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TCAT Human Resources Manager Tiffany Walker Takes on New Role as Assistant General Manager

By Shubha Gautam

Serving as the TCAT human resources manager since March of 2024, the agency’s board members appointed Tiffany Walker as the assistant general manager at their Thursday, June 27 meeting, according to a TCAT press release. While also retaining her original duties, Walker will work on organizational continuity and providing leadership across departments in her role as assistant manager.

TCAT General Manager Matthew Rosenbloom-Jones said Walker refined recruiting capabilities and employee-support systems over her past 15 months at the agency, improving employee retention and filling in key staff vacancies. Board members believe Walker’s promotion

will propel the success of TCAT’s current leadership, which in the past few months purchased five new diesel trucks and six new electric buses. These buses will be in service by the end of the year. Two hybrid buses will additionally be introduced in early 2026.

Walker said she had the opportunity to get to know committed employees over the past year. By understanding their different strengths in providing transportation services, she hopes to optimize the TCAT rider experience.

“I am honored to be able to serve in this new role and to provide additional support,” Walker stated in the press release, “especially as we tackle the many existing and new projects that will enable us to offer our riders the best transportation possible.”

TCAT Introduces Three New Diesel Buses, Planning to Add Additional Ones in the Coming Months

By Shubha Gautam

After experiencing ongoing issues with bus shortages, TCAT introduced three of its five new Gillig diesel buses on Tuesday, June 24, according to a TCAT press release published the same day. Painted with a new bright blue design with a white cat along its sides, TCAT General Manager Matthew Rosenbloom said the 40-foot buses will “leave riders with a cleaner, more comfortable and more reliable commute.”

Although still utilizing diesel, Rosenbloom-Jones stated in the press release that the new buses’ modernized technology will “vastly reduce carbon emissions.” As the number of buses in service increases, less residents will be using single-occupancy vehicles, in turn reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The buses were commissioned to be built at Gillig’s California manufacturing plant in April 2024, costing around $520,000 each.

New York’s Modernization Enhancement and Acceleration Transit Capital programs, which awards money to regional governments to enhance their public transportation systems, funded the purchase.

“Throughout the remainder of the summer, TCAT riders can expect to see additional new buses enter service, while older vehicles beyond their service life, many [of] which [are] obsolete, will gradually be

The Ithaca Police Department has released their 2024 annual report, highlighting an increased call volume but a decrease in major crimes. (Graphic: Ithaca Times/Maddy Vogel. Photo: Ithaca Times File/Nathan Ellison, Sun Fellow at the Ithaca Times)

removed,” said Rosenbloom-Jones in the press release.

With an aging collection of buses, this purchase was much awaited to mitigate the TCAT bus shortage.

“Every day, we [probably] have 25 vehicles on the road,” Rosenbloom-Jones said in an interview with the Ithaca Times.

M anson , a sso C iat E p ublish E r

F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Peter Rothbart

THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2025 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 the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and The Good

Shubha Gautam is a reporter at the Ithaca Times through the Cornell Summer Experience Grant and a senior writer at The Cornell Daily Sun.

Recently put into service, one of the three new TCAT diesel buses sports a new bright blue design. (Photo: Provided)

Tiffany Walker, who served as TCAT human resources manager for 15 months, will now serve as the assistant general manager. (Photo: Provided)

IN UIRING

PHOTOGR PHER Q A

By Mark Syvertson

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

“IT ’ S TOUGH COMING UP WITH THESE EVERY WEEK. LET ’ S TRY ONE JEOPARDY! STYLE: THE ANSWER IS ‘ ONLY IN ITHACA...’ WHAT ’ S THE QUESTION?”

TC3 Offers Free Associate Degrees to Adult New Yorkers

By Varsha Bhargava

Adult New Yorkers looking to pursue higher education can now work toward a free associate degree at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) in select fields.

Tuition, fees, books and supplies costs will be covered through SUNY Reconnect, a new program funded by New York state to offer adult New Yorkers free two-year degrees.

Learners in the program must be New York residents within the 25-55 year age range and do not need prior college experience or credits to enroll. Participants can sign up for full-time or part-time enrollment in “high-demand” fields that will unlock employment opportunities immediately after graduation, according to a TC3 press release.

“Adults students often face a different set of challenges when pursuing a college degree,” Robert Palmieri, vice president for enrollment management at TC3, said in the release. “This program, coupled with all the other support services we offer at TC3, will help our adult students succeed, which will help our community thrive.”

Students participating in SUNY Reconnect can earn their degrees in “emerging industries” such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, green and renewable energy, nursing, education and technology fields, according to the release. The full list of

courses offered through SUNY Reconnect can be found online.

To remain in the program, students must take at least six credits per semester, complete their degree within 10 semesters and remain in good academic standing.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) first proposed the SUNY Reconnect program at her January State of the State Address. As she spoke, she stood at a podium sporting a banner that read “free community college” and shared her plan to “reshape the future of thousands and thousands of New Yorkers” through free education.

Hochul’s mother could not afford to fund her own college education until her children were college-age themselves.

X Cartons and Black Plastic Banned from Tompkins County Curbside Recycling

By Varsha Bhargava

Cartons and black plastic are no longer accepted by Tompkins County in curbside recycling, according to Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management (TCRMM). Only plastics labeled with #1, 2 or 5 recycling symbols can be recycled curbside.

Cartons can include any type of food, drink or soup carton box, while black plastic can include items like black microwavable food trays and take-out containers.

On its website, TCRMM recommends that community members visit its “What do I do with…” page to find suitable recycling alternatives for non-curbside items. Alternative options can include stopping by the Tompkins County

Recycling and Solid Waste Center, throwing items in the trash or visiting a nearby drop spot in the county, depending on the item.

The community can learn more about curbside recycling and the newly prohibited items in TCRMM’s July 2025-June 2026 curbside recycling guidelines. The guidelines include information on single stream recycling, the curbside pickup schedule, prohibited items and step-by-step instructions on how to prepare items for curbside recycling.

Why Can’t Cartons and Black Plastic Be Recycled Curbside?

The shift in curbside recycling procedure follows TCRMM’s concern about the market viability and recycling process for cartons and black plastic.

“Recently, it was identified that food and

Hochul said her mother’s enrollment in college at an older age set an example for her and illustrated the importance of education.

“If you're working minimum wage and you're trying to pay for child care and then maybe cover the cost of a community college to lift yourself up, it's not happening,” Hochul said at the address. “We will pick up the tab for you because that is an investment that will be earned multiple times over.”

Varsha Bhargava is a reporter at the Ithaca Times and a news editor at The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun’s summer fellowship.

beverage cartons do not currently have a feasible end-market, and black plastic is problematic in the process due to composition and sorting technology,” according to a TCRMM press release.

Varsha Bhargava is a news editor from The Cornell Daily Sun working as a reporter for The Ithaca Times through The Sun’s summer fellowship program.

“Where would you find more than three cannabis dispensaries on the same street in rural upstate New York.”

Leah

“Where do the bumper stickers deserve their own parking spot.”

Nathan

“Where are hiking boots more common than sneakers.”

Shuba

“Where can you climb almost 200 feet to attend your 9 a.m. lab class.”

Varsha

“Where can you find a Salvation Army, a Thrifty Shopper, a Goodwill and two Reuse locations.”

Laura

TC3 graduates smile at graduation after receiving their diplomas. (Photo: Provided/TC3 Instagram)

Curbside recycling and trash bins occupy a sidewalk in Tompkins County. (Photo: Nathan Ellison/ Sun Fellow at the Ithaca Times)

Winning the Democratic Primary for Ward 5 Alderperson, Shvets will Run Against Zurenda Once Again in the General Election

UPS DOWNS&

Ups

The Baden-Powell Council announced that Troop 24 and Pack 24 have adopted Dryden Middle and Elementary Schools through Scouting America’s Adopt-A-School program, pledging at least four service projects per year to support youth development and school improvement. Scouts are already collaborating with school sta on projects to strengthen community ties and enhance learning environments.

Downs

On July 2 Tompkins County received a report of a potential threat directed at the Human Services Building located at 320 W Martin Luther King/ State St. in Ithaca. Law enforcement responded and placed the building on lockdown for several hours while conducting an investigation.

