SENECA STREET GARAGE WILL CLOSE PERMANENTLY
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UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATES CORNELL PRESIDENT'S ALTERCATION WITH STUDENTS
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PAGES 12–13 ▶
ATABEY EATERY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS PAGE A6
A TRIBUTE TO ANA ORTIZ, FOUNDER OF NO MÁS LÁGRIMAS PAGE A14
“THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2”: NOTHING WORTH GIRDING YOUR LOINS OVER PAGE B18
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By Lorien Tyne
The Seneca Street Parking Garage is now permanently closed, following a temporary closure last month, with potential redevelopment plans that may have limited to no parking.
Regarding impacts from the garage closure, the Ithaca City Common Council heard from several concerned business owners during public comment at a May 6 council meeting.
After reports of concrete debris falling from the third floor to the sidewalk below, the city announced on April 10 that the Seneca Street Garage is temporarily closed. City personnel inspected the location and found several areas of the building to be severely deteriorated and at high risk of failure. Since then, a third-party engineering review has also been conducted, according to updates given at Common Council.
At the Common Council meeting, City Manager Dominick Recckio said that the
temporary garage closure will become a permanent closure due to safety reasons. He said there is significant concrete spalling, which occurred as a result of water freeze-thaw cycles breaking apart concrete in warmer weather.
Recckio said the garage has existed for about 50 years, the typical lifespan of a concrete outdoor garage, and the city will not be repairing it. He said the city was prepared to repair the elevator shaft, a project costing up to several hundred thousand dollars, but that the full scope of structural issues now apparent, is too extensive. He also said that repairing the structure would only extend its life by a few years.
Recckio and planning and development director Lisa Nicholas recommended that Common Council work with the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency to prepare a real estate deal to redevelop the garage.
Nicholas said the city has successfully used this method, or one close to it,
multiple times to redevelop city properties such as the Green Street Garage, Cayuga Street Garage, Downtown Conference Center and the Marriott Hotel. She said the process would begin with Common Council establishing expectations for the site’s redevelopment, such as requiring some parking or other assets. Once the city begins the process, she said, it would take about 24 months before construction on the redevelopment could begin.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo said he will
Continued on Page B19
By Maddy Vogel
New York State recently honored TompkinsSeneca-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (TST-BOCES) with the 2026 What’s Great in our State’ School/School District Award, recognizing the regional cooperative board for its work to support wellness and address the mental health needs of students.
The award, given during the annual What’s Great in our State conference, recognizes individuals and programs that are “successfully advancing the cause of children’s mental health in New York State,” according to a release from the New York State office of Mental Health. Celebrated annually during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, the day-long conference in Albany features a ceremony recognizing honorees, workshops, and a children’s art show. TST-BOCES works to address barriers to care including provider shortages through innovative new programs, moving past the traditional school-based clinic model, according to the release.
School Health Systems Medical Director Dr. Melissa Dhundale and School Health Systems
Assistant Medical Director Jessica Hoff were present at the conference on Tuesday, May 5 to accept the award.
"We are truly honored to be nominated and selected for this award. We have been incredibly fortunate to work with both past and present leadership in the Tompkins-SenecaTioga BOCES region who have the vision and determination to support all kids by bridging medicine and education,” Dr. Dhundalem said.
“We are grateful for a community of schools and pediatric providers who are committed to working together as a team to support families. We also deeply value our partnership with Project TEACH, the New York State Education Department, as well as our collaborations with colleagues statewide who share resources and the mission to ensure that we are reaching all children."
Initiatives like the ‘Huddle’ model, which connects pediatricians, school staff, and mental
THE
The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Ithaca recognized five businesses and community leaders on April 29 at an annual meeting and awards celebration. Photos by Mark Syvertson, Ithaca Times File, and provided.
health specialists to provide consultation and coordinated care, help provide care that is more responsive to the needs of youth and their families, the release stated. BOCES’s Psychiatric Education for Pediatric Providers program also trains primary care clinicians in pediatric mental health to expand access in underserved areas.
TST-BOCES also places clinicians directly onto school campuses to improve early identification and intervention. The state called BOCES’s CoSer model “a sustainable, scalable approach that integrates medical and educational systems.”
“Through partnerships and collaboration, Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES is helping to break down siloes and remove barriers to care, which is helping youth and families to access care in this three-county area,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “This district fosters compassion, collaboration, and innovation, which are having a profound impact on the wellbeing of its young students. We congratulate Middleburgh for its commitment to youth mental health.”
o V enolt , r EP ort E r mack @ ithacatimes com J ake S exton , a d M inistrativ E c oordinator jake @ ithacatimes com M a R k S y V e R t S on , P hotogra P h E r marksyvertsonphotography @ gmail com
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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
(1972–1978) and The
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“IN HONOR OF GLOBAL BIG DAY ON MAY 9TH, WHEN BIRDERS ALL OVER THE WORLD TRY TO IDENTIFY AND RECORD AS MANY BIRD SPECIES AS POSSIBLE, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE 157 SPECIES THAT WERE SEEN IN TOMPKINS COUNTY:”
NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com
By Mikayla Rovenolt
Two Cornell University students say President Michael Kotlikoff struck them with his vehicle on the evening of April 30 following an on-campus Israel-Palestine debate. Now, the university’s Board of Trustees has established an Ad Hoc Special Committee to investigate the incident.
At 8:20 p.m. on April 30, security video footage shows Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff backing his car into one person and allegedly injuring a second person by running over his foot. Kotlikoff proceeded to drive away.
Earlier in the evening, Kotlikoff introduced an Israel-Palestine debate series event in Goldwin Smith Hall, hosted by the Cornell Political Union and co-sponsored by Cornell Progressives, Cornellians for Israel and Students for Justice in Palestine, among other student groups.
Security video footage of the interaction was published on the university’s website, while student video footage was sent to various news outlets by studentgroup Students for a Democratic Cornell.
The footage shows students surrounding Kotlikoff’s car as they appear to be recording the university president. Students do not appear to be banging on the car’s windows, although they are blocking Kotlikoff’s vehicle from exiting the lot. Kotlikoff can be seen backing up his vehicle slowly and ultimately coming into contact with a student. The vehicle
then stops moving until the student moves away, and the car begins to back up again. In the video footage, it is unclear when the student’s foot was run over or if any other injuries were incurred.
On the morning of May 1, Kotlikoff released a statement describing his interaction with students following the event.
Kotlikoff made no mention of student injuries, claiming students were attempting to “harass” and “intimidate” him. He said he was “accosted” in the hallway following the debate by several students and non-students. The group followed him to his car while recording him and shouting questions, he said. Kotlikoff said students proceeded to bang on the windows and block his vehicle.
“The behavior I experienced last night is not protest,” Kotlikoff said in a statement. “It is harassment and intimidation, with the direct motive of silencing speech. It has no place in an academic community, no place in a democracy, and can have no place at Cornell.”
Kotlikoff said he waited until he saw space behind his vehicle and proceeded to use his vehicle’s rear pedestrian alert and automatic braking system to “slowly maneuver [the] car from the parking space and exit the parking lot.”
In a press statement from Students for a Democratic Cornell, students involved claimed these were “slanted and inaccurate terms.”
“We vehemently deny that anyone banged on his car windows as described in the statement,” Students for a Democratic Cornell wrote. “There was no attempt to intimidate Kotlikoff, physically or verbally, and students consistently remained a safe distance away from him. Kotlikoff clearly backed into a student at a high speed. [...] Kotlikoff's rush to portray students’ attempt to peacefully discuss Cornell’s policies prohibiting protests as ‘harassment and intimidation’ embodies the culture of repression he has created on our campus.”
In a May 7 statement, Cornell’s Board of Trustees said it established an Ad Hoc Special Committee composed of the chair and vice chairs to oversee “an investigation into the events of April 30, 2026, involving
By Mikayla Rovenolt
The Tompkins County Legislature unanimously passed a resolution supporting a New York state bill that would authorize high schools to include opioid overdose prevention and naloxone administration training as part of health education.
Assembly Bill A10060-A was introduced on Jan. 30 by Assemblymember Anna Kelles, who represents Tompkins County and parts of Cortland County in District 125.
Referred to by the legislature as The Opioid Overdose Health Education and Naloxone Access Bill, A10060-A would also allow trained students with parental and medical-provider permission to carry and administer naloxone. It would also permit schools to maintain on-site supplies and provide liability protection for those acting in good faith, according to the resolution.
Naloxone is the generic name for Narcan, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, over-the-counter opioid antagonist that reverses overdoses within two to three minutes. It has no adverse effects when administered to a person not experiencing an overdose, is not addictive and does not cause intoxication.
“The idea is to allow students at the high schools to be able to have narcan and be able to use it when needed,” legislator Travis Brooks, chair of the public safety committee,
said at the legislature’s May 5 meeting. He added that the involved Cornell students, who spoke earlier at the meeting, met with him, Shawna Black and Christy Bianconi to further support the work of this bill.
“They’ve done so much work,” Brooks said. “They presented it to the public safety [committee] and it was a no brainer to us.”
The resolution states that “opioid overdose is now the third leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States, with illicitly manufactured fentanyl involved in 84% of teen overdose deaths and increasingly found in counterfeit pills, vape products, and other substances.” This information is available on the Center for Disease Control Website.
In rural counties such as Tompkins County, the resolution continues, emergency medical service response times can be up to or exceed 14 minutes, meaning that bystander responses can be life-saving for those awaiting professional medical intervention.
According to the resolution, the bill is permissive, not mandatory, and includes specific parental opt-out provisions and imposes no unfunded mandates on local school districts. The bill also allows schools to offset costs through free supply programs such as the New York State Opioid Response Network.
Kelles drafted the bill in partnership with a group of Cornell University students from the Brooks School of Public Policy. Eeshaan Chaudhuri, Maria Santa and Kate Zavuholnik are all students within the State Policy Advocacy Clinic. Chaudhuri said the clinic has been working on this bill for around four years.
“We work with local community members, nonprofits, professors who do research, as well as legislators, just like assembly level accounts to go and help research about legislation, advance legislation, and
actually launch advocacy campaigns for legislation as well,” Chaudhuri said. “This is the first year where we were able to get this introduced into the assembly and hopefully into the Senate in a couple of days as well.”
Zavuholnik, who coaches varsity girls wrestling at Ithaca High School, said that as someone who is student-facing, this bill is important to her because she gets to influence students and connect with them more.
“I know about the prevalence of drugs amongst the community, and it feels really nice to be able to influence them in some way,” Zavuholnik said. “I love talking about this resolution and I think getting the resolution passed just solidified the community's support in this important bill.”
“It speaks volumes to the fact that our community realizes that Naloxone saves lives and it can reverse the overdose process, and the more people that have Naloxone on their person could save a life,” Shawna Black, chair of the Tompkins County Legislature said in a statement to the Ithaca Times.
Black added that the community can't be blinded to the fact that some tainted substances are getting in the hands of young people. She said that as a community we need to have the conversations and make sure that young people are educated to the risks of using drugs, and they're also alerted to the risks of bad batches of drugs that can be found anywhere.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Chairwoman Black as well as Travis, who took their time out to go and speak with us and talk with us about the bill and to help us actually draft the resolution to be passed, which was really, really amazing,” Chaudhuri said.
Tompkins County locations that provide Naloxone include the Southern Tier Aids Program, the Tompkins County Library, Reach Medical and Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services. Naloxone is free of charge.
Ithaca Mural’s announced that the mural at the corner of Cayuga and MLK Street has been voted the best mural in the City of Ithaca. The winning mural was painted by students from the New Roots Charter School and muralist Terrance Vann.
Downs
A bicyclist collided with an oncoming vehicle on the morning of May 4 after the bicyclist lost their balance and fell into the northbound lane of S. Meadow Street. The bicyclist was transported to Cayuga Medical Center by ambulance and was then flown to a regional trauma center for their injuries.
