the previous films is, for me, ultimately outweighed by its audacity, insanity and utter spectacle.

It’s probably not the best use of $400 million, but then again, few movies are.

published this November, available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book (Kindle, downloadable PDF or EPUB file).

As it circulates, Doyle works on sequels that incorporate other local narratives and Ithaca based characters. She expects another draft will be ready in 2026, featuring her debut book’s starring detective.

Preserving a sense of imagination about complicated coming times, in Ithaca and beyond, is possible through “SPF 1500,” even with looming doomsdays and a planet on the precipice.

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While drawing on a life spent in this community, Doyle allows the reader to be creative with futuristic visions, inventing utopias and dystopias alike. A lot will undoubtedly change before 2039.

“Sometimes it feels like we’re close to utopia, but there’s too much going on,” she said.

Clement Obropta is a film columnist for the Ithaca Times.

Kira Walter is a contributing arts and entertainment writer for the Ithaca Times.

Through the Times

Free Speech Debates Divided Cornell, and Continue to Today

By Jak e S e x ton

A

s the holiday season sweeps over Ithaca, this week’s installment of Through the Times grapples with the city finding itself reliving an argument it already knew too well. Months after the conclusion of the Vietnam War, the aftershocks still reverberated throughout the Ithaca and college campuses across the country. It wasn’t until Cornell officially invited Nguyễn Cao Kỳ — a former South Vietnamese leader whose name became synonymous with corruption, civilian repression and American intervention – to take the stage at Cornell’s Bailey Hall, that underlying sentiments of resentment for the war were revived.

What followed Cao Ky’s appearance at Cornell University was nothing short of a protest — it was a direct collision of philosophies and definitions. For many in the audience, Cao Ky’s presence alone represented violence, oppression and a legitimization of wartime atrocities one could not separate from the man delivering the speech. Conversely, the commotion surrounding Cao Ky’s attendance was indicative of something deemed as equally as destructive: a complete breakdown of the academic norms and discussions which universities are designed to protect. In this week’s focus-piece from Dec. 21, 1975, entitled “Cornell After Ky: Feud Over Freedom Of Speech,” Ithaca Times reporter Deborah Schoch outlines the ways in which Cao Ky’s appearance caused commotion within days of his announced arrival. The controversy quickly escaped Bailey Hall, spilling into faculty meetings, administrative announcements and sparked formal investigations which unearthed sensitive memories of previous campus flashpoints such as the Straight Takeover of Willard Hall of 1969 and of Carpenter Hall in 1972.

What I found revealing from Schoch’s coverage is how familiar the language is. On campus, protestors framed the inalienable right to freedom of speech as inseparable from power, positing that one’s freedom of expression — when backed financially, by institutions and government cosigns — did not operate on the same equal footing as those dissenting these institutions. In response, university leadership continued emphasizing the necessity of process, civility and adhering to

legal precedent by invoking Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ defense of protecting “the thought[s] we hate.”

The faultline responsible for igniting this conflict was never fully about Mr. Cao Ky’s appearance at the university. Rather, it concerned where the university itself felt its role lied when facilitating political discussions. Are academic campuses truly a neutral platform, obligated to host speeches regardless of political frameworks or moral consequences? Or rather, was the campus supposed to serve as a moral actor, one which would be ultimately responsible for any harm specific speech may inflict by enabling it through a platform and microphone? Protesters accused Cornell’s staff of fostering a “climate [which was] hostile to free speech,” insinuating that the stance of silence in the face of injustice was, in its own ways, a direct abdication of moral responsibility.

Fifty years later, these unresolved tensions continue brewing beneath the surface of Ithaca today, despite names, locations and contexts changing half a century later.

In recent years, Cornell, Ithaca College, our very own Ithaca, and thousands of cities and universities across the country continue grappling with controversies surrounding the freedom of speech, expression, protest and civil disobedience. From standing against the invitations of divisive speakers to organized student walkouts and building occupations, community-driven protests have remained prevalent throughout the years. Just as in 1975, debates rarely hinge on the context and contents of any single speech. Instead, they often orbit familiar questions: Who is invited? Who influences these decisions? What constitutes the differences between disruption and dissent? And, most importantly, when does maintaining “order” devolve from stewardship into outright suppression?

