November 29, 2023

F R E E / N o v e m b er 2 9 , 2 0 2 3 / V o l u m e X L I I I , N u m b er 6 6 / O u r 5 1 s t Y e a r

Online @ ITH ACA .COM

Give Local

Give back this season by choosing a local non-profit to support PAGES 8-9

NEW PUBLIC SAFETY DASHBOARD

GREEN CAREER PATHWAYS GRADUATION

MAYOR ANNOUNCES NEW POLICE CHIEF

CEDARWOOD EVENT VENUE

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

PAGE 5

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CINEMAPOLIS HONORS “MOVIE MAN” BRYAN VANCAMPEN PAGE 15

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2 The Ithaca Times / November 29 – December 5, 2023

Newsline Community Justice Center Invites Community to Share Ideas for New Policing and Crisis Response Dashboard

By Sta ff R e p ort

points for inclusion in the dashboard: • Police response by location he Community Justice Center • Reported call type (CJC), a collaborative between • Observed call type the City of Ithaca and Tompkins • Police response by time of County to implement joint Reimagining day Public Safety plans, is developing a new • Total calls for service public safety dashboard. The new dash• Responding agency (TCSO, board will provide up-to-date informaIPD, Village LE, EMS) tion on policing and public safety in the Project Director of the ComCity of Ithaca and Tompkins County. munity Justice Center, Monalita The CJC is inviting community memSmiley stated, “This will be a bers to submit ideas on what data points one stop shop for people to learn should be included in the new dashboard.

Community Justice Center Director, Monalite Smiley. (Photo: File) about public safety resources in Community members can submit specific with the CJC to hear more from the comTompkins County. During the initial Reidata points or link to examples from other munity about what they’re looking for in a magining Public Safety planning process, police departments or public safety agendashboard will allow for IPD’s data to be it was determined cies. Ideas submitted more available to the public and enable us that the dashboard by the public will be to showcase a tool for the whole County. would offer the considered alongside That way people will be able to have an public informathose planned by even broader understanding of policing tion about how law the CJC, Tompkins and public safety in our community.” enforcement time is County Department Director of the Tompkins County being spent, commuof Emergency Renity trends over time, Department of Emergency Response Mike sponse, Ithaca Police Stitley remarked, “We have an abundance and more related to Department, and of good data across all of our emergency calls for service in Tompkins County — Project Director, Monalita Smiley response activities, I’m excited to put more any specific area.”

Sheriff's Office as information in the hands of the public and Ithaca Police well as other public to share what an excellent job our emerDepartment Acting Chief Ted Schwartz safety agencies. This will be in addition to gency responders are doing in the field. a dashboard sharing data from the District stated, “The Ithaca Police Department This is a great opportunity to look at how dashboard has been live for a while now Attorney, Assigned Counsel, and Departequitably service is being delivered across ment of Probation and Community Justice. and includes data on calls and arrests, the County and to see the types of emerresponse locations, call volumes, and the The Community Justice Center is gencies that we’re responding to.” number of officers on shifts. Partnering currently considering the following data

T

“This will be a one stop shop for people to learn about public safety resources in Tompkins County.”

T a k e X Sunrise Ithaca to Host Meeting on Green New Deal Justice50 Initiative Sunrise Ithaca will be hosting a community meeting in the BorgWarner Room of the Tompk ins Count y Public Librar y ab out Justice50, which is part of the Ithaca Green New Deal (IGND), at 2pm on December 2. The event is being organized with support from Climate Justice Cornell.

The event aims to bring the community together to learn about and discuss Justice50, how it could affect residents, and what the public can do to support a more equitable

N o t e

future. If you’re interested in attending, you can RSVP and find more information here: (https:// actionnetwork.org/events/communitymeeting-justice50-and-the-ithaca-green-newdeal?source=direct_link&) The IGND Scorecard states that, “Justice50 adapts the federal Justice40 program to the needs in Ithaca. In both, the level of investment in certain communities is based on financial requirements and historic injustice.”

According to the scorecard, “In 2022, the City satisfied the first sub-goal for Justice50, to determine an Ithaca specific definition of a Climate Justice Community.” It continued saying that despite the fact that the City

government approved the definition, “the City has not achieved the second sub-goal to establish Justice50 Implementation Guidelines.

These guidelines will determine how the City will ensure that 50% of IGND investment is directed to Climate Justice Communities.”

Justice50 is a proposal that is part of the Ithaca Green New Deal that is gaining momentum within city government. Sunrise Ithaca has said that in the upcoming months they are planning to advocate for Justice50 “by making clear how it matters to us and our communities.”

Contact sunrise.ithaca.ny.us@gmail.com with any additional questions.

VOL. XLIII / NO. 66 / November 29, 2023 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

ON THE COVER:

The Ithaca Times 2023 Guide to Local Giving.

NEWSLINE ������������������������������������3-5 GUEST OPINION ����������������������������� 6 SURROUNDED BY REALITY ��������� 7 SPORTS ������������������������������������������� 11 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT �������������������� 13 BOOKS �������������������������������������������� 14 FILM ����������������������������������������������� 15 CLASSIFIED ������������������������������ 16-17 TIMES TABLE ��������������������������� 18-19

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November 29 – December 5, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

3

INQUIRING Tompkins Orgs Connect Workforce Development with Climate Goals PHOTOGRAPHER O N e w s l i n e

By Ke nne th Wate rhou se WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO

BLACK FRIDAY STORE?

“American Crafts by Robbie Dein.”

– Tom W.

“Walmart.”

– Maria E.

“Best Buy.” – Rick K.

“Target.”

– Chris & Cassie V.

“Staples.”

– Joann W.

By A a ron Fe r na n d o

n November 3, approximately 25 individuals connected with Ithaca and Tompkins-area sustainability and workforce development gathered at TC3 Extension, on the Ithaca Commons, to celebrate a milestone in the region’s climate efforts.

They gathered for a graduation ceremony Students from Tompkins Cortland Community College’s Energy Warriors program graduated on Nov. 3. (Photo: Aaron Fernando) for a cohort of students completing the Energy Warriors program, an environmental a weekly stipend to help with opportunity sulated areas that allow significant amounts literacy program run by Cornell Cooperaof cold air to leak in in the winter. The tive Extension (CCE) Tompkins County. On costs associated with not earning while attending the course. “The stipend that was program provides paid, hands-on experience Friday morning, four individuals ranging offered enabled me to do it instead of having for trainees, led by experienced BlocPower in age from their mid-20s to their mid-50s to spend that time hustling for money,” said supervisors. All the materials are paid for, so would complete this program and earn their one of the graduates, Melissa Forrester, durparticipating homeowners get free upgrades certificates from CCE Tompkins. ing the ceremony. “And then Patrick, [one of along with valuable information about their Among the attendees were Rebecca Evthe instructors], referred me to Suzanne, and homes’ performance. Preference is given to ans, Director of Sustainability for the City I’m so excited now lower- and middleof Ithaca; Hilary Swartwood, Sustainabilto work with her.” income homeowners. ity Planner for the Town of Ithaca; and a (If you’re interested number of Cornell Cooperative Extension in participating as staff, including CCE Tompkins Interim Community Connections a host home, reach Executive Director Meg Cole. Also in atThe Suzanne out directly to CCE tendance were elected officials who have referred to here is Tompkins). made jobs and green energy a priority: Suzanne Burnham, “We got to jump Tompkins County Legislators Rich John, Workforce Coordiin there and learn Anne Koreman, and Greg Mezey, as well nator with Finger this—the weathas representatives from local organizations Lakes ReUse. This erization with that work with the program and/or hire connection is by BlocPower,” said graduates from it, including OAR (Opdesign: the Energy — Raquel Pinderhughes Keegan Young, who portunities, Alternatives, and Resources), Warriors program graduated from the Historic Ithaca, and TST BOCES. connects its students Energy Warriors program last year and is “Our trainees do go through a 10-modular with local employers and nonprofits that working on the Cozy Basements! program. course that prepares them to understand assist with finding employment. Staff from environmental issues… understanding what other local organizations like OAR, Historic “So now I’m taking everything that I learned before, putting it into use. Now we’re workis climate justice, understanding what is Ithaca, and TST BOCES also attended and ing like a team, like a well-oiled machine.” environmental justice,” said Aloja Airewele of spoke at the event.

