Sears Street Development Brings Modular Affordable Housing to Ithaca
By Matt Dougherty
Anew housing development on Sears Street is set to provide affordable homeownership opportunities in the heart of downtown Ithaca. Spearheaded by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS), the project will bring four modular homes to the site, offering energy-efficient housing for income-qualified buyers.
“This project is an exciting step forward in addressing Ithaca’s housing needs,” said Lisa Nicholas, the City of Ithaca’s Director of Planning. “The homes are designed to be affordable, energy-efficient, and built quickly using modular construction methods, which minimizes the impact on the surrounding neighborhood.”
The Sears Street Development, which has an estimated cost of $1.5 million, will consist of two twobedroom and two three-bedroom homes. These homes are specifically designated for households earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI), ensuring they remain accessible to working families in the community.
for the homes have not yet been finalized, Nicholas noted that INHS typically prices homes in this range to ensure affordability for the target demographic.
The modular nature of the homes is a distinctive feature of the project. According to Nicholas, the homes were built in large sections off-site and assembled at the Sears Street location. This approach offers several advantages, including cost savings, reduced construction time, and minimized disruption to the neighborhood.
“It’s a faster and less invasive process than traditional construction,” Nicholas said. “Once the modular pieces arrive, the homes will go up quickly, which is a benefit for the residents and the surrounding community.”
“The homes are designed to be affordable, energyefficient, and built quickly using modular construction methods, which minimizes the impact on the surrounding neighborhood.”
— Lisa Nicholas, Director of Planning
“Every unit qualifies as affordable housing, meaning they will be available to people earning less than 80% of AMI,” Nicholas said. While specific sale prices
The homes are being constructed with energy efficiency in mind, aligning with Ithaca’s sustainability goals. Nicholas highlighted that the design includes provisions for installing solar panels, further reducing the environmental footprint and offering longterm cost savings for homeowners.
“These homes are not only affordable but also designed to be sustainable, which is an important aspect of modern housing
X League of Women Voters Seeks Student Nominees
Nominations of Tompkins County high school juniors and seniors are sought for the 25th annual Students Inside Albany conference, which is scheduled to be held May 18-21, 2025, in Albany. The conference, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc., is designed to increase students’ awareness of their responsibility in a representative government and provide the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. This interactive conference will bring together high school
students from across the state to learn about New York State government and the process by which citizens can participate in the policy making arena. As part of this program, students will also tour the Capitol and observe both the Senate and Assembly in action by spending an afternoon shadowing their legislators.
Students are sponsored by one of the 42 local League of Women Voters throughout New York State; all their expenses are covered, including travel and three nights at a hotel in
development,” Nicholas explained.
The land for the Sears Street Development was sold to INHS by Tompkins County. The project is partially funded through the Tompkins County Community Housing Development Trust Fund, which provides gap funding to support affordable housing initiatives.
“This kind of collaboration between the city, county, and organizations like INHS is crucial for making projects like this possible,” Nicholas said.
The project is well underway, with foundations already in place. The modular structures were also recently delivered via crane to the site last Tuesday.
“We’re looking at a completion date around early spring, likely February or March,” Nicholas said. “INHS usually starts advertising homes for sale before construction is fully completed, so we can
Continued on Page 14
downtown Albany. The participants will receive a student membership in the League of Women Voters of Tompkins County which includes an e-mail newsletter and invitations to meetings on government related topics.
For more information and application forms, contact Charlotte Coffman at LWVtompkins. info@gmail.com (EMAIL) or 607-351-9722 (TEXT/ CELL). They can also be found here https:// lwvtompkins.org/youth-programs/ Don’t wait — the submission deadline is January 27, 2025.
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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(1972–1978) and The
Construction workers using a crane to install the modular homes on Sears Street, which are part of an INHS development that will soon offer housing for families earnign 80% or less of the area median income (AMI). (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
IN UIRING
PHOTOGR PHER Q A
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION
OF
THE WEEK:
“IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY, WHAT ’ S YOUR FIRST BIG PURCHASE?”
Is EMS an Essential Service?
By Matt Dougherty
The Tompkins County Legislature recently discussed a proposal to encourage New York State to designate emergency medical services (EMS) as an essential service to establish uniform standards and funding mechanisms for EMS across the state.
While supporters argued it would address gaps in emergency services and ensure life-saving services are available countywide, opponents were wary of potential financial burdens on smaller municipalities.
Dryden town board member Dan Lamb advocated for the proposal, saying that it represents a critical step toward creating a more consistent and equitable EMS system across Tompkins County. He said almost half of the calls to Dryden Ambulance come from “outside of the certificate of need area,” which is the region Dryden EMS has been permitted to operate in by New York State.
“About 40% of our calls originate from outside the town, so we’re providing a lot of services for the $1.2 million we allocate to Dryden Ambulance,” Lamb said. “We need a better, more equitable system, and also a more consistent system throughout Tompkins County.”
According to Lamb, “When you dial 911, the call goes out, and you just assume an organization is going to show up…But 40% of our fire and EMS calls in Dryden are EMS-related, and we don’t have uniformity throughout Tompkins County or the state in terms of what type of entity is operating and the standards they’re meeting.”
Lamb highlighted the State Senate Bill (S.4020C) passed in May that supported EMS being declared an essential service statewide, similar to police and fire departments.
However, the Assembly has yet to pass
the bill, leaving the measure in limbo. Lamb asked the county to pass a resolution advocating for the state to designate EMS an essential service, saying that it would allow counties to establish ambulance districts akin to fire districts, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
“This is life or death,” Lamb said. “People shouldn’t be waiting 18 or 20 minutes for an ambulance to stabilize someone in critical need.”
