GIAC Expands Exponentially Into 2024
PAGES 8-9
WELL’S COLLEGE HIT WITH UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGES PAGE 3
CORNELL UAW WORKERS STRIKE ON MOVE-IN DAY PAGE 4
COUNCIL APPROVES ENCAMPMENT RESPONSE COORDINATOR PAGE 6 PAGE 11-18
STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE
STATUES HONOR HISTORIC WOMEN PAGE 19
Cayuga Health’s epilepsy monitoring unit reduces evaluation wait times
Cynthia Correll, MD
Cayuga Medical Center’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) is the only epilepsy diagnostic center in New York’s Southern Tier. The EMU was expanded last year and now operates most weekdays, using advanced neuroscience technology to evaluate adult patients.
The expanded service reduces the time patients wait for an evaluation that takes about three days of inpatient care at Cayuga Medical Center, says Cynthia Correll, MD, the monitoring unit’s director. She has certifications in neurology, epilepsy and neurophysiology from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Epilepsy is among the most common neurological diseases and affects about 1% of the population. It is a lifelong condition in most patients and recurrent seizures affect physical, cognitive, psychological, and social functioning.
“Despite its prevalence, epilepsy is often misdiagnosed. About a third of patients evaluated at an EMU have a functional neurological disease and need a very different treatment than for epilepsy,” Dr. Correll says.
Making the correct diagnosis so patients get the correct treatment is a big part of the work at Cayuga’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. About 70 percent of patients with epilepsy can manage their seizures with anti-epileptic medicines. The diagnostic work is done at CMC’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit with a patient’s seizure medication supervised by Dr. Correll or other neurologists at Cayuga Neurologic Services team.
Medications fail to control seizures for about 30% of epilepsy patients. Surgery or a strict diet are potentially curative for those cases. When epilepsy patients need complex neurosurgery, the Cayuga EMU often refers them to the Epilepsy Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Epilepsy surgery options include removing the portion of the brain that is causing the seizures. Other surgical techniques implant a device to control a patient’s seizures with electrical pulses that the patient does not feel. Following the implant surgery, patients can find long-term management of their devices from the Cayuga Neurologic Services team.
Cayuga Medical Center’s EMU can accommodate up to three adult patients in private suites. The evaluation can last a week as medications are reduced to induce a seizure. Patients are fitted with electrodes to monitor their brain waves while a video records their movements throughout the assessment. If brain activity signals a seizure, the two recordings can be compared and evaluated.
Nurses trained in epilepsy care make regular room checks and use a desk station monitor to watch over patients and respond to an alarm that is activated when clinical seizures or other events occur. Throughout the monitoring evaluation that could last up to five days, an on-site hospitalist is also available if an EMU patient needs medical care.
“The goal for a patient having a seizure in the EMU is to get information to guide the patient’s long-term treatment,” Dr. Correll says. Since the opening of CMC’s EMU in July 2023, the EMU staff has helped numerous patients to obtain a correct diagnosis, update their treatment plan, determine epilepsy surgery candidacy and provided urgent inpatient medication adjustments.
The EMU staff encourages patients to have a family member or friend stay with them during the evaluation, and a pull-out bed is available for overnight stays. Friends and relatives often recognize early signals of when a patient may have a seizure, Dr. Correll says. Because of the potential for a 5-day hospital stay, the patients are urged to bring books, hobby crafts to work on, a tablet PC and snacks to supplement what the hospital also provides. Patients can have visitors during visiting hours who may bring food or order food delivery.
For more information on the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Cayuga Medical Center and Cayuga Neurologic Services, call (607) 273-6757.
Cayuga Medical Center’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, the only epilepsy diagnostic center in the Southern Tier, operates each weekday with advanced neuroscience technology to evaluate adult patients.
Wells College Faculty Left Without Severance Pay Amid Closure
By Maddy Vogel
SEIU Local 200United, the union representing more than 100 former Wells College faculty, has filed unfair labor practice charges against the college with the National Labor Relations Board, with faculty stating that the college's unexpected announcement of its closure left devastating impacts on their financial and professional lives.
The college’s Board of Trustees Chair Marie Chapman Carroll and former president Jonathan Gibralter announced at the end of April that they would be closing at the end of the 2023-24 academic year, which was just two weeks away at the time, citing significant financial challenges as the primary reason for the end of the college’s 156 years of operation.
Union officials are now saying that the college’s bargaining team has refused to meet “the vast majority” of the union’s proposals, including what the union is calling “modest” severance packages and the request for information about the financial strain which led to the closure.
Despite the college’s financial struggles, Gibralter, who had been president of the college since 2015 until he recently “parted ways” with the college in June, was reportedly accepting hefty annual bonuses since 2016 - amounting to more than $310,000 between 2016 and 2021. Current President Susan Henking was appointed after Gibralter to manage what remains of the college.
Union representatives say that Henking has met with them twice to conduct
negotiations, but that the institution’s remaining administrators have refused to honor the union’s proposal for severance packages, with administrators stating their refusal “is not because of an inability to pay.” The union’s official allegations filed against the college include refusal to bargain/bad faith bargaining.
Former Wells faculty who are members of the union said that if the college had been transparent about the financial struggles it was facing, they would have been able to pursue other opportunities and minimize the damage that the closure had on their professional lives, according
X Solo Exhibitions at The Handwerker Gallery
The Handwerker Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of two solo exhibitions by visiting artists Andrew Ellis Johnson and Susanne Slavick. Both shows open on Thursday August 29th with a reception at 5–6:30 p.m. and will remain on view through October 13th, 2024.
Johnson’s STAND UP features largeformat mixed media drawings that present fantastical vignettes that illustrate current events and contemporary politicians through a series of ahistorical fictions.
Slavick’s exhibition up in the air, in deep water, on shaky ground includes mixed media paintings and digital collages that reflect on the precarity of migration, and the evolving welcome migrants have received in the US and elsewhere.
Johnson and Slavick critique and expose systemic problems and troubling acute incidents alike. Their approach often includes injections of irony or dark humor into imaginative scenarios, drawing contrast with the traditional sources they rely upon.
to a press release obtained by the Ithaca Times.
“In concealing the true extent of the school's financial rot until the last possible moment, Wells College’s leaders have ensured that the careers of its faculty have been irrevocably damaged and, in many cases, likely ended for good,” Visiting Assistant Professor Leslie Schumacher wrote.
Union representatives have said that the college has made “deliberate attempts to conceal the true financial health of the college.” Visiting Assistant Professor
Continued on Page 10
WEB
As viewers, we are prompted to confront our complicity through a series of thoughtprovoking scenarios and data points. Political art risks being dismissed as mere partisan activism; however, these discursive shows compel us to reflect not only our past but also our collective responsibility, our current choices, and obligations to the future.
Handwerker Gallery events are free and open to the public. For more information or images, please contact the HG Director directly at paulnicholson@ithaca.edu
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
THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2024, BY NEWSKI INC.
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 reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012, MAILING ADDRESS is PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Ithaca Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and The Good
(1973–1978),
in
Well’s College faculty unionized with SEIU Local 200United has filed unfair labor practice charges against the college, accusing the administration of bad faith bargaining and concealing financial troubles that led to the college’s abrupt closure, leaving faculty with significant financial and professional uncertainties. (Photo: File)
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION
OF THE WEEK:
IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT ITHACA?
Strike on Time: Cornell UAW Workers Strike on Student Move-In Day
By Matt Dougherty
Thousands of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2300 members at Cornell University have officially launched a strike coinciding with the university’s student move-in day.
The strike came after weeks of negotiations between the union and the university, which failed to produce a contract agreement. The union accuses Cornell of not bargaining in good faith and stalling on key demands like living wage and free parking.
As students and their families arrive at Cornell for the start of the academic year, the strike threatens to disrupt essential campus operations, including dining services, facilities maintenance, and other critical functions.
The decision to strike follows a strike authorization vote that passed with 94% approval from the union’s approximately 1,200 members, including custodians, groundskeepers, cooks, food service workers, greenhouse workers, gardeners, and mechanics. The last time UAW workers at Cornell went on strike was 43 years ago in 1981, when the union and the university ratified their first contract.
One union member told the Ithaca Times that there was a 10 p.m. deadline to make a deal, and that union leaders are now working on handing out strike line assignments to members to designate specific times and locations for workers to picket during the strike. These assignments are critical to ensuring the picket line is continuously staffed, maintaining the union’s visibility and leverage throughout the strike.
Initially, the UAW was demanding a 45% wage increase over a four-year contract, with a 20% increase in the first year alone. They also sought the inclusion of Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) to tie wages to inflation, free parking for all employees, and the elimination of a tiered wage system that created significant pay disparities among workers based on their hire date.
Cornell University initially offered an 18.5% wage increase over a five-year contract, without any provision for COLA, and proposed maintaining the tiered wage system while offering some bonuses and benefits for long-serving employees. The university also did not agree to the demand for free parking.
As negotiations progressed, the union adjusted its demands, lowering the wage increase request to 25% over four years,
with a 10% increase in the first year. In response, Cornell increased its wage offer slightly to 17.5% over four years and made a significant concession by agreeing to include COLA in the contract, marking a departure from its previous stance.
Despite these adjustments from both sides, a deal could not be reached on several key issues, including the tiered wage system and parking. As a result, the union has proceeded with a strike, creating potential disruptions for thousands of students and staff.
UAW representatives argue that Cornell's $10 billion endowment shows the university can afford their wage demands. Cornell has responded by explaining that most of the endowment is restricted by donor agreements and state law, meaning funds can only be used for specific purposes like financial aid and academic programs.
In the statement announcing the strike, UAW Local 2300 President Christine Johnson said, “The workers at Cornell are fed up with being exploited and used.” Johnson continued, “The university would much rather hoard its wealth and power than pay its workers fairly. Cornell could have settled this weeks ago. Instead, they’ve scoffed and laughed at us and broken federal law. We're done playing around.”
The strike has drawn support from elected officials, including Senator Lea Webb and Assemblywoman Anna Kelles, who released a joint statement on August 16 backing the UAW workers.
“We stand with the UAW Local 2300 workers who are negotiating with Cornell for fair wages. These workers are the backbone of the university, working tirelessly as custodians, food service workers, and groundskeepers.” They added,” As we welcome students and their families back to our community, we hope that both parties can reach a shared and expeditious agreement that truly supports Cornell’s workers,” they said.
