Sept. 24, 2025

N ews line

County Changes Code Blue Shelter Location, City Halts Collaboration on Navigation Hub

By Lorien Tyne

The Tompkins County Legislature decided to move its 2025-26 Code Blue shelter to Cherry Street in Ithaca because the previously-decided location at the former Burger King would not be ready in time. Due to the location change, the City of Ithaca has withdrawn its support to collaborate on a co-located navigation hub.

The county is legally required to provide emergency shelter during the Code Blue Season, which must be available when temperatures drop below freezing. At an Aug. 5 meeting, the legislature unanimously voted to sign a three-year lease to use the former Burger King building on Elmira Road for a Code Blue shelter. The resolution also authorized a sublease agreement with the city to house a “navigation hub” at the same location to provide additional facilities and resources. At the legislature’s Sept. 16 meeting, the resolution to move forward at Cherry Street was passed 10-1 with Legislator Dan Nolan being the only opposing vote. Nolan said he would vote against it because he felt the

county had made a commitment to the city to collaborate at the Burger King location.

The resolution states that upon further analysis, the former Burger King building at 100 Commercial Avenue would have needed floodplain mitigation, water service upgrade, HVAC, plumbing, fire alarm system, and restroom and shower installation. With those needed renovations, the county determined the location would not

n ote

be ready for the 2025-26 Code Blue season. “Those are not bad faith occurrences. Those are circumstantial occurrences,” Legislature Chair Dan Klein said. Legislator Shawna Black raised concern over the legislature not being notified of the construction issues sooner. She said the only option now is to go forward with

Continued on Page 22

X Tompkins County Neighborhood Mini-Grant Applications Due October 1

Sustainable Finger Lakes is accepting applications for their Fall 2025/Winter 2026 round of Neighborhood Mini-Grants in Tompkins County, for local residents who seek to improve the resilience, equity, and health of their communities and need a little help covering the costs.

The Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program was designed to stimulate resident-based, grassroots initiatives that improve quality of life and long-term health in local communities, promote environmental stewardship and local resilience, generate collaboration between differing groups, and create opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Since launching the program in 2008, Sustainable Finger Lakes has awarded more than $98,000 in 242 grants to innovative grassroots projects throughout Tompkins County.

Stories of their awardees and details on

the program can be found on their website: sustainablefingerlakes.org/neighborhoodmini-grant-program

ON

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed in July contains major funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that states and counties, including Tompkins, must offset in order to continue providing essential social services. (Design by Kaiden Chandler, Photography by Lucia Iandolo for the Ithaca Times)

Successful initiatives supported by Neighborhood Mini-Grants in recent years include the creation of an urban neighborhood garden in Ithaca, installations of a bike repair station at the Groton Public Library and bike racks in the Village of Dryden, “senior safe tools” for a community garden at a senior apartment complex, a library cart of books for adult ESL students in Ithaca, textile repair workshops in Trumansburg, and reusable utensils in the Dryden Middle/High School cafeteria. T ake

Grants range from $150 to $750 and support initiatives such as promoting sustainable food systems, alternative transportation, waste reduction/reuse, energy conservation/ fossil fuel use reduction, environmental education, community development, and addressing social and economic inequality. Proposals are reviewed twice a year by a team of community reps from each county. The program is sponsored by Craig Riecke, Applied Energy Services (AES), Visions Federal Credit Union, Park Foundation, and local donors. The program is expanding in the Finger Lakes Region, beginning with newlylaunched Keuka and Seneca Watersheds pilot chapter on an October 17 application deadline.

Individuals, organizations, and neighborhood groups are welcome to apply, as are local microbusinesses seeking to green their operations or extend their products or services to low-income clientele. Priority is given to new and/or small entities with relatively few sources of financial support. Funds are available for supplies and other expenses, but not for salaries or stipends.

jbilinski @ ithacatim E s com s C ott M anson , a ssociat E p ublish E

F r EE lanc E rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, and Jake Sexton

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(1973–1978),

in 1978. FoundEr good

The 2025-26 Code Blue shelter will be at 227 Cherry Street, the former location of Found in Ithaca, an antique shop. The location is being developed so it can eventually serve as a permanent homeless shelter.

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

IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A

By Mark Syvertson

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

WAS YOUR HIGHLIGHT AT PORCHFEST THIS YEAR ”?

NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com

Advocates Rally as Ithaca Common Council Re-Establishes Just-Cause Group

By Philip O’Dell

The Ithaca Common Council unanimously approved a resolution to advance potential just-cause legislation at a Sept. 17 special voting meeting. Just-cause legislation would increase protections for employees by eliminating at-will employment in the City of Ithaca, the ability for an employer to terminate an employee for any reason. Advocates say workers can be fired at any time for no reason at all, with no notice under current New York state employment law.

According to Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo, the council approved a resolution to reconvene its Worker Protections and Just Cause Working Group. The group’s five elected alderpersons will organize at least one public hearing and a wellpublicized public forum by year’s end. Any prospective just-cause legislation must be submitted to the city attorney’s office and reviewed within 90 days of submission. If more time is needed, the city attorney must brief the council at a meeting.

Alderpersons Kayla Matos and Phoebe Brown proposed just-cause legislation in 2024, the working group’s memorandum says. Afterward, the council formed a working group to study the issue. The group resubmitted the memo to the council on Aug. 28, outlining steps to passing legislation.

Matos said the group’s goals include discussing potential legislation, organizing community engagement and holding a public forum and hearing to gather input. She said diverse perspectives are requested and the memo doesn’t require hiring staff. She hopes legislation will pass later this year or in early 2026.

Matos said the memo has been available to the council since April 2025, giving it five months to provide feedback. She must submit a public schedule of meetings to Cantelmo by Oct. 1. The public is invited to hear experts discuss potential legislation.

Alderperson Ducson Nguyen said the resolution outlines the working group’s purpose and reestablishes it under Matos’s leadership for the remainder of 2025, with the possibility of reconvening next year. Nguyen said the council intended to hold one public forum in 2024 but was not accomplished due to scheduling difficulties.

Alderperson Patrick Kuehl supports a small business exemption, citing concerns that more regulations could burden local businesses. He supports regulations to large

corporations and big-box stores with over 100 employees and believes resources should be made available to help small businesses improve HR practices. Kuehl prefers a new working group with staff support and seeks access to Tompkins County Workers Center data on alleged unjust firings.

“It’s hard for me to think about somebody starting a new small business and having significant barriers to entry in our local economy,” Kuehl said.

Council member Clyde Lederman supports just cause legislation that doesn’t involve hiring more staff. He said due to the city’s challenging budget and high debt, he doesn’t want to vote for a plan that could lead to future layoffs.

Alderperson Tiffany Kumar said the process was stalled by an arbitrary amount of time between steps. She said the resolution reinvigorates the topic’s discussions, explores options for Ithaca, and uses existing legislation to assess feasibility. Kumar will consider a small business exemption and wants more discussions and review by city staff and residents before advancing legislation.

Alderperson Margaret Fabrizio proposed forming a working group of diverse community members, possibly through multiple roundtables, to ensure all perspectives are heard. The groups could convene in a forum and have time to study and ask questions. She said hiring two full-time city attorneys to review the legislation could cost the city $500,000 annually. Fabrizio seeks representatives from Tompkins County Workers’ Center, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, Cornell University, Cayuga Medical Center, small businesses, advocacy groups, economic and labor experts, and alderpersons.

An Ithaca Just Cause coalition has

formed and includes 25 local organizations, according to TCWC. The coalition opposes a small business exemption, describing it as a “poison pill” to exclude most workers and allow unjust firings to continue.

Before the meeting, coalition members held a rally outside City Hall to voice just-cause support since the meeting didn’t allow public comment.

Coalition member Adam Hart said employees can be terminated for any reason besides discrimination, which is often difficult and costly to prove. He voiced opposition to a small business exemption, saying small businesses and landlords are often “the most egregious violators” of labor and tenant laws. He believes an exemption would disqualify too many workers, given Ithaca’s high density of small businesses. He described just cause as a commonsense measure for job security and dignity, empowering workers to report issues without fear of unjust termination.

“It helps protect our immigrants and LGBTQ folks from bosses who might feel emboldened by this current [Trump] administration and rhetoric at the federal level,” Hart said.

Labor lawyer Iris Packman said being fired without cause can have a devastating impact on a person’s life. She said a just cause law doesn’t mean employers can’t terminate someone, but they must show a good reason. She added the only real protection against this in the U.S. comes from a union contract, which often guarantees just-cause protection.

“Not having those kind of protections can stifle people speaking out and work against the public interest,” Packman said.

Advocates rally outside city hall at a Just Cause rally taking place prior to a Common Council meeting in June. (Photo: Nathan Ellison/Sun Fellow at the Ithaca Times)

“I gotta say Microbes Mostly.”

Aiden

“I love the Fall Creek Brass Band.”

Lili

“Dad on Arrival. Great music and dad jokes between songs.”

Lydia

“My highlight was the mosh pit next to Gimme Coffee.”

Michael

“I gotta say Fall Creek Brass Band too.”

Alex

Cornell’s First Black Police Chief to Become New Deputy Chief for Ithaca Police Department

By Philip O’Dell

Anthony G. Bellamy will become the new deputy chief of the Ithaca Police Department on Oct. 2, following his retirement as chief of the Cornell University Police Department.

Bellamy served over 21 years at CUPD that included serving as its first Black chief for the last three-and-a-half years. He will participate in a ceremonial walk-out on Friday, Sept. 19.

“We look forward to officially welcoming Deputy Chief Bellamy and are confident that his experience, vision, and dedication will guide the Ithaca Police Department toward continued growth and excellence—and help further our mission to Enhance Community Safety,” the City of Ithaca said in a statement.

The City of Ithaca praised Bellamy as a dedicated advocate for officer development, wellness, and community engagement. IPD held a statewide search of qualified applicants that were interviewed by a hiring panel. Members of the IPD, Greater Ithaca Activity Center (GIAC), Community Justice Center (CJC), and City of Ithaca Human Resources served in the panel.

Bellamy said he looks forward to the new role and strengthening community relations.

“My goal is to collaborate and create partnerships,” he said. “I’m a spoke in the wheel, and I want to keep that wheel moving in a great direction and support that any way I can.”

Bellamy’s career in law enforcement began more than 30 years ago in Dutchess County, New York. At CUPD, Bellamy served as a patrol officer, investigator, uniformed sergeant, major investigations unit sergeant and patrol operations lieutenant before rising to deputy chief in 2019. Bellamy holds a master’s degree in public administration from Marist College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice systems from Keuka College. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy. Bellamy succeeded David Honan, associate vice president for public safety, as chief in 2022 when the university created the Division of Public Safety.

“I am so grateful for Chief Bellamy’s service and dedication to the university,” Honan said. “He provided strong leadership and essential community engagement during a critical period in which we reimagined the role of law enforcement at Cornell. Our department, and the com-

ICSD Receives FDA Grant for School Meal Improvement

By Maddy Vogel

Atwo-year initiative aiming to enhance school meal offerings across the Ithaca City School District has been kickstarted with the support of over $617,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ICSD announced Monday.

The funding will allow the ICSD to partner with FDA laboratories to analyze current breakfast and lunch offerings for students and make adjustments that will improve the quality and nutritional value of school meals.

The review and analysis of current offerings — which will be conducted throughout the current academic year — will offer opportunities to “transition from ultra-processed foods to whole, scratch-prepared meals,” according to a press release from the district. The district stated that comparison samples will be collected later in the year to mea-

UPS DOWNS&

Ups

Yvonne Taylor, co-founder and vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian and a founding member of the National Coalition Against Cryptomining, has been named to the Grist 50, an annual list spotlighting 50 innovators and leaders driving bold climate solutions across the United States.

Downs

On Sept. 18 the New York State Public Service Commission approved the National Grid Gas Planning Forecast, after adding it to its Thursday meeting agenda at the last-minute. It’s the latest step in the fast-track approval process for the NESE pipeline after Governor Hochul cut a deal with Trump this spring.

munity, are the better for his efforts.”

