October 4, 2023

F R E E / O c t o b er 4 , 2 0 2 3 / V o l u m e X L I I I , N u m b er 5 8 / O u r 5 1 s t Y e a r

Online @ ITH ACA .COM

CAROLINE ZONING Documentary PAGE 3

STATE MANDATES Complicate County Budget PAGE 4

MIKE SIGLER ANNOUNCES State Senate Campaign PAGE 5

PersonalHealth

CROSSFIT VERTICAL Health Event PAGE 11

THE SINGING JUSTICES: A Ginsburg & Scalia Opera PAGE 13

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Newsline

VOL. XLIII / NO. 58 / October 4, 2023 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

ON THE COVER:

Gas Leak & Power Documentary on Town of Caroline Zoning Outage Hits Southside Controversy to Premier October 10

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Ithaca Times Best of Ithaca 2023 is here!

NEWSLINE ������������������������������������3-5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ������������ 6 GUEST OPINION ����������������������������� 7 SPORTS ������������������������������������������ 10

By Sta ff R e p ort

thaca Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of a gas leak near the intersection of South Albany and South Titus Streets early in the afternoon on October 2.

A pungent scent of gas lingered above Ithaca’s Southside on Monday afternoon, resulting in several families being asked to evacuate from their homes over safety concerns.

A power outage affecting more than 1,200 NYSEG customers was also reported at the same time as the gas leak. The City has said that the gas leak caused NYSEG “to proactively turn power off to alleviate safety concerns,” but it remains unclear if that is the cause of the entire outage.

An announcement released by NYSEG Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Shelby Cohen stated that the leak was caused after a worker in the City of Ithaca “struck a NYSEG medium pressure gas main.”

Cohen has said that nine customers are experiencing gas service interruptions and that “some electric customers have been de-energized for safety as well.”

The Ithaca Fire Department provided assistance as NYSEG made repairs on gas lines. According to the City, repairs began around 3 p.m., and were completed by 6 p.m. — returning service to all customers.

The City is asking residents who were asked to evacuate from their homes to call 1-800-572-1121 to contact the gas department. You can then ask the department to send a representative to “stop by and verify that everything in your home is okay to use before turning anything on.”

Additionally, the City says that if you smell gas, please call NYSEG’s gas emergency hotline at 1-800-572-1121.

PERSONAL HEALTH ��������������������� 11 BEST OF ITHACA ������������������ 1A-12A ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT �������������������� 13 STAGE ���������������������������������������� 14-15 TIMES TABLE ��������������������������� 16-17 CLASSIFIED ������������������������������ 18-20

ON T HE WE B Caroline residents protest against the town boards proposed zoning law outside of Town Hall.

(Photo: Provided)

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By M at t D ough e rt y

he local debate over zoning in the Town of Caroline has inspired a documentary film about the issue that will be premiering at the Celebrations Banquet Hall at 2331 Slaterville Road in Caroline on October 10 at 7 p.m. The event will be free to attend.

The half-hour-long film is titled “Arbitrary Lines: The Free Spirit of Caroline.” It explores the legacy and contemporary form of zoning and how it affects even the smallest of towns.

T a k e

The documentary is narrated or “hosted” by executive producer Nolan Gray — who is also the author of “Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It.” In the film, Gray is invited to the small town of Caroline, New York, but ends up stepping into a local battle over zoning that has become increasingly contentious. The documentary presents an intriguing narrative about the tension between traditional zoning laws and the town's unique, freespirited ethos.

Contin u ed on Page 12

N o t e

X County Sheriff Announce October 6 Pancake Breakfast L aw enforcement agencies across the country are actively planning for National Faith & Blue Weekend 2023, set for Friday, October 6th through Monday, October 9th.

Faith & Blue is based on the premise that strong communities are built through mutual respect and understanding. Law enforcement and faith institutions are key pillars of each community, and when they work together, neighborhoods thrive.

The Tompkins County Sheriff ’s Office in partnership with the Lansing United Methodist

Church and the Business Leaders of Color will be hosting a free pancake breakfast at the Lansing United Methodist Church on Monday, October 9th from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The Sheriff’s Office is currently in need of donations for the event. Anyone who wishes to help can drop off items such as pancake mix , but ter, s y rup, juice, napk ins, pap er plates and plastic utensils, at the Sheriff ’s Office.

You can learn more about the event at www.faithandblue.org

Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 M a t t D o u g h e r t y , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 1217 E d i t o r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m Ch r i s I b e r t, C a l en da r Ed i to r , A r t s @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A n d r e w S u l l i v a n , S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 1227 Sports@flcn.org M a t t D o u g h e r t y , N e w s R e p o r t e r , x 1225 R e p o r t e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m Michelle L aMorte, 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 L u c y A l l e n , F r o n t D es k F r o n t @ I t h a c a T i mes . c o m J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 1210 j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L a r r y H o c h b e r g e r , A ss o c i a t e P u b l i s h e r , x 1214 l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m F r ee l a n ce r s : Barbara Adams, Stephen Burke, G. M Burns, Alyssa Denger, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE C O P Y R I G H T © 2 02 3, B Y N E W S K I I N C .

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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 State Medicaid Mandates Complicate PHOTOGRAPHER

N e w s l i n e

By Miche l l e L a Mor te WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG?

County Budget

interest rates are increasing and the need for people to make payments on their debt is competing ompkins County is in the process with making other purchases. of developing its 2024 Budget. The For example, Holmes has said budget will be subject to intense that as borrowers are forced to debate and several changes as it moves start making payments towards through a series of committee meetings their student debt that were over the coming weeks. The Legislature is previously on pause due to the expected to vote on adopting a final version of the budget sometime in November. pandemic public health emergency, consumer spending and sales The proposed budget presented by County Administrator Lisa Holmes during tax revenue will decrease. According to Holmes, “people will the September 19 meeting of the County have less discretionary income Legislature totals $245.1 million — reprein their pockets, they might not senting a $21.7 million or 9.7% increase Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes has said that state mandates regarding Medicaid funding and be spending more and sales tax over the 2023 budget. a potential decrease in sales tax revenue has made revenues will likely be decreasing.”

The budget includes a total property crafting the 2024 budget difficult. (Photo: File) A critical challenge of this tax levy of $53,443,465 — which constiyear’s budget will be managing tutes an increase of 2% over 2023 levels. ting funding for nine and a half “unfilled the impact of New York State mandates The levy follows through on a previous positions” that the County states, “were request by the Legislature to not increase it that will see the state intercept federal supported by local dollars from the tax funds that counties typically receive to beyond 2%. Holmes said that the 2% levy levy across several departments.” cover Medicaid assistance. The mandate equates to a property tax rate of $5.32 per Alternative versions of the budget will cost the County $1.6 million in 2024. $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s a include property tax levy increases of During a recent interview County decrease from 2023, which saw a property 3.54% and 5%. The 3.54% levy would Administrator Lisa Holmes said, “There’s tax rate of $5.65 per $1,000. meet what New York State refers to as been a significant cost shift this year In addition, the budget would increase the “Property Tax Cap” and would rewhere to help pay the County property for Medicaid, federal store funding for several of the unfilled tax bill for the owner dollars that had been positions cut in the proposed budget. of a median-valued The option increasing the levy to 5% going to counties home by $53. Acwould restore funding for all of the since 2012 are now cording to Holmes, unfilled positions that were cut. It would being taken by the the median value of also allow the County to fund several state to pay for a single-family home over target requests (OTR’s), which the Medicaid.” Holmes in Tompkins County current 2% levy does not allow. continued sayhas increased by The budget with a 5% would be the only ing, “that essentially 10.6% over the last one that represents a true “maintenance of shifts that burden year from $225,000 effort” budget — meaning that the County onto counties. For to $249,000. would be able to continue programs on an Tompkins County, Property taxes it’s $1.6 million of an ongoing basis based on decision making in are the largest form the past. If the Legislature chose to support increase in 2024.” of revenue for the — County Administrator a budget with a 5% property tax levy, it She added that County and fill the would increase the property tax bill for the the county expected gap between the Lisa Holmes average median-value home owner by $88. that the change was total expenses and The County Legislature is inviting the going to be phased all other revenue for community to a public forum about the in over three years, but that officials “rethe County. ceived word just a couple of weeks ago that 2024 budget at the Legislature ChamThe second largest form of revenue bers (121 East Court Street, Ithaca) on the entire $1.6 million is going to hit us in comes from the sales tax — which the October 5 at 7 p.m. During the forum 2024.” According to Holmes, “that in and county estimates will total $43.5 million. residents will have an opportunity to of itself is equivalent to a 4.2% tax levy inLocal sales tax revenue has been increascrease, all of the mandate costs combined.” learn, make comments, and ask questions ing by an average of 3.9% annually from about the budget.

As a result of these budget constraints, 2012-2022, which has helped make up for Members of the public are encouraged Holmes said that the County was only able inadequate property tax revenue. However, to attend in person, but may register to to follow through on the 2% property tax the 2024 budget is estimating a more conjoin the meeting virtually on zoom. levy requested by the Legislature by cutservative growth rate of 2%. This is because

T “Slug – by Slow Pulp.”

– Ava N.

“So Long – by Musiq Soulchild.”

– Arthur B.

“Gang of Theys – by the Brat Dondada.”

– Aleshia A.

“Black Sabbath – by Black Sabbath.”

– Noelle S.

“Get Up Stand Up – by Bob Marley.”