Connection to Federal Apprenticeship CCE Tompkins, who The program is also Another individual who spoke at the leads the program. closely connected to event was Raquel Pinderhughes, founder “That’s why they’re enBlocPower, the City and current executive director of the nonergy warriors. They are of Ithaca’s electrificaprofit Roots of Success, whose curriculum people who are at the tion partner, through a is employed by CCE Tompkins’ Energy forefront of moving us separate program that Warriors program. Pinderhughes is also a into the kind of energy offers trainees handsprofessor of Urban Studies and Planning sources that will be on experience. In the healthy.” recently launched Cozy at San Francisco State University.

“I am a consultant to green trainThe program is Basements! program, ing programs around the country,” said aimed at individuals two recent graduates Pinderhughes at the graduation. “I’ve been facing barriers to emfrom the Energy Wardoing this work for a long time. I’ve seen ployment and those riors program have thousands of programs that are trying to who want to transibeen joined by two — Aloja Airewele of CCE Tompkins create the environmental leaders of the tion their careers to graduates of a previfuture, and Green Energy Warriors is the field of sustainous cohort to perform definitely amongst the best.” ability. The Energy Warriors program is weatherization work in residents’ homes.

Importantly, by completing the Energy designed to help students with barriers Trainees learn how to assess homes for Warriors course, graduates are also able to they may face, currently and in the future. areas that could be improved in terms of For example, students do not have to energy use and then focus on insulating and pay to attend the class. Instead, they receive air-sealing the rim joists, commonly uninContin u ed on Page 14

“I’ve seen thousands of programs that are trying to create the environmental leaders of the future, and Green Energy Warriors is definitely amongst the best.”

“That’s why they’re energy warriors. They are people who are at the forefront of moving us into the kind of energy sources that will be healthy.”

4 The Ithaca Times / November 29 – December 5, 2023

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

Mayor Selects Lt. Kelly as Next Police Chief at IPD, Subject to Common Council Approval

A

By M at t D ough e rt y

statement from the Office of Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis released on November 27 announced that Lieutenant Thomas Kelly of the Schenectady Police Department has been selected as Ithaca’s permanent Chief of Police. The Mayor’s selection of Kelly is subject to the approval of the Common Council — which is scheduled to vote on the appointment during an upcoming meeting at City Hall at 6 pm on December 6.

Following the announcement, Kelly told the Ithaca Times that while his appointment remains pending, he and his wife “are looking forward to joining the Ithaca Community.” He added, “I’m excited to get to know the Ithaca Police and get out in the community to discuss public safety issues and find solutions.”

It has been nearly three years since the City of Ithaca’s last permanent Chief of Police retired and one year since Mayor Lewis was forced to revoke her initial choice for the job and reopen the search process with the help of a private consulting firm. In February, the City allocated $50,000 to the

search firm that helped the City conduct the nationwide search, Public Sector Search & Consulting. Then, in May 2023, the firm recommended that the city increase the salary for the Chief of Police from $132,000 to $150,000. Additionally, they suggest that the pay raise include a $50,000 signing bonus that would be paid out after three years.

Ithaca has been without a permanent Chief of Police since former Chief Dennis Nayor resigned in the spring of 2021. The lack of stable leadership has had cascading effects on the Department, from low staffing levels to worsening morale among officers.

According to President of the Ithaca Police Benevolent Association Tom Condzella, the patrol division should be staffed with 45 officers but is currently staffed with 24.

In February, Condzella said that the lack of permanent leadership “creates an unstable work environment.” He added that officers look to the chief for direction and leadership. Without someone in that position to keep the department flowing in the right direction, “there’s a serious trickledown effect.” As a result, the appointment of Kelly will bring some much-needed stability to the department, pending his final

Ithaca PBA Settles Labor Contract as Hiring and Community Outreach Efforts Continue

I

By M at t D ough e rt y

n October, the Ithaca Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and the City of Ithaca settled a labor contract covering 2024 through 2026. The agreement was voted on unanimously by the PBA and the Ithaca Common Council and included raises and benefits for officers. The City hopes that this new contract will lay the groundwork to help IPD address staffing shortages and start following through on reimagining public safety initiatives.

During a recent interview, Acting Chief of Police at IPD, Ted Schwartz, said that the department is “still facing a lot of challenges,” but that “over the last six months we’ve definitely been turning a corner.”

According to Schwartz, “Across the board we’ve accomplished a lot of some of the

things we’ve set out to do.”

According to the new contract, the starting base pay for an Ithaca Police Officer will immediately increase from $57,461 to $74,000 on January 1st, 2024, when the agreement takes effect. Top base pay for an officer will increase from $89,885 to $100,122 over the contract’s life. The rates do not include overtime, holiday pay, shift differential, or longevity.

Ithaca PBA President Tom Condzella said, “This contract is a result of strong collaboration and partnership between the PBA and the City Administration.

Condzella believes that with the new agreement, IPD will start to pull out of the staffing crisis they have been in. He said that as staffing improves, he expects to see officers once again be able to proactively address crime and other issues as opposed to simply

Ups

The No. 16-ranked Cornell men’s hockey team achieved a 2-1 victory over No. 5-ranked Boston University before a crowd of 15,289 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, retaining the Kelley-Harkness Cup as the Big Red posted its fourth consecutive victory over the Terriers in the biennial Red Hot Hockey contest.

Lieutenant Thomas Kelly of the Schenectady Police Department has been selected to serve as Ithaca’s permanent Chief of Police. (Photo: File)

approval by the Common Council.

Kelly was selected following a community town hall event where residents had the opportunity to ask questions to the two finalists for the position. The other finalist was former Larchmont, New York, Chief of Police John Poleway. His selection also comes after the Mayor considered input from the police department, the search committee, and community members.

Kelly has a Master of Public Administration from the University at Albany, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and has a Graduate Certificate in Cyber/ Computer Forensics from the University of Louisville. If the Common Council approves his appointment, Kelly will begin as IPD’s permanent Chief of Police on December 18, 2023.

Contin u ed on Page 10

responding to calls for service. Condzella also hopes that Ithaca Police Officers will soon be able to get out of their cars more frequently to better engage with the community.

Leadership at IPD has consistently said that staffing shortages have been the main factor behind the inability of officers to increase engagement with the community and build positive relationships with residents.

