July 29, 2026

F R E E / J u l y 2 9 , 2 0 2 6 / V o l u m e L I V , N u m b er 4 6 / O u r 5 4 t h Y e a r

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A TASTE OF ITHACA ’s Adelina

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Experience local outdoor eats and treats.

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PAGES 8-9 YMCA RECEIVES $2 MILLION GRANT PAGE 3

CITY ADVANCES ROOTS INITIATIVE

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SHARES $17 MILLION GAP IN BUDGET

“EUREKA DAY” DELIVERS SATIRICAL SCENARIOS

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ITHACA MURALS PAINTS THE FUTURE PAGE 11

Who’s Your Neighbor?

A Local Directory of Faith Communities, Faith-Related Services and Interfaith Activities Many Ithacans are seeking connections that might accurately be called faith. Some return to their roots while others seek roots they may never have experienced. We hope our directory will provide a resource residents, students and visitors find useful in their journey.

FAITH-RELATED SERVICES 518 Yoga Gathering suzannejanene@gmail.com

Moonlight Epiphanies moonlightepiphanies.org

All Eyes and Ears on Racism AEER aeerforjustice@gmail.com

Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies namgyal.org/

Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga catholiccharitiestt.org

Pure Essence Vibrations pureessencevibrations.com/

Community Faith Partners communityfaithpartners.org

Second Wind Cottages secondwindcottages.org/

Finger Lakes Anam Cara fingerlakesanamcara.com

Willow Glen Christian School willowglencs.org/

Forest Hermitage staceysmithhypnosis.com

Wisdom's Goldenrod Center for Philosophic Studies wisdomsgoldenrod.info

Integrative Mental Wellness psychologytoday.com/ profile/1449445

INTERFAITH ACTIVITIES Area Congregations Together breedlovejami@gmail.com

Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard ithacakitchencupboard.org

Greater Lansing-Ithaca Interfaith Community LansingUnited.org/events

Ithaca Sunday Squares (585) 451-4288

Ithaca Dances of Universal Peace idancepeace.org

Shared Journeys sharedjourneys.net The Foundation of Light thefoundationoflight.org

For more information, visit www.whoisyourneighbor.org 2 The Ithaca Times / July 29 – August 4, 2026

FAITH COMMUNITIES Agape Bible Church agapeithaca.org

Hillside Alliance Church hillsideithaca.org

Bahá’í Community of Ithaca ithacabahais.org

Ithaca Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) ithacamonthlymeeting.org

Bethel Grove Bible Church bg.org Bread of Life Anglican Church breadoflifeithaca.org

Johnson Christian Fellowship https://johnson.campusgroups. com/christian/home/

Buddhist Sangha at Cornell Instagram: @buddhistsangha. cornell

Lansing United Methodist Church LansingUnited.org

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

Living Hope Fellowship LHFithaca.org

Chesterton House, A Center for Christian Studies at Cornell chestertonhouse.org Christ Chapel christchapelithaca.org Christian Community Church Ithaca cccithaca.org Christ the King Fellowship Presbyterian Church ctkspencer.org Church of the Epiphany epiphanytrumansburg.org Congregation Tikkun v’Or (Ithaca Reform Temple) tikkunvor.org Danby Community Church danbychurch.org First Baptist Church in Ithaca firstbaptistithaca.org First Congregational Church of Ithaca fccithaca.org First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca firstpresithaca.org First Unitarian Society of Ithaca unitarian.ithaca.ny.us First United Methodist Church of Forest Home foresthomechapelumc.org

New Life Presbyterian Church newlifeithaca.org Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell pcmcornell.org Sacral Transformations and Braided Root Waters Healing Sanctuary sacraltransformations.com St. Catherine of Siena Church stcathofsiena.org St. James AME Zion Church facebook.com/ Stjamesamezionithaca St. John’s Episcopal Church stjohnsithaca.org St. Luke Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry stlukeithaca.org St. Paul’s United Methodist Church stpaulsithaca.org Temple Beth-El tbeithaca.org The Twelve Tribes twelvetribes.org Trinity Lutheran Church trinityithaca.org Vineyard Church of Ithaca ithacavineyard.org

Newsline

VOL. LIV / NO. 46 / July 29, 2026 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

ON THE COVER:

Senator Webb Announces Childcare Funding for YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County

Designed by Zachary Isaac Stephens for the Ithaca Times.

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By Gr a n t Te rw i l l ige r

Thornton said that families across the region are struggling to find safe and reliable childew York State Sen. Lea Webb Sen. Lea Webb announced that the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County received a $2 million grant for care, and that children deserve announced $2,099,612 million in childcare funding. (Photo: Mark Syverston) learning spaces where they are childcare funding for the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County on July 21. supported, encouraged and investments will help communities across prepared for success.

The grant was made available through the the state create and improve childcare “The $2.1 million dollar childcare capiChildcare Capital Construction Funding facilities, giving more families access to the tal grant is more than a building project,” Program and provides funding for the care they need while supporting working Thornton said. “It’s an investment in our renovation, construction and equipment parents and strengthening local economies.” children, our families, our community, needs of childcare centers.

Lansing Mayor Ronny Hardaway said our working parents, our employers, and Sen. Webb said Senate District 52 is he extends his sincere congratulations to it really is going to lead into the future considered a childcare desert meaning Thornton and the YMCA of Ithaca and there is limited access to childcare, making sustainability of our community.”

Tompkins County on receiving a transforThe Child Care Capital Program was these funds an important gain. mative $2.1 million dollar childcare grant.

“This announcement of the $2.1 million created in 2023 to expand affordable child“This investment will expand access to care and was part of the New York State in funding for the Y and what they promuch needed childcare,” Hardaway said. vide for both Ithaca and Tompkins County budget and included $50 million in grants.

“For local working families, strengthen our The Childcare Capital Construction Fundis very significant,” Webb said. “They provide truly great services to families and ing Program was created in December 2025 local workforce and enhance the quality of life for countless children and parents.” as part of the Childcare Capital Program. children in our region.”

Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo said In 2026, New York State allocated an According to Tompkins County Legislathat childcare is essential work and that additional $100 million to the constructor Deborah Dawson, the latest figures show giving childcare workers the dignity, retion funding program bringing the total that there are up to six children for every funding for the Childcare Capital Program sources and the support to continue their childcare placement in Tompkins County. work is important and that it can hopefully to over $150 million, according to a June The funding will go towards adding a 30 press release from Governor Kathy Ho- inspire kids to become child care workers 25-square-foot wing with three to six new in future generations. chul’s office. The $2.1 million dollar grant classrooms, a new bathroom and roof for Thornton said that the YMCA has not is administered by the Dormitory Authortheir after school childcare room, a new started the permitting process yet, and HVAC system in the gym, a new gym floor, ity of the State of New York. that they still have to go through an archi“Access to affordable, high-quality childa new playground and a new parking lot. tecture approval. The YMCA is hoping to care is essential for children, families and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA break ground by the end of the year.

New York’s economy,” Hochul said. “These of Ithaca and Tompkins County Christie

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he Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve has been expanded after the Finger Lakes Land Trust bought 83 acres in West Danby, Tompkins County. This purchase is the 15th land acquisition for the natural area, making the preserve span over 630 acres.

The acquisition of the additional acres was made possible because of support from private contributors and a grant from New York State’s Water Quality Improvement Project Program. The newly acquired land borders the Danby State Forest and features wetlands adjacent to the Cayuga Inlet, a natural kettle pond and steep forested hillsides.

According to a press release from Finger Lakes Land Trust, the preserve was first established in 1996 as the world’s first temperate-zone preserve for research in biodiversity and chemical ecology. Now, it is known for birdwatching and its scenic views. In May 1995, 76 species of birds were counted in two hours.

The Lindsay-Parsons Preserve is open year-round from dawn until dusk. Visitors can explore nearly four miles of trails and enjoy quiet

NEWS ������������������������������������������������8-9 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT �����������������������10-11 BEYOND THE CAMPUS ������������������� 12 CLASSIFIED �������������������������������������� 13 TIMES TABLE ����������������������������14-A15

ON T HE WE B

Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 M i k ay l a R o ven o lt, Managi ng Ed ito r e d i to r @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Scot t Ma n so n, Asso ciate Pu b l ish er J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r E me r i t u s j b i l i n s k i @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m R o y A l l e n , D i r e c t o r o f St r at e g i c Pa r t n e r s h i p s r oy@ i t h ac at i m e s .co m L o r i e n T y n e , A s s i s ta n t E d i t o r l o r i e n @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m A u s t i n L a mb , C o p y E d i t o r a l a m b @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m P h i l i p O ’ D e l l , R ep o r t e r p h i l i p @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Ja k e Se x to n , Ad m i n istr ative Co o r d i nato r , C a l e n d a r E d i t o r ja k e @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Mark Sy vertson, Photographer m ar k s y v er t s o nph oto gr aph y@ gm a il .co m Ste ve L awr ence, Spo rts Co lumn ist stevesportsdude@gmail.com Lisa Ellin, Advertising & Marketing l i s a . e @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m K i r a W a l t e r , A r t s & E n t e r ta i n me n t r ep o r t e r a r t s @ i t h ac at i m e s .co m Z a c h a r y I s a a c S t e p h e n s , A u d i e n c e E n g a g eme n t & D e s i g n A s s o c i a t e F r ee l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, Jake Sexton, Kira Walter, and Ceili Ayoung

X Finger Lakes Land Trust Expands Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve

By Kaeleigh Banda

OPINION / SPORTS ���������������������������� 7

nature observation, hiking and crosscountry skiing. The preserve also has a wetland that hosts a variety of wildlife that can be viewed from opposite the main preserve entrance on Sylvan Lane next to the West Danby Firehouse.