Modern protests have similarly prompted official administrative statements, forced procedural reviews, and reevaluations of codes of conduct, muddied with institutional assurances of fair, measured and swift investigations. These moments — just as they did in 1975 — tend to crescendo towards the beginning or conclusion of academic terms as unresolved tensions are left suspended in limbo rather than given definitive solutions.

Across the decades, students and faculty alike continue arguing that free speech cannot be abstracted and separated from its real-world implications. Administrators continue their historical trend of responding through emphasizing the importance of institutional neutrality and due process. Each side of the court claims to hold the morally true mantle of free expression, with the other sorely misunderstanding its position.

Schoch’s article concludes with a reiteration of the holiday and winter season fully descending upon Ithaca. As campuses slip into hibernation in the coming weeks, debates over freedom of speech, expression and the “freedom of thought” take a temporary leave of absence. Fifty years later, this rhythm continues followDe c e mb e r

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ing the same song and dance: Speakers arrive. Protests follow. Committees on both sides convene. Official statements are issued. And, ultimately, the city quietly slips back into routine until a new provocation inevitably opens the same debates once again.

The 1975 Cao Ky protests serve as a reminder to Ithacans, one which argues that freedom of speech has not only failed to be a settled principle in Ithaca, but across the United States as a whole. It continues as a recurring negotiation, one molded by the powers that be, memory of debates past, and the continuously prevailing moral urgency in our ever-evolving world.

The names, places, and actors change; the conflicts do not.

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CAYUGA MEDICAL CENTER NURSES contin u ed from page 6

when patients are moved from the ER into hospital beds as other patients are sent home. CMC said it consistently maintains staffing ratios and no vacancies were reported in a recent clinical staffing committee meeting. Any future surges or absences are strictly documented, investigated and reported to the Department of Health.

CMC said registered nurse wages currently range from $38 to $50 per hour.

WHEN FAMILIES CAN’T contin u ed from page 8

many community members are struggling financially, and so many federally funded programs are being terminated or drastically reduced.

Colter has plenty of suggestions: • Sending a check to the SPCA in honor of a family member or dear friend who has everything they need or want, for a Holiday Gift. The SPCA will send back a special card to present to the loved one you are honoring.

• Sign on to volunteer at the SPCA: Walk the dogs, play with the kittens and cats, work on fundraising, volunteer to help at special events, various roles are available!

• Help the SPCA fill their urgently needed Wish List items, listed below.

Colter knows he isn’t impartial about the SPCA but relates that anyone who VOICES OF FREEDOM contin u ed from page 9

In conclusion, may I repeat that nothing in thirty years has given us more hope and encouragement, and drawn us so near to you of the white race, as this opportunity offered by the Exposition; LOCAL SPORTS IN 2025 contin u ed from page 12

reading that Carson Albanese finished another 200-mile ultra-marathon. That’s right... Carson ran two-hundred miles.

August also saw the story about the 38-mile Cayuga Lake swim undertaken by Claire de Boer and Bridgette Hobart, The women — who have both done that epic swim solo — teamed up to do it in rotating relay fashion, during which each woman swam 19 miles. I was fortunate to be in one of the boats that followed them. The swim was also a fund raiser for Sophie’s Fund,

While the hospital confirmed that acrossthe-board raises were last issued two years ago, officials stated they have since pivoted to “targeted” increases for high-priority, patient-facing roles that are difficult to recruit. Management acknowledged that broader market-driven raises for all staff remain a goal.

“We have openly shared with all staff, including nurses, that we have specific strategic projects underway to help us improve our operating margin. We will be prioritizing increases for specific highneed roles until we can see the financial

impact of these operational initiatives.”

Regarding allegations of labor law violations, a spokesperson declined to comment on specific NLRB complaints but characterized leadership’s recent interactions with staff as “voluntary opportunities” for dialogue.

CMC acknowledged it hired LRI because its own leadership team lacks expertise on unions. CMC said the firm has specialists focused on union education and strengthening relationships between employees and management.

“As soon as we engaged with LRI, they

provided up-to-date education to all our leaders to ensure our compliance to have a full and fair election,” according to CMC. The CMC spokesperson said the hospital and Centralus Health executives, under the guidance of LRI consultants, held voluntary meetings with nurses to provide education on permissible conduct during a union election based on NLRB regulations.

