Board of Education Considers Filling Vacancy Following Member Resignation
By Maddy Vogel
In early August, Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Board of Education member
Katie Apker resigned from her position, prompting a discussion on how to fill her seat on the typically nine-person board.
Apker was elected to the board in May of 2023, securing the third-highest number of votes in a seven-candidate election for four seats. She received just 33 less votes than Sean Eversley Bradwell, current board president and long-time board member who won the most votes in that election.
Board members and the district clerk received notice of Apker’s resignation on Sunday, Aug. 11 and officially accepted Apker’s resignation at the board’s Tuesday, Aug. 13 board meeting. Apker provided a statement to The Ithaca Times regarding her decision to resign.
“Due to recent shifts in my personal and work obligations (unrelated to the ICSD), I am no longer in a position to serve on the Board of Education,” Apker wrote. “I am disappointed not to be able to continue, but have great respect for the remaining members of the Board who continue to serve our Ithaca community.”
Apker would have served two more years before her term was up for reelection if she had not resigned. After the board’s Aug. 13 meeting, Bradwell wrote a statement to the Times regarding Apker’s resignation and her service on the board.
“We are grateful for Katie’s service to the ICSD community,” Bradwell wrote. “There is much work ahead and much to discuss
regarding possible next steps.”
The board has multiple options moving forward — to leave the seat vacant until the next election next May, to fill the seat by appointing a member or to hold a special election.
Although Apker’s resignation is a loss of just one seat on the board, all motions need at least five votes to pass, possibly presenting difficulties if multiple board members are absent from future meetings.
In a recent board meeting, a simple motion to approve expenditures for an annual NYSBA conference failed to pass due to the abstention of one board member from the vote, Apker and Bradwell’s absence, and another members vote against the motion.
The motion to approve expenditures for the conference is typically one that boards pass unanimously, and eventually passed at a later board meeting.
Holding a special election is a costly option for the board to consider, and one that no board members vocally supported
during their discussion on Tuesday, given the financial state of the district after their voted-down budget. Bradwell estimated that to hold a special election, it would cost the district $35,000 to $40,000.
Multiple members supported appointing a new member, with Bradwell and Karen Yearwood expressing support for appointing the candidate with the nextmost votes from the board’s May election.
In May, Moira Lang, who had been on the board for nearly 10 years, received just 419 votes less than Todd Fox, a challenger who was elected in the seven-person race for three seats. If the board chooses to move forward with appointing the member with the next-most votes, Lang would be the first in line to be appointed- if she would accept. If not, Barry Derfel would be next.
“If the individual is interested, that would be an individual that has some knowledge of the board,” Yearwood said.
X Citizen Preparedness Training Offered at Ithaca Airport on September 14th Free Course will be Held in Conjunction with Airport Day & Preparedness Expo (Ithaca, NY) — The Citizen Preparedness Corps (CPC) gives residents the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster or emergency, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions.
The next training session in Tompkins County will be Saturday, September 14th at 10:00am at the Ithaca-Tompkins International Airport, in conjunction with Tompkins County’s Airport Day and Preparedness Expo. September is National Preparedness Month.
CPC trainings are led by New York National Guard members working with experts from the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and are coordinated with local emergency managementpersonnel.
“This training provides an excellent introduction to responding to a natural or humancaused disaster,” stated Geoff Dunn, Community Preparedness Coordinator for Tompkins County Emergency Response. “Afterwards,
be sure to check out the many displays and demonstrations focusing on emergency preparedness, health, and safety.”
A key component of the CPC training is the distribution of NYS Disaster Preparedness Kits to attendees (one per household). The training is offered free of charge, but participants must register in advance at: www.prepare.ny.gov.
CONTACT: Geoff Dunn, Community PreparednessCoordinator, Dept of Emergency Response, 607-257-3888
THE WEB
F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Arthur Whitman
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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,
The ICSD Board of Education is in the process of deciding how to fill the vacant seat left by Katie Apker’s recent resignation. Options include leaving the seat vacant, appointing a new member, or holding a costly special election. (Photo: Maddy Vogel)
IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS UNDERRATED ABOUT ITHACA?
Tompkins County Legislature Considers Arming Probation Officers Amid Safety Concerns
By Matt Dougherty
The County Legislature is discussing a proposal to arm probation officers in Tompkins County. During a recent meeting, the Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 in favor of a resolution authorizing designated officers to carry firearms.
The resolution, which still needs to be approved by the full Legislature, aims to enhance the safety of probation officers tasked with supervising individuals involved in gun-related offenses. This responsibility has grown under the county’s participation in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) grant program.
The resolution was brought forward by the Director of the Tompkins County Department of Probation and Community Justice, Daniel Cornell, who argued that probation officers face significant risks when supervising individuals with histories of gun violence. He explained that the GIVE grant, which Tompkins County received last year, has increased the department’s responsibility to oversee and disarm gun-involved individuals, necessitating additional safety measures.
“We’re encountering situations where we’re at increased likelihood of encountering deadly physical force being used against us in the performance of our job duties,” Cornell said. “The GIVE program requires us to supervise gun-involved convicted felons who should not, and
legally cannot, possess a firearm. Some of them continue to do so, which puts our officers at risk.”
The GIVE grant provides funding to law enforcement agencies to reduce gun violence and mandates that probation officers play a more active role in managing individuals convicted of gun-related crimes. According to Cornell, the grant has resulted in a growing number of such individuals under probation supervision, often requiring officers to conduct searches and seize firearms, sometimes without immediate support from police.
Cornell emphasized that while probation officers are trained to de-escalate situations and retreat when necessary, there are circumstances where they may face imminent threats from armed individuals.
“Currently, we have no method of self-defense. We don’t have anything other than a choice between fleeing quickly or potentially physically fighting with someone,” he said. “In situations where you’re unable to escape and someone’s threatening you with a deadly weapon, a firearm would give us a means of defending ourselves with like force.”
Support for the resolution was expressed by several committee members, including Rich John, who found the arguments for arming officers compelling. “I think the presentation that was made last month was pretty complete and compelling,” John said. “I’m fully in agreement
with the points that were made.”
Another supporter, Lee Shurtleff, stressed that the proposal is primarily about protecting county employees who are placed in dangerous situations due to their duties under the GIVE grant. “This is all about their safety, not about the response to the broader community on handling complaints,” Shurtleff said. He noted that the probation officer’s responsibility to supervise gun-involved individuals inherently involves risks that justify the need for arming them.
Shurtleff also highlighted the role of probation officers in removing firearms from individuals who should not possess them, arguing that this makes the community safer overall. “The GIVE detail took 23 illegally possessed firearms from people who should not have had them,” he said.
“Adding seven firearms in the hands of trained law enforcement professionals to continue that effort makes the community as a whole safer.”
However, the proposal also faced opposition, particularly from Legislator Veronica Pillar, who raised concerns about the broader implications of introducing more firearms into the community. Pillar questioned whether arming probation officers would improve safety and pointed to ongoing community discussions about reducing the presence of firearms in law enforcement roles.
“There’s been a lot more thinking of policing and moving in the direction of disarming officers, like fewer guns, not more,” Pillar said. “I’m consistently skeptical that
“In Greater Ithaca, I’d say agriculture.”
– Nancy
“The birding spots. Hammond Hill is a great place for warblers.”
– Theresa
“I think Cornell is pretty underrated, specifically the Lab of Ornithology, Cooperative Extension and other programs that the public can utilize.”
– Lance
“The locals. Not just the people who grew up here but also the people who can’t imagine leaving.”
– Esther
“Yeah, I gotta say the locals too.”
– Brian
Probation Director Dan Cornell has advocated in favor of arming probation officers, citing increasing instances of officers working with the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) unit facing life threatening situations while supervising individuals under probation. (Photo: Tompkins County)
If the resolution is approved by the County Legislature, a total of seven probation officers would be armed as part of their duties under the GIVE grant program. The armed probation officers would not patrol the wider community, they would only conduct supervision of gun-involved individuals on probation. (Photo: Tompkins County)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Molinaro Flip Flops on Abortion; Riley Trusts Women
“On one of his recent taxpayer-funded postcards, Marc Molinaroquoted himself saying he’d “support strengthening laws protecting abortion.” The fine print gives the date as Halloween 2018 — when he was running for Governor. It seems that was a trick, not a treat, because Molinaro’s votes since becoming our Congressperson have done exactly the opposite.
In fact, Molinaro has voted 6 separate times against codifying Roe v. Wade; 5 times to overturn a Defense Department policy guaranteeing abortion access to service members regardless of where they are stationed; once for a bill that could imprison doctors for providing abortions; and once against protecting funding for Planned Parenthood. Instead, he’s voted to support“crisis pregnancy centers” that use extreme tactics to pressure women not to have abortions. When Molinaro ran for Congress in 2022, he first supported a 17-week abortion ban, and then shifted to 15 weeks. That’s supposed
to be the “compromise,” moderate position. However, it does not mean — in any way — that abortion access would be guaranteed or available before 15 weeks. States could still restrict abortion before 15 weeks, but states like New York could not allow abortion after it.