Support for the UAW workers has been growing, highlighted by a large rally on August 16 in front of Bailey Hall on the Cornell campus, where hundreds gathered to show solidarity. Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo and Alderperson Tiffany Kumar attended the rally and spoke in support of union members.
The union has also seen support from the Tompkins County Workers’ Center, Cornell Graduate Students Union, and the American Association of University Professors.
“We’re not asking for a fair contract,
“I’d fix the traffic.”
Brooke
“Address the homeless crisis and open some restaurants outside of downtown where you can enjoy the scenery.”
Manuel
“Pick it up and move it to a more central location.”
Muriel
“Open an authentic Brazilian steakhouse.”
Dan
“I’d like to have more places where people of color feel comfortable. Ithaca loves to talk about diversity but it doesn’t always feel very welcoming.”
Lechandre
Members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2300 picket outside Cornell University's Bailey Hall on August 16, 2024, in Ithaca, N.Y., during a rally held days before the union went on strike.
The Talk at
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RE: BIPOC Farmer Harassment
“Editor,Thank you for covering a most important story regarding Amanda Davis, her family & business being threatened by niehbor. It is so important to pay attention to these incident,which all too often result in violence. It would seem Ms. David has supplied ample proof of harassment, trespass, and threatening behavior. The signs that were portrayed on neighbors property signify Racial& Homophobic bias writ large.To hide behind his right to “personal rights” does not begin to address his hateful menacing behavior. Sadly, I believe a move may be of necessity, unless this person is brought to Justice in short order. Thank you. Standing up for racial Justice.” — Pat Shea
RE: UAW Workers Strike at Cornell
“On Monday at the democratic convention Shawn Fain spoke of the strike by UAW local 2300; exposing Cornell to
the rest of the country as the bad corporate actor that we here in Ithaca know it to be.
Cornell Must Pay. Pay up to the essential workers who keep the school running, pay them a living wage. Further, pay Fare Share to the city that hosts you, your reputation depends on it.
Continuing on the course you’ve been on is bad for business, bad for your employees, bad for the students and bad for the citizens of Ithaca.
Sooner or later Cornell Must Pay.” —
Lee Rogers
RE: Cayuga Lake Pollution Monitoring
“Ronda Roaring’s opinion column in The Ithaca Times 7-15 edition expresses her concern over the conditions and water quality of the Cayuga Lake Inlet and other areas of the lake. As she observed kayaking the inlet, garbage and waste is present in many areas. Understandably upset, she contacted the Health Department along with Prestigiacomo of the Division of Water in Syracuse. However, Roaring states incorrectly that: “There is NO testing of water in the inlet and never has been,” when in fact the Community Science Institute (CSI) with the help of volunteers monitors the inlet and tributaries flowing into it. Currently, there are 25 sites being sampled and monitored. The data collected is analyzed in CSI’s state-certified lab and the information entered into CSI’s data base: http://www.da-
tabase.communityscience.org/Data on the website—free to the public—can be used for regulatory purposes and to support best management practices by municipalities, businesses and the health departments. Since 2002 with the help of over 250 volunteers, Community Science Institute (CSI) continues to monitor the water quality of Cayuga Lake and streams flowing into it.
Ms. Roaring’s concern for the health of our natural water resources and her attempts to clean up areas is admirable; however, all of us must be careful not to spread misinformation. We all need to work to prevent environmental degradation and protect our precious water resources. Anyone can help by becoming a volunteer or an annual donor to CSI. To become a member, mail a check to CSI at 95 Brown Rd. Langmuir Lab Rm 283 / Box 1044, Ithaca, NY 14850 or visit http://www.communityscience.org/donate/ to donate online.” — Deborah Jones, CSI Board Member
RE: J.D. Vance Press Conference
“J.D. Vance, I saw your press conference accusing corporations of supporting abortion to keep their cheap labor and America for not supporting families. Implied here is the assumption that women are cheap labor.
J.D., Here are some fixes for you:
1) pay equity
2) increase minimum wage
3) affordable childcare
4) prenatal care
5) nutrition programs for infants and children (Gov Walz offers free school lunches)
6) pre K and after school programs
7) Universal healthcare to keep whole family healthy
8) tax cuts for poor and middle class balanced by tax hikes for billionaires
9) support Unions and workers right to negotiate conditions. They might get a company day care facility.
10) parental leave
11) Support the certifying of the ERA. Help raise women rather than denigrating them. They are half the family in your limited definition of family. You probably want to write these ideas off right away because they are supported by the Democratic Party and generally opposed by Republicans. Be a rebel and give America’s families more than lip service and dictate on how they should form families.”
— Lori C. Gardner
The Path to Decolonization
“In response to Gerard Kassar‘s proclamation that “Donald Trump is fully
prepared to restore us to our greatness“. I agree with Mr. Kassar “this nation is ready for fundamental change“. However the terms “restoration” and “returning” infer a regression to the past.
Make America Great Again is a glorified way of saying Make America Colonial Again. Colonists invade a place they are not from and enforce their prioritization and a ranking of races, genders, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, languages, and expressions to favor and suit their preferences and preserve their hold on power.
The United States is one of the few remaining colonized lands that has not relinquished its colonial oppression. We have not yet decolonized.
In the vast majority of colonized lands, the colonizers simply pulled up stakes, relinquishing power and control. Decolonization of the US is probably not going to happen this way.
Indeed, the profound fundamental changes that arise from decolonization do bring about experiences of destabilization and chaos. This arises for both “sides” — the colonizers and the colonized. In some cases, this has resulted in civil war. Please, let’s not go there again!
Our path to decolonization, (underway since its painful birthing as the Civil War) is unique in the world. We are leaving behind the first version of democracy that, naïvely at first, and then with increasing deliberateness, mandated a single colonial state of America — a preferred and enforced ranking of race, gender, religion, etc. With the evolution of our democracy and our connection to all other nations, our unique path forward is to become a Rainbow Nation, one that honors and unites all of our diverse states of being — culturally, religiously, etc. Our path forward requires that we work and play towards equity and inclusion to unite all of our states of being. It’s our destiny as the United States of America.
Navigating this path to unity requires both liberal and conservative skills, talents, and wisdom. We need both an accelerator and a brake to navigate our path forward. We need to be coordinated as we navigate our path, not mashing both pedals simultaneously with full pressure, as we seem to be doing now.
We need both liberation and conservation in their purest, strongest, wisest essences. They will arise from within us as we disengage from our fears of one another, our fears of change and compromise. The key is to play with one another. We are already an adolescent rainbow
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
The Ithaca Fire Department is set to receive $31,272.72 in federal funding to enhance its protective gear and training programs, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Tuesday.
Downs
More than half of U.S. states are reporting “very high” levels of COVID activity as the virus continues to spread and increase in many parts of the country, according to the latest wastewater data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
The Ithaca Common Council will be creating a working group in September to study how adopting a Ranked Choice Voting system would impact local elections in the city.
Seen
On Tuesday, August 20th, Assemblymember Anna Kelles announced $150,000 in grant funding she is awarding to the vibrant community center for adults, Lifelong. The funds will support needed renovations on site that will enhance the building’s accessibility and environmental consciousness.
IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write news@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Should the City of Ithaca adopt Ranked Choice Voting?
63 6 % Yes
24.2% No.
12.1 % I don’t care.
Do you support the UAW workers at Cornell who are on strike for a fair contract?
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
Ithaca Common Council Establishes Encampment Response Coordinator Position
By Matt Dougherty
The Ithaca Common Council has unanimously approved the creation of an Encampment Response Coordinator position, a move aimed at addressing the growing challenge of unhoused encampments within the city. The decision, reached during a Wednesday meeting, follows extensive outreach and collaboration with several community organizations.
The proposed position will work with the newly created Deputy City Manager to manage and support the city’s homeless community by facilitating the relocation of homeless individuals to a designated non-enforcement area and eventually into housing. The position was approved by last year’s Common Council and will be paid an annual salary of $30,000.
City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff has said that the City is creating this position to better coordinate its encampment response protocol, a task that has previously fallen on various department heads working in an ad hoc manner.
During a previous meeting, Mohlenhoff underscored the need for the position citing the intense coordination required among various agencies to support the homeless community effectively. “This person has to sit in the middle of an incredibly complicated web of support services, none of which the city manages.” She continued saying that clear communication between departments is necessary to avoid unnecessary contact between unhoused residents and law enforcement.
“We need to ensure that we have clear and clean communication because the police should be the last people involved,” Mohlenhoff said. She added, “It’s incredibly intensive work if you want to do it in a human-centered way and really find out what the barriers to housing are for the people that have set up new encampments.”
Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo has previously emphasized the strain that has been put on city resources without having a dedicated coordinator. “I’ve seen several department heads, including our chief executive, working on an ad hoc basis to address these issues,” Cantelmo said during a meeting in July.
Mohlenhoff has also clarified some confusion among council members who thought the non-enforcement area, formerly known as the Green Zone, was located behind Lowes directly adjacent to Nates Floral
Estates. “The non-enforcement area is not behind Lowe’s. It’s a different piece of property with an access road,” she said. According to previous drafts of the City’s encampment response plan, the non-enforcement area is located behind WalMart.
Initial plans for the non-enforcement area consisted of turning it into a sanctioned encampment for unhoused residents that would provide them with access to sanitary facilities like bathrooms and showers, as well as provide access to social services, and eventually help them access housing. However, New York State regulations have presented a roadblock to those plans.
According to City Attorney Victor Kessler, Under New York State law providing such amenities could reclassify the area as a campground, which brings a host of additional regulations that would effectively ban unhoused residents from the site.
City Attorney Victor Kessler stated, “If you do too much to make something look like a campground, it becomes a campground by state regulation.” Kessler continued saying, “This includes adding facilities like bathrooms and showers, which would require the area to comply with state campground regulations, thus complicating the city’s efforts and potentially increasing costs.”
The debate also touched on the larger issue of how the city can sustainably address homelessness. Mohlenhoff mentioned that several initiatives are underway, including efforts by the County to open a 100 bed homeless shelter by 2025, as well as partnerships with agencies like OAR and Second Wind. “We’re working on putting in
place a number of programs, but they’re not coming online fast enough for us to have enough options for people,” she said.
