Assessment Freeze
PAGES 8-9
FARMERS MARKET
COMMERCIAL KITCHEN
PAGE 3
TOMPKINS GREEN ENERGY NETWORK PAGE 4
CRYPTO-MINING UNDERMINES STATE CLIMATE GOALS PAGE 6
CAYUGA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S “MOZART AND SHAW” PAGE 11
KELLY’S DOCKSIDE REVIEW PAGE 13
Rediscover Collegetown
Care Made for You
From minor burns and UTIs to strains and sprains, Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor offers walk-in care for minor illnesses and injuries, with no appointment needed.
Walk-in care is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends.
Guthrie Ithaca City Harbor Walk-in Care
Funding Secured for Commercial Kitchen at Ithaca Farmers Market
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — Friends of the Ithaca Farmers Market has secured $236,404 in funding to build a shared-use commercial kitchen, thanks to federal and local contributions aimed at boosting small food entrepreneurs in the region.
The project, estimated to cost $236,404 in total, will create a licensed kitchen at 700 W. Buffalo St., the site of the former GreenStar Central Kitchen, enabling nearly 20 vendors to grow their businesses and meet increasing demand for local food products.
The funding includes $109,255 from the federal government through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), with additional support from local donors, including $85,149 from individual contributions, $25,000 from the Park Foundation, and $17,000 from the City of Ithaca.
“The gorges Ithaca Farmers Market along the scenic Cayuga Lake is a staple in Tompkins County, a food mecca for food enthusiasts and small businesses,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. “I’m proud to deliver funding to Friends of the Ithaca Farmers Market to build a shared-use commercial kitchen so new food vendors have the resources they need to develop and sell their products and grow their businesses.”
X Blue
Envelope
Schumer emphasized the importance of federal investment in regional economic development, highlighting the ARC’s role in funding projects like this. The ARC received an additional $1 billion in funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law, boosting its annual budget to $200 million through 2026.
Feasibility studies conducted prior to the project confirmed that the lack of affordable, licensed commercial kitchen space was a major barrier for small food businesses in Ithaca. The Shared Kitchen-Ithaca project aims to address this gap by providing entrepreneurs with the equipment and space they need to grow their operations.
Tompkins County has announced plans to pause housing reassessments for up to three years.
“The shared commercial kitchen will significantly enhance the food ecosystem in the region and boost the prospects of numerous entrepreneurs who would otherwise have no access to the kind of resources that we will provide,” said Chuck Schwerin, a member of the Shared Kitchen
T ake n ote
Launches to Protect Drivers With Autism
Tompkins County Sheriff Derek R. Osborne has announced the adoption of the Blue Envelope Program, a safety initiative aimed at supporting drivers with autism. Sheriff Osborne explained that individuals with autism may have physical or verbal responses during a traffic stop that may be misunderstood by law enforcement officers. This can sometimes lead to unfortunate incidents where the driver’s actions are misinterpreted.
To mitigate such issues, the Blue Envelope Program has been introduced. It encourages drivers with autism to keep important documents such as their license, registration, and insurance in a Blue Envelope. When the officer observes the envelope, they are immediately alerted to the driver’s condition and can adjust their response to the situation accordingly.
Along with clear instructions for the driver,
X Community Dispute Resolution Center Seeks Mediators
If you are someone who would like to actively contribute to peaceful conflict resolution in your community, we invite you to join the transformative mediation team at Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC).
CDRC’s mediators are professionally trained community volunteers who support those
experiencing conflict, which includes custody and visitation; landlord/tenant; small claims court; community; and neighbor disputes.
Basic Mediation and Family Mediation training is FREE and funded by CDRC.
CDRC serves Chemung, Schuyler, and Tompkins Counties with the mission of fostering
Ithaca Board of Directors. Schwerin added that the project includes funding from the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) to subsidize kitchen rent for low-to-moderate-income microenterprises. Additionally, the kitchen will support local food insecurity groups by facilitating food processing and distribution to those in need.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo highlighted
Continued on Page 7
WEB
explanatory information is printed on the envelope for the law enforcement officer, to include an emergency contact.
The New York State Sheriffs’ Association is promoting this program statewide, with many sheriff’s offices, including Tompkins County, participating. Drivers can pick up the Blue Envelopes at the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office at 779 Warren Road, Ithaca, NY.
constructive responses to conflict. Our services include mediation, conflict coaching and community dialogue.
For more information on becoming a CDRC mediator, contact Jeremy Cranmer, CDRC Program Director, at cranmer@cdrc.org or 607-2739347. We hope to hear from you!
F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Arthur Whitman
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and The
Federal and local funding has secured $236,404 to build a shared-usecommercial kitchen at the Ithaca Farmers Market, providing nearly 20 local food entrepreneurs with access to affordable equipment, space, and technical support to grow their businesses.
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WINTER ACTIVITY?”
Ithaca to Launch Community Choice Aggregation Following Delays
By Matt Dougherty
After years of development and delays, Ithaca’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, branded as Tompkins Green Energy Network (TGEN), is scheduled to begin enrolling customers by the end of the year.
Ithaca Sustainability Director Rebecca Evans has said that TGEN aims to lower energy costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through bulk purchasing of renewable energy for city and town residents.
“This is the Costco of energy,” Evans said. “It gives us the buying power that we wouldn’t ordinarily have if, say, each individual resident were to go to the energy market and try to negotiate a better price for renewable energy on their own.”
The program allows the city and town of Ithaca to compile most eligible energy accounts into a single purchasing pool. This enables competitive bidding from energy suppliers to secure rates that aim to “meet or beat” default rates set by NYSEG, the region’s primary utility.
According to Evans, “these types of programs typically aim at achieving 10-15% savings.” She added, “we won’t launch the program if the prices are going to be higher than what the default price from NYSEG is.”
Evans clarified the limitations of the program regarding energy costs, saying that while it could help mitigate increases in supply rates due to the development of community owned renewable energy sources, delivery rate increases would
still apply because NYSEG infrastructure wouldn’t be replaced.
“This program would provide us some protection from an increase in price on supply based on how the energy is generated,” Evans said. “What it will not protect you against are delivery rate increases because all the infrastructure it takes to actually get the energy to you is still owned by NYSEG.”
The program will provide both electricity and natural gas options, with an eventual goal of phasing out natural gas in line with Ithaca’s Green New Deal (IGND) goals. According to Evans, “The goals for the IGND mean we will come off of gas eventually, but for now, we will purchase both.”
The program operates as an opt-out system, meaning eligible customers will automatically be enrolled unless they actively choose not to participate. However, large energy users such as Cornell University and Ithaca College, as well as residents receiving energy assistance, will be excluded.
Evans said that residents receiving assistance will be excluded to protect them from potential cost increases. “If they were to opt into CCA, it’s more than likely that they would lose their assistance [so] it’s not in their best interest [and] they should stay with NYSEG.”