If Molinaro truly supported “strengthening laws protecting abortion” back in 2018, he does not anymore. Just like Donald Trump, he’s terrified that we’ll notice. Josh Riley actually will protect women’s autonomy and freedom. We can trust him to trust women. Let’s elect Josh Riley to Congress.” — Martha Robertson
RE: Opposition to Including Nuclear Power in New York’s Long Term Energy Plans
“Americans have endured a tough summer of excessive heat, extensive flooding and insidious wildfires. Sadly, lives have been lost and property has been destroyed due to these climate-induced disasters. Progress to decarbonize our energy production needs to happen as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Gov. Hochul convened the Future Energy Economy Summit in Syracuse this month to address long-term energy plans for New York State. Many of us were taken aback as she spoke of strong support for nuclear energy.
The nuclear option is a bad choice for so many reasons. Our climate crisis is extremely The
Continued on Page 23
Feeding Families and Addressing Affordability in the Southern Tier
By Lea Webb
As I travel around our district, community members in Broome, Cortland, and Tompkins Counties have shared their optimism about manufacturing jobs returning to our region. There is much to celebrate with Binghamton recently named as a federal battery tech hub and Menlo Micro bringing jobs and a huge investment in microelectronic production to Lansing. The tech manufacturing boom will bring prosperity to our region and state, and I am proud of the federal, state, and local partnerships working together to ensure that the Southern Tier plays a central role in its development and ongoing success.
At the same time, our communities are still struggling, as we continue to rebuild from the pandemic, many families worry about everyday affordability. From the Town of Union, to the Village of Homer, working families across my district struggle to put food on their table, pay their rent or mortgage, and keep up with their utility bills.
Our region has some of the highest poverty rates in the state. 875,000 families in New York have experienced some form of food insecurity according to a recent report from the NYS Comptroller's office. This means that many of our neighbors experience mild to moderate food insecurity and lack consistent access to enough safe and nutritious food to sustain growth and development. For children and families experiencing food insecurity, this means living with hunger, but also increased levels of mental health struggles and chronic diseases like diabetes.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
continued from page 3
“On this board currently, the majority of us are under three years, knowledge-wise.”
If the board appoints a new member, which appears likely, the person would serve a temporary term on the board until next May, where their seat would be up for a vote. Some board members opposed this notion, believing that if the public were to vote for a new candidate now, there may be a different outcome.
Food insecurity impacts 23.5% of the residents of Broome County, with 15,212 households relying on SNAP benefits to meet their basic needs (NYSDOH, 2023). This is why I fought to fund Double Up Food Bucks NY in this year’s budget, an incentive program that matches every dollar that a SNAP recipient spends to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables. This program, which recently extended with VINES in Binghamton and launched at GreenStar Market in Ithaca, addresses food insecurity by providing access to healthy foods and also supports farmers and our local economy by ensuring that more customers are buying locally-grown produce.
Addressing this issue has always been a priority of mine. I recently delivered $400,000 to support critical infrastructure upgrades for the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. This local institution feeds more than 31,000 food-insecure people every week and distributes 18 million pounds of food annually.
When everyone in our community has access to fresh, healthy food, kids will get the nutrition they need to learn and grow, teens and adults can better maintain employment, and families won’t have to worry about being able to put food on the table. I will continue to fight for transformative programs like Free School Meals and Double Up Food Bucks because our communities grow stronger when our fundamental needs are met and we support our ability to thrive.
Senator Lea Webb represents the 52nd Senate district, which includes Cortland County, Tompkins County, and part of Broome County.
“Personally, I think I would like to see [...] all of the people on the board elected by the community,” Board Vice President Adam Krantweiss said. “I think it’s possible to operate functionally with an even number [of board members].”
The board has an agenda item up for a vote at their Tuesday, September 10 meeting to appoint Lang. Due to our print deadline, we are unable to include the results of that vote in this week’s print edition. Please check ithaca.com for updates and the results of the board’s vote.
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
The Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County (CAP) has announced a groundbreaking distribution of $200,000 in grant funding for 2024, aimed at supporting local artists, organizations, and educational programs.
Downs
New York State has seen a surge in hate crimes over the last five years with 1,089 reported instances in 2023, marking the highest number since data collection and annual reporting were mandated by New York’s Hates Crimes Act of 2000, according to a report by State Comptroller DiNapoli. The number is 69% more than in 2019.
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
The increase in core enrollment at TC3 is up 6.5% from last year, with the biggest increase coming in students attending part-time (12.4%).
This year, the freshman class is made up predominantly by local students. Nearly 60 percent of new students come from Tompkins and Cortland Counties, and another 25 percent of the class comes from neighboring counties.
Seen
Family & Children's Service of Ithaca held their Sixth Annual Cardboard Boat Race on Sunday, September 8 from 1 PM – 4:30 PM at the Ithaca Yacht Club. All proceeds support F&C’s mission of providing high-quality, accessible mental health services to the members of our community.
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 Tompkins County continue funding the Community Justice Center without any reductions?
48 3 % Yes . 44.8% No.
6.9 % I don’t care. N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N :
Unsafe Conditions and Contract Complaints at the Teamsters Picket Line at BorgWarner
By Matt Dougherty
As the Teamsters Local 317 strike at BorgWarner enters its second day, negotiations between the union and BorgWarner are continuing as union members are voicing their frustrations over unfair contract proposals and unsafe conditions at the picket line.
Kim Hollenbeck, a 17-year employee of BorgWarner, detailed the union’s concerns, including wage issues, stringent attendance policies, and inadequate health benefits.
“BorgWarner wasn’t willing to give us anything,” Hollenbeck said. “They gave us a $1 raise a year ago, but when they did their percentages, they took that dollar away from us and put it in the percentages to make it look like we’re getting a lot—and we are not.”
The union is advocating for better wages, improved health insurance, and more reasonable attendance policies. Union members have rejected BorgWarner’s proposals, saying the terms do not adequately address their needs.
Teamsters Strike Committee Chairperson Lane Yon described the company’s offers as a “smack in the face,” noting that the membership fears losing vital benefits while the company saw a 12.37% increase in revenue from 2022 to 2023, equating to approximately $14.2 billion in profit.
Further complicating the situation is BorgWarner’s plan to outsource jobs to Mexico by 2026, a decision that has fueled the union’s decision to strike. Regarding the outsourcing plans, Yon said, “We don’t have control over that…At the end of the day, it’s about corporate greed and cheap labor.”
Should Tompkins County pass a resolution that would allow probation officers to carry weapons?
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
Hollenbeck expressed frustration with the company’s attendance policy, which would penalize workers with termination after four tardies, even in cases where they needed to care for sick family members. “If you were late four times, or you even left to take care of your sick parents or child they wanted to give us a tardy, [and] after four you’re out — really fired.”
Hollenbeck also noted significant concerns with the company’s proposed changes to health benefits, which would make it difficult for workers to access affordable insurance without incurring extra costs. “Our insurance is based on points,” Hollenbeck explained. “You have to go to the doctor for disability, get a dental cleaning—jump
through all these hoops to get your free insurance. But if you want the more expensive insurance, it will make it so that you’re pulling more money out of your pocket.”
The union has also pushed back against changes to vacation accrual and overtime assignment procedures. Hollenbeck described how the company’s proposal would require employees to wait until their anniversary date to receive vacation time, a shift that would inconvenience many workers.
Additionally, changes to the overtime process would allow supervisors to pick and choose employees for shifts without respecting seniority, which Hollenbeck says undermines fairness in the workplace. “They wanted to make it so that your supervisor could pick and choose who was gonna work, whether you had seniority rights or not.”
Union member Judd Parrott added that tensions at the picket line have escalated, with safety becoming a concern. “Two individuals were hit this morning; one of them went to the hospital,” Parrott said, referring to incidents involving picketers being struck by vehicles near the plant.
Parrott claimed that one of the vehicles was driven by the plant manager, Kelly Nelson, whom he described as “a scab out of Alabama.” Parrott emphasized that the union views these actions as part of a broader effort to undermine their strike and diminish worker solidarity.
According to Parrott, the union perceives Nelson’s presence at the plant as an attempt to break their collective bargaining efforts. “He’s only employed here to union bust us. That’s it,” Parrott said, expressing his belief that Nelson’s role is to weaken the union’s stance during negotiations.
In a statement responding to the allegations that Nelson hit a picketing union
member with his vehicle, BorgWarner’s Global Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Michelle Collins, told the Ithaca Times, “While there was an incident at the plant yesterday morning involving a vehicle and an individual walking the picket line, Kelly Nelson was not the driver of the vehicle and was in no way involved in the incident.” Collins added, “I would like to make it clear that Mr. Nelson was in the plant already at the time the incident occurred.”
Collins continued saying that BorgWarner has presented several contract proposals to the union that “provide substantial wage increases, additional paid time off, and other improvements” but that the union has not accepted the offers.
When asked about the details of the negotiations, Collins said, “I cannot give you specific numbers, [but] the key topics are wages, benefits, time off, and overtime.” She added, “BorgWarner has been working to reach a sustainable agreement with the Teamsters that will improve the lives of our workforce.”
Regarding the contract offers from BorgWarner, Parrott said, “This is the worst contract we’ve ever seen,” calling the proposals a “union-busting contract.”
Despite ongoing talks, there has been little progress in reaching a new agreement. Parrott mentioned that the company previously refused to engage in substantial discussions, opting instead to repeatedly present the same contract terms.