The acquisition also continues to (Photo: Chris Ray) grow the Emerald Necklace, which is an effort to link 50,000 acres of existing public open space that extend in an arc around Ithaca. The acres start in the Finger Lakes National Forest in the west to Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn state forests in the east.

The Emerald Necklace contains 78 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail, two Audubon-designated Important Bird Areas and several dozen Tompkins County-designated Unique Natural Areas. The Emerald Necklace is also part of New York State’s Open Space Plan and is recognized as a priority project within that plan.

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THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE C O P Y R I G H T © 2 026 B Y PAT H W AY S T O E Q U I T Y, L L C .

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INQUIRING Common Council Appoints New City Clerk, Advances ROOTS with Approved PHOTOGRAPHER N e w s l i n e

By Mark Sy ve r t son

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SWIM IN ITHACA?” NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com

“I really like Taughannock Falls State Park.”

– Maddie

“Buttermilk Falls.”

– Kayden

“I gotta say Robert Treman State Park.”

– Emma

Startup Budget and Job Roles

By P h i l i p O’ D e l l

T

he Ithaca Common Council moved forward on key government positions and public safety initiatives July 8, with approvals of a new city clerk and startup plans for the community responder program.

The Common Council unanimously approved Brittni Griep to become the city’s new city clerk after an executive session during its July 8 meeting.

Mayor Robert Cantelmo said Griep’s appointment is effective Aug. 24, with an annual salary of $89,440. Cantelmo said Acting City Manager Dominick Recckio and the city search committee concluded interviews for the city clerk position, leading Recckio to recommend Griep.

According to the city’s website, the city clerk is responsible for municipal records management, issuing local permits and licenses, handling Freedom of Information Law requests, and managing city communications and technology services.

City Public Information Officer Alan Karasin told the Ithaca Times via email July 17 that Griep served as the Tompkins County Legislature’s chief deputy clerk and holds a master’s degree in public administration.

Karasin said long-time City Clerk Julie Holcomb retired in the fall of 2022, leading to his appointment as acting city clerk and director of the Department of Public Information and Technology (PIT) in January 2023. Karasin said the city enacted legislation in September 2025 that renamed PIT as the Department of Information and Community Engagement. While Karasin remained director, the city separated the city clerk role into a stand-alone position and renamed Karasin acting city clerk during the recruitment search. Karasin said the city clerk application period of around 30 days opened in March, while the new position was assigned a salary range of $89,440 to $107,328.

ROOTS

“Treman is the only place I’ve been swimming in Ithaca but it’s great.”

– Mwende

The Common Council approved job descriptions and a first-year startup budget for the city’s unarmed community responder program, ROOTS. Standing for Responders Offering Outreach Trust and Support, the program is part of

4 The Ithaca Times / July 29 – August 4, 2026

Ithaca’s Reimagining Public Safety initiative.

According to the July 8 resolution, ROOTS aims to deploy unarmed responders to conduct outreach, build trust, and assist community members in need.

Program coordinators hope the unit will reduce both over-reliance on traditional policing and disproportionate minority contact within the criminal justice system.

On Feb. 4, the Common Council unanimously approved the launch of ROOTS, a pilot community responder team set to run through 2028 as part of the city’s Reimagining Public Safety initiative. At the council’s June 18 meeting, it moved forward with determining the program’s budget and staff, unanimously advancing a resolution to the July 8 consent agenda to adopt four city staff positions.

The council formally established two civil service positions for the program: • Community Responder, classified as CSEA Admin grade 7, with an entry-level salary of $53,521.

• Working Supervisor — Community Responder, classified as CSEA Admin grade 14, with an entry-level salary of $66,718.

The approved roster also includes two part-time community responders.

According to a city statement, the ROOTS team will work with the Ithaca Police Department, the Community Justice Center, and local service providers to link residents with resources.

For the community responder position, the city seeks professionals with “experience in outreach, de-escalation, and service navigation, who are committed to building trust and supporting community members in need,” according to the city’s statement. Responders will assist individuals facing housing instability, mental health struggles, or similar quality-of-life difficulties, guiding them toward supportive services while minimizing the need for law enforcement intervention.

The program’s working supervisor “will provide day-to-day leadership, coordinate operations, and support the development of protocols, partnerships, and training during the pilot phase,” the statement says.

“ROOTS represents years of work and partnership to build a response model centered on care, connection, and trust,” Community Justice Center director Monalita Smiley said. “As we move into

The Ithaca Common Council advanced public safety initiatives July 8 with startup plans for the community responder program titled ROOTS. (Photo: Ithaca Times File)

recruitment, we are looking for people who are grounded in community, skilled in engagement, and ready to help shape this program from the ground up alongside our partners.”

Acting City Manager Dominick Recckio said the city will eventually release information encouraging applicants for those positions. He said the approval brings the city closer to having a community responder model.

“I think we should feel really proud about the amount of progress we have made on that initiative,” Recckio said. “I think we have a lot of great pieces in place to set us up for success.”

The July 8 resolution says the city will draw from $750,000 in previously encumbered funds, which officials say will fully cover the program’s costs for 2026 and 2027.

The resolution says the estimated startup budget for the first year is $227,981, which covers operations from September through December 2026. This budget includes $96,681 for pro-rated payroll and fringe benefits, $80,000 for two vehicles, $20,000 for communication equipment, and additional funds for safety gear, training, and office supplies. The resolution adds that the city manager is expected to present a longterm financial plan for the program’s 2028 expenses to the Common Council next year.

City officials noted that job descriptions, position postings, and recruitment details for the ROOTS program are available on the city’s Civil Service employment portal at ithaca-portal.mycivilservice.com.

In Other News

During the July 8 meeting, Cantelmo announced that all of the city government’s Flock Safety cameras were removed.

Contin u ed on Page 5

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

County Administration Shares $17 Million Gap Between Budget and Revenue

By M i k ay l a Rov e nolt

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ounty Administrator Korsah Akumfi shared an update on the county budget process at the July 21 Legislature meeting, stating that the numbers that county administration is handling are preliminary and an official budget is not yet set.

Akumfi said that, before a review and cleanup of budget numbers, the requests that the county administration received totaled $310.7 million. Revenues are expected to be $236 million according to Akumfi.

“You're looking at a gap of about $17 million,” Akumfi said during the meeting, “which is roughly about a 30% increase over the 2026 tax levy. That is the initial request.”

The county administrator added that his department is reviewing the requests and have found some minor duplications in requests and are “cleaning up.” He added that departments are starting to host meetings where they review their initial requests.

“One of the difficulties that we are grappling with right now is based on the numbers we looked at this morning [July 21], myself and Norma [Jayne], just for maintenance of effort we need at least COMMON COUNCIL APPOINTS contin u ed from page 4

However, Alderperson Robin Trumble noted Flock cameras operated by Cornell University, Tompkins County, and private businesses remain active in the city.

The Common Council unanimously voted on March 4 to end the city’s contract with Flock Safety, a private security firm that sells license plate readers and gunshot detection technology to clients that include law enforcement agencies. The vote followed months of resident opposition over concerns that the cameras possibly engaged in mass surveillance, violated civil liberties, and compromised data privacy. Some expressed concerns over reports of other agencies using camera data to track undocumented immigrants and people seeking abortion services.

The Ithaca Police Department operated

about an 8% tax levy increase,” Akumfi said to the legislature. “We have additional almost $8 million As of July 17, the county was looking at a $9.8 million deficit in the budget. Now the gap has stretched to $17 million. These numbers in new requests coming in and are preliminary according to County Administrator Korsah Akumfi. additional items as well that we are (Photo: Mark Syvertson) planning for.”

Akumfi added that he will conLegislator Randy Brown asked that the tinue to review the numbers and will have legislature be made aware of the changes a more detailed report for the legislature in revenue and stated that there was a in August. As of July 17, there was a $9.8 large difference between the 2025 revenue million deficit in the budget. and 2026 revenue. He said understandAkumfi said the goal is to present the ing those changes will be helpful for him legislature with a single digit tax levy increase, but that it will be a difficult thing when it comes to the budget. to achieve.

Legislator Deborah Dawson said one of In Other News the things the legislature should consider Chair of the Legislature Shawna Black is “Is it worth maintaining every effort?” recognized the Ithaca Tompkins InternaAkumfi responded by sharing that he tional Airport for their recent accomplishis looking into what should be continued ment of completing the Federal Aviation and has let departments know that there Administration (FAA) part 139 safety could be cuts to some positions or readinspection with zero discrepancies. justments to their scope of work. He said “It’s an exceptional accomplishment that he is also evaluating current vacancies and reflects the airport’s unwavering commitwill be recommending the addition of two ment to safety, operational excellence and to three positions. regulatory compliance,” Black said during “We are evaluating everything to make the meeting. “This achievement is a testasure that we are able to provide a recomment to the professionalism, dedication, mended budget that is sound,” Akumfi and teamwork of the airport’s operations, said. “Any suggested changes will also maintenance, Ithaca Airport fire rescue, come with a justification for why we are suggesting those changes as well.”

Contin u ed on Page A15 automated license plate readers across dozens of locations in the city under a program originally funded in the 2023 city budget. Launched in partnership with the Tompkins County Sheriff ’s Office through the state-funded Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, the program relied on state resources for equipment and technical support. At the time, Ithaca police maintained 22 Flock Safety cameras within city limits, while the sheriff ’s office operated another 22 across the county.

