Building A Mindset for Lasting Recovery
Seth had a confidence problem.
The problem wasn’t something he was born with. His self-worth had been shaped by many factors, over many years. The problem wasn’t something he could afford to ignore, either, if he were going to live the life he wanted for himself.
With frequent moves and seemingly endless new schools to navigate, Seth* learned very early that hypervigilance was necessary for survival – at school, in the community, and most certainly at home. Both his mom and dad were in and out of his life, frequently because of incarceration, but also disappearing without explanation. Sometimes it felt better when his mom or dad were missing, because at least there was less violence.
Seth trusted no one, including himself, and when he began using at age eight, he learned to trust that drugs and alcohol would help him escape his reality. What Seth didn’t realize at the time was that the more he chased that artificial feeling, the more addicted he became physically and psychologically. His anxiety became increasingly less manageable. He made choices he’s not proud of because of his dependency.
Using came with a hefty price, including the loss of his freedom at around 12 years old, when he was sent to his first residential treatment program in another state. The last residential treatment program he entered was the youth-centered recovery program on the William George Agency for Children’s Services (WGA) campus. It was there that Seth began to work on his addiction and self-esteem issues in earnest.
"Getting sent there saved my life. I didn't think I could ever quit using because I didn't believe in myself. Thanks for never giving up on me,” said Seth over the phone to the program’s director. The purpose of his unexpected call that day was
to thank everyone at WGA who helped him and to let them know he was doing well.
“It’s calls like that that keep me doing what I do,” said Justin Herbel. Herbel has worked at the outpatient substance use treatment program at WGA since 2007 and has been its director since 2015.
“You and Amanda kept telling me that dab pens were making me anxious,” continued Seth. “I finally recognized it and smashed my dab pens and flushed my weed. I started believing in myself and believing that I could quit. I feel so much better."
Seth was calling from the town where he had lived as a child. He moved back there after he graduated from the WGA program and found a supportive living environment that doesn’t allow active substance use on or off the property. He was pleased to say he had made a down payment on a car and that he regularly attends AA meetings and church every Sunday. He credited his newfound religious beliefs with helping him stay sober.
“Seth is an amazing young man whose recovery journey has not been easy. I was heartened to hear that he has found such a supportive environment. He can do anything he puts his mind to,” said Herbel.
“There are few things more difficult than escaping the chaos that so frequently goes along with growing up in an addictive family system. Recognizing the cycle of dysfunction is one thing; breaking the cycle is another. Seth is doing that. He’s learning that he can cope without substances, that he can find peace in himself, and most importantly, that he has value and is worthy of happiness.”
Hanging on Herbel’s desk drawer is a picture of Seth, and it’s the first thing he looks at every day when he begins his workday.
“I am grateful for having known him and proud of what he is accomplishing,” said Herbel.
“There is no greater measure of our mission than seeing former residents build successful, healthy, and fulfilling lives,” said Helen M. Hulings, Executive Director of WGA. “Their achievements reflect remarkable resilience and determination, and we are honored to have played a small part in their journey. They will always have our encouragement, support, and a home at William George.”
*Name changed for privacy
The William George Agency for Children’s Services is committed to providing a safe and caring residential environment supported by proven, therapeutic, clinical, and medical care for at-risk youth. For more information, visit their website: www.wgaforchildren.org.
N ews line
Ithaca City School District Approves Climate Action Plan
By Grant Terwilliger
The Ithaca City School District Board of Education (BOE) approved a revised Climate Action Plan during its June 9 monthly meeting.
In June 2024, the board passed a climate resolution, a written acknowledgement of the climate crisis and a written commitment to reduce the district’s carbon footprint. The BOE formed a Climate Action Plan Advisory Council in September 2025 to develop the district’s first climate action plan, examine goals and create implementation steps.
BOE President Sean Eversley Bradwell commended those who helped create the plan and reminded the board of the advisory council's goal.
“I am in full support of the teachers, students, community members and staff who helped create a vision,” Bradwell said. “I hope folks understood when I said we should have a climate plan advisory council that the goal was trying to think about how we implement the plan as well as how we have a blueprint for what to take place.”
The district’s Climate Action Plan will
X Sacred Sites Grant Supports Historic Church Restoration
By Kaeleigh Banda
Inbe reviewed annually and in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The action plan comes after a global survey of 10,000 people conducted in 2021 reported that 70% of respondents ages 16 to 25 were concerned about climate change.
“As a school district dedicated to preparing students for the future, we need to be responsive to their growing awareness of the climate crisis and concerns about how
1833, St. James A.M.E. Zion Church was built in Ithaca. With almost 200 years of history, The New York Landmarks Conservancy has awarded St. James a Sacred Sites Grant of $16,000 to support the church’s rear siding and roof replacement projects.
Across New York state, 21 Sacred Sites Grants were awarded to 18 historic religious properties, totaling $287,500. The Sacred Sites Grant program has been part of NYLC since 1986 and has awarded 1,700 grants totaling over $14.75 million. St. James was chosen for the central role it played in the history of Ithaca's African-American community. In the mid-19th century, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman spoke and worshiped there.
St. James is believed to be Ithaca's oldest church, and its history extends globally as it is one of the oldest in the A.M.E. Zion system. St. James was also part of the Underground Railroad. The church acted as a vital transfer location for enslaved people on their journey to Canada. Cornell University’s Archeology Department has worked with St. James to further understand its history by conducting a historic archeological dig on the church's grounds. The department created a permanent exhibit in the church’s fellowship hall with its findings.
The church continues to build its legacy today. Every year, the
it will impact the challenges they will face in the future,” ICDS’s climate plan states.
Each year, the advisory council made up of students, teachers, administrators and a sustainability advocate from each school in the district will assess the climate action plan’s goals and progress, according to the plan. Goals include addressing building energy performance,
Continued on Page A15
church serves over 1,100 people. St. James hosts youth programs, MLK Jr. Day Breakfast and Workshops, Juneteenth Street Fair, an annual reenactment of Frederick Douglass's July 4 address and more. Peg Breen, president of the NYLC, said in a press release that the NYLC is pleased to help another 18 historic religious institutions throughout NY.
“Religious buildings tell the story of our history, our immigration patterns and our architectural growth,” Breen said. “They also anchor communities. Collectively, these grantees serve 94,500 persons beyond their congregations with social service and cultural programming.”
ON THE COVER:
Over 17,000 New York State residents have signed a petition opposing TeraWulf’s proposed data center in Lansing. Design by Zachary Isaac Stephens for the Ithaca Times.
, a d M inistrativ E c oordinator , c al E ndar E ditor jake @ ithacatimes com
M a R k S y V e R t S on , P hotogra P h E r marksyvertsonphotography @ gmail com
S te V e l aw R ence , s P orts c olu M nist stevesportsdude @ gmail com
l i S a e lli n , a dv E rtising & M ark E ting lisa e @ ithacatimes com
f r EE lanc E rs : Barbara Adams, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, Jake Sexton, Kira Walter, Vasant Alex Laplam, and Ceili Ayoung
THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2026 BY PATHWAYS TO EQUITY, LLC. All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $139 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca
and
The Ithaca City School District’s board of education has passed its first climate action plan. (Illustration: Ceili Ayoung)
IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“IT’S LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER SCORCHING SUMMER. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR TO BEAT THE HEAT?”
NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com
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Common Council Discusses Budget, Staffing for Unarmed Responder Program
By Lorien Tyne
In February, Ithaca’s Common Council passed a resolution committing to the establishment of an unarmed responder program called Responders Offering Outreach, Trust, and Support (ROOTS).
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: one full-time working supervisor, one full-time community responder, and two part-time community responders.
“What this program will do, related specifically to encampments, is enhance our outreach capacity,” City Manager Dominick Recckio said. “One of the things that we butt up against every single week — it’s been happening frequently this week in particular — is we just are stretched on the nonprofit outreach capacity in the community.”
Monalita Smiley, project director of the Community Justice Center, said ROOTS staff will develop relationships with community members so that when they are dispatched, they already have a rapport with the individuals involved and can deescalate the situation and provide support.
“IPD may respond to a call that they get and realize that it’s not criminal, it’s not dangerous, and it’s taking up time where they could actually be out solving something else,” Smiley said. “They will be there when our responders arrive at the scene, turn the scene over to our responders, and go on and respond to something that has a little bit more criminal intent.”
Alderperson Margaret Fabrizio questioned the need for four new staff positions and suggested that the program begin with only two positions. Recckio said the part-time positions are a cost-effective way to address high call volume in early evenings when fewer support services are available outside of the IPD.
“One of the things that we really got a lot of traction on with our community partners and others when we were getting feedback in the initial proposal was around staggered hours, so that we went into the early evening when there’s a very high amount of calls,” Recckio said. “I think, in order to do that well, it probably will take more than two people.”
The council previously encumbered $750,000 in funding to launch and develop an unarmed responder program of this nature. Those funds will be used over a three-year period to develop this
program. The total estimated cost for the first year of the program is $227,981, including payroll, two vehicles, communication equipment, training and other items outlined in the resolution.
The resolution includes that the city manager will present the council with a plan for covering 2028 program expenses after encumbered funds are expended as well as a report of the program and its performance.
Alderperson Hannah Shvets asked if these positions can be dispatched independently or if they will always be corresponding with IPD.
“I think they can be sent independently,” Smiley said. “We’re going to need IPD as our partners to clear the scene from any criminal intent to make sure that it’s clear and it’s not a danger to our responders or our civilians.”
Ithaca Man Indicted for Fatal Stabbing of 19-Year-Old Breanne Keane
By Lorien Tyne
Damian D. Stewart, a 20-year-old Ithaca man, was indicted by the Tompkins County Grand Jury on June 18 with charges of murder and manslaughter, according to a press release from Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten.
Stewart is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, in a two-count indictment. He is charged with the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Breanne Keane at around 2 p.m. on May 23 at her
home on Triphammer Road in the village of Cayuga Heights.
Stewart has been remanded without bail to the custody of the Tompkins County sheriff. The maximum sentence available for second-degree murder is 25 years to life. Van Houten announced the indictment on June 22.
The investigation was conducted by the Village of Cayuga Heights Police Department, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit.
The DA’s press release noted that
an indictment, as well as any criminal charge, is an accusation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office notified the community of the investigation into Keane’s death in a May 24 press release sent at the request of the Cayuga Heights Police Department.
“The investigation is being treated as a murder with the lone suspect in custody,” the release said. “There is no threat to the community and the investigation is ongoing.”
The Ithaca Common Council recently discussed its budget for a new unarmed responder program. (Photo: Casey Martin/Ithaca Times File)
“Two-berry Twist.”
Avery
“Orange and vanilla Twist.”
Ezra
“Two-berry Twist.”
Rowan
“Crumbs Along the Mohawk.”
Theo
“Vanilla peanut butter cup.”
Dez
Legislature Authorizes Measure to Permit Tax Cap Override
By Mikayla Rovenolt
At the June 16 Tompkins County Legislature meeting, legislators passed a local law allowing the county to exceed the state property tax levy, if necessary. Legislators in favor of the local law said it would not increase property taxes or require the legislature to exceed the cap, but that it preserves the option during the county’s budget development. The legislature typically passes this resolution each year, often with opposition.