Regardless of the union election outcome, the spokesperson said CEO Rob Lawlis and his leadership team will collaborate with nurses to improve the hospital’s environment and patient care.

comes to help the animals will find wonderful camaraderie amongst the staff and volunteers. Colter sees that people go home feeling even better than when they arrived.

Great way to fend off holiday blues.

Colter adds that the SPCA has been blessed by their multiple collaborations over the years.

The shelter partners with Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to provide veterinary care for the SPCA’s animals. The program, now led by Dr. Jessica Reed, DVM, not only provides expert medical care, but has taught countless students, interns, and residents in shelter medicine.

The SPCA also partners with Shelter Outreach Services (SOS) led by Dr. Leslie Appel, DVM to provide public spay and neuter clinics every Tuesday at the SPCA. It is the only high-quality, high-volume clinic locally. The clinic usually sees about

30 animals every week.

“She launched SOS around 2003 and with one Vet Tech they performed 20 surgeries a day, five days a week,” Colter said. “Leslie’s group observed that everyone won—the animals, the caretakers, the veterinarians.”

Colter closes by reminding us that every animal in the SPCA longs for attention and a forever home. While these critters wait, the SPCA does all they can to help each animal live comfortably. But they can’t do it alone. Please give an SPCA “gift” at the holidays, spend some time with one animal waiting for attention, send a check to keep SPCA going, or romp in the fields with a dog, ecstatic to be outside.

Link to SPCA Wish List on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/ wishlist/2ZVUUM77Y7RBH/ref=cm_wl_ list_o_0 Wish List on spcaonline.com: Scoopable/Clumping Cat Litter, New

litter boxes (all sizes) Cat Wand Toys Cage mounted cat scratchers Kitten Nursing Bottles Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR) Meat Flavored Baby Food (no onion or garlic) Canned Dog Food Dog Toys (no tennis balls please) Squeeze or Spray Cheese, Low fat Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Kongs, Leashes and Harnesses Gallon and Sandwich size Ziploc Bags, 13 Gallon Trash Bags Liquid Laundry Soap, Dish Soap, Paper Towels, Bleach Forever Stamps, Copy Paper, Small paper plates Colter and all the fine folks at our SPCA and Adoption Center wish you a happy, healthy holiday and thank you for sharing with our 4-legged friends.

and here bending, as it were, over the altar that represents the results of the struggles of your race and mine, both starting practically empty-handed three decades ago, I pledge that in your effort to work out the great and intricate problem which God has laid at the doors of the South, you shall have at all times the

patient, sympathetic help of my race; only let this be constantly in mind, that, while from representations in these buildings of the product of field, of forest, of mine, of factory, letters, and art, much good will come, yet far above and beyond material benefits will be that higher good, that, let us pray God, will come, in a blotting

out of sectional differences and racial animosities and suspicions, in a determination to administer absolute justice, in a willing obedience among all classes to the mandates of law. This, coupled with our material prosperity, will bring into our beloved South a new heaven and a new earth.

a non-profit dedicated to suicide prevention.

Readers did another double-take when I wrote that a Cornell student would travel to Serbia to compete in the Chess Boxing World Championships. Yes, competitors rotate rounds in the ring and at the chessboard, and senior math major Will MacLeod came away with a silver medal.

October featured a story about another friend of mine — Mark Vallely — who rode his bicycle over 500 miles to combat kids’ cancer. This year, Mark rode 557 miles and raised $7,238, bringing his 6-year total to 3,081 miles and $24,959. He made a statement that would undoubtedly be a finalist

if I had a “Quote of the Year” contest. For the entirety of his fund raising endeavor, Mark has been battling to manage his own Multiple Myeloma, and in his words, “I’ve lived a good long life and plan to continue for hopefully, quite some time. I can not imagine what it would be like to receive a cancer diagnosis at 4 or 5 years old, or what a child’s parent must go through with that kind of diagnosis. Finding this challenge helped snap me out of the depression I went through at the beginning. Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.”

In November, it was a thrilling day at Butterfield Stadium as the SUNY Cortland

Red Dragons came to town to reclaim the coveted Cortaca Jug. Ithaca had other ideas, and on a windy and rainy Saturday, the Red Dragons’ final desperation pass sailed over the hands of a receiver in the end zone, preserving the Bombers’ 26-21 victory.

