DENNIS ENDORSES
DAWSON’S DISTRICT 7
WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN PAGE 3
NEARLY 100 NEW UNITS TO BE BUILD IN COLLEGETOWN PAGE 4
NEW DATA CENTER TO TAKE OVER FORMER LAKESIDE POWER PLANT PAGE 10-11
FARM-TO-TABLE PROMOTES YOUTH NUTRITION AT SCHOOL PAGE 19
“ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER” PITS DICAPRIO AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT PAGE 20
“I survived cancer… but I couldn’t hear my granddaughter’s voice the same.”
and mammograms are essential for catching cancer early, baseline hearing tests and routine screenings are important for tracking changes in hearing health over time.
As summer hits its stride in July, so does the excitement –parades, outdoor concerts, sports games, backyard parties, and of course, reworks lighting up the night sky. These events are a big part of the season’s fun. However, all that noise can come with a hidden cost: your hearing.
As summer hits its stride in July, so does the excitement –parades, outdoor concerts, sports games, backyard parties, and of course, reworks lighting up the night sky. These events are a big part of the season’s fun. However, all that noise can come with a hidden cost: your hearing.
Breast cancer remains one of the most urgent health issues facing women today. The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is around 1 in 8 women globally—a staggering number that makes it clear this disease touches nearly every family, workplace, and community. Yet breast cancer is not only worth talking about because of its prevalence; it’s worth talking about because early detection saves lives.
What Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
What Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, and is still in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. That means with consistent prevention practices—like monthly breast self-exams, regular clinical breast exams, and mammograms—many women have the chance to live long, healthy lives beyond their diagnosis.
Most of us don’t think twice about how loud our surroundings are during these celebrations. But noise-induced hearing loss is a real and permanent condition that a ects millions of people. It happens when the delicate hair cells inside the inner ear get damaged from exposure to loud sounds. These cells don’t grow back, which means once your hearing is a ected, it’s gone for good.
Most of us don’t think twice about how loud our surroundings are during these celebrations. But noise-induced hearing loss is a real and permanent condition that a ects millions of people. It happens when the delicate hair cells inside the inner ear get damaged from exposure to loud sounds. These cells don’t grow back, which means once your hearing is a ected, it’s gone for good.
The Silent Threat: Gradual or Sudden Hearing Loss
The Silent Threat: Gradual or Sudden Hearing Loss
Finding breast cancer early doesn’t just raise survival chances. It also gives women more choices. When caught in the earliest stages, treatment can be less aggressive, and recovery may be easier. Early detection also allows time to ask questions, get second opinions, and choose the care that feels right.
What makes this kind of hearing loss tricky is that it doesn’t always show up right away. Sometimes it creeps in gradually after months or years of being around loud environments –think concerts, power tools, or even lawnmowers. But it can also happen in an instant if you’re exposed to an especially loud noise, like reworks going o nearby.
What makes this kind of hearing loss tricky is that it doesn’t always show up right away. Sometimes it creeps in gradually after months or years of being around loud environments –think concerts, power tools, or even lawnmowers. But it can also happen in an instant if you’re exposed to an especially loud noise, like reworks going o nearby.
How Loud is Too Loud?
How Loud is Too Loud?
And reworks? They’re no joke. If you’re close, they can hit between 150 and 175 decibels – way above what’s considered safe. To put that into perspective, sounds over 85 decibels can start to cause damage if you're exposed for a while. Once you're over 120, even a short burst of sound can hurt your ears.
When we talk about women’s health, breast cancer is rightfully a major focus—but the ripple effects of cancer treatment on other areas of health deserve attention too. One often-overlooked connection is the impact of chemotherapy and certain cancer medications on hearing.
And reworks? They’re no joke. If you’re close, they can hit between 150 and 175 decibels – way above what’s considered safe. To put that into perspective, sounds over 85 decibels can start to cause damage if you're exposed for a while. Once you're over 120, even a short burst of sound can hurt your ears.
But it’s not just reworks that put your hearing at risk. Summer is full of noisy activities such as music festivals, crowded sports stadiums, buzzing lawn tools, and roaring jet skis or speedboats on the lake. All of these can take a toll, especially if you’re not taking precautions.
But it’s not just reworks that put your hearing at risk. Summer is full of noisy activities such as music festivals, crowded sports stadiums, buzzing lawn tools, and roaring jet skis or speedboats on the lake. All of these can take a toll, especially if you’re not taking precautions.
Many cancer-fighting drugs are known to be ototoxic, meaning they can damage the inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or balance problems. For women already facing the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment, these hearing-related side effects can create added challenges— affecting communication, relationships, and even safety in daily life.
Tips to Protect Your Hearing
Tips to Protect Your Hearing
The good news is this kind of hearing loss is totally preventable. With a few simple habits, you can enjoy all the summer fun without putting your hearing on the line. Start by carrying earplugs or earmu s to loud events, there are even stylish and comfortable options for these days, including custom- tted plugs for concert lovers. Kids need protection too, and their ears are even more sensitive than ours.
The good news is this kind of hearing loss is totally preventable. With a few simple habits, you can enjoy all the summer fun without putting your hearing on the line. Start by carrying earplugs or earmu s to loud events, there are even stylish and comfortable options for these days, including custom- tted plugs for concert lovers. Kids need protection too, and their ears are even more sensitive than ours.
Hearing health is not just about sound, it’s tied to cognitive health, mental wellbeing, and social connection. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to isolation, depression, and even increased risk of dementia. For breast cancer survivors, proactively addressing hearing healthcare is critical to restoring quality of life after treatment.
Another smart move is to keep your distance from the source of the noise. The farther away you are, the less intense
Another smart move is to keep your distance from the source of the noise. The farther away you are, the less intense
The link between breast cancer and hearing underscores a larger truth: women’s health is interconnected. Just as breast exams
the sound. Stay back from speakers, engines, or reworks –500 feet is a good rule of thumb when it comes to rework displays.
the sound. Stay back from speakers, engines, or reworks –500 feet is a good rule of thumb when it comes to rework displays.
For women preparing to undergo chemotherapy, having a baseline hearing evaluation gives providers a reference point to identify ototoxic changes earlier. This allows for better management of side effects, potential treatment adjustments, and more timely interventions.
Don’t forget to talk about this with your family. A lot of people, especially kids and teens, have no idea that hearing loss from noise is permanent. Making ear protection a normal part of outings – like bringing sunscreen or water – can go a long way in building healthy habits.
Don’t forget to talk about this with your family. A lot of people, especially kids and teens, have no idea that hearing loss from noise is permanent. Making ear protection a normal part of outings – like bringing sunscreen or water – can go a long way in building healthy habits.
Talking about breast cancer can feel uncomfortable. But silence comes at a cost—missed screenings, delayed diagnoses, and reduced survival rates. We encourage women to advocate for themselves, prioritize checkups, and take ownership of their health.
Stay on Top of Your Hearing Health
Stay on Top of Your Hearing Health
It’s also a good idea to schedule regular hearing checkups, just like you would for your eyes or teeth. This is especially important if you're around loud environments regularly, either for work or fun.
That same culture of awareness should extend to hearing care. Too often, women dismiss early signs of hearing loss or assume it’s just part of aging. But hearing changes deserve the same level of attention as breast exams or mammograms. Knowledge is power, and regular check-ins with healthcare professionals provide the knowledge needed to act early.
It’s also a good idea to schedule regular hearing checkups, just like you would for your eyes or teeth. This is especially important if you're around loud environments regularly, either for work or fun.
Hearing loss might be invisible, but the impact on your life can be huge. It a ects how you connect with others, how you enjoy music or conversations, and even your mental well-being. So, this summer, as you soak up the season and all the exciting events it brings, take a few extra steps to protect your ears.
Hearing loss might be invisible, but the impact on your life can be huge. It a ects how you connect with others, how you enjoy music or conversations, and even your mental well-being. So, this summer, as you soak up the season and all the exciting events it brings, take a few extra steps to protect your ears.
This summer, as you soak up the season and all the exciting events it brings, take a few extra steps to protect your ears.
This summer, as you soak up the season and all the exciting events it brings, take a few extra steps to protect your ears.
Protect your hearing today, so you can keep enjoying the sounds of tomorrow. Call one of our o ces today to schedule your appointment!
Breast cancer awareness should go beyond wearing a pink ribbon—it should spark action. Start the conversation with your loved ones, schedule your preventive screenings, and don’t forget to include your hearing health as part of your overall wellness plan. Call one of our offices today for a complimentary hearing checkup. With awareness, prevention, and proactive care, more women can not only survive breast cancer but live healthy, connected, and fulfilling lives long after treatment.
Protect your hearing today, so you can keep enjoying the sounds of tomorrow. Call one of our o ces today to schedule your appointment!
Timeless Hearing (Ithaca, NY): (607) 327-4711
Timeless Hearing (Ithaca, NY): (607) 327-4711
Cortland Hearing Aids (Cortland, NY): (607) 327-4712
Cortland Hearing Aids (Cortland, NY): (607) 327-4712
Timeless Hearing (Ithaca, NY): (607) 327-4711
Timeless Hearing (Skaneateles, NY): (315) 800-0616
Cortland Hearing Aids (Cortland, NY): (607) 327-4712
Timeless Hearing (Skaneateles, NY): (315) 800-0616
Southern Tier Audiology (Elmira, NY): (607) 327-4714
Timeless Hearing (Skaneateles, NY): (315) 800-0616
Southern Tier Audiology (Elmira, NY): (607) 327-4714
Tri-City Hearing (Vestal, NY): (607) 327-4713
Timeless Hearing (Elmira, NY): (607) 327-4714
Tri-City Hearing (Vestal, NY): (607) 327-4713
Tri-City Hearing (Vestal, NY): (607) 327-4713
Ashley Hardy grew up in Cortland in a family with hearing loss and knows the impact communication can have on quality of life. She received her Bachelor’s in Human Development from Binghamton University in 2004 and has over 20 years of experience as a hearing aid dispenser.
Ashley Hardy grew up in Cortland in a family with hearing loss and knows the impact communication can have on quality of life. She received her Bachelor’s in Human Development from Binghamton University in 2004 and has over 20 years of experience as a hearing aid dispenser.
By Lorien Tyne
Until recently, the Tompkins County Legislature race for the new District 7 seat in the general election was an uncontested straight shot for Democratic party nominee John Dennis, who had glided through the primaries without opposition. In a surprising turn of events, incumbent Deborah Dawson announced her write-in campaign on Sept. 2, despite her former plans to retire, leading Dennis to step down and endorse her.
The new District 7 consists of the Village of Lansing, a southern strip of the Town of Lansing and District 5, in the Town of Ithaca.
Dennis sent a statement to the Ithaca Times on Sept. 24, in which he encouraged District 7 constituents to vote for Dawson and expressed his trust in her as a representative. He also thanked his supporters for their time and donations to his campaign.
“As a candidate in this election since February, I would have been proud to offer my own experience and perspective in the Legislature,” Dennis said in his endorsement. “However, now that Legislator Dawson is in the race, I have chosen to defer to her proven record and greater tenure in elected office. Her leadership will be particularly important as Tompkins County confronts a difficult year ahead, marked by budget shortfalls, a hostile administration
in Washington, and significant turnover within both the Legislature and several county departments.”
Dawson said she is grateful to Dennis for endorsing her and for all his work getting on the ballot.
“I’m pleasantly surprised, I’m grateful and I appreciate the efforts John has made to be involved in local government,” Dawson said.
Alanna Congdon, Republican commissioner of the Tompkins County Board of Elections, said that even if a candidate drops out of the race and endorses someone else, their name will still appear on the ballot after winning the primary, and votes will still be counted toward them.
The county’s Democratic Committee Chair Linda Hoffmann released a statement on Sept. 29 asking voters in District 7 to write in Dawson’s name on their ballots. Dennis was the committee’s nominee.
“A write-in campaign is an unusual circumstance for our local elections,” Hoffmann stated. “John exemplifies a depth of grace in his having stepped away from this race and endorsed his write-in opponent, Deborah Dawson.”
Aone-of-a-kind lamp from an Ithaca artist has found its way into the hands of a Hollywood superstar.
Jon Jensen, a local craftsman known for transforming just about anything into a customized lamp, recently donated one of his creations to actor and director Jesse Eisenberg, who is known for his acting roles in films like “The Social Network,” “Zombieland,” and “Now You See Me,” as well as his writing and directing work, including the recent film “A Real Pain” and the play “When You Finish Saving the World”.
The gift was presented during Eisenberg’s visit to the Ithaca Colleges Park School of Communications last week, where he appeared as the Distinguished Visitor.
The lamp is built from a vintage camera mounted on a tripod with a glowing lampshade perched on top, and is a perfect example of Jensen’s unique approach to functional art. His works often feature unexpected objects repurposed into funky yet functional light fixtures, each with its own personality and backstory.
