09u /m O FFREE R E E // OOCTOBER c t O b E28, R 22026 8 , 2 0/2V6OLUME / V O lLV, u mNEUMBER l I V, N b EuRr 5585 t/hOYe u r a5r 4 t h Y e a r
@ I It thhaaccaa. .ccoom m OOnnl il ni nee@
R O F P N U O I T C E L E f o p r u o f d g un n i o r n n A u r l a s ' c o o l wh d n a e t a st s e c i f of
CORNELL FACULTY PREPARES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE IN LEADERSHIP
COMMON COUNCIL APPOINTS LARA TOMESCU TO 4TH WARD
COUNTY LEGISLATURE, SHERRIFF'S OFFICE PROPOSES SVU
“WILDWOOD”: ENJOY HANDMADE ART BEFORE IT’S GONE FOR GOOD
CORNELL PERFORMS TWELFTH NIGHT
Built for the Future
Thoughtful design considers not only how a space looks today, but how it will perform, adapt and serve the people who use it for years to come.
A newly completed space has a certain appeal. The finishes are fresh, the details are crisp, and the design comes together just as envisioned. It’s a moment worth celebrating. But the real test of a building begins after that moment. ➢ How will the kitchen function after years of family meals? ➢ Will the flooring withstand daily wear? ➢ Can a home accommodate changing needs without requiring a major renovation? ➢ Will the materials age gracefully, and will the systems behind the walls remain accessible for maintenance and repair? These questions may not be the first ones that come to mind when planning a building or renovation project. Yet they can have as much influence on long-term satisfaction as the choices that shape its initial appearance. In our previous essay, The Decisions You Don’t See, we explored the hundreds of choices that come together to create a finished space. Many of those decisions have an impact that extends well beyond the construction process. Thoughtful design doesn’t stop at completion. It considers what happens next.
Looking Beyond the Immediate Result It’s natural to focus on what a project will look like when it’s finished. After all, the vision for a new kitchen, a renovated home or a reimagined workplace often begins with an image of the desired result. But appearance is only one measure of success. A space must also function well, withstand everyday use and remain practical to maintain. The materials, systems and layout should work together to support the people who use the building, not simply make a good first impression. Consider flooring. The right choice depends on more than color and texture. The amount of foot traffic, exposure to moisture, ease of cleaning and potential for repair all influence how well a material will perform over time. The same principle applies to cabinetry, countertops, windows, roofing and mechanical systems. A product’s initial cost tells only part of its story. Its useful life, maintenance requirements and eventual replacement costs also matter. Thinking about these factors early allows clients and their project teams to evaluate the full picture before committing to a decision. The goal isn’t always to choose the most expensive material or the most elaborate solution. It’s to choose what makes sense for the building, the budget and the people who will live or work there. 2
Partner Owners: Chris Willett, Gideon Stone & Mike Barnoski
Durability Is About More Than Strength Durability is often understood as the ability to withstand wear and tear. That’s certainly part of it, but lasting quality involves more than choosing materials that are difficult to damage. It’s also about selecting products suited to their intended use, detailing them properly and considering how they will respond to moisture, sunlight, temperature changes and everyday activity. Even excellent materials can underperform when they’re installed incorrectly or used in the wrong setting. Conversely, a well-chosen, properly installed material can provide years of reliable service without demanding unnecessary attention. Good planning also considers what happens when something eventually needs repair. ➢ Can a damaged component be replaced without disturbing an entire assembly? ➢ Will important systems be accessible? ➢ Are there practical ways to maintain the building without undertaking costly work each time a problem arises? These details may be largely invisible on completion day, but they can make a meaningful difference over the life of a building.
Designing for Change Buildings are rarely used in exactly the same way forever. A growing family may need different spaces than it did a decade earlier. A room that once served as a formal dining area might become a home office. An aging homeowner may value easier movement through the house, better lighting or fewer barriers between rooms. Commercial and community spaces face similar changes as work patterns, technology and organizational needs evolve. No design can anticipate every possibility. But thoughtful planning can make a building more adaptable. That might mean considering flexible room arrangements, allowing for future electrical or data needs, planning storage more effectively, or avoiding unnecessary barriers to changing how a space is used. Sometimes adaptability comes from a relatively simple decision made early in the process. A little additional planning today may preserve options that would be expensive or disruptive to create later. This doesn’t mean designing for every imaginable future scenario. It means
THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
asking reasonable questions about how needs might change and identifying opportunities to accommodate them without compromising the project at hand. A building that can evolve with its occupants has a better chance of remaining useful, comfortable and relevant over time.
Maintenance Is Part of the Design Maintenance is rarely the most exciting part of a building project. Yet it is one of the most predictable aspects of owning and operating a property. Every building requires care. Finishes need attention, equipment needs servicing, and components eventually wear out. The choices made during design and construction can influence how much effort and expense that care will require. Some materials are easier to clean or repair than others. Some building details provide better protection against moisture. Some systems are easier to inspect and service because they were planned with access in mind. Understanding these differences helps put initial costs into perspective. A lower purchase price may be attractive, but the broader question is whether the choice offers good value over its expected life. Equally, spending more upfront isn’t automatically the better decision. The right answer depends on performance, maintenance, longevity and the client’s priorities. This is where informed guidance matters. Clients shouldn’t have to become experts in every product or construction detail. They should, however, have a clear understanding of the important trade-offs and the reasons behind the recommendations they receive.
Making Better Use of What Already Exists Building for the future doesn’t always mean building something new. Existing homes and other structures contain materials, craftsmanship and character that may be worth preserving. When a renovation is being considered, it can be useful to ask what is working well, what needs improvement and what can be adapted to meet new requirements. Retaining a sound feature may reduce waste and avoid unnecessary expense. Improving an existing layout may solve a practical problem without requiring a complete reconstruction. Repairing a durable component may make more sense than replacing it simply because something newer is available. These decisions require a careful
assessment of the building’s condition and the goals of the project. Not everything old should be preserved, and not every new solution is an improvement. The opportunity lies in understanding what the building already offers and making considered choices about what comes next. Extending the useful life of a building, selecting materials thoughtfully and planning for maintenance can all contribute to a more responsible use of resources.
The Future Begins With Today’s Questions No one can predict exactly how a building will be used ten, twenty or thirty years from now. Materials and technologies will change. Families and businesses will face new circumstances. Unexpected repairs will sometimes be unavoidable. But uncertainty is a reason to plan thoughtfully, not a reason to plan only for the present. At Trade Design Build, we believe the strongest projects begin with a clear understanding of what matters to the client and a willingness to consider how today’s decisions will affect tomorrow’s experience. That means looking beyond the immediate visual result, weighing the practical implications of material choices, considering maintenance and repair, and recognizing where flexibility may provide lasting value. It also means understanding that every project involves choices. Budgets are finite, priorities differ, and no single solution is right for every situation. The objective is to make those choices with the best available information and a clear sense of what the project is meant to accomplish. A well-designed space should feel right when it’s finished. More importantly, it should continue to feel right as life unfolds around it. Because the true measure of a building isn’t simply how it looks on the day the work is completed. It’s how well it serves the people who use it in the years that follow. Build for today. Think about tomorrow.
Sponsored Content / Independent Media Production: This content was produced by the Ithaca Times as part of a sponsored media partnership with Trumansburg based Trade Design Build. It is paid promotional content and is separate from the newspaper’s independent editorial coverage www.tradedesignbuild.com.
NEWSLINE
Tompkins County Proposes Special Victims Unit in Response to Sexual Violence By Mikayla Rovenolt The Tompkins County Sheriff ’s Office and Tompkins County Legislature have proposed a Special Victims Unit (SVU) designed to improve how sexual assault and child abuse cases are investigated and how survivors are supported across the county.
Under the proposal, the Sheriff ’s office would house a dedicated unit staffed with specially trained investigators, an evidence and forensic services specialist, a supervising lieutenant, a civilian case coordinator, a dedicated prosecutor, and an embedded victim advocate.
According to a press release, the proposal follows significant public concern after a recent Cornell University case and has prompted questions about how sexual assault investigations occur in the context of a complex countywide system.
The SVU would be available as a collaborative service, enabling smaller agencies to access investigative capacity they may not have. The SVU would also support larger agencies through shared standards, training, and resources. According to the sheriff ’s office, agencies could choose to embed investigators within the SVU through formal agreements.
At the Oct. 20 legislature meeting, Sheriff Derek Osborne said that the SVU concept is “a service, not a mandate, not a takeover, and not a criticism of any agency or investigator.” The press release stated that the unit represents an opportunity to strengthen coordination in a decentralized environment where municipal, state, and campus law enforcement agencies each have different staffing, practices, and resources. “Sexual assault survivors deserve dignity and a strong, coordinated investigative response,” Osborne said. “This proposal asks whether we can provide additional specialized expertise and a more consistent investigative process. It is not about assigning blame or taking over anyone’s work; it’s about asking how we can serve victims better by working together.”
Osborne said in the meeting that this model would only move forward with full collaboration and clearly defined agreements that respect each agency’s statutory responsibilities and operational needs. “Participation and case referrals must be clearly defined, not assumed,” he said. “This is a partnership, not an order.” County leaders also shared that a more unified investigative process could reduce repeated interviews, improve evidence handling and strengthen communication with survivors. According to the press release, many sexual assault reports, especially on campuses, are made to Title IX rather than law enforcement. A professional, trauma?informed SVU could encourage
more survivors to report directly to law enforcement. “This is about improving trust and outcomes for survivors,” Legislature Chair Shawna Black said. “Our community expects us to act, and this plan represents a meaningful step toward a more unified and victimcentered approach.” According to the release, funding for the SVU has not yet been finalized, and the plan remains a proposal. The Sheriff has recommended creating a structured planning group involving the Legislature, Sheriff ’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, County Attorney, Child Protective Services, the Advocacy Center, and interested law enforcement partners, including campus agencies, to review operational, legal, and resource considerations before any formal decisions are made. “Supporting survivors, improving how we respond to sexual violence, and ensuring that victims are treated with dignity and compassion must remain priorities,” Black said during the legislature meeting. “Developing a plan that strengthens our response and better supports victims is an important step forward.” The release said updates will be shared as the proposal moves through the county’s review and decision-making process.
