May 31, 2023

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LOCAL EMS WORKERS

HONORED WITH AWARDS

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FORMER ACTING POLICE CHIEF SUING CITY

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ALL PLAYGROUNDS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INSPIRED

Ithaca Festival Coming to Downtown June 1st - 4th
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County Honors Emergency Medical Service Workers with Awards

Last week the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response presented its rst ever EMS awards to recognize the contributions of Emergency Medical Services personnel in the community. EMS Program Manager for DoER Joe Milliman said “It’s an honor to present these awards to individuals and organizations that play a vital role in public safety by providing life-saving care, and who are dedicated to serving their communities.”

Brian Snyder of the Village of Trumansburg EMS was awarded the rst ever Tim Bangs Lifetime Achievement Award. Snyder has worked as both a ground paramedic and a ight medic, and served the agency as its EMS Administrator. According to the county news release. e news release announcing the award said, “Brian’s calm and con dent demeanor, his interest in discussing cases and sharing his knowledge and experience has not only shown his patient-entered care, but it has helped other providers improve theirs.”

e Department of Emergency Response also selected Trumansburg EMS for EMS Agency of the Year “because of how they have led the way in improving the EMS system in Tompkins County.”

Additional award winners included Emily Dove of Trumansburg EMS, who was awarded with ALS Provider of the Year. Caleb Wood of Bangs Ambulance was given the award of BLS Provider of the Year.

e Award for EMS Crew of the Year was given to Andrew Chambers and Kaitlin Gorton of Dryden Ambulance for providing “rapid, life-saving interventions” a er an individual went into anaphylactic shock from a bee sting.

e Department of Emergency Response also recognized the Tompkins County Sheri ’s O ce, Airport Fire and Rescue, and the 9-1-1 Center with the EMS Award of Excellence for their response to a cardiac arrest at the airport passenger terminal in April 2022.

In addition to the awards given by the Department of Emergency Response, the 2023 American Red Cross Real Heroes Awards Ceremony honored three Bangs Ambulance employees with the Medical award. Paramedics Andrew Dean and Hayden Frank, along with EMT Patrick Kuehl were honored with the award for their response to an unknown medical problem at a residence in the Town of Ithaca on May 15, 2022.

e call was for a possible medical emergency involving a woman who was on the phone with a friend when the line suddenly went silent. When the three arrived with the supervisor y car and paramedic ambulance, they were confronted with a multi-unit apartment building with no information regarding which apartment the patient was in.

Instead of concluding that this was a “no patient” situation, the crew sought information from a neighbor, used certain indicators such as shoes in front of a door, and then noticed a window leading to a porch roof that would o er a view into the apartment they suspected the patient could be in. Hayden Frank climbed out that window, positioned himself on the porch roof, shined his ashlight into the kitchen window, didn’t see anything at rst, and then noticed someone unconscious in the living room.

While EMS personnel typically leave forcible entry to law enforcement or the re department, the crew recognized that time was of the essence and kicked in the

T AKE N OTE

door. e patient was near death and the crew launched into action, providing ventilatory support, medications, and other interventions. e outcome was successful, the person made a full recovery, and, a er being discharged from the hospital, called the ambulance company to thank the crew for what they did.

In response to receiving the award Kuehl said, “this call that we went on was impactful for me because I really like working with a good team and the team we had that day was phenomenal, and it was one of very few calls for which I’ve received follow-up at all and our patient did survive.”

Frank responded saying that, “It was really good to hear that a week later she tried calling down to the o ce to get in touch with us and that she was doing okay and she wanted to say ‘thank you’. It actually doesn’t o en happen that we get any sort of follow-up from patients, so that feels good.”

According to Dean, “It was a positive outcome, mainly due to a strong team effort by an excellent team.”

ON THE COVER:

Ithaca local rides unicorn oat at the 2022 Ithaca Festival parade (Photo: Ash Bailot)

X Present Conversations:

June 2 @ 5:00 p.m. –8:00 p.m.

Present Conversations is A Visual Expression of Culture and Art featuring a group of POC and Indigenous artists. The exhibit interprets the past, present and future through each artist’s unique culture. The June 2023 Show features Al Tejera, Brandon Lazore, Cayetano Valenzuela, Cruz Newman, Loreto Molina, Priya Sirohi, Samantha Jacobs, Suzanne Onodera, Travis Mammedaty and curating artists Michael Jon Morgan and Yen Ospina.

Come join us for our June Exhibit at the Cap ArtSpace! Located at 110 N Tioga St, middle of the commons!

X P.L.A.C.E. Textile & Garment Workers Through HistoryForge: June 7 @ 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

Join Eve Snyder into an exploration for how we can use the wealth of information available on the Tompkins County HistoryForge project (tompkins.historyforge.net) to discover and understand the role of textile manufacturers, homesewing, and the exclusion of “women’s work” in the census records of Tompkins County.

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Bangs Employees Andrew Dean, Hayden Frank and Partick Kuehl (Photo Credit: Provided)

IN UIRING PHOTOGRPHER Q A

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING NEWS YOU HEARD THIS WEEK?

Former Acting Police Chief Pursuing Lawsuit Against City of Ithaca Alleging Racial Discrimination

The relationship between the City of Ithaca and its police force has been contentious in recent years and the city has been working to repair it in recent months. However, the city’s relationship with its former acting Chief of Police John Joly seems past the point of repair as he is pursuing a lawsuit against the city with the help of Syracuse based attorney A.J. Bossman.

e entire 10-page lawsuit was obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request from the Ithaca Times. It details that Joly has brought the lawsuit against the city for discriminating against him on the basis of race on numerous occasions. Essentially, the lawsuit claims that Joly was denied promotion to Chief of Police because he is white and that “diversity” initiatives in the city unfairly discriminate against non-Black personell. It names Mayor Laura Lewis, ve members of the Common Council, and Director of Human Resources

Schelley MichellNunn as defendants.

Joly was hired by the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) in 2005 and worked his way up the ranks to the position of Deputy Chief by 2020.

Mayor Lewis appointed him to the position of acting Chief of Police in 2021 as the city continued searching for a permanent police chief. In July 2022, Joly applied for the permanent police chief position. IPD Lieutenant Scott Garin and Binghamton Police Captain Chris Bracco also applied for the position.

In an e ort to assess which applicant was the best candidate for the job, the city created the Search Committee for Chief of Police and Mayor Lewis selected MichelleNunn to chair the committee.

e lawsuit claims that Michelle-Nunn, a black woman, “intentionally and routinely disadvantaged non-black applicants by… manipulating the selection and nomination process for Chief of Police to disadvantage [Joly] because he is a Caucasian male.” It continues by alleging that Michelle-Nunn

gave “preferential treatment” to Scott Garin because he identi es as Black.

During a series of community forums organized by Michelle-Nunn that were held at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), Joly, Garin, and Bracco answered questions from residents about why they were the best candidate for the job at a time when the department has been working on rebuilding trust with the community. e lawsuit claims that these forums subjected Joly to a “discriminatory animus” and were “confrontational” due to a “question and answer” process focused on race. However, the forums were conducted in an e ort to rebuild trust between the police and minority communities that have historically been negatively impacted by policing.

Following the forums, Mayor Lewis announced that Joly was her nal choice for police chief on December 2, 2022 despite the fact that the search committee was in favor of choosing Scott Garin. As a result, several members of the Common Council came out publicly against the nomination of Joly saying that he was not the best pick to lead the department at a time when it is working to rebuild trust with the community. In response to the criticism, Lewis revoked Joly's nomination on December 4, 2022 and reopened the search process.

In an interview following the the rejection of Joly, 4th Ward Common Council member Jorge DeFendini said, “particularly with the reimagining public safety process, we've had a lot of head butting with the acting chief and those con icts have led to a lot of uncertainty and misinformation regarding the reimagining process.”

e lawsuit states that comments made by Alderpersons, Cynthia Brock, Je rey Barken, Jorge DeFendini, Ducson Nguyen, and George McGonigal in an Ithaca Voice article published on December 5, 2022 implied that Joly was “racist” and that he was “unwilling to address ‘systemic and implicit racial bias in policing.’”

e lawsuit continues saying that Alderperson McGonigal refused to support Joly’s nomination based on his participation as a witness “in a discrimination/retaliation lawsuit brought by Christopher Miller.”

Miller was a former IPD o cer who brought a similar lawsuit against the city in 2005, alleging that he was passed over for promotion because he was white. Even though those claims were determined to be unfounded, the city agreed to a settlement with Miller in 2021 for $420,000 in addition to paying his nearly $1 million legal fees a er a back and forth legal battle that spanned more than a decade. At the time of the settlement, former Mayor Svante Myrick said that “…settlement simply became cheaper than continued litigation that showed no signs of letting up.”

e lawsuit also states that Alderpersons Brock and Nuygen further discriminated against Joly by alleging that Joly and two additional IPD o cers were “stealing funds and falsifying time cards.” However, Brock and Nuygen have explained that those allegations came from an anonymous whistleblower and they only passed them on for further investigation.

“We recognized the seriousness of the allegations, and that it was our obligation and responsibility as elected o cials to bring it forward to the appropriate bodies with the authority to investigate it,” Brock and Nuygen said in a joint statement. Following an investigation by New York State Police, those allegations were found to be false.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants revealed their “discriminatory state of mind” by making “assertions that [Joly] is not quali ed to communicate with the

4 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 N EWSLINE
“The passing of Tina Turner.” – Jimbo “The passing of Tina Turner.” – Jallissa E. “The retirement of Carmelo Anthony.” – Finley C. “Seven interesting facts about Van Gogh.” – David M. “Trump going to jail.” – Greg W.
Continued on Page 15
Former Acting Chief of Police John Joly answering questions from residents at the GIAC community forums that took place in October 2022 (Photo: Stella Frank)
“... the lawsuit claims that Joly was denied promotion to Chief of Police because he is white and that “diversity” initiatives in the city unfairly discriminate against non-Black personell.”

