December 8, 2021

F R E E D e c e m b er 8 , 2 0 2 1 / V o l u m e X L I I , N u m b e r 1 6 / O u r 4 7 t h Y e a r

Online @ ITH ACA .COM

GRAIN STORE TO GREENSTAR The cooperative celebrates 50 years of business PAGE 8

POLICE

CONTRACTS

City, police union finally agree PAGE 3

GUARANTEED INCOME

COUNTY LINES

Ithaca to pilot basic County redistricting income program commission named PAGE 4

PAGE 5

Q&A WITH

AL FRANKEN

The SNL legend chats before State Theatre show PAGE 23

Photo by Karsten Winegeart

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Newsline Streatery

City shelves Streatery for now

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he Aurora Streatery study is on hold for now, with Mayor Svante Myrick pulling it from the agenda at the Dec. 1. Common Council meeting. At the City Administration meeting on Nov. 17, city planner Jennifer Kusznir and city transportation engineer Erin Cuddihy suggested a $120,000 study to evaluate the Streatery to make sure it’s safe for both pedestrians and vehicles. However, there was some pushback, particularly from Alderperson George McGonigal, who said the traffic issues caused by the Streatery aren’t worth it.

There were also requests at that meeting to see more data about the economic impacts the Streatery had on the Restaurant Row businesses, and Myrick had said they’d gather more information and discuss it again at the December Council meeting. However, at the top of the meeting he pulled it and said after hearing from many members of the public and from members of Council, there isn’t enough support for the Streatery.

“We want to regroup and see if could put together a plan to build support, but it doesn’t seem like we can do that,” he said. “It seems like closing Aurora Street is nice as a sometimes thing, and if there was an opportunity to close it on certain nights or weekends or for festivals we could do that, but keeping it closed on a semi-permanent basis like we have the past two years isn’t workable.”

The Streatery was created during the pandemic to help support those restaurants by providing more space for outdoor dining by closing the Restaurant Row block of Aurora Street to traffic, but was never studied or evaluated in any formal way beforehand.

Myrick said they would keep the potential for a study on the backburner to see if there would be a way to make it work in the future.

Police

City, police union finally sign contract after 10 years of negotiations

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fter a decade without a contract, Ithaca’s Common Council approved an agreement for a contract with the Ithaca Police Benevolent Association. A long-time point of tension between the police union members and Mayor Svante Myrick’s administration, the contract will run retroactive to 2014, and expires Dec. 31, 2023.

By 2022, starting officers’ salaries will be $55,652. The following year they will get a bump to $70,000 and by year four they will max out at $87,000. Sergeant salaries will start at $94,000 and top out at $102,000, and lieutenants will make up to $109,000. In 2023, all those salaries would bump

up 3.25%.

For comparison, in the previous contract, the salaries for officers in 2011 started at $44,891 and went to $70,222 after four years. For sergeants, it started at $75,842 and maxed out at $82,702, and lieutenants topped out at $88,532.

Members of the Police Benevolent Association will be on the platinum Excellus health plan and all members of the until will pay 20% of the cost.

The police chief and deputy chief are not part of the Police Benevolent Association.

The base pay for officers does not include overtime, which has been a fairly sizable cost over the past few years as the department has been

T a k e

▶ Justice Center - Monalita Smiley was hired as the project director of the Community Justice Center. The Center is responsible for implementing the joint Reimagining Public Safety Plans passed by the City of Ithaca Common Council and Tompkins County Legislature in early 2021, Smiley’s appointment is shared by the City and County.

Smiley has more than 20 years

VOL.XLII / NO. 16 / December 8, 2021 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

shorthanded due to officers out on various types of leave.

“This contract is one that will make us an extremely competitive place to work in law enforcement which should help with recruitment and retention, and should attract people into the careers of public safety,” Myrick said. “We’re looking for a diverse population eager to live and work in the city of Ithaca and I think this will help us do that.”

He did note that the costs will be felt by residents.

“It does come with a pretty hefty price tag, and this will be felt by taxpayers, but in return we should get top quality public safety and law enforcement service,” Myrick said.

Sgt. Tom Condzella, the president of the Ithaca Police Benevolent, said that “after nearly a decade of impasse and negotiations” that the union is glad to finally sign a contract with a city.

“Labor and the right to collectively bargain are hallmarks of the middle class and our commitment to workers and taxpayers. Together this agreement represents hundreds of hours of collaboration, negotiation, compromise, and teamwork,” Condzella said, on behalf of the union. “We applaud the Ithaca Common Council for ratifying this contract and understanding the need to create stability within the Ithaca Police Department.

Recruitment is hard, retention is instrumental, and this one step forward to recruiting and retaining the best police officers to serve and protect our amazing community and to advocate for the rights of crime victims.”

-Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

N o t e

of leadership experience serving the Tompkins County/Ithaca community. She most recently served as the director of youth outreach at The Learning Web and serves as a volunteer board member at local nonprofits, including the Southside Community Center. Smiley brings experience navigating the criminal justice system on behalf of vulnerable communities, and

as a result, she has developed significant connections within minority communities that will aid the City and County throughout the Collaborative process. Smiley will be the Center’s first director. Smiley will give regular updates on the implementation of plans to the Tompkins County Legislature and City of Ithaca Common Council.

She begins in January.

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F E AT URE S Grain Store to GreenStar ����������8 The cooperative celebrates 50 years of business

Q&A: Al Franken ��������������������������23 SNL writer and former Senator stops by the State

Newsline ��������������������������������������������������3-5 Opinion �������������������������������������������������������� 6 Letters �������������������������������������������������������� 7

ART S &E N T E RTAINME N T Film ������������������������������������������������������������� 25 Books ��������������������������������������������������������� 27 Times Table ���������������������������������������������� 28 Classifieds ����������������������������������������������� 30 On the Cover: GreenStar members Diane Hillman, David Sibley, Marilyn Chase and founding members, Dan Hoffman and Jan Norman (Photo: Casey Martin)

ON T HE WE B Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 T a n n e r H a r d i n g , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 1224

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l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m F r e e l a n c e r s : Barbara Adams, Rick Blaisell, Steve Burke, Deirdre Cunningham, Jane Dieckmann, Amber Donofrio, Karen Gadiel, Charley Githler, Linda B. Glaser, Warren Greenwood, Ross Haarstad, Peggy Haine, Gay Huddle, Austin Lamb, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Lori Sonken, Henry Stark, Dave Sit, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman

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INQUIRING

N e w s l i n e

R eimagining

PHOTOGRAPHER Who should respond to a mental health crisis?

By C a se y Mar tin

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE ON THE DOWNTOWN ITHACA’S WISH LIST THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

“More Greenspace for the kids!”

-Anthony B.

“Times Square style NYE Ball Drop!”

-Caitlin E.

Michael Stitley, director Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response

Basic Income “We need a bigger playground!”

-Aly L.

110 caregivers in Ithaca will get $450 per month for one year

T “We need a completely inclusive space – somewhere you can go and you’ll know you’ll be 100% comfortable no matter who you are.”

-Nzuki W.

“We need Fairy Lights in all the trees!”

-Isabella Y & Lucia Y.

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he City of Ithaca will be launching the Ithaca Guaranteed Income program in collaboration with Mayors for Guaranteed Income, Ithaca Eviction/Displacement Defense Project and the Human Services Coalition, among others. The program will give 110 caregivers in Ithaca $450 per month. Caregivers is defined broadly as someone who is not paid to provide primary care to children, elderly persons or disabled adults. Additionally, the household income for the caregiver must be 80% of the area median income or less. The breaks down to the following: Household of 1: $50,200 Household of 2: $57,400 Household of 3: $64,550 Household of 4: $71,700 Household of 5: $77,450 Household of 6: $83,200

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Household of 7: $88,950 Household of 8: $94,750 The program is a research pilot program, with the University of Pennsylvania Center of Guaranteed Income Research providing research support. The center will be in touch with the 110 recipients throughout the duration of the 12-month pilot. Funding will come from the Mayors for Guaranteed Income, according to Alderperson Laura Lewis at the Dec. 1 Common Council meeting.

“There is not an impact for city taxpayers, aside from a very positive impact, I believe,” she said.

She clarified that the reason the program is open to people at 80% of the area median income and below is so that it serves the most vulnerable people in the community.

T

ompkins County hosted a public forum talking about mental health within the Reimagining Public Safety movement. Michael Stitley, director of the county’s Department of Emergency Response, Derek Osborne, Tompkins County Sheriff, John Joly, acting chief of the Ithaca Police Department, and Harmony Ayers-Friedlander, the deputy commissioner of mental health for the county, shed some light on the way mental health crises are handled by each individual agency and the ways they work together.

Stitley explained that when someone calls 911, the dispatcher who answers has a dual responsibility of speaking with the caller and dispatching the necessary resources for the call. There are 911 software tools to help assess and triage the call, and if it’s a medical call there are specific questions to ask to ensure an appropriate response. A second dispatcher will monitor that call through the end until emergency units clear.

Osborne said because so many things fall to law enforcement as one of very few 24/7 agencies, they handle everything from parking issues

to noise complaints to mental health calls. Joly echoed that and said when the Ithaca Police Department is dispatched to a mental health call, two officers respond to assess the situation, try and build rapport with the individual in distress and determine what additional resources would be appropriate in the situation.

He said sometimes they’ll respond to calls that are reported as domestic disputes or burglary but there ends up being a mental health component. In those cases the response is the same — build rapport and deescalate the situation. In mental health cases, Joly said they’ll often bring the person to Cayuga Medical Center using a mental hygiene law that allows police to take into custody someone with mental health issues.

Ayers-Friedlander said there is a mobile crisis team that was started in 2018 and is composed of about 15 members of the Tompkins County Mental Health agency. It provides on-call coverage in the evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Members receive

Mayor Svante Myrick added that there’s also a benefits cliff that people who receive other forms of government assistance have to be aware of, as adding $450 of income a month could cause them to lose other benefits.

“What we’re thinking is if you’re at 80% [area median income] and you’re living in the city of Ithaca, you’re struggling,” he said. “If you’re at 80% [area median income[ and taking care of someone, a child, a parent, someone with a disability, you’re struggling mightily. And you may not qualify for some of those other mainstream benefits. I think it’s pretty well targeted to help folks who are being squeezed out of our community.”

Alderperson Cynthia Brock expressed concern about the benefits cliff, and said she’s worried that it means there are groups of people who are the most vulnerable who won’t be eligible because of it.

“This is a pilot project and I support it entirely, but I’m sensitive to that feeling of frustration,” she said.

Myrick said that he anticipates the majority of participants will be below that 80% threshold.

“I know for folks who are making $39,000 a year and have a child or two, every day is terrifying,” he said.

Myrick also said the program will make it possible “not only to change the lives of this test group but adding to the growing mountain of evidence that this is a form of benefit that should be replicated nationwide.”

He added that it will cut down on poverty and reduce the traumatic effects of poverty.

“It helps people go back to school, stay in schools, get better jobs, do better at their jobs,” he said. “The evidence is mounting and I think the study the UPenn researchers will be doing while we do the Ithaca Guaranteed Income Program will demonstrate that it works.”