VOL. LV / NO. 09 / October 28, 2026 Serving 47,125 readers weekly
ON THE COVER: General Election 2026: Midterm Ballot Guide for Tompkins County Voters Designed by Zachary Stephens
NEWSLINE..................... 3, 5-7 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR..........................8 SURROUNDED BY REALITY...........................9 TAKE NOTE............................9 COVER STORY.....................10 SPORTS.................................11 ARTS & FILM................. 12-13 PRIME TIMES......................14 TIMES TABLE................. 18-19
ON THE WEB Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 MIKAYLA ROVENOLT, MANAGING EDITOR EDITOR@ITHACATIMES.COM SCOTT MANSON, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER JIM BILINSKI, PUBLISHER EMERITUS JBILINSKI@ITHACATIMES.COM ROY ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS ROY@ITHACATIMES.COM LORIEN TYNE, ASSISTANT EDITOR LORIEN@ITHACATIMES.COM AUSTIN LAMB, COPY EDITOR ALAMB@ITHACATIMES.COM PHILIP O’DELL, REPORTER PHILIP@ITHACATIMES.COM SWAS DASH, ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, CALENDAR EDITOR SD@ITHACATIMES.COM MARK SYVERTSON, PHOTOGRAPHER MARKSYVERTSONPHOTOGRAPHY@GMAIL.COM STEVE LAWRENCE, SPORTS COLUMNIST STEVESPORTSDUDE@GMAIL.COM KIRA WALTER, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER ARTS@ITHACATIMES.COM ZACHARY ISAAC STEPHENS,AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT & DESIGN ASSOCIATE FREELANCERS: Barbara Adams, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, Jake Sexton, Kira Walter, and Ceili Ayoung THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2026 BY PATHWAYS TO EQUITY, LLC.
All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $139 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-2777000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and The Good Times Gazette (1973–1978), combined in 1978. FOUNDER GOOD TIMES GAZETTE: TOM NEWTON
OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026 / THE ITHACA TIMES
3
Who’s Your Neighbor? A Local Directory of Faith Communities, Faith-Related Services and Interfaith Activities Many Ithacans are seeking connections that might accurately be called faith. Some return to their roots while others seek roots they may never have experienced. We hope our directory will provide a resource residents, students and visitors find useful in their journey.
FAITH-RELATED SERVICES
Agape Bible Church
Hillside Alliance Church
agapeithaca.org
hillsideithaca.org
Bahá’í Community of Ithaca
Ithaca Quakers
ithacabahais.org
(Religious Society of
Bethel Grove Bible Church
Friends)
bg.org
ithacamonthlymeeting.org
Bread of Life Anglican
Johnson Christian
Church
Fellowship
breadoflifeithaca.org
https://johnson.
Buddhist Sangha at Cornell
campusgroups.com/christian/
Instagram:
home/
@buddhistsangha.cornell
Lansing United Methodist
Cedar Cabin Sangha
Church
(Buddhist, Plum Village
LansingUnited.org
Practice)
518 Yoga Gathering
Moonlight Epiphanies
suzannejanene@gmail.com
moonlightepiphanies.org
com
All Eyes and Ears on Racism
Namgyal Monastery
Chesterton House, A Center
AEER
Institute
aeerforjustice@gmail.com Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga catholiccharitiestt.org Community Faith Partners communityfaithpartners.org Finger Lakes Anam Cara fingerlakesanamcara.com Forest Hermitage staceysmithhypnosis.com
of Buddhist Studies namgyal.org
cedarcabinsangha.blogspot.
for Christian Studies at Cornell chestertonhouse.org Christ Chapel
Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell
Sacral Transformations
Church Ithaca
and Braided Root Waters
cccithaca.org
Healing Sanctuary
Christ the King Fellowship
sacraltransformations.com
Willow Glen Christian
Presbyterian Church
St. Catherine of Siena
School
ctkspencer.org
Church
willowglencs.org
Church of the Epiphany
stcathofsiena.org
epiphanytrumansburg.org
St. James AME Zion Church
Congregation Tikkun v’Or
facebook.com/
(Ithaca Reform Temple)
Stjamesamezionithaca
tikkunvor.org
St. John’s Episcopal Church
Danby Community Church
stjohnsithaca.org
Second Wind Cottages secondwindcottages.org
profile/1449445
wisdomsgoldenrod.info
danbychurch.org
and Lutheran Campus
Ithaca
Ministry
firstbaptistithaca.org
stlukeithaca.org St. Paul’s United Methodist
Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard
Together
ithacakitchencupboard.org
First Congregational Church
Ithaca Sunday Squares
of Ithaca
(585) 451-4288 Shared Journeys
fccithaca.org First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca
sharedjourneys.net
firstpresithaca.org
Peace
The Foundation of Light
First Unitarian Society of
idancepeace.org
thefoundationoflight.org
For more information, visit www.whoisyourneighbor.org THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
St. Luke Lutheran Church
First Baptist Church in
Area Congregations
Ithaca Dances of Universal
newlifeithaca.org
Christian Community
psychologytoday.com/
LansingUnited.org/events
Church
pureessencevibrations.com
for Philosophic Studies
Interfaith Community
New Life Presbyterian
pcmcornell.org
Integrative Mental Wellness
Greater Lansing-Ithaca
LHFithaca.org
christchapelithaca.org
Wisdom's Goldenrod Center
breedlovejami@gmail.com
Living Hope Fellowship
Pure Essence Vibrations
INTERFAITH ACTIVITIES
4
FAITH COMMUNITIES
Ithaca unitarian.ithaca.ny.us First United Methodist
Church stpaulsithaca.org Temple Beth-El tbeithaca.org The Twelve Tribes twelvetribes.org Trinity Lutheran Church trinityithaca.org
Church of Forest Home
Vineyard Church of Ithaca
foresthomechapelumc.org
ithacavineyard.org
NEWSLINE
Common Council Appoints Lara Tomescu as Fourth Ward Alderperson After Kuehl Resignation By Philip O’ D ell
L
ara Tomescu will represent
The city release states Tomescu’s
the City of Ithaca’s Fourth
previous experience at the American
Ward
Civic
on
the
Common
Association
in
Binghamton
Council, succeeding Patrick Kuehl due
included creating donor management
to his resignation on Aug. 5.
systems, identifying federal and state
The Common Council unanimously appointed Tomescu as an alderperson effective immediately during its Oct. 14 meeting, according to City of Ithaca
Public
Information
Officer
Alan Karasin. He said the 24-year-old Collegetown resident will serve the remainder of Kuehl’s four-year term through Dec. 31, 2027.
applications for the open council seat. He said two applicants were interviewed for the position, while three were disqualified as they were not Fourth Ward residents. said
a
special
changes, and helping refugees acquire benefits and housing. Tomescu cofounded
Concerned
Residents
of
Greater Binghamton, a coalition of nonprofits and faith-based groups. The coalition developed a Rapid Response Network to make immigrant residents aware of the local presence of federal agents from Immigration and Customs
Karasin said the city received five
Karasin
grants, tracking immigration policy
Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The release states Tomescu seeks to prioritize “closing the distance between residents and City Hall” and address the city’s housing shortage and
election
for Kuehl’s seat could not be held because his resignation came after the Tompkins County Board of Elections’ Aug. 3 deadline for amending the list of offices for the Nov. 3 election. He said the Common Council filled the vacancy
substandard rental conditions as an alderperson. Mayor
Robert
Cantelmo
said
Tomescu is passionate about addressing issues affecting Fourth Ward residents. “Ms. Tomescu brings an enthusiasm
in accordance with the city code’s
for
Article VII, Section C-100. Karasin
modal transit, and collegiality to the
said Tomescu has not confirmed her
Common Council,” Cantelmo said.
candidacy for the November 2027
“During
general election.
demonstrated
“I am honored to serve Ward 4 and grateful to the Common Council for this opportunity,” Tomescu said. “I hope to use my coalition-building and community organizing skills to bridge the gap between the city and its constituents. I want people who feel left out of city politics to get involved
public
her
administration,
interviews, a
firm
multi-
she
also
commitment
to addressing the needs of the City’s unsheltered homeless population in partnership with the County. I feel this appropriately carries on one of the chief interests of her predecessor and continues to champion that work on behalf of Fourth Ward residents.” Tomescu’s
predecessor,
Kuehl,
and weigh in on decisions that affect
announced his resignation during the
them.”
Common Council’s July 8 meeting. In a
According to a city press release, Tomescu is an associate editor of the Cornell Policy Review while she pursues a master’s degree in public administration at the university’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. She previously studied at Binghamton University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Political Science.
38 years of world-class early music!
press release, Kuehl said he resigned to pursue a doctoral degree in American government and public law at the University of Texas at Austin. Kuehl attended Ithaca College and Cornell University and served as an EMT before launching a surprise writein campaign in November 2023. He defeated then-Fourth Ward incumbent Jorge DeFendini, who now serves as the First Ward alderperson.
