This layperson’s guide will help you understand the technologies and systems needed to achieve true sustainability.
Saturday, April 26 | 10 am - 12 pm
A morning of outdoor spring cleaning at the Co-op! We focus on our Cascadilla store grounds and adopted section of Cayuga Lake Waterfront Trail!
Scan QR codes to sign up on Eventbrite.
Live Vibrantly!
Juicing Class* April 21, 5:30 7 PM
FREE! Kids Can Cook!* April 23, 4:30 5:30PM
*Registration on Eventbrite required.
Trump Executive Order Threatens Federal Funding for Ithaca Museums and Libraries
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — A recent executive order issued by former President Donald Trump aims to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), putting the future of federal funding for museums and libraries in Ithaca in jeopardy.
Connie Bodner, a former director at IMLS who worked for the agency from 2010 to 2023, expressed concerns regarding the March 14 executive order, which calls for the elimination of IMLS “to the maximum extent of the law.” The order directs the agency to reduce its services and personnel to the minimum required by law and prohibits any budget requests beyond funds needed for the agency’s closure.
“This Executive Order usurps the intent of Congress’s decision to provide funding for IMLS,” Bodner said, adding that Trump himself had signed a continuing resolution earlier that day extending IMLS funding through September 2025. “Based on what has happened at other federal agencies, I fear that the information about the benefits generated by IMLS will disappear today.”
Bodner highlighted the importance of IMLS grants in supporting museums and libraries, saying they have provided resources for staff training, service expansion, and access to technology for underserved communities.
“IMLS grants made it possible for museums and libraries to do work on behalf of American communities that was otherwise impossible,” she said. “They provided the funds needed to train staff, experiment with new forms of service delivery, care for collections entrusted to their care, provide computer and internet access in rural and underserved communities, and much more.”
Data from IMLS shows that multiple Ithaca institutions have benefited from these grants, including the Sciencenter, the Paleontological Research Institution’s Museum of the Earth, Ithaca College’s Project Look Sharp, and the Cornell University
T ake n ote
Library. In total, IMLS has allocated more than $6 million to Ithaca-area museums and libraries.
In 2024, the Sciencenter received a $249,660 grant through the Museums for America program to partner with regional libraries in expanding STEM learning opportunities for children. The Museum of the Earth was also awarded $101,976 through the same program to improve accessibility to its collections, ensuring broader public engagement.
In 2023, Ithaca College’s Project Look Sharp received $149,748 from the Laura
Continued on Page 5
ON THE COVER:
More than 100 people gathered outside the James Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse on Tuesday, March 25, to hear updates from Momodou Taal’s legal team following their trial on a lawsuit that seeks to nullify two executive orders from the Trump administration that violate free speech.
WEB
X Ithaca Common Council Approves $30,000 Municipal Fee Study to Examine Cost Recovery Model
ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca Common Council has approved a $30,000 contract for a municipal fee study to establish a framework for evaluating and adjusting city fees.
The resolution passed unanimously during a recent council meeting and allows the city manager to seek a consultant to conduct the study.
The fee study is not intended to analyze or revise individual fees directly, but to create a cost recovery model to guide future fee adjustments. The goal is to develop a standardized process for determining direct, indirect, and administrative
costs associated with city services while ensuring consistency in how fees are presented in the annual budget.
During the discussion, several council members acknowledged the need for a structured approach to evaluating fees, particularly following recent adjustments to housing inspection fees. The study is expected to provide clarity on how fees are calculated and whether the city should consider new revenue sources to alleviate the tax burden on residents.
“This is an important way to start moving
in the right direction, especially since $30,000 represents a minuscule part of the city budget,” said Alderperson Patrick Kuehl.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo explained that the consultant would provide high-level guidance rather than conducting a detailed fee-by-fee analysis. The study would help determine where the city should subsidize certain fees, identify potential new fees, and streamline how fees are cataloged.
The study is expected to be completed within two to three months, in time to inform the upcoming city budget process.
F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Arthur Whitman
All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $139 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and The
(1973–1978),
in
Since 1997, Ithaca museums and libraries have received more than $6 million in federal support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), funding vital programs in STEM education, digital literacy, collections care, and community engagement.
ITHACA, N.Y. — The recently formed advisory committee to oversee Ithaca’s encampment response system is recommending improvements to Southwest Park, which include creating navigation hubs to help improve the city’s shift to an engagement-based strategy from an enforcement-based approach.
The discussion also centered on the city’s ongoing encampment response efforts, and Tompkins County’s role in establishing their own permanent homeless shelter.
“The shift from an enforcement strategy to an engagement model has been positive for people experiencing homelessness, for outreach workers, and for city employees,” said Deputy City Manager Dominick Recckio. He added that only one ticket related to an encampment was issued by the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) in 2024.
The proposed navigation hub would serve as a centralized resource center for individuals transitioning to and from the city’s temporary non-enforcement zone at Southwest Park. It would offer access to basic amenities such as showers, restrooms, drinking water, Wi-Fi, storage, and case management services to assist individuals in securing housing and other resources.
Recckio has framed the navigation hub as a complementary resource that could operate until the county’s permanent shelter is fully established. “The navigation hub would fill an immediate need,” Recckio said.
“But we have to consider how this could continue to serve the community long term, even after the county shelter is operational.”
During the discussion, Alderperson David Shapiro suggested installing surveillance cameras at the navigation hub to enhance safety and security for residents and staff. He expressed concern about crime within encampments stemming from substance abuse and mental illness, saying that theft of illegal firearms are a routine occurrence, and that cameras could help protect individuals who seek safety at the hub.
“If we’re going to invest money and encourage people to use these spaces, we owe it to them to provide not just lights but also some level of surveillance,” Shapiro said. “When folks do make bad choices around our navigation hub, we need to be able to follow up on it.”
Alderperson Kayla Matos disagreed, saying that surveillance would stigmatize individuals seeking support, and that most
of the criminal activity within the encampments stems from issues like poverty rather than substance abuse or mental illness.
“If we’re changing language and changing how we’re addressing things, we need to change it in full,” Matos said. “We can’t say we’re shifting away from criminalization while simultaneously criminalizing addiction and homelessness with surveillance.”
Alderperson Phoebe Brown, who said that she had been in long-term recovery from addiction for more than two decades, echoed Matos’ concerns and emphasized the need for a nuanced harm-reduction approach.
“Rather than looking at what they might steal, we should be prepared for when they’re ready to get help?” Brown said. She advocated for on-site recovery resources, such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, so that individuals could access support when they choose to seek help.
Data presented at the meeting underscored the connection between homelessness, substance use disorder, and mental health challenges. Among individuals served by Ithaca’s emergency shelter system in 2023, 40% reported experiencing at least one mental health disorder, 27% reported having a substance use disorder. Additionally, 22% were Black, Indigenous, or people of color, despite making up only 12.4% of the general population.
Recckio emphasized that these factors must be considered when designing support services. He noted that some individuals struggle to maintain stable housing due to behavioral health challenges, lack of case management, or difficulties accessing entitlement programs.
“People get stuck in homelessness, and it’s our job to make sure we’re addressing these barriers,” he said.
As the city moves forward with its
engagement-first encampment policy, Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) and REACH Medical have launched a new Community Outreach Worker program to provide non-emergency crisis response and support for individuals in downtown Ithaca.
