July 15, 2026 by Ithaca Times

N ews line

Patrick Kuehl to Resign From Common Council

By Grant Terwilliger

City of Ithaca Alderman Patrick

Kuehl will resign Aug. 5, he announced at the Common Council’s July 8 meeting.

Kuehl said in a press release that he is resigning to pursue a doctoral degree in American government and public law at the University of Texas at Austin this fall. Kuehl is from Sheridan, Wyoming, and attended both Ithaca College and Cornell University, serving as an EMT during his college years.

Patrick Kuehl was elected to a four year term as fourth ward Alderperson on Nov. 15, 2023, after news of a surprise write-in campaign two hours before the polls closed on Nov. 7 unseated then-incumbent Alderperson Jorge DeFendini of the fourth ward.

Until election day in 2023, there was no public announcement of Kuehl’s campaign. Kuehl made his first comments to the media saying he decided to launch a write-in campaign after being approached by members of the community who were unhappy with the solidarity slate in Ithaca.

“Before I was elected, I was an EMT and a union organizer responding to emergencies throughout the city’s wards,” Kuehl said in the release. “That experience shaped everything about how I approached this job. Good government starts with the people doing the work on the ground.”

Kuehl said that serving the residents of Collegetown and Ithaca was an inspiring experience and that he worked hard to represent the will of the people every day. Kuehl hopes that he made a positive

difference in Ithaca’s community with the contributions he made to the community during his term.

As city councilor, Kuehl started the Collegetown Community Collective and passed a resolution partnering the city with the Cornell AI Innovation Hub to make more than two decades of city records available to the public.

“The current council was handed a raw deal when I began,” Kuehl said. “With eight new members, the city was years behind on its audits, had no permanent controller, had lost its credit rating, and had few fiscal policies governing borrowing.”

Kuehl said that although their challenges have not been resolved, the council has taken steps to fix the issues. With Kuehl’s absence, fourth ward Alderman Robin Trumble will continue to represent and work with Collegetown’s business owners and residents as well as work on the Collegetown Community Collective’s steering committee.

“I know how much this place means to all of you, and I know that you will continue to create an Ithaca to be proud of for all of us,” Kuehl said at Common Council. “Robin, I know that you will represent collegetown well.”

When he was first elected, Kuehl’s hidden campaign gained negative feedback from both members of Ithaca’s Common Council and the local community. Councilors Patrick Sewell and Ducson Nguyen addressed his resignation during the common council meeting July 8.

“He’s definitely grown on me — I think he has earned our respect,” third ward Alderman Patrick Sewell said. “I think he

X Paper Cup Recycling Now Accepted in Tompkins County

By Kaeleigh Banda

Paper cups are now accepted for curbside recycling in Tompkins County after the guidelines were updated. The new guidelines were put into effect starting July 1.

The Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management released its 2026-2027 curbside recycling guide, which includes updated instructions and a 12-month recycling collection calendar. The guide also promotes sustainable education by sharing other ways that the community can reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink waste, including food scraps recycling opportunities.

Prior to this update, paper cups were excluded from recycling because the thin plastic lining that is added to the cup to prevent leaks was difficult to separate from the paper. However, a technology advancement makes the removal of the lining possible, so the paper

is one of the hardest working members of council. I think he’s done a tremendous job here, and I will continue to defend your honor as long as you stay above board.”

Second ward Alderman Ducson Nguyen acknowledged that he had said mean things about Kuehl when he was elected but that Kuehl had stepped up. Nguyen said he appreciated Kuehl’s service.

City of Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo said in a press release on Kuehl’s resignation that he was grateful for his initiative and support of ambitious rezoning initiatives.

“Patrick has been a consistent and effective champion for Collegetown during a period of transition and opportunity,” Cantelmo said.

The Common Council will be opening up an application to fill the vacant seat in the government governed by the city charter and the Common Council’s rules of procedure. Cantelmo said he will work with the deputy clerk’s office to get the vacancy publicized and that any fourth ward residents are able to apply.

LIV / NO. 44 / July 15, 2026

The 34th Annual Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance returns this weekend. Photo by Nathan Ellison, design by Zachary Isaac Stephens for the Ithaca Times.

fiber can be recovered. The paper cups will be processed along with mixed paper and then recycled into something new.

The guidelines state that the paper cups must be empty when recycled, straws and lids must be removed, and styrofoam is not accepted. According to the press release from the Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management, most paper beverage cups meet the criteria, including cups used for fountain drinks or hot beverages.

The 2026-2027 guidelines are available online at RecycleTompkins. org, and printed copies will be available at the Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management office at 122 Commercial Ave., the Recycling and Solid Waste Center public drop-off area, municipal offices, Food Scraps Recycling Drop Spots and select grocery store service desks throughout the county.

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frEElancErs: Barbara Adams, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, Jake Sexton, Kira Walter, Vasant Alex Laplam, and Ceili Ayoung THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2026 BY PATHWAYS TO EQUITY, LLC. 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

Patrick Kuehl has announced his resignation from Ithaca’s common council.

(Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times File)

IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A

By Mark Syvertson

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

“WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?”

NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com

Following Militarization Concerns, IPD Requires Common Council Approval for Tactical, Surveillance Grants Under New Rule

By Philip O’Dell

The Ithaca Police Department must gain the Common Council’s approval before applying for tactical equipment grants, following the council’s passage of a resolution at its July 8 meeting.

Alderperson Hannah Shvets submitted the resolution in response to the council’s approval of a $75,000 Law Enforcement Technology (LETECH) grant for police equipment and training at its April 8 meeting. Awarded under the 2022 federal grant program, the LETECH grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and administered through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The council advanced the resolution on March 18.

A city memorandum says IPD will allocate $65,000 for tactical equipment, including $22,500 for three helmet mounted night-vision binoculars, $27,500 for 16 ballistic helmets with communications, $6,000 for two ballistic shields and $9,000 for two unmanned aerial systems restricted to interior use. The remaining $10,000 will fund Special Response Team training.

Several community residents spoke at the meeting in favor of the resolution, contrasting with previous meetings where multiple residents opposed the LETECH grant over concerns about police militarization.

Shvets said the resolution also addresses resident concerns regarding a lack of transparency and public input on city grant applications.

Alderperson Robin Trumble introduced an amendment to expand the resolution’s restrictions to include surveillance technology.

Trumble’s amendment added language requiring prior approval for any “grants that would fund in whole or in part the acquisition, licensing or operation of surveillance technology.” The amendment also mandates IPD to provide program details for both tactical equipment and surveillance technology applications before submission. The amended language passed by a 9-1 vote.

Alderperson Margaret Fabrizio, the only “no” vote, said she disagreed that all tactical team grant applications must match community public safety funding. Fabrizio believed the resolution unfairly singled out IPD and could force the city to

find unnecessary ways to spend money. “I think it really micromanages and ties the hands of the police department,” Fabrizio said.

Under the resolution, IPD must provide grant details to the council before submissions. These details include a list of desired equipment, short- and long-term grant obligations, IPD’s ability to comply with requirements, and an explanation of how the equipment fits the city’s public safety priorities and Reimagining Public Safety plans.

The resolution says IPD must apply for “an equal or greater value of grant funds consistent with council’s adopted community public safety policies to all tactical team grant funds that are applied for.” To ensure this, the acting city manager will coordinate with the deputy city manager, who oversees the community responders’ program.

According to the resolution, IPD used tactical equipment nine times in 2025, though most of its responses involve traffic offenses and welfare checks that generally do not require it. The resolution will follow the council’s 2021 Reimagining Public Safety plan that passed in response to a state executive order to review police practices, build community trust, and reduce disproportionate minority contact with law enforcement.

IPD Chief Thomas Kelly said the department is not purchasing weapons or heavy military equipment. Instead, the requested funding is for protective tools to ensure officer safety. Kelly explained ballistic shields are heavy and stop rifle rounds, which allows officers more time to deescalate high-stress situations, maintain distance, and make better decisions. Kelly said ballistic shields protect officers from thrown objects like rocks or ice. He added that the equipment has proven useful in recent encounters involving dangerous dogs by preventing injuries from bites.