Tickets online or at the door
Nov 14
Sweet Harmony
7:30pm
Dazzling duets from Barbara Strozzi to American fiddle tunes
pre-concert talk 6:45pm
First Unitarian Society of Ithaca 306 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca NYSBaroque.com
Info@NYSBaroque.com
OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026 / THE ITHACA TIMES
5
NEWSLINE
Cornell Faculty Prepares No-Confidence Vote on University’s Response to Sexual Assaults in Wake of Jane Doe Case By Philip O’ D ell
C
ornell University professors expect to vote on a measure expressing a lack of faith in leadership’s response to sexual misconduct claims in the aftermath of the Jane Doe case. According to the Cornell Dean of Faculty’s Office, a pending resolution would declare that the Faculty Senate “has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University.” The university website states the Faculty Senate will debate the resolution at its Oct. 28 meeting, following its initial discussion at the Oct. 14 meeting. Dean of Faculty Chris Schaffer said voting on the resolution will open shortly after the Oct. 28 Senate meeting and run electronically for about 10 days. He said the measure requires a simple majority to pass, along with enough participation to reach a quorum among the Senate’s 131 voting members. Schaffer said he received the resolution on Oct. 5 from Prof. Paul Ortiz before bringing it to the University Faculty Committee the following day. The resolution follows a former Cornell student’s lawsuit against seven members of the Xi Chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity for allegedly gang raping her at a fraternity house in 2024. Using the pseudonym Jane Doe, the victim also filed suit against the university for negligence. Demonstrations Multiple demonstrations with protestors criticizing the university’s handling of the Jane Doe case have formed on Cornell’s campus. Grassroots advocates and survivors gathered Oct. 13 on the Ithaca Commons to rally against sexual violence. Some protestors have demanded Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff’s resignation or termination. People’s University Ithaca, a local advocacy group, organized a protest that included around 50 demonstrators outside a Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 16. Demonstrators staged a mock tribunal in the courtyard of Myron Taylor Hall, symbolically putting university administrators, the Interfraternity Council, Chi Phi, and the “Cornell 7” on trial for their alleged actions or mishandling of the Jane Doe case. When trustees departed through a different exit, protesters marched 6
to Barton Hall where trustees were dining and held a 90-minute noise demonstration outside. “We hope that people see the trustees’ apathy as a sign that the University is corrupt from the top down,” a People’s University spokesperson said in an email. “It is not just a Cornell 7 issue, but one more systemic and engrained in the culture of elite American universities. The People’s University spokesperson said protestors vocalized their anger and frustration, calling for four specific demands. The spokesperson said protesters demanded the immediate resignation or termination of six Cornell administrators, including Kotlikoff, Vice President for Student and Campus Life Ryan Lombardi, Vice President and General Counsel Brian White, Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs Robert Harrington, Provost Kavita Bala, and Senior Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards Christina Liang. The group also called for the expulsion or degree revocation of Chi Phi members involved in the case, the abolition of Interfraternity Council Greek life at Cornell, and the replacement of the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards with a democratic judiciary system. No-confidence resolution sponsor Cornell’s bylaws do not grant the Faculty Senate the power to remove the president. According to Cornell’s bylaws, the Board of Trustees consists of 64 members with “supreme control over the University,” while the president is elected by a majority vote of the entire board. The bylaws state the board’s executive committee determines the president’s salary and evaluates their performance at least once every five years. In an Oct. 14 letter to the Faculty Senate, Ortiz said he introduced the measure after hundreds of people told resolution sponsors that “the Jane Doe case is but a tip of the iceberg.” “Students, staff, and alumni have shared their nightmarish ordeals of being assaulted and raped at Cornell,” Ortiz said in the letter. Ortiz wrote that students were afraid to report campus sexual assaults because “they felt that Cornell has often treated rape as a ‘PR problem,’ rather than a heinous crime.” He quoted one student survivor who said, “Cornell will quash any incident
THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
that they feel tarnishes its brand.” “This administration has chronically failed to address these core issues at the bottom of the Jane Doe case as well as hundreds of other untold stories of sexual assault and trauma at this university,” Ortiz said in the letter. The 2025 Cornell Survey of Sexual Assault and Related Misconduct (SARM) showed 15% of respondents reporting nonconsensual sexual contact since joining the university—up from 11% in both 2021 and 2023. The increase was sharpest among undergraduate women, with 35% reporting nonconsensual sexual contact, compared to 23% in 2023. Stalking reports also increased, rising to 17% from 13% in 2023 and 5% in 2021. In an email to the Ithaca Times, Ortiz said Cornell should reinstate the “Common Read Program” as a yearlong initiative focused on campus safety and respect. Ortiz said incoming freshmen and transfer students could read books addressing
these themes, such as Carlos Fuentes’s “The Crystal Frontier.” He recommended inviting sexual assault survivors to lead discussions and symposiums, noting similar first-year programs exist at other universities. Ortiz said “the students, staff, faculty on campus and the people of Ithaca have the expertise and the desire to confront this crisis” if the university fails to do so. He said the “rule from above” approach of Cornell’s administration and Board of Trustees is an “obstacle to addressing the crisis.” Jane Doe letter In an Oct. 14 letter to the Faculty Senate, Doe said the Cornell Tri Delta sorority president spoke with Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff shortly after her sexual assault report in November 2024. According to Doe, the sorority president told her that Kotlikoff said, “Why did she wait so long to report it?” “When the then-Tri Delta President
relayed this conversation to me, I felt unsupported and disbelieved by President Kotlikoff,” Doe said. “It diminished my confidence in the administration’s ability to approach my experience with the understanding, sensitivity, and fairness I had hoped for and expected from what had been my dream school.” Cornell response In response, a Cornell spokesperson disputed Doe’s description of the secondhand account. “The second-hand account of the question asked by President Kotlikoff in a January 2025 meeting in the letter is incorrect, based on a documented firsthand account,” the Cornell spokesperson said. “The question ‘why did it take so long for the assault to be reported’ was directed
at bystanders who did not use Cornell’s anonymous tip line, despite ongoing social media activity about the incident in October 2024. He was not questioning Jane Doe’s reporting.” Cornell announced Oct. 6 that it hired former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of how the university prevents and responds to campus sexual misconduct. In an Oct. 13 statement, Kotlikoff announced the suspension of all fraternity parties and social events on campus for the rest of the 2026-2027 school year. Kotlikoff said the university is taking actions “to address the conditions that led to Jane Doe’s experiences, and those of other survivors.” Cornell pledged to strengthen survivor support by expanding staff in its Office of Civil Rights, including
adding a dedicated case manager to assist with academic, housing, and financial aid needs. During an ongoing independent review, the university is also partnering with the New York State Police to let state investigators handle campus sexual assault reports for potential criminal prosecution. Cornell also plans to hire more victim advocates for its Sexual Harassment & Assault—Response & Education office, fund campuswide prevention programs, and increase investment in mental health resources. Cornell established its Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault in February 2025 to examine and address sexual violence on campus. The task force released a report with recommendations that include a public health campaign, expanded training for students and staff, and evidence-based prevention strategies.
Its findings also emphasized clarifying reporting options and confidential resources, as well as developing new educational programs. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James on Oct. 1 to serve as special prosecutor in the case following calls for an independent investigation, according to NBC News. The state intervention came days after Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced Sept. 28 that his office was reopening the matter. According to CBS News, Van Houten declined to file charges in 2024 after reviewing Cornell University Police Department’s six-page summary of its interview with Doe and without having seen the original transcript.
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OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026 / THE ITHACA TIMES
7
The Talk at By Ithaca Times Readers
“
Endorsements of Josh Riley
This Nov. 3 our congressman, Josh Riley is up for re-election. Josh has been our House representative for just about two years, but in that short time he has made a great difference for upstate New Yorkers. Having grown up in a working-class family in Endicott, Josh knows how bills for housing, health care, electricity and groceries can affect a family’s savings. To help the people of UpState NY, Josh introduced legislation to prevent electric companies from passing along to customers such expenses as lobbying, political donations, private jet travel, investor relations and regulatory fines. Josh fought for us and stood before a state regulatory board to push back NYSEG executives about a proposed rate hike. Josh cares about our wellbeing and has fought for better and more equitable healthcare by co-sponsoring legislation to deliver up to $5 million per rural hospital to help keep struggling hospitals open! And he pushed back on big insurance companies that dropped Medicare Advantage plans in upstate areas which helps our seniors. Please join me in voting to re-elect Josh Riley. We need to flip control of the House to the Democrats and finally rein in Trump!” - Cynthia Mannino, Trumansburg, NY
“
In the orchard we know not to pick a bad apple because of what one rotten apple does to the others. In Washington, DC right now there are too many bad apples. One more will only make it worse. Let’s send a good apple, Josh Riley, back to Congress to continue working hard for us and fighting corruption. Josh knows the affordability crisis is fueled by the corruption crisis: our political system being rigged to serve wealthy donors instead of working families. While we struggle to cope with rising costs, too many in DC are using their office to enrich themselves. Rep. Riley has never accepted corporate PAC money and never will. The percentage of his campaign funded by small donor dollars is higher than 88% of other House campaigns and 70% of all individual contributions were $25 or less. Josh’s legislative record proves he can’t be bought. Unlike his opponent who accepted a large donation from NYSEG, Josh personally sued NYSEG on our behalf. He sponsored a bill restricting the flow of anonymous dark money contributions to lawmakers and barring members of Congress from trading stock based on insider information. Choose the apple you can trust.” Anne Wiegard, Groton, NY 8
“
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I know too many hard-working people who can’t afford a home in my community. I know affordable housing is a huge issue across New York State and the country. The housing crunch creates a whole range of problems for residents as well as the health of the local economy. Young people are stuck at home, or in high-rent apartments, or forced to consider moving to other parts of the U.S. because they can’t afford to rent or buy a house here. That’s leading to a major brain drain of talented residents. And it means an entire generation is missing out on building homeownership equity--a key source of savings. On top of that, local companies and other employers have trouble luring people to work here--and that makes it tougher for them to stay in business, let alone expand. That’s why I was heartened to read that our congressman, Rep. Josh Riley, backed legislation aimed at easing the housing crunch. He helped pass the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in July, a bipartisan law that promotes home construction by lowering costs, cutting red tape in housing programs, protecting housing in rural communities and restricting large institutional investors from buying affordable single-family homes. The law also requires major federal agencies to coordinate environmental reviews regarding housing construction, increases housing in government Opportunity Zones, and expands a rental-assistance program. While this isn’t going to end the housing crisis it shows that Riley is doing what he can to ease the situation. That’s one of many reasons why I plan to vote to re-elect Josh Riley Nov. 3. Another reason is we need Democrats to take back control of the House to put a brake on Trump!” - Nancy Zahler, Trumansburg, NY
“
I am writing about the disturbing Facebook post made by state Sen. Peter Oberacker, who is running for Congress in our district against incumbent Rep. Josh Riley. Oberacker posted a photo of his long-deceased grandfather wearing a Nazi military uniform complete with a swastika. The text accompanying the photo says that Ludwig Oberacker ‘gave his life for his country. I salute all who served.’ The post, which was made on Nov. 11, 2015, came to light in articles in Politico and elsewhere. While we can’t be blamed for our grandparents’actions, I find Oberacker’s judgement in making this post--on Veteran’s Day of all days-deeply troubling. It is disrespectful to the millions of Americans who fought against Germany and the other Axis powers of the Second World War. Some 400,000 of them gave their lives. And it is disrespectful to the millions of Americans who are veterans and
THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
the many Americans whose family members were killed in the Holocaust because they were Jewish. This action has shown Oberacker to be shockingly tone deaf in his apparent antisemitism and anti-Americanism. A person with such poor judgment should not be trusted with a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. For these reasons and many others I will be voting to re-elect Josh Riley as our congressman in November.” - Pamela Bleiwas
Support Barbara Schloss’ Position in County Social Services
“
To the Tompkins County Legislature, and others, I am emailing you to advocate for Barbara Scloss and her position located at DSS/Day Reporting whereby she helps those who have been affected by the ‘justice’ system obtain their GED. Barbara Schloss reached out to many of us, including me, who work with people in the community to achieve empowerment and self-sufficiency. She told us that the TC Legislature is voting on whether to eliminate her position on Tuesday of this week. Rather than eliminate Barbara Schloss and her important position, why not support her and her important position? I personally encourage and assist many people on their path to obtain their GED. Many--but not all--have been impacted by the justice system which, as we all know, disproportionately and negatively impacts individuals and their families who are not part of the local racket. Many of the individuals Barbara works with were failed by a system which discriminates against people based on their disability, and may have had an IEP. I am well aware of how your Superintendent, Luvelle Brown, and his besties like Judge Scott Miller, Meryl Phipps, and Angelica ParadoAbaya, for example, prey on and enable
kids, primarily low-income kids, and neurodivergent kids of color, and often times this enabling and predation leads to kids dropping out of school without having achieved their High School Diploma, equivalency, or GED. It can become more difficult as we age to obtain a GED. I have seen grown people cry to me about this. Obtaining a GED reduces significant barriers in life and enhances confidence, selfworth, and inspires people to move forward and achieve their own goals and dreams. I am confident that Tompkins County has the means and ways to support, retain, and promote Barbara Schloss and her position and program which helps Day Reporting individuals achieve their GED. Simply cut the fraud, waste, abuse, corruption, cronyism, and collusion, and focus on addressing root causes of poverty, racism, ableism, and those negatively impacted by the anti-justice system. Retain, support, and promote Barbara Schloss and her important position.” - Valerie Foster Githinji
Speed Limit Criticism
“
Now that the 25 MPH signs have been up for a while, I’m profoundly relieved that I no longer have to face the horrific carnage that ensued when the limit was a terrifying 30. It was also gratifying to see how many drivers, being the good citizens they are, held strictly to that limit. This was definitely a change in the right direction. However, I believe our officials didn’t go nearly far enough; half-measures simply will not do. I suggest a return to the days when it was a legal requirement that a person with a flag precede every single car. Problem solved! /sarc off. Seriously, safetyism is one of the silliest and worst plagues on society, right down there with fast food and autotune.” - Dave Williams, Dryden, NY
Surrounded by Reality
The story went on, though: “A ward
Money Talks
worker who has heretofore handled the corruption fund in his district was heard to say that he would have nothing to do with it this year as under the new
M
By C harle y Githlere y
phone
law the game would be too dangerous
has
been
hued grifter, the election still resulted
blowing
up
in a massive landslide victory for the
with new friends. For
Democratic Party, which obliterated
reasons that remain obscure to me,
the Republican majority in the House
for the last two weeks or so all kinds
of Representatives. (It was before the
of people from all over the country
direct election of U.S. Senators.) It was
have been reaching out to me. Dozens
136 years ago, but I find that deeply
of them! Just in the last 24 hours, not
satisfying.