The Tompkins County Legislature voted 12-1 on April 14 to end the county’s contract with Flock Safety and remove the devices. Similar to the city’s decision, the vote followed months of county residents voicing opposition to Flock.

As of this report, it is unknown if all Flock cameras operated by Tompkins County have all been removed following the vote to end the contract.

By Kaeleigh Banda

Ups

Ithaca City School District Athletics has been recognized by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) as a 2025-2026 School of Excellence. According to the ICSD press release, this recognition celebrates the district's commitment to excellence in both the classroom and athletics.

Every year, the award is presented to eligible schools where 75% or more of varsity teams earn Scholar-Athlete Team recognition during their seasons.

Scholar-Athlete Team status is earned when a team’s collective grade point average is a 90.00 or higher.

“Our student-athletes continue to demonstrate that success in athletics and success in the classrooms go hand in hand,” ICSD Athletic Director Kari Burke added. “We are incredibly proud of their commitment to excellence in every aspect of their educational experience.”

Downs Ithaca Police Officers responded to the intersection of Plain and Clinton Street at 11:24 a.m. July 15 for a property damage vehicle accident with a report of a vehicle that had driven into a residence. After initial investigation, it was revealed that a motorist was driving east with the right of way on Clinton Street, but had to take an evasive maneuver to avoid hitting a vehicle that did not yield the right of way at the intersection. The motorist who made the evasive maneuver lost control of the vehicle and drove over the sidewalk and struck a residence on the corner of the intersection. Minimal damage was done to the exterior of the residence, and it was unoccupied at the time of the accident.

HEARD&SEEN Heard

The 44th annual Apple Harvest Festival will be held September 25 through 27 and is currently searching for volunteers to help make the festival run smoothly.

Shifts are flexible. The Downtown Ithaca Alliance says it is an opportunity to connect with community members, see live shows, and learn how a festival works. Those interested can now sign up via a link on the DIA Instagram page.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Seen

Do you support the city’s purchase of the former military site on West Hill for housing development?

The Buffalo Pothole Bandit returned to Ithaca to fill more potholes with colorful and playful art. The Bandit travels across the country to fill potholes, but is originally from Buffalo. The Bandit was in Ithaca in July 2025 and filled nine potholes with mosaics. Because of an outpouring of community support, the Bandit was inclined to return. Some of the newest pieces include an original pride-themed mosaic design on the street in front of Stewart Avenue's decorated electrical box that depicts a crystal ball that says “You’re gay.” Another piece was made by 6-year-old “bandito,” according to the Buffalo Pothole Bandit Instagram page. Bandito made “Big Mouth” and “Lil Mouth,” which are green creatures located across from the GreenStar Co+op on Buffalo Street.

25.0% Yes. 71.4% No. 3.6% I don’t care.

N EXT WEEK ’S Q UESTION :

Do you support the city's Responders Offering Outreach, Trust, and Support (ROOTS) initiative?

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.”

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

By Ithaca Times Readers

Diverse Opinions Create Healthy Democracy

“

President Trump tried to rally his base by calling all democrats ‘communists,’ stating ‘Democrats are the biggest threat to our country’ (AP News on Google July 2, 2026). Congressman Nicholas Langworthy stated on Facebook (June 30, 2026 at 9:01 am) ‘a parasitic ideology: socialism and communism. The mission is to destroy the founding principles of our nation. It's our patriotic duty to stop them at the ballot box.’ (sounds like, ‘They are eating the dogs and cats.’) Langworthy didn’t call all democrats communists, but Trump did. Both described stopping ‘them’ (democrats) at the ballot box. This is the point. A healthy democracy requires diverse opinions and negotiation. It is not helpful to label Americans as ‘us or them.’ It is also illegal to interfere with our voting rights. All political parties have variable points of view within their party. (unaffiliated/independent voters are the same). The best way to move

forward is to 1. Protect voting rights 2. Stop the name calling 3. VOTE 4. Negotiate opinions and policies that help all Americans.” — Frances Tirinato, Ithaca NY

Southworks Causes Community Disruption

“

We’re hardworking farmers near noisy Southworks-which we opposed but was built anyway. Now County & Town wants ANOTHER tax break. STOP wasting my taxes on Southworks, which should have been torn down but now houses freeloaders & their vehicles on miles of pavement which cause acres of local global warming near our farm.” — Claire Forest & Sons, Ithaca NY

Convention of States Can Provide Long-Term Stability

“

In places like Rochester, Syracuse, and across the Finger Lakes, businesses and farmers do not have the luxury of chasing shifting energy policy. They depend on consistency to survive.

Over the past several years, energy priorities have swung from expanded domestic fuel production to aggressive renewable mandates and now back again to domestic fuel. Infrastructure does not move at that pace. Major projects take a decade or more to plan and build, while federal policy can change in a single election cycle.

The eleven billion dollar Clean Path

New York project, which was expected to bring investment and long-term revenue to upstate communities, was abandoned before those benefits materialized. Clean Path New York would have connected upstate green energy networks to New York City and provided a steady income stream into our region. That expected revenue for towns and landowners has not materialized. The rapid changes in federal policy from one administration to the next have made long-term infrastructure planning increasingly difficult as material, labor, and fuel costs fluctuate dramatically.

Fuel and energy costs remain elevated regardless of which direction policy swings because local governments and developers cannot move as fast as Washington changes course, leaving us with a stagnant energy grid despite growing needs.

The Finger Lakes region should not have its future determined by policy swings in Washington. Communities planning infrastructure investments measured in decades need rules that last longer than a single election cycle. A Convention of States offers a constitutional path for states to restore balance, place meaningful limits on federal power, and provide the longterm stability that businesses, farmers, and local governments need to invest with confidence. To learn more visit conventionofstates.co.” — Jim Bond

Responsible Data Center Development Act Needed to Protect Cayuga Lake

“

Dear Governor Hochul: We recently received a text message from you, asking if you could count

6 The Ithaca Times / July 29 – August 4, 2026

on us ‘to step up and chip in’ to help you reach your campaign fundraising goal. As Tompkins County Legislators and lifelong Democrats, we’d like to be able to say yes.

But sadly, we cannot support your campaign or give you our votes unless and until you sign into law the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642/ A11560). This year, we will be single-issue voters on the data center issue.

Our constituents are struggling to keep their heads above water as the cost of absolutely everything they need — housing, food, utilities, health care, child care, and insurance — skyrockets. NYSEG asks at every opportunity for substantial and unaffordable rate hikes, and your Public Service Commission consistently gives the company more than its poor performance and record of broken promises deserve. What impact would the additional power demand caused by data centers have on the cost of residential electricity?

Meanwhile, the inadequacy of our electric grid to meet current needs is well known. Your own Facebook post of June 2, 2026 acknowledged the fragility of our grid. You noted that our grid was ‘under heavy strain,’ and asked us to ‘voluntarily conserve power’ in a variety of ways to ‘help prevent outages, keep the power on, and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.’ Please tell us, Governor, how would a data center respond to that request? Is a data center even able to ‘voluntarily conserve’ energy by reducing its consumption, especially during a heat Contin u ed on Page A15

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Bob Riter’s Birds Have Something to Say

By M a rjor i e O l d s

G

rowing up in Huntington, West Virginia, Bob Riter was universally known as an upbeat, sunny kid. A modest chap, he attributes that to being the youngest child of three.

He felt loved and supported by his family and just enjoyed people and Life.

A good student, he also played saxophone in his high school band and was drum major! (“A drum major is the highestranking student leader in a marching band, acting as the field commander and conductor who leads rehearsals, performances, and parades. They maintain the band’s tempo, direct field shows, and enforce discipline and esprit de corps.

The role requires extensive musical knowledge and leadership.”)

After four terrific years at Oberlin College, followed by studies in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, Bob eventually made his way to Ithaca in 1994 where he taught health care administration and gerontology at Ithaca College.

In 1996, Bob was diagnosed with

breast cancer, which he explains led to his long-term involvement with the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance (which later became the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes).

Since his retirement from the Cancer Resource Center several years ago, Bob Bob Riter, author of “The Birds at Bob’s Diner,” volumes 1 and 2. (Photo: Provided) remains active in the “cancer world,” serving on a variety of national boards Life Is Touched by Cancer”, an amazing and committees, and continuing to practical guide with hilarious illustrafacilitate the Men’s Breakfast Club, which tions. This down-to-earth insider’s guide is a local gathering of men with all types is the most essential, timeless guide. As of cancer. Now in its 16th year, the group devastating as a diagnosis is, this book meets every Friday morning at 8 a.m. at Kendal. Bob: “Newcomers are always wel- helps one move forward, whether the reader is a patient, medical practitioner, come. It’s not what people imagine a supor loved one. Very useful savvy tips for all port group to be. We don’t bare our souls.

We laugh and enjoy each other’s company. of us on how to support friends and family with any big challenges.

More than anything, it’s a community.”

Over the years of many interviews for Understanding cancer from a medical this reporter, Bob stands out as a continuperspective, and how people are affected ously upbeat, sunny, often hilarious chap. by cancer, Bob brings those two often He explains complex issues in simple separate worlds together. “A cancer diagnosis leaves one feeling raw and exposed… terms. He makes tough topics palatable and intersperses guidance with humor. so crucial that the medical response is When he recalls challenges over his lifelaced with kindness.” time, each vignette is woven with some In 2014 Bob published “When Your

quirky, cheerful thread. But none of these fun meet ups prepared me for Bob’s next series of publications: “The Birds at Bob’s Diner” (two volumes). I’ve read these books quite a few times, and always laugh through each reading. I’ve read these books to little kids and to old friends. They always laugh too. And they always want to keep the book. This book is a guaranteed keeper.

