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VOL.XLII / NO. 20 / January 5, 2021 Serving 47,125 readers weekly

Preservation Local officials hoping to preserve Camp Barton

Local officials from three neighboring municipalities have teamed up to convince New York State lawmakers that they should push the state to purchase Camp Barton, a Seneca County Boy Scout camp that is being sold to raise funds for the scouts’ national bankruptcy settlement.

Their cause has gained momentum over the last few weeks. Currently a Change.org petition to save Camp Barton has garnered 3,845 signatures, and NY Assembly Member Anna R. Kelles, State Senator Pam Helming and Tomkins County Legislator Anne Koreman have expressed their support for the plan to save the camp.

When members of the Baden-Powell Council, owners of the camp, reached out to local municipalities for help saving the property for public use, local leaders took notice.

A public campaign was developed, spearheaded by Trumansburg Mayor Rordan Hart, incoming Ulysses Town Supervisor Kaitlin Olson and Covert Deputy Supervisor Deborah Nottke.

The group is pushing for the preservation of the camp through the purchase of the land by New York State with Covert, Ulysses and Trumansburg taking responsibility for the management of the public park it would become.

The Village of Trumansburg is invested in the camp’s future for multiple reasons; for one, the lakeshore well that sits on the 138-acre property used to be the primary water source for the town.

“It’s a unique formation,” said Hart. Nothing like it is found anywhere else on Cayuga Lake, he said, and though the village has now renovated and connected to wells in Taughannock Falls State Park, creating a new supply source for Trumansburg, the lakeshore well still constitutes about half of the village’s water system, Hart said.

But perhaps more important to Hart is the opportunity to provide village residents with public space on the waterfront while protecting the area from subdivision and residential development.

“It could be operated as public space,” Hart said, “with youth recreation, sports, swimming, camping hiking, a place to hold events.”

In a detailed plea to NY Governor Kathy Hochul, Kelles and Helming point out that similar arrangements have succeeded before.

“This collaborative approach has been successfully used before in the region—at Camp Onanda in the Town of Canandaigua, Ontario County, and Camp Beechwood in the Town of Sodus, Wayne County,” their call to action states. “In both of these cases, New York State acquired these properties and then entered into management agreements

Camp Barton on the shores of Cayuga Lake

T a k e N o t e

▶ Tree collection Department of Public Works crews will pick up discarded holiday trees between Jan. 3 and Jan. 28 in the city of Ithaca. You can put your tree out regardless of your trash day, and they will be collected free of charge as time and weather allows. All trees are chipped and added to the free mulch pile, so remove all decorations, lights, ornaments and stands from the trees. Wreaths will not be accepted. If your tree has not been picked up, feel free to call Streets and Facilities at (607) 272-1718, and enter extension 3 for the Parks Department. Leave your address and the department will make sure to get it next time the crews are out.

FEATURES

2021 in Review���������������������������������8

The year that promised everything and delivered, well, we’ll let you decide. Newsline ..................................................3-5 Opinion ........................................................6 Letters ........................................................7

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Personal Health ................................... 11 Film .............................................................12 Film ............................................................. 14 Times Table .............................................. 16 Classifieds ...............................................18

ON THE WEB

Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000

Tanner H arding , M anaging E ditor , x1224 E ditor @ i thacatim E s . com J aime Cone , E ditor , x1232 s outh r E port E r @ flcn . org C asey m ar T in , Staff P hotogra P h E r p hotograph E r @ i thacatim E s . com C H ris i ber T, C al E ndar E ditor , x1217 a rts @ i thacatim E s . com a ndrew s ullivan , S P ort S E ditor , x1227 s ports @ flcn . org sT eve l awren C e , S P ort S Colu M ni S t st E v E s ports d ud E @ gmail . com m ars H all H opkins , P rodu C tion d ir EC tor /d ES ign E r , x1216 p roduction @ i thacatim E s . com

s H aron d avis , d i S tribution front @i tha C ati MES . Co M

J im b ilinski , P ubli S h E r , x1210 jbilinski @ i thacatim E s . com l arry H o CH berger , a SS o C iat E P ubli S h E r , x1214 larry@ i thacatim E s . com F reelancers : Barbara Adams, Rick Blaisell, Steve Burke, Deirdre Cunningham, Jane Dieckmann, Amber Donofrio, Karen Gadiel, Charley Githler, Linda B. Glaser, Warren Greenwood, Ross Haarstad, Peggy Haine, Gay Huddle, Austin Lamb, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Lori Sonken, Henry Stark, Dave Sit, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2021, BY NEWSKI INC. All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $89 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607-277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972-1978) and The Good Times Gazette (1973-1978), combined in 1978. F ounder G ood Times G aze TT e : Tom Newton

INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER

By Casey Martin

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE LEFT IN 2021?

“January 6, 2021. Forget about it. For the sake of country!”

-Lou

“Everything.”

-Morgan W.

“Resentment.”

-Jacob P.

“The idea that we are re-entering the roaring 20s. Leave it with the 1900s!”

-Pat W.

“COVID!”