absolutely
making this up, I’ve heard from a Jim Talarico (he’s from Texas), someone named Amy from Ohio, Keisha from Georgia, a doctor named Abdul, a Josh from Ithaca and a Josh from Iowa, a retired Navy admiral, a logger from Maine and nine other brand new pals! Christmas card season is going to be crazy this year. How did they all get my number? It’s a little disconcerting, though, that they all seem to be hard up for cash. I try to be there even for new friends, but this is getting expensive.
Anyway, what caught my attention in the 1890 story was the following: “In one district in this city [Ithaca] where formerly there were registered one hundred and fifty known purchasable voters only seventeen have registered for the ensuing election.” Purchasable voters? Yes, indeed.
In those good
old days, candidates didn’t pester the bejesus out of you for donations, the money flowed the other way. Before 1890, parties printed their own colorcoded ballots and when you went to vote
Was it always like this? I came across
some party hack, looking, I imagine,
a little blurb in the October 28, 1890
like William Frawley with a cigar and a
Ithaca Daily Journal that would suggest
bowler hat, watched you drop the ticket
not. 1890 was a mid-term election
into the box. Zero privacy, which meant
year, too, in the middle of Republican
that they could pay you to vote the right
Benjamin Harrison’s term. Though
way and be sure you held up your end
Harrison was not a demented, orange-
of the bargain.
to be profitable.” The new law was, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, New York State’s Saxton Ballot Reform Law which went into effect that year and provided for government-printed secret ballots. That corruption fund was not rendered obsolete, though, as the strategy shifted to paying your opponent’s voters to stay home. It was not ineffective. There was an overall decline in turnout in upstate New York after the law passed. The midterm election campaigns in which we’re currently mired are awash in money, with super PACs, a deranged trillionaire and his ilk, and people like us, who are being wrung dry at a time when everything is 50% more expensive than it was at the beginning of the year. The combined campaigns are projected to cost over 11 billion dollars. My new friend Jim from Texas has spent over 115 million dollars to run for a job that pays $174,000 a year. And still, nobody has offered me one red cent to stay at home on November 3rd. I’m not saying I’d take it, mind you, but it would be nice to be asked.
IPD Arrests Individual for Making Terroristic Threat, Investigation Ongoing By L or ien Ty ne
O
An IPD press release said that during this appointment, the individual “referenced an interest in mass shootings” and made comments about harming others. The IPD began an investigation into the credibility of the individual’s threats. Officers located and interviewed Han, at which time, Han made
By Kaeleigh Banda
Ups There are still two days left to attend the Hangar Theatre’s costume shop and vintage clothing sale. Funds raised benefit the theatre’s artistic and educational programming. Check out the sale on Oct. 29 or 30 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Downs The Ithacan reported that Ithaca College’s project budget deficit for fiscal year 2027 has increased from $4 million to $8 million. In an effort to reduce the deficit, IC’s administration is looking to reduce retirement contributions for employees and cut down on non-salary operating expenses.
HEARD&SEEN Heard
The Finger Lakes Reuse Center is hiring retail assistants who are friendly, organized and adaptable. Those interested can apply on Ithaca Reuse’s website. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.
Seen Ithaca Welcomes Refugees is seeking specific donation items for recently arrived refugee families settling in Tompkins County. These items include a dehumidifier, small desk and chair, nightstand with drawers and standing lamps. For donation information and other current need requests, visit ithaca.welcomesrefugees.org/ current-needs.
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.”
TAK E NOT E
n Oct. 21, The Ithaca Police Department responded to information that 19-year-old Ithaca resident Sai Han made concerning statements about harming others during an appointment at a local mental health facility in the City of Ithaca.
UPS&DOWNS
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Does NY Properly enforce the HALT Act with the poll responses. 2.3% Yes 70.5% No 27.3% I don’t care
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION:
Do you vote early?
additional statements regarding potential acts of violence. Han was transported to a local hospital for mental health evaluation. Han was released by Cayuga Medical Center and taken into police custody. During the evening of Oct. 21, the IPD obtained authorized search warrants for Han’s residence and electronic devices. The Tompkins County Sheriff ’s Office assisted the IPD in executing the search warrants, taking multiple of Han’s electronic devices for further examination. The IPD press release said the investigation involves allegations of “Making a Terroristic Threat,” a Class D felony.
“The Ithaca Police Department takes all reports involving threats of violence seriously and remains committed to investigating such incidents thoroughly to protect the safety of the community,” the press release said.
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
The IPD encourages anyone with information relevant to this incident and ongoing investigation to contact the IPD. Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245 Police Administration: 607-272-9973 Police Tipline: 607-330-0000 Anonymous Email Tip Address: www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips
OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026 / THE ITHACA TIMES
9
General Election 2026: Midterm Ballot Guide for Tompkins County Voters By B enjamin As cher
T
he 2026 General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Positions up for election in Tompkins County include the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, District 19 House Representative, District 52 State Senator, District 125 State Assembly Member, Tompkins County Clerk and Sheriff, and other various town races. According to the New York State Board of Elections, as of Feb. 20, there are 59,893 active registered voters in the county, including 32,107 Democrats, 10,269 Republicans, 430 Conservatives, 459 Working Families Party, and 16,574 as “Blank” or “Other”.
When, Where, and How to Vote: Early voting opened Oct. 24, which was also the last day eligible voters were able to register to vote in the general election. Early voting is available each day through Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Tompkins County Veteran Services at 111 N Albany Street and the Crash Fire Rescue Building at 72 Brown Road, both located in Ithaca. Any voter registered in the county can vote early at either location. On Tuesday and Thursday, early voting is from noon to 8 p.m. and every other day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voters can check their registration status, search for polling locations, and track absentee ballots using the New York State Voter Lookup Tool. The Tompkins County Board of Elections also has extensive information available to voters online or in person at the BOE office at 128 E. Buffalo Street in Ithaca. Voters can find their polling location and district information through the Board of Elections Interactive Map or by contacting the BOE office at +1 (607) 274- 5522.
State Seats: The candidates running for Governor are incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul and her opponent, Republican Bruce Blakeman. Their running mates for the position of Lieutenant Governor are Democrat Adrienne Adams and Republican Todd Hood. 10
Hochul has previously served in the House of Representatives, as Lieutenant Governor of New York, and has been the New York Governor since 2021. Her campaign is centered around lowering costs for New Yorkers, community safety, increasing childcare, and fighting “MAGA extremism”. Her pick for Lieutenant Governor, Adams, is from Queens and has served as a New York City Council Member, where she worked to support women’s healthcare and crime victims. Blakeman is the current county executive of Nassau County, where his focus has been on safety and lowering property taxes through policies of working with ICE, hiring 600 new police officers, and not raising property or sales taxes. His running mate for Lieutenant Governor, Hood, has served as Madison County Sheriff since 2018 and is focused on keeping New Yorkers safe. For State Comptroller there is incumbent Democrat Thomas DiNapoli and his opponent Republican Joseph Hernandez. DiNapoli has served since 2007 and is running with a focus on the middle class, fighting corruption, and protecting the environment and taxpayers. Hernandez, a Cuban immigrant, is running on being an “investor” who built “dozens of companies”, planning to “audit Albany’s spending” and use funds to bring “business and talent back to New York,” he said in an email to the Ithaca Times. Those running for Attorney General include incumbent Democrat Letitia James and Republican Saritha Komatireddy. James has served since 2019, focusing on lower costs for the working class protecting the rights of New Yorkers by suing the Trump administration over 50 times. Komatireddy has worked as the Chief of Staff of the Drug Enforcement Administration and as a lawyer on highprofile cases of terrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and corruption; she hopes to use her experience to keep New York safe.
THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
District Races: District 19’s House Representative race is between incumbent Democrat Josh Riley and Republican Peter Oberacker. Riley lives in Ithaca and was elected in 2024, previously working for the U.S. Department of Labor as a policy analyst. On his website, he claims to fight for the working class, take on big corporations, improve access to affordable healthcare, and lead bipartisan work for addiction treatment. Oberacker is the current state senator for New York’s 51st District, where he has claimed to deliver results by keeping taxes low and standing up for those he represents, according to his website. He also mentions that he is a proven businessman with a commonsense mindset for people over politics. New York’s State Senate District 52’s race is between incumbent Democrat Lea Webb and Republican Mike Bollies. From Binghamton, Webb has served since 2022 and is running for a third term to continue to “address the needs of underserved communities and working families” by “increasing funding to childcare, raising workers’ wages, supporting universities, and improving access to equitable housing and healthcare,” as well as protecting immigrant communities and natural resources. Bolles is also from Binghamton and “is an experienced labor leader who fought for workers. He protected vulnerable women as an investigator and served our nation overseas.” His plans include working “to lower costs for health care, groceries, gas and utilities.” Comments from both candidates were sent by email to the Ithaca Times. Anna Kelles is running uncontested to be the New York State Assembly Member for District 125. She is an incumbent Democrat who has served since 2021, previously having served on the Tompkins County Legislature from 2015-2020. She currently chairs the Commission on Agriculture and sits on the Committees on Agriculture, Corrections, Environmental Conservation, Health, Housing, Task Force on Food, Housing, the Women’s
Caucus and the Task Force on Women’s Issues.
