F R E E / D E C E M B E R 1 7, 2 0 1 4 / V o l u m e X X X V I , N u m b e r 1 6 / O u r 4 3 r d Y e a r /
Online @ ITH ACA .COM
Fane
Isn’t Green
county IDA nixes tax break PAGE 3
Reed
isn’t liked
Danby crowd heckled their rep PAGE 4
Big Red
in the mirror
university assesses its own impact PAGE 5
Plater
in person
profile of an artist and her work PAGE 15
Can Agriculture Grow Tourism?
County agriculinary task force urges tighter network of businesses
Openly
populist
CSMA shows us what we’ve got PAGE 16
607-257-2669 • www.ithacacoffee.com Triphammer Marketplace 2255 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca,NY
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Ne Sustainability
Solar Tompkins Exceeds Its Goal
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olar Tompkins is set to exceed its goal of doubling the total deployment of residential solar power in a single year, as more than 400 solar installations within the county are scheduled to be completed by June 2015, said Solar Tompkins board member Guillermo Metz, who is also the Green Building and Renewable Energy Program Coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCETC). According to Metz and Solar Tompkins Program Director Melissa Kemp, Tompkins County, those installations would add approximately 3 MW (megawatts) of electrical generating capacity from residential Solar PV (photovolataics). The contract signing period for the Solar Tompkins program ended on Nov. 1. For some context, when the Black Oak Wind Farm in Enfield is constructed and comes on line, it is projected to generate 20 MW. That project is still in the fundraising stage. The Cornell Energy Plant, which burns natural gas, has a capacity of 37.5 MW, and its hydroelectric plant on Fall Creek can generate 1.9 MW. Board members recently had meetings with all three of their installers—Astrum Solar, Renovus Energy, and Taitem Engineering/ETM Solar Works—to debrief everything that had happened up to this point. In all, the program netted more than 1,300 enrollees, and of those, 401 projects were sold. Metz called the nearly 30 percent closing rate “really, really great.” Solar Tompkins self-proclaimed goal was 300 contracts. “That was a soft goal,” Metz said. “Some people wanted to make it 500, some people thought 200 was more realistic. What we’ve always said is that we would love to see a doubling of the capacity in the county. The county had about 2 megawatts before program. So that goal, we exceeded as well.” According to a Solar Tompkins press release, the households moving forward with installations will start saving money right away, and “are creating a boom in the solar installation business that has resulted in at least 22.5 new, permanent, full-time, living-wage jobs created in our communities in just the last six months.” Solar Tompkins is a volunteer-based non-profit group with the mission of accelerating the transition to affordable, continued on page 7
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VOL.X X XVI / NO. 16 / December 17, 2014
Tompkins County
that he would not move forward with the project without the abatement. Following Thursday’s decision, the developer proved that was no bluff. “The project is dead,” he said when contacted Thursday morning. “My team and many people in the City of Ithaca government put a lot of work into the project, and I believe the IDA should have given more weight to the substantial merits he decision as to whether or not of the project, including excellent housing to give developer Jason Fane a for about 50 people right in the area where tax abatement package came to the planning department says needs it a surprising conclusion Thursday, Dec. most.” 11, when Tompkins County Industrial Fane noted he would not be pursuing Development Agency (IDA) came down any type of appeal regarding a faulty vote, against it three votes to two. and that his only plans for the property IDA members Grace Chiang, going forward would be to pay any Tompkins County Legislators Nate remaining bills arising from the application Shinagawa (D-4th) and Will Burbank process and to apply for (D-12th) voted no, a reduction in property while Larry Baum taxes because the IDA has and County Legislator reduced the land from Jim Dennis (D-5th) a development site to voted yes. The other recreational land. two IDA members, Baum said he thought Mayor Svante Myrick the vote would go a and County Legislator different way based on the Martha Robertson project at hand. (D-13th) were not in “All I’ll say is I was attendance. surprised,” Baum added. The vote came “I voted yes because I as an upset, as city felt it was a really good planning had already infill project. They had approved the project, a challenging piece of and city staff members property to work with that, have continued to in the end, fit the criteria support it and its of adding additional application for a tax housing—which the abatement through Jason Fane (Photo: Michael Nocella) community really needs. the Community The housing would have Investment Incentive been downtown in an area Tax Abatement that the whole CIITAP program is all about Program (CIITAP) incentive program. increasing density.” The objective of the CIITAP program is Dennis is a former city alderman. He to encourage development in the city that too said he went into the vote confident increases the number of jobs, increases the IDA would grant Fane the abatement, the tax base, promotes density in the especially since it had already went through city core, encourages rehabilitation and all of the rigors from city planning—and redevelopment of underutilized sites, and was approved. helps create a vibrant downtown city. “I was surprised by the decision,” With its East Clinton Street address, the proposed three-story, 36-unit apartment Dennis said. “I felt like going in that we had building is indeed qualified to apply. continued on page 4 Fane has also stated, more than once,
County IDA Nixes Fane Abatements
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▶ Special Election for County Legislator, At a meeting Thursday, Dec. 11, Democratic committee members from parts of Groton, Dryden, and Lansing came together to nominate Neil Snyder to run for the County Legislature’s 9th District in the special election on February 10. The winner of the February election will replace Brian Robison, who resigned his position on the County Legislature to become undersheriff for Tompkins County. Snyder has been active in environmental issues in Groton and ran for town board there in 2013. A former businessperson who
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now teaches youth in Sunday school classes and works in a local grocery store, Snyder is interested in balancing the rural character of his district with support for local businesses. He wants to limit heavy industry while looking for new opportunities in green technologies. Whereas other towns in the county have worked to bar fracking with a moratorium or ban on heavy industry, Groton has thus far failed to do so. The election has been called in order to replace Brian Robison, who stepped down in order to be the Tompkins County Undersheriff.
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Farm to Table ............................... 8 Tompkins County is organizing the tourism and agriculture communities
Deeply Human . ........................... 15 On track with artist Terry Plater
NE W S & OPINION
Newsline . ............................... 3-7, 11, 14 Sports ................................................... 13
ART S & E NTE RTAINME NT
Art . ....................................................... 16 Books .................................................... 17 Film ....................................................... 18 Dining . ................................................. 19 TimesTable .................................... 22-25 Books .................................................... 25 Classifieds...................................... 26-28 Cover Photo: By Liz Carabinkakis Cover Design: Julianna Truesdale.
ON THE W E B Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. B i l l C h a i s s o n , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , 6 07-277-70 0 0 x 224 E d i t o r @ I t h a c a T i me s . c o m L o u i s D i P i e t r o, A s s o c i a t e E d i t o r , x 217 A r t s @I t h a c a T i me s . c o m M i c h a e l N o c e l l a , R e p o r t e r , x 225 r e p o r t e r @I t h a c a T i me s . c o m Tim Gera, Photographer p h o t o g r a p h e r @I t h a c a T i me s . c o m Steve Lawrence, Sports Editor, Ste vespo rt sd u d e@gmai l .co m C h r i s H o o k e r, F i n g e r L a k e s S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 236 Sp o rt s@Flcn .o rg J u l i a n n a Tr u e s d a l e , P r o d u c t i o n D i r e c t o r / D e s i g n e r , x 226 P r o d u c t i o n @I t h a c a T i me s . c o m G e o r g i a C o l i c c h i o, A c c o u n t R e p r e s e n t a t i v e , x 220 G e o r g i a @ I t h a c a T i me s . c o m J i m K i e r n a n , A c c o u n t R e p r e s e n t a t i v e , x 219 J k i e r n a n @ I t h a c a T i me s . c o m R i c k y C h a n , A c c o u n t R e p r e s e n t a t i v e , x 218 R i c k y @ I t h a c a T i me s . c o m C a t h y B u t t n e r, C l a s s i f i e d A d v e r t i s i n g , x 227 c b u t t n e r @ i t h a c a t i me s . c o m Cy n d i B r o n g , x 211; J u n e S e a n e y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Rick Blaisdell, Chris Eaton, Les Jink s J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 210 j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c a T i me s . c o m C o n t r i b u t o r s : Barbara Adams,Deirdre Cunningham, Jane Dieckmann, Luke Z. Fenchel, J.F.K. Fisher, Karen Gadiel, Charley Githler, Linda B. Glaser, Warren Greenwood, Ross Haarstad, Peggy Haine, Cassandra Palmyra, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman.
T he ent i re c o ntents o f the Ithaca T i mes are c o p y r i ght © 2 0 1 4 , b y newsk i i nc . All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $69 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 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972-1978) and The Good Times Gazette (1973-1978), combined in 1978. F o u n d e r G o o d T i me s G a z e t t e : Tom Newton
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INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER By Tim G e ra
What Conversation Topic Has you biting your Tongue?
N Congressman Visits
Frosty Reception for Reed in Danby
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n his visit to Danby on Saturday, Dec. 13, Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) received a reception that was initially lukewarm, but by the end of the meeting became decidedly more hostile. Consistently, members of the public drew more applause from their questions than Reed did from his answers, but some of those toward the back of the 50-person crowd took it a step further. At least one person in the back of the room quite audibly called Reed an “ass****,” although others made disapproving comments throughout the meeting. Before taking questions, Reed began by speaking about the spending bill passed by Congress on Dec. 11. The $1.01 trillion bill, referred to as the “cromnibus” because it combines a continuing resolution with the broad scope of an omnibus spending bill, passed just three hours before the deadline for a government shutdown. Reed said, “I did vote in support of it.” Noting that the bill achieved a $165 billion reduction in spending since the fiscal year 2010, he said, “We are downsizing the federal government.” One woman addressed the congressman, saying, “I am astonished at the failure of you and some of your
“ Politics at home.” —Caitlyn Madden
“Religion.” —Evans Njuguna
Faneabatement contin u ed from page 3
“The treatment of LGBT by police.” —Krystall Escobedo
“What I do to make money.” —Mandy Caughey
“I don’t bite my tongue on anything.” —Triveni Gandhi
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support for the project, and frankly, I was quite surprised that it ended up like it ended up. That project went through all of the city of Ithaca’s muster. It passed every board that it needed to pass. The project offers what most of us at the county legislature want—and that’s residential development in the core of the city. I think we turned down a potential $300,000 [a year in tax revenue] over a very long period of time, and that’s not a very good move.” IDA members who voted against the abatement sited the proposal’s location (atop a steep slope next to the Ithaca Police Department), the fact that it wasn’t mixeduse and only a residential building, and a general lack of “green aspects,” Dennis noted. Whether or not these were grounds for voting against a tax abatement for a project that already cleared such concerns through city government is debatable. Burbank, who told this publication that his biggest concern was a “lack of green building features that were presented to us.” He explained that he believed his responsibility as an IDA member is to vote with the consequences on the community as a whole in mind. “The IDA is charged,” Burbank said, “with looking at the application
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colleagues … to protect the taxpayers in this district and this county by allowing this disgraceful take-back of Dodd- Frank that would insist on banks putting their own skin in the game.” She added, “I believe you have failed us by voting for
When one audience member, Deborah Cipolla-Dennis, asked about the role of finance industry regulations. Reed stated that sometimes demanding increased transparency and accountability achieves the “counter-goal.” He gave an example regarding a hypothetical IPO prospectus, saying that if it becomes 500 pages long to meet increased transparency and accountability requirements, it actually allows companies to conceal information by burying it deep in a lengthy report that most people will not read. “I’m not talking about no regulation, I’m talking about reasonable and effective regulation,” said Reed. One person asked about Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission, a controversial court case that reduced restrictions on campaign spending by corporations: “Transparency is good … but,” the citizen said, Congressman Tom Reed (Photo: Keri Blakinger) “it doesn’t do me any good to know that George Soros and the Koch brothers are that legislation.” The speaker, who was controlling everything.” referring to the cromnibus bill’s provisions In his response, Reed voiced some that repeal certain banking industry concerns with restricting campaign regulations, drew hearty applause. spending and corporate personhood: Reed responded, “The big issue I see “Where do you draw the line? How with this issue in particular is the bailout. would you define what is good corporate Nothing in this legislation guarantees privileges versus abusive corporate that the taxpayers are going to bail structures?” Then, Reed segued into out anyone.” Reed said that he has not continued on page 7 supported bailouts. and asking ‘OK, does this really meet the needs and improve our community?’ And this particular application under green building practices, just left that portion blank. I think that’s something you heard from many members of the community that is important as we try to move our community away from the reliance of fossil fuels. Anything we build today is likely to be here for five or six decades—or more. Let’s make it a quality building that’s going to be as energy efficient as possible.” Burbank added that, yes, the project did meet the requirements of being in the right district, being valued at over $500,000, and was tall enough. However, being eligible to apply for something is very different from being granted, or being fully deserving, he said. “Abatements are a privilege,” Burbank said, “they’re not a right. They’re a special thing that we grant to certain parties because they have promised to do something that will benefit the larger community. I think when they’re given, they ought to be given very, very carefully.” Dennis said he went into Thursday night’s meeting knowing Myrick had supported the project in the past, and expected him to support it again, adding that his absence was “very unfortunate.” He was unsure how Robertson would have voted. As to whether or not the vote had anything to do with Fane’s notorious
reputation in Ithaca, Dennis said he hoped that wasn’t the case, but that if anyone voted against him because they didn’t like him, that individual was not “being a responsible IDA member.” When asked if the vote might have gone a different way if the applicant was a developer other than Fane, Baum paused, and emphatically replied: “It better not have. If it did, that means there were people voting in a way that wasn’t judicially responsible.” Tompkins County Area Development President Michael Stamm said Thursday’s vote, which was “certainly something we did not anticipate,” underscored a disconnect between the city and the IDA, and that the two parties need to meet to discuss the CIITAP process, and what guidelines applicants need to follow moving forward. Though he said that it was IDA’s right to vote against the abatement, he added that it was clear the city believed the applicant and project met all the requirements needed for approval. He explained that IDA’s responsibility in voting for tax abatements under the CIITAP program is to determine whether or not they stimulate private sector investments, create jobs, and add development to areas that have been declared ready for high density. • – Michael Nocella
N Town/Gown
University POV on The Big Red Impact
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hree weeks ago Cornell University administration accepted a series of questions, the answers to which were meant to be incorporated into our Dec. 3 cover story on the university economic impact on New York State. Their perspective should, of course, be heard. The following came to us from Joel Malina, Vice President of University Relations at Cornell. Ithaca Times: Why did the university decide to do an in-house impact statement rather than continuing to use Appleseed, a consulting firm specializing in impact reports? Joel Malina: The university transitioned to doing in-house economic impact analysis over several years. For the first economic impact study, published in 2007, Appleseed took the lead, collaborating with Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP) faculty. In the 2009 study, CRP faculty led the collaboration with Appleseed. In-house capacity allows the university to quickly and effectively analyze the impacts of specific scenarios and initiatives. IT: What was Elmira Mangum’s role in changing the nature of the impact study? JM: Elmira Mangum, former vice president for budget and planning at Cornell, recognized that the most frequently used models for conducting economic impact studies—the inputoutput (I-O) and social accounting matrix (SAM) methods—would not, on their own, enable university administrators to fully consider Cornell’s role in economic development initiatives, such as STARTUP NY, and the initiatives’ impact on different constituencies. She charged CRP faculty members Kieran Donaghy and Yuri Mansury to develop a model that would clearly trace the effects of Cornell’s activities on the economies of Tompkins County, Central New York, New York City and New York State. She also asked them to conduct traditional I-O and SAM analyses to support comparisons with previous findings, where applicable. IT: According to Kieran Donaghy, the new study makes Cornell an entity unto itself in the New York State economy rather than considering it as part of higher ed. Is this a function of (a) the university’s growth in recent decades, (b) a shift toward a more entrepreneurial focus on the part of the university or (c) a combination of these and other reasons. JM: When conducting economywide analyses, regional economists are faced with choices of how to aggregate or disaggregate industries. For the current study, we decided to break out Cornell from the higher education sector in order
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purpose of our study is to enable university to more accurately examine both the administrators to discern trade-offs that effects of Cornell’s activities on economies in different parts of the state and the effects would occur in the short run if Cornell on Cornell of activities of other institutions were to undertake particular economic development initiatives. and industries. This approach enables us IT: How does the university plan to to take a closer look at potential effects use the findings of this study/report in the of Cornell’s participation in economic short term and in the long term? development initiatives. JM: The study’s many possible IT: Ithaca is a relatively small uses include consideration of potential community compared to the university. impacts of university-community and Donaghy said that this makes Cornell university-industry partnerships, the something like a “monopsonist,” that NYC tech campus and high-tech sector is, virtually a single buyer in the local incubator projects. Findings also can help economy. The university’s “buy local” us examine what infrastructure changes principle therefore puts it in a somewhat and investments would be associated with paradoxical position. On the one hand, particular projects and developments. this principle supports local suppliers. On In addition to helping us shape current the other hand, it means that any other programs, the understanding we gain business seeking the same supplies from that supplier might often be told “Sorry, but Cornell just bought all of those.” Does the university’s purchasing personnel think about this kind of thing? JM: Many of the goods and services that Cornell purchases through local suppliers are sourced externally via far-flung supply Joe Schwartz, Media Relations Specialist; Joel Malina, Vice President of University Relations; chains. So even and Gary Stewart, Director of Community Relations. (Photo: Bill Chaisson) though Cornell has substantial market power from the study will better inform our because of the volume of its purchases, conversations internally and with members Tompkins County would not, as a result, experience shortages of goods and services. of our communities as we consider future economic development opportunities. If anything, Cornell helps provide a floor IT: It is our perception that the of demand that supports local businesses community response to Cornell’s throughout the business cycle. economic impact is partly ideological. One example of Cornell enhancing In our manichean American politics the local and minority suppliers: In fiscal university’s lack of altruism is received as year 2014, Cornell Procurement Services a “corporate” and “Republican” approach, utilized the Johnson School’s Big Red Consulting to evaluate five local businesses while the city is rather completely a small business and Democratic kind of place. and make recommendations for their Can the data in the new economic impact growth. The program was so successful, it study be used to bridge this diplomatic was continued this fiscal year. impasse? IT: A related question. Donaghy JM: One of the intentions of the explained that the definition of “crowding study was to provide an opportunity for out,” as an economic phenomenon, stakeholders from the community and includes the understanding the crowder is the university to engage in constructive actively trying to elbow aside competitors. conversations about economic In the context of Ithaca and Cornell this is obviously not the case; industry left here of development, based on good data and logical inferences that are theoretically well its own accord. The question is, however, is the university conscious of its “dominant supported and transparent. IT: Has this study been shared with by default” status and does it take this into Elizabeth Garrett? Does she have any account when doing its planning for the official reaction to it? future? JM: The study has been shared with JM: Because there is an opportunity President-elect Beth Garrett. She has had cost associated with the use of almost any resource, there usually is a set of competing no official reaction to the study. • uses that will be crowded out. One T
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Ups&Downs ▶ In another Groton, Junior Tatianna Suriel earned academic honors for the fall trimester at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. Tatianna, who serves as a proctor in her dormitory, was also recognized with a Coach’s Award for her efforts on her soccer team throughout the fall season. She is the daughter of Patricia and Freddy Suriel of Ithaca. If you care to respond to something in this column, or publish your own grievances or plaudits, e-mail editor@ithacatimes.com, with a subject head “Ups & Downs.”