Heard
A Go Fund Me is seeking to raise $12,000 for Ana Ortiz, founder of food pantry No Mas Lagrimas, who needs extensive oral surgery. Ortiz has supported the community for almost 26 years by supporting the Ithaca Latino community, organizing family centered events, coordinating community leadership trainings and starting the community garden at Chestnut Hill Apartments, among her other efforts.
Seen
The Ithaca Tenants Union is seeking testimony about renters’ experiences with disrepair in the city of Ithaca as part of the organization’s campaign that the City of Ithaca hold landlords accountable. Testimonies can be submitted through a link in ITU’s Instagram bio @ithacatenantsunion. 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.”
Will you cast a ballot in Ithaca’s May school budget vote?
Yes.
I don’t care.
N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N : Will Ithaca get one more snowfall this spring? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
Sophie Fund, Ithaca Beer Partner for Mental Health Awareness
ReUse Center Relocates from Triphammer City Recognizes Northstar Public House
By Kira Walter
The wait is over. On May 2, Atabey Restaurant & Lounge opened its doors as the only Puerto Rican restaurant in downtown Ithaca. On the corner of North Aurora St. and East Seneca St., the hip new space and family-style menu replaces former classic Ooy’s Cafe & Deli, providing more Caribbean cuisine options to the Ithaca Commons.
The ease and splendor of its grand opening followed 15 months of development, undergoing thorough renovations to become the brick-and-mortar restaurant it is today. The modern venue stands out with dark gray walls, tropical decor and depictions of its Taino goddess Atabey. Intricate paintings and ambient lighting add to the lounge feel of the room, which is divided by a wall and full bar.
Atabey is the second upstate New York dining venture by Janilex Pellot and Kevin Ramos. In 2023, the lifelong business partners opened La Bamba Cuisine in
Cortland, offering a more casual Caribbean cooking style. Pellot previously moved from Puerto Rico to Florida, where she dabbled in the food industry before relocating north with Ramos to try something new. After their success with La Bamba, the pair searched for another city of interest.
“We were thinking about different places,” Pellot said. “Maybe Binghamton, Elmira… And of all those places, Ithaca won. Everybody wanted Ithaca. That’s why we’re here.”
Despite the popularity of La Bamba’s atmosphere, Pellot and Ramos said Atabey is concentrated more on night life and a broader cultural experience. For a restaurant providing fresh ingredients from the home country and traditional recipes, there’s no better namesake than Atabey, an ancestral Mother Earth in Caribbean indigenous mythology associated with fertility and fresh water.
“Our flavors rely on a mix of herbs and vegetables,” Pellot explained. “Everything is from Puerto Rico.”
A unique staple is homemade sofrito, which the owner described as being made from peppers, onions, and a variety of other plants. The produce profile is also expanded by a variety of tropical juices, including soursop, guava, and hot climate choices once much less accessible.
Beyond leafy greens and fresh fruit juice, Atabey is spicing up Ithaca’s diverse selection with unforeseen items like jibaritos, sandwiches served on fried green plantains, and mofongo, another iconic Puerto Rican plantain specialty. The menu doesn’t dial back any aspect of its featured cuisine, bringing all the spice, innovation and authenticity.
The menu caters to all parties regardless of size, with “Compartimos” tailored to serve big portions to big company. Sharing portions across different meat options make traditional entrees the perfect group endeavor (more than generous servings can feed a few extra mouths despite what’s advertised).
In a college town, Atabey’s noon to 10 p.m. hours make it ideal for students pro-
crastinating studies with a good meal. Still, Pellot was adamant about her restaurant remaining for everyone, the elderly and children, with a kids menu to boot. She and Ramos also plan to rent out Atabey’s space and services.
With a prime location and ample size, Atabey further diversifies dining options in downtown Ithaca. From K-HOUSE to Modern Ohana, restaurateurs are re-defining the Ithaca food scene in 2026, pushing each other forward within a tight-knit community. The movement towards offering a one-of-a- kind dining experience vs. introducing something that already does well is growing.
“We spoke to other owners around town,” Pellot said. “That's how we got here, because they pushed us. ‘Don’t stop, keep going. It's gonna be hard, but you're gonna get it done.’” By pursuing an unfiltered presentation of Pellot’s heritage, this new joint goes beyond pleasing the taste buds. Sitting down at Atabey is an immersive journey.
“We’re looking to bring our culture, bring our plates, and bring our traditions to Ithaca,” Pellot said. “That way everybody gets to know everything about Puerto Rico.”
Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, a second hand retailer, announced in a May 5 press release that it has appointed Zachary Morgan as its new vice president of donated goods retail operations.
Morgan has more than 18 years of leadership experience, most recently at Family Dollar.
His new position with Goodwill will focus on strengthening and advancing the organization’s retail and donated goods enterprise. This role includes oversight of store operations, donation acquisition and processing systems, revenue-generation strategies and community donation acquisition activities.
“The appointment of Zachary Morgan reflects our commitment to building a high-performing, mission-driven retail enterprise,” said Jennifer Lake, president and CEO of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes. “At Goodwill, your things start new lives, and our donated goods retail operations are essential to sustaining our work in the community. Zachary’s strong background and experience will help ensure we continue to grow retail while maintaining operational excellence.”
Handwork, Ithaca’s artist-owned cooperative, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in June after five decades of supporting and showcasing local artists’ handmade work.
In 1976, twelve artists came together to
establish a space for selling their work and collectively running a storefront, according to a press release. Now, Handwork represents more than 25 makers and the shop offers all kinds of handcrafted goods, such as jewelry, ceramics, textiles, glass, woodworking and fine art. Most of the store’s goods are made by its artist members, but some products are created by other regional and national makers.
“Handwork’s cooperative model offers a rare opportunity for visitors to purchase directly from, and potentially to meet, the makers behind the work,” the press release said. “Over the past five decades, Handwork has remained rooted in its founding mission: to provide a space where regional artists can sustain their practices and connect with the public.”
Handwork is inviting the community to celebrate the anniversary by attending Ithaca’s First Friday Gallery Night at 5 p.m. on June 5. The event will have a ribbon cutting ceremony, which will be attended by Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo, along with a few other public officials. After the ribbon cutting, the first 50 people that enter the building will receive a gift bag of handmade creations from the cooperative’s artist members. Refreshments will be provided, including cake and drinks.
The celebration will continue through the weekend with 20% storewide on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On those days, customers will receive a free gift with their purchase while supplies last.
This
Mental Health Awareness Month to highlight the mental health resources and information available in Tompkins County.
Ithaca Beer will be providing its customers with a resource card of local providers for psychotherapy and psychiatry, addiction counseling, support groups, peer counseling, and sexual violence support.
“Mental health is a fundamental aspect of overall health, and is too often ignored, under supported, and stigmatized,” said Jess Mitchell, Ithaca Beer Co. Director of Operations. “We welcome hundreds of visitors monthly, giving us the platform to reach our community widely.
We are committed to doing our part to connect people with the resources they need.”
Ithaca Beer will also be hosting informational mental health presentations by the Finger Lakes chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service of Tompkins County.
Together, the organizations are also running a mental health awareness campaign on social media with posts that highlight local resources, aim to break mental health stigma and encourage people to seek help if they are struggling.
On May 28, the organizations along with Better Together for Mental Health, will be hosting a special Mental Health Awareness Month gathering at Ithaca Beer for local mental health workers honoring their service and impact.
“Stigma remains an obstacle that prevents many people who are struggling from acknowledging they need help or actually reaching out to loved ones or professionals for support,” Scott MacLeod, co-founder of The Sophie Fund, said. “When a high-profile company like Ithaca Beer steps up to actively help normalize talking about mental health, it makes all the difference. Nobody should suffer in silence when help is available.”
Mayor Robert Cantelmo read a proclamation at the Common Council’s May 6 meeting, recognizing the impact of Northstar Public House, which closed its doors at the end of April, and naming May 6 as Northstar Public House Day in the city of Ithaca.
Northstar was opened in Ithaca by friends and musicians Jed Ashton, Lee Hamilton, and Elliot Martin in September 2009. The name was a tribute to Ithaca’s role in the Underground Railroad and
to Frederick Douglas’s anti-slavery newspaper, The Northstar.
The restaurant specialized in farmto-table dining, with food and beverages sourced from local farms, brewers and suppliers. Its menu catered to many people by providing vegan, vegetarian and omnivorous choices.
Northstar expanded its operation in 2015 when it opened Casita del Polaris, meaning Northstar House in Spanish, which hosted concerts and community events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Northstar turned their outdoor space into the Backyard, allowing customers to safely enjoy the restaurant. The Backyard evolved post COVID-19 into an event space that hosted poetry, music and an evening flea market.
“Northstar, under the visionary leadership of their co-founder Jed Ashton, became a vital community anchor, particularly for people of color in Ithaca and the surrounding region where culture, connection and joy were deliberately cultivated,” the proclamation states. “Northstar had a steadfast commitment to creating a space of comfort, belonging, and affirmation by consistently making room for community gatherings.”
The ReUse MegaCenter, currently located at the Triphammer Marketplace, is expanding and moving to the Cayuga Shopping Center in June. With the move, the store will also be changing its name to Cayuga ReUse Center. This new space has more room and will be able to hold more used furniture and other donated items.
The Ithaca ReUse Center at 214 Elmira Rd is not moving, but is implementing “exciting” changes, according to an Instagram post from the ReUse Center.
By Ithaca Times Readers
When the Market Says There is no Place nor Place for Politics
“I recently learned that an employee of Ithaca Bakery was asked to remove the word ‘Gaza’ written on their ball cap. It was explained to me by the owner/manager that the decision was made under the auspices of a dress code. The employee confided in me that the issue was precipitated by a customer who claimed offense by the word and brought the matter to the owner. This typifies the state of political discourse in our community. It also reveals the dominance of the market to dictate our discourse. The owners/management of Ithaca Bakery exercised their ‘right’ to impose a dress code; curiously, only after an offense was claimed, suggesting they pick and choose to whom and to what the code will apply. They demonstrated what I call a pragmatic cowardice–bending to offense while silencing an individual
and thereby preserving the imperative of profit. Obfuscation rules the day. Let me be clear, I am not saying they are ‘bad’ people. I imagine other local business owners behaving in the same way. But that does not resolve my concern. Let us explore this for a moment. We could argue that Gaza is merely a place; as is Israel. If so, would the word ‘Israel’ then be permissible to wear on a hat for an employee. Why, then, not ‘Gaza’? Or is ‘Israel’ sanctioned because it’s a nation-state? Albeit, one that is based on ethnic supremacy within a greater settler colonial project. There is no place on the surface of this earth that is ‘neutral’. Everywhere has been shaped by forces, often abstract, in pursuit of wealth and power. That includes Ithaca. Let’s just keep sipping our coffee–the modern-day equivalent of putting our heads in the sand.”
—
Jeromy
Biazzo, Hector NY
“In regards to the incident involving the two demonstrators and President Kotlikoff; I don't think it can be expressed how much those students were harassing and tormenting the President. All he wanted to do was leave the scene and they were trying to prevent him from
doing that by banging on his windows, car and blocking his way. He carefully and slowly backed his car up as he had every right to do. Those demonstrators knew to get out of the way and they chose not to. Yes it's OK to demonstrate, but only in a peaceful respectful way, not in the way that they were doing it that day.” — Suzanne Pedersen, Ithaca NY
“Thank you for Charley Githler’s articles on the influence of the Declaration of Independence on later movements for freedom. In this 250 th year, I hope future issues can provide information about the Declaration of Independence itself and the context in which it was created and communicated. When the Declaration of Independence was news, neither authors nor those hearing or reading its words knew what would come. Nor did organizers and participants in the nation’s hastily-called First Woman’s Rights Convention.