He added that this designation would also empower counties to create funding mechanisms to support EMS services uniformly, addressing gaps in the current “patchwork” system.
Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler questioned why the legislation had not yet passed, particularly given its success in the Senate. He speculated that resistance might stem from private ambulance companies and some assembly members hesitant about potential disruptions.
“This doesn’t seem like something that would be controversial, but is it an upstatedownstate thing?” Sigler asked. “Maybe private ambulance companies aren’t eager to see this. They don’t like change—that’s my suspicion.”
Lamb clarified that Assembly Anna Kelles and State Senator Lea Webb both support the bill, and that the legislation is tailored for counties with populations under one million, largely benefiting upstate regions. However, he added that private companies and assembly leadership may have delayed the measure.
While many supported the proposal, Robert Lynch, an Enfield Town Board member, expressed concerns about the financial impact on smaller towns like his. Enfield, unlike Dryden, does not have its own ambulance service due to budget constraints, relying instead on neighboring municipalities like Trumansburg Ambulance or Bangs Ambulance.
“This carries with it unintended consequences,” Lynch said. “If Albany issues a mandate, towns like Enfield will be required to fund ambulance services, and that would break our budget.”
Lynch feared that designating EMS as an essential service without state funding could force municipalities into difficult financial positions. He advocated for a state funding model, similar to the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), to offset costs for towns.
“A better way would be for state funding that allows each community to fund
this service or support its rescue squads,” Lynch said. “Without that, it could lead to rivalry between wealthier and poorer municipalities—a municipal civil war I don’t want to see.”
Legislator Rich John reminded the legislature that the county had passed a resolution in spring 2024 supporting a package of EMS reforms, including the essential service designation. He agreed that revisiting the issue was important to push for the remaining measures in the state legislature.
“Three of the five bills in that package passed, but two didn’t,” John said. “We’re doing cleanup now, but this resolution helps isolate those remaining pieces and keeps the momentum going.”
John and Lamb both noted that declaring EMS essential would allow counties like Tompkins to plan and fund EMS services more comprehensively. However, Lamb acknowledged that the transition might create challenges for some private ambulance companies.
“There’s a model shift that needs to happen, and not everyone is comfortable with change,” Lamb said. “But we’re talking about saving lives—this can’t wait.”
As the legislative session in Albany resumes in January 2025, Lamb urged the county to advocate for home-rule legislation that would allow Tompkins County to create an ambulance district, even in the absence of a statewide mandate. Lynch, however, reiterated his call for a more deliberative approach. “I hope you’ll consider this carefully,” Lynch said. “Put it back in committee, work out the details, and come back with a stronger proposal.”
Lamb’s closing statement underscored the urgency of the issue. “This is about ensuring that when someone calls 911, they’re not left waiting. We have an opportunity to lead by example and advocate for a system that works for everyone.”
“I’d design and build an amazing school.” – Shane
“I would take my entire family on a trip to Ireland.” – Vicky
“I would build a huge library, fill it with books and spend my days reading them.”
Charlie
“I would buy a lake house in the Adirondacks right on Lake George.”
Paige
“I would buy land and create my dream botanical garden.”
Pat
Dryden Town Board member Dan Lamb emphasized the need for a more consistent and equitable EMS system across Tompkins County, citing gaps in coverage and increased demand on local services. (Photo: Cornell University)
Nearly 40% of Dryden Ambulance’s calls come from outside of its designated service area, highlighting the strain on local resources and the need for a more equitable and consistent EMS system across Tompkins County. (Photo: Dryden Ambulance)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RE: Demand Falls Short for Luxury Senior Housing at Library Place
“If they drop the age requirement for prospective tenants, will TCIDA require the developer to have 20% of its 66 luxury housing units be affordable housing?
Seems totally inappropriate if they retain their tax abatement without that mandate.
I had high hopes for this place. Now I just feel bad for the 55+ crowd who signed up to live here with certain expectations.” — Downtown Ithacan
“Tax abatement for luxury apartments is an abomination. Full stop. The rents are commensurate with those in Manhattan and the amenities are standard issue in the City. If the pricing had been more reasonable, I would have considered it.” — Kai Beach
“My wife and I were hoping that Library Place would become our home for the foreseeable future. We toured
the building just as it was being completed. While there were attractive features, like partial carpeting, a pleasant color scheme, good appliances, the rooms were small. Many of the kitchens felt almost claustrophobic due to a low ceiling (ductwork). We were put off by the cost of rent and other fees. But, ultimately, the apartments in our price range felt cramped. Travis Hyde could not control the market forces that led to higher rents. However, they did make design decisions that put off some seniors from signing on. How their tax abatement could remain in place now is beyond me.” — Alan Cohen
“Maybe if all those clueless liberals of Ithaca who keep voting democrat, and voted at 75% for the drunken babbling imbecile carmelo this year, hadn’t voted in the mess that was the last four years. More seniors would be in better financial shape to afford luxury housing in a bastion of wealth in the midst of Appalachian poverty. The good news for the libs of Ithaca is they will all get to benefit from MAGA despite their ignorance in voting against it.” — Robert Young
“No one should bail Travis Hyde out because he took a market risk and it did not work out for him. Allowing the type of rent he is asking for small room apartments should rule out any abatement. Those who rented expecting to be in senior only housing should get the option to can-
cel their lease. The cost of renting a two bedroom apartment in Library Place is so high that a renter could buy a house with six years rent. Those looking for luxury housing should look outside the expensive City of Ithaca. Hyde gambled and Hyde lost.” — Henry Kramer
“It would be somewhat of a miracle if the ‘developers’ would take pity on average-income seniors and provide AFFORDABLE housing. Library Place would be terrific if the rents weren’t so astronomical.” — Elisabeth Hegarty
“The rents here are way too high for what one gets. I looked at them with a friend who was considering selling her house. I couldn’t believe how small the closets were. I asked the rental agent about the requirement that some of the apartments be used for “affordable housing”, which I thought was required by Travis-Hyde for this building, and she said she knew nothing about that.” — Sarah Padula
“I’m 72, I left Ithaca in 2000. I just purchased a three-bedroom ranch in Fayetteville NC.