Heard&Seen ▶ Presents on the Commons, Many downtown locations are participating in a new holiday season scavenger hunt, where participants collect stickers on a map as they hunt small, bright-green “presents” hidden inside each shop. Earn raffle entries for one of 35 gift cards, up to 280 Ithaca Dollars for yourself, and 56 for your nonprofit of choice as you play. Grand prizes of 1500, 1000, and 500 Ithaca Dollars will be awarded to three lucky participants who collect over half the total number of stickers. See www.ithacash.org/presents for a downloadable map, how to play, and list of participating locations. ▶ Top Stories on the Ithaca Times website for the week of Dec. 3-16 include: 1) To Boone and Max 2) Ithaca’s Incodema Goes 3D and Expands in Freeville 3) Two Charged Following Drug Investigation in Ithaca 4) Frosty Reception for Congressman Reed in Danby 5) Drum Roll, Please: Ithaca’s ToKo Has New Owner For these stories and more, visit our website at www.ithaca.com.
question OF THE WEEK
When traveling to another part of the country would you ever visit a farm as a tourist? Please respond at ithaca.com. L ast Week ’s Q uestion: Should the old county library building be torn down ?
28 percent of respondents answered “yes” and 72 percent answered “no”
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surroundedbyreality
Jason Fane: Not Green Enough? ‘Tis Better to Give T C he Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) made a big mistake in turning down tax abatements for the residential building at 130 E. Clinton St. Some opponents at a public hearing on Dec. 3 were candid about their dislike and/or disdain for Jason Fane, the developer of this project and one of the largest rental property owners in the city. Fane is notorious for leaving storefronts empty, charging high rents, using difficult contracts, and generally not being very nice. The candor of these opponents should be respected, especially compared to those who tried to find other reasons to be against not just the abatements, but also the construction of the building itself. Several people described the site’s steepness as reason enough not to build there. The implications were that it would be difficult to attach a building to the site and that the landscape there is a delicate natural environment that deserved preservation. On the first score, one need only look at the slopes of East and South hills to see that building on steep sites are the stock and trade of architects and builders around here. There are buildings attached to bedrock, buildings cantilevered out over gorge walls, and buildings dug into glacial till. To the second point, preservation of steep slopes is urged in this region for two reasons: to prevent erosion and to preserve plant communities that are often rare because they have been
untouched for over a century. In this case, the plant inventory included in the paperwork generated during the discussion of this project at the city Planning and Development Board shows that the parcel is dominated by invasive, non-native species. The developer had agreed to put aside part of the parcel—the portion with in 50 feet of the retaining wall of the creek—and to replant it with native species. This would have both restored some semblance of bona fide plant community and prevented erosion. Another objection claimed that this project furthered the “canyonization” of the creek. We are talking about a creek that was confined to a concrete channel many decades ago in order to prevent flooding. These concrete walls have been neglected and are literally falling down in many places and the bed of the creek has been allowed to fill with gravel bars and consequently vegetation. This makes it picturesque in a Romantic after-the-fall sort of way, but it is still a channelized creek. The project is fronted on East Clinton Street and leaves the creekside more natural than it found it, so the charge is baseless. Furthermore, the rows of houses cantilevered over the creek walls on Spencer and Cayuga streets make the watercourse more attractive, not less. And then there were the “technical” objections: this isn’t a multi-use project
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By Charley Githler
rowdfunding, for those of you coming out of a medium-length coma, is a method where common, everyday people give their own money to a personal or business project. There are now dozens of sites where folks post their projects to “potential investors” (formerly known as “suckers”), and people will fund the project with money if they are interested in the project. Sounds simple enough. Some are donations, some are investments. Still, as is prone to happen, it’s getting a little out of hand. This, however is not the season to quibble, but to give, and why not help fund a worthwhile project? There’s GoFundMe, RocketHub and Kickstarter, but one of the hottest sites right now is subsidizeme.com. As a holiday service, we’ve listed the seven most deserving proposals. Solicitations. Appeals. Whatever they are … help make someone’s holiday dream come true. Plus-Sized Pooch Pleads for Procedure. A Ludlowville man needs $10,000 for emergency canine liposuction for his dog Cosmo or, Cosmo’s veterinarian warns, “There’s no telling what might happen.” Cosmo, a mixed-breed hound of uncertain age, “has always been meaty,” according to his owner, Pvt. George Bailey (U.S. Army, ret.). The recommendation of the vet set Bailey on a mission to find a solution. “Flying in a team of Japanese liposuction doctors and technicians seems so obvious, now that I know it can be done.” You can help create a Christmas Miracle. Funds Raised: $19,591 of $10,000 by 91 people in 31 days. Help Get C.C. Flanksteak Back on His Feet. Former NFL linebacker C.C. Flanksteak found himself bankrupt, dejected, and not famous any more just a decade after his eight-season career in professional football ended. When asked what happened to the millions he was paid, he said that he was as baffled as anyone. Come on, fans … a couple of hundred Gs and C.C. can live like the old days for a few months. Funds Raised: $150,000 by 3300 people in 68 days. Help Get Jared Cornstarch Back on his Feet. Former theater usher, bank teller, retail store clerk and dog-walker
Jared Cornstarch found himself bankrupt, dejected, and still not famous eleven weeks after losing his most recent job. When asked what happened to the hundreds he’d been paid every week, he said “rent.” How about some money so the poor guy can move out of his parents’ house? Again. Funds Raised: $0 by 0 people in 68 days. Small City is in a Bit of a Bind. A charming college town in upstate New York has gotten in over its head on a major renovation project. We’re sure anyone who has hired a contractor to re-do their kitchen can sympathize. Unexpected problems, slow sub-contractors. They quote you $9.5 million, and suddenly it’s at least $15 million. Two years becomes three. Anyway, we could sure use a hand. Funds raised: Who can tell? Sea-going Mammal Needs a Lesson. Arrgh, I need to outfit me ship The Pequod, I do, and hire me a crew. A crew willing to follow a monomaniacal obsession to the ends of the earth, if need be. Who’s with me? Funds Raised: 1,121 doubloons by 41 people in 122 days. Ivy League University is in a Bit of a Bind, Too. Modesty requires us to remain anonymous, but we must admit that we’re $1.9 billion in debt. Even with a $5 billion endowment, we are chagrined. We’ve made changes—we’re in pay-as-you-go mode for new projects, and we’ve downgraded the champagne at the trustees’s meetings, or at least we will when the Moët & Chandon Cuvée Dry Imperial 1943 runs out. Please help. Funds Raised: $4.75 billion by 55,000 people in 350 days Ithaca Developer Needs Life-Saving Tax Abatement. A proposed Clinton Street three-story, 36-unit apartment building is clinging to life this holiday season, after the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency heartlessly denied its millionaire developer a life-saving tax break. Competent medical opinion is that without the tax break, the project is … doomed. Please. Help this beleaguered developer save a life. Funds Raised: $0 by 0 people in 5 days.•
The Albany Beat: Pets Safe From Ink
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overnor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed a bill to increase protections for pets across New York State. The bill prohibits the unnecessary piercing and tattooing of cats, dogs, and all other pets for purely cosmetic purposes for the pleasure of the owner, except under limited circumstances. Those who violate the law will be subject to criminal penalties. “This is animal abuse, pure and simple,” Governor Cuomo said. “I’m proud to sign
this common sense legislation and end these cruel and unacceptable practices in New York once and for all.” The bill allows the use of piercing and tattooing in only limited circumstances, such as ear tags on rabbits, tattoos for identification purposes only, or where the piercing provides a medical benefit to the animal and is performed by or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. •
Solartompkins
buildingdowntown
Why You Shop Downtown By D ow n t ow n It h ac a Sta ff
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oliday shopping season is now in full swing in downtown Ithaca. While Black Friday was a day for bargain-hunting at malls and big box stores, we in downtown celebrated Small Business Saturday, a perfect opportunity for discovering the vibrant assortment of unique retail stores that line our walkable city streets, now beautifully festooned with evergreens and twinkle lights. At last count, there are 84 storefronts in downtown Ithaca, making it the largest independent retail hub in the region. The offerings are as diverse as they are bountiful: you can find anything from books to baby blankets and banjos to bicycles. And our merchants can provide a memorable, personalized shopping experience that you won’t likely get at national chains. Many of you have seen and heard portions of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance’s “Why I Shop Downtown” testimonial campaign, whether in print, video, or radio format. In this campaign we have been gathering and sharing the stories of regular downtown shoppers of all ages and backgrounds. The underlying trend in these on-the-street interviews has been clear: as downtown continues to grow and evolve— literally before our eyes, with the ongoing construction on the Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall—it remains an important part of the lives of many local residents. The first segment in this campaign featured Micah, a bank employee and father of two. In an extended interview, Micah said, “I’m down here every day, whether I’m coming down for lunch or grabbing a quick gift or some clothes for the kids. You can get a haircut, go out to dinner with the family, maybe pick up a bottle of wine, and catch a movie. Another great reason to come downtown is at night it gets really nice and romantic and you can take a date out here.” The next interviewee was Trudy, a non-profit programs coordinator and a new mother. “I like to shop downtown to buy clothing and shoes for my daughter,” said Trudy, “and this year my family has made a commitment to only shop locally for the holidays. It has created an opportunity for us to explore our local area and our downtown. Ithacans need to come on down to the Commons to get their needs met in a great environment that’s friendly, kind, and supportive. It’s a very personal and positive experience.” The third ad featured Marty, a retiree with four grandchildren. “I like the joy I see in people downtown,” Marty said. “It’s just a pleasant experience. And it’s amazing how many things I can buy downtown. I thought it might be a little difficult, that I might be getting in the car a lot, but I’m not. I can buy groceries, I can shop for clothing, I can shop for drugstore items. And I love buying things for my grandchildren and I can
always find something that they’d like.” More segments are coming weekly, with Naomi, Carmen, and Duc. We will finish this series with a special appearance by Mayor Svante Myrick, who will reveal his own favorite downtown shopping and dining habits. To view some of the videos in the series, visit: goo.gl/H7tkwi. So how do downtown businesses differentiate themselves from the big box and Internet competition? First and foremost, downtown retailers tend to be one-of-a-kind. They reflect the personality of the owner as well as the culture of the Ithaca community. The retailers of downtown Ithaca collectively combine to offer a full assortment of products and lines that would fill several department stores. Collectively, they have some the region’s largest collections of jewelry, gifts and crafts, outdoor and recreation gear, fine art, men’s and women’s clothing, infant and children’s clothing, toys, kitchenware and specialty foods, books, and experiential art boutiques. Asha Senaker, manager of Buffalo Street Books in the Dewitt Mall, organized an event coinciding with Small Business Saturday called “Indies First” that featured notable local authors Bob Proehl, Eleanor Henderson, Shawn Goodman, and Megan Schull. “That was our last event of that type for the holiday season,” Asha said, “mostly, we’re just selling like mad all day, every day. Compared to big box stores, we as a community-owned cooperative bookstore provide more specialized inventory and a higher level of customer service, with personal recommendations of titles for those tricky folks on your shopping lists.” Joseph Gaylord, manager of American Crafts by Robbie Dein at 158 The Commons, concurs that personal attention is key. “We offer our customers service and knowledge,” he said. “As a trend, people also seem to be seeking quality over quantity and they understand the value of products made in America with pride and care. Locals also like to support downtown businesses, because they are supporting themselves when they do so. Local stores employ their sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, cousins, and so on—and they pay taxes that support local infrastructure. American Crafts further supports the Ithaca community through charitable giving and volunteering.” “For those who delight in the holiday shopping experience,” concluded DIA’s newly-hired Marketing Director Allison Graffin, “downtown Ithaca is the place to go. And for those who just want to get their shopping done as quickly as possible – downtown Ithaca is also ideal.” This holiday season, come visit and let us know why you shop downtown. •
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renewable power. Jonathan Comstock, chair of the Solar Tompkins board of directors, added that Solar Tompkins has played several roles. “The biggest two,” she said, “have been education on the details of how residential solar works, and bringing confidence to consumers who aren’t sure how to shop in this new market place. To do this, the program reached out to every town in the county, holding 34 community meetings and more than 25 other educational events during the summer of 2014.” Metz said that throughout the process and seminars, there were different demographics of people in attendance. He observed that a lot of people attended seminars, but were already on board with the solar concept. However, he said there was another group of attendees that were on the fence. For those people, seminars were “extremely valuable, because they just needed more information and needed to learn more about the process, and the good deal spurred them to act now.” Metz said there was also those that came in with the mindset that solar won’t work in Tompkins County, didn’t think they could afford it anyway, but left the seminar convinced otherwise, or at least with an open mind. The latter will be important moving forward, he said. “Install capacity is still a small percentage,” he said, “of what it could be, obviously, so there’s still a long way to go.” For an average residential customer in New York, up to 69 percent of the cost of a solar PV system is covered by incentives, according to Solar Tompkins. These incentives include a $1 per watt (W) upfront grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), a federal tax credit of 30 percent, and a state tax credit of 25 percent. As a result of these incentives, “an average family using 7,500 kWh/year can typically purchase a system to cover 100 percent of their current electricity needs for between $5,500$8,000 depending on whether it is roof- or ground-mounted. They can also lease a system for no upfront cost and pay about the same price per month they are paying to their electric utility today.” While each home’s electricity usage is different, and thus the necessary system size and corresponding cost will vary accordingly, Kemp said Solar Tompkins was able to provide a 20 percent below regional market pricing through its outreach, and partner pairings. Solar Tompkins does not plan to hold a program in 2015 in which it takes enrollees and acts as an intermediary between customers and installer companies. The deal was truly a onetime offer, Metz said. From here, it is up to solar installers to decide what kind of prices they can offer moving forward. “The program destabilized the industry a little bit,” Metz said. “This is not a sustainable way to carry out solar installations [in the long term]. You can’t T
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say we’re going to do this one-time thing, and then do it again. It’s like a going-outof-business-sale: if they’re not really going out of business, customers will wait. Solar Tompkins was about going in, offering a really good deal, and getting out. This has put a lot of stress, in good ways, on the installers, to really up their game.” As for celebrating what Solar Tompkins has already accomplished, Metz said he wasn’t popping the champagne until June, when all the installations should be completed. “It’s not really a success until it’s done,” he said. “We need quality installations. Once we have those, it’ll be a success. So far, we’ve had zero problems. It’s been great. But we have 400 projects sold, and only about a dozen on the ground. It’s going to take a lot of work. “The hope is we’re establishing a new normal,” he said. “Once residents start seeing it commonly around the community, and your neighbors are talking about it, and they’re all excited—I do think that momentum will [result in more installations].” • – Michael Nocella Tomreed
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the value of voting, encouraging more participation and voter turnout as a solution to the problem. “We’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror and say what can we do,” he said. Joanne Cipolla-Dennis asked Reed about his decision not to support the Respect for Marriage Act, which would allow gay marriages to be recognized for couples traveling to states that do not allow gay marriage. The congressman said, “That legislation I have not supported nor will I support it.” CipollaDennis asked, “You don’t want us to have the same rights you and your wife have when we travel?” After much backand-forth, Reed said that he supported the concept of the law, but opposed the wording of the current legislation out of concern that it would allow for frivolous lawsuits. During a series of questions about fracking, Reed said that he does not support fracking in the Finger Lakes region. He said, “The reason why I was very sensitive to the Finger Lakes … is the microeconomy that has developed in the Finger Lakes.” Until the effects on wineries and tourism are mitigated, Reed said he will not support fracking in the Finger Lakes watershed. Midway through the discussion on fracking and energy, a local resident who was returning materials to the adjoining library stopped on his way out, interrupting the discussion to shout angrily about George Bush’s responsibility for wars in the Middle East. After insulting Reed, the man, who others identified as James Eustace, stomped out of the building without waiting for a response. •
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Farm to Table
Tompkins County mounts a regional effort to promote “agriculinary” tourism M e l i s s a M a d d e n o f Th e G o o d L i f e Fa r m ( P h o t o : Ti m G e r a)
By Bill Chaisson
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n his famous address to Kenyon College Class of 2005, writer David Foster Wallace opened with a vignette about two small fish swimming past an older fish, who says to them, “Morning boys, how’s the water?” After the older fish swims on, one young fish says to the other. “What’s water?” That might be why it has taken folks in this region so long to mount a concerted effort to develop “agritourism” and “agriculinary” ventures. Agriculture is all around us, and we take it for granted. Not only that, but there have been people around here thinking progressively about it for a long time. To take the most obvious example, the Ithaca Farmers Market has been up, running, and expanding since 1973. In order to have a farmers market you need to have a critical mass of local farmers, in this case within 30 miles of 8 T
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Ithaca, who are growing network of a variety of produce in a farms and way that makes it different restaurants from the stuff in the as a tourist grocery store. This means destination. that—should you pay them “Agricultural a visit—these farms are and Culinary likely to have a different feel Tourism” from one that is growing is an corn and soybeans to add “established to the commodities market. focus area” in They won’t be just places the Tompkins of business; they will be County experiments in production Strategic that include new approaches Tourism to cultivation, processing, Plan, issued and distribution. And in 2012 and increasingly, they will To m K n i p e (p h o t o : Ti m G e r a) presented welcome visitors who want to as a vision know where food comes from for where and to meet the people who raise it. the county wants to be in 2020. The Tompkins County planners and report (which is available as a PDF at tourism professionals see the regional the department of planning page on the
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county website) notes that the Finger Lakes wine industry is the engine of agritourism for the region, although there are actually few vineyards or wineries in Tompkins County. Seventeen percent of visitors to Ithaca are on record as having entered a winery tasting room during their stay. The Strategic Tourism Planning Board, a volunteer group of business owners that advises the county legislature, is perhaps best known for supporting local tourism efforts by issuing grants from a fund generated via the room tax collected by local hotels and bed and breakfasts. But their stated mission is to “provide oversight and strategic direction for tourism initiatives that promote economic development.” To that end they created the Agriculinary Task Force to fulfill the plan’s stated goals within the “established focus area.” “The board,” said Tom Knipe, senior planner for tourism at the county