After that big win, the Bombers got two pieces of news that they would rather not have gotten, as they were denied a bid to the post-season, and head coach Mike Toerper resigned to take a position at Cornell. Oh well... that’s the sporting life.

I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings.

Have a blessed holiday season, and thanks for reading.

20 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / D e c e m b e r 2 4 – 3 0 , 2 0 2 5

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Cinemapolis

Cornell Men’s Basketball vs Alfred State College | 2 p.m., 1/2 Friday |

120 E. Green St., Ithaca New movies opening the week of December 24. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes and continuing films.

Marty Supreme | Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one

Music Bars/Bands/Clubs

12/24 Wednesday Firefly Trio | 6:30 p.m. | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd | Free

12/26 Friday Bad Alibi | 6 p.m. |

to challenge artists and provide an

respects, goes to hell and back in

affordable form in which international

pursuit of greatness. | R 150 mins

art could be brought together.

Song Sung Blue| Based on a true

New Year/New Work | 12 p.m.,

story, two down-on-their-luck

1/2 Friday | State of the Art Gallery,

musicians (Hugh Jackman and

120 West State Street |

Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil

Japanese War Brides:

Group Show of Gallery Artist | Free

Diamond tribute band, proving it’s

Across a Wide Divide |10 a.m. –

Spanish-English Read-Aloud

5 p.m. 12/26, 27, 29, 30 | Chemung

never too late to find love and

& Art Making Workshop | 4 p.m.,

County Historical Society, 415 E. Water

follow your dreams. |

1/7 Wednesday | Tompkins County

Street, Elmira NY | Following the end

PG-13 132 mins

Public Library, 101 East Green Street |

of WWII, nearly 45,000 Japanese

Join Johnson Museum of Art Museum

women immigrated to America as

Educator in a Spanish-English

wives of U.S. military servicemembers.

bilingual read-aloud and art-making

Bills Game | 4:25 p.m., 12/28 Sunday

event for children!

| Hopshire Farm and Brewery,

Film

1771 Dryden Rd. | We’ll be showing

See three great stand-up comedians perform live on stage at the Clemens Center, with host Danny Liberto. | $40.00 - $60.00

Concerts/Recitals

12/27 Saturday

Art

Driftwood | 8 p.m. 12/27 Saturday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer NY

12/29 Monday A Community Sing of Handel’s Messiah 7 p.m. | First Cong-

Hopshire Farm & Brewery,

regational Church, 309 Highland Rd.,

1771 Dryden Rd, Freeville NY

Ithaca

12/31 Wednesday

12/30 Tuesday

These young women left their homes

Showtime | 9:30 p.m. |

Folk at the Farmhouse —

of postwar American society.

Ithaca Ale House,

Brett Beardslee, Delta Mike,

Contemporary Mapping :

301 E State St Suite 1 | Free

1/1 Thursday Bluegrass Alley | 5:30 p.m. |

to build lives within the complexities

Bobby Rowe | 7 p.m. | The Farmhouse at Grist Iron Brewing Company, 4880 NY-414, Burdett NY

One Foot Forward | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesdays through Satudays | Corners Gallery, 903 Hanshaw Rd.

When Harry Met Sally | 3 p.m., 12/27 Saturday | Auburn Public

Newman Arena at Bartels Hall Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey vs University of Nebraska Omaha | 7 p.m., 1/2 Friday | Lynah Rink | Learn To Curl with the Finger Lakes Curling Club | 4 p.m., 1/3 Saturday | The Rink (Finger Lakes Curling Club), 1767 East Shore Drive | Learn to Curl with the Finger Lakes Curling Club: https://fingerlakescurling.org/ learntocurl/ | $35.00 Cornell Men’s Basketball vs Columbia University | 5 p.m., 1/5 Monday | Newman Arena at Bartels Hall

Special Events

Sports

Bills games and NFL playoff matchups, staying open late for games starting

Christmas Eve Family Service of Pageantry and Carols | 5 p.m., 12/24 Wednesday | First Congregational Church of Ithaca, 309 Highland Road | Celebrate Christmas Eve at

before 4:30 p.m.