– Cheri S.

By M at t D ough e rt y

“There’s been a significant cost shift this year where to help pay for Medicaid, federal dollars that had been going to counties since 2012 are now being taken by the state to pay for Medicaid.”

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UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

Mike Sigler Announces Republican Bid for State Senate

By M at t D ough e rt y

Ups

a special meeting on September 20. According to Sigler, “It’s not a policy…It’s pretty much camp ompkins County Legislator Mike wherever you want.” He added, “I Sigler (R-Lansing) has announced don’t think it’s sustainable at all.” that he will be running for New In regards to taxes, Sigler has York State Senate as a Republican, chalsaid, “Taxes are an issue, but lenging the 52nd District’s Democratic most people living in New York incumbent Lea Webb.

State understand that taxes are Sigler has said that he is running to going to be high.” However, he change the direction the state is headed in Tompkins County Legislator Mike Signer (R-Lansing) has announced that he will be running as a Republican for New York State Senate, challenging continued saying that the state and push back on actions that Albany has the 52 Districts Democratic incumbent Lea Webb. (Photo: File) has reached a breaking point taken that have undermined local governwhere people have less money ments. “It’s not really about my future, it’s Additionally, Sigler said that wage about the future of the state and where you in their wallets because of inflation and increases can significantly address cost of they’re less likely to be willing to accept think the state should be headed,” Sigler living concerns, but that “they’re just not exponentially increasing taxes. said. He continued saying that “the state going up as fast to match inflation.” As a A recent poll from Siena College found came in and hurt [Tompkins County]” in that more than half of New Yorkers feel that result, Sigler says that people are saytheir last budget and that he expects more ing the economy is not doing very well cost of living is one of their top concerns. of the same to happen in the future. Sigler because it’s not doing well for them. “Gas When asked how he would address those added, “looking at state office is really the prices are hitting four bucks again, all the concerns, Sigler said that he would work only way to push back on that.” refineries are changing over to diesel and to streamline the state's funding process to Similarly to many other County ofdrive down costs and heating oil, there’s gonna be less gas on the ficials, Sigler has market. I don’t see why prices are gonna allow residents to taken issue with a go down, I think they’re gonna go up.” know how their tax new mandate that alAt this point in his campaign Sigler says money is being spent. lows New York State that he is working on gaining the support According to to intercept federal of people in the party outside of Tompkins Sigler, “Democratic Medicaid funding County. According to Sigler, “I’m better leadership always that has typically known in Tompkins than I am in Broome, says, ‘we want Medibeen allocated to and I'm better known in Cortland than care for All’…but counties. This has I am in Broome, so I’m going to spend a the reason it never left Tompkins Counlittle more time in Broome just getting to passes is because it’s ty, and many other learn what the issues are down there.” so expensive…but counties around the — Tompkins County Legislator Another focus of the campaign has been when you look at state, with million on fundraising and Sigler said that he has what they’ve done to dollar burdens on Mike Signer “already started that process.” He added, the budget over the their 2024 budgets. “you can’t raise money until you actually file, last five years, they Specifically, Tomptook it from $179 billion up to $230 billion.” and this is the year of public financing…so kins County will be faced with a $1.6 that’ll make for an interesting dynamic of He continued saying, “That’s $50 billion million increase. more than it was just five years ago, and I’m who [is going to] file for public financing.”

Sigler has said that one of the most imSigler says that his campaign will pretty sure you could have had Medicare portant issues facing the district is crime.

According to Sigler, “There’s certainly been for All for $50 billion — so people are won- also focus on canvassing throughout the district because, “It’s the number one thing an uptick of crime especially in Ithaca.” He dering where all this money is going?” you can do to win an election.” According Sigler says that part of the problem is added, “People want to feel safe, and that’s to Sigler, “whenever you’re going against that the state is “very top down.” He said everybody, not just Republicans.” an incumbent, the odds are against you that instead of simply funding a program During a recent interview, Sigler spoke — how do you make up for those longer directly, the state routinely chooses to about a recent conversation he had with a odds? You do it by face to face contact.” parent of a Cornell student on the Commons construct programs that outside organizaWhen asked why he chose to run for tions will have to apply for grants to use. saying that Cornell students and parents are State Senate instead of Assembly, Sigler According to Sigler, “there’s all this adgetting the message that it's not safe to go to downtown Ithaca at night. “That’s a problem, ministration of grant money, whereas why said “the Assembly numbers are terrible don’t we just directly fund [programs].” He for Republicans. Anybody that wants to Ithaca’s really got to handle that,” Sigler said. run in that assembly district I give them Sigler continued saying that he was “dis- added, “you have to cut out some of the credit if they are a Republican, the numheartened” by the pilot camping policy that administrative costs, because it’s just eatbers are very difficult to overcome.” was passed by the Common Council during ing all the money up.”

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“Whenever you’re going against an incumbent, the odds are against you — how do you make up for those longer odds? You do it by face to face contact.”

A study by College Rover based on Rate My Professor data from 79,480 professors at 2,104 schools across the US and UK Cornell University has the highest-rated professors (3.8), while Yale University has the lowest (2.8).

Downs

The suspect involved in a stabbing that occurred on the 600 Block of West State Street on September 28 remains at large, according to the Ithaca Police Department.

HEARD&SEEN Heard

Get down to the CAP ArtSpace at 110 N. Tioga St. for the “Greater Ithaca Art Trail Group Exhibit” opening redemption on Friday, October 6 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. The event will feature work from more than 40 artists and kick of the Trail’s Open Studio Weekends.

Seen

Ithaca Bombers Football defeated the Hobart College Statesmen by a score of 24-14 on September 30, moving their overall season record to 3-1.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you think the City should get rid of the Board of Public Works?

12.9% Yes. 64.5% No. 22.6% I don’t care.

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

What is your favorite Disney Channel Halloween movie?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

O c to b e r 4 – 1 0 , 2 0 2 3 / T h e I t h a c a T i m e s

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The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In Support of Kayla Matos for Ithaca Common Council

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.C.T.I.O.N. (Activists Committed to Interrupting Oppression Now) is proud to endorse Democratic and Working Families Party candidate Kayla Matos for Ithaca Common Council.

In 2022, ACTION recognized Kayla as a leader on the rise. Impressed by her hard work as Southside Community Center’s Deputy Director and her volunteer work in the community, we awarded her the “Kirby Edmonds ACTION Award for Social Justice”.

Kayla will bring a unique perspective to our local government. As a woman of color who was born and raised in this community, who attended the Ithaca City School District, and is connected to families and people who have historically endured injustices, she brings a voice sorely absent from city government.

Kayla will bring a fresh perspective as someone who is not embedded in the

existing status quo. Kayla is role model to our youth and has been instrumental in guiding future leaders.

Kayla is a vibrant and energetic young leader who walks her talk and goes beyond what is expected of her. She makes deep connections to her community, listens to the diverse range of perspectives among us, and will be an honest champion for social justice and a good quality of life for all of Ithaca’s residents.

She will no doubt be a strong leader on the Common Council.

Please join us in supporting Kayla Matos. Election day is November 7th and early voting is October 28 – November 5, 2023.

Signed — Marcia Baum (Fort), Nancy Bereano, Laura Branca, Karen Friedeborn, Jeff Furman, Robbie Sanders, Caleb R Thomas, Judith Van Allen

Ulysses Voters Win Special Election On Proposed Town Rec Land Purchase

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egistered voters in the Town of Ulysses scored a huge victory on Sept. 26, when the Town Board accepted a petition calling for a vote as per New York State Law Chapter 62, Article 7, Section 91 on the Town Board’s previously announced proposed purchase of 30 acres of agricultural lands for rec fields and other purposes. Under the same law,

the special election will be held sometime between Dec. 6 and Dec. 21, 2023.

Why did 302 Town of Ulysses voters sign a petition to vote on the Town Board’s action in the 13 days petition carriers had to gather signatures after getting approval of the form they used? Because 1. Most were unaware of the Town’s plans or unclear about the need, suitability of the selected site, or process by which the Town moved forward and 2. It is their right to do so for ANY Town Board resolution passed subject to permissive referendum.

Readers may be unaware that county and town board resolutions passed subject to permissive referendum, usually involving large purchases or land transactions, do not take effect while legal notice is published and voters can petition for a vote, or, if a legal petition is filed during that period, until after an affirmative vote in a special election. Accepting the petition means the Town Board’s action has not and will not take effect unless the special election returns a yes vote.

Petition signers from many perspectives and many areas in the Town of Ulysses include sports enthusiasts who think the proposed lands unsuitable.

Some don’t want the Town to violate its own 2009 Comprehensive Plan’s priority to protect prime agricultural land from development. Others doubt a Town with half the population and budget of Towns of Ithaca or Lansingand a youth population that has declined since 2010 needs similar facilities. Some are shocked that the first they heard about a proposed purchase to nearly double Town landholdings was via a knock at the door by a petition carrier. Some are concerned about future expenses; others want more time to learn more about the plan.

I am proud of the 302 petition signers who made sure Ulysses voters can now make an informed choice for the Town’s future. That’s worth celebrating.

— Vivian Rose

NYSEG Complaints Increasing Again

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y neighborhood listserv has lit up once again with tales of ridiculous electric bills from NYSEG, off by as much as $2,000 at a time or with dozens of additions and subtractions in the same bill. In the midst of this billing chaos, NYSEG & RG&E are brazenly demanding a double-digit rate hike, a move Governor Kathy Hochul initially denounced as “outrageous.” Yet, she has remained silent since receiving substantial

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campaign donations from these utilities’ parent company.