In early July, 1848, Lucretia Mott was in upstate NY as a minister for Philadelphia’s Hicksite Quaker Meeting. No speech was planned for Seneca Falls, no convention intended. Mere days after July 4th celebrations including readings of the Declaration of Independence, a July 9 private gathering of Friends and fellow anti-slavery activists in her honor at the Hunt House in Waterloo resulted in plans for both. Stanton recalled that her ‘longaccumulating discontent,’ despite passage of NY’s Married Woman’s Property Act, on April 7, 1848, swayed their host, Jane Hunt, M’Clintock in-laws Mary Ann,
Elizabeth and Mary Ann jr., Mott and her sister Martha Wright of Auburn, NY, and Stanton to call for a convention July 19-20, the first day for women only, with Mott’s presentation on social reform the intervening evening. African American anti-slavery activist Frederick Douglass published the convention ad in his North Star newspaper, assuring their network was informed.
While Stanton arrived at the M’Clintock home in Waterloo on July 16 with many ideas for a declaration to present, debate, and approve at the convention, she recalled that 'one of their number,' likeliest Elizabeth M’Clintock, proposed revising the Declaration of Independence. Adding 'and women' to the phrase 'all men are created equal;' replacing King George III with 'mankind;' listing 'repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman;' charging that women had been 'fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights;' and insisting on 'immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of the United States' placed demands squarely within the frame of American independence celebrated days before. Then they added an action plan resting wholly upon Constitutionally enumerated civil rights: free speech, press, assembly, and petition.
In two days, first women, then men including Frederick Douglass, debated, approved, and signed this Declaration of Sentiments. Not knowing what would become of their words or hopes didn’t stop them.” — Vivien Rose, Trumansburg NY
By Charley Githler
When it comes to Artificial Intelligence, I can draw no other conclusion than that the human race, led by some of its least likable members, is hurtling down a path that we little understand, and there is the distinct possibility that it will end in our extinction. Should we maybe slow down? The spectacle of Elon Musk and Sam Altman duking it out in court, while somewhat entertaining, is also deeply unsettling. Here’s a thought-provoking Musk quote from the trial: “The worst-case scenario is a Terminator situation where AI kills us all.” This might have been a headline, if AI weren’t already writing the news.
The thing about AI, as I understand it, is that it is already smarter than us, and is teaching itself around the clock, while we sleep, to get smarter at an exponential rate. For humans to try to dope out what its next move is would be akin to my dog Curly struggling to understand how I’m able to drive a car. Actually, at the rate things are going, it’ll soon be more like a housefly trying to understand the act of driving. This housefly is wondering when AI will reach the logical conclusion that humans are an unnecessary nuisance. There’s such great promise with AI. It might figure out cancer, or ways to address deleterious climate change, or the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. I look forward to self-driving cars. Next time you’re on the road, take a look at the geniuses at the wheel in the oncoming lane, charging by you with a margin of safety of 24 inches at 60 miles an hour. An average of 100 people a day are killed in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S., and that’s been consistently true for 90 years. Actually, it dipped briefly during World War II, in part because people were driving less, but also because the “liberty speed limit” was 35 mph. I’m OK with
letting the robots take a crack at it.
AI has blown through the Turing test, which means it can exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from a human, or so ChatGPT tells me. So it can pass for human, or a millennial, at least. Can it, though? Maybe. There are AI best friend apps. People are marrying chatbots. Workers are being replaced. According to Goldman Sachs, AI is cutting 16,000 net jobs per month right now, and it’s just warming up. I haven’t talked to a real human in customer service in three years. All the middle management jobs are going. Entry-level ones, too. Lawyers. Even teachers. And I’m pretty sure it could pop out a snarky local newspaper column every three weeks without breaking much of a sweat. I had to reassure Dr. Vohra that prostate exams were safe for the time being.
What about the calamitous environmental consequences of 3000 operational data centers and 1500 more in the works? 1501, if TeraWulf gets its way. There was a study by the Washington Post and the University of California, Riverside, on how much water and power ChatGPT consumes to write the average email, and it found that every 100-word email generated by the system requires 17 ounces of water for cooling. Cancel that 100-word email telling Steven Miller to eat my shorts, Claude. Are we trashing the planet so that the socially shaky can have robot friends and our president can make shirtless images of himself in the reflecting pool?
I’m worried, but the whole thing is so completely out of my control that there’s no point in losing sleep over it. Plus, I’m pretty consistently wrong about big things. My first video format was Betamax. I thought we were home free when the Cold War ended. I proclaimed the internet a passing fad, and I stocked up for Y2K. I hope I’m wrong about this.
By Fred Schoeps and Roy Allen
May is National Preservation Month. Take a walk, enjoy the beauty of Ithaca’s identity shaped by its architecture, its trees, its landscape. Breath in spring. Take the opportunity to reflect on how deeply Ithaca’s identity is shaped not only by its architecture and landscapes, but also by its long-standing local institutions. Its historic buildings, culture centers and “legacy businesses” anchor our community life from generation to generation. In a city where higher education, environmental awareness, and small-business culture intersect, preservation is both a physical practice and a way of sustaining civic memory.
At the center of downtown life is the Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian mall that embodies Ithaca’s approach to balancing change and continuity. Since its transformation in the 1970s, the Commons has evolved through multiple redesigns, yet it remains the city’s symbolic gathering place. Its storefronts, public events, and street life reflect a living downtown ecosystem where historic continuity is expressed through ongoing adaptation rather than rigid conservation.
legacy—but both are rooted in continuity of community habits, gathering spaces, and local entrepreneurship. These special places have over time become cultural institutions in their own right.
Another long-standing institution is the Purity Ice Cream. Founded by Cornell graduate Leo Guentert, it has been a local staple for nearly a century, serving homemade ice cream to generations of Ithacans. Its enduring presence illustrates how food traditions become part of a city’s cultural preservation landscape. Places like Purity are not preserved through landmark status alone but through daily patronage and community attachment.
The adaptive reuse of historic buildings further defines Ithaca’s preservation philosophy. The Dewitt Mall—originally a high school—now houses small shops, restaurants, and offices. Its preserved hallways and classrooms retain the architectural memory of education while supporting modern commerce. DeWitt’s transformation demonstrates how preservation maintained a historical structure while allowing economic reinvention.
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Kotlikoff and a group of individuals.”
The Cornell University Police Department will conduct the investigation “consistent with its existing policies and procedures,” the statement said.
“Kotlikoff has recused himself from any involvement in the board’s review or any related university decisions connected to the matter. Those who typically report to President Kotlikoff will report to the Board Chair for any matters related to this incident. The board does not plan to provide additional comments during the review.”
Nearby, one of Ithaca’s most recognizable legacy cultural landmarks is the State Theatre of Ithaca. Opened in the 1920s, this restored vaudeville and movie palace represents the endurance of early 20thcentury entertainment culture. Its ornate interior, historic marquee, and continued use as a performance venue demonstrate how preservation can keep cultural spaces economically viable while maintaining architectural authenticity. During National Preservation Month, venues like the State Theatre personify how historic preservation and contemporary arts reinforce each other.
Legacy retail and food businesses also play a crucial role in Ithaca’s preservation identity. Collegetown Bagels, founded more than fifty years ago, has become a staple of daily life for students and residents alike. Moosewood has become beloved by so many locally and nationally. Each represents a different kind of
Higher education institutions also anchor Ithaca’s historic identity. Cornell University preserves landmark structures such as McGraw Tower and Sage Chapel, which define the skyline and symbolize the university’s long academic tradition. Similarly, Ithaca College maintains a campus where mid-century modernist buildings coexist with newer facilities, reflecting the evolution of educational design while preserving institutional continuity.
Stewart Park, located at the foot of Cayuga Lake, reflects early civic planning ideals that prioritize public access to green space. The park is known for its lovingly restored merry-go-round bringing smiles to young and old. The Cascadilla Boat House and the memories of Ithaca as a movie hub are there to be discovered.
Beyond buildings and businesses, Ithaca’s natural and public landscapes also carry historical significance. Stewart Park’s preserved layout and continued
By John Crutchfield
Here are a few of the lessons I learned when I volunteered to cut down hundreds of sneakers that were dangling from power lines in Collegetown. I joined a new organization in Collegetown called the Collegetown Community Collective, which has set out to improve Collegetown as a gathering place. The CCC is a group of business owners, property owners, students, residents and community leaders They saw a need for stakeholders to identify goals and lead initiatives to improve the community on East Hill in ways like the Downtown Ithaca Alliance has worked to improve The Commons neighborhood. One of our initial, smaller ideas was to see about removing all the sneakers that college kids had tossed over the power lines.
As an East Hill homeowner and a contractor, I had seen sneakers draped over wires crossing the city for years, and I suppose I had resigned myself to accept them along with other facts of life about Collegetown that seemed unlikely to ever change. For instance, parking may always suck, students will probably never learn how to manage trash removal neatly, and they will always step into oncoming traffic. The transient nature of our community often makes it difficult for many storefront businesses to survive, but maybe that can change. Maybe plastic cups and folding tables don’t have to litter so many front yards, and maybe
Curated
by
Roy Allen: Director of Strategic
Partnerships — Ithaca Times, Finger Lakes Community Newspapers, www.ithaca.com
Many voices have helped to shape the nation we call America. This week we feature Sarah Palin, the first female Republican vice-presidential nominee in 2008 and the youngest and first female governor of Alaska. She was pro-life and a strong advocate for gun rights.
the department of Public Works and the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Committee can stop feuding over cobblestones and compromise on solutions that will beautify Stewart Avenue, attract businesses to return there and stop destroying the suspensions of every car that bounces over it.
I wanted to channel my energy towards efforts that may actually improve the neighborhood I live in. I didn’t expect to learn so much about how things work here and about my neighbors themselves. The CCC meets weekly, upstairs in St. Luke’s Church in Collegetown. When the sneaker idea came up, someone suggested that we may need a bucket truck or to possibly get the fire department involved. My first lesson was about utility lines themselves. Turns out NYSEG owns the poles, which meant the city and the fire department wouldn’t touch them unless they were on fire. However, when you get involved in your community, you meet people, and one guy I know is a lineman for NYSEG. He was actually willing to help and had the pull to send a couple of NYSEG bucket trucks up there, but when he saw that most of the shoes were actually on communication lines, he said they couldn’t touch them. He suggested I call Spectrum. I had baffling conversations with both Spectrum and Verizon. I was told that unless a line is actually down or something is actually broken, like destroyed by a falling tree,
CURATOR’S NOTE: The following are excerpts of her complete speech, which can be listened to online at youtube.com.
Sarah Palin: Acceptance Speech at the Republican National Convention — July 27, 2008
Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens, I will be honored to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States. I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America. And I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country. And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much harder missions, and met far graver challenges, and knows how tough fights are won, the next president of the United States, John S. McCain.
It was just a year ago when all the experts in Washington counted out our nominee because he refused to hedge his commitment to the security of the country he loves. With their usual certitude, they told us that all was lost, there was no hope for this candidate, who said that he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war. The voters knew better, and maybe that’s because they realized there’s a time for politics and a time for leadership, a time to campaign and a time to put our country first.
I’m just one of many moms who will say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm’s way. Our son, Track, is 19. And one week
from tomorrow, September 11th, he’ll deploy to Iraq with the Army infantry in the service of his country. My nephew, Casey (ph), also enlisted and serves on a carrier in the Persian Gulf. My husband, Todd, is a lifelong commercial fisherman and a production operator in the oil fields of Alaska’s North Slope, and a proud member of the United Steelworkers union. And Todd is a world champion snow machine racer.
I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom. I signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education even better. And when I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and I knew their families, too. Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska... I was mayor of my hometown. I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And... I’ve learned quickly these last few days that, if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But — now, here’s a little newsflash. Here’s a little newsflash for those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this great country.
By Steve Lawrence
There were, not surprisingly, plenty of parents shedding tears. Then, I saw a few coaches getting emotional, then a few students. And finally, a semi-crusty, semi-old sports columnist actually felt a bit emotional.