“A leader is not going to be effective unless the team follows their vision,” Bellamy said. “So I feel very fortunate and blessed to have the team here who trusted me to lead them, and I can only hope to earn that trust, collaboration and partnership with the members of the Ithaca Police Department and the community.”

CUPD Deputy Chief Eric Stickel will become the appointed interim chief on Sept. 20. Stickel started as a CUPD officer in 2008 before his promotion to roles that included patrol sergeant, training sergeant, uniformed lieutenant and eventually deputy chief in November 2022.

sure the impact of changes to menu offerings. Free breakfast and lunch is currently offered to all students in the ICSD every day, regardless of income. The district stated that the ICSD’s Child Nutrition Department, led by registered dietitian and director of child nutrition Beth Krause, Executive Chef Jamie Zervos, and Operations Supervisor Jennifer Doolittle, has long been at the forefront of school meal innovation. The department prioritizes fresh and

local ingredients, balanced nutrition, and sustainable practices, the district stated. “This grant is truly a game changer for the Child Nutrition department,” Krause said. “With this funding, we can expand healthy food offerings for ICSD students, enhance meal quality, and place an even stronger emphasis on whole, nutritious options. The partnership allows us to provide meals that not only taste great but also promote long-term wellness.”

HEARD

Heard

The Tompkins County Public Library is inviting the community to vote on new library card designs, created by local residents during its Color Our World Summer Reading program. Voting runs online through Oct. 5 and in person through Oct. 4, with winners unveiled Nov. 8 during the library’s 25th anniversary celebration at its East Green Street location.

Seen

Assemblymember Anna Kelles joined business owners, environmental advocates and community leaders at a rally Sunday at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center in Geneva, calling on New York officials to uphold climate laws and protect the region from the impact of data centers and expanding the Seneca Meadows landfill.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you think the Democratic Party needs to be more progressive or more moderate to effectively resist the Trump administration?

59.0% Progressive.

34.4% Moderate.

6.6% I don’t care.

N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N :

How do you feel about the Cayuga Power Plant in Lansing being re-developed into a data center?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

Anthony G. Bellamy, the current Cornell University Police Department chief, will become the newest deputy chief of the Ithaca Police Department. (Photo: Provided)

The Ithaca City School District will analyze its current school meal offerings and make improvements with grant funding from the FDA. (Photo: Casey Martin/Ithaca Times File)

The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Crosswording For Literacy

“Can you read and write well enough to fill out a job application? Can you read the warning label on a can of pesticide? Do you enjoy the pleasure of reading to your children or grandchildren? Were you able to pass the written requirement for a driver’s license? Are you a US citizen or able to pass the verbal and written citizenship interview? Do you have a High School diploma or are able to pass the GED?

If you answered, “Of course!” to any of these questions, you are not one of the more than 7,000 adults in Tompkins County, including immigrants and, most significantly, our fellow native-born citizens, who have spent a lifetime slipping through the educational cracks. We are fortunate enough that we are able to enjoy our particular interests and pleasures while also doing good. Are you an avid swimmer? Participate in ‘Women Swimmin’ while benefiting Hospicare. Are you a foodie? Sit down with ‘Taste of the

Nation’ to help end childhood hunger in America. Do you feel passionate about the Special Olympics? Take the ‘Polar Plunge.’ And, drum roll please, if you care about adult literacy in Tompkins County and have a passion, or even a passing interest, for crossword puzzles, sign up for the 13th annual Finger Lakes Crossword Competition, taking place on Oct. 18th in support of the work of Tompkins Learning Partners (TLPartners.org). Visit our website at CrosswordCompetition. com to register for this In-Person and Virtual competition and to read about some of the success stories that TLP has helped to facilitate in our community. (Virtual means no swimsuit, no masking, food and drink permitted. and shower optional.) See you Oct. 18th.” — Gary Weissbrot, Ithaca Chairperson, Finger Lakes Crossword Competition Board Member, Tompkins Learning Partners

SNAP, NOEP Offer Support for College Students Facing Food Insecurity

“It is back to school time! Many college students struggle to make ends meet. This is where SNAP can help you get the food you need so you can stay focused on school. The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) can help you learn if you may be eligible for SNAP. NOEP can help you complete and submit the application. Contact NOEP today. It’s

free and confidential.” — Robin Comstock, Catholic Charities Tompkins Tioga

RE: Tompkins County Presents Recommended Budget With 4.5% Tax Levy Increase

“First you raise the value of our houses and raise our property taxes ridiculously high now. At what point do you ever cut taxes? How about you cut wasteful spending and lay off county employees? There will be a breaking point. And why does an airport that has two flights a day (that are never on time) need a ridiculously high geothermal heating system? The flights there are usually $300 more than flights from Syracuse and the airport needs state subsidies just to operate.Just close the airport and lower taxes.” — Ragnar LodBlox, Ithaca.com

“My ICSD tax bill alone is more than my entire County, City, and School bill when I lived in Vermont, and all my neighbors complain about the schools low pay, high turnover, poor facilities, etc. No one complained about the schools in Vermont. What am I missing? Where’s the money going?

Stop raising property taxes. This is out of control. Between the county, town, school district (and village), it’s ridiculous. Do they have any plan at all to increase the tax base without adding more burden onto existing homeowners and businesses? Can they attract a business that actually pays property tax, unlike Cornell and IC? Build more housing maybe! Can we get a 2-lane highway connection to i-81? Maybe that would make a manufacturer more

likely to come to Tompkins County. It's a great place to live, and a great city, but it could be even better! So much potential here! Just need to chill out with the property taxes for a decade, let people catch their breath.” — Joe Idontknow, Ithaca.com

“I totally agree, why does the airport need a geothermal heating system? People that make 100k+ a year can’t afford to start a life here. Someday Ithaca will just be college students and the extremely poor. No middle class.” — Jack Reacher, Ithaca.com

RE: County Changes Code Blue Shelter Location, City Halts Collaboration on Navigation Hub

“ Since the county is required to offer beds when the temps go to freezing, I wish our leaders could give up the collective fantasy that one day the homeless will just leave town. What are they going to do now? Find another crap place to throw beds in this winter, like last year. I think the truth is no one really wants to address the issue in a reasonable and intelligent manner.” — Marian Mumford, Facebook.com

“The part I don’t understand is, if the county was struggling to renovate the burger king site in time, aren’t they going to have the same issue with the cherry street site? I’m guessing it needs a lot of interior work done to house people, and winter is right around the corner.” — Seph Murtagh, Facebook.com

Continued on Page 22

“Unless we learn from history, we are destined to repeat it. This is no longer merely an academic exercise, but may contain our world’s fate and our destiny.”

—

Alex Haley, Author of Roots

Voices Through the Gorges

The Impact of Food Security on Resilient Communities

By Silence Dogood

In the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, the phrase “We the People” represents a powerful ideal: that democracy is not a passive system, but a participatory one. It is the collective will, voice, and action of everyday citizens that uphold the values of justice, liberty, and the common good. One of the most pressing and often overlooked pillars of a resilient democratic society is food security. When communities have reliable access to nutritious and affordable food, they are not only healthier and more stable—they are also more empowered, more engaged, and more capable of sustaining democratic participation. In this way, food security is not merely a social or economic issue; it is a foundation for resilient, participatory democracy.

Food security refers to the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. When this need is unmet, it weakens individuals and communities alike. Hunger can erode educational outcomes, hinder economic mobility, and diminish political engagement. A child who goes to school hungry cannot focus in class. A parent working multiple jobs to put food on the table often lacks the time or energy to participate in civic life. A community struggling with food deserts—areas where access to fresh produce and healthy food is limited—may face higher rates of chronic illness, reducing its overall capacity to organize, advocate, and participate in the democratic process.

Conversely, when food security is prioritized, communities thrive. Resilient communities are those that can withstand and adapt to challenges—economic downturns, natural disasters, political changes—while continuing to support the well-being of their members. Foodsecure communities are less vulnerable to these shocks because they have developed systems of local cooperation, resourcesharing, and sustainability. Community gardens, food co-ops, farmers markets, and urban agriculture projects are all examples of grassroots efforts that foster not only nutrition and health but also

civic pride, cooperation, and mutual responsibility.

Participatory democracy thrives when citizens are engaged, informed, and invested in the health and future of their communities. Food-related initiatives often serve as entry points into deeper civic participation. For example, when residents come together to demand the establishment of a local grocery store or lobby city officials for support in starting a community garden, they are engaging directly in democratic action. These localized efforts create opportunities for leadership, coalition-building, and policy change. They empower marginalized voices and ensure that solutions to local problems are informed by those most affected.

Moreover, food security aligns closely with the principles of equity and justice. In many areas, food insecurity disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants, and low-income families. Addressing these disparities through inclusive food policies, school lunch programs, and equitable urban planning helps dismantle systemic barriers and creates a more just society. When all people can access basic necessities like food, they are more likely to participate in civic life, trust public institutions, and work together for the common good.

The COVID-19 pandemic provided a stark illustration of the role food security plays in societal resilience. As supply chains faltered and job losses spiked, food insecurity surged across the globe. But so too did community action. Mutual aid networks, local farms, and grassroots food delivery services stepped up to fill the gaps. These efforts, often organized by ordinary citizens, demonstrated the power of community-based responses in times of crisis. They also revealed a truth at the heart of participatory democracy: when people feel a sense of ownership over their community’s well-being, they are willing to act, collaborate, and innovate to protect it.

Journalist, Copy Editor, Bandmate Austin Lamb Charts His Own Path

By Steve Lawrence

As a third-grade student at Fall Creek Elementary School, Austin Lamb wrote a story that would not find its way into what we now call mainstream media, but it did find itself in the school library—with a bar code, Austin recalls, so people could check it out. Given the story was about a superhero anthropomorphic toothbrush, it might be safe to say that mainstream media was not ready for it anyway.

Years later, as a high schooler at Lehman Alternative Community School, Lamb “got a little more serious,” writing for the Ithaca High student newspaper The Tattler and the Ithaca Times. Austin recalled, “Jon Raimon was my English teacher [at LACS], and because of the career exploration graduation requirement, he helped me get an internship at the Ithaca Times.”

Lamb said he learned a lot from working under then-managing editor Nick Reynolds (and Matt Butler, Reynolds' successor), and added, “I became a freelancer during my senior year, and I started doing some social media management.”

Those forays into the world of multiplatform media steered Lamb toward the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, from which he will graduate in December of this year.

As it did for many people, Covid threw the proverbial wrench into Lamb’s plans. He enrolled at Newhouse in 2019, took some time away from his studies, and will graduate in three months. “Life doesn’t always occur in clean narratives,” Austin said, and his readjusted timeline has given him a broader view, one that will help him as a writer. In Lamb’s words, “Life can be messy, and the more you try to understand the complexities and present a full scope of people’s lives, the more you can build empathy and trust with your readers.”

That broader scope of vision, and his exposure to different mentors, has led Lamb to concern himself less with things like job titles and academic pedigrees. Watching his former mentor Reynolds, Lamb said, helped him realize what you can do with hard work and drive. Nick Reynolds is now a statehouse reporter at

the Post & Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, and previously was a senior politics reporter for Newsweek.

Lamb is also developing a deeper sense of what will be the sources of his own drive as he charts his career course. He pointed to a profile of a former Ithaca College music student named Josh Oxford.

“Josh was a gifted percussionist, and after a near-fatal car crash that changed his circumstances so significantly and took away his ability to play at the same level, he focused his passion on composing,” Lamb said.

Indeed, “life can be messy,” and “does not always occur in clean narratives,” and Lamb is developing an ever-keener eye for the types of stories that will make him excited to sit at his desk and start writing. To put a finer point on what he hopes to bring to his work, Austin said “There are so many different sets of 'facts,' and attention spans have been so eroded. Journalism done at its best requires legitimacy and accuracy. Many people would rather watch a Tik Tok video than read a onepage article.” With a palpable degree of frustration, Lamb added, “Some people don't want to eat their greens.”