The application will only be open Dec. 10-17. Applications open at 9 a.m. Dec. 10 at https://hsctc.org/igi/.

-Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

continued on page 26

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

R edistricting

County names redistricting committee, reconsiders size of Legislature

A

commission of nine independent members selected by the Tompkins County Legislature will lead redistricting efforts for new county legislative seats guided by recently released U.S. Census data. Elected leaders and members of the commission are emphasizing the need for the redistricting process — which will yield results for the County Legislatures to review at some point next spring — to be “fair” and “transparent.”

The commission will be chaired by former Cornell University Vice President of University Relations Henrik Dullea, who was unanimously appointed along with the other eight members of the commission at a Tompkins County Legislature meeting in mid November.

“The most important thing to me is that this is a fair process, and that this commission is able to work independently with no pressure or adjustment from elected officials representing any municipality,” said Tompkins County Legislator Amanda Champion, who chairs the Legislature’s Government Operations Committee and was in charge of selecting applicants to the commission.

“We really want the commissioners to be able to look at the census data and work with the county staff with mapping and have this all be a non-partisan process.”

In order to strengthen this sense of impartiality, the application process specifically prevented elected officials and officers in local political parties from applying.

“The consistent theme among those who applied was the importance of an independent and impartial look at redistricting,” County Legislator Rich John said during the Legislature meeting. “It strikes me that New York state can’t seem to do this and on the national level we have the same issue.

Locally, we are in pretty good hands. This commission is going in with exactly the right attitude.”

Dullea and the commission, alongside officials from Tompkins County’s information technology (IT) department, will sort through 2020 U.S. Census data, analyzing how the growth and decline in population may affect legislative district boundaries. The commission will host public meetings and allow for the public to submit their input.

The public comments submission box can be found at https://www2.tompkinscountyny.gov/redistricting The 2020 survey figures estimate there are 105,470 people living in Tompkins County.

That is approximately 4,176 more than the figure recorded in 2010. Dullea said districts are apportioned based on the total population number divided by the number of seats.

Every district then should remain within 5% above or below that average, which is known as the “mean population value.”

The Town of Ithaca is the area in the county that experienced the largest influx of new residents, per 2020 U.S. Census

data, totaling 22,283 residents.

This uptick in population shows an increase of 2,353 residents in the last 10 years, or close to 12%.

The population of the City of Ithaca was tallied at 32,108, according to 2020 U.S. Census data, which signifies a growth of 2,094, or approximately 7%.

Other areas that experienced population growth in the county in the last decade are the towns of Lansing, Danby, and Caroline, and the villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing.

One of the main question marks still lingering is the number of Legislature seats the county will have moving forward. There are currently 14 Legislature seats drawn within the current boundaries, but Champion said the current county charter allows for anywhere from 11 to 19 Legislature seats and would accommodate for new seats if the commission deemed it a priority.

“There has been a lot of growth in the city of Ithaca, and there is some sense that the city could go back to having five legislators representing Ithaca-based districts,” Champion said.

Dullea, who served in a previous redistricting commission in 2011, noted he has spoken with county legislators regarding the creation of new districts.

“I told them we would be pleased to receive their recommendations concerning the size of the Legislature,” he said.

During the previous redistricting process, the Legislature had 15 seats before officials made the decision to reduce that number to 14 in hopes to enact some savings, Dullea said.

“At the time, there was a question we raised as to whether having an even number of members of the legislature could potentially be a problem,” he added. “We were advised that no, the Legislature felt it was quite acceptable.

Now, other people have said the Legislature has had difficulties having an even number of members with regards to votes and tiebreakers. We would welcome the thoughts of members of the Legislature in that regard.”

Ultimately, and although there is a heavy emphasis on

fairness and non-partisanship, Champion said she would like the redistricting process to also help voters participate in more streamlined elections.

“There is a desire among legislators and commissioners to line up City of Ithaca Common Council districts with those in the Legislature,” she said, “There is often a lot of confusion from residents. They wonder what council district they are in, what legislative district they are in. There are so many maps and lines.”

Eventually, the confusion can lead to voter apathy, Champion added.

“It would be one less thing for city residents to think about,” she said. “Anything we can do to make it easier and more legible for people to participate, that is important to me.”

For Dullea, familiarity with the process is one factor he considered when applying to lead the commission.

“In 2011, that was a very successful effort,” he said. “We had a full consensus among members of the commission on our recommendations to the legislature. Our recommendations then were approved unanimously by the legislature.”

Ten years ago, Dullea said, this process was different.

“We had several opportunities for the public to advise the commission,” he said. “As we went on, we hosted meetings out in rural fire departments and the public library. All of that, I thought, contributed to a very good process.”

Although Dullea said the commission will keep several avenues open for the public to provide their input, added access to new technologies such as Zoom, which has been widely adopted by government bodies as a public forum, could increase public participation in the redistricting process.

“With all of the talk nationally about the problems of redistricting, I felt that we could help make it a process here locally that everyone can respect,” he said.

The first redistricting commission meeting will take place Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Legislature Chamber.

-E ddi e Ve l a zqu e z

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Ups It’s Readers Write season! The prompt is “things I thought I knew but didn’t.” Send your poems, prose, song lyrics, etc. to editor@ ithacatimes.com by Dec. 20 to be featured in the last issue of the year!

Downs Yes, we had two typos on the first page. Yes, we lost sleep over it. Sorry about that — turns out we’re not immune to a Thanksgiving turkey hangover.

HEARD&SEEN Heard Tompkins County Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers this weekend at their Gingerbread House Cookie Kit sale on the Commons. It runs from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday. Email shannon@tchabitat.com if you’re interested in helping out.

Seen The Commons were aglow and buzzing this past weekend as people attended the Winter Lights Festival. It continues this coming weekend, with Santa Claus himself making an appearance on Saturday.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Black, Cyber or Giving?

13.6% Black Friday 63.6% Cyber Monday 22.7% Giving Tuesday

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

Do you favor opting in or out of NY’s Marijuana law?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

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SPORTS

SURROUNDED BY REALITY

Nose on the Ball

Dude, Spare That Tree

By St ev e L aw r e nc e

By C h a r l ey G i t h l e r

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he basketball season is well underway for both of the Tompkins Cortland Community College Panther basketball teams, and several local players are putting the “community” in community college.

In a 45-41 come-from-behind victory over Finger Lakes Community College, the Lady Panthers had been tied at the end of the first quarter, but went into hibernation for two periods, and entered the fourth quarter trailing 35-28. Ithaca High School grad Simone Smith came alive in the fourth quarter, sparking the Panthers’ comeback. Newfield High grad Adrianna Royce and Moravia grad Madison Kelly — who led the team with 13 points — also stepped up in the win, which brought the Panthers to a .500 record.

Simone came up through the usual Ithaca youth basketball pathway — GIAC to modified, junior varsity, then varsity with coaches Tim Little and Jane Bryant.

When asked to share the biggest difference between high school and college ball, she said, “For one thing, the refs call way more fouls in high school.” She added, “Also, I like playing with a different set of teammates, girls from all over New York

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state, and getting used to their vibe.”

Head Coach Dave Stevenson piped in and said, “She’s about five feet tall, and she often leads us in rebounds!” Simone said, “I’m actually 4’11,” and I think I’m averaging six rebounds per game.

Rebounding is fun!”

Stevenson knows the old saying that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, and he said, “I will tell you this... Simone is far and away our best defender. She sticks her nose on the ball, and she is a pleasure to coach.”

Asked how she plans to spend her three-and-a-half week hiatus until the Panthers take the court again, Simone offered, “I plan to get to the gym four times per week, and if my old teammates at Ithaca High have a home game, I’d like to see them.” ● ● ●

Meanwhile, that explosion heard on East Hill on Sunday was the Cornell men’s basketball team’s point explosion.

While it is not possible to actually put

/December

continued on page 7

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I

n August, we welcomed a cute little kitten to the household. His name is Lebowski, but he prefers ‘The Dude’, or simply ‘Dude’. Historically, we’re more of a dog family, and we have an outstanding member of the species, Curly, whose domain – everything from knee-level down – has been his to rule for five years, and Dude’s arrival has called for large-scale adjustments. I’ve had cats before, but I’d forgotten a lot.

Curly and The Dude conferred on the first day and it was apparently agreed that, as between the two of them, Dude would be the alpha male. Where Dude fits in with the rest of us is much less clear. He is agonizingly hard to read. Curly, like all dogs, will greet you, no matter how briefly you’ve been out of the house, as if you had stumped all the way home from the Battle of Gettysburg on your one good leg just to see him. Dude’s Welcome Home routine is more muted. One senses something like apathy. He’s not a sociopath, exactly, and he can be very affectionate, until he’s suddenly sick of it.

Remember the Parkour craze from like ten years ago? That’s how Dude moves from Point A to Point B. He might also be playing the game, beloved by three-yearolds, where you pretend the floor is hot lava. Either way, he leaps from surface to surface with the zest, but not always the agility, of an Alpine Ibex. This morning I was composing my apology letter to Yoko Ono and he landed squarely on the keyboard of my laptop. Almost like he doesn’t even care.

Also, we’ve had to adopt a wariness, almost like being on patrol in a jungle, when moving from room to room, due to a rash of sudden, unprovoked, surprise attacks. Usually at the ankles, but not always. It’s like having Inspector Clouseau’s manservant Cato lying in wait in your own house. Our New Reality is expecting the unexpected at all times.

This brings me to the Christmas tree, which came home from Eddydale last Sunday. I remember from previous cats that it’s an essential part of the Feline Code to treat an upright, decorated tree as a challenge that must be accepted. The Dude accepted immediately, and with gusto. He seems to regard the very presence of the tree as an affront to his dignity and sense of self-worth, and I don’t think it’s going too far to say that he’s obsessed.

There is ample evidence in the historical record, dating back to ancient times,

of the adversarial relationship between cats and Christmas trees. It’s supported by archeology. Famously, the South Wall of the Egyptian Temple of Edfu has a very clear hieroglyphic depiction of a feline deity destroying a Christmas tree while the emperor (Ptolemy III?) is desperately flicking water from a clay urn. It’s unclear whether the emperor’s decision not to use a spray bottle was because they hadn’t been invented yet or because it might have been seen as an act of irreverence.

In any event, since the arrival of the tree, I’ve been locked in a constant struggle for dominance with some successes, but, it pains me to admit, many failures.

Dude is bold and resourceful. And relentless. I don’t want to use the word ‘impunity’, but I swear he locked eyes with me while swatting a novelty SpongeBob ornament to the ground.

I don’t surrender easily, though, and I’ve put secondary projects like laundry, dishes and meal preparation aside to devote my fullest attention to protecting the very symbol of Christmas. All calibrated to appropriate levels, of course.

There is no truth to the laughable rumor that I stayed up all night two days ago to protect the tree, nor did I suggest creating a moat in our living room. That would be crazy.