Department of Planning, “saw an opportunity to leverage the energy around agritourism.” In this case, “leveraging the energy” means enhancing the connections between the agriculture community and the tourism community. The latter includes people who own accommodations, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and touring companies. The task force held an event at The Space @ Greenstar on Tuesday, Nov. 10 to let the community know that there is an organized effort underway and to allow them to get to know each other. Over 100 people attended, but this is of course a minority of the two communities. There is more work to do. “We got a lot of good ideas,” said Monika Roth, Agricultural Program Leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension. “Now Tom [Knipe] has to categorize them. Our presentation outlined linkages and partnerships, so that everyone knows what’s going on.” Roth said the goals were to strengthen the whole sector, create “destination packages,” and eventually “ramp up” some of the businesses that are not presently visitor-ready. Cooperative Extension’s role in this will be to train farmers to host visitors, which is not exactly part of the traditional job description. Farmers will be told what they have to do to get their businesses ready. The Extension plans to create a checklist and do on-farm assessments. “The [liability] insurance question,” said Roth, “is a big one.” Ethan Ash, an owner of Agava, is a cochair—with Rita Rosenberg of RoseBarb Farm in Caroline—of the task force and a member of the Strategic Tourism Planning Board. Originally from this area, he moved back two years ago after spending 10 years as a “food entrepreneur” in Brooklyn. “I was starting my own family and wanted to improve the lives of people here, including my own children’s,” he said, “and I have always believed that the tourism potential here is untapped. When people visit us here, we go to wineries, restaurants, breweries … we’re sitting on a treasure.” While he was honeymooning in Tuscany it occurred to Ash that although the Finger Lakes doesn’t have that region’s history, it does have similar riches. “There are connections between the restaurants, the farms, and the wineries,” he said, “and they need to work together to grow the pie for everyone.” Two Young Fish: Swimming in the Water “When we bought the land in 2008,” said Melissa Madden, one of the owners of the Good Life Farm in Covert, “people said, ‘We want to see what you’re doing.’ We looked for a way to say ‘Yes’ and have it be sane for us.” Madden and partner Garrett Miller focus primarily on the communitysupported agriculture (CSA) approach and deliver produce to subscribing members as far away as Skaneateles and Corning. Their specialties are organic fruit production
and “extended season” vegetable growing (in plastic-covered growing sheds called “tunnels”). They have been providing produce from March through May and then from August until the end of apple season. But recently they have developed a
and the Stone Cat Café. “These are folks varieties. that order a fair amount of what we grow,” “We definitely get a lot of tourists,” said Madden, “which generates a certain Cummins said, “because we’re right on amount of sales in a certain amount of Route 96 and we have a lot of colorful signs time.” In order to meet their sales goals out by the side of the road. A lot of people for asparagus and ginger, they also supply are daytrippers from places like Syracuse. Greenstar We’re one of the few you-pick places for Cooperative peaches and tomatoes.” Market, the But most of Cummins you-pick Carriage business is local. He said that fully 70 House percent of his customers are from the Café, Café population of recent immigrants to Dewitt, and Tompkins County. “They come from Manndibles traditions of high quality produce,” he said, on the “and they have less fear of the unknown Cornell than most Americans. They treat us as campus. their food supply. They value truly fresh The produce, and they will come out here Good Life two or three times a week.” Indian Creek, Farm is not unlike many you-pick farms, charges the marketing same prices as a grocery store rather than itself to lower ones. Cummins decided that because tourists yet, his fruit is better, it is worth the money. but tourists His proximity to Ithaca—he is just are already beyond the Cayuga Medical Center— finding them. means that Indian Creek is within easy In order to reach of the residents of East and South make their hills. “The students are here on weekends,” farm a viable Cummins said. “They treat it is as a date, E t h a n A s h (p h o t o : P r ov i d e d) business, they but there are masses of them. They may have been buy only five pounds of apples, but that is a model called “CSA+” whereby they fill in creative about developing their business lot of five-pound bags.” the gaps in their own delivery calendar by model. It continues to evolve: they Recently Cummins decided to creating a network of other vendors with canceled the 2014 Gifts of the Apple event add amenities to make Indian Creek a complementary schedules. Good Life Farm because they were building a tasting room destination for families. “We’re heading serves as the delivery service. In this way, for their new cidery. toward giving people a reason to stop out,” Madden said, she and Miller don’t have • • • to continually set up and dismantle the Steve Cummins, the distribution system for their own produce. owner of Indian Creek Madden and Miller hold two public Farm, is looking for events on their farm: Asparaganza in the more land. The number spring and Gifts of the Apple in the fall. one thing holding “They highlight what we do here,” she back the growth of his said, “and we have a really good time.” The business is lack of space events occur during relative lulls in their to grow more trees and farming schedule. produce. The primary “I was surprised at how many people focus of Indian Creek is I talked to at Asparaganza who were to graft and grow fruit from out of the area,” said Madden. “The trees for sale all over the Facebook page [for the event] got a ‘like’ country. But Cummins from Finger Lakes Properties and that has been surprised at the kind of woke me up to the fact that we’re growth and popularity of considered a regional attraction.” the “you-pick” portion Although their events attract of the farm’s revenue tourists, they are primarily held for their stream. membership and local folks. “Asparaganza “[The you-pick is really a party for people who care about operation] is now paying the farm,” Madden said. “Kids have a good its own way,” he said. “It’s M o n i k a R o t h ( F i l e p h o t o) experience with the animals.” (Madden even generating its own and Miller do much of the work on their income.” Historically, he said, it was he farm with draft horses.) just an expensive hobby for the farm. said, “not just for cheap produce, but for In addition to their events, Madden Cummins bought Indian Creek an outdoor experience. We even have WiFi hosts “tons of tours” for groups from Farm in 1998. His brother was an owner out there in the orchard. Cornell and Ithaca College, Trumansburg of Littletree Orchards in Newfield, and “I’m a recent dad, so I appreciate a pre-K programs, Finger Lakes Cummins, who is a fifth generation quality playground,” Cummins continued. Permaculture, and the New York Nut orchardist, got a lot of experience there. “When we put one in, I couldn’t believe it; Growers Association. “Indian Creek has been an active orchard there were kids everywhere immediately.” Although their emphasis is selling since the late 1800s,” he said. “The Neither Cummins nor Madden were directly to customers, the Good Life Farm farmhouse dates from 1796. There are aware of the agriculinary effort underway also supplies select local restaurants, 40 acres; 10 or 12 of them are wooded, by Tompkins County, but both of them mostly those with whom Madden and and the rest is open.” After he purchased are already making their farms visitorMiller have a personal relationship, like the the orchard he rehabilitated some of the continued on page 10 Bistro at Red Newt, the Hazelnut Kitchen, old standard trees and planted 60 dwarf T
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AGriculinary contin u ed from page 9
ready, and both of them have figured out ways to make agriculture a viable business and not either a hobby or a business that needs to be continually supplemented with outside income. Their farms are interesting places: Madden has her draft horses and Cummins has 60 varieties of apple tree. Both have free-range chickens. Both have regular events where the public is invited. This Is Water “The only knock against this area is out my window right now,” said Ethan Ash. “It’s hard to convince people to visit when there’s a foot of snow on the ground. Outside of that there is something authentic about the experience you have in this area; it’s a higher grade of experience because there is an excitement and energy among the people about the work they are doing. That connects visitors with this land.” As far as Ash is concerned, the only
thing missing is the marketing. The Finger Lakes region is only four hours from New York City and Philadelphia, close enough for a weekend escape. “We can tap into their connection to their food,” he said, “which is what a lot of people are looking for.” “A lot of it is about picking the right target markets,” said Kristy Mitchell, Integrated Marketing Manager for the Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “For the campaign for ‘Ithaca Fork’ we targeted downstate. We did a lot of marketing in Brooklyn.” The CVB is all about packaging experiences, which for agriculinary tourists includes farm visits, winery tours, stays at farmbased bed and breakfasts, browsing the farmers markets, and dining at locally sourced restaurants. Ithaca Farm to Fork (ithacafork. com) is a website that the CVB has been developing in concert with Cooperative Extension. Funded by a grant from the Strategic Tourism Development Board, its purpose is to help visitors link together
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tasting that gave shout-outs to Just A Taste and the Hazelnut Kitchen as places to dine after a tasting tour. Ash said that over the next two or three months Tom Knipe and the Strategic Tourism Planning Board would be digesting the “incredible feedback” that they got during their Nov. 10 event. The Agriculinary Task Force could become a permanent committee of the board, a group that would evaluate initiatives presented to the board to decide whether they supported the 2020 Strategic Tourism Plan. At Cooperative Extension Roth is focused on writing a detailed agriculinary plan. It is the second detailed plan to be developed from the overall 2020 plan (the first addressed “way-finding” in the county). She hopes to be done with the writing by March. “We are already known as a foodie destination,” said Roth. “Saratoga copied our farmers market, and I sent the plans for it to Davis [Calif.]” Thirty percent of visitors to the Ithaca Farmers Market, she said, are tourists. One acknowledged gap in all this, Roth said, was a lack of programs that could help people in the agriculinary network grow their businesses. But, she said, the chamber of commerce, the CVB, and Cooperative Extension are working on that. •
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their agriculinary experiences. Mitchell said it became half of her job once the grant came in. Mitchell cited Rita Rosenberg’s RoseBarb Farm as an example of a bed and breakfast where guests can gather their own eggs for breakfast. At Lively Run Dairy in Interlaken, she said people love playing with the goats and “standing in hay.” More farms, she said, should “develop their assets” to appeal to tourists. The Silver Queen Farm outside of Trumansburg, Mitchell said, has been making money after creating a space for farm-to-table dinners. Littletree Orchards in Newfield has embraced social media, posting what Mitchell described as “hilarious memes” at their Facebook page. “Indian Creek talks about deals and events in their emails,” said Mitchell, “which increases people’s desire to visit and to stay longer when they get there, and so buy more. This is a really low cost marketing approach.” Like Ash, Mitchell regarded the distance between Ithaca and the coastal cities as no impediment at all. She feels that the Finger Lakes wine industry has tipped the scales. She cited the Finger Lakes’s recent recognition by Wine Enthusiast as the number one emerging wine region in the world. In addition, we are large apple-growing region and hard cider is suddenly popular. Mitchell cited an article in the New York Times about cider
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ast week, the Tompkins County Planning Department and Tompkins County Area Development (TCAD) announced their pledge to working collaboratively on energy and economic development. As part of that effort, the two entities have announced three projects intended to help meet near-term energy planning needs and another two initiatives geared toward the longer term planning necessary to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Tompkins County Commissioner of Planning Ed Marx said, “We think it’s really important to publicly state that we’re working together closely to try to manage this transition that we’re going through in terms of our energy system.” For near-term actions, the Planning Department will use $20,000 allocated in its 2015 budget to support collaborative efforts to help local businesses and residential developers meet greenhouse gas reduction goals. Marx explained how the funds would be used: “I think what we’re looking at is providing professional energy consulting help to some of these businesses.” For other near-term actions, TCAD staff will begin working with the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the planning department to create an incentive program for businesses that successfully reduce their carbon footprint as part of job-creating expansion. Also, TCAD and the planning department will be making a concerted effort to make businesses and developers aware of available resources for energy planning. To help meet long-term energy planning objectives, the planning department is in the process of developing an energy roadmap in order to help the county meet its goal of achieving continued on page 14
Editorial
contin u ed from page 6
and it wasn’t green. It would certainly be a lousy place for a retail storefront. You might be able to make the case for putting commercial office space in there; you’d have a nice view of the creek from some windows. But insisting that every project be multi-use rather misses the point of form-based zoning. When someone tells you that tarragon is really good on salmon and chicken, that doesn’t mean you should start putting it on everything you eat. One solution isn’t the answer to all your planning decisions. As for the lack of green engineering, apparently Fane and his team left this portion of their abatement application entirely blank. That was impolitic of them. They should have pointed out
that constructing a building with no parking lot and within walking distance of downtown shopping are actually bona fide green feature, as is restoring a half-acre of the creekside to a native plant community. IDA member and County Legislator Will Burbank stated that getting a tax abatement is a privilege. No, it isn’t. Having a driver’s license is a privilege; if you break the law, they take it away. They don’t take your driver’s license away because your car gets really bad mileage and burns a lot of oil. Tax abatements are a strategy that municipalities use to get developers to build where it is expensive to do so, but good for the health of the community. We need housing downtown, and this project
every project that goes past them. The IDA has six different types of projects that qualify, including CIITAP projects and “energy-related investment projects.” The board seems to have conflated these two in order to reject the 130 E. Clinton St. project. Not only is this sort of embarrassing to watch, but it may even open up the IDA to an Article 78 proceeding. Fane seems so disgusted with the situation, he probably won’t bother. But if they end up in court it might be kind of interesting to hear the IDA’s defense against the claim that it didn’t follow its own rules, was arbitrary and capricious, and that its decision wasn’t supported by substantial evidence. •
was going to add 36 units (12 studio, 12 one-bedroom, and 12 two-bedroom apartments). Downtown businesses need residents to survive. They can’t rely on tourists and visitors from outside the city who are fussy about paying for parking. When you have enough people living downtown, you will have people on the street all the time. That will make people want to visit downtown for the same reason that people walk into busy restaurants, not empty ones. Nothing in the city’s tax abatement policy (Community Investment Incentive Tax Abatement Program or CIITAP) requires green features on a building. Members of the planning board, however, urge the adoption of green measures for
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1,000 miles in various swimming pools in support of her beloved YMCA. In October I admitted that I knew how the pumpkin found its way onto the spire of the Cornell clock tower 18 years ago, and every time the phone has rung since, I wondered if the university was calling to get the real scoop. Finally, I learned that the story I wrote just this month about the passing of Boone Wells and Max Addy went crazy out there in Share Land, and I was not surprised. Those guys were a big part of the community, and while I was sorry to see them gone, I was honored to be a part of the efforts to remember them. Thanks again for reading, friends. It really does my heart good to hear so much feedback and to know that my stories connect people. •
sports
Looking Back on the Year It was Really All About the People By Ste ve L aw re nc e
I
enjoy these “Year in Review” columns, as they always remind me how lucky I have been to meet some very interesting people and share their stories with my Ithaca Times readers. Like most years, 2014 took me through a wide range of feelings, and I’ll never forget some of the stories. Early in the year, I was proud to report that four women affiliated with Cornell hockey helped Canada win Olympic gold, and Lauriane Rogeau, Laura Fortino, Rebecca Johnston, and Briane Jenner represented their country and university with a lot of class. A few weeks later, I wrote about a local fundraiser that benefitted one of the most amazing and inspiring organizations I have ever encountered. The Saratoga War Horse Foundation brings in veterans battling PTSD and pairs them up with some very wise and grounded horses. The Foundation pays all expenses, and many of the veterans reported that after these encounters, they were able to sleep for the first time in years. I wrote in the spring that Hayden Grover—a Spencer-Van Etten grad and a regular at Island Health and Fitness—was going to play Division 1 football at Akron under Terry Bowden. Grover, a long snapper, red-shirted this season but is having a great college experience as he pays his dues. In May, I wrote about the international lacrosse adventures of the Lasda brothers— Riley and Eli—as they represented Latvia in the World Games. Many Ithacans made the trip to Denver to cheer them on. I wrote a story in May that found its way into my personal Top Five All Time Stories list, and judging from how far and wide it went via social media, others were in agreement. While getting to know the other parents at Alfred University—where my daughter is a member of the softball team—I got to know a guy named Dave Guszick. Dave was a New York City firefighter who lost 343 friends in 2001, and a few years later, lost his wife to cancer. His priorities clearly in order, Dave retired from his job and devoted his time to his two kids. During Rachael’s four years at Alfred, Dave took planes, trains, and automobiles to watch his daughter play whenever possible, and when she wrapped up her career in May, he had seen every inning of every game, including a spring trip to Florida and three trips to Arizona. He was a tireless and determined road warrior, and the Saxon Inn on Alfred’s campus and the proprietors of gas stations from New York City to Alfred will likely miss him immensely. Last summer, I enjoyed writing about the memorable polo party thrown in honor
of Ralph Carpenter Sr. The memorial service and game were held on the polo field Ralph built, and his impact on the polo community was palpable 30 years after he moved to Texas. I was pleased to report in August that Spencer native Mark Bieberich was a member of the A.J. Allmendinger team
Rachael and Dave Guszick (Photo provided)
that put him in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen, and a month later I wrote that Elizabeth Ann Clune completed her
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Higher Education
Cornell at Auburn: Inmates Graduate
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n Wednesday, Dec. 10, a group of 13 students looking much like any other group of graduates walked across the stage to accept their diplomas as the Class of 2014. Unlike most college graduates, though, this group was entirely comprised of prisoners, inmates at Auburn Correctional Facility, the state’s oldest prison. The December ceremony was the second graduation ceremony ever held for the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP). Rob Scott, the program’s executive director, said that Cornell professors first began teaching prison classes back in 2001. Initially, though, it was not an official college program. There was no funding, and the courses were not offered for credit. Then in 2008, Doris Buffett—the founder of the Sunshine Lady Foundation and sister of Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett—got involved and provided funding to create a program that would actually help inmates earn degrees. Now, the students earn Cornell credits. However, because Cornell does not offer a two-year degree program, the credits are transferred to Cayuga Community 80763_COB_HolidayAd_IT | T: 10” x 5.5 ”
College so graduates are awarded liberal arts associate’s degrees. In the future, Scott hopes to see bachelor degrees become a part of the program as well. Commencement speaker Ronald Day, who is both the current director of workforce development at the Osborne Association and also a former inmate himself, commented on the difficulty of making positive changes in prison. He said, “Few people are rehabilitated in prisons. Fewer still are rehabilitated by prisons. But a few rehabilitate themselves in spite of prison.” Graduate Nathan Powell is one who has done much in spite of prison. Although he was living in New York City at the time of his arrest, Powell also has a local connection: he graduated from Ithaca High School in 1981. Now, in this month’s graduation, he was honored as the valedictorian. In his speech, Powell expressed his gratitude for the CPEP program: “The rest of the world had us tagged and bagged, and you came in here, and you cared, and we will never forget that.” After Powell’s speech, salutatorian Lucas Whaley took the stage. “Prison’s a funny place,” he said. “Sure, it’s oppressive and depressing, but it’s also filled with amazing things you wouldn’t expect—like brilliance.” Another graduate, Maurice McDowell, said, “This means a lot. I have had something positive to do with my time here instead of doing idle time.” McDowell said he hopes to become a social worker after his release.