In Ithaca, All Playgrounds Are Not Created Equal

Brian Dillon, a father of Beverly J. Martin (BJM) elementary school student, conducted research on the di erent playgrounds within the Ithaca City School District and found apparent disparities between the outdoor play areas. Dillon said over February break he and his children went to each elementary school in the district and conducted data. Dillon presented his ndings in a slideshow at the Feb. 28 Board of Education meeting.

“In my opinion the Caroline playground is easily the best,” Dillon said. “It has great structures, a nice layout, lots of trees, equipment for all kinds of imaginative and creative play, big elds, a forest trail, and other amenities.”

Conversely, Dillon concluded that there was inadequate playground equipment and too little space at BJM and suggested two solutions: the rebuild and expansion of the current playground or the incorporation of Markles Flats, a playing eld owned by ICSD that is located across from BJM, into BJM students’ play space.

“I gradually came to see the BJM playground is a bit underserved relative to the others,” Dillon said. “But I had no idea the disparities were as wide as they were until we went and systematically visited all the schools. e PTA at BJM wrote a grant last fall to update some of the playground equipment. So there’s knowledge in the community that the playground needed

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Downs

updating, but I heard from many parents and teachers that they were surprised and kind of struck by how big the gaps are once we had data to make that clear.”

Playground Structures and Amenities

Dillon compared the types of structures, like jungle gyms, at each playground by size and amount, as well as the amount of swings, slides, trees and basketball hoops at each elementary school. Dillon classi ed large structures as equipment that allows three or more groups of 2-3 children to play on at the same time without interfering with one another. He found that BJM is the only school without any large play structures.

e school has 4 medium structures, which Dillion classi ed as those that allow 2 groups of 2-3 children to play on without interfering with one another. But, he found that two of the medium structures are damaged.

BJM has 1 small slide while all other schools have 5 slides; only eight trees, while four other schools double that number and the least amount of square feet for a playground area; grass; total area per student; and grass area per student. BJM has 37639 total square feet of space for their playground, while Caroline, the school with the largest amount, has 313,746 square feet of space.

BJM has seven standard swings, while the average number of swings per school is 10. All schools have two basketball hoops.

Demographics

Dillon found through New York State Education data for the 2021–22 academic school years that when compared to the other schools in the Ithaca City School District BJM had: the highest percentage of Black students; the highest percentage of Hispanic students; the lowest percentage of white students; the highest percentage of students with disabilities; and the second highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

A study titled, “How do the children play? e in uence of playground types on childrens play styles” found that physical environment is a key factor in children’s play and development. It also found that play settings have the capability to positively in uence a child’s well-being and physical activity levels.

“My hope in sending this [slideshow] to them [Board of Education] was that they will engage the broader community sooner rather than later in making some decisions about the playground and Markles Flats,” Dillon said.

What’s next

Dillon presented his ndings at the March 21 ICSD Facilities meeting.

“My sense is that the district facilities budget for capital projects, which was approved in 2019 at 120 million for a period of up to 10 years, is substantially depleted due to Covid-related expenditures (e.g. HVAC updates),” Dillon said via email. “So I did not detect enthusiasm from anyone in leadership to rebuild the BJM playground in the next year or two.”

For the next big capital budget, ICSD will need to get taxpayers approval before making any decisions.

“I told them that I would be lobbying for that to happen sooner rather than later, and for the BJM playground to be the highest priority in the next budget,” Dillon said.

On May 23, 2023, at approximately 4:34 p.m., New York State Police was dispatched by the Tompkins County 911 Center to assist New York State Park Police with a reported drowning at the base of Taughannock Falls in the town of Ulysses.

HEARD SEEN& Heard

The Trumansburg Conservatory for Fine Arts and the Cayuga Arts Collective Synesthesia: The Color of Sound will present their Annual Spring Show opening on Saturday June 3, from 7-9pm. The show runs through July 28, with open gallery hours Fridays and Sundays from 1-5pm.

Seen

Join the Ithaca City Forester Jeanne Grace on June 3 from 10am to 12pm as she takes residents on a stroll through the historic Ithaca City Cemetery. Grace will talk about tree identi cation, the importance of their place in the cemetery, and what a unique environment it creates. Participants should dress for the weather, wear sturdy walking shoes, and should bring binoculars. Meet at the main entrance gates to the cemetery on University Avenue.

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

How do you feel about the graffiti in Ithaca?

44.6% I like it. Art is art.

50.6% I don’t like it. It’s disrespectful.

4.8% I don’t care.

think that Ithaca should enforce a camping ban in certain areas of the City?

M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 / T HE I THACA T IMES 5 N EWSLINE
N EXT W EEK ’S Q UESTION : Do
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
you
The playground at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School (Photo: Matt Dougherty) The playground at Fall Creek Elementary School (Photo: Joh Baldo)
“I gradually came to see the BJM playground is a bit underserved relative to the others.”
— Brian Dillon, a father of BJM elementary school student

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Responses to “Media Misinformation about Cayuga Heights Elementary School Runs Amok”

“I read this piece as an interested outsider. e gist seems to be that a le wing, “anti racist” curriculum is being implemented at a school in Ithaca that I have never heard of before. e curriculum is following a school system wide mandate. e school’s new principal is a person of color whose career has featured le wing accomplishments and recognitions. Sounds like some teachers and some parents do not like it and are either complaining or leaving. ese people a few in number and are not people of color. e authors themselves are le wing careerists. So essentially — le wing program good. Everyone else, especially if not people of color - shut up.” — Steven

“Well, you sure are an outsider. e two schools mentioned, Cayuga Heights

and Belle Sherman have been around quite awhile. e former since 1969, and the latter since 1928. So perhaps being an extremely uninformed admmitted outsider, you should not make a point of commenting on things you have no real clue about. But of course you have to bring politics into it as you have NO other reason for complaining. Obviously you do not like that the Ithaca area is mostly liberal.

So essentially you just do not like “le -wing’’ politics, so maybe you should move to the right-wing camp that Ron DeSantis is preparing in Florida where he has already shut down ‘’liberal’’ schools and red the sta . We won’t miss you.” — David

“In my opinion, teachers are leaving because they’re not teaching anymore, they are indoctrinating and the agenda is more of a priority in public schools than an actual education.” — Rob

“I believe the principal is encouraging teachers to work for the success of all children, not just those whose families are well-connected. This leads to pushback because most people don’t realize that teaching in ways that promotes the success of every child is, in fact, good for every child.” — Inspired by

Against ‘Party Raiding’ in Caroline

Zoning has been a contentious issue in the Town of Caroline and people on both sides of it are frustrated. But while zoning is the spark for this editorial, it is not what the editorial is about. is editorial is about the Democrat in Name Only (DINO) movement and preservation of election integrity and the democratic process.

To provide a bit of background, on February 11, 2023, anti-zoning proponents in the Town of Caroline videotaped a meeting they held at the Brooktondale Fire Hall and posted it on a Facebook Group entitled “Caroline Hates Zoning.” e video has subsequently been taken down, but a section of it is currently available on the website of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee (https://www.facebook.com/ TCDemocrats/videos/260044706399256).

e video shows former Republican Town Board Member and Town Supervisor candidate Pete Hoyt saying the following:

“ is Tuesday, February the 14th, is the last day for changing parties. I think you’re all aware, we’ve got a little DINO movement here, Democrat in Name Only. Many of us have jumped in already, myself included, and the purpose of that is so we can vote in the Democratic Primary .... I think it’s very important to get as many people to switch parties.... It’s important to get a lot of people changed....”

“ ere are these little cards out by the table there where you walk in. If you haven’t already, please take (one), and if you’re not a Democrat, and you’re willing to change parties for the cause. You can always change back later. I think it would be very useful if you lled one of these out and le it with us here. I’ll be going down to the Board of Elections personally Tuesday a ernoon with whatever we’ve got. So, I ask, you know, those of you who haven’t done it before, please consider doing it very seriously.”

Mr. Hoyt, and others that he mentions but doesn’t name, engaged in a concerted e ort to get community members to change their party a liation so that they could sign nominating petitions for an alternate slate of Democratic Party candidates and force a primary. He’s clearly not recruiting authentic converts to the Democratic Party, since he says “You can always change back later.”

It is not illegal for people to switch political parties and as some may claim,

Democrats are not afraid of primaries. What’s at issue is coordinating a partyswitching e ort and deliberately misleading people into voting for DINOs. is is called party raiding, it is illegal under New York State Election Law 17-102 Sections 4 and 5, and the video evidence is clear.

Party raiding in the scope of criminal activity is classi ed as a misdemeanor, but this classi cation should not be construed to mean that it is a minor o ense. Over the past several years we have watched numerous e orts, across the nation and mostly conducted by MAGA Republicans, to undermine our electoral processes. ese e orts include disproven allegations of voting machine tampering, ling false slates of electors to the Electoral College, and attacking the United States Capital on January 6, 2021 in an e ort to disrupt the counting of electoral votes. Party raiding is not on the same level as any of these activities, but it is rooted, nurtured, and grown in the same antidemocratic soil.

We, the undersigned, former and current public o cials of di erent municipal and county governing bodies located in Tompkins County, swore an oath to defend the Constitution and to uphold the rule of law. We maintain our loyalty to this oath and believe it is our duty to advocate on its behalf. Pete Hoyt took that same oath as a Town Board member, but he has failed to live up to it. He is now attempting to pervert and subvert legitimate electoral processes - to deliberately mislead votersin service to a political agenda. He should be held to account for it.

Since there is video evidence that appears to show a violation of New York State Election Law 17-102 Sections 4 and 5, we call on District Attorney Matt Van Houten to investigate Mr. Hoyt, his collaborators, and anyone else involved in this unethical and fundamentally undemocratic scheme and to take action as appropriate.

But whether this DINO movement is illegal under the law is besides the point when Democrats go to the polls on June 27. Voters must decide if they want to be governed by people who have conspired to manipulate an election. If they’ll lie to you to get your vote, what else will they lie to you about once they’re in o ce?