ON THE COVER:
This week, the Ithaca Times presents the results of Best of Ithaca, it's annual reader’s poll. Hundreds of readers voted this year, highlighting the people, places and things that make Ithaca special. (Design: Kaiden Chandler/Ithaca Times Intern)
Since Dawson’s name will not be on the ballot, she said getting her name out will be the biggest challenge. However, she said that already being known to the community will help with visibility, as she has been on the legislature representing District 10 for two terms since January 2018.
Dawson said the main reason for her change of heart is how federal policy changes will begin to impact the county in the near future — and the number of new legislators that will be handling those changes.
“When there’s turnover in the legislature, there’s a learning curve, and time when people are picking up the basics,” Dawson said. “The problem right now is there’s going to be so many people doing that, and we don’t have the luxury of time.”
Continued on Page 8
Jensen said the unusual Hollywood connection came as a surprise. “So here’s a weird one. A friend at the Ithaca College School of Communications said that actor/producer Jesse Eisenberg … was going to be their fall Distinguished Visitor and that they wanted to give him one of my lamps as a memento,” Jensen said. “Go figure. So I donated one. Here we are. Can I now claim ‘Lamp Maker to the Stars?’”
For now, Eisenberg may be the first celebrity to take home a Jensen original, but likely not the last.
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By Philip O’Dell
The City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board granted preliminary and final site plan approval to a redevelopment project at 215 College Ave.
A seven-story residential building would replace the existing two-story house at 215 College Avenue. The proposed 64,236-square-foot building would include 91 apartments with 158 beds, offering a mix of studio to three-bedroom units. The plans also feature over 4,000 square feet of shared amenity space and a rooftop terrace. A new public plaza and landscaping would be added along College Avenue. The project will need special area variances and must comply with the Collegetown Design Guidelines, as it spans both mixeduse and residential zoning districts.
Architect Noah Demarest said the rooftop’s large amenity space will have an activity zone for games like table tennis and cornhole, a bar and grill area with a pergola for outdoor dining, and a lounge space. The perimeter will be lined with a railing and natural sedum plants. For safety and security, the space will have security cameras and ample lighting, including pendant lights under the pergola and continuous lighting along railings and near doorways.
The meeting featured a discussion on noise concerns at the building’s rooftop amenity space.
Planning director Lisa Nicholas said the building is unlike anything else in Collegetown due to its rooftop space. She was concerned with potential noise impacts to surrounding neighborhoods and suggested restrictions on hours and crowd size and ensuring police access to the roof.
Living Rentals owner Charlie O’Connor and Nick Robertson, of Robertson Development & Construction, discussed the project with board members. Robertson said the company trusts tenants to use the space responsibly and hopes not to set restrictive hours unless tenant behavior becomes an issue. He stressed developers will comply with city noise ordinances. He believes the rooftop could serve as a positive gathering place for students and added that building materials will be PFASfree. To communicate expectations to tenants, lease agreements outline rules, and the company has the right to revoke access if a space is used improperly, Robertson said.
“We think of it as a space that we want our tenants to be able to kind of enjoy and use responsibly,” Nick said.
O’Connor said the company will maintain its good relationship with neighbors. He described the rooftop as the “yard for the building” and said restrictions might be applied if issues arise.
“It’s a great space and I think our ten-
ants can be responsible,” O’Connor said.
Board member Jennie Sutcliffe praised the rooftop, noting it offers an alternative for students to socialize in a more private setting.
The developer must submit a plan to the city's planning staff for review. This plan should detail how the amenity roof will be managed to limit noise. It must include information on signage, occupancy limits, and rules for music and access. The plan must include language on noise reduction strategies. The developer needs to provide updated details on the roof’s lighting, including new photometrics and LED railing specifications. The lighting plan must be submitted to the board for approval to ensure designs and placement meet city standards.
According to the proposed resolution, all proposed bike racks and/or storage must be installed and required sidewalks need to be constructed or repaired to the satisfaction of the city sidewalk coordinator. Finally, any city property, such as streets, curbs, trees, or signs that were damaged during construction, must be repaired or replaced.
The board held a public hearing for the project on May 27 and found the plans largely comply with Collegetown design guidelines during a subsequent design review on Aug. 5.
During construction, workers must minimize noise, and builders can only work on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with advance approval from the planning board director. Additionally, if crews dig up contaminated soil or groundwater, they must follow strict state regulations and get approval from both the City of Ithaca and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for any cleanup efforts.
By Lorien Tyne
On July 21, carpenter Efrain Sub Tzi was working at the Aurora Apartments construction site managed by DiMarco Constructors when he sustained fatal injuries from a workplace accident. Workers’ organizations and supporters are now calling for developers like DiMarco to hire local labor and responsible subcontractors who prioritize safety.
Sub Tzi was employed by Wancl Framing & Contractor LLC, which had been subcontracted by Dimarco Constructors.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) opened an inspection of the worksite and Sub Tzi’s death on July 21, which is still ongoing.
DiMarco Constructors was contacted for an interview but did not respond before publication.
The Tompkins-Cortland Building and Construction Trades Council have organized two demonstrations along with the Midstate Council for Occupational Safety and Health and the Tompkins County Workers Center in the past week. Frank Stento, secretary treasurer of the Tompkins-Cortland Building and Construction Trades Council, said the demonstrations are informational bannering and not picketing.
“We're trying to bring awareness to our elected officials, decision makers within our city and county government, of the concerns that we have with general contractors and developers coming to the Ithaca region, who are essentially putting profits over the protection of the people,” Stento said.
Stento said the building trades council had been investigating reports of unsafe working conditions since early on in the construction of the Aurora Apartments. Stento said the council alerted OSHA to the site concerns as well as concerns with the subcontractors working underneath Dimarco Construction. As a result, on Feb. 20, subcontractors Vanni Construction LLC and Raycon Construction LLC were each cited by OSHA with a safety violation, amounting to a $10,000 and $12,768 penalty, respectively.
At the Sept. 29 demonstration, about 30 people gathered in front of the Aurora
State Sen. Lea Webb and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo will hold a press conference Oct. 1 in Binghamton urging residents to participate in a public hearing on proposed NYSEG rate hikes. The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the Binghamton State Office Building.
A suspect was arrested Tuesday night in Ithaca after a Flock Safety alert notified deputies of a stolen Chevrolet Silverado entering the city. Officers located the truck in a restaurant parking lot on Elmira Road, blocked it when the driver tried to reverse, and quickly apprehended him after he fled on foot.
The City of Ithaca began a sewer and water line replacement project Thursday on the 300 and 400 blocks of East Buffalo Street, with work scheduled to continue through Nov. 28. The project will close sections of East Buffalo, North Aurora and Parker streets, with signed detours in place for eastbound and westbound traffic.
construction site with a large blow-up pig and rat chanting “Who’s a rat? DiMarco’s a rat. Rats in the building, rats go home.”
The inflatable rat is a common symbol that labor unions use to show their discontent with a business’ hiring practices. Scabby the Rat has been seen at many union demonstrations around the country for decades. The rodent’s name comes from the term “scab,” which strikebreakers in the early 1800s were called when they wouldn’t join picket lines. Now, Scabby puts more emphasis on “rat contactors” rather than workers.
Marcus Williamee, organizer for Local 267 Plumbers and Steamfitters, spoke to the crowd at the Sept. 29 rally, saying a rat is a contractor that exploits its employees, not a non-union worker who isn’t making enough money.
“The contracting that's happening here is causing unsafe working conditions for construction workers, and that's our main focus,” Williamee told the Ithaca Times. “It's exploitation of workers, it's exploitation of human beings, it's unfair treatment. The thing that you get when you hire unions is you get equal and fair wages, you get trained employees.”
Tom Joyce, chair of the Midstate Council For Occupational Safety and Health and retired member of the Painters and Allied Trades Union, said he believes DiMarco Constructors will be cited by OSHA but that Dimarco will likely claim the LLC
is not responsible for Sub Tzi’s death.
“It’s the financial pressure to build things cheaper that causes contractors like DiMarco to get subcontractors that they can kind of pretend that they don't have any legal responsibility for their working conditions,” Joyce said.
Wancl Framing & Contractor LLC was previously cited by OSHA in 2023 on a worksite in Clay, New York.
In 2022, Dimarco Constructors was also cited for four safety violations totalling $15,953 in penalties on the Market View Apartments worksite in Ithaca. In 2020, the contractor was cited for one violation at a worksite in Rochester, totalling $2,925 in penalties. OSHA lists three other inspections of Dimarco worksites in 2016, 2018 and 2022, in which no violations were found.
Stento said the building trades will continue working to hold all developers and contractors in the region accountable for compliance on safety and hiring local labor.
“At the end of the day, we all take for granted, we're going to go to work, we're going to come home,” Stento said. “And unfortunately for this individual, which, in our opinion, could have been prevented, is never able to do so again. And this happens throughout our country more frequently than it needs to be. And we certainly don't want to see this happening in Ithaca in the future.”
The Midstate Council for Occupational Safety & Health, the Tompkins County Workers’ Center and Indivisible Tompkins hosted a “Know Your Rights” training on workplace and immigration safety last week. The event provided immigrant workers and their allies with guidance on worker protections, workplace safety and how to respond to immigration enforcement tactics.
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.”
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10.2% I support it. 87.6% I’m against it. 2.2% I don’t care. N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N :
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Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
“On March 27, 2025, the president of the United States signed an executive order demanding that the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Museums “Restore Sanity.” He instructed members of the NPS and visitors to report signage that might upset them, or others. An internet search revealed these changes have been made, others will follow. I have not seen each of these so all I can do is report on them.
• In California a sign marking a violent displacement of indigenous people was removed; in Florida a sign reporting on the imprisonment of indigenous people was taken away.
• At Cape Hatteras, a sign noting that over time rising sea levels could be observed was disappeared as it might suggest climate change, while in Acadia National Park in Maine, a sign also disappeared suggesting that visitors take a shuttle bus rather than their own cars as
a means of reducing the carbon imprint. That sign was also banned.
• Two signs are gone from the New York City Area—possibly more. The first is part of New York Gateway Park where there is a long text about our nation’s ideas, including such dangerous thoughts as women’s rights and liberty has disappeared.
• The second NYC sign is at Stonewall, the bar and meeting place in lower Manhattan, where disturbances led to gay and lesbian and transgender rights—although the notation of transgender was removed as inappropriate. As if trans people were not there!
• Thirty signs at Harper’s Ferry about the John Brown are being reviewed because Brown was inciting insurrection.
And everywhere, visitors to the national parks are asked to report anything disturbing.
The comments that the National Park Service have received are mostly positive, asking to be told more, and stating that “we need to know this.” At Independence Hall one visitor commented that the new signs read as if “censorship [has been] dressed up as citizenship.”
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the “Organic Act” creating the National Park Service. With the popularity of the automobile signs appeared along the roadsides. Many were as simple as ‘the first shoemaker lived here’ while others extolled
the victors in the many skirmishes across the land Over the past 60 years, among local historians and the many fine historians in the National Park Service and at the Smithsonian museums there has been a conscious effort to redress the imbalance: there are signs about the achievements of women, about the culture of Native Americans, about Blacks, their trials and their achievements, about injustice. These all tell a broader story of who we were in the past and who we are today.
These signs might disturb the president who wants only a story of accomplishment by white men.
But History, to be true to itself, is never simple, it is never easy, and it should always disturb us. We should be able to grow from the past, not repeat it. And we certainly do not want to retreat into it.” — Carol Kammen, Tompkins County Historian
“Our neighborhood went through a dramatic change on August 17: regularly-scheduled TCAT buses arrived. Some neighbors don’t care. Some appreciate the buses, but wish there were fewer. Others do not like the buses at all.
Our neighborhood includes Elm Street from Haller Blvd. up to and including Westhaven Road. Our two roads are semi-rural and have that rural feel to them. There are about 75 houses, most on large lots. The view from Westhaven is stunning, and despite the lack of sidewalks, many walk here along with
families and pets.
Frankly, most of us are confused. Why this sudden influx of buses? Some of us heard there were meetings but no one from our neighborhood was invited. TCAT told one of us that we didn’t need to be informed about route change because none of us use the bus. How does TCAT know this? When I (Pat) broke my wrist last November, I did take the bus. We understand that the accident at Haller Blvd. and Hook Place a few years ago alarmed TCAT. It was said the driver lost control. No further information given. We were told that Westhaven (and apparently Elm) are the only ‘safe roads’. Elm Street is a narrow, steep road with no sidewalks and limited shoulders. Westhaven has no sidewalks. There are steep slopes where Elm and Westhaven intersect. Several serious accidents have occurred here.
On August 16th, a sign was planted in front of a neighbor’s house. He found this on the TCAT website: “Service will be moved to Westhaven Road from the Haller Blvd/Hook Pl./Warren Pl. corridor which has had low ridership.” The buses arrived August 17th. Another neighbor came home with a newborn and found the bus sign about 50 feet from her front door. When questioned about the short notices, TCAT replied they put ‘temporary bus stop signs out on Westhaven … in early August.’ This is not true. Most of us did not know this was happening until the buses started roaring up the hill, 36-aday, beginning after 6 a.m., and ending shortly before 9 p.m.