As of March 27, outreach workers will be stationed around the Commons Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — with clinical backup available until 8 p.m. They can be contacted by phone or HIPAAcompliant text at 607-317-0100 or by email at commonsoutreach@reachmed.org.
Harmony Ayers-Friedlander, deputy commissioner of mental health for TCWH, said the program builds upon previous successful models of outreach performed by Family and Children’s Services and aligns with the local Reimagining Public Safety initiative.
“The outreach worker role provides valuable supports for members of the public to connect them with essential services and increases availability and visibility of trained crisis responders with boots on the ground,” Ayers-Friedlander said. “REACH Medical is a natural fit for operating this program, given their proven track record of stellar service provision, the compassion embedded in their mission, and their deep understanding of the need to truly meet people where they are.”
The program will serve individuals experiencing non-imminent mental health crises, homelessness, substance use disorders, and other chronic stressors. Staff will offer deescalation, emotional support, food, clothing, and connections to social services.
City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff expressed support for the effort, calling it an important step in improving community well-being.
“This program will support City and County residents in accessing a broad
“My first car was a 1989 Ford Probe with 195,000 miles.”
Todd
“An AMC Rambler station wagon. I’m not sure what year. Late 1960s.”
Ann
“I don’t have my own car so I have to drive my parents Honda Odyssey. I don’t know what year. It’s light blue, though.”
Bailey
“It was a 1980s Geo Metro. It was blue and my sisters and I called it Nugget.”
Laura
“My grandmother gave me her 2004 Buick Le Sabre. It was in great shape but not exactly the coolest car around.”
Devon
A 28-acre space located behind Walmart and the recycling center has been designated as a “temporary non-enforcement zone,” where unhoused individuals are permitted to camp and generally not be subjected to enforcement actions. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Susan Currie Resigns from County Legislature, Appointed Interim Director of Tompkins County Public Library
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. – Tompkins County Legislator Susan Currie will resign from her position representing District 3 on March 31 to become the interim director of the Tompkins County Public Library. Currie is scheduled to retake the helm of TCPL starting on April 1.
Currie was elected to the Legislature in January 2023 and announced her resignation after being appointed by the Library’s Board of Trustees in executive session during its March 25 meeting. She will lead TCPL through the end of September while the board conducts a search for a permanent director.
“I am profoundly grateful for having had the honor and privilege of serving with all of you on the County Legislature,” Currie said in her resignation statement. “I am equally honored to have represented District 3. I have learned a tremendous amount about our community and local government from each of you. I have witnessed what true dedication and commitment should look like. Your tireless work for all in our county will be an inspiration for me.”
The appointment of Currie comes in the aftermath of intense local scrutiny of the library sparked by an article published in the Ithaca Voice about leadership issues within the organization. After the Tompkins County Legislature announced they would increase oversight into the library, former Director Leslie Tabor resigned on March 17.
Currie currently serves as vice chair of the Government Operations Committee, which developed the county’s first strategic operations plan, and the Down-
TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER THREATENS
continued from page 3
Bush 21st Century Librarian Program to enhance media literacy education in K-12 schools. Additionally, Cornell University’s library system was awarded $149,901 that same year for community engagement initiatives.
These grants have played a crucial role in maintaining and expanding educa-
town Facilities Special Committee. She is also a member of the Health and Human Services Committee and the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, which is planning the development of a new Center of Government.
Additionally, Currie serves as a liaison to the Human Rights Commission and the Community Recovery Fund Advisory Committee, which oversaw the distribution of pandemic relief funds to local nonprofits. She is one of three countyappointed legislators to the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) Board of Directors.
“Susan has been a positive force on the Tompkins County Legislature,” Legislature Chair Dan Klein said. “She has always stepped forward to volunteer for whatever work needed doing. She has been an excellent representative for her district. The library is lucky to have gotten her.”
The Tompkins County Legislature will set the date for a special election to fill Currie’s seat during its April 1 meeting.
Currie is no stranger to the library she will lead once abain. She previously served as director of TCPL from 2009 to 2017 and stepped in as interim director in 2021. During her leadership, she eliminated a $750,000 operating deficit and oversaw the development of the library’s Makerspace, Digital Lab, Local History Room and Teen Services area. In 2017, she was named Finger Lakes Library Director of the Year.
In a statement released by the Library, Currie said she is honored to return.
“Our library will continue to serve as a place where the joy of discovery is alive, a place to recharge, and to feel a sense of community,” she said. “I look forward
tional and cultural services in the Ithaca area. Without IMLS funding, museums and libraries will face significant financial shortfalls that could lead to program reductions or closures.
The executive order’s effects are already being felt at IMLS headquarters. According to Bodner, the union representing IMLS employees, American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, was informed that “most or all IMLS employees may be placed on administrative leave
Susan Currie will step down from the Tompkins County Legislature on March 31, 2025, to serve as Interim Director of the Tompkins County Public Library— a role she previously held from 2009 to 2017 and again in 2021.
to working with the staff and the community to ensure our services meet the needs of all.”
Currie holds a master’s degree in library science from the University of Buffalo and has worked in leadership positions at Cornell University and SUNY Binghamton libraries. She has lived in Ithaca since 1979 and brings more than 40 years of experience in library administration to her new role.
After retiring, Currie became an awardwinning author. Her 2022 memoir, The Preventorium, recounts her childhood experience in a Mississippi medical institution. The book, now available at TCPL, was named Best Memoir on Health/Adverse Childhood Experiences by Memoir Magazine in 2023.
The search for TCPL’s next permanent director will begin in the coming months, with further details to be announced.
beginning today (March 20).” Employees were told to “prepare immediately by downloading pay stubs and performance evaluations and to prepare to remove all personal belongings from the office.”
“This follows what has become a standard playbook for dismantling federal agencies,” Bodner warned.
The American Alliance of Museums and the American Library Association have also begun mobilizing their members in response to the order.
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
On Wednesday March 19, Senator Webb was proud to announce that Dr. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne had been selected as her nominee for the 2025 New York State Legislative Women’s Caucus. Dr. McBean-Clairborne, an inspirational leader in the Ithaca community, has dedicated her career to fostering social justice, diversity, and inclusion, making an indelible impact on the lives of countless individuals.
Downs
Avian influenza has now been confirmed in wild bobcats in New York state. A new study from Cornell University tracked live bobcats in the state and showed widespread exposure to avian flu, with evidence of bobcats surviving but also succumbing to the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. The research contributes to the growing awareness of increasing avian influenza cases in mammals and underscores the importance of proactive wildlife disease monitoring.
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
The Ithaca City School District (ICSD) had announced the appointment of Caren Arnold as the new principal of Ithaca High School, effective June 15, 2025.
Seen
The Preservation League of NYS is thrilled to announce the inclusion of Wells College on our 2025-2026 Seven to Save list. The League’s Seven to Save program has been drawing attention to some of the most important at-risk historic places across New York since 1999.
IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write editor@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”
Should Cornell do more to protect the free speech rights of international students?
62.1% Yes.
27.6% No.