This hike, increasing NYSEG’s electric delivery costs 62% by May 2025, places an undue burden on New York’s lowand middle-income families, costing an average customer an extra $935. Moreover, instead of embracing clean energy, NYSEG & RG&E plan to spend over $232 million rebuilding gas pipes, further delaying the transition to a renewable economy. This clashes with the urgency of climate action and contradicts the state’s environmental commitments under the CLCPA. Governor Hochul must align with her previous stance and instruct her Public Service Commission to reject this unjust and environmentally detrimental hike.

Stand with New Yorkers and the environment, Governor Hochul — strike the hike!

— Carol Chock, Former Legislator, Tompkins County Ratepayer and Community Intervenors Citation:https://www.governor.ny.gov/ news/statement-governor-kathy-hochulnew-york-state-electric-and-gas-androchester-gas-electric

Response to George Frantzs’ “Poor, Poor, Pitiful, Mythaca”

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n his disparaging opinion piece “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Mythaca” George Frantz suggests that Ithaca can solve the problem of town gown inequity by surrendering our parks to the county. He points out how much Cornell has spent on research facilities and student housing. Are we to understand by this that Cornell can’t afford to contribute what the city is asking for? He argues that Ithaca has a larger tax base than Canandaigua or Corning. What he won’t address is the real issue: individual tax rates. Comparing our tax base with that of other municipalities is a diversion tactic. As a city resident I am surprised

by Frantz’s elitist headline and irrelevant academic argument. The issue here is fairness. For Cornell to contribute 0.04% of its $10 Billion endowment is not a formula for town-gown cooperation. This issue is not going away.

— Brian Earle

RIP Bryan VanCampen

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long with the entire Ithaca area theater community and readers of the Ithaca Times, I want to express my deep sorrow over the loss of Bryan Contin u ed on Page 14

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

GUEST OPINION

A Solar Powered Future

Public Workers Coalition Talks Labor Activism & Cornell’s Contribution

By M a rjor i e O l d s

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ouis Russell-Cook was born in Austin, Texas. When he moved back to Ithaca with his mothers Catherine Cook and Diane Russell, he returned to the Cook family home on West Hill, where legendary NYS legislator Constance Cook, and her daughter Catherine (and other family members) grew up.

Louis Russell-Cook.

As a kid, Louis spent a lot of time hanging out, sometimes helping in Diane’s Downtown Automotive Repairs, which his mother owns and operates.

He also joined the Ithaca Youth Bureau’s Lacrosse team for young kids. Playing from 1st through 11th grade, and later playing four years at SUNY Canton. Louis observed: “I liked developing new skills, making friends and having fun while playing lacrosse.”

Louis had only skated a little when as a latecomer at 12, he joined the Ithaca Youth Hockey Association at Cass Park.

“I liked the challenge of hockey, and it was great playing with new kids. I still play with many of my first teammates in the Men’s League now. My Mother Cathy also played hockey for the TGHA Stars when she was growing up in Ithaca. Since The Rink in Lansing opened, we can practice and play all year-round.”

Attending Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) from 6-12th grade, Louis loved John Raimon’s classes the most. He went on John’s Cultural

Exchange Trips to the Mohawk Nation’s Akwesasne Freedom School each year, and still helps out with those trips to this day. “This trip focuses on helping the Freedom School get projects done they don’t have time to do but most importantly is focused on learning about the Mohawk culture and building a relationship with the students and staff of the Akwesasne Freedom School”.”

Louis chose SUNY Canton for the sustainable energy technology program and after graduation linked up with Rebekah Carpenter, owner of the popular Fingerlakes Renewables, a West Hill neighbor in the Carpenter Family Enclave.

For 22 years Rebekah has been designing and installing solar systems throughout the region and way beyond (as far as Africa). As more people got on Rebekah’s waitlist, and as the enhanced technology became more complex, the addition of Louis was perfect timing for Fingerlakes Renewables.

While Rebekah computes the value of erecting solar panels in various locations on one’s house or land and offers design options, Louis uses the technology available to program the inverters, batteries, and other components. Together they design small to large commercial and household solar systems to link into NYSEG, or create off-grid standalone systems, unlinked to a utility company.

As solar power becomes more widespread, and as NYSEG power outages become more frequent, many of those on Fingerlakes Renewables’ waitlist are now seeking installation of solar battery back-up systems. “This back-up system creates no noise, uses no gas. In a power outage certain dedicated circuits (like sump pumps, computer, refrigerator, a few safety lights) in the dedicated loads within the electrical panel are powered through the NYSEG outage by their solar and backup battery. When the battery runs out of juice, the solar panels refill the battery.

When the battery is filled and there is less demand than the solar being produced, the system sends the extra solar electricity to NYS’s power grid, thereby Contin u ed on Page 15

By It h ac a P u bl ic Wor k e r s C oa l i t ion

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he Ithaca Public Workers Coalition (IPWC) has remained busy since their inception almost one year ago.

IPWC members recently walked in solidarity with other local workers in support of Cynthia Brock. the ward 1 candidate for the Ithaca Common Council who has been endorsed by the Midstate Central Labor Council, the regional arm of the New York State AFL-CIO. DPW workers, police officers, firefighters, pipefitters, electricians and more were seen walking throughout the City in Ward 1, wearing their trademark “Union Strong” tee shirts, going door to door, and speakine with other union members about why Cynthia Brock is labor’s endorsed candidate.

The IPWC was also recently awarded the Joe Hill Award by the Tompkins County Workers Center and the Midstate Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH). The award was presented for the IPWC’s public service and commitment to union solidarity on September 4" at the annual Labor Day Picnic held at Stewart Park. Present to accept The award on benalt of the IPWC was Jeanne Grace, President of the recently unionized executive Association. Grace thanked the Tompkins County Workers Center and the Midstate COSH. and said.

“The public workers coalition has shown what workers can do when they are united. Our work isn’t done though, we’ll continue to fight for the best wages, benefits and working conditions that attract the best and brightest to come and work for the City of Ithaca. We won’t rest until we can effectively provide the services that our community relies on and deserves.”

Also in attendance on behalf of the IPWC was Justin Perkins (CSEA DPW), Mary Orsaio (IPBA), John Schwartz (BAWU), Griselda Velado PFFAT and leremy Miller (Executive Association).

At the picnic, the newly formed SEA affiliated union and IPWC member organization, Bangs Ambulance Workers United (BAWU), was also awarded the Chico Mendes Award for their unionizing efforts on behalf of EMS workers employed by the Bangs Ambulance

PBA President Tom Condzella.

Company. Matthew Sullivan, President of BAWU, accepted the award and briefly addressed the crowd of more than 350 people. Since Labor Day, the coalition watched one of their member unions, the Ithaca Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 737, secure a new labor contract with the City of Ithaca. Ithaca Firefighters had been working without an agreement since 2020.

Tom Condzella, spokesperson for the IPWC, said “There’s no greater satisfaction than seeing the results of union solidarity pay off, it was great to watch the Firefighters finally strike a fair deal. No public servant should be working without a contract, let alone our Firefighters, who work on the front lines everyday with other emergency service providers to keep our community safe.”

Condzella attributes the deal between the IPFFA and the City to the skill of Firefighter’s negotiations team and to their ability to be reasonable and flexible.

The IPWC hopes to see the Ithaca Police Benevolent Association and the Executive Association also secure new labor agreements by the end of the year.

Condzella also mentioned that working with the City’s new negotiations team has been a positive step for public workers. Condzella commended the Ithaca Common Council for the change implemented earlier this year that removed the City Attorney from the bargaining table. He did however state that IPWC Contin u ed on Page 15

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7

Pierre Saint-Perez & Pat Sewell Run for Third Ward Council Seat

By M att Dougherty

I

an investment in our city’s economy and n a year that has seen more than a dozlivelihood. We are already seen as a model en candidates announce campaigns city for the green energy revolution, and I for a spot on the Common Council — want us to stay that way.” two more have decided to throw their Perez said that his top three priorities, if hats in the ring for a shot at representelected would be to focus on housing, ining Ithaca’s Third Ward. Pierre Saint-Perez frastructure, and fostering cooperation. is running as a Democrat, and Pat Sewell is “Housing in the Ithaca area needs to be drasrunning as an Independent in the race for tically expanded,” Perez said. “Our commuthe two-year term in the Third Ward. nity is changing and growing, and all we can The new redistricted Third Ward endo now is adapt.” Perez added, “Our whole circles the neighborhood of South Hill, incommunity has to work together to house cluding the Collegetown Terrace buildings, our new community members, no matter and stretches to the city’s eastern-most borwho they are or where they come from.” der — including the neighborhood of Belle He continued saying that Ithaca’s infraSherman. structure requires repair and re-evaluation.

When asked what they believe the most According to Perez, “‘Ithaca is Potholes’ has important issues the city needs to address been a joke for far too long, and our sideare, Perez said that the three most imporwalks are too uneven. Beyond this, both tant issues are “housing, cost of living, and Pierre Saint-Perez (Left) is ru nning as a Democr at against Pat Sewell (R ight) to represent the two-year ter m for Ithaca’s elementary schools in the 3rd Ward, Belle inter-municipal cooperation,” — while Third Ward on the Common Cou ncil. Their names will be on the Sherman, and South Hill, have traffic that Sewell has said they are infrastructure, ballot in the November 7 gener al election. (Photos: Provided) goes past them far too fast.” Perez says that housing, and “In the long term, following this is just one example of the serious issues through with the Green New Deal.”