Evans continued saying that large energy users like Cornell University and Ithaca College won’t be automatically included in the program due to utility classification rules. “It has to do with the type of user they are,” she said. “Utilities have different customer categories, and major users typically fall into one of
those weirder categories, so they’re not automatically enrolled.”
She said that the city plans to engage with these institutions to encourage their participation. “We’ll be reaching out to them to try to get them on board,” she said. “One way we’re doing this is by connecting TGEN to our Net Zero Energy Code, which takes effect in 2026.” Evans added, “they can meet the requirements of that code by purchasing renewable energy through TGEN instead of installing solar on their rooftops.”
Evans emphasized that public transparency is a cornerstone of TGEN. “We have a really big outreach plan,” she said. “We’ll be using direct mail, radio, TV, and in-person events to ensure residents are informed about their options.”
In addition to cost savings, TGEN is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits by immediately reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% to 30% of the city’s total emissions. The program also offers increased transparency around renewable energy credits, addressing common concerns about the legitimacy of “green” energy portfolios.
Evans said that “the program eliminates scope two emissions—47,600 metric tons of CO2 equivalents—which means we’re eliminating the emissions associated with electricity use.”
The program’s development began in 2022, but progress was stalled for nearly 19 months as the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) reviewed and updated its regulations for CCA administrators.
“Watching my kids’ indoor soccer and basketball games!”
Jamie
“Cross country skiing. Oh, and going to mineral springs and hot springs out West.”
Peter
“Staying inside and watching movies.”
Jaden
“I really enjoy ice skating.”
Lucia
“Winter cycling. When it’s at least 30 degrees. And dry.”
Brad
The Tompkins Green Energy Network (TGEN) will allow Ithaca residents to save money and reduce emissions by pooling energy accounts for bulk purchasing of renewable electricity and natural gas. The program aims to secure rates that meet or beat NYSEG’s default prices while immediately cutting the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%.
Rebecca Evans, Ithaca’s Sustainability Director, describes the Tompkins Green Energy Network (TGEN) as “the Costco of energy,” emphasizing how the program’s bulk purchasing power will make renewable energy more affordable and accessible to the community. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RE: Asteri Issues
“I certainly support the recent Letter to the Editor written by Anthony Sidle,especially as it points out a very important question. Why is Asteri not being more supportive financially and logistically of the tenants that they say they rent to when no one else will?
Asteri is alluding to homeless people with drug addictions and mental health issues. Why are the Asteri Security Staff expected to monitor individuals who in reality, in many cases,need intensive case management? Why are local Police being called to that location innumerable times a day, being called to the building on Green St.to “sort out” issues that for the most part would be under the mandate of Mental Health?
Asteri and the like need to step up more to care for these people who need the wrap-around services be it: Detox, Counseling, In-patient treatment, Community Living skills.
All the tenants are impacted by the actions of those who don't or can't be respectful and peaceful. If Asteri is being remunerated for Fair Market rents to the tune of 1k and 2k for one & two bedroom apartments,perhaps they can afford to start addressing the needs of those who no one wants to rent to.” —
Pat Shea
RE: Library Place
“We too were originally enthusiastic about this project. We were quickly discouraged (and I assume others were too) by several things. The most problematic was not having guaranteed parking. There are not many older people (and I'm one of them) who are going to be finding parking on the street and lugging groceries to their apartment in the middle of winter (just to give one example). Second was the design: in particular, in the apartments we looked at the bedrooms were very small. Third, as has been mentioned is the price. Given that one has to add in fees for parking and wifi, the three bedroom would be over $6000 a month. Further, given the price, the amenities are limited; e.g., the fitness center is very small and under-equipped. However: I really hope someone else will create a truly good senior living option downtown — there would be advantages to older people and to the community.” —
Karl Pillemer
“Another sweetheart deal for a developer. There is a big problem with abatements. Time to abolish them and the agencies that exist to grant them. In this case too, the modified abatement should release all current tenants of Library Place from their leases as the fundamental nature of the development is being changed. The comparisons offered by the developer to Kendall and Longview are not relevant, those are assisted living facilities that have to support extensive staff to provide sup[ort facilities not needed by Library Place tenants and which are much more expensive to deliver, costing each person getting services to pay as much as about 15K a month.” — Henry Kramer
Tompkins County Pauses Home Assessments
“It seems to me that home sales around the country, especially during the COVID years, were driven, to use an established phrase, irrational exuberance. Houses were routinely sold above asking price. It was clear to me that this type of situation wasn’t sustainable. All markets, housing included fluctuate but typically don’t spike to this extent. So, knowing that, why not permanently do away with annual reassessments. I years’ worth of data tells us very little and doesn’t represent the big picture. Would assessments every 3 years be more equitable? Or possibly an overage over a certain period? I don’t know, I just know that assessments last year were excessive and based on data that was way out of the norm.” — Rocky Alboa
RE: The Trump Administration
“Whose side is the incoming President on: you and I, or big corporations and billionaires (the “BCB”)?
The incoming President was elected in large part because he made a lot of people feel he was on their side. He seemed to give people hope, that he would make our lives better. He trashed the government.
OK, so now as he governs, let’s follow whose side he’s on. The early data:
First, when the incoming President campaigned, he made China a villain, saying: “Make China Pay”.
But so far, he has agreed to move American jobs to China. He and his billionaire friend, Musk, forced Congress to eliminate a provision saying no new US tech plants in China. Now Musk will open a factory there hiring Chinese workers. We lose jobs. China wins. We pay.
Second, unlike prior presidents, he is appointing tons of billionaire cabinet members. Fourteen (14) to be exact at last estimate. Never before. No one like you and me. So with billionaires running the
government, the BCB win. We lose.
Donald Trump President 5.4 billion
Elon Musk Dept Gov Eff. 400 billion
Vivek Ramaswamy Dept Gov Eff. 1 billion
Scott Bessent Treas. Sec. 500 million
Howard Lutnick Commerce Sec. 2 billion
Linda McMahon Dept. Educ. Sec. 2.6 billion
Doug Burgum Interior Sec. 1 billion
Stephen Feinberg Deputy Def. Sec 5 billion
Warren Stephens Amb. To UK 3.3 billion
Charles Kushner Amb. To France 2.9 billion
Mehmet Oz CMS Admin. 100 million
Frank Bisignano Soc. Sec. Cmmn 900 million
Kelly Loefler SBA 1.1 billion
David Sacks Cypto Comm 200 million
Jared Isaacman NANA Admin 1.7 billion
By the way, how did billionaires get so rich? In Musk’s words “paying workers a fraction of what they cost in the US”. So far, then, two for the BCB, 0 for us. Stay tuned.” — Sherwood Guernsey
RE: Trump and Cryptocurrency
“In 2021, Donald Trump said bitcoin “seems like a scam” and “investing in crypto was like a disaster waiting to happen.” He claimed crypto “hurts the US currency” and the euphoria surrounding bitcoin is “watering down the US dollar”. Then, the Signature Bank collapse occurred in 12/22, followed by the Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023, which raised serious issues with crypto and the banks.