The other forty or so inmates currently enrolled in college classes were allowed to attend the ceremony as well. They offered raucous and enthusiastic support at times, but they also offered sober reflection. Dale Allen said he found it inspiring to watch his classmates graduate. He added, “This is the greatest advantage that prison can offer.” The inmates aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. As Scott said, “It feeds me to do this work.” It is perhaps in part because of that tendency to define inmates as “others” that prison education programs have sometimes drawn criticism, a fact to which Buffet alluded during her brief speech. However, Pete Wetherbee, a Cornell professor emeritus who helped launch CPEP, firmly averred the value of prison education. He said, “It’s enriching for the culture of the prison. Some of the best students of the program are lifers. Also, it decreases recidivism, which is a tremendous economic boon to taxpayers.”• – Keri Blakinger EnergyPlan
contin u ed from page 11
an overall 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Deputy Commissioner of Planning Katherine Borgella explained that the energy roadmap project began in 2011 with the help of Cornell students. Later the county hired
a Cornell professor as a private energy consultant and currently, Borgella said, there is a steering committee made of “energy experts” looking into the potential for renewable energy sources. According to Borgella, as of 2008, the county was producing 1.7 million metric tons of carbon equivalent. Marx explained that the energy roadmap could help the county better anticipate upcoming energy needs. Referring to the controversial plan for a seven-mile gas pipeline through Dryden to Lansing, Marx said, “Everyone was caught by surprise by this gas situation in Lansing, and we don’t want to be caught by surprise in the future.” In another effort to meet long-term planning needs, the county will work with TCAD, NYSEG, Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and other partners to help evaluate existing infrastructure and plan for the future in specific energy focus areas deemed critical to the county’s economic success. At a press conference on Monday, Dec. 8, Tompkins County Legislature Chairman Mike Lane said, “We know we don’t want to be viewed as a county that is not open for development, and we don’t want to be known as a county that pays no attention to issues of … environmental quality.” The hope is that through the newly pledged collaborative efforts, the county will be able to address both those possible concerns. • – Keri Blakinger
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hen I was an art student at Syracuse University back in the Jurassic, I studied art history with Professor William Fleming, who wrote the book Arts and Ideas, which is a standard art history textbook at colleges and universities across America. It covers the last 3,000 years of art history in the West, from ancient Greece up through 20th century America. And since I’ve been writing about art for the Ithaca Times, I’ve met many artists here in Ithaca that I think are major 21st century artists … whose work I could envision appearing in a 21st century updating of Prof. Fleming’s book. The list would include Carlton Manzano, Alice Muhlback, Brian Keeler, Susan Booth Titus, Margaret Reed, Fernando Llosa, Jim Garmhausen … and … most assuredly … Terry Denise Plater. This article came about because Terry Plater had a show at the State of the Art Gallery this past July (with the sculptor Jane Dennis), and I wanted to write about it, but due to sloth and folly on my part, I missed the opportunity. Then, the managing editor of the Ithaca Times (who really likes Terry Plater’s work) suggested that I write a profile of her. So here we are. Usually, we here at the Ithaca Times attempt to time our arts articles to coincide with a show or an event that the Reader can go see. And, Plater doesn’t have a show until February 2015, but … she has a website, www.terryplater. com, that is like a little digital gallery of her work, with a cyber-slide show of thirty of her paintings. And since everyone here in the 21st century is so cyber-hip, I think we can steer the Computer Savvy Reader to Plater’s website. • • • I’ll deal with Plater’s paintings directly. But first, I think a quick bio would be in order. This is not an easy matter. Terry Plater has lived a very rich and accomplished life. But here is her succinct account, which she calls “Terry Plater in a Nutshell”: “My parents were born in Washington, D.C. and grew up there under segregation. “My father went to Howard University
b y Wa r r e n G r e e n w o o d
Nigeria for three years, and traveled in West Africa (specifically Togo, Benin and Ghana) among other places, during that time. I’ve been to Sudan and Egypt twice, South Africa once, and I’ve been to other places in Europe, Asia, and the global South. “I mention all this because, until recently, I’ve thought of my life and work as two tracks that did not necessarily intersect. “One track is the university level study, teaching, and related work around issues of social and Ithaca Artist Terry Denise Plater in her home studio. (photo by Tim Gera) economic equity and justice (specifically displacement, and worked his whole life as an architect. My forced migration, mother went to Miner Teacher’s College (also and resettlement), and the other track is my in D.C.) and later to Temple University in personal commitment to art, specifically Philadelphia, and worked as an elementary painting. school teacher until my older sister was born. “Since retiring from Cornell about three “My sister and I were born and raised years ago, I have been painting (and teaching in Philadelphia. My sister worked as an art) full time—and, by attending to my art, I am elementary school teacher, and then as an now able to see my interests and experiences elementary and middle school principal in not as two tracks, but as something that should Haverford Township, Pennsylvania for 40 plus be intertwined … a loop I can close. While I years until her recent retirement. will always paint landscapes and the figure— “I have drawn and painted as long as I can and will continue to develop an identity as a remember—encouraged by my parents—but portrait painter, work I do in the near future is I did not study art in school other than to most likely to give evidence of this realization. take several elective art courses in college or “And I am looking forward to seeing what workshops at the community art school. (Well, that means on canvas.” I guess that’s not completely true since my • • • master’s degree is a design degree.) As for Terry Plater’s work…here’s a few “As a graduate student in New York, I opening thoughts: sketched whenever I could, for example, at the Plater’s July exhibition at the State of Art Student’s League, at night. the Art Gallery featured portraits. And her “I’ve traveled a lot, almost always for school portraits are extraordinary. Only the greatest or work. I made my first trip to Europe when I artists like Rembrandt Van Rijin can illuminate was 16 with a high school group. Most of that a person’s soul. Not just capture the exterior time was spent in Italy. topography of the human face – but also “(Oh, did I say that my family is at least somehow evoke that specific human being—that seven generations Catholic, and that I went to priceless, one-of-a-kind, snowflake-iteration of Catholic school for 16 years?) the Universe. “My next trip abroad was also to Europe— Looking through the digital gallery on to take summer art classes in Siena, Italy. My Plater’s website … we find thirty paintings first trip outside of the Western world was to Ethiopia (via Kenya). I subsequently taught continued on page 21 architecture at the University of Lagos in
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On track with Terry Plater
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overing the annual Open Show at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) is a bit of a challenge. My basic orientation is elitist; I like to see skillful intelligent art that lights a fire in my brain. The Open Show, however, is proudly populist: anyone can submit up to three pieces and everybody gets at least one in. This year’s exhbition Laura Amato and Mike Sampson installing part of CSMA’s Open Show. (up Dec. 5 through (photo via Facebook) Jan. 30) was juried by Michael Sampson, Given Sampson’s own art, it was a bit an accomplished local painter who has of a surprise not to see more—and more shown at the CSMA in the past. (His compelling—abstract work. The earthily abstract expressionist canvases can be monochrome mixed-media reliefs of seen at Contemporary Trends, just around Andrew Paine are a key exception. His the block and in the Cellar d’Or on the Geological Process pieces (numbers 1, 2, and Commons) In addition to an abundance 3) combine acrylic and plaster with ropy of painting, drawing and photography are fibers into compelling frieze-like panels. also well represented. Most, if not all, of the Only two artists are showing artists are from Ithaca or its orbit. As usual, freestanding sculpture. Liz Holland’s tiny student or amateur-looking work hangs but dramatic Compression combines two side-by-side with work by more serious stagger-stacked blocks of white-painted artists—I will focus on the latter. wood with a bronze blob that looks Watercolorist milly acharya and fingered or chewed. Ruth White’s C7: photographer Susan Larkin both specialize Cytoreduction combines a coiling copper in detailed, beautiful close-ups of botanical armature with pieces of vividly dyed specimens. Acharya’s Rosa Sp. is both quilting. Embroidered cellular imagery sparing and profuse. The inkjet print alludes a surgical procedure involving the Caryopteris in Winter is a collaboration partial removal of a tumor. between Susan and Timothy Larkin: her Rebecca Godin and Nancy Ridenour eloquently tonal black-and-white image are both familiar local figures. Both are—or above his lyrical poetry in graceful type. could be—decent straight photographers Leslie K. Brill is showing three superb but rely excessively on digital textures paintings. A large acrylic on paper piece, and distortion that are more arty than Twins, “In Dialog with Francesca Woodman” artistic. Godin’s East 80th Street and Winter pays homage to the late American surrealist Corner are recognizable street-side scenes photographer. Near monochrome, the while Ridenour’s Narcissus Explosion expressionistic drips and smears and and Cement Sculpture Abstract—both the fragmentation of the headless nude “giclées” on unframed canvas—might be women recall that artist but the painterly unrecognizable if not for their titles. language is Brill’s own. The faint, ethereal According to Sampson, this is his impressionist landscapes of Where’s There first time curating an exhibit of other and Shedding Bark are in a more familiar people’s work. I’d like to see him put but equally welcome vein. together a more selective show. That said, There is the usual profusion of this is a surprisingly strong presentation landscape painting, ranging from the that compares favorably with the current competent but mundane to the more (December) juried group show at the State inspired. Scott Pardee’s two oil canvases are of the Art Gallery. distinctive. Hay Bale Heaven is particularly Upcoming gallery events at the CSMA memorable with its softly colored bands include a February show of photographs of cloudy sky, faint distant hills, and grass by local artist Craig Mains—better known carpet—accented with spiky rolls of for his quirky monotype prints—and a hay—rendered in rhythmic contrasting March-April sculpture invitational curated diagonals. After the Rain, Watkins Glenn by Rob Licht, who did last year’s Open is dominated by oddly stylized columns Show. The latter, in particular, should be of rocks drooping down around a wavy much anticipated as sculpture is relatively band of muddy water flowing forth from a neglected in local art. • forested distance.
books
The Lost Bird Project
mcgrain’s book, film explore extinctions
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landscapes, sometimes immersing himself culptor and artist Todd McGrain’s into the local community, helped the artist new book The Lost Bird Project is get a sense of how today’s related living the latest installment of his 14-year birds experience climate and local weather odyssey. He’s devoted to increasing public selected for breeding and feeding grounds, awareness of modern society’s cultural and and to imagine the strategies deployed by environmental impacts that caused the extinction of five bird species: the great auk, hunters to kill them for their meat, feathers, scientific research, or additionally as in the Labrador duck, passenger pigeon, Carolina Carolina parakeet’s case, trapped live for the parakeet and heath hen. This is yet another caged bird trade. layer of McGrain’s selfEach bird’s story of imposed mission to extinction is given its learn about each species own chapter: personal and find publically reflections from his travel accessible outdoor journals are interspersed locations to permanently with the main text and install each of his photographs that open a larger-than-life bronze window onto his artistic sculptures. McGrain’s process. We follow travel companion was McGrain as he investigates Andy Stern, his brothermuseum collections of in-law and friend who avian taxidermy discussing also produced the 2012 ideas and possibilities documentary film with curators; haunts The Lost Bird Project libraries and archives for (LostBirdFilm.org). written documentation, The selection of photographs, and artist each memorial site was renderings; collaborates based on the past and with the locals in each the future: it had to have Todd McGrain’s Heath Hen sculpture in of the five communities a “direct significance to Martha’s Vineyard. (photo provided) chosen as a possible the life of each species” memorial site. or be located where The sculptor is a good each bird was last seen storyteller; his writing is accessible often in the wild, and tie in with local efforts funny and self-deprecating as he shares his to prevent further extinctions of other mistakes and naivety about certain cultural species. According to McGrain, “What we customs among local community members. can know of these birds comes to us now through history, literature, scientific inquiry McGrain’s sociological immersion within and art.” He provides an intimate portrait of each region provides us with a more fully realized historical trajectory of cultural how he, as an evolving artist and sculptor, impacts based on regional differences in views and responds to the world around the American landscape: the rugged, rocky him using themes of water, time, and maritime landscape of Newfoundland, touch. These same themes are analogous Martha’s Vineyard sandy dunes, the to how evolving native and natural habitats formerly forested swamplands of Florida responded and ultimately were lost, along drained and cut down for conversion into with the lost birds, due to various types of cropland, along the banks of the Chemung human predation. River in New York State’s southern tier and When he embarked on this artistic out into Midwest Ohio. adventure McGrain felt unsure of each McGrain explains and illustrates his bird’s true form: he needed to draw and thoughtful process of selecting each of the model them with his hands. He visited five sites that range widely: Joe Batt’s Point cultural institutions with specimen on Fogo Island, Newfoundland for Great collections such as American Museum Auk Memorial; Brandt Park in Elmira, New of Natural History in New York City York for Labrador Duck Memorial; Grange (Labrador duck) and Lab of Ornithology Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus, in Ithaca (passenger pigeon, Carolina Ohio for Passenger Pigeon Memorial; parakeet). McGrain credits consulting Kissimmee Prairie Preserve in Okeechobee, ornithologists with helping him find Florida for Carolina Parakeet Memorial; an “expressive sculptural language to and Manuel F. Correllus State Forest on memorialize the lost birds.” This eventually Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts for Heath led him to specific habitat locations Hen Memorial. described in the scientific literature. He The Lost Bird Project is a highly wanted to see what was left of bird habitat decimated by modern society. Visiting these recommended, very good read. •
good tidings of
Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy new year!
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film
Wandering the Wilderness why was ‘exodus’ actually made? By Br yan VanC ampe n Exodus: Gods and Kings, directed by Ridley Scott, playing at Ithaca Stadium 14.