HEARD SEEN&

Heard

By Shubha Gautam

Aer counting the remaining absentee and a davit ballots, the Tompkins County Board of Elections announced Wednesday, July 2 that Hannah Shvets won the democratic primary for Ward 5 Common Council alderperson with 40.49% of the votes. e other two democratic candidates, G. P. Zurenda Jr. and Deborah Fisher, received 33.47% and 25.77% of the votes, respectively. Zurenda is planning to run against Shvets as an independent under the A ordable Ithaca Party, a body of his own creation, in the Nov. 4 general election.

is particular race was the only one from the June 24 Tompkins County primaries that did not have a clear winner by the end of election day. Preliminary results showed Zurenda receiving 38.73% of the votes and Shvets receiving 34.51% of them, but the race was too close to call without counting the 22 remaining a davit and mail-in ballots, Stephen DeWitt, Democratic commissioner for the Tompkins County Board of Elections, said. Shvets won by a margin of victory within 20 votes, prompting a manual recount of the votes scheduled for July 8 at 11 a.m.

Sam Poole, campaign manager for Shvets, said her campaign was expecting the race to be tight.

“We knew [the election results] could be close,” Poole said. “[Ward 5] is a low turnout district, and a lot of our base [is]

students who are voting absentee or [voted absentee] a er sending a davit ballots. [...] While, obviously, we would have been happy to have won election night, we weren’t overly concerned that that didn’t happen.”

Only 143 ballots were cast for the Ward 5 alderperson democratic primaries, as compared to 656 for Ward 1 and 665 for the Ward 3. With 3,121 ballots cast, only around 5.46% of registered voters in Tompkins County cast ballots in this election.

Although she believes the heat wave had a role in low turnout, Shvets said she thinks it points toward a larger issue of low voter engagement with students. She mentioned that since the primary falls a er the end of Cornell’s spring semester, much of the eligible voting student population is gone for the election. Ward 5 includes Cornell University’s north campus and part of its west campus.

“Even though [Ward 5] is a majority student district, [they are the] minority of people who show up,” Shvets said. “So to me, this means that we need to keep working on bringing students into the Ithaca community and making them feel like this is their home, and these elections a ect them too, because they do.”

Zurenda said he felt that he and Fisher would likely split the “local vote” and thus turn the primary over to Shvets. So, despite running as a Democrat, he went ahead and carried a petition to run as a third-party candidate as well. Similar to Shvets, one of his main issues is the

increasingly high price of living in Ithaca. But, while a major focus of Shvets’ is to protect county workers by raising labor wages to keep up with the high cost of living, Zurenda said the restrictions imposed by the nancial ability of taxpayers to fund this increase must be taken into account. Shvets, instead, said city spending should not be viewed with an “austerity mindset.”

“ e tax bills for city residents have gone up dramatically over the past several years and [have amounted] to approximately a 36% increase over the past three years,” Zurenda said. “ at’s unsustainable, [...] and if that doesn’t change, many permanent Ithaca residents like myself are going to have to sell their homes and move out of town because they can’t a ord the taxes.”

As the general election approaches, Zurenda said he will continue to advertise his position through press and social media. Shvets also mentioned continuing her current campaign practices, focusing on interacting with voters and hearing their concerns.

“I’m just going to continue [...] speaking to people and their concerns and making sure that Ithaca is a place where people can actually stay no matter what their background is,” Shvets said.

Shubha Gautam is a reporter at the Ithaca Times through the Cornell Summer Experience Grant and a senior writer at e Cornell Daily Sun.

From October 20-22, 2025, Tompkins County will host the Government Alliance on Race and Equity Local Meeting at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center, bringing together racial equity practitioners to share strategies and build partnerships that advance racial equity in government.

Seen

The Bu alo Pothole Bandit, an anonymous artist that lls potholes across Upstate New York cities with colorful mosaic art, visited Ithaca during the July 4 holiday weekend. New pothole artwork can be seen across the city.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Should The City of Ithaca try to apply for the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Grant again this year even though it has lost the last eight times?

63.2% Yes. 30.3% No.

6.6% I don’t care.

N EXT W EEK ’S Q UESTION : Do you think that crime is increasing in downtown Ithaca?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

Hannah Shvets, rising junior at the Cornell College of Industrial and Labor Relations, won the democratic primary for Ward 5 alderperson. (Photo: Provided)

G. P. Zurenda Jr. will run against Hannah Shvets again in November, this time on the Affordable Ithaca party line. (Photo: Provided)

Deborah Fisher, Ward 5 alderperson democratic primary candidate, lost the nomination to Hannah Shvets. (Photo: Provided)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Commending Assemblymember Anna Kelles For Supporting Sewage Sludge Regulation

“Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles deserves recognition for her leadership on legislation to better regulate the use of sewage sludge, or biosolids, in New York State.

While the bill did not pass this session, her deep engagement has been critical. She listened to the concerns of farmers, scientists, and public health advocates, and worked to craft legislation aimed at protecting New York’s soil, water, and food systems from PFAS contamination. Her efforts have helped elevate this issue in Albany and laid the groundwork for stronger action in the future. That kind of proactive, science-informed leadership is urgently needed.

Clean water and healthy soil should not be controversial, yet too often polluters profit while the public bears the cost. Assemblymember Kelles has shown the courage to confront that imbalance and prioritize

public health and environmental safety. Her persistence is making a difference—and it’s exactly what this moment demands.” — Claire Walsh, Director of Food, Agriculture, and Land Use EANY

Where Are the City Police?

“A few days ago, I narrowly escaped serious injury while walking on the Commons. As I strolled with a business associate, a young man came speeding out of the Cinemapolis alley on a heavy electric bike. He saw us at the last instant and brushed past, missing me by mere inches. He continued down the central Commons, despite my reminder that riding motorized bikes there is illegal.

Unfortunately, this incident is just one example of how conditions on the Commons have deteriorated. Loud music, shouting, and frequent disputes have become the norm. There have even been shootings. Who wants to dine outside at a restaurant or shop in such an environment? These issues are driving customers away and hurting the remaining businesses.

In the past, police patrols were a regular, reassuring presence. Now, they are rarely seen on foot—if at all. Occasionally, officers can be spotted sitting in their cars, but visible engagement with the community seems to have vanished.

Continued on Page 12

Advocates Accuse NYISO of Undermining Clean Energy Goals with Misleading Report

By Jessica Madris, Earthjustice

Acoalition of environmental advocacy organizations are sounding the alarm on misleading narratives and systemic failures by the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) that are inconsistent with the state’s clean energy transition. In a new push to stop NYISO from distracting the state from its climate and renewable energy mandates, Earthjustice and other public advocates argue that NYISO’s latest annual summary Power Trends report misleads the public and policymakers about the state’s need for more fossil fuel generation.

The groups are calling on Governor Hochul, Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian, Department of Environmental Commission Commissioner Amanda Lefton, and New York State Research and Development Authority President Doreen Harris to scrutinize NYISO’s actions and narratives, and to push for and prioritize systemic reforms that will accelerate the transition to affordable, reliable, renewable energy.

In the letter, signatories emphasize that the summary Power Trends report does not present any new information or analysis to support the purported need for more dirty fossil fuel. None of the earlier NYISO reports on which it claims to rely concluded that fossil fuel generation is necessary for grid reliability or that repowering aging gas plants is beneficial. To the contrary, NYISO’s own report highlights the growing unreliability of gas-fired power, noting aging plants are breaking down more often, have high costs and are not reliable for winter peak demands.

NYISO’s summary report does not demonstrate that New York has a real reliability shortfall in the near term, even stating that a previously identified need “no longer exists”.

In addition, Power Trends points to the potential impacts of new large loads on the grid like data centers, but multiple reports, and even the Public Service Commission, have emphasized that these demand projections are highly speculative. NYISO’s push to build new gas plants based on uncertain projects is

Northeast Regional Office, speaks out against NYISO’s Power Trends report, calling it a barrier to New York’s clean energy future. (Photo: Provided)

risky, unnecessary, and costly for New Yorkers, the letter argues.

Instead, the real threat to reliability and affordability comes from NYISO’s delays and barriers to interconnecting new energy generation, and its continued delay in building out the transmission grid to meet New York’s clean energy mandates under the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

“By publishing this misleading summary Power Trends report, NYISO is standing in the way of the clean energy transition New Yorkers need and the law requires,” said Rachel Spector, Deputy Managing Attorney for the Northeast Regional Office at Earthjustice. “NYISO’s failure to prepare the grid for a clean energy future is putting our climate goals, our wallets, and our health at risk. We urge state leaders to take a hard look at NYISO’s track record and misleading messaging — and to act swiftly to remove the barriers standing in the way of New York’s clean energy progress.”

“Now is the moment to double down on clean, affordable energy — not derail progress with distractions and delays. Clean energy is the cheapest, most reliable path forward to cut climate pollution and lower bills for New Yorkers, and NYISO should be speeding up its deployment, not sowing doubt. It’s time for NYISO to get serious about meeting the state’s climate goals and building the grid New York actually needs,” said Justin Balik, VP for States, Evergreen Action.