Sewell added, “Housing policy is incred- facing all areas of the city.

Perez told the Ithaca Times, “We are in a sues that are being faced, including the Sewel said that his top three priorities housing crisis, and we need to address it by “Town of Ithaca, Cornell, Cayuga Heights, ibly important because it touches everyproviding more housing as a community. I Tompkins County, and all other towns and thing from cost of living to demographics if elected would be “Regularly communibelieve we can and should follow multiple villages in our area [that] are facing many and city make-up. People have felt housing cating with constituents to take care of the needs of the Ward, Fully costs rise substantially avenues to reach this goal, ranging from common issues.” staffing our public works According to Perez, “We have to work over the last few years, zoning to regulation of short-term rentto rebuild and maintain als. However, our most important consid- together more effectively if we are going to and the vacancy rate our infrastructure, and eration should be to preserve our existing be able to solve them. I hope to work close- remains pretty low. So Following through with neighborhoods and communities, even as ly with other governments to approach we must keep supportIthaca’s Green New Deal our problems across our ing affordable housing we grow them.” policies.” developments and creboundaries.”

Perez continued by When asked if they According to Sewell, ating liveable spaces for saying that Ithaca’s cost think that Cornell “Infrastructure upkeep is all Ithacans.” of living is “unsustainable” should contribute more “We have already a perennial issue, but it and that “between the exto the City, both Perseems to have been ex- seen some affordable traordinarily high rents, ez and Sewell said that acerbated in the last few housing come online taxes, and other challengCornell should be conyears.” He continued, with Founders Way and es, our city is becoming tributing more.

“Frustration regarding Arthaus, but we need to less accessible.” He added, Perez said, “While street maintenance, pub- keep pace with demand, “While I hope that our efCornell is a major ecolic safety, and plowing are and that is going to reforts to build more housnomic driver for the city, things I hear about when quire support from the ing will begin to address — Pat Sewell — Pierre Saint-Perez it fails to fully capture I go door to door. All of city,” Sewell said. this, I also hope that we its externalities. From He continued saying these go back to the uncan incentivize more affordable housing healthcare and nurture a derfunding and understaffing of our pub- “In the long run, we don’t want to lose prog- road use to pressure on our housing marlic workers, which the city needs to address ress on Ithaca’s Green New Deal. Achiev- ket, Cornell ought to help us mitigate the strong backbone of local businesses.”

Perez says that the entire community by bargaining in faith with the employee ing carbon neutrality community-wide by impacts of its actions.” He continued, “I be2030 is not only a moral responsibility but lieve that Cornell has an interest in keepneeds to be involved in addressing the is- Unions.”

“Between the extraordinarily high rents, taxes, and other challenges, our city is becoming less accessible.”

8 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / O c to b e r 4 – 1 0 , 2 0 2 3

“We have already seen some affordable housing come online with Founders Way and Arthaus, but we need to keep pace with demand, and that is going to require support from the city.”

Sewell has said that he is “strongly in ing Ithaca healthy, and even if Cornell were purely selfish, which I do not believe, that favor of increasing social services to help interest alone should lead to a greater con- folks before they become unhoused” and tribution to our community than what they that “Once they are unhoused, designating a centralized area where folks have achave offered.”

Sewell said, “Yes, and I think it is in the cess to basic hygiene and sanitation serinterest of both Cornell and the City.” Ac- vices, and can reliably receive other social cording to Sewell, “Ithaca is unique in that services, is essential for addressing unour main economic engine is a quasi-public derlying causal issues.” However, he addinstitution which does not pay taxes in pro- ed, “There are a range of reasons why folks portion to its use, so our tax base is a frac- are unhoused. Providing housing does not address the underlying tion of what it should be.” causal issues, such as adHe continued, “It makes diction or other mental sense that Cornell health issues.” should contribute more According to Sewell, toward the infrastruc“This issue has been poorture which they heavily ly framed, so I want to utilize, and which make point out that we are not the city liveable and intalking about camping viting for both those afbans or the criminalizafiliated with the College tion of homelessness, but and those who are not.” what effective long-term In response to quesplanning for supporting tions about how Ithaca unhoused community should respond to the in— Pat Sewell members looks like.” He creasing homeless popucontinued, “The real queslation, Perez said he supports the city’s pilot policy to allow camping tion we should be asking is if the area desigin Southwest Park and provide resources to nated as a habitation zone will be sufficient the people living there. “We have a moral for meeting the needs of both the city and the imperative to help these people, and that is unhoused….The currently designated area not administratively possible until we legal- may not be sufficient for addressing these root issues, but a centralized location is much ize our unhoused population,” Perez said.

Perez added, “Once we have legalized easier to accommodate than one sprawled.”

To increase the amount of affordable camping, our local governments could build toilets, showers, and small cabins housing in the City, Perez said that he supwith a lockable door. Ideally, the county ports “residency-required ADUs to inand the city could work together on this crease density without disrupting existproject. The goal would be to protect the ing neighborhoods.” According to Perez, people targeted and turned into victims in “These ADUs must provide more housing for residents, not AirBnBs.” the unhoused population.”

“Landlords need to raise rents to keep pace with inflation and property taxes, but double-digit increases in a single year are untenable.”

Perez and Sewell both support improving public tr ansportation by addressing staffing issues at TCAT and making Cornell contribute more. (Photo: File)

Both Perez and Sewell have said that restoring city infr astructure would be one of their top priorities. (Photo: Michelle LaMorte) Perez has said that he is “skeptical of Perez continued by saying that an effective and supported ADU policy would help the ability of the TCAT system, by its core but that the city’s “crisis is at the point where structure, to meet the needs of our changwe have to follow many paths simultane- ing community, despite the incredibly ously.” He says that to avoid becoming a city valuable and hard work that the workers at that is only accessible to millionaires, Ithaca TCAT are doing in their attempts to meet must accept that it is becoming a larger city those needs.”

According to Perez, “In the short term, and find locations and neighborhoods that TCAT needs better staffing. Without sufwill accept even denser housing.

Sewell told the Ithaca Times, “It should ficient drivers and other staff, TCAT canbe pointed out that there has been some not provide what it seeks to.” He continued, positive development towards more afford- “In the longer term, local governments able housing.” According to Sewell, “The and Cornell should create a joint working group to fully city has been workoverhaul our pubing with developlic transit system, ers to build incomeseparate from the based housing like TCAT Board.” Perez Arthaus and the added, “Even if the upcoming Stately result of their analApartments, which ysis is that the curwill offer units for rent TCAT model is households makthe best we can do ing 30-60% of area for our community, median income, bethat would be usetween $24,050 and ful information.” $48,120 for a houseSewell has said, hold of two.” He — Pierre Saint-Perez “TCAT’s services also mentioned that have taken a hit over INHS is completing its work on 120 Hancock, which also fea- the last years due to inflation, increased labor costs, and a tight labor market. TCAT’s tures several affordable units.

Sewell said he “would continue with the workforce is down about 30% compared to city’s work of emphasizing affordable hous- pre-pandemic levels, so it cannot possibly ing development with tax incentives and keep up with the city’s needs.”

Sewell says, “The only way to bring reasonable zoning.” He added, “I would [also] be interested in developing a rent sta- TCAT back up to its previous service levbilization policy similar to the one outlined els is by public investment. This is one obin New York’s Emergency Tenant Protec- vious area where Cornell and the city have tion Act.” According to Sewell, “Landlords mutual interests. as about three-quarters need to raise rents to keep pace with infla- of all TCAT riders are associated with tion and property taxes, but double-digit Cornell. However, earlier this year, the school balked at an 8% funding increase increases in a single year are untenable.”

When asked how they would improve for TCAT that the city and the county had public transit if elected, both Perez and already approved. According to Sewell, Sewell said they would work to negotiate “Working with Cornell to increase fundan increased contribution to TCAT from ing is a necessary step for improving our public transit.”

Cornell.

“In the short term, TCAT needs better staffing. In the longer term, local governments and Cornell should create a joint working group to fully overhaul our public transit system.”

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Sports

Two Out of Three Full Home Football Weekend Scores Two Big Wins

By Ste ve L aw re nc e

I

n the words of the late, great Meatloaf, “Two out of three ain’t bad.” All three local football teams played over the weekend, and although Cornell dropped its non-conference game against Colgate to go to 2-1, Ithaca College and Ithaca High both pulled out big wins.

First, from South Hill... things can get a little confusing up at Ithaca College, with the naming of the athletic venues. Is the baseball field called Valesente Diamond, or Freeman Field? Is the football venue named Bertino Field or Butterfield Stadium?

Actually, it’s Velesente Diamond at Freeman Field, and Bertino Field at Butterfield Stadium, so that’s cleared up.

What’s more important is the fact that the Bombers took to the brand new Bertino Field for the first time on Saturday, and

a team only gets one shot at winning its inaugural game on its new field, and the Bombers put the “W” in the books.

Hobart came to Ithaca looking to win on the Bombers’ home “turf ” (which now has new meaning, given the new artificial turf field)) for the first time in 18 contests, but the Statesmen would head back up the lake on the short end of a 24-14 score.