The emotion-inducing event was the Signing Day Ceremony at Ithaca High School. Thirty-eight student athletes symbolically signed their Letters of Intent to take their skills to the collegiate level, and the gym drew a robust crowd. Parents looked on with a mixture of pride and disbelief at how quickly the time had passed, some grandparents shared the experience, and a large group of students showed up to cheer on their friends. Many were underclassmen (and women) who were grateful for the guidance
provided by the departing seniors, and their expressions conveyed that they hoped to be sitting at that signing table someday.
Prior to the event, I saw a young woman surveying the layout, and I asked her why she was there ahead of her fellow athletes.
“I am the keynote speaker,” Eliza DeRito proudly stated, “and I want to make sure I know where I’m supposed to be!” I asked her how she was chosen to be the keynote, and Shane Taylor — the Little Red’s Assistant Director of Athletics and Wellness — stepped in and said what Eliza was too shy to say. In Taylor’s words, “Eliza is our Division 1 star! She’s a 4-year track athlete and soccer player, a Youth Soccer referee, and she’s off to play soccer at Marist!” I asked Eliza if being a 2-sport athlete was challenging, and she said,
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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
By Lorien Tyne
The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Ithaca recognized five businesses and community leaders on April 29 at an annual meeting and awards celebration.
YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County won Not-For-Profit of the Year, Clark Young of Uncle Marty’s Shipping Office won Entrepreneur of the Year, Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown won Distinguished Business of the Year, media producer and musician Jeremiah Craig won Noel Desch Key Person of the Year, and former State Theatre Executive Director Doug Levine won the Howard Cogan Tourism Award.
The Not-For-Profit of the Year award drew 14 nominations, while Distinguished Business of the Year drew six and Entrepreneur of the Year drew nine. Each category has its own criteria, and nominees must be members of the Tompkins Chamber.
The YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County is an expansive organization with programs catering toward all ages and needs.
Christie Thornton, CEO of the YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County/Cortland Family YMCA, said that while the more than 30 YMCAs in the state work closely, each serves its community based on the region’s needs. For Ithaca and Tompkins County, she said food insecurity has been identified as a prevailing issue, which is why the Y launched a mobile food pantry in the area. She also said the Y’s swim programs are important for water safety in the Finger Lakes region. The Y received over $6.2 million in grant funding in January to renovate its aquatic center and expand access to swimming facilities, particularly in underserved communities.
Thornton said the Y is often the “bestkept secret” in communities, and making
sure the public knows what resources are available is one of their main goals.
“We have made a really concentrated effort at being more vocal and more visible and really getting the work that we do out there to not be that best kept secret anymore,” Thornton said.
Thornton said that the Y is focusing on reinvesting in its facilities, adding new programs, collaborating with other organizations and continuing to evolve.
“We are at a stage where our momentum is so profound, and I think our biggest hurdles and goals right now is to not lose that momentum,” she said. “I would say our biggest goal is continuing the community health work around food insecurity and connecting people with the resources they need.”
Thornton said the award from Tompkins Chamber was an honor for all the staff at the YMCA and thanked the chamber for recognizing the Y’s work.
“It truly meant everything because the work we do is hard, and it's demanding, and a lot of work like that often goes unnoticed,” she said. “And so, to have that recognition, I feel like it will continue to
fuel the passion behind the work that we all have at the Y.”
Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown opened its doors in October 2019, not long before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are all so honored to receive this award,” General Manager Kathy Taylor said in a statement. “This recognition reflects our team's hard work, dedication and enthusiasm, as well as the support and love of our guests, partners and the community. I am truly grateful for this honor and beyond proud to be part of the team here at the Canopy by Hilton Ithaca, NY, The Strand and the wonderful community.”
Teri Tarshus, Baywood Hotels regional operations manager, said this recognition is a testament to Taylor’s leadership and dedication to the hotel and its team.
“They’ve built more than a hotel — they’ve created a place that reflects both the culture of Baywood and the spirit of
Ithaca — supporting local partnerships and contributing meaningfully to the community,” Tarshus said. “We’re honored to be part of that impact.”
Clark Young owns and operates Uncle Marty’s, a full-service business for shipping, printing and storage that has been in Collegetown since 2011. Uncle Marty’s opened a second location, downtown on West Buffalo Street, in 2025. Young began working at Uncle Marty’s in October 2018 under previous owner Martin Johnson. Young purchased the business in January 2024 when Johnson retired.
Tompkins Chamber recognized Young with the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Young said he is thankful for his family, his team at Uncle Marty’s and the community.
“I would not be able to do what I do, and my business would not be able to do what it does, without those people coming
around us, encouraging our growth, supporting us as we’re growing,” Young said. Young’s team at the business also happens to be his family. He said Uncle Marty’s became a family business because Johnson hired many of his family members at different times. Now, the staff includes Young’s mother, his brother-in-law and two childhood friends who are brothers. Young’s younger brother and sister also worked at the shop with him under Johnson’s management.
“Most of the time, we’ll hire family members, friends, people that we know whenever someone kind of needs a job and wants to learn,” Young said. “Now that I'm having kids, and my brother in law is having kids, it’s an opportunity for us to prioritize our family while we're working as well.”
Uncle Marty’s also hires high school students through the Ithaca Youth Bureau’s Youth Employment Service (YES), which connects teenagers in the area with work experiences. Young said he tries to involve himself and the business with people and programs that can create growth and collaboration opportunities. Young is a member of the Tompkins Chamber and a founding member of the College Town Community Collective.
Young said that adding the location on West Buffalo Street allows the business to have more accessible parking and an expanded space with room to grow. Whether it's Young’s community involvement or his business’ dedication to its customers, he said they are in it for the long haul.
“Since we’re community focused, we’re not here for a moment, taking whatever we can and then just disappearing,” Young said “It’s important to us to provide services that we can be proud of and that community can trust.”
The Key Person of the Year Award is named after Noel Desch, a longtimeTown of Ithaca supervisor, civil engineer and U.S. Army Reserve captain who died in January 2021.
The awardee, Jeremiah Craig, is a musician and content creator, as well as an involved community member. Craig has seven albums available on streaming platforms and performs locally. He has upcoming shows at Airy Acres Vineyard, Bet the Farm Winery, Scout Vineyard and other locations.
Craig moved to Ithaca with his wife four years ago and never met Desch, but he said he’s heard a lot about Desch from others.
“I love the phrase that he’s known for (saying), ‘Every day is a gift,’” Craig said. “And in my acceptance speech for the award, I mentioned that serving the community is a gift with everyone here. The fact that he was a Rotarian and involved in the community, did a lot of trash cleanup, it feels like I'm following in his footsteps without even knowing it. And it's really cool that there's a legacy of that here, and it's pretty incredible to be a part of.”
Craig said he made an effort to surround himself with role models when he arrived in Ithaca, which began with him attending the Tompkins Chamber’s business after-hours networking events. He said that through the networking events he met members of the Rotary Club and learned from them how to engage in the community.
Craig uses his social media platforms to promote his music, but he also promotes the nonprofits and civic efforts in the county. He said that as a content creator, he notices the focus on selling, consuming and capitalism, and wanted to use his platform for something more meaningful.
“This way, I can produce something, get the word out about something that is really impactful to our local area, and then help market that at the same time, because a lot of these folks are doing great work, but sometimes they're a little bit humble about trying to share that work,” Craig said.
The Howard Cogan Tourism Award is not given every year and is selected by Visit Ithaca staff, whereas the other award recipients are chosen by a Tomkins Chamber seven-member committee. The tourism award is named after Howard Cogan, who coined the “Ithaca is Gorges” slogan.
The award was given to Doug Levine, who announced his retirement in February after 17 years as the first executive director of the State Theatre.
According to a press release announcing Levine’s retirement, he not only led the State Theatre through the COVID-19 pandemic but was instrumental in expanding the variety of performances, attracting grants and other funding and bringing projects to life, such as the new concession space.
By Roy Allen
By Roy Allen
In the city of Ithaca, where towering gorges carve through the landscape and ideals of justice and community run deep, true changemakers rarely emerge from podiums or headlines. More often, they work quietly from kitchens, church basements, folding tables, crowded community halls, and weary hearts. They are the people who answer calls late at night, prepare meals when cupboards are empty, comfort families in crisis, and continue showing up long after public attention fades.
In the city of Ithaca, where towering gorges carve through the landscape and ideals of justice and community run deep, true changemakers rarely emerge from podiums or headlines. More often, they work quietly from kitchens, church basements, folding tables, crowded community halls, and weary hearts. They are the people who answer calls late at night, prepare meals when cupboards are empty, comfort families in crisis, and continue showing up long after public attention fades.
Among those unsung changemakers stands Ana Ortiz, founder of No Más Lágrimas—“No More Tears”—a grassroots force of compassion that has transformed lives throughout Tompkins County for nearly two decades.
Among those unsung changemakers stands Ana Ortiz, founder of No Más Lágrimas—“No More Tears”—a grassroots force of compassion that has transformed lives throughout Tompkins County for nearly two decades.
Ana’s story is not simply one of service. It is a profound reminder that the people who care for our communities must themselves be cared for.
Ana’s story is not simply one of service. It is a profound reminder that the people who care for our communities must themselves be cared for.
Born in Puerto Rico and arriving in the United States at sixteen, Ana eventually made Ithaca her home nearly thirty years ago. She recognized that many families—especially within the Latino community—were struggling with isolation, food insecurity, language barriers, and limited access to resources. Rather than waiting for institutions to respond, she began with what she had: pots of rice and beans, trays of empanadas,
Born in Puerto Rico and arriving in the United States at sixteen, Ana eventually made Ithaca her home nearly thirty years ago. She recognized that many families—especially within the Latino community—were struggling with isolation, food insecurity, language barriers, and limited access to resources. Rather than waiting for institutions to respond, she began with what she had: pots of rice and beans, trays of empanadas, steaming coffee, and an open door.
steaming coffee, and an open door.
What started as informal gatherings in her kitchen eventually grew into No Más Lágrimas in 2009—an organization rooted not only in service, but in dignity, cultural belonging, and human connection. Through food distributions, clothing drives, diaper assistance, housing support, youth mentorship, advocacy, and cultural programming, Ana created something Ithaca desperately needed: a place where people felt seen, welcomed, and valued.
Her leadership has never been performative. It has been deeply personal.
What started as informal gatherings in her kitchen eventually grew into No Más Lágrimas in 2009—an organization rooted not only in service, but in dignity, cultural belonging, and human connection. Through food distributions, clothing drives, diaper assistance, housing support, youth mentorship, advocacy, and cultural programming, Ana created something Ithaca desperately needed: a place where people felt seen, welcomed, and valued.
Her leadership has never been performative. It has been deeply personal.
For years, Ana has been the organizer, cook, counselor, advocate, driver, fundraiser, and maternal figure behind the work. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—when fear and instability touched nearly every household— she expanded her efforts rather than retreating from them. Weekly food giveaways continued. Families received emergency support. Cultural celebrations preserved connection during isolation. Youth found encouragement through Voices of Youth. The opening of the Latino Multicultural Center further reflect-
For years, Ana has been the organizer, cook, counselor, advocate, driver, fundraiser, and maternal figure behind the work. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—when fear and instability touched nearly every household— she expanded her efforts rather than retreating from them. Weekly food giveaways continued. Families received emergency support. Cultural celebrations preserved connection during isolation. Youth found encouragement through Voices of Youth. The opening of the Latino
ed Ana’s commitment to creating lasting spaces of empowerment and belonging.
Multicultural Center further reflected Ana’s commitment to creating lasting spaces of empowerment and belonging.
Again and again, she transformed scarcity into shared abundance and strangers into family.
But this kind of caregiving comes at a cost.
Again and again, she transformed scarcity into shared abundance and strangers into family.
But this kind of caregiving comes at a cost.