In fact, as of today a wobbly truce exists in our house. The bottom 36 inches of the tree resembles one of those acid rain ghost trees. It’s really just broken sticks. The humans have ceded that territory to the cats. The cat. The top part of the tree is now thickly decorated with the survivors of the war – a full tree’s worth (minus casualties) of ornamentation and lights, affixed in dense layers to still-needled branches. There’s a sort of no-man’s-land in between. In quiet moments, I hear my kids whisper that I’m engaged in a slow fighting retreat which will end in defeat. They use more hurtful language. I maintain that it’s important to establish boundaries with a cat, which doesn’t sound ridiculous if you don’t say it out loud.

The contents of my annual letter to Santa are secret, as custom dictates. That’s between me and him. But I’ll say right now that if a living room moat should appear around the tree on Christmas morning this year, it will not be because I asked for it.

THE TALK AT

YOUR LETTERS Re: Town of Ithaca aims to limit shortterm rentals with legislation

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Caption: Simone Smith handles the ball for TC3. Photo: Darl Zehr Photography.

SPORTS Contin u ed From Page 6

points in some kind of “points bank” for later use, a scoring explosion like the one at Cornell can bode well in terms of confidence going forward. Confidence in a deep bench, confidence in a coaching staff’s ability to involve many players and confidence that your team can put up 122 points in a single contest.

That’s what the Cornell men’s basketball team did on Sunday, rolling over Keuka 122- 64. In moving to 8-1, the Big Red dressed 13 players, and all but one of them put points on the board. The Big Red shattered long-standing records for points with 122 (the old record of 116 was set in 1965), field goals (49) and assists (41). The team shot 61% from the field, and the win was Brian Earl’s 50th as Cornell’s head coach. ● ● ●

Turning my attention down the road a few miles, I’d like to congratulate the

Spencer-Van Etten/Candor Eagles 8-Man football team on a truly dominant season. The team went 9-0 and rolled over opponents by absurd scores, including a 68-20 shellacking of Spackenkill in the Section IV Regional championship game at Binghamton High School. That total surpassed the Eagles’ eye-opening average of 56 points per game. Entering the final, and after the season wrapped up, S-VEC had outscored opponents 516-60.

Despite such dominance, it was nonetheless a season that ended shrouded in a big “What If?” What if the powers-that-be had arranged for 8-Man teams to play for an actual state championship? In a statement issued by the officials at New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), “The governing body NYSPHSAA only allows for (5) classifications for NYS Championship play. Classes AA, A, B, C, and D. They won’t sanction anymore.” That surely rings hollow to players and coaches who worked just as hard as any other high school football program, and deserve — in my opinion — a chance to play for a state title. Way to

ear Town of Ithaca Board, We are writing you regarding the proposed Short Term Rental legislation in advance of your December 13, 2021 Board meeting vote. We are strongly opposed to the Short Term Rental (STR) legislation as proposed for the following reasons. We urge you to vote down the proposed Short Term Rental legislation which we view as overreaching and unfair to retirees and homeowners not privileged to be located on the lake.

Discrimination against Retirees – as written, unless the owner currently utilizes the property as their principal residence, one’s property is not eligible for STR under section D3. We are both long term Ithaca residents who retired in 2014since then we travel and spend winters in Florida (now Florida residents). Our 1024 Hanshaw Road house has been rented on Airbnb when we are not in Ithaca for nearly seven years. Short term Airbnb rentals work best for us because it enables us to return to our Ithaca home during the fall, winter and spring for holidays and other family events. We have never had a complaint from neighbors. We do not believe that it was your Board’s intention to cut off an income stream for retirees from Ithaca but that is one of the consequences from the proposed Short Term Rental legislation.

Capped Day Discrepancy Between Lake and Non-Lake Houses – We made a decision to buy the home in the Northeast when we sold our home in Belle Sherman

which we had owned since 1995 in order to be close to Megan’s parents when they move to Kendal, even though we intended to become Florida residents. We typically rent for 80 – 100 days per year in all seasons. Even a limit of 29 days would represent a hardship impact on our finances and prohibiting any rentals is a huge impact! We bought the house with the plan that our part time presence on site would be financially viable through short term rentals, just as many Lake property owners do. We are providing advance notice to the Town of Ithaca Board that the proposed regulation is fundamentally unfair and constitutes deprivation of equal protection to give lake owners 245 unhosted days while non-lake owners get 29 days- as well as prohibiting rentals by retirees for whom the home is no longer their principal residence. In addition, it is unfair that Lake owners are not subject to the proposed short term rental provisions that: prohibit parking on the street, require that short term rentals be a principal residence, and limit rentals to a maximum of two bedrooms. Given the political party affiliations of the Board, we are shocked that the Board would propose legislation that so clearly favors owners privileged to own property on the lake and would deprive income from retirees like us as well as other people with lower value homes within the Town of Ithaca.

Owner on site for Hosted Rentals – We have an Accessory Dwelling Unit on our property with a long-term rental tenant who watches our property when we are not there. We believe that OWNER OR OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE ON SITE is an appropriate safeguard to qualify as hosted.

We are confident that it was not the intention of the Town of Ithaca Board to penalize retirees and lower property value owners with this legislation. However, we believe that is the net result of this complicated, costly and unfair proposed regulation. We urge you to vote it down.

-Craig Dunham and Megan Shay, Ithaca, NY

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ince 1981, the Ithaca Times has closed every year with the “Readers’ Writes” issue, featuring submissions from the most diverse writing staff at our disposal: you. Stories, poems, drawings and photographs are all welcome and complete artistic freedom is in your hands. It’s a platform for you to be heard beyond the letters page.

R E A DE R S ’

This year’s theme is “What I thought I knew but didn’t”

W RITES

As tradition dictates, any interpretation of what this prompt means to you is fair and, of course, a wide range of submissions will be accepted–just as long as you stay under 600 words. Send your submissions to Attn: Readers’ Writes, the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, New York 14850 or email them in with a subject line of “Reader’s Writes” to editor@ithacatimes.com.

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Looking forward to seeing your stuff!

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get writing!

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GRAIN STORE TO GREENSTAR The cooperative celebrates 50 years of business

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By Bill Chaisson

reenstar Cooperative Market celebrated 50 years in business this year. Over many decades, retired city attorney Dan Hoffman and former mayor of Ithaca Carolyn Peterson were both heavily involved with the organization, Hoffman from its inception and Peterson from the mid 1970s.

GreenStar is a “consumer cooperative,” a form of organization that became especial8 T

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ly popular before the turn of the 20th century in reaction to intensifying monopolistic practices in the American food supply.

Federal support for cooperatives remained strong through the 1930s, but then waned after World War II. In the late 1960s and early ‘70s, there was a second wave of cooperative formation, and the Ithaca Real Food Co-op (IRFC) was part of it. According to a history written by Hoffman for the 40th nniver-

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sary: “The hippies and activists (primarily college students) who created it envisioned a decentralized, grassroots system with little overhead — no store, no employees, and lots of donated labor.” The membership was subdivided into neighborhood regions, which ordered produce once a week and non-perishables every two weeks. Every Saturday morning volunteers drove to a Syracuse wholesaler and brought food back to Ithaca. According to Hoffman, “a mini-

mal five percent mark-up would ensure the lowest possible prices.”

A cooperative is owned by its members. “You can’t buy shares,” said Hoffman, in a recent interview. “It’s one member, one vote.” The bylaws, as written in 1971, guided by principles from the international cooperative movement, created an organization that was, he said, “as democratic as possible.”

The pre-order/no store approach was demanding. “For better and worse,” Hoffman wrote in 2011, “the IRFC offered a direct involvement with food and neighbors absent from many Americans’ experience, one that was as thrilling and magical as it could be frustrating.”

After 1974, the IRFC began to sell food that had not been pre-ordered and a retaillike entity called the Grainstore began a nomadic existence. By 1979 it was located on Fifth Street and two volunteer coordinators were hired (after much debate).

Peterson pre-ordered food for her family through the Fall Creek group. Her home served as the pick-up site at least once and she also made the drive to Syracuse. She was regularly involved in preparing the orders. Already a political activist when she moved to Ithaca from Chicago, she saw the co-op as integrating food shopping with community building.

“I liked that everybody had a place in the store,” she recalled in a phone interview from her retirement in the Adirondacks.

“Everyone had something to do.”

In 1980, Hoffman proposed allowing members to purchase food without putting in volunteer hours. The next year the Grainstore hired Denny Hayes as its first full-time manager. In 1982 the Grainstore Council, a board of directors, was created, and the IRFC pre-order system and the retail store split into separate entities with the store renamed GreenStar (sharing the initials of its predecessor).

While the IRFC soon declined and disappeared, in 1984 GreenStar moved to larger quarters at the corner of Farm and North Cayuga streets. It remained there for nine years, during which time it expanded its inventory to include coffee, chocolate, corn chips and … packaged groceries. All of this, according to Hoffman’s 2011 account, was accompanied by an enormous amount of debate because of the democratic nature of a cooperative. But it was a democracy that worked; the business did evolve with changing times.

Ithaca is a city full of cooperatives.

Handwork, Moosewood, Ithaca Farmers Market, and Alternatives Credit Union are GreenStar contemporaries. Hoffman recalled that another food co-op was started on Eddy Street in the 1980s. “It was established on a shoestring,” he recalled, “and it didn’t last.” Ithaca Biodiesel operated between 2007 and 2013. Buffalo Street Books was founded in 2011. The original co-op supermarket in Ithaca, the Cooperative Consumer Society, was established in the 1940s and closed in the 1990s.

A b ov e : O u t s i d e G r e e n s ta r’s C ay u g a S t r e e t L o c at i o n . B e l ow: Th e h u m a n c h a i n 1 9 8 3 m ov i n g d ow n C a s c a d i l l a s t r e e t. ( P h o t o : P r ov i d e d) On January 6, 1992 the Farm Street store was burned to the ground, apparently

by a teenager. This precipitated the move to a 10,000-square-foot vacant Payless super-

market in the West End, where GreenStar remained until the opening of the present store in May 2020.

Peterson served on the Council for several years through the 1980s while the store was in Fall Creek and open only to members. During this period Peterson spoke with non-member friends about the food offered by GreenStar and discovered some people felt excluded. She began to think the members-only policy was elitist. At the West End store the policy was changed. After 1992, anyone could shop at GreenStar, but there continues to be a member discount.

During its 18 years in the West End, the cooperative evolved in many ways, though major decisions continued to be made democratically. For example, in 2002 the members voted to allow the store to sell meat.

“It was approved with conditions,” Hoffman said, “which were later modified. The emphasis was on locally-produced meat.”

The initial conditions required GreenStar staff to do in-person inspections of the origin farms. This rule was relaxed to allow third-party inspections instead.

As the membership grew, what had been a participatory democracy, Hoffman said, became a more representative democracy.

More decisions began to be made by the elected Council. GreenStar and other cooperatives have adapted principles developed for nonprofits by University of Georgia professor John Carver. These provide a rational and consistent way to apportion the responsibilities of a board versus the staff.

Ten years ago GreenStar inaugurated FLOWER, its discount for low-income shoppers. It coincided with an effort to diversify its staff and customer base.

