ITHACA HOUSEHOLD BILLS HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE PAGE 6 NATIONWIDE BIRD FLU OUTBREAK PAGE 11
BOB DYLAN’S NOTEWORTHY BEGINNINGS PAGE 13
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New York Expands Fracking Ban to Include Carbon Dioxide
By Matt Dougherty
New York State has expanded its landmark fracking ban to include the use of carbon dioxide.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill (A8866/58357) into law on December 21, closing a loophole in the state’s existing hydraulic fracturing ban and addressing new threats posed by the fossil fuel industry’s evolving extraction methods.
“This is a significant win for our region and state, protecting our environment, our water, and the health of our communities from the harmful and uncertain impacts of CO2 fracking,” said State Senator Lea Webb, a c-sponsor of the bill.
Assemblymember Anna Kelles introduced the legislation, which was passed by the legislature in March. It prohibits drilling and fracking for natural gas and oil using supercritical CO2, a pressurized form of the gas. Advocates and lawmakers argued that CO2 fracking poses risks similar to those of water-based fracking, which New York banned in 2014 while introducing additional environmental and health hazards.
Kelles said the original law only addressed water-based methods, leaving the door open to alternative technologies like CO2 fracking.
“We must stay ahead of the fossil fuel industry’s attempts to exploit loopholes in our laws,” she said. “This bill ensures that CO2 fracking—a method fraught with risks—is never allowed to take hold in New York.” Kelles added, “This was a time-sensitive issue since a company was already pursuing leases to begin CO2 fracking in New
York. By passing this bill, we’ve prevented a disaster before it could start.”
Kelles highlighted numerous dangers associated with the practice, including the risk of pipeline explosions and chemical leaks.
A 2020 pipeline explosion in Satartia, Mississippi, resulted in mass CO2 poisoning and sent 45 people to the hospital. Additionally, underground CO2 injection can destabilize rock formations, increase earthquake risk, corrode well casings, and acidify groundwater.
The ban aligns with New York’s broader climate goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which mandates a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This includes methane emissions, which have increased in New York since
X Cayuga Medical Center Welcomes New Year’s Day Baby
Ithaca, NY — Cayuga Medical Center’s first baby of the New Year has been born, just hours after its start.
Khizar and Wajeeha Mairaj of Ithaca, NY welcomed their second child, Arfa Khizar, on January 1 at 3:28 p.m. She weighed 7.6 pounds and measured 19 inches long.
Despite the baby’s initial due date of January 2nd, Wajeeha says they were excited to welcome baby Arfa early.
“I had wished that I would deliver her on the first. [I am] feeling blessed and happy,” stated Wajeeha. She also praised her nurses, Sunny and Heather, as well as her doctor, Kenneth Dean, DO for their kindness and compassionate care at the Cayuga Birthplace.
2019 as the state has increased its reliance on natural gas piped in from fracking plants in Pennsylvania.
According to a United Nations report, methane is around 80 times more effective at trapping heat than CO2 over a 20-year period.
Despite the expanded ban, some fracking methods remain unaddressed by New York’s laws. These include oil-based and foam-based fracking methods, which are typically used in formations with specific geological conditions.
“While these other methods are less common and not currently in use in New York, we must remain vigilant,” said Kelles. “The fossil fuel industry is resourceful, and we need to continue refining our policies to protect public health and the environment.”
F
EE lan CE rs :
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: $89 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
Environmental activists rally in support of a ban on CO2 fracking with elected officials at the New York State Capital in Albany. (Photo: Provided)
By Mark Syvertson QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2025?”
Working Group Aims to Keep Manufactured Housing Affordable & Sustainable
By Matt Dougherty
The Tompkins County Legislature’s manufactured housing working group is working to address issues surrounding manufactured housing in the county, focusing on the need to improve energy efficiency, affordability, and community ownership.
Working group member Danielle Eiseman told the Ithaca Times, “The working group was created after the legislature brought up concerns about the energy costs and needs of constituents living in manufactured homes [and] we’ve been exploring these issues more deeply ever since.” She added, “Since October 2022, our small informal group has been exploring a lot of the problems surrounding residents living in manufactured housing.”
Initially, the group focused on improving the sustainability of manufactured homes, particularly through energy efficiency measures. The goal was to make these homes more affordable, warmer, and more comfortable for residents.
However, as the group looked deeper into the issues, they uncovered additional concerns that needed to be addressed — including the impact of investment firms buying up manufactured home communities, leading to increased rents and neglected infrastructure.
According to Eisenam, 26 out of 30 manufactured housing communities in Tompkins County are owned by private investment firms, which often prioritize profits over infrastructure improvements. “These firms see manufactured housing as an easy investment and tend to raise rents without reinvesting in the community,”
said Eiseman.
“We’re worried the rest are going to fall like dominoes,” said Chuck Geisler, who is a member of the working group.
To prevent more manufactured housing communities from being bought by investment firms, the working group aims to help residents collectively purchase and manage their parks through programs like ROC USA, which helps organize and fund resident purchases.
However, residents often lack the purchasing power to compete with investment firms. As a result, Esieman said the group is looking to replicate how communities in Vermont have addressed the same issue.
“We’re learning from Vermont, where community banks have been established to support residents in purchasing communities, weatherization projects, and home replacements,” Eiseman said. She added that a representative from Vermont is expected to speak with the group in January 2025 to share best practices.
Additionally, Eiseman said that the county could offer financial incentives or subsidies to local nonprofits and cooperatives to purchase these communities and keep them affordable at a time when 67% of rural New York residents report that housing affordability is a major issue.
In addition to Eiseman, Legislators Randy Brown and Anne Koreman have both advocated in favor of using manufactured housing as a way to increase affordable housing stock in rural areas.
While not a comprehensive solution, infill development using manufactured or modular homes could increase affordable housing supply.
“We would love to see a factory in our area, which could provide
jobs and access to homes locally,” Eiseman said.
According to Brown, “What it really came down to, for me, was that this is truly affordable housing that you can own… [and] when investors buy these parks, they raise the rents and don’t improve the infrastructure [and] it leads to ongoing issues for the residents.”
Koreman said that she favored manufactured homes because they can be produced quickly and at a lower cost than traditional stick-built homes, making them an attractive option for addressing housing shortages. “I’ve often thought that manufactured housing was a really viable option to rapidly increase our housing stock [and] home ownership is a great way to create financial freedom and independence.”