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’ve been sitting here for most of the weekend, trying to sort out my feelings about Ridley Scott’s take on the biblical epic, Exodus: Gods and Kings. Most of all, I’m trying to figure out why it was made. Scott directs with his usual painterly touches, but he doesn’t seem to have any zest for the task at hand. It would seem that to undertake a remake of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, a bit of zest would be required. I’m starting to wonder if Quentin Tarantino is right in his
belief that directors should retire before they become old and tired. I still consider Scott’s Alien to be the most terrifying horror film ever made, but with Scott, one day you get Blade Runner and sometimes you get 1492: Conquest of Paradise or The Counselor, one of the most boring films I’ve ever seen. On my best day, I think of myself as a spiritual person who has no need for organized religion. This may have something to do with the fact that I was forced by one grandparent to attend weekly church sessions and the dreaded Bible study afterward. At least I can claim
some knowledge about Moses and the plagues and all that; it’s the one section of the Bible that I am familiar with, and I did see the DeMille’s 1956 version of the tale. (I had just seen Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes and Yul Brynner in Westworld, so that was exciting.) The film does boast some arresting action scenes and moments in the epic style, but the film’s casting reflects its own inability to make the tale of Moses (Christian Bale) and Ramses (Joel Edgerton) compelling. For such an amazing mythological character, Bale mostly phones it in. He plays Moses before his exile by Ramses in smirking Bruce Wayne mode, and mostly grunts and growls like Batman once he’s traveling the desert or leading masses of people across a Red Sea that drains rather than parts. Edgerton deploys two glowers and a confused look as chaos and plagues envelop his city. Scott attempts to frame the story in more realistic terms, conjuring up a scenario where the plagues might have occurred from more organic plausible ways: a massive shark attack leads to dead fish and flies, etc. Moses’ conscience is embodied by an angry young boy. There is a chariot chase and massive traffic snafu that is very well done, but the 3D effect renders almost all of the battle scenes and establishing shots—with people massed like ants—in such detail that the film takes on the look of the worst video game ever told. 3D doesn’t add a thing to the proceedings, and I don’t see it as a tool to help Scott when he’s in “job of work” mode. This by-committee sausage is part of the woeful new trend in movies, whereby portraying mythical events in more “realistic” terms, all the mythology gets
leeched out. We are left with a generation of filmgoers bearing witness to a plague of locusts, and because the storytelling is so bloated and sluggish, we sit in our seats exhausted as the endless parade of digital effects artists scroll by, wondering, “What
was so special about that?” Sigourney Weaver isn’t well served as Ramses’ mother; she mostly stands silent with only a few pitiful lines and no impact on the story. And if I were to take away one last thing from this film, it’s that the filmmakers’ vision of God has so little disregard for animals. In an early scene, gizzards are plucked out in comin’at-ya 3D style, and throughout, sheep are sacrificed and horses drowned. Given the film’s catering to kids with 3D and a PG-13 rating, its treatment of animals is a disgrace. •
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dining
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french casual fare at ithaca’s cent dix By Lu k e Z . Fe nche l
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lassic Parisian bistro cuisine has arrived in Ithaca thanks to Le Café Cent-Dix. Pronounced “sahndees,” which translates as “110” (its address on North Aurora Street), it replicates Gallic chic: which means it looks cool, exudes warmth, and manages to be relaxed despite a practiced fastidiousness. The restaurant serves dinner six Diners at Cent Dix, the newest addition to Restaurant Row. (photo by Tim Gera) days a week (closed Mondays), and offers a different “Plat du moist as lobster, and the Oysters Pernod, Jour” each evening. The fare is ‘French which arrive on a bed of rock salt, and are Casual,’ which in France would be found in crisped, really stand-out. a restaurant called a “brasserie” or a “bistro” There are, in addition, specials of the and where you would find the continental day that quote iconic French references. On equivalent of “comfort food.” Thursdays seared foie gras (goose liver paté) By way of example, take the onion soup, is served with a quail egg. On Fridays the a full bowl of browned onions caramelized mussels lie beneath leeks, fennel, and crème in butter and then simmered in a beef broth fraîche. This is esoteric food in upstate New topped with a massive helping of molten York, but is the stuff of tradition in Gascony Gruyere cheese, bubbling under a brownand the Languedoc. crusted chewy homemade bread, toasted Before dinner you want to try the in more butter, with flakes of crispy cheese French 75, a tart celebratory cocktail. Centsticking to the ceramic flameproof bowl Dix’s take on the martini includes housethat has survived a trip under the broiler. made lavender gin and Herbs de Provence I’ve had it more than a half-dozen times, vermouth. And this time of year it tastes and it hits the mark each time. Order the like Christmas. Bibb Salad with the tangy champagne The dessert menu favors distinct flavors vinaigrette as an accompaniment. Settle in as much as the rest of the menu. Your with one of the three wines on tap. choices are subject to change from visit The wine menu is exclusively French, to visit. A chocolate paté (mousse) was a but drawn from Bordeaux to Burgundy, recent delight. sampling everything in between. The one The setting virtually replicates exception is a Finger Lakes Riesling from traditional establishments in France: a wellFossil & Till, a winery on Seneca Lake. worn red brick wall, a bright tile floor, dark Given that our region’s Rieslings routinely leather banquettes, the vintage mirrors and best German and California bottles in gorgeous oversize clocks. international competitions, this reinforces And there is nothing haughty about the idea that Cent-Dix is focused on quality the exceptional service, which is fast and over geography. efficient, and the most un-Gallic thing is The Cent-Dix menu is vegetarian the smiles on the faces of the waitstaff. friendly. The premiéres or appetizers include In Ithaca a fine-dining focus has a vibrant beet salad, a salty lentil salad, become less common than a locallyand a caper-and-cornichon (tiny French sourced emphasis. Cent-Dix and its sister pickles) mixed rémoulade. The buttery restaurant next door, Mercato, are different. Mornay sauce on the Croque Madam—a Once in a while it’s OK to admit that ham and cheese sandwich topped with a Cayuga Lake can’t supply us with seafood fried egg—is a delicious way to buffer your and no one around here is willing to do that stomach before a night on the town. to a goose for the fois gras. Relax and enjoy The main courses are without fault: the continental quality and good food. • five choices and all solid. There is a certain safety in an ability to order a fine steak Ithaca Times restaurant reviews are frites or roast chicken, but the Arctic char based on unannounced, anonymous with silky sauce the Parisian gnocchi that visits. Reviews can be found at changes seasonally is especially stellar. The ithaca.com/dining fish dishes—an early skate dish taste as
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Writers Gift Guide!
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Ithaca Times is interested in hearWriters WANteD ing from freelance movie, music,
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Ithaca Times is interested in hearing fromwith freelance arts reviewers strong opinions movie, music, restaurant and and visual performing arts fresh&views. reviewers with strong opinionsPlease and fresh send views. clips to: editor@ithacatimes.com Please send clips to: editor@ithacatimes.com
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including landscapes, portraits and figure work. The thing that strikes me most forcibly is that there is an identity to Plater’s work. The paintings are immediately identifiable as hers … and nobody else’s. She tends to favor muted colors, which gives the works an edge of melancholy… (or at least seriousness). And it is fascinating to see what she leaves in and leaves out. (The late Ray Bradbury, in his book Zen in the Art of Writing, wrote that what you leave out is as important as what you leave in. This holds true for music and drawing and painting, as well as writing.) And, I think, by leaving certain things out, Plater not only makes her paintings more engaging, she also invites viewer participation. A charming example of this: She has a painting called The Parlor with a half dozen women, wearing 1940s era clothing and seated for a formal posing, where she left the faces somewhat obscured. And a Japanese viewer told Plater that he thought the art looked like a portrait of his family. It is, in fact, a portrait of Terry Plater’s African-American family. And, overall, looking at Plater’s website gallery, my main impression is, again, in its consistency and quality, that this is the work of a major 21st century artist. Let’s take a closer look at some of the paintings on the website gallery.
Let’s break them down into three categories: portraits, figurative work and landscapes. There are four portraits that I like a lot. Plater approaches them all differently. They all exist in a zone somewhere between Realism and Abstract Expressionism. Let’s consider the figurative work. In Torso (2005, oil), Plater has again left stuff out, or indicates it with wild abstract expressionist use of color. The result is almost as strange as one of those weird Robert Rauschenberg installations from the 1960s. Georgette (2007, oil) features beautifully drawn figure work of a reclining young woman, and a beautiful, soft, brilliant use of abstract expressionist technique to somehow evoke what is essentially a realistic figure. (And the work has a strong, erotic charge to it.) Nude, Red Definition has a reclining nude figure deconstructing into an appealing abstract expressionist work. And Torque (2009, oil) seems Daniel Truesdale along with his portrait, made by Terry Plater. like pure genius to me … a medium (photo by Julianna Truesdale) close, upper torso painting of a middle-aged male model created has a feel like a Monet. Field in Yellow, out of a multitude of soft, almost glowing, Near Paris (2009, oil) has dramatic muted colors. atmospheric effects like a Turner. Sea I find Plater’s landscapes especially View, Cape Cod (2008, oil), a long, compelling. horizontal painting of a moody seascape, Impression (Turkey) (2012, oil) is a beach and beach houses, has a feel like wide shot vista of a steppe in Turkey that
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a John Singer Sargent. Sea View at Race Point (2005, oil), another seascape, with a New England landscape and a distant cottage, is reminiscent of a Winslow Homer watercolor. Beach at Truro (2007, pastel), a painting of a marsh, a bay, and a distant isthmus with a tiny lighthouse, has both Turneresque atmospheric effects and a feel like a lost Homer. And, finally, I want to consider In Normandy (2010, pastel) because this exquisitely beautiful impressionist painting of a landscape in France doesn’t seem like the work of any artist I can think of, but rather seems like Plater has invented her own impressionist style. And what it really reminds me of is film production art—specifically some of Andrew Williamson’s brilliant paintings of the dreary industrial town of Spinner’s End for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. (To be found in the coffee table book Harry Potter: Page to Screen, The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe.) And, as a coda, I might mention Formal Pose (2004, oil). This, like The Parlor is a grouping of women from Plater’s family in formal 1940s garb. It is a wonderful expressionistic work. Curiously, I am reminded of the paintings of Edvard Munch, except that while Munch’s works are troubling and comical, this seems a warm and charming evocation of a lost world. Terry Plater’s work can be viewed at www.terryplater.com Click on “Portfolio” for a digital slideshow. •
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12/18 Thursday
Free Thursday Night: A Tribute to Van Morrison | 7:00 PM-, 12/18 Thursday | Center For Arts of Homer, 72 S. Main St., Homer | -
12/20 Saturday
Music
Steve Romer | 6:00 PM- | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | Happy Hour Live Jazz: The Massa Family Swing Band | 6:00 PM-8:30 PM | Oasis Dance Club, 1230 Danby Rd, Ithaca | Pelotones | 6:00 PM-7:30 PM | Six Mile Creek Vineyard, 1551 Slaterville Rd, Ithaca | Surf Renegades Christmas | 7:00 PM- | The Haunt, 702 Willow Ave., Ithaca | Tru Bleu | 7:00 PM- | Silver Line Tap Room, 19 W. Main St., Trumansburg | Souk | 5:30 PM- | Felicia’s Atomic Lounge, 508 West State Street, Ithaca | Wiles - Beeler Duo | 10:00 PM- | Agava, 381 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca | Bossa Nova, Jazz 12oz. Muzzle / Ire Clad | 10:00 PM- | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | -
bars/clubs/cafés
12/17 Wednesday
Djug Django | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | Lot 10 Lounge, 106 South Cayuga Street, Ithaca | live hot club jazz Doolin O’Dey LP Release | 6:00 PM-1:00 AM | Oasis Dance Club, 1230 Danby Rd, Ithaca | Jam Session | 7:00 PM-10:00 PM | Canaan Institute, Canaan Road, Brooktondale | The focus is instrumental contra dance tunes. www. cinst.org. Bittersweet | 7:00 PM- | Silver Line Tap Room, 19 W. Main St., Trumansburg | Reggae Night with the Ithaca Allstars | 9:00 PM- | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | -
12/18 Thursday
12/20 Saturday
Pete Forlano Jazz Expressions | 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Lot 10 Lounge, 106 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca | Downstairs Lounge Steve & Lorna | 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Waterwheel Cafe, 2 Main St, Freeville | Primate Fiasco | 9:00 PM- | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | -
12/19 Friday
Souk: Middle Eastern Grooves | 5:30 PM-8:30 PM | Felicia’s Atomic Lounge, 508 W State St, Ithaca | a delicious blend of traditional music from around the Middle East. The Immortal Jellyfish | 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Americana Vineyards Winery, 4367 East Covert Road, Interlaken | -
Holiday Show at Oasis | 6:00 PM-8:30 PM | Oasis Dance Club, 1230 Danby Rd, Ithaca | Featuring Sally Ramirez and Miche Fambro with special guest performers Diana Leigh, Wayne Gottlieb, Alice Saltonstall, Margaret Wakeley, Amanda York, Eric Aceto, Harry Aceto, Jim Scarpulla and Michael Wellen. The Grey Wolf Band | 7:00 PM- | Silver Line Tap Room, 19 W. Main St., Trumansburg | The Jeff Love Band | 9:00 PM- | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | Last Exit for the Lost | 9:00 PM- | The Haunt, 702 Willow Ave., Ithaca | Holiday Show Djug Django | 9:30 PM- | Rongovian Embassy, 1 W. Main St., Trumansburg | Got a big dance floor to swing your holiday worries away! Honored to host such legends.
12/21 Sunday
Blue Mondays | 9:00 PM- | The Nines, 311 College Ave, Ithaca | with Pete Panek and the Blue Cats
12/23 Tuesday
Bluesday with Danny P and Friends | 5:00 PM-8:00 PM | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | Holiday Spectacular with the Diana Leigh Jazz Quartet | 6:00 PM-10:00 PM | Maxie’s Supper Club & Oyster Bar, 635 W State St, Ithaca | Professor Tuesday’s Jazz Quartet | 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Corks and More, 708 West Buffalo Street, Ithaca | Traditional Irish Session | 8:00 PM-11:00 PM | Chapter House Brew Pub, 400 Stewart Ave., Ithaca | I-Town Community Jazz Jam | 8:30 PM-11:00 PM | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | Hosted by Professor Greg Evans Open Mic | 9:00 PM- | Lot 10 Lounge, 106 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca |
Greg Neff | 12:00 PM- | Agava, 381 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca | 60’s and 70’s Acoustic Nate & Kate | 4:00 PM-6:00 PM | Americana Vineyards Winery, 4367 East Covert Road, Interlaken | Al Hartland Trio | 6:00 PM-10:00 PM | Maxie’s Supper Club & Oyster Bar, 635 W State St, Ithaca | Sunnyside Combo | 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Oasis Dance Club, 1230 Danby Road, Ithaca | Live jazz and swing from the 20’s to the 40’s. Stone Cold Miracle | 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Felicia’s Atomic Lounge, 508 West State Street, Ithaca | Stone Cold Miracle is a soul music dance band featuring vocal sensation LaTrece Stevenson with Dustin Stuhr, Nick LaVerne, Andy Adelewitz, and Ian Cummings. www. stonecoldmiracle.com Lucia Roberts with Hank and Jake Roberts | 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Argos Inn, Ithaca | Acoustic Open Mic Night | 9:00 PM-1:00 AM | The Nines, 311 College Ave, Ithaca | Hosted by Jerry Tanner and Lisa Gould of Technicolor Trailer Park
12/24 Wednesday
12/22 Monday
12/17 Wednesday
Open Mic Night | 8:30 PM- | Agava, 381 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca | Signups start at 7:30pm.
CFCU COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION + GATEWAY COMMONS COMMUNITY SERIES
Djug Django | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | Lot 10 Lounge, 106 South Cayuga Street, Ithaca | live hot club jazz Jam Session | 7:00 PM-10:00 PM | Canaan Institute, Canaan Road, Brooktondale | The focus is instrumental contra dance tunes. www. cinst.org. Reggae Night with the Ithaca Allstars | 9:00 PM- | The Dock, 415 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca | concerts
Newfield Schools’ Holiday Concert Band & Choir | 7:00 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday | Newfield High School, Main Street, Newfield | grades 6-12
TOMPKINS TRUST COMPANY AND CSP MANAGEMENT FAMILY SERIES
STATE’S 86TH BIRTHDAY!
Film cinemapolis
Movie descriptions via rottentomatoes.com The Babadook | Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her ‘out of control’ 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel’s dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. | 94 mins NR | Fri: 9:20 PM; Sat & Sun: 2:40, 9:20; Tue: 9:20 PM; Wed: 7:10 PM Big Eyes | Directed and produced by Tim Burton, BIG EYES is based on the true story of Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), who was one of the most successful painters of the 1950s and early 1960s. The artist earned staggering notoriety by revolutionizing the commercialization and accessibility of popular art with his enigmatic paintings of waifs with big eyes. | 106 mins PG-13 | Thu: 4:50, 7:10, 9:25 Birdman | BIRDMAN or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) - famous for portraying an iconic superhero - as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. | 119 mins R | Fri: 4:30, 7:00, 9:30; Sat & Sun: 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30; Tue:
D A N S M A L L S P R E S E N T S •AN EVENING WITH: IRA GLASS F EBR UA R Y 1 4
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M&T BANK AND ITHACA TIMES CLASSIC MOVIE SERIES PRESENTS
Merryland Times | 10:00 PM- | Agava, 381 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca | Soul, Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock Jabberwock Holiday Party | 10:00 PM- | The Nines, 311 College Ave., Ithaca | Mutron Warriors | 10:00 PM- | Chapter House Brew Pub, 400 Stewart Ave., Ithaca | w/ TBA
A Christmas Carol - Radio Play | 8:00 PM-, 12/20 Saturday | Center For Arts of Homer, 72 S. Main St., Homer | Bob Sima | 8:00 PM-, 12/20 Saturday | Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St, Auburn | Fans of Dave Matthews, Martin Sexton, David Grey, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, will love the music of Bob Sima.