Communities often celebrate resilience without acknowledging what resilience demands from the people carrying everyone else. Ana is a mother, a survivor, and a tireless caregiver who has spent years absorbing the emotional and physical weight of community need. Like many grass-
Communities often celebrate resilience without acknowledging what resilience demands from the people carrying everyone else. Ana is a mother, a survivor, and a tireless caregiver who has spent years
roots leaders, she has given relentlessly—often placing the well-being of others ahead of her own rest, health, and peace of mind.
Today, as Ana faces a serious health challenge requiring oral surgery and recovery, the community has an opportunity to stand beside her in the same compassionate spirit she has extended to others for so many years. This moment calls not only for admiration, but for tangible care.
There are many ways we can help lighten the burden she now carries:
• Contributing financially toward medical, recovery, and household expenses.
• Volunteering with No Más Lágrimas so the daily responsibilities of the organization do not rest solely on her shoulders during recovery.
• Preparing meals, assisting with transportation, running errands, or helping coordinate community support.
• Offering messages of encouragement, visits, and emotional support so she feels surrounded by the community she has spent years nurturing.
• Supporting long-term sustainability for the organization through donations, partnerships, and leadership development.
To honor Ana Ortiz truthfully means recognizing not only her ex-
traordinary generosity, but also the responsibility the community now shares in caring for her. Caregivers are too often expected to continue giving indefinitely, as though compassion alone can overcome exhaustion. Yet even the strongest hearts require support. Even the people who hold communities together deserve to be held themselves.
True gratitude is not passive admiration. It is action.
If Ithaca wishes to honor Ana Ortiz and the legacy of No Más Lágrimas, then the community must help ensure that this work no longer rests so heavily on one person’s shoulders. It means creating a culture where we refuse to let our most dedicated changemakers struggle quietly while
they continue serving everyone else.
Ana often says she believes there are people ready to make a difference. Now is the moment for Ithaca to prove her right—not only by receiving her love, but by returning it. Let us show up for the woman who has shown up for so many others. Let us ensure that in the story of No Más Lágrimas, the tears being dried include any Ana herself has quietly shed through years of sacrifice, exhaustion, pain, and perseverance.
Ana Ortiz embodies the spirit of the unsung changemaker: fierce yet gentle, resilient yet compassionate, rooted in Puerto Rican heart and Ithaca soil. She has built more than an organization. She has built trust. She has built belonging. She has modeled what it means to love a community into better health.
And perhaps the greatest tribute we can offer is not simply words on a page, but a collective promise: You cared for us. Now we will care for you.
Thank you, Ana—for every meal served, every family comforted, every door opened, and every life touched. May the community you strengthened now strengthen you in return.
No Más Lágrimas—and may your own burdens grow lighter as we all carry them together.
Ana Ortiz is a well-respected community member who needs extensive oral surgery. This is the perfect opportunity for Ithaca to show it cares for this Unsung Changemaker and amazing caregiver. Our goal is to help Ana get this surgery by raising $12,000.
If you don't already know Ana and the work she does in the Ithaca community, visit her website at: https://nomaslagrimasithaca.org OR SCAN THIS CODE
or go directly to the community GoFundMe page at: Help Bring a New Smile to Our Friend, Ana Ortiz (Fundraiser by Sherry Tacktill) OR SCAN THIS CODE
By Barbara Adams
Heroic sagas celebrate the victorious, but who sings of the vanquished? Playwright Megan Gogerty does just that in her 2019 onewoman show “FEAST,” reenvisioning the Old English epic “Beowulf” from a woman’s perspective.
And not just any woman, but the mother of the defeated. In this thousandyear-old poem, Beowulf is a Gothic warrior who arrives to help the Danish king, whose mead hall has been besieged by a monster, Grendel, for a dozen years. After slaying Grendel, Beowulf goes on to kill his avenging mother with her own sword and returns home to fame and kingship.
Grendel’s mother, a sea-hag, lives in the depths of a lake; her “monstrous” son is a sort of giant troll. Both are abhorred outsiders, but for a contemporary audience, it’s not a leap to feel sympathy for these ostracized “others” of a different race.
by Megan Gogerty.
Directed by Jen Pearcy-Edwards and starring Brenny Campbell.
At the Kitchen Theatre, 417 W. State St., Ithaca. Performances Wednesdays to Saturdays through May 23 at 7:00 p.m., with 2:00 p.m. matinees on May 14, 17, and 24.
Tickets at 607-272-0570 or kitchentheatre.org/feasttix.
A series of post-show talkbacks at the Kitchen is free and open to the public (show attendance not required):
Wed. May 13, 8:15 p.m. — Feeding Tompkins County, panel discussion led by Loaves & Fishes, with representatives from other food aid organizations.
Fri. May 15, 8:15 p.m. — Meet the Artists Talkback, with director Jen Pearcy-Edwards, actor Brenny Campbell, and KTC Producing Artistic Director Emily Jackson.
Thurs. May 21, 8:15 p.m. — Reconsidering Beowulf, with Cornell Professor Samantha Zacher, on the source material behind the text.
(Caliban and Frankenstein, among various literary creatures, have paved the path.)
Other writers have retold this ancient battle narrative from a contemporary perspective, but Gogerty’s version presents a uniquely complex, powerful woman with a thirst for revenge. In the Kitchen Theatre Company’s current production, engagingly directed by Jen Pearcy-Edwards, Brenny Campbell fully embodies the anguished mother (who’s nameless, another erasure) — her performance a staggering ferocity laced with surprising wit.
We are easily pulled into the sea-hag’s netherworld: Her shifting moods are reinforced by Tyler M. Perry’s lighting and Deletris Bryant’s sound design. And for her home, KC McGeorge has created a dark stone cavern with an arched recess, while in the foreground, two long banquet tables, elegantly set for eight, glow with flickering candlelight. A crinkled dark crimson runner flows down each table, a reminder of her son’s spilled blood.
Four audience members seated at each table face each other, for this is in fact the wronged mother’s dinner party for us. Though she’s dead and otherworldly, she has manifested herself to have an audience: her understanding of events needs to be heard. (We are needed as witnesses, yet we, humanity, are also on trial.)
But her story veers significantly from the original: her son repeatedly went to the mead hall, she says, to argue and debate, to reproach the invaders for colonizing the land; he fought them only in self-defense. She insists he never killed, though the poem clearly established his monster-fides in his devouring men night after night. We’re meant to overlook her revisionism, but interestingly, the effect of her altered story illustrates how blind we can be to the truth in pursuing our own needs.
Still, Campbell’s aggrieved, vengeful, and above all furious mother invites our
compassion. Statuesque and ceremonial in a dark green pleated gown (by costumer Hunter Kaczorowski), she plays the polished hostess, tending to her guests. As she narrates the death of her son, the desecration of his body (his severed arm nailed high in the hall) particularly affronts her as “inhumane.” This kind of irony crops up often, forcing us not just to realize but to feel the trauma of all sentient beings.
In 70 blistering minutes, Campbell’s mother argues for retribution, sometimes a reasonable plea for justice and sometimes a monstrous passion (she plucked the youngest warrior from the mead hall and disemboweled him exultantly). Yet this mother, consciously crafting her performance for us, is gracious, clever, self-critical, even conflicted. And often amusing, with unexpected little quips that arouse an intimate sympathy.
She’s a fascinating character, and Campbell handsomely evokes our ambiva-
lence toward her. Most poignantly, she blames herself for Grendel’s death and believes her missteps have unintentionally unleashed generations of arrogant conquerors (right down to us). I felt the script, however, has her dwell too long in successive tirades against the evils of entitled oppressors and usurpers; the political point diminishes with repetition.
Grendel’s mother re-enacting her own death in the struggle with Beowulf is harrowing, but the final scenes have her ultimately unable to die, to rest. That is, until a heart-sharing conclusion where change is predicted through love and community. It’s a strange, fantastical, and inevitably metaphoric ending, one which offers us redemption — not through violence but resistance.
Barbara Adams is a regional theatre and arts journalist and retired professor of writing, Ithaca College.
By Clement Obropta
We didn’t know how good we had it in 2006. That’s the first time we met Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a naïve but determined young journalist eager to make a name for herself working for the tyrannical Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) at the fashion magazine Runway. Flanked by her perpetually high-strung and carb-starved assistant, Emily (Emily Blunt), and her fashion director, Nigel (Stanley Tucci), Priestly was the boss we all loved to hate. Twenty years later, the magic has worn off. The legacy sequel “The Devil Wears Prada 2” reunites the cast, who slide back into their old roles as effortlessly as slipping on opera gloves, but the script is listless, soulless, and about as subtle as a Marc Jacobs tote bag. The creative team is mostly back, too, from the director and writer down to the cinematographer and composer, all producing pale imitations of much better material from two decades ago. The plot exists mostly to just get Streep, Hathaway, Blunt, and Tucci in the same room together, following Andy again as a veteran reporter who, after being laid off from a serious newspaper, seemingly lucks her way into a role running Runway’s barebones features department. The magazine
Rated PG-13
Directed by David Frankel
Currently playing at Cinemapolis and Regal Ithaca Mall
120 E Green St, Ithaca and 40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca
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use as a recreational hub make it a living example of landscape preservation. Likewise, Ithaca Falls combines natural beauty with industrial history, where remnants of 19th-century mills remain embedded in the gorge, telling the story of Ithaca’s manufacturing past.
is a shell of its former self — nowadays, Runway produces, as Nigel says, “content [people] scroll past while they pee.”
From there, the film just recycles the structure of the original, from the conflict between Miranda and Andy to the thirdact relocation to Europe (this time, it’s to Italy for Milan Fashion Week). In between, we get the requisite glow-up sequence and the obligatory montage of stars decked out in fancy dresses and sunglasses set to Madonna’s “Vogue.” There’s also a parade of ads that range from the obvious and expected (Valentino, Chanel, Starbucks, and Diet Coke) to the moderately surprising (the last act soft-launches three new singles by Lady Gaga).
Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna finds some interesting ways to update the story for an age when print journalism is dying and every massive company, from fashion brands to legacy media, is in a race to the bottom. The plot hinges on journalism layoffs, sweatshops, AI integration, and big corporate buyouts. Years of HR interventions have also poured cold water over Miranda’s hellish managerial style — now, she even hangs up her own coat. Quelle horreur!
But where the original was told from the perspective of an underling experiencing a trial by fire, the sequel comfortably rests in the upper echelons of the media industry. Miranda is every bit a protagonist as Andy this time, and the film blandly celebrates their luxurious new lifestyles while offering weak platitudes about the importance of journalism and the inherent value of a Lady Dior bag. It’s all very gauche.
These changes to the story reinforce the walls the original film spent so much energy trying to undermine — that the rich aren’t
National Preservation Month also highlights the importance of civic institutions like the Tompkins County Public Library. As both a library and local archive, it preserves documents, photographs, and oral histories that connect residents to the city’s evolving identity. Together with its partner the History Center, the library plays a crucial role in ensuring that preservation extends beyond physical structures to include
like you or me, that fashion is a lofty ideal rather than an art form, and that it is, in fact, good that Miranda Priestly has not flown coach in over 40 years. It’s so blithely uncritical of the wealth and privilege it portrays.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” does, however, manage to solve the first film’s biggest problem — Andy’s wastrel love interests — while inadvertently introducing six or seven bigger issues, including an interminable climax in which Meryl Streep struts around nice foyers while Anne Hathaway busily makes phone calls. Hathaway’s character is also bizarre — time has caught up to everyone but Andy, it would seem, who is still all frantic nerves and childish impulses, as though she hasn’t gained any professional experience or confidence in the intervening two decades. It’s never clear what Andy wants, either, which is par for the course for a film in which nearly everybody’s motivations are either underexplained or absolutely inscrutable.