However, City Hall has set a clear goal of addressing those shortages by approving a new labor contract and including funds in the City budget to hire more officers at IPD. According to Sergeant Mary Orsaio, IPD has had some recent success with hiring. “We just hired two new lateral officers sworn in on November 17,” Orsaio said. She added that the new hires have started their field training, which takes a few months to complete. Condzella encourages additional lateral transfer candidates and recruits to visit www. ipd-transfers.com or www.ipd-recruit.com to learn more about the job of an Ithaca Police Officer and to start the application process.

Contin u ed on Page 10

Cornell’s Record is now 5-31. The team next visits Colgate Friday December 1.

Downs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) are investigating reports of high blood lead levels in individuals with reported exposure to Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches manufactured in Ecuador and sold under the following brands: WanaBana, Weis, Schnucks.

HEARD&SEEN Heard

The Ithaca Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a dispute between two people inside of a business in the 300 Block of Third Street, with one person reportedly in possession of a firearm. Those who wish to remain anonymous may do so.

Seen

The Ithaca College football team saw its season come to an end at RandolphMacon as the Bombers lost, 46-0, in the NCAA Second Round at Day Field on November 25. Ithaca concludes the year with a 9-3 record.

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

Do you think Patrick Kuehl’s secret write-in campaign against Jorge DeFendini in the Fourth Ward was undemocratic?

57.8% Yes .

38.6% No .

3.5%

I don’t care .

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

Should there be increased police presence on the Commons?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

November 29 – December 5, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

5

The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Fracking With A Twist

“

Here we go again! “Fracking,” with a new twist, “carbon capture & sequestration” (which means storing CO2 at the end of the process in underground pipelines) is coming, yet again, to NY. One Bryce Phillips of Fort Worth

Texas is approaching Southern Tier landowners trying to sell leases for the new goldrush, thru his company “Southern Tier CO2 to Clean Energy Solutions LLC”.

6500 leases are sought.

But didn’t NYS already ban fracking?

Only if it requires more than 300,000 gallons of water per well. The catch is that his company won’t use any water or chemicals in its drilling process. Instead he plans to inject CO2 into the shale formations which will store it indefinitely. This will force out methane which can then be sold or burned.

This “carbon capture” or “direct air capture” underground storage, is touted as a “solution” to climate change by the oil industry. But, guess what? To ensure public safety, the oil industry must guarantee

that carbon CAN BE safely stored for thousands of years, even though long term stable storage of CO2 remains unproven.

And worse—CO2 pipeline networks “LEAK” as happened in Satartia Mississippi in 2020 putting 45 residents in the hospital. The rupture displaced oxygen, causing asphyxiation and other symptoms to residents. Are humans capable of operating & guaranteeing such a technology?

The cost of this “unworkable” solution to climate change—65,000 additional miles of CO2 pipeline (pipeline companies are salivating over the thought of this) installed underground, huge tax credits (45Q) and federal subsidies to “save” fossil fuels from an “early exit” is exorbitant— and US taxpayers will foot the bill.

Instead, wind, solar, and Amory Lovins’ energy efficiency technologies CAN “solve” the climate crisis. But carbon capture and sequestration is a “hoax”— an oil drilling subsidy masquerading as a “climate solution”. Meanwhile, climate disasters continue.....” — Dorothy Pomponio

Dismayed by Tompkins County Public Library’s Recent Decisions

“

I was dismayed by the library’s recent decision to eliminate 23% of the books in its collection. This was done to reduce the cost of RFID, which will make the library “more efficient,” and I’ve been told many of the books will be purchased again. I fail to see any financial gain in this.

Furthermore, a study of RFID in 27 California libraries (http://kcoyle.net/RFIDCostsBenefits.pdf) was inconclusive, stating that “more research is necessary” to determine if there is any advantage to this technology.

For me, the library has always been a place where my family and I can find what we didn’t know to look for, books which— despite low circulation—are kept because they are interesting, culturally important, or just really cool. Quite a few of the with-

drawn books are in my house now, thanks to the book sale, and these include works in good condition by African-American, Taiwanese, Irish, Russian, Mexican, and Australian writers.

I once went to the library to connect with a larger world. Nearly a quarter of that world has now been demolished, and I see no sign that it will be restored anytime soon or, frankly, that anyone in the library administration feels that it should be.” — Jay Leeming, Former Tompkins County Poet Laureate

Response to City Considering Short Term Rental Policy

“

I will bet you one month of rent that building new housing in Ithaca, like other places with essentially zero economic growth, is fraught with over regulation, high cost, delays and risk. The resulting “housing crisis” is fantastic because it enables virtue signalers to run around in circles enacting meaningless gestures like this one. Meanwhile, in the parts of the country where people actually live and work after giving up on places like Ithaca, new housing is built routinely. But the lack of housing crises in these places causes an unfortunate reduction in virtue signaling opportunities.” — Steven Baginski

SUNY’s to Announce Layoffs?

“

If nothing changes, nearly a third of all SUNY campuses will soon be forced to announce significant layoffs and the termination of numerous degree programs.

In June, $163 million was approved by the NYS legislature to close the budget deficits for 19 SUNY colleges in an immediate and serious financial crisis.

Instead of allocating the funds as the legislature intended, the chancellor instead gave most of the $163 million to the university centers, which have no financial concerns.” — Anonymous

Attention Ithaca! Readers’ Writes Is Here!

Since 1981, the Ithaca Times has closed every year with the “Readers’ Writes” issue, featuring submissions from the most diverse writing staff at our disposal: you.

R E A DE R S ’

W RITES

IS SU E D e a d li n e DE

Stories, poems, drawings and photographs are all welcome and complete artistic freedom is in your hands. It’s a platform for you to be heard beyond the letters page.

This year’s theme is “If I could I would…”

As tradition dictates, any interpretation of what this prompt means to you is fair and, of course, a wide range of submissions will be accepted — just as long as you stay under 600 words.

If you’re interested in participating in Readers’ Writes, send your submissions to Attn: Readers’ Writes, the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, New York 14850 or email them in with a subject line of “Readers’ Writes“ to editor@ithacatimes.com.

C 17

6 The Ithaca Times / November 29 – December 5, 2023

GUEST OPINION

SURROUNDED BY REALITY

Contempt of Democracy or the Will of the People?

Walking the Walk

By A a ron Fe r na n d o

N

ational news outlets recently reported that during a senate hearing, a U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin attempted to start a physical fight with a union boss. Senator Bernie Sanders, also at the hearing, stepped in and scolded his fellow senator like a schoolchild, reminding him, “You are a United States Senator,” and continued to say, “God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress.”

Contempt indeed; recent polling from Pew has shown that almost three out of every four Americans holds an unfavorable view of Congress, and that the majority of Americans on both sides of the aisle believes that politicians are motivated by selfish reasons. The inability of Congress to serve the American people coupled with the explosion in campaign spending has not helped this public perception.

This deeply cynical belief—that politics is for the power and prestige of individuals who have no regard for the public good—has been internalized by many around the country and even in our community, who refuse to engage in the political process.

It now seems that this cynicism has also been internalized by those who do engage in the political process, but for the sake of attaining personal prestige and power. For Ithaca residents interested and engaged in Ithaca politics, it is unlikely that you ever heard the name Patrick Kuehl before election day. This was intentional. Almost no one knew about Kuehl’s campaign, because it was conducted in secret.