According to the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, the New York state property tax cap limits annual growth in the property tax levy (the total amount of taxes collected) for local governments and school districts to 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
Legislator Veronica Pillar stated the measure preserves flexibility when creating the budget. She said that the legislature is mindful of taxpayers when creating the budget. She added that health insurance and staff salaries are increasing, and there are various costs passed onto the county from federal cuts that show up in increased mandated spending through social services.
with a 2.72% tax levy increase after county administrators corrected a calculation error that had initially projected a higher allowable levy.
Mezey said. “I'm not at a point where I feel it's necessary or have the information to make a decision if it's necessary or not yet, and so I think it's a little premature.”
“It is likely that exceeding the tax cap will be necessary, even if we don’t expand government or expand services at all.”
— Legislator Veronica Pillar
Mezey added that he believes many residents in Tompkins County are feeling “the squeeze” on their expenses currently and that many are struggling so going over the tax cap is not a position Mezey said he wants to be in.
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
Voting is now open to select the design for the “I Voted” and “Future Voter” stickers for the 2026 November General Election. The 14 finalists will also have their designs displayed at the primary elections June 23. This year’s contest, run by the Tompkins County Board of Elections, received the highest number of submissions to date, with 169 entries from students of all ages. Students were prompted to create a design inspired by the 250th birthday of the United States. The press release states that the theme was chosen to encourage students to celebrate the nation's democratic traditions while reflecting what voting and civic participation mean to them. Voting closes July 12.
Downs
Tompkins County Whole Health reported in a press release that a cat was found June 9 on the side of the road, unable to walk. The cat was close to 121 Pleasant Grove Road in Ithaca, and was determined to be rabid by the New York State Rabies Laboratory. The cat is brown with tabby markings and was described as a stray or feral. It was reported that the cat was seen near the Pleasant Grove Road/Hasbrouck Apartments with no prior reports of strange behavior. As of June 18, there have been no reports of human contact with this cat. TCWH’s Environmental Health Division can be reached at (607) 274-6688 if you suspect you, your pets or someone you know may have had contact with this cat.
HEARD SEEN&
“[The] costs of a lot of things are going up,” Pillar said. “It is likely that exceeding the tax cap will be necessary, even if we don't expand government or expand services at all.”
County Administrator Korsah Akumfi said that passing the law now ensures sufficient time for state review while preserving all future budget choices. If the law had been passed later and the state rejected the local law, a situation would be created where cuts would be needed to balance the budget.
Akumfi also said that in recent years, the legislature has passed other local laws allowing for a tax cap override and has not needed to implement that local law. In 2025, the county’s initial budget proposal was expected to be over the tax cap with a proposed 4.5% tax levy increase. Legislators later passed the 2025 budget
Legislator Iris Packman said that for the past several years, the county has been pulling funds from its savings account to pay for services and other expenses as necessary. She said the savings account now needs to be rebuilt.
“It’s not a sustainable process. Eventually we will run out and then what? Then we’re going to have to raise taxes.” — Legislator Iris Packman on the county historically drawing from savings to fill budgetary gaps
Packman added that she is not suggesting the legislature purposefully override the tax cap, but that additional funds are needed to rebalance the county’s savings.
“It’s not a sustainable process,” Packman said. “Eventually we will run out, and then what? Then we’re going to have to raise taxes.”
Legislator Greg Mezey opposed the measure, saying it weakens budget discipline and the legislature could revisit the issue later in the budget cycle if necessary.
“I think that it creates an opportunity and sends a message of, ‘we're ready and willing to go over the tax cap if needed,’”
The local law was adopted by the required supermajority vote of 10-6, with Legislators Bianconi (D-Ithaca Town), Brooks (D-Ithaca City, Town), Brown (R-Newfield, Enfield), Mezey (DDryden), Shurtleff (R-Groton, Dryden), and Sigler (R-Lansing) opposed.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Will New York become the first state to enact a data center moratorium?
Heard
Bike Walk Tompkins is hosting a Strawberry Moon Bike Parade on June 29 as part of the Full Moon Lighted Bike Parades series in collaboration with Vie Cycle. Bikers will gather at 8:30 p.m. at Swamp City Community Cycles and display their lights as the sun sets. The bike rides are family-friendly and aim to encourage rider safety and visibility. The path is about 5 miles and is a slow roll around downtown Ithaca. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and light up their bikes.
Seen
Andrew Flyak, an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, received grant funding for his hepatitis C vaccine research. Flyak was named a 2026 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, which gave him a four-year, $300,000 grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts. His research aims to further understand how, in 25% of cases, the human immune system naturally defeats the virus unmedicated. The grant will allow Flyak and his team to use electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and molecular simulations to understand how VH1-69 antibodies are so good at neutralizing the hepatitis C virus.
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.”
In a contentious vote, the Tompkins County Legislature recently passed a measure that would allow the county to override the state tax cap during budget season. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times File)
Artist & Advocate
Celebrating Creatives Among Us IN ART, MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY
Muralist Margaret Kops Kuveke Paints Across Ithaca and America
By Mikayla Rovenolt
Margaret Kops Kuveke is an Ithacan through and through, growing up in the area and attending college at Cornell University. Kuveke studied French and psychology, but her passions lie in mural painting, which she has done in Ithaca, New York state, and across the United States.
Kuveke said she has always been creative, picking up a variety of art projects, but said that she truly loves painting murals.
“I did my first one as a junior in high school, for Ithaca Murals,” Kuveke said. “It was always something I wanted to pursue, but I didn’t really think it was feasible or sustainable, and so I was working a research job for a little bit after I graduated. Recently, I’ve decided I want to pursue art full time.”
Outside of Ithaca, Kuveke said she has painted murals in West Lincoln, Nebraska, as part of a mural festival, as well as in Sioux City, Iowa, and Grand Forks, North Dakota. She said she has upcoming projects around New York state.
According to Kuveke, she enjoyed pen and ink drawings but never intended to get into murals until her mother pushed her to answer an Ithaca Murals call for artists.
“They put me on a scissor lift and I just fell in love with the art form from there on,” Kuveke said.
Kuveke said her favorite mural is “The World Around Us,” located on the exterior wall of Bookies Sports Bar & Lounge, near the back entrance of Autumn Leaves Books.
“It was really, really fun, technically and compositionally, and carried a lot of meaning,” Kuveke said. “It’s actually an extension of prior work I’ve done at Cornell Cooperative Extension, invoking reverence of the natural world and recognizing the beauty of the world around us as a means of inspiring respect and honor of the natural world.”
Kuveke’s prior work done at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCE) was titled “Msit No’kmaq,” a Mi’kmaq word for “all of my relations.” The Mi’kmaq are an indigenous tribe of Nova Scotia, Canada, which Kuveke has maternal heritage of.
“I wanted to inspire people to not just look at ‘here are the concrete steps you can take to preserve our world,’” Kuveke said, “but to also say, ‘look at the beauty that we have, we need to fight for it.’”
Most recently, Kuveke completed a mural on North Cayuga Street just outside the Ithaca Times’ office, with the help of New Roots Charter School students.
“It’s been really cool to be the lead artist on a project, and supervising a group of students, and then having this collaborative vision come together,” Kuveke said. “Growing up as an artist I feel like I was kind of like squirreled away in my bedroom just creating for myself, and then with muraling it’s this inherently interactive process where you’re sharing your art with the community.”
Kuveke said that not only is a mural beautifying a community, it is also sparking conversations as it is being created and there is a community engagement piece to being a muralist. She said that during the process for the mural on Cayuga Street, she met with a mural committee made of students and staff where everyone shared ideas and, as a group, they planned out the mural before the painting began.
Kuveke said they had an intensive week where students joined her for painting instead of being in classes. She added that students were really able to focus on the community aspect of art for the week.
“I always want to reiterate how much goes into a project like this one that we did on Cayuga Street,” Kuveke said. “There’s so much effort from so many people. With this project we had
Muralist Margaret Kops Kuveke (Photo: Mark Syverston)
the New Roots staff, who did so much planning and organizing and grant writing to make it possible, and I was also working with the students. There were so many meetings, and so much stuff that happens before paint ever hits the wall. It really takes a village, and I’m always super glad
to be the artist who can bring the vision to life.”
For Kuveke, murals are more than a beautification project. They are forms of inspiring and creating community change.
“I learned this term the other week called meliorism,” Kuveke said. “It is this philo-
sophical belief that sits somewhere between pessimism and unbridled optimism. It’s this belief that the world is capable of betterment and improvement, but that it’s human action that spurs that improvement. So, we become these agents of change, and for me, murals are
my way of doing that, and my way of creating connection and engaging people. Muraling is inherently interactive as an art.”
To view more of Kuveke’s work or to learn more about her projects, visit https://www.mkkmurals.com/.
“The World Around Us." (Photo: Mark Syverston)
Mural on N. Cayuga Street near Ithaca Commons. (Photo: Mark Syverston)
Mural on E. Buffalo Street (Photo: Mark Syverston)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Ithaca Times Readers
Data Center Development Must Be Held Off
“A one-year moratorium to stop the excessive growth of data centers without further investigation into water usage, energy rate increases, and pollution has passed the legislature (New York State Senate). The bill was intended to give time for regulation to catch up to the rapid development of these centers. Many communities have not known about data center development until construction began. Concerns grew across the US when communities began to notice water shortages and increased electricity rate costs due to grid upgrades and electric usage (Consumer Reports March 20, 2026). Some centers announced substantial job opportunities only to have these jobs disappear once the center was operational. The promised economic development for adjacent towns from data center creation was often not true (Brook.edu Feb 25, 2026). Pollution concerns add to commu-
nity health concerns especially if the center is fueled by fossil fuel (Harvard School of Public Health Feb 8, 2026). Until we can develop technology with safeguards to ease the concerns of consumers and add in protections for the environment, we must advocate for holding off on data center development. Email or call NY Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the moratorium to stop data center development for one year.”