Asked if his impending job search will be based more on choosing to live

Austin Lamb is the copy editor for the Ithaca Times and a student at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. (Photo: Mark Syvertson/Ithaca Times)

From Independence to Interdependence: A New Vision for America at 250

By Roy Allen — Executive Director of Pathways to Equity and Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Ithaca Times

As America approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, we have a rare opportunity to reflect on our past and reimagine our future. The nation’s founding was anchored in the pursuit of liberty and self-governance. The Declaration of Independence boldly asserted our right to freedom from tyranny. Yet, just a few years later, the Constitution began with a different idea: “We the People.” It reminded us that freedom is not a solo pursuit—it is sustained through collective effort.

Today, America faces complex challenges—housing shortages, economic inequality, technological disruption, public health crises and geo-political unrest— that cannot be solved by individualism alone. In this context, we must move beyond the outdated binary of dependence versus independence and embrace a more vital and future-ready mindset: interdependence.

Why Interdependent Thinking Matters

Interdependent thinking recognizes that individuals and communities thrive through mutual aid and reliance, shared goals, and collective problem-solving— while still valuing personal agency and responsibility. This framework is not a rejection of independence, but its evolution. It calls us to understand that in a highly connected world, we need each other more than ever.

Historically, American democracy has always been an exercise in balancing liberty with unity. Independence was essential in breaking from monarchy, but interdependence made the revolution possible—through alliances, shared sacrifice, and a vision of common purpose. From the abolitionist movement to the New Deal to the civil rights era, our progress has come through people banding together, not standing apart.

In today’s world, interdependence is not merely a moral ideal—it’s a practical necessity. Global pandemics, supply chain

disruptions, and natural emergencies have shown that isolation is not an option. Our economy, security, health, and social constructs are intricately tied to systems that span communities, states, and continents. Embracing interdependence simply aligns our thinking with how the world actually works.

How Might We Promote Interdependent Thinking?

1 Reframe the Narrative

America has long glorified rugged individualism, but this story is incomplete. Interdependent thinking invites us to celebrate collaboration alongside personal achievement.

We should lift up stories of communities and individuals succeeding through collaboration and cooperation: local food and housing co-ops, public-private partnerships to support community wealth making, or grassroots disaster relief efforts. The Apollo Program, for example, wasn’t just a triumph of individual genius—it was a coordinated effort involving thousands of minds across government, academia, and industry.

2 � Revitalize Education and Civic Engagement

Civic education must evolve to teach students how systems work and how to participate meaningfully in them. Interdependence should be a civic virtue— alongside initiative, responsibility, and critical thinking.

Schools can introduce curricula that emphasize teamwork, systems thinking, creative problem solving and civic service. Participatory forums—like town halls, citizen assemblies, or youth councils— can offer real-world practice in collaborative governance.

3� Support Interdependent Policy and Leadership

We need policies that reward and

How do we Change Hearts and Minds?

REFLECTING ON THE FIRST WEEKEND OF ITHACA’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

By Chloe Asack, Opinion Intern

At the first weekend of the Ithaca Reproductive Rights Film Festival, I attended screenings of “Connie Cook: A Documentary,” “The Deciding Vote,” “62 Days,” “Under G-d.” and a selection of short films. The first two films discuss New York’s 1970 legalization of abortion with the consent of a physician, making it the most progressive state on abortion in the nation. Ithaca’s own assembly member Connie Cook, a Rockefeller republican, co-authored the law,, with assembly member George Michaels’ titular deciding vote, likely ending his political career and codifying abortion in the state. The documentaries discuss the toil and savvy necessary to pass this law in the majority-Republican legislature, with many votes coming down to Cook’s persuasiveness and personal conversations Michaels had with his family.

Three of the participants of the post-screening panel of “Connie Cook: A documentary” and “The Deciding Vote” occupy distinct roles in honoring the late assemblywoman’s legacy. Anna Kelles is also a New York assemblywoman, Sue Perlgut is a documentarian who conveyed Cook’s story on the screen, and Cathy Cook, Connie’s daughter, is uniquely positioned to tell her mother’s story. In some way, these are all roles within the broader reproductive rights movement: a legislator, a recorder, and speaker. If those are their roles, then my next question, which occupied my thoughts all weekend, is what is the role of the audience? How can the attendees of Ithaca’s third annual Reproductive Rights Film Festival use their experience to take action?

Throughout the screening this weekend, I learned much about the reproductive rights movement, from Jewish initiatives for abortion rights covered in “Under G-d” to three women’s traumatic abortion stories in “Someone You Know.” But I was frustrated at the unlikelihood that anti-reproductive rights voters, who

could really gain something from these films, would never venture to watch them. In a panel after the short film screening, director Leah Waessa said, “Look around. There aren’t enough people here. Everyone should know about these films.” But when our political parties are so polarized, many are not willing to challenge their already held beliefs.

Although 63% of Americans support the legalization of abortion in all or most cases, as do the majority of moderate republicans, pro-life politicians still won the White House last year. Even though the majority understands the utility of abortion access, they have not internalized how dangerous a lack of access is. Abortion, as it is currently held in our cultural consciousness, is not swaying 63% of the vote. Americans don’t need to be convinced that legalized abortion is the right thing, but they badly need to be convinced that it is of vital importance. I would be surprised if 63% of Americans identified as activists or if 63% of the festival’s audience did, but I still think there is a role for the non-activist to carve out in this movement. If change is to be created, that role can’t just be to view. In the post-film panel, Perlgut discussed her hope for the future of reproductive justice, highlighting the youth as “the ones who are going to do this.” As much as I agree, as one of those young people, I feel lost on what “this” should be. Everyone is not an activist, but I think every reproductive rights supporter should strive to enact smallscale change. The question is how. Watching a film cannot be the endall be-all, but the knowledge gained can be a tool in creating action. If activists attend protests and city council meetings, I think that the simple supporter can be a changemaker by engaging with those whose votes have yet to be won, a role critically lacking in liberal activism. Well-meaning discussions about avoiding futile political discourse were later

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Brings Big Cuts

As the federal government slashes aid for essential social services, Tompkins and other counties brace for cuts

By Lorien Tyne

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is almost 1,000 pages of U.S. federal policy changes, including major funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that states and counties must offset in order to provide essential social services. Local governments and institutions in Tompkins County say the extent of the bill’s impact won’t be mea surable until the policies are implemented.

BILL BACKGROUND

President Donald Trump signed H.R.1 — called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” despite the title being removed before its passing — into law on July 4. This is a budget reconciliation bill with a prima ry focus on tax policy. The Senate passed H.R.1 in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting a tie-breaking vote. The House of Representatives passed the bill without changes by a 218-214 vote. Every Democrat and Independent in the Senate and House voted against H.R.1, along with three Republican senators and two House repre sentatives. Still, the bill made it through, and now local and state governments must navigate the impacts of its contents.

Much of the local impacts are unknown at this time for two reasons. One is that many items in the bill won’t take effect immediately but will be phased in through 2035, with the majority implemented in 2026 and 2027. The other unknown is how much of the financial burden state govern ments will take on or pass to counties. The New York State Legislature ended its 2025 session in June and isn’t scheduled to reconvene until January 2026. It is possible that the state legislature will return for a special session, but so far lawmakers have said there are no plans to reconvene.

in federal spending in the next decade. The reduction in spending is primarily achieved through $1 trillion and $186 billion cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, respectively, as well as $380 billion from policy changes to higher education loan programs.

MEDICAID/SNAP CUTS

Up until now, the federal government has covered 50% of SNAP administrative cost, which has been cut to 25%. Under current SNAP funding policy, counties would have their non-federal share increased from 25% to 75%, costing New York counties and New York City a total of $168 million annually.

shifts, or whether they share these costs and ask counties and local taxpayers to pay for these new federal cuts. Either way, counties will have some challenging budget years ahead of us.”

REDUCED INCENTIVES FOR CLEAN ENERGY

costs and processes. One cost burden will be the salary and training for workers to conduct new monthly compliance and verification procedures.

About two-thirds of the $12.5 trillion in tax actions are tax cuts. To make up for some of the loss in federal revenue, there will be a net reduction of about $1.2 trillion

The state estimates up to 1.5 million New Yorkers could lose health insurance, and 300,000 households could lose some or all SNAP benefits, both because of new eligibility and verification requirements

Tompkins

County from SNAP cuts alone is estimated at $673,204.

“Whether New York counties are left to absorb these impacts depends on how the State of New York responds — either by protecting counties or shifting these massive costs downward,” NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario said in a statement. “The question is whether the state spares county taxpayers from these cost

Development of solar and wind projects will be impacted due to an accelerated phaseout of technology-neutral production tax credits and technology-neutral investment tax credits. These tax credits won’t be accessible to claim after Dec. 31, 2027 and already serviced projects that don’t start in the next year will lose any claimed tax credits. Other clean energy technologies (energy storage, geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric systems) are eligible for tax credits until December 2035.

“I think it’s largely a negative sort of portend of what we’re seeing with the administration’s approach towards energy in general,” Ithaca City Mayor Robert Cantelmo said. “It’s not giving a specific death blow to a piece of our active agenda that we’re pursuing, but it is certainly ringing alarm bells about what the federal funding landscape will be around energy security and our climate goals.”

Ithaca Times reached out to Rebecca Evans, director of sustainability for the city, to ask about the bill’s impacts on the development of a new Climate Action Plan, but did not receive a response before publication.

Laura Lewis, chair of the TCAT Board of Directors, said in a statement to the Ithaca Times that traditional funding for public transit remains untouched. However, she said TCAT, like all organizations, will be affected in some way — though it’s too early to know how.

H.R.1 incentivizes personal car ownership by providing new tax breaks, while

tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) end on Sept. 30. New EVs had a $7,500 federal tax credit, and used EVs had tax credits up to $4,000.

“Most of us in the public transit world would like to see more people use their private vehicles less frequently and instead use public transportation,” Lewis said. “The bill also shifts investment away from electric vehicle technology — and green technology in general — at a time when agencies like TCAT are working toward decarbonizing their fleets.”

TOWNS AND TAXES

While there will be negative impacts of H.R.1 that will have a trickle-down effect and may impact individuals or organizations within towns, municipalities generally do not receive direct aid from the federal government. They are also not responsible for contributing funding to programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.

Christopher A. Koetzle, executive director of the New York Association of Towns (NYOAT), said NYAOT’s efforts in Washington regarding H.R.1 were successful and included four main items: preservation of tax-exemption on municipal bonds, taxexempt status for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, a temporary raise to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction and improved incentives for private investment in underserved communities.

“Communities are built by the communities,” Koetzle said. “And so if they took that tax-exempt status away, that would have been devastating to local government, and we really worked hard to make sure that stayed in the bill.”

The bill temporarily raised the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 with phaseouts starting for households earning over $500,000 annually. Through 2029, the cap will increase by 1% each year and in 2030 it will revert to $10,000.

“It’s not unusual to have these types of fiscal policies that are passed have some sort of sunset, because it allows them to kind of take a pause and maybe evaluate what it’s doing to revenue for the government and then make a decision later,” Koetzle said.

HIGHER EDUCATION

There are several policy changes that affect higher education institutions, but Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College said their impacts will be minimal.

Peter Voorhees, public information officer for TC3, said the only piece of the bill that will impact TC3 is that Pell Grants will include short-term job-training programs starting in summer 2026. He said that this will provide financial support for students enrolled in short-term, creditbearing programs that are designed directly for the workforce, such as TC3’s microcredentials.

“[This] is something community colleges have long wanted,” Voorhees wrote in a statement. “TC3 is a leader in providing microcredentials, and with this expansion of Pell eligibility taking effect next summer, the College will continue to review its academic portfolio along with employer needs and consider ways to further expand program options for our students.”

Tim Downs, Ithaca College’s CFO and senior vice president of finance and ad-

ministration, said IC is keeping tabs on the accountability earnings test item in the bill. The item essentially requires higher education institutions to substantiate that the degree being offered leads to a higher salary than someone would get without the degree. The bill states that if a program cannot prove this, it will lose Title IV funding eligibility.

“This one says the current timing is July 1, 2026, but I’d be willing to bet my mortgage payment that’s not going to happen,” Downs said. “They’re going to have to bump that back. That’s one of the ones where there’s just way, way too many details to flesh out.”