“For
me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”
—
Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
By Silence Dogood
Dear Fellow Citizens and Kindred Spirits of Fair Ithaca and our Great American Republic,
In these bustling times, when the clamor of daily toil and the whispers of distant tyrants alike threaten to drown the voice of the common man, it behooves us to pause and reflect upon the sturdy foundations that uphold our society.
I, your humble correspondent Silence Dogood, progeny of a country parson and ever the observer of human follies and virtues, take up my quill today to introduce a concept most vital to our collective prosperity: the Seven Pillars of Society. These are the grand arches upon which the edifice of our communal and civil life rests—and without their harmonious support, we risk the crumbling of that noble structure we call “participatory democracy”.
The Seven Pillars, Upon Which We Stand
Allow me to enumerate these pillars, drawn not from some dusty tome of antiquity but from the very sinews of our daily existence:
1. Family, the hearthstone of all virtue, where children learn the rudiments of honor, industry, love and affection.
2. Faith & Religion, which reminds us we are accountable not only to earthly statutes but to eternal truths; it tempers ambition and fosters charity.
3. Education, the beacon which dispels ignorance and equips our citizens with reason, inquiry, and the courage to question.
4. Media & Communication, the vigilant sentinel that spreads truth, exposes vice, and echoes the voice of the people.
5. Arts & Entertainment, the merry muses that lift the spirit, provoke thought, and bind us through shared joy and reflection.
6. Government & Law, steward of justice and order, deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed.
7. Business & Economy, the engine of enterprise and the reward of honest labor, weaving individual ambition into shared
prosperity.
These seven, though distinct, are not rivals in some civic arena. They are interdependent. A wise society learns to see the threads that bind them, and it is in that interweaving that our newspaper may serve its highest calling.
The Ithaca Times and Finger Lakes Community Newspapers as Pillar and Forum
We who hold the quill must do more than chronicle grievances and calamities. It is not enough to merely cry out, “Woe is us!” We must also ask, “Who among us is mending what is broken?” This, dear reader, is the spirit of a rising form of public service—what some now call solutions journalism.
Unlike the dismal chroniclers who revel in ruin, solutions journalists look toward response. They examine how communities face hardship—how a teacher stirs minds in an underfunded school, how a congregation shelters the unhoused, how artists reclaim abandoned corners, or how businessfolk pool risk to preserve local trade. They ask not only what is wrong, but who is trying to make it right, how they are doing so, and whether it works.
Thus let our weekly papers serve not merely as heralds of despair, but as ledgers of hope in action. Let them spotlight not only problems, but the human ingenuity summoned to meet them. In this endeavor, we will not shy from the truth—but we will also refuse to stop at it. We will follow the truth toward possibility, imagination, experimentation and collaboration. When we succeed, we will celebrate together. When we fail, we shall seek forgiveness and get on with making the changes we seek.
The Pillars in Conversation
Picture this: a mother from the Pillar of Family writes in, lamenting the strain of inflation on her household budget. Her plea finds echo in a merchant’s essay from Continued on Page 23
By Austin Lamb
Clement Obropta stills remembers when, as a college intern at Hollywood company Blumhouse Productions, he told a secretary that he wanted to be a film critic. “A film critic?” he remembers her saying. “Nobody reads film critics these days.”
“It was almost a challenge of sorts to try and make a living at this,” said Obropta.
Obropta’s aspirations began in high school, when he got hooked on the film criticism of IndieWire. Reading the entertainment publication “religiously,” he learned about innovations in production and films he’d never heard of.
In 2015, Obropta arrived as a freshman at Ithaca College, where he majored not in writing or journalism, but in film. He believed that exploring the storytelling potential of films, and knowing how they’re made, would help his criticism.
“When you read a critic, you can tell how much they know about the filmmaking process,” Obropta said. “Most good film reviews will teach you a little bit about the medium, even if it’s just that you learn what blocking is, or that you learn why one camera angle works better for this particular shot than another one.”
When Obropta graduated from IC in 2019, he got an internship at Men’s Journal with the help of IC writing professor and Ithaca Times theatre and arts journalist Barbara Adams. Obropta had taken Adams’ course Writing as a Critic, and she knew an alum at the magazine.
Adams and Obropta still remain in touch, she said, sending each other reviews they write that they think the other would like.
When Adams learned there was a film critic opening at the Ithaca Times, she let Obropta know — even though he’d moved to Scotland, where he’d met his wife and got his master’s in film studies from the University of St. Andrews.
In an age where hot takes, exaggerations, and value judgements can boost a review’s online engagement, Obropta avoids value judgements. He knows, he said, someone may love a movie that he’d never watch.
“I think a lot of critics approach film criticism as, ‘How can I trash a movie in the most entertaining way?’” he said. “There is a readership for that, but I don't want that to be my readership.”
Obropta brings a holistic approach to films, Adams said, that makes him a good critic.
“He understands you don’t just single out the story or the acting or the cinematography,” she said. “But you look at all the elements and decide which are important to cover for this particular review.”
Adams said Obropta is also a responsible critic.
“He has strong opinions, but he backs them up with evidence,” she said.
Although the days when films lived and died by reviews are gone, Obropta still sees a place for criticism because of the quantity of films released today. He estimates he watches between 200 to 300 films a year. In addition to the Ithaca Times, Obropta writes and edits reviews for Film Inquiry and MAYDAY. For these publications, he seeks “gems” that might not otherwise reach readers.
“A lot of the work of a film critic nowadays is that of an archivist,” Obropta said. “I think critics do definitely still play a role in getting a film in front of the right kinds of people.”
By Roy Allen — Executive Director of Pathways to Equity and Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Ithaca Times
To our incredible local staff, valued readers, advertisers, vendors and community partners,
As we mark a new chapter in the lives of the Ithaca Times, Trumansburg Free Press, Ovid Gazette, Interlaken Review, Tompkins Independent and News Chronicle, we want to express our deepest gratitude to an exceptional group of individuals and organizations who have ensured that our long-standing tradition of local journalism not only continues— but thrives.
When the time came for Jim Bilinski, our publisher and owner to retire after 50 years of steadfast leadership on April 30th of this year, it was much more than an ordinary business transition. It was indeed a moment that could have signaled the end of an era. Instead, thanks to the determination and hearts of our editorial, production, advertising, administrative and distribution teams, it became a new beginning with a mission to preserve local journalism.
Rather than letting go of a legacy that spanned decades of community storytelling, this team of gifted professionals stepped up with remarkable
resolve. They took ownership—both literally and figuratively—of the mission to inform, engage, and reflect the voices of the communities we serve. They chose to preserve the vital role of trusted local journalism at a time when it’s more needed than ever.
This was not just an act of succession—it was an act of courage, care, and commitment. Their efforts have ensured that our community will continue to have local newspapers that report the truth, celebrate life, and hold up a mirror to ourselves, our neighbors and the places we call home.
To every editor, reporter, designer, ad rep, circulation driver, and behindthe-scenes staff member who made this possible: thank you. You have carried the torch forward with integrity and passion, and you have given our papers a future to believe in.
With heartfelt appreciation, Roy Allen
Roy Allen — Executive Director — Pathways to Equity, Inc., the new nonprofit parent of: Finger Lakes Community Newspapers/Ithaca Times/www.ithaca.com
By Charley Githler
It seems negotiations on the terms of President Trump’s shakedown of Cornell University have reached something of an impasse. With our local economy so firmly grafted to the fortunes of that august bastion of learning and the free exchange of ideas, interest in the subject down here at the bottom of the hill naturally runs high. With that in mind, SBR obtained a transcript of part the most recent phone conversation, had late last month, between Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and the Trump administration’s chief higher education negotiator, Gino “The Shiv” Cornstarch. It might shed some light on why things have stalled.
KOTLIKOFF: So, after what I have to say was some agonizing soul-searching, it pains me to say that we’ve decided we have to pay the hundred million dollar ransom.
CORNSTARCH: Hey now! What did I say about the “R” word? It’s a “protection payment”.
KOTLIKOFF: You really sure you like that better? Whatever. We’re going to pay it. Can we talk about restoring federal money for research and government contracts now?
there’s just a couple additional things.
KOTLIKOFF: What? We had a deal! It never ends with you guys.
CORNSTARCH: Relax. These might not be so bad once you think about them. I’ll give you a for instance. We’re letting you keep DEI.
KOTLIKOFF: What? That’s amazing!
CORNSTARCH: Just with a little change of focus. Now it stands for “Deportation, Eviction and Israel is always right”.
KOTLIKOFF: That…might be a difficulty. Actually, a really tough sell. Why “eviction”?
CORNSTARCH: Kind of a legacy nod to the boss’s real estate days. Also, that tower of yours? It’s got a new name. Try this on for size: Melania Trump Tower. Maybe some gold lettering. All very tasteful, of course.
KOTLIKOFF: Change McGraw Tower? That’s…I mean…
Dawson has served on and chaired multiple legislative committees and organizational boards. She highlighted her six consecutive years on the Budget, Capital, and Personnel Committee, of which three years she was the chair. She said that with the significant turnover, she believes her experience is important, which Dennis reiterated in his endorsement.
The election will result in at least eight new legislators on the 16-member legislature. In her announcement, Dawson pointed out there is also a relatively new County Administrator, a new Director of Finance, and newly appointed Commissioners of Social Services and Whole Health.
Going into the 2026 budget season, Dawson said the legislature needs to be frugal. The county administration
presented the recommended 2026 budget at the legislature’s Sept. 2 meeting, which includes an operating budget of $240 million, a 4.5% tax levy increase and an estimated budget gap of $2.5 million.
Dawson pointed to the millions of dollars in federal funding being cut from Medicaid and SNAP as part of H.R.1 — called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — which was signed into law on July 4. While the exact implications of federal funding cuts are unknown, the New York State Association of Counties estimates New York counties will take on more than $1.3 billion in potential new costs from SNAP and Medicaid changes. These federal funding changes are set to take effect in January 2027.
“I really want the county to start planning for that now,” Dawson said. “We have, at best, a year and a half, to get ready for those shortfalls and figure out how we’re going to keep our community afloat. And I see that as our biggest challenge.”
CORNSTARCH: Whoa, there, Speedy. Did you forget about the Compliance Commissar for hiring, admissions and content?
KOTLIKOFF: Yes, yes. There’s an office in my suite and a hotline to my desk, like we discussed.
CORNSTARCH: Good boy. Now,
Most of us felt ambushed. We still do not know why we were so completely dismissed. It appears that due diligence was been ignored, and as a result, the character of our neighborhood has suffered.
CORNSTARCH: It’s a deal-breaker, Mikey. And while we’re talking names… Cornell. It just sounds liberal. You’re definitely going to need some re-branding. We’ve settled on Cor-A-Lago. Isn’t there some lake around there? I can email you a mockup of some design ideas for the entrance.
KOTLIKOFF: [long silence] You can tell that grifting, orange motherf... And here the transcript ends abruptly, but it does seem like there are still a few sticking points before a settlement is reached. We’ll keep you posted.
We read that TCAT (Ithaca Voice, April 2, 2025) has a shortage of buses and needs to hire drivers. We are asking TCAT to reduce bus frequency in our neighborhood. Monday morning, Sept. 22, a neighbor watched the buses from 9 until 2. They went up, then down at 9:19, 9:42, 10:17, 10:43, 11:19, 11:48, 12:20, 12:28, 12:50, 1:20, 1:24, 1:49 and 2:20.
The TCAT buses are heavy and will eventually damage the roads; the electric ones, more so because they are heavier. We know TCAT can do better. We want to sit down together and work out a reasonable plan.” — Patricia Dutt, Helen Gibson, Barbara Warland, Mike Drury, Kevin Caveny, Janet Caveny, Michelle Delaney, Deanna Nassar, Dennis Foerster, Virginia Cobey, Jon Hilton, Christina Hilton, Romy Fain, Rich Humphrey, Dorothy Sholeen, Bill Gibson, G.D., Cindy Massichi, Kim Pearce, Srebrenko Torlic, M.M., Becky Driscoll, James Driscoll
By Matt Dougherty
The owners of the Cayuga Power Plant in Lansing have entered a long-term deal to lease the former coal-fired power plant to a company that develops data centers.
TeraWulf Inc. announced an 80-year lease of a 183-acre portion of the site in an Aug. 14 press release.
“This transaction marks a major step forward in the company’s expansion of high-performance computing (HPC) and AI data center hosting,” the press release stated. The deal was announced as TeraWulf secured a multi-billion dollar investment from Google.
The plan to convert the power plant into a data center has been in the works for years.
A data center is a facility that houses largescale computing machines that work together to process, store and share data. These facilities are the backbone of artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT and are used to mine cryptocurrencies such asBitcoin. A single data center uses an immense amount of energy, with estimates comparable to the energy required to power an entire city.
According to the Department of Energy, the amount of energy used by data centers is expected to triple by 2028.
“Data centers consumed about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity in 2023 and are expected to consume approximately 6.7 to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028,” the DOE report stated.