Rachel Spector, Deputy Managing Attorney for Earthjustice’s

Transformational vs Transactional Creativity

By Professor Robert J. Sternberg

For many years, I believed that the biggest mistake schools were making was insufficiently emphasizing, or even disparaging, creativity. Standardized tests, and many teacher-made tests, do not allow for creativity. Often, students are taught in ways that emphasize rote recall rather than creative (and critical) thinking. However, I now believe I was only half-right.

The problem is that creativity can be a good thing, but it also can be a bad thing. Bad creativity, often called dark creativity, is behind deepfake images and videos, sinister spyware implanted into phones and computers, bioweapons, cybercrime, and techniques of control and suppression by emerging autocracies around the world.

Much of creativity today is transactional creativity, meaning that it is tit-for-tat. For example, in transactional creativity, someone does creative, and sometimes, darkly creative work to gain financial or other rewards. Deepfakes, spyware, bioweapons, and cybercrime are often examples of dark creativity for hire. Not all transactional creativity is dark, but too often, people accept the money and do not think enough about whether what they are doing helps or hurts people, as is the case for those working on addictive social media apps.

I have coined the term transformational creativity to refer to creativity that helps to make for a better world—creativity that is directed toward making a positive, meaningful, and potentially enduring difference to the world. Transformational creativity combines creativity with wisdom—the seeking of a common good. Transformational creativity has brought us clean energy solutions, AI-assisted medical diagnosis, mRNA vaccines, breakthrough innovations in psychotherapy, new methods of organic farming, Zoom technology, and innovative ways of learning foreign languages and other information online. Transformational creativity brings people together rather than tearing them apart, which is why its practice can have a significant impact on a civil society.

People who are transformationally creative often must be transactionally creative as well: They have to find innovative ways to work with others in order to gain acceptance and implementation of their ideas. Such acceptance is often not easily obtained, because creativity, by its nature,

University Professor of Psychology Robert J. Sternberg coined the term “transformational creativity,” which “helps to make for a better world.” (Photo: Provided)

is often crowd-defying. When you are transformationally creative, you almost inevitably find yourself confronted with serious and obstructive opposition. People are reluctant to accept change, and vested interests often keep things the way they are, even when they are not working. An example is the U.S. Electoral College, which greatly under-weights presidential votes in New York and over-weights votes in states that have few people in them.

Transformational creativity can change the world for the better, but one must watch out for what I call pseudotransformational creativity, which is creativity promoted as transformational, but which is really only for the benefit of an individual and, often, cronies of that individual. Scholar James MacGregor Burns pointed out that pseudotransformational leaders, of corporations, religious groups, nations, or other entities, sell themselves as promoting the common welfare, while mercilessly exploiting the people they claim to help. This exploitation can also occur within families when parents or children take undue and unfair advantage of each other. Pseudotransformationally creative individuals are narcissistic, Machiavellian, and often psychopathic—the so-called dark triad they are out only for themselves.

How do you develop transformational creativity in young (or older!) people? Here are seven ways. First, put humanity first, not just your small sliver of it. Emphasize the importance of working

Continued on Page 15

Music Columnist Peter Rothbart Makes the Complex Digestible

By Austin Lamb

“How can retirement be this busy?”

Peter Rothbart asks, sitting at a coffee table in his Ellis Hollow home, a dog resting on his lap. To his right, a parrot chirps in an open cage. “She likes opera, she loves the Beatles, and she absolutely loves when I play acoustic guitar,” the Ithaca Times columnist quips.

Rothbart taught electroacoustic and film music at Ithaca College for over four decades, retiring from IC in 2021. But the artistic curiosity that’s marked his career still drives him, as he continues to direct the Ageless Jazz Band, an 18-piece big band in Ithaca, and plays saxophone with Nik and the Nice Guys, a party band from Rochester.

He also remains a music columnist for the Ithaca Times, which he’s done since 1979.

Some nights, Rothbart falls asleep reading a thesaurus, deepening the wealth of words he uses to describe how he hears an opera, concerto, or a jazz ensemble. “I think that adjectives and synonyms are what makes the world beautiful,” he said.

For as long as Rothbart can remember, he’s searched for ways to contextualize music, to relate it to the human experience— long before his writing appeared in publications such as DownBeat Magazine and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. As a child, when his parents put on Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake,” he went upstairs and wrote a story about the quietness of the day after Abraham Lincoln was shot. “Obviously the music was saying something to me,” he said.

Rothbart sees himself as a music journalist, not a critic. Rather than reviews, he prefers writing concert previews. This allows him time to research the music and interview musicians, with the intent of interesting readers in performances they might not otherwise attend.

As a writer, Rothbart draws from a musical background as deep as it is diverse. He holds a doctorate in music composition from Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s in Music from IC. He conducted the Cornell Jazz Ensemble, and for nearly four decades he played bassoon in the Binghamton Philharmonic. In the ‘70s, he toured North America playing disco and

funk in a sequined tuxedo. He founded IC’s first electroacoustic and film studios, and its first Klezmer ensemble. He’s written jingles and composed for classical, theater, electroacoustic, and film. And he’s published a book, “The Synergy of Film and Music: Sight and Sound in Five Hollywood Films.” Despite Rothbart’s expertise, he shies away from using fancy jargon that risks patronizing the average reader.

“I can go on and on about fugues, canons, and things like that,” he said. “It’s great for academics, but that turns off the general public.”

Steven Mauk, who taught Rothbart saxophone at IC, said Rothbart’s aware not everyone is well-versed in music. “He's able to condense things down so that the average reader can understand it,” Mauk said. “But he can also speak to the very educated musician and speak in high-level terms to those people as well."

Instead, Rothbart uses everyday language to get listeners to hear music differently. In his previews, he points out what to listen for in a concert and provides historical context for the genre.

"I'm continually stunned by his ability to do that,” said Dave Zimet, a longtime friend of Rothbart’s who got to know him as a customer of Hickey’s, the music store Zimet owned for three decades.

Whether or not readers see the concerts Rothbart previews, what’s most important to him is if they learned something about the music.

“I just like exploring,” Rothbart said. “And if I can get other people to explore, go beyond their boundaries, it deepens the human experience, which is my core philosophy.”

Cornell

IC professor emeritus Peter Rothbart has written for the Ithaca Times since 1979. (Photo: Provided)

Some Crime Down, Calls Up in 2024 IPD Report

Annual review shows decline in larcenies and burglaries, but increased call volume and understaffing strain force

By Matt Dougherty

Ithaca saw an overall decrease in major crimes in 2024, but the Ithaca Police Department continues to face high call volumes, staffing shortages, and increasing demand for unarmed crisis response, according to its 2024 annual report.

The Ithaca Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report, released March 28 and presented at the April 23 Community Police Board meeting, outlines crime and traffic data, programs and initiatives and staffing challenges.

PART 1 CRIME DATA/ CRIME INDEX DATA

At the April 23 meeting, Ithaca Police Chief Tom Kelly said that while major crimes are decreasing, service calls remain high. The number of total calls jumped from 19,455 in 2023 to 22,839 in 2024, reflecting a 17.4% increase.

The majority of calls stem from the Asteri building on Green Street, a recent development that provides permanent supportive housing for approximately 40 formerly homeless individuals. He added that the top call types in 2024 were traffic offenses, welfare checks, property checks and noise complaints.

The IPD 2024 Annual Report shows an overall 16% decline in Part I crimes compared to 2023, which include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson. According to the report, larcenies dropped 17%, from 1,147 in 2023 to 950 in 2024, burglaries fell by 23%, from 171 to 131 and robberies increased from eight to 15. Compared to 2023, crime in 2024 with little to no change in occurances includes seven reports of rape, 45 reports of aggravated asssault, 15 reports of motor vehicle theft, five reports of arson and two reports of murder or attempted murder.

ARRESTS

The department made a total of 1,353 arrests in 2024, including 285 felonies, 780 misdemeanors, 518 violations and 699 arrests on warrants. This is down from 1,759 total arrests in the department’s 2022 report. Demographically, 47% of those arrested were white, 31% were Black, and 4% were Hispanic/Latinx. The remaining arrests involved individuals who identified as Asian, Pacific Islander, Indigenous, or other.

TRAFFIC DATA

Of 2,830 traffic stops in 2024, 2,067 warnings were issued and 1,774 tickets were issued. There were 916 parking tickets issued. Traffic accidents resulted in one fatal accident, 36 DWI arrests, 87 personal injury accidents and 1,210 property damage accidents.

USE OF FORCE

The annual report also includes a summary of IPD’s use of force data. The report reveals that the department utilizes nonphysical verbal de-escalation techniques 103 times. The second most common deescalation strategy was “pain compliance techniques,” used 88 times, which “involve applying pressure or manipulation to sensitive areas to encourage compliance.”