Fall Creek was a diverse neighborhood when Peterson lived there, a diversity that included low-income people. She was aware of the perception that the co-op food was more expensive. “We talked about this years ago,” she said of the Council. “I don’t think that it was [more expensive].” It depended what you bought, she said, and she tended to buy bulk foods. She occasionally shopped at the P&C, so she did have a reference point.

Hoffman said FLOWER has done quite well. “It’s not too strict — there’s no work requirement — and it’s not bureaucratic,” he said.

The traditional hallmark of memberowned cooperatives, the work requirecontinued on page 10

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ment, has been optional at GreenStar since 1981, when they hired their first full-time employee. “Initially, everyone had to work,” he recalled, “although I’m not sure everyone did. There was plenty to go around with the pre-order system.”

As for the diversity of the staff, Hoffman said that it ebbs and flows. “Retail jobs are not held for long by most,” he noted.

“We need to work on diversification all the time.”

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He said that within 10 years of moving to the West End in 1992, the Council and membership began to talk about building either a bigger store or more stores. Diverse or not, Greenstar has grown. In 2004 they opened a satellite store in the Dewitt Mall.

In 2010 they acquired what was called The Space, across Buffalo Street. In 2016 they opened a Collegetown store. Why get bigger?

“To get more people involved in the coop model,” said Hoffman. “We believe in that model.” They did market research and found that, on paper, they could attract more people to a bigger store. Reality has been somewhat different, Hoffman said, because they opened two months into the Covid pandemic. One thing a cooperative is not is a nonprofit.

“We’re operating at a loss,” said Hoffman, “but it has improved. We need to do better than break even. We need to have reserves to get through hard times, so expenses have to be held down.”

Both Hoffman and Peterson have watched the evolution of the community around them. The amount of packaged food in GreenStar, which was added back in the Farm Street store, has steadily expanded, as has the amount prepared food (which is largely made in-house). Hoffman is also amazed at the variety of housewares sold in the new store.

Peterson, who early on followed the guidance of Francis Moore Lappé’s “Diet for a Small Planet,” has always seen GreenStar as part of broader community-mindedness. In the 1970s she met the original IRFC crowd through the Self-Reliance Center, an activist hub run by Hoffman, that promoted alternative energy, opposed nuclear war, and was already “thinking local.”

“For me [healthy food] was hand-inhand with environmentalism,” she said.

“You wanted your food to have good sources, wanted to know how it was produced, whether they used sprays or pesticides.”

Does she think that more people think that way now? She hopes so.

“When I was mayor,” Peterson recalled, “the planning department had its heart set on getting a Trader Joe’s in Ithaca. Back then the company said it was not a good fit.

Well, something’s changed.”

Photo by Karsten Winegeart

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10 SQUARE MILES MAGNET, $4.99 SUNNY DAYS OF ITHACA

This cute little 2x3 magnet is the perfect gift for someone new to town or someone who’s since moved away. It has a simple map-like drawing of the Finger Lakes with a red box showing where Ithaca lives — outside the realm of reality, of course.

THIRSTY OWL BLUSHING MOON, $8.99

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CANVAS BASKET MEDIUM, $10

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You won’t find quality and price like this in box stores. A stylish canvas basket, you can use it to store blankets, toys, clothes, or anything else you can imagine. Its simple pattern and versatility make it a great gift.

Alcohol doesn’t have to be expensive to be good.

This rosé comes from the Cayuga Lake area of the Finger Lakes wine region and is considered medium sweet with a hint of strawberry.

Sounds perfect for a holiday get together with your friends.

HAIRBALL KITTY, $6.99

ALPHABET SOUP

Help unclog this round feline’s throat of pompom hairballs with this cute, silly fidget toy.

Comes with three hairballs and one cat (either black, orange, or grey, depending on stock).

Ages five and up.

ITHACA IS GORGES, $5

LISTENING TO PODCATS MAGNET, $6

MUSEUM OF THE EARTH

This short book is a Museum of the Earth publication, written by Warren D. Allmon and Robert M. Ross, and provides a quick guide to the geology of the Ithaca area. Gorges, waterfalls, a big giant lake. You know the deal.

Plus, there are photos!

HANDWORK

Someone in your life needs this magnet—surely the overlap in the Venn diagram of cat lovers, podcast listeners and pun appreciators is not small. If this one doesn’t remind you of your best friend, Handwork has lots more magnets to choose from, many with illustrations by local artists (this one is by Newfield artist Elizabeth Andrews).

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SWEET & SPICY MUSTARD, $8.95

F. OLIVERS

Made in the Finger Lakes from F. Oliver’s ingredients, this Sweet & Spicy mustard makes a perfect condiment for sandwiches, charcuterie boards, or in salad dressing. Tangy with a mild sweetness, you can use this versatile mustard every day.

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Happy Holidays from your friends at Benjamin Peters Come see our 2021 collection of clothing and footwear Treat yourself and your loved ones to something truly exceptional to show you care.

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$ 1 1 - $ 2 5

CEPHALOPOD T-SHIRT, $20

MUSEUM OF THE EARTH

AVERY SPUMANTE, $15.99

SIX MILE CREEK WINERY & DISTILLERY This is a carbonated semi-dry blush wine with notes of citrus and strawberry. It’s named after the winery owners’ dog Avery and is “just as bubbly and effervescent as her.” Support Avery’s treat budget!

ITHACA WHITE, $11

DISCOVER ITHACA DVD, $15

SIX MILE CREEK WINERY & DISTILLERY

LES JINKS

This is Six Mile Creek’s best-selling white wine and appeals to everyone’s tastes. The combination of Cayuga White and Chardonnay has melon and apple flavors to delight the senses. Yum.

Resident Les Jinks, a photojournalist who also specializes in audio and video production, was born in England but fell in Ithaca and “decided to tell the whole world about it.” This 30-minute DVD shows you all the things that makes this area a special place to live, from the waterfalls and gorges and rolling hills, to the local wine trails, festivals and the Commons. It makes a lovely gift for anyone who has called Ithaca home. You can buy it directly from Les at 607272-9175, or lesjinks@gmail.com.

BEST EVER IRON ON QUILT LABELS SOFTCOVER BOOK, $14.95

FIDGET BOX (LITTLE KIDS, BIG KIDS, COLLEGE STUDENTS), $20

ARVERO LIMONCELLO, $18.99

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I mean, the name says it all. This book has 125 iron-quilt labels from nine popular designers to give you seemingly endless ways to personalize your quilts or other projects. It could also serve as a good way to drop a hint that you want your crafty friend to make you something.

Everyone knows that cephalopods are the coolest member of the mollusca phylum. This cephalopod shirt comes in gold, heather gray, orchid and mauve and sizes small-2XL. So far 11,000 extinct species of cephalopods have been discovered, with the t-shirt cephalopod among the rarest of them all.

100 MG CBD BATH BOMB, $15 YOUR CBD STORE ITHACA

Make bathtime an even more relaxing experience with one of Your CBD Store Ithaca’s bath bombs. Comes in three different scents: Eucalyptus, Lemongrass and Lavender.

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Is a vacation to Italy a little outside of your price range? Get your loved one this bottle of limencello instead. Moderately priced, this sweet and tart drink is ideal for sipping on the patio of a Tuscan villa — er, an Ithacan apartment.

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Give that loved one a box of random sensory and fidget objects for them to make use during those preoccupied times. Boxes tailored to little kids (ages three to six), big kids (ages six to 10), and teenagers and young adults (ages 13 and up). Each box contains a different assortment of items.

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won’t come visit because “there’s nothing to do there.” Or, buy it for you and challenge yourself to try something new every day next year!

KEEP CALM & STITCH ON TUMBLER, $30

QUILTERS CORNER

This 20-ounce tumbler is a lovely light blue color and the “Keep Calm & Stitch On” design is laser engraved, which means it’ll hold up to years of use and washing. It’s the perfect gift for your friend or family member who sews, cross-stitches or embroiders. Plus, the lid is shatterproof and the insulated cup walls will keep your drink hot or cold for hours.

CHILD FLIP SENSORY BRACELET, $21.99

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Not only are they squishy and playable, these sensory bracelets come in a variety of colors to help individuals communicate different moods during an uncomfortable situation or if they simply struggle communicating their feelings in general. Two in a pack.

FARMERS BOUNTY OLIVE OIL $25

F. OLIVER’S

TRILOBITE SLIPPERS, $24

MUSEUM OF THE EARTH

For those not up to speed on their extinct marine arthropods, a trilobite is a marine organism that first appeared in the Cambrian Period 542 million years ago. They came in a variety of sizes, large and small, back then — these ones are the size of your feet!

Give your favorite home chef this collection of two olive oils and two balsamic vinegars and they will have an effortless compliment to almost any meal; all they have to do is reach for the Heady Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil to add some zing, and for the Blushing Peach Balsamic Vinegar is the perfect special ingredient for a homemade salad dressing.

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At Ithacamade you will find colorful, one-ofa-kind gifts made by locals—and not found anywhere else. And how cool is this coloring book of Ithaca’s murals? Any artistic kid (or young-at-heart-adult) who loves Ithaca will have fun not only coloring the beautiful illustrations but spotting them throughout the city in all their favorite spots.

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Art • Bags • Beverages • Books • Candles • Cards • Chimes • Clocks • Honey • Jam • Jewelry • Journals • Magnets • Maple • Mugs • Nightlights • Ornaments • Patches • Pins • Postcards • Puzzles • Sauces • Snacks • Soap • Stickers • Sunglasses • Sweatshirts • Tapestries • T-shirts • Umbrellas • Wine accessories • and more

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HANDWORK

They’re like decorating your living space with lovely rocks you found on a mountaintop—that also happen to be perfect for setting your drinks down on top of. No two are alike, but that’s what’s so beautiful about handpicking your own unique set for the discerning, wood furnitureloving Monica of your friend group.

AMORE (AMARETTO), $25

SIX MILE CREEK WINERY & DISTILLERY This Amaretto is Italian inspired and derived from almonds, which supposedly symbolize happiness and good fortune with romantic adventure. Maybe save this one for New Year’s Eve to set the tone for 2022?

GIFT CARD, $30

SEWGREEN

It can be hard to pick out fabric or yarn for someone else, we get it. So why not get them a gift card to a sustainable store like SewGreen where they can pick out their own? It’s available at a variety of price points, but $30 feels reasonable.

KNIT BEANIE AND HEADBAND CLASS, $33

MUSEUM OF THE EARTH

CORE SAMPLE TEA INFUSER, $34.95

If you know someone who’s been wanting to get into a craft, or someone you just think needs a hobby, gift them this class. It’s beginner friendly and will teach them how to cut out knits and sew them with confidence.

This 16-ounce insulated infuser flask will let you enjoy your tea with a side of science. Let your tea (or water!) steep while you dig deeper into the mysteries of the earth and lose yourself in the layers of geologic history. The body is doublewalled glass while the top is bamboo.

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FINGER LAKES MAP PILLOW, $34.99

SUNNY DAYS OF ITHACA

This 18x18 throw pillow features a vintage map of the Finger Lakes on one side, and is plain white on the other side. A comfy cozy gift that will force them to think of you every time they lay on the couch.