County and Town Elections: For Tompkins County, Derrick Osborne is running for the position of Sheriff and Racheal Graham for Tompkins County Clerk. Both are running unopposed, with Osborne running for re-election for the position he has held since 2019, and Graham is running to replace Tompkins County Clerk Maureen Reynolds, who is retiring (with Graham being the current Deputy Clerk). Other unopposed candidates are running for different town positions. Running for the position of Supervisor in the towns of Caroline and Groton are, respectively, Democrat Mark Witmer and Republican Randy N. Jackson. The town of Danby has three unopposed Democrat candidates: Joel Gagon for Supervisor, Blake Savoy, and Keith Shipman. Running for the position of Town Council Person in the towns of Ulysses and Ithaca are, respectively, Democrat Richard Goldman and Democrat Michelle E. Wright. The town of Dryden has two competitive races, as the only person running uncontested is Democrat Loren Sparling for Town Clerk. The competitive races are between incumbent Democrat Jason Leifer running for reelection for the position of Supervisor against Republican Thomas Corey, and incumbent Democrat Jules Ravo running for re-election as Town Justice against Republican Henry Kramer. Leifer has served since 2016 and would be running for his seventh term, having a record of passing a ban on data centers in the town and bringing $140 million in private and public investments to the town. Corey is a local businessman, U.S. Army veteran, and member of the Village Zoning Board who has previously run for Town Supervisor in 2023 Ravo has served for the past twelve years as Town Justice, starting in 2014, but has maintained his own practice as well since 2002. Kramer is also a practicing attorney, a member of the Republican Party Town Council, and a visiting lecturer at Cornell.
INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER
Sports
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com
Ryan - “A 1998 black Honda Accord.”
Menghi Zeng, Andrea Martinez, Olivia Hao, Yanna Sopchak and Sareena Payne are representing the Little Red at the State tournament in Flushing Meadows. (Photo: Ithaca High Athletes/Provided)
The Cherry on Top
Joyce - “It was a 1973 Pontiac Le Mans.”
By Steve Lawrence
F
or a young tennis player,
she made the States as a seventh-grader,
Boston College junior forward Dean
the words “Congratulations,
playing against girls 4 and 5 years her
Letourneau were the two players added
you’ll be playing at Flushing
senior. A Singles Superstar indeed.
Thursday, bringing the roster to 13.
Meadows” excitement.
is
sure
to
stir
some
As this goes to press,
five players from Ithaca High girl’s tennis team are playing in the NYS Championships at that very facility – one of the sport’s hallowed grounds - , and their coach couldn’t be happier for them. Helen Evans has been coaching at different levels of the Little Red tennis program since 2018, and she is presently the head coach of both the girl’s and boy’s programs. That sounds like a very tall order – and it is – but it helps that the girls play in the fall and for the boys, it’s a spring sport. Coach Evans lived in South Carolina as a young player, she competed in many USTA tournaments, and she
One of the Doubles teams will be made up of the two Little Red team
Veilleux is the only sophomore named to the team so far.
captains, Senior Andrea Martinez and
In the words of Big Red head
Junior Olivia Hao (who are also the
coach Casey Jones – who will be an
#2 and #3 Singles players). In Coach
assistant coach on the Spengler Cup
Evans’ words, “They have been really
staff - “Xavier earned this with the
strong all season, and they also played
way he played as a freshman, and
at the States last year.”
he’s only getting better...It’s an honor
The other Doubles pairing will be Senior Sareena Payne and Junior Yanna Sopchak, who are returning to States, and who also won the Section IV Doubles title.
for him and for our program to be represented again, and I’m looking forward to sharing that experience selection, Xavier was quoted as saying, “It’s an honor and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m very excited and
these five players, and in her words,
I’m looking forward to representing
“I’m pleased to see them soak it all up.
Cornell and college hockey to the best
They have all been working very hard,
of my ability.” According to the Cornell Athletics
knows how exciting it is to play against
Speaking of “on top,” it was a great
press release, “A native of Ancienne-
tougher competition. As for the five
season for the team as a whole. After a
Lorette, Québec, Veilleux had one of the
Little Red players making the trip,
demanding regular season schedule, the
best freshman seasons by a defenseman
one will be competing in the Singles
Little Red won the STAC tournament,
in program history in 2025-26. He
competition, and two Doubles teams
and followed that up with a 1st place
played in all 34 games and finished
will represent Ithaca High.
finish at the Section IV tournament.
with 26 points (6-20—26), the most
According to Coach Evans, “We played
ever by a Cornell rookie defenseman.”
Many high school players put in years of hard work, coming up through the ranks, and hope to make it to the States as upperclassmen. Not so for
against Vestal, and we pulled it out, 4-3. It was a very close, very exciting match.”
Katie - “My first car was a blue Cutlass Ciera.”
with him.” Asked for his take on the
As stated, Evans is very happy for
and this is the cherry on top.”
Kerri - “I had a 1993 Geo Storm.”
Dan - “I had a red Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale.”
The 98th Spengler Cup runs Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. The tournament has been held every year
Ithaca’s Mengdi Zeng, who Evans calls
In hockey news, word came from
since 1923, which makes it the oldest
“our Singles superstar.” Mengdi will be
Cornell that sophomore defenseman
invitational hockey tournament in the
taking the court as an eighth-grader,
Xavier Veilleux has been named to
world.presents itself to the world.
and as impressive as that sounds, she
the U.S. Collegiate Selects roster for
will be there as a returnee. That’s right,
the 2026 Spengler Cup, Veilleux and OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026 / THE ITHACA TIMES
11
Arts
Cornell’s Theatre Performs Shakespearean Rom Com “Twelfth Night” By Barbara Adams
W
hile it’s a few months yet to the Christian celebration of Twelfth Night, where social norms are flipped upside down, you can have an epiphany of your own at Cornell’s current fantastical production of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, subtitled “What You Will.” What director David Feldshuh will, as it turns out, is to take the very core of the Bard’s tale, whisk its setting to the Roaring ’20s, embellish it with a surreal skyscape inspired by Magritte, and set it all alight to the popular tunes of the jazz age. The effect is surprising, otherworldly, even poetic. What remains of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” text (and his poetry) is not the point; something else entirely has been created here –– blissful comic excess against a backdrop of unrestrained human malice. Threaded throughout the storyline is a wandering virtuoso (music director Michale J. Carbone), playing whimsical period songs on soprano saxophone and, occasionally, flute. At any moment the story might call for snatches of “Over There” or “When You’re Smiling.” That upbeat music is a fine counterpoint to the play’s opening line, with a lovesick duke pining, “If music be the food of love, play on.” This comedy is about longing frustrated –– with nearly everyone’s affection being thwarted. For a time, of course, but after all the cross-dressing and mistaken identities are untangled, union is possible. Still, at the ending communal song, with the audience joining in, the shadow of cruelty still lingers. So much of this production’s power is environmental: Sarah Lambert’s versatile 12
(Photo Credit: Ryan Young) plain set suggests a vast ship’s curved deck, complete with lookout railing. And Jae Lee’s splendid and mammoth black and white projections set us aboard a transatlantic liner, which swiftly becomes disaster –– it’s the sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat. Cast ashore, alive but separated, are the twins of Shakespeare’s tale, Sebastian and Viola. And we’re off, into a United-Kingdom sort of Illyria in which narrative twists are echoed by a huge vista above, where expressive cumulus clouds float by just like Magritte’s. (His own cloud painting titles are apt as well –– “Heartstrings,” “High Society,” “Curse.”) Joey Moro’s lighting washes the sky in different moods and also heightens emotion throughout the action, as when an open door angles a beam brilliantly across the stage. These stunning visuals are complemented by Warren Cross’s sound and Sarah Eckert Bernstein’s excellent costumes –– from shimmery flapper gown to ’20s golfer gear, plusfours and argyles. Milling throughout is the effectively surreal large chorus/ populace, anonymous and bluish in pale, streamlined lab coats and prominent eye masks, some wearing black bowlers. (Another nod to Magritte.) Most exquisite is the high formal attire of head steward Malvolio, itself demanding respect, followed by his plaid bathrobe and dotty pajamas, both officiously adorned with the silver chains of his office. But to the story: Lost in a strange land, Viola (Gia Lish) disguises herself as a lad, Cesario, and enlists in the service of Count Orsino (David Gilmore), who’s pining for Lady Olivia (Caroline Murphy), who ends up shamelessly pursuing the
THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
resistant Cesario (really Viola), who’s hopelessly in love with Orsino (Gilmore again). On another shore, there’s the equally beached-up Sebastian (Matthew Kushner), whose loyal more-than-friend, sea captain Antonio (Jacob Irons), risks his life and ends up feeling betrayed. All the actors are energized and convincing, but Lish is particularly appealing, with fine, clear delivery. In the low-comic subplot, Olivia’s uncle, Toby, a freeloading boozer (Erik Lucas), gulls and pilfers the pockets of Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Alex Miloszewski), who haplessly seeks to woo Olivia. (This is, refreshingly, the sweetest, most sympathetic portrait of naïve Sir Andrew I’ve ever seen.) He and Toby later join Olivia’s devilishly clever maid, Mariah (Cortney “CJ” Johnson), to trick and humiliate the pompous Malvolio (Aaditya Bahl). They’re abetted by the servant Fabia (Alexandra Miller) and Olivia’s official fool, Feste (Astrid James), dressed as a World War I Tommy, topped by a natty gray felt bowler, and adept on the djembe. James is dynamic, but not always intelligible (the same is true of Lucas and Gilmore). A medley of accents abounds, mostly amusing, though Irons’ slow-paced Irish (?) makes Antonio seem dropped in from another world. Somehow, it all works. The tangled web of lovers is only part of this experience, laced with charming music, dance, and song, with gambols and hijinks. The greater story is the daymare we’re witnessing, with its strangely anonymous chorus; its tragic historical backdrop of the shipwreck –– revisited again near play’s end when the masses, evoking the nearly 1,200 dead,
sprawl lifeless. In this adaptation, a central part of the disturbing dream is the director’s foregrounding of Malvolio’s humiliation and imprisonment, a spiteful joke that’s gotten out of hand. Bahl is responsible and steadfast in his profession –– he’s responsible and steadfast in his role, nowhere near the odious scold he’s traditionally portrayed as. Once tricked and abused, chained below deck, he’s an anguished figure of torture. His British captors have gleefully humiliated this proud Indian man, an extra fillip of colonial irony. As audience, we find ourselves easily straddling this cognitive dissonance –– the carefree gaiety of comical antics, fun and frolics, against needless suffering and loss. Perhaps this is what it means to human, in 1602 or 1915 or 2026. Despite (and because of) its serious themes, this “Twelfth Night” is a fascinating, entertaining, and highly pleasurable experience.