While the resolution to create the position passed unanimously on Wednesday, all council members were not always convinced that hiring a part-time coordinator was the best use of the funds.
During a July meeting Alderperson Patrick Kuehl expressed concerns about redundancies in the job descriptions for the coordinator, Deputy City Manager, and City Manaher. “Community organizations have told me this position is incredibly redundant [and] that the work is already being done on the ground,” Kuehl said. “I don’t think this is the best way to address homelessness or support our unhoused population.”
Kuehl proposed that instead of hiring a coordinator, the city should consult with community organizations to explore alternative uses for the funds. He suggested ideas such as administering security deposits for housing through an RFP to community organizations. “There are a lot of problems that the unhoused community is facing that we could support with roughly $25,000 to $30,000 that we’re putting into this position,” Kuehl added.
Despite these concerns, some council members acknowledged the need for immediate action, while understanding that a long-term strategy still needs to be developed. “We have an acute problem that we need to address now,” Alderperson Ducson Nguyen said, “This is a temporary solution while we figure out what our long-term approach is going to be.”
The newly approved Encampment Response Coordinator position will oversee the management of unhoused encampments in Ithaca, coordinating city resources and working with community organizations to ensure support and safety for those living outside the city’s exception zone. (Photo: Matt Dougherty)
Health Care is an Economic Issue for Women
IT’S PAST TIME WE PRIORITIZE HEALTH CARE EQUITY
By Maria Martinez, Empire State Voices
Two years ago, the Supreme Court made the devastating decision to overturn Roe V. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion in the United States. Since then, the catastrophic verdict has prevented millions of women from accessing affordable and life-saving health care. The decision of whether or not to have a child is one of the largest financial decisions a person can make. Until reproductive rights are protected at a national level, working families will live under constant threat of that choice being made for them by politicians, not them and their doctors.
As conservative state legislatures across the country continue to push for restrictive bans on abortion, IVF, and even contraception, New York House Republicans have failed to stand up for us. Republicans gathered together in Milwaukee last month, and it is essential to remember the grave threat the MAGA GOP — including Congressman Marc Molinaro — pose to women across New York.
Not only are they desperately trying to roll back the right to an abortion, MAGA Republicans also want to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions — a key provision in the Affordable Care Act — gut funding for Medicaid and Medicare, and undo the Biden-Harris administration’s historic progress to lower the price of prescription drugs.
Access to health care is fundamentally an economic issue. Women are 1.3 times more likely to skip or postpone getting the health care they need because of the cost. Time and again, the MAGA GOP has fought to strip away women’s access to health care while New York Republicans have failed to stand up for their constituents. Congressman Molinaro strongly opposed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the implementation of critical parts of the Affordable Care Act. This historic legislation has provided relief to thousands of women and New Yorkers who rely on life-saving medication.
In contrast, the Biden-Harris administration and congressional Democrats are working tirelessly to improve access to women’s health care needs by expanding coverage, reducing costs, and working to
launch new public health initiatives. The monumental Inflation Reduction Act is already reducing the health care costs for women across the nation, including by providing lower premiums by an average of $800 per person.
The IRA also allowed Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. Outrageous drug prices set by out-of-touch pharmaceutical company executives leave many Americans to choose between their medication and other necessities. Medicare negotiation is a huge step forward, lowering drug prices for millions of women.
Democrats in Congress are also pushing for critical maternal health investments to address racial disparities and save lives. The “Momnibus Act” will improve maternal health by addressing the social determinants of health contributing to maternal mortality, including growing and diversifying the maternal health workforce while providing health care workers with the tools and training necessary to confront discriminatory and biased practices. Additionally, Congress could help to guarantee 12 months of postpartum Medicaid coverage to new moms nationwide, which would help an estimated 720,000 additional people.
For women of color, Medicaid remains a lifeline. Black and Latinx women are more likely than white women to be insured through Medicaid. Time and again, MAGA extremists have proposed adding burdensome work reporting requirements in connection to Medicaid access. As a result, almost two-thirds of those who would lose their Medicaid coverage as a result of work requirement, are women and disproportionately women of color.
The Biden-Harris administration and congressional Democrats are working to improve access to quality, comprehensive health care by expanding coverage, reducing costs, and improving care in the communities where it is most needed, working to address the maternal mortality crisis by expanding postpartum coverage and launching new public health initiatives. This is a stark contrast between the Republican agenda to decimate women’s Continued on Page 18
Satirizing the Ivory Tower
By Tom Stern
(The President of Cornell University has called an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees to discuss the impending UAW workers strike.)
The Pres: Honored trustees, your great philanthropic efforts on behalf of the University has been the pillars that have upheld this great institution for over 150 years. Needs have evolved since our humble beginnings and many of you have come forward, generously without hesitation. So, in this spirit of trust, in these unprecedented times of labor unrest, I ask your indulgence to assist us in supporting the needs of our uh,“human resources.”
Trustee Mack: Dammit, just pay the unions out of the operating budget. Don’t come sniveling to us unless you got a building with our name on it. You think I like crossing a picket line? Why the hell am I even seeing one in the first place.
The Pres: Yes, employees have taken the initiative to gather for informal “Meet and Greets.” Again, we appreciate your indulgence, but to address the question of the operating budget-you see a union contract can be considered as much of a foundational need for the University as, say, Allysa’s new Field House or Harvey’s upgrade of all the Law School bathrooms. A labor contract is a capital investment on which all future services can stand the test of time.
Trustee Mack: Alright, cut the BS. How much do they want?
The Pres: 30% over 4 years plus COL.
Trustee Scrunk: That’s over 10% a year! My return on investments hardly pay 10% a year. Don’t pander, Mr. President. Hold firm. None of us got to where we are by caving into the demands of our gardners.
Trustee Allysa: They’re called landscapers these days. What is your back up plan if we vote down the funds?
The Pres: Well, with the overwhelming vote to strike, it appears the University would be without support services.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
continued from page 5
nation. We know how tumultuous adolescence can be struggling to discover our own agency and autonomy, independent from our colonial parents. We must gain their trust and honor their past as we move forward.
Trustee Mack: Give the kids a hotplate and let them cook in their room for a few days. Hell, you think they had food service when I went to Cornell?
The Pres: It’s likely all the buildings on campus would shut down, including the dorms. We would effectively be in a Labor pandemic.
Trustee Allysa: I’ve heard enough. I’m prepared to roll up my sleeves and get in there and do some light housekeeping, Who’s with me here?
Trustee from the back: Well, I can run a garden tractor maybe once a week.
The Pres: You are aware that we would need to replace 1300 workers.
Trustee Mack: You know Mr. President, Cornell is a world class institution. We are not supposed to have labor troubles. This sits squarely on your shoulders and yours alone.
The Pres: With all due respect, this all started with the Board’s generosity. You gave the City of Ithaca a sizable increase of payments in lieu of taxes, then the City School district, the Town of Ithaca came looking for a handout, and now the union because some trustee had to open their mouth about the 10 billion dollar endowment.
Trustee Allysa: What exactly are you asking of us.
Pres: The University Controller calculated that if each trustee and trustee emeritus donated 33,000 dollars we can satisfy the Union demands and close the hole in our budget, for the first year.
(the room grumbles)
Pres: Folks, $33,000. That’s less than one of Harvey’s new law school bathrooms.
Trustee Harvey: Damn right, Pres. Trustee from the back: Can we get our names on the back of UAW t-shirts? Pres: I’ll bring it up in our next negotiation.
As Jeff Furman advocates, our promise for this transition is our youth. Let’s support them in learning to drive with both the accelerator and the brake. Let’s nurture them and trust them with our future. Let’s engage more with our youth to help us navigate through this adolescence to become a healthy, engaged rainbow nation.” — Shane Eversfield
New Changes on the Horizon: GIAC Expands Exponentially into 2024
By Kira Walter
Strolling around the corner of West Court Street and North Albany, it’s hard to miss summer expansion projects happening at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center. As day camp and basketball leagues continue, GIAC directors prepare for the introduction of a new recreation center. The Red & White cafe transforms to host GIAC’s teen catering program while the house at 327-329 is converted to residential spaces for young women experiencing homelessness. With openings forecasted along the block, 2024 marks a milestone in GIAC’s journey to better service the Ithaca community.
When asked about the center’s space acquisitions, Deputy Director Travis Brooks expressed pride in the progress leading to these changes.
“We’ve always been looking to expand,” he said. “Over the last 25-30 years, people have seen the growth of the agency, the success we’ve had, and believe in us enough to help us make those things happen.”
Confidence in the GIAC staff has been vital in the collaborative effort to welcome the new rec center. Just next door to GIAC’s original location, this space was purchased from Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) in 2018. The five-year renovation process has included the installation of a recording studio, a screenprinting room, two lounges, and a fully furnished gym.
Another addition to the rec center is the Rashad Richardson indoor basketball court, named to commemorate a beloved Boyton Middle School student who passed in 2001. At 12, Richardson was an avid participant in GIAC programs when he was killed in a tragic revolving door accident. GIAC continues to preserve his legacy as its downtown reach grows.
ities. Teen programs that once took place in shared or borrowed spaces now have an official home.
One member of the GIAC team who
resources being diverted towards teens.
“Teens in Ithaca are one of those demographics that are underserved,” he told the Times. “In my opinion, Ithaca is designed for senior citizens, college students, and kids. 9th through 12th grade, you gotta figure something out.”
“We’ve always been looking to expand. Over the last 25-30 years, people have seen the growth of the agency, the success we’ve had, and believe in us enough to help us make those things happen.”
— Travis Brooks, Deputy Director
The new rec center is geared towards teenagers, as GIAC’s primary location is more concentrated on hosting youth activ-
particularly looks forward to the center’s introduction is Rahmel Mack. After over 16 years as a program leader for 9th through 12th graders, Mack appreciates
As a member of local band Empire Kings, Mack was thrilled about increasing availability to a music studio. He explained that interested teens can pay an annual fee to join the after-school program and gain access to all rec center facilities. Though participation in teen activities was once limited by space, GIAC is able to involve many more young people with the new location.
“Because we have more space, we can up the [program] capacity to when registration closes,” Mack said.