4:30, 7:00, 9:30; Wed: 4:30, 7:00; Thu: 4:30, 7:00, 9:30. Citizenfour | In January 2013, Poitras (recipient of the 2012 MacArthur Genius Fellowship and co-recipient of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service) was several years into making a film about surveillance in the post-9/11 era when she started receiving encrypted e-mails from someone identifying himself as “citizen four,” who was ready to blow the whistle on the massive covert surveillance programs run by the NSA and other intelligence agencies. | 114 mins R | Fri: 4:40, 7:05, 9:25; Sat & Sun: 2:15, 4:40, 7:05, 9:25; Tue: 4:40, 7:05, 9:25; Wed: 4:40, 7:05. Happy Valley | In his newest film, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev (My Kid Could Paint That, The Tillman Story) takes audiences on a thought-provoking journey into the town of State College, the home of Penn State University, an area long known as “Happy Valley.” The film delves into the culture of a school, town and country where football is religion; into the world of Joe Paterno. | 100 mins NR | Fri - Sun: 5:00, 7:10; Tue: 5:00, 7:10; Wed: 5:00 PM. The Imitation Game | Thu: 4:15, 6:45, 9:15. The Theory of Everything | The extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. | 123 mins PG-13 | Fri: 4:20, 6:50, 9:20; Sat & Sun: 1:50, 4:20, 6:50, 9:20; Tue: 4:20, 6:50, 9:20; Wed: 4:20, 6:50; Thu: 4:20, 6:50, 9:20 Wild | With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. | 115 mins R | Fri: 4:25, 6:50, 9:15; Sat & Sun: 2:00, 4:25, 6:50, 9:15; Tue: 4:25, 6:50, 9:15; Wed: 4:25, 6:50; Thu:
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•AN EVENING WITH: LILY TOMLIN MARCH 5 •GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS MARCH 7
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JANUARY 25
FEBRUARY 10
• OK GO APRIL 10
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DECEMBER 20
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MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET WINTER VILLAGE BLUEGRASS CURIOUS GEORGE LIVE! NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
• ROBERT CRAY BAND MARCH 13
• POPOVICH COMEDY PET THEATER 6/5 APRIL 12
S TATE THE ATRE B OX OFFI CE (105 W STATE/MLK J R ST, I TH ACA) • 6 0 7 - 2 7 7 - 8 2 8 3 • S TAT EOF IT HA C A . C OM
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4:25, 6:50, 9:15 cornell cinema
Cornell Cinema is on winter break. regal cinemas
Annie | Ever since her parents left her as a baby, little Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis) has led a hard-knock life with her calculating foster mother, Miss Hannigan. However, all that changes when hard-nosed billionaire and mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) takes her in on the recommendation of his advisers (Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale). Stacks believes that he’s Annie’s guardian angel, but the plucky youngster’s confidence and sunny outlook may mean that Annie will save Will instead. | 119 mins PG | Fri, Sat, Sun: 1:00, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 PM. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb | Get ready for the wildest and most adventure-filled Night At the Museum ever as Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever. | 97 mins R | Fri, Sat, Sun: 11:40, 2:20, 4:50 PM, 7:20 PM, 10:00 PM. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | Having reclaimed Erebor and vast treasure from the dragon Smaug, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) sacrifices friendship and honor in seeking the Arkenstone, despite Smaug’s fiery wrath and desperate attempts by the Hobbit Bilbo (Martin Freeman) to make him see reason. | 144 mins PG-13 | (3D)Fri, Sat, Sun: 11:20, 12:40, 2:50 PM, 4:10 PM, 6:20 PM, 7:40 PM, 9:50 PM. Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker | Experience the excitement and beauty of world-class performances when the Bolshoi Ballet’s The Nutcracker is broadcast to select cinemas nationwide on Sunday, December 21. On Christmas Eve, Marie is given a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. At midnight, when the celebrations are over, all the toys magically come to life. The nutcracker grows to human size and takes charge of the tin soldiers, flying to the rescue of Marie, who is threatened by the Mouse King and his army. | Sun: 12:55 PM.
Online Calendar See it at ithaca.com.
Stage
Notices
Sunset Baby | 7:30 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday; 2:00 PM-, 7:30 PM12/18 Thursday; 8:00 PM-, 12/19 Friday; 8:00 PM-, 12/20 Saturday; 4:00 PM-, 12/21 Sunday | Kitchen Theatre, 471 W State/MLK St, Ithaca | By Dominique Morisseau. A former Black revolutionary, his outsidethe-law daughter, and her drug dealing lover struggle to overcome the forces that derail families. What happens when the line between sacrifice and selfishness is blurred? Hairspray | 7:30 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday; 7:30 PM-, 12/18 Thursday; 8:00 PM-, 12/19 Friday; 3:00 PM-, 8:00 PM-12/20 Saturday; 2:00 PM-, 12/21 Sunday; 7:30 PM-, 12/22 Monday | Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, 820 Genesee Street, Syracuse | The hit Broadway musical piled bouffant high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. Bubbling with joy and 60s era music and dance, Hairspray delights with the pleasures of a classic American musical. Tracy Turnblad is a teen whose life revolves around dancing on the Corny Collins TV show. Who knew that a teenybopper TV show could be a catalyst for integration? You can’t stop the beat, and truth be told, you won’t want to once the all-singing and dancing cast takes the stage. Boynton Middle School Presents Mulan Jr. | 7:30 PM-, 12/18 Thursday; 7:30 PM-, 12/19 Friday; 2:00 PM-, 12/20 Saturday; 7:30 PM-, 12/20 Saturday; 2:00 PM-, 12/21 Sunday | Boynton Middle School, 1601 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca | The show features a talented cast including Zoe Gras as Mulan, Eamon Makepeace as Mushu & Jasper Fearon as Captain Shang and is directed by Boynton’s awardwinning performing-arts faculty. Mulan Jr is based on the beloved Disney animation that tells the exciting story of the courageous young woman Mulan and her mischievous sidekick Mushu as they fight to save the Emperor from the invading Huns. Groundhog Comedy Presents Stand-Up Open-Mic | 9:00 PM-, 12/24 Wednesday | Lot 10 Lounge, 106 South Cayuga Street, Ithaca | Held upstairs
Mentors Needed for 4-H Youth Development Program | 1 | Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca | For more info, call (607) 277-1236 or email student.mentor@yahoo.com.
Meetings Tompkins County Planning, Energy and Environmental Quality Committee | 3:30 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday | County Administrative Building - Heyman Conference Room, 125 E. Court St., Ithaca | Ithaca Sociable Singles | 6:00 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday | Aladdin’s, 100 Dryden Road, Ithaca | 607-272-6013. map10@cornell.edu Ithaca City Administration Committee | 6:00 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday | Common Council Chambers - Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green St., Ithaca | Tompkins County Council of Governments | 3:00 PM-, 12/18 Thursday | County Administrative Building - Heyman Conference Room, 125 E. Court St., Ithaca | Tompkins County Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee | 4:00 PM-, 12/22 Monday | County Of Tompkins - The Daniel D. Tompkins Building, 121 E. Court St., Ithaca | Ithaca Town Board | 4:30 PM-, 12/22 Monday | Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N Tioga St, Ithaca | Ithaca Board of Public Works | 4:45 PM-, 12/22 Monday | Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green Street, Ithaca | Tompkins County Government Operations Committee | 5:30 PM-, 12/23 Tuesday | County Of Tompkins The Daniel D. Tompkins Building, 121 E. Court St., Ithaca | Public is welcome. Ithaca City Planning and Development Board | 6:00 PM-, 12/23 Tuesday | City Of Ithaca, 108 E Green St, Ithaca | -
Learning Art Classes for Adults | Community School Of Music And Arts, 330 E. State St, Ithaca | Arts classes for adults at the Community School of Music and Arts. Adult classes and private instruction in dance, music, visual arts, language arts, and performance downtown at the Community School of Music and Arts. For more information, call (607)
272-1474 or email info@csma-ithaca. org. www.csma-ithaca.org. Winter Writing Through The Rough Spots | See website for location and meeting dates, , | Writing Through The Rough Spots. Fall and Winter Classes in Ithaca. www. WritingRoomWorkshops.com International Folk Dancing | 7:30 PM-9:30 PM, 12/21 Sunday | Lifelong, 119 West Court Street, Ithaca | Teaching and request dancing. No partners needed. $5 donation suggested. Genealogy Club | 6:00 PM-7:00 PM, 12/22 Monday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St., Cortland | New members are welcome. During regular meetings, the library will provide laptops, print and online resources, and a knowledgeable staff member to help with any computer or research questions. Registration is not required, but appreciated. Jesusians of Ithaca | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM, 12/23 Tuesday | Ithaca Friends Meeting House, 120 3rd St., Ithaca | For more info, email jesusianity@gmail. com or visit: www.facebook.com/ groups/JesusiansOfIthaca.
Nature & Science Primitive Pursuits Adult Weekend Workshop | Location TBD | Upcoming events: Tracking, January 10 - 11; Winter Shelter / Survival, February 7 - 8; Friction Fire Intensive , March 7 - 8. For more information, call 607-272-2292 ext. 195 or visit online at primitivepursuits.com. Primitive Pursuits Free Monthly Primitive Skills Meet Up | Locations TBD | Join Primitive Pursuits instructors and members of the community as they work on primitive skills, strive to inspire, share stories, and help each along a journey toward deeper connection & awareness. Call 607-272-2292 ext. 195 or visit us online at primitivepursuits.com to join the club. Guided Beginner Bird Walks | 9:00 AM-, 12/20 Saturday; 9:00 AM-, 12/21 Sunday | Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca | Bird walks around Sapsucker Woods are sponsored by the Cayuga Bird Club and are targeted toward beginners, but appropriate for all. Binoculars are available for loan. Meet at the front of the building. Please contact Linda Orkin, wingmagic16@gmail.com for more information.
Cortland Men’s LGBT Group | 6:00 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday | The LGBT Resource Center, 73 Main St., Cortland | Monthly meeting. Bring a dish-to-pass for a pot-luck supper. 2300°: Cheers! | 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, 12/18 Thursday | Corning Museum of Glass, One Museum Way, Corning | Free open to the public. Museum-wide. Enjoy glassmaking demonstrations by David Schnuckel, live music by The Town Pants, and great food and drink. Schuyler Hospital Auxiliary “Cookies by the Pound” Bake Sale | 7:00 AM-1:00 PM, 12/19 Friday | Schuyler Hospital, 220 Steuben St., Montour Falls | Let the Auxiliary do your holiday baking for you. Sponsored by Schuyler Hospital Auxiliary. A fundraiser for Schuyler Hospital and Seneca View. Family Holiday Party | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM, 12/20 Saturday | Varna Community Center, 943 Dryden Road (Rt. 366), Dryden | Come join us for fun activities, lots of crafts, seasonal refreshments, and maybe even a photo with Santa Claus. You can even make a special gift for someone. Downtown Christmas Farmers Market | 4:00 PM-6:30 PM, 12/23 Tuesday | Press Bay Alley, West Green Street (behind old Gannett bldg.), Ithaca | local goods for holiday dinners and stocking stuffers for the family. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service | 7:00 PM-, 12/24 Wednesday | Burdett Presbyterian Church, 3995 Church
ongoing
Festival of Trees | 11:00 AM-8:00 PM, 12/17 Wednesday through the weekend | Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum, 6914 E Lake Rd, Auburn | Through December 23, come see this community celebration with trees, big and small, lit and unlit. Dress warm. Weekend hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m. Open Hearts Dinner | 5:30 PM-6:30 PM, 12/17 Wednesday | McKendree United Methodist Church, 224 Owego St., Candor | Every Wednesday. Come and join in the fun. Whether you are looking for fellowship or a free meal this one’s for you. Ithaca Farmer’s Market | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, 12/20 Saturday | Steamboat Landing, , Ithaca | Soup and or Chili Nights | 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, 12/23 Tuesday | Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 17 Main St., Candor | Every Tuesday Night. With dessert and drink. Free Will Donation
Health Alcoholics Anonymous | Multiple Locations | This group meets several times per week at various locations. For more information, call 273-1541 or visit aacny.org/meetings/PDF/ IthacaMeetings.pdf DSS in Ulysses | 1:00 PM-4:30 PM, 12/17 Wednesday | Ulysses Town Hall, 10 Elm St, Trumansburg | walk-ins welcome. For info on SNAP, Medicaid, Daycare and Emergency assistance. CALL (607) 274-5345 with any questions. Lyme Support Group | 6:30 PM-, 12/17 Wednesday | Multiple Locations | A free group providing information and support for people with Lyme or their care givers. We meet monthly at homes of group members. For information, or to be added to the email list, contact danny7t@lightlink. com or call Danny at 275-6441. Overeaters Anonymous | 6:30 PM-7:30 PM, 12/17 Wednesday | Dryden Village Hall, , Dryden | 7:00 AM-8:00 AM, 12/18 Thursday | First Unitarian Church Annex, 306 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca | 11:00 AM-12:15 PM, 12/20 Saturday | Ithaca Free Clinic, 521 W Seneca St, Ithaca | 7:00 PM-8:00 PM, 12/22 Monday | Just Be Cause center, 1013 W. State St., Ithaca Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) | 7:00 PM-8:30
Holiday Show at Oasis
Beginning Thursday, December 18 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 20 – 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Boynton Middle School presents Mulan Jr., in which Mulan, played by Zoe Gras, goes undercover as a man to save the Emperor from the invading Huns. The show is directed by Boynton faculty members Robert Winans and Nathan Parker, with choreography by Gina Amici. For additional show times, see our Stage listings. (photo provided)
Special Events
Street, Burdett | All are welcome.
Oasis Dance Club hosts a jam-packed holiday show featuring Sally Ramirez and Miche Fambro and a long list of special guest performers, including Diana Leigh, Wayne Gottlieb, Alice Saltonstall, the Acetos and more. (photo provided)
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Cayuga Trails Club: Abbott Loop | 1:00 PM-, 12/20 Saturday | East Hill Plaza, Pine Tree Road, Ithaca | The Cayuga Trails Club will lead a rugged 4-mile hike on the Abbott Loop in Danby. Meet at 1:00 pm, East Hill Plaza, Collegetown Bagels. For more information, call 607-257-6906 or visit www.cayugatrailsclub.org Winter Solstice | 4:00 PM-7:00 PM, 12/20 Saturday | Cayuga Nature Center, 1420 Taughannock Blvd , Ithaca | Join us at the Cayuga Nature Center as we light up TreeTops, the six story tree house, in celebration of the Winter Solstice! Bring your family & friends, flashlights & jackets to spend the evening sipping cocoa and learning about the stars of the winter sky from Cornell Univerisity’s Ryan Lau. There will also be lots of winter themed educational activities and a special nocturnal wildlife hike.
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Books Teen Reads Group at TCPL | 4:45 PM-5:45 PM, 12/17 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca | Hosted by the Tompkins County Public Library every third Wednesday in the Thaler/ Howell Programming Room. For more information, contact Teen Services Librarian Regina DeMauro at rdemauro@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 274. Raffle for Donated Bookshelf at the Library | 12:00 AM-11:59 PM, 12/19 Friday | Ulysses Philomathic Library, 74 E Main St, Trumansburg | Raffle for a hand-painted bookshelf by artist Cynthia Mannino. She obtained the shelf as a donation from Real Wood Furniture Store in Ithaca, NY. Cynthia then hand-painted the bookshelf with a bright and lively illustration, inspired by the children’s book All Night Near the Water by Jim Arnosky. Tickets are for sale at the circulation desk and cost $1 each or $5 for 6. The drawing will be held on December 19th.
Arts opening
Faces of Juno | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, 12/19 Friday | Gimme!, State Street, Ithaca | Opening reception featuring photography from Italy and Malta by Elizabeth Sciore-Jones. www. elizabethjsciorejones.com ongoing
Benjamin Peters | 120 The Commons, Ithaca | Monday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Thursday, 10:00-8:00 PM | 273-1371 | Gina Cacioppo and Ursula Hilsdorf, through December | www.benjaminpeters.com Buffalo Street Books | 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca | 10:00 AM-8:00 PM, daily | 273-8246 | Emily Koester: Play, Craft, Transcend, through December | www.buffalostreetbooks.com CAP ArtSpace | Center Ithaca, The Commons, Ithaca | Mon-Thu 9:00 AM-7:00 PM, Fri-Sat 11:00 PM-7:30 PM; Sun 12:00-5:00 PM | Don Ellis: Outdoor Mobiles, through December | www.artspartner.org Cellar d’Or | 136 E. State/MLK Street, on the Commons, Ithaca | 12:00 PM-8:00 PM Monday through Thursday; 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday; 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday; noon to
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PM, 12/17 Wednesday | First Congregational Church of Ithaca , 309 Highland Rd , Ithaca | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM, 12/08 Monday | Ithaca Recovery Center, 518 West Seneca St., Ithaca | Adult Children of Alcoholics | 7:00 PM-8:00 PM, 12/17 Wednesday | Ithaca Community Recovery, 518 West Seneca Street, Ithaca | 12-Step Meeting. Enter through front entrance. Meeting on second floor. For more info, contact 229-4592. Sacred Chanting with Damodar Das and friends | 7:00 PM-9:00 PM, 12/17 Wednesday | Ithaca Yoga Center, AHIMSA Studio, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca | Free every week. An easy, fun, uplifting spiritual practice open to all faiths. No prior experience necessary. More at www.DamodarDas.com. Walk-in Clinic | 2:00 PM-6:00 PM, 12/22 Monday | Ithaca Health Alliance, 521 West Seneca St., Ithaca | Need to see a doctor, but don’t have health insurance? Can’t afford holistic care? 100% Free Services, Donations Appreciated. Do not need to be a Tompkins County resident. First come, first served (no appointments). Recovery From Food Addition | 12:00 PM-, 12/19 Friday | Ithaca Community Recovery, 518 West Seneca Street, Ithaca | Successful recovery based on Dr. Kay Sheppard’s program Dance Church Ithaca | 12:00 PM-1:30 PM, 12/21 Sunday | Ithaca Yoga Center, AHIMSA Studio, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca | Free movement for all ages with live and DJ’ed music. Free. Anonymous HIV Testing | 9:00 AM-11:30 AM, 12/23 Tuesday | Tompkins County Health Department, 55 Brown Road, Ithaca | Walk-in clinics are available every Tuesday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Appointments are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Please call us to schedule an appointment or to ask for further information (607) 274-6604 Support Group for People Grieving the Loss of a Loved One by Suicide | 5:30 PM-, 12/23 Tuesday | 124 E. Court St., 124 E. Court St., Ithaca | Please call Sheila McCue, LMSW with any questions # 607-272-1505 Pet Loss Support Group | 7:00 PM-8:30 PM, 12/23 Tuesday | 316 E. Court Street -- enter Linn Street side, 316 E. Court Street -- enter Linn Street side, Ithaca | For information and other details, call: Jane at 607-351-2740 or Cathie at 607-273-3063, or email petloss@gmail.com.