According to Cornell economist, Eswar Prasad (NYTimes 12/11/24 “Debanking led crypto into Politics”) “Providing services to crypto companies exposes traditional banks to reputational, regulatory, and financial risks. Banks are typically averse to taking on clients who have dubious financial standing”. Now Trump is putting his hand on banking regulations and now he owns a crypto company with his three sons, World Liberty Financial. Remember how he sold steaks, gold trimmed sneakers, and Bibles? Add crypto to the Super Sales.
According to Financial Times Global columnist Rana Foroohar, the American economy is becoming a “distressed asset” even though Trump has “inherited an economy that is doing very well.” She said recession happens every 10-12 years and “investors could tiptoe away from the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.”
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
There were no injuries reported from a large fire that occurred on Wednesday in one of Ithaca’s homeless encampments known as the jungle. According to the Ithaca Fire Department, the fire started at around 7:45 a.m. behind Lowe’s in Ithaca.
Downs
Two unfortunate things are happening this week:
1) Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States
2) An arctic blast is plunging temperatures well below zero
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
The Varna Community Association is hosting a pancake breakfast on Sunday, January 26, from 8–11 a.m. at the Varna Community Center (943 Dryden Rd, Ithaca), featuring pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, fruit, coffee, and juice. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $10.50 for seniors, $8 for kids aged 5–12, and free for children under 5, with a 50-cent discount for payments made in cash or check.
Seen
The Commissioner of Tompkins County Department of Social Services (DSS), Kit Kephart, has announced that she will retire in July of this year, after nearly eight years of dedicated service in that role and 25 years with the Department.
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 Does Ithaca have too many marijuana dispensaries?
Greenidge Crypto-Mining Facility Allowed to Operate Despite Undermining State Climate Goals
By Matt Dougherty
DRESDEN, N.Y. — The Greenidge cryptocurrency mining facility on Seneca Lake continues to operate despite receiving multiple air permit denials from New York State regulators.
Lawmakers and environmental advocates say the facility is undermining New York’s climate goals while the company exploits legal loopholes to extend its operations.
“Greenidge is using its financial resources to drag out the appeals process to maximize profits at the expense of the environment,” said Assemblymember Anna Kelles, who has been vocal about the need to bring the facility’s operations to an end. “This is profoundly manipulative and disingenuous.”
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) initially denied Greenidge’s Title V air permit renewal in 2022, stating that the facility failed to demonstrate compliance with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which requires an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a 40% reduction by 2030.
The DEC’s decision has been upheld three times by state courts, but Greenidge has continued operations while appealing each ruling. The company has argued that the DEC doesn’t have the authority to deny air permits based on CLCPA guidelines and
that the facility is 100% carbon neutral due to the purchase of carbon offsets.
Taylor warned that Greenidge’s legal challenges are setting a dangerous precedent. “Greenidge is trying to gut New York’s climate law by arguing that the DEC lacks the authority to deny permits based on the CLCPA,” she said. “If they succeed, it would render our climate law meaningless.”
While Greenidge has argued that the DEC lacks the authority to deny their air permit, the most recent New York State Supreme Court decision on the case ruled that the DEC does have the authority to deny air permits based on the CLCPA guidelines, but that more justification was needed before doing so.
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
environmental
Seneca Lake Guardian co-founder Yvonne Taylor told the Ithaca Times that the decision requires the DEC to hold an “issues conference” to allow both sides to present expert testimony to a lower court before a final ruling. While this was intended to expedite the process, Greenidge has requested a stay on the expedited timeline for the issues conference, further delaying the case.
“This is like being in purgatory,” said Yvonne Taylor, co-founder of the advocacy group Seneca Lake Guardian. “We keep winning, but Greenidge keeps finding ways to fight dirty and prolong the process. It’s maddening.” Taylor added,
New York State Assemblymember Anna Kelles speaks out about the need to enforce the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and hold facilities like Greenidge accountable for their
impacts.
The facility’s use of natural gas has steadily increased, along with its CO2 and equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, raising concerns about its environmental impact and compliance with New York’s climate laws.
Yvonne Taylor, co-founder of Seneca Lake Guardian, has been a vocal advocate against the environmental impacts of the Greenidge cryptocurrency mining facility, highlighting its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution in Seneca Lake.
The Greenidge cryptocurrency mining facility on Seneca Lake continues to operate despite multiple permit denials from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, leveraging legal appeals to prolong its operations, causing significant greenhouse gas emissions that contradict climate law.
Truth or Consequences
By Charley Githler
Remember that giddy half hour in the nineties when the internet was sold as a marketplace of ideas? Where good information would drive out the bad, collective wisdom would surely prevail, and a bright future beckoned? I’d like to suggest that somewhere along the way things went awry. In the ensuing twinkling of an eye we find ourselves at the mercy of Bond villain billionaires, AI filing away our every thought for future use, and the whole house of cards vulnerable to an Armageddon-style cyber attack.
Recently, one of the last vestiges of protection was removed when Mark “Spine of Steel” Zuckerberg announced that Meta would end its third-party factchecking program. How am I supposed to assess the accuracy of what I’m reading on my phone about Nadya Suleman’s vaginal rejuvenation procedure? The whole thing could be AI slop, or the work of Putin’s henchpeople. It’s on us, the People, to fact-check news stories now, grassroots-style. I’ll take the first five headlines.
Donald Trump, Jr Arrested for Hunting Humans in Ithaca’s Jungle
Just plausible enough to fool the unwary, but obviously untrue. Junior would never come to Ithaca, New York. Ithaca Police Field 650 calls to Asteri since June 2024 �
Also not true. The actual number is 750. The article also says that the fact that
FUNDING SECURED FOR COMMERCIAL KITCHEN
continued from page 3
the broader benefits of the project, emphasizing its potential to spur economic growth, create jobs, and support diverse business owners in the region.
“This project holds promise to create wealth for diverse business owners, help address food insecurity, and shepherd a renaissance of specialty foods for Ithaca and the broader Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions,” Cantelmo said. He also praised Deputy Director for Economic Development Tom Knipe for his leadership in securing the city’s contributions to the project.
Food manufacturing has emerged as
all this mayhem is occurring directly upstairs from the fancy new Convention Center will have no impact on bookings for the venue.
Elon Musk Releases Fragrance Called “Burnt Hair”�
Not only is this one true, but the stuff actually smells like burnt hair. Totally not making that up. Bottles went for $100, and sold out immediately, reportedly netting him a million dollars in a few hours. I couldn’t find any confirmation on whether he actually said, “Watch this. I bet I can make a million dollars selling these idiots an odor so offensive you have to air out the room when you open the bottle.”
President Trump Apologizes to Native Americans on Behalf of the United States
This goes in the same category as the headline “Pigs Fly”. How does AI come up with scenarios this unlikely? I hope they work out the bugs before the Singularity.