My payments are less than $1100 a month which include insurance and taxes. My taxes here are less today than they were twenty-five years ago in Tompkins County. Tax the “rich” that own the housing. So, they increase the rent to pay the taxes for the supplement that they receive. Sounds like the American way. Again, I moved away from this kind of nonsense twenty-five years ago, I can see nothing has changed. I am in North Carolina in a three-bedroom house paying less in taxes than I did twentyfive years ago.” — Michael Smith
RE: County Announces Plans for Permanent Shelter
“It is officially time for me to not be silent. I was forced to utilize Ithaca’s shelter and “helper” system as a result of post- pandemic unemployment, ultimately leaving it impossible for me to rent another apartment, when my former lease ran out, in this exorbitantly overpriced and blatantly discriminatory rental Game of Thrones. Drug addiction, mental illness, post incarceration release, or being on a S.O. Registry had nothing to do with what became 6 months of being denied approval for a bed by DSS. I utilized what St. Johns offered, which was sub-standard (to say the very least), which included an incompetent staff whom stole from clients, intimidated and abused clients, arranged fights between clients, sold drugs to clients, and pimped
out clients. Also, a completely disinterested and careerist “Housing Coordinator” who steered clients into housing options and directions that were not appropriate, or even desired by individuals stonewalled and railroaded by a badly defunct, noncaring, elitist County safety net. I can say this with the upmost veracity and certitude. After putting up with multiple assaults and robberies, some right in front of staff, I was able to secure an apartment for my dog, Beau, and myself, only to be told — the day before I was to sign my new lease — that our apartment was given away, rented to someone else, with no prior to warning. I vociferously protested. That frustration and anger was met by 3 IPD Officers who, in front of a staff member, forced open the door to my room, beat me senseless, causing a hairline fracture to my right foot, numerous bodily contusions, PTSD, and then had me subdued and drugged at Cayuga Med, in an effort to silence and intimidate me. St. Johns kicked me out of the shelter system and DSS put me on the outskirts of town at one of their participating motels, with no phone, limping, and unable to walk. The county can have press conference after conference, patting themselves on the back for securing land and space to build a new and improved shelter system, but I must wholeheartedly say that it isn't the developers or the space that will dictate a rational, sustainable approach towards houselessness, hopelessness, and despair; it is competent, compassionate, intelligent people who thrive on respect for their fellow beings and fostering the best that ALL individuals possess, to find pragmatic solutions rather than political conveniences. This is among the most affluent Counties in NYS — act like it! Treat your residents with care and compassion that can only be found in the form of real, able, knowledgeable individuals that can consistently stand up to the degradation and exploitation of our fellow human beings whom are more like denizens than they are citizens. Who cares how many beds you have and how big your house is going to be!” — Jason Lee
RE: Critical Food Recalls Every Consumer Should Know
“Ithaca is extremely fortunate to have a wealth of locally grown and raised meats, fruits and vegetables. While more expensive than industrially raised food, spending your hard earned dollars with the people who grow our food benefits your personal health as well as the health of the community we live in. Thank you, farmers, for your commitment and contribution to our lives here.” — Diana Van Buren The Talk at
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
Joel M. Malina, who has served as vice president for Cornell University media relations for 11 years will step down from his position on January 5.
Downs
In 2023, nearly 41,000 people were killed in U.S. traffic crashes. Despite a slight decrease from the previous year, the threat posed by risky driving behaviors remains high.
HEARD SEEN&
Heard
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a new outreach campaign to encourage all eligible Veterans to enroll in VA health care — including approximately 27,234 unenrolled New York Veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Seen
The New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association (NYMCIA) — representing licensed registered medical cannabis operators — recently filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the prohibitive $20 million “special licensing fee” established by state regulators.
IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write editor@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Should municipalities like the City of thaca & Tompkins County use more of their fund balance to lower taxes?
70 6 % Yes . 29.4% No.
ext W
’s Q uestio N : Should New York State pass a bill to designate EMS as an essential service?
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
County Sheltering 112 Individuals, Death of Homeless Man Near Shelter Highlights Gaps in System
By Matt Dougherty
The Ithaca Common Council’s Wednesday meeting was relatively quick, lasting just over an hour, despite discussions ranging from updates about the local shelter system to audits and the city’s bond status, or lack thereof.
During the meeting, Tompkins County Legislator Veronica Pillar spoke to the council about updates to the local shelter system, specifically the announcement of the location for the future permanent shelter and the current status of the county's Code Blue and Temporary House Assistance (THA) programs.
Legislator Pillar said that the temporary Code Blue shelter at the old Key Bank building on Tioga Street opened on November 25 and that Department of Social Services Commissioner Kitt Kephart said, “About 13 to 15 people a night [are using] the bank shelter.” Pillar continued that about 38 people are being sheltered under Code Blue, with those who aren’t in the bank shelter located in alternative locations.