COVID Health Dept. to host Town Hall meeting, booster clinic

The Tompkins County Health Department will hold a COVID-19 Virtual Update Community Town Hall on Wednesday, January 5 at 4:30 p.m. on the Tompkins County YouTube page to provide details on the pandemic response and answer questions from the public. Members of the public will be able to submit questions live through the YouTube chat box. The Town Hall footage will be archived and available for viewing postevent at the same link. Cases dropped off dramatically when college students left for winter break, but as of Jan. 4 there are still 1,155 active cases reported by the Health Department, plus 87 self-reported tests. Hospitalizations remain low at 10, and the Health Department is continuing to recommend 10day isolation or quarantine for those positive or exposed and symptomatic.

TCHD also announced a COVID-19 vaccine booster clinic for Saturday, January 8 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Shops at Ithaca Mall Vaccination Site (40 Catherwood Dr. Ithaca)

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster 18 years and older

Registration link: https:// apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?Dat eID=D4B40B05C5CE0112E05 30A6C7C15AFC4

Booster doses are authorized for all individuals 18 years and older who received the Pfizer or Moderna initial vaccine series at least six months ago or the J&J vaccine at least two months ago. It is approved to mix and match all COVID-19 vaccines. For example, individuals who were initially vaccinated with Pfizer may get a Moderna booster.

A registration link for appointments is available on the TCHD website. Please bring a photo ID, your vaccination card, and expect to wait 15 minutes for observation following your injection. The COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge.

Tompkins County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa stated, “Throughout the pandemic, the Tompkins County COVID-19 Virtual Town Halls have enabled us to share timely updates with the community and answer the public’s questions directly. I encourage everyone to join us for another session as we kick off a new year.”

Kruppa continued. “Vaccines continue to be a tool to help limit the spread and severity of illness. I encourage anyone eligible to seek out a booster at one of our clinics or any of the NYS sites opening in our region.”

Sports ‘21 Was (Sort of) Fun

Local Olympian Kyle Dake wins bronze in Tokyo (provided)

Thanks to my longtime readers for another year (#29) of story ideas, feedback, suggestions and “you’re full of it” comments. It was a year of seeing local athletes performing in Big Time events, some retirements (coaches Maureen Whitehead-McCarville and Bill Austin), reunions, and of course, some sad farewells.

I loved writing yet again about Mike Richmond’s continued presence on the senior softball circuit. Mike is a good friend, and when I called him to wish him happy holidays in 2020, he told me about his upcoming tournament schedule. I spoke to Mike again around Christmas, and he is gearing up to play in several more elitelevel tournaments — starting next month in Florida — and his excitement level sounded like that of a high school kid. Mike is 83.

It was a thrill to watch Kyle Dake finally break through and take down — in convincing fashion — his longtime nemesis, Jordan Burroughs, in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Dake would not quite realize his dream of winning Olympic gold in Tokyo, but he showed incredible character by staying focused and battling back to stay in contention after a second round loss to step onto the podium to have a bronze medal draped around his neck. To prove he is far from finished, Dake would, a few weeks later, win his third World title.

I enjoyed writing about some very special reunions last year, starting with a gathering of swimmers to celebrate Roy Staley’s 50-year run as a mentor and friend. Several members of the 1971 Ithaca High cross country state championship team would also gather in town to celebrate their lifelong friendships, as would several dozen people connected with the 1971 Cornell lacrosse team.

The ‘71 Big Red lacrosse team won the first of the three national titles the program would win in the 1970s, and many of the players and their spouses returned to Ithaca to see one another and recall the Glory Days. While the former players clearly enjoyed reconnecting, and they smiled bigly for the cameras when their image was splashed across Schoellkopf Field’s big screen at halftime at the Homecoming football game, they were most impacted by the opportunity to spend time with Richie Moran, the Hall of Fame coach who led them to the championship and continues to be Cornell lacrosse’s elder statesman. Moran turns 85 this month, and it’s fun to watch men from 22 to 72 continue to treat him with such respect and admiration.

I was deeply saddened to write about the passing of Krissi Manwaring in a column entitled “She Played Big.” Krissi was always the smallest player on her softball and volleyball teams, but nobody played bigger. She was only 27 when she passed from a cruel disease known as scleroderma.

It also hurt my heart to write about the passing of Sean Norman, a GIAC worker, baseball umpire and proud dad of 8-year-old Annabelle. Sean was a big guy with an even bigger personality, and he is sorely missed.

Another painful loss occurred over the summer when former Ithaca High soccer player Jared Brooks passed on. In describing Jared’s passion on the pitch, his former coach called him “Walking Fire,” hence the title of the July 8th tribute I wrote about him. He was an awesome young man.

In October, my story entitled “The Game Ball” said farewell to LaVerne “Stub” Snyder, a friend since our Little League days in Owego, and a man whose 55-year battle with mental health challenges was both heartbreaking and inspiring. When Stub moved into a group home in Ithaca, he was trying hard to find a “tribe,” and when the coaches and staff and Athletic Trainers connected to Cornell Football welcomed him as a Team Manager, he was as happy as I had ever seen him. He was one of the guys, and when the team won the 1988 Ivy title, Stub was given a game ball with his name inscribed on it. It remained one of his prized possessions, a reminder that he was a part of something very special.