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6:00 PM, Sunday | Scene: Collages and Drawings by Peter Fortunato, through December | www.thecellardor.com Chemung Canal Trust | The Commons | photo series by Nancy Ridenour, up through 10/08; Finger Lake Landscapes, by John Whiting, opening 10/08 through 12/31 Collegetown Bagels | 203 North Aurora Street, Ithaca | Sun-Wed 6:30 PM-8:00 PM; Thurs-Sat 6:30 AM-10:00 PM | Flowers and Bones, Acrylic Paintings by Kristin Dutcher, through December | collegetownbagels.com Community School of Music and Arts | 330 E.State / MLK Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 | Annual Open Show, Curated by Michael Sampson, CSMA’s Open Show presents works in a variety of media and styles by more than 30 local artists, through December | www. csma-ithaca.org Corners Gallery | 409 E. Upland Road (within the Community Corners Shopping Center), Ithaca | TuesdayThursday, 10:00 AM-5:30 PM; Friday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Closed Sun & Mon | Line/ Language, 12 artists, up through 12/20 | www.cornersgallery.com Crow’s Nest Café | 115 The Commons, Ithaca | Inner Space, works by Andrea Staffeld and Gerry Monaghan, ongoing | (646) 306-0972 Décorum Too | Dewitt Mall | Ann Day, watercolors, through December | 319-0944 or visit www.decorum-too. com Dowd Fine Arts Center | temporary location: 9 West Main Street, Cortland | Transcendences: prints, panels, drawings and sculptures by Diana Al-Hadid, Wang Gongxin and Lin Tianmiao, opening 10/23 up through 12/10 | (607) 753-4216 Elevator Music and and Art Gallery | New Roots Charter School, 116 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca | 882-9220 | White Noise, Sound and Space Installation by Rebecca Cutter, through December | newrootsschool.org Gimme! Coffee | 430 N. Cayuga St, Ithaca | Samantha Liddick, Fine art photography, through December | www.gimmecoffee.com/ Handwerker Gallery | Gannett Center, Ithaca College | Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM; Thursday, 10 AM to 9 pm; weekends, noon to 5 PM. Closed to the public on Tuesdays | Divergent Series, 15 faculty artists, ongoing | www.ithaca.edu/handwerker
Home Green Home | 215 East State/ MLK Street | Taughannock Creek Photographs by Fernando Llosa, through December | 607-319-4159 or www.homegreenhome.com The Ink Shop | 330 E.State / MLK Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 | Tuesday to Friday 12 -6 PM, Sat 12-4 PM | The 18th Mini Print International, juried exhibition of prints, through 01/2015 | 607-277-3884 | www.ink-shop.org Kitchen Theatre Company | 417 W. State/MLK St., Ithaca | Branching Out: Paintings by Kent Goetz, through December | 272-0403 or www.kitchentheatre.org PADMA Center | 114 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca | David Watkins will be exhibiting his photography through December | 607-351-7145 | www.padmacenter. com Sarah’s Patisserie | 130 E. Seneca St., Ithaca | 9:00 AM-10:00 PM, daily | Images on Metal, through December | www.sarahspatisserie.com/ Silky Jones | 214 The Commons (E. State St.), Ithaca | Daily, 4:00 PM-1:00 AM | abstracts by Eric Draper, through December | www.silkyjoneslounge.com Solá Gallery | Dewitt Mall, Ithaca | 10:30 AM-5:30 PM, Monday-Saturday | japanese prints, ongoing | www. solagallery.com State of the Art Gallery |120 West State Street, Ithaca | Wednesday-Friday, 12:00 PM-6:00 PM, Weekends, 12:00 PM-5:00 PM | 25th Anniversary Juried Show, through December | For information: 607-277-1626 or gallery@ soag.org Studio West | 516 W. State/MLK St., Ithaca | Heidi Lee, The Artist Within, paintings and multimedia, through December | 607.277.5647 Sunny Days of Ithaca | 123 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca | Faux Antique Signs by Christopher Wolff, through December | 319-5260 Titus Gallery Art & Antiques | 222 E State St, Ithaca | Mon. Wed. Thurs. 11am-6pm; Fri. Sat. 11am-8pm; Sun. 11am-4pm; closed Tuesdays | Luminious Lakes, Glorious Glens: Recent Paintings by Brian Keeler, through 12/31. | www.titusgallery.com Tompkins County Public Library | East Green Street, Ithaca | MondayThursday, 10:00 AM-8:00 PM; Friday and Saturday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sunday, 1 PM-5:00 PM | Montage Histories: Tompkins County, New York, through Photographs 1864- 2014, through December | www.tcpl.org
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exhibits Cornell Plantations | Nevins Welcome Center, 1 Plantations Road, Ithaca | 11:00 AM-4:00 PM, Tuesday-Saturday | Plant Portraits Through the Season, digital prints by Margaret Corbitt, ongoing | Ögwe ö:weh Consciousness as Peace, in collaboration with Cornell’s American Indian Program, ongoing | The Seasons of Cornell Plantations, photographs by Rene Corinne, through October | Victus Acernis, by Jack Elliot and Cornell Students | Gourds Galore!, vessels, utensils and more made from gourds | www.cornellplantations.org Corning Museum of Glass | 1 Museum Way, Corning | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM every day | René Lalique: Enchanted by Glass, through 01/04 | Designing for a New Century: Works on Paper by Lalique and his Contemporaries, through 01/04 | Never in Your Wildest Dreams: Connections Through Imagination, junior curators, through 12/31 | www.cmog.org Curtiss Glenn H Museum Of Local History | RR 54, Hammondsport | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Open Sundays, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | Warehouse 53, original props and costumes from some of the most iconic adventure films and television shows, through 09/01 | www. curtisshglennmuseum.org Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University | Central Road, Ithaca | Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | JIE (Boundaries): Contemporary Art Taiwan, through 12/21 | Surrealism and Magic, inspired by the library of Kurt Seligmann, through 12/21 | An Eye for Detail: Dutch Painting from the Leiden Collection, through 06/21 | New galleries featuring ancient Greek art through the 1800s, ongoing | Cosmos, by Leo Villareal, ongoing | www. museum.cornell.edu The History Center | 401 E. State St, Ithaca | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Switched On: The Birth of the Moog Synthesizer, opening 05/02 and ongoing | www. historicithaca.org or www.thehistorycenter.net. Museum of the Earth at PRI | 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca | Monday, Thursday-Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sunday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Ongoing: The Animals of the Nature Center,
Glacier Exhibit, Right Whale #2030, Rock of Ages/Sands of Time, Coral Reef Aquaria, A Journey Through Time, Discovery Labs, Hype Park Mastodon www.museumoftheearth.org Rockwell Museum of Western Art | 111 Cedar St, Corning | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM | On Fire: The Nancy and Alan Cameros Collection of Southwestern Pottery, through 04/2016 | Untouched by Chaos: Karl Bodmer and the American Wilderness, up through 03/2015 | Lock, Stock & Barrel, historic firearms, up through 01/2015 | www.rockwellmuseum.org Sciencenter | 601 First Street, Ithaca | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; open noon Sunday. Closed Monday | New: Ithaca’s Watershed Journey; Mars Rover exhibit | www.sciencenter.org Susquehanna River Archaeological Center | 345 Broad Street, Waverly | Tuesday-Friday, 1:00 PM-5:00 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Native American artifacts, ongoing | www. sracenter.org. Ulysses Historical Society | 39 South Street, Trumansburg | Friday-Saturday 2:00 PM-4:00 PM; Monday 9:00 AM-11:00 AM | Civil War shawls, 1909 Brush car, Hoffmire Farm exhibit, Abner Treman exhibit, Ag exhibit, all ongoing | Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural & Country Living Museum | 11:00 AM-4:00 PM; Wednesdays 11:00 AM-8:30 PM | 6880 East Lake Road Rt. 38A, Auburn | Central New York and Atlantic Seaboard Paintings, by Tom Hussey, ongoing
Kids Art Classes for Kids | Community School Of Music And Arts, 330 E State St, Ithaca | For more information, call (607) 272-1474 or email info@ csma-ithaca.org. www.csma-ithaca. org Primitive Pursuits Youth Program Events | Location TBD | Several multi-week youth programs beginning in January: Youth Nature Awareness; Winter Tracks & Trails; Winter Explorers. For more info, call 607-272-2292 ext. 195 or visit us online at primitivepursuits.com. Cuddle Up Storytime | 10:00 AM-, 12/17 Wednesday | Southworth Library Association, Main, Dryden | Science Together | 10:30 AM-, 12/17 Wednesday | Sciencenter, , Ithaca | Parents and their toddlers and preschoolers explore science through hands-on activities, reading
Stone COld Miracle
Downtown Ithaca Market
LaTrece Stevenson (pictured) and the boys in Stone Cold Miracle bring their soul shake to Felicia’s Atomic Lounge for a weekend nightcap. www.stonecoldmiracle.com (photo via Stone Cold Miracle’s facebook page)
Need to grab a few things for holiday dinner? You and us both. Next week, Press Bay Alley hosts a Downtown Christmas Farmers Market with special offerings from local growers. (photo provided)
Sunday, December 21 – 7 p.m.
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and songs. Sciencenter’s early explorer educator, Victoria Fiordalis, shares research-based parenting tips in an interactive, fun environment. Tot Spot | 9:30 AM-11:30 AM, 12/18 Thursday, 12/20 Saturday, 12/22 Monday, 12/23 Tuesday | City Of Ithaca Youth Bureau, 1 James L Gibbs Dr, Ithaca | A stay and play program for children 5 months to 5 years old and their parent/caregiver. Go to IYBrec. com for more information or call 273.8364. Ulysses Philomathic Library: Story and Art | 10:30 AM-, 12/18 Thursday | Philomathic Library, 74 E. Main St., Trumansburg | Each week will feature a fun theme such as pirates, the circus, fairy tales, music, and more. Ksana Dragovich will read stories and Barbara Nowogrodzki will lead art projects. Lego Night | 5:00 PM-6:00 PM, 12/17 Wednesday | Newfield Public Library, Main Street, Newfield | We have the Legos and Bailey has come up with a fun holiday theme for Lego night. Bring your imagination and come build a Lego creation which will be on display all month. Awana Clubs | 6:30 PM-8:15 PM, 12/18 Thursday | Dryden Baptist Church, , | Every Thursday night for kids ages 3 to 8th grade. Any questions please call 607-898-4087. Story Time | 10:30 AM-11:30 AM, 12/19 Friday | Ford Edith B Memorial Library, PO Box 410, Ovid | Sciencenter Storytime: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell | 10:30 AM-, 12/19 Friday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca | For
Books definitive frack reporting by bill chaisson
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ussell Gold’s The Boom takes a longer, wider, and more dispassionate look at hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas than did Tom Wilber’s Under the Surface. Wilber’s 2013 book is being reissued by Cornell University Press in an expanded edition with a new chapter, but he largely limits himself to the Marcellus drilling in Pennsylvania and focuses on the travail of those who are unhappy with the incursion of the industry. In contrast, Gold mixes historical information and interviews with energy industry executives, scientists, and engineers to tell a story over a century long about coaxing oil and gas from the ground with TNT, nitroglycerin, hydrochloric acid, nuclear bombs, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, crude oil, and all manner of gels and biocides. The use of dynamite in oil wells began 150 years ago when a Civil War veteran by the name of Edward Roberts patented a “torpedo” filled with gunpowder and
toddlers and preschoolers, hear the story There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell by Lucille Colandro and paint seashells. Science Together | 10:30 AM-, 12/20 Saturday | Sciencenter, , Ithaca | Parents and their toddlers and preschoolers explore science through
ignited with a percussive cap. Technology to fracture rock around oil and gas wells did not advance quickly for the next 80 years because it didn’t need to. When World War II sharply increased the demand for oil and gas, then the era of the wildcatters began to give way to scientific drilling. During the war the energy industry was charged with providing more fuel, but at the same time using less steel for pipe, so they started going back to old wells and figuring out new ways to get more out of them. Bob Fast graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1943 with a degree in petroleum engineering. In 1944 Fast went to work for Stanolind Oil, one of the pieces of Rockefeller’s dismantled Standard Oil. In 1946 he mixed water and napalm left over from the war to frack a gas well in southwestern Kansas. The “hydrafrac” treatment worked. By 1948 he had patented a mixture of sand, crude oil, and soap laced with metals. The exclusive license for it went to HOWCO,
hands-on activities, reading and songs. Tales for Tots Storytime | 11:00 AM-, 2:00 PM- 12/20 Saturday | Barnes & Noble, 614 S Meadow St, Ithaca | Sciencenter Showtime! Phases of the Moon | 2:00 PM-, 12/20 Saturday
the Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company. In 1998 Nick Steinsberger, an engineer working for Mitchell Energy in the Barnett shale north of Fort Worth, got permission to frack a well with water. He met with a lot of resistance because he and everyone he worked with had learned in engineering school that gels worked best. He had the crew pump 1.3 million gallons of water, sand, and chemicals into a vertical well called S.H. Griffin #4. It took five days to pump out the water, but immediately became a record-setting well in terms of production. Steinsberger had invented high-volume slick-water hydraulic fracturing. He never received a raise or a bonus. The owner of the company never thanked him. Things start to get closer to home
| Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca | Join Sciencenter educator Emily Cotman for a hands-on activity exploring moon’s phases. Chemsations! | 2:00 PM-, 12/21 Sunday | Sciencenter, Ithaca | Local high school students demonstrate chemical reactions with
for Finger Lakes readers when Gold gets to his chapter on Chesapeake Energy, a prominent player in the race to drill the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania. Around 2003 Chesapeake CEO Aubrey McClendon became convinced that whoever leased the most acreage over shale would succeed. John Pinkerton, the CEO of Range Resources, the first company into the Marcellus, blamed Chesapeake for starting a “land grab.’ This acceleration was unhealthy for all involved. The public wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of landsmen, regulators were forced to play catch-up, and the industry drilled well so quickly that common sense was jettisoned at times. Money flowed in from around the globe to finance this rapid and enormous build out. This is where Gold, who has reported on energy for the Wall Street Journal since 2002, is a fascinating writer to read. Local observers who watched the build-up in Pennsylvania were often baffled by the apparent illogic of it all. Part of the reason for this is that they were watching the movements of only one part of an enormous beast. Gold is terrific at describing the physiology and behavior of this giant creature, both through time and across a lot of territory. When you finish reading The Boom you may not approve of the energy industry, but at least you will understand it a lot better. •
color changes, bubbles and light. Tuesday Morning Story Hour | 10:15 AM-11:15 AM, 12/23 Tuesday | No Story Hour during holidays, School Closings or Bad Weather. Call 659-7258 with questions. Sciencenter Animal Time: The Silly Tail Book | 10:30 AM-, 12/23 Tuesday
| Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca | For toddlers and preschoolers, hear the story The Silly Tail Book by Marc Brown and create animals with yarn tails..
Science Together | 10:30 AM-, 12/24 Wednesday | Sciencenter, , Ithaca | Parents and their toddlers and preschoolers explore science
Your Local Source for Organic Mattresses & Bedding
607-273-9392 Westend 607-273-8210 DeWitt
www.homegreenhome.com • 215 the Commons
HOME
for the holidays
Mimi’s
Attic
FOOD SCRAPS RECYCLING
Fork ‘em Over!
Learn more at www.recycletompkins.org
Local Food, Local Jobs, Local People
BUY & SELL Furniture & Home Decor 430 W. State St. Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-4 mimisatticithaca.com (607)882-9038
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Classifieds In Print | On Line | 10 Newspapers | 67,389 Readers
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120/Autos Wanted CASH FOR CARS: Any Car/Truck. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Call For Instant Offer. 1-888-4203808 www.cash4car.com (AAN CAN) Truck Wanted Any Make Year or Model. Call on All. Have CASH! (607)273-9315
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BLACK CAT ANTIQUES 774 Peru Road, Rte. 38 • Groton, NY 13073 Hours: Friday & Saturday 10-4 or by App’t. BlackCatAntiques@CentralNY.twcbc.com 607.898.2048
Gift Certificates Available
227 Cherry St. 607-319-5078 foundinithaca.com
Open every day 10-6, except Tues.
1989 Buick Century V-6, Automatic, New Exhaust, Shocks, Alternator. Best Offer! (607)2739315
XC 70 Wagon 114K, New Tires, Alignment, All Options, 3rd Row Seating. Just Inspected. $7,500/obo. 607-216-2314
2007 Pontiac G6
Good Condition, 118,000 miles, asking $5000. Call 607-659-5217 Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Call 315-400-0797 Today! (NYSCAN)
180/Truck/RV 2000 Silverado
4x4 Ext-Cab 149,000 Automatic Replaced Transmission, New parts, has rust, runs good. 105,000 miles. $3,200. 607-589-7240
215/Auctions Tiny house AUCTION, Vermont post & beam sheds, Livestock shelters & firewood storage January 22, 2015. Absolute no reserve Bid online 802-2973760. www.JamaicaCottageShop.com (NYSCAN)
250/Merchandise CASH for Coins! Buying Gold & Silver. Also Stamps & Paper Money, Comics, Entire Collections, Estates. Travel to your home. Call Marc in NJ: 1-800-488-4175 (NYSCAN)
Christmas Trees
Apartment Size Christmas Trees 3-6 Ft Spruce. We Cut - Open Weekends 9-3, 8337 Main St., Interlaken, NY 607216-5073 SAWMILLS from only $4397.00 - MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmillcut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info /DVD: www. NorwoodSawmills.com 1-800-578-1363 Ext. 300N (NYSCAN)
Shop Local @ MojoWoman
Barried Treasures Jewelry will be here for a jewelry & clothing trunk sale! 12/6 Saturday & 12/13 Saturday from 11am-6pm. Our store is open Fridays and Saturdays 12-6pm Non-sweatshop natural fiber clothing for curvy women. MojoWoman is located at 225 South Fulton Street
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Kunekune Pigs: Heritage Breed, Grazers, Easy-Care, Multi-Purpose, Most Docile Breed. info@belcantofarm.com
Puppies
Chahuahua/Pub/Pomeranian for Sale $300. 3 Boys, One Girl. Call 518-6057737 or call 607-227-5357 HURRY Before gone!!!
140/Cars
2004 VOLVO
antiques • vintage • unusual objects
buy sell
310/Activities Lansing-Ithaca Rotary Club
Welcomes you to SAT. 12/27, 10-7. A ook Fair @ Barnes and Noble. Event include Music, Reading of Children’s Books and Face Painting. Please contact Kathryn Mapes 607-342-1931 for more info
Special Meeting
of the Candor Town Board, 101 Owego Street, Candor, NY 13743. December 30, 2014, 3:00pm at the Town Hall.