10.3% I don’t care. N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N : Should the City of Ithaca conduct a vacancy study so it can authorize rent control? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RE: Condemn Torture and Uphold the Authority of the Law
“During correction officers’ illegal work stoppage, at least nine people incarcerated in New York state prisons lost their lives. Officers’ real reason for their illegal actions was to distract from increased scrutiny for officers brutally beating, torturing, and killing Robert Brooks on camera. In the middle of the strike, officers then brutally beat and killed Messiah Nantwi. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of incarcerated people were subjected to life threatening conditions as a result of the illegal strike, with restricted access to food, medicine, medical and mental health care, family visits, and other essential services, and people remain in dire conditions now. Worsening the situation, the prison commissioner announced plans to violate the HALT Solitary Confinement Law with an illegal so-called “suspension.” The HALT Law was passed by supermajorities of both houses of the legislature and
signed by the Governor, and the prison commissioner has no authority to suspend this or any other duly enacted law. In line with United Nations international human rights standards, HALT limits the use of solitary to a maximum of 15 consecutive days and instead allows people to still be separated into alternative units with access to meaningful out-of-cell time and programming aimed at addressing the reasons they are separated. Universally defined as torture, solitary causes severe trauma and physical and psychological harm. Placement in solitary worsens safety for everyone by causing people to deteriorate. Meanwhile, programs like Merle Cooper, RSVP, CAPS, PACE, M.A.N., and other violence interruption programs have engaged people who had committed the most serious violent acts, involved full days of out-of-cell group programming, and dramatically reduced violence. Truly implementing HALT and using these proven alternative forms of separation would improve the welfare of incarcerated people and staff alike. We cannot go backwards. Contact the Governor and your legislators to demand full implementation of the HALT Solitary Law.” — Tyrrell Muhammad
RE: Trump Derangement Syndrome
“MAGA minions go from one bad idea to another. Recently, a group of MN Republican law makers will propose legislation
defining “Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).” Hmmmm…Could they be projecting?
Projection is a defense mechanism where individuals unconsciously attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to someone else. MAGAnuts are tagging liberals, conservatives and leftists.
Bulletin: MN State Senator Justin Eichorn who is behind this legislation, was arrested on felony charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. (All news groups) Sen. Eichorn resigned.
In 2017, Fox News (sic) reported this syndrome. Symptoms include delusional ranting that have little regard for Trump’s actual policy positions. Trump regularly rants and makes up cow pies. If clear language is needed, Trump is incapable of a complete sentence or coherent idea.
Fox reporters and commentators suffer TDS the most. The condition manifests itself in the following ways: When one doesn’t know what they’re talking about, they make up facts. The Donald does this frequently. And he lies. A lot. Everyone then scrambles to fact check until the next problem arises; delusions of grandeur. Of course Donny Boy is the best, smartest at just about everything. He said on Twitter in 2013, “In high school he was the best baseball player in the state (NY). And those who may suffer incurable TDS are those who believe he is the savior of humankind.
While Trump and MAGA minions project and parade their delusions, the seriousness of these Orwellian tactics become clear. He suppresses media voices that disagree with or challenge him. He thinks that black is white — infamous is great.Twisting language, fabricating definitions is a hallmark of fascists.
America may or may not come out of this historical period with some semblance of the American version of democracy intact. We may need to start over after this political calamity runs its course. In reconsidering democracy today, we may have to look for other models or guidelines.
The US Constitution was shaped by the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace. This part of history was erased/cancelled from theAmerican story until 1988 when the US Congress passed Resolution 331 recognizing the Iroquoian influence upon the US Constitution.
DOGE and Republicans are currently erasing as much as possible from official records as they espouse a version of America according to a terribly uninformed wannabe dictator. The behavior of MAGA troopers indicates they are suffering from more than a syndrome. Scientists and citizens are working feverishly to understand it and to come up with
remedies. Stay tuned.”
— Tony Del Plato
RE: This Republican President Is No
Lincoln
“In November, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the nation’s first veterans’ cemetery on a portion of the Gettysburg, PA Civil War battlefield. In an address that lasted two minutes, he reminded listeners that the Civil War tested whether any nation “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” could “long endure.”
Following a two hour address by the most famous orator of the day, Lincoln’s few words called out the hypocrisy of words without action. Those who died to defend the country established in 1776 from insurrection and could not be honored by mere words. Instead, he said, “It is rather for us, the living, to here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
This Republican president is no Lincoln. Do his actions indicate that he believes “all men are created equal” or in “government of the people by the people and for the people”? He has twice sworn an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,” yet already led an insurrection against this country. On reelection, he pardoned all who participated in it and now attempts to use the federal government against elected representatives using Constitutional powers to hold him accountable. For two months, he has illegally usurped the powers of Congress, allowed a private citizen access to sensitive government data and to direct actions that are Congress’ alone to direct, fired confirmed agency heads without cause, threatened retaliation against Congress members and judges who do not do as he wishes.
Lincoln’s words ring across the centuries. Will Americans take increased devotion to the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law it defines? Were lives spent to defend our country against enemies foreign and domestic given in vain? Shall the nation have a new birth of freedom or a slide into tyranny? Or will a democracy held out in hope across generations perish from this earth? Only today’s Americans can decide.
Lincoln’s first draft of the Gettysburg Address.” — Vivien Rose, Trumansburg NY
Norbert McCloskey, Executive Director of the Ithaca Free Clinic, Is Retiring. Again
By Marjorie Olds
After many successful years in their business, Anne and Norbert McCloskey’s “retirement plan” included travel to spend time with their grandchildren scattered around the country. In 2012 they came to Ithaca for a visit with grown children and one grandchild. For their arrival, we Ithacans can thank our lucky stars!
Their Ithaca daughter and son-in-law had news: A new baby was on its way, and the young parents both had demanding new jobs…Perhaps Anne and Norbert could stay a bit longer and hang out and care for both children, since their daughter’s job also required major travel, shortly after the upcoming birth?
And so, they did. And after a few wonderful years of really getting to know their Ithaca family, including from Day 1of their new granddaughter Riley’s arrival, Ithaca has also been buoyed up by 9 years with Norbert at the helm of the Ithaca Free Clinic, an Ithaca Health Alliance lifeline program.
Norbert: “While caring for Riley and her older brother I took fascinating classes that Scott Heyman arranged for the Human Services Coalition. What a boon HSC is for not-for-profits in Ithaca!.. One day Scott called me and suggested we talk about a wonderful opportunity.”
“I met with the gang at the IHC and realized this was an excellent short term opportunity to “give back” and contribute to something really good, that could outlive me, something bigger than what I myself could leave for others—to provide access to health care for anyone seeking care… And I hoped that by the time I left the U.S. would be providing healthcare for all.”
“I became the director of the innova-
DEBATES HUB
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array of critical services and resources already embedded within our community,” Mohlenhoff said. “The City of Ithaca values this continued partnership with Tompkins County and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance to bolster community supports and looks forward to supporting REACH.”
REACH Medical’s Director of Op-
tive, renowned Ithaca Free Clinic, which was an early creator of a blueprint for communities to provide free medical care to those who have no medical insurance.”
(mzo: see https://www.ithaca.com/opinion/columnists/community_connections/ how-it-all-began-ithaca-free-clinic-andnorbert-mccloskey/article_e87c3dd6f371-11ed-ab04-fbca4507b43d.html
“Any one of us can suddenly find ourselves without health insurance, or unable to pay for ever higher co-pays and deductibles. At the Free Clinic, no questions are asked. If you come in our door, we will help you to the best of our ability. We will use our resources to help in any way needed.”