Another exciting development for the teenage demographic at GIAC is the acquisition of the Red & White Cafe. Once occupied by a classic Ithaca restaurant, the building at 402 west court street will now be home to GIAC’s teen catering program.
For 10 years, teen caterers have traveled around Tompkins County, preparing food for Cornell, Ithaca College, and other city entities. Teams of 20 to a couple hundred young chefs and servers commute to new venues, gaining direct experience in professional food service.
When the Red & White Cafe appeared on the real-estate market, teen program coordinator Jay Stooks seized the chance
GIAC’s new teen catering program has a new headquarters located at the former Red & White Cafe on Court St. Word has it that the teen chefs will continue the cafe’s beloved Friday Fish Fries. (Photo: Kira Walter)
to make it an opportunity for GIAC’s programming. Although the original recreation center has a full size commercial kitchen, it is primarily dedicated to the afterschool program. GIAC’s 50 served initiative provides kids with snack and a well-balanced meal daily. A separate space allocated to teen catering will be a game changer for the program.
“We’re trying to have it be a community space where we can have meetings, bring people together over food, and have training for young teens, to give them that work experience,” Stooks said.
Other developments with the cafe include an upstairs art gallery open to the public. Stooks also plans to preserve the former restaurant’s Friday Fish Fries, a tradition that many in the community miss. Cafe renovations are still underway but the teen business is predicted to operate with normal hours by the start of next summer.
where unhoused young women can seek shelter. The organization’s history helping women in difficult situations has inspired the purpose for this property.
“We’ve had a program for some time where we worked with the sex trafficking task force for New York. We had staff who were heavily involved in it,” Brooks said. “It became very clear to us that this was a need. If we could acquire this property, we could help address it.”
“We’re trying to have it be a community space where we can have meetings, bring people together over food, and have training for young teens, to give them that work experience.”
— Jay Stokes, Program Coordinator
Across the street, GIAC renovation plans are also scheduled for the house at 327-329 west court street. Although this residence only became a GIAC owned within 2024, directors have been looking to purchase it for 15 years.
The GIAC staff hopes this building will create both workforce housing and a place
The house is currently equipped with six bedrooms, but more than six residents are expected as families are more than welcome. Brooks is optimistic that young women will be able to move in within the year, once more funding is focused on the program. He hopes that 327-329 will help women secure affordable long-term homes and employment.
“It’s a short-term housing solution. The idea would be that people come in, we help them get permanent housing. That way they don’t have to experience being on the streets or in vulnerable situations,” he told the Times.
With roof repairs and furnishing still underway at this future housing unit, Brooks also expressed the priority is fixing the Red & White. As construction continues in the GIAC neighborhood, consecu-
The Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) is expanding its reach with new facilities, including a recreation center and housing for young women in need, continuing its mission to uplift the community. (Photo: File)
tive openings will be celebrated within upcoming months.
The dedication of GIAC employees is apparent in other summer successes like reparations to the Melvin Bell Basketball Court and maintenance of the Alex Haley Municipal Pool. Both areas have been fervently enjoyed by 140 campers this season, a packed year for the GIAC summer camp.
An abundance of new resources allows
the activities center to accommodate more local residents in their mission to promote social and individual development. After reflecting on changes in 2024, Stooks reiterated GIAC’s purpose in giving direction to the Ithaca population and helping inform career paths.
“We’re giving everybody the tools. We’re giving everybody the opportunities,” he said. “We’re opening up doors and trying to show people what exists for them.”
The Red & White Cafe has undergone a series of renovations in order to create a new space for culinary training and community gatherings. (Photo: File)
GIAC’s new gym, part of the expansive recreation center, offers teenagers a dedicated space to engage in a variety of athletic activities. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Farewell to an Innovator
CU Phys Ed Director Killed in Motorcycle Accident
By Steve Lawrence
Forty years ago, Al Gantert — then my boss at Cornell Athletics — told me that he loved riding one of his 13 motorcycles across the USA — and back — every summer. I asked him why he had thirteen motorcycles. Al replied, “Because I don’t have 14.”
Al also told me how angry it made him that so many drivers were oblivious to motorcycles, and we shared strategies on how to anticipate and respond to these situations. Last week, Al — four months after turning 80 — was in Kansas, coming back across the country on one of his BMWs, when a 78-year-old man driving a semi turned left in front of him. Al was not wearing a helmet, and we will never know whether that contributed to the outcome, but the infuriating reality is that yet another driver turned left into the path of yet another motorcycle, and my friend is dead.
As the Director of Physical Education at Cornell, Al Gantert was a refreshingly open-minded administrator. In a blog post, Cornell Outdoor Education visionary and founder David Moriah wrote “Al gave me maximum freedom to innovate and helped me cut through or work around the sometimes rigid and stifling Cornell bureaucracy. He gets a fair share of credit for the remarkable success of Cornell Outdoor Education, now in its 52nd year.”
I too had a front-row seat to Al’s willingness to continually reinvent the Phys Ed program when, in 1982, he saw me showing off my Santa Cruz-acquired “Frisbee” skills at the department picnic. Al said, “I can envision some of these skills translating nicely into a Phys Ed class. Why don’t you draw up a curriculum proposal?” I did so, and with an eye toward navigating copyright laws, Al and I created “Fundamentals of Flying Disc,” a course that was jam-packed every semester for six years.
When the sport of Triathlon came into view, Al decided that the P.E. Department should offer a class covering all three disciplines, and that he — as a dedicated workout enthusiast — would be the instructor. For years, students would work hard to keep up with Al, despite the fact that he was 30 years their senior. As a triathlete, he was for real.
Since his retirement, Al was easy to find. He would sit at at Ithaca Bakery, or Panera, and put a couple of books on his table, knowing they served as “bait,” if you will. People would invariably recognize him, ask him what he was reading, and two hours later, they (we) would leave with a lot of ideas swimming (or biking, or running) around in their head. Former Big Red swimming coach Pete Orschiedt once described his friend and colleague as “a veritable almanac of information.”
Over the years, Al talked about those epic cross-country rides — sometimes solo, sometimes with a friend — and he shared how frustrating — and scary — it was when he got into a couple of accidents (like the time his riding companion did a U-turn in front of him and Al broadsided him). I asked him if such experiences ever made him wonder if — in his language — the universe was sending him some message. His long stare and silence gave me my answer.
The 47th Tompkins County Sports Council Football Luncheon series will begin on Thursday, Sept. 12. The weekly
CITY OFFICIALS DISCUSS
continued from page 3
Andrew Hunt of the theater department said that faculty were receiving multi-year contract renewals up until the most recent spring semester.
“Prior to the spring semester, every single faculty member with an expiring contract was renewed for 2 or 3 more years,” Hunt wrote. “Given admin’s secret knowledge of the college’s financial state, this deliberate act of misrepresentation
luncheons will commence at 11:45 a.m. for nine Thursdays over the course of the 2024 season. The cost is $170 for the nine luncheons. Each week the head football coaches at Ithaca High, Ithaca College and Cornell will discuss the previous week’s games, and give a scouting report on the future opponent. Coaches at five other Tompkins County high schools, as well as Ithaca’s women’s flag football program will make guest appearances throughout the fall.
The Tompkins County Sports Council is a not-for-profit organization. All profits go directly back to the six high school football programs in Tompkins County.
To purchase tickets, please contact Dave Wohlhueter by phone at (607) 2735891, by email at dpw5@cornell.edu
trapped these faculty who otherwise would have gained an opportunity to apply to open positions. The deliberate lie is more egregious as it has become clear that administration never had any intent of honoring the contracts.”
The union’s bargaining team is calling on administrators to bargain in good faith by satisfying the union’s request for information regarding the financial strain that led to the college’s closure and mitigate the harm caused by the unanticipated closing by providing severances to union members.
Motorcycle enthusiast, physical education innovator Al Gantert died in a motorcycle accident last week. (Photo: Provided)
STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE
Best Local Events During the School Year
By Grace “Gray” Reed
As new and returning students alike flock their way to the Finger Lakes for the upcoming academic year, many may find themselves wondering what there is to do in our neck of Central New York. The Ithaca Times has compiled a guide for the best local events taking place while students are here.
Welcome Student Weekend — Sept 14
Welcome Student Weekend is the perfect opportunity to explore the Ithaca Commons for the first time and experience what the city’s downtown area has to offer. Open to students from Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College, the event is free for whoever wishes to attend.
Events include the annual downtown “scavenger hunt” and tours of the downtown neighborhood. Hosted by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA), this event will take place Sept. 14.
Porchfest — Sept� 22
A musical way to welcome the autumn season is the infamous Porchfest, a free music festival held right in the streets of the city. While similar events occur around the country, the first took place in Ithaca. Each year, people offer their porches, yards and driveways for various musicians and bands to perform to anyone who wishes to stop by.
This year’s Porchfest will take place from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 22. A schedule for the event can be found on the organizers’ website when it becomes available: https://www.porchfest.org.
Apple Harvest Festival — Sept� 27-29
This year will mark the 42nd year of the annual Apple Harvest Festival, the time of year where the Ithaca community gathers to celebrate the iconic fruit and the beginning of fall. The festival hosts a variety of farm stands featuring fresh produce —
most notably, apples- as well as applebased and seasonal baked goods, food trucks and a craft fair featuring the work of regional artisans. Over 70,000 visitors came to partake in the festival last year. All laid out among the backdrop of live music, attending this event is a must for anyone in the area. The Apple Harvest Festival is hosted by the DIA.
Ice and Lights Fest — December 2024
For two weekends in early December, Ithaca becomes home to the Ice and Lights Festival, bringing a wide variety of events once again to the Commons, including the Chowder Cook-Off, Ice Bar, Silent Disco, BEYOND Light Art and the arrival of Santa in Downtown.
Throughout the event, visitors also have the chance to shop, dine, and walk around to take in the abundance of holiday lights and ice sculptures. Be sure to keep up with the Downtown Ithaca Alliance for information on this year’s festival.
Rutabaga Curl — December 2024
For just over twenty years the annual Rutabaga Curl has been a joke turned tradition. Every year, the people of Ithaca come together to compete in the made-up sport of Rutabaga Curling: whoever can roll the vegetable closest to a marked spot on the ground is declared the winner.