The data shows that IPD officers used Conducted Energy Devices — commonly known as tasers — on individuals a total of 18 times in 2024, while they pointed a gun at someone a total of 13 times and used “chemical agents” such as pepper spray a total of eight times.

Demographically, 45 use of force incidents were conducted on Black individuals, 54 were on white individuals and 5 were on individuals of another race. The majority —

annual report during a Community Police Board meeting.

80 — use of force incidents were used on male individuals while 23 were female and one was another sex.

DIVISIONS AND PROGRAMS

Kelly highlighted the success of the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program, which is overseen in partnership with the Tompkins County Sheriffs and District Attorney offices. The program is a nationally recognized initiative that provides state funding to local law enforcement for equipment, overtime and personnel, and provides training and technical assistance. Kelly said that officers responded to a total of 192 firearm related calls in 2024, including nine shots fired incidents, and were able to recover 23 guns and make 24 gun-related arrests.

Ithaca Police Chief

Tom Kelly outlined key points from the department ’ s 2024

(Photo: Ithaca Times File/Mark Syvertson)

Ithaca Police Vehicles respond to the Asteri apartment building at 118 E. Green St. during an incident in June.

(Photo: Nathan Ellison, Sun Fellow at the Ithaca Times)

According to the annual report, “[The GIVE program] must focus preventative and enforcement efforts on top offenders […] and the geographic locations (hot spots) where crime data and analysis demonstrate that most shootings and homicides or firearm-related violent crimes occur.”

The report also details the success of the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which offers a harm-reduction alternative for individuals facing

low-level charges related to behavioral health and income instability. The program supported 80 participants in 2024, with 50 remaining active and utilizing case conferencing and coordinated care with Reach Medical and other partners.

“LEAD is a proven strategy to reduce harm and increase safety and equity,” the report notes. Kelly echoed the importance of these programs during the Community Police Board meeting, stating, “We’ve had a

lot of success over the last year with those programs.”

The Crisis Alternative Response and Engagement Team, otherwise known as the CARE Team, has also played a vital role in supporting individuals experiencing emotional or behavioral crises.

In 2024, the CARE Team responded to 365 mental health-related calls, made 124 referrals, and conducted 140 direct activations, where a clinician accompanied officers on scene. The report emphasizes that the team’s presence has helped de-escalate situations and connect individuals to appropriate mental health services, reducing the need for law enforcement intervention.

Kelly added that Deputy City Manager Dominick Recckio is helping to coordinate and streamline the city’s unarmed response initiatives. These include integrating efforts from the CARE Team, LEAD program, and other community-based organizations. The goal is to create a more cohesive and effective approach to crisis intervention and public safety, ensuring that residents receive appropriate support without unnecessary law enforcement involvement.

While emphasizing the need for the City of Ithaca to comprehensively assess and coordinate its various unarmed response initiatives, Kelly said, “I think it’s important that we get a handle on all the unarmed responders that already exist.” He added that Recckio is compiling a comprehensive

In 2024, the Ithaca Police Department recovered 23 guns and made 24 gun-related arrests through the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program. (Photo: Ithaca Police Department/Provided)

list of community-based organizations involved in unarmed response with the aim of improving coordination among these groups, ensuring that residents receive appropriate support without unnecessary law enforcement involvement.

STAFFING

At the meeting, Kelly outlined efforts to stabilize staffing while adapting to public safety demands. He said the number of staff has risen back to the staffing levels the IPD had in 2020. IPD currently employs 61 officers, but has five vacancies and anticipates at least three retirements in the coming months. The department added eight new hires in 2024, with several more candidates in the testing pipeline.

Despite ongoing recruitment, Kelly acknowledged the limitations posed by under-staffing.

“We are a little ways away from being fully staffed,” he said, but noted the department is considering ways to increase visibility, including deploying new hires in supervised roles before formal training begins.

In response to a question about whether untrained recruits might be deployed before academy training, Kelly said, “Technically, you have a year to go to police academy, but I’m not really comfortable releasing somebody into the city without being trained.” He added that a recruit might be “out in the community visible in a civilian role” alongside a field training officer.

Ithaca Police officers make an arrest on the commons during the 2024 Apple Harvest Festival.

Photo: Ithaca Times File/ Mark Syvertson)

The Ithaca Police Department saw a 23% decrease in total arrests from 2022 to 2024. (Photo: Ithaca Times File/Mark Syvertson)

Local Gem

Newman Golf Course Celebrates 90 Years of Hosting Golfers of All Abilities

By Steve Lawrence

Last week, a celebration was held to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the dedication of the Newman Municipal Golf Course, and I went looking for someone who might provide some insight into the course's nine decades in operation. anks to my buddy Paul Fairbanks — a decent golfer and a better banjo player — I found that person! First, some back story...

According to a press release from Laura Anderson, the Treasurer of Friends of Newman, “On July 4th, 1935 the course was o cially opened to the public. Opening ceremonies included Mayor Louis P. Smith hitting the rst ball o the rst tee.” e release went on to say, “In 1906 while in o ce as Mayor, Jared T. Newman

deeded seventy-four acres of marshlands at the head of the lake to the City for $3,600 — far below market value — as a major proponent of developing the marshland into a useful purpose that would bene t the public as well as eliminate a major source of malaria in the City.” Finally, “ e nal piece came together in 1935 when the City of Ithaca, in collaboration with e New Deal Civil Works Administration, completed the golf course.”

Knowing he has played at Newman for many years (as well as served in numerous league positions, like Secretary), I reached out to Fairbanks. He referred me to Anne Adesso, whose father, Lewis, was the golf pro at Newman from 1935 until 1980! Anne has played the course since the 1950s, meaning that an Adesso has been hitting golf balls at

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Newman for the entire 90 years of its existence.

Anne — whose mother provided a treasured scrapbook that is featured at e History Center — told me, “My dad started as a caddie at an upscale spa/hotel in Watkins Glen, worked his way up to be a pro, and when things were not looking good for the club, the head pro — George Hall — suggested my dad go elsewhere.” Hall would also become the pro at Cornell, Adesso was his assistant, and when the boss suggested that the understudy stay at Newman, Lewis did... For 35 years.

Paul Fairbanks said the course holds a special place in his heart for several reasons, one of which is the fact that. In Paul's words, “It has been, at times, a huge social scene, and there was actually a waiting list to get into the league there for a time.” Paul added that “ ere is plenty of cross-pollination there.” Asked to clarify, he said, “Well, I have played with professors, architects, artists, social workers, factory workers... I have enjoyed meeting and playing with people I never would have interacted with otherwise.”

Guthrie Gastroenterology

Lewis Adesso served as the golf pro at Newman from 1935 to 1980. (Photo provided by Anne Adesso)

ere is also, Fairbanks pointed out a real mix of very good golfers and guys who like to... shall we say...partake in the refreshments.

Anne Adesso calls the course “a gem,” and while she wishes it was an 18 rather than a 9-hole course, she feels a real sense of connection there. While she also tees o at Cornell, Newman will always be dear to her heart. “ e scenery is unlike any other,” she o ered. “ ere are views of Cornell, Ithaca College, Cass Park, Stewart Park, the Boatyard... there's nowhere else like it.” inking back over the decades, she added, “I'm pretty sure that my dad

would be pleased that it's still here, it's accessible and that it's providing a golf course within the city.”

Also in the press release: Newman Municipal Golf course still gives golfers of all ages and skill levels a challenging round at an a ordable rate. Currently there are 230 members, 150 of them being junior members under the age of 17. e Course hosts two Senior Leagues, two Ladies Leagues and one Men's League. Newman is open to the public, seven days a week and carts are available. Tee times are required and can be reserved by calling the Pro Shop at (607) 273-6262.

Tompkins,

The Newman Municipal Golf Course, shown above, celebrated nine decades of operation last week. (Photo: Provided)

When I spoke to a patrolman about these concerns, he simply told me, “Just call if there’s an issue, and we’ll come.” But in cases like my recent near-accident, by the time police arrive, the offender is long gone.

The police department has often cited being understaffed as the reason for their reduced presence. However, I understand that staffing levels have improved. So what is the current excuse? It is hard not to wonder if the police simply do not want to address the problems on the Commons.

The Commons should be a vibrant, safe gathering place for everyone. I urge city officials and the police department to restore regular foot patrols and address these ongoing issues before more residents and visitors are driven away.”

— Robert Lieberman, Ithaca NY

RE: U.S. House of Representatives

Consideration of the Budget Reconciliation Bill

“Loss of jobs, loss of economic impact, and most alarmingly loss of access to healthcare services. This is what the U.S. Senate passed reconciliation bill will bring to communities in Upstate and

rural New York. In a word...devastation.