HEART OF THE FINGER LAKES HOODIE, $39.99

CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA, $42.99

NORTHSIDE WINE & SPIRITS

SUNNY DAYS OF ITHACA

A sweet and subtle way to show your love for the region, this navy hoodie features a green heart in the middle with the Finger Lakes inside. It’s doubtful anyone from outside the region would recognize the long, spindly lakes, but it’s sure to help you find fellow Ithacans when you’re traveling! It comes in sizes XS-3X.

We’re gonna be honest here — this one is all about the bottle. Crystal clear vodka in a skullshaped bottle, Crystal Head Vodka is perfect for your spookiest friend who considers October the true holiday season. As a bonus, this vodka is said to be smooth, with a hint of vanilla and citrus flavors and a slightly peppery finish.

PORTS OF NEW YORK MELEAU RED, $44.99

NORTHSIDE WINE & SPIRITS You may recognize Ports of New York from it’s location right here in Ithaca. Support a local Vitner and try this wine, described as a bold and spicy fortified wine. It’s made with a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes and is a versatile wine best served at room temperature.

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Tis the season for

HOME GREEN HOME

Who wouldn’t fall in love with this adorable penguin? Sculpted by a local artisan in threedimensional wool, he is just one of a wide array of items you can purchase at Handwork to brighten your loved one’s holiday and support local artists.

Who doesn’t need to stay hydrated? But carrying around disposable plastic bottles is a bad look. Give the gift of an eco-friendly, bottled water-free lifestyle with this bright blue flask—it’s a 32-ounce pop of color that almost makes drinking water fun, and its Color Last powder coat is dishwasher safe.

HANDWORK

Love

Put the JewelBOX under the tree this year and make her sparkle!

HYDRO FLASK, $44.99

SMALL PENGUIN WITH RED SCARF, $45

$ 5 1 - $ 7 5

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PRENATAL MASSAGE, $65

RASA SPA

Serving Ithaca for over 60 years

Know someone who’s expecting? Help them relax before the little one gets here by alleviating some pain. Rasa Spa offers a 30-minute prenatal massage for $65 to concentrate specifically on the parent-to-be and the changes their body is going through.

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A bourbon from the Finger Lakes makes a perfect hosting gift for any of your holiday parties this season. This bourbon has notes of butterscotch, vanilla, cloves and barrel char and is said to be a unique take on a traditional bourbon. Give it a shot! (Literally!)

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MAKEY MAKEY, $59.99

THE BRAIN SHOPPE

Give that inventive someone you know a kit that’ll make their wacky ideas a reality.

Ever wondered if a banana could be used as a keyboard, or a remote control for a video game?

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FAMILY PLUS MEMBERSHIP, $100

GORGES CYCLES

MUSEUM OF THE EARTH

ACUPUNCTURE, $80

This level membership gets you admission to the Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center for a household (two adults and all children in the household under 18, or all grandchildren), plus free entrance for up to two adult caretakers accompanying family children, plus two extra guests allowed. You’ll also get a discount on camp fees and free admission to over 300 science centers and museums worldwide through the ASTC passport program.

Make your little one’s dream come true with the absolute highest quality toddler bikes on the market (this beauty comes in pink, white and blue). Or if they’re not ready for the best bike of their life, find your own ride of your dreams and gift yourself from the broad selection of both new and used bikes.

RASA SPA

A science rooted in classical Chinese medicine, acupuncture stimulates can affect the nervous, endocrine, circulatory and immune systems.

Rasa said they combine that with a modern, medical understanding of the practice to customize healing plans focused on whole health.

THREE-PLAY FLEX PASS, $99

KITCHEN THEATRE

Looking for a fun way to unwind and spend time with loved ones that doesn’t involve staring at a screen? The Kitchen Theatre has a variety of season pass options to suit every budget. Right now they have a $99 three-play holiday special, with a 4-play pass available for $170 and eight plays for $332. The flex pass gives the freedom of a single ticket with the value of a discount package—you choose the productions you want to see and when you want to see them.

LAGAVULIN 16 YEAR MALT, $104.99

NORTHSIDE WINE & SPIRITS

Lagavulin is one of Scotland’s most famous distilleries, situated on the southern coast of the island Islay. It’s cold, grey and wet — the whiskey is to keep them warm. This is consistently considered one of the best bottled single malts in the world with its complex flavor and pleasing amber color.

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THE CORNELL STORE

A custom-made, 100-percent acrylic yarn sweater for that fellow Cornellian in your life.

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FENDER PLAYER STRATOCASTER, $800

ITHACA GUITAR WORKS

You want to buy your significant other a gift that rocks as much as they do, but do they know what they want more than you? Ithaca Guitar offers full refunds if you’re not a rockstar at picking the perfect guitar, so they’ll always end up with the one that rocks their world. This versatile Fender Stratocaster has a sleek threecolor gloss sunburst finish and a maple neck.

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CITRINE NECKLACE, $415

MANSOUR JEWELERS

Looking for an elegant piece of well made jewelry that also has a sense of fun and whimsy?

This necklace by Mansour Jewelers—one of many original pieces available at the downtown showroom—is 14-karat white gold with a citrine and diamond pendant.

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IT: I don’t ever remember you saying you were pro-polio, Al. AF: I was firmly anti-polio all the time in the Senate.

IT: That’s what I thought. I hate asking comedians to tell me their jokes, but can you tell me a little about the show that you’re bringing to the State?

AF: Yeah, sure. I talk. The number-one cause of death in the country? Dr. Carlson.

IT: [laughs] AF: I mean, this is obscene, right? [laughs] And so I talk about how I spent the COVID isolation period. I talk about politics and my career in politics. I talk a lot about my former colleagues, and then I delve into a lot of the divisions that we have. Also, I’ve been working out at the Comedy Cellar. Do you know the Comedy Cellar?

Q&A: AL FRANKEN SNL writer and former Senator stops by the State

A

B y B r y a n Va n C a m p e n

l Franken is the only U.S. Senator who was also a writer on “Saturday Night Live” for 15 seasons. This fact is reflected in the title for his current comedy tour: “Al Franken: The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently On Tour Tour.” That tour hits the State Theater on Friday, Dec. 10. Franken served Minnesota in the Senate from 2009-18, wrote several books and appeared in “Trading Places” (1983) with his writing partner Tom Davis, and also starred in the Harold Ramis cult favorite “Stuart Saves His Family” (1995), based on his SNL character Stuart Smalley. He also currently hosts “The Al Franken Podcast.”

Al Franken spoke to the Ithaca Times about SNL, the Grateful Dead and his current show.

Ithaca Times: In 1975, I was leafing through some magazine and saw a picture of Lily Tomlin singing with a Muppet [on SNL], so I’ve been on board with you from the beginning.

Al Franken: Oh, that’s a long haul. I thought you were gonna talk about the Grateful Dead and the Cornell shows.

IT: Al, that wasn’t where I was headed, but since you brought it up -

AF: [laughs] IT: How did you manage to balance SNL writing duties with following the Grateful Dead? How many Dead shows have you seen?

AF: To write comedy, it helps to have had experiences that involve other human beings.

Plus, their music always took me to interesting places and I often came up with ideas for sketches and spent the next couple of hours writing it in my head. As you can probably tell, I’ve gone to a lot of shows. Probably north of 50.

IT: Anyway, thanks for SNL. I needed things to look forward to when I was a kid, and that felt like my discovery.

AF: Thanks. I’m glad you liked it.

IT: I can’t recall you ever touring like this before.

AF: Tom Davis and I used to do it. Not quite this big. We did a lot of colleges, is what we did. And also, I toured before COVID. But then I only did six cities, and boom, it was done. [laughs] So I did Portland, Seattle, New Haven, South Orange. And it was fun. I did a couple shows in South Orange and then it was over. [laughs] IT: Everybody got the short end on that one. Speaking of COVID, is everyone in your family okay?

AF: Thank you. Yes. Thank God. IT: I just don’t get it. When I was growing up there was no anti-vax movement. You

IT: Yeah. You’re in New Jersey, right?

AF: I’m actually in New York right now, I’m in Manhattan right now. I have grandchildren on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, so the Comedy Cellar is down in the Village, it’s a real stand-up place, people go in there for laughs.

IT: In the opening credits of Louis C.K.’s show “Louie,” he gets a slice of pizza and then goes into the Comedy Cellar.

AF: Yes. Exactly. And it’s great, because it’s about laughs. I was always a satirist. I always sort of combined comedy and politics and social commentary. At SNL, I wrote a lot of the political stuff with other people, and that was always where it went, so it wasn’t that strange, at least to me [laughs], that I went into the Senate. That was not odd to me. But I talk about that. I talk about how SNL was used against me, and a lot of my jokes were deliberately taken out of context, and stripped of all irony [laughs].

IT: Even though [Franken’s Weekend Update editorial] “Limo for the Lame-o” lost you the producing gig on SNL. AF: Well, yes and no. I mean, I was leaving.

I had no intention of staying there. I thought we were all leaving. We did, we all left, except for Jean Doumanian. I wasn’t interested in that job. I thought we had done it, we had done the show. It was very odd how, 40-some years later, to think that, “Oh, yeah, we thought that was it.” [laughs] And I left with Lorne for five years, and I’m the “Lorne Again” writer. We came back in ’85, and I stayed for another 10, so I did 15 full seasons. A wonderful time in my life, worked with unbelievable performers and writers. It was a gas, and then I started writing books like “Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.” I ended up getting Air America for a number of years. I was the top-rated progressive show, whatever that means. We had two million listeners a week. And then I went to Minnesota and ran for the Senate.

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Arts&Entertainment

just went to school and got your rubella shot and got on with your day.

AF: Yeah, the same with polio. I remember taking the polio vaccine at school. We drank a little cup and then we got rid of polio.

I t h a c a T i m e s 23

Visit our Full Service Grocery Store at 770 Cascadilla St., Ithaca

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Film

A Fresh Angle

Netflix film lovers’ series finds a new angle on nostalgia

By Br yan VanC ampe n

T

here’s no shortage of entertainment these days aimed at those who measure their lives by the films in their past. I’ve been listening to Josh Olson and Joe Dante’s podcast “The Movies That Made Me” for years. (That’s the one where William Friedkin called “Exorcist II: The Heretic” the worst film ever made.) Then IMDB swooped in with their copycat podcast “Movies That Changed My Life.”

And then Netflix spun off “The Movies That Made Us” from their previous series, “The Toys That Made Us.” Not to mention all the special features you can access on DVDs and Blu-Rays; for some reason, I always think of an appreciation of the actor Warren Oates, available on the Criterion Blu-Ray of Monte Hellman’s “Two-Lane Blacktop” (1971).

Now, here comes Netflix’s six-part series “Voir.” David Fincher is one of the executive producers of this series, dubbed “A collection of video essays… ….for the

love of cinema.” “The Movies That Made Us” is aimed at the mainstream moviegoer, with each episode centered around the production history of one movie: “Back to the Future,” “Ghostbusters” and “Dirty Dancing.” “Voir” is targeted at the hardcore movie geek, the person who will recognize the Bunuel clip and images from “Metropolis” in the opening title sequence.