Pillar continued saying that the county is sheltering about 74 people utilizing emergency shelter through the Temporary Housing Assistance (THA) program — including four children. Accounting for both populations the county is currently sheltering a total of 112 people.
Third Ward Alderperson David Shapiro asked Pillar if the future permanent shelter would be designed in a congregate setting or if it would provide more private amenities. “Is this the type of shelter where there will be an auditorium with cots where people sleep together and have to leave during the day? Or is it like mini apartments that they can stay in?”
Pillar said, “I sure hope there will be private rooms. It’ll certainly have some of those things [and] I think the plan is to work with this development agency with relevant experience.” They added, “We’re hoping to find a nonprofit or determine who’s going to operate the shelter in the very near future so they can be part of the design process and have it work according to what people would like…I understand that the congregate setting is not deferred.”
Later in the meeting, Shapiro responded to public comments regarding safety issues at the Asteri building on Green Street, saying, “I think some of the issues that we
continue to see in our supportive housing community relate to folks that are living in really horrid conditions that are hard to overcome, and I think our community needs some sort of transitional housing piece in the middle that perhaps this new homeless shelter can provide.”
Shapiro continued by saying, “The supportive housing model doesn’t provide the type of support that many of the folks that are street homeless that are being moved into supportive housing need.” He added, “I think that’s why we continue to see a lot of people struggling when they’re transitioning from street homelessness to housing… having section eight just cures you of having to pay that bill; it doesn’t help you overcome all the trauma and things that you’ve experienced before you got to that situation.”
In Other News:
Despite the recent opening of the downtown Code Blue shelter, The Ithaca Voice reported that Tompkins County native Ronald Hoyt, 60, who faced homelessness for several years after struggling with mental illness and work related injuries, was found dead on the morning of Monday, Dec. 2, just one block away from the shelter. Authorities said that cold weather was a factor in his death.
It remains unknown if Hoyt attempted to access the Code Blue shelter. However, the requirements necessary to access Code Blue shelter are minimal and the county does not turn anyone away from the shelter as long as the temperature is below freezing, which it was on Dec. 2. Still, Hoyt’s death highlights systemic issues in the shelter system that result in unhoused individuals
choosing to face brutal outdoor living conditions rather than being required to follow the rules associated with most shelters.
Even with the relatively low-barrier setup provided by Code Blue, those who choose to stay in the shelter are not given much privacy as it is arranged in a congregate setting. Additionally, individuals are not allowed to bring backpacks into the shelter and are required to leave between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The recently closed Saint Johns Community Services (SJCS) shelter even made homeless individuals seeking shelter there pay a small fee based on their income to access the shelter. While this isn’t part of Code Blue, it highlights the barriers within the system that cause apprehension among those in need to seek help.
Pillar told the council that the Tompkins County Legislature approved a contract for a cafe to return to the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport.
The Tompkins County Legislature is also considering adding a member of the Ithaca City School Board (ICSD) to the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).
Pillar said the county “received a request from the Ithaca City School Board to have a school representative on the IDA.” Pillar added that the county legislature has the authority to approve IDA appointments and will likely bring the topic up for discussion early next year.
Shapiro also questioned Pillar about a possible inequity in how assessments are conducted for small single-family properties compared to how they’re conducted
Tompkins County is currently sheltering a total of 112 individuals in the local shelter system, with roughly 38 being sheltered through Code Blue and 74 are using the Temporary House Assistance (THA) program. However, the death of an housed man one block away from the Code Blue shelter shows gaps in the system still exist. (Photo: File)
David Shapiro’s Leadership Falls Short
By Erika Wood
Iwish I could say, as someone who worked at a nonprofit community organization under David Shapiro, that I am surprised by the erratic, dismissive, unreflective and uninformed behavior he has exhibited since taking his position on the Common Council. But I can not. Nothing I have seen or read has surprised me. However, I am writing this letter because I hope that people recognize the irony that a candidate who highlighted his ‘commitment to serve his community’ and his prior experiences in human services during his campaign, recently unhesitantly offered up for the chopping block exactly the services he purported to value in an attempt to dominate the conversation instead of listen to and engage with the best interests of his community. As a former employee, I remember well the centering of himself, and the manipulative workplace bullying that looks so similar to the way he has conducted himself on council since being elected. Perhaps I should have written this letter during the time leading up to the election. Perhaps I hoped that leopards change their spots or people can grow. Or perhaps, I worried that, had I written this letter at that time, it would not have been taken seriously, since the broader Ithaca community had not yet been witness to the public displays of unprofessional behavior, the disrespectful comments and the petty reactivity we have seen in Common Council meetings in the year since David Shapiro was elected. As we know, powerful people are often protected when they misuse their power, and the people who experience those misuses are often dismissed or intimidated, left with little recourse to protect themselves outside of word of mouth warnings.
From the Ithaca Voice article on November 12th, when asked about the anxiety his budget proposals caused, David said “I’m not blaming him (the mayor) for my choices, but if he is concerned about anxiety of staff, then one thing leaders choose to do is proactively try to prevent those things from taking place.” David suggested the mayor should have tried to resolve the situation in a private conversation, rather than publicly and with the whole council and the Ithaca community. It is notable that
with this sentence David shifts the blame from himself to Mayor Cantelmo, while taking no responsibility for the fact that David’s decision was in fact the thing creating the issue he thinks ‘a leader’ should prevent.