In an article titled “Despite MonthLong Canvassing, Kuehl Claims He Was “Not Running” Keuhl told the Cornell Daily Sun that he was not running a campaign at all, texting the journalists, “I’m not [running for Common Council] lmao who told u that [sic].” A source from this article who wished to remain anonymous told news outlet “Kuehl told me, ‘Don’t say anything to anyone… Pretty quickly, he was telling me not to tell anybody about his write-in campaign.” The Sun confirmed that this call had in fact happened.

However, in later correspondence to the Sun, Keuhl wrote in an email, “I

believe that no person should run unopposed, ideas should be challenged and the people should be given a choice.” But how is the public to make a choice that has intentionally been kept from them?

In fact, we still do not know what platform or policy, if any, Patrick Kuehl intends to advance if he does serve on Common Council. The broader public knows of him only for his power grab. But there is one thing we do know: that he secured a seat in our local government, and will ostensibly represent the Fourth Ward.

So perhaps it is time to revisit the things we learned in the very first civics classes. Is the point of democracy to win at all costs, securing power using any methods available, for personal gain, even if that means lying to the press and duping the public? Or is it a way to both engage with the public, and remain accountable to it?

At the federal level, we see that democracy has often become nothing more than theater, and no amount of ethical wrongdoing costs officials their power. Despite facing 91 felony charges and having been impeached twice, Donald Trump is still the Republican presidential front-runner.

The legitimacy of the highest court in the land has become so riddled with ethical scandals, that it recently passed a toothless code of ethics with no enforcement mechanism: more theater to get the pesky will of the people out of the way. Despite facing 23 federal charges and lying about many key details in his campaign, George Santos of New York still serves in Congress.

Due to the fact that Keuhl seems to have lied to the press about his candidacy and hidden it from the broader public, it is an imperative that we demand a special election where the public actually knows about candidates before the game has been called. In the words of Kuehl himself, “people should be given a choice.”

It is imperative that local community leaders and officials understand that this is not a trivial matter. The legitimacy of the institutions that facilitate democratic governance is at stake, at every level. Does the will of the people matter? Does the spirit of democracy matter in America?

Does it matter in Ithaca? Or should we have contempt, here, too?

By C h a r l ey G i t h l e r

I

know it’s Holiday Season, but doesn’t it seem like just a respite from our vague yet insistent sense of impending doom?

Recently, I literally overheard two people comparing Canadian wildfire smoke (audaciously full-bodied medley of roasted pine cones and braised maple syrup) and Appalachian wildfire smoke (smoother finish with notes of plastic). Would it make sense to see if the past offered any lessons in how to cope? I thought I’d take a look at the Ithaca newspapers (editor’s note: sort of like the internet) from early December, 1929: a previous holiday season when disaster loomed.

I was immediately gripped by the story of Benjamin Franklin Beebe, a Cornell undergraduate from Dryden who won that year’s Cornell walking contest. Possibly a holdover from 19thcentury walking contests, the events and the sponsoring Outing Club didn’t merit any mention in the Cornell yearbooks of the 1920s, but did make the Ithaca Journal and the Cornell Daily Sun. It’s hard to know exactly what the rules were at this remove, but it seems like the contestants tallied the distances of two one-day walks over two weekends and the longest distance won.

On the first Sunday, December 8, Beebe logged a very respectable 43-mile trek. The truly remarkable feat, though, came the next Sunday. Setting out at 12:10 AM, he walked all the way to Owego and back, 65 miles, returning with just five minutes to spare at 11:55 PM that night.

He would have walked the route of the old Ithaca-Owego Turnpike, now Route 96B, through Danby and Candor.

Depicted on the 1929 Ithaca Automobile Club map as a “primary improved road”, it had been paved with concrete in the summer of 1924. There were buses that made the same trip three times a day.

We know what the daylight situation is in December — grim. On December 15, 1929, the sun rose at 7:28 and set at 4:30, so a good 12 hours of the journey would have been made without the benefit of sunlight. Still, though it was overcast and snowy, and cold (it got down to 15), there was a full moon coming the next night, so it wouldn’t have been done in pitch darkness. I took it upon myself to drive the

route at night the day before the last full moon, just to see, and even with clouds there would have been more than ample ambient light for him to have made his way. There weren’t a lot of other sources of light in the wee hours of a Sunday morning on that road back then. Though we were in love with cars by 1929, traffic would have been pretty light on a Sunday, too. Lighter and slower than in 2023, anyway.

His combined 108 miles eclipsed the achievements of the other contenders, perhaps because Benjamin Beebe, Class of ’31, was not your typical Cornell undergraduate. For one thing, he was older — 36 years old in December, 1929. For another, he was a veteran of the World War, having served with the American Expeditionary Force in France in 1918.

It’s hard to imagine him having to wear the freshman beanie that upperclassmen insisted on in those days.

Anyway, there was astoundingly little mention of the recent stock market crash in the newspapers. Aside from the convening of “400 key men” from the business world in Washington, DC, who determined that “continuation of prosperity is predicted”, there is virtually no inkling that the economy was teetering on the brink. There were pages of Christmas ads. A vaudeville revue was being held over at the State Theater. Apparently, Cornell’s campus was in the throes of a yo-yo craze. There didn’t seem to be any awareness that the great Depression was barreling at them like a hobo-laden freight train.

Beebe would go on to a career in public education, becoming a principal in the Groton School District and retiring in 1955. Had it been me, and I should admit that I was a little tired after having driven a car to Owego and back, I would have prominently displayed the trophy cup on a pedestal in my office. Maybe with a spotlight.

I learned nothing about how people dealt with impending catastrophe 96 years ago. Maybe if they’d had the benefit of a constantly-updated news feed with 24/7 access to clickbait disaster stories and high-octane social media they would have been able to muster some hysteria. I guess we’re just lucky.

November 29 – December 5, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

7

Give Back this Holiday Season by Choosing a Local Non-Profit to Support

A

s the year nears its end, we find ourselves entering the holiday season once again.

For many, the holiday season is a season of giving. If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community, you’re in luck – Ithaca has its fair share of non-profits that would be grateful for the help. From providing low-threshold medical services to low-cost childcare, there’s a non-profit for everyone.

REACH MEDICAL

If medical care, or addiction care specifically, are close to your heart, you may want to give back to REACH Medical. REACH offers a variety of services, including: medication assisted treatment, primary care, PrEP, PEP and HIV treatment, hepatitis C testing and treatment, counseling services, behavior health care, case management, social supports and peer programs.

In addition to providing a stigma-free setting for a range of healthcare needs, REACH also accepts all insurances, including Medicaid. Additionally, no one seeking care will be denied access to services due to an inability to pay.

By Ta n n e r H a r di ng REACH got its start seven years ago by Dr. Justine Waldman. Waldman is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and has worked locally since 2002. She spear-headed the opening of the Ithaca Free Clinic in 2005 to address care issues and bias in medicine.

She still volunteers at the clinic monthly.

Waldman’s interest in addiction care and healthcare for drug users was ignited by former mayor Svante Myrick’s Municipal Drug Policy Committee in Sept. 2014.