It allows itself to be much more esoteric, so much so that it breaks its own format.

I’ll address each episode as sui generis, its own thing, if you will.

L.A. film blogger Sasha Stone’s “Summer of the Shark” is its own unique thing, as much a memoir of being 10 years old in the middle of the ‘70s as it is an appreciation of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” (1975).

Spielberg’s film has long been accused as the end of ‘70s cinema, along with “Star Wars” (1977). Stone’s piece is more concerned with the memory of driving to the theater with her sister, buying two

tickets from the cute guy at the box office and the sweet smell of summer popcorn.

Actors and sets are used to re-enact her childhood; none of the other episodes do this. She also talks about the movie’s indelible impact on the culture, including magazine covers, posters and T-shirts. (I was too scared to see “Jaws” when it came out, but I bought a copy of “The Jaws Log” and learned all about the film’s troubled production.)

Tony Zhou’s “The Ethics of Revenge” is more like what you would see on a Criterion disc. In analyzing the power of “Lady Vengeance,” Zhou examines the act itself utilizing lots and lots of film clips, including “Point Blank” (1967), “The Big Boss” (1971), “Blue Ruin” (2014) , “Gladiator” (2000) and “Batman Begins” (2005). Likewise, Drew McWeeny’s “But I Don’t Like Him” focuses on the need for character to be likeable. I’m a fan of McWeeny, but he seems to be the last guy to realize that whether it’s “Goodfellas”

(1990), “Taxi Driver” (1976) or “Raging Bull” (1980), Martin Scorsese doesn’t care if you like his characters or not.

“The Duality of Appeal” by animator Glen Keane (“Beauty and the Beast”) is the other outlier. Rather than focus on a single film, Keane’s episode is both an animation tutorial and a look at the need for animated characters to be appealing. As an exercise, we see the creation of a new character by designers and animators, with the kind of notes creatives routinely get from studio executives and toy companies.

Taylor Ramos and Zhou’s “Film vs.

Television” is the runt of the litter. It details the dovetailing of two mediums in ways that most of us already knew: analog vs. digital, rectangular TV screens. They say it all shifted with “The Sopranos.” I say it shifted when TV actors like Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd started getting cast in movies in the ‘80s.

Walter Chaw’s “Profane and Profound,” an appreciation of Walter Hill’s “48 Hrs.” (1982), was my favorite episode. I was there when Eddie Murphy became a superstar on “SNL.” I was in the audience when “48 Hrs.” made Murphy a movie star. Chaw’s thoughtful analysis of the film’s combustible take on racism reveals that after all these years, Hill’s influential anti-buddy comedy is still more progressive than it is problematic.

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RE IMAGINING Contin u ed From Page 4

specialized training and meet on a weekly basis. There are two people on call, one who is clinically trained and a secondary person who provides clinical support.

One woman from the public said she had a mental crisis during the first year of the mobile crisis team. She said she was having a panic attack and felt like she was dying so she called 911 and asked for the mobile crisis team.

“When two officers came to my door, I was confused,” she said. “They said they didn’t know who the mobile crisis team was.”

She said that the officers were very kind and professional, but could not provide the help she needed.

“Is there quality assurance being tested throughout the system?” she asked. “Are we identifying how many people are calling with mental health concerns and being connected with the mobile crisis team?

How are we tracking this throughout the larger system?

Osborne expressed his regret for the situation she was put in and said there was truth to what she was saying.

“When I took office three years ago, before Harmony was here, there was a time I found out about the mobile crisis

“I would like to see law enforcement partner with mental health professionals better [...] Maybe being in the same vehicle or having someone from mental health come to a shift briefing and partner with a deputy...”

for a room to be team and learned available,” he said. that members of my “Cayuga Medical agency didn’t know Center has very about it,” he said. limited availabilThe Sheriff ’s ity, and we’ll find Department and we’ll bring people Mental Health did up there, they’re begin meeting and familiar with the have formed a relasystem and they get tionship since then, themselves right Osborne said. back out. Then the Ayers-FriedlandSheriff ’s Office is er said she hopes - Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne dealing with them that this process in the next hour. It’s will work on ada revolving door. ” dressing situations like that.

He said only having law enforcement “I think law enforcement does a really and the emergency room as response good job responding, but having someone agencies isn’t enough, and said it would with that clinical background can make a difference,” she said. “I would hope today be helpful having trained counselors or mental health professionals with a high it would be different.” degree of training to respond alongside The experts also shared their perspeclaw enforcement. tives on what changes could be made to “We could deal with the criminal aspect improve the overall response to mental if there was one, and then law enforcement health crises. could leave and there’d be a continuation Joly said one of the issues Ithaca Police of care throughout,” he said. runs into when assisting someone with a Osborne agreed, and said he’s a propomental health crisis is the lack of treatnent of a co-response model. ment facilities.

“I would like to see law enforcement “If we come across someone in crisis partner with mental health professionand bring them to the hospital, they go in through the emergency room generally, so als better,” he said. “Whether that means maybe being in the same vehicle or having we’ve had times when officers have to wait

Prizes all night Midnight toast Photo booth Dance floor photo display Cash bar

Tickets avaible at: LakeWatch Inn or Cayuga Radio Group

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someone from mental health come to a shift briefing and partner with a deputy and go to shifts together. Law enforcement can protect the scene if they need to, but we also have the mental health professional to respond too. At the end of the day we want to do everything as best as we can.”

Stitley said he’d also like to see a 24hour mental health service and shared response. He said he’d also like to see enhanced training for 911 operators who assess these calls to ensure they’re dispatching the best response.

Someone also asked if there was a way to ensure these mental health calls were being treated appropriately by responding law enforcement agencies. Osborne said it’s important to shape culture by making expectations clear through internal policies.

“It provides a mechanism to provide accountability when something goes wrong,” he said. “So hiring practices to hire the best people possible, policy making internally, and accountability. I found that has been very successful for me in the Sheriff ’s Office.”

Joly echoed that and said people are always welcome to make complaints on the Ithaca Police Department’s website and that any and all complaints are investigated thoroughly.

-Ta n n e r H a r d i n g

Books

20 shoppers moving through the shopping area at a time, and we’ll require masking and social distancing. Parents can find a variety of inexpensive items for their children, priced at $4.50 for DVDs and $1.50 or $3 for other items.

Holiday pop-up

IT: Is it unusual for the FOL Book Sale to have a special pop-up sale in December? Why now, and what are your hopes for this pop-up sale?

KW: We haven’t had many pop-up sales at all! But they seem like a fun event for us and for the community, so we’re excited to be holding this special holiday sale. We’ve been looking for imaginative ways to serve the community, especially after COVID-19 started to affect kids and their families.

The idea was triggered by news that some shortages may be limiting parents’ ability to find holiday presents for their kids. Puzzles, games, and books make excellent presents for children, from infants through 14 years old. We already have a lot of these items in stock, and we thought we should make them available now to give parents other alternatives for their holiday shopping. We hope everyone enjoys this little pop-up sale!

Friends of the Library are hosting a children’s pop-up sale for one day only.

By G. M . Bur n s

T

he Friends of the Library Sale (FOL) have thought of a pop-up sale in the past, but one was never implemented, however with Christmas rapidly approaching, FOL is offering a one-day event on Dec. 12. Kathy Weinberg, coordinator of the Friends of the Tompkins County Library talks about the rare upcoming library sale, which will feature items for children.

Ithaca Times: You’ve said the Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library Book Sale is planning a special Kids Pop-

Photo by Annie Spratt

Up Holiday Sale for Dec.12. Tell us more about this pop-up sale.

Kathy Weinberg: We will be open on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. (while supplies last) for this small

ArtsPartner.Org

Friends of the Library Sunday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. 509 Esty St., Ithaca • www.booksale.org 607-272-2223 **Face masks required regardless of vaccination status**

Earlville Opera House Presents

This year, support local artists in your gift-giving festivities!

MADE IN ITHACA HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

pop-up sale. The kids’ items, including puzzles, games, books, and DVDs, will be displayed in the front of the warehouse.

Our big garage doors will be wide open to form the entry and to maximize ventilation, so dress warmly! We’ll have space for

Gibson Brothers

"Northern Country Christmas"

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Thank you to show sponsors: Mid York Foundation; NBT Bank; Preferred Mutual Insurance Company; sfcu; Bruce Ward, Architect; Poolville Country Store and Fred's Inn.

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College students half off general admission with ID. Youth $10 (17 and under) General/Member/Youth

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Concert | 3 p.m. | Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, 5 McLallen St. | $10.00 McKinley James | 7 p.m. | Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St. Shemekia Copeland | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St Concerto Competition Finals | 8 p.m. | Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza | Free

12/13 Monday Jeremy Wang, piano: CU Music | 5 p.m. | Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza | Free Anna Steppler, organ: CU Music | 7 p.m. | Anabel Taylor Chapel, 548 College Ave | Free

12/14 Tuesday Squirrel Nut Zippers | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St

Music

12/18 Saturday A Carpenters Christmas | 2:30 p.m. | Cortland Repetroty Theater, 24 Port Watson Street Opus Ithaca School of Music Faculty Concert and Celebration - Joy! | 4 p.m. | St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 402 N. Aurora St. | Free

Bars/Bands/Clubs

12/10 Friday Friday Night Music - Rachel Beverly | 6 p.m. | Hopshire Farms and Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd

Stage

Concerts/Recitals

12/9 Thursday Shakey Graves Was Here | 7 p.m. | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St | $30.00 - $35.00

12/10 Friday Historical Keyboard Celebration: CU Music | 8 p.m. | Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza | Free Billy Prine & The Prine Time Band | 8 p.m. | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St

12/11 Saturday Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes Holiday Concert with a Twist | 4 p.m. | Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway | Aerial violinist, Janice Martin, will add a new twist to this timeless holiday tradition. Additionally, the OSFL will perform the world premiere of Polina Nazaykinskaya’s “The Tales of Sorrow,” | $20.00 - $50.00

12/12 Sunday IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12TH AT 2:00PM

State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 W. State Street | Enjoy the classic holiday favorite on the big screen at the State. Free admission. (Photo: IMDb)

THISWEEK

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra: Home for the Holidays | 3 p.m. | Ithaca College, Ford Hall| Free The Krantz Family Players Present a Classical and Holiday Piano

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AL FRANKEN LIVE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10TH AT 8:00PM

State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 W. State Street | Join the SNL alum for an evening billed as his “The Only Former Senator Currently on Tour” tour. (Photo: Provided)

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Al Franken: The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently on Tour Tour at State Theatre of Ithaca | 8 p.m., 12/10 Friday | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St | The former senator from MN is a 5 time Emmy winner for his work on SNL, the author of 4 NYT Best Sellers and hosts his own hit podcast.

Butoh Performance “Eternity 123” | 8 p.m., 12/10 Friday & 12/11 Saturday | Ithaca Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street | “Eternity 123” traces the symbolic journey of women’s emancipation across time. | $20.00 Nutcracker Noir: Going for Baroque | 8 p.m., 12/11 Saturday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St | A holiday burlesque show!