The event has grown to include an MC, cheerleaders, media, and its own mythology (starring the Rutabaga God and Goddess). Registration is traditionally $5 for contestants to compete with a standard rutabaga and children eight and under with a turnip.
Chili Cook Off — March 2025
Winter is still in full swing in upstate New York during March, prompting many to turn toward the warm, hardy meal that is chili. Every year, downtown Ithaca organizes a Chili Cook-Off. This past March, over 30 vendors competed for the best
meat-based chili and best veggie-based chili.
The date of 2025’s Chili Cook-Off has yet to be announced, so keep your eyes peeled if you want to partake in the vote.
Dragon Day — March 28
For over 100 years first-year Cornell architecture students have constructed a dragon to battle a rivaling phoenix created by first-year engineering students. The tradition is known as “Dragon Day,” and while no one knows exactly how it came to be, it has become a much beloved Cornell tradition. Dragon Day has been celebrated the day before students leave for Spring Break since 2013, so be sure to check it out.
Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival — April 2025
Film lovers with an interest in environmental issues, this one’s for you. Each
Art enthusiasts explore the vibrant local and international exhibits during Gallery Night Ithaca, a monthly event transforming downtown into a walkable art gallery experience. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Navigating Ghost Kitchens in Ithaca’s Delivery Landscape
By Maddy Vogel
Have you ever noticed when scrolling on delivery apps that some restaurants have nearly identical menus to other, more well-known local restaurants, or restaurants that seemingly have no results when you search for their location on Google? What you may be looking at are ghost kitchens, which have been fueled by the growing popularity of delivery apps like Doordash, Uber Eats and Grubhub.
Ghost kitchens are restaurants that customers can order food from, but don’t have an actual storefront or are listed under a completely different name. They are commonly created to test out new menu items and increase profits without the overhead costs of a storefront location
with dine-in options.
Third-party delivery apps typically list the address of the ghost kitchen’s location, but don’t list the name of the actual restaurant that hosts the kitchen, nor make any acknowledgement of the association between the two.
Ghost kitchens, while presenting an opportunity for menu expansion and diversification, can also deceive customers into thinking they are supporting a newlyopened local business with their purchase. As the Cornell Review put it, “The deluge of fake restaurants makes it difficult for other, real restaurants to gain traction against the inflated competition.”
The most common ghost kitchens in Ithaca are offshoots of restaurants owned
by ITH Hospitality, a company started by local restaurant entrepreneur Kevin Sullivan. Encompassing Luna Inspired Street Food, Revelry Yards, Purity Ice Cream, Jack’s Grill, Pronto Craft Pizza,
The Embassy and more, ITH Hospitality is operating multiple ghost kitchens through various locations across Ithaca.
While ghost kitchens like Ithaca Ghost Kitchen on Stewart Ave offer convenient delivery options and diverse cuisines in Ithaca, concerns are growing over food quality and safety as these virtual restaurants share kitchens, staff, and ingredients with multiple brands. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Hit the Trails: Scenic Walks Steps Away from Campus
By Maddy Vogel and Kira Walter
While everyone knows Ithaca is “gorges,” not all students realize how close gorges and other natural areas are to campus. An expansive network of trails connects colleges to Ithaca’s natural wonders, just a brief hike away from class. With fall foliage on the way and the sun still blazing, now is the perfect time to explore scenic recreation ways, preserves, and uncharted paths.
ITHACA COLLEGE:
Ithaca College Natural Lands
Without even leaving campus, you can
go on a hike, walk, or jog and experience the natural beauty throughout multiple trails in the four protected areas that make up the Ithaca College Natural Lands. These natural lands are the woods and natural areas that surround campus, open dawn to dusk every day.
With three on-campus trail entrances and seven miles of trails, the natural lands are the perfect way to spend an afternoon relaxing in nature without the hassle of organizing transportation to an off-campus location.
Continued on Page 17
Students from both Ithaca College and Cornell University can explore the vast network of trails the area has to offer, delivering easy access to breathtaking natural beauty just steps away from either campus. (Photo: File)
Beautifying Dorms Locally: How to Save on Room Decor Right in Town
By Kira Walter
New dorm, new you? Perhaps this is the semester to claim your living space by taking interior design to the next level.
As students move into notoriously bland on-campus spaces, a room with some character is destined to boost productivity and alleviate homesickness this fall season. Though it's easy to hit up strip mall chains, some of Ithaca’s best decor deals await newcomers at locally-owned businesses. From ReUse to Home Green Home, affordable posters, bedding, and
lights are a downtown hike or quick bus trip from campus.
Here’s how to go the extra mile sprucing up your decorations without the extra mile commute…
ReUse
One of the greatest resources available to IC & Cornell residents is Finger Lakes ReUse. This non-profit turns Friday through Wednesday drop-off donations
Cards from Handwork, the $1 bin at Loose Threads, or Pastimes postcards & pics are great places to start spicing up your dorm room on budget. (Photos: Kira Walter)
Dump and Run Secondhand Sale Welcomes New and Returning Students
By Carlin Reyen
The Dump and Run sale
August 19 will mark the return of a highly anticipated landmark for college students returning to Ithaca for the fall semester. Through August 25, the annual Dump and Run secondhand sale will be taking place in several storefront locations in The Shops at Ithaca Mall on Catherwood Road.
August 23rd 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (open to public)
August 24th 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (open to public)
August 25th 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (open to public)
Volunteers from the Dump and Run sale collect donations from students and community members in May and sell these donated items in August as a fundraiser for local charitable organizations.
At the end of the spring semester, Dump and Run donation locations are set
Join the Co-op at our Collegetown store and receive a coupon for 20% OFF your next purchase and a FREE bag!
Conditions apply.
Shoppers can explore Cornell’s Dump and Run sale at The Shops at the Ithaca Mall, where donated items find new homes and proceeds support local charities, making it a win-win for the community. (Photo: Carlin Reyen)
up in various locations on Cornell’s campus to collect items discarded by students moving out for the summer.
The sale begins with three days strictly limited to students before it opens its
doors to the general public for its remaining duration.
Bill Apgar, president of Cops, Kids,
Local & organic produce, meat and dairy
Hot Bar, Salad Bar and Deli serving sandwiches, soup & more
Ready-to-go meals, sushi, and baked goods made from scratch
Forty Weight Coffee Roasters Café at Cascadilla store | Cold Brew at all stores
Gluten-Free, plant-based meats and cheese
Local and imported beer and cider
Natural and ethical personal care, vitamins, and other remedies
Eco-friendly household goods, gifts, and floral selection
Co+op Deals and Buy One Get One Free deals for everyone!
Tons of in-store coupons for great brands
Best bulk selection for foods and cleaning supplies
and Toys as well as a twenty-five year veteran with the Tompkins Country Probation Department, showed The Times several storerooms in the mall where donated clothing and household merchandise is being sorted and priced ahead of August’s sale.
“Everything will be out, but it’ll be the best stuff first, because we’ll drop prices as the sale goes on,” said Apgar.
Apgar said that, similar to last year’s sale, there will be a bag sale on the last day of Dump and Run, where customers can pay for a large plastic bag that they are then able to fill with Dump and Run merchandise.
The sale will also feature a select Specials section containing “premier” items from the donation pool, although this section will not open until the sale opens to the public on August 23.
“We believe that this is going to be the biggest sale ever,” Apgar said, noting that last year the sale raised roughly $83,000 for charity.
Apgar said he is the only living person who has been involved in every single
Dump and Run sale since the event’s inception. The sale was established by Lauren Jacobsen and Lisa Heller-Boragine at Cornell in 2001, making it the longest running consecutive dump and run in the country.
As in previous years, Cops, Kids, and Toys will be the beneficiary of this year’s sale again this year. The organization collects, purchases, and distributes toys to financially disadvantaged children in Tompkins County.
Recipient families complete an application, and the charity sources age appropriate toys of interest for each child to the best of their ability. Tyler Mix, project supervisor for the Tompkins County Probation Department and treasurer of Cops, Kids, and Toys, said over 800 children received toy deliveries from the proceeds of the sale this past year. Apgar and Mix said they became involved with the Dump and Run sale as they are both project supervisors at the Tompkins County Probation Department.
Volunteers from the Cops, Kids, and Toys program, including local police agencies, county, and probation department employees, are heavily involved in work for the sale, Apgar said, noting that there
FLY LOCAL, FLY LOCAL,
has been an uptick of volunteers this year after dealing with “some issues” last year.
As the week of July 15 marks Probation Appreciation Week, Apgar said that the entire department will be volunteering at the sale in shifts that week. Mix added that many volunteers assist with the sale as a form of court assigned community service.
“We’re the only ones that actually will have the ability to put out all that labor,” Apgar said. “We’ve also expanded. We don’t just do toys for children at Christmas anymore. Because of this, we’ve been able to take care of needs like car seats, child safety seats, which no other agency at this point in the county has any grants for that.”
Mix added that the Dump and Run has also been assisting the Cornell Police Department after the grant for the department’s Child Safety Seat Program, which provides eligible Cornell families with a free child safety seat for vehicular use, expired.
Apgar added that the Dump and Run is also expanding to provide grants to assist teachers at local school districts with out of pocket expenses, noting that Groton has already received a grant from this initiative.
After the bag sale, not-for-profits are invited to come to the site and take any excess merchandise that might be useful to them. Mix said that among beneficiaries are the Ithaca High School Community Closet, The Children’s Garden, local churches, Volunteer Veterans of America, the Youth Advocate Program, local churches and fire department, and a refugee rehousing program in Ithaca.
Mix added that individuals interested in volunteering or coming to the Dump and Run’s not-for-profit day should email volunteer@dumpandrunithaca.com. Volunteers who complete a minimum of 20 hours will have access to a volunteer presale on August 17.
Cornell’s check-in for fall move-in will be occurring in the Mall at the same time as the Dump and Run sale. The sale has multiple locations, with one located across from Michael’s and the former Bath and Body Works and the other across from Zocalo, in the mall.
Carlin Reyen is a reporter from The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun’s summer fellowship at The Ithaca Times.
year is centered around a new theme, with the most recent being “Turbulence.” Previously showcased films addressed subjects such as fracking and regrowing coral reefs.
The FLEFF is commonly hosted on Ithaca College’s campus and Cinemaplois during the month of April.