“She has an eye for it and knows what’s needed,” REACH Community Outreach Supervisor Anna Vergari said. “At this point we have somehow magically grown to this large staff of likeminded people who are all very mission based.”

Vergari said there are often things in the works at REACH, but the newest addition is the medical mobile unit.

“Hopefully at the beginning of 2024 we can start traveling for people,” Vergari said. “We already do some small initiatives.

We’ve been out to Yates County and Cortland County, and we’ll keep connecting with counties around New York State.”

REACH also spearheaded a large initiative to get people vaccinated when the CO-

The Tompkins Cou nty Public Libr ary was fou nded in 1993, and much of its fu nding goes towards replacing books and adding to the libr aries digital collection. (Photo: Provided)

The Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center (DICC) has been providing affordable childcare services in Ithaca since the early 1970s. (Photo: Provided) VID vaccine was approved for emergency What makes the DICC different than use and added an Outreach Program in a other daycares, besides its non-profit status, direct response to the pandemic. is that 50% of families who have children “The Outreach Program was launched in enrolled there receive payment subsidies light of the pandemic…We knew unshel- through the state to help make childcare tered folks wouldn’t have options for con- more affordable. necting via tele-medicine,” Vergari said. “We “Most centers cap how many subsidized had a nurse and outreach working going out families they take, but we do not,” Executo encampments and building connections tive Director Meghan Guerra Lyons said. and bringing clothes, supplies and provid- “It’s our goal to have 50%.” ing medical care. I don’t think the focus at Lyons also said DICC is among the lowthis point is vaccines, but usually acute care.” est of childcare tuitions in all of Tompkins If you’re looking for a way to help County.

REACH Medical, the organization accepts “Childcare is extremely expensive, so we clothing donations, cold weather gear, tents, try to think about how we can work with our flashlights and non-perishable food items. mis- and under-represented populations.”

You can also support REACH by donating If parents are having a hard time paymonetarily at https://www.reachprojectinc. ing, DICC won’t turn them away. Lyons org/donate or by shopping at https://www. said they purposefully write grants to cover reachprojectinc.org/shop. gaps in tuition funding.

“We take in a lot of emergency and safety placements, so sometimes subsidies aren’t DOWNTOWN ITHACA set up right away,” she said. “At the end of CHILDREN’S CENTER As any parent knows, childcare is a ma- the day, we want families to have childcare.”

Diversity is another important and injor expense. The Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center (DICC) has been providing tentional part of the DICC experience.

“We have a very diverse staff from all childcare services in some form or another since the early 1970s. It got its start as a over the world,” Lyons said. She noted they drop-in center to a five-days-a-week day- currently had employees from the Dominicare when it became licensed by the state can Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Greece, Poland, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago. in 1996.

8 The Ithaca Times / November 29 – December 5, 2023

CDs, streaming and audio books,” Executive Director Kerry Barnes said.

Recently, members of the foundation did what Barnes called a “weeding” of the library’s collection.

“It’s like a garden and needs to be tended,” she said. “Our collection hadn’t been thoroughly weeded in about five years.”

They went through to make sure the library was as up-to-date as possible.

“There’s no benefit to having a travel guide from 2016 on your shelves,” she said. “It’s important that a library has the most accurate and up-to-date information on its shelves.”

Additionally, the library is in the process of implementing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging system to better keep inventory of what’s in the library.

Barnes said it will also improve the patron experience by providing faster ways to check things in and out.

Much of the foundation’s fundraising goes toward replacing books and adding to digital collections. The foundation got its start to act as the fundraising arm of the Tompkins County Public Library, along with the Friends of the Tompkins County Library. As the library couldn’t fundraise for itself, the foundation was founded in 1993. In addition to raising money, it also does grant writing.

“We’re a separate organization from the TOMPKINS COUNTY library, but we work very closely with them PUBLIC LIBRARY so we can anticipate what they need and FOUNDATION While the Tompkins County Public Li- cultivate support for it,” Barnes said. “We’re brary receives much of its funding from an extraordinary situation in that TompTompkins County and the City of Ithaca, kins County Public Library has both a there are often gaps in the budget. This is Friends group and a foundation. It speaks where the Tompkins County Public Library to how much our community loves to support our library.”

Foundation comes in.

If you want to help the Tompkins Coun“We raise funds for the library to support collections, which is the material that the ty Public Library Foundation, you can dolibrary has to lend, such as books, DVDs, nate via check or at tcplfoundation.org. If “There’s something to be said for when you’re in an environment where it’s diverse and incredibly accepting and inclusive,” she said.

Another point of pride for Lyons is that DICC is a certified living wage employer and also makes contributions to 401Ks. “We’re one of few living wage certified daycares, and we’re committed to maintaining that,” she said. “So the combination of affordable care, subsidized families and living wage is like an equity storm that clashes. We want to pay our staff as much as we can, but we don’t want to charge families a lot of money.”

If you’re looking to help DICC this holiday season, Lyons said monetary donations are “incredibly powerful” for the center.

“Monetary donations can help take away a balance on a family’s payment cycle. It allows for children to be safe and in case,” she said. “It also helps us ensure that we can pay our staff a living wage and helps with continuing education for staff.”

The center is also currently doing a winter gear clothing drive so that children and staff can go outside and play as it gets colder. Additionally, they’re always collecting donations of diapers, wipes, toys, crafting supplies and books.

R EACH got its start seven years ago by Dr. Justine Waldman, who spear-headed the opening of the Ithaca Free Clinic in 2005 to address care issues and bias in medicine. (Photo: Provided)

Common issues that LawN Y helps people with are evictions, u nemployment, public assistance and foreclosure. (Photo: Provided) you have books to donate, Barnes encourages you to donate to the Friends of the Tompkins County Library. For more information, visit booksale.org.

“We take monetary donations and they take book donations,” she said.

However, the best way to support the library, Barnes said, it by using it.

“Get a library card and check it out. A good library is a used library.”

SUICIDE PREVENTION & CRISIS SERVICE

The Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service has been serving Ithaca since 1969. It was started when Ithacans lobbied for a 24hour crisis services after a series of suicides in 1968. Rev. Jack Lewis answered the first call the following year. When he picked up the phone, he found himself talking to a young man who was contemplating suicide.

Luckily, Lewis was able to provide hope and comfort to the young man and saved his life. That first year the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service received 387 calls.

You don’t have to be thinking of taking your own life to call the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service. Whether you’re upset, lonely, depressed, angry, scared or in any other type of emotional pain, you can call the Crisis Line. You can also call if you’re worried about a loved one who is going through a hard time.

“We don’t give advice, judge or try to fix you. We are here to listen, support and guide you toward finding your own solution,” the website reads.

Nowadays, the Crisis Line answers all calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number that come from the 607 area code, as well as direct calls to their local number.

If you want to help the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service, you can donate by going to

https://ithacacrisis.org/ and scrolling down to the bottom of the page. Additionally, you can apply to be a volunteer for the Crisis Line at https://ithacacrisis.org/volunteer/.

LAWNY

LawNy is a non-profit law firm that provides free legal assistance to people in Alleghany, Cattaraugus, Chatuaqua, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne and Yates counties.

Some of the common issues that LawNY helps people with are evictions, unemployment, public assistance and foreclosure.