Kelly said IPD secured a New York state technology grant that was delayed for years. He said the application does not mention the word tactical and has a deadline at the end of the month. Because the city is eligible for up to $250,000, Kelly said waiting for standard council approval next month would cause IPD to miss the deadline and lose the funding.

Shvets said discussions with the grant administrator and the acting city manager

led to broader language for the funding criteria to avoid potential shortages.

Shvets said the original plan focused on matching community responder funds, but officials worried the city would struggle to find enough eligible grants within a single calendar year under a narrow category. To resolve this, the scope was expanded to community safety, a broader classification that encompasses council policy priorities, including pedestrian and bicycle safety, and crosswalk lighting. Shvets said the wide-reaching approach ensures grant applications are distributed fairly across many safety categories.

“If we are applying for tactical team equipment funds, we’re also matching that with kind of the vision that we believe in for policing,” Shvets said.

Mayor Robert Cantelmo said the council simply wants to review grant proposals before they are submitted, adding that alderpersons are open to discussing review processes for time-sensitive grants.

“Nothing about this curtails the ability of the department to bring something before the Common Council,” Cantelmo said. “It is just a requirement that we vet it in advance.”

Shvets said grant applications could be introduced at any council meeting. To accommodate tight deadlines for time-sensitive funding opportunities, Shvets said any scheduled meeting could be designated as a special voting session.

Alderperson Patrick Kuehl argued the pre-approval requirement should be expanded beyond the police department to encompass all city departments. Kuehl explained that grants provide valuable opportunities for the city to pursue projects that would otherwise be impossible under its normal operational budget.

The Ithaca Police Department must gain Common Council approval before applying for tactical equipment grants.

(Photo: Nathan Ellison/Ithaca Times File)

“I worked at Aver’s Pizza in Bloomington, IN.” – Michelle

“I was on the grounds’ crew for a hospital.” – Matt

“My first job was a summer camp counselor in Maine.”

– Julie

“My first real job was a veterinary assistant but I also used to babysit for $0.50 an hour.”

– Ann

“I worked at a Build-A-Bear Workshop in the mall where I grew up. To upsell, we would do a “drive-by shoe-ing” if the bear was barefoot.” – Alice

County Officials Project $9.8 Million Deficit in 2027 Budget

By Mikayla Rovenolt

Tompkins County officials project that the county’s 2027 budget will have a $9.8 million deficit, though they do not currently have an official 2027 budget proposal.

County Administrator Korsah Akumfi said preliminary numbers are based on anticipated department requests and do not reflect cost-saving measures and other adjustments that will be made during the budget process over the coming weeks.

Akumfi said in a June 16 legislature meeting that officials have begun reviewing department budgets as they come in and are working to reduce that initial projection. He also said the county is navigating rising costs and concerns about use of the fund balance.

To maintain current service levels, Akumfi said in a May 28 Council of Governments meeting that the county legislature would need to approve around an 18% increase for the tax levy, which is the total amount of funds raised through property taxes.

Akumfi said that the 18% levy is not expected to become reality, but the $9.8 million shortfall has legislators feeling uncertain.

In August 2025, the legislature approved a $56.8 million tax levy for 2026, a 3.59% increase over the previous year. The county’s total projected expenditures for 2026 were around $275.1 million.

Legislators said in the June 16 meeting that the county has previously pulled funds from its reserve to avoid large tax increases. Some legislators feel it is not a sustainable practice and feel the reserves need to be rebuilt.

At the June 16 legislature meeting, Legislator Iris Packman said that for the past several years, the county has been pulling funds from its savings account to pay for services and other expenses as necessary. She said the savings account now needs to be rebuilt.

In the same meeting, County Legislature Chair Shawna Black said maintaining a healthy fund balance is necessary, stating that it allowed the county to respond quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic and make major capital investments, such as the proposed $50 million Center of Government building.

The county has also relied on its fund balance in recent years to cover one-time

expenses and balance previous budgets, leaving reserves below the county’s target of 25% of the previous year’s expenses.

Akumfi said the fund balance is based on the previous year’s expenses, meaning it should sit around $60 million, but currently is at around $44 million.

Akumfi said in a July 9 interview with the Ithaca Times that because of this shortfall, he does not anticipate using any fund balance within the budget this year.

“Everything is going as reasonably as possible,” Akumfi said. “We haven’t seen any scary numbers yet, even though the totality of the requests coming in far exceeds what we anticipated as a whole.”

Akumfi also said that the numbers coming in from the various departments have not been a surprise, but that his department is still “far from where they want to be” in terms of creating the budget.

He also added that the county will need to be very precise with their budgeting and that each expenditure needs a revenue source attached to it, or some way to cover the costs of the service.

At the June 16 Tompkins County Legislature meeting, legislators passed a local law allowing the county to exceed the state property tax levy, if necessary. Legislators in favor of the local law said it would not increase property taxes or require the legislature to exceed the cap, but that it preserves the option during the county’s budget development.

The legislature typically passes this

resolution each year, often with opposition.

According to the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, the New York state property tax cap limits annual growth in the property tax levy (the total amount of taxes collected) for local governments and school districts to 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

Legislator Veronica Pillar stated the measure preserves flexibility when creating the budget. She said that the legislature is mindful of taxpayers when creating the

Continued on Page 6

QUESTION

OF THE WEEK

Are you attending Grassroots this year?

Yes.

No.

I don’t care.

UPS DOWNS&

By Kaeleigh Banda

Ups

Eight gigawatts of distributed solar have been installed across New York state, according to an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul. This puts the state ahead of schedule for reaching 10 GW by 2030. According to the press release, this growth in the distributed solar market has generated approximately $12.2 billion in private investment across NY and provided more than 16,000 jobs statewide. With eight GW of distributed solar in NY, there is enough energy to power more than 1.3 million homes and businesses across the state.

“New York continues to set the bar high as we mark another milestone for solar within our communities across the state,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “This is low-cost, reliable clean energy that is delivering cost savings for families and businesses while expanding the availability of renewable energy which benefits our environment, our economy and contributes to New York’s diverse energy resource mix.”

Downs

Ithaca Police Officers were standing by during the breakdown of an unauthorized camping area on the south side of the city July 1. A subject had multiple dogs with them, and one of the dogs began to act aggressively. According to the police statement, the dog appeared to be attacking other dogs, and the owner yelled for help. When the officer approached to assist, the dog bit the officer. A taser and pepper spray were used in defense. The officer was brought to a hospital and is expected to recover. The dogs were taken into custody by Animal Control.

HEARD SEEN&

Heard

Daniel Gwirztman Dance Company is performing “Summer Mix” July 16-19 at the Kitchen Theatre Company. According to the company’s press release, “Summer Mix” is an “accessible, entertaining program of dance, combines the old with the new, a visual playlist bringing together favorites from the repertory with a premiere.” Each performance is followed by a talk-back with the company, so the audience can engage directly with the dancers and the choreographer. The program aims to emulate the dynamic nature of a summer storm by moving through darkness and sun, turbulence and clear skies. The dancers use virtuosic and pedestrian movement, intimate partnering, a playful musical spirit and vivid expression throughout the performance. Tickets are $35, $20 for students, and can be purchased online at the Kitchen Theatre Company’s website.

Seen

Senior Farmer’s Market Coupons are now available for pickup. Eligible seniors can visit the Office for the Aging located at 214 West Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Ithaca. Pick up is available until Sept. 30. Coupon booklets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each booklet has five $5 coupons for a total of $25. Recipients must be age 60 or over and cannot have received coupons elsewhere. They also must sign for and affirm that they are low-income, which is defined as a gross monthly income of $2,461/month for a one-person household, $3,337/month for a two-person household or $4,212/month for a three-person household. The coupons can be used at any participating market, with any participating vendor. Coupons can only be used to purchase fresh, local, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, and must be redeemed through Nov. 30.