Theater, 8 Exchange St., Auburn NY|

Elmira College Women’s Basketball vs Keystone College | 2 p.m.,

5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Ithaca, in person

1/7 Wednesday

Suite 101A Suite 101A | Contem-

Harry and Sally have known each

porary Mapping: One Foot Forward

other for years, and are very good

12/30 Tuesday | Elmira College,

CONCERT: On A Winter’s Night —

features work by 34 artists! |

friends, but they fear sex would ruin

1 Park Place , Elmira NY

featuring Cliff Eberhardt, John

Free

the friendship. Written by Nora Eph-

Play Water Polo! Adult and

Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Patty

23rd Mini Print International

ron, directed by Rob Reiner. | Free

Youth Opportunities | 7 p.m.,

6 p.m. | South Hill Cider,

Larkin | 7:30 p.m. | Center for the

Exhibit| Tuesday – Friday: 1 p.m. –

Mary Poppins| 1 p.m. 12/30 Tuesday

12/30 Tuesday | Ithaca High School

550 Sandbank Road | Free

Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St.

6 p.m., Saturday noon – 4 p.m. |

| Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange

Pool, 1401 North Cayuga Street |

1/7 Wednesday

Stage

The Ink Shop, 330 E State St. (2nd floor

St., Auburn NY| In turn of the century

Adult Co-Ed Water Polo Program!

of CSMA building) | A juried exhibition

London, a magical nanny employs

Beginner players welcome. Get

and a family-friendly candlelight

of prints no larger than 4” × 4”.

music and adventure to help two

more information on adult and

service. | Free

Comedy Club | 8 p.m., 1/5 Monday |

The Exhibition has been held bi-annu-

neglected children become closer to

youth programs by visiting www.

Habari Gani: Annual Kwanzaa

Mandeville Hall, Clemens Center,

ally since 1985 and was founded and

their father. Original 1964 version.

ithacawaterpolo.com and get on the

Celebration 2025 | 4:30 p.m.,

207 Clemens Center Parkway |

directed by Bev McLean who sought

| Free

email list. | Free

12/30 Tuesday | Southside Community

South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road | Free

1/3 Saturday Evan Horne (Tenzin Chopak) |

Firefly Trio | 6:30 p.m. | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd. |

THISWEEK

Free

and online fccithaca.org | Free Christmas Eve at First Baptist Church Ithaca | 6:30 p.m., 12/24 Wednesday | First Baptist Church Ithaca at Dewitt Park behind Courthouse, 309 N Cayuga St. | All are welcome on Christmas Eve for caroling

HOPSHIRE’S ROCKIN’ END OF YEAR SHOW

DRIFTWOOD

Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd Freeville, NY | Live Music by Bad Alibi-Classic Rock, with no excuses!

Great beer, food, winter cheer and of course, great classic rock! The music starts at 6pm but you know you should get there early to get the best seats in the house!

(Photo: Provided)

Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St, Homer NY | As natives of Binghamton, the members of Driftwood hail from a working town, but play music rooted in the land, leaning alternately into folk, old-time, country, punk, and rock, depending on their personal moods and their songs’ needs. (Photo: Provided)

FRIDAY DECEMBER 26 6 P.M. – 8 P.M.

22 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / D e c e m b e r 2 4 – 3 0 , 2 0 2 5

SATURDAY DECEMBER 27 AT 8 P.M.

Center, 305 S. Plain Street | Join us for

NYE Spectacular!!! | 9 p.m., 12/31

A program for emergent readers ages

Wednesday Open Mic Night

means something at the Newfield

Art Cafe | 6 p.m., 1/2 Friday | The Clay

Habari Gani, our Kwanzaa Celebration!

Wednesday | Liquid State Brewing

4–7 yrs.

| 7 p.m., 12/24 Wednesday | The

Community Blood Drive. To schedule

School’s Art Room, 950 Danby Road |

Enjoy togetherness in celebration of

Company, 620 W Green St. | Come ring

Ready, Set, Read! | 6 p.m., 12/29

Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St. | Free

an appointment, call 1-800-Red Cross

The Clay School’s ART Room features

a tradition of Black joy and African

in the New Year with us! Special set

Monday | Cortland Free Library,

weekly Wednesday Open Mic night at

or visit https://www.redcrossblood.

an Art Cafe! | Free

roots.