Rosanne
Van Wie, Waverly NY
and ensure the faithful execution of the first statewide moratorium on data centers in the nation. — Ruth Yarrow, Ithaca NY
RE: Ithaca Officials Back REST Rent Stabilization, Say State Bill Could Help Struggling Renters
Independence for All Includes Animals
“Any decrease in crime or violence is welcomed news. Our Police Officers have very difficult and stressful jobs. My thanks to each of them for putting us first. I really do appreciate your presence.” John Butler, ithaca.com The Talk at
“Our New York State Legislature very recently passed a one-year moratorium on data centers statewide. It would establish renewable energy goals for facilities and mandate technology companies to provide certain benefits to communities who host data centers. It is sitting on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk, awaiting her signature. Our New York State Constitution, Article IV, Section 3, says, “The governor shall expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon by the legislature, and shall take care that the laws are faithfully executed.” Our local communities are deeply concerned about data centers’ negative environmental impacts and strains on our electrical grid. The towns of Ulysses, Newfield, Dryden are preventing data centers as allowable, and Newfield is considering a ban. I am watching to see if Gov. Hochul will stall because she wants corporate dollars, or if she will listen to her constituents and sign the bill to expedite
“Landlords have to compete against each other for tenants. Therefore, if they're all raising their prices at the same time that is because their operating costs have increased and they're just trying to stay profitable. Price controls don't work. They will result in lower quality housing that is less affordable as more landlords throw in the towel and the supply of housing decreases. Best way to increase the supply of affordable housing is to make it as easy as possible to landlord, not the opposite.” — Richard Ballantyne, ithaca.com
RE: Ithaca Police Releases 2025 Annual Report Showing Decline in Violent Crime
“Lol, two people stabbed last week and that poor 19 year old stabbed to death a few weeks ago … Commons full of homeless drug addicts, the Asteri a mess, but please tell us about how violent crime is falling.” — Ragnar LodBlox, ithaca.com
COMMON COUNCIL DISCUSSES
continued from page A4
Smiley said that for financial reasons, ROOTS staff will respond on request from the IPD rather than through the 911 center. She said that ideally, in the
“Dear Editor: As many of us fire up the grill this Independence Day, it’s worth thinking about what freedom really means. For the animals raised and killed for food, there’s no freedom or independence—just confinement, control, and a life cut short. This holiday, consider leaving animals off the grill and trying some of the many delicious plant-based burgers, sausages, and barbecue options readily available. It’s a simple way to celebrate the values of freedom and compassion while sparing animals unnecessary suffering. If independence is something we truly cherish for ourselves, perhaps it’s something we should extend to others whenever we can; including the animals. This semiquincentennial, let’s make it Independence for All.” — Eric Lindstrom, Ithaca NY
RE: Ithaca Police Releases 2025 Annual Report Showing Decline in Violent Crime
future, the community will have access to contact ROOTS directly and a responder would be dispatched.
“We’re going to need more people in order to designate someone to take on that full responsibility of being the person that's going to be dispatching the calls,” Smiley said.
No Parking Zone
By Charley Githler
It was a late June afternoon in Ithaca, New York, a city with a reputation for crushing rents and Tibetan prayer flags. On the Commons, scattered iced lattédrinkers mingled with Asteri residents while tucked high above street level, in a cluttered and forgotten corner of the fourth floor of the Old Cigar Factory, was the office of Miles Cornstarch, private investigator.
By lucky chance, he was in his office that day, studying dust motes as they drifted in a shaft of sunlight that struggled through a window that hadn’t seen a wash rag since Sarah Palin was vice presidential timber. The office door swung open with a bang, jerking him out of his reverie and revealing a woman with a pan that could open the Strait of Hormuz. Cornstarch’s heart commenced a tap dance on his rib cage, but business was business, and she looked like she had a case.
“You’ll have to make an appointment, Dollface, I don’t take walk-ins,” Cornstarch declared, straightening up in his seat. The woman slowly surveyed the office, which looked like it had been tipped on its side and righted. She swept the debris off a chair and sat down, lighting a cigarette as if with one fluid motion. She tossed the pack on his desk.
“The name’s Laura Lynn Hardy, and I’ve got a mystery for you, Gumshoe,” she purred through a cloud of smoke.
“Then I guess you’re in luck, Baby. No better detective in the city,” said Cornstarch pushing his battered fedora back on his head. He shook out a cigarette from the pack, inserting the tobacco end in his mouth and lighting the filter.
Hardy raised an eyebrow. “You sure you’re up to this, Sherlock? It’s big. Could land us both in a world of hot water, turning over stones that ought not to be disturbed.”
“I’m in,” he sputtered, through paroxysms of coughing, “lay it on me.”
Hardy pulled her chair in close to the desk and leaned forward. “OK, Tough Guy, I’ll give it to you straight. Six months ago, the city suddenly starts charging for
parking downtown on Saturdays. Saturdays! Not only that, they raise the prices by seventy-five cents an hour. Supposed to cover some two million dollar shortfall, maybe a half million dollar lease payment for some vacant office space. Smell fishy to you?”
Cornstarch shrugged, still coughing.
“The answer’s ‘yes’, genius. Anyway, here’s where it gets interesting. Two months ago, they shut down the Seneca Street parking garage. Say the whole thing’s crumbling like so much feta cheese. Get this — they’re going to ‘repurpose’ the site. As in not for parking.”
“Well, I’m quite sure the Department of Planning and Development has a good handle on this. They certainly wouldn’t just make parking downtown that much harder, what with the Commons in trouble and all,” said Cornstarch, reaching for his phone. “I’ll just give Lisa Nicholas a call…”
“Don’t be a sap, Cornstarch!” hissed Hardy, clamping the receiver back down on its cradle. “What if they’re in on it? Or what if…,” she gave the office the once-over and lowered her voice, “…there is no plan at all?”
Cornstarch eased back in his chair and whistled a low whistle. The room began to spin like the Stewart Park carousel. “But why?” he asked. “It doesn’t add up. Who stands to benefit from turning Ithaca into a wasteland of vacant retail space? What’s the motive?”
“Pick a town, detective,” she said, standing up and heading to the door. Cornstarch watched her, transfixed. “Watkins Glen, Geneva, maybe Elmira. They’ve all been jealous of Ithaca for years. But I’d get on this case before it’s too late.” She opened the door and turned to look at him. “Or there’ll be tumbleweeds blowing past Bank Coffee.”
As the door clicked shut, Cornstarch opened a lower drawer in his desk and pulled out a bottle, maybe half-empty, maybe half-full. You didn’t turn down a case in this economy, but every instinct he had left told him this one would be all trouble, and plenty of it…
A NATION SPEAKS: A CELEBRATION OF GREAT AMERICAN VOICES
The Enduring Voice of Maya Angelou — 1993
Curated by Roy Allen — Director of Strategic Partnerships — Ithaca Times
Many voices have helped to shape the nation we call America. This week we feature Maya Angelou — author, poet, civil rights activist and first black woman Hollywood director. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, endured a traumatic childhood and became mute after being raped as a child, believing her testimony led to her attacker’s death, leaving her silent for years before gradually recovering her voice. As an adult, she worked with Dr, Martin Luther King, served on two presidential committees and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
“On The Pulse of the Morning” — An original poem performed at the Inauguration of William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton, 42nd President of the United States — January 20, 1993
A Rock, A River, A Tree Hosts to species long since departed, Marked the mastodon, The dinosaur, who left dried tokens Of their sojourn here On our planet floor, Any broad alarm of their hastening doom Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages. But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, Come, you may stand upon my Back and face your distant destiny, But seek no haven in my shadow. I will give you no hiding place down here. You, created only a little lower than The angels, have crouched too long in The bruising darkness Have lain too long Face down in ignorance. Your mouths spilling words Armed for slaughter.
The Rock cries out to us today, you may stand upon me,
But do not hide your face. Across the wall of the world,
A River sings a beautiful song. It says, Come, rest here by my side.
Each of you, a bordered country,
Delicate and strangely made proud, Yet thrusting perpetually under siege. Your armed struggles for profit Have left collars of waste upon My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.
Yet today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more. Come, Clad in peace, and I will sing the songs The Creator gave to me when I and the Tree and the rock were one.
Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your Brow and when you yet knew you still Knew nothing.
The River sang and sings on. There is a true yearning to respond to The singing River and the wise Rock.
So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew The African, the Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheik, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher. They hear. They all hear
The speaking of the Tree.
They hear the first and last of every Tree Speak to humankind today. Come to me, here beside the River.
Plant yourself beside the River. Each of you, descendant of some passed On traveller, has been paid for.
(Photo Source: MSU Public Affairs)
Derek English Brings a Community-First Vision to Ithaca Health Alliance
From “We the People” to New Journeys of Belonging
“WE BELIEVE THAT HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT FOR EVERYONE.”
By Marjorie Olds
Derek English, the new executive director, has arrived at the Ithaca Health Alliance’s/Ithaca Free Clinic which offers an integrated program of health care to everyone in this community. No one is turned away for lack of medical insurance or inability to pay for medical care. Providing primary care, chronic care, holistic medicine, chiropractic services, acupuncture, Reiki, herbal remedies, and other special programs throughout the year. Derek is excited to lead this innovative, inclusive program, and he has everything IHA/IFC needs to continue and thrive.
Growing up in Evans City, Pennsylvania, a small community north of Pittsburgh, Derek came to Syracuse in 2008 to attend law school. In law school, Derek was drawn to many clinical programs providing legal services to people unable to pay for essential legal representation. Looking back, he realizes this was a crucial turning point. To work with people who lived with no safety net for safe housing, food security, access to education, transportation, daycare, or eldercare was an awakening.
Upon graduation Derek spent five years practicing family law as an attorney at the Hiscock Legal Aid Society, assisting with custody arrangements, and handling matrimonial matters, and litigating eviction defense for many clients who crucially required legal counsel, but could not pay for that. “During this period in my career I realized I wanted to use my skills to address inequality,” Derek said. He volunteered with the Legal Services of CNY and became a staff attorney at the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, now a model to be replicated around the country. In addition to his legal work, Derek also served as Practice Manager of Summerwood Pediatrics in Liverpool, NY, where he focused on implementing a “medical
home” model of primary care, which partners with the family to increase access to referrals. Prior to that role, English served as the Director of Care Management Services at ACR Health in Syracuse, NY, with a focus on harm reduction, HIV services, and health equity.
Derek’s work demonstrates his investment in the outcome of his clients, whether they are in court, or in the midst of medical care, or in recovery. And his employment choices have deepened his understanding of the interrelated needs of people living on the margin. Someone seeking medical care, may be challenged by lack of safe housing or have no access for transportation to medical appointments, or to recovery support meetings or to obtain healthy food.
In the meantime, Derek is excited to become part of the Ithaca community where he is currently settling with his partner and their beautiful, blended family. When Derek was approached about the director’s position at IHA/IFC, he felt this position was just the ticket. Derek observed that the IHA/IFC is renowned and admired throughout the country,
By Roy Allen — Director of Strategic Partnerships — Ithaca Times
Over the past several months, the Ithaca Times has presented We the People: A Celebration of Participatory Democracy, a series dedicated to the voices, ideas, and experiences that have shaped our nation. Through speeches, biographies, essays, and reflections, the series has explored the enduring promise contained in the opening words of the United States Constitution: We the People
Those three words are both simple and profound.
They remind us that democracy is not merely a structure of government. It is a living process sustained by people. It is built through participation, responsibility, curiosity, and the willingness of individuals from different backgrounds to contribute to a shared civic life. Democracy depends not only upon institutions, but upon citizens, neighbors, workers, innovators, volunteers, teachers, entrepreneurs, artists, and community builders who choose to engage with the places they call home.
As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, these questions remain as relevant as ever. Who are “the people”? How do communities evolve? What causes individuals to invest themselves in a place? How do people from different experiences and cultures learn to live together? And how do local stories connect to broader regional, national, and global narratives?
These questions have guided We the People. They will also guide our next major storytelling initiative.
Beginning in August, the Ithaca Times will launch Beyond the Campus: Stories of Leaving Home and Finding New Places to Belong.
At first glance, the two series may seem different. One examines democracy, civic participation, and public life. The other explores journeys of movement, adaptation, opportunity, identity, and belonging. Yet they are connected by a common thread.