The aging infrastructure of these manufactured home communities is another issue the working group aims to address.
According to Geisler, there are roughly 4,000 manufactured homes in Tompkins County, with more than 300 close to 50 years old. He stressed the importance of addressing energy efficiency in these old homes since many of them are inefficient and costly to heat and cool, leading to higher living expenses for residents.
According to Eiseman, many manufactured homes rely on propane, which is expensive, and suffer from inadequate insulation and outdated materials. “Even though HUD’s energy efficiency standards have improved over the years, they’re still not up to the level of site-built homes,” Eiseman said. “The homes often aren’t suitable for our climate, and municipalities
“Going to the South Island of New Zealand in August.”
Mike
“Getting some projects at work wrapped up.”
Jess
“Christmas.”
Peter
“Daddy's birthday.”
Sarah
“Playing with friends and being in the newspaper.”
James
Over 26 of the 30 manufactured housing communities in Tompkins County are owned by private investment firms, a trend the Manufactured Housing Working Group is working to address by supporting resident ownership initiatives.
Danielle Eiseman, organizer of the Tompkins County Manufactured Housing Working Group, discusses the group’s efforts to address energy inefficiency and advocate for residents of manufactured housing communities.
Miracle on State/MLK Street
By Charley Githler
Izzy, the concierge at the Watershed, has standing instructions to text me if there is a celebrity sighting. Always looking for a scoop at the Ithaca Times. The code is “we received your order for erotic scrimshaw”. ‘Twas two weeks after Christmas when my phone pinged, and there was the secret message. I did my version of leaping into action, and was climbing the steps to Downtown’s Favorite Watering Hole in under ten minutes.
“He’s at the bar,” said Iz out of the side of her mouth. She likes to assume the persona of a 1930s gangster when we’re on a caper.
“Thanks, Toots,” I said, playing along.
The Talk at
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I sidled in and surveyed the situation. Sitting at the bar were two hipsters, silently doomscrolling, and a guy in a Santa costume. I looked back at Izzy, with a ‘what gives?’ expression. She did a passable pantomime of a silently ho-hoing Saint Nick. I eased into the stool next to the jolly elf and ordered a Sidecar from Cheyanne.
Except the elf didn’t look so jolly. I know these Santa types are spent after the end of the Season, what with ringing bells and fielding children’s demands, but this guy looked particularly ragged. There were four empty shot glasses in front of him on the bar. I will say his costume was outstanding, though, and he had the right
RE: City Chamberlain Issues
“Ithaca’s City Chamberlain’s office imposes a mandatory 5% fee on split tax payments, which can only be made by check. Although tax bills state no fees apply if payments are on time, this hidden fee is not disclosed on bills, the city website, or in any written policy—only mentioned verbally at payment. This deceptive
build, shall we say, complete with a real white beard.
“Tough yule time?” I asked.
“What’s it to you?” he snapped. The holidays seemed to have stirred Santa’s churlish side.
Cheyanne was standing nearby.
“Could I buy Mr. Kringle a shot?” I said. He half turned and raised a single appreciative eyebrow.
“I do apologize,” he said. “You’re a Nice-Lister, after all. Sport, I’ve been doing this for centuries, and this last one might have been the worst ever.” He downed the shot.
“All fall this kid Elon was trying to bribe his way off the Naughty List by promising to give me a real space ship, I was served notice that another Naughty-Lister was granted immunity by the Supreme Court, my Christmas elves are now affiliated with the Teamsters and were on strike at seven delivery hubs the week before
and coercive practice unfairly penalizes residents who rely on the split payment option. I urge the city to discontinue this fee and offer truly free ways to pay split taxes on time” — Concerned Citizen
RE: South Hill Tax Abatement
“Something about the tax abatement discussion around the development on South Hill isn’t making sense to me. If the development is going to create a “line of kids at South Hill elementary”, where are those families living? Either they are living in new units (adding to the property tax and school tax base) or they are living in existing units (meaning someone else is moving out of the school district). Unless the people moving out all don’t have kids and the people moving in all do, the total number of kids should stay roughly the same under the second scenario, so the line of kids should be about the same.
Next, looking at ICSD enrollment over the last decade, we have a flat to declining K-12 enrollment, while budgets generally increased at or above the rate of inflation. This means per pupil spending has been rising — often faster than average taxpayer income (hence the tax revolt we witnessed last year). It would benefit us all if those analyzing and writing about policy debates always critically examine what each side is saying, applying logic and basic math, or seek the opinion of those who can. Second, when quoting people with an obvious agenda, it would also be responsible journalism to make explicit the incentives of the groups the speakers
Christmas, Mrs. C has been nagging me to get on Ozempic.” I gave the signal for another round, as he was warming to his topic. “My magic workshop is going to sink into the sea some time this decade, Arnold freakin’ Schwarzenegger played me in a movie, and to top it off, I flew into a flock of drones over Mount Olive, New Jersey. Dasher chipped an antler. I tell you, I’m thinking of hanging up the jingle bells. I just can’t face going back to the Pole.” “Dude, do NOT even think of it,” I implored. “They might take away the FDIC, and revoke approval of the polio vaccine, but without Santa Claus, well, I wouldn’t know what the point would be any more. Now is not the time to give up.” He seemed to brighten. “You know, you’re all right,” he said, clapping me on the back. “Let’s have another shot.”
My memory of the rest of the evening is lost to the ages, but I think we should be OK. At least for another year.
represent: in what world would you expect ITA to ever take a position NOT resulting in a larger budget?” —
Eknath Belbase
RE: David Shapiro Leadership
“If you watched the monthly streamed and recorded Common Council meetings since the beginning of this year you definitely wonder about this ‘opinion’ piece. Is this an opinion piece or simply mudslinging by a disgruntled ex-employee? Thankfully there are some, including David, who are on the Council and willing to take a stand in representing homeowners and the independent folks not waving slogans and talking in soundbites. Folks in the City who want to see change, who want to see results not just ‘feel good’ resolutions, who want answers to the questions. What? Why? How? When? Who? Folks who ask what will you deliver and when? Folks seek commitment not just a ‘we will try our best’. I hope David continues to challenge, to question, to seek out the facts, test the findings, question conclusions and recommendations and above all to expect measurable results. Go David!” — Fred Schoeps
“Council NEEDS dissenting and challenging voices. David and Margaret are the only voices of sanity, imo. And the only ones not singing with the choir. For a community that claims to like “diversity” and “inclusion,” I’d say that you’re hypocrites. You only have people who hold exactly the same views on every question and who never challenge anything. Try listening to dissenting opinions instead.” — Anita Graf
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
The Ithaca Kiwanis Club will present the next Frank Hammer Officer of the Month Award to Undersheriff Jennifer Olin of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department on January 13, 2025, at a luncheon at the Golden Bayou at noon.