Our democracy is sacred and if we do not defend it, we will not preserve it.

6 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 GUEST
OPINION
The Talk at

Newborn Kittens Seeking Foster Homes!

In my neighborhood Colter Nemecek is known as the Animal Rescuer. Between his work in Animal Control and his regular job as Facilities Manager at our SPCA, when we hug our formerly homeless cats and dogs, we think of Colter’s rescues.

Colter: “Although the shelter is a safe environment, it is not the best for raising babies. Foster families help the SPCA save thousands of animals every year. Dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens in need of temporary loving homes need you.”

or more, please contact the SPCA and sign on for a good deed and lots of fun. Foster parenting for kittens is invaluable for the SPCA and the kittens.

For those who cannot t caring for kittens into their busy lives, but wish they could, the SPCA has some generous donors willing to match contributions large and small. And that funding will support all the critters who dwell within the SPCA.

And if you can’t squeeze kitty care or a check out your life these days, Colter lists what else we can drop o : Bleach, canned cat and kitten food, paper towels.

Dog Walkers are always in demand, and anyone interested can get the details from spcaonline.com under the Volunteering tab. Nothing pushes aside our worries like romping around in the elds with a lively dog. Just watching the happy pairs of human+ dog, and hearing the sounds of good times, is therapeutic.

GUEST OPINION

Voter Intimidation in Caroline?

“Sitting at the heart of the nation’s representative democracy, enshrined in the Constitution, is the right to vote. It is sacred, fundamental, and still not absolutely guaranteed for all communities across the country.” (https://news. harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/ ghting-for-equality-at-the-ballot-box/). Now, in our little rural Town of Caroline, our votes too are being threatened by local Democratic leaders.

Democratic leaders are trying to stop a rapidly growing bipartisan e ort by our residents to vote for a governing body responsive to our needs. e incumbents are running for reelection; however, we have put forth our own longtime Democratic candidates from the Town of Caroline to challenge them.

former Supervisor of the Town of Caroline Board for many years. Don signed a recent letter complaining about residents switching parties when this is exactly what Mr. Barber did. e hypocrisy is notable.

“Fostering a pet in need is great for individuals or families. e animals at the SPCA need someone who is willing to o er their home to shelter animals in need. Foster care ranges from a few days to a few weeks and has an enormous impact on the health and well-being of animals prior to adoption.”

Colter practically grew up at the SPCA, since his mother, Mary Kelly, worked there as Shelter Manager for several years. Over the many years Colter hung out in the Shelter before graduating and taking a full-time job there in March 2007, he has observed a ritual every Spring: Newborn, defenseless kittens are dropped o in bundles—sometimes 30 cats and kittens arrive in one day. He explains that the visionary work of the Shelter Outreach Services and Maddie’s Shelter Medicine program has reduced the overpopulation of feral cats. But for each little critter that arrives safely at the SPCA, medical care, a safe place to stay, and bottle feeding for the newborns are the lifeline.

So, anyone who is willing to tend to a newly born kitten for a day or a few days

We older animal lovers, are also in demand! Cats and Dogs who live at the SPCA all crave a Person of eir Own. A really fun role to play—We get to pick a Special Someone residing in the Shelter, and visit when we can. No big commitment, but the ticket to a good time for you and your chosen one. Hanging out with our bestie can be the highlight of an otherwise blah or even sad day. And the joy you will bring to your buddy will remind you how good friendship can be. No dress code or set schedule either.

When Colter is not soliciting support for the critters, what is he focusing on these days?

Colter: “Facilities has two big projects coming up. Our outdated Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning system has to be replaced. We hope to install an HVAC system with 100% fresh air, to minimize cross-contamination and provide the healthiest environment for our animals and the people who care for them. Climate Control Technology is working with us to make this happen, but the tab projected to be $120,000.” It is estimated that the new system will save us roughly 2/3 thirds of our current gas bill, and eliminate the need for supplemental space heaters during the coldest of months.”

Continued on Page 15

Simply put, many of our residents agree collectively, regardless of political ideology, that everyone should have a fair chance at a good life. e incumbents’ narrow self-interest has failed to meet the needs of our community. Challenging these Town Board members with other selected Democrats from our town is legal. In a democracy, the power to vote for the candidate of our choice is a given.

Despite election laws being adhered to meticulously, these local Democratic leaders wrote to the District Attorney requesting residents in our community be criminally charged for switching parties. Yet, this self-regulated “purity test” administered by Democratic leaders would have disenfranchised Town of Caroline voters despite being legal. e charge by the District Attorney would have invalidated our vote.

Despite their claims, no charges have been issued by the District Attorney.

e reason we were not charged was our residents did nothing wrong. Voters can switch parties if they follow election laws and meet the deadline set for months before the election. is was done. Our vote, our choice. ere was no voter fraud as they claimed; yet they publicly shamed and accused us of criminal wrongdoing posting on Facebook at the Tompkins County Democratic site. ere were also suspicious anonymous leaks to area newspapers.

As a side, please view the article on Don Barber below. Don Barber was the

“When I ran, I was a registered Republican,” he said. He’d always been a GOP member, and, at the time, the entire town board was, too. He said, “In order to have an elected position in Caroline, it was pretty easy to see that you needed to be a Republican to win.” … Barber decided to run for o ce. When he approached the Republican Party about running, he didn’t get the endorsement, so he went to the Democrats. “I asked if they’d run a Republican, and they said they’d run anybody, so I ran.” He won a seat—though he wasn’t the top vote-getter—and switched parties right a erward

https://www ithaca com/news/ caroline-supervisor-retires-from-govt/ article_e1ab2074-a9a7-11e5-95e93784ecf037c3 html

Why was it legal for him to switch parties but no others? is crying foul was merely a political trick to stop a rising tide of bipartisan residents against their campaign. ese local Democratic leaders are using their power and muscle to attempt to disqualify voters that do not agree with them and want to vote instead for other longtime Democratic challengers. How undemocratic to pick and choose whose vote should count. is was a scary maneuver meant to keep our residents away from the polls and deny their vote. eir disregard for democracy is chilling.

Of course, the irony is the Democratic leaders were the ones in the wrong because denying someone the right to vote by intimidation is illegal. Voter intimidation comes in many forms but certainly the following meet the criteria:

“Spread false information about voter fraud, voting requirements, or related criminal penalties” https://www. law.georgetown.edu/icap/wp-content/ uploads/sites/32/2020/10/Voter-Intimidation-Fact-Sheet.pdf

“Individuals spreading false rumors or making false statements that there are

Continued on Page 15

M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 / T HE I THACA T IMES 7 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Kathy Kirkland, Colter Nemecek, and Karen Nieves (Photo: Joe Hammond)

Ithaca Festival 2023

Art, Music, and Comedy Coming to Downtown Ithaca June 1-4

Get ready to kick o your summer celebrations at the 2023 Ithaca Festival which will take place in downtown Ithaca from June rst through fourth. e festival will feature a wide variety of events for community members to enjoy with friends and family. e Ithaca Festival welcomes and encourages all artists regardless of race, gender, ability, or means, to submit work that truly re ects the beautiful diversity of our community.

Because most college students are out of Ithaca during this festival, at its core, Ithaca Festival is closest to Ithaca’s spirit. is is where you will really see your neighbors out and about in all their glory. is year, the festival’s presenting sponsor is Maguire Family of auto dealerships along with supporting sponsorships from Wegmans, Cayuga Health and Ithaca Beer. e festival is also supported by Tompkins County Tourism, the Community Arts Partnership, and local businesses like Cooper Electric, Lea iter, Finger Lakes Wealth Management, Tompkins Community Bank, Stebel Planning Group, Argos Inn and South Hill Cider.

Since 1977, the Ithaca Festival has welcomed summer by celebrating the artist in everyone. Artists of all styles and disciplines are invited to participate regardless of past work or ability. Over 1,000 talented local musicians, painters, dancers, clowns, community groups, and ensembles perform throughout the Ithaca Festival weekend. Festival attendees can enjoy multiple stages of entertainment, some special kid’s activities, a cra show, a parade, a local lm festival, an arts for social justice area, and delicious festival food at various locations.

Festival Director Selena Hodom has said that “ e events are suitable for all people

of all ages and the festival focuses on the arts and celebrating all things Ithaca.” Hodum added, “Since the pandemic, this is really the rst time we will all be together without restrictions. ere was still some hesitation last year and we do hope people come out and see what a joy it is to celebrate with the community.”

Hodum continued saying, “We have tons of amazing local talent, the parade, our food vendors, non-pro t groups, dancers, cra ers, live artists and silent disco. We really do have it all.”

e theme for this year’s festival is “Planet Ithaca” and all participants have been encouraged to design their own space-age displays for festival attendees to enjoy. According to festival organizers, “We encour-

age you to explore any approach to your work and help us celebrate a bright and vibrant future. Wherever this idea takes you, is exactly what we are looking for. We will look for designs with color, vibrancy, and creativity.” Local artist Carson Williams has been chosen to feature artwork throughout the event.

According to Hodum, “ e theme this year was supposed to encourage a fun out of this world party. ere are many other ways it can be interpreted and all of them are correct. at is the fun spirit behind it. To some folks it triggered thoughts of Carl Sagan, or Mother Earth. e idea was to come up with something that would inspire some fun art and community participation.”

8 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023
The Gun Poets performing at the Ithaca Festival. They will be performing again this year on June 3rd. (Photo: Ithaca Festival) Local artist Carson Williams won the contest to design the logo for this years “Planet Ithaca” festival theme. (Photo: Carson Williams)

e festival will begin on June rst at 6 p.m. with a parade sponsored by Cayuga Health. e parade will feature an array of community organizations and customized oats that will make their way along Cayuga Street — where it starts near Lincoln Street and travels towards the Commons ending on Bu alo Street.