Our hospitals across Upstate and rural New York are already operating under financial strain. With nearly $1Trillion in Medicaid cuts, this bill will obliterate access to healthcare, forcing essential programs to be cut and threatening permanent closure of facilities. The proposed $50 billion rural hospital stabilization fund demonstrates an acknowledgment of our worst fears. However, I am concerned it will fall short of offsetting the wideranging harm the bill would cause.

Facilities will close. Jobs will be lost. Communities will suffer from poorer health and economic distress.

We strongly urge all New York representatives to vote no on this legislation to preserve New York’s healthcare system and the Upstate communities that depend on it.” —

Kevin M.

Kerwin, CEO/President Iroquois Healthcare Association

RE: No Kid Hungry NY Responds to SNAP Cuts in Budget Bill

NOTE: The U.S. Senate has voted to cut nearly $200 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of their budget reconciliation bill. Both chambers of Congress still need to agree on an

identical budget bill before it goes to the President’s desk.

“As families across New York struggle to find their next meal, the U.S. Senate has just taken an unprecedented step toward cutting SNAP — one of the most powerful tools we have to fight hunger. While incremental improvements have been made to this bill, these cuts will still hurt families already working to put food on the table for their children, as well as veterans and seniors unable to meet strict new requirements to access aid. They will also devastate farmers and small businesses in every corner of the state who rely on customers using SNAP.

The disastrous proposal just approved by the Senate will reduce benefits across the board, requiring families to jump through additional hurdles, adhere to onerous time limits, and cut through layers upon layers of unnecessary red tape. It goes even further to threaten the future of SNAP by upending its structure, making it harder for state agencies to invest in safeguards that ensure that benefits make it to the families that need them. The fact that this vote is coming now, as rising food costs are pushing half of New York families into debt, means that the Senate is continuing to put New Yorkers’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being in jeopardy.

For nearly a century, SNAP has provided vital grocery benefits that have helped New York children and families, support local farms, and keep businesses afloat. Now isn’t the time to turn back the clock. As the bill heads back to the House, Congress needs to remove these dangerous cuts to SNAP from the budget bill before it reaches the President’s desk. Countless New York children rely on these benefits to access the healthy food they need to grow and thrive, and they deserve better.” — Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York

There Is A Double Standard Regarding Pro-Palestinian And Pro-Israel Voices

“New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is expected to be extremely careful with his language— condemning any statements that could be interpreted as incitement to violence like “globalizing the intifada.”

In contrast, U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) has repeatedly made inflammatory or dehumanizing statements about Palestinians, such as calling for Gaza to be “nuked” like Hiroshima and Nagasaki and using hashtags like “#StarveAway” in

Continued on Page 15

80’s Nostalgia Flavors Cortland Reps Update to Adam Sandler’s Movie

By Barbara Adams

Congratulations if you survived the ’80s, but admit it — it’s still fun to look back. at’s the successful comic premise of “ e Wedding Singer,” the 2006 stage musical based on the 1998 movie, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. is musical, currently playing at Cortland Repertory eatre, is more cleverly satirical than nostalgic, though — with continuous a ectionate pokes at ’80s fads and values. And gone are the moony so-sweet guy and gal of the screen version; this couple is much more down to earth. Earth being Ridgewood, New Jersey, in fact. It’s 1985 and Robbie Hart, once a rock star

“The Wedding Singer”

Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy; music by Matthew Sklar; lyrics by Chad Beguelin Directed and choreographed by Bryan Knowlton. Musical direction by Mark Ceppetilli.

At Cortland Repertory Theatre, Little York Lake Road, Preble, N.Y.

July 8-11 at 7:30 p.m.; plus 2 p.m. matinees on July 9 and 11. For tickets: https://cortlandrep.org/ or 800-427-6160.

wannabe, is now a wedding singer who gets stood up at his own wedding. ( e concept was originally Sandler’s, and Tim Herlihy wrote the lm script from it; with lyricist Chad Beguelin, Herlihy also co-wrote the musical’s book.)

As Robbie is trying to survive heartbreak and disillusionment (a hopeless romantic, he really enjoys MCing weddings), he becomes best friends with Julia, who’s engaged to Glen, a successful if smug stockbroker. Waiting to get to the altar herself, Julia is the perfect buddy to pull Robbie out of his funk, and as their friendship grows, they realize — at almost the last moment — that they’re in love.

Naturally we saw this coming from the start, but that doesn’t matter a whit: director/ choreographer Bryan Knowlton (assisted in both roles by Elizabath McGuire) has staged this show for maximum fun. Twenty lively musical numbers tumble forth one a er the next, with a gaggle of talented dancers from Cortland Rep’s summer intern program.

Jennifer Dasher’s ’80s costumes are spot on.

Arts & Entertainment Wedding Singer

She’s clad the company in a range of retro styles and colors that might inspire a youthful audience member today, but led me to give silent thanks that I’d nally ousted bright jewel tones from my wardrobe. And the girls’ ’80s big hair is everywhere, enough to stu two sofas.

Mia Irwin’s abstract set, as lit by Eric Behnke, also evokes the decade’s mood, with simple, moveable frames — various rectangles painted bold solid colors, both cartoonish and poppy.

And Matthew Sklar’s music, of course, under the direction of Mark Ceppetelli. It’s upbeat and pulsing and makes you want to shake your hips (even without the famous hit songs from the lm). You’ll see echoes of ’80s moves (de nitely some Jacksonesque moonwalking and zombie action). And thanks to the predictably romantic plot, the o en quirky lyrics t right in — from Julia trying to persuade Robbie to “come out of the dumpster” he’s been tossed in a er wrecking a wedding to their nal cooing duet, “Grow Old with You.”

As Robbie and Julia, Andrew Burton Kelly and Sophie Snider deliver an appealing balance between 20-something types and believable characters, winning our involvement and sympathy. Robbie’s blundering sidekick and bandmate Sammy is played by Matthew Dodaro, and their band is nicely rounded o with George, a compelling Shane Taylor channeling a gentler Boy George.

Even the characters we love to hate charm us: Ally Lilah Wolfe as Robbie’s rst love, Holly, who’s coarse, loud, and opportunistic; then just wait until she dazzles in act one’s glorious nale, “Saturday Night in the City.” And Julia’s ancé, Glen, the Wall Street wunderkind: Eli Vanderkolk plays him perfectly as slick, sexy, and far too self-assured; his womanizing nally catches up with him.

Sophie Snider as Julia Sullivan and cast perform “Someday” in Cortland Rep’s production of “The Wedding Singer” running July 2-11. (Photo: Provided/Cortland Repertory Theatre)

Matthew Dodaro as Sammy, Andrew Burton Kelly as Robbie Hart, and Shane Taylor as George and cast perform “It’s Your Wedding Day” in Cortland Rep’s production of “The Wedding Singer.” (Photo: Provided/Cortland Repertory Theatre)

BG Budas Brings Italian Comfort to a Historic Ithaca Location

By Henry Stark

BACKGROUND: An Ithaca Times reader who recently learned I write restaurant reviews for the paper, asked me how many reviews I had written and over how long a time. I replied, “Over 600 and for twenty-five years.” She was aghast, trying to contemplate how our community could support so many restaurants. I quickly explained there’s quite a bit of turnover and that I revisit the survivors every two or three years with a follow-up review. In explaining the turnover, I mentioned BG Budas which has only been open in Ithaca since midApril after closing in the Syracuse area a while back. The site, on Pine Tree Road in East Ithaca, originally opened in 1876 when Ezra Cornell decided that if the Utica, Ithaca, & Elmira railway line went through the Cornell campus, it would facilitate access for his faculty and students. The first restaurant on the site was aptly called The Depot, and was followed by

TID BITS:

•

Coyote Loco, Olivia’s, and Agava in April 2012. I pointed out that a few previous train stations had been converted to local restaurants that had opened and closed, including The Box Car and Loading Dock, and The Station.

I haven’t noticed many changes in the physical facility of BG Budas. There’s a small area outside the front door with picnic tables, a patio in the back, and two levels inside, one by the open fire pizza oven and the other by the bar. Total seating, in clement weather, is about 150.

The FOOD is excellent: well prepared and attractively presented. It’s also a plus that much of it is house made. The emphasis is on Italian with four basic categories. A complimentary basket of warmed, house made, crusty bread with a ramekin of olive oil was provided.

In the Entrée section I tried Chicken Piccata, ($25/$15).* The chicken and the house made mashed potatoes were tender and there were five long asparagus spears lying across the plate. However, I didn’t really feel like I was eating a piccata preparation as there was no sign of any lemon or lemon flavoring, but I really enjoyed this selection.

In the Grill section I selected a Buda Burger ($18) and ordered it medium rare. It came medium rare on a thick piece of house made sour dough bread. The eightounce beef was augmented with provolone,

a few onions, and some strong dill pickle slices with large chunks of well-seasoned roasted potatoes alongside. This too, proved to be an excellent choice.