Another report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that global electricity demand from data centers will more than double by 2030 to around 945 terawatt-hours (TWh), which is slightly more than the entire electricity consumption of Japan. It added that in the United States, “[The] economy is set to consume more electricity in 2030 for processing data than for manufacturing all energy-intensive goods combined.”
New York state Assemblymember Anna Kelles said the increased energy demand comes at a time when the state is failing to create energy efficiency in its current base load, and she’s concerned that it will significantly increase residents’ electric bills.
“There’s no precedent for this,” Kelles said. “There has never been a technology
tion of about 350,000 homes. To put that in perspective, the entire population of the City of Ithaca is around 33,000 and the entire population of Tompkins County is around 105,000. The data center at the Cayuga Power Plant could consume over four times as much energy as all of Tompkins County, which Kelles said uses an average total of 87 megawatts annually.
“We have these private companies coming in and taking all of our energy, redirecting it to their facilities, paying sub-market rates, taking massive profits out of the community, and leaving the community hamstrung with higher electric bills when everyone is already struggling.”
— Assemblywoman Anna Kelles, District 125
that has increased energy demand this fast.”
Kelles told the Ithaca Times that the data center proposed at the Cayuga Power Plant will use a maximum of 400 megawatts, equivalent to the energy consump-
Tompkins County Legislator and Lansing resident Mike Sigler, however, has said that while 400 megawatts is the facility’s maximum capacity, he believes that the current project will use only 50 megawatts due to the limits of the current infrastructure connecting the facility to the grid. Sigler said he understood concerns about data centers contributing to water and noise pollution, but that TeraWulf representatives assured him no water from Cayuga Lake would be used to cool the facility and that measures will be taken to keep noise below local limits.
Over the last several years, at least two data centers have started operating within a 50-mile radius of Tompkins County. These
are the 107 megawatt Greenidge Generation facility in Dresden and the FirstLight facility within the renovated Seneca Army Depot in Romulus.
As the number of data centers has increased locally, so have energy prices. In 2023 New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), the regional utility monopoly for Ithaca and Tompkins County, implemented a 62% staggered rate increase over three years. The final phase of that increase went into effect this past May, but NYSEG requested another increase of 34.7% less than a month later. This occurs as more people struggle to afford rising utility bills, and the corporations that own these utility companies earn billions of dollars in profit.
While energy costs have increased as data centers have become more widespread, TeraWulf said that electricity costs depend on many factors beyond just data centers. In response to a question about if this facility will increase energy prices, TeraWulf’s FAQ page of its website states that it doesn’t anticipate the project putting “upward pressure on prices” due to a surplus of clean energy generation in Zone C of the New York Grid.
According to a study from Carnegie Mellon University, the rapid spread of data centers across the country could increase the average cost of electricity by 8%, with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increasing by 30% due to the operations of these facilities. While the study estimates an average increase of 8% for electricity costs, it said that some regions could be hit with increases as high as 25%.
The spread of data centers has been connected to increases in energy prices because these facilities add demand to the energy grid without providing much, or any, energy in return. According to the law of supply and demand, when demand increases and supply cannot catch up fast enough, prices rise.
Kelles said this issue is made even worse by the prevalence of power purchase agreements between the companies that own data centers and the utility companies that provide energy. Kelles said these agreements provide data centers below-market rates for their energy usage in return for being a large energy user. She added that instead of the utility companies taking on the burden of this cost differential, energy providers shift the costs onto the rest of the ratepayers in the area.
“We have these private companies coming in and taking all of our energy, redirecting it to their facilities, paying sub-market rates, taking massive profits out of the community, and leaving the community hamstrung with higher electric bills when everyone is already struggling,” Kelles said. “This is insane […] if they’re going to use energy from the grid, they need to pay the same fair market rate everyone else does.”
These facilities also increase GHG emissions because many of them, such as the Greenidge facility, operate by burning fracked natural gas. While the Greenidge facility is powered entirely by fossil fuels, the TeraWulf’s data center will be partially powered by renewable energy.
Terawulf has attempted to address concerns about greenhouse gas emissions by saying that the data center will be partially powered by a 67-megawatt solar farm adjacent to the facility. The company has said that it plans on powering the facility with 138 megawatts of renewable energy, leaving 262 megawatts to be powered by unspecified means, which will likely include fossil fuels.
While the data center will be partially powered by renewable energy, Kelles said that the solar farm that will be used to power the facility was supposed to generate power for the community, but that it will now be diverted to the data center.
“We’re getting a solar field, but none of the energy will benefit our system because it will all be directed to this facility,” Kelles said. She said this means more renewable energy infrastructure will need to be built in order to meet the state’s clean energy goals.
Kelles is concerned the state will rely more on nuclear power to meet both the clean energy goals it’s behind on and the energy demand of data centers.
“I'm hearing concerns from residents that they are going to, out of the blue, put forward a proposal to put a small nuclear plant on the property,” Kelles said. “People should be very concerned.”
According to Kelles, “the state's draft energy plan explicitly highlights nuclear energy […] as part of engineering a diverse, clean and reliable energy portfolio.” She added that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) is gathering stakeholder input to assess the feasibility of advanced nuclear technologies.
TeraWulf’s data center was the main topic of a contentious conversation at a recent Lansing Town Board public hearing held on Sept. 22. During the hearing, residents and representatives from TeraWulf discussed whether the Town Board should pass a year-long moratorium on large-scale development in Lansing, which would temporarily halt TeraWulf’s plans to move forward with building the data center. The board moved the final vote on the moratorium to their October meeting.
Representatives from TeraWulf urged the board to oppose the moratorium, saying it unfairly targets the data center. They added that the project would have a positive impact on the local economy by creating 500 temporary construction jobs, 100 permanent jobs, and investing $400 million into the redevelopment of the site that has sat vacant since 2019. The board, however, said the moratorium isn’t intended to target the data center but rather pause large-scale development as the town updates its zoning laws to align with its comprehensive plan, which was last updated in 2018.
Town of Lansing Supervisor Ruth Groff said that the town has faced delays in updating their zoning laws since approving the new comprehensive plan, but tthe $100,000 Smart Growth Community Grant it received in 2024 helped start the process. Groff said that the board awarded the consulting contract for the zoning rewrite project to Colliers Engineering & Design during its Sept. 17 meeting. She added, “now that the process is officially underway, the board is discussing whether to move forward with this moratorium.”
While some residents opposed the moratorium, believing the data center would benefit the community, a number of locals supported the moratorium due to concerns of how data centers will affect the environment and local energy prices. Others opposed the moratorium for temporarily halting both commercial and industrial development, saying it should be amended to exclude commercial development so small businesses wouldn’t be negatively impacted.
The board will now consider whether or not to vote on the moratorium as is, or if it will make changes to the law in response to public comments. If any changes are made, the board will have to hold another public hearing for residents to provide comments before a final vote is made.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law establishing a two-year moratorium on proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining in 2022, which expired at the end of 2024. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) just finished accepting public comment on its Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS), which will lay out how the state will regulate cryptocurrency mining data centers.
The DGEIS states that it “aims to consider potential environmental impacts of [proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining], as well as the social costs and benefits to host communities.” According to the DGEIS, there are currently 11 cryptocurrency mining facilities throughout the state, but it's difficult to know how many of these facilities are using proof-of-work or proof-ofstake mining, which is less energy intensive.
“The publicly available data do not include the validation method so therefore it cannot be reliably ascertained whether a CMO is utilizing PoW to validate blockchain transactions,” stated the DGEIS. “CMOs are not currently obligated to report their electrical demand and therefore detailed usage information for PoW CMOs is not publicly available.”
The DGEIS stated that the 11 facilities derive a majority of their power from the state's energy grid as opposed to having an on-site power source, meaning that these facilities are diverting energy away from powering local communities and towards corporations seeking to capitalize on the artificial intelligence market. The facilities have a total electric demand of approximately 7.7 TWh, and grid-connected operations account for 6.1 TWh while facilities that use on-site energy generation account for just 1.6 TWh.
The DGEIS added, “Total estimated GHG emissions from the known facilities is estimated at 3 million metric tons (MMT) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year.”
Kelles said she is working on a bill requiring data centers to regularly report their energy usage, including the types of energy used, greenhouse gas emissions, waste heat, water usage, water pollution, and labor practices. It would also prevent data centers and utility companies from making power purchase agreements.
Yvonne Taylor, vice president of nonprofit Seneca Lake Guardian and co-founder of the National Coalition Against Cryptomining, has urged the DEC to finalize its environmental impact statement so the
Continued on Page 23
Food co-ops are about more than bulk granola and essential oils. We’re about local, democratic ownership, community food security and solidarity with workers across the supply chain.
By Steve Lawrence
Just for fun, every September on my “Ithaca Times Anniversary Day,”
(which was last week), I crunch the numbers to figure out how many weekly columns I have submitted in my 33-year tenure. The number is around 1,700, and if I am honest, there have been some stories that I wrote after a phone conversation, given I felt no real need to attend the event. This week's story is not one of those. This time, I just had to be there to watch my friend Brenda cross the finish line at the Second Annual Run for Gold 5K, which was held to raise money for T-Burg Takes On Pediatric Cancer.
Many Ithacans know Brenda Michaud, as she worked at Cayuga Med for many years before finishing off her career in
Rochester. She was a regular at local races, and triathlons, and she is not shy about saying “I treated my body like a temple my whole life.” Those of us who know Brenda were well aware of that, and it added to our sense of disbelief when she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma on Valentine's Day in 2018. Since then, watching her journey through the ensuing peaks and valleys has been deeply inspiring.
I caught up to Brenda at race registration on Sunday, and as she pinned on her number, I asked her if it was okay to share the age group in which she would be competing. She laughed, pointing to the race bib and said, “It’s written right here! There’s no reason to try to hide it... I’m 63!”
Race Director Lindsay Hart told me that there were 103 registrants, and five age groups. She shared some details about
the organization's connection with the Golisano Children's Hospitals in Syracuse and Rochester, and how T-Burg Takes on Pediatric Cancer works help families whose finances are strained by the challenges brought on by their childrens’ cancer treatments. Tina Sherwood — the co-owner of Spruce Row Campground, where the event was held — serves as the agency’s Family Liason, and she told me, “We give $2,500 for each family’s first request, and we have gone back to help again
as other bills (utilities, travel expenses, etc.) mount.” (Since its inception in 2010, T-Burg Takes on Pediatric Cancer has raised over $550K.)
As is the case at so many of these fund raising races, there was a range of competitors — from the fastest guy, who hit the tape around the 17:30 mark — to some leisurely walkers and joggers who pushed baby strollers. Brenda crossed the line
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH
9:00AM-1:00PM
EMPLOYERS ON SITE:
By Maddy Vogel
The readers voted, and we listened. The Ithaca Times is proud to announce this year’s winners of Best of Ithaca, its annual readers’ poll. After receiving hundreds of responses across several weeks of voting, readers have crowned the best of the best in over 20 categories.
A bar venue beneath
a membership-supported “community listening room.”
From open mic nights to jazz jams, this venue has something for every Ithacan with a jam-packed calendar full of community events. The venue serves as an essential platform for local performers, whether they're just starting out or are already well-established.
Twice-Poet Laureate for Tompkins County, Zee Zahava is the director of Painted Parrot
Writing Studio in the DeWitt Mall, along with being a literary consultant and writing coach. Having led writing circles for adults and teens since 1994, Zahava has brought her years of experience in the publishing world to many Ithacan writers.
Zahava was voted Best Local Poet this year in Best of Ithaca.
A staple at any Ithaca-area festival with musical performances, Fall Creek Brass Band’s distinctive sound is one that any Ithacan would recognize. With a blend of New Orleans street music with funk, jazz, pop and rock-and-roll, this isn’t the first time the band has won this category in Best of Ithaca. Their big green sousaphone can be seen from a distance, bringing in listeners who enjoy their mix of original tunes, New Orleans classics and brassy pop arrangements.
“We’re so grateful to our Ithaca community for showing us so much love and support over the years!” the band’s Music Director Alec Staples said in a statement to the Ithaca Times. “The energy of the audience is what fuels our music and keeps us going, and we’re so proud to call Ithaca home. It's such an honor to be named Best Local Band, and we can’t wait to keep the party going!"
Now a staple of Ithaca’s West End, Flake is a handcrafted viennoiserie that operates out of the Just Be Cause center. Its small batch pre-order only croissants use local and regional ingredients and are crafted by Owner Max Hull, a native Ithacan and a James Beard Award-nominated chef. His wife, Claudia Mak, assists with the customer-facing side of the small bakery’s operations.
“We are so thrilled and humbled to be recognized by our community as Ithaca's best new business, and are delighted our croissants and pastries have been so well received,” Hull said in a statement to the Ithaca Times. “Flake is the culmination of years of dreaming, planning, and practice, and it means so much to have made an impact in such a short time. We are so excited for the future, and to continue to contribute to Ithaca's evolving food scene.”