A Christmas Carol | 7:30 p.m., 12/15 Wednesday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St | Join Center Players as they present Jim Coon’s version of this favorite holiday classic!

December 15, 16, 17 at 7:30pm; December 18 at 2:00pm ComedyFLOPs Presents All You Can Eat Improv To Support Mutual Aid Tompkins | 7 p.m., 12/17 Friday | Virtual, Not Applicable | Virtual improv show in support of Mutual Aid Tompkins.

Ithaca Ballet presents The Nutcracker | 7:30 p.m., 12/17 Friday ; 3;00pm, 12/18 Saturday| State Theatre

ORCHESTRA OF THE SOUTHERN FINGER LAKES HOLIDAY CONCERT WITH A TWIST

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11TH AT 4:00PM The Clemens Center, Elmira | If a short road trip is up your alley, this show sounds very unique. An aerial violinist isn’t something you see (or hear) every day! (Photo: Provided)

Books

Fully Local.

YA Book Club | 4:30 p.m., 12/15 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street |

Kids

Totally Mobile.

Send Money Fast.

of Ithaca, 107 West State St | The Holiday tradition returns to the State theatre with The Nutcracker ballet. | $10.00 - $22.00

Art CAP-a-Palooza Annual Vintage Art Sale! | 10 a.m., 12/8 Wednesday | CAP Artspace, Tompkins Center for History and Culture, 110 N. Tioga Street | CAP-a-Palooza annual Art Sale - a fundraiser of fun and vintage previously owned art!Thru 12/9. | Free Our Annual Juried Show Is Back! | 12 p.m., 12/9 Thursday | State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street | Juried art show of all media except photography.

Holiday Paint & Sip | 6 p.m., 12/9 Thursday | Finger Lakes Tasting & Tap Room, 31 Main Street | Your choice of Holiday ornaments/décor & a tasty beverage. Visit Designz by Heather to select your personalized project to create.

Experience Cortland’s Winter PopUP | 12 p.m., 12/10 Friday | Cortland County Visitors Center, 42 Main Street | Fill your bags with original work by; Capturing His Creation photography, Pink Flamingo Lane’s beautiful wreaths, unique wood workings by

Mobile Check Deposit.

Beacon Peak LLC, everything maple from Cooper Hill Maple.

The Gallery at South Hill presents The Small Works Invitational | 4:30 p.m., 12/10 Friday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Road | The Gallery at South Hill presents The Small Works Invitational featuring artwork fourteen inches or less by local artists. | Free

Film Wolf | 12/9 Thursday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Believing he is a wolf trapped in a human body, Jacob eats, sleeps, and lives like a wolf – much to the shock of his family.

When he’s sent to a clinic, Jacob and his animal-bound peers are forced to undergo increasingly extreme forms of ‘curative’ therapies.

Opera Ithaca presents: Hansel and Gretel | 7 p.m., 12/10 Friday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | This delightful and delicious adaptation of the Humperdinck classic sets the action in a dream world where a celebrity pastry chef captures two children who get lost in the woods and features them on her zany cooking show as the guest stars… and main ingredients. 12/10-12/12 only!

Lost Card?

Turn it Off.

C’mon C’mon | 12/10 Friday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) and his young nephew forge a tenuous but transformational relationship when they are unexpectedly thrown together in this delicate and deeply moving story about the connections between adults and children, the past and the future, from writer-director Mike Mills. Shows daily Benedetta | 12/10 Friday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | A 17th-century nun in Italy suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions.

She is assisted by a companion, and the relationship between the two women develops into a romantic love affair. Shows daily.

Belfast | 12/10 Friday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | Shows daily thru 12/2. A young boy and his working class family experience the tumultuous late 1960s. Ends 12/9.

The French Dispatch | 12/11 Saturday | Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street. | The latest film from Wes Anderson. Shows daily thru 12/30.

Classic Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life | 2 p.m., 12/12 Sunday | FREE EVENT NO TICKETS NEEDED An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have

been like if he had never existed. FULL VACCINATION REQUIRED FOR ENTRY | Free

Special Events Silent Discos at Winter Lights Festival | 6 p.m., 12/10 Friday | Bernie Milton Pavilion, Center Commons | Come dance the night away to the heart-pumping music provided by multiple talented DJs. 3 Channels of Music! Electronic Dance Music | Hip Hop/R&B | Top40/Throwback Hits & More! Winter Light Festival Silent Discos are family-friendly and free to attend!

2021 International Rutabaga Curl | 12 p.m., 12/18 Saturday | Steamboat Landing, 545 Third Street | An Ithaca Favorite, the Rutabaga Curl is a celebration of the end of the season and a preparation for the winter to come.

Journey to Bethlehem | 4 p.m., 12/19 Sunday | Dewitt Park, 108 Aster Lane 309 | A magical, candlelit stroll through the park following Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, visiting seven stations of the Nativity. | Free

Notices M&T Bank Great Big Chamber Thank You 2021 | 5:30 p.m., 12/8 Wednesday | State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 West State St | The evening will include ways to support local businesses and non-profit organizations alike! As part of the Great Big Chamber Thank You ceremony, the evening will start with a networking reception in a festive atmosphere. The evening will also include a live auction, grants awarded to five nonprofits doing important work in our community, and live entertainment. | $25.00 Lodi Town Board Meeting | 7 p.m., 12/9 Thursday | Topic: Town of Lodi RegularMeeting - February 2021 Time: Feb 11, 202107:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 839 89812800 Passcode: 987937 One tap mobile

Holiday Open Farm Days At Shepherds Creek Alpacas | 10 a.m., 12/11 Saturday | Shepherds Creek Alpacas, 5797 Stilwell Rd | Visit the Alpacas during our open Holiday Farm Days at Shepherds Creek Alpaca Farm & Shop!

Lots of unique and local alpaca gifts alpaca products available for your Holiday shopping. | Free Presentation of 2021 Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal | 5 p.m., 12/11 Saturday | Southside Community Center, 305 S Plain St | Cornell anthropologists Kathryn March and David Holmberg will receive prestigious Sir Edmund Hillary Mountai Legacy Medal for humanitarian and conservation work in mountainous regions. | Free Sunday Morning Meditation | 10 a.m., 12/12 Sunday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Road | Sunday morning meditation, free and open to all.

FREE Nutrition Classes with CCE & TCPL! | 12 p.m., 12/14 Tuesday | This event is online | Stop by and join SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator Sarah Curless in collaboration with Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) to learn about how to make simple changes in your food repertoire, try new | Free ZOOM CLASS: Planning Your Home Food Forest | 6 p.m., 12/14 Tuesday | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue | A food forest is an edible perennial multi-layered edible ecosystem. It is a great way to build habitat, enhance your soil, store carbon, and get food all at once. | $20.00 Alchemy Sound Bath | 6 p.m., 12/15 Wednesday | Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd | An evening of deep relaxation and meditation through the sounds of alchemy crystal bowls, chimes, tuning forks, harp, gong and more! | $22.22

SHEMEKIA COPELAND

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12TH AT 8:00PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11TH AT 8:00PM

Center for the Arts of Homer, 72. S. Main St.| The soulful Blues singer is touring in support of her ninth album, Uncivil War. (Photo: Facebook)

Center for the Arts of Homer, 72. S. Main St.| Next weekend will be the annual tradition for the whole family; this one is for the adults! A holiday burlesque show. (Photo:Provided)

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THISWEEK

NUTCRACKER NOIR: GOING FOR BAROQUE

Tween Book Club: The Star-Spun Web | 3:45 p.m., 12/8 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Toys After Surgery for Kids Workshop | 5:30 p.m., 12/8 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Print-a-Kitty - Printing Press Workshop | 10:30 a.m., 12/11 Saturday | The History Center in Tompkins County, 110 North Tioga St | All ages printing press and arts workshop about the famous Ithaca Kitty! | Free Chinese-English Storytime | 3 p.m., 12/11 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited join Librarian Kai for songs, rhymes, stories, and books!

Masks for those aged 2 and up are required for this drop-in program.

Children’s Holiday Books & Games Sale | 10 a.m., 12/12 Sunday | Friends of the Library Book Sale Bldg, 509 Esty St | The Friends of Tompkins County Public Library will hold a special one-day sale of children’s puzzles, games, books & DVDs on Sunday, Dec. 12, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, at 509 Esty St, Ithaca. | Free

Ithaca Farmers Market | 9 a.m., 12/11 Saturday | Saturdays are the star, but Sundays are no slouch. Our pavilion gets full during peak season and there are some vendors that you won’t find on Saturdays.

I t h a c a T i m e s 29

Town & Country

Classifieds In Print

|

On Line |

10 Newspapers

277-7000 Phone: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm Fax: 277-1012 (24 Hrs Daily)

AUTOMOTIVE

| 59,200 Readers

Internet: www.ithaca.com Mail: Ithaca Times Classified Dept

PO Box 27 Ithaca NY 14850 In Person: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm

109 North Cayuga Street

AUTOMOTIVE Drive out Breast Cancer:

CASH FOR CARS!

CAR TO KIDS

Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not - 24 Hour Response - Maximum Tax Donation – Call 877-266-0681 (AAN CAN)

Our vehicle service program can save you up to 60% off dealer prices and provides you excellent coverage! Call for a free quote: 866-915-2263 (Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm PST) (AAN CAN)

DISH TV

$64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-855-380-2501. (AAN CAN)

FOR SALE

Glass table, 45 x 108 “, pads included, excellence condition. 607-592-1400.

Freon Wanted:

We pay CA$H for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders. com (NYSCAN)

FOR SALE

Yamaha PA with cables. Great for small room. $200. (607) 898-4836.

GET DIRECT TV

ONLY $69.99/Month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand (w/SELECT ALL Included Package). PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost.

Call DIRECTV: 1-888-534-6918 (NYSCAN)

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

Coordinator – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

December 15, 2021, 1-7 pm Newfield United Methodist Church 229 Main Street Newfield, NY CALL TO SCHEDULE: (607) 251-0784.

MEDICARE RECIPIENTS!

Open Enrollment for Medicare health plans is here! Call our licensed insurance agents for an affordable quote for your needed coverage. Call for a no obligation free quote now! 844-808-9374 (TTY:711) (NYSCAN)

Account Billing Manager

110/Automotive Services

DONATE YOUR

FREE MAMMOGRAM CLINIC

400/Employment

200/Buy / Sell / Trade

SAVE MONEY ON EXPENSIVE AUTO REPAIRS!

We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too! Call 866-535-9689 (AAN CAN)

EMPLOYMENT

BUY SELL TRADE

Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pick-up - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-9054755. (NYSCAN)

100/Automotive

COMMUNITY

320/Bulletin Board

We are looking for a cheerful, professional, detail-oriented person to join our team serving Ithaca and the surrounding community at the Ithaca Times, Ithaca.com and the Finger Lakes community newspapers.