“Twelfth Night,” by William Shakespeare, directed by David Feldshuh. At the Kiplinger Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, 430 College Ave., Cornell University. Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 31, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Free admission; required tickets at https://www.purplepass.com/ organizer/67657. Barbara Adams is a regional theatre and arts journalist and retired professor of writing, Ithaca College.
Film
“Wildwood”: Enjoy Handmade Art Before It’s Gone for Good By Clement Obropta
D
eep in the impassable wilderness around Portland, Oregon, there’s magic at work. Magic that you can’t see, can’t taste, and can’t smell, because ordinary humans — usually — cannot trespass in those woods. But when a swarm of crows steals baby Mac (Arthur Knight), his older sister Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) ventures into the forest to bring him back. With the neighborhood D&D nerd Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) by her side, Prue battles animal bureaucracy and coyotes dressed like British redcoats, eventually allying with a group of bandits against the tyrannical Dowager Governess (Carey Mulligan). First they traumatized a whole generation with “Coraline” in 2009, and now Laika is back with another tale to scar your children for life. “Wildwood” is the studio’s first PG-13 film, and it bears that rating like a badge of honor, opening with a child suicide before moving breathlessly into beheadings and weighty themes like infertility, child soldiers, and the horrors of war. Led by Laika studio president Travis Knight as director, these are some of the most talented craftspeople in the industry, all working at the top of their game. “Wildwood,” which has been in the works since 2011, contains some of the most technically advanced stop-motion animation in history. Thrilling cinematic flourishes like rack focuses or swooping camera movements, all but impossible 40 years ago before modern visual effects and computer-operated camera rigs, are deployed in every other shot. And that’s before the film’s breathtaking final battle, easily the most complex animated
sequence ever achieved in stop-motion. Throughout it all, Dario Marianelli’s dark, folksy score captures the excitement of the adventure and the tormented soul underneath. Laika seems well aware of its unique and perhaps precarious place in a world that can no longer recognize the difference between content made by human hands and content made by AI. When Prue races past an artist’s booth at a Portland craft fair, the sign reads, “Enjoy handmade art before it’s gone for good!” On the one hand, “Wildwood” is, in many ways, a shrine to human ingenuity and creativity, a singular work crafted with love and care that we will surely be talking about for years to come. On the other hand, “Wildwood” is kind of a mess. What is the point of all that spectacle when the end result feels so narratively rushed, tonally inconsistent, and logically unsound? The breakneck pace of the story, and the frequency with which new characters, settings, and twists are thrown at the audience, reminded me of a masterpiece from another beloved independent animation studio an ocean away: “Spirited Away.” In that film, director Hayao Miyazaki puts complete faith in his viewer and uses his character’s emotional journey to explore a vast, infinitely creative fantasy world. In comparison, “Wildwood” is tedious and didactic, insisting on overexplaining its plot to you constantly. Every scene is either lore-dumping or frantically world-building, desperate to fill its 131 minutes with a universe that feels as lovingly crafted as it looks. Perhaps the book, by Colin Meloy and
Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) meets the Bandit King (Mahershala Ali). (Photo: IMDb / Fathom Entertainment) Carson Ellis, coheres more as a unique work of fantasy literature, but I found “Wildwood” overly convoluted and almost shameless in how it steals from every major fantasy author under the sun, particularly C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. If only the filmmakers inherited Tolkien’s love of battlefield logistics — the final battle, awe-inspiring though it is, has some pretty harebrained war strategies. (The coyotes, who, it must be stressed, HAVE FIREARMS, immediately forfeit their high-ground advantage to engage an outnumbered enemy in hand-to-hand combat in an open field.) And then there’s the voice cast. For every two incredible voice performances — the core three, Lee, Tremblay, and Mulligan, are nothing short of fantastic — there’s one voice actor that stinks worse than a skunk in an outhouse. For example, Awkwafina voices a rat named Septima, providing completely unnecessary comic relief in a film that also stops dead in its tracks for a deeply terrible bit where Charlie Day pretends to be a dying coyote. These digressions into cheap, lame jokes feel ill at ease with the otherwise solemn tale of a
civil war between magical animals. When “Wildwood” flies, it soars. Its place as a magnum opus from a studio that played a pivotal role in many kids’ childhoods uniquely positions it to ruminate philosophically on what it means to mature and encounter the complexities of the world, forest witches and all. “I thought growing up would give me answers,” Prue says toward the end, “but it’s just given me more questions.” Amen, sister. “Wildwood” is clearly made for the kids who grew up watching “Coraline” and now either have kids of their own or are thinking about it. And when they do, Laika will traumatize them, too. Clement Obropta is a film columnist for the Ithaca Times.
“WILDWOOD”
PG-13 Directed by Travis Knight Currently playing at Cinemapolis and Regal Ithaca Mall 120 East Green St 40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca
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Winter Travels: Barcelona, London, and Cruising the Western Mediterranean with Viking By Daniel R. Schwarz
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(Photo: Marcia Jacobson/Provided)
ocusing on being away much of the winter, but from past experiences aware that no more than a few weeks or so in Florida is right for us, my wife Marcia Jacobson and I booked a 15-night Viking cruise to the Western Mediterranean. We preceded our cruise with some days in Barcelona and followed it by most of a week in London.
Barcelona
We spent several nights in Barcelona, which has become one of our favorite cities. When we are in Barcelona, we stay at the Renaissance (a Marriott brand) near the Rambla, the city’s major commercial street. Barcelona is an ebullient city which on this visit featured a trio of art exhibits: 1) The Picasso museum ‘s exhibit on the influence of Alfred Jarry-author of the play Ubu Roi (King Ubu) on high modernism; 2) The Miro museum’s exhibit on his influence on post-WWII American abstract art.; 3) The Barcelona Modern and Contemporary museum’s (known as MMACB) exhibition PanAfrican concepts entitled “Project: A Black Planet.” A visit to the cathedral, dating back to the thirteenth-century, in the Gothic district is a must. So is a visit Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, an enormous church begun in 1882 but still in progress.
The Viking Cruise
We chose this cruise in part because, while we had seen a good many if not most of the world’s Caravaggios, we had not seen the two Caravaggio paintings in St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Malta. Moreover, although we have been to more than 100 countries, we had not been to Malta or Algeria. 14
Because of storms that prevented our landing in Algiers, I still have not seen Algeria. Casablanca, another scheduled port, was also cancelled. While we had been there on a privately guided Morocco-Tunisia trip some years ago, I have written about the film of that title and had a strong desire to return to Casablanca. To Viking’s credit, they found substitute ports, namely Valencia and Majorca. Viking ocean cruises have a capacity of just under 1000 passengers and this cruise was full. The Saturn on which we sailed is a beautiful ship with special rooms for reading and contemplation as well as venues for those who want to play board games, work out in gyms, or relax in an aggregation of sauna, jacuzzi, warm conversation pool, and cold plunge. Stressing a restful environment with an emphasis on learning, Viking cruises do not have casinos, art sales, children under 18, or inside cabins. That 82 percent of the passengers, including us, were repeat guests shows how well Viking knows its clients.
Food
The food at both the regular dinner restaurant and two specialty restaurants more than met expectations. Chef ’s Table changes the dinner menu every three day; they range from Korean, Chinese, Californian, and Mexican, to Asian fusion. Chef ’s Table pairs wines and courses, but we do not drink much wine. We also enjoyed Manfredi’s, the Italian restaurant; the osso buco over risotto is especially good. During the cruise, we had delicious Dover sole a few times; one night on request, we had a splendid Indian meal, we generally lunched at
THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
the World Café which is a serviceable cafeteria with a plenty of choices.
Excursions
Commendably, Viking includes a tour of 3 hours or so at each port of call. However, these overview tours sometimes left out significant sites such as the Majorca Cathedral, especially notable in a place where there are not so many attractions. If you wish, you can purchase various in-depth or supplementary tours. Know that often “ToursByLocales” will offer less expensive private tours. Also, you can often save by negotiating a fixed rate with a taxi or a private driver. While the on-board lecturers are informed and give the cruise an educational inflection, the tour guides either ignore or do not know much about crucial twentieth-century history like the Holocaust or the Spanish Civil war. Often, if not usually, the guides’ English should be better; mispronounced words and garbled syntax were a challenge. Some days we passed on the scheduled tours and pursued our own path and that was very satisfactory. Viking need to closely supervise its tours, both the included ones and the ones they charge extra for, many of which are overpriced. In Valencia, they charged $198 per person for an outing to an aquarium that required a $14 Uber and a $44 admission ticket. In Tunis, the guided tour ended with a long visit to a rug dealer whose sales probably resulted in a cut for the guide. To be sure, getting off a boat for half a day to visit a city is far different from the kind of travel where one stays in a city for several days.
Entertainment
Viking entertainment is vanilla. Many nights four young, enthusiastic, and reasonably talented British singers sung for 40 or so minutes. Specific nights were devoted exclusively to the Beatles and ABBA but, with rare exception, Motown songs and other black music were not in their repertoire. A more adult male and female duo did sing American Rock and Roll.