A nonprofit aiming to enhance community, economy and the environment, Finger Lakes ReUse sells a plethora of secondhand clothing, furniture, building materials, computers, electronics, household goods, appliances and more. They operate two locations, one on Elmira Road and one in Triphammer Marketplace, redirecting material that would otherwise go to landfills to the homes of local crafters, diyers and thrifters.
The store operates several valuable community programs, including ReSET Technology, a career training program for those looking to get into the IT field. It assists with some local home deconstruction efforts to save materials that would otherwise be destroyed in the demolition process. Among other programs, the ReUse operates the Ithaca Fixers Collective, a weekly gathering where residents can learn how to fix and repair household items.
GreenStar, a routine winner in Best of Ithaca, has brought home the title for Best LocallyOwned Store yet again. The community-owned grocery co-op has over 13,000 member-owners and three locations across Ithaca.
The business has been community-owned since 1971. It hosts a variety of community events and programs that ensure equitable access to the fresh, locally-focused products the stores offer, including the FLOWER Food Access Program and Double Up Food Bucks NY.
Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine is located in the heart of downtown and has been a staple in Ithaca’s downtown food scene for years. The restaurant brings a taste of Ethiopia to Ithaca with its scratch-made and freshly prepared traditional dishes. Now a fixture in the restaurant scene, Hawi has been feeding the mouths of Ithacans and visitors for a decade now. With vegetarian offerings and a spice level indicator on each of the menu’s dishes, Hawi is well-prepared for any palate that walks through its doors.
Moosewood, a local iconic vegetarian eatery, first put Ithaca on the culinary map in the 1970s. Its distinctive and globally-recognized cookbooks, of which over 5 million copies have been sold, have served as “the global guide to vegetable-forward eating.”
First started as a cooperatively operated venture in 1973 and later an employee collective, Moosewood is currently owned by Danica Wilcox, the daughter of a long-time collective member and an Ithaca native.
Moosewood’s cookbook recipes are internationally recognized, having brought vegetarian food into the American mainstream. Having been at its location since it was first established, the restaurant is a must-visit for anyone in the area.
Routinely the winner for Best Pizza in the reader’s poll, Franco’s Pizzeria serves up authentic thin-crust pizza from noon to 9 p.m. every day on W. State Street. With a simple menu and build-your-own options, all of Franco’s dough and sauces are vegan. The pizzeria also serves calzones, stromboli, garlic knots and cannoli.
You’ve probably seen the bright teal truck around town — it’s Babe’s Burger, a company that first established its roots in Hector along Seneca Lake and has rapidly grown in popularity among Ithacans in recent years. Established amid COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, Babe’s first came to Ithaca in 2023 after purchasing its iconic food truck and partnering with Northstar Public House. Now, the truck can be seen in various spots across town, serving up its locally-famous burgers and fries regularly on West Green Street and the Ithaca Five & Dime on the West End.
With multiple locations across Ithaca, Ithaca’s only employee-owned cooperative coffee company has won Best Coffee Shop in this year’s Best of Ithaca poll once again. Founded in 2000, Gimme celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
Gimme! Coffee is more than your traditional cafe; it’s a specialty coffee roaster and
retailer that sells over a dozen different blends of coffee. It also donates 3% of all sales in its Rally Blends series to local nonprofits, grassroots organizations and producer partners. Past program partners include The Youth Farm Project, Open Doors English, Ithaca Welcomes Refugees, St. John’s Community Services, Sister Song and the New York Abortion Access Fund.
Blending traditional Italian and Finger Lakes region fare, Gola Osteria’s elegant dishes have brought it the title for Best Fancy Restaurant. With a menu full of homemade pasta, sauces and seasonal ingredients, coowners Sam Epps and Kami Drake brought their years of industry experience and impressive culinary backgrounds back to their
Ithaca roots when they established the restaurant in 2014.
Gola Osteria is a hidden gem of Ithaca’s restaurant scene. Located inside the historic Quarry Arms building, it pairs dishes with a curated Italian and Finger Lakes wine list and a rotating selection of cocktails.
By Jake Sexton
Did you know that the Ithaca Mall—long before it became a quiet home to dwindling big-box stores—was nearly never built at all? This week’s spotlight is placed firmly on the unpopular ruling of State Supreme Court Justice, Frederick Bryant, and the approval of Pyramid Mall’s construction in Lansing near Triphammer Road.
First referenced in Issue No. 66 of the Ithaca Times, published March 10, 1974, the article titled “Downtown Business Has the Jitters, And Pyramid is the Reason Why” by Alan MacRobert details Pyramid Corporation’s first motion to acquire the necessary building and land permits to begin the development of the Pyramid Mall. As outlined by MacRobert, the development proposal was met with community backlash, particularly from local officials.
Former Mayor Conley and then-city planner, Matthys Van Cort, expressed deep concern throughout the permitacquisition process, primarily due to downtown development being the foundation of Mayor Conley’s re-election campaign. Additionally, as noted by Ralph Jordon, then-president of Ithaca’s Chamber of Commerce, Pyramid’s plans were made apparent to the Town of Lansing but not shared with Ithaca’s city council, drawing concerns that Pyramid had already decided and researched the development without the input of Ithacans.
Competition for local businesses and economy was a primary concern of Ithacans across the board. As outlined in the article, similar large-scale shopping complexes implemented in nearby cities have drastically altered the landscape of towns like Utica and Cortland. MacRobert acknowledges a drastic drop in property value observed in Utica due to its own Pyramid shopping center project, as well as local business being completely gutted by the Cortlandsville Mall in Cortland. If these financial hardships made their way to Ithaca in lieu of a massive retail mall in Lansing, the city may become permanently burdened and face harsh economic downturn.
As months passed, conversations about the Pyramid Mall slowly died down. But during the week of Sept. 14th, 1975, the
aforementioned Judge Bryant “cleared the way” for the Pyramid Shopping mall’s completion.
The sudden ruling came as a shock to many Ithacans and Lansing residents alike resulting in an immediate public outcry. Both Mayor Conley and Lansing Mayor Seymour Smidt, expressed major concerns that the mall would cause "irreparable damage” to the community after its completion in 1976, stressing the already “inflexible” amount of sales tax revenue being generated already. Smidt believed that
the Ithaca Commons could not coexist alongside Pyramid’s new complex, pulling business and tax revenue away from downtown.
In addition to economic concerns brewing amongst Ithacans, Lansing locals living along Triphammer Road shared discontent with the long-term construction project so close to home alongside growing concerns of a massive influx of traffic. The Lansing local’s tax dollars were to be allocated for the construction necessary for Triphammer Road, prompt-
ing the Village of Lansing, a subdivision of the local town government, to attempt to revoke the permit with a lawsuit. This suit was struck down by Judge Bryant, ultimately paving the path forward for Pyramid despite local pushback.
But what came of the Pyramid Mall? Did it destroy the Commons economy like Mayors Conley & Smidt anticipate? Upon the Mall’s opening in 1976, backlash continued. For the year following this week’s issue, there were continuous references to community concern about the mall’s development and its impact on the Commons. In Issue No. 138 from Dec. 14, 1975, kicked off the city's “Boycott Pyramid” movement, a last ditch effort to delay and even overturn the mall’s construction. Issue No. 169 on Aug. 15, 1976, outlined the significant benefits the Commons provided over the Pyramid Mall.
The towns remained restless over the afflictions the mall may bring upon its arrival. But Thomas J. Martin’s comprehensive economic analysis of the Ithacan Economy from Sept. 1999 connotes that only three major retailers relocated to the Pyramid Mall and Triphammer Road community following the mall’s grand opening, with a majority of downtown merchants staying firmly planted within the Commons. Although this diverted direct business and sales tax away from local merchants, the overall sales tax of the city saw an excess of $60,000 in tax revenue generated from the mall compared to initial projections. It is important to note, however, that 55% of the mall falls outside of Ithaca’s city limits, and that a majority of tax revenue generated came from bringing students from Cornell University and Ithaca College into the newly developed Commons. Additionally, Martin highlights the Commons’ shift from a retail district to dining, cafes, specialty retail and entertainment after shopping at the Pyramid Mall boomed in the 1980s. As reported by Martin, approximately 55% of retail shopping was conducted outside of the city’s Commons district, with a vast majority falling alongside Triphammer Road.
In terms of the fears surrounding dwindling sales tax revenue, the town adapted and adjusted accordingly as
By Maddy Vogel
This year, the Ithaca Waldorf School (IWS) launched a new program focused on providing healthy, locally-sourced meals to the school community. Similar programs, focusing on child nutrition and agricultural education, are spreading locally and nationally.
The new Farm-to-Table lunch program launched on Sept. 8. Under the program, students are served plant-forward meals with dairy and meat options on the side. Meals are also served alongside a salad bar featuring seasonal vegetables, with simple and nutritious desserts like fresh fruit.
The program is led by Melissa Hoffman, a chef with 30 years of culinary experience and training in Macrobiotic cooking and herbal nutrition.
Students at IWS in grades 1-8 will plant, tend and harvest vegetables on the school’s farm through the Farm and Land Stewardship program. The harvest will then be served as a part of the school meals.
IWS Farm Teacher Melanie Ryan said the program brings the teaching full circle.
“When students dig potatoes from the soil or pick beans off the vine, and then see
continued from page 13
about a minute over her target time, but it was north of 80-degrees, and a look back at her journey over the past 7 years compels me to give her a break on the slower time. I asked her to remind me what that roller coaster has been like, and she said, “I had an Autologous stem cell transplant 2018, and that got me 4 years of remission. I then had a Carvykti, Tcell transplant 2023, and I was told in 2024 that if I did not get a Allogeneic stem cell transplant, I had 3 months to live. I did that, and I have been in remission for 19 months.”
The most recent procedure involves a beautiful Circle of Life component, as the bone marrow Brenda received was donated by her daughter, Kendra. In Brenda’s words, “I brought her into the world, and
them appear in lunch the next day, they connect in a direct and meaningful way to the cycle of food and farming’” Ryan said in a press release. “It’s an experience that stays with them.”
Farm-to-table lunch programs have taken root in schools across the region.
Tompkins Seneca Tioga BOCES operates a Farm to School program which encourages students to participate in school meal preparation and connects schools in the area to the local food system.
“Through Wellness focused institutional guidance, humans can become healthier and are more likely to succeed in their personal, professional, and educational efforts,” the program’s mission statement reads.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farm to school programs serve healthy meals which help improve child nutrition, provide agricultural education opportunities and encourage students to establish positive relationships with food.
According to the USDA’s 2023 Farm to School Census, there was a 61% increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables in meals for schools with farm to school programs, encouraging students to consume healthier foods.
now I have her immune system.”
Brenda shared how grateful she is “to be back running after I couldn’t even walk.”
She added, “This 19 months of remission with no chemo is simply joyous.” She leaned over and planted a kiss on the forehead of Wesley, her I year-old grandson, and said, “I’m so happy to have my life back.”
More info about T-Burg Takes on Pediatric Cancer can be found at tburgtakeson.com.
Also set up at the event was Christopher’s Challenge, a non-profit that works to facilitate bone marrow transplants.
Kathy Costello, whose son, Christopher, was saved by a bone marrow transplant in 1998, was, 27 years later, passionately swabbing away, getting results into the database to find donor/recipient matches, trying her best to save more lives.
Please visit www.christopherschallenge. org.
IWS said the school has begun partnering with local farms to source local produce for the school meals.
“We want our students to understand where their food comes from and to experience the difference that local, seasonal produce makes, both in flavor and in health,” said Laura Hayes, School Director. “By partnering with local farmers and cultivating food on our own land, we’re not only providing excellent meals
continued from page 18
commercial districts in both the Commons and along Triphammer Road grew to accommodate the markets they best fit. The pandemic significantly impacted not only both Ithaca and Lansing, but the nation as a whole. As the state currently works to rebound in all walks of life postpandemic, a multitude of revenue sources have become vital to the state and city’s survival. A September 2024 budget report from Tompkins County found that sales tax revenue only accounted for 1.5% of its budget in 2022, but have dropped below 11% of the budget projections as of last summer, attributing “COVID, a cooling labor market, slowing wage growth and moderating inflation” as major factors contributing to dwindling sales growth in
but also teaching children about sustainability, community, and care for the earth.”
According to the release, the program reflects IWS’ broader mission to integrate academics with practical life skills, creativity and environmental stewardship.
“This is about more than lunch,” Hayes said. “It’s about raising a generation that values health, community, and the earth that sustains us.”
recent years. As of these 2024 projections, the county anticipates a $200,000 decrease in actual sales tax from 2024 by the end of this year.
As of today, we no longer know the Pyramid Mall by its original name. Highlighted in a 2007 article from The Lansing Star, the mall rebranded to “The Shoppes at Ithaca Mall” to kickoff not only the introduction of the new Regal Cinema, but also in part due to dwindling sales and foot traffic travelling through the commercial district. The new iteration of the mall also came with the removal and replacement of a myriad of anchor locations which first opened with the mall. In Ithaca, the Commons we know today still remains bustling with foot traffic and local storefronts, restaurants, entertainment and more to accommodate the local community.