Where the original “Devil Wears Prada” is one of the greatest films ever made about
recorded memory and cultural knowledge. Taken together, these legacy businesses, institutions, and historic sites demonstrate that preservation in Ithaca is not limited to landmark buildings—it is embedded in everyday life. Whether through a centuryold ice cream shop, a restored theater, or a repurposed school building, the city’s heritage is continuously reinforced by use, care, and community engagement.
the fashion industry, its too-late sequel is instead a film about business and journalism, and not a very good one either. In the original, Runway was important because it was a bastion defending great artists and craftsmanship, setting good taste, and translating haute couture into products that the average American could understand, purchase, and wear. In this film, Runway matters because it’s a legacy media company populated by characters we met and fell in love with back in 2006.
When the film remembers it’s supposed to be about fashion, it’s very good — late in the film, there’s a wonderful shot where Miranda walks alone down an avenue of closed luxury retailers like the row of trees from the end of “The Third Man.” She becomes a lone soldier defending an institution that the rest of the world no longer believes in, walking off into a bleak and uncertain future.
Clement Obropta is a film columnist for the Ithaca Times.
National Preservation Month ultimately invites residents to see Ithaca as a living archive. Its streets, storefronts, parks, and campuses form a layered narrative where each generation leaves its mark. By supporting both historic preservation and legacy businesses, the community ensures that Ithaca remains not only functional and innovative, but also deeply connected to its own history.
GARAGE TO CLOSE
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establish a small group of city staff, including the alderpersons who represent Ward 2 where the site is located, to put together possibilities for the site, which will eventually be brought to council for input and authorization.
Since the garage closure, the TCAT bus stop Seneca at Commons, has also been closed, with buses stopping instead outside Dewitt Mall. Recckio said that reopening the bus stop and sidewalk outside the garage is a priority but requires several concrete panels to be removed from the garage and scaffolding to protect pedestrians.
“We are hoping to have a timeline available for our community partners, and for folks who use that sidewalk and TCAT, by the end of this week,” Recckio said. “I imagine it’d be several more weeks in order to get the contractor here to do the removal of those panels.”
During public comment, Danica Wilcox and Kip Wilcox, current and former owners of Moosewood Restaurant, expressed concern about TCAT buses stopping outside the restaurant. Danica Wilcox said Moosewood has been unable to open its terrace dining section because of bus fumes, which stops about 20 feet away from the patio. She said the terrace dining makes up for 25% of the restaurant’s annual income.
“We’re losing money every day that we
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Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reason and not just to mingle with the right people. Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests. The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it. No one expects us all to agree on everything, but we are expected to govern with integrity, and goodwill, and clear convictions, and a servant’s heart. And I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States. The stakes for our nation could not be higher.
When a hurricane strikes in the Gulf of Mexico, this country should not be so dependent on imported oil that we’re forced to draw from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And families cannot throw
can’t have it open,” Danica Wilcox said. “If this situation continues for another month, and we can’t be open on the patio for graduation, which is literally our life blood for May after losing money all winter, we will really be in a tight spot.”
Dewitt Mall owner Jason Shank echoed his tenants’ concerns. He said he understands the importance of the TCAT having a place to stop but doesn’t see why it needs to impact Dewitt Mall and the tenants living there.
Shank and Danica Wilcox and Kip Wilcox, also mentioned the lack of parking for customers and tenants and TCAT passengers using Mooswood’s patio as a waiting area and place to dispose of trash and smoke.
“I’m in the hospitality business,” Danica Wilcox said. “I’m having to kick people off of the terrace saying, you can’t smoke in here, you can’t sit in here, like that is absolutely not my job.”
Simeon’s owner Dean Zervos said the Seneca Street Garage is “vital” and is already causing customers to cancel reservations because they cannot find parking.
Alice Starmer, spokesperson for the Hilton Garden Inn, said that one way the hotel has stayed competitive with neighboring hotels is that it validates parking by contracting with the city for 104 designated parking spots at the Seneca Street Garage.
“The closure of the Seneca Street garage has resulted in a multitude of negative guest experiences,” Starmer said. “Though, we are appreciative of the city’s extension of our validation services to the
more and more of their paychecks on gas and heating oil. Our opponents say again and again that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems, as if we didn't know that already. But the fact that drilling, though, won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. We need American sources of resources. We need American energy brought to you by American ingenuity and produced by American workers.
Let me be specific: The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, and raise payroll taxes, and raise investment income taxes, and raise the death tax, and raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. How are we going to be better off if taxes go up? Will it help you keep your job at a plant in Michigan or create jobs from clean coal, from Pennsylvania or West Virginia? Will it help you save the daily farm in Minnesota? How are
Green Street Garage, it has been with a great amount of confusion and negative feedback, including, but not limited to guests going into the garage and traveling to the top and having to come back down because the garage is full.”
Three Ithaca residents spoke in opposition of rebuilding the parking garage, saying there is ample parking and the space should be used for something else such as a grocery store or affordable housing. Sam Sokoloff, a Collegetown resident and private sector transportation planner, said the land is “far too valuable to dedicate to cars.”
Common Council voted 9-1 in favor of removing the Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay district, allowing PUDs throughout the city. A PUD is a new zone that allows for more creative use of the land than what is permitted under current zoning and is created for a specific development project. Alderperson Margaret Fabrizio was the sole vote in opposition.
Common Council voted 9-1 to adopt the City Council Code of Conduct. Fabrizio voted against the resolution.
Fabrizio introduced two friendly amendments to the code of conduct resolution. The first, which allows a copy of any violations of conduct complaints given to the accused to have redactions if necessary, was unanimously agreed upon. The second amendment, which would require cross examination at a hearing if requested by an involved party, was eventually withdrawn by Fabrizio after significant debate. Some council members felt that requir-
you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to the American economy?
Senator McCain’s record of actual achievements and reform helps explain why so many special interests, and lobbyists, and comfortable committee chairmen in Congress have fought the prospect of a McCain presidency from the primary election of 2000 to this very day. Our nominee doesn’t run with the Washington herd. He’s a man who’s there to serve his country and not just his party, a leader who’s not looking for a fight, but sure isn’t afraid of one, either.
My fellow citizens, this world of threats and dangers, it’s not just a community and it doesn’t just need an organizer. And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they’re always, quote, “fighting for you,” let us face the matter squarely: There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for
ing the complainant, upon request by the accused or council, to be interviewed publicly, would prevent people from coming forward. A few council members expressed the desire to have some process in place where the accused would be able to defend themselves.
“I was satisfied with the language prior to the amendment,” Alderperson Joseph Kirby said. “That said, I am an attorney at the end of the day, and I do believe that if you are going to materially accuse me of something that could affect my life, I should be able to ask you about it”
Cantelmo said he was deeply against the second amendment and also expressed frustration about the timing of the discussion. He said the code of conduct had been signed off by the former acting city attorney and three members of council and was unanimously passed out of committee last week.
“I am firmly against this the more I sit here with it because it is being half baked on the floor,” Cantelmo said. “If people want to amend it, bring something forward in another couple weeks, but do not force us to consider something at the last minute.” Council authorized the Department of Information and Community Engagement to partner with the Cornell Center for AI Innovation to feed digitized city legislative records into a database with AI-assisted search.
“This is a great partnership with our local research university to try something new and try something that can really improve public information,” Alderperson Patrick Kuehl said.
you. There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you in places where winning means survival and defeat means death. And that man is John McCain. To the most powerful office on Earth, he would bring the compassion that comes from having once been powerless, the wisdom that comes even to the captives by the grace of God, the special confidence of those who have seen evil and have seen how evil is overcome. My fellow Americans, that is the kind of man America needs to see us through the next four years. If character is the measure in this election, and hope the theme, and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States. Thank you, and God bless America.
Next week, we will celebrate Eli Wiesel, Nobel Laureate, Jewish- America activist and writer; and his speech titled The Perils of Indifference (1999).
The Village at Ithaca is proud to announce an inspiring new o p p o r t u n i t y d e s i g n e d t o d e e p e n u n d e r s
h
n community bonds, and connect participants to a powerful chapter of American history This year, the Village is working with Jeff Furman, a human rights and democracy activist, in proposing a transformative educational trip for twelve local high school students to Montgomery, Alabama an experience rooted in reflection, learning, and cultural engagement. Montgomery, Selma and Tuskegee stand as the cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, offering visitors a chance to walk in the footsteps of those who reshaped the nation. Through guided visits to historic landmarks, museums, and memorials, participants will gain firsthand insight into the courage, resilience, and vision that defined this pivotal era. Mr Furman’s experience from past trips to the area were not only history lessons, but deeply motivating experiences leading to dialogue, empathy, and personal growth. This is the opportunity he and the Village want to share with young people.
Founded in 2002 by Cal Walker and Karl Graham, The Village at Ithaca has long been committed to empowering youth and families through education, mentorship, and community-building initiatives. This proposed trip aligns closely with that mission by creating an i m m e r s i v e l e a r n i n
leadership activities that connect past struggles for justice with present-day challenges and opportunities.
In addition to its educational value, the trip offers a chance to build lasting relationships. Traveling together fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose, strengthening the supportive network that defines the Village community. Students will return not only with new knowledge, but with a renewed sense of responsibility to lead, serve, and make a difference. We are hoping that this becomes an annual trip and we might eventually be accompanied by other organizations.
To bring this vision to life, the Village at Ithaca is seeking support f
Contributions of any size will help offset travel costs, program fees, and accessibility for all participants. Individual donors can play a direct role in opening doors for young people, while corporate sponsors have the opportunity to invest in meaningful community impact and youth development.
Donors can contribute financially, sponsor a student, or partner with the Village to expand the reach of this initiative.
The Village at Ithaca invites you to take part in this journey—help send the next generation of leaders to Montgomery, and ensure that the lessons of history continue to inspire change today
Participants will engage in discussions, group reflections, and
Together, we can make this transformative experience possible.
Donations and inquiries can be made on our website - QR Code is below.
Thank you:
Meryl Phipps - Executive Director
Jess Brock - Director of Community Outreach and Engagement
Jeff
Furman - Human Rights & Democracy Activist
5/13 Wednesday
The Notorious Stringbusters | Trumansburg Farmer’s Market, 69 W Main St., Trumansburg, NY 14886 | 4 p.m. | Free
Jazz Night | Brookton’s Market, 491 Brooktondale Rd., Brooktondale, NY 14817 | Free
Mike Cavalier | Scale House Brewery, 5930 NY-414, Hector, NY 14841 | 6 p.m.
Comedy HOF Open Mic Night | Bike Bar, 314 E State St., Suite 100 | 7 p.m.
5/14 Thursday
Seal and Serpent | The Lodge, 305 Thurston Ave. | 7 p.m. | See online for prices
5/15 Friday
Mayfest: Cornell International Chamber Music Festival | 7:30 p.m. | Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza
Seal and Serpent | The Lodge, 305 Thurston Ave. | 7 p.m. | See online for prices
Pocket Bandits | 6 p.m. | Hopshire Farms & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd. River Lynch | Solera Tap House, 4393 NY-414, Burdett, NY 14818 | Tickets available online
Kid Bess & The Magic Rings | Atlas Bowl, 61 W. Main St, Trumansburg, NY 14886 | 8 p.m. |
5/16 Saturday Liam Lawson Live | 4 p.m. | Brewer’s Kitchen & Taproom, 1384 Dryden Rd.
Concerts/Recitals
5/13 Wednesday
SWAN LAKE | 7 p.m. | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway
5/14 Thursday
Beginnings Summer Concert Series Kickoff Party | 4 p.m. | Revelry Yards, 111 N. Aurora St.
The Silver Bullet Experience | 7 p.m. | Merry, Go-Round Playhouse 6877 East Lake Road | $55.00 - $65.00
5/15 Friday
Opus Faculty Recital | 6 p.m. | Opus Ithaca School of Music, 402 N. Aurora St. | Free Honker | 8 p.m. | crooked mouth brewing, Vestal Avenue
5/16 Saturday
Graduate Hooding and Commencement at Athletics & Events Center | 1 p.m.