Downs
Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a dog that bit a person on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at approximately 3:30 PM, on the Beebe Lake Trail near Forest Home Drive (Ithaca). Anyone with information regarding this dog is urged to call EH at (607) 274-6688.
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
Tompkins County is alerting the community to the developing restructure of the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights (OHR), following the departure of Director Dr. Kenneth Clarke. During this interim period, members of the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission (TCHRC) will be hosting weekly drop-in office hours and special events for the community.
Seen
Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED) announced that Kellea Bauda will be appointed Administrative Director of the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) and Tompkins County Development Corporation (TCDC), effective January 2025.
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.”
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) expand to allow a member of the Ithaca School Board on the IDA? 80
N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N : Are you concerned about Bird Flu? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
Ithaca Household Bills 14% Higher than National Average
By Matt Dougherty
Household bills in Ithaca are 14% higher than the national average, according to the recently released Doxo U.S. Utilities Market Size and Household Spend Report for 2024.
The report highlights Ithaca’s cost of living challenges, particularly the significant portion of household income spent on essential bills.
The average household in Ithaca spends $2,428 a month on the 10 most common household bills, or $29,130 annually, making it one of the more expensive places to live in the region. This is $3,618 more per year than the U.S. national average.
The 10 most common household bills include mortgage or rent, utilities, auto loan and insurance, health insurance, cable, internet and phone services, mobile phone, life insurance, home insurance, and property taxes.
Local households spend $355 per month on utilities, which is below the state average of $405 per month and slightly below the national average of $362 per month. However, the overall burden of
Ithaca residents pay an average of $2,428 per month on household bills, 14% higher than the national average.
household expenses in Ithaca stems from higher housing costs.
The report underscores the financial pressures on Ithaca residents, with household bills accounting for 45% of the average annual income of $64,911. This ratio highlights the tight budgets many households face as nearly half of
Father Responsible for Murder-Suicide
Worked as Assistant Dean at Cornell
By Matt Dougherty
Amurder-suicide involving a Cornell University employee claimed the lives of three family members in Brighton this past Sunday.
Police say Lawrence Mancuso, 53, fatally shot his 11-year-old daughter, Annie Mancuso, and her maternal grandmother, Mary Lachini, 74, before taking his own life at their home on Hollyvale Drive. Authorities responded to the residence late Sunday morning after neighbors reported finding Annie on the porch, bleeding from a gunshot wound. She was rushed to a local hospital but died from her injuries.
Police discovered the bodies of Mancuso and Lachini inside the home. Both had also suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Investigators determined that Mancuso was responsible for the killings before turning the weapon on himself.
Mancuso served as the Assistant Dean for Human Resources at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
In a statement to The Ithaca Times, a Cornell spokesperson said, “Lawrence Mancuso served as Assistant Dean for Human Resources in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He has been on a leave of absence since October 2024.” The university did not provide details about why Mancuso was on leave.
Annie Mancuso, a student at Twelve Corners Middle School, was remembered by her school community as “a kind, sweet, and beautiful person in every way,” according to a statement from Brighton Central School District. The district has offered counseling support for students, staff, and families grappling with the tragedy.
The Brighton Police Department said the investigation is ongoing but has con-
their income goes toward essential expenses like housing, utilities, and other bills.
Across the United States, the average household spends $2,126 per month on common bills. The report estimates the total U.S. utilities market size at $451 billion annually.
cluded its initial response. A candlelight vigil held on Hollyvale Drive Monday evening drew dozens of neighbors, who lit candles and shared memories of the victims.
Police have not disclosed additional details about the motive behind the incident.
This is a photo of Lawrence Mancuso that has been removed from a Cornell Chronicle article from February 2022 about him being named Assistant Dean of Human Resources for the ILR School. (Photo: Cornell Chronicle)
Readers Writes – Make Me Smile
THE SMALL THINGS
By Monica Gullotta
Iwant to smile. I promise. It’s just hard these days because of the political divide, wars, environmental decline, and the residual effects of COVID-19 lingering on.
Then a switch goes off in my brain, I have agency. I can think about something else rather than cascading into a never-ending vortex playing havoc on my mind.
But where do I begin? And how do I start?
I look at the ceiling. I look at the floor. Waiting patiently, twiddling my thumbs when a spider comes along.
I move in closer. “Where are you going?” “Why are you in such a rush?” Suddenly, the frown I had been wearing was replaced with a smile.
I extended my finger hoping that I had made a friend, and the spider began crawling in the palm of my hand.
Walking the length of my index finger then back down again, going around and around in circles time and time again.
“Keep going,” I smiled, cheering it on. Back and forth, up and down, never imagining a spider could make me smile.
GOOD ART MAKES ME SMILE
By Susie CY. Li
Have you heard a story, looked at a painting, and walked away without thinking twice about how this piece of art would affect you? But that experience stays with you, or it just percolates inside you for a really long time, quietly bubbling away and doing its work until suddenly, one day, you understand that it has made a difference so profound that you could hardly have imagined (even though, in the beginning, the difference might be small and subtle.)
Good art invites us in, artists and nonartists alike. I sometimes think about the memorable characters and illustrations in the fantasy book, The Sandman: The Dream Hunters (published by DC Comics), which I saw as a young adult. They were created by Japan’s premier artist Yoshitaka Amano. Every panel of the book tells a story; every panel is filled with energy, emo-
tions, meaning, and dream-like beauty. I remember staring at those illustrations and thought, “Is this popular art? Is this high art? Where did he get his art form from?” Whatever it was, it had moved me.
Over the years, I often thought of Amano’s illustrations and still felt their power. His art is influenced by Japanese Ukiyo-e and animation, European Art Nouveau, and American Disney. An artist without binders, Amano marries Eastern aesthetics to that of the West, using classical and modern techniques. No mediums seem to escape his curiosity or creativity. His talent seduces viewers with the taste for the avant-garde, feelings of Gustav Klimt and Alphonse Mucha, and traditional Asian art.