Ithacon — April 2025
Since 1976, Ithacon has been the event for those who want to celebrate their love of comic books. The convention is currently organized and run by students at Ithaca College enrolled in the class MGMT 29800 ITHACON: Promoting and Managing Conventions.
Ithacon prides itself on focusing solely on comic books and maintaining a classic 1970’s convention vibe. It hosts a wide array of guests and profits go back into future holdings of the convention.
HIT THE TRAILS
continued from page 13
Trail entrances are located behind Boothroyd Hall and Terraces, with maps available at icnaturallands.com. Trails are in loops, so you may end up in a different part of campus than where you started, unless you turn around halfway.
IC also has opportunities for experiential learning, most notably sustainability classes such as Farming the Forest, which allow students to explore the natural lands and the ways in which they can sustainably harvest and create natural products.
South Hill Recreation Way Trail
Three and a half miles long and open year-round, South Hill Recreation Way Trail is the perfect trail for walking, jogging, biking, and all of your other trail activities. Surrounded by woods, there is usually plenty of wildlife and scenic nature to see along the way.
The gravel trail is also popular for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, and has several benches and picnic tables positioned at scenic points along the trail for any breaks or stops you may desire. Plus, the trail is set to expand by an additional eight miles in the next few years.
The closest entrance to the trail is an 11 minute walk downhill from the center of IC’s campus, right across from the end of
Mac ‘n Cheese Bowl — May 2025
Mac ‘n cheese lovers everywhere were made for this fundraising event. Mac ‘n Cheese Bowl is hosted by Foodnet Meals on Wheels to raise money to contribute toward their current services.
Vendors from all around Ithaca come together to make their own mac ‘n cheese and ticket holders have the opportunity to sample and vote on their favorite. The bowl is traditionally held at the Ithaca Farmers Market.
Spring
Writes Literary Festival — May 2025
This festival brings together over 100 local writers and artists in downtown Ithaca to showcase their work to the public eye. The festival also hosts workshops, readings, and panel discussions, and provides virtual options for people unable to attend in-person.
The festival is typically held from the beginning of May to the middle of the month. Attending the event is free, so even if you can’t stay for long it is still definitely
the on-campus paved pathway that goes from Emerson Hall to Pennsylvania Ave. Although the entrance is walkable from IC’s campus,there is another entrance to the trail right next to two bus stops on TCAT’s Route 11, which serves as the primary bus for IC’s campus. If you get on the 11 outbound bus headed downtown, be sure to hop off at the Hudson @ Coddington stop or the Hudson @ Columbia stop. The same goes for returning to campus. If you want to avoid walking up South Hill, be sure to wait at either stop for the inbound 11 bus and hop off at your stop on campus.
The trail also has a few parking spots and a second entrance located at 113 Juniper Dr, which is just a half mile down the road from IC’s back entrance to campus, near Emerson Hall and the Athletics and Events Center.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY:
East Ithaca Recreation Way Trail
South Hill Recreation Way may be a slight hike for Cornellians, but fortunately, the trail has a twin. A mere five-minute walk from campus, East Ithaca Recreation Way was constructed along the Elmira Cortland & Northern Railroad in 1869. Its track foundations provide for smooth travels whether running, biking, or skiing through the cold season.
The closest access point to Big Red campus is just off Pine Tree Rd, beside
a worthwhile addition to your schedule.
Slope Day — May 2025
Held on the last day of the academic calendar, Slope Day is Cornell University’s end of the year celebration. The event features food, giveaways, and live entertainment. Past performers have included Snoop Dog, Magic!, and Gym Class Heroes.
Slope Day is open to only Cornell students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Non-Cornell affiliated guests are not invited. Attendees are required to purchase a wristband to enter.
Ithaca
Festival — May/June 2025
One of the best and most well-known ways to support the artists of the Finger Lakes region is by visiting the Ithaca Festival. Complete with a parade, craft fair, and over 70 live performances, there is something for everyone to get involved with. Like all worthwhile events, this festival even sells its own commemorative merchandise.
Typically hosted near the end of the academic year, the Ithaca Festival is a
Cornell Print Services and student-run farm Dilmun Hill. Much like its Southern sister, the path runs three and a half miles long, ending out past McGovern Fields for a breathtaking view across Ithaca’s plains. If you find traversing the trail is an easy feat, East Ithaca Recreation Way opens onto Dryden Rail Trail for more scenic rural landscapes. This route leads up towards Varna and Cornell’s iconic Botanic Gardens spanning ten miles, but is well worth the pilgrimage.
Monkey Run Trail
Another well-known neighbor to the gardens is Monkey Run Trail, a ten-mile mecca which weaves through campus and encircles Fall Creek. Also known as Cayuga Trail, this forested path is entangled with a few prime destinations for Cornell students looking to enjoy the sun.
Flat Rock, a prime swim spot, falls just before the suspension bridge connecting Forest Home Drive to Monkey Run. Glistening shallow waters and lots of surface to sunbathe invites many trailblazers to stop and take a dip before heading on their way.
Further from campus, the path promises more aquatic treasures as travelers can leap into hidden swim holes or skip rocks across creek shores. Hikers who commit to the trail may wind up witnessing Varna Cliffs, a spectacular view of fall foliage from a point high above.
great way to celebrate the vibrant Ithaca community before taking off for a welldeserved, relaxing summer.
Gallery Night Ithaca — First Friday of Every Month Gallery Night Ithaca is the event for those looking to support local, regional and international visual artists. The experience is found at various locations around downtown, providing a flexible walking tour experience for those looking for a casual way to spend the evening. Up to 20 venues are available for browsers and collectors alike to enjoy on the first Friday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. To preview the exhibitions for the upcoming month and where to find them, those interested can visit ithacagallerynight.com.
Grace “Gray” Reed is a student journalist from the The Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University working as an intern for The Ithaca Times.
The trail rounds Cornell Equine Park where trekkers can catch the sunset over distant horses at Piglet’s Corner. Only a three minute walk from CALS campus, this trail is a must for those exploring the Cornell natural scene.
Six Mile Creek Natural Area
Although Monkey Runners cross paths with many swim locations, Six Mile Creek Natural Area takes the crown when it comes to best water access. Trails that run through these region lead to first and second dam, stretching as far as Potters Falls. A ten minute commute from college town, Six Mile Creek truly has it all.
Parking at Mulholland Wildflower Preserve, explorers can cross Giles Street to explore Wells Falls or head down or head down more coveted routes that lead to Ithaca Reservoir. Despite a twisting and turning trail, travelers are never too far from a waterfall as they navigate Six Mile Creek. Bridges are a bonus as you can view running water from above at multiple points in your journey. Be sure to bring a bathing suit and head down to this eclectic collection of Ithacan trails.
Whether hailing from IC or Cornell, the wilderness awaits all student bikers and hikers with endless views — even a few secret swim spots. As the semester commences, an outdoor break from academics is well worth fitting into any autumn schedule.
NAVIGATING GHOST KITCHENS
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Beyond these restaurants, Sullivan also owns Ithaca’s most public-facing ghost kitchen at 310 Stewart Ave, aptly named Ithaca Ghost Kitchen. Multiple kitchens on third-party delivery apps operate out of this location, including Sol Cocina, Pass The Pasta, Wrapped, Munchies, The Sweet Tooth, Formaggio, Pronto Craft Pizza, Grilled Cheese Factory, South Street Cheese Steaks, Chick’n Nuggz, and more. These restaurants are all listed on Doordash and tied to the same address as Ithaca Ghost Kitchen.
BEAUTIFYING DORMS LOCALLY
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into shopping treasures at prices that save your wallet some grief.
At 214 Elmira Road, Ithaca ReUse Center offers furniture, electronics, building materials, paintings and other household goods a 15-minute walk from the Commons. The ReUse MegaCenter up at 2255 North Triphammer Road offers a similar variety of decorative items including clothing and an impressive book display.
Since opening in 2007, ReUse has had profound benefits for the community, increasing accessibility to home renovation and employment. When asked about ReUse’s impact in comparison to big corporations like Kohls & Target, longtime manager Sarah Mirabile spoke to the business’s mission.
“It’s about getting materials to people that need them as opposed to mass production,” she said. “We use more of a bottom-up approach.”
A bottom-up approach is ever the more apparent in unique programs that promote community engagement and help repurpose old purchases. In addition to shopping here, students can attend the Fixers Collective from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, where assistance with fixing home appliances is available. The ReSET job training program teaches potential employees technology and customer service skills on a paid basis while new Deconstruction services replace demolition projects.
Pastimes
Finger Lakes ReUse isn’t the only local store redistributing home decor donations this season. Just beyond the
Some have expressed frustrations with the quality of food and customer service at both ITH Hospitality’s brick-and-mortar locations and with the corresponding ghost kitchens. Nationally, concerns have been raised over the effects on food quality and safety that ghost kitchens have, with typically one physical kitchen sharing the space, storage, equipment, staff and ingredients of multiple online food businesses.
Once a booming business model during the delivery-days of the pandemic, there have been recent reports that ghost kitchens are becoming less economically viable as a business model, with many large corporations jumping ship and
doors to Dewitt Mall, Pastimes is an antique shop and Ithaca staple offering decorative items unavailable anywhere else.
Opened in the 1970’s, vintage posters and framed art are only part of interior design inventory at this location. Owner Rebecca Stocking has traveled to state auctions and estate sales expanding the Pastimes collection for decades now.
“You’re not going to see that a friend got something here and come in to get it too,” she told the Times. “Everything here is one of a kind.”
If originality is the aim with defining your dorm, Pastimes’s postcards are a fantastic way to make your walls shine. Organized by city and country, the allencompassing postcard selection may even include your hometown.
Handwork & American Crafts
While some Pastimes products span the globe, Ithaca-related ephemera can provide an aesthetic local touch to your room this semester. For killer home decor pieces, Handwork or American Crafts can turn home into an on-campus masterpiece.
At 102 West State Street, Handwork is Ithaca’s Artisan Cooperative, offering pottery, paintings, and photography that promise to transform any lackluster space into an artistic wonder. Candles, utensils, and gorgeous glass frames ethically made by local artists add flavor to any dorm room lifestyle.