In a statement to the Ithaca Times, Teamsters Local 317 Principal Executive Officer Duane E Wright said, “Approximately 775 Union members are seeking fair and living wages and affordable health
Teamsters Local 317 members picket outside BorgWarner’s facility on Warren Road, voicing concerns over unfair contract proposals and unsafe conditions at the picket line. Workers demand fair wages, reasonable. attendance policies, and better health benefits as negotiations continue. (Photo: Matt Dougherty)
Draft of Ithaca’s Newest Neighborhood Plan Reveals Future City Priorities for Downtown
By Maddy Vogel
Last week, the City’s planning board looked over the completed draft of the downtown plan, a long-delayed neighborhood improvement plan that city officials have been working on since 2019.
The Downtown plan is the third neighborhood plan that is a part of phase two of the City of Ithaca’s 2015 Comprehensive Plan, Plan Ithaca. Before the city’s first shot at tackling the downtown plan was halted during the pandemic, the city had successfully completed the Greater Southside and Waterfront neighborhood plans.
In collaboration with Common Council, The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) and the planning and development board, City planners have drafted the 77-page document which they hope will create a course of action for future improvements to downtown that will fit the community’s needs. The goals outlined by Plan Ithaca have helped shape many of the recommendations that the downtown plan specifically identified.
The city outlined the areas that define downtown by looking at which areas of the city were the densest urban areas with a mixture of residential and commercial spaces. The three character areas that emerged were the downtown core, the W State St. Corridor and the West End, be-
cause these areas shared a number of different traits and needs.
Earlier this year, the city and DIA began an extensive public outreach period seeking community feedback from people who interacted with the downtown area on all levels, including people who live, work and visit downtown. Since then, officials have outlined the community priorities that emerged from those conversations within the plan.
Drafting recommendations within the plan was also assisted by meetups with community groups and the formation of an advisory committee, which Senior Planner Yamila Fournier says did a deep dive on the needs of downtown. The priorities that the city outlined in the plan were divided into six areas: land use, economic vitality, community liveability, mobility and transpor-
tation, natural and cultural resources, and sustainability.
At the meeting, Fournier described six key focus areas that emerged as recommendations specifically for keeping a bustling downtown neighborhood, but there are dozens of recommendations included in the draft of the plan. Key recommendations which Fournier cited included supporting retail growth and brick-and-mortar locations.
Because the downtown area has become increasingly residential, the plan says the city must work to meet essential needs of downtown residents, citing childcare facilities and convenient access to groceries as examples.
The downtown conference center was cited several times throughout the plan as
The Downtown Plan recommends identifying locations and funding for public restrooms, handwashing facilities, drinking water stations, and dog-friendly spaces along the Commons and West State Street Corridor. (Photo: File)
The Downtown Plan also proposes studying the potential redevelopment of the Seneca Street Parking Garage, with a focus on exploring opportunities for affordable housing on the site. (Photo: File)
an establishment that will greatly influence the downtown neighborhood in the coming years, especially with the tourism and number of visitors it will bring.
The plan calls for further affordable housing and permanent supportive housing to be developed downtown and on the West End, specifically suggesting vacant offices and the potential redevelopment of the Seneca Street Parking Garage be studied. In later chapters, the plan doubles down on the eventual closure of the Seneca Street Garage, which will need parking alternatives and redevelopment support.
The plan acknowledged the importance of historic preservation, recommending that development within the historic district be historically compatible and suggested that there be increased access to historic interpretation materials.
Recommendations also include improving the partnership between the City and the DIA to ensure that downtown is a safe, clean place that welcomes visitors. The plan additionally recommends that the City implement targeted strategies to address vacant and distressed properties in the area.
Recommendations within the public safety chapter of the plan include proposals of quarterly meetings and improved communication with downtown businesses, along with working with private proper-
ty owners to enhance safety at vacant commercial spaces with adequate lighting and exterior property maintenance. On multiple occasions, the plan calls for improved visibility and infrastructure improvements in Dewitt Park.
A visible presence of public safety responders, including IPD, a community outreach team and other service providers is also listed as a recommendation for improved public safety.
The plan suggests that there should be increased connectivity with Six Mile Creek and that stormwater infrastructure be evaluated to ensure that downtown is able to handle increased rain and be climate-resilient. Further infrastructure improvements include identifying locations and funding for public restrooms, handwashing facilities, drinking-water stations, and dogfriendly spaces on the Commons and along the W. State St. Corridor.
In the liveability chapter, the plan suggests future improvements to sidewalks, parks, mobility infrastructure, and other community amenities. The plan also suggests that the city support a low-barrier shelter and a day-use facility for unhoused and vulnerable populations accessible from the downtown area.
Pedestrian and cyclist safety emerged as one of the biggest priorities, according to Fournier. The plan recommends that intersections, particularly those on Meadow and Fulton Streets be evaluated and recommends that some parking be converted into bike-friendly infrastructure.
measures and improved lighting. (Photo: File)
Culturally, the plan supports the downtown events and public art, and suggests that the city look for ways to expand these opportunities and increase the events held in public spaces. The plan recommends that the city strengthen connections to food access by supporting the Downtown Farmers Market, removing barriers to food waste composting and exploring the idea of rooftop edible gardens downtown.
The County, City and DIA are expected to implement new wayfinding signage in the next year, which the plan says will provide a sense of identity throughout each neighborhood and drastically improve the experience of downtown.
Fournier said that the city received almost 1,500 responses, which was an unprecedented amount of feedback. DIA Chief Executive Officer Nan Roher echoed Fournier’s sentiments, and emphasized the impact the document will have on future DIA operations.
“This is a really important document for us to really plan our next steps from funding to programs and how we really do our work on a daily basis,” Roher said.
The planning board seemed supportive of the plan from the initial overview they received from Fournier.
“I think it’s an incredible document and I’m looking forward to reviewing the changes,” planning board chair Emily Petrina said. “I think it’s really representative of what Ithaca can be.”
The planning board must now review the full plan before the next meeting on Sept. 24, where they will develop a recommendation on adoption for Common Council. The council is expected to hold a public hearing on the plan at their Oct. 9 or Nov. 12 meeting, with the plan up for vote at their Nov. 6 or Dec. 4, meetings.
To view a full draft of the plan and an outline of the upcoming dates which pertain to the plan, visit https://www.cityofithaca.org/771/ Downtown-Plan
The draft Downtown Plan calls for improvements in DeWitt Park, including better visibility and infrastructure enhancements. Reccomendations include increased safety
Three distinct character areas are included within the boundary of the Downtown Study Area. The areas include: The Downtown Core, West State/MLK Jr. Street Corridor, and the West End. (Photo: The City of Ithaca Downtown Plan)
Fall Guide A Family-Friendly Fall Day Trip to Iron Kettle Farm
By Maddy Vogel
As fall descends upon the Finger Lakes Region, Iron Kettle Farm is gearing up for its 56th season. A family farm with a rich history, Iron Kettle is known for enchanting fall visitors each year, from homegrown produce to its unique corn maze.
Located on 707 Owego Rd. in Candor, and operated by sister duo Bonnie Jensen and Jennifer Jennison, Iron Kettle Farm’s operations flourish during their two seasons — spring and fall.
Each spring, the farm blooms with a greenhouse full of annuals, perennials and hanging baskets of flowers. With over an acre of space used to grow their plants, the farm is also able to sell a wide array of fresh vegetables.
The time of year that the farm is more
Iron Kettle Farm
known for though, is their fall season. The farm welcomes locals and visitors from across the east coast each fall with their array of family-friendly activities. At the farm, there is a whiteboard where visitors can write where they traveled from.
“It’s just kind of fun to read where different people come from,” Jensen said. “I know they’ve come a ways before, we just have a lot bigger draw in the fall. It’s more of a destination, you can come and spend the day.”
Jensen and Jennison’s parents started the farm in 1969, but the sisters have been running the operations by themselves the past few years since their parents and brother have retired.
Jensen grew up on the farm that her parents cultivated, which left a lasting impact on her. After graduating from Cornell University in 1992, she came right back to the farm. Her sister graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in 1995 and similarly returned home.
“We both grew up here, you know, this is our family farm and it’s natural progression to take over something that you’ve worked so hard for and so long for,” Jensen said. Out of the dozens of activities the farm
provides, the first things to open each fall are the farm market and gift shop. The market welcomes visitors with homegrown sweet corn, pumpkins, candies, baked goods, apples, popcorn, jams, canned goods and more.
Later in the fall, as the leaves start to turn, characters start to pop up all around the farm. But coordinating the farm’s activities and dis plays each year is a big job. Each year, every display and activity has to be set up and taken down.
Currently, Jensen said she is working on setting up some of the fall displays that will greet families in the next few weeks, up until the farm closes for the season on Halloween day.
“Right now I’m working on putting up all of my nursery rhyme and storybook characters that surround my parents’ farmhouse,” Jensen said.
Jensen said that the farm starts to see the most visitors the last week of September and into October, when all of the activities are set up. She estimates that the farm will be fully set up on Sept. 28 this year.
There is no admission fee to enter the farm and view the endearing character
displays, but there are ticket fees for some activities, including the corn maze, pumpkin slingshot, hayride, and more. There is also a charge to feed the farm animals — one of the farm’s more popular activities. Jensen said that although many elements of the farm are kid-oriented, there are parts that people of all ages can enjoy.