As I get older and have become much more interested in Asian art, I want my paintings to reach the viewers’ hearts, regardless of their cultures, origins, and ages, with the same depth of how I felt about Amano’s illustrations.
Whenever we get a chance to go into another person’s vision deeply and then step back and return to ourselves, we have a
chance to see the ordinary world in a new way. And that is how good art affects us. Amano’s art makes me smile, makes me see the light.
TEN BUTTERFLIES
By Katharyn Howd Machan
We gather.
Walls surround us, peaceful blue. The floor of seven-colored wood is smooth, polished: safe. How many doorways? We don’t care: this place breathes because we write, no need to think departure.
Monarch wings and swallowtail antennae seem to fill a sky behind where She Who speaks. Time opens. We open.
Beyond hope and dream and spirit words become small bodies dancing, answering flight’s fullest music that rises in this room.
HELPING OTHERS MAKES ME SMILE
By Barbara D. Katz-Brown
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller
When I was a young girl, I read a book about Helen Keller and it had a big influ-
ence on my life. I decided I wanted to work in a profession that would help people express themselves. For many years as a speech-language pathologist or later as a school administrator, I worked with students to improve their speech, language or encourage good behavioral choices through communication.
As a retired individual now I had to find other ways to continue to assist others. After a series of friend requests for help to get to places within the city of Ithaca, it became apparent to me that not everyone could utilize the local bus routes or other modes of transportation due to costs or location. If someone needs to pick up items at 3 different locations, it could become a daylong event.
Claire couldn’t drive after a horrific crash. Sally had no car and no one in her family lived nearby. Jonah wasn’t able to keep a driver’s license because of failing eyesight. These folks became my people to help. So now I spend my time driving people to places around town. These are individuals who aren’t part of a social network such as a church or racquetball club and they have no other options except to wait for someone to offer a ride.
These acts of assistance I provide could be called “Hesed” in Hebrew and one of the tenets of my religion. However, I perform these favors for a more selfish reason. They make me smile. Each time.
SO, YOU WANT TO MAKE ME SMILE
By Frank Kelly
You say you want to make me smile
Good news is, it’s not that hard
Here’s a few things you can do
Smile at me … across the room
Or as we pass each other in the hall
I’ll surely smile back at you
Take me for a hike, in Treman Park, Lime Hollow Nature Center, Along some winding country road
Invite the family over for a visit
Make that Mac and Cheese that we all love Dust off those photo albums in the closet
Bring me good news: grandson on the honor roll
Your latest art quilt accepted for a show
The PSA I just had done is still undetectable
Surprise me with a little gift, a Thank You note
A handmade Valentine, cuddle or a hug
Praise me for remembering our anniversary
Suggest we spend an afternoon at Barnes & Noble
Browsing through their books and magazines
With a cup of Starbucks coffee and a treat
Book one of those vacations that we dream of
To Los Cabos, Maui or the Florida Keys
Somewhere sunny days are all but guaranteed
Tell me something funny that you read
That you think we have more money than we need
That, after all these years, you’re still in love with me
IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE TO MAKE ME SMILE
By Fernando Ramirez
Every morning my grey tabby, Nef, jumps in the chair next to the window and waits for me to pull back the curtain. Whether it’s dark or light, it’s worth a look at the new day.
My other cat, Bou, sleeps in my lap. That’s all, just curled up and happy.
When I hear other people say and believe that we are all equal…period. (Betcha thought it was going to be all about cats).
Offbeat Christmas movies: Diehard, Bad Santa, The Ice Harvest, Lethal Weapon and L.A. Confidential.
A common council that stops playing a version of I-Don’t -like-the-way-you-play this-game-so-I’m -taking-my-ball-and-going-home.
Monday night dinners at my mother-inlaws’ with the kids and my wife. My wife, just all by herself.
My friend Sully.
The latest issue of Cooks Magazine. Finding something in Ithaca that I’ve never seen before, because there is always something.
Finding something new to cook and taste.
Friday night dinners at Mix at my favorite table.
That first kiss of winter snow.
Fond remembrances of those who passed and the times we shared.
It’s not a big list but I plan on making it longer in the new year. Right now I’ve got to cut it short because I want to make the deadline. Feliz Ano Nuevo.
OLD MEMORIES
By Ralph Janis
Iarrived in Ithaca in 1962, the year after the trains stopped running. But the Lehigh Valley Restaurant was still operating. Their cutlets and onion rings were memorable. Joe’s on Buffalo Street was a busy place just about all the time. The bread was terrific, free refills on salads were a draw, and the wait staff were always friendly. Obie’s by the railroad tracks was famous for the Bo Burger. And the State Street Diner was the place to go for tasty sausage and top-notch omelets. Sadly, it’s not open all night any more, so the clientele isn’t nearly as interesting!
The College Spa downtown was Ithaca’s version of a sophisticated Manhattan restaurant; the Dutch Kitchen in the Ithaca Hotel on State and Aurora was deluxe; Theodore Zinck’s on Aurora (where the Marriott is now) drew in just about everybody; their beef on kummelwick was A+. Hal’s Deli opened that year on State Street. Cornell and IC students from New York gravitated there. Hal and Sandy were wonderful hosts, though the pastrami was, perhaps, a shade less classic than the Stage Deli in Manhattan. And then there was fast food. Or, shall we say, there wasn’t. Henry’s on the old Elmira Road along with the brand new Dairy Queen, were about it for quick stuff. McDonald’s opened sometime in the early 60’s, as I recall. Was there a Pizza Hut or something like it? Can’t remember. I do recall the fried chicken eatery at the intersection of Meadow Street and the Elmira Road, but that was more like a restaurant. And don’t let me forget the eatery at the brand new Meadow Court Motel across from what was then the fairgrounds (today we call it Wegman’s).
Last but certainly not least there was Taughannock. That was in a class by itself. Had to be a very special occasion to be taken there. In those days it was the Taughannock Farms Inn. There were no menus. The waitstaff, wearing starched aprons, recited the evening’s offerings. Everything was served home style. Portions were enormous. There was no porch in those days, so everyone sat inside one of the handsome old parlors. And, of course, no one ever set foot inside without wearing a jacket and tie or a skirt. No one thought twice about it. That’s just the way it was. So here we are, sixty plus years later. Okay, what survives? I can think of only three winners. Can you name them?