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

Tompkins County is facing a $9.8 million deficit in its projected 2027 budget. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times File)

The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

By Ithaca Times Readers

The New York Health Act is Healthcare Done Right

“The Congressional Budget Office C(BO) projects 30 million people will be uninsured in 2026, a jump of 3.4 million from 2025 (Public Administration and Policy June 24, 2026). The CBO estimates an additional 14 million Americans will lose insurance by 2034. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul reports that more than 2 million New Yorkers will lose their insurance coverage. Over half the Essential Plan budget — $7.5 billion in federal funding — is eliminated. 1.3 million New Yorkers will lose Medicaid coverage due to new eligibility and verification hurdles. The New York Health Act (NYHA) could reverse this catastrophe by providing universal healthcare to New York residents and out of state residents working in New York but first we must encourage New York Legislators to pass the bill. There will be

two presentations about the New York Health Act. First, July 15, 2026 at the Waverly High School Auditorium from 6:30 to 8:30. Next on July 30, 2026 at the First Presbyterian Union Church (corner of North and Temple St, also 6:30–8:30. Come learn about the NYHA and then call your legislators.” — Mary Schwarz, Richford NY

Hangar Theatre Partners with Mental Health Organizations during “Dear Evan Hansen”

“Anxious. Isolated. Desperate to belong.

Millions of people know those feelings all too well. They are also at the heart of “Dear Evan Hansen,” which comes to the Hangar Theatre’s July 9-18.

When we chose to produce a musical that includes suicide as part of the story, we knew the conversation shouldn’t end with the curtain call.

That’s why we invited local mental health organizations to join us. Before performances, during intermission and after most shows, audience members are invited to stop by a resource table, ask questions, learn about services and connect with people who dedicate their lives to supporting neighbors facing mental health challenges.

We are deeply grateful to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Finger

Lakes, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services and the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County.

Their support extends beyond the lobby. Volunteers generously offered to share their personal experiences of suicide thoughts, loss and recovery to help our artists better understand the emotional realities behind the story they are telling.

Volunteers who will participate in a post-show discussion after the July 12 matinee. Many of these same individuals also joined us during June performances of “Fun Home,” another production that explores the impact of suicide.

Their generosity reminds us that art can launch conversations, but community partnerships can turn those conversations into connection, understanding and access to essential resources.

Virtual meetings, AI conversations,

DEFICIT IN 2027 BUDGET

continued from page 5

budget. She added that health insurance and staff salaries are increasing, and there are various costs passed onto the county from federal cuts that show up in increased mandated spending through social services.

“[The] costs of a lot of things are going up,” Pillar said. “It is likely that exceeding the tax cap will be necessary, even if we don’t expand government or expand services at all.”

Akumfi said that in recent years, the

DoorDash, Uber, app ordering at restaurants, self-checkout lines, movie streaming, headphones and virtual workouts have helped fuel a loneliness epidemic that is exacerbated by social media.

Supportive relationships can reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, and our local volunteers are connecting people with bridges to normalize mental health care and ease the sense of isolation and despair.

We hope “Dear Evan Hansen” does more than move audiences. We hope it reminds people that no one has to struggle alone and that a local community of help and connection works every day to care for people in pain and point a way toward hope.” — Shirley Serotsky, Producing Artistic Director, Hangar Theatre & Sandra Sorensen, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes

legislature has passed other local laws allowing for a tax cap override and has not needed to implement that local law. In 2025, the county’s initial budget proposal was expected to be over the tax cap with a proposed 4.5% tax levy increase.

Legislators later passed the 2025 budget with a 2.72% tax levy increase after county administrators corrected a calculation error that had initially projected a higher allowable levy.

Legislator Greg Mezey opposed the measure, saying it weakens budget discipline and the legislature could revisit the issue later in the budget cycle if necessary.

The Golden Years

By Charley Githler

Somewhere in the slopfest that is my Google newsfeed, my attention was called to the statement that Ithaca has been declared one of the best cities in which to retire. Whatever. Ithaca’s been declared everything from being in the running for best desert oasis to being in the top five most charming French seaside villages. Still, people do take these things seriously…

A scorching mid-July sun beat down on North Cayuga Street as a light gray hybrid Toyota Rav4 backed carefully into a rare parking space near Dewitt Park. A full three minutes passed during which the car’s occupants, Walter and Dorothy Cornstarch, followed their vehicle-exit protocol. It was a process compared to which NASA’s pre-launch checklist might seem dilatory and slipshod. The last step was a fanny-pack inventory.

“Spare pencil lead, sun screen, band aids, AARP card, backup medicalert bracelet, extra reading glasses chain, pepper spray, coupons, moist towelettes.” Dorothy

Sports

reeled off the list from memory. “I guess we’re ready. Let’s go, then,” she said. They adjusted their sun visors, checked the side rear-view mirrors and opened their doors in the kind of unison that can come only from decades of routine.

The Cornstarches had recently retired, one step ahead of AI obsolescence, after long years of service, and to say they were cautious people would be to flirt dangerously with understatement. During their respective careers as a life insurance actuary (Mr. C) and branch librarian (Mrs. C), the turbulent hurly-burly of professional life had depleted their appetite for adventure. They approached decisions large and small with a deliberate, almost ponderous wariness, and had chosen their retirement community with care. They wanted nothing more than a quiet place, amenable to seniors, and, as described by the internet, Ithaca, New York promised to be a hushed and tranquil college town, replete with broad, leafy avenues patrolled by strolling scholars discussing arcane matters in moderate tones. Dorothy consulted her map and they

No Rest for the Successful

By Steve Lawrence

Ihave enjoyed watching my friend Mike Blakely-Armitage’s journey over the course of the last 25 years, from hard-working Ithaca College swimmer to a member of the Bombers’ coaching staff, to the head coach at Ithaca High, where his teams won eight Section 4 titles and ran up a 72-meet win streak, to an Associate Head Coach at Ithaca College to the Bombers’ Head Swimming and Diving Coach for the past three seasons.

The 2026 season was one to remember, as the women won their seventh straight conference title, and were joined in the celebration by the men, who broke through and dethroned RIT as the conference champs. It was the men’s first conference title in 12 years. After working to develop the bond between the men’s and women’s teams, and nurturing that mutual support, watching their joint celebration was, in Blakely-Armitage’s

headed south, past that venerable edifice known as Dewitt Mall. As luck would have it, there was a carload of scholars inching along in traffic on Cayuga Street at exactly the same pace and right next to Walter and Dorothy. They were discussing in decidedly immoderate tones, and the thump-thump-thump of a tricked-out sound system radiated from the vehicle, rattling windows for blocks in every direction. An empty Busch Lite Apple can sailed in an elliptical arc from the car’s rear window and hit the sidewalk in front of the Cornstarches. Walter whimpered an involuntary “Oh, my”, but they soldiered on to the corner of Seneca Street.

At the edge of the crosswalk Walter flinched when Dorothy suddenly clutched his arm. Roaring by, seemingly inches away, was a convoy of three 18-wheel trucks loaded with New Jersey garbage, headed for the Seneca Meadows Landfill. As the last truck banged over a pothole, a take-out wrapper marked “Welcome to Atlantic City” fluttered in its wake.

“There’s a pedestrian mall up ahead,” quavered Dorothy. “It’s called the Commons. We can gather our thoughts there.” Walter nodded, and they crossed with the light. Fragments of profanity drifted lazily through the summer haze as they rounded the corner. A small crowd of recently-

evicted Asteri residents milled about.

The air was redolent with the smell of high-octane marijuana.

Walter stiffened with resolve. “There’s a visitors center up ahead,” he declared. “Let’s see if they can help. Surely a quiet apartment at a reasonable price isn’t too much to ask.”

“I couldn’t help but overhear you,” said a voice from behind them. They turned and saw a woman in a cornsilk yellow pantsuit. “My name’s Anita Flatt and I’m a realtor.”