Bob: “I began watching and photographing birds during the pandemic. My house sits next to the water on Floral Avenue, and I added one feeder after another just outside the window where I sit and work at my computer. Birds and squirrels are in my yard throughout the day and other types of wildlife (deer, rabbits, possums, raccoons) often visit at night.

Since I have a very active imagination, I like to interpret what the birds are thinking or saying. I began posting photos of the birds along with silly captions on Facebook and have been doing so on a regular basis for the last few years. It’s developed a following, and people often suggest their Contin u ed on Page 11

Sports

Rob Parnell: A Great Athlete and Man

By Ste ve L aw re nc e

I

stumbled upon a professional lacrosse game on television last weekend, and the halftime break was underway. I thought I heard a familiar voice, and I looked at the screen and saw Rob Pannell, 17 years after I first saw him in a lacrosse uniform. I stopped what I was doing to see him being interviewed, and he was clearly proud to have just broken the all-time scoring record in the history of professional lacrosse. I was happy for Rob, and I thought about the excellence he brought to the field as a player. Several years after he graduated, I was fortunate to see him in a setting that conveyed his excellence as a person. After revisiting the on-field dominance, I will circle back to the interaction in which my respect for him was cemented.

He was a freshman phenom, and he served notice in his first-ever game in a

Big Red uniform. Taking the field against Binghamton, he lit it up with 3 goals and 4 assists, setting an assist record for freshmen. He kept his foot on the gas for the rest of his freshman year and didn’t let up for 3 seasons.

As Pannell entered his senior season, the excitement level surrounding those connected to or interested in Cornell Lacrosse. What records would he break?

What milestones would he reach?

He exploded on opening day, putting up stats that made lacrosse fans do a double-take. The sports pages proclaimed, “Pannell Scores 10 Points in Cornell’s Opening Game.” What? 10 points? It was the Big Red's first 10-point game in two decades. He followed that up with 5 more points in Game 2, and fans couldn’t wait to see what came next. Unfortunately, what came next made Big Red Nation wince, as the headline read, “Pannell Out With Season-Ending Injury.” We all

wondered if he could ever play at the same level after sitting out the year.

Rob was granted an extra season of eligibility, and he made the most of it. He dominated yet again, and he became the third Cornell player to win the coveted Tewaarton Award, which is collegiate lacrosse’s Holy Grail. It’s the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in college football.

He also earned his 4th First Team All- Ivy nod, the first player ever to win the Ivy League Player of the Year three times,and finished his Big Red career having scored at least one point in all 72 games. He went — no surprise — number one on the pro draft. Now in his 14th season, Pannell plays for the Maryland Whipsnakes in the Premier Lacrosse League. A 12-time All Star, he is now alone at the top of the professional lacrosse mountain, having scored 658 points in the Major Lacrosse League, and the Premier Lacrosse League.

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Rob Parnell played collegiate lacrosse at Cornell University.

(Photo: Cornell University)

MVP, and he is by any measure an AllTime Great.

So... about that interaction that really shaped my opinion of Rob Pannell. In January of 2017, I was honored to be at the table at which Richie Moran — the legendary coach that had led the Big Red to three national championships, a record 42 game winning streak, and is regarded as one of the towering figures of the game. Richie was signing copies of his autobiography — which I had the honor of co-authoring — and the Moakley Field House was packed. One of the people in Contin u ed on Page A15

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Making Moves Through The Heat: Ithaca’s Newest Outdoor Summer Eateries

A

B y K i r a Wa l t e r

lthough temperatures rise and air conditioners get cranked into August, the heat is always on for Ithaca’s dining entrepreneurs. Local staples and new restaurants alike are reinventing themselves as outdoor venues this summer, adapting to the demand for more time under the sun.

Through food trucks, new business partnerships, and plans for restaurant expansion, popular joints are transforming from conventional brick and mortar businesses to outdoor hot spots. For those looking to eat quick and casual on the lake or plan an evening picnic, here’s a wrap on the most exciting developments in outdoor eating this season.

THE PERFECT SUMMER POWER COUPLE: ADELINA’S & ARGOS

Returning to Argos Warehouse this summer is Ithaca cult favorite Adelina’s, open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Roman pizza joint, founded by pizzaiolo Toby Buggiani, hails from Brooklyn with a 75-year old mother dough. Buggiani, who said he mastered his craft with bakers in the Big Apple, ran a wine bar and pizzeria until 2020, before moving with his family to the Finger Lakes.

Adelina’s has no brick and mortar location, but it’s built a strong presence through consistent collaborations with stationary businesses and a dedication to fresh local ingredients. When the opportunity to join forces with Argos first was proposed, Buggiani recognized strong potential for pairing cocktails and pizza after speaking with Argos manager Tippy Batterman.

“I met Tippy at a fair — we spoke about our pizza, and just like that we started working at Argos,” Buggiani said. “Argos has an artsy vibe. We felt that customers there would be interested in what we have to offer.”

Tucked away from downtown clamor, the pop-up has permeated the warehouse patio with an aroma of hand-stretched mozzarella and freshly harvested herbs siz-

A d e l i n a’s p i z z a r e j o i n s A r g o s Wa r e h o u s e a n d i s o p e n We d n e s d ay t h r o u g h S at u r d ay f r o m 5 p. m . t o 9 p. m . ( P h o t o : M a r k S y v e r s t o n) zling to perfection. Sourced from Adelina’s own organic garden and mushroom company Regenerative Mycology, different seasonal vegetables keep the menu evolving.

For the hot months ahead, a classy drink and artisanal pizza is one of the best evening affairs town has to offer, until Buggiani transitions Adelina’s “back into hibernation for the regular year.”

The Dos Amigos team is already familiar with food truck operations, as they were mobile from 2015 to 2020. Now with a Shared Kitchen partnership renewed, Bouras looks forward to streamlined productivity, enjoying a health certified commercial kitchen just in the backyard.

“It’s a perfect marriage,” he said. “The issue with food trucks is you ultimately have a great facility, and execution is not a problem. But when it comes to prep, storage, DOS AMIGOS and building infrastructure around your ON THE WATER business, you are very limited in space.”

After attending Cornell’s Nolan School Dos Amigos, a Collegetown staple, is spicing up business with an outdoor venue of Hotel Administration, Bouras began Dos on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail as well. Just Amigos in town to address a disparity in behind Shared Kitchen Ithaca, the busi- Mexican food options. He’d planned to conness’s original food truck is back in oper- tinue food truck operations simultaneously ation, having “collected dust in a storage with the restaurant, but the pandemic posed unit for the last five years,” according to a fair set of challenges. Following a profitable semester, mobile business is back from Dos Amigos founder Jorge Bouras.

8 The Ithaca Times / July 29 – August 4, 2026

1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and small plates by the water will make this Collegetown classic more accessible to downtown diners.

MUSICAL CHAIRS IN PRESS BAY: SMPL & TACOS CDMX

Tacos CDMX, also a long-time partner of Shared Kitchen, has joined a growing list of outdoor venues. The taco joint moved just a few steps away from Press Bay Alley to Press Bay Court, occupying Asempe Kitchen’s old location. With more sit-down tables both indoors and outdoors, the brightly decorated venue sports the same praise-winning menu.

With a large empty property newly awaiting occupation, the Alley welcomes recent Collegetown burger truck Smpl

food truck model of business for its flexibility.

“It’s easier to run because you don’t have to depend on expensive rent or a single location,” he explained. “There are fewer risks when it comes to investment.

Right now, we’d even prefer to have a second food truck than a permanent location.”

Since moving to Ithaca two years ago, the Fernandez family has offered classic appetizers such as croquettes and empanadas, with Cuban-style sandwich and burger entrees.

“Our work is a cultural exchange,” Iramis said. “We bring Cuban roots that aren’t here but DOTCU JOINS also draw from Ithaca’s culture FOODTRUCKS AT to strengthen ours. We want to THE JEWELBOX contribute not just Cuban flavor With restaurants forging ties but the Latin rhythm that comes D o t C U C u b a n S a n dw i c h A a k a m a O n C o l l e g e Av e . at 3 0 1 Tau g h a n n o c k B lv d . ( P h o t o : K i r a Wa lt e r) and clustering together this sea- with it.” ( P h o t o : K i r a Wa lt e r) With hours from 11 a.m. to 7 son, another truck joins the family of co-existent mobile restau- p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, rants at 301 Taughannock Blvd. DotCU brings a taste of Havana DeWitt Park, Gelato da Enzo is an business a better bet. Merendino Namgyal Monastery, the Tsering Home to Yxis Arepas and On the to the food truck haven next to ice cream truck with a variety of also said he wants to differentiate family made an impromptu stop Street Pitas, the lot next to the The Jewelbox this summer. sweet frozen treats, from gelato to his business in a more saturated in Ithaca. They fell for the town and moved from Queens, where Jewelbox also hosts DotCU Cupaletas to Italian ices and sorbet. market. ban Food this summer. Started ENZO’S SWEET After running Mama Teresa’s “There used to be less competi- Norbu worked in customer relaby couple Sergio and Iramis Fer- RETURN Pizzeria on Dryden Road for 15 tion,” he said. “Now more people tions. His uncle Phurbu, who was nandez, DotCU served authentic years, Merendino is converting come every year and choose the a chef at an Upper East Side deCuban cuisine at Personal Best A new but familiar name on from a one-destination storefront same business. But I like to create. partment store, was receptive to Brewing before shifting to inde- the Commons is Chef Enzo Mer- to an on-the-go ice cream parlor. When I came from New York City, going into business in the Finger pendent operations. While hav- endino, who opened a new enter- Like other summer truckrunners, I chose to do what no one else was Lakes, and everyone relocated.