DECEMBER 21, 2024
By Daniel Shwartz
Short cold days: white-tailed deer walk gingerly on pond, marauding squirrels acrobatically extract suet, seed from bird feeders. Bundled in winterwear, always on watch for nature’s wonders, hoping for elusive pileated woodpeckers I at eighty-three walk in woods, among bare trees seeking refuge from political turmoil, personal grief, friends’ illness. Grateful that I can still dream of tomorrow’s possibilities, I smile to myself.
IN THE END, IT’S THE BIRDS
By Denice Karamardian
You see, I had never paid much attention to birds. Ordinary birds, I mean. Normal birds from home. Sure I was enchanted by the blue
and golds in Tio Wilson’s back yard in Brazil — those large and loud creatures they called ‘arara’ for the particular sounds, like crow caws but inserted with vowels and rolled Rs. And I could sit for hours on my veranda in Costa Rica gazing at the vividly colored tiny birds that swooped along the surface of pools and lush foliage; I also laughed at the tufted white guys that plopped down on a restaurant table and, while you were gaping, snatched your next bite of food before you could close your mouth. In retrospect, my youth and middle age years, even my 60s perhaps, were filled with awe for, and pleasure in, the exotic.
In the first phase of Covid and my selfimposed lock-down, my soul began to break out and away from my usual norms. Like most of us, I reached deep for inner tools of survival, meaning, and forward being. I spent lots of time sitting up in the sleigh bed of my guest room reading, working, and mostly gazing out the picture window at everything and anything beyond it. I felt a jolt of happiness when a single soul walked by along the street, which surprised me. One day, with a gasp it occurred to me that this is what a dog must feel watching from a window, waiting for movement, ecstatic at the sight of moving objects and beings. ‘Look! A human! Look! A bird,’ tail thumping joyously, open jaw dripping saliva. Or how a cat might take it in basking in sunlit rays from her perch on the windowsill, lazily lifting her head at a sudden mass flight of starlings or staring down a passing jogger with appropriate amounts of boredom and self-satisfied wellbeing. (She is right where she wants to be.) I began taking on similar reactions, imagining myself a dog or cat, from my own perch at the window.
And one day I saw myself — I man I really noticed myself — break into smiles that seemed unrecognizable to me in their simplicity. Smiles for the moment. For being. No other reason.
That year, I mainly worked from my sunroom and completed the first draft of a long saga that I had been struggling to structure and wrestle onto paper for well over a decade. A half dead, half leafed tree spread out over the glass ceiling like an umbrella someone is holding out to you but not entirely covering your body. Most of the trunks have been hollowed out by woodpeckers and an endless parade of travelers — birds and squirrels. I watch them pop in and out of holes, bob among the branches. By now, I have utterly surrendered my attention to the winged creatures on the other side of the glass. They manage to interrupt my thoughts, my reading, conversations, even the motion of a coffee cup en route to my mouth. My heads jerks from the distraction of flitting wings and I instinctively grin,
stopping mid-action and devote an endless number of minutes to observe the amazing living flutters that seem deceptively within reach beyond the glass yet safely unaware of my reverence.
I know few by name. I tell myself I really must get an app, join a bird club, fill my head with knowledge. The next thought arrives: must I really? I enjoy my limited awareness of everyday blue jays and wrens and….all that I cannot acknowledge with a title.
Today, as in the uneasy early days of Covid, I find myself frantically wondering how next to face the drastic changes hurling towards the incoming year of 2025. I meditate on personal strategy and how to pace anxiety, try to wrangle thoughts and feelings into useful tools. In the midst of this, a moving shadow distracts. I turn my head in time to see the creature alight outside my window and pursue the business of… something I cannot determine. I feel the smile instantly, feel it spread from one side of my face to the farthest point across it. Then it pours deeper. Into something below, filling up my heart.
I know so little about the creatures, and yet they save me. In the end, it’s the birds.
YOU
By Eva Marques
Life is serious business.
In my myopia, Mission-critical demands all my time no room for pleasantries fun leisure laughter when life is so brief, so final.
Fortuitous happenstance!
In answer to an unspoken prayer for a soul companion, the fates mischievously bestowed upon me a partner with the wide-eyed gaze of an imp and a sense of humor that never fails to communicate directly with my funny bone.
So when all the serious people have executed all of their serious plans with their serious consequences, at the end of the day there will be laughter in the halls of heaven because you are there.
ITHACA MAKES ME SMILE
By Andy Rollman
This is a painting that I created this year. I wanted to capture what I feel is the heart of the City of Ithaca, Ithaca Commons. This view makes me smile. The painting is set in the Spring when the tulips were blooming in the road medium at the corner of South Aurora and State Streets, at the gateway to the Commons from the East. The Commons is a place where there is always something to make me smile such as beautiful historic architecture, vibrant retail, and people of all ages and backgrounds interacting freely. I smile because I feel so fortunate to live with my husband in the wonderful, progressive, diverse, City of Ithaca.
HE ALWAYS MADE ME SMILE
by Frank Kelly
Growing up in a close knit extended family, my cousin Mark and I were more like brothers than cousins. We lived in adjacent towns, but managed to spend time together: having fun, becoming friends, making memories.
We reconnected periodically as adults; first, in our thirties, working in the same field of parks and recreation and, later, when parents, aunts and uncles began to get sick and die. The bond between us strengthened further eighteen months ago, when I learned cancer would cost me my bladder. Turns out Mark had been struggling with a similar history for more than a decade. He became my ostomy buddy, a support group of one, cheerleader, therapist, distractor-in-chief.
Both proud Papas, we bragged about our grandkids, recalled our escapades as kids, talked politics. We texted and talked on the phone. When my wife let him know I was having a particularly hard time, he made the three hour drive from Albany and showed up at our front door.
So, when he died last month, it hit me like a freight train. It felt like they’d removed another vital organ with nothing to replace it.
From the time we were kids, Mark always made me smile. His quick wit, mischievous smile and positive attitude were infectious. As adults, he always had another funny story to tell … about work, family or human foibles — especially his own. When loved ones died, he recalled happier times with them. When we discovered we had the same combination of cancers, he joked about living with them and the side-
effects. When my grandson won his spelling bee, Mark attributed the accomplishment to family genes and shared my pride. I did the same when his granddaughter completed a marathon.