Job Responsibilities:  Maintain account records  Monthly billing  Scheduling and administering legal, display and classified advertising  Process accounts receivable/payable and handle payroll in a timely manner  Entering financial transactions in databases & document transaction details  Produce work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail Work Hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9- 5 Qualifications / Skills:  Accounting  Confidentiality  Attention to detail and accuracy  A knowledge and/or appreciation of newspapers and the media business  Able to multitask, prioritize, work under pressure and meet deadlines  Ability to communicate complex data clearly  Excellent data entry skills  Great interpersonal and customer service skills  Familiarity with a wide range of financial transactions including Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable  Experience with MS Office and Google Apps  Experience with spreadsheets and proprietary software  Professionalism and organization skills Education & Experience Requirements:  Proficient with office software  Previous bookkeeping experience preferred  Associates degree or at least one year of experience Job Type: Part Time Respond with Resume to: jbilinski@ithacatimes.com

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

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3%.%#! or Toll Free at Call us at 607-272-9175 we are open Monday to Friday 9am.

6).9, to answer your questions.

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30 T

h e

www.SouthSenecaWindows.com Romulus, NY Romulus, NY 315-585-6050 or 315-585-6050 Toll Free at I t h a c a 866-585-6050 Tori m e sFree / Date c e m b e r Toll

866-585-6050

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OCM BOCES, Main Campus. The Coordinator will support the development of a regional vision and effective strategy that champions diverse and inclusive environments across all OCM BOCES component districts. Will also lead this work regionally by designing and facilitating professional learning offerings that build capacity to support the Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Framework, including monthly DEI leadership meetings, equity & identity work, implicit bias training, and through the creation of an annual DEI conference. In addition, the Coordinator will design customized in-district work including but not limited to: needs assessments, equity audits, review of policies and procedures, hiring and retention practices, and parent/family engagement. Will serve as a knowledgeable advisor, lead facilitator, and advocate for improving inclusion, diversity, and equity throughout the districts/BOCES in our region and serve as our representative at statewide networks. NYS School Administrative certification required. Salary commensurate on experience. Register and apply at: www.olasjobs.org/central EOE

Delivery Driver

Driver with SUV-sized car and good driving record to deliver newspapers 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays year-round in and around Ithaca. Call 607 2777000 x 1214.

DEPUTY TOWN CLERK Town of Ulysses. 20 hrs/wk, $18-20/hr. Flexible schedule. Must have customer service, administrative, problem-solving and multi-tasking skills.

Send resume and cover letter to clerk@ulysses. ny.us by DEC. 20, 2021. View full job description at ulysses.ny.us.

DRIVE WITH US!

EMPLOYMENT Substitute Teachers

OCM BOCES has an immediate need for per diem Substitute Teachers for Innovative Education programs located at the Seven Valleys New Tech Academy in Cortland, NY. Duties include but not limited to providing individual programming and support to alternative education students in grades 9-12. $115/per day. Bachelor Degree required. Register and apply at: www.olasjobs.org/ central. For more information, visit our website at: www.ocmboces.org EOE

Teacher – Special Education

OCM BOCES Full-time Special Education -Teacher located at the Cortlandville Campus, Cortland, NY. Provide academic instruction to students with emotional and behavioral challenges; write IEP goals; administer assessments as needed; write progress reports and notes; work as a member of a multidisciplinary team. NYS Students with Disabilities 1-6 certification required.

Register and apply at: www.olasjobs.org/central.

For more information, visit our website at: www. ocmboces.org. EOE

DELIVERY Part-Time Route Driver needed for delivery of newspapers every Wednesday.

Must be available 9am-1pm, have reliable transportation, and a good driving record.

Call 277-7000

ICSD Transportation Services is conducting INTERVIEWS FOR BUS DRIVERS Walk in Monday - Friday 150 Bostwick Rd

By Appointment: Call 607 274-2128 Equal opportunity employer, offering competitive wages, great health and pension benefits, paid CDL training, rewarding community work with families and children Diversity Enriches Our Workplace

PIANOS

• Rebuilt • Reconditioned • Bought• Sold • Moved • Tuned • Rented

Complete rebuilding services.

No job too big or too small.

Call us.

Ithaca Piano Rebuilders (607) 272-6547 950 Danby Rd., Suite 26

South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca, NY

EMPLOYMENT Teaching Assistant

OCM BOCES Special Education program has the need for a 96% Teaching Assistant at the Cortlandville Campus, Cortland. Successful candidate will provide support and individual programming to K-12th grade students in our center-based programs with a variety of special needs. NYS certification as a Teaching Assistant required. Applications accepted online only.

Register and apply at: www.olasjobs.org/central.

For information please visit our website at: www. ocmboces.org EOE

SERVICES WILLS ESTATES SSD CORPORATIONS CALL MARK “THE HAMMER” GUGINO 144 BALD HILL RD DANBY NY BK@TWCNY.RR.COM + 607-207-0888

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES

Updates in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior and Military Discounts available. Call: 1877-649-5043 (AAN CAN)

BEST SATELLITE TV

800/Services DIRECTV

Cable Price Increase Again? Switch To DIRECTV & Save + get a $100 visa gift card! Get More Channels For Less Money. Restrictions apply. Call Now! 877-693-0625 (AAN CAN)

HOME REPAIRS

Never Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again!

Complete Care Home Warranty Covers all Major Systems and Appliance. 30 Day Risk Free. $200 off and 2 months Free. 1-877-673-0511.

(AAN CAN)

TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING!

Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET) (NYSCAN)

805/Business Services 4G LTE Home Internet Now Available!

Get GotW3 with lighting fast speeds plus take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo! 1-888-519-0171 (AAN CAN)

BANKRUPTCY

AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY, SLIP & FALL? “BAMBINO BROKE A BONE” SINGLE CH 7 BANKRUPTCY $650 LF RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE CLOSING $650 LF

SERVICES HOME WARRANTY COMPLETE CARE

Never Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again!

Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE Months!

1-866-440-6501 (NYSCAN)

HughesNet Satellite Internet

Finally, no hard data limits! Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-844-416-7147. m (AAN CAN)

SERVICES

SERVICES

MEDICATION

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!

Still paying too much for your MEDICATION? Save up to 90% on RX refill! Order today and receive free shipping on 1st order - prescription required. Call 1-855-750-1612 (AAN CAN)

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering grants & scholarships for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8AM-6PM ET) (NYSCAN)

The Generac PWRcell

a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194. (NYSCAN)

With 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888508-5313 (NYSCAN)

820/Computer

SERVICES

855/Misc.

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards!

Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 844-5111836. (AAN CAN)

Place Your Ad Go to ithaca.com/classifieds

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details!

1-855-554-4616. The Mission, Program Information and Tuition is located at CareerTechnical.edu/ consumer-information. (AAN CAN)

DISH TV

$64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo EXPIRES: 1/21/22, 1-888-609-9405 (NYSCAN)

DIVORCE

$389 - Uncontested divorce papers prepared.

Only one signature required. Poor person Application included if applicable. Separation agreements. Custody and support petitions. 518274-0380. (NYSCAN)

GUTTER CLEANING

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection.

Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-763-2379.

(NYSCAN)

Teaching Assistant OCM BOCES Special Education

program has the need for a 96% Teaching

Assistant at the Cortlandville Campus,

Cortland.

Successful

candidate

will provide support and individual

programming to K-12th grade students in our center-based programs with a

variety of special needs. NYS certification

as a Teaching Assistant required.

Applications

accepted

online

only.

Register and apply at: www.olasjobs.org/ central. For information please visit our website at: www.ocmboces.org EOE

We need your expertise Bored with retirement & have more to offer?

There’s an opportunity for you here www.paper.net/ithacatimes

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I t h a c a T i m e s 31

BackPage

For rates and information contact Toni Crouch at toni@ithactimes.com

277-7000 p h o n e 277-1012 f a x

CLEANING SERVICES

AAM

FAMOUS BRANDS FAMOUSBRANDSOUTLET.COM 412 N. Franklin Street Watkins Glen, NY 14891 888-535-4952 Family Owned & Operated Since 1983

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

ALL ABOUT MACS Macintosh Consulting

JANITORIAL* FLOOR * CARPET

FLYITHACA.COM

INDEPENDENCE CLEANERS CORP

Convenient-Clean-Connected

http://www.allaboutmacs.com

607-227-3025 / 607-697-3294

(607) 280-4729

COME WORK WITH US!

*Acupuncture Works*

Hospicare is

Peaceful Spirit Acupuncture

Get The New Ithaca Times Mobile App Available in Appstore & Google Play

ITHACA NEWS

OOY’s Cafe & Deli 10% OFF Order Corner of Aurora and Seneca Street (607) 319-4022 Breakfast Any Time, Hot and Cold Subs, Paninis, Soups and Salads Coupon in 10/20/2021 issue

READY FOR THE HOLIDAY’S? We reach more Ithacans in more ways than anyone!

Buy Local Issue - November 23, 21

Anthony R. Fazio, L.Ac., D.A.O.M.(c)

Hiring All Positions

Delivered to your inbox every day

www.peacefulspiritacupuncture.com

*Work at our residence or in the field

Ithaca Times Daily

Holiday Gift Guide - December 8, 2021

607-272-0114

*Competitive benefits package

Text ITHACA to 22828 to Sign up

Last-Minute Gifts - December 22, 2021

Lotus Theory Acupuncture

Call Larry at

ACUPUNCTURE &

607-277-7000 ext: 1214

*Rewarding work

AGWAY TRUE VALUE

*Be a part of a team

213 S. Fulton Street

*Sign-on bonus!

2309 N. Triphammer Rd

Apply today!

(607) 272-1848

Hospicare.org

(607) 882-9590

CUPPING THERAPY 821 Cliff St. Ithaca BOOK NOW ONLINE:

TO RESERVE YOUR ADS Ithaca Times @ ITHACA.COM

www.lotustheory.com

$1.00 off $10.00

Diane’s Downtown Automotive

$2.00 off $20.00

435 W. State Street

$5.00 off $50.00 STOP IN or CALL

(607) 272-AUTO (2886)

coupon in 10/20/2021 issue

FREE Trip Check $20 Off Mounting/Balancing 4 Tires

ANIMALS

10% Off Any Repairs over $100

LAND & SEA

SEE COUPONS IN 10/20/21 Issue

FingerLakesAnimalRights.org

VOTED BEST OF ITHACA 2021

Men’s and Women’s Alterations

SHORTSTOP DELI

for over 20 years

200 W. Seneca Street

Fur & Leather repair, zipper repair.

Same Day Service Available

Ithaca, NY 14850

John’s Tailor Shop

$1.00 Off any Fresh Made Deli Sub or any size Hot

John Serferlis - Tailor

Truck Pizza Sub

102 The Commons 273-3192

DRIVE WITH US! Open Interviews Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.Call for Appointment: 607-274-2128

Coupon in 10/20/2021 issue

150 Bostwick Road

Negotiated Wage and Health Benefits | NYS Retirement Pension Program | CDL/Paid Training | Equal Opportunity Employer | ICSD is committed to equity,inclusion, and building a diverse staff. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color.

I C S D T rSponsored a n s p o r by: tation Services 32 T

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/December

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Diversity Enriches our workplace