Both are ultimately about people finding their place in the world.
Every year, thousands of individu-
als arrive in Ithaca from across New York, across the United States, and from countries around the globe. Some arrive as students pursuing degrees. Others come as researchers, professors, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, engineers, nonprofit leaders, government employees, tradespeople, or workers seeking new opportunities. Some arrive to join family members. Others come seeking a fresh start, a new career, or a community that better aligns with their aspirations and values.
Some come because of the region’s renowned educational institutions. Others are drawn by its natural beauty, its culture of innovation, its creative energy, its healthcare systems, its entrepreneurial ecosystem, or its quality of life. Increasingly, some arrive because technology allows them to work remotely while living in a place known for its natural landscapes, intellectual vitality, and strong sense of community.
Not everyone arrives by choice alone. Throughout history, people have moved because economic conditions changed, industries evolved, political circumstances shifted, or opportunities emerged elsewhere. Some come seeking stability. Some come seeking freedom. Some come seeking possibility. Some come for the oldest reason in history — love.
Regardless of why — each new arrival carries a story.
For many, Ithaca becomes a temporary chapter. For others, it becomes home. And just as people arrive, many eventually leave.
Students graduate and pursue careers in major cities, rural communities, government agencies, research institutions, and businesses around the world. Young professionals seek opportunities in larger metropolitan areas. Researchers accept positions at universities across the globe. Entrepreneurs relocate to growing markets. Families move closer to relatives. Retirees seek warmer climates. Others leave simply because life calls them elsewhere.
Yet departure is not the end of the story.
The connections formed in Ithaca
United Way Day of Action — Community Faith Partnership at the Ithaca Health Alliance/Ithaca Free Clinic. (Photo: Provided/Derek English)
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 COMMUNITIES
Agape Bible Church agapeithaca.org
Bahá’í Community of Ithaca ithacabahais.org
Bethel Grove Bible Church bg.org
Bread of Life Anglican Church breadoflifeithaca.org
Buddhist Sangha at Cornell Instagram: @buddhistsangha.cornell
Cedar Cabin Sangha (Buddhist, Plum Village Practice) cedarcabinsangha.blogspot.com
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
518 Yoga Gathering suzannejanene@gmail.com
All Eyes and Ears on Racism AEER aeerforjustice@gmail.com
Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga catholiccharitiestt.org
Community Faith Partners communityfaithpartners.org
Finger Lakes Anam Cara fingerlakesanamcara.com
Area Congregations Together breedlovejami@gmail.com
Greater Lansing-Ithaca Interfaith Community LansingUnited.org/events
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
Hillside Alliance Church hillsideithaca.org
Ithaca Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) ithacamonthlymeeting.org
Lansing United Methodist Church LansingUnited.org
Living Hope Fellowship LHFithaca.org
New Life Presbyterian Church newlifeithaca.org
FAITH-RELATED SERVICES
Forest Hermitage staceysmithhypnosis.com
Integrative Mental Wellness psychologytoday.com/profile/1449445 Moonlight Epiphanies moonlightepiphanies.org
Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies namgyal.org/
INTERFAITH ACTIVITIES
Ithaca Dances of Universal Peace idancepeace.org
Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard ithacakitchencupboard.org
Ithaca Sunday Squares (585) 451-4288
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
Pure Essence Vibrations pureessencevibrations.com/
Second Wind Cottages secondwindcottages.org/ Willow Glen Christian School willowglencs.org/ Wisdom's Goldenrod Center for Philosophic Studies wisdomsgoldenrod.info
Shared Journeys sharedjourneys.net
The Foundation of Light thefoundationoflight.org
For more information, visit www.whoisyourneighbor.org and www.madeofclay.org
Cayuga Lake Residents Deliver Petition Against Proposed TeraWulf Data Center
By Mikayla Rovenolt and Grant Terwilliger
No Data Center FLX, a coalition of local environmental organizations, delivered a petition to the town of Lansing signed by more than 17,000 people in New York state against the proposed TeraWulf data center in the former Cayuga Power Plant at Milliken Station.
NDCFLX announced its plans in a June
17 press conference outside Lansing town hall before the board’s monthly meeting.
The petition “Reject the Development of an AI Data Center on Cayuga Lake” has garnered around 20,938 signatures as of June 22. An estimated 17,000 of the signatures are from New York State residents, according to No Data Center FLX.
No Data Center FLX was formed by FLX Strong, Cayuga Lake Environmen-
tal Action Now and Sustainable Finger Lakes, among other local organizations, in September 2025 to oppose TeraWulf’s proposed data center on Cayuga Lake.
President of FLX Strong Kenneth Wolkin said it’s important for residents to join together to help the community.
“More than anything, we are a coalition of residents who are concerned with noise pollution, rising utility costs, and
degradation to the natural environment and the neighboring wildlife management area," Wolkin said.
The Lansing town board said it would pass the petition to the town planning board and that it’s uncertain of TeraWulf’s next steps.
“We do acknowledge the petition from No Data Center Finger Lakes,” Town Supervisor Ruth Groff said. “As of this date,
Gay Nicholson, president of Sustainable Finger Lakes, said her biggest concern with data centers across New York State is their impact on the electric grid. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times)
the town has not received a complete application from TeraWulf, therefore without knowing their specific plans the town has no response to the petition at this time.”
TeraWulf, a bitcoin mining company-turned AI data center company, is proposing a 300 megawatt AI data center on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. Local environmental advocates and community members say the proposed center would bring adverse environmental, quality of life and economic impacts throughout the Cayuga Lake watershed. In a press release from Sustainable Finger Lakes, opponents warned of the project’s potential to raise electric prices, cause noise pollution, and potentially pull water from Cayuga Lake.
all water for the site would come from Bolton Point, a water treatment facility on East Shore Drive in Ithaca, and there would be no discharge into Cayuga Lake.
“More than anything, we are a coalition of residents who are concerned with noise pollution, rising utility costs, and degradation to the natural environment and the neighboring wildlife management area.”
— FLX Strong President Ken Wolkin
On April 27, the town planning board determined TeraWulf’s application for its proposed data center was incomplete, which the town board reaffirmed at its most recent meeting. TeraWulf Chief Strategy Officer Kerri Langlais told the Ithaca Times June 19 that TeraWulf is addressing planning board requests and that public concern will be evaluated before the planning board.
“The planning board and its consultants have requested additional information, and we are actively working to address those requests as part of the normal review process,” Langlais said. “We recognize that there is significant public interest in the project and respect the right of community members to express their views. At the same time, we believe the appropriate forum for evaluating those concerns is the public review process currently underway before the planning board.”
In April, the Department of Environmental Conservation approved a permit for the Cayuga Operating Company, which is owned by TeraWulf CEO Paul Prager, to use 1,008,000 gallons of water per day from Cayuga Lake for data system maintenance, dust control and sump pumping.
In its site plan proposals to the planning board, TeraWulf officials have said the facility would use a closed loop cooling system and would not use lake water for cooling. TeraWulf officials said
TeraWulf entered a long-term lease agreement in August 2025 with Cayuga Operating Company LLC, owners of the former Cayuga Power Plant. The proposed “Cayuga Data Campus” development at 228 Cayuga Drive is within the Industrial Research (IR) District of the town’s zoning code.
Previous statements from Prager said the proposed facility will engage in activities such as scientific simulation and modeling, algorithm development and testing, machine-learning research and experimentation, data-intensive computational research and engineering analysis and investigation, according to. Operations will not include mining cryptocurrency or hosting websites, the statements said.
In late January, FLX Strong and Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) filed an Article 78 petition challenging the Lansing Zoning Board of Appeal’s decision to allow TeraWulf to proceed with its facility. In December, Lansing’s zoning board of appeals voted 3-2 to allow the data center to be under the general processing category of its zoning laws. On April 29, the New York State Supreme court ruled that the petitioners have standing and can proceed with their lawsuit. The case is ongoing.
Gay Nicholson, president of Sustainable Finger Lakes, is a resident of Ludlowville. She said her biggest concern with data centers across New York State is their impact on the electric grid.
since 2020 and that electric supply prices have also climbed higher, “especially during periods of peak demand.” She said the causes for the rise in prices involve a combination of factors. The Ithaca Times was not able to verify this statistic; however, the publication has reported on public frustration surrounding rising utility bills across the region.
“We do acknowledge the petition from No Data Center Finger Lakes… As of this date, the town has not received a complete application from TeraWulf, therefore without knowing their specific plans the town has no response to the petition at this time.”
— Lansing Town Supervisor Ruth Groff
Nicholson claimed that NYSEG electric delivery rates have gone up 110%
“The real causes involve a combination of an aging grid, extreme weather, rising inflation and equipment shortages distorting utility business models, rising natural gas prices and the addition of a massive new energy demand from these AI hyperscale data centers,” Nicholson said.
Residents and organizers plan to hold a public meeting and presentation the following week on Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society in Ithaca.
President of FLX Strong Kenneth Wolkin said it’s important for residents to join together to help the community. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times)
Cornell Women Make History in PWHL Draft
By Steve Lawrence
Following up on last week's column, we went to press just after I learned that Cornell's Pierre Attiogbe finished 7th in the Men's 5,000 meter at the NCAA Championships, but I did not have the opportunity to add that in doing so, he became the first Big Red runner in exactly 40 years to earn First team All American recognition.
The race capped off an incredible spring season, as the junior set a school record in the 1,500-meter run, captured the 5,000-meter title at the Penn Relays, and claimed the Ivy League championship in the 1,500-meter. Cornell's website says, “His All-America finish serves as a fitting culmination to one of the finest distance seasons in program history.” And to think... this guy has another season of eligibility. Congratulations to Pierre and to the entire program.
Many people of a certain age — like me — often look back over the course of several decades and marvel at the advances we have seen. In health care, in technology, in transportation... It's a long list.
Hitting the rewind button and going back a half century, I remember very clearly that the girls in my neighborhood and school had far fewer opportunities to take part in sports than did the boys. In the 1970s, things shifted, and I am pleased to see that opportunities have been on the upswing in the ensuing decades. There is still a long way to go in terms of pay
DEREK ENGLISH
continued from page A10
wherever communities seek to provide medical and related care to everyone in need. IHA/IFC provides a blueprint that other envious communities can turn to provide a medical safety net for all.
Derek notes that IHA/IFC depends upon no federal or state funding. Therefore, in times of surprising federal mandates on many institutions, which then affect the federally-funded and state-funded organizations, IHA/IFC continues on, true to its mission. Other than the director, Luz Rivera (clinic manager) and Sarah Bartlett (outreach and volunteer manager) the clinic is volunteer-run. Fortunately, many esteemed physicians, physician assistants, therapists,
equality and some other pieces of the puzzle, but a lot of strong women have been fighting for decades to level the proverbial playing field, and many doors have opened.
A few weeks ago, I shared the great news that Ithaca's own Shea Baker was among the players drafted in the first-ever Women's Lacrosse League professional draft, and Shea and her teammates are drawing big crowds as they carve out this new chapter. It was big news here in Ithaca, given this area is a legit lacrosse hotbed, and more news hit this week that made a lot of other local sports fans happy.