Mark’s services and “after party” were a mix of overwhelming sadness and healing hugs and smiles. I caught up with family I hadn’t seen in years and met Mark’s adult children and grandkids. Being with a group of other people whose lives Mark had touched with his authentic caring, abundant generosity and abiding humor, lifted me out of the black hole of depression I’d fallen into. As my wife and I were leaving, two of the grandkids told me they’d like to keep in touch.
Was this Mark’s parting gift to me? A way to keep his memory alive? A way to resurrect the smiles he gave away so freely? I guess we’ll see.
THE PIZZA
By Claire A. Perez
One day, you wake up, and you are retired. That is how life is. And you are thinking of pizza, the kind you would make if you had the recipe for the perfect crust.
Only a few people on the planet have that recipe, the one for the perfect crust. You ate it first in New York City: you can’t remember where or in what decade.
You know the pizza shop on the way to your wife’s job has the crust recipe. You also think, on this particular day, that you want pizza. Of course, not too mu ch cheese (the cholesterol, the gallbladder); a little sausage, a little pepperoni, and lots of veggies: you see the perfect pie.
You leave early to pick your wife (and the pizza) up.
A bright young man takes your order. He pays attention: he gets it, as they say. He creates your pie while you two have an uplifting talk; then you proceed to pick your
wife up. The pizza tantalizes you with its smell; you glimpsed it as it slid from the pizza peel into the box, and you saw its crispy edges.
Arriving at your destination, you reach for your cell phone, call your wife, and share the good news: “Hurry up, I’ve got the pizza!”
Home! You open the box: it is the Mona Lisa of pizzas. Thankful, you think of the young man, the art, and how great it is to get that one perfect pizza pie.
UNSPOKEN SMILES
By Nancy Kane
From 1999-2007, I was teaching dance and theatre at SUNY Rockland Community College. Many of my students were recent immigrants or members of the Jewish communities that surround the Suffern area. I studied Spanish for two years so that I was able to teach bilingually and accept homework in Spanish from the middle-aged ladies who took my classes. I adjusted my dress code to allow Jewish students to be able to take my ballet classes without violating their requirements for modesty. I was the first dance instructor there to celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture, encouraging a gay student to incorporate lip sync artistry into a recital and staging a musical theatre piece by lesbian playwright Carolyn Gage. My accompanist was knowledgeable about Haiti, its music, and its politics, and he taught me much about filmmaker Maya Deren’s work there, with all its flaws and glories.
Around 2006 or so, a young Haitian immigrant who had experience in ballroom dance invited me to be an advisor for a student club he was starting. Jean Paul Laurent was an excellent dancer who generously shared his knowledge with other students, and I kept in touch with him as he went on
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to study dental hygiene at NYU, and as he travelled back to Haiti with his brother in the wake of 2010’s earthquake to offer pro bono dental help to villagers there.
He began a nonprofit organization, unspokensmiles.org, and I often saw photos of him meeting with world leaders and philanthropists as he did fundraising to help bring healthy smiles to underserved populations. My husband and I donated a bit through Kiva microlending to help him. He achieved national recognition as the smiling face on Lay’s potato chips in 2020, which helped raise money for Operation Smile, a nonprofit serving children with cleft lips or palates. He was chosen for that in part because of his work with Unspoken Smiles. Typical of his ethos, he sees the two organizations as working toward similar goals: helping bring beautiful, healthy smiles to the world.
During COVID, he saw the need for educational supports for children living without access to real-life role models, and he started Virtual Classrooms to connect students to Fellows and people who could emphasize oral health and the importance of education in general. As someone who moved to a community of immigrants
when he was a young man, he deeply understands the need for support systems for underserved populations.
The other day, he told me his Unspoken Smiles organization is close to completing a clinic in Costa Rica: “We’re so close to opening the first fully preventive and green dental clinic in the region—a big step toward improving oral health access for underserved communities. To cross the finish line, we need to raise $2,500 to purchase the final materials for the renovation. If you’d like to support, you can donate via PayPal or Zelle to info@unspokensmiles.org.”
My friends George Sapio and Maura Stephens, who moved to Costa Rica years ago from the Ithaca area, would no doubt approve. They have worked for arts and social justice for as long as I have known them, and have always lived true to their values.
Jean Paul Laurent exemplifies the wonderful gifts immigrants bring to our country. In a year when outrageous lies about Haitian immigrants became part of our presidential election, and our local incumbent for the House of Representatives ran on an abhorrent anti-immigrant platform, Jean Paul continues to work to give back wherever he can. I am so proud of this former Rockland student … he makes us all smile.
Bird Flu Spreads Across U.S., but Tompkins County Remains Unaffected
By Matt Dougherty
The first human death from bird flu in the United States was recently reported in Louisiana, sparking nationwide concern as the virus continues to spread across all 50 states.
Since January 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) has affected nearly 129.8 million birds, with 1,374 outbreaks reported across 591 counties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While Louisiana’s case underscores the virus’s potential risks to humans, Tompkins County has remained unaffected.
“There have been no human cases, no cases in dairy cattle, and no contaminated milk detected in Tompkins County,” said Dr. William Klepack, Medical Director of
Tompkins County Whole Health. “This is good news for our region, especially considering the nationwide spread.”
Since April 2024 there have been 66 human cases of bird flu reported nationwide, but experts believe this is a significant undercount due to limited testing. Most human cases have been mild, but the World Health Organization estimates prior bird flu outbreaks had a mortality rate of about 50%.
The current strain of HPAI, identified as H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4, has been detected in wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks. Researchers are particularly concerned about mutations in the virus that could potentially increase the risk of human-to-human transmission.
“This particular strain of the virus appears to have acquired mutations that
make it more likely to bind to airway receptors,” said Dr. Leana Wen, former Baltimore health commissioner in an interview with Face the Nation on Sunday.
Klepack said that while human-to-human transmission has not been documented in the United States, the infection of mammals, including isolated cases in humans, presents opportunities for further mutations.
According to Klepack there have been no recent outbreaks in birds in Tompkins County and public health officials are monitoring the situation closely.
While the virus has been reported in some parts of New York State, such as a 2023 case in Tompkins County and a 2024 case in Onondaga County, the Whole Health Department explained that these are not current outbreaks.
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“We’ve ensured that area healthcare providers are aware of the risks and know to test for bird flu in individuals presenting with symptoms and a history of potential exposure,” Klepack said.