As a former employee of David's I am also familiar with his preference to have conversations behind closed doors rather than out in the open, as referenced in the same Ithaca Voice article, when he said ‘the mayor could have tried calling him to talk him out of the cuts.’ Attempts to back channel policy and political decisions in this way only strengthen attempts to split, manipulate and isolate people. Requesting the mayor to call him personally to ‘talk him out of the cuts’ rather than discuss the issue openly in front of the community affected by his decision seems like an attempt to make David the center of the story, which he is not.
Being on Common Council is not being a contestant on the show Survivor, and attempts to build ‘alliances’ behind closed doors or create adversarial working relationships should have no place in Ithaca’s governance. Common Council is not a corporate board room, nor an executive management team of a non profit organization, and David is not the CEO of Ithaca. Discussions about how we fund our important community programs and positions should be had publicly, and it is disappointing, but not unsurprising, that David does not think so.
Transparency is the only way the community can have trust in those we grant political power. When harm is caused by people in power, accountability requires publicly taking responsibility to repair and change your behavior. David is demonstrating a capacity for neither transparency nor accountability, and based on his behavior in Common Council meetings, he is causing harm.
Without the ability to publicly address harm, especially when issues of power and control are at play, abuses of power risk being perpetuated.
I hope that Common Council, and Ithaca city residents recognize that David is demonstrating a pattern of putting himself and his ego above the needs of the community he is supposed to rep-
on Page 14
Survey Indicates Bipartisan Support for A.I Regulation
By Zain Ashraf
We’ve all seen the headlines — artificial intelligence is here, and it’s making splashes. While many are excited for the technology’s potential impacts on our productivity, businesses, and retirement portfolios, others are cautious, worried, or even flat-out scared. While the AI driving Silicon Valley crazy (and university professors even crazier) is a far cry from Skynet, nuclear war is not the only possible consequence. Indeed, experts warn of impacts to privacy, security, and employment.
The last item on that list, employment, has driven up the most concern. Workers across industries, both white-collar and blue, express concern that their respective workforce sizes will be reduced, as businesses adjust to the increase in individual productivity. Some fields that are already being impacted by a steady stream of automation are even more vulnerable, thanks to AI making the worker-replacement machines smarter and more efficient.
This national anxiety isn’t just the fears of some overly-paranoid employees, afraid that their bosses have noticed their increasingly lengthy bathroom breaks. In fact, they’re alarmingly justified in their alarm. Surveys of businesses executives performed earlier this year reveal the rapidly increasing risk of replacement for millions of employees. 32 percent of firms plan to use AI to complete tasks once done by humans within the next year. Strikingly, this percent skyrockets to 61 when only looking at large firms – the kinds that employee hundreds of thousands of people.
With the majority of large companies already putting plans in motion to replace workers, it’s no surprise that employees across the country are looking to the government for help. While the White House has proposed amendments for an “AI Bill of Rights”, these guidelines mostly pertain to data privacy and algorithmic discrimination, not employment. This makes sense – regulation to protect workers would likely not scream “American capitalism!”, as it would deliberately prevent companies from expanding as much as they potentially could. But could this kind of legislation theoretically work?
And how popular would it be?
That’s the exact question I tried to answer. As a part of a class-wide survey at Cornell University, I was able to field the following question to a nationally representative sample of approximately three thousand U.S adults: “Would you support federal regulation of AI development with the aim of restricting the impact the technology will have on human employment?”. The survey, conducted by the data company Verasight from October 21 to November 5, 2024, provided fascinating results. Of those surveyed, 48% responded “Yes”, 23% responded “No”, and 29% responded “I don’t know”. When excluding the “I don’t know” option, the results are even more stark — 67% for “Yes”, and 33% for “No”.
These results indicate a couple of interesting findings. First, AI regulation with an expressed focus on employment is largely popular in the U.S. Second, the significant plurality of respondents who answered “I don’t know” suggest a notable lack of information on the subject for millions of adults. Continued exposure to the technology over time, combined with targeted education efforts, should decrease that number in the coming years.
Beyond the basic results, I wanted to find the partisan split on the subject. As conservatives generally prefer deregulation, I assumed Trump voters would be less likely to support regulation. However, Trump voters are more likely to work blue-collar jobs that may be more likely to be automated, which could cause an interesting break from conventional norms. I cross-tabulated my results with another question that simply asked respondents who they planned on voting for, and left with fascinating conclusions. Of surveyed voters, roughly 59% of those voting for Kamala Harris were in favor of regulation, compared to roughly 51% of those voting for Donald Trump — a narrow margin of support for both sects of voters. In a political era where bipartisanship feels forgotten, it’s encouraging to see broad support for an issue that truly effects humanity — not one party or the other. Hopefully, with further research and education, meaningful dialogue can take place to decide whether regulation for the future should be in our future.
City Officials Take a New Approach to Meet Ithaca’s Green New Deal Goals
By Maddy Vogel
When it was passed by Common Council five years ago, Ithaca’s Green New Deal set unprecedented climate goals for the city. Today, the city’s approach to achieving those goals is changing entirely.
The primary objective of Ithaca’s Green New Deal resolution when it was passed in June of 2019 was to achieve city-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. The resolution set out to reduce emissions from city vehicles by 50% and to fully power the city government with renewable electricity by 2025.
The city partnered with climate startup BlocPower in 2021 to aid in their electrification efforts, creating the Green New Deal program Electrify Ithaca.