Mike Johnson Forced to Dress as French Maid at Mar-A-Lago Cocktail Party
I seriously doubt the Speaker of the House of Representatives was forced to wear a French maid’s outfit at a cocktail party at Mar-A-Lago. I mean, would anyone actually believe that? He probably found out that the president wanted him to do it and dressed up voluntarily. Facts matter.
a growing sector in Ithaca and Tompkins County, noted for its high percentage of women and minority business owners. The shared-use kitchen will help these entrepreneurs scale their businesses, access new markets, and strengthen connections with suppliers and buyers through technical assistance and networking events.
The shared kitchen represents a collaborative effort between federal and local stakeholders to address critical gaps in Ithaca’s food economy. With construction underway, the facility is expected to become a cornerstone for local food entrepreneurs and a driver of economic growth.
“This project is more than a kitchen; it’s an investment in the people and businesses that make Ithaca’s food scene vibrant and unique,” Schwerin said.
New York State Voter Identification Law
By Robert W. Geiszler
My wife and I moved to Ithaca from Vermont in 2016. When we moved to Ithaca, both my wife and I registered to vote. We’ve voted all our adult lives. On Tuesday, October 29th of this year, both of us received a “Voter Report Card” in our (real) mail from an organization styling itself the “Center for Voter Information.” These documents reported 1) our names; 2) our address and 3) our status as voters in the last 4 general elections (whether we voted or not). It also presents information on the voting status and record of two of my neighbors. The text continues: “We will be reviewing these records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting.” (Not creepy at all!) In small print at the bottom of the flyer it notes that, “This data comes from publicly available state voter files.” Indeed, this supposed “Center for Voter Information” easily obtained our voter registration information:
§1 of New York State Election Law 5-602 provides:
1. After the last day of local registration and before the fifth day before the next ensuing general election in each year, the board of elections shall cause to be published a complete list of names and residence addresses of the registered voters for each election district over which the board has jurisdiction.
The names for each election district may be arranged according to street and number or alphabetically. …
Even worse, §1 of New York State Election Law 5-604 offers:
1. The board of elections shall also cause to be published for each election district a complete list of the registered voters of each election district. Such list shall, in addition to the information required for registration lists, include the **PARTY ENROLLMENT** of each voter. …
I was initially outraged by the intimidation intended in the language of the “Report Cards,” (We will be reviewing these records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting) but even more horrified to learn that our privacy and voting records are made available to anyone — political parties, politicians, political action committees, violent criminals, identity thieves, marketers, corporations, scam artists, and a raft of other criminals
or just nosy neighbors, through a simple NY State FOIL (FOIA in any other jurisdiction) request.
I have done some research on this topic, including a particularly valuable source — Eitan Hersh’s book entitled, “Hacking the Electorate,” (Cambridge University Press, 2015). I looked for articles online. I've been into academic journal databases. Nowhere can I find any legitimate justification for governmental publication of this data. It is the political parties, political operatives, entities and consultants, who are profiting from this data. Political data aggregators (Catalist, is one) scrape not only voter databases, but every other sort of database to compile a profile of essentially every voter in the United States. They look for any sort of professional licensing databases — attorneys, CPAs, doctors, educational personnel, law enforcement, and many more. They examine land and tax records, census data, drivers’ licenses, and even (another learning experience) the FAA pilots’ license database. By the time their researchers are finished with us, you and I are known down practically to the type of toothpaste we use.
I find this intolerable. I’m not prepared to accept that privacy is dead. Privacy is paramount to a democratic, law abiding society. The notion that a State governmental agency is actively engaged in stripping me of that need, is unthinkable. Indeed, I think §§ 5-602 and 604 are unconstitutional — imposing a cost on voting in the form of a woeful invasion of a voter's privacy, and, since party affiliation is also disclosed, effectively announcing my supposedly "confidential" vote to the world. These sections of New York State law create a “poll tax” of surrendering one’s privacy in order to vote. To me, forcing me to choose between exercising my right to vote, or exposing my very personal information to public scrutiny is unacceptable.
To date, I have contacted both my State Senator, Lea Webb, and my State Representative, Anna Kellles, by email and telephone with my concerns, and after more than a month’s wait, have heard nothing. I have also written to the the New York State Board of Elections, the Tompkins County Election Board, the Tompkins County Democratic Party, the ACLU, and
Assessment Freeze Tompkins County Expected to Pause Reassessments as Home Sales Decline
By Maddy Vogel
Following the sharp increase in property assessments last year, Tompkins County’s Office of Assessment is expected to halt reassessments on most homes in 2025 as the local real estate market faces its weakest sales in over a decade.
Reassessments, which declare the value of a home for property tax purposes, can have impacts on housing affordability. When assessment values rise, homeowners who experience those increases can face increases in their property tax bills, unless taxing entities lower their tax rates. Many factors, including increased competition for property and home up -
district’s budget without an increase in the tax base following the pause in reassessments.
grades can impact the assessed value of a home.
In an interview with the Ithaca Times, Jay Franklin, director of the Tompkins County Assessment Department, said that because the real estate market saw fewer fluctuations in 2024 than it has in previous years, most assessments from last year are still accurate reflections of the fair market value of the home.
“We’ve done an annual reassessment program in order to maintain our assessments at 100% of their fair market value,” Franklin said. “People have come to have that mean that they are going to receive an assessment change notice every year, and that’s just because the last three years, the real estate market has gone crazy around here.”
In 2024, the average assessed value of a single-family home in Tompkins County increased by 26.7%, or $53,388. In the past decade, the average assessed value of a single-family home in the county has surged by 75.4%.
KiRa Fritzky-Randolph, president of the Ithaca Board of Realtors, a board which represents local real estate professionals, wrote in a statement that preliminary data for 2024 shows the second consecutive decline in sales for single-family homes in Tompkins County.
Single family home sales in Tompkins County declined by 8.4% last year, from a total of $254.1 million in 2023 to $232.7 million in 2024. Fritzky-Randolph attributed this decline in sales to a continued decline in the number of homes on the market.
“The market has experienced a decline in closed sales from 717 in 2023 to 582 in 2024, the lowest level of sales activity in over 10 years,” Fritzky-Randolph wrote.
Buyer competition has also cooled, Fritzky-Randolph explained, with most homes selling at or below list price, a stark contrast to the past three years where homes typically sold to buyers offering above the seller’s asking price.
Because of the slowed real estate market, Franklin said that the office doesn’t
Franklin, director of the Tompkins County Assessment Department, explains the decision to pause property reassessments in 2025, citing a cooling real estate market and the need to transition to a new database system. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
expect to make any market-based changes to home assessments in 2025, which make up the majority of the reassessments each year.
He expects that properties will only be reassessed if they undergo a physical change, like a renovation in the home. Reassessments based on physical changes, he said, represent about 1% of homes each year.
IMPACT ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND MUNICIPALITIES
As the real estate market and assessments slow, the effects will extend beyond homeowners’ property tax bills, with local governments and school districts potentially facing difficulties balancing their budgets without raising tax rates.