Quarterback A.J. Wingfield had a typically solid day, throwing for 137 yards and a TD after going 13-for-21. The reliable Sam Kline grabbed a half dozen passes, and Jalen Leonard-Osbourne pounded out 155 yards on the ground. The win put the Bombers at 3-1, and the boys in blue will head to RPI on Saturday.

The Little Red of Ithaca High rode a big defensive night to a 27-14 victory over visiting Cortland, giving Ithaca its first back-to-back wins in a decade. Led by senior safety Danny Parker’s three intercep-

Ithaca College kicked off its new Bertino turf Field at Butterfield Stadium with a 24-14 victory over Hobart.

tions (he returned one for a touchdown, as did Delvin Christ), the host team’s defense stepped up in a big way. In Parker’s words, “It most definitely takes a lot of pressure off the offense when the defense put points on the board.”

Parker — along with Nick Talbot and Kaleb Kerfoot — serves as a tri-captain, and I asked him if the fact that the team saw a coaching change just prior to the season added any pressure for the captains.

Danny said, “Definitely. We have known Coach (Khiry) Brown for several years,

because he was on the coaching staff, but the relationship between him as a head coach and us as captains is different.”

Parker (who is also a standout wrestler for the Little Red) likes the flexibility he has on defense, saying “I love playing safety. Sometimes I can move around, sometimes I do man-to-man coverage.”

He added, “On offense, I mostly play slot receiver, but I also get some time as a running back and quarterback.”

Contin u ed on Page 12

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personal health

CrossFit Vertical to Host Health and Wellness Event

By C h arl e y Githl e r

S

ometimes the ripple effect of an incident stretches out over years. Later this month, a health and wellness event will take place at a Fall Creek fitness facility, funded by a grant that traces its genesis to the COVID pandemic of three years ago.

CrossFit Vertical, at 201 East Tompkins Street, which celebrated its two-year anniversary last month, is hosting the event on Saturday,October 21, from 12:45 to 3:00, at its Tompkins Street studio. It’s the result of a grant from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance awarded to a business that opened during the COVID pandemic, with the funds to be used in collaboration with other local businesses in providing a free community event.

CrossFit Vertical itself is a small (though expanding) family-centered and family-run fitness facility that focuses on longevity and quality of life, regardless of athletic ability, through ‘functional fitness’.

The approach is holistic, involving varied training that supports movements used in everyday life, as well as sustainable nutrition and an overall wellness mindset. The event will feature four speakers, all local professionals, who will address different topics related to health and wellness: Abigail Thomas, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, LAc, from Balance Acupuncture and Wellness at Village Green on Hanshaw Road will be presenting on Chronic Pain and Managing It Naturally.

Louise Seyge, Registered Nurse & Allied Functional Nutrition Practitioner at Healing Path Nutrition on South Albany

Street will present on the topic of Nutrition/ Sugar/Inflammation/Processed Oils.

Diego Hall, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, whose practice is in California but is currently a graduate student at Cornell, will The interior of the CrossFit Vertical fitness studio at 201 East Tompkins Street. (Photo: Provided) address Sports Psychology and Neuroscience: Depression Prevention. into being during the COVID era. It is Jana Leyden, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer funded in part by the Tompkins Commuand co-owner CrossFit Vertical will be nity Recovery Fund, which was created to presenting on Training with your Cycle as distribute funds from the federal Ameria Woman, as Opposed to Against It. can Rescue Plan Act. The grant funding the affair is a COVID Refreshments will be provided on the Recovery Small Business Grant, managed 21st, and there will be $825 worth of door by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. It’s part prizes of health and wellness services and products. It’s free and available to anyone of the larger constellation of governmentfunded COVID relief efforts. The thrust 15 or older, but the attendance is capped at 40 participants. Pre-registration can be of the program is to assist financially vuldone at crossfitvertical@gmail.com. nerable but capable businesses that came

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BEST TEACHER: Miss Gilroy PAGE 3A

BEST LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS: Greenstar PAGE 5A

BEST HAIR SALON: Hair Color Art PAGE 6A

BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT: Angelhearts Diner PAGE 7A

BEST CHEAP NIGHT OUT: Viva Taqueria PAGE 10A The

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E N T E R T A I N M E N T

BEST LOCAL COMEDIAN: Ke n n e t h M c L a u r i n

BEST LOCAL BAND: Maddy & the Blind Spots

BEST LOCAL ACTOR: Erica Steinhagen

Photo: Provided

Photo: Provided

BEST LOCAL COMEDIAN — KENNETH MCLAURIN

Photo: Provided

BEST LOCAL ACTOR — ERICA STEINHAGEN

BEST LOCAL BAND — M ADDY & T H E B L I N D S P O T S

Kenneth McLaurin has won the Best Local Comedian Erica Steinhagen is the winner of the Best Local Actor award in this year’s Best of Ithaca contest. Kenneth has long award in this year’s Best of Ithaca contest. Steinhagen told the called himself “The Funniest Person You’ve Never Heard Ithaca Times, “This is so special because making art with and Of.” But his first album, Cuttin’ Up Comedy at the Shop, his for this community that means so much to me and has cradled Kitchen Theatre show Southern Fried Ithaca, Comedy on The and lifted me from the very beginning of my career, is one of Commons, his recent production “So You Think You’re Anti- the most deeply joyful aspects of my life.” She continued saying, Racist Competition, and being named Ithaca’s Best Comedian “We all deserve well-made and well-thought art, and theater as is rapidly changing that. my medium is one that fosters connection and discourse. It lives and breathes because of the community gathering together in a room and listening and exchanging ideas and dreams and love and hardships, and all of the things that make us human.” She added, “I can’t wait to see you all in that room again soon. I am deeply humbled and overflowing with gratitude.”

B E S T T H E AT E R PRODUCTION: Billy Elliot Photo: File

B E S T T H E AT E R P R O D U C T I O N — B I L LY E L L I O T

BEST MURAL: Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services Building Photo: Michelle LaMorte

The Hangar Theatre’s midsummer show is a winner –– “Billy Elliot: The Musical” is full of heart, hope, and talent. Set in northeast England during a miners’ strike in 1984-85, this is a tale of a working-class boy fighting to find himself in a world of increasingly narrow options. Hugo Lloyd — who played Billy — said, “The story is about how [Billy’s] dad learns to accept him as a ballet dancer and about how Billy finds his way to the top.

B E S T M U R A L — C AY U G A ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES (CARS) BUILDING

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Change to “Maddy Walsh said winning both the best local band and best solo artist awards “was a sweet and unexpected honor.” While she’s not a big believer in competition when it comes to music, she sees winning the awards this year as a special tribute. “The Blind Spots have been together a long time, and after the two plus years of a global pandemic that made it impossible to perform live, this award feels like a pat on the back from a very good friend saying, ‘way to stick it out guys.’” Walsh says she poured all her love for Ithaca into the song “Lighthouse” on her recent solo record and hopes that shows everyone just how much she loves the place she calls home.”

This mural is called “The Opposite of Addiction is Connection” and can be seen outside of the Cayuga Addiction Ti m es

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Recovery Services (CARS) building on West State Street. The artwork was created by Betsy Casanas and Mauricio Perez.

Ithaca Murals facilitator Caleb Thomas said that CARS employees “wanted [the mural] to be about recovery, and that feeling after recovery.”

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P E O P L E

BEST FA M O U S I T H A C A N : Ruth Bader Ginsberg

BEST ALDERPERSON: Ducson Nguyen Photo: File

B E S T FA M O U S I T H A C A N — RUTH BADER GINSBERG Beating out the likes of her fellow Cornell alumni like Carl Sagan and Bill Nye, former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg won the award for Best Famous Ithacan in

Photo: File

the 2023 Best of Ithaca contest. Ginsburg graduated from Cornell University in 1954 and was nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Ginsberg served on the court for 27 years before her death in 2020.

BEST ALDERPERSON — DUCSON NGUYEN In response to winning the Best Alderperson award in this year’s Best of Ithaca contest, Ducson Nguyen said, “I’m humbled and undeserving because all my colleagues work hard and bring different strengths to city council. But because I feel constituent services are among the most important of our responsibilities it is heartening to hear that I’m connecting with the people I serve.” Ducson added, “Serving on Council has been the greatest honor of my life and receiving this award is a lovely start to my final term.”

BEST ARTS SUPPORTER: Carol & Mac Travis

B E S T C AT E R E R : Serendipity

BEST TEACHER: Mrs Gilroy (South Hill)

B E S T C AT E R E R — S E R E N D I P I T Y

Photo: Michelle LaMorte

B E S T T E AC H E R — M R S G I L R OY Congratulations to Margaret Gilroy, an exceptional Elementary school Teacher at South Hill Elementary School, for her well-deserved recognition as Best Teacher. With unwavering dedication, passion, and a commitment to nurturing young minds, Margaret shines as a beacon of excellence in education.

Her impact on the community and the lives of her students is The

truly remarkable. Colleagues Erin Wallace and Allison Vorhis, who have worked closely with Maggie for three years, commend her exceptional dedication. "She actively engages in her students' extracurricular activities and ensures that sick students don't fall behind by providing necessary schoolwork," they commented, adding, "Maggie's warm and welcoming smile greets everyone each morning, setting a positive tone for the day."