Since there is no guidance on how to verify the success of degree programs, Downs

said Ithaca College is working with consortiums that represent higher education institutions such as the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

“We’re not going to wait. We want to shape it,” Downs said. “Our absolute goal is to say [..] ‘Please work on and see if we can either get it removed, or at least we can help shape the language so it’s not an absolute disaster for students, for institutions, for the country.”

The other aspect of the bill that may impact students seeking financial assistance are the federal student loan provisions. The Grad PLUS program is being grandfathered out and the Parent PLUS loan limit is now 20,000 per year. Downs said that about 40% of the college’s graduate students have Grad PLUS loans and about 8% have Parent PLUS loans. Downs said it is impossible to know how many students will be negatively impacted by the changes, since they may choose not to attend graduate school or will find loan alternatives. There are several other loan-related provisions that Cornell University detailed in its “Dear Colleague” letter this summer.

Cantelmo said he hopes to see more leadership at the state level as communities try to navigate these policy changes. He said that while there are some positive provisions in the bill, those do not offset the impending damage to social services and climate initiatives.

“I don’t know exactly how we’re going to seek, as a community, to fill these gaps that are being produced,” Cantelmo said. “It’s a really tough time, and it’s, I think, compounded by the pain and the difficulty of seeing the federal government abdicate its responsibility in promoting the general welfare of our communities.”

H.R.1 phases out tax credits for solar and wind projects by the end of 2027. (Photo: Ithaca Times File)

Tompkins County and New York state will take on cost burdens from federal funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

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

Cornell Falls, Ithaca College Wins as Football Season Opens

By Steve Lawrence

Now that the Big Red of Cornell finally put on the pads for their weekend opening at the University of Albany, the local football season is fully underway. While Cornell mounted a solid comeback, the visitors fell short by a field goal, but had an opportunity to answer some questions.

The main question for the Big Red — at least on the offensive side of the ball — was how would the team possibly replace quarterback Jameson Wang. Wang’s 4 years under center were prolific, as he passed for 8,225 yards and 84 touchdowns, and rushed for 2,050 yards and 30 more TDs.

At Albany second-year head coach Dan Swanstrom went with a dual-QB plan, as both Devin Page and Garett Bass-Sulpizio took snaps. The pair went 16-26 combined, and, keeping up the Big Red’s recent tradition of playing dual-threat signal callers, Page also rushed for 57 yards to lead the team.

On the receiving end, junior AllAmerican tight end Ryder Kurtz snagged a half-dozen passes for 68 years, and scored the visitors' lone touchdown. Kurtz and the rest of the receiving corps also have big shoes to fill, given the absence of junior wide receiver Samuel Musungu, who is out with an injury. Prior to the 2025 season, Musungo

was placed on the Walter Payton Award PreSeason watch list, and was a FCS Football Pre-Season All American. In 2024, Musungo led the Big Red with 83 receptions — 10 for touchdowns — and racked up 960 yards over 10 games. Those stats put him in the Top 10 nationally, and his absence is a big blow to the Big Red’s 2025 hopes.

Cornell will travel to New Haven next weekend to open Ivy League play. The Ivy League is often referred to as “The Ancient Eight,” and for good reason. The game will mark the 87th time the Big Red and the Bulldogs have squared off, and while Yale holds an all-time advantage of 52-32-2, the Bulldogs’ upperclassmen no doubt want to win this time, as Cornell has won the last two.

For those who have been waiting... and waiting...to see Cornell play at Schoellkopf Field, the Big Red will welcome Colgate into the crescent on October 4th. The game will be played on Homecoming Weekend, and will kick off slightly later than usual, at 2 p.m.

On the other side of town, Ithaca College faced a first-ever opponent on Saturday. The Bombers traveled to Hamburg, NY, to take on the Hilbert College Hawks. Coming off a lopsided season-opening loss, the Bombers first took it out on Al fred last weekend — pounding the Saxons 45-14 — and if the upstart Hawks thought the Bombers were finished with running

up scores, they were mistaken. Ithaca used four quarterbacks — led by Matthew Parker’s 13-14/185 yard outing, and the teams' inaugural match-up was one the hosts would rather forget. The Bomber rolled to a 65-3 victory, moving them to 2-1, and instilling a lot of confidence heading into this weekend’s important conference contest against Hobart. That game will kick off at 1 pm, at Butterfield Stadium.

Finally, the Little Red of Ithaca High dropped a tough one to Elmira, a week after getting into the win column with a convincing victory over Chenango Valley. The Little Red’s next home contest will be under the Friday Night Lights, on October 3rd, at 7 p.m.

There is one more local football team to mention, as the Cornell Sprint Football team heads into its second year

saying, “In the past, the academies (Army and Navy) were always first and second, and everybody else was playing for third. We’ve really tried to ingrain a culture that says our standard is at the Academy level.

Junior tight end Ryder Kurtz will be relied upon heavily in the absence of Samuel Musungo. (Photo: Provided/Cornell Athletics)

BusinessTimes

Hal Smith’s Lifelong Profession

Leadership Shift at Centralus Health

Puerto

Rican Cuisine Planting Roots Downtown

Halco Founder Reflects on 41 Years of Growth

By Marjorie Olds

Growing up in Phelps, New York, one of Hal Smith’s church youth leaders noticed Hal’s interest in fixing things. From the time Hal was 12 years old, he would accompany Pat Sattaneo on weekends and vacations, doing plumbing work for customers in the Geneva-Phelps area, many of whom were professors at Cornell’s Experimental Station in Geneva, a few miles away from Phelps in Ontario County.

Now, after 41 years of Hal’s successful heating, plumbing, cooling and energy efficiency business, the founder and director of Halco looks back on that unusual apprenticeship as a blessing to launch him to become the person he was meant to be.

In high school Hal took two years of plumbing, heating, and electrical classes, and upon graduation spent four years with a plumbing, heating and air-conditioning company in Canandaigua. During those four years, Hal also took related classes about 30 miles from home, at Monroe County Community College.

With encouragement from Pat Sattaneo, in 1984 at 22 years of age, Hal Smith started Halco, this region’s prominent and popular energy efficiency company, operating in 23 counties in the SyracuseRochester-Ithaca area. Launching Halco

as a solo practitioner business 41 years ago, Hal now employs 185 men and women, with 4 offices in Phelps, Ithaca, Rochester, and Syracuse. With such successful expansion of Halco, Hal explains he does a zoom call with each department once a week at 7 AM. Everyone in Halco is kept up-to-date.

Originally setting up shop in a large, tidy barn on County Rd. #6 in Phelps, Hal did plenty of 100 hour weeks as he served customers’ heat, plumbing and electrical needs. Once established, Hal joined the Fingerlakes Workforce Investment Board for Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, and Yates Counties, serving as chair of this innovative partnership for many years.

“For the past 17 years we have hosted an annual program, ‘Fingerlakes Works With Its Hands!’ We host 700 high school students at an all-day Trade event,” he said. “Activities are varied with backhoes, excavators, soldering, brazing carpentry demonstrations and electrical demonstrations…More recently we moved the event to the Fingerlakes Community College in Canandaigua, about 12 miles from Phelps.”

About 25 years ago, Hal became interested in geothermal energy, which some customers explore and utilize for their electrical heating and cooling systems. That was followed by expansion to include heat pumps and solar energy systems, all based upon insulation and air sealing, so that all heating and cooling can be done as efficiently as possible

“Halco partners with area BOCES and accepts high schoolers into internships with us,” he said. “Upon graduation, young people can join the Halco On-The-JobTraining-Program, which once successfully completed, leads to a 5 year NYS Apprenticeship program.”

(mzo: Recently, Zutiyah Graham completed the Ithaca Energy Warriors program, created by this author and admirably led for 5 years by local hero Aloja Airewele. “Zoo” returned to the Energy Warriors class not long ago and proudly announced her entry into the Halco workforce to the current Energy Warriors students. We cheer her on!)

Many Halco customers have noted the across-the-board high quality of the

Hal Smith, Halco Home Solutions CEO. (Photo: Provided/Kelsey Smith)

Hal Smith, second from right, networking at the 2025 NY-GEO Event, held in Saratoga Springs. (Photo: Provided/Rachel Collet, NY-GEO)

The newly completed addition at Halco Home Solutions headquarters expands workspace to support continued growth. (Photo: Provided/Kelsey Wright) Continued

Business Briefs

Stallone to Depart Centralus Health, New CEO Announced

By Philip O’Dell

In a recent leadership shakeup, Centralus Health revealed a change in its top executive role, with a new CEO set to take over this November.

Centralus Health CEO Martin Stallone is stepping down to become the new executive vice president and chief healthcare services officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its parent company, The Lifetime Healthcare Companies, starting Dec. 1. Centralus Health was created earlier this year from the merger of Cayuga Health and Arnot Health.

The health care system’s board of directors unanimously selected Robert Lawlis to succeed Stallone as CEO, effective Nov. 7.

Stallone has worked for Cayuga Health

for 17 years and became its CEO in 2018.

Under his leadership, Stallone guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and earned national recognition for his innovative, community-focused response, according to a press release from Centralus Health. He also spearheaded major initiatives that nearly tripled its size in seven years, establishing it as a leading integrated health network.

In his new position, Stallone will work to improve community access to highquality, affordable care, according to Excellus BCBS. He will oversee health care operations, including pharmacy services, the provider network and quality and medical programs. He will also lead new initiatives to align providers, insurers and other health care partners.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Stallone to our team,” said Jim Reed, CEO and president of The Lifetime Healthcare Companies. “His clinical leadership in health care delivery, combined with his understanding of our regional health systems, will help us drive innovation and deepen our provider partnerships to better serve our communities in Central New York and throughout upstate New York.”

Stallone spoke highly of Lawlis's appointment as his successor, adding that Lawlis will continue Centralus Health's

mission to improve services and focus on community health.

“I am very pleased that the Centralus Board has appointed Rob to serve as the next CEO of Centralus Health,” Stallone said. “I believe Rob will further advance Centralus Health as a best-in-class integrated delivery network. He is ideally prepared to continue efforts to integrate different parts of our health system, to advance the services we offer our communities, and to continue

Continued on Page 17

When you choose Tompkins, you get things that other banks think are impossible to combine— like the most forward-thinking technology and the kind of relationships that only happen in a tight-knit community.

Longtime Centralus Health executive Martin Stallone will depart in November. (Photo: Provided/Centralus Health)

Robert Lawlis is set to take Stallone’s place as CEO. (Photo: Provided/Centralus Health)

Business Briefs

Atabey Eatery to Bring Authentic Puerto Rican Cuisine Downtown

By Leah Badawi

An authentic Puerto Rican restaurant and lounge will soon open on the corner of North Aurora Street. Having been under construction for a number of months, Atabey will be the first Puerto Rican restaurant in Ithaca, replacing the former Ooy’s Deli which abruptly closed in the fall of 2024 due to an inability to pay rent and other internal issues.

Atabey, named after the supreme goddess of nature, water, and fertility in Taino mythology, aims to do more than introduce Ithacans to Puerto Rican cuisine. Restaurant co-owners Janilex Pellot and Kevin Ramos wish to give their customers an experience in Puerto Rican culture

and bring the local community together in celebration of the island’s rich history and traditions.

“Puerto Ricans are very friendly,” Pellot said. “We want to bring our music and dances to Ithaca for all to enjoy. The restaurant will also have a domino table, which we are very much looking forward to.”

The restaurant posits an inclusive menu. It will offer piña coladas and coquitos, both virgin and alcoholic, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. The alcoholic drinks will exclusively use Don Q, a Puerto Rican rum. Along with authentic Puerto Rican desserts, Atabey will also serve frappes, frozen drinks made by blending fresh fruit and ice cream, another dining staple in Puerto Rico.

FLY LOCAL, FLY LOCAL,

“We’re going to serve dishes that carry the deep roots of Puerto Rico, bringing the flavors we grew up with, such as the pernil, the arroz con gandules, the mofongo,” Ramos said. “But it’s not just about the food. We’re trying to create a

vibe where you can sit down, sip some cocktails, play dominoes, and feel like you’re being transported from Ithaca to Puerto Rico.”