from DJ/Live Band hybrid Weazildust

32 Church St., Cortland NY| Mondays

The Nocturnal Café, Ithaca’s nightlife

org/. New Year’s Gong Bath Experience

“Queeraoke” | 8 p.m., 1/2 Friday |

Walk the Labyrinth | 6-8 p.m. 12/30

(Ft. members of Jimkata) is guaran-

at 6 p.m. A program for emergent

alternative, featuring music, poetry,

with Caryn Sheckler | 1 p.m., 1/1

The Rhine House, 632 West Seneca

Tuesday and 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. 12/31

teed to be the wildest dance party in

readers ages 4–7 yrs.

dance and more! | Free

Thursday | First Presbyterian Church,

Street | Ithaca’s original “Queeraoke”

Wednesday | First Baptist Church

all of Ithaca! | $10.00

69 East Main Street | Caryn Sheckler is

night is back! Come hang, sing and

Ithaca at Dewitt Park behind Court-

returning to TCFA to celebrate the New

make new friends...cheers, queers!

house, 309 N Cayuga St. | The com-

Kids

Year with an afternoon Gong Bath

🍸🌈

munity is invited to come experience

Crafty Kids | 4 p.m., 12/30 Tuesday

Latin Wednesday | 9 p.m., 12/24

| Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St.,

Wednesday | The Upstairs, 106 S.

Cortland NY| We will meet to make

Cayuga St. | Ithaca’s longest running

Animal Feeding | 4 p.m., 12/24

weekly dance party. Meet new danc-

this age-old spiritual practice of quiet

a different craft each month. Meets

Wednesday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St.

ers, learn new moves, and have fun!

reflection. Calm your body, mind,

monthly on the last Tuesday at 4 p.m.

| Join an Animal Keeper to observe

Open to ages 6–12 yrs. Registration is

Art Cafe | 6 p.m., 12/26 Friday | The

limited & is required each month.

Clay School’s Art Room, 950 Danby

Family Playgroup — Winter’26

Road | The Clay School’s ART Room

Math Fun with MathHappens! |

Round #1 | 3 p.m., 1/7 Wednesday |

features an Art Cafe! | Free

10 a.m., 12/27 Saturday | Sciencenter,

CCE-Tompkins Education Center,

Food Pantry | 12 p.m., 12/27

601 1st St. | Join us for playful,

615 Willow Avenue | Free 6 weeks

Saturday | GYM-Southside Community

informal math learning with the

series, January 7 – February 11

Center, 305 S Plain St.

Notices

DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 7 p.m.,

Local Fiber 2025 Holiday Pop-Up

Grill, 3120 North Triphammer Road,

Shop | 11 a.m., 12/24 Wednesday |

and spirit as you walk. This circular labyrinth, modeled on the one set into the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France (1194–1220 A.D.), will be open to people of all ages and faiths, and is handicapped accessible.

NYE Party | 6 p.m.-2 p.m., 12/31 Wednesday | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old

snakes, lizards, frogs, and fish snacking on their preferred prey.

MathHappens Foundation! Families and kids can explore hands-on activi-

experience. $20.00 advanced; $25 at the door.

| 7 p.m., 1/3 Saturday | First Unitarian

Walk the Labyrinth — a reflective

Society, 306 N. Aurora St. | We will

approach to the New Year | 6 p.m.,

celebrate the end of the holiday

1/1 Thursday | First Baptist Church in

season by telling stories (you can

Ithaca at Dewitt Park behind Court-

tell a story if you want to), watching

house, 309 North Cayuga Street | The

a Mummers play, and crowning a

community is invited to come Walk

monarch of mis-rule. A night of fun for

the Labyrinth in this age-old spiritual

the whole family. | Free

practice of quiet reflection at First

12/28 Sunday | Crossroads Bar and

Annual Twelfth Night Celebration

Baptist Church Ithaca. | Free

DJ Trivia | 7 p.m., 1/5 Monday | 23 North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema

Square, Round, & Line Dance |

Drive | Join Kurt for DJ Trivia every

2 p.m., 1/2 Friday | Lifelong, 119 W.