“We want to expand but not ing a stationary building has been prise this summer serving gelato he says steep rent and the absence doing in the area.” in discussion, Sergio prefers the instead of pizza. Stationed next to of college students make mobile Merendino specialized in serv- dramatically,” Norbu said. “We ing an extensive menu with 20 to want to cater to all of Ithaca, not 30 varieties of pizza, rather than just Collegetown but locals downstriving for simplicity like neigh- town as well. That’s the goal for boring businesses. Now he aims now. Maybe we’ll become a brick to shake up the cold treat scene and mortar restaurant after being downtown by delivering a prod- recognized more. That feels like uct that isn't as common. From the safer way to go without get2 p.m. to 9 p.m., weather permit- ting hammered by overhead costs.”

This summer, Aakama plans ting, Gelato da Enzo provides an easy stop when satisfying the to frequent local events, becoming one of the newest additions to summer sweet tooth downtown. the Farmers Market locations at Steamboat Landing and East Hill AAKAMA Plaza. On weekends and WednesSome outdoor food innovators days, Aakama can be found servhave been in Ithaca for years, but ing high-quality sashimi and Tione new-in-town duo is experi- betan specialities during Farmers encing rapid success: Norbu and Market hours.

With a hot July on full blast, enPhurbu Tsering. After opening up Aakama last spring on College gaging the senses with good food Ave, the Japanese & Tibetan food is more of a priority than ever. The truck became a Cornell hit with outdoor dining scene is matching its poke cups, beef pockets, and the sun’s energy this season, so if you’re feeling confined to the air other easily transportable meals.

After an upstate camping trip conditioning unit, it might be Tac o s C D M X m ov e d f r o m P r e s s B ay A l l e y t o t h e p r e v i o u s s i t e led to an exciting visit with His time to face the wicked weatho f A s e m p e K i t c h e n i n P r e s s B ay C o u r t. ( P h o t o : M a r k S y v e r s t o n) Holiness the Dalai Lama at the er and check out new options.

Burger in CDMX’s place. Started by a friend group of new grads from Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management, Smpl Burger has gained social media traction in the last two years for late-night service, specializing in a small but hardly limited menu.

The six innovators behind the business fulfill a mission of not overcomplicating a good burger.

With three burger options and two choices of fries, the friend group celebrates graduation with a downtown opening anticipated within the next month.

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Arts&Entertainment Arts& &Entertainment “Eureka Day” Delivers Satirical Scenarios at Hangar Theatre

By Ba r ba r a A da ms

S

hould I get that Covid booster? What’s the risk in taking Shingrix? Does my infant really need those 12 immunizations recommended in the first year?

Vaccine hesitancy, skepticism, resistance, and outright confusion have flourished since the 1950s. (Or even earlier — back in 1721, Puritan minister Cotton Mather, advocating smallpox inoculation, met violent resistance.) But if today the shenanigans of the current U.S. Health Inspector have you extra stressed, then a guaranteed antidote is the Hangar Theatre’s current production of the terrific satire “Eureka Day,” splendidly directed by Katherine McGerr.

Jonathan Spector’s play — which won four New York awards, including the Tony for best revival — is currently the third most-produced show in the U.S. this season.

It’s set in the private and oh-so-progressively-inclusive Eureka Day elementary school in enlightened Berkeley, California.

But even utopia can be upended: at the start of the 2018-19 school year, one child gets mumps, and the ensuing outbreak has the entire community in an uproar.

The action’s set in the school library itself, with colorful kid-sized chairs and blocks and overstuffed bookshelves (a friendly space designed by Deb Sivigny and lit by Joey Moro). The executive board — the headmaster Don, the founder and director Suzanne, and parents Eli, Meiko, and Carina — are meeting to plan the school year. In casual dress (by costumer Carmen M. Martinez), they look like your own neighbors and colleagues.

Everyone is all welcoming smiles (good, earnest souls all), but even in the opening scene personality traits emerge that send ripples of difference into the

“Eureka Day,”

by Jonathan Spector. Directed by Katherine McGerr.

At the Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca.

Tues.–Sat. at 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 1, with 2:30 p.m. shows on Sat. and Sun. Aug. 1-2.

Tickets online at boxoffice@hangartheatre.org or call (607) 273-2787.

conversation. Suzanne interrupts often, and her excessively diplomatic speaking style is almost unctuous. Eli also constantly interrupts others, loud in his enthusiasm and self-assurance. Meiko is lively but not always confident; and Carina, a new member whose son has just joined the school, is graciously agreeable, quietly looking for clues about how to behave in this particular group. (Reflecting the school’s studied inclusiveness, Meiko is biracial Japanese-white and Carina is Black, while the other three board members are white, a difference which comes into play later on.)

When the elder statesman, Don, ends the meeting on his tradition of reading a passage from Rumi, the character types are all neatly set and sketched. If you’ve ever served on a board that functions by consensus and shares similar progressive values (and many Ithacans doubtless have), you’ll recognize every one of these people. Yet the cleverness of the script and acting is that despite their types, each comes across as fully individual.

When Meiko’s daughter contracts mumps and it passes to her playmate Tobias, Eli’s son (or maybe it passed during one of Eli and Meiko’s extramarital encounters), the situation gets serious: Tobias is hospitalized and the outbreak spreads quickly.

Unsurprising, since roughly half of the school’s students were unvaccinated.

From the board’s initial theoretical discussions over how to respond to the health department mandate to the reality of the school’s shutdown, the board’s shared values are tested and shredded.

Who should be permitted to return? And should vaccination be a requirement?

The board’s hoped-for harmony gradually dissolves and collaboration turns to chaos — and this is brought off brilliantly by the actors. Greg Bostwick’s Don is well-intentioned but pedantic, fumbling at the computer screen and methodically recording obvious consensus phrases on a whiteboard easel (ALL POV=VALID). It’s comical alone just to see the ever-sharp Bostwick dithering a bit.

For pure male energy (charming not

10 T h e I T h a c a T I m e s / J u l y 2 9 – a u g u s T 4 , 2 0 2 6

toxic), Craig Wesley Divino’s Eli dominates the stage and conversation, secure in his opinions yet always a team player. As a wealthy tech guru, he’s used to being right in his progressive stance. Yet we see the hypocrisy of his relationship with Meiko (tolerance being a rather-abused leftist value).

Erica Murphy’s Meiko is nicely complex, sensitive and hesitant. But once the board community deteriorates, she breaks out of her silence, hysteric and helpless, in a blistering tirade against everything wrong in the polluted contemporary world. You can’t help feeling sympathy and identifying; in fact, each of the flawed characters has behaviors and qualities that we can recognize in ourselves.

As the newcomer to the board, Michelle Courtney Berry makes a welcome return to the Ithaca stage. Her Carina listens, absorbs, indicating her views with the subtlest nod or bounce of her foot. She respects the group process but quietly and firmly stands up for the broader community of parents and children. Last week, Berry needed to project a bit more, but the personality is spot on.

Carina is ultimately unafraid to challenge the overwhelmingly Suzanne, whom Kate MacCluggage plays to painful perfection. Suzanne believes she knows what’s best, for everyone, and her syrupy words of conciliation ring false. She and Carina have a few small skirmishes, especially the one over whether using paper plates is ecologically responsible (just one of many moments that will have you howling). But in their key confrontation, Suzanne goes beyond being the most annoying person in the room to reveal a personal side as real and moving as her overbearingness.

As for the logical and ideological arguments over vaccination, they do get a cursory airing here, but the play is really about our imperfect relationships in ostensibly like-minded groups. The most outrageously comic scene comes when Don tries to have a community meeting with parents online. (Remember this is pre-Covid, before we all became somewhat adept at video conferencing.)

Projections on the rear wall (courtesy

Eureka Day at the Hangar Theatre.

(Photo: Hangar Theatre)

of Stephen St. Francis Decky) show us the rapid-fire exchange in the sessions’ chat room while the four board members “assisting” Don in the library increasingly argue with one another. The result is pure cacophony as you try to listen to their debate while reading the online posts, which go off on multiple tangents. The comments turn from irrelevant to heated to name-calling and outright offensive, culminating in the ultimate. I’ll leave that to your imagination; be assured this is one scene you’ll love.

But after total meltdown, life has a way of moving on, and the play ends at the first meeting of the next school year, 2019-20, with another new parent (played by Lara Adria) joining the board.

We watch her nervously; will she be the incendiary spark this fall? Or do we see the irony that Don’s welcoming hope for a positive new year will be toppled by that virus-bearing next spring?

The public is welcome to join a postshow conversation on Thursday, July 30: “Meaningful Conversations in a Viral World: Understanding the Debate Around Vaccine Policy” will feature Kara Rode Webber, Ph.D. (director of Vaccination Conversations with Scientists); Ana Bento, Ph.D. (professor of Infectious Disease Ecology at Cornell); Jamie Loehr, M.D. (local family medicine doctor and former member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), and William Klepack, M.D. (medical director of Tompkins County Whole Health, our local county health department).

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

Arts

Situated In A Growing Art Scene: Margalo Guo & Ithaca Murals Paint The Future

By Kira Walte r

W

hat began as a Facebook group has now become a townbeloved nonprofit creating widespread accessibility to making public artwork. For over 16 years, Ithaca Murals has transformed walls, houses, electric boxes and otherwise blank spaces into colorful menageries that celebrate, honor and uplift the community. Now entering the summer of 2026, the project is experiencing a boom in activity, perhaps one of the busiest times in its history.