Festival organizers have said that the “Mission is to provide entertainment…[and] enhance

community awareness of those many causes, activities, and quirks that are part of the Ithaca community. And do this safely with over 2,000 participants in the Parade.”

roughout the weekend, the festival will feature over 70 live performances on four stages throughout the city. Following the parade on June 1, local funk band e Comb Down will perform a set at the Bernie Milton Pavillion

on the Ithaca Commons. Local band the Gun Poets will perform at the Bernie Milton Pavillion on June 2 at 7:45 p.m. June 3 will feature Maddy Wash and the Blind Spots at the Pavillion starting at 7:45 p.m. and the festival will be closed out by Sing Trece and the Stone Cold Miracle on June 4.

e Ithaca Fest Comedy Festival will also be taking place from June rst through third with 12 shows across three venues throughout

the city. e comedy shows can be seen at e Downstairs, Center Ithaca, and Ithaca ArtHaus.

In addition to the parade and live performances, the festival will also feature the Spring Cra Fair with nearly one hundred local and regional vendors showcasing their unique creations. e cra fair will be open from June second to June fourth.

Cra Show Hours of Operation:

• Friday 12 PM - 6 PM

• Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM

• Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM

Hodum has said that “the cra fair will feature artisans from everywhere and is jam packed this year. Everything from hand painted items, to leather making, clay and stonework and jewelry. ere are so many unique cra ers and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance has done a great job bringing it together.”

e festival is free to attend, and Hodum says that “ e best thing to do in support is to purchase from the festival merch booth, buy your button, and purchase from our beer garden if you are over 21. All of the proceeds directly support the festival.”

Hodum continued saying that “Sponsoring the festival is always a great way to support, as well as donating directly. e Ithaca Festival is a 501c3 and is a tax deductible organization and a lot of people don’t realize that we are not a city program.”

Hodum added that “ e city of Ithaca is amazing and very supportive but the festival is not funded with city taxes or funds. I think if people realize that they would support much more. With our expenses doubling in some places and tripling in others, it is always a challenge to keep the festival properly funded to keep it going. so please support if you can.”

M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 / T HE I THACA T IMES 9
This years Ithaca Festival parade will kick off on June 1st at 6p.m. (Photo: Ash Bailot) The Ithaca Fire Department walking in last years Ithaca Festival parade (Photo: Ash Bailot) Everything you need to know for Ithaca Fest 2023 (Photo: Ithaca Festival)

Pole Vault U?

Ithaca College Getting Known For Championship Vaulters

In this crazy day and age when so many names are being changed, Ithaca College is jumping on board. I saw a headline that proclaimed that the collegeformerly-known-as Ithaca College is now “Pole Vault U!”

Okay... not really, but not too farfetched either. Last weekend, Ithaca College seniors Meghan Matheny and Dominic Mikula earned their trips to the top of the podium, winning the pole vault national titles. For Matheny, the title was her third, while Mikula – a Trumansburg grad (2018)- won his rst.

Mikula said, “I have been here many times, and I have taken two h places, two seconds and a seventh. Going into the indoor season, I was seed number one,

and I took second. at made me come into the outdoor season with a bit of vengeance. When you have been to national meets as many times as I have, and you haven't won, you start to get a little angry.”

Mikula credits his teammates, his coaching sta and he said, “Our mental performance coaches are a great resource, ey really prepared us for this, and that is part of what separates our program from the rest.”

Mikula said he plans to stay connected to the program, as he is returning to South Hill as a grad student, pursuing a Master's in Occupational erapy. He said, “A lot of pole vaulters hang it up a er they nish their collegiate careers, but others – like me – plan to keep jumping with Coach (Matt) Sche er, and I'll see how my body feels.” He added, “It has long been a part of my plan to do some coaching and help others.” Hats o , by the way, to Sche er, who just wrapped up his 17th season as an assistant coach for the Bombers. Matt was the 2018 Collegiate Coach of the Year, who has now mentored three national champion pole vaulters (and many All Americans, (including Brendan Sheehan, this year). Katherine Pitman was the rst national champ (winning three times), then Matheny and now Mikula.

No doubt, there are some local lacrosse fans that bleed only Cornell Red, and when the Big Red team is out of the NCAA title chase, their interest ends as well.

For others, the relationships built over the years and across the miles keep it interesting, and many locals wanted to see Army go all the way, as Ithaca High grad Ryan Sposito is on the team. Others really wanted to see Penn State win it all, as the Nittany Lions' Defensive Coordinator Joe Bucci is also an Ithaca High grad. Plus, Penn State is led by Je Tambroni, who coached at Cornell for a decade and still has a lot of friends here.

ose friends and supporters grieved with Tambroni in 2004, when George Boiardi – a 21 year-old senior – passed away a er getting hit in the chest during a game. On a much di erent scale, we felt Tambroni's pain in 2009, when Cornell was minutes away from winning the title but su ered a late-game collapse.

Having been closely connected to Cornell Lacrosse, I recall seeing Je when he returned to Ithaca for many events, including the memorial ceremonies held for Jim Case and Richie Moran. I saw many locals

congratulate him earlier this year when Penn State came to town and beat the Big Red. And, a er watching the NCAA seminal game against Duke over the weekend, we are feeling Tambroni's pain once again, as Duke “won” it 16-15 in OT on a really B.S. call. What made it most painful was the fact that had the play been able to be reviewed, the goal clearly would have been waved o , as the shooter's foot was in the crease. at rule (that such crucial plays cannot be reviewed) is a travesty, and I wonder how long it will take to x it.

DYSPHAGIA

Sometimes, dysphagia is simply a typical sign of aging. As people get older, sometimes their mouth and throat muscles begin to weaken, leading to swallowing difficulties and diminishing their quality of life. Although it can be challenging to tell if an older adult is suffering from dysphagia, choking on water or food is typically the most noticeable symptom. Other signs include taking a long time to finish a meal, weight loss brought on by avoidance of eating or drinking, and the voice having a gurgling sound, especially after eating or drinking. Dysphagia can happen for many reasons, such as acid reflux; side effects from certain medications; cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s;

throat, mouth, or esophageal cancer; and poor oral health.

Occasional difficulty swallowing, such as when you eat too fast or don’t chew your food well enough, usually isn’t cause for concern. But persistent dysphagia can be a serious medical condition requiring treatment. If you have a loved one who requires nursing care, call the marketing team at (607) 266-5300 to schedule a tour to see our facilities and learn more about lifecare at Kendal at Ithaca. Find us on the web at http://kai.kendal.org/ P.S. It is easy for elderly adults to become dehydrated when they suffer from dysphagia.

Source: dailycaring.com, mayoclinic.org.

10 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 you
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Georgia@ithacatimes.com 607-277-7000 x220 Kendal at Ithaca Vital for Life 2230 N. Triphammer Road Ithaca, NY 14850-6513 (607) 266-5300 Toll Free: (800) 253-6325 Website: www.kai.kendal.org Email: admissions@kai.kendal.org
Sports
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Dominic Mikula after clearing the bar on his National Championship winning effort. (Photo by Jen Reagan)

The Intelligence is Real

Cherry Artspace Explores Artificial Intelligence in New Dance Perforemance

The Cherry’s Artistic Director Samuel Buggeln has turned the current season over to movement-based work. e result includes two beautifully realized brand-new creations this spring. e Cherry greeted us in early spring with the rapturous and haunting clown-play Heading Into Night, a collaboration between professional clown/actor Daniel Passer (Cirque de Soleil) and director Beth Milles (a member of the Cherry Arts Collective.) at piece reached into the thickets of aging and dementia (thus its subtitle, a clown play about… [forgetting]), including interviews with elders in the community.

While deeply focused on the trajectory of the body through a space of time, Heading Into Night also inhabited a vast eld of sound, light and projection, a frequent aspect of the Cherry’s house style.

Similarly, the creation of e-Motion employed research into AI by playwright Saviana Stanescu (also a member of the Cherry Arts Collective.) Her work with choreographer Daniel Girtzman was prescient; as she writes in her playwright’s note: “When we started talking about this project, ChatGPT was not something we had access to. e research I was doing at that time was mostly connected to the neuroscience of emotions…”

e-Motion

Of course, robots, human-authored sentient beings, AI have a long history in literature and media since industrial times, going back at least to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (a key reference in e-Motion), Asimov’s law of robotics, and Star Trek’s Data, in movies from Lang’s Metropolis, to Spielberg/Kubrick’s AI, to recent work as Her and Ex Machina, and in theatre ranging back to Capek’s R.U.R. up to Marjorie Prime.

Stanescu/Gwirtzman fuse a narrative spine to their AI speculations: a human scientistentrepreneur Ava (danced by Sarah Hillmon, voiced by Elizabeth Moser) is training an AI-robot ‘H’ (Gwirtzman) in emotions. As she states at a presentation of their work, there are 34,000 variations.

Gwirtzman’s choreography is spare but rich in details, vigorous within containment. A use of everyday gesture echoes Judson Dance practices while strong technique is more Cunningham. Repetition serves both as a building vocabulary and as the natural result of a training process.

At start H’s movements are angular, isolated, “un”-natural. A prologue o ers a barrage of text (enunciated in voiceover by Stanescu) with frequent repetitions, fragmentations, to which H has abbreviated, almost hesitant movement, standing still against a pulsating target projection (projections generated by So Yeon-Yone.) In the shadows, Ava examines H and occasionally mirrors ‘him’.

Movement progresses to duets in sync, originally strict, then expanding into a bouncing, skipping promenade. As H gains in emo-

tional learning, the body line begins to curve. Sometimes there are eruptions of spasmodic movement. A particular intimate moment nds Hillmon easing Gwirtzman to the oor. For ‘joy’ there is a hint of romance. roughout Gwirtzman utilizes music from the archives of his late collaborator, Je Story. A variety of moods are sketched, some of it propulsive, some electronic, and vast spaces of piano which evoke at times Debussy and others Glass.

What e-Motion does well is to articulate the concerns (part ethical, part dystopian) of the bond between human and AI. Teacherlearner? Master-slave? e child outstripping its parent? e crisis/climax arrives as H begins to individuate. Gain self-awareness. (With a dollop of Hamlet to urge him on.)