“Well…yes…that is, we might be interested in a sensibly-priced two-bedroom apartment that we could walk to stores from.”

The woman smiled. “Why of course! I can help you. You can get a sweet twobedroom right downtown for just about twenty-five hundred a month.”

Maybe you saw it. I didn’t. Apparently, there was a bit of a scuffle recently near Dewitt Park. Witnesses say they saw an older couple sprint down Cayuga Street, assault a parking violations officer that was affixing a ticket to their late model Toyota and drive away, tires squealing. And they say nothing happens around here.

words, “A memorable experience that I won't ever forget.”

Some sports fans have the idea that a collegiate coach’s summer is spent on the golf course, or sitting poolside with a cold beverage, but Mike clarifies that perception, saying “I am a 12-month employee.”

The summer months are prime time for recruiting, and Mike just returned from working a swim camp at Army, where he was asked to teach one of his specialties: The Underwater Dolphin Kick. That skill, he said, “Is a crucial tool for a serious swimmer to have in the toolbox.” He added, “They liked what I did at the camp for the 4 days, and I hope to be asked to come back” The Army camp drew swimmers between the ages of 13-18, and the coach laughed when he said, “My duties ranged from coaching to doing child care in the barracks to playing kickball with the kids.” Mike gave a shout-out to IC’s new Athletic Director, Aaron Bouyea, saying “He is very supportive of getting the Ithaca College brand out there.” More

recruiting trips are planned, as the Bombers’ Assistant Coach Kyle Brown is heading to New England for a pair of big competitions, and Blakely-Armitage will be traveling to meets in Florida, in St. Petersburg and Ocala. “It’s part of our summer responsibility,” Mike said, “to get to the championship meets and see these swimmers at their best.”

One could argue that in this age of technology, a coach could look at an athlete’s swim times, get a copy of the academic

transcripts, do a FaceTime call and know whether they wanted to recruit them. Well... that would be one way to do it, but in Mike’s words, “The person-to-person connection and the networking is huge. I want to assess their fit for our program. Their academics, their swimming ability, their finances, how they fit in culturally.” He added, “Bringing a recruit to campus and having them

The Bombers Celebrate a double conference championship. (Photo: IC Creative Media)

GrassRoots Festival Sprouts Again

By Peter Rothbart

Four days and nights, five stages, eighty bands, hundreds of musicians and performers, thousands of attendees, a food and craft midway, tent and trailer camping, innumerable spontaneous musical jams, and the Happiness Parade, a sort of reprise of the Ithaca Festival Parade but with a lot more silliness and chaos. Add in three days of healing arts workshops and sessions from Qigong to all flavors of yoga and a sustainability fair, exhibiting Ithaca’s plentiful green initiatives. Cap it all with four days of organized children’s activities and events.

It’s impossible to experience everything at this year’s GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance on the Trumansburg Fairgrounds, running from July 16-19. Even after over three decades of regular attendance (and participation), I find myself returning to see bands that I know are making music the way I like it.

Some groups sound the same as last year or the year before. Perhaps they’ve added new material or new musicians or a new take on an old song. But it’s this frozen-intime GrassRoots zeitgeist that makes the traffic, parking, iffy weather, and schlepping worthwhile for me and other veteran attendees. Don’t go just to relive past GrassRoots Festivals. Seek out new and different musical experiences. Discover a new sound or genre and a new band and find new friends. Go to rejuvenate yourself and rediscover your inner hippie, hipster, punkster, or camper. Trade your customary shirt and tie for something tie-dyed (my financial advisor did). Don’t be so clinical for a day or so (as did my primary care physician). Dance until your feet hurt (as did my postal worker).

34th Annual Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance

Thursday-Sunday, July 16-20, 2026

Trumansburg Fairgrounds

2150 Trumansburg Rd.

Trumansburg, NY 14886

For a full schedule of events and information, including individual day and multi-day festival passes, parking, and camping information: https://www.grassrootsfest.org/

Tickets are also available on the website or on-site.

(Photo:

GrassRoots is for letting your hair down or changing its color(s) or allowing the bald spot to shine. Explore your doppelgänger. Dress as you want, eat what and when you want, sleep when and where you want, and listen and dance wherever the spirit moves you. Become a “sonic explorer” by listening to the “other” stuff that you normally tune out. Go listen to world music groups such as the Aba Diop Trio, which combines Senegalese and other West African rhythms with modern jazz and improvisation. The Cuban quintet Cortadito sources its sound from early Cuban Montuno and Bolero Sons. The C4 Trio combines Venezuelan instrumentation and folk forms with Gypsy jazz and modern funk. El Khat exudes the spiciness of Yemen with original DIY instruments modeled after traditional Yemeni instruments.

Zydeco is the music of French-Canadian Acadians who were forcefully displaced by

the British to Louisiana, where it was nourished by the other cultures rooted in Louisiana. Genteel but lively dancing is characteristic of the style, and the pace allows you to move all night long. Go see Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band or Preston Frank & His Family Zydeco Band, both with a time-honored storytelling style that conjures up smoky campfire dances from the South’s past. Or check out the Revelers who mix it up by adding some Doo-Wop and Western Swing to their sets.

Family music making is endemic to Ireland’s culture. Drink in a healthy dose of Irish bodhrán and fiddle-based trad music with the sounds of the Traonach, the Grady Girls, and the Byrne Brothers.

If Americana is your thing, there is no shortage of roots or folk music to listen to. Catch Grammy winner and longtime GrassRoots performer Jim Lauderdale playing his version of hard-edged country folk or join another colorful and perennial favorite, Bluegrass Hall of Famer Del McCoury

and his band, with their blistering fingerpicking and ramming-speed tempos. Don’t forget Ithaca-native and nationally known John Brown’s Body.

Singer/songwriters are well represented by the duo Richie and Rosie. As the performer formerly known as Tenzin Chopak, Evan Horne displays his uniquely melodic styling and deeply personal lyrics on the stage. If you cherish old-timey folk music, then Bubba George or the Notorious String Busters should catch your ear.

The Native American community is well represented by Keith Secola and His Wild Band of Indians and the Navajo Nation’s Jones Benally Family Dance Troupe. If you’ve never seen or heard the award-winning Sinquah Family Dancers, they are not to be missed. Grab the kids for this one so they can wonder and appreciate a multigenerational drum and dance group that is intriguing to watch, with colorful and athletic hoop dancing accompanied by soulprovoking drumming and chanting.

Nathan Ellison/Ithaca Times File)

If you’re looking for more contemporary funk, rock, hip-hop, or reggae-oriented fare, local favorites will fill the stages. Donna the Buffalo, the band that founded the GrassRoots Festival, is as Americana as it comes. They combine zydeco, cajun, reggae, roots rock, a twang of country, and the blues to create an enduring sound that has lasted for decades. There’s the locally based Sim Redmond Band and Driftwood, as well as the hip-hopster Gunpoets. Maddy and the Blind Spots bring a playful and lighthearted alt/pop cuteness to both their music and couture. She’s a talented songwriter, and her crystalline voice matches her style perfectly.

Take in the “as-authentic-as-it-gets” vocal group Flying Clouds of South Caroli-

na to discover the source of what became the blues, gospel, and soul. Soul music is the marriage of gospel harmony and secular lyric attestations, so make sure to catch SingTrece and her band. Listen for her high notes that conjure up Aretha Franklin. The Rochester-based Campbell Brothers are in a class by themselves, spouting electric funk and soul from dual pedal steel and lap steel guitars. That’s right…funky pedal steel guitars.

If punk is your thing, then mosh out to groups such as Joyous Shrub or the selfdescribed geriatric punk band Get Off My Lawn. Motherwort is a mix of local farmers and workers who blend folk and punk.

The GrassRoots Festival Orchestra has roused sleepy campers and overnight hang-

ers-on every Sunday morning since 2004. Their wake-up performance is an adventurous mixture of familiar old and new classical music. Conductor Cayenna PonchioneBailey from Oxford University travels across the pond from England to lead the orchestra every year, bringing her enthusiasm for commissioning composers from exotic places such as Afghanistan as well as local musical icon Josh Oxford.