Happy New Year everyone. I hope it’s the best year ever. Thanks for reading.

By Steve Lawrence

Rentals Short-term rental regulations passed in town of Ithaca

The Ithaca Town Board officially passed shortterm rental legislation on Dec. 29, with all board members voting in favor except for Tee-Ann Hunter. The board held another public hearing that morning after deciding to push the effective date of the legislation (and all subsequent dates within) back three months to April 1 at the prior public hearing on Dec. 13.

Despite the morning public hearing on a workday, there were still quite a few virtual attendees who showed up to comment publicly on the legislation. Craig Dunham, who spoke at the public hearing two weeks prior, said he was “dismayed by the lack of empathy” from the board, and said he believes the group had reached groupthink and decision fatigue and were “no longer thinking rationally” about the legislation.

Another resident said she owns a lakefront home and rented it out 363 days last year; the new legislation will limit short-term rentals in lakefront properties to 245 days per year.

“If we’re limited to 245 days the property will go vacant which serves no purpose,” she said. “And we’ll probably raise the prices so we can maximize the 245 days we get. It serves no purpose for this town.”

She added there’s not enough leeway for the Board of Zoning Appeals to “consider situations that are positive for the town and not causing harm.”

However, two of the main issues brought up by residents and addressed by the board were amending the legislation in the future, and snowbirds — retired folks who spend the winters somewhere warm down south and the summers back in Ithaca.

At the previous public hearing, board members noted the ability to amend the law in the future if for some reason issues arose from it. However, this didn’t sit right with some residents. One resident said she was “shocked the notion of passing this with the intention of changing or tweaking it later was even considered.”

Resident Adam Schaye echoed this sentiment.

“I think that’s a sham of a way to do legislation, and know it’s in bad will but to pass it anyway for the stated reason that you’ve been working on it for too long,” he said. “To acknowledge you know it’s a flawed bill and you’re going to amend it later is the wrong way to do legislation.”

However, board member Rich DePaolo said it’s not the board’s intent to modify the law, but they do want to recognize there is the possibility that it could be changed in the event of unforeseen consequences.

“That’s the legislative process, as imperfect as it is,” he said.

The snowbird issue had been brought up by various retirees at this public hearing and the one prior. The issue is that the law will require homeowners to reside in the home they intend to use for short-term rentals for at least 185 days per year, a threshold many snowbirds don’t meet. While board members were sympathetic to the situation, Deputy Town Supervisor Bill Goodman said it was something they’ve been talking about for three years and that ultimately, his reasons for wanting the law outweigh those concerns.

“The idea of retired people who don’t live here but want to keep a home here isn’t new to us,” he said. “Again, this goes back to the nature of the legislation.”

He said there are a handful of reasons the board has taken up this legislation, with the main ones being protecting long-term housing stock in town, the neighborhood quality of life, and the safety of units and tourists visiting.

“For this particular issue of [snowbirds] wanting to keep their homes here, housing for long-term takes priority. So that’s where I’m able to draw my line,” Goodman said. “If someone is retired and moved out of the town of Ithaca, I’m willing to draw the line there and say ‘no, sorry, we’re not going to use what used to be your primary residence just for short-term rentals.’”

Goodman noted there was nothing stopping those folks from using those homes for long-term rentals or academicyear rentals so that the house was still empty for the summer.

“That’s where I’m drawing my line personally,” he said. “When we’re dealing with a complicated issue, each of us gets to decide which is of primary importance and where we draw our lines. And that’s the way legislation works.”

Board member Pam Bleiwas echoed that sentiment and said that everyone in town has a different way they want to write the legislation.

“You can’t have 20,000 versions of this bill to satisfy every single person,” she said.

She noted that protecting the long-term housing stock is her primary reason for passing the law, which the board believes the legislation will accomplish by preventing outside corporations from buying up housing stock to use primarily for short-term rentals.

Ultimately, the board passed the legislation, emphasizing the importance of getting regulations on the books. Only Hunter voted against the bill, which she has repeatedly said has equity issues due to lakefront homeowners getting so many more days for short-term rentals than other residents.

“I know it’s taken a long time, but I think we have some problems, and the community has brought them to our attention, and out of respect to the people we’re supposed to be serving we should take those comments seriously,” she said. -Tanner Harding

Ups There’s nothing quite like the fresh start of a new year. Organize your closet and clean out your fridge, it’ll feel good. Downs The first week back to work after the holidays is rough. Maybe take some long lunch breaks this week to ease yourself back in.

HEARD&SEEN

Heard Everyone’s talking about that movie “Licorice Pizza.” It’s playing at Cinemapolis, so go see it and support a local business! Seen The towers at Ithaca College changed from 21 to 22 for the new year. Why is that such a satisfying and delightful tradition? It just is.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK New Years Resolutions?

32.4% Yes. 2022 is my year. 67.6% “Whats the use?”

Next Week’s QuestioN: What is your biggest hope for 2022?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.