While at times the narrative and choices in music chain e-Motion to the merely mimetic, more frequently there is a interrogative space opened up which may have been di cult in a strictly dramatic narrative. Stanescu’s text unleashes a variety of languages (including an actual recitation of coding), and a space is held open where we can both apprehend the embodied (and therefore ‘human’) and imagine our weirdly present future.

Perhaps it is no surprise that questions about AI inevitably become questions of just what is human.

Stanescu and Gwirtzman provide a frequently dazzling hour of questions. Embodied thought. eatre reaching past its own boundaries.

Arts & Entertainment

M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 / T HE I THACA T IMES 11
created by Daniel Gwirtzman & Saviana Stanescu, The Cherry Artspace 102 Cherry St, Ithaca through June 4 thecherry.org The Cherry Theatre takes an unconventional choreographick look at the timely topic of artificial intelligence in its current production e-Motion. (Photo by Stefanos Milikidis)
12 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023

Signs of Life Outside the MCU

A Break for a Smart Urban Adult Comedy

This week, the hot comedy ticket at Cinemapolis is Nicole Holofcener’s “You Hurt My Feelings”. ere’s not one talking racoon in sight. None of the characters have superpowers or break the speed limit, or drive cars, for that matter. In Holofcener’s NYC, everything is within walking distance. What a pleasure it is to sit in a theater and laugh with a bunch of strangers who are tickled and charmed by what’s on the screen.

Julia Louis Dreyfus stars here as Beth, an author who also teaches a writers’ workshop, living in New York City with her therapist husband Don (Tobias Menzies). eir son Elliott (Owen Teague) has moved out of the nest and works in a weed dispensary. Her sister Sarah (Michaela Watkins) is an interior designer who runs her own upscale furniture and appliance boutique. Sarah’s husband Mark (Arian Moayed) is a struggling actor; every once in a while, someone comes up to Mark and says they’re a fan of “the pumpkin movie” Mark acted in ten years ago. We never nd out the plot of the pumpkin movie.

Beth published a memoir that didn’t sell very well, and she’s been working on a novel, cranking out dra s for a while, and the core of the movie happens when Beth and Sarah see Don and Mark browsing at a sporting goods store, and as they approach the guys to surprise them, Beth hears Don admit that he really doesn’t like Beth’s manuscript. All this time, Don has been super-supportive, so hearing the truth about his opinion sends her into a tailspin. In fact, all the major characters have to deal with some variations on the pitfalls of trying to be supportive, and the little white urban lies that accumulate. For instance, Sarah admits that sometimes Mark isn’t a very good actor, but she tells him that he is. Don’s also struggling with his patients, including Zach Cherry (“Spider-Man:

Homecoming”) and a feisty, combative couple played by real-live spouses David Cross (“Mr. Show”) and Amber Tamblyn (“127 Hours”).

Nicole Holofcener’s been making these sharp East Coast comedies about smart, neurotic city folks since 1996’s “Walking and Talking”, an early showcase for Catherine Keener, Anne Heche and Kevin Corrigan. Neil Simon, Herbert Ross and Nora Ephron worked in this neighborhood, as Nancy Myers does today. Like Woody Allen, who used to make comedies like this annually, Holofcener has her own brand. She makes Nicole Holofcener lms. She gets big laughs by keeping things real. Everything that happens brings out that rich laughter of recognition from the audience.

I’ve been a Julia Louis-Dreyfus fan since she broke out on “SNL” in the early 80’s Eddie Murphy era. Murphy was get-

ting all the attention, but Dreyfus always made a meal out of table scraps, and of course, she’s gone on to earn major comedy credits in every decade since. It’s been gratifying to see her mature through the years with such a lack of vanity. Dreyfus cracks Botox gags in this movie, but she’s been growing older so gracefully. And between this movie and her terri c turn earlier this year in “Paint” with Owen Wilson, Michaela Watkins is comedically killing it in 2023.

For those moviegoers who miss the humor of real life and recognizable, identi able human behavior, “You Hurt My Feelings” is a true palate cleanser.

RIP Jim Brown (“ e Dirty Dozen”, “ e Running Man”, “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka”, “Original Gangstas”, “Mars

Attacks!”, “He Got Game”, “Small Soldiers”, “Any Given Sunday”)

RIP Tina Turner (“Gimme Shelter”, “Taking O ”, “Tommy”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “Mad Max Beyond underdome”, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”, “Last Action Hero”)

RIP composer Bill Lee (“She’s Gotta Have It”, “School Daze”, “Do the Right ing”, “Mo’ Better Blues”)

M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 / T HE I THACA T IMES 13 Film
Enjoy Indian Cuisine With Us! Order online: NewDelhiDiamonds.com Call for takeout: 607-272-1003 • 106 W. Green St. • 607-272-4508 • Dinnermenu7days5-10pm Beer & Wine • Catering • 106 W . G 8 • NewDelhi Diamond’s Thanksforchoosing Diamond’s forBestIndianFood&BestBuffetfor2010!! CelebrateSpringwithUs! No dine in. Order takeout by phone. Delivery through Doordash and IthacaToGo. Mon-Sun: 11:30-3:00 p.m. Dinner: 4:30-9:00 p.m. Openfortakeout! AllarewelcometoattendourannualIlluminations CommunityMemorialattheNinaK.MillerHospice Residence(172E.KingRd).Lightaluminariain memoryofalovedone,andshareinaspecial programofremembrancefeaturinglivemusic, poetry,andadanceperformance. Registerat hospicare.org/events 607-272-0212 events@hospicare.org Community Memorial Thursday,June8,2023 7:30-9:00p.m. Illuminations Rain or Shine!! “You Hurt My Feelings” (A24-Filmnation Entertainment-Likely Story, 2023, 93 min.) Playing at Cinemapolis.
Tobias Menzel and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have their relationship challenged by little white lies in Your Hurt My Feelings currently at Cinemapolis.

South of the Border on Cayuga st.

Re-opened Bickering Twins Serves Up Mexican Fare Downstairs and Outside

Bickering Twins opened on Cayuga Street, in downtown Ithaca in late April 2018 and I reviewed it several months later in the August 31st issue of e Ithaca Times. It recently celebrated ve years in operation and closed brie y for a renovation to its bar area. It seems like a propitious time to check it out, have several dinners, and review it again.

I’m happy to report that not much has changed and that’s good because the food is novel and well prepared and the twins who own it — Corey and Kevin Adelman — and still argue, according to sta I’ve talked with, have assembled a lovely cheery dining area as well as a signi cant number of outdoor tables on Cayuga Street. Virtually all the food is made in house.

e twins represent themselves as serving Mexican and Latin American food however I think of it as a Mexican restaurant.

I selected the Potato & Spinach Empanada appetizer ($13.50) and although I might have welcomed a bit more of the sauteed spinach and a bit less of the

Bickering Twins

114 N Cayuga St, Ithaca

(607) 319-0653

Sun, Tues., Weds. 5-9; Sat., Sat. 5-10

diced potatoes I did enjoy the three fried, slightly oily, empanadas.

An entire page of their menu is devoted to Tacos, and there are several formulas to choose from. e PLATTER includes any three tacos (there are 10) with two side dishes for $18.75. With PLATE you can choose two tacos with one side for $12.75. I recently chose PLATTER with Al Pastor, Garlic Shrimp, and Mushroom and Herb tacos along with a salad and Fried Plantains as sides. If you’re not familiar with plantains, think large tropical bananas.

e Al Pastor consists of shaved and marinated bits of pork with pineapple chunks. I was delighted with the quantity of pork I received and how tender it was.

e Mushroom and Herb was ne with queso fresco and caramelized onions. e Garlic Shrimp had identi able shrimp bits and was tasty although a bit on the spicy side due to a chipotle aioli.

Taco shells vary regionally. Bickering Twins serves so tacos which lie at on the plate and need to be cut with knife and fork rather than combined in a hard folded shell. I prefer these as I don’t care about the crunch, and I sometimes have di culty keeping all the ingredients in the folded shell as I li it from my plate to my mouth and then have to gure out how to get my mouth around it.

I’ve selected, and enjoyed, two di erent enchilada entrées ($21.50): both were large enough to take about half home and both start with three corn tortillas wrapped around a myriad of interesting ingredients.

e baked squash version includes delicata squash pieceswith roasted peppers and pinto beans. It had a thin layer of melted Oaxaca cheese with cilantro, onion, a half avocado, and toasted pumpkin seeds strewn over the top and was accompanied by rice and beans on the side.

e chicken enchilada featured braised chicken baked in a red chili sauce. It, too, was topped with melted Oaxaca cheese and combined with cilantro, onions, cabbage, radishes, Jalapenos, and it also had rice and beans on the side. To eliminate some of the heat, I plucked out the visible slices of Jalapenos, however that turned out to not be very e ective as they had already infused the rest of the ingredients with their heat which in uenced the avor pro le of the rest of the ingredients. If you don’t mind the heat, it was very good.

ere’s a salsa bar with di erent homemade salsa accompaniments. Nice touch, however, personally, I’m happy with what’s delivered on my plate.

e beverages could be a bit confusing to some diners. ere are a half dozen

beers in bottles, ($4-$6) all with Mexican names and an unidenti ed number on dra about which we’re directed to “ask your server”. I usually don’t drink wine with Mexican food, so it doesn’t disturb me that I’m not familiar with the four wines on o er. As you might expect, there’s a good selection of margaritas, ($7-$12).

Whether you prefer to think of this fare as Mexican or Latin American, Bickering Twins is serving the best food of its kind in downtown Ithaca.

TID BITS:

• I have heard from many readers that they wish I would o er more information about the noise level in restaurants…to that end let me advise that Bickering Twins, being underground, has a low ceiling, a stone block wall, wood oors and wood laminate tables, and can be extremely noisy, particularly when populated by, even small, groups of diners.

• If you’re intimidated by that steep ight of 13 stairs at the main entrance, the only other entrance and egress is through a circuitous route that could be di cult for a wheelchair to maneuver.