Five Nights in London after the Cruise
As we always do in London, we stayed at the quite elegant and traditional JW Marriott. We enjoyed London theatre-Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution and Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia--and a great many world-class paintings at the National Gallery and the Tate Modern. Highlights also included a wonderfully learned Caravaggio exhibit at the Wallace Collection revolving around his “Victorius Cupid” (usually in Berlin). London brought us almost four weeks abroad to a fine cultural conclusion. Editor’s note: A full version of this article can be found online at ithaca.com. Daniel R. Schwarz is Frederic J. Whiton Professor of English and Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow at Cornell University where he has taught for 58 years. His most recent books include a volume of his poetry The Garden of my Saying and The Story in Fiction and Film of French Collaboration in the Occupation and Complicity in the Holocaust. He has been writing travel articles for over 30 years. He can be reached at drs6@cornell. edu
Your Next Great American Adventure BEGINS AT
ITHACA AIRPORT The Washington You Haven’t Met Yet
Beyond the monuments and memorials is a living city of neighborhoods, restaurants, bookstores, galleries, markets, music and waterfronts. Come for the history. Stay for Washington itself. Every great trip begins with a reason to go. Sometimes it is a place you’ve always wanted to see. Sometimes it is a story you’ve wanted to experience for yourself. And sometimes it is simply the feeling that there is somewhere new waiting to be discovered. For travelers in the Finger Lakes, that discovery can begin close to home. From Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, United Airlines offers direct service to Washington Dulles International Airport, connecting our region with the nation’s capital in a journey of roughly an hour and a half in the air. No long drive to a distant airport is necessary to begin exploring one of America’s most distinctive cities. The journey starts here, at home, and opens the door to a Washington that offers far more than its famous monuments. In our previous explorations, we have considered Washington as the capital of the republic, a city that belongs to all of us, and a place where history can be experienced on foot. Those are compelling reasons to visit. But they are only the beginning. Beyond the landmarks is a living, changing city—one best discovered by allowing yourself the freedom to wander.
A City of Neighborhoods Washington is not a city that reveals everything from a single vantage point. Its character emerges neighborhood by neighborhood, each with its own streets, gathering places and rhythms. In Georgetown, historic architecture, independent shops, cafés and restaurants line streets that invite an unhurried afternoon. The neighborhood’s waterfront offers another perspective, with the Potomac providing a welcome change of pace from the busy avenues of the capital. Elsewhere, the city’s distinctive neighborhoods offer their own combinations of food, culture, architecture and everyday life. Some streets are lined with row houses and neighborhood businesses. Others bring together galleries, boutiques, restaurants and lively public spaces. A short walk can take you from a bustling commercial corridor to a quiet residential street where the city seems to pause for a moment. That is part of Washington’s appeal. You can plan your day around a particular destination, but you can also leave time to see where a walk leads. This great city rewards curiosity.
➢ A small shop catches your attention. ➢ A café invites you to sit for a while. ➢ A neighborhood you had not considered becomes one of the most memorable parts of your visit.
Follow Your Appetite One of the most enjoyable ways to get to know a place is through its food, and Washington offers a dining scene that reflects the many communities, traditions and experiences that shape the capital. A meal can be an occasion in itself, whether you choose a neighborhood restaurant, a casual lunch between attractions or a memorable dinner at a destination worth planning around. The options range from familiar comforts to flavors and culinary traditions that invite you to try something new. You might begin the day with coffee and a pastry before setting out to explore. Lunch could become an opportunity to discover a neighborhood you had not visited before. Dinner might lead you to a restaurant that becomes a reason to return. And food is not only about the meal. It is about the places where people gather, the conversations that unfold around a table and the opportunity to experience a city through its everyday rituals. Washington’s markets and food destinations offer another way to explore. Browse the stalls, sample something unfamiliar, pick up a treat for later or simply enjoy the energy of people coming together. These experiences provide a different kind of sightseeing— less about checking off a list and more about being present in the moment.
Where Creativity Meets Community Washington’s story is often told through its institutions, but its creative life adds another dimension to the experience. Art galleries, independent bookstores, performance spaces and live-music venues offer opportunities to encounter the city through the people who make it. A gallery visit might introduce you to an artist whose work changes the way you see something familiar. A bookstore can offer a quiet hour of browsing, a conversation or a new discovery to take home. An evening of music can provide an entirely different impression of the capital after the day’s sightseeing has ended.
The city’s cultural life also offers a reason to return. Exhibitions change, performances come and go, and new places emerge as neighborhoods evolve. Even travelers who have visited Washington many times can find something they have not experienced before. For families, couples, solo travelers and groups of friends, this variety makes it possible to shape a visit around personal interests. One traveler might be drawn to architecture and design; another to music, food or contemporary art. Everyone can find a different way to connect with the city. Washington need not be experienced in a single way. That is precisely what makes it worth exploring.
Room to Slow Down For all its activity, Washington also offers places to step away from the crowds and enjoy a quieter side of the city. Parks and gardens provide room to pause between destinations. Tree-lined streets offer a different perspective from the grand avenues. Along the Potomac and other waterfront settings, paths and open views invite visitors to slow their pace and take in the surroundings. A walk beside the water can be a welcome counterpoint to a morning spent in museums or among the monuments. An afternoon outdoors can become the unplanned highlight of a trip. Even a simple bench, a view across the river or a quiet moment in a neighborhood park can help turn a busy itinerary into a more rewarding experience. These pauses matter. They give you time to absorb what you have seen, enjoy the company of the people traveling with you and appreciate the simple pleasure of being somewhere different. The best travel experiences do not always come from doing more. Sometimes they come from making room for a little less.
Make Your Own Washington Story Of course, the monuments and memorials remain essential parts of Washington’s identity. They connect visitors with the events, ideals and people that have shaped the nation. The museums offer opportunities to explore art, science, culture and history. The city’s civic institutions remind us why Washington occupies such a distinctive place in American life.
with the freedom to discover something unexpected. Perhaps your favorite memory will be a conversation over dinner, an afternoon spent browsing a bookstore or a neighborhood street that you decide to explore again the following morning. Perhaps it will be a performance you had not planned to attend, a market you stumbled upon or a walk beside the water as the day comes to an end. These are the experiences that make a destination more than a collection of attractions. They give a place personality. They create connections. And they offer reasons to return long after the photographs have been put away. You might arrive with a carefully planned itinerary. Bring one, by all means. Just leave a little room around the edges.
Your Journey Begins in Ithaca For residents of Ithaca and the surrounding Finger Lakes region, Washington is an accessible destination for a long weekend, a family getaway, a cultural excursion or a return visit to favorite places. And getting there begins at Ithaca Tompkins International Airport. United Airlines’ direct connection to Washington Dulles makes the nation’s capital more accessible from our region, whether your plans call for a visit to Washington itself or a connecting journey beyond. It is a reminder that a local airport does more than get us from one place to another. It connects our community with opportunities to explore, learn, experience and discover. The next time you are thinking about a trip, consider Washington—not only for the landmarks you already know, but for the neighborhoods you have yet to explore, the meals you have yet to enjoy and the experiences you have yet to make your own. You know the capital. You have walked through its history. Now discover the city that lives beyond the monuments. ➢ Start at Ithaca International Airport. ➢
Tompkins
Fly United to Washington Dulles.
➢ Give yourself time to meet the Washington you haven’t met yet. Come for the history. Stay for Washington itself.
But the city becomes more personal when those experiences are balanced
Sponsored Content / Independent Media Production: This story was produced by The Ithaca Times as part of a sponsored media partnership with Ithaca Tompkins International Airport. It 1s paid promotional content and is separate from the newspaper’s independent editorial coverage. OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026 / THE ITHACA TIMES
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THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
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Music Bars/Bands/ Clubs
10/28 Wednesday Midday Music for Organ: Guest organist Tim Pyper (CU Music) | 12:30 p.m. | Sage Chapel, 147 Ho Plaza | Free
10/29 Thursday Tandem Mayhem with Eric Aceto @ South Hill Cider | 5:30 p.m. | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road Sierra Duo | 7:30 p.m. | Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza | Free
10/30 Friday
An Evening of Carnatic Music (CU Music) | 7:30 p.m. | Willard Straight Hall, 136 Ho Plaza | Free
10/31 Saturday
Quinn Bedore Live | 4 p.m. | Brewers Taproom, 10 Pinckney Road
11/4 Wednesday
Stucky Ensemble-in-Residence Dal Niente| 7:15 p.m. | Hans Bethe House, 314 West Avenue | Free
Concerts/ Recitals
10/30 Friday Motherwort Halloween Party! | 6 p.m. | Hopshire Farms & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road Opus Spooky Tales Showcase | 6:30 p.m. | Opus Ithaca School of Music, 402 N. Aurora Street | Free Legends: A Mystical Journey | 7:30 p.m. | Corning Museum of Glass, 1 Museum Way
11/1 Sunday
A Musical Journey Across the Centuries | 2 p.m. | Merry-GoRound Playhouse, 17 William St, 2nd Floor | Free
11/2 Monday Free United States Army Field Band Concert | 7:30 p.m. | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway | Free
11/3 Tuesday
Music in the Glen Tuesday and Saturday concerts | 6 p.m. | Glendale Park, 400 Glendale Drive
Stage
Fall Fun Yoga | 5:30 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe: Deep Into That Darkness Peering | 7 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Rye Bar and Restaurant, 365 Davis Street The Great Pumpkin Pageant | 6 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Boulevard| $10.00 - $20.00 The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour with the Original “Columbia” Nell Campbell | 7:30 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway | Tickets: $155 Carrie: The Musical | 7 p.m., 10/30 Friday | Dowd Fine Arts Center - Lab Theatre, 40 Graham Avenue | $15.00 - $24.00 Legends: A Mystical Journey | 7:30 p.m., 10/30 Friday | Corning Museum of Glass, 1 Museum Way | Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: Mad Love, Mad Music | 7:30 p.m., 10/30 Friday | Kiplinger Theater, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, 430 College Avenue | Free Drag Me to School: Drag Performance Workshop Series at LGBTQ Center | 6 p.m., 11/2 Monday Civic Ensemble Youth Forum Theatre Troupe | 4 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street
Improv Night! | 7 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W Green Street | $5.00 - $10.00 Swing dance party and lesson | 7 p.m., 11/4 Wednesday | Treehouse Studios, 119 S. Cayuga Street | DJ dance party. All-Swing Mix. | $0.00 - $10.00
Art