The Ithaca office, located at 902 Taber Street, provides services relating to domestic violence, elder law, consumer, landlord/tenant, housing, foreclosures, SSD/SSI, public benefits and unemployment insurance benefits.

Additionally, they can refer a limited number of other civil issues to private attorneys on their pro bono panel.

LawNY prioritizes helping people who have low incomes and few assets and who are U.S. citizens or have a U.S. citizen in the household. The best way to find out if LawNY can help you is by calling the Ithaca office at 607-273-3667.

LawNY is funded by a variety of sources, such as United Way, New York Bar Foundation, University of Rochester, Engaged Cornell and many other organizations and private donors. It also applies for grant money and some local governments provide monetary support.

You can donate either by check or online. Visit https://www.lawny.org/donate for more information. If you’re a student or attorney, you may be able to volunteer. Visit https://www.lawny.org/node/109/volunteer-opportunities and https://doprobono. lawny.org/ to learn more.

November 29 – December 5, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

9

and policies, has represented his agency to the community, responding to local safety contin u ed from page 5 needs, and has used a system (Performance Appraisal System and Standard Quality Control Reports) to monitor career develAccording to the statement, Kelly has opment and training for assigned staff.

23 years of policing experience in ScheKelly has also represented the Schenectanectady, a diverse city of 67,000 residents dy Police Department for the Gun Involved — more than double the size of Ithaca.

Violence Elimination (GIVE) program, inKelly began his career as a Patrol Officer troduced new tactics in successful homicide before he was promoted to Sergeant, folinvestigations, and partnered with state-wide lowed by a promotion to Detective Lieutenant and subsequently Patrol Lieutenant. agencies on crime investigations.

The statement concluded, saying, In his present role, Kelly has respon“Mayor Lewis wants to thank Acting sibility for ensuring that all subordinate Chief Schwartz for his contributions and staff comply with department regulations

support throughout this transition to a permanent Chief at IPD.” It added that Schwartz will return to his role as Lt. of Investigations, where he will continue positively impacting the department.

This will be the second time in one year that the Common Council will vote on the Mayor’s appointment of the Chief of Police.

In December 2022, Mayor Lewis was forced to revoke her nomination of John Joly to the Police Chief position after several Common Council members publicly announced their intention to vote against his approval.

The last time around, the process was described as a “shit show” by Joly before he

proceeded to file a lawsuit against the City, claiming that the hiring process for the Police Chief job was discriminatory against white men. The lawsuit is currently ongoing.

It remains uncertain whether the Common Council will approve Kelly’s appointment. However, First Ward Alderperson George McGonigal has said he plans to vote for Kelly. Additionally, Second Ward Alderperson Ducson Nguyen has said that he also “plans to vote for [Kelly].” Nguyen added that he was told the “sentiment of the search committee and the public feedback heavily favored Kelly, so given our options, I’m comfortable moving forward with him.”

ITHACA PBA SETTLES LABOR CONTRACT

Officers to spend time doing community outreach. According to Orsaio, it could be incredibly beneficial to have someone on the Commons providing education about the rules of the Commons while building positive relationships with business owners and residents.

“The downtown area and the Commons have a lot of nuanced local laws that people aren’t aware of, and sometimes people just need to be informed and once that education is provided, you’d be surprised how many people will comply by those laws, just because they’re informed of them,” Orsaio said.

Regarding IPD’s holiday community

outreach efforts, Orsaio said that IPD is one of the many local agencies participating in the local Cops, Kids, and Toys gift giveaway. Orsaio says, “We collaborate with other agencies, and we collect toys to give to families who may be struggling to provide Christmas gifts for their children.” Orsaio continued saying that in 2022, Cops, Kids, and Toys served over 425 families, and more than 900 children could get Christmas gifts because of the giveaway. She added that there are more than 100 donation sites around the county, with drop-off locations at City Hall and every local police department.

MAYOR SELECTS

contin u ed from page 5

Regarding the public perception of IPD, Orsaio says that “the more we’ve been out in the community, the more feedback we’ve had has been positive.” She continued, “Most people’s perception of IPD is that we’re a good agency, our officers want to do the right thing, we care about our community, and we want feedback to know the best way to serve our community.”

According to Orsaio, most of the feedback that IPD has received from

business owners downtown is insufficient police presence, “especially in the downtown area.” In response to those concerns, Orsaio said IPD might consider having an officer patrol the Commons once staffing levels allow it. “We don’t have a permanent Commons officer. That used to be a position that was Monday through Friday where we had two officers assigned just to the Commons…the downtown area is asking for that position back just to have more police presence down there.”

Orsaio has said that placing officers on Commons patrol would not only deter potential criminal activity but also allow

Vital

Life

by Betsy Schermerhorn Director, Marketing and Admissions

HEARING LOSS As people age, their hearing can gradually decline due to changes in the inner ear or damage to the auditory nerves. Age-related hearing loss can make it challenging for older adults to communicate effectively, participate in social activities, and enjoy everyday life. It can also lead to feelings of isolation and depression. Older people should undergo regular hearing tests and work with healthcare professionals to address hearing loss and develop a personalized treatment plan. It may include hearing instruments or other devices and strategies for improving communication skills and managing related emotional issues. Family members and caregivers can

also support older adults with hearing loss by providing emotional support and ensuring that their living environment is conducive to good hearing.

Studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss have a greater risk of developing dementia than older adults with normal hearing. Cognitive abilities (including memory and concentration) decline faster in older adults with hearing loss than in older adults with normal hearing. Call the marketing team at (607) 266-5300 to schedule a tour to see our facilities and learn more about lifecare at Kendal at Ithaca. Find us on the web at http://kai.kendal.org/ 2230 N. Triphammer Road Ithaca, NY 14850-6513

Website: www.kai.kendal.org Email: admissions@kai.kendal.org

10 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / N o v e m b e r 2 9 – D e c e m b e r 5 , 2 0 2 3

(607) 266-5300 Toll Free: (800) 253-6325

Sports

Still Wearing Red Former Big Red Coach Heads Ohio State Defense

By Ste ve L aw re nc e

on whether the jobs of the Buckeyes’ coaching staff were secure. This seems almost unbelievable when one considers that the team’s record over the past five years under head coach Ryan Day is 56-7.

That is not a misprint. Fifty-six wins, seven losses. That important stat is, however, overridden in the eyes of some by the fact that the Buckeyes have dropped three straight contests to the arch-rival Michigan Wolverines.

I watched Knowles at the post-game press conference, and he used words like “devastated” to describe his team’s mood in the locker room. I watched the game (there were 110,615 people in the stadium), and I wanted Ohio State to win, mostly because I like Jim a lot, but they lost, and now their dual dream of a win over Michigan and a national championship will not come to fruition.Yes, it’s a different world.

It was tough to watch my pal Jim Knowles sit in front of a bank of microphones after an excruciating loss last weekend. Jim played football at Cornell when I was working there in the 1980s, he served as the Big Red’s head coach from 2004-2009. He then took a step onto a bigger stage, working for programs like Duke and Ole Miss, and climbed yet another rung on the ladder when he took the position as the defensive coordinator for Oklahoma State.

Success at those jobs enabled Jim to work his way into one of those multi-milliondollar elite-level coaching jobs as the defensive coordinator for the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes.