Lansing NY | Join Dave Ashton for

Monday night at 23 North Restaurant

Court St. | $5 drop in, members eli-

DJ Trivia every Sunday night at Cross-

and Bar in Ithaca! Bring your friends

Local Fiber Holiday Pop-Up Shop, 115

gible to pay $35/month for unlimited

roads in Lansing! Bring your friends

and family for an evening of amazing

S. Cayuga Street | 11-6 Wednesday,

H&W activities. A fun & social way to

local science experts with hands-on

and family for an evening of amazing

food, drink and (of course) trivia! | Free

Friday – Sunday and 11-8 Thursdays

raise your heart rate, loosen up your

activities and demonstrations.

through 12/28 for amazing yarns,

food, local beer, wine and spirits and

muscles, exercise your mind, and lift

Baby & Toddler Playtime | 10 a.m.,

accessories and more from local fiber

(of course) trivia! | Free

your spirits.

St. | Welcome in the New Year at two

12/29 Monday | Tompkins County

farmers, and visit LocalFiber.ny on

DJ Trivia | 7 p.m., 12/29 Monday | 23

First Friday Gallery Night | 5 p.m.,

101 East Green Street | Makeup

beautiful venues connected by an

Public Library, 101 East Green Street |

FaceBook for Workshops and demon-

North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema

1/2 Friday | Downtown Ithaca | First

Session due to library closure on 12/2

outdoor patio with fire pits, live music,

Baby & Toddler Playtime is an

strations that will be taking place as

Drive | Join Kurt for DJ Trivia every

Friday Gallery Nights in Downtown

Anyone is welcome to attend, whether

dancing, award-winning cocktails

unstructured play and social time for

well! | Free

Monday night at 23 North Restaurant

Ithaca.Gallery Night occurs the first

they were registered for 12/2 or not.

and complimentary savory & sweet

children and caregivers offering

Trivia! | 7 p.m., 12/24 Wednesday

and Bar in Ithaca! Bring your friends

Friday evening of each month from

| Liquid State Brewery, 620 West

and family for an evening of amazing

Trivia! | 7 p.m., 1/7 Wednesday |

bites! | $45.00 - $55.00

a warm, child-friendly space with

5-8 p.m. | Free

Green Street. | Grow your brain or

food, drink and (of course) trivia! | Free

Liquid State Brewery, 620 West Green

books and age-appropriate toys.

Magic the Gathering & Pokemon

Street | Grow your brain or just show

8:30 p.m., 12/31 Wednesday |

Homeschool Get Ready To Read |

just show it off to a loveable bunch of

Newfield Community Blood

TCG night! | 5 p.m., 1/2 Friday | Riv-

it off to a loveable bunch of

The Foundation of Light,

1 p.m., 12/29 Monday |

Trivia-lovers. Hosted by Ithaca’s Trivia

Drive | 12 p.m., 12/30 Tuesday |

erwood Gifts, 116 E State St. | Friday

Trivia-lovers. Hosted by Ithaca’s Trivia

Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St.,

legend, Bob Proehl. Get there early as

Newfield Fire Dept., 77 Main Street,

night Magic and Play! Pokemon Tcg

legend, Bob Proehl. Get there early as

Cortland NY | Mondays at 1 p.m.

seats fill up fast! | Free

Newfield NY | Give something that

at Riverwood Gifts. | Free

seats fill up fast! | Free

Taughannock Blvd. | Featuring Heavy Bone, Sim Redmond Band, Vicious Fishes, and The Psychedelic Richie Stearns Experience! $14 ADV/$20 DOS (Before 8 p.m. — No Re-entry) $32 ADV/$45 DOS (Re-entry Included).

New Year’s Gala | 8:30 p.m., 12/31 Wednesday | Argos Inn, 408 E State

New Years Eve Dance Party |

391 Turkey Hill Rd. | $20.00 $30.00

ties that make math fun, creative, and connected to everyday life.

Science Connections | 2 p.m., 12/28 Sunday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St. | Join

Makeup Session | 5 p.m., 1/6 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library,

A COMMUNITY SING OF HANDEL’S MESSIAH

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28TH AT 5:00 P.M.

Enfield Community Center, 162 Enfield Main Rd. | Sponsored by the Enfield Community Council and Antiracists of Enfield. There will be live entertainment, dinner, and more. The Keynote Speaker is Jordan Clemons of Unbroken Promise Initiative. Enjoy a performance

by Singtrece (pictured), and the presentation of the Community Service Award. (Photo: Facebook)

MONDAY DECEMBER 29 AT 7 P.M.