Pan fried, breaded eggplant parmesan ($25/$15)* in the Entrée section was outstanding with some mozzarella, and a generous portion of tomato sauce coated rigatoni. In some restaurants, the breading is overdone and eggplant flavoring too strong…. but not at BG Budas.

Farfalle Caponata ($22/$14) * in the Pasta section is an eggplant dish with chunks of zucchini, summer squash, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, and a lightly seasoned marinara sauce. This could serve as a satisfying meal for vegetarians as well as for omnivores.

*Several key dishes are offered in “half sizes” which accounts for the second lower price listing. “Half sizes” are a bargain… I found them to have the same amount of veggies and starch as the full size with only the protein being doubled on the full size. The pizzas, with house made dough, ($15) are all 12” and as good as any I’ve had in Ithaca. They’re made in a wood fired oven visible in the lower dining area. There are four specialty combinations and fifteen toppings ($2-$3) to choose from.

Desserts: There is no dessert menu as changes are made frequently. There are usually about a half dozen, most around $9 and all house made.

Continued on Page 15

While BG Budas opened in mid-April, its location in East Ithaca has hosted five different restaurants since 1876. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times)

BG Budas has seating for around 150. All diners receive a complimentary bread basket with a ramekin of olive oil. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times)

The restaurant hosts four different seating options: picnic tables outside the front door, a patio in the back and indoor seating near an open fire pizza oven and another by the bar. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times)

• The restaurant is named after the co-owner/chef’s mother: Betty Gail Budas.

Not everyone will be happy about the selected music that is piped in and can be intrusive.

Parking on site.

“We probably have around 50 vehicles that are registered to TCAT, but a lot of those are either waiting disposal or waiting for long term repairs.

Additionally, in spring of 2024, TCAT’s seven 2021 Proterra battery-electric buses were decommissioned a er factory design aws were discovered, deeming the vehicles unsafe. Gillig accelerated their timeline of producing the new buses to alleviate issues introduced by the removal of the Proterra buses. Rosebloom-Jones said

WEDDING SINGER

continued from page 13

rough weddings and bar mitzvahs we meet a host of amusing personalities, but the one that will have you kvelling is Dori May Ganisin’s portrayal of Robbie’s Grandma Rosie: she’s impish, wise, and light on her feet — and raps a mean “Move at ang.”

Robbie’s pursuit of Julia on her wedding day leads him to Vegas, where, unlike the movie, this musical o ers us a comical parade of pretenders: impersonators (from Elvis to Imelda Marcos) who

he is grateful for the quick turnaround provided by Gillig.

In an e ort to “green its eet,” TCAT is adding six battery-electric buses from Gillig early next year. ese will have a paint scheme similar to the electric theme created by TCAT artist Jen Jennings for the Proterras. Two new hybrid buses will be introduced in spring of 2026, each displaying the same design Jennings created for the recently introduced diesels.

Shubha Gautam is a reporter at the Ithaca Times through the Cornell Summer Experience Grant and a senior writer at e Cornell Daily Sun.

intervene to make sure the true lovers connect. It’s irresistibly silly and a pleasing prelude to the nal celebration, “It’s Your Wedding Day.”

Beyond the fashions of the ’80s, “ e Wedding Singer” may get you thinking about your earlier notions of romance, friendship, and family…and of just having known a more carefree time in life. A er all, as the song says, “Being young and stupid is what Saturday night is for.”

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

response to reports of famine in Gaza.

In 2021, when a user on X posted an image of a deceased Palestinian child pulled from rubble and asked Fine how he sleeps at night, he responded, “Quite well, actually! anks for the pic!”

Despite the extreme nature of Fine’s rhetoric, he has faced little backlash, while pro-Palestinian activists are frequently

WE THE PEOPLE

continued from page 7

toward a common good—a real common good, not just one for people who look like, think like, and act like yourself. Second, encourage and incentivize young people to defy the crowd–in positive ways–when necessary. Creativity always involves novel, useful ideas, which means not thinking or acting in ways just because others do. Rather, be re ective and reach your own conclusions. And if you believe something, question it. Don’t assume that, because you believe it, it must be true. ird, in a world full of craven, cowardly politicians and others claiming leadership roles, promote courage and resilience. To be transformationally creative, one must have the courage of one’s convictions and a willingness to ght against those who care only about self-promotion and self-aggrandizement. Fourth, nd allies.

BG BUDAS BRINGS ITALIAN COMFORT

continued from page 14

BEVERAGES: e wine menu is excellent with all the major varieties covered. Countries of origin are provided — vintages are not, however in my experience, not many people will even notice, or care. e

pressured to moderate their speech. is disparity illustrates how Palestinians and their advocates are o en held to standards of "perfect victimhood," while proIsrael politicians face few consequences for openly advocating or celebrating collective punishment or violence against Palestinians. All public gures should be held to the same standards of responsible speech. Only then can we have a fair and honest conversation about the crisis in Gaza.” — Terry Hansen

To change the world, we all need to work together. Fi h, model transformational creativity. Be who you want your kids to be. Sixth, and most importantly, be ethical: Ask yourself whether you are acting toward others as you would have them act toward you. Seventh, act! Go out and make the world a better place. A good start is to transform yourself and, as the world experiences your true potential, others will follow. Let’s not be just half-right about how we develop creativity: Let’s transform the world together!

Robert J. Sternberg is a Professor of Psychology in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, past President of the American Psychological Association, the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, the Eastern Psychological Association, and the International Association for Cognitive Education and Psychology. www.robertjsternberg.com

lack of vintage identi cation gives the wine buyer and the distributor more exibility. Glasses are o ered in two sizes, 6oz. and 9oz $8-$14, with bottles priced from $30$130. ere were no non-alcoholic beers on the menu, however when I inquired, a Stella Artois from Belgium was provided. ere’s also a good selection of draught beers $6-$8 and four cocktails at $12.

The cast performs “Saturday Night” in Cortland Rep’s production of “The Wedding Singer.” (Photo: Provided/Cortland Repertory Theatre)

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Events this Week

7/9 Wednesday

Astrology Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | A meeting every Wednesday (6:00-7:30 p.m.) at the Tompkins Public Library where people talk about astrology. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Barnum | 7:30 p.m. | Combining the razzle-dazzle of Broadway with the magic of the circus, BARNUM tracks the rise of Phineas Taylor Barnum as he and his wife, Charity, create “the greatest show on earth.” Joyful, hilarious, and heartfelt, BARNUM is a Tony Award-winning musical with something for audiences of all ages, from Tom Thumb to Jumbo the Elephant, and all the clowns, acrobats, and performers in between. Rated PG. | | Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, 17 William St., 2nd Floor, Auburn Board Game Night! | 5:00 p.m. | All ages board game night in our game room here on the Commons! | | Riverwood 116 E State St., Ithaca | Free Cortland County Junior Fair | 12:00 a.m. | | Cortland County Fairgrounds 4301 Fairgrounds Dr., Cortland DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 6:30 p.m. | | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville | Free Geneva Sings with Patrisha Blue & The MLK Memorial Choir @ Geneva Lakefront Summer Concert Series | 6:00 p.m. | | 35 Lakefront Dr., NY 14456-3400, Geneva Homer's Music on the Green: Merkley and Morgan | 7:00 p.m. | | Homer Village Green West Homer Road, Homer

“How do Americans Think About AI” a lecture presented by Cornell SCE | 7:00 p.m. | How do Americans think arti cial intelligence will shape the economy in the future? Join Cornell's Dean Peter Loewen as he explains how using a series of proprietary surveys in the United States and

THIS WEEK

globally, we can understand how Americans’ views compare to those in other countries. | | Warren Hall, B25, Cornell University, 137 Reservoir Ave., Ithaca | Free

Jazz Night at Deep Dive: Fire y Trio | 6:30 p.m. | Jazz Night at Deep Dive: Fire y Trio (6:30-8:30 p.m.), Big Band (8:30-10:30 p.m.), The People’s Jam! (10:30-12:30 p.m.). | | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca | Free

Lindsey Poto | Reaching into the Lake | 1:00 p.m. | Reaching into the Lake is a series of etchings by Lindsey Poto , a printmaker from Michigan who received her BFA from Cornell in 2022 and is currently attending the University of Connecticut for her MFA. | | Ink Shop Studio Gallery, 330 E.State / MLK Street, Ithaca | Free Pearls of Wisdom Senior Support Group | 11:00 a.m. | Pearls of Wisdom Senior Support Group | | 171 E. State Street, Ithaca | Free Three Bears Air Dry Clay Workshops | 6:00 p.m. | Free 1.5 hour beginner friendly classes on working with air dry clay at Mama Bear taught by local artist Angela Cartwright on July 9th and 16th from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday Market at East Hill | 3:00 p.m. | | 330 Pine Tree Rd., NY 14850-2819, Ithaca