Last year’s assessment increases sparked public scrutiny, as taxing entities like the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) and the City of Ithaca were criticized for their budget increases exceeding the state tax cap.
In previous years when assessments have risen, municipalities in Tompkins County could keep their tax rate the exact same but still receive increased revenue because their tax base, made up of the assessed value of all homes within their jurisdiction, increased.
Taxing entities typically adjust their tax rate based on their tax levy, which is the total amount of money they need to collect from local property taxes to fund their budgets. When constructing an annual budget, they can choose to lower, raise, or stabilize their tax rate, which depends on how their budgets grow or
Jay
Sean Eversley Bradwell, president of the Ithaca City School District Board of Education, discusses the challenges of balancing the
shrink and how much funding they need from the tax levy (property taxes) to balance those budgets.
When the tax base grows, they can choose to keep the tax rate steady, resulting in higher revenue without raising the rate at which property owners are taxed. This often shifts the burden of taxes onto property owners who own high-value homes. As a result, homeowners who experience an increase in their home’s assessed value often receive a corresponding increase in their property tax bills.
This year, without an increase in the tax base, some municipalities and school district’s budgets may be strained. If their budgets increase without a corresponding increase in the tax base, local governments could have to raise tax rates to meet potential budget shortfalls.
Fritzky-Randolph said that although the pause in assessments may sound like a positive thing for homeowners in the short-term, the pause could have longterm impacts on property taxes and housing affordability.
“It seems likely that property owners will be relieved not to face another sharp increase in assessed value, however other factors—such as local municipal and school district budgets, the cost of borrowing, and future state aid — will have a greater impact on school and property taxes and, therefore, ongoing challenges to housing affordability,” Fritzky-Randolph wrote.
Last year, the Ithaca City School District’s first budget was voted down by the public, resulting in a reduced budget and several reductions in staff and programming within the district. District officials have largely attributed public frustration with the budget to increases in their property assessments, and have maintained that the district does not create their operating budget based on property assessments.
Sean Eversley Bradwell, president of the ICSD Board of Education said that the board’s finance committee will meet with the Tompkins County Assessment Department next month.
“While we have been engaged with the development of the 2025-2026 school district budget since September, we are awaiting a fuller report from and discussion with the assessment office to further inform our process,” Eversley Bradwell wrote in a statement to the Ithaca Times
Without an increase in the tax base, maintaining the delicate balance between increases in operational costs with the overall budget, while minimizing the burden on taxpayers, may present challenges.
“More broadly, the board of education continues to explore ways to increase revenue as well as decrease operational costs,” Eversley Bradwell wrote. “Still, we remain committed to minimizing the tax burden placed upon local property owners.”
At the Wednesday, Jan. 15 ICSD board of education meeting, Garrick Blalock,
chair of the board’s Finance Committee, said that the assessment results this year will have a “big impact” on the school’s budget and the tax levy.
A MULTI-YEAR PAUSE
This year’s pause on reassessments may last for beyond 2025 as Tompkins County looks at a long-term shift in their assessment process. The pause comes as the office prepares to adopt a new, “state of the art” assessment database system, according to Franklin.
Tompkins County has reassessed homes annually since 1999. Prior to that, homes were only once every ten years, which caused a lag in assessments reflecting market-based changes, and furthered inequities in property taxes. This is the first time in over two decades that the county will pause market-based reassessments.
“The best way to do my job is to do it annually,” Franklin said. “You don’t pay income tax based upon your income six years ago.”
The office is seeking approval from the county legislature to pause reassessments for several years while the office converts to a new database system, Tyler Technologies. Franklin expressed excitement for the transition and said the system will provide homeowners with more in-depth information regarding their assessments.
The multi-year pause will likely mean
Kira Fritzky-Randolph, president of the Ithaca Board of Realtors, highlights the decline in home sales and buyer competition in Tompkins County, the lowest level of activity in over a
that many home’s assessed values will fall behind what their fair market value is, but Franklin said the office’s limited staff must prioritize learning the new system in the coming years.
“I can’t do the conversion and move forward [with annual assessments], so we’re going to see some inequity creep in,” Franklin said.
A graph showing the average assessed value for single-family homes in Tompkins County across the past ten years. In 2024, the average assessed value was $336,533, over $50,000 more than it was in 2023. (Graphic: Maddy Vogel)
A graph showing the number of informal reviews and formal grievances conducted with the Tompkins County Assessment Department. Last year, the office saw a high number of informal assessment reviews, and a typical number of formal grievances filed. (Graphic: Maddy Vogel)
decade.
A Cornell Half-Life
Former Player, Now Coach Jon Jaques Takes Charge of Cornell Ment’s Basketball
By Steve Lawrence
Many first-year coaches at Cornell have a lot of boxes to check before they are running on all of the proverbial cylinders. They need to learn about the college, the town, the program, their colleagues, their athletes, and some have never navigated the complex world of Ivy League Admissions. Such is not the case for Jon Jaques, the first-year head coach for the Big Red men’s basketball team.
Having known Jaques since he was an 18 year-old freshman player at Cornell in 2006, I knew I could take the liberty of asking how old he is now, and he said, “I'm 37.” I replied, “So, you have been here more than half your life.” Jon said, “Sometimes it feels like more, sometimes it feels like less.” He paused and added, “One thing is for sure, it’s a part of who I am.”
Jaques’ path to becoming The Robert E. Gallagher ’44 Head Coach of Men’s Basketball checks a whole lot of boxes. As a former student-athlete at Cornell, he certainly brings credibility to that conversation. As a starter and senior captain under Steve Donahue during the Big Red’s legendary three straight Ivy titles (20082010),and a run the the NCAA Sweet 16 in his senior year, then as an assistant under Kyle Smith at Columbia, then Bobby Hurley at Stevens Institute of Technology. Jon returned to Cornell as a member of Bill Courtney’s staff, then stayed on when Brian Earl took over. “I hope it’s helpful that I have literally been been in the players’ shoes,” Jaques explained. “They know that whatI feel, and what I say is genuine, and I hope that comes through, and resonates.”
The fact that he has known all the players since they were in the recruiting pipeline is helpful as well. “Getting to know players and develop relationships is key, and I am very lucky to have this level
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
continued from page 5
Is Trump conducting a “Conflict of Interest economy?” Due to his new crypto business? According to a recent NY Times Business article 12/14/24, “Eric Trump Vows Father Will Be U.S.’s ‘Most ProCrypto President”. Eric was in Abu Ahabi at the bitcoin MENA 2024 Conference, “promoting the family’s new crypto venture”. He said “think about a president who isn’t going to allow Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies to be over-regulated and stifled”. Yeah, I am thinking about it, with dread.”
— Dorothy Pomponio
NEW YORK STATE VOTER
continued from page 7
the Electronic Freedom Foundation, asking for clarification of the need for this, or what is being done to stop it, in the face of rampant identity theft. The local Democratic Party provided a supercilious, unhelpful response that the actions of the Center for Voter Information mailer was legal, but it’s been “crickets” from all the other entities.