“For-profit health care providers are tasked to expand their shareholders’ value. Insurance companies thrive when services are denied, so long as monthly premiums from insured members flow in, often deducted from paychecks…While members can appeal insurance company denials, many rejections of reimbursement are never appealed…Harried working parents, single parents, disabled elderly may not have time for the endless calls, paperwork, persistence to pursue the increasing frequency of denials. When denials for reimbursement of medical care go up, so do shareholder profits.”
“When we look at the miraculous impact health and human service programs have documented like HeadStart, prenatal and early intervention for babies, and so many local, state, and federal programs that fill gaps, we can see that investing in our community members has verifiable positive results. We can say providing health care really works!”
At a time when federal agencies and federal funds which underpin state and
erations Samantha Stevenson said the program builds on services already offered to Ithaca’s most vulnerable.
“Our outreach workers are trained in crisis intervention, de-escalation and trauma-informed care,” Stevenson said.
“They will provide a safe space for people to land when they are in moments of stress or in need of harm reduction support.”
Ayers-Friedlander added that the program will reduce unnecessary police involvement.
local agencies are being decimated, the rate of uninsured people is increasing. “When I became IFC/ IHA director in 2016 the Affordable Care Act had played a powerful role in providing healthcare to many previously uninsured. Expanded Medicare provided during COVID also provided greater access to healthcare services. In communities like Ithaca and in many rural hospitals, critical lifesaving services are available to a large number of people because of Medicaid. With the loss of Medicaid, these services will no longer be available and hospitals will see a significant reduction in patient numbers, while ER’s will see a significant increase in uninsured patients needing care, which results in large uncompensated reimbursements…I hope in my lifetime America will accept the economic advantages of a single payer health care program for all people of all ages and all walks of life.”
“Those who are senior citizens now have lived through times of peace, where areas at warfare in the world were marginal, and times when there was a less steep divide between the very very rich and the very poor. The current turnaround seems as if our abundant, much loved country is eating its own liver, as the very rich buy power, at the expense of the rest of us… Capitalism in the US once was regulated with strong guardrails, where intergenerational inheritance was limited. We see now that unregulated capitalism may progress to feudalism.”
“With more generous community support we hope to continue offering medical care, as well as holistic health, including vision care and acupuncture. We can also help people obtain lifesaving medications, insulin, and steroid inhalers. Our team also advocates and negotiates to help reduce accumulated medical debt.”
“As dramatic changes affect healthcare in America, we will need additional medical volunteers. We welcome Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners,
“This kind of direct community outreach is an evidence-based intervention that positively engages community members and connects them with needed services, while reducing unnecessary police involvement,” she said.
The encampment advisory committee will refine its recommendations and present an updated policy draft to the Common Council in April. The council is expected to vote on finalizing the policy
RNs, LPNs, Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Herbalists, college students and community members, who can share just four hours a month to help those in need.”
Financial support to the Ithaca Free Clinic comes entirely from local foundations and donors. Gifts can be provided in a number of ways:
Consider Planned Giving: Create a small endowment and have a room named in honor of someone you love.
One popular way is to make a donation from IRA distributions, which reduce your tax liability for those RMD’s. And you will know that while reducing your tax liability you are enhancing a neighbor’s opportunity to get healthcare needed, and otherwise inaccessible. That’s a two-fold gift! You benefit and someone who needs medical care benefits at the same time.”
Other ways we can support free medical care for those in need:
Help the Clinic to upgrade our computer equipment, so we can move to Windows 11, when Windows 10 is no longer supported in August of this year.
Drop off unopened supplies, supplements, and prescriptions— Call or email Clinic to make arrangements. Visit our website for contact information: www.ithacahealth.org
Mzo: Dear Readers, join with me and many many other IHA/Ithaca Free Clinic Norb Fans in wishing Norb and Anne a wonderful next chapter, as they begin to imagine their next adventure.
and allocating funding for the navigation hub and infrastructure improvements at Southwest Park in May.
The city has allocated $800,000 for capital improvements related to the encampment response, with an additional $150,000 budgeted for operational expenses, including potential navigation hub operations.
The council is also awaiting data on emergency response calls related to encampments, which will help inform future decisions.
Norbert McCloskey, Executive Director of the Ithaca Free Clinic, is retiring after years of dedicated service. (Photo: Provided)
Momodou Taal Leaves United States Over Safety Concerns After Judge Denies Request to Stop Detainment
By Matt Dougherty
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A federal judge on Thursday denied a temporary restraining order requested by Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal, whose visa was revoked after he participated in pro-Palestinian protests, but left the door open for further proceedings in light of a newly filed amended complaint.
U.S. District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2024, ruled that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the initial lawsuit, which was initiated to seek a national injunction to stop the enforcement of Trump administration executive orders that violate the constitutional rights of non-citizens. The lawsuit argues that the revocation of Taal’s visa was a form of unconstitutional retaliation for political speech.
“Plaintiffs’ motions for a temporary restraining order are denied,” Coombe wrote in her decision, adding, “Jurisdictional issues aside, Plaintiffs have not established that there is an imminent or ongoing threat to their constitutional rights that could be appropriately remedied by the requested restraints.”
Coombe found the harm alleged by the plaintiffs to be speculative, noting that “any future harm alleged in their affidavits appears to be speculative and even moot because of the revocation of Taal’s visa.”
The State Department reportedly revoked Taal’s student visa on March 14, one day before Taal’s lawsuit was filed on March 15. However, the Justice Department didn’t notify Taal’s legal team of the visa revocation until the morning of March 21, when they sent an email asking him to “surrender” to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Syracuse.
Taal’s legal team has said that they still have not received a document dated March 14 showing that Taal’s visa was revoked on that date. “We just have the March 21 notification that it was revoked,” said a member of Taal’s legal team.
At the press conference following Tuesday’s trial, immigration attorney Eric Lee, who represents Taal, said that he has contacted the Justice Department asking to see the documents confirming that Taal’s visa was revoked on March 14, but he has not received a response. “We asked them for that in the hours after we received the
Chris Godshall-Bennett, Legal Director of the ArabAmerican Anti-Discrimination Committee, speaks outside the James Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse on March 25, 2025. Godshall-Bennett, who is Jewish, criticized the government’s case against Momodou Taal, saying it conflates anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel and threatens free speech rights.
Supporters rally outside the James Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal’s legal team presents arguments in federal court.
(Photo: Mark Syvertson)
email from the Justice Department on Friday morning, and our request was not answered,” Lee said. “We look forward to being able to read our clients' purported charging documents.”
As a result, Lee argued that the federal government is taking retaliatory action by targeting Taal for deportation because he attended pro-Palestinian protests, which is supposed to be a protected activity under the First Amendment. He added that the TRO should be enforced because the “underlying legality of [Taal’s] removal still applies.”
Lee continued by saying that even if the information about the visa revocation being authorized before the lawsuit was filed is correct, the lawsuit still stands because “the injury predates the lawsuit.” He said the lawsuit can’t disappear just because Taal’s visa is revoked.
While Lee has argued that the federal government is taking retaliatory action against Taal by revoking his visa, the defendants disagreed, saying that his visa was revoked on March 14, one day before Taal’s
lawyers filed their lawsuit on March 15, so it couldn’t have been retaliatory. They added that the TRO should be dismissed because Taal is subject to removal due to his visa being revoked — and Judge Coombe agreed.