TRACES | 11 a.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Corners Gallery, 903 Hanshaw Road, Suite 101A | TRACES features work by Masha Ryskin and Jennie Wilde | Free Lisa Mackie | The Forest for the Trees - and the Sea | 1 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | The Ink Shop Printmaking Center, 330 E. State / MLK Street | Free Ozolins and Nelson: On Canvas and Paper | 12 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | SOAG, 120 West State/MLK Street | Free What is Your Red Line? In the Salon at SOAG | 12 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | State of the Art Gallery, 120 W State Street | Michael Sampson “Layering The Figure” exhibit | 12 p.m., 10/30 Friday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Road, South Hill Business Campus | Free Art Cafe | 6 p.m., 10/30 Friday | The Clay School’s Art Room, 950 Danby Road | Free Try-It: Wheel workshop | 6 p.m., 10/30 Friday | The Clay School, 950 Danby Road | $55.00 - $80.00 Fossil ID Day | 10 a.m., 10/31 Saturday | Museum of the Earth, 1259 Trumansburg Road (Route 96) | $0.00 - $12.50 Water-Soluble Oil Painting Class | 1 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main Street | Water-Soluble Oil Painting Class Meet the Artists | 6 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street
THIS WEEK
Halloween in Downtown Ithaca FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 FROM 4:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M. Downtown Ithaca, 171 E MLK Jr. Street | Come on down for a parade, candy, games, and fun for the whole family! Friday, Oct. 30 4 - 6:30 PM Downtown Ithaca Thank you Cayuga Health for sponsoring! https://www.downtownithaca.com/ halloween-in-downtown-ithaca/
Film unseen at Willard Straight Theatre | 6 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Cornell University, 144 East Ave | Halloween Open House at LGBTQ Center | 2 p.m., 10/30 Friday | The Dead Letters Mailbox Letter Writing and Film Viewing Event | 3:30 p.m., 10/31 Saturday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street | Fall World Cinema: 12 Masterpieces from Around the World | 1:30 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court St. |
Cinemapolis 120 E. Green Street, Ithaca New movies opening the week of Oct 28. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes and continuing films. The Rocky Horror Picture Drag Show | Time is fleeting; Madness takes its toll. We see you shiver with Anticipation. Join the cast for a night of raucous mischief, interactive fun, and live performances all hosted by the fabulous Tilia Cordata! Callback kits will be available for a suggested donation of $12 per kit. Directed by Tilia Cordata and Just Alex! | NA 100 mins Fjord | From two time Palme d’Or winner Cristian Mungiu, a Norwegian woman and her devout Romanian husband relocate with their five children to a remote, close-knit, coastal town. Their teenage children form a fast bond with a neighboring family as unease begins to simmer around their rigid beliefs. When allegations of abuse emerge, they are forced to confront a system of judgment that blurs the line between concern and prejudice. | NA 146 mins
Save The Child | In “Save The Child,” by Elias Rosner and Sam Fishman, you are tasked with investigating the disappearance of a young boy. A snarky head agent guides you through your journey via earpiece, tracking your every step. As you dive deeper into the mission, a chilling past reveals itself. Will you unearth the mysteries of the Magdalene Mansion in time to save the child? | NA 35 mins New movies opening the
Sports
Friendly Golf Gathering | 5:30 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | ONCO Fermentations, 397 NY RT 281, Suite O Cornell Women Ice Hockey vs Union College | 3 p.m. 10/30 Friday | Lynah Rink, 536 Campus Road Cornell Volleyball vs Princeton University | 5 p.m. 10/30 Friday | Newman Arena at Bartels Hall Eastlake Pickleball Club Grand Opening | 5 p.m., 10/30 Friday | Eastlake Recreation Center, 18 Eastlake Road | Free Sprint Football vs Molloy University | 7 p.m. 10/30 Friday | Teagle Hall, 512 Campus Road Ithaca Men’s Rowing at Cornell Autumn Classic at Ithaca, NY | 9 a.m., 10/31 Saturday | Ithaca Men’s Rowing at Cornell Autumn Classic Ithaca Football at Buffalo State at Buffalo, NY | 1 p.m., 10/31 Saturday | Ithaca Football at Buffalo State Cornell Women’s Ice Hockey vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 3 p.m., 10/31 Saturday | Lynah Rink Elmira College Elmira College Men’s Ice Hockey vs Hobart College | 4 p.m., 10/31 Saturday | Newman Arena at Bartels Hall Cornell Men Ice Hockey vs Sacred Heart University | 7 p.m. 10/31 Saturday | Lynah Rink, 536 Campus Road
Equestrian vs Cornell Show I | All day 11/01 | Teagle Hall, 512 Campus Road Cornell Men Basketball vs Pepperdine University | 6 p.m. Monday 11/02 | Newman Arena, 554 Campus Road
Special Events
Are You Game? Mahjongg At C4A | 1 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S. Main Street GO ITHACA Open Hours | 2 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street
Books
Queer Horror Book Club - On Sundays She Picked Flowers | 6 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street Using imagery from A Psalm for the Wild-Built to inspire poetry | 6 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street The Craft Book Club for Writers | 6:30 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Ithaca Writing Studio, 1729 Slaterville Road Beyond Dreamers: Transitions to Adulthood in an Uncertain Age | 5:30 p.m., 10/30 Friday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street Turning the Page: A Delta Reads Book Club | 2 p.m., 11/1 Sunday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street Reading and Writing Poetry | 1 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court Street | $40.00 Teen & Tween Graphic Novel Book Club | 4 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: Mad Love, Mad Music SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 FROM 7:30 P.M. TO 9:30 P.M. Kiplinger Theater, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, 430 College Ave. | An intoxicating madness of music from the Roaring 1920s Jazz Age. Twelfth Night features a cast of twenty-three including fourteen actors, a singing chorus, dancers, and the onstage presence of professional jazz musician, Mike Carbone, on the saxophone and flute. https://pma.cornell.edu/news/shakespeares-twelfthnight-mad-love-mad-music
The Great Pumpkin Pageant FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M. Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd. | A Halloween puppet show from Lilypad Puppet Theatre with life-sized masked characters, original songs, and a spooktacular finale; bring your own Jack-O-Lantern. https://www.lilypadpuppettheatre.org/ pumpkin/
The Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 01 AT 4:00 P.M. Ford Hall, Whalen Center for Music, Ithaca College | DCJS offers deep, human connection and learning for a wide swath of our Ithaca community. Our year-round residents stand as the origin of our group and still serve as dedicated and enthusiastic participants in our work. https://www.dorothycottonjubileesingers.org/
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THE ITHACA TIMES / OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026
Comic Book Club Meeting: “Captain America Wants You to Vote!” | 6:30 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, at the Schwarz Jacobson Room, 101 East Green Street Hot People Read Book Club | 5 p.m., 11/4 Wednesday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street
Kids
Family Open Play - Fall ‘26 & Winter ‘27 | 3 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue Early Fall Baby & Toddler Storytime | 10:30 a.m., 10/30 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street Halloween in Downtown Ithaca | 4 p.m., 10/30 Friday | Downtown Ithaca, 171 E. MLK Jr. Street Greek Peak: Halloween at Hope Lake Lodge | 4 p.m., 10/30 Friday, 2177 Clute Road Haunted Hotel and Trick-orTreating | 4:30 p.m., 10/30 Friday | New Roots Charter School , 116 N. Cayuga Street | Come be Spooked at our New Roots Haunted Hotel! Tidepool Touch Tank | 10:30 a.m., 11/1 Sunday | Sciencenter, 601 1st. St. Meet a Reptile | 2 p.m., 11/1 Sunday | Sciencenter, 601 1st. Street Family Playgroup - Fall ’26 | 9:30 a.m., 11/2 Monday | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue | Free 7-weeks series, November 2 December 21 Read to Dogs | 3 p.m., 11/4 Wednesday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street | Free LEGO Club | 4 p.m., 11/4 Wednesday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St.
Notices
October Coffee Chat | Putting the Care Back in Healthcare | 9 a.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Watkins Glen Area Chamber, 214 N. Franklin Street
The Midweek Session | 4 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | 330 WEST, 330 W. State Street 2027 Budget Meeting 5 - Council Discussion and Vote on Proposed Amendments | 6 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday The Craft Book Club for Writers | 6:30 p.m., 10/28 Wednesday | Ithaca Writing Studio, 1729 Slaterville Road Leadership Schuyler | 8:30 a.m., 10/29 Thursday | Welliver, 250 N. Genesee Street Pumpkins for Pills: Medication Take Back Day at North Foyer, Campus Center | 10 a.m., 10/29 Thursday Smart Recovery | 12 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Mental Health Association, 511 W. Seneca Street The Ego & You | 1:30 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court Street | $40.00 Indivisible Cortland Affinity Group - Meeting Room | 6 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church Street | Kathleen Elliott | kelliottbirdsall@gmail.com Newfield Farmers Market Discussion | 6:30 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Newfield Town Hall, 166 Main Street Where ASL Lives: Language, Place, and Deaf Community Identity | 6:30 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street Karaoke with Elephant Sound | 8 p.m., 10/29 Thursday | 23 North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema Drive | Free Greek Peak: Halloween | 4 p.m., 10/30 Friday, Hope Lake Lodge, 2177 Clute Road Saturday Market | 9 a.m., 10/31 Saturday | Steamboat Landing, 545 3rd Street Farmer’s Market Cruises | 11 a.m., 10/31 Saturday | Ithaca Farmer’s Market Dock, 545 3rd Street | $10.00 - $28.00
Green Saturday | 12 p.m., 10/31 Saturday | NRE Space , 402 W. State Street | Free Parkinson’s People Support Group | 2:30 p.m., 11/1 Sunday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court Street | Free Special Committee on Coordinated Unhoused Services Planning Meeting | 2 p.m., 11/2 Monday | Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall | Election Day Bake Sale | 8 a.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street | Stop by Newfield Public Library for some goodies on Election Day. There will be lots of baked goods and treats to choose from. | $2.00 - $10.00 Chronic Illness Support Group | 1 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court Street | Lifelong’s Chronic Illness Support Group (free and open to the public) provides a welcoming space for adults living with chronic medical conditions with the intent of reducing isolation and supporting each other. | Free The Heart of Grieving - Grief and Loss Support Group at Muller Chapel Philips Room | 4:15 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Grief, whether new or with us for years, can make us feel alone and disconnected. Cable Access Oversight Committee Meeting | 5 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Aurora Room, Town Hall, 215 North Tioga Street 2027 Budget Meeting 6 - Extra Budget Meeting if necessary | 6 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall, 108 E. Green Street Community Line Dance | 7 p.m., 11/3 Tuesday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Road | Community Line Dance lessons Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group | 5:30 p.m., 11/4 Wednesday | Lifelong, 119 W. Court Street | Free Free Rabies Vaccination Clinics Cortland County | 11/4 Wednesday | Cortland County Office Building Gym, 60 Central Avenue
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KAI Print #2NEW Run: Oct 14, Jan 20 [2 runs]
Community This is what
Let’s keep building Y O U R B U S I N E S S
feels like
Thank you for staff who seem to know all our names and names of our dogs, for 100year olds who are still able to stay in their cottages, and for giving me a sense of being in another chapter of my life rather than of being at the end. You’ve built something real. But what’s next? A Tompkins Small Business Loan can be what’s next for taking your baby to the next level of success with funds for equipment, inventory, hiring, and growth. Stop into a branch to talk through the possibilities. tompkinsbank.com
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Loans subject to credit approval
(607) 266-5300
www.kai.kendal.org
Kendal at Ithaca OCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 3, 2026 / THE ITHACA TIMES
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