The Green New Deal required city staff to draft a Climate Action Plan (CAP), which would outline the steps and process that the city would take to address climate change and achieve the resolution’s goals.
“The Climate Action Plan is [...] a roadmap towards decarbonization, towards climate justice, towards all of those goals that are outlined in the Green New Deal resolution.”
— Rebecca Evans, Director of Sustainability
Since Ithaca became the first to set the ambitious goal, several cities across the globe have joined in on the race to reach net zero by 2030.
“The Climate Action Plan is [...] just pen to paper how we are going to achieve the goals of the Green New Deal,” Director of Sustainability for the City of Ithaca Rebecca Evans said in an interview with The Ithaca Times. “It’s a roadmap towards decarbonization, towards climate justice, towards all of those goals that are outlined in the Green New Deal resolution.”
The changes to the CAP were made after the Common Council aproved the Justice 50 policy, and Evans said that the redesign aims to make the Ithaca Green New Deal resonate with residents more by focusing on tangible impacts rather than more abstract emissions goals. (Photo: File)
Ithaca’s Director of Sustainability Rebecca Evans says that the revamped Climate Action Plan (CAP) emphasizes a “human approach” that prioritizes labor, housing, and climate justice alongside decarbonization goals. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Evans had spent the majority of 2023 drafting a CAP, which was expected to be presented to Common Council for approval sometime this year. She decided to completely revamp it before the nearly-completed document saw the light of day.
Evans said that the decision to refocus the plan doesn’t necessarily mean they will abandon their goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, though she has acknowledged that the community “doesn’t necessarily want net-zero,” as she wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing the change.
“We could make this a plan that really resonated with people more, beyond just the shiny technology and this nebulous idea of greenhouse gas emissions in future generations.”
Evans told The Ithaca Times that what sparked the rewriting of the CAP was the city passing the Justice50 policy in May, which was based on the federal Justice40 initiative. At the time it was passed, Evans called Ithaca’s Justice50 resolution “the most aggressive in the entire country.”
— Rebecca Evans, Director of Sustainability
The new CAP will take a “human approach” to climate justice, Evans said, by focusing on labor, housing, racial equity, emergency response and evacuation, and electrical reliability.
Justice50 requires the city to allocate 50% of funding for the Green New Deal on programs and capital projects which serve “climate justice communities,” which the city defined in 2022 as neighborhoods and households that bear a disproportionate amount of negative impacts associated with climate change.
Evans said that after Justice50 was passed, she reflected on what the future of
Ithaca looked like when facing social and economic inequities exacerbated by climate change.
“What it came down to was, we could do better,” Evan said. “We could make this a plan that really resonated with people more, beyond just the shiny technology and this nebulous idea of greenhouse gas emissions in future generations.”
U.S. Census data shows that 33.1% of residents within the City of Ithaca are experiencing poverty.
Economically disadvantaged communities face increased exposure from heatwaves and poor air quality, and have less access to emergency preparedness measures during extreme weather events, which have become increasingly frequent and powerful due to climate change.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the lack of investment into these communities can lead to a shortage of extreme weather warning systems, inadequate storm surge preparedness and deteriorating storm sewer systems, all of which can exacerbate the negative impacts of climate change.
Progress on Ithaca Green New Deal goals has been slower than expected. The Ithaca Green New Deal Scorecard, run by the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Climate Reality Project, reports that several of the initiatives that were created to achieve the goals have stalled.
As of November of 2023, with seven years left until the 2030 decarbonization goal, BlocPower had completed the full electrification of just one building. BlocPower’s contract with the City aims to decarbonize 6,000 buildings.
In February, the city announced their plans to fully convert 10 more commercial buildings to electric.
In September, BlocPower’s co-founder and chief executive stepped down, according to Bloomberg, which reported that the company was facing ongoing issues with making progress on electrification and jobs programs in its partnered cities.
“It’s just [about] trying to take the issue of climate change and bring it down to an individual level and think about it in a way that resonates with your everyday life.”
— Rebecca Evans, Director of Sustainability
The devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene on places like Asheville, North Carolina which were once considered to be “climate havens” — some of the safest from the impacts of climate change — furthered Evans’ decision to turn the plan into a people-first approach.
Ithaca’s Green New Deal has remained underfunded without a line in the city budget since 2021, with the majority of Green New Deal projects being funded by grants for the past several years, according to Evans’ LinkedIn post.
The humanized framework to climate action will allow residents to hold the city accountable, according to Evans. Under the new CAP, residents will likely have tangible standards to hold the city to. For example, if the city pledged to provide air conditioning to residents during extreme heatwaves and didn’t follow through, residents would be able to hold officials accountable for failing to meet those commitments.
“It’s just [about] trying to take the issue of climate change and bring it down to an individual level and think about it in a way that resonates with your everyday life,” Evans said.
When asked if BlocPower’s changes and slow rollout of programs would impact the City’s 2030 goals, Evans said no.
“The trajectory looks differently than it did in 2021 and there are a variety of reasons for that, mostly economic,” Evans explained. “What we thought would be this huge boom in [the] adoption of electrification just didn’t really happen, but we are still seeing a steady adoption of electrification across buildings.”
Evans further explained that the city has no plans to find a new partner for their efforts. BlocPower’s partnership with the city aimed to create 400 new green economy construction, technology and management jobs.
“I think it just means that we’re relying more on our local contractors, which, frankly, I think is the right thing to do anyway,” Evans said regarding BlocPower’s changes. “We should be investing in our local labor market, which was part of the BlocPower model.”