We know that every person present in a State is constructively aware of every statute passed by the legislature. However, in my very unscientific “poll,” of roughly 20
of familiarity with this group of players,” Jon told me. “While I do relate differently as a head coach, they know me, I know them, and that goes a long way.”
I asked Jaques if the “new world” of collegiate sports — like the transfer portal, and N.I.L. (Name, Image and Likeness) money — creates any obstacles, and he said, “We are a little more insulated, it affects us differently.”
“The players we recruit are really interested in the academics, in the degree. The Ivy League is more of a traditional model in that sense. We do have our own challenges, of course, like navigating financial aid and the high academic standards, but our players are very smart, and they understand the long view.”
I then asked Jon to what extent having such a strong connection with many former players helps, and he said that the
people, I have determined that absolutely no one knows that their private information is exposed to the world , including identity thieves, by the State of New York when they simply register to vote. Every one to whom I have brought this issue to their attention, has been horrified. This is a situation that is not based on gender identity or skin color, or party affiliation or economic status. This is a raw, insidious invasion of every voter’s very being by a governmental entity that ought to be concerned with protecting us, not exposing us, to attacks from every sort of miscreant, from marketers to identity thieves or worse.
players are influenced by “alums in and out of the basketball network,” and he added how grateful he is that so many people have reached out since he was chosen as the head coach.
Jaques is also grateful for “what my mentors all taught me, and for the opportunity to implement my own vision of what I think the program should be.”
I reminded Jon that as a player who did whatever was asked of him, whenever it was asked, he should have a pretty clear vision of what a coach is looking for. He replied, “Well, I’m just trying to bring in the right people, players who will mesh with the program, and the culture.” He added that he is also very happy to have so many friends who are proud alums, and in the rookie head coach’s words, “People who are excited to build the program, in the right way.”
I have several possible legislative proposals as “solutions” that I think are worth investigating. I’d like to discuss this matter further with a reporter. I think this might be worthy of at least one article to alert voters, if not a campaign by the Ithaca Times to get this legislation repealed or modified. Fighting for privacy is not trivial or impossible — an uphill battle, for sure, but a necessary one. European countries, and especially members of the EU, have comprehensive privacy protection laws. The US, and apparently New York State, are significantly behind the curve. Please help me alert our community to this situation.
Jon Jaques played for Ivy championship teams as a player and now returns as head coach. (Photos: Provided)
Former Ivy League champion and NCAA Sweet 16 captain Jon Jaques takes the helm as head coach of Cornell men’s basketball. (Photo: Provided)
CCO Chamber Series: Small Ensembles Exemplify Quality and Depth
By Peter Rothbart
When the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra takes the stage on January 26 for its second chamber music concert of the season, four different subsets of the CCO will showcase their skills.
It can be helpful to think of the CCO as a kind of professional musical guild, an umbrella organization that guarantees the high professional standard of its members. Like the Renaissance guilds, CCO musicians learn, practice and perfect their skills over a period of years, mentored by a master, eventually achieving a level of artistic and technical skill worthy of guild membership, in this case, a seat in the orchestral section.
You can always become a master musician without playing in an orchestra or chamber group. But orchestral or chamber work is the pinnacle of classical music success. Luckily, the bench for classical players in Ithaca is very deep, which results in an unusually high level of musicianship for an orchestra in such a small, artistically isolated community. Audiences can trust that any chamber group that draws its players from the larger CCO ensemble will demonstrate technical expertise in the support of artistic excellence. Ithaca audiences acknowledge this trust. Sunday’s concert is close to a sellout as we go to print.
The programmatically balanced chamber lineup features CCO string and wind players, most of whom hold either principal or endowed chairs, the best of the best. The four ensembles will feature works by composers from Austria, Czechoslovakia, United States and England. Wolfgang Mozart and Caroline Shaw are getting a lot of play in Ithaca, this season. The Community Chorus and Chamber Singers just performed Mozart’s massive “Requiem.” At the other end of the spectrum is his smaller and more playful, “Flute Quartet in D Major,” a typically lyrical work that features flutist Allison Paramore joined by a string trio of Kirsten
Mozart and Shaw
First Unitarian Society of Ithaca
Sunday, January 26, 2025, 3 p.m.
Tickets at https://www.ccoithaca.org/
Marshall, Melinda Daetsch and Rosemary Elliott.
At age 30, Caroline Shaw is the youngest composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. She maintains an active career as a performer as a violinist as well as singing with the vocal ensemble, Roomful of Teeth.
Shaw’s “Blueprint” showcases the string quartet of Asher Wulfman, Sarah Cummings along with Daetsch and Elliott. According to Shaw, “Blueprint” takes its inspiration from the Japanese blue woodblock printing tradition, as well as the two-dimensional architectural blueprint. As is the case with her “Entr’acte,” performed earlier this season by the Danish String Quartet as part of the Cornell Concert Series, her source material is derived from a pre-existing work from the classical repertoire. In this case, she created a self-described “harmonic reduction” of Beethoven’s “String Quartet Op. 18 No. 6” and transformed it into a complete new and arresting piece.
As is often the case with middle European 20th century composers, Czech-born Leoš Janáček incorporates folk music into his compositional palette. Such is the case with his 1924 composition, “Mládí,” (Youth), which he calls, “A kind of memory of youth.” It’s a lighthearted and carefree reminiscence about his student days at an Augustinian monastery in the Moravian city of Brno. The four movements feature a standard woodwind quintet with an added bass clarinet. Three principal players, Wendy Mehne, John Lathwell, Diego Vásquez are joined by Sarah Chandler, Cathryn Gaylord, and Madi-
son Warren, teasing out Janáček’s technique of “speech melody.” “Speech melody” attempts to mimic the speech contours and rhythms of a language, Czech in this case. It is a popular compositional technique that found sustenance in the acoustic and electronic experimentations of the 1960s and beyond.
English composer Henry Purcell’s “Chaconne,” also known as, “Sonata in G minor Z807,” is an earlier work from 1680. It relies on what is called a ground, a continuously repeating baseline which establishes a “harmonic skeleton” upon which the melodic and thematic variations rely. It’s a five-bar phrase initiated by the cello. Even an observant listener may need a few repetitions before it sinks in and becomes more obvious. But don’t count the bars, just relax, and bathe in the predictable comfort of the repetitive musical structure laid out by the string quartet.
Mozart’s “Flute Quartet in D Major, K. 285” was commissioned in 1777 by an amateur flutist and Dutch East India merchant, probably an upwardly mobile middle-class royal wannabe, given the rise of the mercantile class in Mannheim at the time. Expect Allison Paramore’s flute to dominate the violin, viola, and cello, but with lots of playful interactions and interjections, characteristic of Mozart. It’s a light-hearted work, a bit of a Classical-era romp.
Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.