Continued on Page 17

Atabey Eatery will be moving into 201 N Aurora St. in Ithaca. (Photo: Nathan Ellison/Sun Fellow at the Ithaca Times)

HALCO FOUNDER REFLECTS

continued from page 14

Halco crews. Arriving in their bright, colorful Halco vans, trucks and cars, consumers remark how polite, efficient, and expert the Halco staff is. Hal modestly comments that he believes in treating his staff well, so that they are happy to be a part of Halco. He observes that happy staff create happy customers.

“We make mistakes, but we work hard to resolve those,” he said “We’ve had lots of success, but some things don’t work out as planned and we learn from those, and it is all worthwhile.”

Last year, Halco put up 5,000 yard signs where their projects were underway.

ATABEY EATERY TO BRING

Perrot was propelled into opening the restaurant due to support from her family, and her knowledge of how to cook all of the delicious meals she savored with her loved ones growing up. She previously

Hal notes that private equity investors increasingly buy out small heating and plumbing companies as owners age out. At the same time, Halco has been expanding, building on its unusually popular status. So, clearly the 12 year old boy’s dream of working with his hands to help people solve problems came true. Hal has vowed to keep his business privately owned.

“I’m 63 now and assisted by many key staff, who are taking on more as we continue to expand,” he said. “During my years of 100 hour work weeks, I missed some time at home, and at my kids’ sports events. Now that I’m a grandfather, I never miss any of the sports activities, and I feel blessed by good family, good staff, good customers.”

lived in Portland before moving back to Ithaca, and she spent much of her time missing Puerto Rican foods and her culture which seemed only apparent at home with her family.

“I thought, why not bring it for everybody else to have as well?” Perrot said.

“The kitchen is my passion, and I’ve come up with a variety of dishes that have our

STALLONE TO DEPART CENTRALUS HEALTH

continued from page 15

Centralus Health’s commitment to population health.”

Lawlis shared his enthusiasm for his upcoming new role and gratitude for Stallone's support over the years.

“I would like to thank Dr. Stallone for his guidance and the opportunity to collaborate over the past 15 years,” Lawlis said. “I’m eager to carry on our important work in service of the communities we serve; to evaluate and meet their health care needs and provide ease of access to excellent care with the many

Lawlis has served at Cayuga Health for 17 years and is currently the CEO of both Cayuga Health Partners (CHP) and Xtensys, a health technology company. At CHP, he developed strategies to ensure high-quality and cost-effective healthcare through partnerships with payers, employers, health systems, physician practices and community organizations.

“I’m honored to step into this role and build on the incredible work of Dr. Stallone and our team,” Lawlis said. “We will continue to optimize the advanced systems recently implemented to make better decisions to care for our community and control costs; realize and maximize efficiencies from affiliation of Arnot Health and Cayuga Health; and identify addi-

authentic flavors.”

Everything in the restaurant will be made from scratch, using all-natural and fresh ingredients, Perrot said. Many gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available. The store’s interior will be decorated with tropical palms, plants, the Puerto Rican flag, and pictures of the Tainos.

“Everybody’s welcome,” said Ramos. “Even if you don’t know it, you’re going to find something that you’re going to enjoy eating here.”

Leah Badawi is an opinion columnist for The Cornell Daily Sun and is working as an intern this summer at The Ithaca Times.

How Youth Recreation Centers Shaped Collegetown’s Youth

By Jake Sexton

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is “Through the Times,” a new weekly column uncovering stories from the Ithaca Times archives. Each week, we revisit what was making news in Ithaca exactly 50 years ago. In this first installment, Jake Sexton explores the rise and fall of youth centers that once aimed to reshape Collegetown.

After 53 years in circulation, the Ithaca Times has recounted and reported on a myriad of developments within our local community, and, in a sense, has served to chronicle the shared histories of Ithacans. With all of these stories and collective knowledge accumulating dust in the archives, I felt it was time to finally comb through these issues and see just how much our community and its culture have evolved in the last half-century.

Through my consumption of our September 21, 1975 issue of the Ithaca Times, I was shocked to find a plethora of articles and editorials discussing issues still relevant to the community and nation. 50 years ago, we read of protests at our state’s capital over the surging prices of utility bills and broader national debates over the safety and morality of oral contraceptives and women’s reproductive rights — issues still afflict our nation and community today. But what I found most compelling was the concern over rising cases of juvenile delinquency — both from high school and college students — in our very own Collegetown neighborhood.

The article C-Town Provides Teenage Hangouts, written by Deborah Schoch, highlights the efforts local community members and youth organizations made to reduce delinquency spurred on by local teens and students. From the mere accumulation of litter from food wrappers and beer cans to acts of vandalism, robbery and even assault, the community searched in desperation to channel all of this rambunctious energy into something positive. As a result, two local agencies — Mainline and Our Place — worked together to create entirely youth-run centers that would pull students away from the wall outside of First National Ithaca’s Collegetown branch, a popular hangout spot among teens, and into more positive environments. One of the most notable efforts of these local agencies was the entirely youth-

operated Pinball Parlor opened by Our Place, which initially relied on community donations to stay operational through the winter season. As business began to blossom through word-of-mouth among the teens, summertime saw an expansion of the recreational center to begin including billiards, an operating snack bar, and even a lounge area to watch television, as long as “the liquor and drugs [were not]... on the premises.”

Our Place evolved to be far more than a healthy distraction to the teens who frequented the Bank Wall, becoming a place of congregation for youth across the community. Simultaneously, Mainline, an organization which aimed to decrease drug use in the community, was thrilled by the success of Our Place, believing its success to be directly correlated with the decrease of drug use among teen Ithacans. Mainline continued to operate both a crisis hotline and long-term services to help young adults cope with and overcome their consumption issues.

As the year passed on, budget cuts to Mainline, in conjunction with dwindling availability of city funds from the Youth Bureau, impacted Our Place, and the agencies began to show cracks in their foundations. Both experienced staffing reductions and funding insecurities. The landlords of Our Place’s Collegetown residencies began expressing concerns

regarding the reemergence of litter, growing cases of vandalism, and the return of crime. However, Our Place persevered, continuing to draw teens further away from the Collegetown Bank Wall. As the article concludes, Schoch leaves us with a final thought: “Boredom is… the chief villain [of Collegetown/Ithaca’s youth], and both Our Place and Mainline are fighting it hard.”

But what has changed in our beloved Collegetown fifty years later, and what became of Our Place? Today, both Mainline and Our Place are now absent from the Collegetown community—as well as dozens of other historically beloved storefronts, restaurants, and taprooms. The Collegetown landscape continues to scale higher and higher with each housing development to accommodate the growing population of Cornell University and Ithaca College students. Our Place’s legacy as a youth-center has been survived by a handful of other similarly-operated hangout spots in and around Collegetown over the years.

In 1981, the city’s Collegetown Improvement Plan shaped the modern Collegetown. With investments from both the city and universities, Collegetown’s landscape has vastly changed, with many of the facets written about in this archived article no longer in existence today. The 2000s saw even further investments into

developing the local area, stripping away many local storefronts, residencies, the Collegetown Bank Wall, and even the East Hill Elementary School in lieu of apartment complexes and restaurants, producing a more densely-populated, urban feel to the area which was not experienced previously.

As reported in an analysis conducted by Tompkins Weekly in Nov. 2018, Collegetown produced greater tax revenue for the city of Ithaca than any other similarlysized shopping districts in the area. Additionally, 2024 statistical crime report data from both Ithaca College and Cornell University shows an overall decrease in robbery, assault and vandalism.

Fifty years ago, this week, Ithaca’s Collegetown was far from what we are familiar with today: underfunded, underdeveloped and a hotbed for delinquent activity. The efforts of youth-oriented agencies like Our Place and Mainline, many of the concerning activities the community had observed grew less prevalent. As attention drew to the lack of investment within Collegetown, many of the once heralded locations found in the neighborhood are no longer present. The annual increase in freshman class populations has further incentivized the construction of high rise apartment complexes which, despite the property-tax revenue they generate for the city, have driven local residencies from the area.

New Coaches and Injury Comebacks, Ithaca Men’s Basketball Sets Sights on Another Successful Season

By Steve Lawrence

With the 2025-26 basketball season due to start in a couple of weeks time, Ithaca College’s men's basketball team is preparing and adapting to changes, as they seek to win the Liberty League Championships for the second year in a row.

Last year's preseason polls predicted that the Bombers would finish sixth in the Liberty League, a prediction that was far off the mark. In March of this year, the Bombers defeated the No. 1 seed, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, crowning themselves champions. In the 2023-24 season the Bombers finished with a record of 12-13.

Despite losing two important seniors in Logan Wendell and Aidan Holmes, the Bombers are reinforcing their lineup with Gavin Schauder and David Luberoff who are returning from injuries. Schauder was out all of last year after tearing his patella, which kept him on the bench during their championship winning run.

Now a senior, Schauder told the Ithaca Times that his injury nearly brought an end to his collegiate basketball career.

“It was my first severe injury in competitive basketball,” Schauder said. “At first I thought that this was it. That I was going to have bad knees for the rest of my life and not be able to play basketball.”

Schauder said his support system was essential during his journey back to the courts.

“My parents convinced me not to give up, to try to recuperate and have one or two more years of good basketball,” Schauder said. “Same with my teammates, they encouraged me and showed me that the team is ready to win.”

The 6-foot-9 forward from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, said that another tough aspect, on top of the recovery, was seeing his teammates succeed without him being able to help.

“I was very happy for them obviously, but a bit devastated as well,” Schauder said. Graduating seniors and returning players aren’t the only changes the Bombers will face this season. Perhaps the biggest change is the new coaching staff.

The Bombers saw their head coach, Waleed Farid, leave to become the NYU men’s basketball head coach after four seasons in Ithaca.

In June, the Bombers announced Mike McSloy as the 11th head coach of the Ithaca men’s basketball program.

McSloy came from a coaching position at Drew University where he turned a 1312 team, in his first year, into back-to-back 20 win seasons. In his last coaching season at Drew, his team finished 24-4, claiming him the honors of Landmark and NABC District 5 Coach of the Year.

His first words as the new head coach were: “I am honored and grateful to be named head coach.”

Schauder said that a new coach means changes to the way that the team plays.

“Coach McSloy came in and told us some of our percentages from last year and he told us that he wanted those numbers up this season,” Schauder said.

“He wants us to be a fast paced team. He wants to beat other teams by being in shape. Coach wants us to do a lot of running, to press full-court the whole game, get threes and layups and to get shots up in the first eight seconds of the shot clock.”

On top of gameplay changes, McSloy is focusing on team culture and group leadership by not having captains. Schauder said McSloy wants everyone to step up and do their part as team leaders.

The Bombers aren’t just getting injured players back and new freshmen who are joining the team, they have also brought in Matthew Zenker, a 6-foot-5 forward transfer from Drew University who followed McSloy to South Hill.

The Bombers know it won’t be easy to repeat last year's success, but both coaches and players feel ready to repeat and improve from last year.

With preseason right around the corner, the Ithaca men's basketball team is counting down the days to the season opener on November 8 against SUNY Brockport.

“I guarantee you that the team is going to be very good,” Schauder said. “The whole culture is looking super strong. I think this team is going to be special.”

The Ithaca College men’s basketball team celebrating its Liberty League Championship last season. (Photo: Provided/Ithaca College Athletics)

By Clement Obropta

Finally, a movie featuring two hot people with zero chemistry and almost no plot at all. Arriving in theaters like a leaden two-hour perfume commercial, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is here to teach you about life, love, meaning and other sorts of vague things that sound good in an elevator pitch.