“Every mural just inspires ten more, so Ithaca murals keeps transforming,” said Caleb Thomas, the organization’s project coordinator. For 16 years, Thomas has watched a Facebook discussion forum turn into an instagram handle, gain funding in 2018 and join the CTA. Now, as a long-standing backbone of the Ithacan art scene, the network has served as a communication and opportunity medium for countless artists in Tompkins County.

Among them is 21-year-old Margalo Guo, who just expanded her portfolio of downtown pieces with the unveiling of a dragon boat mural on Saturday, June 20. At the Jewel Box, it adds to the plethora of art decorating this patch of Taughannock Boulevard and to a collection spanning both Pennsylvania and other Finger Lakes cities.

The new project took several months to plan and paint, directly commissioned through Ithaca Murals when Guo was a teenager. After Ithaca Murals helped arrange her first local project at Beverly J. Martin elementary school, Guo is more than familiar with the organization’s team.

She began the BJM Legacy Mural in the building’s gymnasium during 2023, a series of commemorative portraits that she added to in 2024 and 2026 as well. The onBOB RITER contin u ed from page 7

own captions in the comments. Unlike most of what’s online these days, it’s not political or mean-spirited. I just want to give people a moment of lightness.

going project pays homage to Audrey Cooper, Beverly J. Martin, Kirby Edmonds, Fee Nunn, Denise Lee, J. Diann Sams, and Dr. James Turner, all champions for equity and justice within Ithaca’s education system.

“It’s been interesting to see how my style has changed over time. When I started, I had no idea what I was doing. I only had 10 days to create three portraits, which wouldn’t have been an issue now but then, it was really intimidating. I worked with a lot of people at BJM and around Ithaca who helped my process,” she said.

Growing up on East Hill, the artist took oil-paint classes at CSMA and frequent trips to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology while developing her style. Despite the geographic movement of her work, she spoke to the benefit of being an Ithacan muralist and why public art is flourishing here more than elsewhere.

“In New York State, there is much more public funding for murals. It’s easier to find projects and in Ithaca, there are so many paintings around town,” she said.

Jackie Richardson, founder and supervisor of the Legacy Murals, agreed that significant funding through the Ithaca Public Education Initiative and fine arts poster groups facilitates a better environment for local artists. After serving as principal of Beverly J. Martin, she has returned to her true passion: teaching art and helping students “take ownership of their creative ideas.”

“Art is a way for them to understand the very visual world around them and be champions for humanity. It helps them see the connection: art spans all of what it means to be human and communicate.

Having the mural is deeply rooted in the work that I value,” Richardson explained.

Her idea for the mural began with “honoring roots while inspiring young minds.”

After working in the district for 20 years,

Richardson aimed to visually improve the elementary school, coloring barren walls and carrying out minor repairs.

“I wanted the students to walk into the building and feel they were in a special learning environment just for them. One that encourages their artistic sense. There’s also a lot of history at Beverly J. Martin and I wanted to honor that,” she said.

In the past couple years, the afterschool program space has also been beautified by muralist Efren Rebugio, revamped so that students could experiment with S.T.E.M. projects in a brightly decorated place. Terrence Vann also collaborated with both students and teachers, covering voters rights to make a democracy-oriented mural.

Outside BJM, more businesses, educational facilities, and residential properties are welcoming muralists to bring significance to their walls. Richardson, who grew up in Rochester and frequented Ithaca for music festivals after college, remarked that many murals have been developments of the 21st century.

“With the work that Caleb and others have done, art has become front and center. Now it only keeps getting better,” she said. “People look at Ithaca as a place where art matters. It’s part of what makes us unique and so many ideas are communicated through the public artwork that we see.”

More funding continues to be diverted towards local murals with a new initiative specifically targeting Tompkins County art deserts. Proposals are open to all artists looking to contribute to neighborhoods that currently have little to no art. There is $4,000 allocated for a minimum of six murals, but Thomas is optimistic that ten to twenty can be completed with the budget.

“Depending on funding, we’ll try to match as many projects as possible,” he said. “But we’ll also strategize with each applicant to see what we can do.”

With plans for an Asian heritage mural on the five-story Eddygate Apartments complex, and another Hugo Medina piece at the First Unitarian Church, Ithaca Murals is kicking off a summer of artistic innovation locally. While painters embark on their ambitions, the coordinator emphasized that the goal of Ithaca murals is not in fact murals.

“The goal is about participatory democracy and uplifting our community,” Thomas said. “It’s about the wellbeing of the people who live here, thinking about the whole planet and what’s going on in the world. How do we support community and neighborhood pride? How do we honor young people and those marginalized out of participating in the community? How do we transform our cultural cityscape to honor everyone?”

I compiled many of the photos into a book called, “The Birds at Bob’s Diner” which is sold in local bookstores and nationally online. (This was later followed by “The Birds at Bob’s Diner, Volume 2.”)

I love that the books make people happy.

It’s funny that some people in town

think of me as “Cancer Guy” and other people think of me as the “Bird Guy.” It’s a nice balance. I actually get a great deal of satisfaction from being engaged in both worlds.”

We had no idea when Bob Riter hit Ithaca that he would teach us, guide us,

celebrate and mourn with us. And that his Birds at Bob’s Diner books would enchant us as we discover what our feathered friends are really thinking.

One can purchase Bob’s books at Odyssey Bookstore, Buffalo Street Books, and online through Amazon.

Members of Ithaca Murals, Margalo and friends gather near a waterfront mural (Photo: Provided)

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BEYOND THE CAMPUS — BELONGING TO PLACE

From “We” as People to “Us” as Community

By Roy A l l e n — D i r ect or of St r at e gic Pa rt n e r sh i ps — It h ac a Ti m e s , Fi nge r L a k e s C om m u n i t y Newspa pe r s , It h ac a.c om Greetings Readers: Finding Your Place If first impressions are about seeing a place for the first time, the next chapter is about something far more subtle: learning how to belong.

The unfamiliar streets become routes rather than directions. The names of buildings become familiar landmarks.

The walk that once felt like an exploration becomes a routine. Slowly, almost without noticing, Ithaca begins to shift from somewhere people have arrived to somewhere they are becoming part of.

Belonging rarely arrives as a single moment. There is no orientation session, no campus event, no introduction that announces: you are now at home. Instead, it is built through countless small interactions—the person who remembers your name, the professor who takes your question seriously, the neighbor who offers a recommendation, the friend who turns an unfamiliar weekend into a shared experience.

These moments are easy to overlook while they are happening. They do not appear in brochures or admissions materials. They are not listed among the official milestones of college life or professional transition. Yet they are often the experiences people remember most clearly years later: a first friendship, a favorite gathering place, a conversation that changed how someone saw themselves or the world around them.

For students, finding a place in Ithaca often means discovering that independence is not the absence of connection, but the creation of new ones. The freedom that initially felt like distance from home begins to transform into confidence. The uncertainty of being unknown slowly gives way to the comfort of being recognized.

They learn which spaces feel welcoming, which communities reflect their interests, and which relationships might last beyond the boundaries of a semester or a degree. They begin creating routines that are no longer borrowed from home but developed through their own choices. A morning walk. A weekly

gathering. A favorite meal shared with friends. Small traditions emerge, and through those traditions a new sense of home begins to form.

The town itself becomes part of that education. Beyond classrooms and laboratories, students encounter a community with its own history, traditions, challenges, and contradictions. Ithaca is not simply a setting for their college experience; it becomes a participant in it.

They discover that belonging is often found in places that were never part of an orientation tour or campus map. It may happen during a quiet afternoon at Stewart Park, watching the changing light across Cayuga Lake and realizing that a view once unfamiliar has become a place of reflection. It may happen while walking through Cascadilla Gorge, exploring Six Mile Creek, or discovering the waterfalls and trails that surround the community—Taughannock Falls, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Robert H. Treman State Park, and Ithaca Falls—not simply as beautiful landscapes, but as spaces where friendships form, conversations unfold, and time begins to feel different.

For many, Ithaca’s natural landscape becomes one of the first invitations into community life. The gorges, trails, and open spaces provide opportunities to step outside academic routines and experience the place itself. A hike after a difficult week, a conversation beside the water, or a quiet moment overlooking the landscape can become part of the personal history someone builds here.

Belonging also grows through encounters with the stories that make the region unique. A visit to the Museum of the Earth connects newcomers to the extraordinary history beneath their feet, reminding them that every human experience takes place within a much longer story. The Cornell Botanic Gardens offers another way of understanding the relationship between people and place, where landscapes become living classrooms and stewardship becomes part of community identity. The Sciencenter demonstrates how curiosity and discovery extend beyond the university environment and become part of the wider civic culture.

Then there are the gathering places and traditions that transform Ithaca from a location into a community. The Commons becomes more than a downtown space; it

12 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / J u l y 2 9 – A u g u s t 4 , 2 0 2 6

becomes a place where paths cross, where students and residents share public life, and where the rhythms of the community become visible. The Ithaca Farmers Market introduces newcomers to local traditions, conversations, and connections that extend far beyond campus boundaries.

The Apple Harvest Festival, Porchfest, the GrassRoots Festival, A Taste of Ithaca, performances at the State Theatre and Hangar Theatre, concerts by the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and countless other community gatherings create moments when people who might otherwise never meet find themselves sharing the same experience.

A student discovering a new food tradition, attending a concert for the first time, or joining a community celebration may seem like a small moment in the middle of a busy semester. A faculty member stepping away from research and teaching to experience the creative life of the region may discover a different kind of connection to place. A longtime resident welcoming newcomers into familiar traditions may realize that each new generation adds something to the community’s identity.