By Clement Obropta
In “One Battle After Another,” writerdirector Paul Thomas Anderson shows us America as it is, and America as it should be. The film depicts police raids on Latino-owned businesses in a sanctuary city, undercover cops throwing Molotov cocktails to escalate a protest into a violent beatdown, and a secret cabal of überpowerful and deeply weird white supremacists who run the country. But it also shows us armed resistance, anti-fascists liberating detained families at the border, and a community joining forces to protect its most vulnerable.
Few major Hollywood films have the temerity to show such a brutal and realistic depiction of our country. Not only does Anderson present a recognizably twisted America, but he also expertly crafts an epic around the nation’s past, the present, and the future — exemplified by Leonardo DiCaprio’s skittish, paranoid father Bob; the lunatic racist Col. Lockjaw; and Bob’s rebellious, strongheaded daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti).
The plot follows Bob, once a skilled explosives expert with the fictional underground militant organization the French 75, loosely modeled on real-life anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist groups like Weather Underground or the Black Liberation Army. After his partner, Perfidia Beverly Hills (a magnetic Teyana Taylor), gets caught and names names, Bob takes his and Perfidia’s daughter, Willa, into hiding, and now spends his days in a shack in the woods smoking weed and watching “The Battle of Algiers” while his daughter tries to lead a normal life. Of course, the past catches up to them, and they’re soon running off into the night.
The story bobs and weaves with alacrity and precision across decades of history and through a dozen-plus fascinating characters, the kind of high-wire storytelling Anderson hasn’t really delivered since “Boogie Nights” or “Magnolia.” It’s funny, too, even if the trailers oversell it — DiCaprio’s turn as the perpetual-
“One Battle After Another”
Rated R
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Currently playing at Cinemapolis and Regal Ithaca Mall
120 E Green St., Ithaca and 40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca
ly-on-the-backfoot Bob is classically slapstick, and his iconic fever-pitch, voice-cracking delivery perfectly captures Bob’s manic determination to protect his daughter, even if he has no idea how to do it and has forgotten most of his resistance code words. Bob spends much of the middle of the film running around town in a ratty bathrobe, high out of his mind, and trying to find a place to charge his phone, like if The Dude from The Big Lebowski tripped into an action movie.
The film’s villain, Sean Penn’s Col. Lockjaw, is equal parts monstrous and absurd, with his constipated walk and ears that jut out from his head like the wings of a TIE Fighter. Watching him try to make small talk is terrifying. But Benicio Del Toro, as a martial arts instructor in town who teaches Bob’s daughter, really defines “One Battle After Another.” Whereas Bob crackles and sparks with uncontrolled fury and the righteous anger of a white man who chose to join a guerilla paramilitary resistance organization, Del Toro’s Sensei Sergio is a calm, stoic presence. One gets the sense that Sergio has seen it all, that he’s been stepped on and beaten down by white people and the American government for his entire life, and he channels that passion into action and service to his friends, family, and community.
The film comprises maybe half a dozen lengthy sequences, each edited and scored with tremendous attention to momentum. Anderson’s regular composer, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, helps keep the action engag-
ing, even if it’s just Benicio Del Toro walking around his apartment while DiCaprio screams into his cellphone. The most thrilling sequence in the film, for me, is the introduction, which shows the rise and fall of the French 75 resistance group (with an homage, I’m sure, to the fallout of the Lufthansa Heist in “Goodfellas”). The sequence in total lasts about 30 minutes and is only supplemental to the film’s main plot, yet it communicates more in those 30 minutes than most films do in two hours.
“One Battle After Another” is bold and daring, but it’s definitely not for everyone. DiCaprio’s character is a pretty damn unlikeable hero, especially since he’s a stoned patsy for most of the film, and I couldn’t shake the needling notion that he and Lockjaw are the least interesting people in the story despite being main characters. I also understand the reticence some left-leaning viewers might have to wholeheartedly embrace a film that, at its core, is about white allyship. But those stories are important too — and I’d rather Anderson made this film than a potentially problematic one that centers people from backgrounds he’s unfamiliar with. It contains images I never thought I’d ever see on screen outside of documentaries, from agent provocateur cops to a jailbreak at a border facility. And it does it all with hope for the future, through the relationship of Bob and his daughter, and their optimism for a nobler tomorrow.
Clement Obropta is a film columnist for the Ithaca Times.
Ithaca Times readers voted Odyssey Bookstore, a cozy bookstore nestled in the lower level of a historic building on Ithaca’s West Green Street, as the best. Having opened in June 2020, the bookstore has survived against all odds, triumphing through pandemic woes during a time when bookstores across the country were facing hardships. With a name rooted in Ithaca’s connection to The Odyssey, opening the bookstore was Owner Laura Larson’s longtime dream.
“Thank you so much, Ithaca,” Larson said in a statement to the Ithaca Times. “I'm so grateful to all the amazing people who work and have worked at Odyssey: you made us the bookstore we have become. Thank you to the wonderful local literary institutions who have welcomed us and included Odyssey in celebrating the ways books connect us. And of course, our enormous gratitude for all of our amazing customers. We look forward to seeing you in the store, Ithaca–talking books and finding your next favorite read.”
Eleanor Henderson has been a professor of writing at Ithaca College’s School of Humanities and Sciences for 15 years now, but that’s far from her highest accomplishment. Beyond having written several books, Henderson has written reviews and essays for numerous publications, including The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, All Things Considered, Salon and more. She holds an impressive number of awards and recognitions for her work.
In reaction to being voted Best Local Author, Henderson said, “I've lived in Ithaca for 15 years and it's always felt like home, but I've never felt such a warm sense of belonging as when hearing that my fellow Ithacans recognized me in this way. I'm on my sabbatical in the middle of a long, messy novel, and this news is giving me the faith I need to keep going! I love walking into Buffalo Street Books and the Odyssey and being in such rich company in the Local Authors section. Ithaca truly Is Books.”
It isn’t Yen Ospina’s first time winning this category in Best of Ithaca, The self-taught Indigenous Colombian-American artist and illustrator uses earth tones and ornamental layouts in her murals that can be seen across town. Ospina’s work, particularly in her 2025 series Fragments of Becoming, uses a blend of bold, bright colors to highlight healing, resilience and the beauty found in imperfection.
“I’m honored to receive this award,” Ospina said in a statement to the Ithaca Times. “Art has always been a powerful way to connect, inspire, and create impact, and knowing my work has touched so many means everything. Having my hard work recognized fuels me to keep going and to continue sharing art in as many ways as possible.”
Trumansburg native Anna Kelles is the current Assemblymember for District 125, encompassing Tompkins County and parts of Cortland County. Previously, Kelles has served on the Tompkins County Legislature and created legislation involving public health, affordable housing, immigrants’ rights and more. As an assemblymember, Kelles has championed policies that focus on clean energy, affordable healthcare and education equity. This is the second year in a row that Kelles has been overwhelmingly nominated in this category by her Ithacan constituents.
SOLAZ is one of the Ithaca Farmer’s Market’s dining staples, serving fresh Mexican food for over 30 years. Its Ithaca roots run deep, first starting at the Farmer’s Market in 1989. The business, founded by Kristof Ostlund, once operated a local restaurant called Coyote Loco before rebranding to SOLAZ. Even when the restaurant was bustling, the business remained, and still remains, a staple at the market.
"This is such an awesome honor, thank you very much to everyone who voted!” said SOLAZ’ April West in a statement to the Times. “We adore our community, and our customersthat come from all over- are some of the best in the world. Being able to share our food at the Ithaca Farmers Market, and being surrounded by so many other awesome vendors, is such a real gift. We're thrilled, thank you!"
BEST PLACE TO GO ON A RAINY DAY: Sciencenter
The Sciencenter has been providing the community with entertaining and interactive science education since it began operating out of donated storefronts in 1984. Since then, it has grown to permanently occupy its colorful 32,000 square foot facility, offering a space for play and full of color, even on the rainiest (and snowiest) Ithaca days. It currently offers over 250 interactive science exhibits.
“We’re honored to be named the “Best Place to Go on a Rainy Day” in this year’s Best of Ithaca,” Marketing and Communications Manager Cydney Wixon said in a statement. “Thank you to our community for making the Sciencenter a place where families come together to explore, learn, and play. Your support inspires us every day to spark curiosity and share the joy of science—rain or shine.”
MUSEUM:
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is located on Cornell University’s campus but is open to all, free of charge. The museum first opened in 1973 and has provided the Ithaca community with engaging and thought-provoking collections ever since. Visit the museum solo or join one of the museum’s free guided tours, led by Museum student educators. These 45-60 minute tours can focus on highlights of the permanent collection, special exhibitions or be tailored to a group’s interests, according to the museum’s website.
BEST PLACE TO SWIM: Taughannock Falls State Park
BEST SLOGAN TO REPLACE
This open-ended category is an annual staple in Best of Ithaca. We know that “Ithaca is Gorges” is an irreplaceable motto for our beloved city, but our readers always have a clever and quirky spin on the phrase. Here are some of this year’s favorites:
Most respondents offered up some variation of the classic catchphrase. According to Ithaca Times readers, Ithaca is … Potholes, Community, Dispensaries, High, Kind, Inclusive, Mythical, Expensive, Gentrified, Cold and Unaffordable, among many other adjectives.
Other highlights of this category include: “The Rent's Too Damn High,” “Stop Building, Please,” “Heart of the Finger Lakes,” “Ithaca Welcomes All,” “Where Nature Meets Culture” and another classic – “Ten square miles surrounded by reality.”
Although technically located in Trumansburg (we’ll let it slide), Taughannock Falls State Park is a classic swim spot for Ithacans and visitors alike. Its designated lakefront swimming beach is a great way to beat even the hottest of Ithaca’s summer days. Enjoy a hike on one side of the park to see the picturesque cliff and views of the region’s most recognizable waterfall — three stories taller than Niagara Falls — and then head to the lakefront side of the park for a swim.
Swimming is prohibited in the gorge and on the beach when Harmful Algal Blooms are present, and parking at the park is $10 per day.
NEW CATEGORY FOR BEST OF
Readers had a plethora of suggestions for Best of Ithaca categories, many of which we will be using in future years. Here are a few of our favorites:
Favorite local celebrity; Best Hike; Best Diner, Best Dispensary; Best Bakery; Best Dive Bar; Best Local Brewery; Best Bank; Best Mocktails; Best Theatre; Best Local Beer; Best Mechanic; Best Pothole; Best New Housing Development; Best Bartender; Best Mural.
One reader said, “In a lot of these categories, I think “worst” would be a better metric.” But that would take the fun out of it!
BEST PLACE TO SEE A SUNSET: Sunset Park
It’s hard to beat the view of a sunset from a park that is so aptly named. For the second year in a row, Sunset Park has taken home the Best of Ithaca title for Best Place to see a Sunset. Located on the Western Slope of Cayuga Heights, Sunset Park offers stunning views of the city and Cayuga Lake, particularly when the sun meets the water each evening.
RESTAURANT/BAR WE MISS MOST
Readers have long mourned the loss of restaurants and bars that have shuttered their doors–whether they closed last year or decades ago. Here are some of our readers’ most frequently mentioned nostalgic spots:
Just a Taste; Carriage House; Joe’s Restaurant; Coddington Restaurant; The Range; The Haunt; Chapter House; The Chariot; Benchwarmers; Viva (multiple readers referenced their former location and past “vibes”); Agava; Waffle Frolic.
Thank you all for voting, and we look forward to hearing from you in next year’s Best of Ithaca!
Business, who describes rising costs and creative ways to keep goods affordable. A schoolteacher offers an educational program on budgeting. A local church sponsors a pantry. An artist creates a mural of shared resilience.
Do you see, dear reader? These are not isolated responses. They are a chorus—a
state can move forward with legislation prohibiting data centers from using proofof-work cryptocurrency mining.
“DEC’s DGEIS rightly makes it clear that energy-intensive cryptomining is not a responsible use of energy, whether from fossil fuels or our limited renewable resources supply,” Taylor said. “The most sustainable option laid out is to prohibit Proof of Work cryptomining altogether.”
Taylor said the spread of data centers will create an unsustainable energy demand, making it nearly impossible to meet New York’s climate goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
civic harmony—arising from many voices, many pillars. Through letters to the editor, thoughtful essays, reports from the field, and notices of gathering, we may bring these voices together. Our humble newspaper becomes a civic commons, where the sectors do not speak past one another, but in unison.
A Call from “We” at this family of local newspapers to “You” the People
“Continued growth of these operations would require even more renewable capacity, undermining the very transition we're working toward with the CLCPA,” she said.
The state has quietly backtracked on the clean energy goals set by the CLCPA, claiming that the current political climate is making it more difficult to meet them. Kelles said this doesn’t hold up to scrutiny and that the state has deliberately undermined its own goals by not following through on several aspects of its climate law.
“The state drafted a roadmap for us to achieve the CLCPA. It’s disingenuous to say we’re falling behind because of the current political climate and therefore we are just going to throw it away,” Kelles said.