Ithaca is just as much a hockey town as it is a lacrosse town, and young players have had the opportunity to watch some very high level play. The Cornell men's program has been sending players on to the pro ranks every year for decades, and the Big red women set a great example for area girls both on and off the ice.
When the Professional Women's Hockey League launched in 2023, it came as no surprise that many names of players from Cornell were read when the draft announcements were made. This year was no exception, and in fact, the six Cornell alums drafted was the highest number yet.
Defensive specialist Grace Dwyer–class of '26 — was the first one drafted, going #10 to the Boston Fleet. In 134 games on East Hill, she put up 76 points on 18 goals and 58 assists. Grace was a two-time All Ivy pick, and anchored one of the nation's best defensive units.
specialists, and generous volunteers devote time each week so that all who come to the Clinic can access fine care. As Derek points out, having Cornell, Ithaca College and TC3 nearby also brings other valuable volunteers to IHA—to help with marketing, social media, and other administrative tasks.
And for those seeking an optometrist, Rich Shaff and Dr. Ted Bryant and the Ithaca Lions Club are proud IHA/IFC partners. Adults and children can schedule appointments, with the free provision of prescribed glasses possible. Parents of children ages 7 and under are urged to have their children evaluated for “Lazy Eye” syndrome (amblyopia).” The weaker — or lazy — eye often wanders inward or outward. Amblyopia generally develops from birth up to age 7 years, but the most
Classmate Avi Adams — also a Defenseman (okay, Defenseperson) — went #24 to the Montreal Victoire after leading the Big Red in scoring twice. Over her 4 years, Avi had 39 goals and 44 assists, and was a two-time All Ivy and All ECAC pick.
McKenna Van Gelder went at #52 to PWHL San Jose after scoring 86 points on 44 goals and 42 assists. Given the possession games are so crucial in hockey, the fact that Van Gelder won over 600 face offs for Cornell made her a key player.
Recent grad Georgia Schiff went #63 to the PWHL Detroit franchise after earning All Ivy recognition three times. Her career highlight is, for her, quite likely the goal
effective treatment we are told should begin before the child turns 7. Daycare centers and school administrators can contact the Vision Clinic at IHA/IFC to arrange evaluations by Dr. Bryant.
“As many federally subsidized medical insurance programs are reduced or ended, all medical centers may see an increase of patients with no insurance,” Derek said. “IHA/IFC has been a beacon of hope by providing holistic care to anyone who enters the clinic. I am proud to join and lead this clinic to continue providing Health Equity—whether one is rich or poor, insured, or uninsured, no matter what one’s lifestyle is or what one did in the past, all who come will be able to access the medical services needed. People who come say they feel seen and heard and respected… And
she scored in double-overtime in a playoff game as a freshman.
Ashley Meissier was the 61st player chosen, going to the Seattle Torrent. Her specialty was being disruptive in the defensive zone, leading the Big Red in blocked shots twice.
Alyssa Regalado round out the elite half-dozen, going #68 to the Toronto Sceptres. A three-time All Ivy player, she tallied 48 assists, and had 16 goals — none bigger than the one she scored in the NCAA Regional Final to send the Big Red to the Frozen Four. Being able to keep chasing their dream. The PWHL salaries will be miniscule compared to the NHL, but hey... first things first.
if IHA/IFC and its many practitioners do not offer what is needed, we will help you access what you need. And if you cannot pursue your medical services due to lack of childcare or transportation or other impediment, we will also assist you to address those challenges… The Ithaca Free Clinic is well-connected to a wide array of services in the community and invested in good care for all patients. We believe that health care is a basic human right for everyone.”
The mission of the Ithaca Free Clinic is to provide access to health care based on need, not on ability to pay, where the talent and generosity of our health care community come together through mainstream medicine, complementary alternative medicine, and social advocacy to establish health care as a human right, not a privilege.
The six Cornell alums chosen in the 2026 PWHL draft was the highest number ever. (Photo: Provided)
updating HVAC systems, improving landscape management, integrating renewable energy, reducing waste and decarbonizing district transportation. Administrators and building leaders will incorporate sustainability measures recommended by the council.
According to the Climate Action Plan the ICSD will conduct energy audits of all district buildings by the end of 2030, and the district will reinstate data analysis for energy usage and carbon emissions. The district will align its sustainability goals with New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
All new construction projects will prioritize climate impacts when choosing building materials and designing facilities, including repurposing existing materials and potentially incorporating renewable energy resources.
ICSD Climate Action Plan will create more electric vehicle charging areas to incentivize employees to switch to electric vehicles and support infrastructure for a larger electric bus fleet. Along with electric
A NATION SPEAKS
continued from page A9
You, who gave me my first name, you, Pawnee, Apache, Seneca, you Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then Forced on bloody feet, Left me to the employment of Other seekers—desperate for gain, Starving for gold.
You, the Turk, the Arab, the Swede, the German, the Eskimo, the Scot, You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought, Sold, stolen, arriving on the nightmare Praying for a dream. Here, root yourselves beside me.
I am that Tree planted by the River, Which will not be moved.
I, the Rock, I the River, I the Tree I am yours—your passages have been paid.
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you. History, despite its wrenching pain
Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again. Lift up your eyes upon This day breaking for you. Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men, Take it into the palms of your hands,
vehicles, the district plans to promote safer routes to schools with improved bike paths and lanes.
“Healthy schools improve the mental and physical well-being of students and staff, fosters learning, increases engagement, and promotes healthy behaviors, ultimately benefiting the Earth and students’ lifelong success,” the Climate Action Plan stated.
The ICSD is working on creating school community gardens and expanding access to nature for students along with promoting sustainable and healthy food options in cafeterias. In addition to having a school community garden for students to learn, the district is also updating its curriculum to meet the Climate Action Plan, including the understanding of Earth systems that include indigenous knowledge and history, understanding of the climate crisis as equity social justice issues, exploring actions for a sustainable future, and acknowledging and supporting the emotions that students may have about the climate throughout the curriculum. The curriculum will work with the local community to expand learning.
Mold it into the shape of your most Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts
Each new hour holds new chances
For a new beginning.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward, Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out and upon me, the Rock, the River, the Tree, your country. No less to Midas than the mendicant. No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here, on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister’s eyes, and into Your brother’s face, your country
And say simply Very simply With hope— Good morning.
Next week, we will celebrate Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States and his “Farewell Address” to the American people — January 17, 1961.
Don’t Let Ithaca Lose Its Storytellers
Imagine the sharpest, most passionate young journalists you’ve ever met (the ones who stay late chasing a story because they believe in this town) slowly packing their bags. Not because they want to leave… but because local rents force them out.
That’s the quiet heartbreak happening right now. Our best new writers, the ones who grew up here or fell in love with Ithaca in college, are being pushed toward cheaper cities just to survive.
The Rising Star Fund rewrites their story into a happy ending by sponsoring a simple monthly housing stipend (a hand up, never a handout) so they can keep living here, keep writing here, keep falling deeper in love with Ithaca… and keep telling the stories that make this city our home.
When a young journalist can afford to stay in Ithaca, you get:
● Fresh, fearless voices loyal to your local paper
● Someone at every city council meeting who believes local news matters
● The next great Ithaca story written by someone who actually lives here
● Your $25, $50, or $100 a month doesn’t just pay their rent.
● It keeps storytellers in our community and stops local brain drain.
● When our younger generation thrives, Ithaca’s future stays bright.
Keep local talent in Ithaca by donating today to the Rising Star Fund (an initiative of Pathways to Equity, Inc a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization)
For more info: roy@ithacatimes.com
Arts&Entertainment
Eighth Annual Ithaca Reggae Fest Returns to Stewart Park
By Peter Rothbart
The Ithaca Reggae Fest, now in its eighth year, will take over parts of Ithaca’s Stewart Park on June 26-28, offering 3 days of familyfriendly music, workshops, food, and celebrations. While most of the events are ticketed, much of the park will remain open for the community. The fest is expected to draw between 3000 and 5000 people. Parking at Stewart Park will be limited, but remote parking sites and shuttle buses will be available to get you to and from your car, bike, skateboard or hoverboard.
The Ithaca Reggae Fest is dedicated to protecting Cayuga Lake and will feature a Lake Discovery Village, a collaborative gathering of scientists and local environmental activists from the Community Science Institute, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, Discover Cayuga Lake, Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now, Cornell Soil Health Lab and NDor Ecovillage.
Ithaca Reggae Fest
Friday-Sunday, June 26 – June 28
Stewart Park Ithaca, NY
Tickets and the full schedule are available at: www.Ithacareggaefest.com
Friday night will offer a free Friday Block Party, while Saturday opens with Yoga Farm Ithaca running a morning session called 108 Sun Salutations, followed by a free breakfast for participants. GIAC is offering activities for kids, including face painting, hula hooping, and various arts and games. A skateboard competition, hosted by Skateboard Village, is also planned and is free to the public.
The festival’s Saturday night concert will host national acts, such as Grammy-nominated Jesse Royal and 10 Ft. Ganja Plant, with Ithacans Nate Silas Richardson and Lee Hamilton. The Skatalites, one of the original masters of the reggae and ska styles, will headline on Sunday along with Third World and Ithaca’s own Mosaic Foundation.
Other local musicians and bands expected to perform during the festival include Roadman Jon Petronzio (John Brown’s Body), The Notorious Stringbusters and Will of the People, along with local spin masters DJ RDF and DJ ARTV.
Reggae music has long since outgrown its roots in Jamaica. It was born in Jamaica in the 1960s, an outgrowth of the influential native ska and rocksteady styles. But it has always been more than just a music genre. It became a philosophy as well as a lifestyle before early icons such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh, and Jimmy Cliff broke into the American musical mainstream.
Early associations with the Rastafarian religious/spiritual movement and the glorification of ganja or herb (marijuana), while still part of the reggae zeitgeist, have largely become relics today. Still, reggae retains a spiritual element with its smooth and relaxing tempos suitable for endless dancing, simple harmonic movements, and Caribbean-inflected rhythms that have found a cross-generation durability.
In addition to its emphasis on spiritual searching and reckoning, reggae lyrics have always focused on political discontent and social injustice, born out of Jamaica’s difficult and unruly history during its colonization.
Roots reggae is the most traditional sound. Indigenous to the sound is an overwhelmingly warm and fuzzy deep bass, capable of filling a boombox or a car trunk filled with a subwoofer with a sound that can register on the Richter scale. The bass defines the reggae sound, solidly pulsing the downbeats and filling in between with lyrical and rhythmic fills that propel each song forward. When not punching the downbeat, it can provide a rhythmic and melodic counterpoint that is the true driving force behind the reggae sound.
The drums are the rock-steady beat keepers (rocksteady, along with ska, are styles that preceded and influenced reg-
gae). They establish each song’s tempo within a narrow range between not too fast and not too slow, which provides the continuity between songs.
Another key characteristic of all forms of reggae is the guitarist’s "skanking", a dry and shrill chordal upstroke or two on beats two and four that ricochets off the bass player’s downbeat. The keyboardist is free to “skank” or mirror the horn licks while laying down the harmonic chord movements. The horns, usually some combination of a saxophone, a trumpet, and a trombone, provide repetitive, rhythmically punctuated riffs in unison or chorded out. They often fill out the musical form with melodic interludes between verses.