Arts & Entertainment
Musicians from the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra rehearse ahead of their chamber music concert on January 26, 2025, at the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca. The program features works by Mozart, Shaw, Janáček, and Purcell, showcasing the technical and artistic excellence of CCO’s principal string and wind players.
Star Trek Actor Tells All at Local Bookstore
By Staff Report
ITHACA, N.Y. — Fans of science fiction and the performing arts will have the opportunity to spend an intimate evening with John G. Hertzler, the actor renowned for his portrayal of General Martok on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
The event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at 4 p.m. at Buffalo Street Books inside the Dewitt Mall in downtown Ithaca.
Hertzler, an accomplished actor, author, screenwriter, and activist, will share anecdotes from his five-decade career in entertainment, read excerpts from his latest book, Confessions of a Klingon Linebacker, and introduce his role as Ambassador Bartok in the sci-fi mystery podcast Mysterious CHIRP. The event will also provide attendees with the chance to interact with Hertzler during a Q&A session and book signing.
The event promises an engaging mix of humor, behind-the-scenes stories, and personal reflections from Hertzler’s life on and off the stage. Guests can expect a light-hearted yet thoughtful exploration of the actor’s career trajectory, which includes stints in television, film, and theater, as well as his activism and writing.
Hertzler’s memoir offers a candid and often humorous look at his journey from a “skinny, half-blind kid in baggy pants” to a celebrated actor in the science fiction world. Spanning his experiences onstage and onscreen, the book includes tales of clashing swords with Zorro, transforming into the Klingon General Martok — complete with his trademark eyepatch — and navigating the challenges and triumphs of a life in show business.
“For five decades, I’ve been lucky enough to explore the unknown alongside fellow artists and actors,” Hertzler writes in the book. “So many new families, all fellow explorers of terra incognita, commonly known as life.”
John G. Hertzler Live
Buffalo Street Books
Thursday, January 23, 2025, 4 p.m.
Details at https://www.ccoithaca.org/
Best known for his role as Klingon General Martok on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, John G. Hertzler will share stories from his acting career and read from his memoir, Confessions of a Klingon Linebacker, at the Dewitt Mall in Ithaca.
Hertzler’s anecdotes also touch on his behind-the-scenes experiences working on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and his interactions with other iconic actors and creators in the entertainment industry.
In addition to discussing his book, Hertzler will introduce his newest project, Mysterious CHIRP, a sci-fi mystery podcast in which he voices Ambassador Bartok. The podcast expands his legacy in the science fiction genre and showcases his talents as a voice actor.
Best known for his role as General Martok on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from 1995 to 1999, Hertzler has also appeared in other Star Trek series, the 1990s television show Zorro, and various stage productions. Beyond acting, Hertzler is an accomplished author and screenwriter and has been active in regional politics in the Finger Lakes region, where he resides. He previously taught theater at Cornell University.
Continued on Page 15
Kelly’s Dockside
By Henry Stark
Are you aware that you can order, and eat, a “World Renowned Omelet” right here in Ithaca, NY? And it’s available where the “Best Breakfast in Town” is being served seven days a week. Anyway, that’s what the large signs on the lawn at Kelly’s Dockside restaurant, on the Cayuga Lake inlet, have been quietly proclaiming for a long time. Kelly also has this printed on the breakfast menu. I have always attributed these signs as being a bit of hyperbole however I do believe I might have found the restaurant, in Ithaca, that’s been in business the longest, with the same owner, and the same footprint: Kelly’s Dockside.
Albert Kelly told me, “I built it myself, in 1974, and I’ve owned it and operated it ever since. Most people just call me Kelly”, so I’m doing the same in this review.
The indoor atmosphere is quite pleasant with rocks of various sizes and shapes forming the walls, a stone floor, subdued recessed lighting and slowly revolving ceiling fans. Some assorted nautical theme wall hangings dot the walls. There’s a bar/ counter with six stools and room for about 40 diners in the downstairs area. Capacity expands dramatically when you consider the upstairs area and outdoor dining area which is utilized during clement weather.
The restaurant is open seven days a week and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is available from 6 a.m. and
there’s a separate menu that includes all the lunch and dinner items.
The only thing I don’t like about the ambience is the large television, which is always on, broadcasting a variety of programs. Recently there were hours of boisterous quiz shows, replete with commercials. It can be quite intrusive if you’re eating in the main dining area.
In response to a query, (he didn’t know I was reviewing), Kelly advised that breakfast accounts for about 50% of his business so I ordered one of his “worldrenowned omelets” which are available all day. Among the two dozen offerings, I selected Vegetarian ($12). It was as good as an omelet can get. Among the plethora of vegetables, I identified tomatoes, peppers, and onions, which were nicely integrated into perfectly cooked eggs.
In the Brunch section, I’ve also enjoyed Eggs Florentine ($14). The poached eggs were just the way I like them with fully cooked whites and runny yolks and there was an adequate amount of spinach.
One of the more unusual things I noticed was that the hamburger and cheeseburger are both the same price ($8.50).
On a recent visit, I passed on the six items in the “Burgers” section ($8.50-$1050) to choose the Reuben ($12.50) among the twelve offerings in the “Sandwiches” group. It had all the correct items including corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese and was served on toasted rye bread that wasn’t greasy as many Reubens are. Often, restaurant managers skimp on the highpriced meat and fill the bread with the cheaper cabbage and cheese… but not here. There was plenty of corned beef, however I would have preferred some discernable
Kelly’s Dockside, a long-standing Ithaca restaurant on the Cayuga Lake inlet, has been serving its “World Renowned Omelet” and other classic dishes since 1974.
cheese. I was surprised with the Rachel which also had corned beef as the main ingredient. Rachels are offered as a Reuben alternative with cole slaw instead of cabbage (this one did) and pastrami or turkey instead of corned beef, (this one didn’t).
Another visit I selected Breaded Scallops from Lunch Platters ($14.75-$16.75). The food was good however I wasn’t happy with my choice as the scallops were heavily breaded and cooked in a deep frier and were accompanied by deep fried wedge potatoes. I welcomed the ramekin of house made cole slaw.
BEVERAGES: Although there are only four imported beers, I think Kelly has chosen well as they include Heineken and Guiness. If you prefer domestic beers, there’s a good selection of about a dozen. Nonalcoholic beers are also available and there are nine “Specialty Drinks” all at the low price of $9. In this section you’ll
find anything from standards like Bloody Mary and Irish Coffee to more interesting concoctions.
I found the wine selection to be interesting: all wines by the glass are only $6. It’s a small selection, however the basics are adequately covered. If you familiar with wines it could be confusing as the reds and whites are not identified by color, and are mixed together resulting with the first and last being Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio with a Cabernet Sauvignon in between. Among the small selection of five whites and four reds there’s a fair representation of NYS wines.
TID BITS:
• Limited parking on the street outside
• One unisex bathroom on the main floor, two in the upstairs dining area, (14 rather steep steps.)