Co-op member Betsy Gram explained how Handwork products can help newcomers discover the beauty of Ithaca.
“A lot of the artists here tap into what is popular locally. Especially drawing inspiration from the natural environment,” she said. “A lot of different people can find
leaving smaller companies behind. In a college town like Ithaca where much of the student population relies on delivery, ghost kitchens still appear to be a thriving business model, at least for Sullivan.
ITH Hospitality did not respond to a request for comment on this story. If you’re craving something new and convenient, ghost kitchens can be a great choice. If you’re looking to support a small, local restaurant that you’ve never tried before, be sure to check the address listed on delivery apps and double-check that it is a brick-and-mortar restaurant. If a menu feels eerily familiar to one you’ve seen before, it may be a ghost kitchen.
their personal taste here.”
Up the block at 158 East State Street, American Crafts by Robbie Dein sells artwork at a broader scale, importing inventory from over 55 stores in the U.S. Dein moved to Ithaca in the 70’s after graduating from Purdue and opened People’s Pottery, selling his own work for three years. Since then, he began buying work from hundreds of professional nation-wide crafts, gaining a reputation as one of the finest ‘Hand-Made in America’ specialty stores.
Now, American Crafts offers a variety of home decorations from eclectic clocks, coasters, mirrors, and lighting. Staff members are well informed in regards to each piece and are highly experienced at recommending items for each diverging price range.
Sunny Days & Loose Threads
For fans of artistic decor, commons classics Sunny Days or Loose Threads might also be worthy stops in your interior design haul. Sunny Days at 171 East Green Street is packed with Ithaca merch from pillows to magnets and so much more. The location is decked out with Finger Lakes wall art, wine glasses, and a gorgeous array of dreamcatchers. A purchase for your space here might help ward off academic nightmares.
Meanwhile, Loose Threads across the street is equipped with jewelry and an awesome set of imported posters. A “one dollar” bin at the door is packed with discount clothing items and other retail gems. The store’s three for one dollar candle deal is a goldmine for anyone who want some extra rustic warmth.
While discussing how students can save at Loose Threads, owner Billy Pargh
ECONOMIC ISSUE FOR WOMEN
continued from page 7
health care through the courts and legislation. There is still so much work to be done and past-administration’s mistakes to be fixed, but the Biden-Harris administration and congressional Democrats are committed to saving lives and helping women secure the care they need.
Maria Martinez is the Executive Director at Empire State Voices, where she ensures New York representatives are held accountable for their actions. She advocates for New York families in various areas, including health care, prescription drugs, housing, and utilities.
recalled his college experience. In terms of decor, he always kept something familiar nearby.
“It’s nice just feeling close to something you recognize,” he said.
Home Green Home
And at Home Green Home, adding familiarity to a dorm becomes an easy task. Two doors down from Loose Threads, Home Green specializes in health furnishings and green living goods. An emphasis on curating a lifestyle that benefits the Earth contributes to the zen atmosphere of this business.
Walking through Home Green’s commons location, natural mattresses and furniture are made from organic cotton, hemp, and linen. These materials support farmers and better ecosystems, also used to create luxurious Home Green towels. Meditation supplies and yoga gear are available throughout the space while books on sustainable cooking and environmental education line Home Green shelves.
Moving to the second floor, incense, candles, and soaps cover wooden surfaces while posters and small figurines contain images of peace. As dorms become hectic with impending studies, a little Home Green ambiance on-campus may alleviate some stress.
Moving isn’t always a smooth transition and it takes a long time for a space to become home. But a little design help from local decor depots can ease help ease the process. Invested businesses nearby remind students that they aren’t alone in their decoration plights annually. At Reuse, Mirabile reiterated this.
“We care about people,” she said. “We want you to find things and have a good time. Enjoy the search!”
Ithaca to Unveil Statues of Frances Perkins and Lucy Brown: Honoring Women’s Contributions
By Matt Dougherty
This past Saturday, Ithaca celebrated the unveiling of two statues honoring the legacies of Frances Perkins and Lucy Brown, two women whose contributions have significantly shaped the local community and the nation. The statues, created by renowned sculptor Meredith Bergmann, are located at two prominent sites in Ithaca, marking an important step in recognizing the historical impact of women.
The idea for the statues began in March 2021 when Carol Kammen, then Tompkins County Historian and chair of the Tompkins County Historical Commission and a small committee, sought to use a $500,000 donation to create statues in Ithaca. The donor’s identity remains anonymous, but the intention was clear: to honor non-traditional figures who have made significant contributions.
Kammen has speculated that the donor might have been inspired by the statues of women’s rights pioneers in Central Park, sculpted by Bergmann.
“We knew we wanted women,” Kammen said, emphasizing the historic underrepresentation of women in public monuments. She added, “Only about 9% of the statues in the United States are dedicated to women.”
Lucy Brown dedicated her life to advancing racial justice, educational equity, and affordable housing. As a co-founder of INHS, Brown was instrumental in the nonprofit’s long-term growth and commitment to affordable housing, especially in Ithaca’s Southside neighborhood. (Photo: Shira Evergreen)
Frances Perkins was a natural choice due to her profound impact on national labor policies, including the Social Security Act, which she championed. Perkins spent the last six years of her life in Ithaca, living at Telluride House and teaching at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR).
Lucy Brown, a local figure, was selected for her leadership and activism within Ithaca, particularly in supporting students of color at Cornell and as a co-founder of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS). “We’ve got the beginning of the 20th century and the end of the 20th century,” Kammen noted, highlighting the range of time periods and contributions represented by the two women.
The unveiling took place at 10 a.m. at two locations in Ithaca. The statue of Frances Perkins is situated on North Cayuga Street, between the Breckenridge apartment parking lot and facing the DeWitt Mall. The main ceremony was held in the adjacent parking lot, and Perkins’ grandson and a dozen men who lived in Telluride House during her time there will attend the unveiling.
Following the unveiling of Perkins’ statue, there was a procession down to Cleveland Street, where Lucy Brown’s statue was revealed on the corner outside the Henry St. John building. Southside Community Center and
other local organizations were involved in planning a celebratory event following the unveiling of Brown’s statue.
Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo underscored the importance of these statues, saying, “Sadly, only 9% of statues in the U.S. represent women, and only 1% honor women of color.”
He continued, “Ithaca is making history not only by recognizing Ms. Perkins and Ms. Brown for their work but also by playing an important role in visibly diversifying how our national memorial landscape reflects the American people.”
Additionally, the statues are included in the global Talking Statues network, allowing visitors to listen to audio narrations about Brown and Perkins by scanning a QR code at each site or using the Talking Statues mobile app. This network, created by Copenhagen-based David Peter Fox, provides an engaging way to learn about women’s historic achievements.
Meredith Bergmann, known for her public monuments that honor women, explained the intricate process of creating these statues. Initially, she crafted a small-scale model, or
Continued on Page 20
& Entertainment
Frances Perkins was a lifelong advocate for working people and social reformer. She was the first female presidential cabinet secretary and the driving force behind Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic New Deal. (Photo: Shira Evergreen)
Cinemapolis Features Award-winning, Cross-cultural, Coming-of-age Film
By David Burak
“Didi,” Which means “Little Brother" is a moving film. It takes us on a fascinating journey into the lives of a varied range of multi-racial characters living in Fremont, California. This fairly biographical movie won the prestigious Audience Award at the most recent Sundance Film Festival.
The core of figures on whom firsttime director Sean Wang focuses are
“Didi”
Written and DIrected by Sean Wang
Starring Izaac Wang, Joan Chen and Shriley Chen
Rated R
Currently playing at Cinemapolis
STRIKE ON TIME
continued from page 4
we’re demanding a fair contract…Workers can not afford to live in Ithaca, NY, [and] shame on Cornell for that,” said UAW Organizer Jorge Rodriguez during the rally.
In response to the strike, Cornell University has prepared contingency plans to maintain essential services, even though disruptions will be expected.
Christine Lovely, Cornell’s Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, released a statement on August 16 explaining the contingency plans. The statement continued, “Any shifts in operations, such as reduced dining hours or offerings,
HONORING WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTIONS
continued from page 19
maquette, to present her ideas to the committee. After approval, she created a halfsize model, refining details such as the folds in the clothing and the figures’ poses. The final statues were then digitally enlarged, cast in bronze, and meticulously detailed by Bergmann and a team of skilled artisans. “It is expensive to create a bronze statue because the bronze casting process takes six or seven months and involves at least ten people,” Bergmann explained.
Taiwanese Americans, transplanted to lives in the US. However, the dad supports his family through a good job in Taiwan.
In any case, Wang’s film is compelling, as it brings us into a complex set of situations which are multi-racial and cross-cultural. Also, we’re providedwith a nuanced look at forms of rapport between a crew of skateboarders and Chris Wang.
He’d been sharing some videos on his computer. One of Chris’s palstells his mother, portrayed by the transcendent Joan Chen, how much he likes the use of color in her paintings. The ensuing exchange prompts Chris to order his mother out of the room.
After this, one of the skateboarders says, dude, “you shouldn’t talk to your mother like that.”
will be communicated on a rolling basis as these impacts may vary day to day.
“Employees represented by the UAW may decide to join the strike, or they may elect to report to work. We respect employees’ right to make this decision.”
Lovely released another statement after the strike began on Monday saying that the university would be reallocating staff to cover positions that will be left vacant because of the strike.
“As we find ourselves in unprecedented territory, the university must utilize the flexibility of reassigning staff from across the campus to meet critical safety and service needs in Dining, Building Care, and the Statler,” Lovely said. “If you are
The statues are designed to be approachable, allowing for interaction with the public. Bergmann aimed to ensure the sculptures felt accessible and connected to the community.
Bergmann is no stranger to creating significant public monuments. She sculpted the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument in Central Park, which features Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The monument was the first in Central Park to depict historical women in a collection previously dominated by statues of men. She also created the Boston Women’s
On another plane, there’s a compelling criss-cross regarding how one’s empathy goes to the skaters, but can also go to the authority figure, after a chase from a public park by an angry police officer.
Despite this early 2000’s scene, one could also be compelled to empathize with law enforcement’s concerns, especially given the dangers of falling down hard on cement. Also, there’s the possibility of being hit in the head by a skateboard, as happened recently in Santa Monica.