An Evening with Linda Mironti | 6 p.m. | Rose Hall, 19 Church Street Brownskin Band | 7 p.m. | Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St. | $23.23
Brownskin Band | 7 p.m. | The Owasco Room, 8 Exchange St. | $23.23
Sunday
Commencement at Athletics & Events Center | 10 a.m.
Monday
Levin Brothers Band | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St.
The Probably Improbable Adventures of Robin Hood | 10 a.m., 5/14 Thursday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd. | Step into Sherwood Forest for the legend of Robin Hood like never before in this KIDDSTUFF show indoors on the Hangar stage. | $18.00
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! | 10 a.m., 5/15
Friday | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway | A Clemens Center
Mary Tripp Marks School-Time Series production presented by TheaterWorksUSA
Rootstock — Finger Lakes Youth Music Festival | 12 p.m., 5/16 Saturday | Bernie Milton Pavilion, Center Commons | Rootstock is the premier youth music festival in the Finger Lakes. Come and be inspired!
An Evening with Linda Mironti | 6 p.m., 5/16 Saturday | Rose Hall, 19 Church Street | Linda Mironti (Singer/ Performer, Chef, Director of Il Chio -
MARIA MOREVNA
FRIDAY, MAY 15 7:30 P.M. TO 9:00 P.M.
stro)Lindas first voice teacher was her Grandmother Angelina, who taught herItalian folk songs at the same time showing her how to make Brownskin Band | 7 p.m., 5/16
Saturday | Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St. | Performing live in The Owasco Room at Auburn Public Theater, catch two time SAMMY Award winning group, Brownskin Band, from Syracuse, NY | $23.23
Panel by Panel Graphic Novel Book Club | 6:30 p.m., 5/18 Monday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join us to discuss Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham: Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family,
Civic Ensemble Youth Forum Theatre Troupe | 4 p.m., 5/19 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street |
Stephen Alexander Clark + Harry Littell | 11 a.m., 5/13 Wednesday | Corners Gallery, 903 Hanshaw Rd. Suite 101A Suite 101A | LAND / MARK features paintings by Stephen Alexander Clark and photographs by Harry Littell. | Free
Lin Price: How To Get From Here To There | 4 p.m., 5/16 Saturday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd.
The Cherry Artspace, Ithaca | A tale of death, resurrection and magic from the heart of pagan Europe. The fairy tales of Europe are healing stories which contain indigenous wisdom thousands of years old, and have roots in shamanic practices. While often disguised as entertainment, many are in fact spoken maps to territories of the soul. This particular story comes to us from what we call now call "Russia," and features Baba Yaga, that dangerous and magical being who forces us to become more than we are. (Photo: Provided)
South Hill Business Campus | Opening Reception for Lin Price’s one person exhibit. | Free
Open Studios at Artist Alley | 12 p.m., 5/17 Sunday | Artist Alley, Ithaca, 950 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY at South Hill Business Campus | Open Studios in the Artist Alley studios from 12-4pm. See artists in their studios working or presenting their works for viewing by the public. Free and open to the public! | Free
History Buffs’ Book Club | 6:30 p.m., 5/14 Thursday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St. | Do you enjoy history? Join us at the library to discuss Monarchs. We choose the topic, You choose the book! Contact the library with any questions!
World Cinema at Lifelong - Spring 2026 Film Series | 1:30 p.m., 5/19
Tuesday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court St. | World Cinema Spring 2026 — 12-Session Film Series: April 7 — June 23, 2026 — 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
120 E Green St., Ithaca
New movies opening the week of May 13. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes and continuing films.
National Theatre Live: All My Sons | Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) feature in a five-star, triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play, from visionary director Ivo Van Hove (A View from the Bridge). One family, the heart of the American dream. When wartime delivers profits for Joe, it comes at a price when his partner is charged with criminal manufacturing deals, and his eldest son goes missing in action. Will peacetime bring peace of mind, or will
he be confronted by the consequence of his actions? | PG13 150 mins
Steal This Story, Please! | Undeterred by armed soldiers, evasive politicians, and riot police, journalist Amy Goodman has reported some of the most consequential stories of our time. Steal This Story, Please! is a gripping portrait of the trailblazer whose unwavering commitment to truth-telling spans three decades of turbulent history. From the frontlines of global conflicts to the organized chaos of her daily news show Democracy Now!, Goodman broadcasts stories and voices routinely silenced by commercial media. | NA 101 mins
Obsession | After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price. | R 104 mins
Blue Heron | In the late 1990s, eightyear-old Sasha and her family relocate to a new home on Vancouver Island, but their fresh start is interrupted by increasingly dangerous behavior from the eldest son, Jeremy. At wit’s end, their parents are presented with a shattering choice. Award-winning director Sophy Romvari’s feature debut is a lyrical and profound testament to the things we carry with us, masterfully chronicling the haze of a languid summer and the hyaline clarity of the moments that defined it. | NA 90 mins
Chicken Run | The creators of Wallace & Gromit bring you an exciting and original story about a group of chickens determined to fly the coop–even if they can’t fly! It’s hardly poultry in motion when Rocky attempts to teach Ginger and her feathered friends to fly…but, with teamwork, determination and a little bit o’ cluck, the fearless flock plots
TRUMANSBURG COMMUNITY CHORUS SPRING CONCERT
First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses, 69 E Main Street, Trumansburg | Please join us for our annual spring concert. We are celebrating our 25th season this year. There will be a reception after the Friday evening concert. All ages welcome. The concerts are free, however donations are always appreciated. (Photo: Provided)
one last attempt in a spectacular bid for freedom. | NA 94 mins
Crash | A car crash victim suddenly finds himself turned on by car accidents and becomes involved with an underground sub-culture of likeminded souls. | NA 100 mins
GO ITHACA Open Hours | 2 p.m., 5/14 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Our program makes sustainable commuting accessible and affordable for everyone.
Meier’s Creek ultimate tap takeover | 9 a.m., 5/15 Friday | Brewer’s Kitchen & Taproom, 1384 Dryden Rd | Get ready for an epic weekend takeover Meier’s Creek is bringing 24 lines of delicious beer for the ultimate tap experience!
Garden Fair & Plant Sale | 1 p.m., 5/15 Friday | Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd Street | Barnyard Bonanza: Pigs! | 4 p.m., 5/19 Tuesday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St. | Join our special guest, 2025 Cortland County Fair Queen Court, as they share stories, craft, and activities all about PIGS. This program is geared towards ages 4–8. Registration is required.
Garden Fair and Plant Sale | 1 p.m., 5/20 Wednesday | Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd Street |
Senior & Student Day at the BOOK SALE | 10 a.m., 5/13 Wednesday | Regina Lennox Book Sale Bldg, 509 Esty St. | Senior Day & Student Night at the Friends of the Library Book Sale, 509 Esty St, Ithaca: Wednesday, May
13, older adults (age 60+) and anyone with a disability may shop from 10am to 4pm. Students (age 16+ with school ID) are welcome 4–8 p.m. More info at www.booksale.org. | Free Protagonist Books & Coffee Poetry Workshop for Youth | 5 p.m., 5/14 Thursday | Protagonist Books & Coffee, 8 W Main St. | The Learning Web’s Youth Exploration Program (YEP) is collaborating with Protagonist to bring youth ages 11–21 a free poetry workshop! | Free History Buffs’ Book Club | 6:30 p.m., 5/14 Thursday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St | Do you enjoy history? Join us at the library to discuss Monarchs. We choose the topic, You choose the book! Contact the library with any questions!
Final Weekend Friends of the Library BOOK SALE | 10 a.m., 5/16
Saturday | Regina Lennox Book Sale Bldg, 509 Esty St. | Final weekend: Thousands of books, DVDs, CDs & more. Prices start at 50 cents and drop daily. | Free
A Wild Ride — Book Signing and Chat with Shannon Delany | 4 p.m., 5/16 Saturday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Join us for a signing and discussion with Shannon Delany in conversation with Amber Smith and Sam Geller
28th annual Spring Writes Literary Festival. May – Sept., Live and Zoom | 6 p.m., 5/16 Saturday | Downtown Ithaca and Zoom | The Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County (CAP) is proud to announce our 18th annual Spring Writes Literary Festival with over 40 literary events: reading s, panels, multi — genre | Free Panel by Panel Graphic Novel Book Club | 6:30 p.m., 5/18 Monday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join us to discuss Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene
Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham: Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family. Code Your Own Adventure! | 4 p.m., 5/19 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join Rachel Fomalhaut for a workshop that’s equal parts coding and creative writing! Rachel teaches Interactive Fiction in Digital and Data Studies at SUNY Binghamton.
Comic Book Club of Ithaca | 6:30 p.m., 5/19 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | The Comic Book Club of Ithaca — the oldest continuously running comic book club in the country — is a registered non-profit organization.
Parent/Caregiver Workshop: How To Talk With Your Child About Sexuality | 5 p.m., 5/13 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Presented by Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. Learn strategies for talking with your child about important issues. The Probably Improbable Adventures of Robin Hood | 10 a.m., 5/14 Thursday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd. | Step into Sherwood Forest for the legend of Robin Hood like never before in this KIDDSTUFF show indoors on the Hangar stage. | $18.00
Story + Craft | 4 p.m., 5/14 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Story + Craft is our weekly reading + creating event for children! Join us for a read-aloud, followed by art-making or a guided craft.
“Li’l Sprouts” Waldorf playgroup for babies & toddlers | 9 a.m., 5/15 Friday | Ithaca Waldorf School, 20 Nelson Road | Weekly gatherings for parents with their baby/toddler to
UNDERGROUND LAUGHS
FRIDAY, MAY 15 — 7:30 P.M. TO 9:00 P.M.
Downtown Ithaca | Underground Laughs is ComedyHOF’s popup stand-up comedy series built around surprise, discovery, and great jokes in the right room. These are one-night-only comedy shows staged in unexpected or unconventional spaces. The lineup features rising comedians, sharp sets, and the kind of energy that only happens when a room knows they’re part of something special. No repeats. No long runs. Just a great crowd, a strong lineup, and a night that feels different from the usual comedy show. The exact location will be sent by email 48 hours before the show, along with any important details you need to know before arriving. Underground Laughs is about catching comedians early, before the names are familiar and before the jokes are iconic.
enjoy a morning rhythm of story and song designed for the very young, meet other like-minded parents, and learn about Waldorf parenting and education. | $30.00 - $175.00
Math Fun with MathHappens! | 10 a.m., 5/16 Saturday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St. | Join us for playful, informal math learning with the MathHappens Foundation! Families and kids can explore hands-on activities that make math fun, creative, and connected to everyday life.
Children’s Author Visit: Emily Sun Li , Mr. Chow’s Night Market | 2 p.m., 5/16 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Join local children’s author Emily Sun Li for an engaging and interactive event for families! Emily will read her new picture book Mr. Chow’s Night Market .
Science Together: Flower Dissection | 10:15 a.m., 5/20 Wednesday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St | Practice using tools and making observations as we look at all the parts of a flower!
LEGO Club | 4 p.m., 5/20 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.
41st TST BOCES Greenhouse Sale | 8 a.m., 5/13 Wednesday | TST BOCES GREENHOUSE ( South Entrance between the two blue buildings), 555 Warren Road | TST BOCES Greenhouse Sale | Free ASPCA Fundraising | 10:30 a.m., 5/13 Wednesday | Ithaca Commons | The Midweek Session | 4 p.m., 5/13 Wednesday | NRE Space, 402 W. State St. | The Finger Lakes CannaMarket is adding Wednesdays. A free midweek 420 market where growers, enthusiasts, and the community connect. | Free
LGBTQ+ Youth Group | 4:30 p.m., 5/13 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!