After Ohio State’s loss to the Michigan Wolverines last weekend, some of the talk in big time college football circles touched

There are some real changes coming this year in Section IV high school sports. After many years of playing as the lone boy’s ice hockey team in Section IV, Ithaca High will now take the ice against a merged team from Windsor/Vestal and Seton Catholic.

Section IV Director Bill Bryant told me, “That addition will set up the first-ever Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles — a former Cornell player and head coach — faced Section IV men’s ice a tough loss Saturday to Michigan. hockey championship, and the two teams will play each other at least twice during Now, opportunities have increased, as, in the regular season., and each will get an Bryant’s words, “eight different Section IV automatic bid to the Sectional championschools have implemented a girl’s wrestling ship.” The wheels are in motion, Bryant program.” Bryant added, “There will be some kind of competition for girls almost added, to expand even more by including a team from the Elmira/Corning area, and every weekend, and in January, there will perhaps another team from the Triple Cit- be a qualifier to go to the Sectional championship.” Also, girls will be able to wrestle ies region. against boys for the remainder of this seaMore changes... for several years, girls son, but starting next season, athletes will have been taking part in high school be required to make a choice as to whether wrestling competitions, competing against they wish to compete against girls or boys. other girls and, sometimes, against boys.

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November 29 – December 5, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

11

12 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / N o v e m b e r 2 9 – D e c e m b e r 5 , 2 0 2 3

Brews & Brats Becomes Cedarwood Event Venue

T

B y D av i d D u r r e t t

he Brews & Brats restaurant in Trumansburg has reopened under the management of Sara Abernathy, and under the name Cedarwood Event Venue.

Abernathy, who was a customer at Brews & Brats for four to five years and knew the owner, was aware that he was trying to sell it.

“When he first put it up for sale, it didn’t cross my mind that it would be something that I wanted,” Abernathy said. “I was looking for a commercial kitchen, and I was looking for a commercial kitchen so that I could do food for my wedding venue, New Park.”

Over time, Abernathy saw that Brews and Brats was not only an opportunity for a space with a commercial kitchen, but an event venue in its own right. Abernathy bought Brews & Brats it in January and opened it in April.

Abernathy owns two other businesses— New Park Event Venue and Suites in Ithaca, and Mill Creek Cabins in Lodi. She runs them through a management company with eight to

12 employees, who work for all three businesses.

Cedarwood hosts events such as birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, micro-weddings and other gatherings, as well as comedy, bands and other entertainment.

“We’ve really been quite busy,” Abernathy said.

Abernathy said she has not changed much about the business, save for moving Sara Abernathy has taken ownership of the former Brews and Brats in Trumansburg and plans a new event space. the bar closer to the stage and opening up a wall in order to increase the space. with dishes such as lasagna, chicken and Cap“Brews & Brats was successful and very rese salads. much functional and operational on its own,” “I took it from more of an event perspecshe said, “so then there wasn’t a lot we had to tive, where we create the event and then we do to make it a great space to be. Maybe a little create what the menu is around that,” Abernabit of redecorating and that’s it.” thy said.

Abernathy chose the name Cedarwood to Abernathy hopes to bring more bands into reflect the venue's rustic space, with rough-cut the venue. She plans on bringing in bands wooden walls and a homey and cozy nature, she enjoys in the hopes that others will enjoy since the previous name of Brews & Brats was them, but also hopes to bring in bands from as rather specific and she wanted to do somefar away as Elmira, Horseheads and northeastthing broader. ern Pennsylvania in order to make Cedarwood “It’s a cozy and casual environment,” Aba place to discover new music. ernathy said. “You don’t feel like you have to “We find that there’s a lot of bands that play dress up to go there, but it’s also a nice place.” in the same area,” Abernathy said, “so what Abernathy said she has three separate we’re doing is obviously bringing in bands that menus. One is a traditional classic menu for people know and love, but also bringing bands weddings and sit-down events. Another is a from out of town.” barbecue menu with pulled pork, carne asada Abernathy hopes to bring more comedy and a taco bar. The third is an Italian menu events to Cedarwood, since there were only occasional acts prior to when Cedarwood started an open mic. Cedarwood has comedy nights on three out of four Thursdays per month- open mic nights on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, as well as a comedy show on the third Thursday of the month— and Abernathy hopes to add a fourth.

Abernathy said she not only sees a hole in the market for comedy, but also personally enjoys comedy, and being able to do something she enjoys makes the business less stressful in both good and bad times.

“Doing things that I personally enjoy has been helpful in figuring out what I want Cedarwood to become,” Abernathy said, “because if I personally enjoy it, I don’t have to worry about whether I’m making money.”

Cedarwood Event Venue Cedarwood hosts events such as birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, micro-weddings and other gatherings, as well as comedy, bands and other entertainment. (Photo: Provided)

9632 NY-96, Trumansburg (607) 288-2896 cedarwoodeventvenue.com

Arts&Entertainment

NEW OWNER, NAME

November 29 – December 5, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

13

Books

If Statues Could Talk Ithaca Professors Writes Witty Essays of Rome Past and Present

By Barbara Ad am s

R

ome, The Eternal City, whose magnetic appeal has attracted conquerors and artists, worshippers and travelers for centuries, is the inspiration for a new book of 45 essays by Anthony Di Renzo. A professor of writing at Ithaca College specializing in professional and satirical genres, he has previously published reflections about Italian history and culture in “Bitter Greens: Essays on Food, Politics, and Ethnicity from the Imperial Kitchen.”

In his current work, “Pasquinades: Essays from Rome’s Famous Talking Statue,” Di Renzo assumes the persona of a battered marble torso mounted in a narrow square near the celebrated Piazza Navona. For centuries, this classical remnant, dubbed Pasquino, has been a site for locals to anonymously post their quips and gripes — a citizens’ free press, as it were.

This collection, published by Cayuga Lake Books, wittily observes aspects of Rome past and present, historical anecdotes alongside contemporary cultural critique.

Di Renzo will be reading from his book Thursday, November 30, at 5 p.m. in Ithaca College’s Clark Lounge, Campus Center, Egbert Hall. The illustrated talk is free and

open to the public. Di Renzo spoke about his work recently with Ithaca Times arts writer Barbara Adams.

Ithaca Times: These essays originated as a series of columns you published over seven years in L’Italo-Americano, a duallanguage journal dedicated to educating Italian-Americans about their culture. In adapting them to book publication, why did you choose to see Rome from Pasquino’s perspective?

Anthony Di Renzo: Rome has several talking statues, and they’re the bulletin board of the ordinary Roman people. But Pasquino is located right along the parade route of the old Papal States; so newly elected popes would pass and stop, nod, and ask Pasquino’s blessing. Likewise, people sent to execution would pause on that route and ask the statue to bless them.

Pasquino represents that overlap with high and low culture, between those with most power and those who don’t have much — he's literally at the crossroads, and that's why he became the most popular of those statues.

I wanted the columns to be educational, just as early 18th century writers like Addison and Steele did, who wanted to take knowledge out of the universities and into the coffeehouses. Also something like the conversation today at Rome’s Antico Caffè Greco — freewheeling, very funny, very racy, discussing profound and tragic things in a light, bantering way.

IT: Why did you choose the particular medium of critical commentary?