Wednesday Open Mic Night at The Nocturnal Café! | 7:00 p.m. | Free weekly Wednesday Open Mic night at The Nocturnal Café, Ithaca’s nightlife alternative, featuring music, poetry, dance and more! | | The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St., Ithaca | Free

7/10 Thursday

Ages 8 to 108 Board Game Club | 5:00 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Book Reading & Discussion with Author/Activist Roderick Douglass | 5:00 p.m. | Free public reading by author/activist Roderick Douglass from his new book, “Starting Somewhere: Community Organizing for Socially Awkward People Who’ve Had Enough” on Thursday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. at Tompkins County Public Library. An open discussion on coalition building and mutual aid will follow. | | Tompkins County Public Library, Borg-Warner Room, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free Brewhouse Blues Jam | 6:00 p.m. | | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville | Free Car Cruise-In | 5:00 p.m. | | Central New York Living History Center, 4386 US Rte. 11, Cortland | Free CFCU Summer Concert Series: Noon Fifteen and Max Childs | 5:00 p.m. | | Bernie Milton Pavilion Center Commons, Ithaca | Free

DJ MIU / OLIVER.L | 10:00 p.m. | | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Fabi | 5:30 p.m. | Join us every Thursday for cider, delicious food, beautiful views, and live music at South Hill Cider! | | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Rd., Ithaca

GO ITHACA Open Hours | 2:00 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Lake and Land Tour Discover Cayuga Lake | 10:00 a.m. | Get the best of both worlds through Discover Cayuga Lakes Lake and Land Tour! | | Allan H. Treman Marina, 805 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca

Makerspace One-on-One | 11:00 a.m. | |Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Public Sunset Cruise Discover Cayuga Lake | 7:30 p.m. | Enjoy a beautiful once in a lifetime sunset on Cayuga Lake! | | Allan H. Treman Marina, 805 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca

Sciencenter Visits LCL! | 10:30 a.m. | Join us Thursday, July 10 at 10:30 AM for frosty fun! Discover how temperature transforms matter with dry ice. This all-ages event includes cool explosions, misty bubbles, and hands-on science as we explore sublimation in action! | | Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Road, Lansing | Free

St. Elias Middle Eastern Festival | 4:00 p.m. | | St. Elias Orthodox Church, 4988 Onondaga Road, Syracuse

State of the Art Gallery Frances Fawcett & Ethel Vrana | 12:00 p.m. | State of the Art proudly presents two exhibits this month. In the main gallery, Where I’m Coming From (a retrospective) showcases a broad spectrum of works by Frances L. Fawcett. | | State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street, Ithaca | Free Summer Poetry Writing Group: Writing Through the Senses II with Jada Simone | 5:30 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

TRAMPOLINE: Teenage Wasteland | 7:00 p.m. | | The Downstairs, 121 E M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca Waitress | 7:30 p.m. | When life takes an unexpected turn, Jenna fears she may have to abandon her dream of opening a pie shop–until a nearby baking contest and the town’s handsome new doctor o er her the

tempting possibility of a fresh start. | | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca

7/11 Friday

The Comb Down | 5:30 p.m. | The Comb Down plays South Hill Cider for the Golden Hour Music Series! | | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca

Community Grief Gathering | 7:00 p.m. | All are invited to nd relief in community for these 2 hours and learn ways to cope with the daily bombardments of heart-wrenching events, taking home methods to approach grief that bring calming, peace and compassion. | | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd., NY 14850, Ithaca | $25.00 - $30.00

Compactor, Each Night I Dream Of Razors, Flose, Bubba Crumrine | 8:00 p.m. | Ithaca Underground presents an evening of noise, experimental, power electronics, and performance art. | | The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva Street, Ithaca | $10.00

Creed — Summer of ’99 Tour w/ Daughtry and Mammoth | 7:00 p.m. | | Lakeview Amphitheater, 490 Restoration Way, Syracuse | $60.00+ Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Class | 12:00 p.m. | Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a skill that addresses troubling emotions and manifestations of trauma. | | Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, 511 West Seneca, Ithaca | Free FREE Music Friday w/ Hello City, Barenaked Ladies Tribute | 5:00 p.m. | | Lincoln Hill Farms, 3792 NY-247, Canandaigua

Friday Sunset Music Series - ft. Whiskey Business (Music begins @ 6:30) | 5:00 p.m. | | Wagner Vineyards 9322 State Route 414, Lodi

Fête Champêtre: à l’envers (“Garden Party: outside in”) | 5:00 p.m. |

Fête Champêtre: à l ’envers (“Garden Party: outside in” ) will be an evening of garden-inspired elegance, featuring herbaceous and oral foods and wine tasting. | | Northville Arts Center, 999 NY-34B, King Ferry | $30.00

Hangtime Concert Series featuring Hollywood Nights | 6:00 p.m. | | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry | $25.00

Johnny Gill | 8:00 p.m. | | Del Lago Resort & Casino, 1133 NY-414, Waterloo

Live Music — Notorious Stringbusters | 6:00 p.m. | | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road, Freeville

Loveday & the Soirée wsg Penny Royal | 8:00 p.m. | A grand evening of Swoon Country! Join Loveday & The Soiree for a toe-tapping hearttugging night of Swoon Country with special guest Penny Royal. Put on yer boots and yer prairie glam! We can't wait to see you. $10-15 sliding scale. No one turned away for lack of funds. | | The Downstairs 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Rainbow Family Fridays | 3:00 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Running to Places presents: URINETOWN (the musical!) | 7:00 p.m. | Running to Places Presents: URINETOWN (the musical!) | | Ithaca High School, Kulp Auditorium, 1401 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca | Free Samite | 7:00 p.m. | Samite returns to Ithaca with his pan African band that includes one of his earliest band mates from Uganda, Vincent Othieno. His infectious beats will get you up and dancing on the Ag Quad (Please note the concert location change this year due to construction.) | | Cornell Ag Quad, 237 Mann Dr., Ithaca | Free TCPL Tours: Johnson Museum | 11:00 a.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Towpath Quilt Guild 2025 Show | 10:00 a.m. | |Cazenovia High School 31 Emory Street, Cazenovia | $7.00 - $8.00

TRANS AM SPEED TOUR | 7:00 a.m. | | Watkins Glen International, 2790 Co Rte 16, Watkins Glen Trivia Night | 6:00 p.m. | | New eld Public Library, 198 Main Street, New eld | Free The Velveteen Rabbit | 10:00 a.m. | The Velveteen Rabbit is a joyous celebration of imagination, friendship, and the power of a child’s love. In this innovative take on the timeless story, an ensemble of actors bring both the playroom and the great outdoors to life with energy, creativity, and theatrical magic. | | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca The Wedding Show: Rehearsal Dinner | 6:00 p.m. | The Wedding Show presents the Rehearsal Dinner! An immersive and interactive variety show with comedy, singing and dinner at Six Mile Creek Vineyard on July 11th, 2025 | | Six Mile Creek Vineyard, 1551 Slaterville Rd., Ithaca | $40.00 - $50.00

Hangar eatre’s KIDDSTUFF series presents e Velveteen Rabbit this weekend, with shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. e show will take place outdoors, under the KIDDSTUFF Tent. (Photo: Stock)

7/12 Saturday

2nd Saturday on the Greater Ithaca Arts Trail | 12:00 p.m. | 15 artists open their studios to you! Some are doing demos of their work- some have sales all would love to show you what they’ve been up to. | | Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County Center Ithaca Box 107, 171 East State St , Ithaca | Free The Band Called Revival at the LakeWatch Inn | 7:00 p.m. | A new local 14-piece dance band playing Motown, Girl Group and AM radio hits for your dancing and singing pleasure!

| | Lake Watch Inn, 1636 East Shore Drive, Ithaca | $10.00

Brad Paisley: Truck Still Works World Tour | 7:30 p.m. | | Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center: CMAC 3355 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua | $35.00 - $149.50 Carla Stetson exhibit “Meanders” | 12:00 p.m. | Carla Stetson one person exhibit at The Gallery at South Hill. Many of the pieces in this exhibit are in uenced by uid dynamics, the study of the winding and spiraling movement of uids and follow a cartographic impulse. | | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd., South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca | Free Classic Cruisers: A State Street Car Show | 10:00 a.m. | A classic car show in celebration of The History Center ’s current exhibit Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Buses, Boats, and Bikes. | | State Street, Ithaca