14 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31 – J UNE 6, 2023 Dining
Celebrating five years with a new and expanded bar, Bickering Twins is back in business.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

continued from page 7

“In 2004 2 geothermal heat pumps to heat and cool the shelter were installed in the Roy and Dorothy Park Adoption Center. In the almost 20 years we have relied on them, the once cutting-edge technology has greatly improved. Five years ago, we replaced one of the heat pumps, but now we must replace the second pump. Even though we save a substantial amount by utilizing this deep earth source for heated and cooled air, we must raise $46,000 for the replacement pump.”

GUEST OPINION

continued from page 7

negative consequences to voting.” https:// ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorneygeneral-james-issues-voter-protectionguidance-ahead-november-election

And the law against voter intimidation:

“All voters have the right to vote freely and without fear of intimidation, coercion, or threats to their safety. Voter intimidation is prohibited by federal and

“And to complete our sustainable system, we are up to about 10 years’ worth of solar electricity, thanks to the 128 panels Renovus installed for us.

Dakota Potenza has been our Renovus Solar contact throughout, and we are pleased that the sunlight has provided non-polluting, inexpensive energy for our SPCA.”

So, what does a chap like Colter Nemecek do when his day of work is over? He heads home where he can tend to and enjoy the company of Layla, the Boxer, and Chalie his Chihuahua, whom Colter rescued in New Orleans, when Charlie, near death, was wandering dazed postoods from Hurricane Ike. An unusual

state law.” https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/ les/oag_guidance_re_voter_intimidation.pdf

Where to report voter intimidation:

If, however, New Yorkers experience any intimidation or other interference with their right to vote, or even any attempts to intimidate or otherwise interfere with that right, those incidents should be reported to the NYAG’s Election Protection Hotline by either calling (866) 390-2992 or visiting https://electionhotline.ag.ny.gov/. Voters and boards

souvenir, Charlie is close to 20, and lives for the moment Colter comes home.

So good night, Layla, and Charlie. Enjoy your time with Colter.

For more information about how you can adopt a pet, become a foster parent to kittens, contribute to the facility work where these dear critters live, or join up to walk or visit pets who live at our SPCA, contact: 607-257-1822 or nd all the information on spcaonline.com.

P.S. Colter: “We are in desperate need of Licensed Veterinarian Technician (LVT), and folks should contact Karen Nieves at medical@spcaonline.com, as we are short sta ed for this very busy time of year!”

of election should also report incidents involving potentially dangerous conduct to local law enforcement immediately, in addition to reporting those complaints to our o ce.

e Town of Caroline deserves better from their elected o cials. A er this unfair and dishonest tactic, one understands why our residents prefer to vote for other Democratic candidates than the incumbents. Time for new governing members who truly care about our residents and our community.

JOLY LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY

continued from page 4

minority population of the City of Ithaca.”

It also stated that “ is discriminatory bias is repeatedly exercised and justi ed by a false narrative that they are seeking to ‘diversity’ city personnel. is use of the term ‘diversity’ is intended to provide advantages to hiring and promotion of Black applicants and is to the detriment of Caucasian and non-Black applicants.”

While none of the defendants named responded to requests for comment, it seems like Joly’s allegations of what many call ‘reverse racism’ support the concerns that some members of the Common Council had about him being unable to address systemic issues in policing that have harmed minority communities throughout history. In addition, claiming that diversity initiatives discriminate against white people is reactionary rhetoric that ignores the history of systemic racism in the United States that those initiatives now exist to correct.

e entire 10-page lawsuit can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/ le/d/1DzOiVnEVyEdju9VBMxiPMFTgdub1Q-9r/view?usp=drivesdk

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Master Gardener | A meticulous horticulturist who is devoted to tending the grounds of a beautiful estate and pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager. w/ Sigourney Weaver and Joel Edgerton. | 111 mins R

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful. | 170 mins PG-13

Music

Bars/Bands/Clubs

5/31 Wednesday

Midweek Melancholy with NFW and Friends | 8 p.m. | The Downstairs, 121 W. State St | Free

6/1 Thursday

Venissa Santi Duo | 5:30 p.m. | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road

The Frank White Experience: A Tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. | 8 p.m. | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd

Live Music at Six Mile: True Bleu | | Six Mile Creek Winery, 1551 Slaterville Road | Free

6/2 Friday

Go Gone Happy Hour | 4 p.m. | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd

Friday Sunset Music Series - ft.

Bettys Ghost | 5 p.m. | Wagner

Vineyards, 9322 State Route 414

Friday Night Music - Freight | 6 p.m. | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd | Free

Scuba Jerry | 5 p.m. | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road

Gunpoets| 7:45 p.m. | Bernie Milton Pavilion, Ithaca Commons

Ithaca Festival Opening Night

After Party featuring me DJ haMEEN & djGOURD| 10:00pm| Argos Warehouse, Ithaca

Ithaca Festival Silent Disco | 10:00pm| Ithaca Commons

6/3 Saturday

M3 at The Box | 6 p.m. | McGraw Box Brewing, 1 Spring St

Ithaca Festival Silent Disco | 10:00pm| Ithaca Commons

6/4 Sunday

Jazz Guitar Brunch with Dennis Winge | 10:30 a.m. | Antlers Restaurant, 1159 Dryden Rd. | Free

Pandora’s Box | 2 p.m. | Finger Lakes

Distilling, 4676 State Rt. 414 | Free

OJI:SDA’ Spring Fundraiser with Live Performances | 3 p.m. | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road | Free

6/5 Monday

Mondays with MAQ | 5:30 p.m. | South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road

Concerts/Recitals

6/2 Friday

Digger Jones w/s/g Raedwald Howland-Bolton | 7 p.m. | Rose Hall, 19 Church Street | $10.00

6/3 Saturday

Valley Harmony “The Spice of Life” Concert | 7 p.m. | Newark Valley United Church of Christ, 32 South Main St. | Free

6/4 Sunday

Ithaca Concert Band | 1:45 p.m. | Ithaca Festival, DeWitt Park, 102 E Court Street | Free Jazz Stars -- The Concert & Conversation Series | 6:30 p.m. | Lansing Performance Hall, 1004 Auburn Road (North Lansing) | Free

Stage

Fertile Grounds | 7 p.m., 6/2 Friday & 6/3 Saturdayl 2:00pm on 6/4 | Soil Factory, 142 Ithaca Beer Dr | Civic Ensemble presents the world premiere of Fertile Grounds by Katie Ka Vang, directed by Carley Robinson. | $0.00 - $25.00

e-Motion | 7:30 p.m., 6/2 Friday | The Cherry Arts, 102 Cherry St | e-Motion, created by Saviana Stanescu and Daniel Gwirtzman, is a dance/theater hybrid that explores the complexities of arti cial intelligence, neuroscience, and what it means to be human. | $10.00 - $35.00

“The Verb Takes a Walk” . . . and poetry meets music | 3 p.m., 6/4 Sunday | Lansing Performance Hall, 1004 Auburn Road | “The Verb Takes a Walk . . . and Poetry Meets Music” is a new poetry series that showcases premier local poets and puts their words to music in di erent forms. | Free Performance Art Workshop Series: Dress Rehearsal | 4 p.m., 6/6 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Teens who are interested in performing during the Youth Pride Talent Show on Saturday, June 10th, as a part of the Downtown Ithaca Pride Festival will have the opportunity to rehearse their What the Constitution Means to Me | 7:30 p.m., 6/6 Tuesday | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State / W. MLK, Jr. Street | Co-produced with The Hangar Theatre. May 30 - June 11, 2023 at KTC. June 15 - 24 at the Hangar. 15-year-old Heidi paid her way through college by debating the merits of the U.S. Constitution. Now, as an adult, she is reexamining her teenage convictions in a witty and relevant piece of theater.

ITHACA FESTIVAL 2023

THURSDAY, 6/1-SUNDAY, 6/4

Ithaca Commons | Kicking o with the parade on Thursday and continuing all weekend with events and music on the Commons and throughout downtown. This year’s theme is “Planet Ithaca.” (Photo: Facebook)

Murder on the Orient Express

| 6/7 Wednesday | Little York Lake Pavilion, 6288 Little York Lake Rd | CRT is thrilled to o er this exciting production to those who missed it last summer…and to those who want to see it again.

Fertile Grounds | 7 p.m., 6/9 Friday | Ithaca Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street | Civic Ensemble presents the world premiere of Fertile Grounds by Katie Ka Vang, directed by Carley Robinson. | $0.00 - $25.00

Film

Cinemapolis

120 E. Green St., Ithaca

June 2nd-8th. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes. New lms listed rst.*

Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse* | Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must rede ne what it means to be a hero.| 136 mins PG Sanctuary* | Follows a dominatrix and her wealthy client Hal and the disaster that ensues when Hal tries to end their relationship. | 96 mins R You Hurt My Feelings | A novelist’s long standing marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband giving his honest reaction to her latest book. | 93 mins R The Starling Girl | 17-year-old Jem Starling struggles with her place within her Christian fundamentalist community. But everything changes when her magnetic youth pastor Owen returns to their church. | 116 mins R

Art

34th Annual Juried Photography Show | 12 p.m., 6/1 Thursday | State of the Art Gallery, 120 West State Street | 34th Annual Photography Show features artists from all corners of New York State. | Free Young Adult Art Open Hour | 4 p.m., 6/1 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | TCPL is inviting Teens 13+ and Young adults 19 - 24 to a weekly open arts hour in the Makerspace.

June Gallery Night @ Grayhaven Motel! | 4 p.m., 6/2 Friday | Grayhaven Motel, 657 Elmira Rd | Join us for June 2023’s First Friday Gallery Night in our guest gallery lounge from 4-7pm on Friday, June 2nd as we host the opening reception for local oil painting master, Alan Pollack. | Free Hannah Law: Day to Day Opening Reception | 5 p.m., 6/2 Friday | The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St | Hannah Law is an artist, musician, and educator who is deeply concerned with craft and the medium’s egalitarian spirit. She focuses on scenes from everyday life; countrysides from her hometown in upstate New York, wildlife, and domestic still lives.