Still, the case is far from over. Judge Coombe acknowledged that her decision was issued “simultaneously with Plaintiffs’ filing of an Amended Complaint,” and directed both parties to submit briefs on whether a hearing for a preliminary injunction to stop the enforcement of the executive orders based on the original complaint remains appropriate.
“By April 4, 2025, the parties shall submit a brief to the Court on the issue of whether a hearing on the Motion for a Preliminary Injunction tethered to the initial Complaint is appropriate, in light of Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint and the jurisdictional deficits noted above,” Coombe stated.
In addition, Coombe set an expedited briefing schedule for a new emergency motion for a temporary restraining order,
U.S. District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe ruled Thursday that Taal’s legal team had not demonstrated an imminent threat to constitutional rights and denied their request for a temporary restraining order, but the lawsuit remains ongoing and Taal’s lawyers have submitted another TRO.
(Photo: Matt Dougherty)
based on the amended filing. “Defendants’ response to the motion shall be filed no later than Monday, March 31, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., and Plaintiffs’ reply brief shall be filed no later than Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.,” she wrote.
However, before the hearing for a new restraining order could take place, Taal announced that he decided to leave the United States in a social media post on Monday evening. Taal said that his decision to leave the country was influenced by threats that he would be detained and deported by the federal government.
“Given what we have seen across the United States, I have lost faith that a favourable ruling from the courts would guarantee my personal safety and ability to express my beliefs,” Taal said. “I have lost faith [that] I could walk the streets without being abducted. Weighing up these options, I took the decision to leave on my own terms.”
WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT?
The conversation in the courtroom on Tuesday covered whether or not the court should approve the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would prevent enforcement action against Taal while the lawsuit
is litigated. It also focused on the impact of Trump’s executive orders titled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats and Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism on the Immigration Nationality Act (INA), which outlines rules for U.S. immigration policy.
In the courtroom, Coombe hinted that she could deny the TRO, saying that Taal would still be able to challenge any enforcement action against him after it took place. However, if Taal is detained, Lee said that he could be sitting behind bars for months before his case goes to trial.
“An individual shouldn’t have to be detained for a long time in order to adjudicate a constitutional claim,” Lee said at the press conference following the trial.
In the courtroom Lee accused the federal government of engaging in “viewpoint discrimination” against Taal, saying their actions have created a “chilling effect” on the speech of both citizens and non-citizens. He said that the discriminatory actions stem from both executive orders, which he says violate the constitutionally authorized intentions of the INA.
Lee added that since the executive orders violate the INA, the court should issue a national injunction to stop their enforcement. However, the defendants argued that the executive orders don’t violate the INA and that all actions taken against Taal have been in accordance with pre-established law.
In response, Lee said that President Trump’s statements regarding the executive
Immigration attorney Eric Lee, representing Cornell student Momodou Taal, speaks at a press conference following a federal court hearing in Syracuse on March 25, 2025. Lee said the U.S. government’s actions are an unconstitutional retaliation against political speech.
orders claim they are “unprecedented” — meaning that the orders were meant to be seen as a new set of actions being taken by the government — actions that could violate the INA.
The defendants responded to Lee, saying President Trump’s statements were merely “conjecture” and that the executive orders did not create a new set of immigration laws that could be enforced outside of the
Momodou Taal, a Cornell University graduate student, is at the center of a federal lawsuit challenging Trump-era executive orders he and his legal team argue were used to retaliate against him for participating in pro-Palestinian protests. Taal’s student visa was revoked in March 2025, sparking national attention and legal action.
INA. Defendants continued saying the executive orders did not “direct any speech to be criminalized.”
Lee responded by saying that the executive orders must be contributing to immigration actions outside of the INA because “nothing in the INA says the government can deport someone for protesting.” He added, “The fact that the executive orders stipulate that protesting is grounds for removal undermines the defendant's argument that the executive orders were based on previous law.” Lee continued, “If government policy were based on existing law, there wouldn’t have been a need for the executive orders in the first place.”
In response to questions about whether Taal’s visa could have been revoked without the authority of the executive orders, Lee said, “No, because the INA does not illegalize attending a protest or making loud noises or chanting at a demonstration.” He added, “The United States Supreme Court has confirmed that noncitizens have rights under the 1st Amendment.”
With the initial restraining order denied and without injunctive relief, the enforcement of the executive orders will continue, and Taal, as well as every other international student who is critical of the U.S. government, will remain at risk of detention and deportation.
The court’s ruling Thursday represents a procedural setback for Taal and his coplaintiffs but keeps the case alive as it shifts focus to the newly filed amended complaint.
County Survey Reveals Disparities in Youth Dental Care
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — A recent survey by Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) has revealed significant disparities in access to oral health care for children, even as the majority of families report practicing positive dental hygiene habits.
The findings, released Thursday to coincide with World Oral Health Day, will be used to shape local initiatives aimed at improving oral health and expanding access to dental care in Tompkins County.
The 2024 Oral Health Survey, conducted between February and April of last year, received 645 responses from residents across the county. Its primary focus was to assess the state of children’s oral health, while also examining overall dental habits, fluoride use, and access to care.
“The results will play a key role in shaping initiatives to improve oral health and ensure better access to dental care for all,” Tompkins County Whole Health said in a statement announcing the results.
According to the survey, about 60% of parents said their children maintain a regular dental care routine, such as brushing twice daily, and 82% reported that their children receive fluoride treatment from a dentist or pediatrician. Additionally, 80% of respondents believe fluoride is beneficial to teeth.
However, the survey also identified groups of parents—particularly those with younger children—who are unaware of the safety and effectiveness of fluoride. In response, TCWH has pledged to address this knowledge gap by educating families about the preventative benefits of fluoride.
“Fluoride plays a crucial role in preventing tooth decay and promoting strong, healthy teeth,” TCWH stated. “That’s why it is a key part of our approach to improving children’s dental health.”
Despite these positive behaviors, the data also highlighted serious challenges related to access. Nearly half of respondents said they have had to travel outside the county—sometimes an hour or more—
to find dental care for their children. More than half reported difficulty finding a dentist locally, citing issues ranging from insurance acceptance to a lack of pediatric specialists.
Of those who faced difficulties, 40% said they had trouble finding a dentist who accepted their child’s insurance, and 36% struggled to locate a pediatric dentist in the area. Another 10% noted problems getting reliable information about local dental providers.
“Many families report that they are unable to find dentists who accept Medicaid,” TCWH noted. “Low Medicaid reimbursement rates make it very challenging for dentists to provide the necessary care for children covered by Medicaid.”
For uninsured or underinsured families, these access issues can lead to infrequent dental visits, worsening oral health outcomes for children and further entrenching disparities in care.
Percentage of reason for children experiencing difficulties finding a dentist in Tompkins County. Continued
Net Results
CU Men’s Lacrosse Off to a Fast Start
By Steve Lawrence
The Penn laxers knew that they would be facing a steep challenge when coming into Schoellkopf Field on Saturday, but it turned out to be even steeper than they had likely imagined. The visitors would be facing ESPN’s number one ranked team in Division 1 – led by arguably the game’s best college player — and after losing twice to the Quakers last year, the Big Red had a big ax to grind.
Led by senior attack CJ Kirst — who is now one of the top eight most prolific scorers in the history of Division 1 lacrosse — Cornell started grinding early, and at halftime, the Quakers probably wanted to get back on their bus. The Big Red had exploded out to a 10-1 lead, and would ultimately cruise to a 15-5 win to move to 3-0 in the Ivy League.