Cornell University is also playing a key role in prevention, taking precautions to protect employees working with at-risk animals and in laboratories handling avian influenza. Human cases of bird flu in the U.S. have been rare and mostly mild, with symptoms ranging from fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches to eye redness or discharge (conjunctivitis). However, more severe cases can result in pneumonia, respiratory failure, or even death.
Health officials in Tompkins County are monitoring the bird flu situation closely, reporting no current outbreaks in birds or humans in the area, and emphasizing preventive measures for at-risk individuals.
A New Chapter
Cornell Wrestling, Basketball History Writing New Chapters
By Steve Lawrence
What are Cornell sports fans seeing at the start of the New Year?
Some things feel very new, while others seem like a continuation of story lines we have been watching for some time.
First up: Cornell wrestling. When I took over this column in September of 1992, I have no doubt that Kyle Dake — then all of 19 months old — was toddling around on a wrestling mat. His dad, Doug, was a former NCAA wrestler and coach, and he and his son lived and breathed wrestling throughout his childhood.
Fast forward 32 years… Sadly, Doug Dake passed on last spring, but not before watching Kyle win four NCAA titles, four World Championships and two Olympic medals. He also had the gift of watching Kyle become a dad, and I admit that I got a little teary-eyed a couple of weeks ago while watching Kyle address well over two-
hundred kids and parents in the expansive Ramin Room at Cornell. It was Kyle Dake Day, and Kyle was running a clinic for kids — boys and girls — who will someday be NCAA wrestlers, kids who might make their high school team and kids whose parents likely just wanted a photo of the youngster with an Olympic medalist.
At the end of the day, Dake’s voice was worn out, as was his autograph-signing hand, but he clearly took a lot of pride in carrying the torch.
Going back way further into Cornell Wrestling archives, I was pleased to reconnect with Mike Mankowich, a Big Red grappler back in the 1980s. I saw Mank dominate his share of opponents on the mat, and I have a funny non-column-worthy story about an interaction he had with an obnoxious drunk guy one night off the mat. I lost track of Mike for many years, but I recently learned that he is channeling that toughness and determination into a
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of over 400
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new bout, if you will. After being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2017, Mankowich turned his efforts to raising money and awareness to help others deal with the incurable, but treatable disease.
Over the past several years, Mike has been traveling in groups made up of individuals impacted in some way by multiple myeloma, Mankowich’s efforts have helped to raise about $60,000 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). And the series of trips known as “Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma” is a joint venture undertaken by Cure Today and MMRF. To date, Mankowich — often accompanied by his wife and daughter — has trekked parts of Patagonia, Alaska and Guatemala. In his words, “I’m in for seven years, and I anticipate being around for a long time.”
Shifting gears to Big Red basketball, I will say that I will be very pleased when the students return to campus. I attended the
Siena game, and I found it very disconcerting that given Siena is coached by former Syracuse player and assistant coach Gerry McNamara, and that one of their players is from that area, the Saints brought a large and boisterous group of fans. Let’s be clear, I am not lamenting the fact that the Siena contingent was so enthusiastic, rather that the Cornell crowd was not. Cornell committed a very uncharacteristic 17 turnovers, seemed off its game, and spent most of the second half playing catch up. No panic button call here, as it was a non-Ivy League game, and the players were likely still in a holiday frame of mind, but the whole experience felt very lackluster on numerous levels.
The Big Red will open Ivy League play against Columbia this Saturday (January 11) at 2 p.m. at Newman Arena. Let’s turn out in a big way and show that the fan base is not in hibernation.
Kyle Dake learned wrestling from his late father, and is now teaching it to a new generation. (Photo: Provided)
Bob Dylan’s Noteworthy Beginnings in “A Complete Unknown”
By David Burak
In “A Complete Unknown” we’re introduced to Bob Dylan as he mistakenly goes to NYC, in search of the hospital where the iconic folksinger, Woody Guthrie (Scott McNairy), is receiving care. He can no longer speak, and is watched over by Pete Seeger, exceptionally portrayed by Edward Norton. Guthrie demonstrates his approval of Dylan’s (Timothee Chalamet) singing by banging on a metal bedpost.
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Chalamet goes on to compel our fascination with his intriguing depiction of the Dylan of enigma and genre shifts. Writing on “X,” Dylan commends Chalamet's performance.
In effect, the actor becomes a conductor of a time-travelling experience.
Joan Baez (Monica Barbero) provides a sense of the difficulty a female peer had in dealing with Dylan’s sometimes difficult ways of proceeding, especially in relationships with women.
Elle Fanning, as Suze Rotolo. induces high degrees of empathy. She resumes her rapport with Dylan, only to learn that he’s given his recent song to Joan Baez. Also, to make matters more trying, they’re performing it together.
It’s upon relationships like the above that Dylan seems prone to stumble.
Sadly, he’s an artistic “lord” of his genre, but it seems he was unable or unwilling to check his actions to avoid hurting or upsetting others.
Nonetheless, when you see the angry reactions of the crowd of enthusiasts at the Newport Folk Festival of 1965 — when Dylan went electric — you can ascertain how upset fans can become when their favorite musician seems “to have strayed from the path.”
The material for this film was drawn from Elijah Wald’s 2015 book, “Dylan Goes Electric!”
It has been noted, by singers like Judy Collins, for example, that our culture chooses to elevate certain performers to great heights. This
ritual of imbuing an artist with exceptional significance can be both a blessing and a curse.
Dylan, a.k.a. Bobby Zimmerman, has managed to avoid the tragic variety of fates of fellow icons, such as Amy Winehouse, Elvis Presley and John Lennon.
Thus, one can contend that Dylan gains protection via his immersion in the creation and performance of lyrical montages, Consider, as a fascinating representation of transcendent urgency, lines from the poet/ troubadour’s “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue.”
”You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last./
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast./
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun,/ Crying like a fire in the sun.”