First Friday Gallery Night at New Roots | 5 p.m., 6/2 Friday | New Roots Charter School, 116 N. Cayuga St. | Join us at New Roots Charter School as we open our doors to the wider community for First Friday Gallery Night, featuring local artist Nicole Costa along with work from our current art classes, live music, and YEM vendors!

| Free

Gallery Night Ithaca - First Friday of Every Month | 5 p.m., 6/2 Friday | Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, Center Ithaca Box 107, 171 East State St | Gallery Night Ithaca

is a walkable tour of art openings and other special cultural events in and around downtown Ithaca, New York from 5:00-8:00 PM on the rst Friday of every month.

Mix Art Gallery’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY Sale – opening Gallery Night | 5 p.m., 6/2 Friday | MIX Art Gallery, 156 E. State Street (2 nd Floor) | June 2023 is MIX Art Gallery’s one year ANNIVERSARY!!! We are celebrating all month long with YOU in mind. The Gallery at South Hill opening for Molly Lunn and Zachary Scotton | 5 p.m., 6/2 Friday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Road | The Gallery at South Hill presents a two person exhibit by Molly Lunn and Zachary Scotton. Molly Lunn and Zachary Scotton are a married artist duo that use paint and patchwork fabric to create. | Free Pay-What-You-Wish-Weekends | 10 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Museum of the Earth, 1259 Trumansburg Road (Route 96) | Join Museum of the Earth for Pay-What-You-Wish weekends, sponsored by BorgWarner, on the rst weekend of each month. | Free Visit Tompkins County Artist studios! | 11 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Various studio locations, in Tompkins County | Visit artist studios throughout Tompkins County Artists for this Greater Ithaca Art Trail event. | Free Entre Sombras / Between Seams | 1 p.m., 6/3 Saturday | The Cherry Gallery, 102 Cherry St | Entre Sombras / Between Seams is the newest Cherry Gallery installation, come view these wonderful works at the Gallery on Saturday and Sunday afternoons!

Cayuga Arts Collective Annual Spring Show Synesthesia: The Color of Sound | 7 p.m., 6/3 Saturday | Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, 1 Congress St | Curated by founding members Domenica Brockman and Marina Delaney, this exhibit with feature both established and emerging artists who this year explore the relationship between art and music or sound. Opening celebration will feature music and an interactive audio and visual installation.

Special Events

Ithaca Festival Parade | 6/1 Thursday, 6:00pm | Kicko to a full weekend

CIVIC ENSEMBLE PRESENTS

FERTILE GROUNDS

OPENS FRIDAY, JUNE 2ND AT 7:00PM. ADDITIONAL SHOWS SAT. AT 7:00PM AND SUN. AT 2:00PM. The Soil Factory, 142 Ithaca Beer Drive, Ithaca| A new community-based play by acclaimed playwright Katie Ka Vang. Fertile Grounds is the powerful story of loss, grief, healing, and connection. This play invites the audience onto a BIPOC farming cooperative to explore what it means to be well, and to heal. (Photo: Provided)

16 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31–J UNE 6, 2023
THIS WEEK

of Ithaca Festival Events! This year’s theme: Planet Ithaca

Comedy On the Commons Presents! Ithaca Festival Comedy Festival | 6/1 Thursday | The Downstairs, 121 W. M.L.K. Jr. St. | Comedy On the Commons Presents! Ithaca Festival Comedy Festival

Cayuga Trails 50 Mile | 8:22 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Cayuga Trails 50 Mile, 105 En eld Falls Rd | Description: Welcome to the Cayuga Trails 50 and Marathon, presented by Atayne.

Earth Medicine Gathering | 9 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Six Circles Farm, 1491 Caywood Rd. | A day of learning about holistic healing, plants, herbalism, and mushrooms to empower you to be healthy and vital while hanging out with like minded humans. | $50.00$150.00

32nd Annual Cortland Water Festival | 10 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Annual Cortland Water Festival, Cortland Waterworks Broadway Street | The 32nd Annual Cortland Water Festival will be held Saturday, June 3rd, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Cortland Water Works on Broadway Street in Cortland.r

STAND UP COMEDY w/ Dario Joseph

| 8 p.m., 6/3 Saturday | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd

| Dario Joseph (Brooklyn Comedy Fest, Rochester’s Funniest) brings his audacious and witty style of comedy

to Deep Dive along with a cavalcade of NY’s best comedians for a night of hilarity.

Drag Me To The Library: Dress Rehearsal | 4 p.m., 6/6 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Teens who are interested in performing during the Youth Pride Talent Show on Saturday, June 10th, as a part of the Downtown Ithaca Pride Festival will have the opportunity to rehearse their The Cortland County Dairy Parade | 6:30 p.m., 6/6 Tuesday | Cortland County Fair Grounds, 4292 Fairgrounds Dr | rnGreat moos! The Cortland County Dairy Parade Committee has announced that the 2023 Parade will take place on Tuesday, June 6th at 6:30 p.m rain or shine!

Books

Sharing Poems From Observations: Reading with Poet Laureate Janie Bibbie | 6:30 p.m., 6/2 Friday | First Unitarian Church Sanctuary, 306 N. Aurora Street | “Sharing Poems from Observation”; reception to follow.

“The Verb Takes a Walk” . . . and poetry meets music | 3 p.m., 6/4 Sunday | Lansing Performance Hall, 1004 Auburn Road | A new poetry series that showcases premier local

HANNAH LAW:

poets and puts their words to music in di erent forms. | Free BOOK CLUB: Where The Children Take Us by Zain E. Asher | 7 p.m., 6/5 Monday | Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St |

Early Readers Book Club | 2:45 p.m., 6/6 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Children in grades K-2 are welcome to join our Early Readers Book Club. Modern Alchemy Fiction Writers Group | 6 p.m., 6/6 Tuesday | Modern Alchemy Game Bar, 619 W State St. | Join local writers, creatives, and authors in our Modern Alchemy Writers Group! Bring in your work of science ction, historical ction, or fantasy to be shared for critique and constructive feedback. | Free Comic Book Club Meeting | 6/6 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Show & Tell -- The Oddest/Strangest Comic Book(s) in Your Collection! Bring along your own favorite oddball comics to a fun survey of weird and wacky items -- e.g., Flaming Carrot Comics, Herbie, and Jughead’s Fantasy -- from the world of comic books. | Free

Kids

Journey of Water | 2 p.m., 5/31 Wednesday | CSI Water Testing Lab, 95

RECEPTION, FRIDAY, JUNE 2ND AT 5:0PM

The Ink Shop, 330 E.State, Ithaca| TIt’s also First Friday Gallery Night in Ithaca this weekend. Among many exhibits opening is Hannah Law’s. Law is an artist, musician, and educator who is deeply concerned with craft and the medium’s egalitarian spirit. She focuses on scenes from everyday life; countrysides from her hometown in upstate New York, wildlife, and domestic still lives. (Photo: Provided)

to welcome our rst mermaid to the collection! Guests will be able to enjoy free meet & greets and photos with our mermaid.

Lego Club | 10 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Ulysses Philomathic Library, 74 E Main Street | Drop in and show o your building skills at this open Lego build. For children of all ages. | Free

Shadow Puppet Party! | 10:30 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | The Cherry Arts, 102 Cherry St | Hear the tale of the Cabbage Girl, see the dancing Robot Ballet and follow Goldilocks and the 3 ALIENS in this dynamic collection of short shadow puppet shows | $4.00 - $12.00

Playtime with the Finger Lakes

Toy Library | 11:30 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Families with young children are invited to come play with an assortment of toys appropriate for infants and toddlers.

Families Learning Science

Brown Rd | Learn how water gets “dirty” and can be made “clean” again through both natural processes and human efforts.Kids work in teams to build lters out of natural materials and then run some tests to determine how “clean” the water is before and after. Register at communityscience.org/4h2o/ | Free Spanish Storytime | 4 p.m., 5/31 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street | Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to join us for Spanish storytime - songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts - completely in Spanish! Circus in The Garden: Otorotay Remix- inspired by Toroto | 8 p.m., 5/31 Wednesday | Ithaca Children’s Garden, 121 Turtle Ln | Free family friendly circus under the tent made by and for community | Free Somewhere WAY Over the Rainbow | 10 a.m., 6/1 Thursday | Sciencecenter, 601 1st Street | An extraordinary multi-sensory art installation created by Ivy Stevens-Gupta. This unique STEAM project aims to engage and inspire individuals of all abilities, including those with vision or hearing loss, mobility issues, and neurodiversity. Free with admission.

Mermaid Days at Animal Adventure Park | 10:30 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Animal Adventure Park, 85 Martin Hill Rd | Mermaids Are Making A Splash! Join us at Animal Adventure,

Together | 1 p.m., 6/3 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street |

Nature Hike | 10:15 a.m., 6/5 Monday | Nichols Pond, 12 Owego Street Ext | Families with young children can meet the Family Resource Center for a guided Nature Walk at Nichols Pond in Spencer. | Free

Story Time with Miss Clay | 11:30 a.m., 6/7 Wednesday | Ulysses Philomathic Library, 74 E Main Street | Join Miss Clay the Librarian for stories, songs, and activities! Best for children birth to ve and their caregivers. | Free

Notices

T-burg Farmer’s Market|Music: 5/31: Good Bones; 6/7 - Three Stone Fire | 4 p.m., 5/31 Wednesday |

Trumansburg Farmer’s Market, 69 W. Main St | Live music each Wednesday thru October.

