Opinion

Back to the Games

By Steve Lawrence

Rich Berstein with athletes at the Maccabiah Games

Iremember the interview I did with Rich Bernstein of Ithaca when he was chosen to be part of the U.S. delegation to Israel to participate in the Maccabiah Games in 2017 (the Maccabiah Games are often referred to as the Jewish Olympics). Rich was still working for the Ithaca City School District at that time — he had coached hundreds of cross country runners to reach deeper than they thought they could to become better runners, and he was always willing to help me with a story. He knew that young athletes enjoyed — and benefited from — media attention, and he liked being part of their evolution as athletes and people.

Since that time, Rich was instrumental in launching the cross country program at TC3, retired from ICSD, and always loved to talk about (what he thought was) the once-in-alifetime experience of going to the Maccabiah Games as an assistant coach. Well, when the invitation came to go back to the Games next summer — this time as the head coach — Rich was as grateful as he was

excited.

We talked about this new development, and Rich told me, “The Maccabiah Games are held the year after the Olympics, so it was supposed to be this summer, but obviously, everything got postponed a year.” He added, “I am really looking forward to it, and I would describe it as

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Liz Susmann: Opening Doors to English for our new neighbors

By Marjorie Z. Olds

Liz Susmann’s parents, Anna and Herb Susmann, moved to Ithaca for Herb’s graduate program in Engineering at Cornell before Liz was born. Growing up in West Danby and then Brooktondale, Liz was raised in a close family with loving role models. Many of us admired and enjoyed Anna and Herb’s greenhouse business. Young adults incarcerated in maximum secure facilities became enthusiastic gardeners with Mrs. Susmann as their leader. Herb, formerly an electrical engineer for Vector Magnetics, is also known among birders through his work with Lang Elliot on audibility of bird song.

Growing up, Liz enjoyed singing with the Ithaca Children’s Choir, participating in 4-H programs, connecting with friends through Ithaca’s vibrant homeschooling community, and attending and graduating from the Lehman Alternative Community School. After completing her Bachelor’s in elementary and special education at Messiah College, Liz returned to Ithaca and worked as a substitute teacher. When she was introduced to the world of adult English as a Second Language (ESL), she knew this was her niche. Discovering the field of ESL led Liz to obtain her master’s degree from SUNY Cortland in 2014. In 2019, she and seven other colleagues founded Open Doors English (ODE), an ESL school serving adults in Tompkins County and beyond.

Now entering its third year, Open Doors English has survived and thrived despite the challenges of the pandemic. This year, like last year, more than 200 adult students have savored their time in ODE classes, finding community and connections that help overcome the isolation of the pandemic and other challenges many immigrants face.

William, from Colombia, said: “I’m really happy because here [at ODE] I know different people from different countries with different cultures, and all of them have taught me valuable lessons.”

Wei-Wei, from China: “I love ODE because the teachers see the students’ hearts. My English is small, and sometimes I can’t say what I want. But the teachers feel their students’ hearts.”

Kate, from Ukraine: “I will never be tired of saying that ODE is not just a school or ESL program. You’re a miracle in the lives of people who come to the U.S. You know how to make people smile and feel happy in a new country despite all the difficulties we have.”

As businesses throughout the U.S. struggle to fill job positions for farm workers, CNA aides in nursing homes and construction workers, we realize how our essential needs are enhanced by families coming to America. Our newly-arrived community members need language skills as they find their way in

Students of the Open Doors to English program (Photo: Provided))