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Serendipity has been crowned as the Best Caterer in the city in this year's Best of Ithaca contest. Serendipity Catering is a full-service catering and event planning company based in Ithaca, NY. The business focuses on delivering exceptional service and perfectly detailed presentations for all of our weddings and events.

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E S S E N T I A L S

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BEST NEW BUSINESS— C D M X TA C O S What started as an outdoor food stand located in a metal box outside of the Ithaca Reuse Center has since become one the most loved taco spots in the city. The business is owned and operated by Eduardo Acevedo, who hopes to capture the local street food market with his authentic Mexican cuisine. Acevedo has said that “public demand” is what has made his business so successful. Taco lovers can get a taste of CDMX tacos at their location in Press Bay Alley in downtown Ithaca.

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Photo: File

BEST THRIFT STORE — ITHACA REUSE CENTER The Ithaca Reuse Center is part of the Finger Lakes Reuse organization, which provides living wage jobs and products at affordable prices while encouraging environmental sustainability. Reuse center employee Isaac said that “The idea of reusing stuff and keeping items out of the landfill as well as the community involvement is what drew me to working at the reuse center.”

BEST THRIFT: Ithaca Reuse Center (Elmira Road)

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BEST PET GROOMER — NO BARKS ABOUT IT No Barks About prides themselves on putting the safety and wellbeing of dogs first; from a simple nail trim to a nose-to-tail makeover, their experienced team will have your dog looking and feeling their best. Owner Melissa Giannone said, “Our staff are so dedicated and believe so strongly in our mission of helping dogs and their owners and it shows in their work, every day.” No Barks About It is open Tuesday through Friday by appointment only, and has very limited new client spots available - interested new clients are encouraged to fill out the waitlist form on their website.

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B E S T L O C AL LY - OW N E D B U S I N E S S — G R E E N S TAR “Thank you to our beautiful Ithaca (and beyond!) community for voting GreenStar as Best Local Grocery Store with Ithaca Times,” said GreenStar General Manager Jeff Bessemer. GreenStar is a consumer cooperative, collectively owned by over 12,000 member-owners. Everyone is welcome to shop at GreenStar Food Co-op, where fresh groceries, whole foods, sustainable living, and the transformative power of a strong local economy are celebrated. With 3 locations across the Ithaca and Collegetown, NY region, Greenstar takes pride in opening our grocery store’s doors to everyone in the community.

Bessemer continued saying, “As Ithaca’s only

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and our vibrant local food system.”

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BEST BARBER SHOP: Fine Lines Photo: Michelle LaMorte

Photo: Michelle LaMorte

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Plenty of Posies specializes in specialty fresh cut flowers, pre-made and made to order bouquets, dried flowers, and even wreaths. They have been crowned as the best vendor at the Ithaca Farmers Market in the 2023 Best of Ithaca contest after being a member of the market since 1985. You can find them outside of the market at 395 Shaffer Road in Newfield.

Nestled in Finger Lakes wine country, and blessed with dreamy soil for growing fruit trees, Indian Creek Farm is a 100-year-old orchard and u-pick spot. Visit the farm for seasonal picking of apples, peaches, pumpkins, berries, and vegetables. The orchard is just a three minute drive from downtown Ithaca.

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Balakula’s Meadow Street restaurant has stood out in the local Asian dining scene. This 2023 award is a testament to their community dedication, especially during these recent years of take-out prominence.

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B E S T R E S TA U R A N T FOR VEGANS — ANGELHEARTS DINER “We are honored to win this award and would like to thank the community for their continued support, especially through Covid,” said owner Kim Engelhart. She continued saying, “We started four years ago as a full service diner, quickly transitioning to takeout only and now offer a mix of takeout and counter service as we navigate the changing times. Our mission has been to bring good quality comfort

food, which just happens to be vegan in the hopes that vegans, omnivores, veg curious have a place to go to eat, enjoy freshly made donuts or desserts and our locally roasted coffee & espresso from Jacob at Oak and Crow Coffee Co.” She added, “We look forward to bringing you more baked goods in the future and expanding with events like Focaccia Fridays featuring Ithaca Breadworks. Come visit Wed.-Fri. 7:30-2:30 or Sat./Sun. 9:00-2:30” Contin u ed on Page 8A

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Silo Food Truck is the best meals on wheels in the area. The food truck was created by partners Jesse Steve, aka the Chicken Wizard, and Katie Foley the Biz-Wiz. Silo launched in 2015 and has been a familiar food provider at festivals and events including the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival Best

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of Music & Dance, Ithaca Festival, PHISH Magnaball, Okeechobee Music Festival and the NY State Fair. Regarding their success Foley has said, “We both had the same values in terms of the kind of produce we wanted to source, the businesses we wanted to support and the quality of the food and ingredients we wanted to use.” She added, “I think that people really took to it, which is cool.”

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MOST INSPIRED DINING: Gola Photo: File

MOST INSPIRED DINING— GOLA Get inspired at the iconic Gola Osteria, located inside the historic Quarry Arms building in Ithaca. Gola Osteria brings you a fresh spin on classic Italian dishes. The restaurant features an expansive dinner menu that includes homemade pasta, sauces and seasonal ingredients, as well as a full bar with a

well-curated Italian and Finger Lakes wine list, and a rotating selection of both inventive and classic cocktails. Gola is owned and operated

by Chef Sam Epps and his wife Kami Drake, who have said that they’re thankful, “for the family and loyal Gola customers who have supported them unconditionally.”

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BEST ASIAN R E S TA U R A N T : Asia Cuisine

BEST CHEAP NIGHT OUT: Vi v a Ta q u e r i a and Cantina

Photo: Michelle LaMorte

Photo: Michelle LaMorte

B E S T C H E AP N I G H T O U T — V I VA TA Q U E R I A AN D C AN T I N A Since 1995, Viva Taqueria has been serving fresh, healthy Mexican food at affordable prices. Pictured above is Hostess Jezebel Redmon. Bartender Ben Janes has said, “Being a staple

in the community, it’s important that we provide affordable food, not only for the community but for our own business purposes.”

In April of 2023, Viva relocated just across the intersection of State & Aurora to a larger and more accommodating space at 215 E State Street on the Downtown Ithaca Commons.

B E S T A S I AN R E S TA U R AN T — ASIA CUISINE Asia Cuisine has won the Best Asian Restaurant award in this year's Best of Ithaca contest. Asia Cuisine is a mellow eatery on the corner of Aurora Street in downtown Ithaca that serves a diverse range of Pan-Asian dishes, from Korean BBQ to sushi.

P L A C E S

BEST GREEN BUSINESS: Home Green Home Photo: Michelle LaMorte

Photo: File

Photo: Michelle LaMorte

BEST GREEN BUSINESS — HOME GREEN HOME

B E S T G Y M — I S L AN D F I T N E S S

Home Green Home has taken home the Best Green Business award in this year’s Best of Ithaca contest. Home Green Home is an eclectic home goods store owned by Joe Nolan. It is located at 126 East State Street in downtown Ithaca and offers healthy home furnishings and green living products.

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BEST HISTORIC BUILDING: State Theatre

BEST GYM: Island Fitness

The

Island Health Fitness is a premier medically-based health and wellness facility that provides collaborative programming that prioritizes the health and well-being of all their customers. The facility is the creation of Terry, Tim, and Joe Ciaschi with help from partners at the Cayuga Medical Center. It offers customers personal training, group fitness activities, and even an aquatics center with hydro-therapy and a whirlpool spa. “The approach is to make sure members get everything they need for a comprehensive fitness plan,” program manager Stephanie Wright said.

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BEST HISTORIC BUILDING — S TAT E T H E AT R E The iconic State Theatre was originally built in 1928 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 after a brief closure in the 1980’s. The 1,600 seat theater is located in the heart of downtown Ithaca and hosts various events from bands, to plays, to comedy acts, to silent films, and more.

Downtown Ithaca once boasted seven grand theaters, including the Lyceum, the Crescent, and the Strand. The State Theatre is the last one remaining.

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BEST PLACE TO TA K E A V I S I T O R : Ta u g h a n n o c k Falls Photo: File

BEST PLACE TO TAK E A V I S I T O R — TA U G H AN N O C K FAL L S Taughannock Falls is the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Mississippi. With a drop of

215 feet — 66 meters — it's 33 feet higher than Niagara Falls, but has a much smaller volume of water. The skyscraper of a waterfall is roughly a 15 minute drive from downtown Ithaca, located at 1740 Taughannock Blvd in Trumansburg.

BEST PLACE TO B I R D WAT C H : Lab of Ornithology Photo: File

BEST PLACE TO B I R D WAT C H — L AB OF ORNITHOLOGY Peep all the best birds at Cornell Universities Lab of Ornithology. The lab works with communities around the globe to inspire and inform wildlife conservation, with a particular affinity for avian life. The lab believes that birds are a gateway to caring for the natural world. Editor for Living Bird Magazine, Marc Devokaitis said, “A great thing about this spot is that it’s an island of green amidst, airport, shopping mall, residential, everything, this is sort of an undeveloped couple hundred acres.” The lab is currently closed for renovations until Spring 2024, but trails for birdwatching remain open to the public.

BEST FINGER L A K E S D AY T R I P : Wi n e r i e s B E S T F I N G E R L AK E S DAY T R I P — WINERIES The Finger Lakes is the largest wine producing region in the United States east of California with more than 130 wineries, wine tours, wine festivals and wine bars. There’s no shortage of wine-based experiences for wine lovers in the Finger Lakes region.