While the Quakers knew they would need to contain Kirst, they may have over-
looked the rest of the team, and in doing so found out why the hosts were ranked #1. Kirst took advantage of the opportunities that opened up for him, scoring two goals and assisting on three more, bringing his career total to 204 goals and putting him in eighth place on the all-time list. Michael Long was happy to pick up any perceived slack, scoring four goals and assisting on a pair, and his six points moved him into sixth place all-time at Cornell. Ryan Waldman had a hat trick, and Ryan Goldstein put up a pair of deuces with two goals and two assists. There is an old saying that is used across the sports spectrum that the other team cannot score if they do not have the ball, and face-off man Jack Cascadden continues to do his part to make sure the Big Red wins the possession game, winning 12 of 19 and scooping up eight ground balls. Cornell will play on the road the next three weekends, and their next home contest will be played on April 26th, when the
lthacaCollection.com
Big Red will host Dartmouth in their last game before the Ivy League tournament. While 30 years is by any measure a long time to be the head coach of an elite collegiate hockey team, and Cornell fans are eternally grateful to Mike Schafer for dedicating such a huge chunk of his life to the program, the Lynah Faithful wanted to see him behind the bench for two more games. Alas, that was not to be, and after an utterly thrilling win over top-ranked Michigan State — in which Cornell’s Sullivan Mack scored the game winner with 10 seconds to play — the Big Red’s season — and Schafer’s storied career — came to an end on Saturday when they lost 3-2 in OT to Boston University in the second round. A win would have put the Big Red in the Frozen Four for the first time since 2003, when Schafer’s guys won a program-record 30 games.
Schafer — who as most locals know, was a beloved player at Cornell before becoming a revered coach — said on Cornell’s website, “I’m grateful for my career, I’m grateful for Cornell for providing me the job. I’m not happy we lost; I’m very proud of our players and how they represent Cornell. In today’s society, are they not the truest student-athletes? They pay to go to school and have a tough curriculum. They grinded out exams last night from 6-7:30 last night. They’re the truest sense of a student-athlete in a world where it’s chaos. How could you not be proud as a coach? That’s why I’ve stayed at Cornell. It’s the best job in the country. Best fans, best university, best combination of hockey and academics.” It feels strange to say this to a guy I met in 1983 when he was 19 years old, but I will say it anyway: Thanks, Grandpa Mike. Enjoy the time with your family, and I hope you get to be retired as long as you worked.
Michael Long scored four goals against Penn and assisted on two more. His six points moved him into sixth place all-time at Cornell. (Photo: Cornell Athletics)
Spring Forward
High Schools Spring Sports Head Outside with High Hopes
By Luke Cammarata
Spring Sports Preview: High Expectations for Local High Schools
As the winter chill fades and fields thaw, high schools across the region gear up for what promises to be an exciting spring sports season. Here’s a look at what to expect from some of the area’s top programs.
Ithaca High School:
Few programs enter this season with higher expectations than Ithaca. The Little Red had a remarkable 2024 season, sending a program-record nine athletes to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Indoor Track and Field Championships. Senior pole vaulter Moss Dengler broke the school record with a vault of 14 feet, 6 inches, securing second place at states.
Freshman Eliza DeRito set a new school record in the girls’ 600-meter run with a time of 1:38.64. The track and field team boasts returning state champions in Riley Hubisz (3,200 m) and Joshua KwakyeMinott (long jump), giving the Little Red a strong foundation. The girls’ lacrosse team, back-to-back Section IV Class B champions, aims for a third straight title. Meanwhile, the boys’ tennis team eyes a fourth consecutive sectional championship.
Dryden High School:
Last season, Dryden’s track and field teams made history, winning both the boys’ and girls’ IAC Large School titles for the first time in nearly two decades. Freshman sensation Reagan Burnham, a double-event champion last year, returns with an eye on further dominance. The boys’ lacrosse team will look to build upon a competitive 2024 campaign, with a mix
Last year, Ithaca High School girls’ lacrosse team, won their second consecutive Section IV Class B championship. This week they start their campaign for a third straight title. (Photo: Provided)
of experienced leaders and rising underclassmen ready to make an impact.
Groton High School:
Groton’s men's track and field team will miss last year’s standout, Carter Naginey, who won the 600-meter run during the indoor season and the 400-meter run during the outdoor season at sectional championships. However, they return a solid core looking to build on their recent sectional success. “We’ve got a young, but hungry group this year,” said Coach Kosta. “Our goal is to develop our underclassmen into strong competitors while making sure our seniors leave their mark. We’re looking for big improvements in sprinting and relay events, and we hope to compete at a high level in sectionals again.”
Spencer-Van Etten/Candor (SVEC) Eagles:
SVEC’s baseball program returns multiple IAC South Large All-Stars, including MVP selections Noah Banks and Jason Jantz. With a strong veteran presence, they’ll be among the teams to watch in a competitive league.
The Eagles’ softball team concluded the 2024 season with an overall record
of 9-10, reflecting a competitive spirit that wasn’t fully captured by their winloss tally. In the postseason, the Eagles entered the Section IV Class B tournament as the #4 seed. They faced #12 Sidney in the first round, where they were narrowly defeated 8-7 in an extrainnings game, ending their playoff run. Looking ahead to the 2025 season, the Eagles aim to build upon their previous successes. Co-coaches Megan Friscia and Shelia Bowman will rely on a strong infield, featuring key returners such as third baseman Jillian Holmes, shortstop Faith Brenchley, and first baseman Katelyn Klym. Coach Friscia expressed confidence in the team’s defensive capabilities and the leadership provided by these experienced players stating "Our defense is looking sharp, and we’ve got some strong bats in the lineup. If we stay focused and continue to improve, I think we have a great chance to make a deep run this year.”
This spring is shaping up to be one filled with thrilling competition, individual milestones, and potential championship runs. With a mix of returning stars and fresh talent ready to shine, expect nothing short of an action-packed season across the region.
Fauré and Britten
Two Chamber Music Performances
Saturday, April 5 at 7:00 PM Rose Hall, Cortland
Sunday, April 6 at 3:00 PM First Unitarian
of Ithaca
Four-Color Festival
The Ithacon Returns to Ithaca College
By Warren Greenwood
ACT I: “You don’t have to make a speech, Big Shot! We Understand! We’ve gotta use that power to help mankind, right?” — The Thing, The Fantastic Four.
Of all the art-forms human beings have created, the one I love the most is the comics — comic books, comic strips, animated cartoons. I love world cartooning, and I love the people who create it. Thus, I’ve always loved comic book conventions — those gatherings of comic book creators and comics readers. And, incredibly, our green, loopy, little town hosts an annual comic convention: The Ithacon.
Ithacon is the creation of the Comic Book Club of Ithaca (CBCI) and Ithaca College. Astonishingly, the Comic Book Club of Ithaca is the oldest, continuously running comic book club in America. This year is its 50th anniversary as an Ithaca Community organization. It grew out of the Dewitt Jr. High Comic Club, founded in the fall of 1974 by a 7th grade student named Aaron Pichel. Aaron still lives in Ithaca. He is an attorney, a former Disney executive, and the impresario of the Ithaca Silent Movie events at the State Theatre.