These moments quietly reshape the relationship between newcomer and community member. They transform Ithaca from a place people are studying, working, or temporarily occupying into a place where they are participating in a shared story.

Over time, these places and experiences become part of an informal curriculum of belonging. They teach lessons that cannot be found in a classroom alone: that communities are shaped by shared experiences, collective memory, creativity, and the willingness of people to show up for one another.

For early-career faculty and researchers, finding a place takes a different form.

Their belonging is shaped not only socially, but professionally. They begin to understand the culture of their institution—the rhythms of collaboration, the expectations of colleagues, and the communities that exist beyond their departments.

A successful transition is not only about establishing a career, but about discovering where their ideas, values, and experiences fit within a larger intellectual landscape. They search for colleagues who challenge and inspire them, for students who remind them why teaching matters, and for connections that allow their work to extend beyond the boundaries of their own research.

Yet the search for belonging does not end at the edge of campus. Like students, faculty and researchers often

discover that Ithaca becomes more meaningful when they engage with the wider community. A walk through a natural landscape, a conversation at a public event, or an encounter with local history provides a reminder that professional identity exists alongside personal identity.

And for those who have lived here longer—faculty, staff, and residents— the arrival of new people continually reshapes their own sense of place. Every incoming class, every new colleague, every new family adds another layer to Ithaca’s identity. Communities are not preserved by remaining unchanged; they remain alive because new stories are continually added.

This is where food, friendship, and shared experiences become more than simple pleasures. They become the infrastructure of belonging.

A meal shared across differences can become a bridge. A conversation after a lecture can become a collaboration.

A chance meeting at a local gathering can become a friendship that extends far beyond the original encounter. These are the invisible networks that transform a collection of individuals into a community.

Yet finding a place also requires negotiation. Every newcomer must decide what parts of themselves they will carry forward, what they will adapt, and what they may leave behind. Belonging does not require becoming someone else. It requires discovering how one’s own story can exist alongside the stories already rooted in a place.

Perhaps this is the quiet lesson of Ithaca: people do not simply arrive and then belong. They participate, contribute, question, and connect until the boundary between newcomer and community member begins to disappear.

The campus may be where many people begin their journey here, but belonging is discovered in the spaces between institutions—the places where conversations continue, where relationships form, and where people begin to recognize not only where they are, but where they fit.

And eventually, another transition begins. The same people who once searched for a place to belong must decide what they will carry with them when they leave.

Because every place that welcomes people also prepares them, someday, to move beyond it.

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Three Bears Mug Making Class | 6 p.m., 8/5 Wednesday | Three Bears Ovid, 7175 Main Street | Free two-part class on making freeform ceramic mugs, in Papa Bear, taught by local artist Angela Cartwright on August 5th and 19th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Music Bars/Bands/Clubs

7/30 Thursday Annie Sumi & Travis Knapp @ Danby Food and Drink | 6 p.m. | Danby Food and Drink, 1483 Danby Rd. | Free

7/31 Friday Beetlejuice, JR. | 10 a.m. | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd. | $18.00

8/1 Saturday Live Music at Diamond on Seneca: Cielle on Solid Ground | 5 p.m. | Diamond

Concerts/Recitals

7/30 Thursday

8/5 Wednesday

Art

Lake Street Dive | 5 p.m. |

Three Bears Block Printing on

Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards,

Three Bears Three Stone Fire Concert | 6 p.m. | Three Bears Ovid, 7175 Main Street | Free

7/31 Friday

2708 Lords Hill Road

Stage Cafe Utopia | 7 p.m., 7/31 Friday |

The Seven Wonders Live | 4 p.m. |

Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W.

Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road

State / W. MLK, Jr. Street | Cafe Utopia

Ithaca Concert Band at Myers Park | 7 p.m. | Myers Park, 1 Lansing Park Road | Free

7/29 Wednesday | Three Bears Ovid,

New movies opening the week of

7175 Main Street | Free 1.5 hour block

July 29. Contact Cinemapolis for

printing on tote bag class in Papa

showtimes and continuing films.

Bear taught by visiting artist Vanessa

I Want Your Sex | When fresh-faced Elliot (Hoffman) lands an exciting job for renowned artist, icon and provoca-

Suncatcher Extravaganza | 1 p.m., 8/2 Sunday | Abandon Brewing Company, 2994 Merritt Hill Rd. Rock Revival at the Chemung County Fair: RUST & FRIGHT! | 7 p.m., 8/4 Tuesday | Chemung County Fairgrounds, 170 Fairview Rd. | Rock Revival at the Chemung County Fair Get ready to turn up the volume

Eyes of Artists | 12 p.m.,

come true as Erika taps him to become

rights in the workplace.

7/30 Thursday | State of the Art Gal-

her sexual muse. But Elliot soon finds

lery, 120 West State Street | Seeing

himself out of his depth as Erika takes

Ithaca Through the Eyes of Artists at

him on a journey more profound

SOAG. https://seeingithaca.org/ for

than he ever could have imagined,

entire event and open studio list.

into a world of sex, obsession, power,

| Free

betrayal and murder. | R 90 mins

Art Cafe | 6 p.m., 7/31 Friday | The

Spider-Man: Brand New Day |

The Land of Everlasting Sky Book

Clay School’s Art Room, 950 Danby Rd.

It’s a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker.

Launch | 4 p.m., 7/30 Thursday | Buf-

| The Clay School’s ART Room features

Fighting crime full-time as Spider-

falo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga

an Art Cafe! | Free

Man in a world that doesn’t remember

Street | Join us @ BSB for The Land of

Opening Reception for Pamela

him — and the pressure of seeing his

Everlasting Sky Book Launch | Free

Lewis | 8 p.m., 8/1 Saturday | Rob-

8/1 Saturday

Cinemapolis

and what it takes to stand up for one’s

Broadway by the Lake with Norm

Lords Hill Road

County Fair in Whitney Point, NY.

teur Erika Tracy (Wilde), his fantasies

mons, 102 East State Street

Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, 2708

Show Thursday, July 30, 2026,

Seeing Ithaca Through the

| 10 a.m., 8/1 Saturday | Ithaca Com-

15th Anniversary Tour | 7 p.m. |

grounds, 2594 Main St. | 4-H Poultry

is a new play about labor, organizing,

Performance by Morris Dancers

The Head And The Heart:

Thursday | Broome County Fair-

Show will be held during the Broome

120 E Green St., Ithaca

4:30 p.m. | Free

4-H Poultry Show | 6 p.m., 7/30

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The 4-H Poultry

Film

Tote Bags Workshop | 3 p.m.,

Varjian on July 29th from 3:00 to

Special Events.

inson Pavilion at Anyela’s Vineyard, 2433 W Lake Rd | Renowned for his

Music in the Glen Tuesday and

work onstage and screen, Norm Lewis

Saturday concerts | 4 p.m. |

is a SAG, Grammy, and Tony Award

Glendale Park, 400 Glendale Drive

nominated star hailed by The New

at the 184th annual Chemung County Fair as the Chemung County Fair and 94 Rock present Rock Revival — a high-energy night. | $10.00

Books

Concert — Sunshine & Whiskey |

York Times as “just about everything

Drix at The Gallery at South Hill |

old friends move on without him —

5 p.m. | Eldridge Park, Eldridge

a leading man with a mighty voice

4 p.m., 8/1 Saturday | The Gallery at

sparks a change in Peter he may not

Park Road

should | $48.00 - $70.00

South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill

have the power to control. But that

Kitestring Live | 6 p.m. |

Jimmy Rogers Band | 5 p.m. |

Summer 2026 Bar(d) Crawl —

Business Campus | Pam’s exhibit “of

transformation might also be the only

Brewers Taproom,

Seneca Stag Brewing, 1720 NY-14

Act 3 | 4 p.m., 8/2 Sunday | South Hill

vines and fences” explores the pat-

thing that can stop a shocking new

Live Music and Fireworks

terns, juxtapositions and intersections

threat to the city and those he loves

10 Pinckney Rd.

Cider, 550 Sandbank Road | The Ithaca Shakespeare Company (ISC) invites

of organic and manufactured form to

— a powerful villain no one can even

audiences to experience Shakespeare

understand place-making. | Free

see. | PG 144 mins

in a new way with the Summer

Clay Studio 2 | 10 a.m., 8/4 Tuesday |

The Continuum Showcase | It’s

2026 Bar(d) Crawl, a three-part free,

Lifelong, 119 W. Court St. | At Lifelong,

an opportunity for artists, creatives,

Science on the Lawn | 10 a.m., 7/30 Thursday | Hazard Library, 2487 State

on Seneca, 3800 Ball Diamond Road | Free

8/2 Sunday Summer Sundays Music Series

Celebrating the Town of Lodi Bicentennial | 5 p.m. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414

For the Love of Labor: The Life of Pauline Newman | 4 p.m., 8/1 Saturday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Join Cathryn J. Prince for an author reading, in conversation with Jill Swenson!

Kids

- ft. Clint Bush | 1 p.m. | Wagner

immersive performance series staged

$5 drop in fee. Membership required,

and movie lovers to come together

5 p.m. | Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards,

at popular venues throughout Ithaca.

with membership $40/month unlim-

and appreciate this moment in the

Route 34B | Join us each Thursday

Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414

2708 Lords Hill Road

| Free

ited Creative Arts activities eligibility.

continuum of cinema. | NA 120 mins

from July 16-Aug 13 for informative

THISWEEK

Jesse Welles: Red Tour 2026 |

CAFE UTOPIA FRIDAY, JULY 31, FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 9:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, FROM 2:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M. Kitchen Theatre Company | Civic Ensemble and Notch Theatre Company are producing a staged reading of "Cafe Utopia," a dystopian comedy about work conditions, labor, and what it takes to stand up for one’s rights in the workplace. This play was originally produced in NYC by Notch Theatre Company and was created based on interviews with workers and labor organizers across the country. This staged reading will include stories based on local labor organizing.