Nonetheless, there’s some impressive skater stunt work in this film.
Shirley Chen is impressive as Vivian, Chris Wang’s often ferocious sister. We encounter
willing and able to take on a temporary shift or alternative assignment then please register here.”
In response to the university’s “contingency plans” to respond to the strike, Cornell’s Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) have released a statement informing students about how to stand with the union.
YDSA advises student workers not to cross the picket line and to refuse tasks typically performed by union members. The group advises students currently employed by Cornell Dining not to work during the strike and urges others to delay applying for jobs until the strike is resolved.
Memorial, where the statues are placed at ground level to encourage interaction. “I love it when people can interact with the actual sculpture,” Bergmann said, reflecting on her approach to public art.
The statues of Frances Perkins and Lucy Brown are set to become significant landmarks in Ithaca, offering residents and visitors a tangible connection to the legacies of these remarkable women. The unveiling ceremony will be a momentous occasion, celebrating the power of women’s leadership locally and nationally.
With these statues, Ithaca not only honors two outstanding women but also
her at a family dinner where an argument ensues about how much they should eat. She gets incensed at Chris and yells to her mother and grandmother, “He called me a whore!” Chris contends he called her “a horse,” making reference to her eating too much.
This seems to bolster the import of effective pronunciation, especially in volatile arguments. In any case “Didi” is a film worth seeing, especially in this time when mutual understanding and appreciation is so significant.
They have also informed students of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, which protects their ability to honor the picket line without fear of retaliation, stating, “It is illegal for Cornell to discipline or fire non-union student workers who honor the UAW picket line.”
UAW Region 9 Director Daniel Vicente has said, “The workers at Cornell are pushing back against the university’s arrogance and greed.” Vicente continued, “With a $10 billion endowment, the administration can more than afford the members’ demands. Workers in Local 2300 are showing the university that they are willing to do what’s needed to win what they deserve.”
takes a meaningful step toward balancing the representation of women in public art. “These figures are a wonderful range of what women can accomplish,” Bergmann said, underscoring the importance of commemorating their contributions.
For those unable to attend, the committee will also have photographs of the event available, and Joe Mariani, former Tompkins County Administrator, will publish a booklet detailing the project. The booklet will provide insights into the statues, the committee’s work, and the significance of honoring Perkins and Brown.
Izaac Wang is compelling in Didi, a multi-racial, cross-cultural, coming-of-age film. (Photo courtesy of Focus Films)
Delivering Classic Comfort Food Ithaca Style
By Henry Stark
Iwas disappointed when Sushi O Saki permanently closed their doors in the winter of 2014. Despite its questionable yellow décor, it was my favorite Japanese restaurant. However, on May 4, 2014, my concerns were assuaged when red’s, as management refers to itself, opened in the same space featuring a wonderful affordable selection of creative soups, sandwiches, burgers, flatbreads, salads, sharable plates, and a “kid’s menu” for children eight and under. I used the word affordable because all nineteen sandwiches and burgers cost between $15.75 and $18.00.
A note about the soups: I am not familiar with any other restaurant in this area offering better homemade soups. They change frequently and are $5 for a cup and $7 for a bowl. Recently I had the Creamy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon which was so hearty it could have been a meal in itself. There was so much bacon and Brussels sprouts, there was barely room for the liquid. Soup is included as one of their eight side dishes to accompany an entrée and I always choose it.
The owner obviously wants dining to be an enjoyable experience and has named all of his offerings with, what I think of as “cutesy”, names, and water is served in Ball jars and replenished from glass milk bottles.
I recently had “the funnier fun guy”. This is a basil balsamic, portobello mushroom cap which is marinated and grilled with mozzarella, garlic aioli, arugula, and pickled red onions. It sounds like a vegetarian dish and it is.
TID BITS:
*Ciabatta is a rustic white bread created in Italy in 1982 to try to capture the popularity of the baguette in France at that time. Ciabatta in Italian means a flat, oval shape. I prefer it to baguettes because they’re softer and easier to chew.
The piped in music is kept to a low volume which is fortunate as the vocal groups that are featured can’t possibly be everyone’s taste.
red’s was named, by the owner, out of respect, for his deceased grandfather.
Another dish I really enjoyed is “at high bRISKet”. A large amount of brisket gets a dry rub and then is roasted and placed between two pieces of ciabatta*, which is grilled along with some smoked gouda, apple cider slaw, and some whole grain Dijon mustard. All of these items comingled to provide a crunchy, tasty, original sandwich. I would be happy ordering it every time I went to red’s if there weren’t so many other interesting and unique offerings.
There are a half dozen “entrée size” salads ($15) including “please romaine calm” and “unbeleafable” and many truly vegetarian items.
Gramps slow roasted honey turkey is served open faced on a toasted sub roll. It features pieces of turkey breast, crisp bacon, fontina, a small bit of house made cranberry walnut compote, and some mild garlic aioli. The menu says arugula however I received a clump of watercress which I actually liked better. If you like turkey sandwiches this one is interesting and flavorful.
Farm to ciabatta is a vegetarian artisan sandwich with lots of ingredients including grilled zucchini, eggplant, red pepper, red onion, fennel, fontina, arugula and roasted tomato aioli on grilled ciabatta. It’s a very pleasant sandwich however with all those ingredients, it’s difficult to pick out any particular flavor.
There are a handful of desserts ($5$7). I’ve tried the fruit cobbler with “rotating” fruits and have mixed feelings. Currently, the fruit is peaches which arrive in the restaurant frozen. The cobbler is assembled in the kitchen and then placed in a convection oven, the same one they use for bread, and delivered to our tables steaming hot…I had to wait, literally more than five minutes, until the steam abated and I could place the cobbler anywhere near my mouth as I watched the small scoop of vanilla ice cream melt in front of me.
BEVERAGES: The beer menu is amazing. There are ten draught selections ($7$9) and I’ve never seen a menu with such lengthy descriptions of beers. For example, the description of Ithaca Beer’s Lakeside
Lager runs more than three dozen words. There’s a marvelous collection of draught beers and it that wasn’t enough, there are thirty more in bottles! Another nice touch is they serve some of the beers in brewery glasses, for example Guiness comes in a glass marked Guinness and Allagash Brewing Co. made in Portland, Maine,
comes in a brewery glass with an orange slice on the rim as it’s served in Maine. The dozen wines offer a perfectly adequate selection and there are eight original cocktails ($8 & $9).
Red’s is as good as it gets if you’re looking for a light lunch or dinner in the greater Ithaca area.
Red’s place, known for its unique sandwiches, hearty homemade soups, and an impressive selection of draught beers, is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
The Molar of the Story
Local Author Bill Schutt Publishes New Book, Bite: An
Incisive History of Teeth
By Carlin Reyen
Bill Schutt thinks his effective use of analogy and humor in his new book, Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, From Hagfish to Humans, may have something to do with his roughly three-decade-long career as a professor of science.
“If you look out and they’re looking at their phone, then you’re screwing up,” Schutt said of teaching. “So you try to keep it light, entertaining, keep it moving, be humorous, and then people are watching. It was a really easy transition to go
Bite:
from teaching like that to trying to write like that.”
In Bite, Schutt accompanies the reader throughout his descriptions of vampire bat feeding habits, candiru fact and fiction, and shrew dentition, tempering jargon with interjections of his own. He said that one of his goals in his writing is to dispel common misconceptions and misrepresentations of concepts.
This is not Schutt’s first foray into the “popular science” genre: he previously published Cannibalism: A Natural History, Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures, Most recently, Pump: A Natural History of the Heart, was published in 2021.
As in these previous volumes, Schutt maintains a regimented structure in Bite: examining various zoological case studies
before shifting into discussions of the human species and a history of dental practices.
Schutt, who originally worked in the pharmaceutical industry for eight years, found that he loved the lab work element of his tech job and decided to pursue a Ph.D. in zoology at Cornell University, living in Ithaca from 1990 until 1995. He and his wife moved back to the area last year after retiring, Schutt from Long Island University Post after his 28-year stint there.
He ended up working with Cornell professor John Hermanson, a functional morphologist and modern anatomist, which Schutt credits for spurring his career-long research focus on vampire bats. Schutt’s work took him to Trinidad and facilitated his team’s distinguishing between several vampire bat species.
“That really led me to the first book [Dark Banquet],” Schutt said. “They wanted me to write a book about bats, and I said, ‘Why don’t I write a book about blood-feeding creatures?’ And so I was able to use all of the work that I had done and the field work that I did… out in the rainforest catching these animals and working on them and then bringing them back here [to the university].”
“I had this dream when I was a kid of studying animals in a different way — of traveling and finding out new things about them — and that’s what I was able to do when I got here,” Schutt said. “The experience I had at Cornell was amazing. I had the best mentors.”
Throughout a conversation, Schutt repeatedly attributed his career’s successes to valuable connections with fellow
researchers. In order to narrow down the focus of each chapter of Bite, Schutt said he relied on his network of researchers and friends, asking them, “What’s the strangest stuff that you could come up with?”. He recounted meeting with a different specialist on each subtopic to collect and compile research for Bite.
It was working as a postdoc at the Museum of Natural History in New York City where he met longtime collaborator Patricia J. Wynne, an artist and science illustrator who has created all the diagrams for Schutt’s books to date.
Schutt said that he develops detailed “Steven Spielberg” paragraphs for Wynne to refer to in creating the accompanying illustrations for his books. This care is evident to readers, who will note the carefully labeled diagrams as a helpful reference amidst paragraphs of vivid description on various dental mechanisms.
Of all his current published works, Schutt said writing Cannibalism remains his favorite experience, noting that he worked with Donner Party researchers in the field to uncover historical human remains as part of the research for the book.
He is currently working on two fictional novels: a young reader’s book during World War II in Canada and a series about the Museum of Natural History alternating between the Gilded Age and the 1970s. Schutt and Wynne will be in conversation at an event at Buffalo Street Books September 18 at 5 p.m.
Carlin Reyen is a reporter from The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun’s summer fellowship at The Ithaca Times.
In his latest book, Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, Bill Schutt combines humor and scientific insight to delve into the fascinating world of dental evolution, from vampire bats to human practices. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
An Incisive History of Teeth from Hagfish to Humans, published by Algonquin Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, is on shelves beginning August 13.
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