Artist’s Talk at Lifelong Highlights the Wisdom and Stories of Local Seniors
By Staff Report
ITHACA, NY — Local artist Yamilka Portorreal hosted a personal and inspiring event at Lifelong last Friday. She shared her latest project, “Aging Ithacans,” which united art, storytelling, and community in a celebration of local elders.
The exhibit, which features a series of portraits and interviews with local seniors, highlights the richness of aging and amplifies diverse experiences across race, ethnicity, religion, and sexuality. Attendees were treated to an artist’s talk at 1:30 p.m., where Portorreal offered insight into her process and the personal connections that inspired the project.
“This project started with a conversation I had with my grandmother in the Dominican Republic,” said Portorreal. “We talked about the social and technological changes she witnessed during her lifetime. That conversation stayed with me and made me want to connect with local elders here in Ithaca. I wanted to learn from them and share their wisdom.”
The portraits, created using colored pencils on 12×10-toned paper, capture the distinct personalities of the participants. Portorreal sketched many portraits on-site at McGraw House, a senior independent living facility, and at Lifelong. Each portrait is accompanied by an interview transcribed verbatim, giving attendees a glimpse into the lives and stories of the featured elders.
Portorreal reflected on the emotional depth of the project, saying, “It makes me uneasy to think about the inevitable passage of time and the finiteness of life.” She added, “Aging Ithacans became my way of confronting that angst. I’ve learned so much about resilience, joy, and even pain from the elders who trusted me with their stories.”
After the exhibit, participating seniors were given their framed portraits as keepsakes. Portorreal said this personal gesture was an important part of the project. “These portraits belong to them. They are a reflection of their lives and their strength.”
The “Aging Ithacans” project was made possible through funding from the Statewide Community Regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County.
Portorreal thanked everyone who contributed to the project, including the staff at McGraw House, Lifelong, and the participants who shared their stories. “I couldn’t have done this without their support and trust,” she said.
For those who missed the event, the exhibit will remain on display at Lifelong through the end of February.
For more information, visit www.tclifelong.org or call (607) 273-1511.
The Artist’s Grandmother Aura Gil. (By: Yamilka Portorreal)
Artist Yamilka Portorreal discusses her project Aging Ithacans at Lifelong, showcasing
GREENIDGE FACILITY ALLOWED TO OPERATE
continued from page 6
“The longer they can drag this out, the longer they can keep operating, making money, and harming our environment.”
Kelles told the Ithaca Times, “There is nothing in the law that mandates a halt in activity while an appeal is underway. Grennidge is exploiting this loophole to continue profiting from activities that are detrimental to our climate and local communities.”
The facility was once a coal-burning power plant that helped meet the state’s energy needs, but it was renovated in 2017 to burn natural gas piped in from fracking operations in Pennsylvania. Since the transition, most of the facility’s energy has been used to meet its crypto-mining needs rather than putting energy back on the grid. The DEC has said this is one reason why the air permit has been denied.
Kelles and Taylor have explained that cryptocurrency mining consumes vast amounts of energy and emits significant greenhouse gases. They both routinely cite data indicating that the facility emitted over 818 million pounds of CO2 equivalents in 2023.
COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION
continued from page 4
Approval for Ithaca’s administrator, Local Power, finally came through on Christmas Eve, 2024.
Evans described the delay as frustrating but said that new state regulations have simplified the process and increased oversight to prevent fraud.
“There were a lot of bad actors within New York State that lacked transparency,
STAR TREK ACTOR TELLS ALL
The event will take place at the Dewitt Mall in downtown Ithaca. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase signed copies of Confessions of a Klingon Linebacker and enjoy an evening of stories, laughter, and sci-fi nostalgia.
For fans of Star Trek and those curious about the life of a professional actor, this event offers a rare chance to connect with Hertzler in a personal and engaging setting. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.
“These emissions are equivalent to nearly 84,000 cars on the road,” Kelles said. “This directly undermines the intent of the CLCPA, which is supposed to position New York as a leader in fighting climate change.”
In addition to its air pollution, Greenidge withdraws up to 139 million gallons of water daily from Seneca Lake for cooling, discharging it back at temperatures as high as 108°F. These hot water discharges contribute to harmful algal blooms that threaten aquatic ecosystems and recreational activities on the lake.
“The northwest quadrant of Seneca Lake, where Greenidge is located, had the highest incidence of harmful algal blooms last summer,” Taylor said. “While we can’t definitively pin it all on Greenidge, their hot water discharges are certainly not helping.”
The facility also consumes 6.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually, further exacerbating its carbon footprint and contributing to methane emissions. While methane has a shorter atmospheric lifetime (around 12 years compared to carbon’s hundreds of years), it is 80-90 times more potent than carbon in its ability to trap heat over a 20-year period.
In response to public opposition to
especially in the renewable energy market,” she said. “Our administrator is currently the only one approved to do business in New York, which is great because we really like them.”
The program is expected to launch in phases throughout 2025. A 120-day public outreach and education period will begin this spring, during which residents will receive detailed information, including price comparisons between NYSEG and TGEN rates. Enrollment is anticipated by November 2025.
cryptocurrency mining, New York passed a narrow two-year moratorium on fossil fuel-powered cryptocurrency mining in 2022 to prevent the resurrection of other decommissioned power plants for similar purposes. However, Greenidge was exempted from the moratorium because it was grandfathered in.
“The moratorium was a step in the right direction, but it didn’t go far enough, and it is now nearing the finish line,” Taylor said. “Greenidge is proof that we need stronger, more comprehensive legislation to address the environmental impacts of cryptocurrency mining.”
Taylor also highlighted the national implications of cryptocurrency mining, noting that Seneca Lake Guardian has launched a national coalition to raise awareness about the industry’s environmental harms. She said that paying attention to this issue is especially important as President Donald Trump has voiced support for making the United States the cryptocurrency capital of the world.
“This is not just a New York issue,” Taylor said. “Communities across the country are dealing with the same problems — noise, pollution, water usage — and it’s time for a national conversation about the true cost of crypto mining.”
While the air permit case continues to unfold, Taylor said that SLG is exploring alternative legal avenues to force the facility's closure, including a potential lawsuit under New York’s Green Amendment, which guarantees residents the right to clean air and water.
“This tool was designed to protect communities from exactly this type of harm, and we are carefully evaluating how we can use it effectively against Greenidge,” Taylor said. However, she acknowledged that this avenue remains largely untested in New York and faces significant challenges.
Seneca Lake Guardian has already filed a Green Amendment lawsuit against the Seneca Meadows Landfill, but the state Attorney General's office has opposed the lawsuit.
“The Attorney General has filed to dismiss the case, arguing that the people don’t have the authority to enforce their constitutional rights,” Taylor said. “This puts us in a frustrating position where the very protections meant to safeguard us are being blocked by the state.” She continued, “We need our leaders to uphold New York’s climate law and prioritize the health of our communities over corporate profits.”
Actor and author John G. Hertzler reflects on five decades in the entertainment industry, including his iconic Star Trek role, as part of a special event in Ithaca on Jan. 23, 2025.