PTA Council 2026 ICSD School Board Candidate Forum | 5:30 p.m., 5/13 Wednesday | DeWitt Middle School, 560 Warren Road | Meet the 2026 ICSD school board candidates at this forum co-hosted by Ithaca PTA Council and IPEI with a focus on caregiver questions. | Free Pet Clinic | 6 p.m., 5/13 Wednesday | Southside Community Center Gym, 305 S Plain St | Pet Clinic
Common Council Committee of the Whole — Session A | 6 p.m., 5/13 Wednesday | Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall 108 E Green St. |
Home Repair Workshop: DIY Plumbing | 6:30 p.m., 5/13 Wednesday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street | Workshop on DIY plumbing repairs, with a Q&A segment | Free Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency
Neighborhood Investment Committee Mtg | 9 a.m., 5/14 Thursday | Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall 108 E Green St.
City Charter Revision Commission Meeting | 6 p.m., 5/14 Thursday | Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall | Karaoke with Elephant Sound | 8 p.m., 5/14 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
Ribbon Cutting for The Frame Shop | 2 p.m., 5/15 Friday | The Frame Shop, 414 West Buffalo Street | Join the Tompkins Chamber in celebrating
The Frame Shop’s 70th Year Anniversary with a Ribbon Cutting on Friday, May 15th at 2:00 p.m. | Free
Saturday Market | 9 a.m., 5/16
Saturday | Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd Street | Our Saturday Markets are now outside at the pavilion. Find us each week at Steamboat Landing.
Green Saturday | 12 p.m., 5/16
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
Benefit My State 2026 — Our State, Our Sound: 90s Edition | 6:30 p.m., 5/16 Saturday | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St.
Understanding and Optimizing Your Electricity Bill | 6 p.m., 5/19 Tuesday | Join CCE Tompkins Community Energy Advisor Leigh Miller for a presentation at the Groton Public Library that will demystify the charges on your electricity bill and share ways to reduce your
Mind Over Body Movement Class | 6 p.m., 5/20 Wednesday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street | Learn how to improve through movement and techniques aimed at strengthening connection between mind and body from Mitch Raymond, MSPT, CEEAA. | Free
Common Council- Committee of the Whole Session B | 6 p.m., 5/20 Wednesday | Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall 108 E Green St.
Free Rabies Vaccination ClinicsCortland County | 5/20 Wednesday | Cortland County Office Building — Gym, 60 Central Ave.
ROOTSTOCK — FINGER LAKES
YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL SATURDAY
Buffalo Street Books, 215 N Cayuga St. | Rootstock is the premier youth music festival in the Finger Lakes. It is sponsored and organized by New Roots Charter School and GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance. Rootstock features solo acts, bands, and dance troupes with styles ranging from hiphop to punk to jazz. The event will also feature young entrepreneurs offering their handmade products at the Youth Entrepreneurship Market.
If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-323-0160. (NYSCAN)
PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY!
...with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (NYSCAN)
The annual business meeting of the Trumbulls Corners Cemetery Association will be held on Tuesday, 05/12/2026 at 6:30pm at the Trumbulls Corners Community Church, 628 Trumbulls Corners Rd. Newfield, NY. All lot owners and other interested parties are invited to attend.
Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-855-484-3467. (NYSCAN)
PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833549-0598. Have zip code of property ready when calling! (NYSCAN)
WINDOWS & HELP PAYING FOR IT?
YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. (NYSCAN)
their insurance companies won’t allow the risk. Even if a tree branch was starting to break, I’d have to wait till it actually falls and wrecks something before they’d send someone. “Wait till the sneakers get heavy enough to pull them down,” he said. The next thing I learned (but pretty much knew already from being a contractor) is that there is a YouTube video for just about everything you want to learn how to do, including How to Remove Sneakers from Power Lines. I doubt I would have ever thought of doing it this way. I had to make a special tool. That was the easy part. The real challenge was parking my van safely and then holding my fourteen-footlong tool, steadily, to reach each shoe lace. Some I could reach from the ground, but for many, I had to stand on a step ladder or even on top of my van. The tool worked so well that it seemed to take more time to collect all the fallen shoes from the ground and toss them into my van than it took to cut them down. I found that nylon laces went quickly and natural fiber laces took forever, especially when wet.
On my first day out I tackled Eddy Street. While there, I met a local resident walking his dog. He thought it was a great idea to take down all the sneakers. Like me, he saw the shoes more as a product of vandalism or rebellion rather than victory. He asked who I was doing it for. When I told him about the CCC and what we wanted to accomplish in Collegetown, he told me that he had heard of the group. He said, “Now that I can
continued from page A11
“I love it. I play soccer in the fall, run indoor track in the winter and outdoor track in the spring.” Okay... I’m calling her a 3-sport athlete.
As the gym filled up, I saw parents hugging other parents and saying things like “What a great ride this has been,” and “I can’t believe it’s over.” I looked at the list of coaches and it reminded me that I wrote about several of them when they were representing the Little Red. I recall very clearly writing about Ron Amato in the 1990s, first as a Little Red standout, then as an Ithaca College Bomber. Ron is now 20-plus years into his teaching and coaching career, and he gave a nice presentation, thanking and congratulating three of his baseball players. One of those players, Brady Chase, stood for post-ceremony photos with his dad, Josh Chase, who is
see it’s made up of nice people doing helpful things, I feel more willing to get involved.”
I suspect he first imagined that the CCC actually stood for Conservative Capitalist Cabal. Before he and his dog walked on, he suggested I tackle Catherine Street next, if I was up to it. When I got to Catherine Street I could not believe how many sneakers were hanging from the wires. More than two hundred! The internet and TV cable lines were sagging under the weight of thirtysome pairs of sneakers clustered in front of certain houses. I sighed. I felt like if I could just get through Catherine Street I really could do all of Collegetown. It took me over three hours. I took before and after photos. Before Catherine Street, I did not have much sympathy for the students who threw their old sneakers up on the utility lines. Like I said, I had considered it like an act of vandalism. Those thoughts were reinforced when students’ parents and local homeowners, like the one with the dog, stopped and said things like, “I’m glad somebody's finally doing that.” I saw several perplexed looking foreign students pass by as I raised the tool and sneakers fell to the ground. One student stopped to watch. As I was picking up shoes and tossing them into my van, he looked at the growing pile and simply asked, “Why do they do this?”
By then, I had seen enough of the shoes and what was written on many of them to discard the notion of Cornell students as vandals. Still, I naively guessed it was an act of rebellion until one girl came out of a house on Catherine Street and asked, “Are you going to cut them down off the whole street?” I thought, ‘Honey, I'm cutting them
also a Little Red alum and current coach. I remember writing about Josh as well.
Athletic Director Kari Burke addressed the crowd, thanking the athletes’ parents for their many years of dedication, calling them “the foundation of their success.” high school principal Karen Arnold said,
“I want to congratulate our 38 studentathletes, who will represent us at all levels, from community college to nationally recognized programs.”
I sat next to Emily Russell, whose son, Wiley Smalls, is tearing up the league as a baseball player and signed his letter to play at Johnson and Wales. I reminded Emily that my school tax dollars got her through high school at Spencer-Van Etten. Emily’s parents were there too, watching their grandson recognized for his hard work and success.
I had a great chat with Andy Getzin, the local physician. I have written about Andy's Ironman triathlon competi-
down from all of Collegetown!’ I simply said, “Yes,” and she replied, “It seems so sad.” If pouting could walk, that would describe her slow retreat into the house. Her pained reaction helped me begin to recognize a sense of community that the shoes represented. I began to really see the names painted on the bottom of many shoes, street numbers on some and graduating years on others. Before, all I noted was the moss on older shoes and how large clusters of shoes really tugged on the lines. I hadn’t considered the time it took to art their identities on the very shoes they’d walked in or the joy they must have felt as they threw off four years of stress and left behind little glyphs of cherished memories.
I began to wonder about ways our organization might help them celebrate and leave behind a more lasting mark in Ithaca.
From October into November I took
tions, picked his brain on many Sports Medicine articles, and I have tried to get his wife, Karen, to recount her days as a U.S. Olympic diver. Always gracious, both would rather talk about their son, Quentin, who is off to play lacrosse at Hamilton College.
I reconnected with a dozen other people I know, and as things were wrapping up, I encountered another person of my vintage, Guy Van Benschoten, who retired as the Ithaca Fire Department’s Assistant Chief. His son-in-law, TR Wagenet, coaches girls’ lacrosse, and his granddaughter, Natalie, will play at SUNY Brockport. Guy was there a generation ago when his daughter, Megan, graduated from Ithaca High in ’96 and went on to play lacrosse at Ithaca College.
It was a great event, and I enjoyed it very much. Not sure if I can hold on to see the next generation, but I’ll try.
Here is the list of the 38 Little Red
down all the shoes and filled my contractor trailer with what turned out to be 535 pounds of sneakers. I spent time on unfamiliar streets and met all kinds of students. Some came out of their house to offer me water and ask about the shoes. Others tossed me the football when they were out playing catch. People often passed by and asked me what I was going to do with the shoes, and asked if we were going to donate them. I told them they were trash, that most had been in well-used condition when they were tossed up there and that some had been up there for years deteriorating and collecting moss. What I didn’t say was that I had developed an empathic level of sadness, like I saw in the girl on Catherine Street, because I now knew that the shoes weren’t trash and that I was throwing away symbols of some of my neighbors’ first victories as adults.
athletes moving up: Baseball: Brady Chase, Ethan Wilki, Wiley Smalls. Boy’s Lacrosse: Anderson Marchell, Griffin Conrad, Jacob Steele, Jameson Howley, Lee Milton, Quentin Getzin, Thomas Howley, Tomas Hernandez. Cheer: Haydn Fillion. Football: Owen Webster, Boden Greenspun, Harris Germain, Jack Barton. Girl's Lacrosse: Bay Aittama, Emma Bakos, Natalie Wagenet, Skyla Lee-Byrnes, Taylor Kerber. Boy’s Soccer: James Reiter. Girl’s Soccer: Eliza DeRito, Aicha Cisse, Isabel Makosch Hockey: Aidan Swarthout, Emerson Chiuten-Black, Rowing: Annie Doyle, Audrey Green, Coral Street. Softball: Haylee Benjamin, farrah DeAviero, Payton Yengo. Swimming and Diving: Koen Anderson. Track and Field: Hayden Cornell, Elzita Myers, Zoltan Nadasdy. Volleyball: Amiya Patterson.
(The college chosen by each athlete will be listed on the online version of this article.)
Application Due: June 8, 2026
Amenities: Public transport, central air conditioning, refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, elevator, community room, laundry, storage spaces.
Income Restrictions Apply – No Application Fee – No Broker’s Fee
Applicants will not be automatically rejected based on credit or most background check info Priority admissions: Mobility disability (6 units); Hearing/Vision disability (3 units) More Information: www.ArborLeasing.org
Application Due Date: June 8, 2026
Must be postmarked June 8, 2026 by this date. Sending more than 1 application may disqualify you. How to Apply:
Online: www.ArborLeasing.org
Request Application By Phone or Email: 866-992-7267 or Bpierce@arbordevelopment.org
By Mail or In-Person: Arbor Housing and Development, 26 Bridge St., Corning, NY 14830. Include your address & the name and address of the building where you want to apply. Website: HousingSearch.ny.gov
Lottery Date & Location: June 23, 2026 11am https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88375268457
The lottery will determine which applications will be reviewed for tenancy
• If you have experienced housing discrimination: https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing or call 844-862-8703
• Learn about how your credit and background check will be individually reviewed: https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4
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Para Obtender La Solicitud:
Para obtener la solicitud por internet: www.ArborLeasing.org
Por telefono o email: 866-992-7267 or Bpierce@arbordevelopment.org
Por correo postal o en persona: Arbor Housing and Development, 26 Bridge St., Corning, NY 14830.
Incluya su dirección y la dirección del edificio en el que quiere presentar la solicitud.
Fecha y lugar de la loteria: June 23, 2026, 11am, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88375268457
La lotería determinará cuáles aplicaciones se analizarán para el alquiler
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Governor Kathy Hochul • HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas • www.hcr.gov/lotteries • NYHousingSearch.gov