Bridge Club of Ithaca | 10 a.m., 6/1

Thursday | Bridge Club of Ithaca, 16 Cinema Drive | Bridge Club of Ithaca o ers casual play with instruction for players at all levels Fridays 9:30-12pm at the Club, 16 Cinema Drive ($5 fee) | $5.00 - $7.00

Healthy Cooking Basics | 5:30 p.m., 6/1 Thursday | Cornell Cooperative Extension | Join SNAP-Ed for FREE cooking classes covering the basics of cooking and healthy eating. Each week will focus on di erent topics to simplify nutritious eating. | Free

Ithaca Young Professionals - Friday Night Social | 7 p.m., 6/2 Friday | Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W Green St | Come socialize with other young professionals in the Ithaca area & make new friends! | Free Plant Sale | 9 a.m., 6/3 Saturday | Cornell Botanic Gardens - Plant Production Facility , 397 Forest Home Dr. | For this special sale, Cornell Botanic Gardens has partnered with the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society to bring you a wide variety of plants! We encourage you to bring along boxes or trays to transport your plants home. **The sale will be held at our Plant Production Facility, 397 Forest Home Driv | Free Paranormal Investigation at 1890 House | 6 p.m., 6/3 Saturday | 1890 House Museum, 37 Tompkins St | Dream Seekers Paranormal is hosting a public investigation at the historic The 1890 House Museum. Bring your equipment and investigate with them. Ithaca Chess Club | 12 p.m., 6/4 Sunday | DeWitt Mall, 215 N. Cayuga St | The Ithaca Chess Club meets every Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm, at the Dewitt Mall ( rst oor above the shops, o ce area). The club is free and open to everyone, all ages and all skill levels. Play other chess lovers, and get free chess instruction. Details at the club website: IthacaChessClub. com. | Free

Lunch N Learn Program: Archiving

101- Saving your Treasures | 12 p.m., 6/7 Wednesday | Southworth Library, 24 W. Main St | Evan Earle, the Cornell University Archivist, will come to share his work and some of his own interesting stories and explain how you can preserve your own family history.

P.L.A.C.E. Textile & Garment Workers Through HistoryForge | 5:15 p.m., 6/7 Wednesday | CAP ArtSpace | Join Eve Snyder in an exploration for how we can use the wealth of information available on the Tompkins County HistoryForge project to discover and understand the role of textile manufacturers, home sewing, and the exclusion of “women’s work” in the census records of Tompkins County. | Free Public Works | 7 p.m., 6/7 Wednesday | The Downstairs, 121 W. State St. | Public Works is free event in the style of Nerd Nite but designed just for Ithaca! | Free

SUNDAY, JUNE 4TH AT 3:00PM

Lansing Performance Hall, 1004 Auburn Road, Groton |

A new poetry series that showcases premier local poets and puts their words to music in di erent forms. It’s a blend of inspiration both from the poet and from how a musician interprets the poem musically as they hear it. (Photo: Provided)

M AY 31–J UNE 6, 2023 / T HE I THACA T IMES 17
DAY TO DAY - OPENING
“THE VERB TAKES A WALK” . . . AND POETRY MEETS MUSIC
THIS WEEK

Classifieds

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EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SERVICES

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TOMPKINS COUNTY REAL PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURES

Auction:

Monday, June 5 at 7:00 PM

AUCTION & Info. Session Location: Tompkins County Health Department Building, Rice Conference Room, 55 Brown Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850. Ordered by the Tompkins County Board of Representatives to sell at Public Auction, several parcels of real property. SINGLE

FAMILY RESIDENCES & MOBILE HOMES: 1464 Seventy Six Rd, Caroline; 4085 Waterburg Rd, Ulysses; 315 Titus Ave S, City of Ithaca; VACANT LAND &/or BUILDING LOTS: 626 Blackman Hill Rd, Caroline; 28 Leisure Ln & 232 W Dryden Rd, Dryden; Agard Rd, Ulysses; Adams Rd, Newfield; Property list subject to redemption! Details, Booklet, Terms & photos: reynoldsauction.com. BRIEF TERMS: cash or honorable NYS drawn check w/ acceptable ID.

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18 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31–J UNE 6, 2023
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AUTOMOTIVE

Do you need a Roof or Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it?

YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 9449393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Prgrams. (NYSCAN)

DELIVERY Part-Time

Finish Carpentry and Fine Woodworking - Cabinet installation, door repair & installation, stairs, molding, cabinets, plumbing, electrical, water filters, and more. La Jolla Woodworks - Patrick 858-220-4732

Route Driver needed for delivery of newspapers every Wednesday. Must be available 9am-1pm, have reliable transportation, and a good driving record. Call

M AY 31–J UNE 6, 2023 / T HE I THACA T IMES 19
ROOF ? WINDOWS ?
GENERAL
830/Home HOME REPAIRS - LICENSED
BUILDING CONTRACTOR
Ithaca Piano Rebuilders (607) 272-6547 950 Danby Rd., Suite 26 South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca, NY PIANOS
Rebuilt
Reconditioned
Bought • Sold
Moved • Tuned
Rented Complete rebuilding services. No job too big or too small. Call us. GUITARWORKS.COM 215
Cayuga St. Ithaca, NY 14850 The Dewitt Mall • (607) 272-2602 New, Used & Vintage Stringed Instruments & Accessories Guitars Ukuleles Banjos and Mandolins Strings, Straps, Stands, Songbooks and More! REPLACEMENT WINDOWS A FULL LINE OF VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Call for Free Estimate & Professional Installation Custom made & manufactured by… Romulus, NY 315-585-6050 or Toll Free at 866-585-6050 REPLACEMENT WINDOWS A FULL LINE OF VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Call for Free Estimate & Professional Installation Custom made & manufactured by… Romulus, NY 315-585-6050 or Toll Free at 866-585-6050 Manufacture To InstallWe Do It All REPLACEMENT WINDOWS A FULL LINE OF VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Call for Free Estimate & Professional Installation Custom made & manufactured by… Romulus, NY 315-585-6050 or Toll Free at 866-585-6050 www.SouthSenecaWindows.com SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES SAVE 10% FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS, LET’S MAKE YOUR KITCHEN MAGIC ON YOUR FULL KITCHEN REMODEL* NEW CABINETS | CABINET REFACING | COUNTERTOPS | BACKSPLASHES Discount applies to purchase of new cabinets or cabinet refacing with a countertop. Does not apply to countertop only. May not combine with other o ers or prior purchases. Nassau: H1759490000 Su olk: 16183-H NY/Rockland: 5642 OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/23 855.281.6439 | Free Quotes KITCHEN REMODELING EXPERTS © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. New service activation on approved credit. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations. Savings calculation is based on a comparison of Consumer Cellular’s average customer invoice to the average cost of single-line entry-level plans o ered by the major U.S. wireless carriers as of May 2022. CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 844-919-1682 Switch & Save Up to $250/Year On Your Talk, Text and Data Plan! NOTHING YOU NEED. YOU DON’T. EVERYTHING One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. alone I’m never ® is always here for me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! ® Help at Home with GPS! Help On-the-Go For a FREE brochure call: 1-800-404-9776 Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES Batteries Never Need Charging. Take advantage of the new 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) with PWRcell, Generac’s fully-integrated solar + battery storage system. PWRcell will help you save money on your electric bill and be prepared for utility power outages. Plus it’s compatible with most existing solar arrays. Now’s the Right Time SAVE 30% WITH THE SOLAR TAX CREDIT^ Call to request a free quote! (888) 871-0194 Purchase a PWRcell and Receive a Free Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced – valued at over $189!* *Scan the QR code for promo terms and conditions. ^Consult your tax or legal professional for information regarding eligibility requirements for tax credits. Solar panels sold separately. FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 1-855-916-5473 NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: YOU MAY *QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS! HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH Qualify Today: 800-944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to see if you *qualify Do you need a New Roof and Help paying for it? Do you need Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 *Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are on a first come, first serve basis in your area. Any leaking, visible damage, or roof age, may *qualify you! Drafty windows, energy cost too high, you may *qualify!
277-7000
N.

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AAM

ALL ABOUT MACS

Macintosh Consulting

http://www.allaboutmacs.com

(607) 280-4729

ANIMALS

LAND & SEA

FingerLakesAnimalRights.org

CLEANING SERVICES

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

JANITORIAL* FLOOR * CARPET

INDEPENDENCE CLEANERS CORP

607-227-3025 / 607-697-3294

FLYITHACA.COM

Convenient-Clean-Connected

Get e Ithaca Times

Mobile App

Available in Appstore & Google Play

For rates and information contact front@ithactimes.com

277-7000

ITHACA NEWS

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Ithaca Times Daily

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CALL STEVE

Lamp Repair

607-351-3540

LOOKING FOR WORK

WE ARE HIRING VISIT US ONLINE

www.wgaforchildren.org or call 607-844-6460

THE WILLIAM GEORGE AGENCY

Boost your Business is Summer! Call Larry at 607-277-7000 ext: 1214

Find out about great advertising ad packages at: Ithaca.com & Ithaca Times

~ Osteopathy Works ~ Increase vitality & immune function

Enjoy Less Sti ness and Pain

Nine Rivers Osteopathy

Dr. Anjani Teves - 607-319-0429 nineriversosteopathy.com

** Peaceful Spirit Tai Chi **

Yang style all levels

Fridays 3-4 pm

at NY Friends House 120 3rd St., Ithaca

607-272-0114

Men’s and Women’s Alterations for over 20 years

Fur & Leather repair, zipper repair. Same Day Service Available

John’s Tailor Shop

John Serferlis - Tailor 102 e Commons 273-3192

PIANOS

Rebuilt, Reconditioned, Bought, Sold, Moved, Tuned, Rented Complete Rebuilding Services

No job too big or too small

Ithaca Piano Rebuilders

(607) 272-6547

950 Danby Rd, Suite 26

South Hill Business Campus, Ithaca

New, Used & Vintage Instruments & Accessories

ITHACA GUITAR WORKS

DEWITT MALL

607-272-2602

Ooy’s Cafe & Deli 201 N. Aurora Street

Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 319-4022

REAL LIFE CEREMONIES

Every life story deserves to be told, and told well. Steve Lawrence, Celebrant 607-220-7938

WEGMANS FOOD MARKET

NOW HIRING

607- 277-5800

500 S. Meadow St., Ithaca

JOB.WEGMANS.COM

20 T HE I THACA T IMES / M AY 31–J UNE 6, 2023

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