Just as any form of country music singing demands a slight twang to make it more “authentic”, reggae is usually sung with a Jamaican patois regardless of the vocalist’s roots. Lyrics can be about religious or spiritual themes, political discontent, or social injustice.
Peter Rothbart is a professor emeritus of music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He directs the Ageless Jazz Band and remains active as a classical, jazz, and pop musician.
Ithaca Reggae Fest returns to Stewart Park for the eighth year June 26 – June 28. (Photo: Nathan Ellison/Ithaca Times File)
Ithacans gather at the 2025 Reggae Festival. (Photo: Nathan Ellison/Ithaca Times File)
Cortland Rep Turns ‘Baskerville’ Into a Fast-Paced Farce
By Barbara Adams
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1902 novel, “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” remains a mystery lover’s favorite, its popularity celebrated by over 20 film and television adaptations. And there are dozens of stage versions, both straight and comical. “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville,” currently at Cortland Repertory Theatre, offers a fast-paced farcical romp through the beloved tale, with five actors invoking some 40 distinct characters.
This stage version, directed by Deena Conley, unfolds with ease much of the novel’s labyrinthine plot, here narrated by Dr. Watson (a genial Colin Wasmund). Sherlock Holmes (a confident Peter Herrick) has been summoned to solve the murders of the Baskerville heirs and to protect the next in line. A monstrous hellhound is blamed for the mysterious deaths, but the practical Holmes is determined to find a more rational reason.
On the Devonshire moors, the men encounter not only the next heir but a myriad of strange characters, suspects all. These are played with versatility by Weller Dorff, Daniel Skinner, and Karen Vito. Shelley Barish’s simple set — exterior brick walls reversing to become a warm parlor — is backed by the haunting outlines of barren trees. The ambiguous environment is further evoked by Matt Webb’s atmospheric lighting and Brandon Reed’s sound design, above all whistling wind and howling hound. As costumer, Emily Liberatore neatly turns out multiple outfits that reflect the period and quickly define each character (including the creepy canine itself.)
Herrick’s Holmes is urbane and affable, a reassuring and conventional English gentleman, not at all the arrogant misanthrope we’ve seen on recent streaming series. He keeps his cards close to his chest but enjoys a harmless bit of trickery (like playing handsies with Watson). His role is presented naturalistically, as is his sidekick’s, for the most part. But Wasmund’s Watson is more involved in the action (Holmes having left him in charge while he disappears to observe). And this means all the comic mayhem unreels around Watson, who becomes the butt of some jokes. At the end of act one, he’s fallen on the moors, his head bashed with a rock. Oh no! As act two opens, he leaps into place on the floor, and the audience roars.
The comedy comes from multiple moments like this, arriving nonstop in every possible form, from wordplay to slapstick,
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often endure long after individuals have moved on. Friendships, professional networks, research collaborations, business ventures, artistic partnerships, and civic commitments continue to shape lives and communities far beyond Tompkins County. The influence of Ithaca extends outward through countless personal journeys, just as influences from around the world continually flow back into the city. This movement of people, ideas, and experiences is one of the defining charac-
teristics of modern life.
It is also one of the defining characteristics of Ithaca.
Universities often receive the most attention when discussing these flows, and rightly so. Cornell University and Ithaca College attract talented individuals from around the world and serve as powerful engines of learning, research, and cultural exchange. Yet the story extends well beyond campus boundaries.
Ideas developed in classrooms find their way into businesses, public policy, scientific discoveries, and community initiatives. Research influences industries. Startups
a messy medley of whatever might make one laugh. (I for one found the mashup of styles chaotic.) Nearly all the zaniness comes from the many odd figures around Holmes and Watson. Among all their other roles, these characterizations stand out: Daniel Skinner as Sir Henry, the threatened heir to the Baskerville fortune; Karen Vito as the abused wife of Weller Dorff’s Stapleton, who’s a butterfly-netwielding lunatic.
These three actors are high-spirited and dynamic, and they render their roles as directed — highly exaggerated and absurd, with plenty of shtick. Whether rolling eyes or mincing steps, every scene is played for maximum silliness. Opening night’s audience laughed heartily, but I yearned for a more restrained and clever delivery. Farce is delightful; it can also be subtle.
Some of the funniest bits in this “Baskerville” production are the meta-
become employers. Artists contribute to cultural life. Healthcare professionals strengthen regional institutions. Volunteers support local organizations. New residents bring traditions, perspectives, and experiences that enrich the broader community.
The lines between campus and community are often far more interconnected than they appear.
Some of the most important stories emerge in this space between arrival and belonging, between education and application, between aspiration and accomplishment.
That is where Beyond the Campus begins.
Through profiles, interviews, essays,
moments, outside the overt narrative — like when an old man laboriously pushes a fake rocky outcrop toward us and then has to slowly push it offstage again. As a stagehand steps in to help, the elder’s expression is priceless. Tiny, almost throwaway gestures like this are comic gold, and I longed for more.
“Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.” Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” Directed by Deena Conley. With Peter Herrick and Colin Wasmund. At Cortland Repertory Theatre, Little York Lake Road, Preble, N.Y. Through June 26 at 7:30 p.m.; plus 2 p.m. matinees on June 23, 24, and 26. For tickets: https://cortlandrep.org/ or 800-427-6160.
Barbara Adams is a regional theatre and arts journalist and retired professor of writing, Ithaca College.
and reported features, the new series will explore the experiences of people who have left familiar places and entered new environments. It will follow students adapting to life far from home, professionals building careers in unfamiliar regions, immigrants creating new futures, entrepreneurs pursuing opportunity, artists finding creative communities, researchers advancing knowledge, and graduates carrying lessons learned in Ithaca into the wider world.
The series will also examine what happens when people return home. How do
Kara Vito as Mrs. Hudson, Weller Dorff as Dr. Mortimer and Peter Herrick as Sherlock Holmes in Cortland Rep’s production of “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville” running June 17–26. (Photo: Ben Wells/Cortland Repertory Theatre)
Peter Herrick as Sherlock Holmes, Kara Vito as Mrs. Hudson and Colin Wasmund as Dr. Watson in Cortland Rep’s production of “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville.” (Photo: Ben Wells/ Cortland Repertory Theatre)
Hangar Explores Identity and Family in ‘Fun Home’
By Ross Haarstad
The Hangar’s production of the brilliant musical “Fun Home” is guaranteed to pierce your heart with tears of sorrow as it simultaneously lightens it with tears of joy.
Lisa Kron (book and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori (music) took home Tony Awards for their book and score, as well as best musical for their adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel. Notably they were the first all-female team to do so.
“Fun Home” is the Bechdel kids’ take on their rambling Victorian home’s other identity, a funeral home. And the kids know how to have fun there, as they put on a raucous, sweet, MTV-influenced pretend TV commercial, Come to the Fun Home.
How do you find again the home that shaped who you have become?
Cartoonist Alison sketches her way through a kaleidoscope of memories of growing up a Bechdel, with two brothers, a musically oriented but somewhat distant mother and a quixotic father who alternates being warm even goofy tenderness with stern disapproval.
The thrilling theatrical trick of this memory musical is to offer up three Alisons: our narrator Alison (Marissa Parness) who is 42; Medium Alison (Madison Hertel) who is 19, and Small Alison (Maya Bjerken), a 9 year-old tomboy.
As each panel leaves her drafting table, Alison tries out different captions, such as
Fun Home
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experiences gained elsewhere reshape local communities? How do educational opportunities influence leadership? How do individuals act as bridges between cultures, industries, institutions, and nations? What ideas travel with them? What values endure?
At its heart, Beyond the Campus is a series about movement and connection. It is about the courage required to
an early one that encapsulates the heart of the play: “Caption: Dad and I both grew up in the same small town. And he was gay and I was gay and he killed himself and I became a lesbian cartoonist.”
So we know something hard will arrive, but along the way there is wonder and discovery and a wild playfulness.
Bruce’s (Kyle Lopez Barisich) gayness is something he has to hide involving furtive hook-ups with young men. Not only is he the funeral director, but he teaches English in their small Pennsylvania town; his inability to live openly is the central tragedy. Fun Home is unsentimental about this mercurial man, but not judgmental.
Barisch’s extraordinary performance neatly threads a path between a neurotic, often angry control freak, and a loving father, with a undercurrent of frustrated yearning.
Most of the songs play close to remembered moments, frequently as ballads. Tesori and Kron don’t employ a standard verse and chorus structure. It’s more of an arioso style, thoughts tumbling in and out.
Each Alison has a special song. Small Alison (who despises wearing a dress) sings Ring of Keys, an ode to a butch delivery woman she sees who brings up feelings she can’t even name. Bjerken sings it with a hushed glory that builds emotionally. Throughout the show Bjerken shines with her directness and ease.
Joyous abandon marks Medium Alison’s I’m Changing My Major to Joan as she has her first sexual encounter with a woman at Oberlin. Upbeat, soaring, comic yet poignant, the song is a delight in the hands of Hertel, who supplies a radiant energy to her characterization. As Joan, Amelia Diaz, partners her perfectly, with just a bit of swagger.
Telephone Wire, Alison’s aria, comes toward the end. Gorgeously sung by Par-
leave what is familiar. It is about adaptation, resilience, and discovery. It is about the relationships people build when they enter new communities. It is about the ways places are transformed by those who arrive and those who depart. And it is about the enduring human search for purpose, opportunity, and belonging. In many respects, these are democratic stories as well.
Long before individuals become leaders, innovators, educators, public servants,
ness, it describes her last drive with her dad. As the conductor of the audience’s journey, Alison is a tricky role. Parness comes off damp and sentimental in a role that would play better as wry, ironic, searching.
It’s always a joy to see local Erica Steinhagen in a singing role. As Helen, she unleashes the pain of always finding herself left in the background in the searing Days and Days. Devastating.
As played by Jesse Bates and Charlie Bacon, the Bechdel brothers, Christian and John, are continual sparks of joy. Their delightful trio with Bjerken, Come to the Fun Home, brings down the house, enlivened by the quirky, savvy choreography of Aimee Rials who also makes a feast out of Raincoat of Love, an ensemble number that is Small Alison’s fantasy of a perfect TV family.
Jamason Belgrave ably rounds out the cast, mostly playing a host of young men Bruce courts.
business owners, or active citizens, they must first find a place where they belong. They must learn how to navigate differences, build trust, contribute their talents, and participate in the life of a community. The journey from newcomer to contributor is often where civic life truly begins.
If We the People explored the ideals and institutions that sustain democracy, Beyond the Campus will explore the human journeys that help make those ideals possible. Together, the two series tell a larger
Shirley Serotsky’s direction, as typical, is sharp, well-paced and emotionally sensitive. Music Director Rachel Fry leads a quintet of instrumentalists with lush lyricism. The design team is top notch, an array of color from Costume Designer Andrea Mejuto, mood appropriate lighting from Sara Gosses, and a good mix from Sound Designer Amanda Werre (a shout-out to Hangar’s newly upgraded sound system, which makes the lyrics easier to follow than in the past.)