In February of 1975, the club evolved into a community organization: the Comic Book
Club of Ithaca, with a recognition by the IRS as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
A young club member named Tim Gray located a suitable meeting place…a community building at Stewart Park irresistibly called “the Tin Can”. Tim is also still active in Ithaca. He is the proprietor of Comics for Collectors on State/MLK street.
In the spring of the Bi-Centennial year of 1976, the CBCI held their first Ithacon. They had all of two guests. But they were worldclass guests: Len Wein who created Swamp Thing with the sublime comics artist Bernie Wrightson, and Al Milgrom who was drawing Captain Marvel at the time.
Ithacon 1 was financed on a credit card by the then club president, Bill Turner. Bill is still in Ithaca, too. He had a career in IT at Cornell, and is still actively guiding Ithacon half a century later.
Over the years, Ithacon had several homes: the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, the Hotel Ithaca, the Masonic Temple, Boynton Middle School, the Woman’s Community Building, and the former Race Office Supplies storefront on the Ithaca Commons. The partnership with Ithaca College began in 2014 with Ithacon 39.
Dr. Katharine Kittredge, a professor of English at IC, chaired IC/Ithacon. She is the co-creator of the “From Pippi to Ripley” conferences at IC, which are seminars on the role of women and girls in the science fiction and fantasy genres. (Pippi would be the children’s book character Pippi Longstocking, and Ripley is the character that Sigourney Weaver played in the Alien movies.)
And, since 2014, Ithacon has been held at the elegant Emerson Suites at IC…an extraordinarily attractive venue. In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. And, like most public events, Ithacon was cancelled. In 2021, it was reconfigured as an on-line event. And, happily, in 2022, with the majority of Americans vaccinated, Ithacon 45 returned as a live event.
Curiously, here in 2025, Ithacon is put on by the Ithaca College Business School. Professor Ed Catto teaches a class at IC Called Ithacon: Promoting & Managing Conventions. And the students, as part of the class, are helming the convention. About half the class are comic book aficionados, and the other half are business students interested in putting on conventions and creating start-ups.
If you actually attend an Ithacon, you can’t help noticing how young the people running the event are — in their late teens and early twenties. The folks from the Comic Book Club of Ithaca — now in their 60s and 70s — are
still lurking in the background, acting as mentors to the young people.
And an absolutely charming story is that Professor Catto attended his very first Ithacon when he was 8-years-old. That would have been Ithacon 2 in 1977. And he has a memory that the guest was Walt Simonson, one of the greatest comic book artists of all time. And Professor Ed still remembers the kindness and respect that Simonson treated an 8-year-old comics fan with.
ACT II: “There’s a way. There’s always a way. I believe that. Don’t give up. Find a way to do what you love.” — Samaritan, Astro City
In the past, Ithacon has attracted some world-class guests:
Joe Simon, who, with the sublime cartoonist Jack Kirby, created Captain America. Curt Swan, the definitive Superman artist for three decades. Kurt Schaffenberger, who drew Lois Lane. Murphy Anderson, who drew Hawkman. Jerry Ordway, who drew Alan Moore’s Tom Strong. Denny O’Neil, the comics writer who co-created the “relevant” Green Arrow/ Green Lantern books with comics illustrator Neal Adams. John Byrne, the comics artist who revamped the X-Men with the writer Chris Claremont. Kurt Busiek who writes Astro City. (And it is way past time for the Nobel Committee to give this guy the Nobel Prize for literature.) Frank Miller, who wrote and drew The Dark Knight Returns. Jim Shooter, the longtime editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. And Julius Schwartz, the DC Comics editor who gave us the Silver Age Flash, Green Lantern,
Continued on Page 14
& Entertainment
Ithacon is the creation of the Comic Book Club of Ithaca — the oldest, continuously running comic book club in America — and Ithaca College. (Photo: Provided)
With a stunning lineup of guests, this year’s Ithacon has been organized alongside a group of students and faculty in the Ithaca College Business School. (Photo: Provided)
Justice League of America, Batman, Hawkman, The Atom, and the concept of the DC Multiverse. (The Silver Age of Comics ran from1956 to 1972.)
And…there is a mind-boggling line-up of guests for the 2025 convention. If I listed them all, the Long Suffering Reader would pass out from fatigue, so I’ll sketch through some of the starring guests…
Don McGregor: This year’s Guest of Honor is comic book writer Don McGregor. McGregor began his career in 1969 working for Warren Publishing. And, in the 1970s, he wrote for Marvel Comics, where he made comics history with Black Panther: Panther’s Rage, the first mainstream comic featuring an all-Black cast. He also wrote groundbreakinging work on Killraven, Luke Cage, and Morbius, often addressing social issues. McGregor was also a pioneer in independent comics, breaking taboos in heroic fantasy with his book Sabre.
Matt Bors: Matt Bors is a Canadian editorial cartoonist, a two-time Pulitzer finalist, and an Eisner-winning comics creator. He is currently writing a Toxic Avenger comic book, along with Justice Warriors, a dystopian satire co-created with artist Ben Clarkson, both from Ahoy Comics (a lively new comics company founded in Syracuse, N.Y. in 2019).
Dean Haspiel: Emmy Award-winning cartoonist Dean Haspiel is best known for creating Billy Dogma, collaborating with Harvey Pekar, and illustrating for HBO’s Bored to Death. His published work
48th Annual ITHACON
Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campus Center at Ithaca College 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY
includes writing and drawing for Marvel, Vertigo, Archie, and Image on comics such as The Fox, Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Deadpool, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Godzilla. And, if that wasn’t enough, he is also an accomplished playwright.
Walt Simonson: Walt Simonson is one of the greatest comic book artists in the history of the artform. He both wrote and drew a celebrated run on Marvel Comics Thor from 1983 to 1987. (During which, he created the character Malekith the Dark Elf, who appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Thor: The Dark World.
Louise Simonson: Louise Simonson is one of the most acclaimed women writers in the comics industry. She has written for both Marvel and DC, on titles like X-Factor, Superman: the Man of Steel, and Power Pack. She also wrote a book I dearly loved: The New Mutants.
Chris Condon: Chris Condon writes a series for Image Comics called That Texas Blood, a collaboration with artist Jacob Phillips. He also created a spinoff comic, The Enfield Gang Massacre, which was selected as one of the best comics of 2023 by The Hollywood Reporter and The Comics Journal. His most recent series is Night People, adapting a novel by Barry Gifford for Oni Press.
Mike Gold: Gold co-founded the independent comic company First Comics in 1983, serving as president and editing several of their titles. He later became a senior editor and Director of Editorial Development at DC Comics. He is currently a columnist at Pop Culture Squad.
Roger Stern: Roger Stern is a major American comic book writer who lives here in our sweet, loopy, progressive little town. He has written Superman, Green Lantern, and The Justice League for DC…and Spider-Man, Captain America, Doctor Strange and The Avengers for Marvel. His prose novel, The Death & Life of Superman was a New York Times bestseller.
Don Simpson: Don Simpson is an artist who has constructed his own personal fictional universe. That would be his satirical superhero series Megaton Man for Kitchen Sink Press and Image Comics. Under his Fiasco Comics imprint, he self-published 17 issues of Bizarre Heroes, a universe of characters surrounding the cast of Megaton Man. And, more recently, Simpson has been authoring a weekly prose novel, The Ms. Megaton Man Maxi Series.
In addition to the guests, Ithacon will feature a dealers room packed with vendors selling comics and comics-related merchandise. And there will be a plethora of entertaining and informative panels for the comics-loving connoisseur.