Jazz is a latecomer to the GrassRoots stage, but this year’s festival is now well represented with the inclusion of the Deep Dive Big Band, an eighteen-piece jazz ensemble that is homeless now that the Deep Dive Club has been deep-sixed. But the club’s demise birthed a spirited child bringing together some of the best jazzers in the Ithaca area.

The effervescent Fall Creek Brass Band joins the lineup this year. If they seem to be over-exposed in the Ithaca music scene, their ever-expanding and enthusiastically loyal following doesn’t seem to tire of their funky horn licks (shades of Tower of Power), infectiously rocking dance tempos, and energetic stage antics.

GrassRoots veteran Hank Roberts and his cello improvisations always hover on the cutting edge of avant-garde jazz. Call him the Cecil Taylor of the cello. You never know what he will produce, but it will be provocative, virtuosic, and predictably outside the box.

While the festival is very democratic in scheduling their musical acts, the evenings feature the larger local names and headline each night with nationally known acts. MacArthur Fellow Rhiannon Giddens has also won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album as well as a Pulitzer Prize for music.

A true polymath—and skilled banjo player—Giddens brings her inestimable talents to Friday night’s stage. Legendary eclectic bluesman Taj Mahal takes over on Saturday night with his unabashed, joyous spirit, followed by the second of Donna the Buffalo’s three appearances, the last a traditional festival closer on Sunday night.

As I said at the beginning, it’s not possible to take in all that GrassRoots has to offer in one year. For those performing groups not mentioned, I’ll catch you next year.

Peter Rothbart is a professor emeritus of music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz, and pop musician and directs the 18-piece Ageless Jazz Band.

(Photo: Nathan Ellison/Ithaca Times File)

Arts&Entertainment REV’s ‘Tarzan’ Swings to Life With Heart and Spectacle

By Barbara Adams

You can’t argue with success. In 1912, when Edgar Rice Burroughs’s adventure novel “Tarzan of the Apes” was gobbled up by the public, he made the most of it, producing another 21 books in the series, complete with syndication and merch. The tale of a boy raised by great apes in West Africa thrilled children (who hasn’t once wished for a new set of parents?), and Disney eventually produced a multi-awardwinning animated film, in 1999, which is the basis for the stage musical. Disney took some license with the story, with less gore and a happier ending. (Spoiler alert: Unlike the original, Tarzan doesn’t kill his ape dad and his ape mother isn’t shot. Nor does Tarzan later travel to Wisconsin in search of Jane.) And in emphasizing the similarities between human and ape cultures, both Disney and the stage musical counter the inherent bigotry of the novel. (Burroughs believed in eugenics and scientific racism; for him, the English were the noblest of men. He made sure Tarzan’s birth parents were British.) These contemporary versions are more enlightened, with “acceptance of difference” a central theme. The musical “Tarzan,” currently at Auburn’s Merry-GoRound Playhouse, repeats this affirmation of tolerance so often that you’re reminded this is, after all, a kids’ story, and lessons invite reinforcement. David Henry Hwang

“Tarzan, The Stage Musical”

Book by David Henry Hwang, music and lyrics by Phil Collins. Directed by Brett Smock; choreographed by Adam Dyer, with musical direction by Christie Chiles Twillie. At the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, The Rev Theatre Company, Emerson Park, Auburn, NY. Tues.-Sun. at 7:30 p.m. and eight 2 p.m. matinees, Monday-Saturday, through July 25. For tickets: TheREVTheatre.com or 315-255-1785.

wrote the musical’s book, and while the story itself unfolds well, his dialogue is painfully pedestrian in places.

Phil Collins composed the music and lyrics, which at times come off better in the film — where some songs are more intimate and feeling, being crooned rather than belted. Musical director Christie Chiles Twillie is conducting what’s written, surely, but the orchestration often feels bombastic, with mind-numbing drumming. And for all the thumping percussion, there’s little of African rhythms or spirit in the score of “Tarzan.” (That said, Collins’ film track won a Grammy and his “You’ll Be In My Heart” earned the Academy’s Best Original Song. Ah well.)

But beyond these drawbacks, a fine show emerges, handsomely directed by Brett Smock, who’s assembled a team of amazing designers and excellent performers. The milieu entices: from the moment you take your seat, you notice the creative “curtain” of leaves and lights with the image of Tarzan himself as the “Z” in his name. The action opens with a tempest at sea that washes an infant and his parents ashore. All designed drama throughout the show is splendidly provided via video (Nathan W. Scheuer), ambient sound (Kyle Jensen), and expressive lighting (Jesse Klug).

Stephen Gifford’s stage setting pulls us deep into the forest — to the great apes’ vast leafy haven, dense with trees and vines. The large troupe of gorillas comes alive through athletic actors and Tiffany Howard’s dazzlingly creative costumes: body suits with smooth breastplates and dark distressed cloth that looks like fur; slicked hair and painted eyemasks complete the effect.

As the apes cluster and gambol and tangle, their connection is undeniable; there’s no stereotyping; personalities emerge; and their behavior feels naturalistic. (And familiar: after all, humans and gorillas share over 95% of their DNA). This cheerful representation of an interdependent community of great apes is one even Jane Goodall would recognize.

The troupe’s leader is the huge and menacing silverback Kerchak, potently

played by Eric Ulloa. Protective of his clan, he knows the danger the strange child can bring, and his mate Kala (a beautifully voiced and expressive Raquel Jennings), keeps herself apart so she can raise Tarzan as her own (his ape name means “White Skin”). Kala’s nephew, the scamp Terk, at first teases then befriends the young Tarzan; Sterling Baker-McClary shines in the role and the fellows celebrate twice with their buddy duet, “Who Better Than Me.”

The trespassers into this world are a British biologist, Professor Porter, and his daughter Jane, on an expedition to study gorillas in their habitat. Unfortunately, they’re led by a greedy, unscrupulous guide, who plans to trap and sell as many animals as he can. Tom Staggs is charming as the kindly naturalist; and Emma Dean’s Jane is winning, smart, and intrepid. As the guide Clayton, Kyle Adkins, tall and trim, is every inch the wicked great white hunter. All three are visually perfect for their formulaic roles, yet each interprets their part naturally and persuasively.

And at the center of this outstanding cast is Tarzan, both boy and man. Ollie Kufs is delightful as the scrappy

young outsider who’s trying very hard to belong; his performance is winning and exceptionally clear-spoken. The minute he appears, we’re hooked into the play’s narrative.

As the grown Tarzan, Dean Cestari conveys a range of fascinating actions and emotions. Lean but muscled, with long, disheveled hair, he impressively negotiates the behavior of a gorilla through the adaptive mind of a man. We see his deep connection to both ape parents — his care and affection for Kala, his protection of Kerchak when menaced by the leopard Sabor. Cestari’s Tarzan is both compelled and confused by the existence of Jane, but once he grasps her likeness to him, he pursues her, ape-like, by persistence. It’s a captivating, moving, and physically demanding performance.

Thanks to this particular ensemble of actors and a fine ambience, a simple children’s tale ends up illuminating the nature of community and the gift of chosen families.

Barbara Adams is a regional theatre and arts journalist and retired professor of writing, Ithaca College.

Dean Cestari as Tarzan (center, on vine) with the Tribe in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “Tarzan.”

(Photo Ron Heerkens, Jr./Goat Factory Media Entertainment, LLC)

Hangar’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Delivers a Moving, Timely Story

By Barbara Adams

A“gorgeous heartbreaker of a musical” — that’s how New York Times critic Charles Isherwood described “Dear Evan Hansen,” which ran on Broadway for six years. In 2016, its themes of teen loneliness and anxiety in an over-mediated world struck a deep chord that feels even more relevant today. And if you missed the original, you now have the chance to see the Hangar Theatre’s excellent production.