(Photo: Provided) https://www.civicensemble.org/cafe-utopia

14 T h e I T h a c a T I m e s / J u l y 2 9 – a u g u s T 4 , 2 0 2 6

TRACKAPALOOZA SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 AT 9:00 A.M.

Ithaca High School | Enjoy outdoor track and field at its best in this full-day extravaganza of racing, jumping, and throwing at the Ithaca High School track. All ages and abilities are welcome—youth, adults, and elites. Racing heats will be seeded by time. Events include a mix of sprints, distance, throws, and jumps. (Photo: Provided) https://fingerlakesrunners.org/race/trackapalooza-2026/

and fun hands-on science activities

601 1st St | Join experts from Cornell’s

101 E Green St | Stitch Club is an

through our “Science on the Lawn”

iGEM team to learn about synthetic

opportunity for knitters, crocheters,

series of programs. This year’s theme

biology!

needle-pointers, and other stitchers

is “Unearth a Story” and we will be

First Mondays with WSKG Kids |

to come together and work.

exploring various topics related to

4:30 p.m., 8/3 Monday | Tompkins

“digging” both on earth and in space!

“Queeraoke” | 8 p.m., 7/31 Friday |

County Public Library, 101 East Green

The Rhine House, 632 W Seneca St. |

Museum of Earth visits LCL! |

Street | Kick off each month with

Ithaca’s original “Queeraoke” night is

10:30 a.m., 7/30 Thursday | Lansing

curiosity and creativity! Join WSKG

back! Come hang, sing and make new

Community Library, 27 Auburn Rd. |

Education Outreach for First Mondays,

friends...cheers, queers!

Museum of the Earth Out-

a fun, hands-on STEAM series for

reach Program Calling all dinosaur

children and families.

Ithaca Rotary Road Rally | 1 p.m.,

and fossil enthusiasts! Families of all

Read to Dogs | 3 p.m., 8/5 Wednes-

482 Peruville Road | Join us for the

day | Newfield Public Library,

13th annual ROTARY ROAD RALLY,

198 Main Street | Children are invited

a scavenger hunt on wheels! |

to the Newfield Library to practice

$10.00 - $25.00

their reading skills by reading to one

Senator Lea Webb’s Satellite

ages are invited to a free, hands-on program with the Museum of the Earth. Discover fossils, explore prehistoric science, and enjoy interactive activities. Thursday, July 30 | 10:30 AM | Lansing Lib | Free Reservation required.

8/2 Sunday | The Plantsman Nursery,

of Cornell Companion’s volunteer therapy dogs! | Free

Office Hours | 10 a.m., 8/3 Monday | YWCA Cortland , 14 Clayton Ave.

LEGO Club | 4 p.m., 8/5 Wednesday |

| Please join the Office of New York

Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St. |

State Senator Lea Webb for “Satellite

Come join our Lego club & have some

Office Hours” on January 5th, 2026

building fun! Each session we’ll have a

Visions FCU Kids Summer Bash |

from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the

challenge & a game. LEGO Club meets

10 a.m., 8/1 Saturday | Visions FCU

Cortland YWCA located at 14 Clayton

on the first & third Wednesday of each

Amphitheater, 408 Elmira Road | Join

Ave., Cortland, NY. | Free

month at 4 p.m.

This program is part of DCL’s “Love Your Lake” program, intended for local community members. | Free

Visions FCU for the 2nd Annual Kids

Special Committee on

BETWEEN BUDGET AND REVENUE contin u ed from page 5

and airport administrative staff. Their collective efforts ensure that our airport continues to meet the highest standards of safety and service for passengers, tenants, visitors, and our entire community.”

Darrel Tuttle shared the county’s sales tax report, noting that in May the county collected $6,873,000 in sales tax revenue, which is an 8.59% increase compared to May 2025.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR contin u ed from page 6

wave? Knowing as you do that New York’s grid is already overburdened, why would you not pump the brakes on data center construction that could double demand on an already fragile system?

On a more personal note, the Town of Lansing here in Tompkins County has been targeted by Paul Prager’s TeraWulfaffi liated companies as a data center site.

TeraWulf ’s campaign to get the necessary permits has been intensely divisive in the Lansing community, and a source of great concern throughout Tompkins County. In 2025, TeraWulf and its affi liates threatened litigation against the Lansing Town Board over alleged Open Meetings Law violations and a proposed land-use development moratorium.

Meanwhile, data center supporters have threatened and harassed Town Board

Notices

Coordinated Unhoused Services

theater in Ithaca featuring interactive

Crochet and Connect | 2 p.m.,

8/3 Monday | Council Chambers,

activities, local community partners,

7/29 Wednesday | Mental Health

sweet treats, and free backpacks with

Association in Tompkins County,

HSC Homeless and Housing Task

school supplies for the first 50 kids.

511 W Seneca St. | Come create,

Force | 9:30 a.m., 8/5 Wednesday |

| Free

connect, and enjoy the company of

Tompkins County Public Library,

LCL: Family Movie Night | 6 p.m.,

others, one stitch at a time. | Free

101 East Green Street

8/1 Saturday | Lansing Town Hall,

Golden Hour Yoga & U-Pick

Monks Gives Back | 5 p.m., 8/5

29 Auburn Rd. | Family Movie Night

(with Lara Green) | 6:30 p.m., 7/30

Wednesday | Monks on the Commons,

ROB PARNELL

is August 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Lansing

Thursday | Jenny Creek Flowers, 7048

120 South Aurora Street | Come sup-

contin u ed from page 7

Town Hall! Join us for a free showing

Durling Road | Breathe, stretch, and

port Lifelong by dropping in to Monks

of Zootopia 2, chosen by kids in our

unwind with a peaceful yoga session

on the Commons where 50% of all

April vote. Bring a blanket, find a spot,

on the flower farm, then linger in

sales of food and drink will be donated

and enjoy a fun evening with family

the fields or add an optional U-pick

to your community center for those

and friends. Free popcorn provided!

to gather your own bouquet to take

50 yrs and older! | Free

| Free

home. | $20.00 - $35.00

Pet Clinic | 6 p.m., 8/5 Wednesday

Science Connections: Cornell iGEM

Stitch Club | 1 p.m., 7/31 Friday

| Southside Community Center Gym,

| 2 p.m., 8/2 Sunday | Sciencenter,

| Tompkins County Public Library,

305 S Plain St. | Pet Clinic

Summer Bash, a free, family-friendly celebration at the Visions FCU Amphi-

Planning Meeting | 2 p.m., 3rd Floor City Hall

attendance was Rob Pannell. Rob never played for Coach Moran, but Richie was still deeply connected to the program, and the coaches made damn well sure that the players understood what he meant to Cornell Lacrosse, and the game as a whole.

Rob saw that there were dozens of people standing in line to shake Richie’s

Tuttle added that the year-to-date sales tax revenue collected is $34,760,000, a 6.27% increase over last year’s to-date revenue.

“The county’s portion mimics that very closely,” Tuttle said in his presentation. The county’s portion received was $3,866,000 at an 8.59% increase. Yearto-date revenue is $9,552,000, a 6.27% increase over last year’s to-date.

The full legislature meeting can be viewed on the county YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LRlkrNGbGnQ&t=3098s. members, staged write-in campaigns, and fi led repetitious FOIL requests that have cost the Town more than $200,000 so far. One can only wonder what kind of neighbor a TeraWulf data center would actually be.

Finally, a data center on the shores of Cayuga Lake is a terrifying prospect to those of us in Tompkins and surrounding counties. We depend on the lake for water, recreation, and revenues from a tourism industry driven by our beautiful natural environment. Despite corporate assurances to the contrary, it seems highly unlikely that a data center on the scale proposed by TeraWulf would have little or no impact on the health of Cayuga Lake.

In conclusion, Governor, we’re afraid you cannot count on us unless and until we can count on you to sign the data center moratorium bill before November 3.

Thank you for your consideration of the needs of your constituents in the Finger Lakes.” — Deborah Dawson hand and buy his book, and it was worth it to him to be there. It was the off-season, Rob is from Long Island, but there he was, willing to do what he had to do to hug the coach, get a photo taken, exchange some heartfelt words and leave with a signed copy of “It’s Great To Be Here.” A trip from Long Island to be there for Richie’s big day.

That meant a lot to the 80 year-old retired coach, and it gave me a glimpse into the character of one of the greatest lacrosse players to ever pick up a stick.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M.

BAD MUSIC FOR BAD PEOPLE

Liquid State Brewing Company | Metzger/Walters bring their full quartet to Liquid State Brewing for an evening moving between jazz improvisation, rock energy, and free improvisation. This is the third and final night of an exclusive album pre-release weekend run that opens in NYC and passes through Syracuse before landing in Ithaca; the hometown of the band's drummer and creative hub for this project. (Photo: Provided) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1993709429573?aff= oddtdtcreator

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 AT 9:00 P.M.

Nocturnal Cafe | COME OUT To see this Highly ANTiCiPATED Untold (censored) STORY, a musical comedy of 11 players. About how the disease of addiction does not discriminate... the message is HOPE. (Photo: Provided) https://www.houseofchoclet.com/

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THISWEEK

METZGER/WALTERS UPSTATE QUARTET

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