“We try to have something for everyone to enjoy, from young kids right through to the grandma and grandpas,” Jensen said.
This is the farm’s 56th fall season, which will have some new displays for visitors to see.
“We try to improve a little each year, change a little each year, and just try and keep making it better,” Jensen said.
For Jensen, one of the most rewarding parts of operating the farm that her family began is seeing returning faces and families.
“What’s really nice for Jenn and I is that we’re starting to see generational customers,” Jensen said. “A grandma will come with her daughter, who she brought, and now her grandkids. It’s a family tradition, we really enjoy talking to those people.”
Finger Lakes Fall Winery Events
By Matt Dougherty
This fall, the Finger Lakes are chockfull of events that celebrate the area's rich winemaking traditions and scenic beauty. From live music and food pairings to festive grape stomping and holiday-themed gatherings, wineries around each of the lakes are hosting a wide array of events that are sure to entertain. Here’s a comprehensive look at what each lake has to offer.
Seneca Lake: Live Music, Harvest Celebrations, and Holiday Cheer Seneca Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes, known for its vibrant winery scene, is hosting numerous events this fall that promise to entertain both locals and visitors alike.
At Ventosa Vineyards in Geneva, “Live Music Wednesdays” will run through October 30, featuring local musicians performing amid the backdrop of the picturesque vineyards. These weekly events provide a relaxed atmosphere for guests to enjoy live performances while sipping on some of Seneca Lake’s finest wines.
Three Brothers Wineries and Estates will host a “Silent Disco” on September 20, where guests can dance to DJ-curated playlists through wireless headphones while surrounded by the scenic vineyards. This unique experience combines the serenity of the outdoors with a vibrant nightlife vibe, making it a standout event this fall.
For those looking to get into the holiday spirit, the “November Deck the Halls Weekend” on November 22-24 is not to be missed. This self-guided tour allows participants to visit 19 participating wineries along Seneca Lake, each adorned with festive holiday decorations. Guests will enjoy curated wine and food pairings and receive collectible holiday ornaments at each stop, making it a perfect start to the festive season.
Cayuga Lake: Music, Wine Tasting, and Seasonal Delights
Cayuga Lake will also be hosting a variety of events, starting with live music at various wineries such as Six Mile Creek Vineyard and Buttonwood Grove Winery. Both venues offer live music events on weekends, where guests can unwind with
a glass of wine and enjoy the talents of local musicians. Six Mile Creek Vineyard, known for its serene setting, provides the perfect backdrop for an evening of relaxation and entertainment.
Sheldrake Point Winery will host “Harvest Dinners” every weekend in October, featuring wine pairings with farm-to-table meals. These dinners are designed to highlight the season’s bounty and showcase the best of Cayuga Lake’s culinary offerings alongside its award-winning wines.
Goose Watch Winery, located on the western shore of Cayuga Lake, will host “Harvest Festival” on October 7, which includes grape stomping, food trucks,
and family-friendly activities such as corn mazes and pumpkin painting. This event is a great way for visitors to immerse themselves in the fall harvest traditions of the Finger Lakes.
Keuka Lake: European Flair, Charitable Causes, and Outdoor Fun Keuka Lake offers a mix of traditional and unique events this fall. Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport will celebrate with “An Austrian Heuriger¿ from September 6-8. This event replicates the traditional Austrian wine tavern experience, complete with authentic Austrian food, wine, and music. Guests can savor Rieslings and other European-style wines produced right in the heart of the Finger Lakes.
On September 27-28, Keuka Lake will be the setting for a Ukrainian Benefit Event at Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in Hammondsport. This charity event will feature Ukrainian music, crafts, and a special selection of wines, with proceeds supporting Ukrainian relief efforts. It’s a meaningful way for the community to come together and enjoy wine while supporting a global cause.
Additionally, Bully Hill Vineyards will host “Hike and Taste” events on weekends throughout October, where visitors can enjoy guided hikes through the vineyard’s scenic trails followed by a tasting session featuring Bully Hill’s popular wine selections. This event is perfect for nature enthusiasts who want to explore the outdoors and learn more about viticulture in the region.
Ventosa Vineyards in Geneva is where you can find weekly “Live Music Wednesday’s” that blend local talent with stunning vineyard views, creating a perfect setting for wine lovers. (Photo: Ventosa Vineyards)
Gather a Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in Hammondsport, NY, for a Ukrainian Benefit Event, enjoying fine wines and cultural performances in support of global relief efforts. (Photo: Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery)
U-Pick Apple Places in Ithaca and Beyond
By Maddy Vogel
Whether you’re looking for buckets-full or just a few, Upstate New York is one of the best places to find apples, and they’re not just available to buy in stores. Tompkins County is home to several orchards and farms where you can pick your own apples, fresh off the tree.
New York State is the second-highest apple-producing state in the U.S., and Cornell University’s renowned AgriTech apple-breeding program has produced over 69 varieties of iconic apples including the Empire, Ruby Frost and Jonagold.
This year’s crop is looking more promising than last year’s, after a late spring frost caused many farms to yield few to no apples in 2023. In July, Gregory Peck, associate professor for the School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section at Cornell University told the American Cider Association that the crop for cider apples was looking like it would be one of the best in the past few years.
Peck wrote that New York had a couple of scary mornings in April that saw temperatures in the low 20’s, but caused minimal damage to most orchards. He estimated that apples would be ready a week or more early this year as a result of a warm spring and an early bloom.
Here are some of the best places in Tompkins County to visit and pick your own apples this fall.
Indian Creek Farm
At Indian Creek Farm on Trumansburg Rd., Honeycrisp and McIntosh apples are already prime for picking. In addition
to their apple varieties, the farm also has asian pears, sauce tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, flowers and herbs available for U-pick this time of year.
In the summer, the 100-year-old orchard has plenty of other fruit for U-pick, including a popular raspberry and peach picking season. They also expect to have pumpkins available in October.
In addition to their crops, the farm also sells “Orchard Ambrosia,” a fresh, unpasteurized juice beverage made from apples picked straight from the trees and sells apple cider donuts Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The farm is located half a mile north of Cayuga Medical Center and TCAT Route 21 has a stop right by the farm. They do fresh crop email alerts for those interested in being notified when new crops are available.
1408 Trumansburg Road Ithaca NY 14850
Open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (607) 227-8248 indiancreekithaca.com
Littletree Orchards
Opening Saturday, Sept. 14, Newfield’s Littletree Orchards will be open with Empire, Jonagold, 21 Mixed Yellows, Jonathan, Baldwin and Northern Spy varieties of apples available this year for U-pick and even more varieties available pre-picked.
Littletree aims to provide visitors with a welcoming pick-your-own apples experience, and have a low-spray, organicfocused, Integrated Pest management approach.
The orchard specializes in apples, but also sells sweet cherries, raspberries,
blueberries and Asian pears during the summer. They also sell their own apple products in a store on the property, including apple cider vinegars, apple cider, apple cider tonics, apple sauce, apple butter, apple chips and more.
They’re expecting a short picking season, but have robust breakdown of when specific varieties of apples are expected to ripen on their website.
345 Shaffer Road
Newfield NY 14867
Open Sept. 14 through Oct. 6th on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
607-564-9246
littletree-orchards.com
McKissick Farms
Known as Baker’s Acres before being purchased by Cayuga Landscape Company in 2021, David McKissick Fernandez renamed the farm in honor of his mother, Audrey McKissick Fernandez. The farm is 80 acres and has its own growing facility, greenhouses, gardens, beehives and fertile farmland which accompanies their 5-acre apple orchard.
This year, the farm has pesticide-free apples. The farm also offers annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and other gardening supplies in addition to 15 varieties of apples. A full list of varieties can be found on their website.
1104 Auburn Road
Groton NY 13073
607-533-0135
https://bfehr3.wixsite.com/mckissickfarms
(Photo: Indian Creek Farm)
(Photo: Littletree Orchards)
(Photo: Visit Ithaca)
(Photo: McKissick Farms)
Big League Birding
By Mark Syvertson
If you are looking to expand your knowledge of birds beyond the realm of sports mascots (think Blue Jays, Cardinals, Orioles, Eagles), Ithaca provides a wealth of resources, locations, and experts to help get you in the game. But before you grab your binoculars, your first stop should be the app store on your smartphone.
Developed by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology, Merlin Bird ID helps novices and experts alike identify the species around them. You can use your built-in microphone to record bird songs and Merlin will give you real-time analysis of the singing species. If you manage to capture a photograph of a bird, it can give you an illustrated list of probable species. If you’re not tech–savvy, a second-hand copy of a bird field guide can be purchased for less than $10.
Once you’re ready to hit the trail, Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology should be your first stop. The newly-
renovated Visitor Center provides intimate views of the pond and the bird feeders.
Sapsucker Woods boasts 5 miles of trails, covering a wide range of habitats, and you’re free to explore from dawn til dusk.
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, local experts offer guided bird walks. Led by Cayuga Bird Club volunteers, these 90 minute walks are designed with the beginner in mind and the Visitor Center has binoculars you can borrow for the walk if you don’t already have a pair.