The show beat out “Come From Away” and “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” to win the 2017 Tony for best musical, plus five other awards, including best book (by Steven Levenson) and best original score. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, friends and collaborators since their undergraduate days, composed the music and lyrics. In high school, Pasek had noted students’ self-serving reactions when a fellow student died of a drug overdose; this incident became the seed for their musical.

At 17, Evan Hansen is uneasy in his own skin; he’s tense, friendless, and generally miserable. For him, high school is hopeless and endless, something his overworked and often absent single parent doesn’t fully understand. His mother tries to persuade him that college will bring a better world, urging him to follow his

“Dear Evan Hansen”

Book by Steven Levenson, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Directed by Gavin Meyer; choreographed by Aimee Rials, with musical direction by Ben Kapilow. At the Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca. Tues.-Sun. at 7:30 p.m. through July 18, and Saturday, July 18 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets online at boxoffice@hangartheatre.org or call (607) 273-2787.

NO REST FOR THE SUCCESSFUL

continued from page 7

meet the team is a great filter.”

As he has matured as a coach, Mike has come to expand his view of who might teach him something. “Our diving coach, Chris Griffin, has said that he wants to

therapist’s advice and write positive letters to himself. One such letter ends up in the wrong hands, and the misadventures start snowballing.

At school, an even more unhappy loner, the aggressive Connor Murphy, mockingly snatches the letter from the school printer and pockets it, but takes time to sign Evan’s cast. (Evan had broken his arm falling from a tree, or so he says). When Connor commits suicide soon after, his parents find the letter and assume he’d written it to a friend. Hardly able to believe their always-enraged son even had a friend, they reach out to Evan as they try to cope.

Then step by step, first by silent assent and then by fabrication, Evan invents a tale of their friendship. At first he wants to comfort the Murphys, though his motives may be clouded by his crush on Connor’s sister, Zoe. As the family warms to him over the weeks, his insecurity recedes somewhat and he bathes in the attention of caring parents and the trust and affection of Zoe.

But the family’s grieving and search for a new equilibrium isn’t the only response to Connor’s death. To flesh out his story, Evan has enlisted the help of his “family friend” Jared in producing fake emails between him and Connor; this proliferation of phony materials blossoms beyond the family into “The Connor Project,” spearheaded by another lonely student, Alana. Depressed and friendless, she finds new importance in publicizing and embellishing every detail that Evan provides, even ones he insists are private. Dozens of students get involved, everyone (at least for a while) posting incessantly on social media.

The entire first act is the building of this elaborate house of lies, and you watch in dread of what must be the inevitable collapse. Having alienated his friends and even his mother, Evan finally confesses; act two is the fallout and ultimate recovery for each character.

learn something from every person possible, and I am taking a page from his book. I used to think that I could learn something only from Division 1 coaches, and other ‘experts,’ but now I talk to Operations Managers, other D-3 coaches, everyone has something to offer. It’s easy to get ‘siloed’ in our thinking, but there are so many ways to coach, to strategize, and to motivate.”

Ten years after this show’s premiere, we’re even more aware of the diverse and destructive effects of social media on everyone, youth in particular. In the Hangar’s production, sensitively directed by Gavin Mayer, at one point we’re bombarded with the faces and messages of multiple media posts, distortions gone viral. The screened images are disquieting, and all the more arresting as Deb Sivigny’s plain set is fairly bare-bones. Sara Gosses’ lighting warms and shapes the different scenes, but overall the set’s spareness feels harsh.

The costumes, by Iris Estelle, are so natural, so age- and class-appropriate that you may not even notice them. And the actors in those clothes are equally natural and comfortable, each conveying the essence of their character. As Connor’s parents, Monica Blume and Jesse Swimm give textured performances, showing just how differently one deals with loss. Emily Marx’s complicated, sharp Zoe offers yet another response, reminding us how the child who demands most attention can damage the others. And Daniel Siani’s Connor is pure tangled rage, with glimpses of the lost little boy.

As Evan’s mother, Mary Malaney at first leans too much into maternal solicitude, but in the second act comes into her own in a compelling confrontation with her son. Adam Simancas, playing Evan’s reluctant tech guru, easily reminds you of those careless but loveable teens still living on the surface, while Erica Reyes’ bossy Alana painfully recalls those overcompensating organizers you didn’t want to be partnered with in high school.

While talking to Mike, I asked for an update on his daughter, Seneca, who was a standout soccer player at Ithaca High, and at William Smith College and has been serving in the Peace Corps. Mike was happy to provide an update, as he and his wife Robin are justifiably proud. He said, “Robin and I were visiting her in Eswatini (Africa), where she is working

In short, these teens are so authentically portrayed that one’s own memories of high school (or one’s own kids) inevitably loom large. That’s powerful, if not always pretty — as are the show’s parent and teen or parent on parent screaming arguments, which give a bracing blast of reality. And at the center of it all, there’s Michael Raul Perez’s Evan — despondent and unable to see a way forward, his worry signaled by the constant nervous blinking of his eyes. Perez shows us Evan’s moral center, his ambivalence at the falsehoods, and his longing for a richer, more stable and companionable home life. It’s a fine, understated portrait, even more enhanced by Perez’s lovely vocals, as in “For Forever” and “Words Fail.”

All the actors have strong voices in this production, and Ben Kapilow’s orchestra supports them well. Throughout, Pasek and Paul’s songs effectively reflect the characters’ emotional states, but for me, the actor’s expressive faces convey the most — the needy self laid bare.

Barbara Adams is a regional theatre and arts journalist and retired professor of writing, Ithaca College.

in a school as a life skills teacher. She is currently finishing a project that involves installing a soccer field, netball court and volleyball court.”

In a time when so many young people are struggling to find meaning and a sense of purpose, it's great to see Seneca expanding her world view and making a difference in the process.

The Hangar Theatre’s production of Dear Evan Hansen runs through July 18. (Photo: Rachel Phillipson/Provided)

Protecting Roots Amidst Development: The 2026 State Street Car Show

By Kira Walter

While big developers feast on Ithaca’s realty pie, raising the skyline in architectural goliaths and residential palaces, downtown leaders remain committed to keeping the village’s old quirks. From historical landmarks to first churches, Ithaca reflects a duality between modernization and preservation. As the Downtown Ithaca Alliance and History Center partner up to protect the town’s rich past, keeping antiquity alive extends beyond preventing development: it becomes a celebration of shared heritage.

So in celebratory spirits, last Saturday marked the second annual Classic Cruisers: State Street Car Show, decking the west end with “brass-era classics, postwar showpieces, and hot rods” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event originated from a local love of old timey vehicles, as History Center director Ben Sandberg and preservationist Randy Marshall united car clubs for a one of a kind vintage spectacle. Now, with registration extended beyond club-goers, it’s bigger than ever.

“Last year first time out, we had 29 cars but only two people pre-registered,” Marshall recalled. “Now we have 20 cars pre-registered so we expect a much larger crowd.”

As a life-long antique auto fanatic, Marshall bought his first car at just thirteen and restored a model A Ford through high school. After growing up in Long Island, he moved to Ithaca to attend Cornell. And though he headed back south for NYC law school, he’s made the Finger Lakes his permanent home.

“In the city, there’s not a lot of car culture,” Marshall said. “There’s limited opportunity to restore or drive vintage cars because the space is too crowded and pricey for that kind of hobby. Here, you’re generally away from traffic and it’s easy to get out on beautiful, untraveled roads.”

Marshall himself joined the British Sports Car Club of Ithaca long ago, serving as its president for 20 years. He’s proud that the club unites folks from many various walks of life, whether “petroleum distributors or high tech entrepreneurs.”

Long term friends of Marshall, Caryl and Don Funke shared his optimism about how motor vehicles create comradery between collectors across different backgrounds. Stationed on West State Street with their 1931 Ford Deluxe Tudor Sedan, the couple expressed how much it means to share both a relic and project with visitors. In spite of its age, the selfrepaired car has made it to Canada, taken on the interstate, and holds countless memories for its owners.