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TWO OUT OF THREE

DOCUMENTARY ON TOWN

contin u ed from page 10

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Asked if the team’s collective attitude is noticeably different after evening its record at 2-2, Parker stated, “We could feel the morale rise after we won the away game at Montrose, and it rose even more after our home win.” Bringing the type of perspective a team would want from a captain, Danny added, “One of the biggest parts of my job as a co-captain is to try to make sure we don’t get too happy, or too complacent. It’s great to get these wins, but we have to stay focused.

The Little Red will travel to Whitney Point this weekend for a non-conference contest, and asked if the team knows anything about the opponent. Parker said, “We still have some film to watch, but right now we don’t know too much about them. They did play Montrose, and we beat them, and we have film of that game.”

As is the case for most football teams, there are a few injuries four games into the season. Addressing that, Parker offered, “We have two or three guys hurt who would really help us out, but you just persevere from week to week. It’s ‘Next Man Up.’ That’s football.”

The documentary sets its stage in a small and tranquil town with its residents stirred into an outrage over the Town Board’s proposition to implement a zoning law in the city, sparking a riveting debate on preserving the town’s character versus promoting modern development.

In the documentary, Gray visits with residents from across Caroline — from farmers to developers — to discuss the legal and economic concepts of zoning, as well as the more profound, personal, and human impact that it can have.

The film’s Director, Trần Hoàng Calvin, has said it is a “compelling exploration of the delicate balance between the preservation of community character and the need for sustainable growth and economic development.” Calvin continued that the documentary “is about the power of community spirit in the face of bureaucratic constraints.” He added, “[It] challenges viewers to consider the impact of zoning laws on the fabric of small-town life and to re-think the arbitrary lines that define our built environments.”

Nolan Gray feeds a horse on a Caroline farm while talking to residents about the history and impacts of zoning. (Photo: Provided)

The documentary offers a final overall question: can the free spirit of a town like Caroline be preserved in the face of growing regulatory pressures?

Nolan Gray is a widely published author with work appearing in outlets such as The Atlantic, Bloomberg Citylab, and The Guardian. He is also the host of the popular YouTube series Pop Culture Urbanism and the host of the Abundance Podcast.

The documentary was directed by Trần Hoàng Calvin, an independent director and film producer who graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Calvin has more than a decade of experience in the film industry, with credits from ABC News and VICE Media.

He is also the founder of NODEHAUS Media — the production company behind “The Free Spirit of Caroline.”

The documentary was also written and produced by Jeremy Max. Max graduated from New York University's Tisch School of The Arts and is an award-winning Director, Producer, and Writer from New York. In addition to his role in The Free Spirit of Caroline, Max has won numerous awards, including Best Film, at various film festivals for his upcoming film ‘Dream Girl.’

Learn more about the film here: https:// www.nodehaus.co/documentaries/arbitrary-lines-the-free-spirit-of-caroline Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/ i8qet5PB0NE

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At her Alma Mater, Ginsburg’s Relationship with Scalia is an Opera

O

By Barbara Adams

pera lovers (and RGB fans) in Ithaca packed Cornell University’s Willard Straight Hall on Saturday, September 24, for a musical treat: the comic opera “Scalia/Ginsburg” by composer/lyricist Derrick Wang. The work dramatizes with great good humor the personal friendship of Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who were philosophical opposites on the bench: staunch conservative and feminist progressive.

Originally premiering in 2015, this onehour opera has been produced throughout the U.S., including once at nearby Glimmerglass. It was even seen by the two justices themselves, in 2013 — and they both wrote forewords to Wang’s libretto.

Opera Ithaca’s recent one-night-only production was a collaboration with the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell.

The new school, launched just two years ago, intends to biennially honor the legacy of two alumni, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (government, ’54) and her husband Martin Ginsburg (chemistry, ’53). Pre-show speakers included the Ginsburgs’ granddaughter, Clara Spera, herself a lawyer, bringing some unexpected special memories to the event.

Under director Ben Robinson’s leadership, Opera Ithaca delivered a delightful production in the great long hall. Conductor Danielle Jagelski’s small orchestra provided ample support for the three performers. And the video visual design (Robinson and Scott Holdredge) created a continuous, vivid backdrop of images — the justices themselves, marches and protests, the Supreme Court and Constitutional script, and again and again, the figure of blindfolded Justice with her scales, always turning, never still.

Scalia and Ginsburg were political adversaries on the court: he a constitutional “originalist” hewing close to the Founders’ intent; she

As Scalia, tenor Chad Kranak is bold and bombastic; Rachel Schutz’s Ginsburg is cleverly persistent and decidedly outspoken in Scalia/Ginsburg as presented by Opera Ithaca. (Photo by Rachel Philipson)

advocating for flexibility and expanded interpretation reflecting current times. But despite their fierce differences — over the death penalty, abortion, affirmative action, and myriad other issues — they nevertheless had a genuine friendship, bonding over their love of good food, wine, and above all, opera. Nino, as he was called, is reputed to have said about Ruth, “What’s not to like? — except her views on the law.”

Scalia was 79 when he died; Ginsburg 87, but Robinson’s casting presents them at dynamic midlife, the two actors uncannily resembling their real-life models. As Scalia, tenor Chad Kranak is bold and bombastic, passionately opinionated but nevertheless charming. Rachel Schutz’s Ginsburg, though smaller and softer, is cleverly persistent and decidedly outspoken (with a thrilling soprano). “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made,” she insists.

But to begin at the beginning: Scalia’s tirade about the state of the country and the court — his rage aria — is interrupted by the arrival of an unknown figure, who introduces himself only as The Commentator. In this role, bass-baritone Jesús Vicente Murillo, appealing to a power higher than the Supreme Court, magically closes all exits so no man can pass in or out. He informs Scalia that he’s the one now to be judged — apparently for his endless dissenting opinions.

But then Ruth slips in, pointing out that the exclusionary language “no man” left her a loophole. Realizing that Nino must pass three weighty tests, she steadfastly allies herself with her friend, and the two stand together to face what The Commentator will impose.

“Defend your legal views” is the first charge, and Scalia does so, impressively. (His tribute to his immigrant father is moving, giving him depth beyond the bluster.) The second trial is to be silent, which both ultimately fail at, spiritedly defending their views. The final

trial is somehow moot, as The Commentator has realized their allegiance to justice.

And Scalia and Ginsburg’s final duet, “We are different, we are one,” is the essence of their belief in civil discourse, in attempting to understand those unlike us, in envisioning a whole nation encompassing such differences.

It’s clear that Scalia is being escorted to the next life, and now Ginsburg must bid him farewell, as there’s still “work to be done.”

This fairly simple plot is wonderfully studded with historical legal citations, clever lyrics, amusing rhymes, and multiple musical allusions. As a lawyer and musician both, Wang gleefully references “precedents” throughout.

From Handel and Mozart to Rossini and a hint of Puccini (“they call me Nino”), his score invokes phrases from the classics. Scalia even has his own patter song indebted to “The Pirates of Penzance.”

When Ginsburg takes center stage, there’s a lot more variety in the musical styles, and she’s enormously playful, inventive — at one point crooning into her gavel like a jazz singer cradling a mike.

With musical quotations popping up everywhere, the imperious narrator, as you might imagine, often channels the frightening sepulchral tones of Don Giovanni’s Commendatore. But he softens with his final gift to the two justices: he bestows on them the gorgeous operatic voices they always wished they had.

It’s an irresistible conclusion to this frothy tribute to friendship and respect.

Upcoming: The 2nd Annual Opera Ithaca Festival, Oct. 30 – Nov. 12.

For more information, visit www.operaithaca.org/.

Barbara Adams, a regional theatre and arts writer, teaches writing at Ithaca College.

Arts&Entertainment

“Scalia/ Ginsburg”

O c to b e r 4 – 1 0 , 2 0 2 3 / T h e I t h a c a T i m e s

13

Stage

A Vote You Can Be Proud of Napoleon Dynamite Crew Hits Ithaca for Retrospective

By L A Bourge oi s

N

o one predicted the impact of Napoleon Dynamite when it was released back in 2004. Now, Jon Heder (Napoleon), Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) and Efran Ramirez (Pedro) are celebrating this cult classic with a special screening.

After the movie, they’ll be answering questions and sharing stories. “Jon [Heder] and I consider ourselves the original fans of Napoleon Dynamite,” says Jon Gries.

“Most films that I’ve done, I don’t imagine I would ever want to be doing this kind of tour. They don’t embody this kind of optimism, sense of inclusion, and nostalgia.”

Gries sat down with the Ithaca Times to discuss how he was cast, what it was like on the set, and the impact of this film over the almost twenty years since its release.

This set had none of that. Quite honestly, there were no amenities, just one small trailer that they used to do the hair and makeup. We would change in our hotel rooms and walk to the set because it was such a small town.

It was wonderful because we were so low profile. It wasn’t a very gawky set.

We were just doing our thing, and it felt almost like a student project. We were shooting on film on this big 35mm camera. Using film was on its way out. Munn Powell, the cinematographer, got the equipment for free.

What’s something fans might find surprising?

The time machine is a true story. Aaron Ruell, who plays Kip, told Jared Hess [the director] a story about his younger brother hacking his parents’ Paypal code and buying a time machine on eBay for How did you get cast in the movie?