Have you already mastered identifying the birds in your neighborhood? Consider another digital offering from the Lab of O: eBird. Either via the app store or eBird.org, you can access a map of “hotspots” in the area where birds have been spotted, search for specific species you’re hoping to see, and keep track of your sightings or checklists in your Life List. Veteran birders will also want to sign up for Rare Bird Alerts (RBAs) for Tompkins County or statewide
to keep tabs on the birds you won’t see everyday.
Unlike most major sports, birding has no offseason. Over 250 species of birds have been seen in Tompkins County in 2024 alone. While Spring migration gets a lot of attention, Autumn is a great time to catch migrants on their return trip to the South. During the winter months, huge rafts of ducks populate Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned pro, the Finger Lakes region offers accessible big-league birding opportunities no matter your level of skill or experience.
List of Birding Hotspots:
Woods Road in Ithaca
• Stewart Park and Renwick Woods –1 James L. Gibbs Dr in Ithaca
• Myers Point – Marina Rd in Lansing Field Guide Recommendations
• “Birds of Eastern and Central America” by Roger Tory Peterson
• Sapsucker Woods – 159 Sapsucker
• “Birds of North America” by Golden Field Guide Series
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned birder, the Finger Lakes region offers year-round opportunities to spot over 250 species. (Photos: Mark Syvertson)
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Museum Exhibits to Visit in Ithaca this Fall
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By Grace “Gray” Reed
Autumn is on the horizon in Ithaca and with it comes a series of new and ongoing exhibits for the public to explore. The city is filled with a variety of museums for visitors and locals alike to take in, with many showcasing art and knowledge for a limited time throughout the year. The Ithaca Times rounded up some of the area’s most intriguing exhibits for you to explore this upcoming fall.
Herbert F� Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University
On display from Aug. 10 to Dec. 8 is the
Beverly Pepper and Elaine Reichek exhibit, which explores how the formal qualities of each artists’ respective work pushed against the artistic norms of their time. Exhibited are works created by both artists such as collages by Pepper exploring three-dimensional forms and geometric abstraction by Reichek composed of organdy and thread. Colonial Crossings: Art, Identity, and Belief in the Spanish Americas opened on July 20 and runs through Dec. 15. The exhibit displays work created over a period of three hundred years from locations formerly ruled under Spanish coloniza-
on Page 15
$5 Admission to bene t the: Kids 12 and under are FREE!
Dwyer Memorial Park Little York Lake 6799 Little York Lake Road Preble, New York 13141 for
A look at the upcoming Attack of the Bloodsuckers! at the Sciencenter. (Credit: Courtesy of the Sciencenter)
The virtual reality installation from the Winter in Paradise exhibit at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. (Credit: Courtesy of Shahpour Pouyan)
tion, including but not limited to Mexico, Colombia, and the Philippines, and aims to depict how this context intertwined with the identities and experiences of the artists.
Centered around ceramic sculptures and drawings created by Shahpour Pouyan, the Winter in Paradise exhibition tackles subjects pertaining to oppressive powers and the destruction of monuments during wartime. It also features an immersive virtual reality experience that allows visitors to view a medieval Persian mosque interior. The exhibit was previously on display at the Frist Museum in Nashville and is available for viewing in Ithaca from Oct. 5 to Dec. 15.
The virtual reality installation from the Winter in Paradise exhibit at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art (Credit: Courtesy of Shahpour Pouyan).
Sciencenter
From mid-September to early January, the Sciencenter will be showcasing its fall exhibit Attack of the Bloodsuckers!: an interactive showcase designed to teach visitors about the science of mosquitos, ticks, leeches, fleas and other parasites. Originally produced by Environmental Exhibit Collaborative, the exhibit features the Mosquito Cockpit — which allows visitors to experience what it is like to be a mosquito looking
for food — as well as a display including live leeches and other bloodsucking creatures.
The Sciencenter will also host its free, annual event titled Spooky Science on Oct. 27th. The event centers around a Halloween-themed day of experiments and exploring the museum. Guests are encouraged to dress up and families with members of all ages are welcome.
Museum of the Earth
Featured alongside the museum’s array of both in-person and online permanent exhibitions is the new Changing Climate: Our Future, Our Choice exhibit. The goal is
to emphasize how Earth has changed before and how humans have a strong impact on how it will continue to do so. The exhibit’s in-person counterpart is available for viewing within the museum and there is also an online version for individuals who are unable to physically visit themselves.
The History Center in Tompkins County
For those interested in learning more about the world of local sports, the History Center in Tompkins County has been offering A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field for visitors since February. Planned to
run through December, the exhibit explores the complex narrative of sports in Tompkins County, tackling the varied games, methods and personal experiences of those playing them over the past two hundred years. Topics visitors can explore include baseball in indigenous communities, women in ice hockey, dragon boating, the International Rutabaga Curling Championship and more.
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.
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Explore Autumn from the Water
Scenic Eco-Cruises
By Maddy Vogel
TPersonalized Tours on the Finger Lakes
he fall season is nearly upon us, and with it comes some of the most beautiful scenes that the Finger Lakes Region has to offer. The gorges are famous for viewing fall foliage, but what is less known is that some of the most scenic views of fall are viewed from the water.
When autumn arrives in New York, especially in the Finger Lakes, it transforms vast hilly landscapes into acres of vibrant colors that people travel from far and wide to see. With fall being one of the most popular times of year for people to visit the area, it’s only fitting that our captains and crews along the lake shores embrace autumn’s influx of visitors.
Fall Foliage Eco-Cruises on the MV Teal
Executive Director of Discover Cayuga Lake, Bill Foster, believes that the inter-
pretive experience of their Fall Foliage Eco-Cruises gives people a sense of place and an understanding of the ecology of the Finger Lakes and beyond.
“We do a lot of educational programming, our goal is to put people in touch with these lakes and help them cultivate a relationship with them,” Foster said. “Our mission is focused towards the local community but it extends to tourists and visitors as well. We try to offer interpretive information about what's happening on the landscape and in the lakes.”
The eco-cruises are an hour and a halflong narrated tours, with optional citizenscience elements incorporated into the experience. In the spring, these tours focus on Osprey populations, but in the fall, they hone in on the science of autumn and the changing of the leaves.
“It just gives us a little bit of a focal point to dive into the ecology and natural
(Photo: Discover Cayuga Lake)
history of the area,” Foster said. “We’ll start to focus more and more on colored leaves and fall foliage once that happens.”
Their boat, the 63-foot cruiser named the MV Teal, seats up to 80 people comfortably. Foster says each tour is a unique experience with the help of their experienced staff.
“We have some very experienced interpreters on the boat, so we don’t have a canned narration,” Foster said. “Each one is a little bit different depending on the day, the weather and the conditions.”
What sets them apart from the others? Discover Cayuga Lake is a nonprofit
that takes a couple thousand students and community members on the lake for free each year, funded in part by their tours that cater towards visitors looking to learn more about the lake.
“All of our tours programming supports our education and access mission,” Foster said. “It’s an authentic experience for people visiting the area. We do this for our community and we do it for visitors as well.”
For more information on Discover Cayuga Lake, visit https://discovercayugalake.org/
Continued on Page 19
BlaschkA
(Photos: Discover Cayuga Lake)
Fall 2024 Theatre Preview
By Ross Haarstad
Live theater remains live and well in the welcoming valley and hills of Ithaca (after some scrambling over the pandemic.)
This fall ushers in new leadership at downtown’s flagship, the Kitchen Theatre Company on West MLK Jr, St. Taking the reins are the dynamic duo of Emily Jackson (Producing Artistic Director) and Tyler Perry (Director of Production). This dynamic duo cut their professional teeth at the Kitchen, Emily as a directing fellow, and Tyler as a scenic and lighting designer. They return to Ithaca to raise their young family and to foster the Kitchen’s growth. (kitchentheatre.org)
The Cherry Artspace, on the inlet behind Wegmans, “a multi-arts hub” continues its mix of the international and the local, while hosting numerous other regular performance groups under Artistic Director Sam Buggeln and Managing Director Jen Pearcy Edwards.) (thecherry.org)
On the hills, Ithaca College’s Theatre Department is flourishing in its new home of the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, with a robust professional BFA training program in acting, musical theatre and design/production. Continuing to expand options for its students, it will also be putting on a repertory program at the Hangar this fall, and the Kitchen in the spring. (ithaca. edu/center-theatre-and-dance-productions)
Cornell’s Dept. of Performing and Media Arts (PMA) offers a more academically oriented mix of speakers, guest performers, installations, student filmmaking and one or two live theater events per semester. (pma.cornell.edu)
Other companies float between performance spaces: expect work from House of Ithaqua, Walking on Water Productions and Lilypad Puppet Theatre this fall. Next spring should also see offerings from Encore Players (in Trumansburg), Homecoming Players, Running to Places and Theatre Incognita, among others.
Kitchen Theatre
The Kitchen has just launched its first show of their 33rd season: Laughs in Spanish by Alexis Scheer. “This fast-paced, cafecíto-induced comedy—set at Art Basel, the annual high-stakes art fair in Miami—is a hilarious look at art and success…and mothers and daughters.” Think telenova. Playing Sept. 11–22.