While the almost century old cruiser has frequented other exhibitions, Don spoke to the special attention it receives on State Street,

“We used to do a lot of car shows but the only people there were coming for the car show,” Don explained. “This draws a crowd where there aren’t necessarily car enthusiasts but people wondering what’s going on.”

Open to all, the event is specifically marketed towards anyone wandering through, expanding the typical car show audience to include curious bystanders. As the DIA aims to increase foot traffic on the West End this summer, viewers are encouraged to “grab a coffee and walk the block.”

“Last year it helped local businesses and brought new people downtown,” said DIA Chief Operating Officer Corrie Soot. “That’s always our goal.”

Although the State Street Car Show began with the History Center, the DIA has largely taken over operations, also enforcing a “nobody is turned away” policy regarding which cars can join the registry. Soot expressed that the DIA is not in a situation where access has to be limited so all drivers are welcome.

Soot doesn’t anticipate growing the show past the block to maintain its niche and cozy reputation. That being said, the DIA has big plans to amp up West End activity through other public events, including sidewalk showcases on the first Wednesday and third Friday of every month.

“The point is to activate the West End in ways that it hasn’t been,” Soot said.

“Hopefully, this draws in people who wouldn’t originally come downtown to see what we have to offer.”

Despite being confined to the iconic stripe before State Street Theater, car show goers certainly increased the Commons crowd day of. The vehicle line up particularly attracted families, who let young children both marvel at classic rides and sit behind the wheel. Many participants were more than willing to open interiors, let inquisitive hands honk horns, touch buttons and pretend they’re going for a spin.

Amongst the kid-friendly registrants was Gary Hand, who arrived at the show this year with his stand-out seamist green 1955 Chevy 150. Hand has been spreading his love for cars since high school, but now with multiple grandchildren, he’s fond of entertaining youngsters with antique automobiles. A custom bumper sticker on his ride reads “still plays with cars:” a fitting slogan as the vehicle makes its rounds at birthday parties. Hand has been known to give away free hotwheels and even invites little aspiring drivers to crawl about the backseats.

“The kids come check out our cruiser. They look forward to it,” Hand said. He reminisced fondly about taking his son and daughter to local car shows in their youth, and starting their appreciation for motor vehicles early. With his grandson now a high school grad, he enjoyed loaning him the car for senior prom, enforcing its place as a family heirloom.

Mileage and decades aside, many of the cars making their appearance on State Street this Saturday were running well, perhaps not all interstate warriors but in good enough condition to make the journey. The Funke’s explained that curvy roads and hills can actually be conducive to their car’s needs.

With her shining red 1957 Chevy 210 stationed under the Theater awning, Edie Spaulding prided her vehicle on its functionality, especially with the original engine still intact.

“It actually rides smoother than a newer car,” she exclaimed. After purchasing the chevy about five years ago from a gentleman up in Lansing, Spaulding remarked that the car only has 28,000 miles on it. Drivable in winter with a led gas combo, it’s practically a year-round working vehicle.

As old machines prove they can stand the test of time, presenters at Classic Cruisers echoed a shared sentiment that preservation is about the people involved and passing on legacies. Several attendees cited their motivation for attending as introducing something new to generations unexposed to such staples of history. Further community preservation efforts continue next weekend at the history center, with the Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s annual 1918 Tommy Biplane observation. With Randy Marshall’s leadership, the aircraft was moved from San Diego to Ithaca, where it was fixed back up by countless volunteers and flown at Ithaca Airport on its 100th birthday. The anniversary is celebrated with visual hands-on demonstrations as guests are welcome to get up close and personal with the restoration project.

Looking back on both his years developing plans for the car show and the aircraft, Marshall attributed much collaboration to the general character of Ithaca.

“I think people in Ithaca tend to be very devoted to their community and are proud of living here,” Marshall said. “Part of that stems from the physical environment, not just the beautiful waterfalls and gorges, but the built environment here has been pretty well taken care of. Even though there’s a tremendous amount of development, I think people are sensitive to and interested in seeing something stay the same.”

With plans to always honor classic cruisers and restored aircrafts, protecting roots through physical maintenance and storytelling still lies at the heart of an everchanging Ithaca.

A photo from the 2025 State Street Car Show. (Photo: Nathan Ellison/Ithaca Times File)

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Bars/Bands/Clubs

7/15 Wednesday

Dear Evan Hansen | 7:30 p.m. | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd. | $60.00

7/16 Thursday

Technicolor Trailer Park @ Danby Food and Drink | 6 p.m. | Danby Food and Drink, 1483 Danby Rd. | Free

Three Bears Jason Stotz Concert | 6 p.m. | Three Bears Ovid, 7175 Main Street | Free

7/17 Friday

Sunset Music Series Presents Bob Keefe and the Surf Renegades | 5 p.m. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414

Live Music — Trick Shot Band | 6 p.m. | Hopshire Farms & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd.

7/18 Saturday

True Bleu Live | 4 p.m. | Brewers Taproom, 10 Pinckney Rd

7/19 Sunday

Summer Sundays Music Series

— ft. Mike Lucey | 1 p.m. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414

7/21 Tuesday

Musical Memories Cafe | 12:30 p.m. | Lifelong at Library Place (please use Cayuga St. entrance), 105 W Court St. | Free

7/22 Wednesday

Motors & Music at The Glen | 5 p.m. | Watkins Glen International, 2790 Co Rte 16

Concerts/Recitals

7/16 Thursday

Story + Craft | 4 p.m. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street

Music in the Park | 6:30 p.m. | Myers Park, Myers Point Rd | Free

7/17 Friday

Bon re — AC/DC Tribute Band Live | 4 p.m. | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road

7/18 Saturday

Cruel Summer — Tribute to Taylor Swift | 5 p.m. | Eldridge Park, Eldridge Park Road

7/20 Monday

Craig Finn & Patterson Hood: Devils In The Details Summer 2026 Tour | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72

S Main St.

7/21 Tuesday

Children’s Concert: Laura Doherty | 4 p.m. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street

CONCERT: Shovels and Rope | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St

Stage

Daniel Gwirtzman Dance

Company Presents Summer Mix | 2 p.m., 7/16 Thursday | Kitchen

Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street | | $20.00 - $35.00

MATILDA: The Musical | 7:30 p.m., 7/16 Thursday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St | TICKETS & INFO

Summer 2026 Bar(d) CrawlAct 1 | 7 p.m., 7/20 Monday | Bar Argos, 408 E State Street | The Ithaca Shakespeare Company (ISC) invites audiences to experience Shakespeare in a new way with the Summer 2026 Bar(d) Crawl, a threepart free, immersive performance series staged at popular venues throughout Ithaca. | Free Participatory Contra, Square, and Circle Dancing | 7 p.m., 7/20 Monday | Ithaca Commons, 102 East State Street |

Art

Works on Paper group exhibit at The Gallery at South Hill | 12 p.m., 7/16 Thursday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill Business Campus | | Free Portrait of a Place - 3rd Annual Plein Air | 7/16 Thursday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St |

Unearth a Mural at the Lodi Library | 1 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Lodi Whittier Library, 8484 S Main St | Participants will explore prehistoric sea life and geologic time while learning about eﬀ orts to conserve native plants and animals of the Finger Lakes. | Free

Meet the Artist: Hyunjin Park | 6 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Virtual, 740 S Meadow St | Join us online for

a virtual walkthrough of Hyunjin Park’s Sunroom exhibition Jump! with the artist and Curator of Visual Arts Rachel Raphaela Gugelberger.