The film stars Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie as two strangers, David and Sarah, who randomly meet as part of a weird magical soulmate service disguised as the world’s sketchiest car rental company. Farrell at least fares better here than he did the last time he tried to find a magical soulmate (in 2015’s The Lobster). It’s a good thing he’s here, too — without Farrell’s winsome charm and unparalleled ability to look quietly devastated, there might be absolutely nothing in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey that’s worth recommending. This directionless dream-logic debacle is helmed by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Kogonada, whose airy and hollow dramas Columbus and After Yang were rapturously received by critics. Anyone who loves those two films will surely enjoy this. Even more airy and hollow than scientists ever thought possible, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey epitomizes the zenith of Kogonada’s artistic potential: Beautiful people drive around the beautiful countryside listening to beautiful songs, and it’s completely emotionally empty.

The film begins with Phoebe Waller-Bridge doing a weird German accent and just keeps getting worse from there. There’s a three-minute-long Burger King advertisement, where Colin Farrell helpfully reminds Margot Robbie that the sandwich they’re eating is called a Whopper with Cheese. There’s a 10-minute musical theater number in the middle that feels like it’s from a completely different film. And every other conversation is punctuated by

“A Big Bold

Arts & Entertainment Review: ABigBoldBeautifulJourney Confuses Meandering for Meaning

a modern pop song, which plays in full over a montage of the characters driving pretty places. In 2010, the album for this would have been sold in every Starbucks in the country. All of this might sound a bit amusing, but that would imply that the film is funny, which it isn’t. In my theater of 20 people, there was one hearty laugh at the beginning, before everybody knew better. The film is mildly humorous the way The New Yorker is mildly humorous, like how a lemon La Croix tastes nothing like actual lemons but instead like it’s been near a lemon at some point, somewhere.

The story here basically doesn’t matter, because the film seems to coast on vibes alone, but here it goes: David and Sarah rent cars with magical GPS devices that try to force them to fall in love. They drive through the countryside, finding isolated doors through which they can magically revisit their deepest, most traumatic memories. The death of a parent, the birth of a child, a particularly embarrassing high school theater performance, that sort of thing. This happens for an hour and 49 minutes, and then the film ends, less because the story reaches a natural conclusion and more because the film just kind of gives up. Robbie, a terrific performer in many other films, is terribly miscast here. She’s too glamorous for this role, too smart and perfect. The only way this romance could work is if Sarah were played by someone prickly and anarchic, someone who’s the Yin to David’s Yang.

Myriad problems here can be blamed on Seth Reiss’ turgid, shallow script, or on the deliberately fake-feeling production design, but on a basic level, the way Kogonada shoots this film just feels wrong. As a video essayist, Kogonada has undoubtedly studied far more classic works of great cinema than most people likely will see in a lifetime, but paradoxically, he has very little sense when it comes to fundamentals like camera placement and blocking (i.e. the placement of actors in the frame). In this film, close-ups are cheap. Kogonada and cinematographer Benjamin Loeb use them constantly. When dialogue scenes are shot with a close-up of Farrell, then a close-up of Robbie, Kogonada basically shoots himself in the foot, since we cannot see how Robbie is acting in relation to Farrell, and so we cannot read how they feel about each other.

Maybe you will find some magic in this. If you’ve lost a loved one or been through a string of bad relationships, or if you’re a new parent with anxieties over how your kid is going to grow up, you might find some parts of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey that resonate with you. Maybe this would be more meaningful if I were older — I’m a wee 28-year-old, after all, with no children, no mortgage, and no pension — but a film shouldn’t be a hollow vessel that waits for viewers to imbue it with meaning. I want a film with meaning now, here, today.

Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) at the top of a lighthouse. (Photo: IMDB/Sony Pictures)

Apple Harvest Festival Returns to Downtown Ithaca Sept. 26-28

By Philip O’Dell

The 43rd Annual Apple Harvest Festival returns Sept. 26-28 in downtown Ithaca. Festival hours are Friday from noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The festivities will include apples and cider doughnuts for purchase, live music, and artisan crafts. Admission is free and open to all visitors.

Items available for purchase include handcrafted goods and fall treats like apple pies and hard cider from 25 food vendors and 25 New York farmers. The festival assembles over 150 vendors annually, including makers and producers in New York state.

A Welcome Students Showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26 invites new and returning students from Cornell, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College to the festival’s live performances and scavenger hunt with prizes. The event will

encourage students to explore the area and connect with one another.

A lineup of local and regional artists will entertain all visitors on the Ithaca Commons.

Local band Jimkata will headline on the Bernie Milton Pavilion for a high-energy, genre-bending performance.

The Family Fun Zone will feature pumpkin painting, an inflatable obstacle course and a petting zoo. According to the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, the festival aims to create an interactive and memorable experience for children and parents.

A bike valet service will be available to encourage attendees to ride downtown and reduce traffic congestion. Organizers encourage the service for sustainability and better accessibility.

Ithaca’s Annual Apple Fest will return this weekend, bringing fall family fun to the Ithaca Commons Sept 26-28.

(Photo: Provided/Downtown Ithaca Alliance)

the Cherry Street location but expressed disappointment that there would not be collaboration with the city.

“I know that the conversation started in March about Burger King, and this legislature was not informed, in my opinion, in a timely manner,” Black said. “So I do hope in the future, we are able to have access to information sooner, so that we're able to make better decisions.”

The county owns 227 Cherry Street in Ithaca, which was bought to develop a permanent homeless shelter. The resolution states that this building will be ready to operate as an emergency shelter in time for the Code Blue season with “suitable physical structures and interior space sufficient for Code Blue sheltering.”

The option for the navigation hub to be hosted at the Cherry Street location is mentioned in the resolution. Klein told

ADVOCATES RALLY

continued from page 4

Former alderperson and current Ward 1 Democratic candidate Jorge DeFendini said just-cause efforts started when Starbucks closed its Ithaca location and fired employees following unionization efforts in 2022. He pointed to New York City's existing just cause law for fast-food workers as a successful model, noting that

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

continued from page 6

“The county bought the Found parcel last year, they paid a lot for it too (~1 acre, for about $1.2 mil), the Found parcel is the future site of the planned, permanent 100-bed shelter, which will be the final nail in the Ithaca coffin. The county doesn’t own [Burger King]. The

THE IMPACT OF FOOD SECURITY

continued from page 7

Governments at all levels have a role to play in reinforcing food security. However, the most sustainable and democratic solutions often come from the ground up. Participatory budgeting, where citizens decide how public funds are allocated, has been used in some cities to fund food justice projects. Local food policy

the Ithaca Times that he has extended an invitation to collaborate on a navigation hub at the Cherry Street location for the 2025-26 Code Blue Season and has not received a response from the city government. He said the legislature is also open to rediscussing the Commercial Avenue location for future seasons.

“The city has communicated to the county repeatedly that the Found site (Cherry Street) is not a viable location, nor do we feel it is wise to direct unhoused folks to travel through marshland and across railroad tracks to receive services,” Ithaca City Mayor Robert Cantelmo told the Ithaca Times following the legislature’s vote.

Cantelmo released a statement the day before the legislature voted on the resolution expressing his disappointment with the navigation hub delay.

“The City will now need to reconsider its approach in light of the County’s timeline and budgetary concerns, which have ultimately brought the collaboration to a halt,” Cantelmo wrote. “As we always

a Queens Starbucks employee fired for unionizing got their job back because of it. He said just-cause is needed because the federal government is “abandoning us and declaring war on labor.” DeFendini saw coworkers at previous jobs too afraid of retaliation to raise safety concerns.

“Local governments need to step up and make sure our workers are protected from the fascist threat that is the Trump administration, and just cause is a way to do that,” DeFendini said.

city doesn’t own [Burger King]. I think Maguire owns that spot.

The current (new) plan is to use the Found parcel for a temporary Code Blue shelter for this winter- the original plan was to use the [Burger King] (leased) parcel for a daytime ‘hub’, [Code Blue] shelter at night- that’s not happening now. It amazes me how uniformed people here are about this situation. However,

councils bring together residents, farmers, public health officials, and others to shape food systems that reflect community needs. These democratic tools allow food security to be not just a policy outcome but a process—one in which people collectively determine how to feed and care for each other.

In conclusion, food security is a cornerstone of resilient communities and a vibrant participatory democracy. It ensures that individuals are healthy,

have, the City of Ithaca will contribute when called upon by the County and our partner agencies. But we also expect those partners to make good faith efforts to conduct their necessary due diligence and work together toward common solutions.”

Cantelmo said that a year ago, legislators met with him and Nate’s Floral Estates Mobile Park and “promised the residents to be good neighbors and not make a decision about the temporary shelter’s location without community input. Irrespective of the logistical considerations at hand, this decision represents a walking back of that commitment.”

Cantelmo said that without commitment of support from the county, the city has to be careful with using capital funds for this initiative. Without county support, he requested that the Common Council reauthorize the city’s working group to look for solutions for a potential scaled-down navigation hub. He also noted that the county’s decision may result in continued reliance on the authorized encampment site in Southwest Park.

AUSTIN LAMB CHARTS HIS OWN PATH

continued from page 7

in a particular place or if he will relocate wherever necessary to chase that perfect opportunity, Austin said “At this point, I don’t have a specific place in mind, but having grown up here, I would like to experience living elsewhere sooner rather than later.” That said, he added, “I do play in a band here in Ithaca, so I have to say

with flakes in charge, the plan constantly changes, and it’s hard to keep track of what the plan actually is. Which is how these things happen here, and then everyone acts surprised.

Dumping money into the [Burger King] parcel in the future isn’t necessarily off the table though. But now, [Burger King] won’t be used this winter as either a hub or [Code Blue] shelter. The reason for

stable, and capable of engaging in civic life. It strengthens communities through shared responsibility and collective action. And it fosters equity, justice, and sustainability. As we celebrate the power and promise of “We the People,” we must recognize that democracy begins with meeting the basic needs of all. Ensuring food security is not just an act of compassion—it is an investment in the democratic fabric of our society. By nourishing our communities, we nour-

In Other News

County residents have increasingly expressed concern about Flock cameras. During public comment, 13 community members spoke against a contract renewal citing issues of surveillance, data privacy and instances of Flock data being used to locate undocumented immigrants and people seeking out-of-state reproductive health care. One individual disagreed with the crowd, saying the cameras made him feel safer.

The legislature’s Sept. 16 agenda included a resolution regarding contract renewal with Flock Safety, a company which municipalities across Tompkins County have contracted with to operate license plate reading cameras. The legislature delayed voting on the resolution because the county is working with the Sheriff’s Office to bring representatives from Flock to an upcoming legislature meeting. No date has been confirmed as of yet.

that’s a factor in sticking around.” It also might be safe to say that in the decade since Lamb began writing seriously, and when he enters the job market next year, his chosen profession will have seen more change than in any other period of time. When asked about some of those changes, and how his writing career will differ from that of many who have come before him, Austin replied, “A writer’s potential audience is vast, even just sitting at a desk.”

the three year lease is because the plan is to have the permanent, 100-bed shelter in operation in Year four, we will see. There are major what ifs (funding-wise, that may or may not come to fruition, and I’m unsure if there are any contingency plans). This permanent shelter (as planned) will be extremely expensive to build, staff, operate, and fund longterm.” — Branson Vandross, Facebook.com

ish our democracy and feed much more than just our physical bodies.

Silence Dogood, the spirited great-greatgreat-great-grandson of the legendary Richard Saunders, famed scribe of Poor Richard’s Almanac—an early American gem—occasionally taps into his ancestor’s wisdom. With a nod to the past, Silence channels that old-school brilliance to tackle today’s thorniest issues, including access to healthy affordable food.

continued from page 8

enable cooperation. This includes incentivizing cooperative business models, community-owned economic development and renewable energy projects, and cross-sector coalitions that address root causes of social problems — many of which originate from lack of financial literacy and access to resources.

Leadership matters, too. Elected officials and institutional leaders must model interdependence by prioritizing bipartisan initiatives, shared credit, and holistic community-driven solutions.

4

� Launch Cultural Campaigns

The Semiquincentennial can serve as a national platform to tell a new story about who we are. Let’s launch campaigns that highlight “American Interdependence,” using public art, literature, and digital media to showcase communi-

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

continued from page 8

misappropriated by some liberals to shut down difficult political conversations. There’s a group that usually doesn’t shut down those interested in their movement: Republicans. This reflects in their recent gains with the youth vote. Those votes won’t come back to the left through increased urging or shaming. It’s going to take persuasion.