The new Climate Action plan has many steps to go through before reaching final approval and adoption from Common Council. Evans said that there will be extensive community outreach and opportunities for input. She added that the plan will likely go through several rounds of revisions from the city’s Sustainability and Climate Justice commission before reaching the table at Common Council.
BusinessTimes
Survey Says: Kendal Among Top Senior Living Employers
By Maddy Vogel
Kendal at Ithaca, a nonprofit senior living service provider, was recently named one of Senior Care’s Best Places to Work in 2024 by WeCare Connect for their employee retention and satisfaction rates.
WeCare Connect, the leading survey provider for senior care organizations, ranked among the top employers in senior living and aging services providers in the U.S. and Canada. WeCare Connect surveys every employee at Kendal, among many other organizations, and uses data compiled from those surveys to analyze employee satisfaction and to recognize top-performing organizations each year.
Megan Fretto, Workforce Development and Engagement Specialist at Kendal at Ithaca, said that employees are surveyed at least once every six months at Kendal. In a new employee’s first six months working at Kendal, they are surveyed at least four times in their first six months. Kendal at Ithaca additionally sent post-employment surveys to former staff members two weeks after they departed from the company to receive feedback.
According to a press release from Kendal at Ithaca, the WeCare Connect recognition reflects the Kendal community’s commitment to creating a positive and engaging work environment for employees. Fretto said that 100% of staff ever surveyed at Kendal said that it was a welcoming environment to work in.
“I think it’s a special recognition because it’s coming from the employees themselves,” Fretto said. “I feel like [...] Kendal at Ithaca is a very welcoming place to work.”
Fretto said that there are several wellness programs at Kendal that enhance its healthy work culture. Fretto said that Kendal supports continuous learning with an employee futures fund, which supports employees when pursuing higher education. The employee futures fund assisted Fretto herself in obtaining her masters degree.
Employees at Kendal at Ithaca also have access to a hardship fund when facing a financial setback once a year, which Fretto
said helps employees feel supported.
Kendal’s press release emphasized the importance of being acknowledged as a leader in senior living, an industry that often faces high turnover and low employee retention rates. WeCare Connect’s survey results showed a high rate of retention for employees at Kendal at Ithaca.
“In healthcare and long term care, we experience a lot of turnover,” Fretto said. “It’s not an easy job and it’s not for everyone. [...] We experience an extremely low turnover, industry standard-wise. [...] When we have people leave, they’re often still recommending us as an employer, which is a big deal.”
Fretto said she has worked in long-term
care for nearly 9 years, spending three at Kendal at Ithaca.
“I by far find this to be the warmest, most challenging in a good way [work] place,” Fretto said. “We are always encouraging people to grow and ensure they feel supported.”
When compared with other workplaces, Fretto said that she believes a main reason Kendal at Ithaca is able to retain staff is because of the interactions that staff have with residents.
“We are so lucky to have wonderful, passionate residents,” Fretto said. “We have a lot of mutual respect for each other here, [...] it’s very symbiotic.”
Kendal at Ithaca Business Briefs
The Kendal at Ithaca has been named one of Senior Care’s Best Places to Work in 2024, highlighting the staff’s commitment to creating a supportive and engaging work environment. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Business Briefs
The Ithaca Garden Club Brings Holiday Spirit to Cayuga Medical Center
ITHACA, NY — To kick off the holiday season, the Ithaca Garden Club has once again transformed Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) with their festive holiday decorations for patients, visitors and employees.
Twenty dedicated members of the club volunteered their time and talents to design and install beautiful wreaths, greenery and other seasonal décor, spreading warmth and joy both inside and outside the hospital.
Thanks to generous donations from Moore Tree Farm, private donations to the Cayuga Medical Center Foundation, and the Ithaca Garden Club members, the club added new decorations that enhance the holiday spirit while embracing universal themes of love, gratitude, and togetherness.
“We are deeply grateful for the Ithaca Garden Club’s continued generosity and dedication to making our spaces more welcoming and uplifting, especially during the holiday season,” said Dr. Martin Stallone, President and CEO of Cayuga Health. “The decorations are beautiful to experience.”
This year’s holiday décor was thoughtfully designed and curated by Karen Governanti, a dedicated club member whose creativity brought the seasonal vision to life. Each element of the display carries a special message. The tree represents love, gratitude, and happiness. Magnolia flowers represent beauty, sweetness, endurance, and the strength of everlasting connections. White lights universally symbolize pure positive energy, bringing hope to all. Bells call communities together and represent peace and freedom.
“The beauty and joy created by this team will be felt by all the patients, staff, volunteers and visitors entering the hospital for the holiday season from now through the middle of January,” said Governanti. “I am so proud of our club’s commitment towards enriching and improving the quality of life for all those living, working, and visiting our community.”
Founded in 1922, the Ithaca Garden Club is one of the oldest and largest garden clubs in New York State. Its mission to “stimulate interest in gardening, floral arranging, landscaping, and enhancing our community’s appreciation for the natural beauty of Ithaca” is reflected in every detail of their work at the hospital. A steadfast supporter of Cayuga Health, the club has contributed to many projects over the
years, including the creation of the CMC Gardens, seasonal bulb plantings across the campus, and their cherished annual holiday decorations.
Youth and Philanthropy Program Awards
$25,000 to Local Non-Profits through United Way of Tompkins County
On Tuesday, December 3rd, high school students awarded $25,000 to Tompkins County non-profits through the United Way of Tompkins County’ Youth and Philanthropy (YAP) program. YAP is an annual United Way program which features a student-led grant fund, leadership training, and education on advocacy.