Let us then embrace this newspaper as more than paper and print. Let it be our instrument of unity, our tool of deliberation, our mirror of conscience and beacon of hope We invite you, residents of every pillar—faith leaders, parents, artisans, teachers, entrepreneurs, poets, and public servants—to share not only your concerns, but your solutions. Tell us what is working in your corner of the world. Submit your stories. Write your truths.
She said that the roadmap included implementing Cap-and-Invest, a program which would set a limit on greenhouse gas emissions while investing in renewable energy infrastructure, but the policy has yet to be implemented.
Kelles added that the New York Build Public Renewables Act passed in 2023 says, “if at any point we find that we are off track to reach our CLCPA goals, the New York Power Authority can step in and add renewable energy infrastructure to get us back on track to meet our goals.” However, Kelles said that this isn’t being done either.
“They’ve put out a proposal, but it hasn’t been funded,” Kelles said. “It is super disingenuous to say that we have to bring back in nuclear and natural gas infrastructure,
Debate with civility and act with resolve. For in participatory democracy, it is not the mighty alone who shape the destiny of nations—but we the people, standing firm upon the Seven Pillars and sustained by the stories of those building something better.
Yours in quiet observation and fervent hope, Silence Dogood
because we’re not reaching our CLCPA goals, if you’re simultaneously hindering implementing the very steps that would get us to reaching our goals.”
Kelles said that if Governor Kathy Hochul released the draft cap and invest regulations when they were supposed to be released and enacted the policy two years ago, the state would have already raised around $5 billion that could have been directly invested into renewable energy infrastructure.
She added that part of the reason why Hochul has refused to implement the policy is due to lobbying from the fossil fuel industry. “There’s tremendous pushback from the industry, because they don’t want to pay for it,” Kelles said.
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(1749–1832). | Johnson Museum of Art, 114 Central Avenue, Ithaca | Free Busking for Justice | 5:30 p.m. | Busking for Justice Series featuring Deep Tones for Peace. To benefit immigrants facing threat of deportation | Cafe Dewitt, 215 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Free POETRY AS SPELLCASTING — POETRY FOR PALESTINE | 5:30 p.m. | Join us at Buffalo Street Books for Poetry as Spellcasting — A Reading For Palestine | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca
Greensprings Garden Club | 10:00 a.m. |
From May to October, volunteer with us as we divide perennials, mulch plantings, plant shrubs, pull weeds, etc. | Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, 293 Irish Hill Rd., Newfield | Free Break for Books Online Book Chat | 12:00 p.m. | Join us on Wednesdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Facebook for a lively discussion about what we’re reading. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca
Midday Music for Organ: Amanda Mole (CU Music) | 12:30 p.m. | “20th-century contemporaries and beyond” featuring the music of Hampton, Alain, Howells, and Mozart. | Sage Chapel Ho Plaza, Ithaca | Free Sarah Smelser-Hodophilia | 1:00 p.m. |
A hodophile is a lover of travel, a wanderer, someone who travels to escape, walks to learn about the world and to repeatedly discover oneself, and the works in this show are inspired by such journeys—from the island of Greece to the hills of California.| The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St, Ithaca | Free Bonnie and Clyde | 2:00 p.m. | Set to a riveting score combining rockabilly, blues, and gospel music, BONNIE & CLYDE is an unmissable, action-packed musical about grabbing the spotlight any way you can. | Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, 6877 E. Lake Road, Auburn | $139.25
Good Grief Circle | 2:00 p.m. | The Age Well Center, 165 Main St., Cortland
Read to Dogs at Newfield Public Library | 3:00 p.m. | Children are invited to the Newfield Library to practice their reading skills by reading to one of the dogs. | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street, Newfield | Free BIPOC Rom. Book Club — Love Is a War Song | 5:00 p.m. | A book club focused on BIPOC authors that write romance and fantasy based on Central America, Mesoamerica, and indigenous cultures! | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Free Open Gender Roller Derby Meet and Greet | 5:00 p.m. | Join members of the Flour City Fear Open Gender Roller Derby League for a meet and greet night at Personal Best Brew-
ing. | Personal Best Brewing, 402 W Green Street, Ithaca | Free LGBTQ+ Youth Group | 5:45 p.m. | Join us at LGBTQ+ Youth Group to do crafts, play games, and socialize. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca
The Writers' Room | 6:00 p.m. | Work on your writing project in the company of other writers. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free Astrology Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | We learn astrology together and would love to have you join us. All knowledge levels welcome. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green Street, Ithaca | Free Can NY Have Affordable AND Clean Energy? | 6:00 p.m. | Learn about the Draft New York State Energy Plan, which looks at the state’s energy needs through 2040 and outlines actions by the state to address energy-related costs, future demand, jobs, and environmental impacts, including pollution and climate change. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free What’s Cookin’ Jazz Trio | 6:00 p.m. | An evening of classic jazz standards | Brookton’s Market, 491 Brooktondale Rd., Brooktondale | Free DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 6:30 p.m. | Join Dave Ashton for a challenging round of “DJ Trivia” at Hopshire Farm and Brewery! | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road, Freeville | Free Trivia! | 7:00 p.m. | Trivia Night with Bob Proehl at Liquid State! | Liquid State Brewery, 620 West Green Street, Ithaca | Free Wednesday Open Mic Night at The Nocturnal Café! | 7:00 p.m. | Free weekly
Wednesday Open Mic night at The Nocturnal Café, Ithaca's nightlife alternative, featuring music, poetry, dance, and more! | The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St., Ithaca | Free CONCERT: Iris DeMent | 8:00 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer Latin Wednesday | 9:00 p.m. | Get ready for the RETURN of LATIN WEDNESDAYS, Ithaca’s longest running and hottest weekly dance party! | The Upstairs, 106 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Two Prominent Businessmen of Homer’s Past: William Brockway & Sig Sautelle | 11:00 a.m. | Homer Historian Martin Sweeney will discuss two of Homer’s more prominent
businessmen of the 19th century. | Cortland County Historical Society at Grace Street, 9 Grace Street, Cortland
Making Connections — One Step at a Time | 12:00 p.m. | Eva M. Capobianco will exhibit her photo-sculptures and books. Susan C. Larkin will display her striking photographic portraits of members of her community.
Regular hours Thursday-Sunday 12-5 p.m. 120 W State St. | State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street, Ithaca | Free
GO ITHACA Open Hours | 2:00 p.m. | Join GO ITHACA for Open Hours at TCPL! | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca
Zalaznick Reading Series: Alumni Freund Reading | 5:00 p.m. | The Department of Literatures in English celebrates the winners of the 2025 Philip Freund Prize for Creative Writing in recognition of excellence in publication. | Rhodes-Rawling Auditorium, Klarman Hall KG70 232 East Ave., Ithaca | Free Hayley & Alexander | 5:30 p.m. | This is a rare treat for Ithaca! Presenting the Alexander Fals + Hayley Dayis duo for South Hill Cider’s Community Concert Series! Local musicians with multi cultural inspirations and fusion of instrumentation. African harps make rhythmic backdrops for original folk, indie, and traditional songs. | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca | Free
Life Skills: Dollars and Decisions | 6:00 p.m. | An engaging 8-week course designed to provide the real-world money skills that kids actually need. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca
Quinn Bedore at Ithaca Beer Taproom | 6:00 p.m. | Quinn is an Americana singer/ songwriter from Upstate New York. Come on by for acoustic alt-country originals. No cover. | Ithaca Beer Taproom, 122 Ithaca Beer Drive, Ithaca | Free
QUEER HORROR BOOK CLUB — CHLORINE | 6:00 p.m. | Join us at Buffalo Street Books with author Jade Song, and our staff member Anamarie, in a book club discussion of Chlorine. | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Free
Matthew Bengtson, fortepiano and John Haines-Eitzen, cello (CU Music) | 7:30 p.m. | Join fortepianist Matthew Bengtson and cellist John Haines-Eitzen for an evening of music by Beethoven. | Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza, Ithaca | Free
Public Sunset Cruise Discover Cayuga Lake | 7:30 p.m. | Enjoy a beautiful once-ina-lifetime sunset on Cayuga Lake! | Allan H.
+ SOUTHWORKS MURAL JAM
SATURDAY, OCT. 4TH AND
SUNDAY, OCT. 5TH, 11 AM – 6 PM
Treman Marina, 805 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca
Family Playgroup - Fall’25 | 9:30 a.m. | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca
Chamber 101: Maximize Your Membership | 9:30 a.m. | Tompkins Chamber 124 Brindley Street, Ithaca | Free Fall Fun Yoga Series | 4:00 p.m. | Children are welcome to join us as we welcome autumn in a yoga series that flows with the seasons! | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca
Book Launch Reading and Signing | 4:00 p.m. | Mimi and Her Daughters by Bridget Dole — Free Event, Refreshments Served. | Library Place, 105 W Court Street, Ithaca | Free Ithaca Gallery Night | 5:00 p.m. | A first Friday event where galleries and venues present new exhibits every first Friday of the month from 5-8 p.m. Ithaca Gallery Night openings are located in downtown Ithaca and Tompkins County. Free and open to the public. Please go to www.ithacagallerynight. com for details. | Ithaca Gallery Night, 171 The Commons, Ithaca | Free Art House Night | 5:00 p.m. | The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St., Ithaca
Latino Civic Association Exhibit Showcasing Talent of Latine Artists | 5:00 p.m. |Join us for a vibrant group exhibition showcasing talented Latine artists from within 100 miles of Ithaca.| Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street, Ithaca
PURPLE: A Group Art Exhibition | 5:00 p.m. | MIX Art Gallery hosts a 28 Artist Exhibition with special guest, Poet Gold s book signing and performance at 7:30! | MIX Art Gallery & Event Space, 156 E. State St. (2nd Floor) , Ithaca | Free
Be the Poem - Living Beyond Our Fears Performance with POET GOLD | 5:00 p.m. | Be the Poem — Living Beyond Our Fears Performance with POET GOLD at MIX Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY | MIX Art Gallery & Event Space, 156 E. State St. (2nd Floor), Ithaca | Free
An Evening at the Goethe House (CU Music) | 5:15 p.m. | In conjunction with the exhibition Margarethe Geibel: The Goethe House Series, travel back in time to 1830s Weimar and the eclectic home of German literary giant Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Gunpoets a | 5:30 p.m. | Join us for the South Hill Cider Golden Hour Music Series! | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca
The Small Kings Trio | 6:00 p.m. | Rock, funk, and jam with soaring harmonies and instrumental fireworks! | Two Goats Brewing, Hector | Free
The Notorious Stringbusters | 6:00 p.m. | The Farm at Hopshire, 1771 Dryden Road, Freeville
Open Season 9 Artist Reception | 6:00 p.m. | The Ithaca Print Commons’ iconic annual exhibition, at the Cherry Gallery for the first time! | The Cherry Gallery, 130 Cherry St., Ithaca | Free
Cornell Chorus and Glee Club Homecoming Concert (CU Music) | 7:00 p.m. | Please join the Cornell Glee Club and Chorus for their annual Homecoming Concert, conducted by Sean Linfors. | Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Ave, Ithaca
Cornell Volleyball vs Harvard University | 7:00 p.m. | Newman Arena at Bartels Hall Ithaca
Cornell Sprint Football vs Chestnut Hill College | 7:00 p.m. | Schoellkopf Field, 513 Campus Rd., Ithaca
Dave Gunning | 7:30 p.m. | Dave has gained a reputation for being a great storyteller and engaging performer who has the profound ability to take listeners on a musical journey through his songs. | 6 On The Square, 6 Lafayette Park, Oxford | $20.00 - $25.00
CONCERT: Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez | 8:00 p.m. | FREE FOR MEMBERS! Must reserve tickets in advance. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer
Cancer Resource Center Walkathon & 5k – Ithaca, NY | 9:00 a.m. | Over 500 people gather to support the mission of the Cancer Resource Center. | Kiwanis Pavilion — Cass Park, 701 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca
Ithaca Mushroom Walks | 10:00 a.m. | Join Ithaca Mushroom Walks monthly in Stewart Park and discover the fascinating world of fungi. | Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Dr., Ithaca | Free
All-Wheels Show | 10:00 a.m. | 8th Annual
All-Wheels Show, Saturday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Central New York Living History Center, 4386 US Rte. 11, Cortland | Free 44th Annual Newark Valley Apple Festival | 10:00 a.m. | Join us on October 4th and 5th for the 44th Annual Newark Valley Apple
Festival. | Bement-Billings Farmstead, 9241 State Route 38, Newark Valley | $5.00 - $7.00
Singsong Music Class with Amy | 10:15 a.m. | SingSong is a fun-filled “class” for little ones and parents/caregivers to enjoy music together in a circle setting. | Lodi Whittier Library, 8484 S Main St., Lodi | Free Farmers Market Cruise Discover Cayuga Lake | 11:00 a.m. | Get the best of both worlds straight off the Ithaca Farmers Market dock! Enjoy the good times of the Farmers Market and Experience Cayuga Lake! | Ithaca Farmers Market, 545 3rd St., Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca LCL Artist Reception with Michelle Verost | 11:00 a.m. | Join us Sat, Oct 4, 11 AM–Noon at Lansing Community Library for the debut of Wish You Were Here by Michelle Verost. Explore a moving blend of photography and haiku, meet the artist, and enjoy light refreshments. | Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Rd., Lansing | Free Murals + SouthWorks Mural Jam | 11:00 a.m. | Join local, regional, and national artists as they simultaneously paint 10 original murals along the exterior walls and doors of a historic factory. Throughout the weekend, muralists will also lead artist talks, community paints, and drop-in workshops. | SouthWorks, 620 S Aurora St., Ithaca | Free Cornell Women's Soccer vs Harvard University | 12:00 p.m. | Berman Field, Cornell Acoustic Saturdays featuring Natalie Poole | 12:00 p.m. | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry
Assemblage and Collage exhibit | 12:00 p.m. | Assemblage and Collage features the works of Jackie Dickinson, Chris Knickerbocker, Carol LaBorie, Rachel Philipson, Mary Reynolds, Michael Sampson, Dee L. Sprague, and Mia Zufall. All using different forms of Assemblage and Collage. | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd., South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca | Free Autumn Still Life Watercolor Workshop | 1:00 p.m. | In this workshop, participants will explore fundamental painting techniques while painting autumn still life scenes. We will learn some basics through various exercises, then dive into still life painting. | Ithaca Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street, Ithaca | $66.00 - $88.00 People's Choice Car Show | 1:00 p.m. | Car Show to support our veterans.Food Trucks, Ice Cream Truck 50/50 raffle, many raffle items | Horseheads American Legion Post, 442 71 Old Ithaca Road, Horseheads | Free Open Season 9 | 1:00 p.m. | The Ithaca Print Commons' iconic annual exhibition, at the Cherry Gallery for the first time | The Cherry Gallery, 130 Cherry St., Ithaca | Free Rock the Nursing Home — the Workshop | 1:30 p.m. | Rock the Nursing Home is a workshop that helps solo musicians learn to perform in nursing homes. | Lansing Area Performance Hall, 1004 Lansing Road, North Lansing | Free
Stories from “1001 Nights” | 2:00 p.m. | Storytelling by Jay Leeming with music by the Calliope Chorus. | The Cherry Artspace, 102 Cherry Street, Ithaca | Free
Come On Out! An LGBTQ+ Fiction Writing Workshop | 2:00 p.m. | Join screenwriter/novelist Elisabeth Nonas for a 3-part workshop at the Library this Fall. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca
Autumn Art for Kids | 2:00 p.m. | Let your imagination soar with local artist and teacher, Stiller Zusman. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Ithaca Men’s Soccer vs Skidmore College | 2:00 p.m. | Carp Wood Field, Ithaca College
Lamar Herrin Book Launch | 2:00 p.m. |
Author Lamar Herrin will read from his new novel, Pure Products.| Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Cornell Football vs Colgate University — Homecoming | 2:00 p.m. | Schoellkopf Field, 513 Campus Rd., Ithaca
Janet Witman Concert | 3:00 p.m. | Janet Witman, a renowned harpist and director of Brandywine Harp Orchestra of Southeastern Pennsylvania, will perform a mix of Celtic, pop, and lite classical solos. Tickets are $10 cash at the door. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer Burlesque Buffet Presents: Shake Your Cans | 5:00 p.m. | Join us for a “free” burlesque show! Your ticket is a donation of nonperishable foods and/or personal care items for our local food pantries! | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville | Free Jon Dember & Friends | 5:00 p.m. | The trio plays americana, folk and topical songs. | Brookton s Market Brooktondale, Brooktondale | Free Cat Video Fest 2025 | 5:30 p.m. | Cat Video Fest returns to Cornell Cinema this weekend!
| Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca
Cornell Volleyball vs Dartmouth College | 6:00 p.m. | Newman Arena at Bartels Hall, Cornell
Cornell Men’s Polo vs Red & White Scrimmage | 6:00 p.m. | Oxley Equestrian Center, Cornell
Cruel Summer, a Tribute to Taylor's Eras Tour | 6:00 p.m. | ALL AGES TICKET (5-8PM) 18+ TICKET (9:30-?) $18 adv/$25 dos CRUEL SUMMER is a live band. | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca
Steve Hackett - Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo | 7:00 p.m. | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St., Ithaca
James Gordon (formerly of Tamarack) | 7:00 p.m. | A true original — Canadian singer/ songwriter with 42 albums, composer for symphonies and musical theatre, world traveler, and community activist. | La La Land Listening Room at The Meetinghouse, 120 Third Street (corner of Third & Madison Streets), Ithaca Ithaca Dances of Universal Peace — September Circle | 7:15 p.m. | The Dances of Universal Peace are an interfaith spiritual practice using music and movement. | First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, 306 North Aurora Street, Ithaca | Free Latino Civic Association's Hispanic Heritage Month Drag Show | 7:30 p.m. |
Burlesque Show 18+ . A dazzling evening of drag and burlesque celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month featuring local performers from the Upstate New York region. | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street, Ithaca | $15.00 - $30.00
CONCERT: Blue Avenue featuring Mark Doyle & Joanna Nix | 8:00 p.m. | Blue Wave’s 40th Anniversary Concert.| Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer Farming for Freedom Trail Freedom Weekend | Two days of celebration, shared dinner, and presentations, and activities at each farm. | Various Farms in and around Ithaca, NY Ithaca
The Standing Forest: A Gayogohó:nǫˀ Perspective | 10:00 a.m. |Enjoy a walk on a new path near Lighthouse Point and learn about trees from a Gayogohó:nǫˀ perspective with audio recordings about nine indigenous trees by Stephen Henhawk, Gayogohó:nǫˀ otahyǫ:ni: (Wolf Clan) | Trees Up Tompkins at Lighthouse Point Lighthouse Point trail on the north end of Newman Municipal Golf Course, Ithaca | Free 4th Annual Heritage Fiesta | 11:00 a.m. | Get ready for a vibrant celebration at the 4th Annual Heritage Fiesta. | Press Bay Alley & Court, 110-118 W. Green St., Ithaca
Bluegrass Jam | 12:00 p.m. | 1st Sunday of every month at The Watershed! | The Watershed, 121 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Ithaca
Grillin' & Chillin' & Bingo Thrillin’ | 12:00 p.m. | Join us every Sunday for a grillin' menu as well as chillin’ on the property while you play bingo! | Treleaven Winery, 658 Lake Rd., King Ferry | Free
ALMANAC: A MURMURATION | 1:00 p.m. |
Join Christine Gelineau for observations on the intersections between real life, stories, and the natural world in this contemplative memoir.
| Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca
Ithaca Field Hockey vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 1:00 p.m. | Higgins Stadium, Ithaca
Interactive World Rhythm and Dance Showcase | 1:30 p.m. | Come experience beats for peace and prosperity as South Asia meets the world in music, rhythm and dance. Learn a few rhythms from around the world with hands-on (and feet-on) participation! Includes Afro-Cuban rhythms with Adolfo and Lisbet, Middle Eastern rhythms with Don, and more TBA. | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd., Ithaca | Free From Ithaca to Palestine — Olive Festival | 2:00 p.m. | Join us from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. for a gathering to celebrate Palestinian culture with baked goods, olive products, artwork ,etc. and fundraise for organizations doing vital work in Palestine. | Southside Community Center, 305 S. Plain St., Ithaca | Free Cornell Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra Concert (CU Music) | 3:00 p.m. | Celebrate Homecoming weekend
with the Cornell Orchestras in a program of music inspired by dance and dramatic motion. | Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Ave., Ithaca | Free October Light: Poetry and Music. The Verb Takes a Walk series | 3:00 p.m. | The Verb Takes a Walk in October light. Come stroll with us through music, original and found | Lansing Area Performance Hall, 1004 Auburn Rd., North Lansing | Free Koans at the End of Life: A Hospice Worker’s Story | 7:00 p.m. | Ithaca Artist’s Monologue ‘Koans at the End of Life’ on Hospice and Healing | Argos Warehouse, 416 East State St., Ithaca | $20.00
DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 7:00 p.m. | Join Dave Ashton for DJ Trivia every Sunday night at Crossroads in Lansing! | Crossroads Bar and Grill, 3120 North Triphammer Road, Lansing | Free
CONCERT: Judith Hill | 8:00 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer
Poetry Reading by Natalie Diaz | 5:00 p.m. | Presented by The American Indian & Indigenous Studies Program Speaker Series & The Department of Literatures in English. Book signing and reception to follow the reading. | Klarman Hall KG70 Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium, Cornell, Ithaca | Free Medicine in the Age of Social Justice Activism | 5:30 p.m. | Is medical training that adopts social justice and advocacy as doctors' primary goals the most effective way to improve the health of the most vulnerable patients? | Statler Hall 198 106 Statler Drive, Ithaca | Free
Mondays with MAQ | 5:30 p.m. | Join us every Monday for cider, food, and live jazz with some of the best local musicians! | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Rd., Ithaca
Student Recital: Tuba and Euphonium Studio Recital | 7:00 p.m. | Hockett Family Recital Hall, IC
Poetry & Prose Open Mic Night | 7:00 p.m. | Come share poetry, prose, share a story, perhaps a brief performance or just to enjoy the night and | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca
CONCERT: An Evening with David Sedaris | 8:00 p.m. | CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St., Homer Ensemble Dal Niente | 8:15 p.m. | Guest recital - free and open to the public. | Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca | Free
10/7 Tuesday
LCL Fall Yoga For Youngsters & Their Families | 10:30 a.m. | Fall Yoga for Youngsters & Families! Join us Tuesdays in October at 10:30 AM at Lansing Community Library for songs, stories, games & yoga fun. Register online at the library’s website! | Lansing Community Library, 27 Auburn Rd., Lansing | Free Reading Together — Katarzyna Bartoszynska | 4:00 p.m. | Join us at Buffalo Street Books for Katarzyna Bartoszynska in conversa-
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH AT 2 PM
Tompkins County Public Library, Ithaca | The
tion with Alexis Becker as we celebrate the release of Reading Together. | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca
Taughannock Live Music Series: Cielle on the Ground| 5:00 p.m. | Inn at Taughannock Falls, 2030 Gorge Rd., Trumansburg Meditation and Mindfulness | 5:00 p.m. | Join Anna Salamone of FireFly Farm Retreat for a monthly meditation and mindfulness practice. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca
Senator Lea Webb's Tompkins County Health Fair | 5:00 p.m. | The public is invited to join Senator Lea Webb and local community partners to learn about health and wellness resources in their community. | Greater Ithaca Activities Center, 301 West Court Street, Ithaca City, NY 14850, Ithaca | Free Food Preservation: Canning Applesauce | 5:30 p.m. | October is a month full of apple bounty! | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca | $15.00 - $35.00 Ithaca Volleyball vs Hartwick College | 6:00 p.m. | Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca College
Ithaca College Students’ Composition Premieres | 7:00 p.m. | World premieres of
composition by Ithaca College Composition students, taught by Nicola Chuaqui and Jorge Grossmann. | Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca | Free
Comic Book Club Meeting- “Astro Boy — the Adventure Continues!” | 7:00 p.m. | We will check out the animated 1980s reimagining of this pioneering, iconic character. Whether you first heard of Astro Boy through the comics or on one of the animated series, decades ago or right this very minute, join in at the meeting on October 7th! | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free Cornell Men’s Soccer vs University of Akron | 7:00 p.m. | Berman Field, Cornell
Certified Group Hypnosis Session | 10:00 a.m. | This transformative series of Certified Group Hypnosis sessions will focus on personal change and the power of the subconscious mind. Led by Lynn Winters, a Certified Hypnosis Practitioner, who will guide participants through a variety of techniques to provide a deeply restorative experience. | Foundation
of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Road, Ithaca | $30.00 - $40.00
Ithaca Men’s Soccer vs Hobart College | 4:00 p.m. | Carp Wood Field, Ithaca College Chinese Bilingual Storytime/ 中英双语故事会 | 4:30 p.m. |Join us for a special Chinese-English bilingual storytime! | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Redd & The Paper Flowers | 6:00 p.m. | This Appalachian Folk / Livingroom Folk band from Knoxville, TN, released their debut album, Appalachian Bell Jar, as a testament to East Tennessee and Greater Appalachia’s beauty and struggles. NO COVER! | Ithaca Beer Taproom, 122 Ithaca Beer Drive, Ithaca | Free Jazz Jam Session with the Marc Devo Quartet | 6:00 p.m. | A jam session for jazz instrumentalists, vocalists, and listeners. | Garrett’s Brewing Company, 1 West Main Street, Trumansburg | Free Trumpet Ensemble and Trombone Troupe Concert | 7:00 p.m. | The Ithaca College Trombone Troupe will be performing a work based on “The Elephants” by Salvador Dalí. | Ford Hall, Ithaca College, Ithaca | Free
will
up. (Photo: Provided)