Particular beauty is added by Scenic Designer Deb Sivigny’s rambling Victorian, complete with an unfinished attic, articulated framing lumber, translucent maroon walls, funeral home curtains, and somehow a dorm room that blends into the whole.
Funny, rapturous, sometimes tragic, but always fresh and luminous, this is the Hangar at its best.
story—one that stretches from hometowns to new horizons, from individual aspirations to collective progress, and from Ithaca to the wider world.
They are stories of arrival and departure. Of learning and leadership. Of roots and reinvention. Of the many paths people take in search of opportunity, meaning, and connection.
Most of all, they are stories about people. And in the end, that is what We the People has always been about.
“Fun Home” will be at the Hangar Theatre through June 27. (Photo: Rachel Phillipson/provided)
Book & lyrics by Lisa Kron. Music by Jeanine Tesori.
on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. At the Hangar Theatre through June 27.
Ithaca Celebrates Juneteenth at Southside Community Center
Photos by Mark Syvertson
Ithaca marked Juneteenth with celebrations during the Southside Community Center’s annual event on Saturday, June 20. Held from noon to 6 p.m., the celebration recognized the holiday’s significance. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Texas and enforced the emancipation
of enslaved African Americans more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Southside partnered with St. James AME Zion Church for a gospel concert and joined the Downtown Ithaca Alliance for youth programming, with the day concluding at K-House with music, poetry and additional performances.
Bars/Bands/Clubs
6/25 Thursday
Mighty Jet Band @ Danby Food and Drink | 6 p.m. | Danby Food and Drink, 1483 Danby Rd. | Free
Chamber Music Collective Faculty & Student Concert | 7:30 p.m. | Lincoln Hall Room B20, 256 Feeney Way | Free
6/26 Friday
Chamber Music Collective Gala Concert (CU Music) | 4 p.m. | Lincoln Hall, 256 Feeney Way | Free
Sunset Music Series Presents Evan Dillon | 5 p.m. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414
Sunset Music Series Presents BAD JUJU | 5 p.m. | Wagner Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414
6/27 Saturday
Piano Tech Academy | 10:30 a.m. | Lincoln Hall, 256 Feeney Way | Free Rachel Beverly & Rocco Rich Live6/27 | 6 p.m., 10 Pinckney Rd, Ithaca
6/30 Tuesday
Annual Celebration: Today’s Generosity, Tomorrow’s Abundance | 5 p.m. | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St
Concerts/Recitals
6/24 Wednesday
2026 DICK’S Open: Wednesday, June 24 | 8 a.m. | Enjoie Golf Course, 722 W Main St
6/25 Thursday
IMSA Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen | 8 a.m. | Watkins Glen International, 2790 Co Rte 16, Beginnings Summer Concert Series | 5 p.m. | Bernie Milton Pavilion, Center Commons | Free Three Bears Flower Pots Concert | 6 p.m. | Three Bears Ovid, 7175 Main Street | Free
James McMurtry and The Martial Law Review | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St
6/26 Friday
Kelsea Ballerini - DICK’S Open | 9 p.m. | Enjoie Golf Course, 722 W Main St
6/27 Saturday
Piano Tech Academy (CU Music) | 10:30 a.m. | Lincoln Hall, 256 Feeney Way | Free Music in the Glen Tuesday and Saturday concerts | 4 p.m. | Glendale Park, 400 Glendale Drive Sounds of America | 7 p.m. | Eldridge Park, Eldridge Park Road
6/28 Sunday
iGNiTE! Reggae Band Debuts Ithaca Reggae Fest | 1 p.m. | Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Drive
Early on Trio Classical Concert | 2 p.m. | Willard Chapel, 17 Nelson St | $15.00
Stage
“Fun Home” at the Hangar! | 7:30 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd. | In this emotionally charged musical, Alison moves through time to visit her childhood, college years, and early adulthood — unravelling her own coming-of-age and coming-out story.
Lilies The Musical | 7:30 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street | A New Musical at Kitchen Theatre Company | $15.00 - $30.00
Centre Stage Community Theatre presents PERFECT ARRANGEMENT | 7:30 p.m., 6/26 Friday | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway | Centre
Stage Community Theatre presents PERFECT ARRANGEMENT in Mandeville
Hall Friday-Saturday, June 26-27, 2026
7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28, 2026 2:00 p.m. Tickets on sale Friday, April 17 at 11:30 a.m.
We Declare - A Storytelling Project for Our Times | 1 p.m., 6/27 Saturday | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street | We Declare - A Storytelling Project for Our Times | Free Summer Theatre Camp | 6 p.m., 6/29 Monday | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway | Clemens Center presents SUMMER THEATRE CAMP Monday – Friday, June 29 – July 25, 2026 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Accepting Applications Now through June 19!
Participatory Contra, Square, and Circle Dancing | 7 p.m., 6/29 Monday | Ithaca Commons, 102 East State Street | All the President’s Men | 1 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | Auburn Public Theater,
8 Exchange St. | The Washington Post” reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal
Adult Improv Classes: Summer Session | 6 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St. | An 8 week Summer 2026 Improv Class taught by Tim Mahar.
5” - The Musical | 7:30 p.m., 7/1 Wednesday | Cortland Repertory Theatre, 6799 Little York Lake Rd | Tickets go on sale May 18, 2026 Call 800-427-6160 Or visit CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson St., Cortland NY “9 to 5” the musical July 1–10 Music & Lyrics by Dolly Parton Book by Patricia Resnick
Art
Remembering Roe | 6 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Join End Abortion Stigma for a commemoration of the fourth year of the end of Roe v. Wade, at Cinemapolis on June 24 from 6-8pm at Cinemapolis in Ithaca. | Free
TCPL Tours: Museum of the Earth | 11:30 a.m., 6/25 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join us at the Museum of the Earth for a free tour for adults, led by Museum staff, with stories and surprising facts about the exhibits!
Teen Film Fridays | 4 p.m., 6/26 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St | Join us in the Digital Lab on the last Friday of every month and enjoy a free movie screening! For teen patrons ages 13-18 only. Snacks will be provided. Curious about what we’re watching?
Meet the Artists: Etienne Gisto Cipriani and Hyunjin Park | 1 p.m., 6/27 Saturday | In conversation with
Wave Hill Curator of Visual Arts Rachel Raphaela Gugelberger, exhibiting artists
Hyunjin Park and Etienne Gisto Cipriani will discuss their Sunroom Project Space exhibitions,
Three Bears Fairytale Painting Workshop | 1 p.m., 6/27 Saturday | Three Bears Ovid, 7175 Main Street | Two free 1.5 hour watercolor painting classes in Papa Bear taught by local artist Andi Pisacano on June 20th and 27th from 1:00 to 2:30pm. | Free
Opening reception for the Works on Paper group exhibit | 4 p.m., 6/27
Saturday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill Business Campus | Opening Reception. The Works on Paper exhibit at The Gallery at South Hill features the works of Maryam Adib, Brian Arnold, Quinn Audsley, J. Cheng, Carol LaBorie, Gavin Leonard, Abby McCullough, and Mia Zufall. | Free Sketch Sesh | 6:30 p.m., 6/29 Monday | The Nocturnal Café, 919 Bostwick Road | Bring your own sketchbook and favorite pens for a So What? Studio sketch meetup! Practice your drawing skills and come create in the company of others!
Film
Remembering Roe | 6 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Cianemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Join End Abortion Stigma for a commemoration of the fourth year of the end of Roe v. Wade, at Cinemapolis on June 24 from 6-8pm at Cinemapolis in Ithaca. | Free
Teen Film Fridays | 4 p.m., 6/26 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St | Join us in the Digital Lab on the last Friday of every month and enjoy a free movie screening! For teen patrons ages 13-18 only. Snacks will be provided. Curious about what we’re watching?
Special Events
2026 DICK’S Open: Wednesday, June 24 | 8 a.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Enjoie Golf Course, 722 W Main St | Outdoor Event - Rain or Shine Doors 7:30am General Admission
IMSA Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen | 8 a.m., 6/25 Thursday | Watkins Glen International, 2790 Co Rte 16, | Racing continues through June 28.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Open | 8 a.m., 6/25 Thursday | Enjoie Golf Course, 722 W Main St | GO ITHACA Open Hours | 2 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Our program makes sustainable commuting accessible and affordable for everyone.
4-H Dog Handling Series | 5:30 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | Sara Bergfjord | 4-H Dog Handling Series Thursday, June 4, 2026, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Thursday, June 11, 2026, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Thursday, June 25, 2026, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Kung Fu Tournament - Centerline Summer Games SPCA Fundraiser | 5:30 p.m., 6/26 Friday | Centerline Martial Arts, 335 Elmira Road | Kung Fu Students at Centerline will be raising funds to support our Local SPCA, and competing against each other in exciting events like sparring, fitness, Kung Fu dodgeball, and more... Trophies and medals for the top performers! Families and friends are invited to cheer on the action.
Ithaca Reggae Fest | 5:30 p.m., 6/26 Friday | Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Drive | Books & Bikes Fest 2026 | 10 a.m., 6/27 Saturday | Penn Yan Public Library, 214 Main St | What’s Books & Bikes Fest? It’s a combination bike rodeo and block party! Kids can get free books, free bike helmets, snacks, face painting, and so much more fun! More information coming soon!
The Big 2-5-0 | 10 a.m., 6/27 Saturday | Brooktondale Community Center, 524 Valley Road | This free event will celebrate, acknowledge, and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. | Free Town of Hornby Bicentennial Celebration | 11 a.m., 6/27 Saturday | Reese Ranch Rodeo, Oldfield Rd | Car show, craft fair,, corn hole tournament | Free Church Festival | 4 p.m., 6/27 Saturday | Most Holy Name Of Jesus Festival Grounds, 1010 Davis St. | Saturday Music by “Second Time Around” Band. Sunday Music by “Blue Eyed Soul”. | Free
Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen | 12 p.m., 6/28 Sunday | Watkins Glen International, 2790 Co Rte 16, |
iGNiTE! Reggae Band Debuts Ithaca Reggae Fest | 1 p.m., 6/28 Sunday | Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Drive | Join iGNiTE! as we make our debut at the 8th Annual Ithaca Reggae Fest at picturesque Stewart Park in “GORGES” Ithaca, NY. iGNiTE!
Books
BIPOC Voices In Romance & Fantasy
| 5 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Join us to discuss The NameBearer by author Natalia Hernandez | Free
Queer Horror Book Club - The Luminous Dead | 6 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Join us for a discussion on The Luminous Dead, led by BSB staff member Anamarie. | Free Book Launch: Lucky to Have You | 5:30 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Book Launch: Lucky to Have You | Free Cypher Circle Presents: Poetry Open Mic Night | 7 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | Argos Warehouse , 416 E State St. | Come enjoy some amazing poetry from local artists & storytellers. | Free Ithaca Book Reports Book Club | 7:15 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | GreenStar Cafe, 770 Cascadilla St | No assigned book! | Free
Write Out Loud & Proud! | 2 p.m., 6/27 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join screenwriter/novelist Elisabeth Nonas for a writing workshop at the Library this Pride Month!