320/Bulletin Board LEGAL NOTICE Town of Groton
Notice of Adoption of Resolution Subject to Permissive Referendum. Notice is hereby given that a regular meeting held on the 9th of December 2014 the Town Board of the Town of Groton duly adopted a resolution an abstract of which follows, which resolution is subject to permissive referendum pursuant to Town Law of the State of New York. Abstract of Resolution Resolution to authorize the purchase one (1) new 2015 tandem axle International 5900 series dump and plow combination truck, complete with all plow equipment and sander body in the amount of $217,035.14 per Onondaga County Bid #7823. the purchase amount of $217,035.14 will be taken from the Town’s Capital Highway Equipment Reserve Account. Said purchase will occur unless a petition, in compliance with Section 91 of New York State town Law, is received by the Town clerk protesting said resolution and requesting a referendum thereon. April L. Scheffler, RMC, Groton Town Clerk 12/17
410/Business Opportunity AIRBRUSH MAKEUP ARTIST COURSE For: Ads. TV. Film. Fashion 35% OFF TUITION - SPECIAL $1990 - Train & Build Portfolio. One Week Course Details at: AwardMakeupSchool.com 818-9802119 (AAN CAN)
430/General $1,000 WEEKLY!! MAILING BROCHURES From Home. Helping home workers since 2001. Genuine Opportunity. No Experience required. Start Immediately www.mailingmembers.com (AAN CAN) Africa, Brazil Work/Study! Change the lives of others while creating a sustainable future. 1, 6, 9, 18 month programs available. Apply now! www.OneWorldCenter.org (269) 591-0518 info@ OneWorldCenter.org (AAN CAN)
employment AIRLINE CAREERS begin here - Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-725-1563 (AAN CAN) AIRLINE CAREERS begin here Get FAA approved Aviation Maintenance Technician training. Financial aid for qualified students - Housing available. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 866-296-7093 (NYSCAN)
Arnold’s Flowers and Gifts
of Dryden is looking for a P/T Floral Designer for the Holiday Season. Must be experienced and have a flexible schedule. Call 607-844-8001
Building Maintenance
Helper needed at Moravia Central School District $14.05/hr. See Specifics at www.moraviaschool.org - Job Opportunities or call (315) 497-2670 for application. E.O.E.
Groundskeeper
Duties include helping to maintain school grounds and athletic fields. May also be assigned some maintenance/cleaning duties. Part time, 10-month position. civil Service job description and online application are available athttps://www. tompkinscivilservice.org/civilservice/ vacancies. Application deadline January 2, 2015
The Bricklayers Local 3 NY
(Ithaca Chapter) is now accepting applications for apprenticeships for the following crafts: Bricklayer, Tile Setter and Cement Mason (concrete). Applicants must have a valid NYS drivers license, reliable transportation, willingness to attend apprenticeship training classes, ability to lift 75 pounds, ability to work in severe conditions such as hot, cold, elevated, dusty, dirty. Applicants must be able to be on time and be prepared to work extremely hard and have the drive and ambition to succeed. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. applicants must take a math and computation exam and be able to pass a drug test. Contact Tim Hayes at 607-786-8945 to obtain an application. First year apprentice wage: $15.38/hr with $20.29/hr benefit package
Transportation Specialist
F/T Provisional Transportation Specialist position available 1/19/15 at T-S-T BOCES. Provide school transportation related bus driver/monitor/attendant training programs. Must process: Valid NYSED School Bus Driver Instructor (SBDI) certificate at hire; And within 12 months must possess a Valid NYS Commercial Driver’s License, Class B with P&S endorsements, and NYSDMV 19-A Examiner Certificate. Must meet county position and residency requirements. Detailed job postings: www.tstboces. org & CareerBuilder.com. Must apply on-line with T.C. Civil Service; www. tompkinscountyny.gov/personnel by 12/18/14. TST BOCES, 555 Warren Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, Phone (607)2571551, Fax: (607) 697-8273, Emaill: hr@ tstboces.org
435/Health Care CAREGivers Wanted If you enjoy working with seniors, we want you! Join our team and become a Home Instead CAREGiver, providing non-medical companion and home-helper services to seniors in your community. Training, support and flexible shifts provided. No medical degree necessary Join us for a job that nurtures the soul! Call Home Instead Senior Care today: 607-269-7165. Each Home Instead Senior Care office is independently owned and operated.
employment
adoptions
CITY OF ITHACA
520/Adoptions Wanted
is accepting applications for the following exam: Occupational Therapist #20142: Minimum Quals & Special Requirements: visit www.cityofithaca.org Salary: $38,489. Residency: Tompkins County or one of the 6 contiguous counties. Application deadline: December 30, 2014. Exam Date: December 30, 2014. Applications may be obtained at: City of Ithaca, Human Resources Department, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. (607) 274-6539 www.cityofithaca.org The City of Ithaca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversifying its workforce.
A childless young married couple (she 30/he -37) seeks to adopt. Will be handson mom/devoted dad. Financial security. Expenses paid. Call/text. Mary & Adam. 1-800-790-5260 (NYSCAN)
610/Apartments Large Fall Creek 2BR
Comfort Keepers
large, clean, nice unfurnished two bedroom/two full bath apartments available in 36-Unit Grad/Professional Apartment complex located in the Fall Creek neighborhood with excellent location to the Cornell Campus and Downtown Ithaca. On site laundry and free parking. Apartment features huge spaces, new carpeting or parquet wood flooring, high ceilings, lots of windows and light, balconies with glass sliders dishwasher garbage disposal and central air conditioning. Great location to the Cornell campus (10-15 Minute walk) and close to bus line (1/2 block). Rents include heat, hot/cold water, garbage removal; tenants pay own electric. Contact James R. Orcutt, Jr (NYS Lic. RE Broker) @ 607-592-7694
now hiring HHA’s, all shifts, $13.00/ hr and sign on bonus. Per-diem RN’s needed. Weekly, travel, mileage and OT Pay; 179 Graham Road, Suite F, Ithaca. Apply at www.comfortkeepers.com
510/Adoption Services ADOPTION: Unplanned Pregnancy? Caring Licensed adoption agency provides financial and emotional support. Choose from loving pre-approved families. Call Joy toll free 1-866-922-3678 or confidential email:Adopt@ForeverFamiliesThroughAdoption.org (NYSCAN)
rentals
(AANCAN) services
services
BOATS/130
850/Mind Body & Spirit
Nanny/Babysitter
SOUTH HILL ITHACA
Newly renovated, unfurnished large, STUDIO PLUS. Private entry, patio & parking. In private home, close to TCAT bus line on Coddington Road. $650 incl. to view (607)351-3089
You’re Sure to Find
the place that’s right for you with Conifer. Linderman Creek 269-1000, Cayuga View 269-1000, The Meadows 2571861, Poets Landing 288-4165
Am looking for a good Nanny/Babysitter, Boat Docking it’s important you includeNext resume’ $600 Season. to when responding, kindly state theCafe days you Kelly’s Dockside will be available to babysit. Applicants 607-342-0626 Tom who do not send a resume will not be considered for the position, tobi; $20/hr. email: PatrickMark10@hotmail.com
Yoga Workshops BUY SELL TRADE
With Ann A variety of Workshops including: “Move Those Joints”, NEW YEARs BLISS, Meditation and more. TheYogaCorner.com
CARS/140
2001 VOLVO V70 WAGON, 149K. $4,500/obo 216-2314
825/Financial
FREE BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION Real Estate, Uncontested Divorces. Child Custody. Law Office of Jeff Coleman and Anna J. Smith (607)277-1916
700/Roommates ALL AREAS - ROOMMATES.COM. Lonely? Bored? Broke? Find the perfect roomate to complement your personality and lifestyle at Roommates .com! (AAN CAN)
Single Family Homes: 2 or 3 Bedrooms in Cayuga Heights or Northeast areas available January & February. For additional Information please call SERVICE CONNECTION @ (607) 277.1929. Short or long term lease negotiable.
810/Childcare
HOLISTIC Art Lessons Private and small group. Registration on going. Learn art processes and how to be more creative. Give the gift of art lessons to yourself or someone else who loves art. For information e-mail lessonsandthings@gmail.com or call 564-7387
RED MAX WEED WHACKER used very little. $50.00 387-9327 SAWMILLS from only $4897.00 MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill-cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: 1-800-578-1363 ext. 300N Sebastian, Florida Beautiful 55+ manuwww.NorwoodSawmills.com factured home (NYSCAN) community, 4.4 miles to the beach. Close to riverfront district. Sofa Bed Double, green plaid. $150. New models from $99,000. 772-581257-3997 0080, www.beach-cove.com (NYSCAN)
Opening Winter 2014!
PIANOS
This brand new community features one, two, & three bedroom apartments with affordable rents*, set in a convenient location near many amenities.
Complete rebuilding services. No job too big or too small. Call us.
Ithaca Times is interested in hearing from freelance movie, music, restaurant and visual & performing arts reviewers with strong opinions and fresh views.
STUFF
1040/Land for Sale
Call Now for an Application
607-795-8472
Biltmore Crossing APARTMENTS
Ithaca Piano Rebuilders
81 Biltmore Drive, Horseheads, NY 14845 biltmorecrossing@coniferllc.com www.coniferliving.com
950 Danby Rd., Suite 26
*income restrictions apply
(607) 272-6547
Please send clips to: editor@ithacatimes.com
South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca, NY
REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
REPLACEMENT A FULL LINE OF VINYL Hospital bills making you sick? Manufacture To InstallREPLACEMENT WINDOWS REPLACEMENT WINDOWS We Do Call It forAll Free Estimate & No insurance? Low insurance? State and federal laws
WINDOWS VINYL Professional Installation may keep you from burdensome hospital bills. A FULL LINE OF Custom made & manufactured AREPLACEMENT FULL LINE OF VINYL WINDOWS by… If collectors Burr & Reid, Melvin & Melvin, Overton Russell, REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Call for Free Estimate & Robert Rothman or Swartz Law are calling you, call us. Call for Free Estimate & Professional Installation 3/54( Professional Installation Custom made & manufactured Custom made & manufactured 3%.%#! by… by… 6).9, www.ajp1law.com • 315.400.AJP1
Anthony J. Pietrafesa, Esq.— A Consumer Lawyer
3/54( 3/54( 3%.%#! 3%.%#! 6).9,
6).9,
Romulus, NY 315-585-6050 or Toll Free at 866-585-6050
www.SouthSenecaWindows.com Romulus, NY Romulus, NY 315-585-6050 or 315-585-6050 Toll Free at 866-585-6050 or Toll Free at
Main office: 1971 Western Ave., #181, Albany, NY 12203 Binghamton • Cortland • Norwich • Syracuse • Utica • Watertown Past results no guarantee of a particular outcome. Attorney advertising.
DONATE YOUR CAR
Vintage, Antiques & Home Decor
866-585-6050
Wheels For Wishes benefiting
Ithaca’s only
hometown electrical distributor Your one Stop Shop
Since 1984 802 W. Seneca St. Ithaca 607-272-1711 fax: 607-272-3102 www.fingerlakeselectric.com
ng ccepti Now A ments n Consig
317 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca
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*Free Vehicle/Boat Pickup ANYWHERE *We Accept All Vehicles Running or Not *100% Tax Deductible
882-0099
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Central New York
Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
WheelsForWishes.org
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real estate
Homelite HLT-15 Classic weed whacker, new never used. $60. 216-2314
865/Personal Services
• Rebuilt • Reconditioned • Bought• Sold • Moved • Tuned • Rented
Writers
BARREL TABLE Four Swivel Chairs in Green leather. Vet nice condition. $275.00 564-3662
Only small kitchen appliances; 1 LazyBoy recliner and anything else you can think of. I might have what you want. Mostly new, no junk. NEED Call AFFORDABLE for list: LAND 607-273-4444 for a Home, Recreation or Agriculture? Buy or Lease only what you need! (607)533-3553
Organically Grown Blueberries $1.60 lb. Open 7 days a week. Dawn-toDusk. Easy to pick high bush berries. Tons of quality fruit! 3455 Chubb Hollow road Pen n Yan. Counseling 607-368-7151 Adults; Adolescents; Family; Couples; Individuals. Dan Doyle,LCSWR 607319-5404
840/Lessons
MERCHANDISE/250
mos.) SAVE! Regular Price $32.99 Call CASH for Coins! Buying ALL Gold & SilToday andStamps Ask About FREEMoney, SAME Entire DAY ver. Also & Paper Installation! CALL Now! 888-992-1957 Collections, Estates. Travel to your (AAN CAN) home. Call Marc in NYC 1-800-959-3419 HAS YOUR BUILDING SHIFTED OR (NYSCAN) SETTLED? Contact Woodford Brothers Inc., for straightening, leveling, foundation and wood frame repairs at 1-800-OLD-BARN. www.woodfordbros. com. (NYSCAN) U-Pick
FARM & GARDEN/230
Four Seasons Landscaping Inc. 607.272.1504 Lawn maintenance, spring + fall clean up + gutter cleaning, patios, retaining walls, + walkways, landscape design + installation. Drainage. Snow Removal. Dumpster rentals. Find us on Facebook!
Hollow, Ithaca, NY 14850
1020/Houses
ANTIQUES855/Misc. COLLECTABLES/205 DISH TV Starting at $19.99/month (for 12
830/Home
LOVELY APTS &
PREGNANT? THINKING OF ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families Nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions. 866-413-6293. (AAN CAN)
Stock #11171E 2010 Honda Insight EX, CVT, white, 35,224 miles, $14,997 Certified Stock #11124E 2010 Mazda 3 Wagon 6-speed, Blue, 44,329 miles, $14,997 Stock #11168E 2012 Mazda 2 Hatchback Auto, Red, 32,427 miles #12,997 Honda of Ithaca 315 Elmira Road Ithaca, NY 14850 www.hondaofithaca.com
Cash for Cars Any Car/Truck,Running or not! Top Dollar Paid.We Come To You! Call for Instant Offer 1-888-420-3808 www.cash4car.com
Call: (315) 400-0797 1 7 - 2 3 ,
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The Cay place at on Sunda NY89 fro Park to C will be a tween Go form 7am the triathl sider cho tators are joy the tr For more Triathlon www.ithac
Lansing-Ithaca Rotary Club
OLD & PROUD
Welcomes you to SAT 12/27, 10-7
Your resource for historic preservation
a Book Fair at Barnes and Noble Event includes, music, face painting
www.Historicithaca.org
and reading of Children’s Books.
4 Seasons Landscaping Inc. 607-272-1504 lawn maintenance spring + fall clean up + gutter cleaning patios, retaining walls, + walkways
Please Contact Kathryn Mapes
Peaceful Spirit TAI CHI classes
607-342-1931 for info
at
Custom Made
LIGHTLINK HOTSPOTS
Vinyl Replacement Windows
http://www.lightlink.com/hotspots
We Manufacture & install Free Estimate
hotspots@lighlink.com
South Seneca Vinyl 315-585-6050, Toll Free at 866-585-6050
Sunrise Yoga Classical Yang style long form Thursday’s 7:30-8:30 pm Anthony Fazio, LAc.,C.A,
LOSE WEIGHT FEEL GREAT! No gimmicks or supplements
landscape design + installation
Flat Screen TV Installation
607-275-4982
drainage
All Wires and Stereo equipment
hobitlafayewellnesscoaching.com
www.peacefulspiritacupuncture.com
607-272-0114 Vintage, Antiques & Home Decor Rusty Rooster Mercantile
snow removal
will disappear
dumpster rentals
Home Network Router Installation
Love dogs?
25% off sale Dec 10-24
Find us on Facebook!
Create Next Gen 2.4 or 5GHZ WIFI Network
Check out Cayuga Dog Rescue!
317 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca
Contact Greg at 607-749-4538
AAM
FREE ESTIMATES
ALL ABOUT MACS
Free in Home Estimates Window World
Macintosh Consulting
Replacement Window Specialist
http://www.allaboutmacs.com
Guaranteed Lowest Pricing
280-4729
Visit our Showroom
607-797-3234
Buy/Sell Second Hand Furniture
Adopt! Foster! Volunteer! Donate for vet care! www.cayugadogrescue.org www.facebook.com/CayugaDogRescue
607-898-2048
Fur & Leather repair, zipper repair.
Where POWER meets Bliss
Same Day Service Available
John’s Tailor Shop John Serferlis - Tailor
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
Mimi’s Attic
Housekeeping*Windows*Awnings*Floors
430 W. State Street
High Dusting*Carpets*Building Maintenance 24/7 EMERGENCY CLEANING Services
* BUYING RECORDS * LPs 45s 78s ROCK JAZZ BLUES
607-227-3025 or 607-220-8739
Black Cat Antiques
Men’s and Women’s Alterations for over 20 years
Independence Cleaners Corp
& Home Decor
We Buy, Sell, & Trade
Ithaca’s downtown Power Yoga
MIGHTY YOGA
102 The Commons
Classes & Workshops for All Levels
273-3192
Open 7 days a week, 35+ classes weekly
Middle Eastern (Belly Dance) & Romani Dances (Gypsy) Performance & Instruction
JUNE
PUNK REGGAE ETC
ITHACA SHEEPSKIN Slippers, Hats, Outerwear & More
Angry Mom Records
Handmade in Ithaca since 1979
(Autumn Leaves Basement)
www.ithacasheepskin.com
Professional Oriental Dancer Instructor & Choreographer
319-4953 angrymomrecords@gmail.com
607-277-0833
Voted Best of Ithaca 2011 Visit www.mightyyoga.com, 272-0682
You Never Know What You’ll Find
Found Antiques * Unusual Objects
607-351-0640, june@twcny.rr.com
227 Cherry St. 607-319-5078
www.moonlightdancer.com
foundinithaca.com
Fair Trade, Hand Made, and Local Gifts that show you care. 701 W. Buffalo St. 273-9392 DeWitt Mall 273-8210 28 T
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