AD: Every other literary genre the Romans borrowed from the Greeks. But this particular blending of poetry and

“Pasquinades: Essays from Rome’s Famous Talking Statue,”

By Anthony Di Renzo reading 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 Ithaca College’s Clark Lounge, Campus Center, Egbert Hall.

prose, history and current events, high and low, cynicism and lyricism — it’s the most Roman genre, Rome’s most original contribution to Western literature. As the lst-century rhetorician Quintilian said, “Satire is completely our thing.”

When you hear Romans talk, they can wax lyric and nostalgic one minute, and then say the most harsh, horrible, obscene thing; they go back and forth in that way and not miss a beat. And this cuts across class; it cuts across gender. You see elegant, beautifully coiffured women talking like stevedores, or people in the Campo de’ Fiori market engaged in this brass knuckle dialogue and then quoting Leopardi. It’s a mix of high and low, and this has nothing to do with schooling — it’s just something they understand. So a writer is entering into this tradition, celebrating it.

IT: There’s a density to your essays; they’re crowded with splendid detail.

It’s like being in Rome’s central historic district — everything is around you and it’s happening all at once. How to avoid overwhelming a reader unfamiliar with Rome, one who doesn’t catch all the allusions?

AD: In the original columns I didn’t have to explain, because readers knew the customs, the landmarks, the streets. But in revising for the book, I had to provide a crib sheet and simplify in places. Each piece was revised over 10 to 20 drafts, no exaggeration; my editor, Edward Hower, pressed for clarity to all readers.

IT: In the original columns, you posed as Pasquino’s secretary; here in the book you almost inhabit him.

AD: Before he was always observing; now he’s in the action itself. It’s his story, talking about things that move him in some way. In Roman legends, gods animate statues, so I used that to imagine Pasquino being clairvoyant, reading people’s thoughts.

They pass by, and he hitches a ride on them and goes around the city and comes back.

This is what I got from Washington Irving, TOMPKINS ORGS contin u ed from page 4

take the Roots of Success apprenticeship training; all graduates of this cohort are also to receive an “Environmental Specialist” certificate from Roots of Success, the prerequisite for a federally-recognized Environmental Literacy Instructor apprenticeship.

The Roots of Success apprenticeship itself is recognized by New York State and the Federal Department of Labor. It is the

14 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / N o v e m b e r 2 9 – D e c e m b e r 5 , 2 0 2 3

Ithaca Professor Anthony Di Renzo combines his interests of satire and Italian History in his new book.

from E. T. A. Hoffmann and the early Romantics. They’re always playing with these kinds of fantasies. But at the same time, no matter how fantastic the presentation, all the stories are true. This is a book of nonfiction. You can fact-check everything — no matter how crazy it might seem, it happened. I rarely make up even the dialogue.

I may tweak it, recontextualize it, but I tend to actually go to sources.

IT: In the essays, there’s a mix of affection, cynicism, and finally, resignation or acceptance, and they often end on a bittersweet or shadowed note.

AD: Rome is a city of ruins, where you constantly see the transience of things. In the chapter on Madama Lucrezia, I said, “Nothing can restore our shattered past, not even the memory of great passion.

And this sad truth oddly comforts us Romans. In a world of ruins, the ruin of our own happiness seems a natural catastrophe, not a moral failure. Almost tenderly, The Eternal City invites us to rest our weariness upon things that have crumbled for centuries but remain upright.” So whole book is an exercise in that kind of perspective. first of its kind, and the CCE staff instructors of the Energy Warriors course, Aloja Airewele and Patrick Lynch, have both completed this apprenticeship. One of the recent graduates, Keegan Coughlin, is currently in this apprenticeship, as well.

“It was just an incredible hands-on experience”, said Harrison Hensley, one of the graduates who is also doing the Cozy Basements! program. “It’s great to be out there and actually preparing the classroom piece with the actual practical hands-on pieces.”

Film

“The Movie Man” — Cinemapolis to Hold Event Honoring Bryan VanCampen

“Movie-Man” Bryan VanCampen brought life to Ithaca’s entertainment scene for more than forty years before passing away in September, 2022. (Photo: File)

critic for the Ithaca Times and was on the job until his death.”

VanCampen’s longtime friend and co-host Beth Saulnier has said, “BVC—as he was known to his many friends and admirers—was nothing less than an Ithaca institution.” Saulnier continued, saying, “For over three decades, BVC was Ithaca’s ‘Movie Man.’” According to Sauliner, “In various venues including the Grapevine, NewsCenter 7, ‘Take Two’ on Channel 13, and (of course!) the Ithaca Times, he told his readers and viewers what he thought about the latest films—with a fierceness that could blow the popcorn right out of your bucket.”

Saulnier added, “There was much more to the Movie Man than just movies.

BVC was a musician…He was a standup comedian, an actor in myriad community

theater productions, a DJ on WVBR, a puppeteer, and a journalist who interviewed hundreds of luminaries whose per-

formances took them to our little town.”

Saulnier said, “To so many in Ithaca, BVC—a native son, born and raised and educated here—was a friend. He was the guy who showed up to your gig, who delivered food to fund his art and his writing, who loved to kick back at home with his cat Ajax Panther, his legendary collection of Yellow Submarine memorabilia, his legion of Blu-Rays, and some (now legal) herbal refreshment.”

Saulnier closed her remarks, remembering her colleague saying, “He was one of a kind—and he will be missed.”

Free retreats for local teachers winter + spring recess 2024 lottery deadline: December 3!

By Mat t D oug he r t y

A

fter a long career spent entertaining Ithacans from all walks of life and chronicling his theatrical takes in the ink of the Ithaca Times, local movie-man, actor, educator, comedian, and puppeteer Bryan VanCampen passed away in his home on September 18, 2022.

Now, several weeks after his death, a gathering has been scheduled to honor the legacy of VanCampen at Cinemapolis on December 2 at 1 pm. According to the event’s organizer, Paul Smith, “We will be screening a short obituary video and inviting folks to share stories.”

VanCampen was born in Freeville and attended SUNY New Paltz and Tompkins Cortland Community College before bursting onto the entertainment scene in Ithaca in the 1980s. In 1987, he landed a job at a local cable station, and in 1992, he teamed up with Beth Saulnier for a cable film criticism show for 11 years.

Longtime sports reporter for the Ithaca Times, Steve Lawrence, has said that “Van Campen brought a personal touch and depth of knowledge to his culture criticism, sharing what the movies meant to him as well as their merit.” Lawrence said, “In 1990, he answered an ad for a film

Earlville Opera House Presents

Squirrel Nut Zippers Holiday Caravan

December 7 7PM

$60 General $54 Member

Premiums on select seating College students half off general admission with ID Youth $10 (17 and under)

26 ANNUAL th

HOLIDAY SALE Featuring the Best of CNY Artists.

Gifts priced to sell for all your gifting needs!

November 24 to December 21 Tues. - Sat., 10AM - 4PM Sun., 12 - 4PM

Thank you to show sponsors: Community Foundation for South Central NY, NBT Bank, Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, R.C. Smith Foundation, Hamilton Community Chest, sfcu, WAER, Bruce Ward, Architect, and Poolville Country Store

Tickets available at: earlvilleoperahouse.com//315.691.3550 Please minimize use of fragrances in the 1892 theater.

18 East Main St., Earlville, NY

November 29 – December 5, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

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