When I spoke to Perlgut after the screening of “Connie Cook: A Documentary” and “The Deciding Vote,” she said that she hoped the audience would leave with an impression of “moral courage.” Days later, I am struck by the moral fortitude. Cook was not focused on being a certain kind of republican or building

ties working together.

Imagine murals of interconnected hands across cities, storytelling series that spotlight mutual aid networks, or apps that connect volunteers to local needs. Culture can shift perception—and help people see interdependence as empowering, not limiting.

5� Invest in Community-Based Initiatives

At the local level, we can foster interdependence through projects that bring people together. Community gardens, neighborhood resilience hubs, shared childcare networks, or programs like Habitat for Humanity all embody the power of mutual effort. There are also innovative 21st Century models including Regulated Crowdfunding and Community Investment Funds that can enable and sustain community wealth making.

These efforts show that when individuals contribute to the whole, the whole uplifts the individual.

a certain constituency, but she was very concerned with doing what she believed was right. I see her example today in Zohran Mamdani, another New York politician who has successfully risen to prominence on finding points of agreement in a broad coalition. This is a mode of politics that wins elections. It’s one that we can all engage in.

In the film, Connie Cook says that introducing a bill is easy, but pushing the bill is extremely hard. Michaels’ son and daughter-in-law passionately discussed their support for abortion with him in spite of his pro-life beliefs, conversations that greatly contributed to his affirmative vote. If Cook hadn’t been willing to lobby with the “maybe” votes in the legislature, or if Michaels’ family had been unwilling to engage with him, where would New York be today? I encourage you to

Addressing the Challenges

Of course, interdependent thinking will face resistance. In a polarized climate, “dependence” is often framed as weakness and “independence” as strength. Some may view interdependence as a threat to personal freedom.

But interdependence does not weaken liberty—it sustains it. Strong communities create the conditions for individuals to flourish. Mutual trust allows people to take risks, start businesses, raise families, and pursue their goals.

Equity must also be central. Interdependence cannot become a tool for reinforcing existing inequalities. Everyone must have access to participate, contribute, and benefit. That means inclusive design, fair resource distribution, and listening to marginalized voices.

How Might We Measure Progress?

We can track the impact of interdependent thinking by measuring:

• Social cohesion: Increases in civic

attend next weekend’s reproductive rights film festival lineup, but more than that, I encourage you to invite along your friend who doesn’t vote. Like Cook, we all have to do the hard thing.

trust, volunteerism, and community engagement.

• Policy outcomes: Successes from collaborative initiatives like community solar programs or local resilience planning.

• Cultural narratives: Shifts in public discourse on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), using tags that foster and promote interdependent thinking and resources.

A Declaration for Our Time In 1776, America declared independence. In 2026, let us declare something equally powerful: interdependence. Not as a retreat from liberty, but as its fulfillment. Not as a rejection of self-reliance, but as its partner.

As we look towards commemorating 250 years of the American experiment, let us renew our founding promise—not only to be free, but to be free together.

“We the People” was never meant to stand alone. It was a call to unite

Chloe Asack is a Fall 2025 opinion intern with the Ithaca Times. She is a senior studying Literatures in English at Cornell University.

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Events this Week

9/24 Wednesday

Sarah Smelser | Hodophilia | 1:00 p.m. | Sarah Smelser | Hodophilia A hodophile is a lover of travel, a wanderer, someone who travels to escape, walks to learn about the world and to repeatedly discover oneself, and the works in this show are inspired by such journeys--from the island of Greece to the hills of California and New Mexico. | The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St., Ithaca | Free

Good Grief Circle | 2:00 p.m. | The Age Well Center, 165 Main St., Cortland Rock ’N Blues Revue with COLIN BARKELL | 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. |

Led by Broadway’s Colin Barkell, this “rock n’ blues revue” takes you on a powerful journey through the legends of blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Featuring hits from Elvis, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, and Howlin’ Wolf. | Cortland Repertory Theater, 6799 Little York Lake Road, Preble | $35.00 Women in Business Roundtable at Ithaca Waldorf School | 3:30 p.m. | Ithaca Waldorf School, 20 Nelson Rd., Ithaca

Chinese Bilingual Storytime/ 中英双语故事会 | 4:30 p.m. |

Join us for a special Chinese-English bilingual storytime! | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Who Killed Shireen? | 5:00 p.m. | Join us for a viewing and discussion of Who Killed Shireen? a 40-minute investigative documentary into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, the Palestinian-American journalist who was shot dead by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank in 2022. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca | Free “Early Hunter / Gatherer Adaptations Along the Southern Coast

THIS WEEK

of Peru” | 5:30 p.m. | A free, public presentation on the archaeology of Peruvian coastal campsites 13 to 7 thousand years old. | The History Center in Tompkins County, 110 North Tioga Street, Ithaca | Free LGBTQ+ Youth Group | 5:45 p.m. | Join us at LGBTQ+ Youth Group to do crafts, play games, and socialize. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Natural Building, Real Solutions: Clay, Straw, and Stone | 6:00 p.m. | Imagine a world where every building contributes to clean air, healthy water. | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street, Newfield | Free Cornell Cinema: El Norte| 6:00 p.m. | A powerful and poignant drama following the journey of two indigenous Guatemalan siblings who flee political persecution and violence in their homeland.| Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca Astrology Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | We learn astrology together and would love to have you join us. All knowledge levels are welcome. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green Street, Ithaca | Free

DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 6:30 p.m. | Join Dave Ashton for a challenging round of “DJ Trivia” at Hopshire Farm and Brewery! | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Road, Freeville | Free

Express Yourself Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. | Open Mic Comedy: 6:30-8 p.m. Open Mic & Live Band Karaoke: 9-12pm! 18+ / FREE | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca

The Freight-cars of Friendship & Boxcars of Love | 7:00 p.m. | Candor Historical Society’s September talk will be on “ The Freight-cars of Friendship & Boxcars of Love; ” the history of the Friendship and Merci Trains, by guest speaker Emma Sedore, Tioga County Historian. | Candor Town Hall Candor | Free Trivia! | 7:00 p.m. | Trivia Night with Bob Proehl at Liquid State! | Liquid

State Brewery, 620 West Green Street, Ithaca | Free

Wednesday Open Mic Night at The Nocturnal Café! | 7:00 p.m. | Free weekly Wednesday Open Mic night at The Nocturnal Café, Ithaca’s nightlife alternative, featuring music, poetry, dance and more! | The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St., Ithaca | Free Bonnie and Clyde | 7:30 p.m. | Set to a riveting score combining rockabilly, blues, and gospel music, BONNIE & CLYDE is an unmissable, action-packed musical about grabbing the spotlight any way you can. | Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, 6877 E. Lake Road, Auburn | $139.25

Latin Wednesday | 9:00 p.m. | Get ready for the RETURN of LATIN WEDNESDAYS, Ithaca’s longest running and hottest weekly dance | The Upstairs, 106 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca

9/25 Thursday

Imaginary Landscapes | 12:00 p.m. | Imaginary Landscapes Paintings by Barbara Behrmann and Katrina Morse | State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street, Ithaca | Free Midday Music in Lincoln: Roger Moseley and Travis Johns (CU Music) | 12:30 p.m. | Midday Music in Lincoln: Roger Moseley and Travis Johns demonstrate two microtonal isomorphic keyboards from the collection of the Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards. | Lincoln Hall, Room B20 256 Feeney Wy, Ithaca | Free

Escapism, Hope and Human Difference: I Saw the TV Glow | 5:00 p.m. | This talk recuperates escapism as a highly subjective reparative reading practice, one shaped by life experience and social categories. | Goldwin Smith Hall, 258 Cornell University, Ithaca

Discover Pawpaws Lecture | 5:30 p.m. | Anya Stansell will summarize current trends around the cultivation of pawpaw for its edible fruit | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca | $20.00

Self Defense Class for Teens & Adults | 5:30 p.m. | Have fun while learning practical strategies and techniques that every person can apply regardless of age, gender, or physical condition. | Zanshin Dojo, 300 Rachel Carson Way, Ithaca | $30.00 - $45.00

Cornell Cinema: The Solitude (La Soledad) | 6:00 p.m. | José lives with his family in La Soledad, a dilapidated villa located in what used to be one of Caracas’ most affluent neighborhoods. After learning that the owners are planning to sell the property, José seeks any solution that might keep his young daughter from growing up in the city’s crime-ridden slums.| Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

Life Skills: Dollars and Decisions | 6:00 p.m. | An engaging 8-week course designed to provide the real-world money skills that kids actually need. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Woodwind Faculty Chamber Ensemble | 7:00 p.m. | Ithaca Winds faculty ensemble | Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca | Free 2025 Finger Lakes Comedy Festival | 7:00 p.m. | 2025 Finger Lakes Comedy Festival — A 3-day comedy festival in the heart of Downtown Ithaca with over 30 comedians and 8 shows! | The Downstairs, 121 W M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca | $25.00

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

The Taming | 7:30 p.m. | The Taming by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Dr. Deena Conley, kicks off the SUNY Cortland Theatre Season. Sept. 25-28. | Dowd Fine Arts Center — Lab Theater, 40 Graham Ave., Cortland | $15.00 - $24.00

Cornell Cinema: Dead Man | 8:30 p.m. | Jim Jarmusch imagined the nineteenth-century American West as

an existential wasteland, delivering a surreal reckoning with the ravages of industrialization, the country’s legacy of violence and prejudice, and the natural cycle of life and death.|

Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

9/26

Friday

Coffee Talk at the Chamber: Finance, Legal, & Insurance | 9:30 a.m. | Join the Chamber Team and peers in your industry for fresh coffee & conversation. | Tompkins Chamber, 124 Brindley Street, Ithaca

American Red Cross Blood Drive | 10:00 a.m. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

The 43rd Annual Apple Harvest Festival in Downtown Ithaca | 12:00 p.m. | Downtown Ithaca’s signature fall celebration. | Ithaca Commons 171 E. State St./ Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ithaca | Free Fall Fun Yoga Series | 4:00 p.m. | Children are welcome to join us as we welcome autumn in a yoga series that flows with the seasons! | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Transportation Services Event | 4:00 p.m. | Join the Human Services Coalition to learn about transportation services in Tompkins County | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street, Newfield | Free

Fiberized: An Exploration of Identity Through Handmade

Art Yarn on Canvas | 5:00 p.m. |

Fiberized: An Art Gallery that explores Identity Through Handmade Art Yarn on Canvas. | Library Place, 105 W. Court Street, Ithaca | Free Double Tiger | 5:30 p.m. | Join us for the South Hill Cider Golden Hour Music Series! | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca

Ithaca Volleyball vs Skidmore College | 6:00 p.m. | Ithaca Volleyball vs Skidmore College\n | Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca College

Cornell Cinema: His Girl Friday| 6:00 p.m. | Replete with electric dialogue and memorable physical comedy, His Girl Friday brilliantly captures the fast-talking, frenetic pace of the newsroom and affirms the trope, seen across the genre of the screwball comedy, that true love springs from mutual passion and adversity. Director Howard Hawks graduated from Cornell in 1918 and studied mechanical engineering. | Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

Live Music — Darkwine | 6:00 p.m.

| Enjoy the rich, full-bodied Ithaca terroir in the music of Darkwine. | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville

Figure Drawing Fridays at CSMA | 6:00 p.m. | Drop in for figure drawing sessions at CSMA, generally held on the 2nd and 4th Friday evenings of | Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street, Ithaca

Zac Brown Tribute Band at Treleaven Wines | 6:00 p.m. | Join us for an unforgettable evening of lively entertainment at Treleaven Wines as we honor the | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry | $0.00 - $25.00 Movie Night: Superman! | 6:30 p.m. | Join us for an exciting free screening of Superman! Free popcorn provided. | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street, Newfield | Free

HYPROV: Improv under Hypnosis — Starring Colin Mochrie & Asad Mecci | 8:00 p.m. | Smith Opera House, 82 Seneca St., Geneva, NY, Geneva