A Complete Unknown
Rated R
Starring Timothee Chalamet, Edward Norton and Elle Fanning Directed by James Mangold Playing at Cinemapolis
Elle Fanning as Suze Rotolo and TImothee Chalametas Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. (Photo: Provided)
Simeon’s: A Cornerstone of Downtown Ithaca’s Dining Scene
By Henry Stark
If you took a long nap, or were out of town for a bit, you might not have noticed all the recent changes that have occurred among restaurants on the corner of Aurora Street and The Commons in downtown Ithaca. However, the one change that has not occurred is that Simeon’s is weathering the economic storm and has retained the same footprint for decades. When I moved back to Ithaca, that location was occupied by Browning King, a preppy men’s clothing shop. When that closed, the area became the home of a restaurant with a few notable owners, including a former mayor of Ithaca. The changes ended on September 15, 2007, when two long-time friends, Rich and Dean, took over the site, closed it for a couple of weeks, and completely changed the interior. They stripped the floors displaying the lovely white marble, painted the ceiling antique white to highlight the ornate Italian style decorations, and converted the four tables closest to the bar to hi-tops. Dean thought “The former establishment was perceived as a bar that served food and Rich and I wanted to change it to a restaurant that has a bar.” When the friends opened the restaurant
WORKING GROUP AIMS
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often lack the resources to ensure proper installation.”
As a result, efforts to upgrade mobile homes to make them more sustainable have been underway through the Sustainable Finger Lakes Mobile Home Pilot Project, which has a specific focus on improving home heating systems.
Sustainable Finger Lakes Project Coordinator, Holly Hutchinson, has said “The goal of the project was upgrading 50 mobile homes in the county with heat pumps and electrical panel upgrades that aim to reduce energy costs and improve the comfort and safety of residents.”
However, the process has not been without challenges. Hutchinson has reported difficulties such as the high cost
it didn’t even have a gas cooker… just a convection oven, panini press, and a cold station for making sandwiches. Now they have a natural gas oven that generates up to 1.2 million BTU’s (British Thermal Units) of heat and they’ve expanded the seating from 45 to 110.
There was a large hiccup for the establishment on June 20, 2014, when a car-carrying truck driver lost control of his brakes coming down the adjacent hill and crashed into the building causing significant damage and killing a bartender.
Now there’s a long, (forty-foot), bar with a marble top, oak facing, and mirrors on the wall behind it. There are several dining areas which include the “Oyster Room”. I don’t understand that name as I’ve often been served there without ordering oysters. However, I do know that Simeon’s serves lots of raw oysters on the half shell at $22 for a half dozen and $43 for a dozen.
They call the cuisine Modern American which confused me. When I asked Rich to explain, he told me, “It means I have all the flexibility to cook and serve anything I want.”
The food is excellent. If you want to skip the oysters and still want to enjoy shellfish, you can order a chilled seafood cocktail
of upgrades — often around $25,000 per home — and logistical issues like coordinating installations and ensuring that homes can accommodate the new systems.
“We have faced numerous obstacles, including the need for significant financial investment and the technical challenges of retrofitting older homes,” Hutchinson said.
Despite these obstacles, Hutchinson said that 19 projects have been approved and 16 have been completed. She added that there are an additional 28 projects in progress. “We think it's been a great investment from the county, and we’d really like to see that investment continue,” she added.
Hutchinson added, “This isn’t just about energy efficiency. It’s about providing a pathway to economic security for residents, promoting homeownership, and ensuring health and well-being.”
which includes four jumbo black tiger shrimp ($18) or a “Bistro Plateau” $62 which includes a half dozen oysters, a half lobster, and ten jumbo shrimp. A “Grand Plateau” is also available ($149).
There’s just one soup, but it’s a winner… literally… having won several awards. It’s New England Clam Chowder ($8 cup, $12 bowl). In my opinion it seems more like a seafood stew than a chowder, because it’s loaded with clams and potatoes. Unfortunately, the last time I had it, the clams were too tough for me to eat.
Among the Main Events I often select the Short Rib ($34). It’s slowly braised for 8-10 hours in the morning and then vacuum wrapped to keep it fresh. Consequently, it’s tender and not “stringy” as many short ribs are. The meat is served with al dente halved purple and orange carrots and mashed potatoes in a bit of house made brown gravy. (They make their own pasta, sauces and dressings).
If I’m in the mood for something lighter I frequently select the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich, ($16). It includes a bit of melted Boursin cheese, some tomato-onion jam, and a layer of arugula.
BEVERAGES: There’s an excellent
BIRD FLU SPREADS
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“The highest risk groups include poultry workers, dairy farmers, veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, and people handling raw milk or working in processing facilities,” Klepack said. “If you are in one of these categories and experience symptoms, it’s important to inform your healthcare provider about your potential exposure.”
Klepack also highlighted the risks associated with raw milk. “We’ve seen evidence that aerosolized milk in milking parlors has infected dairy farm workers so raw milk remains a significant risk,” he said.
Klepack advised the public to avoid unprotected exposure to sick or dead animals and to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary. “High-efficiency N95 masks, gloves, and proper disinfec-
selection of white wines by the glass, ($9.50-$20) and bottles ($36-$89) that includes the names of the wineries and countries of origin but not vintages. I don’t think vintages are important because most customers don’t care, and it gives the restaurant and its distributers more flexibility. Red wines, on the other hand, are quite limited with just a single Chianti, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir.
If you like Craft Cocktails or Specialty Drinks you’ll have about a half dozen to choose from. There’s also a section for drinks made with Rye, Bourbon, Scotch, and Japanese Whiskeys.
If you’re a beer drinker you should be happy with the offerings under “Faucets and Taps” and “Bottles and Cans”. There are many reasons for Simeon’s success at the same site: They serve quality food at fair prices in a friendly atmosphere in a prominent location.
TID BIT:
The restrooms are down a steep staircase with 13 steps. However, I learned there’s an elevator that’s hidden in a secluded area near the end of the bar. Just ask your server for directions.
tants, such as a bleach solution, can greatly reduce the risk of infection,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of employers in high-risk industries following CDC guidelines. “People working with poultry or in processing facilities should ask their employers about the precautions in place to protect them,” Klepack said. Currently, there is no approved vaccine available to prevent bird flu, and the seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against HPAI. However, antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are available for treatment in cases of infection. Wen has advocated for expanded testing and the authorization of a vaccine already developed for H5N1. According to Wen, the Biden administration has contracted the production of nearly 5 million doses of the vaccine, but it has not yet been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Simeon’s Restaurant, a downtown Ithaca landmark, continues to draw diners with its elegant interior, diverse menu, and prime location on Aurora Street and The Commons.
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Performing works by Still, Debussy, Mozart, Verdi, and Smetana, featuring CCOYO Concerto Competition winner Jocelyn Hsu, harp.