First Congregational Church Main Sanctuary, 309 Highland Rd., Ithaca| Singing Messiah Part 1 — all choruses and more.

Led from the piano by Bill Cowdery. Join the illustrious tradition of Messiah Sing. Sing along, or listen!

(Photo: wikipedia)

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BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159.

(NYSCAN)

WE BUY HOUSES FOR CASH AS IS No repairs. No fuss. Any condition.

Easy three step process: call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670.

(NYSCAN)

Comprehensive lifetime warranty.

Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 OFF for a limited time! Call today!

Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473. (NYSCAN)

855/Misc.

CONSUMER CELLULAR The same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers.

No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably.

Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833549-0598. Have zip code of property ready when calling! (NYSCAN)

information, call 1-844-919-1682.

(NYSCAN)

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391. (NYSCAN)

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES! With Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect (TM) standby generators – the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty – 7 years ($849 value). Proudly made in the USA! Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496.

(NYSCAN)

875/Travel SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877-988-7277.

(NYSCAN)

300/Community STORAGE AUCTION APALACHIN, NY Contents of 10 Units belonging to Kevin McCarthy will be sold on December 13th at StorageTreasures. com at 10 AMFacility: Reliable Storage 6575 Route 434 Apalachin, NY 13732.

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don’t Accept the insurance company’s first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth.

100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-833-323-0318. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider. (NYSCAN)

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Reduced Reduced service service Sun. Sun. Dec. Dec. 21 21 through through Sun. Sun. Jan Jan 1 1 Service Service ends ends early early both both Christmas Eve, Eve, Wed. Wed. Dec. Dec. 24 24 & & New New Year’s Year’s Eve, Eve, Wed. Wed. Dec. Dec. 31 31 Christmas No service service No Christmas Day Day OR OR New New Year’s Year’s Day Day Christmas For For specifics specifics see: see: https://tcatbus.com/winter-holidays/ https://tcatbus.com/winter-holidays/

Check our Bus Tracker or download the MyStop app for real time info and service alerts. https://realtimetcatbus.availtec.com/InfoPoint/

26 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / D e c e m b e r 2 4 – 3 0 , 2 0 2 5

770 Cascadilla St.

• 215 N. Cayuga St.

Give A Little • Get A Little

• 307 College Ave.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

GET A $10 BONUS WITH A PURCHASE OF $100 IN GIFT CARDS

offer expires 12/31/2025

FREE Turkey with a $300 purchase!

Only for GreenStar Members!

owner deal

GreenStar Food Co+op membership and minimum purchase of $300 required to receive offer of (1) FREE frozen Ferndale Market free-range turkey. Valid only at the 770 Cascadilla St. store. One turkey per member, per transaction. Some exclusions

Ask in-store for details or go to greenstar.coop

WIC *AND SNAP

PROUDLY ACCEPTS

Learn more at greenstar.coop/flower GreenStar offers a FLOWER 13% discount to those who Pellqualify.

GrantAsk Recipients Qualify for a out more. in-store or go online to find WIC is accepted only discount! at 770 Cascadilla St. store.

13% FLOWER SNAP is accepted at all 3 store locations.

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BackPage AAM ALL ABOUT MACS Macintosh Consulting http://www.allaboutmacs.com (607) 280-4729

ANIMALS LAND & SEA FingerLakesAnimalRights.org

ЦNDAL at Ithaca

For rates and information contact front@ ithacatimes.com

Together, transforming the experience of aging�

277-7000

CLEANING SERVICES

http://www.cleanswithus.com JANITORIAL * DEEP CLEANINGS * INDEPENDENCE CLEANERS CORP Call 607-697-3294

WHAT DO RESIDENTS SAY ABOUT US? t

"Kendal is a wonderful, caring place, where people are kind to each other.

The stimulation of such good company and the many activities that keep us as involved (or not involved) as we wish is a hugely important feature of this retirement community.” t :;,\ �

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WWW.FLYITHACA.COM

ITH - IAD 28 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / D e c e m b e r 2 4 – 3 0 , 2 0 2 5

Phone Number: (607) 266-5300 Facebook

Kendal at lthaca Website:

www.kai.kendal.org

-Nancy