Cornell Cinema: Pride & Prejudice | 8:30 p.m. | Pride and Prejudice is a story of love and life among the landed English gentry during the Georgian era.| Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca 9/27 Saturday

The Parallel of Latitude 8-Hour Endurance Race | 8:00 a.m. | How many miles can you complete in 8 hours on this 3.45-mile out-andback course on Dryden’s flat, scenic Jim Schug Trail? This low-key race presented by the Finger Lakes Runners Club is perfect for any type of athlete. No mileage or time cut-offs, all paces welcome. New relay option available! | Dryden Lake Park W Lake Rd., Dryden | $35.00 - $80.00

Climate Education Resource Fair & Professional Development Workshop | 9:00 a.m. | Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, the Sciencenter, and the Center for Climate | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca

6th Annual Growin' Around the Glen Farm Tour | 9:00 a.m. | Various Locations in Schuyler County, 323 Owego Street, Room 120, Montour Falls | Free

Singsong Music Class with Amy | 10:15 a.m. | SingSong is a fun-filled “class ” for little ones and parents/ caregivers to enjoy music together in a circle setting. | Lodi Whittier Library, 8484 S Main St., Lodi | Free

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, SEPT. 25–27

The Front Bottoms will perform at the State Theatre of Ithaca on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. (Photo: Provided)

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

Drag Performance | 11:00 a.m. | A family-friendly spectacular you do not want to miss! | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street, Ithaca

National Alpaca Farm Days at Shepherds Creek Alpacas | 11:00 a.m. | The Alpacas will be welcoming visitors for National Alpaca Farm Days, 11 ’til 4 on September 27 & 28 to meet and feed the alpacas, enjoy some refreshments and craft activities and visit the Alpaca Farm Shop! | Shepherds Creek Alpacas, 5797 Stilwell Rd., Trumansburg | Free Food Pantry | 12:00 p.m. | GYM-Southside Community Center, 305 S Plain St., Ithaca

Acoustic Saturdays featuring Leecy and Greg | 12:00 p.m. |Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry

Assemblage and Collage exhibit at The Gallery at South Hill | 12:00 p.m. | Assemblage and Collage features the works of Jackie Dickinson, Chris Knickerbocker, Carol LaBorie, Rachel Philipson, Mary Reynolds, Michael Sampson, Dee L. Sprague, and Mia Zufall. All using different forms of Assemblage and Collage. | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill

Business Campus South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca | Free Chess Quest | 1:00 p.m. | Chess can help improve a child ’s development, so why not make it fun? | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Open House | 1:00 p.m. | Stop in during Apple Fest and learn more about our middle and high school programs. Ithaca's free public charter school, open to all NYS residents. | New Roots Charter School, 116 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca | Free Ithaca Football vs Hobart College | 1:00 p.m. | Butterfield Stadium Ithaca

Ithaca Volleyball vs Clarkson University | 2:00 p.m. | Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca

Come On Out! An LGBTQ+ Fiction Writing Workshop | 2:00 p.m. | Join screenwriter/novelist Elisabeth Nonas for a 3-part workshop at the Library this Fall. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Autumn Art for Kids | 2:00 p.m. | Let your imagination soar with local artist and teacher, Stiller Zusman. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

Make Together: Painted Quilt Squares | 3:00 p.m. | Join Librarian Cady in the Makerspace for a fun, easy project! | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca Ithaca Men’s Soccer vs Vassar College | 3:00 p.m. | Carp Wood Field, Ithaca

Senior Recital: Rohan Gupta, piano | 4:00 p.m. | Hockett Family Recital Hall, Ithaca College

Cornell Men’s Soccer vs Yale University | 4:00 p.m. | Berman Field, Ithaca

Cornell Cinema: Bringing Up Baby | 5:30 p.m. | This unlikely, whirlwind romance between straight-laced David and ebullient Susan set a new bar for the screwball comedy with its sophisticated dialogue, charismatic performances, and increasingly absurd escapades, all masterfully directed by Howard Hawks, who graduated from Cornell in 1918 and studied mechanical engineering.| Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

Line Dancing | 6:00 p.m. | Looking to learn line dancing or sharpen your skills? | Hopshire Farm and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville

4th Annual Brews & Bluegrass | 6:00 p.m. | An unforgettable evening of local craft beer tastings, toetapping live music from Cast Iron Cowboys, and light bites from some of your favorite local eateries. | Smith Opera House, 82 Seneca St., Geneva, NY, Geneva |

Trivia Night at All Saints Parish Hall | 6:30 p.m. | Please join us for Trivia Night at All Saints—a night of fun, laughter, and a test of your knowledge! | All Saints Parish Hall, 347 Ridge Road, Lansing | $10.00

The Front Bottoms — 10 Years of Back on Top | 7:00 p.m. | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St., Ithaca

Palaver Strings | 7:00 p.m. | The Robert G. Boehmler Community Foundation Series presents Palaver Strings at Ithaca College. | Ithaca College, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca | Free Sally Rogers & Howie Bursen | 7:00 p.m. | Wonderful instrumentalists and sweet harmonies will get everyone in the room singing gleefully! | La La Land Listening Room at The Meetinghouse, 120 Third Street (corner of Third & Madison Streets), Ithaca

Cornell Wind Symphony Concert (CU Music) | 7:30 p.m. | The Cornell Wind Symphony’s concert features music by Dmitri Shostakovich, Michael Daugherty, Ernesto Lecuona, and Sergei Prokofiev. | Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Ave., Ithaca | Free

Ordinary Elephant @ Night Eagle Cafe | 8:00 p.m. |“ Their intimate songs, the weaving harmonies, and the stories that draw you in as if you were gathered around an enchanted

campfire.” — Eliza Gilkyson | Lansing Performing Arts Center, 1004 Auburn Rd., North Lansing | $20.00

Cornell Cinema: Sisters | 8:00 p.m. | A scary and stylish paean to female destructiveness, De Palma’s first foray into horror voyeurism is a stunning amalgam of split-screen effects, bloody birthday cakes, and a chilling score by frequent Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann. | Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

9/28 Sunday

Hector Harvest 5k — Hector, NY | 9:00 a.m. | Run or walk your way through Hector’s scenic hillside. | Hazlitt, 1852 Vineyards, 5712 NY 414, Hector

Yoga to the People | 10:30 a.m. | Come hang out and practice free, accessible, family-friendly yoga therapy. | Titus Triangle Park S Titus between Plain and Fair, Ithaca | Free Grillin’ & Chillin’ & Bingo Thrillin’ | 12:00 p.m. | Join us every Sunday for a grillin’ menu as well as chillin’ on the property while you play bingo! | Treleaven Winery, 658 Lake Rd., King Ferry | Free

Memorial Concert to Remember Daphne Sola | 1:00 p.m. | CRS Barn Studio, 2622 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca | Free Bound for Glory Live with Mustard's Retreat | 2:00 p.m. | Part of WVBR's Bound for Glory ’s new live monthly concert series. | Lansing Area Performance Hall, 1004 Auburn Road, North Lansing | Free Workshop: ECODEVIANCE: a generative writing class | 2:00 p.m. | With nicole v. basta. ECODEVIANCE is a term borrowed from the poet CA Conrad. Here, we will use the idea (“subversive syllabus for a queer ecopoetics”) to practice presence with our words and with the earth outside the typical constraints of our society and our minds. | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Free Rally to Unite Together in Love, Justice, and Belonging | 3:00 p.m. | Rally to Unite Together in Love, Justice, and Belonging is an affirmation of Marriage Equality, no matter a person’s identity or whom they love, Safety and Sanctuary for everyone, and the protection of the rights of all LGBTQ+ people. | Dewitt Park, corner of N. Cayuga and Buffalo Streets, Ithaca | Free

PALAVER STRINGS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT 7:00 PM

Ford Hall, Ithaca College | Palaver Strings is a Grammynominated, musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. Their mission is to strengthen and inspire community through music, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices. Free & open to the public! (Photo: Provided)

Student Ensemble: Choral Collage at Ford Hall | 4:00 p.m. | Ithaca College

Koans at the End of Life: A Hospice Worker’s Story | 4:00 p.m. | Ithaca Artist’s Monologue ‘Koans at the End of Life’ on Hospice and Healing | Argos Warehouse, 416 East State St., Ithaca | $20.00.

Cornell Cinema: The Lady Eve | 5:00 p.m. | Part of CU Cinema’s “Screwball Comedies ” series. |Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

Jazz Jam Session | 6:00 p.m. | Jazz jam session | The Downstairs, 121 W M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca | $5.00

DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 7:00 p.m. | Join Dave Ashton for DJ Trivia every Sunday night at Crossroads in Lansing! | Crossroads Bar and Grill, 3120 North Triphammer Road, Lansing | Free

Cornell Cinema: Saving Face | 7:30 p.m.| A queer romantic comedy set in vibrant, multicultural New York City, Alice Wu’s irresistible feature debut breathed fresh life into the genre by combining snappy dialogue and a swooning love story with a poignant narrative about a mother and daughter coming to terms with each other. | Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

9/29 Monday

Slow Flow Yoga | 4:30 p.m. | This is an all-levels Slow Flow style yoga class, adaptable for people with different levels of | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca

DJUG DJANGO | 5:30 p.m. | Join Djug Django at South Hill Cider on September 29th (5th Monday), to enjoy music from the full ensemble, delicious cider, and farm-to-table menu. Djug Django, Ithaca’s premier ensemble for gypsy swing, jazz standards, Latin rhythms and blues will be hosting an evening packed with music | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca | Free Cornell Cinema: The Fisherman's Daughter (La estrategia del mero) | 6:00 p.m. | After suffering an accident, Samuel must accept the care of his daughter, and this brings them closer together. They take the opportunity to dive together in life to heal a broken past and to accept each other in the depth of the sea; like groupers, who can change sex when

they reach maturity. | Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca Ithaca College: Symphony Orchestra at Ford Hall | 8:15 p.m. | Ithaca College

9/30 Tuesday

Taughannock Live Music Series: Dennis Winge | 5:00 p.m. | Inn at Taughannock Falls, 2030 Gorge Rd., Trumansburg

Teencat and WonderMonday live, local music | 6:00 p.m. | A night of eclectic local live music. | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St., Ithaca Cornell Cinema: Framing Agnes | 6:00 p.m.| Teagan Bradway, Associate Professor of English at SUNY Cortland and Society for the Humanities Fellow, will introduce the film, which is presented in conjunction with the Society for the Humanities ’ focal theme: Scale. | Cornell Cinema, 104 Willard Straight Hall, Ithaca

10/1 Wednesday

Greensprings Garden Club | 10:00 a.m. | From May to October, volunteer with us as we divide perennials, mulch plantings, plant shrubs, & pull weeds. | Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, 293 Irish Hill Rd., Newfield | Free Midday Music for Organ: Amanda Mole (CU Music) | 12:30 p.m. | “20thcentury contemporaries and beyond” featuring the music of Hampton, Alain, Howells, and Mozart. | Sage Chapel Ho Plaza, Ithaca | Free

Read to Dogs at Newfield Public Library | 3:00 p.m. | Children are invited to the Newfield Library to practice their reading skills. | Newfield Public Library, 198 Main Street, Newfield | Free

BIPOC Rom. Book Club — Love Is a War Song | 5:00 p.m. | A book club focused on BIPOC authors that write romance and fantasy based on central-america, meso-america and indigenous cultures! | Buffalo Street Books, 215 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Free Open Gender Roller Derby Meet and Greet | 5:00 p.m. | Join members of the Flour City Fear Open Gender Roller Derby League for a meet and greet night at Personal Best Brewing. | Personal Best Brewing, 402 W Green Street, Ithaca | Free

The Writers’ Room | 6:00 p.m. | Work on your writing project in the company of other writers. | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca |

CORNELL WIND

SYMPHONY CONCERT

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT 7:30 PM

Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Ave., Cornell | The Cornell Wind Symphony’s concert features music by Dmitri Shostakovich, Michael Daugherty, Ernesto Lecuona, and Sergei Prokofiev. (Photo: Provided)

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