Next up is a new show by Kitchen favorite Brian Dykstra, fresh from a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. In Polishing Shakespeare “a dot-com billionaire pays an American theatre company to translate Shakespeare into (easily understandable) English. A three-character comedy based on a true (stupid) story.” Oct. 16-27.
Then comes then area premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s widely acclaimed A Case for the Existence of God, “In an office cubicle in southern Idaho, two men struggle to balance the confounding terms on a loan. This intimate, powerful play is a thoughtful meditation on human resilience.”
The spring will feature the return of Darian Dauchan with a multi-media, beatbox extravaganza (The Brobot Adventure) and a play yet to be announced.
In addition the Kitchen hosts Fiona Godwin’s one-woman show, A Very British Lesbian (Oct. 27 & 28), while Walking on Water teams up with Fitz&Startz Productions to offer a new family musical from Rachel Lampert, Larry Pressgrove, and Benjamin Costello, The Fitz&Startz Sisters Cook With Kids at the Kitchen (Dec. 7, 8, 14 & 15)
The Cherry
The Cherry Arts main season opens with In the Fire, featuring aerialist and fire-performer Holly Treddenick in an homage to her fire captain father (Sept. 20–29)
Next up is the English-language premiere of Rosa and Blanca by Rebekka Kricheldorf (Testosterone). “A pair of brilliant sisters leave civilization for the deep dark woods. A fairy tale very much not for children.” (Nov. 8–15)
Capping their fall season is their beloved La Cerise Noire cabaret (Dec. 13 & 14).
The spring brings a new family circus show, Baba Yaga, a brand new work by local playwright Saviana Stanescu, and another edition of La Cerise Noire.
The Cherry Artspace will host House of Ithaqua again this fall with The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath. Artistic Director AJ Sage calls it “a ghost story woven through a personal drama that interrogates belief
and credulity about life after death.” (Oct. 18–26)
Ithaca College
On campus:
Let the Right One In (adapted from the acclaimed film by Jack Thorne). A vampire story, bullied teen Oskar befriends a mysterious new neighbor. (Oct. 8–13.)
New Play Incubator (Nov 16)
States of Mind: An Evening of Dance. Featuring new work by faculty choreographers Daniel Gwirtzman, Amy Walker O’Brien and Aimee Rials. (Dec. 3–8)
And performing in rep at the Hanger Theatre: Stupid F##king Bird (Aaron Posner’s popular update of Chekov’s The Seagull) along with Fever/Dream (Irish playwright Sheila Callaghan’s updating of Calderón’s classic, Life is a Dream) (Oct. 24–Nov 3)
The spring brings the annual opera, Titanic (musical) and Men in Boats Cornell’s fall includes Orlando’s Gift, written and directed by David Feldshuh— “a love story between the writer, Virginia Woolf, and her hero/heroine Orlando.” (Nov. 1–9); Share In Share Out (Fall dance concert) (Dec. 6 & 7) and the Student Film Screening (Dec. 15). All free but reserve tickets. And something a little more off-beat: LilyPad Puppet Theatre hosts a Puppet Theatre Festival, Nov. 1–3 in downtown Ithaca.
Aaron Posner’s “Stupid F##king Bird” at the Hangar Theatre is a bold, contemporary riff on Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” The play runs from October 24 to November 3. (Photo: Provided)
Holly Treddenick performs in, “In the Fire” at the Cherry Artspace, blending aerial artistry and fire performance in a powerful homage to her late father, a fire caption. The show runs from September 20-19.
Canandaigua Lake: Seasonal Festivals and Spooky Spectacles
Lincoln Hill Farms on Canandaigua Lake is a hub of activity this fall, starting with its annual “Oktoberfest” on September 21. This event features German-inspired food, live music, and plenty of craft beer and wine options. Guests can enjoy a day of festivities celebrating the German tradition of Oktoberfest right in the heart of the Finger Lakes.
As Halloween approaches, Lincoln Hill Farms will transform into a festive fall wonderland with “HalloweenFest,” running from September 27 through October 27. This month-long event will include a haunted house, costume contests, and themed wine tastings, offering a fun and spooky experience for visitors of all ages.
Heron Hill Winery will host a “Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival” on October 14,
EXPLORE AUTUMN
continued from page 17
Falling Waters Boat Tours
Based in Burdett right next to Hector Falls, Captain Fred Grabosky of Falling Waters Boat Tours provides intimate, personalized tours, with his most popular tour being an hour and a half long. Grabosky gives four tours every day, each with up to six people.
On the first half of his tours, Grabosky shows attendees the local sights along the shores of Seneca Lake from his boat. Visitors have the chance to see the local vineyards, 300-foot cliffs that run from Hector Falls down to Watkins Glen, along with various types of birds and local wildlife.
where guests can participate in pumpkin launching competitions while enjoying wine tastings and seasonal treats. This event combines the joy of fall activities with the winery’s offerings, making it a hit for families and groups looking for a unique outing.
“People want to see those colors and the ridges that rise up over 1000 feet over the water,” Grabosky said. “It’s just a remarkable scene, both from the highways above looking down at the lake and especially from the water on the boat looking up, where you truly see the extent of the vineyards that are on the hillsides.”
Grabosky offers tours from late spring to late October, with his busiest months being July, August, late September and early October. He said that the primary reason many people come on his tours in the fall is to see the changing of the seasons.
“When you’re riding in September and October, this time of year, the leaves are starting to change and the colors on the ridges are just extraordinary, just beauti-
With an abundance of events at wineries across Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka, and Canandaigua lakes, the Finger Lakes region offers a wide range of activities that celebrate the autumn season. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, a music lover, or simply seeking a festive outing, the Finger
ful,” Grabosky said. “All different vibrant colors of red, oranges and yellows. The vine leaves are changing color, it’s a gorgeous sight.”
The first 45 minutes of his tours are on the boat, with a finger lakes wine and cheese tasting taking place in the latter half of the tour on his private waterfront patio on Hector Falls. Attendees are also offered the opportunity to get in the water at Hector Falls during the second portion of the tour.
“Falling Waters Boat Tours is a oneof-a-kind experience,” Grabosky said. “It is the only tour that combines a tour on Seneca Lake and the 250-foot Hector Falls. Most people’s favorite part of the tour is the waterfall experience.”
Lakes have something special for everyone this fall.
For more details and to plan your visit, check out the official Finger Lakes Tourism websites at https://www.fingerlakes.org/ events
After a 42-year long career in hospitality, Grabosky decided that entertaining visitors and sharing the local environment was how he wanted to continue his passion. This is his business’ third season.
“I have an environment that is quite extraordinary, one that people really enjoy and would not be able to experience if I weren’t doing the tours,” Grabosky said. Last year, Grabosky’s tours ran until Oct. 26, which was approximately when the temperatures started to reach freezing levels overnight. He estimated that this year his tours will last around the same length of time.
For more information on Falling Waters Boat Tours, visit https://fallingwatersboattours.com/
(Photo: Fred Grabosky/Provided)
(Photos: Fred Grabosky/Provided)
Sheldrake Point Winery on Cayuga Lake will hold their Harvest Dinner this fall, featuring farm-to-table dishes perfectly paired with the winery’s award-winning wines. (Photo: Sheldrake Point Winery)
Lincoln Hill Farms on Canandaigua Lake will feature festive celebrations, including Oktoberfest and Holloween Fest, where guests enjoy seasonal actvities and themed wine tastings. (Photo: Lincoln Hill Farms)
Arts & Entertainment The Fat on Tuba Skinny at Bailey Hall
By Peter Rothbart
When Tuba Skinny opens this year’s Cornell Concert Series on September 14, listeners will get a taste of what local legendary musical icon Peggy Haine and her Lowdown Alligator Jazz Band had dished out for years. Often mislabeled as Americana Music, a more appropriate label would be American Roots Music.
Although other cultural influences may be present, one ethnic musical style predominates in American Roots Music, whether it be the rural Southern blues, Zydeco, jug band music, Appalachian folk (from Scottish and Irish influences), indigenous drums and vocals, church hymns, ragtime, Dixieland, or trad (traditional jazz). Americana Music adds the elements of swing jazz, string band, country, and eventually electric rock. Americana music is a truly new sound, a blend of cultural influences that has evolved into its own unique sound. It is a uniquely all-American sound, a musical mirror of the American blended experience.
Tuba Skinny is rooted in trad jazz branch of American Roots Music. Trad jazz in turn, re-
veals Its own influences; the Dixieland music of New Orleans in the early 20th century, the ragtime of the Midwest and the hard-scrabble blues of the rural Southern Black experience. Both Dixieland and to a lesser extent, trad jazz rely on the idea of “collective improvisation,” in which everyone in the band solos collectively at the same time, creating a delightfully rich and engaging counterpoint; melodies piled on top of each other in a musical conversation where everyone speaks at the same time. Individual solos do intrude into this musical gabfest, but the collective sound, a rambunctious musical discussion, remains the center of attention.
Tuba Skinny’s choice of repertoire points to the cusp where American Roots Music was beginning to grow into Americana Music. Their repertoire includes familiar classics such as Going Back Home, Storyville Blues, Careless Love and, Travelin’ Blues, later made famous by 1960s jug and string bands such as the Jim Kweskin Band, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Maria Muldaur, and Ithaca’s own Peggy Haine.