And, finally, costume play is an integral part of any comic convention. These things are like comic book-themed Marti Gras. Thus, there will be a non-competative cosplay runway where cosplayers can display their creations.
ACT III: “Bugger this. I want a better world.” — Jenny Sparks, The Authority
Some time ago, I heard a psychiatrist on the radio explain that, in Europe in the 19th century, there was an epidemic of what they called “melancholia” (what we would call depression). She speculated that this was triggered by the demise of Europe’s frequent agrarian festivals.
Here in Ithaca, N.Y., we are fortunate to have frequent festivals to chase away the blues. Indeed, we always seem to be having a festival: the Ithaca Festival, the Apple Fest, the Chile Fest…(My personal favorite was the beloved and much-missed Wizarding Weekends. Alas, the Warner Bros. corporation played the Blue Meanie and ordered us to cease and desist.) And, perhaps, we can think of Ithacon as a comic book-themed festival.
And I’m going to recommend that the Perspicacious Reader attend Ithacon because it may make you feel better. And, for any sane person, there is a lot to feel badly about lately.
Incredibly, 77 million of our fellow Americans chose to elect a mentally ill, authoritarian con man as the president of the United States. And he has been implementing something called Project 2025 — a plan to transform the United States from a republic to an autocracy.
Truthfully, I’ve felt so bad lately that I’ve had difficulty writing this piece. But I would like to quote something here. When I was an art student at Syracuse University back in the mid-1970s, I studied art history with Professor William Fleming, who wrote the book Arts & Ideas, a history of the arts in the West from the Stone Age to the late 20th century.
In the preface he wrote: “The history of man is much more than the sum of his military, political, and economic triumphs and failures…To understand the spirit and inner life of a people — the joys, values, and drives that caused them to find life tolerable and meaningful — one must examine its art, literature, philosophy, dances, and music, because these are the instruments by which humankind takes its own measure…” What he’s saying here, people, is that art is important. And, I think the art of the comics is important.
In his magnificent book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, writer/designer Arlen Schumer points out that, although comic book art is “often treated like a stepchild by mainstream culture”, it remains “one of the greatest artforms of the 20th century”.
Ergo, I think having a festival to celebrate that artform is a sane and reasonable thing to do. Also, as the Dalai Lama once pointed out, we are extremely social animals…and an event like the Ithacon is a fun, lively, upbeat social gathering.
Garrison Keillor once said, “We’re all heroes. We’re stronger than we think. We all have resources we know not of.”
So, after the fun is over, suit up in your superhero armor, get out there, and let’s make this a better world.
Playing Together
Period Music Groups Collaborate to Perform Monteverdi’s Vespers
By Peter Rothbart
The NYS Baroque is an ensemble obsessed with authenticity. Their repertoire of European music is drawn from the Baroque era (c.16001750), which they faithfully perform on period instruments, such as the violin, viola da gamba, cornetto, lute, theorbo, trombone, and organ.
The Ithaca-based NYS Baroque will join forces with Rochester-based Pegasus Early Music to present an upcoming three-day run, performing Claudio Monteverdi’s monumental Vespers of 1610. Performances are scheduled in Syracuse, Rochester, and Ithaca, with the Ithaca concert taking place on Saturday, April 5th at the First Presbyterian Church. Ten singers will join twenty-five instrumentalists in
Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610
NYS Baroque
7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 5
First Presbyterian Church 315 North Cayuga St. Ithaca
Tickets: https://nysbaroque.com/tickets/ Pre-concert talk by Paul O’Dette at 6:45 p.m.
DISPARITIES IN YOUTH DENTAL CARE
The findings were formally accepted by the Tompkins County Board of Health during its Feb. 25 meeting. Board members unanimously expressed support for efforts to improve children’s oral health and pledged to work with TCWH to address the issues identified.
As a next step, TCWH is actively seeking partnerships with local individuals and organizations to develop solutions. The agency has also shared the report with the 6th District Dental Society, which represents many of the region’s dental professionals, and has invited their involvement in collaborative efforts to improve access.
a combined ensemble conducted by Paul O’Dette, one of the world’s great lutenists.
Though Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 is a religious work, it is a seminal work in the western classical music canon, a bridge from the late Renaissance contemplative sounds of Gregorian chant and the floridly decorated and contrapuntal secular madrigals and motets to the rebellious beginnings of the Baroque era.
In the late 1500’s, Renaissance music had become overgrown with thickly decorated and overly elaborate forms that featured virtuosic vocal performance that overshadowed lyrical clarity. Polyphonic complexity permeated vocal music in the 16th century madrigals and motets.
Around 1600, a cultural rebellion took shape in the artistic incubator of Florence, as a group of Italian composers gathered with the intention of creating a new musical style.
The composers simplified their writing so that form followed function, not the other way around. Their text began to follow the natural flow of speech in terms of pitch and structure. Accompanying instruments supplied a minimal background, thus creating recitative. Composers also began to orchestrate their music for specific instruments. This, and other departures from the formal strictures of Renaissance
vocal forms, freed the composer to emphasize the text’s emotional expressiveness. The new music stressed lyrical intelligibility and emotional expressiveness.
Claudio Monteverdi in Mantua, Italy was perhaps the most important of these revolutionary composers and is considered to have written the first modern opera. He was a master in both the old Renaissance style as well as the newly emerging Baroque style and was adept at integrating the two.
The Vespers are part of the Catholic Church’s daily prayer regime called the Offices. They are performed at twilight when the day’s work is done. Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 is a seminal work in the western classical music canon, a bridge from the contemplative sounds of Gregorian chant and the floridly decorated singing of the late Renaissance to the rebellious beginnings of the Baroque era.
Structurally, Monteverdi’s Vespers creates new from old. Gregorian chant, a single modal-based melodic line sung without harmony remains intact, as do important moments of polyphonically set vocal and instrumental music. Monteverdi still embraces the use of a cantus firmus, characterized by a bass line that anchors and helps to define every chord. Monteverdi uses it in a very contemporary way, developing tonality as the driving force forward. In his adoption of tonality, all chords become directional and gravitational, defining the musical phrase, and propelling the musical line towards the cadence. In Monteverdi’s work, we can hear the roots of almost all modern western music, in Haydn and Shostakovich symphonies, Mozart and Rossini operas, the film scores of Erich Korngold and John Williams, in the blues of the Mississippi Delta and the vocal serenading of Patti LuPone.
“Whole Health is sharing this information not only with the public but with individuals and organizations in the County in an effort to form partnerships that can arrive at solutions to the problem areas identified,” the statement read.
TCWH plans to promote oral health awareness at community events and through social media, hoping to engage more residents and organizations in the conversation.
For more information about the Oral Health Survey or to access the full report, visit https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/ health/oral-health-survey or view the full report at https://tompkinscountyny. gov/health/oral-health-survey-report.pdf. Interested partners are encouraged to contact TCWH at publichealth@tompkins-co.org.
Monteverdi sets psalms in a verdant chorale style while allowing vocal soloists their own moments. He wrote virtuosic instrumental interludes and contrasted them with moments of expressive recitative. Monteverdi’s Vespers ushered in what music would sound like in the next 400 years.
Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.
NY Baroque will play period instruments in collaboration with Rochester’s Pegasus Early Music in joint performances in Syracuse, Rochester and Ithaca. (Photo: Provided)