Farmers Market Cruise Discover Cayuga Lake | 11:00 a.m. | Get the best of both worlds straight o the Ithaca Farmers Market dock! Enjoy the good times of the Farmers Market and Experience Cayuga Lake! | | Ithaca Farmers Market, 545 3rd St , Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca

LCL Presents: REV Theatre’s Performance of Rumpelstiltskin: Unspun | 11:00 a.m. | Join LCL for REV Theatre’s Rumpelstiltskin: Unspun! When the Miller’s Daughter questions her father, the greedy king, and a shady deal, the fairy tale unravels. With help from the audience, she sets out to rewrite her story in this clever, interactive twist on a classic! | | Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Road, Lansing | Free Line Dancing | 6:00 p.m. | | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road, Freeville

MtG: Final Fantasy Draft | 5:00 p.m. | Come check out some of our rst

Final Fantasy Booster Drafts! Booster Draft is a limited format in Magic: The Gathering in which players take turns opening booster packs to create a 40 card deck. | | Riverwood, 116 E State St., Ithaca | $20.00

New York State Boater Safety Course | 8:30 a.m. | | US Coast Guard AUX Flotilla 2-2 Base Building, 508 Old Taughannock Blvd , Ithaca | $35.00 - $50.00

Paint Day & ADA Anniversary Celebration | 12:00 p.m. | Help FLIC start painting our mural on 7/12, 1-5, at 215 Fifth St., Ithaca. All are welcome for 5 minutes or 5 hours. Light refreshments. | | Finger Lakes Independence Center, FLIC 215 Fifth St , Ithaca | Free Sew a Minimalist Wardrobe, Summer Edition | 1:00 p.m. | Build your apparel sewing skills (and your wardrobe) with these four progressively more challenging workshops. Take one, two, or all of them! | | SewGreen Press Bay Court, 112 W Green Street, #5, Ithaca | $45.00 - $180.00

Tasting Culinary History of the FInger Lakes with Laura Winter Falk | 4:00 p.m. | Join Laura Winter Falk, Owner/Tour Guide/Sommelier of Experience! The Finger Lakes at an educational tasting featuring the second edition of her book, Culinary History of the Finger Lakes and sip local wines provided by Northside Wine and Spirits. | | The History Center in Tompkins County 110 N Tioga St , Ithaca | $20.00

Vibin’ in the Valley — Alyssa Crosby and Wildcard | 5:00 p.m. | | Newark Valley Trout Ponds Park , 44 Spring Street, Newark Valley | Free The Wizard of Oz | 3:00 p.m. | | Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St., Auburn Workshop: Collaborative Poetry Games! | 2:00 p.m. | For this workshop, we will try out some collaborative poetry games, creating strange and surprising poems in pairs and as a whole group with Dan Rosenberg. | | Bu alo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Free

7/13 Sunday

Bastille Day Organ Concert | 4:00 p.m. | The ninth annual Bastille Day Organ Concert featuring local organists sharing the bench will take place on the eve of Bastille Day this year, July 13, at 4 p m | | St Luke Lutheran Church 109 Oak Avenue, Ithaca | Free Daniel Zawel Trio | 7:00 p.m. | | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Daryl Hall w/ Glenn Tilbrook | 3:30 p.m. | | Point of the Blu Vineyards, 10489 County Route 76, Hammondsport

DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 7:00 p.m. | | Crossroads Bar and Grill, 3120 North Triphammer Road, Lansing | Free

The Evergreen Social x South Hill Cider: Vintage Clothing and Goods Market | 12:00 p.m. | Join us at The Evergreen Social Summer Market Series at South Hill Cider! | | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Rd., Ithaca

Father John Misty | 5:00 p.m. | | Beak & Ski Apple Orchards, 2708 Lords Hill Road, LaFayette

Hozier | 8:00 p.m. | | Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center: CMAC , 3355 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua

Intuitive Stitch | 12:00 p.m. | Immerse yourself in peaceful stitching with Laura Braaten as you learn to let go of goals and pressure. This simple and powerful approach to hand stitching is great for decreasing stress and freeing your creative muse. |

| SewGreen Press Bay Court , 112 W Green Street, #5, Ithaca | $25.00

Ithaca Lesbian Co ee House Dishto-Pass Picnic | 12:00 p.m. | Ithaca Lesbian Co ee House invites Lesbians, Women-allies, Non-binary, queer, trans individuals, and their children for a Dish to Pass Picnic, Sunday, July 13, 1:00-4:00 p m , rain or shine. Small Pavilion, Stewart Park. Community, food, fun. | | Stewart Park Small Pavilion, 42 Stewart Park, Ithaca | Free Outdoor Qi Gong Class | 10:00 a.m. | Outdoor Qi Gong for Wellness and Nervous System Regulation. | | Allan H. Treman State Marine Park , 805 Taughannock Blvd , Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca | $12.50 - $15.00

Penguin Palooza | 10:00 a.m. | | Rosamond Gi ord Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse Summer Sundays Music Series at the Vantage Point - ft. Michael Francis McCarthy | 1:00 p.m. | | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414, Lodi

Union Springs Artisan Market 2025 | 10:00 a.m. | | Frontenac Park Pavilion 15 Creamery Road, 15 Creamery Road, Union Springs

Wild Mushroom Identi cation classes | 1:00 p.m. | WILD MUSHROOM

IDENTIFICATION CLASSES & CULTIVATION WORKSHOPS taught by a certi ed wild mushroom forager and educator. | | En eld community center 162 En eld Rd., Ithaca | $125.00

7/14

Monday

DJ Trivia | 7:00 p.m. | | 23 North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema Drive, Ithaca | Free

Documentary Film Screening ‘Open Country’; Live Performance by Gerard Burke | 6:30 p.m. | WRFI

Community Radio & PM Press present a screening of ‘Open Country’ at Cinemapolis on Monday July 14 at 6:30 p.m. Open Country is a journey into the roots of American Country music, reclaiming it as the creative musical expression of working people of all colors. Tickets at cinemapolis.org | | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street., Ithaca | $12.00

Jazz Mondays with Dave Davies RhythmMakers | 5:30 p.m. | Join us every Monday at South Hill Cider for cider, food, and live jazz with some of the best local musicians! | | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Rd., Ithaca

Panel by Panel Graphic Novel Book Club | 6:30 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Participatory Contra, Square, and Circle Dancing | 7:00 p.m. | | Ithaca Commons, 171 E. State St./Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ithaca

Rat Garbage Party | 7:00 p.m. |

| The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca

Riverwood Art Club | 4:00 p.m. |

Riverwood is hosting an art club every Monday! Bring your tablet, yarn, collage materials, clay, paints, or anything else. All ages and supplies provided. | | Riverwood, 116 E State St., Ithaca | Free

Senator Lea Webb’s Community O cer Hours | 12:00 p.m. | | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St., Cortland | Free

The Storyteller’s Bag by OJI:SDA’ | 4:00 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder

The Brotherhood of Rock Tou r | 6:45 p.m. | | Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, 490 Restoration Way, Syracuse

Teen Maker Mondays | 4:00 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

7/15 Tuesday

Comic Book Club — “Movie Trailers, and the Art of Building Suspense!” | 7:00 p.m. | Two of the most anticipated movies this summer are re-imaginings of Superman in the DCU, and of the Fantastic Four, in the MCU. The series of trailers for both movies promise a blend of adventure, snappy patter, and the role of family. Share your own predictions at this week's meeting. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free Graham Nash — More Evenings of Songs & Stories | 7:30 p.m. | | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer Family Playgroup — Summer’25 | 3:00 p.m. | | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca LEGO Family Build Night | 5:30 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Musical Memories Café | 12:00 p.m. | Musical Memories Café is a free live music experience and light lunch to enrich the lives of care-givers and care-receivers, as well as isolated adults. | | Library Place, 105 West Court St., Ithaca | Free Taughannock Live Music Series: Terrapin Station | 5:00 p.m. | | Inn at Taughannock Falls, 2030 Gorge Rd., Trumansburg

Teen Creative Writing Workshop | 5:30 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Tompkins County COAD Kicko Meeting | 1:00 p.m. | | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

7/16 Wednesday

Homer’s Music on the Green: Travis Rocco | 7:00 p.m. | | Homer Village, Green West Homer Road, Homer “Behind the Scenes of the Johnson Museum of Art” presented by Cornell SCE | 7:00 p.m. | Director Jessica Levin Martinez shares highlights from the museum’s collection and preview this summer’s exhibitions, offering insights into curatorial choices, exhibition design, and academic collaborations that shape the museum’s work. Note: The talk takes place at B25, Warren Hall. | | B25, Warren Hall, Cornell University, 137 Reservoir Ave., Ithaca, | Free Greensprings Garden Club | 10:00 a.m. | | Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, 293 Irish Hill Rd., New eld | Free

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