Jerry Weiss [the casting director] was $682. It came with crystals and little bags of money from currency from different casting Napoleon Dynamite, and they were eras, so that if you went to another time, using the editing office of a movie I’d just you’d be set. It was a complete scam. They finished called The Big Empty. Jerry said, tried it out before they sent it back. One “Let’s just take a look at this footage of this of Aaron’s brothers had fallen out of a tree guy in this movie, I think you might like and had staples in his head. They put the him.” They looked at a couple of my scenes crown on him and turned on the power. and made the offer. The script was sent to me and, by page 15, I was laughing out loud. And of course, because he had staples, it conducted electricity into his head and he got shocked. You see that in the film What was it like on the set? and it’s outrageous, but the truth is almost On most movie sets, there are trucks, always stranger than fiction. trailers, generators, and mobile homes.

Efren Ramirez, John Heder & John Gries then.

Why did you decide to start touring with the movie?

We are really interested in turning on the house lights and talking amongst all of us, because we are all fans. We’re sharing our stories and they’re sharing their amazing stories. This movie affected their lives, whether comical or dramatically.

Sometimes people will thank us, and we’re like, “Don’t thank us. We were thankful to be in the movie. It’s Jared Hess’ brainchild.” One of the things that this film represents is that we’re all different, and that’s what makes us all special. It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to not feel quite like everybody else. I think that’s what draws us to wanting to do this, because we’re celebrating that.

It’s definitely a heartwarming evening in its own way. There was one woman who came to us and she said, “I was so deeply depressed in my life, that I had written letters to all my friends and all my family and I was ready to finish my life. On the night that I thought I was going to be doing this, a friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen for eight months and I loved and

A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efram Ramirez and Jon Gries October 8, 8 p.m.

State Theater of Ithaca 107 W State St, Ithaca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Response to “Ithaca Car-Share is Making a Comeback”

contin u ed from page 6

John Gries, John Heder & Efren Ramirez now. (Photo by Jim Bennett)

14 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / O c to b e r 4 – 1 0 , 2 0 2 3

VanCampen, your film and music writer.

His connections to our community were deep and strong, and I can only hope he realized how much he was beloved by his friends and readers. May his memory be a blessing.

— Nancy Kane

missed came back into town. She called me out of the blue and said, ’You’ve got to come see this movie with me.’ Oh, what the heck, I’m gonna go.” She went, and she started laughing convulsively. She didn’t know how to stop. Somehow the movie had opened her up. Even her friend was a little nervous because she was laughing to the point of tears. But she went home, tore up all those letters and went back to school. And now she’s a psychotherapist.

She talks people through the exact crisis that she was in.

It still kind of chokes me up. On the panel, we couldn’t speak. We just didn’t know what to say. Because I don’t consider us changing people’s lives. I consider us popcorn salesmen.

Napoleon Dynamite:

T

his can not happen soon enough.

I have had to cancel most medical services since they closed. They are a great option cheaper than taxis, reliable, and clean which Ithaca taxis are not and buses really only serve Cornell with any regularity. A simple doctor’s visit takes all day using a bus.

— Allen Abrahams

Stage

What if AI Brought Back the Dead?

“Marjorie Prime” Presents A Haunting Look at Artificial Intelligence

By Ros s Ha ars ta d

A

rtificial Intelligence/AI is all the rage these days to the point of obsession. Yet Jordan Harrison’s Marjorie Prime, now playing at the Cherry Artspace in a sterling production from House of Ithaqua (HOI), first saw light in 2014; given the realities of new play development, it was probably in gestation years before that.

And Harrison has a neat twist on the AI concept: in the near future, humans can order a ‘Prime.’ This Prime is a holographic replica of a deceased loved one. Memories are kept alive by feeding the Prime (who is always accepting and listening) memories of the deceased.

As the play opens, Marjorie (Kristin Sad) is 86, arthritic and floating through the middle stages of dementia. Walter (A.J. Sage) is her Prime, her late husband, but as he looked in his 30s. Son-in-law John (Mike Chen) is totally into this set-up, constantly feeding stories to Walter while daughter Tess (Marie Sirakos) is freaked out both by the less-than-human help and PUBLIC WORKERS COALITION TALKS contin u ed from page 7

is concerned about the City Attorney’s continued involvement in negotiating important side letter agreements that supplement or modify current contracts to meet the needs of the workers and the Citv. According to Condzella, based on the City Attorney’s history with local unions and public comments made against public workers earlier this year, the IPWC is calling for the Ithaca Common Council to stand by their public promise and remove the City Attorney from labor related discussions altogether.

When asked about their stance on the financial contributions that Cornell University makes to the City of Ithaca, Condzella said that the IPWC believes that the agreement needs to be for a shorter duration so it can be reviewed and renegotiated more frequently. The IPWC also believes that Cornell needs to put more money on the table, an amount compa-

its resemblance to a much younger version of her dad.

Harrison’s elegant script manages to entwine an intriguing sci-fi notion around a story of family pain and reckoning. Tess’s unresolved issues with her mom include Marjorie’s silence over a childhood tragedy that haunts them both.

What are the stories we tell about ourselves? Who are we if are memories fall away? Which memories do we decide to keep? To embroider? To change? How do we deal with mortality? (Tess says at one point that living is simply a distraction from dying.) And of course, in nearly every story about automatons, from Pinocchio onwards: what does it mean to be human? The play neatly hovers over these questions with great subtlety.

The acting is first-rate.

Sage as the first Prime sets the pattern for these AI constructs (we meet others as the play progresses): amiable, solicitous, pleasant but a little remote.

Sad’s work is rich in detail, physical, vocal and emotional, she limns a woman struggling with her memory and her fail-

ing body, but still open to flirtation or a snappy retort. Each moment is Marjorie (Kristin Sad) and Walter (AJ Sage) are an elderly fully inhabited. A memory woman and her artificially intelligent “Prime in the gripping production by House of Ithaqua. (Photo by Jeff Hodges) about a park bench is especially mesmerizing.

Sirakos plays Tess as highly strung, even Prime is on, however, is a little too on the desperate in her need for control, acerbic nose. with her mother, snappish, with precise The directors and lighting designer Lea physicalization. At a later stage, after Davis have chosen to treat the play fairly Marjorie’s death, Tess totally unravels, and theatrically rather than realistically. The a vast loneliness and grief take over. Tess’s lighting choices are strong in mood but devastation is palpable. somewhat abrupt in their transitions.

Chen begins as the reasonable, laidDesign and staging make for a dreamback guy, the mediator in an unfussy and like ending, that adds an extra touch of natural performance. John too must in wonder to (as my partner noted) ‘an odd the end contend with great sorrow, and but affecting play.’ the sadness flows through Chen like an A beautiful rendition of a haunting play. undertow.

Sage co-directs with Chris Teitelbaum; as is typical of HOI’s style, the staging is clean, somewhat sparse, with great attenby Jordan Harrison tion to the shifting moods of the play.

Oct. 5-7 Norm Scott’s upbeat and offbeat song choices nicely match the gentle humor of House of Ithaqua performing at the Cherry Artspace the play and keep the energy buoyant. The 102 Cherry St., Ithaca Houseofithaqua.com decision to use a drone effect every time a

rable to their peer institutions. Condella expressed that now more than ever, local public workers feel the immense strain being put on them and the infrastructure they maintain because of increased demand for services and critically low staffing levels in City departments. He cited several examples of why increased funding from Cornell is critical such as deteriorating roadways and sidewalks, delayed snow removal, the homeless encampments, crime on the Ithaca commons and diminished police presence. condzella also stressed that city departments need to be properly resourced and staffed so public work is no longer outsourced to expensive private contractors. According to Condzella, the IPWC believes an agreement between Cornell and the City needs to be more balanced, taking into consideration the working people of Ithaca and the community who relies on public services, including students, visitors and commuters.

“Our community and the working class shouldn’t have to suffer because of a

disagreement between the City of Ithaca and the Cornell University Administration. There has to be a resolution that both parties can agree to, that is more considerate of our community. Cornell needs to take into account who is really being affected here. It’s their own faculty, students and staff. It’s the working class in Ithaca and the greater community we serve. As a graduate of Cornell, I’m really disappointed to see that the University won’t step up and make a more significant investment in our City.”, said Condzella.

Condzella said that the IPWC has been in contact with the University, to include some members of the Cornell University Board of Trustees, to discuss the situation.

He added that the IPWC remains optimistic that an agreement will be reached so that public services in the City of Ithaca won’t be disrupted or further diminished.

“The Ithaca Public Workers Coalition, our member organizations, and our partners in labor throughout New York State will continue to monitor the situation closely, there’s a lot on the line here.”, said Condzella.

Marjorie Prime

A SOLAR POWERED FUTURE contin u ed from page 7

selling the owner’s solar electricity to NYSEG. The result—the consumer uses and pays for as little Grid power as possible.”

As the seasons change there are adjustments that can be made to reflect the increased energy needs and reduced solar generation. And Louis is the in-house expert on the why’s and how’s to make the most effective use of the coordination of solar power and the backup battery. Over time, the money saved by storing extra energy in the battery, and sending the excess solar energy back to the Grid when not needed, may pay for the solar system, including the backup battery for clean energy generated 24/7, even when NYSEG has a power outage.

Bottom line: Generate your own clean energy, while spending the least amount of money, purchasing the least amount of grid energy.

O c to b e r 4 – 1 0 , 2 0 2 3 / T h e I t h a c a T i m e s

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