Tuba Skinny’s newest album, “Magnolia Stroll” branches out with all original tunes, but still homaging the trad style.
As was often the case in the early bands of American Roots Music, Tuba Skinny features an eclectic combination of instruments along with a bass drum playing vocalist, a 6-string tenor banjo borne of West African roots and Dixieland, and a 5-string banjo via Appalachian folk music. Jug band influences form the heartbeat of rhythm section, the drummer wearing his instruments one-man band style,
a drum, cymbals, and washboard strapped to his body. The string bass player doubles on tuba, drawn from the early Dixieland marching band tradition. Acoustic guitars with any number of shapes and strings abound. The introduction of the electric guitar comes later and is one of the identifiers of the transition to Americana Music.
Tuba Skinny is a well-established New Orleans band, comfortable with performing at street festivals and fairs, small clubs as well as the concert stage. Some of the famed New Orleans musical spirit can be hard to muster in Bailey Hall’s large venue, which is more attuned to classical and jazz performances. But the Cornell Concert Series has challenged the notion of the passive audience versus formal performer for several years now, bringing in culturally variegated ensembles, expanding the notion of what a concert hall program should look and sound like.
Tuba Skinny
Saturday, September 14, 2024 7:30–9:00 PM
Bailey Hall, Cornell University
Tickets available at: https://www.cornellconcertseries.com/
Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.
With instruments ranging from a 6-string tenor banjo to a tuba and washboard, Tuba Skinny’s eclectic ensemble captures the diverse influences of American Roots Music. (Photo: Provided)
Tuba Skinny will kick off the Cornell Concert Series on September 14, bringing the spitited essence of early 20th-century Dixieland music to Bailey Hall. (Photo: Provided)
Kitchen Theatre Welcomes New Artistic Director
By Barbara Adams
This week marks the opening of Kitchen Theatre Company’s 34th season — one entirely chosen by the new producing artistic director, Emily Jackson. Whether acting, directing, or producing, Jackson is a familiar and refreshing face to Kitchen audiences. Her path to and from the Kitchen — and back again — seems predestined.
As the daughter of two actors, Jackson grew up in Texas in the regional theater scene. After completing a BFA in acting from the University of Oklahoma in 2012, she was in a “post-graduation panic,” she says, applying for every theater job she could. A listing on the Playbill website for an artistic fellow in upstate New York led to a phone interview with then-director Rachel Lampert, and a few days later Jackson was driving her “little Ford Taurus all the way from Dallas to Ithaca.”
Her first day on the job was welcoming, with the actors and creative team all breaking bread together before rehearsal. During their initial production, “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” Jackson met lighting designer Tyler M. Perry — a relationship that, in 2018, would blossom into marriage and eventually two young children.
When Jackson’s original internship ended after a year, she joined Perry, who was based in New York City. But she returned to the Kitchen for two seasons, from 2014-16, as artistic associate and director of audience services. After that, it was back to New York, for eight years, including the pandemic. While Perry freelanced as a designer and taught, Jackson assisted at a nonprofit consulting firm and was artistic director of the Sanguine Theatre Company, focusing on new work — which is where she met Alexis Sheer, the playwright of “Laughs in Spanish,” the comedy now opening here this week. (Set in Miami and featuring several Latina actresses, it’s about art, success, and mothers and daughters.)
Like many theaters across the country, the Kitchen was battered by the pandemic and its fallout, the shift to at-home streaming entertainment. Thanks to retired artistic director Rachel Lampert and her team, their temporary return in 2023 boosted the struggling theater and kept the shows running. But a new artistic director was essential, and this past January, after a
formal interviewing process, the board of directors offered the position to Jackson.
“I’m the sixth artistic director (including interims) in five seasons,” Jackson says, “and each has had varying degrees of success, and certainly their own set of wins.” In trying to find the right fit, she says, the board has in part sought someone “who knows this town and cares about this community.” That’s a key quality Jackson brings to the directorship, along with her theatrical, administrative, and development skills.
Moving a family of four (plus dogs) to Ithaca was a major step, but the timing seemed right. In New York, Jackson says, “after having children, and a job, and making art, I felt I couldn’t keep all three up in the air. So how to combine these, make it only two balls in the air: family and art as career.”
Perry was supportive: “We’ve done a lot of things for my career, and this was an amazing opportunity for Emily. So it was an easy yes.” But it was less easy for him to leave his job as technical theater director at a K-12 school, where he’d expanded and stabilized a robust program. Perry hopes to continue teaching in the Ithaca area, even on a volunteer basis.
“Tyler’s a natural mentor,” Jackson says. “And some of my goals for the theater align, such as revitalizing our post-college fellowship program, extending the students’ education and providing their first professional job at Kitchen Theatre Company.
At the Kitchen, where he’s already a veteran of 30+ productions, Perry’s new role is director of production, including operations management. He’ll be designing both sets and lighting for at least four of this season’s five shows.
Another goal Jackson has is to increase the theater’s subscription base, essential for operating. “In the season right before the pandemic, 2019-20, we had about 820 subscribers,” Jackson says. “Last year we had about 450. I’d like to remind former subscribers that we’re still here.”
Her intent is to preserve Kitchen Theatre Company’s established qualities while adding new elements. “There’s a million plays that would be perfect for the Kitchen,” Jackson says, but for her first season she picked ones that were close to her. “I also wanted to bring back folks from Kitchen history — people that the audience knows, who love making work in this space and understand and value us as a collective. Even though we're not like an official company of artists, we have that feeling because we have a shared language.”
So the season includes works by and featuring Brian Dykstra and Darian Dauchan, for example, but also newcomers, “to bring other artists to the Kitchen community.”
The first visible change at the Kitchen has been to the building’s exterior: Perry painted the grey walls a sparkling white with huge blue and purple signage, and
frosted windows were added to the beacon. “It just glows now,” he says. “The interior is high and industrial, that’s not going away — but we’ve got plans to make the lobby warmer and cozier, a place to hang out.”
Renovations underway are possible through the recent $120,000 state funds grant secured by Senator Lea Webb. The theater saw its first guests last weekend during Gallery Night (the lobby always displays art), but Jackson plans to have the building open every Friday night as well: “If you're just walking down the street, there will be something to do at the Kitchen.” And Wednesday nights before shows opening on Friday will be a free related community event — this week it’s clips from telenovelas, as “Laughs in Spanish” pays homage to them.
Additional projects will appear in the Kitchen Sink series, including a Fitz&StarZ family show, a new play festival of local writers, and collaborations with Ithaca College (plays written by alumni) and Story House Ithaca (a monthly cabaret). And the bar will remain open after every show now, to encourage dialogue.
“‘Important conversations happen in the Kitchen’ isn’t just a motto,” Jackson says, “it’s our mission. Everyone is welcome to be part of the conversation.”
Barbara Adams is a regional theater and arts journalist and retired professor of writing, Ithaca College.
Emily Jackson, the new producing artistic director of Kitchen Theatre Company, brings a fresh vision and a deep connection to the Ithaca community as she kicks off the theater’s 34th season. (Photo: Kitchen Theatre Company)
Seasoned lighting and set designer, Tyler Perry, is the director of production at the Kitchen Theatre Company and will help to shape the look and feel of the upcoming season. (Photo: Kitchen Theatre Company)
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra’s Balancing Act
By Peter Rothbart
Orchestras live a precarious existence. In addition to maintaining musical balances within and between sections of the orchestra, and between composer’s intent and the conductor’s interpretation, orchestras must also walk an aesthetic and financial tightrope between conventional audience members looking for something familiar and more daring listeners looking for new sonic adventures. It’s a risky business. Classical music has its own Top 40 list that can guarantee to bring in audiences; symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart or Haydn, overtures by Rossini, Mozart or Wagner, tone poems by Liszt or Strauss, concertos by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart (again), and anything by John Williams. On the other hand, programming newer, lesser-known works keeps things fresh for the musicians and audience members alike. New music entices new listeners and prevents the orchestra (and ticket sales) from ossifying. Recent upticks in attendance numbers nationwide refute the notion that orchestras are in danger of
Cayuga Chamber Orchestra
Saturday, September 14, 2024
7:30 PM
Tickets at: https://ccoithaca.easy-ware-ticketing.com/ events
Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.
ARMING PROBATION OFFICERS
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introducing more firearms into a situation will necessarily help.” She also asked for more data on the effects of arming probation officers in other jurisdictions and whether those decisions had led to
extinction or worse, irrelevance.
Smartly balanced programming is therefore paramount for an orchestra’s survival and prosperity. The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has maintained that balance between the old and familiar, and the new and engaging for years.
The current 2024-25 season continues the CCO’s highwire act when Guillaume Pirard takes the podium for his inaugural concert as its newly minted Music Director on Saturday night, September 14 in Ithaca College’s Ford Hall. He leads a varied and engaging program incorporating Franz Joseph Haydn’s ever-popular “Trumpet Concerto,” featuring the Metropolitan Orchestra’s Principal Trumpet player Billy Ray Hunter. Pairing one of the world’s great trumpet players performing a popular and accessible Haydn warhorse with Ithaca’s nationally respected chamber orchestra promises to satisfy both ends of the tightrope. Pirard ends the night with ballet music from Maurice Ravel’s “Mother Goose,” not the more often performed and familiar “Mother Goose Suite.”