Echo: Writing Workshop with nicole v. basta | 2 p.m., 6/28 Sunday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Generative writing workshops led by poet laureate nicole v. basta | Free Open Mic Night | 7 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St | Want to play music to a live audience? Have you crafted a poem or short story you’d like to share or want to tell some jokes? Come join us Tuesday nights for a weekly Open Mic! Book Club | 5 p.m., 7/1 Wednesday, The Hummel’s BME | Join us to discuss Strangers in Time by David
Baldacci. New members are always welcome! Please contact the library for more information. Ask for a copy of the book at either circulation desk.
Kids
Science Together: Roller Coasters | 10:15 a.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St | Explore ups and downs as you make and test a roller coaster!
A Sherlock Holmes Mystery | 2 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown, 24 Port Watson St | Tickets go on sale May 18, 2026 Call 800-427-6160 Or visit CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson St., Cortland NY BASKERVILLE: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery June 17-26 By Ken Ludwig To the hounds!
Journey of Water - Free Summer Science Programming for Kids and Families | 6 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Various, various | Explore the ways that water moves through our lives with the Community Science Institute. Free summer programming for kids and families. Go to communityscience.org/journeyofwater/ for schedule and to register. Kids get a passport to stamp at each program and can get a free t-shirt. | Free Journey of Water - Stream Biomonitoring Fun! | 6 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Robert H. Treman State Park - UPPER ENTRANCE, 129 Upper Park Rd | Get your feet wet exploring the tiny organisms that live in creeks that tell us a lot about water quality. We’ll learn how it works and compare samples from two nearby creeks at Upper Treman to compare their water quality based on what we see. Register at communityscience.org/ journeyofwater/ | Free Family Story Time | 11 a.m., 6/26 Friday | Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road |
4-H Fiber Arts Club: Learn to Macrame | 10 a.m., 6/27 Saturday | Human Services Complex Rm 119, 323 Owego Street | Do you know of a youth interested in crocheting, knitting, and more? | Free
ICG Drop-In Discovery Days | 10 a.m., 6/27 Saturday | Ithaca Children’s Garden, 121 Turtle Lane | A free Saturday Summer series designed for nature explorers of all ages. Materials and staff will be available to support your exploration as you enjoy hands-on, themed activities at your own pace. | Free
Family Storytime: Pride Edition! | 11 a.m., 6/27 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to celebrate reading and build their early literacy skills at Family Storytime. This will be a special PrideThemed celebration!
KEVA Plank Engineering Challenge | 2 p.m., 6/28 Sunday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St | Calling all engineers! See what you can build using KEVA planks in this special workshop.
Sit! Stay! Read! | 3 p.m., 6/29 Monday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St | Children are invited to practice their reading skills by sharing a story with a truly non-judgmental listener -- a dog! Reading sessions will be held Mondays from 3-4 p.m.
Free Family Bingo Every Tuesday Night | 6/30 Tuesday | Ice Cream Bar, 207 E. Main St. (Rt 96 | Join us every Tuesday evening for Free Family Bingo at Ice Cream Bar; 4PM-7PM Tuesday 6.2-Tuesday 9.1. No purchase necessary just come right up to the
Read to Dogs | 3 p.m., 7/1 Wednesday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street | Children are invited to the Newfield Library to practice their reading skills by reading to one of Cornell Companion’s volunteer therapy dogs! | Free
LEGO Club | 4 p.m., 7/1 Wednesday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St | Come join our Lego club & have some building fun! Each session we’ll have a challenge & a game. LEGO Club meets on the first & third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m.
First Day to Drop o “Unearth a Story” themed LEGO and Bookmark Contest Entries | 7/1 Wednesday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St | Unearth a Story theme LEGO Contest: Entries accepted July 1-11. Open to ages 4-12. NO KITS. Voting July 13-25. Entries must fit on 8 1/2” x 11” sheet of paper.
Notices
ASPCA Fundraising | 10:30 a.m., 6/24
Wednesday | Face, to-face fundraising on behalf of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Offer patrons the opportunity to support the charity through recurring monthly donations; 100% of donations go directly to the charity |
Yoga | 10:30 a.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Homer Fire Station, 53 S Main St |
WE DECLARE, A STORYTELLING PROJECT FOR OUR TIMES
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M. Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St. | Through a curated selection of written work by past and present writer/participants in the Writing Through the Rough Spots workshops held over the past twenty years. Join us to hear pieces that off er a snapshot of what it’s like to live in this moment in American history, a period with uncanny parallels to the original No Kings movement in 1776. (Photo: Provided)
The Midweek Session | 4 p.m., 6/24
Wednesday | NRE Space, 402 W. State St | The Finger Lakes CannaMarket is adding Wednesdays. Starting April 29, join us from 4–9 PM for a free midweek 420 market where growers, enthusiasts, and the community connect. | Free Yappy Hour | 4 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Canopy By Hilton, 324 E. State St | Sip, socialize, get to know some adoptable pets from Stay Wild Resue. We will have drink specials, pet games, treats and more. All well-behaved pets are welcome to join.
Kitchen OPEN | 4:30 p.m., 6/24
Wednesday | We’re excited to share that Hopshire is now offering a limited menu! Our menu is pizza-focused, and as we settle in, we hope to expand the menu over time.
Community Police Board Meeting | 4:30 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall | Pet Clinic | 6 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Southside Community Center Gym, 305 S Plain St | Pet Clinic
Remembering Roe | 6 p.m., 6/24
Wednesday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Join End Abortion Stigma for a commemoration of the fourth year of the end of Roe v. Wade, at Cinemapolis on June 24 from 6-8pm at Cinemapolis in Ithaca. | Free Special Committee on Wrongful Discharge and Labor Protections | 6 p.m., 6/24 Wednesday | Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall |
CANCELED: Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) Board Meeting (in-person) | 9 a.m., 6/25 Thursday | Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall 108 E Green St |
TCPL Tours: Museum of the Earth | 11:30 a.m., 6/25 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join us at the Museum of the Earth for a free tour for adults, led by Museum staff, with stories and surprising facts about the exhibits!
GO ITHACA Open Hours | 2 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Our program makes sustainable commuting accessible and affordable for everyone. Ages 8 to 108 Board Game Club: Summer Session! | 4 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Are you between the ages of 8 and 108 and love playing
board games? Then come join our board game club at TCPL!
No Data Center on Cayuga Lake
Public Presentation | 7 p.m., 6/25
Thursday | First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, 306 N Aurora St | Join us for a public presentation in Ithaca where you will hear from experts and organizers on data centers, their harms, the proposed data center in Lansing on Cayuga Lake and what you can do! | Free
Karaoke with Elephant Sound | 8 p.m., 6/25 Thursday | 23 North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema Dr | Show off your singing chops every Thursday night during “Karaoke Night” at 23 North in Ithaca! Great food, great drinks, great FUN! | Free
Saturday Market | 9 a.m., 6/27 Saturday | Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd St. | Our Saturday Markets are now outside at the pavilion. Find us each week at Steamboat Landing.
Green Saturday | 12 p.m., 6/27
Saturday | NRE Space , 402 W. State St |
Get ready for a fun-filled day at the free FingerLakes CannaMarket in Ithaca, NY!
Join us from 12 to 5 pm at 402 W State St for giveaways, great conversations, and the chance to meet top cannabis businesses. Celebrate cannabis culture in the heart of the Finger Lakes region! | Free
Meet the Artists: Etienne Gisto Cipriani and Hyunjin Park | 1 p.m., 6/27 Saturday | In conversation with Wave Hill Curator of Visual Arts Rachel Raphaela Gugelberger, exhibiting artists Hyunjin Park and Etienne Gisto Cipriani will discuss their Sunroom Project Space exhibitions,
Sunday Market | 10 a.m., 6/28 Sunday | Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd St. | Join us down at the pavilion for a visit with all your favorite vendors. Meet artisans, farmers and chefs who make, grow and cook their products from within 30 miles of the pavilion.
Queer-Friendly Yoga with Erica Shockley | 4 p.m., 6/29 Monday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | You are invited to join us for a free community yoga experience that uplifts the joyful energy of this year’s Pride celebration.
Community Conversations | 9 a.m., 6/30 Tuesday | Trumansburg Village Hall, 56 E Main Street | Join your neighbors in Ulysses for hyper-local networking, conversation, and advocacy at Trumansburg Village Hall!
Annual Celebration: Today’s Generosity, Tomorrow’s Abundance | 5 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St | Come celebrate the power of philanthropy in action—where engaged donors, dedicated organizations, and meaningful collaborations are helping our community thrive.
Growing Well Together | 5:30 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | Ithaca Community Gardens, Cayuga Park Lane | Meet at the Ithaca Community Gardens pavilion to enjoy a free yoga class, learn how to grow your own vegetables, or join a walking group! | Free
Gardening in Di cult Spaces | 5:30 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue | Experienced Master Gardeners will address challenges associated with gardening in dry, shady, deer-prone and curbside conditions and present plants likely to be successful (and even flourish!) | $20.00
Yoga with Lindsay | 6 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road | Lindsay Graham teaches classes that focus on healthy skeletal alignment and creative sequences led by the breath, that cultivate a fun and challenging practice.
Community Line Dance | 7 p.m., 6/30 Tuesday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd | Community Line Dance lessons
LGBTQ+ Youth Group | 4:30 p.m., 7/1 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St | Join us at LGBTQ+ Youth Group to do crafts, play games, and socialize. Whether you’re lesbian, gay, bi, trans, questioning, or just trying to figure things out - we’re here for you!
Haudenosaunee In uence on American Democracy | 6:30 p.m., 7/1 Wednesday | CCHS at Grace Street, 9 Grace St | This informative talk will show how the founding documents and principles of the United States government were influenced by ideas found among the Haudenosaunee. | Free First Day to Drop o “Unearth a Story” themed LEGO and Bookmark Contest Entries | 7/1 Wednesday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St | Unearth a Story theme LEGO Contest: Entries accepted July 1-11. Open to ages 4-12. NO KITS. Voting July 13-25. Entries must fit on 8 1/2” x 11” sheet of paper.
MOVE FOR MUSEUMS WEEKEND
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Black Diamond Trail State Park, 3480 Gorge Rd., Trumansburg | Gather per-mile pledges or flat donations from your network to support your Move for Museums weekend. A dollar a mile, five dollars a mile, whatever feels right! Walk, run, bike any distance, any route, any pace. Every mile raises money for your team's museum! If you want company, join us Saturday morning at the foot of the Black Diamond Trail for a kick-off breakfast. (Photo: Provided) parallels
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End stage capitalism got you down? Learn how Ithaca’s radical experiments in community and economics are making a real difference today! IthacaLocalEconomyLab.com on iTunes and Spotify!”
The EAT LOCAL program at Ithaca Times aims to publicize and celebrate the successes of Tompkins County’s food and drink industry.
This user-friendly searchable website includes bakeries, bars, cafes, farms, grocery stores, restaurants, vineyards, and more!
This directory is a free and easy way to increase your exposure to visitors, students, and local residents.