Film

Cinemapolis

120 E Green St, Ithaca

New movies opening the week of July 15. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes and continuing fi lms. The Odyssey | Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, while attempting to reunite with his wife, Penelope. | R 172 mins

Maddie's Secret | Maddie's Secret is comedian, writer, and actor John Early’s critically acclaimed directorial debut starring himself as Maddie, a plucky dishwasher who leaps to viral superstardom at a trendy food content creation company. While her life seems picturesque — complete with an adoring husband (Eric Rahill), ride-or-die best friend (Kate Berlant) and a cupboard full of woman-owned ethically-sourced chili crisp to boot — mounting professional pressures threaten to reawaken a hidden secret from her troubled past. A pitch-perfect

blend of satire, melodrama, daring tonal shifts and intimate performances, the lm marks a bold new voice in contemporary cinema. | NA 98 mins

Special Events

Leadership Lecture Series — Conversations With The Leadership Diva — Qualities of E ective Teams | 9 a.m., 7/16 Thursday | Carriage House Theater, 203 Genesee St | Gwen Webber-McLeod, President/ CEO Gwen, Inc. works with many of the best and brightest teams in the country.

HARFORD FAIR - July 18 from 9-3pm | 9 a.m., 7/18 Saturday | Harford Town Field & Pavilion (Harmony UM Church), 726 Rte. 221 | Harford FAIR July 18 from 9-3 p.m. has Music, animals, & LOTS of Free activities for Kids and something for everyone! | Free

Preserving a 1918 Tommy Biplane with Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation | 11 a.m., 7/18 Saturday | History Center of Tompkins County, 110 N Tioga Street |

Tompkins County 4-H Youth Fair | 9 a.m., 7/21 Tuesday | 4-H Acres, 418 Lower Creek Road | Free

Books

Reading and Conversation: The Loyalist’s Wife | 5 p.m., 7/16 Thursday | Buﬀ alo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Join us for a

BIRDS & BLOOMS — F.R. NEWMAN ARBORETUM WALKS

FRIDAY JULY 17, FROM 9 A.M. TO 10:30 A.M. Cornell Botanic Gardens | Join guides from Cornell Botanic Gardens and Cornell Lab of Ornithology for combined bird and plant walks this season. We’ll alternate between tours of Sapsucker Woods and the F.R. Newman Arboretum in search of birds and to learn about trees and other plants that provide biodiverse habitat. A limited number of binoculars are available to borrow. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for each individual tour date. (Photo: Provided)

“HARRIET: A TASTE OF FREEDOM” OPENING RECEPTION

reading of The Loyalist’s Wife by Deirdre Sinnott in conversation with Karen Pavelka! | Free

Unearth Your Story:

Artifacts | 6 p.m., 7/16 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | In this personal writing workshop series, participants will be archaeologists of their own lives through excavating memories, artifacts, obsessions, places, family stories, photographs, objects.

Trans Center Book Club | 12 p.m., 7/19 Sunday | Buﬀ alo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Join us @ BSB to discuss Nevada by Imogen Binnie! | Free Summer Teen Creative Writing Workshop | 5:30 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Love to write your own stories? Have ideas for your own characters and worlds, or an interest in writing fanfiction? Join Adrienne Raw for a Teen Creative Writing Workshop!

Summer Poetry Writing Group with Jada Simone | 5:30 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Meet up with local poets in the Ithaca area to explore fun prompts and workshop poetry, prose, and spoken word pieces.

Comic Book Club of Ithaca | 6:30 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | The Comic Book Club

of Ithaca — the oldest continuously running comic book club in the country — is a registered nonprofi t organization.

Kids

Kids eat free summer meal program | 12:15 p.m., 7/15 Wednesday | Pine Valley Baptist Church, 4872 pinecrest rd | Providing free lunches for kids up to 18 years old. Free food and daily activities.

| Free

STEAM Night: Monarch Butter ies | 5 p.m., 7/15 Wednesday | Lodi Whittier Library, 8484 S Main St |Free

Science on the Lawn | 10 a.m., 7/16 Thursday | Hazard Library, 2487 State Route 34B | This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story” and we will be exploring various topics related to “digging” both on earth and in space!

Baby and Toddler Playtime | 10:30 a.m., 7/16 Thursday | Lodi Whittier Library, 8484 S Main St |

Children ages 0-3 and their caregivers are welcome for playtime at the Lodi Library. | Free

Family Eco-Cruises | 10 a.m., 7/17 Friday | Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, 1000 Allan H. Treman Marina Drive | Enjoy fascinating lake lore and fun weekly themes that blend imagination, history and scientific exploration for children. Cruises are free, donations are

requested. Reservation required. | Free

Chinese-English Bilingual Storytime | 4 p.m., 7/17 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Enjoy fun stories, songs, and rhymes in both Mandarin and English. | Free

ICG Drop-In Discovery Days |

10 a.m., 7/18 Saturday | Ithaca

Children’s Garden, 121 Turtle Lane | Free

Tweens & Teens: Goblin Errands |

1 p.m., 7/18 Saturday |

Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Curious about tabletop role playing games, but feel overwhelmed by the process of learning all the rules and putting a campaign together?

Science Connections: Boyce Thompson Institute | 2 p.m., 7/19 Sunday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St | Join Boyce Thompson Institute summer plant science research interns with an engaging and fun plant-related activity! Journey of Water — Free Summer Science Programming for Kids and Families | 10 a.m., 7/20 Monday | Various, various | Explore the ways that water moves through our lives with the Community Science Institute.

Gnomes & Fairies at the CCE Schuyler Teaching Garden | 4 p.m., 7/22 Wednesday | CCE Teaching Garden, 323 Owego St | Free

Notices

Social Drop-In Program — early afternoon | 12 p.m., 7/15 Wednesday | Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, 511 W Seneca St | Looking for a welcoming place to connect? Our free Drop-In program oﬀ ers support, friendship, activities, and resources in a stigma-free environment. | Free Crochet and Connect | 2 p.m., 7/15 Wednesday | Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, 511 W Seneca St | Come create, connect, and enjoy the company of others, one stitch at a time. | Free

ter to meet snakes, lizards, and invertebrates, learn about animal adaptations, and explore how researchers use biomimicry to help solve problems!

Stitch Club | 1 p.m., 7/17 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St | Stitch Club is an opportunity for knitters, crocheters, needle-pointers, and other stitchers to come together and work.

Plant Bingo & Sips @ Liquid State | 7 p.m., 7/17 Friday | Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W Green St | A Night Out Like No Other! Join us for 10 rounds of plant bingo where everyone goes home with a plant Doors open at 6:30 PM if you’d like to come early, grab a bite, and settle in.

“Queeraoke” | 8 p.m., 7/17 Friday | The Rhine House, 632 W Seneca St | Ithaca’s original “Queeraoke” night is back! Come hang, sing and make new friends...cheers, queers!

Saturday Market | 9 a.m., 7/18 Saturday | Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd St. | Our Saturday Markets are now outside at the pavilion. Find us each week at Steamboat Landing.

Spring Chicken BBQ | 10:30 a.m., 7/18 Saturday | Lansing Community Center parking lot, 29 Auburn Road | Yummy Chicken BBQ Fundraiser for the Lansing Area Performance Hall. 10:30-1:00 East of the Lansing Library.

Hyde Park Mastodon with PRI | 5 p.m., 7/20 Monday | Tompkins

County Public Library, 101 East Green Street |

Growing Well Together | 5:30 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Ithaca Community Gardens, Cayuga Park Lane | Meet at the Ithaca Community Gardens pavilion to enjoy a free yoga class, learn how to grow your own vegetables, or join a walking group! | Free Summer Poetry Writing Group with Jada Simone | 5:30 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Meet up with local poets in the Ithaca area to explore fun prompts and workshop poetry, prose, and spoken word pieces.

Yoga with Lindsay | 6 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Hopshire Farms & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd. | Lindsay Graham teaches classes that focus on healthy skeletal alignment and creative sequences led by the breath, that cultivate a fun and challenging practice.

Open Mic Night! | 7 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St | Want to play music to a live audience? Have you crafted a poem or short story you’d like to share or want to tell some jokes? Come join us Tuesday nights for a weekly Open Mic! Community Line Dance | 7 p.m., 7/21 Tuesday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd | Community Line Dance lessons