But he opens the concert with two relatively unknown, yet powerful pieces. “Tenebrae” by Argentine-Israeli composer Osvaldo Golijov is based upon a series of loops/ostinatos and interludes he derived from elements of François Couperin's “Troisieme Leçon de Tenebrae.” The opening and closing sections of “Tenebrae” are undulating meditations, elegiac, and ethereal. His inspiration was a 2000 visit with his 5-year-old son to the New York Museum of Natural History’s Planetarium. He invites us to experience his son’s wonder and innocence upon viewing the blue dot that is earth as seen from space. But a close listen to
the interior section of the work exposes an underpinning of pain, alluding to the pain he witnessed and experienced while visiting Israel as the second intifada erupted shortly before his New York visit.
Ljubica Maric´ was perhaps Serbia’s most accomplished and recognized modern composer of the early 20th century. But two world wars and the ensuing communism that dominated Eastern Europe often silenced her for long periods of time. Her quarter-tone compositions have been lost. But her most profound work, “Ostinato super Thema Octoicha” has survived. Based on a series of Byzantine medieval religious songs called the Octoechos, the 1963 work is a ponderous and lugubrious angst-ridden work that is filled with ostinatos (the underlying theme of the entire concert). Her melodic and harmonic vocabulary is decidedly Bela Bartokian. Rhythms are simple and folk-like. But the strings shriek angular brutalist harmonies, pummeling the listener and leaving a decidedly discomforting feeling that may well express the sum of her life’s experiences. It is the perfect foil for the concert’s second half.
Haydn’s “Trumpet Concerto” is well known. It is quintessential Haydn, lyrical and melodic with well-connected harmonies and a balanced form for each movement. Billy Ray Hunter is a powerhouse
performer. The demands of holding the Principal Trumpet chair at the Metropolitan Opera in New York can be overwhelming and intimidating for even the most accomplished brass players. Trumpets can be loud and brassy, but they can be smoothly lyrical and gentle as well. Expect to experience the full range from this master performing a concerto that was written to encourage the brass player sing. In 1975, the New York City Ballet premiered Jerome Robbins’s ballet, “Ma Mère l’Oye” (“Mother Goose”), which had nothing to do with English nursery rhymes or fairy tales. French composer Maurice Ravel’s original work, a piano duet inspired by the stories of Charles Perrault among others, presented a series of 5 movements, each based on a French fairy tale such as Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb and more. He later orchestrated the work into a kaleidoscope of colorful and imaginative vignettes for orchestra, glazed with his impressionistic palette. This “Mother Goose Suite” is the more commonly heard rendition. He later added interludes and two additional movements. This is the piece choreographed by Robbins and will be performed by the CCO. The work in any of its forms, is a masterpiece and remains as fresh and playful as it was when it premiered over a century ago.
positive outcomes.
Pillar also questioned the extent of community engagement on the proposal, asking whether feedback had been sought from a broader range of stakeholders, including individuals who have been involved with the probation system in the past. “What kind of community conversations have there been around this?” Pillar
asked. “I recognize there’s been extensive dialogue within your department and staff, but I’m thinking bigger than that.”
Mike Sigler expressed confidence in the probation department’s ability to manage the program responsibly, citing the rigorous training that probation officers would undergo if the resolution is approved, including a two-week course that
covers firearms qualification and the laws pertaining to use of force. “We have such a good probation department and professionals there, that there will be training, there will be everything that the oversight that we want,” he said.
As the resolution moves forward further discussions are expected before a final vote.
Guillaume Pirard leads the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra in his debut as Music Director at Ithaca College’s Ford Hall on September 14. (Photo: Provided)
Sprinting
CU Sprint Football Alumni Keep Rushing Forward
By Steve Lawrence
Ihave spoken to many men who have told me that playing football for legendary Ithaca High coach Joe Moresco in the 1960s impacted their lives in many positive ways. However, last weekend was the first time I have ever heard “I played for Coach Moresco from 1961-64,” and “I played 30 snaps on the offensive line yesterday” in the same conversation.
That quote came from Ithaca High and Cornell alum Mike Hall, who is among those who put on the pads year after year to play in the Sprint Football alumni game. Mike assured me that while there is indeed contact, “We're not twisting people to the ground,” and he shared what a pleasure it was to play alongside his son Bryan, who is also an alum. “After I graduated from Cornell in '68, I played in about 20 alumni games, and then I retired” Hall offered.
“Then,” he added, “Bryan went to C.U. and played Sprint (which was called “150s” when Mike played, then “Lightweight” football before becoming known as the Sprint program), and I had to play again.”
The Alumni Game is but one of the ways the Cornell Sprint Football “family” stays connected. In Hall’s words, “Bryan and I share a deep respect for the program itself, and for the Cullens.” Bob Cullen took over the program in 1946, and after Terry joined him in 1964 “he kept the program going
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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urgent and traditional nuclear reactors take years to plan and build. They are extremely expensive, and reactors generate dangerous radioactive waste that remains toxic for thousands of years. The small "modular nuclear reactors" floated at the conference are not yet operational in the U.S. New York State shut down the Indian Point nuclear power plant — why go backward to the risks of meltdowns and radioactive leaks?
Like so many in the Finger Lakes region, I support the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and its timetable to develop a robust array of renewable energy to power New York’s future. Renewables, including solar and wind, should be the backbone of short- and long-term energy planning,
during some very challenging times.”
Cullen, Hall pointed out, “turned it into a self-funded program, focusing on the relationships they had built.” In Mike's words, “Terry did a magnificent job in influencing the alumni connections,” and he added, “Of all the athletic programs, sprint football has the best collective GPA, and the best graduate employment record.”
He also shared his perception that the future is brighter than ever, saying, “After Terry's retirement, others- like Jay Carter, who has been totally dedicated to the program and served as an Interim Head Coach – stepped up, and now (first-year Head Coach) Michael Huyghue has brought a burst of energy to the program, and has brought in the most diverse and experienced coaching staff on campus. His willingness to come back here (Huyghue is a C.U. Football alum and a former pro football executive), and bring in some of his NFL contacts (like former player and NFLPA rep Sean Jones as Defensive Coordinator) offers the studentathletes a tremendous opportunity.”
“I wanted to follow my father into the U.S. Navy,” Mike Hall recalled, “but at Cornell registration, the Navy ROTC table had a long line, and I promised Coach (Ted) Thoren I wouldn't be late for practice.” With a shrug, Hall added, “There was no line at the Air Force table.” Before leaving Cornell, Mike was the Commandant for all the Cornell ROTC programs,
following the plans detailed by experts in the Climate Action Council. Gov. Hochul needs to avoid nuclear energy and stay the course for true renewables.” — Christine Sheppard
Thanking First Responders
“I’m writing to express my thanks to the strangers and first responders who came to my aid last Friday when I lost control of my bicycle after hitting a pothole coming down the State St. hill. I didn’t have much awareness of my surroundings at the time, but I’m grateful for the caring and compassion you all showed toward me. When I decided to live in Ithaca nearly 50 years ago, one of the significant draws was the vibrant street life we have in the city, and the friendliness of the people one finds there. Thank you for affirming that I made the right decision.” — James Ferwerda
he became a fighter pilot in the USAF, and during the first Gulf War, he “worked to build the coalition and flew with the best fighter pilots ever.”
The 1960s were a very turbulent time on campus, and the ROTC and the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) were at great odds. Hall went to SDS meetings to try to find some common ground, and in learning to respectfully disagree helped to thwart a planned protest at graduation. Mike came away with some valuable insight, and looking back, he said, “That ex-
TEAMSTERS PICKET
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care for all employees at the plant. Employees are refusing to concede cutbacks in their overtime rights and time off that they have had for decades.”
The strike comes amid a broader wave of labor organizing in Ithaca, as workers push back against corporate cost-cutting measures that they say come at the expense of fair wages and job security. Just recently, thousands of UAW workers at Cornell ended a two week strike that severely limited campus operations during the start of the fall semester, and workers at Ithaca’s GreenStar Food Co-Op voted to become the second unionized grocery store in New York State.
This increase in union activity isn't just isolated to Ithaca, it’s also being wit-
perience in embracing diversity at Cornell served me well in my leadership capacity in three decades in the Air Force.”
Six decades after leaving Ithaca High, Hall appears totally balanced, with one foot planted firmly in the rich tradition of Sprint Football, and the other on the solid ground of what he sees as the program's bright future. Recalling a bit of wisdom dispensed by one of his first mentors 60-plus years ago, Mike said, “Coach Moresco said ‘Never hang your head. We’re from Ithaca!’ To this day, that advice is as good as it gets.”
nessed nationwide. According to a report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), Union election petitions filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) increased by 3% in 2023, and union wins in these elections have been strong, with a reported 80% success rate in the first half of the year.
This data is underscored by the fact that public support for unions has reached historic levels. A recent Gallup poll found that 70% of the public, regardless of political affiliation, supports unions. That's up from a low of just 49% in 2009. As a result, support for unions among elected officials is beginning to cross party lines.
As negotiations continue, union members hope to see more meaningful engagement from the company and a resolution that addresses their core concerns.
Bryan and Mike Hall proudly carry the torch for Cornell Sprint Football. (Photo: Provided)