This year’s cohort was made up of thirteen participants representing Dryden High School, Ithaca High School, the Lehman Alternative Community School, and the homeschooling community. Funding of the awards is made possible through Triad Foundation and another donation. UWTC’s Cornerstone Partners cover the operating expenses of the program.
After meeting weekly since October 21st, the participants made their recommendations to UWTC’s Community Impact Committee and Board, which accepted their funding decisions unanimously. The students then held their awards ceremony on December 3rd, taking turns announcing each award, explaining what the grant was for and why they felt it was important to the community.
Representatives of each nonprofit grant recipient also attended and accepted the grant awards.
The students were guided through this annual learning process by United Way Board Vice Chair Myriah Marnell, of Tompkins Community Bank, and UWTC’s Director of Community Impact, Rebekah Hinton. UWTC would also like to thank the Learning Web for helping to recruit this year’s participants, Catholic Charities Tompkins/Tioga and the Ithaca Health Alliance for providing speakers from the non-profit community to educate the youth on community needs, and Wegman’s of Ithaca, Luna Inspired Street Food, Gola Osteria, and Silo Food Truck for donating meals to keep these hungry teens fed while they did their important work!
United Way of Tompkins County’s 2024 Youth and Philanthropy Fund The evening was combined this year with UWTC’s
holiday party. The ceremony and party was attended by about 75 guests, all gathered in celebration of our community and to support the work of our YAP participants.
A long-serving, mission-driven philanthropic organization, United Way of Tompkins County invests donated dollars locally to, in collaboration with others, transform the dynamics of poverty in Tompkins County by addressing human need and creating conditions for economic security for all.
For more information, please visit www.uwtc.org.
Tompkins Financial Advisors Promotes William Lyons to Financial Planner
ROCHESTER, NY — Tompkins
Financial Advisors (Tompkins) has promoted William “Will” Lyons to financial planner, serving clients in Western, Central, and the Hudson Valley New York; Wyomissing and Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and Delray Beach, Florida. Lyons supports the firm’s financial planning efforts across client-facing services and expertise in this new role. His promotion reflects his dedication to delivering expert, personalized, strategic financial solutions
to clients and their growth.
“Will has been an exceptional part of our financial planning efforts thus far,” said Geoffrey Blyth, senior vice president, chief investment officer. “He is extremely committed to ensuring success and growth for our clients and interested in continuing to learn, enhancing his professional credentials and helping us expand services. We’re thrilled to celebrate Will and this well-deserved accomplishment and support his future growth.”
Lyons brings over two years of experience in the banking and financial industry, focused on empowering clients with customized financial strategies, including cash-flow management, retirement planning, scenario-based decision-making and estate tax strategies. His approach prioritizes building long-term financial security and confidence for individuals and families.
Lyons holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Lawrence University, is a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP) and has embarked on a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) program. Based in Pittsford, New York, Lyons serves clients throughout the region with the utmost dedication and professionalism.
Continued on Page 14
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024 AT 1 PM
Kitchen Theatre Cooks Up Pair of Food-Themed Comedies
By Barbara Adams
Winter’s biting wind is handily diminished by the welcome warmth of soothing food — this time in not one but two local seasonal productions. Both food-themed shows are part of Kitchen Theatre Company’s Kitchen Sink series, which emphasizes community collaboration. In the family fare comedy “The Sisters Fitz&Startz: Cook with Kids,” students at a school of music and dance gather to rehearse for their holiday recital. But plans are upended when the two elderly sisters who run the school learn their provider of reception goodies is closing shop. The kids are determined, though, and everyone happily pitches in to prepare the food themselves.
Cook with Kids Final Show:
“The Sisters Fitz&Startz: Cook with Kids,” book and lyrics by Rachel Lampert,
A Walking on Water production Performances Sat. Dec. 14 at 1 and 3 p.m.; Sun. Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.
Comfort Food Final Show:
“Comfort Food,” by Rachel Lampert and Larry Pressgrove, directed by Rachel Lampert, Cynthia Henderson, and Susannah Berryman.
Performances Fri. & Sat. Dec. 13-14 at 7 p.m., Sun. Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.
Both productions at Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. State St., Ithaca.
Tickets at kitchentheatre.org/tickets or 607-272-0570.
In this Walking on Water and Fitz&Startz co-production, the story and lyrics are by Rachel Lampert, with music by Benjamin Costello, John Coyne, and Larry Pressgrove. Sarah Plotkin directs and Priscilla Hummel, of Walking on Water, choreographs.
Two Ithaca favorites return to the stage as the sisters: Joey Steinhagen as Ashtabula, the kindly if controlling diva, and Stephen C. Nunley, as Phelmena, the less ostentatious, calm one who gets things done. The trio of spunky students is superbly played by Gabriella Galante, Adamantia Hopko, and Sana Sarr.
The lively movement and animated kids keep the thin plot aloft, and the songs, in a variety of musical genres, contribute to the spirit of silliness and nonsense. It’s great fun to see Steinhagen’s Ashtabula repeating everyone’s recipe ingredients accelerando. “Legumes” is a paeon to beans, with everyone marching to the rhythm of pulses in pots. Some songs, like “Utensils,” are more literal. My favorite was Sarr’s satirical complaint about the traditional “Nutcracker.”
All three young actors have excellent diction and deliver splendidly, but the sisters’ words can be buried by the music, especially when their voices are artificially high. (And I began to wonder if we haven’t passed the point of finding men dressed as women an automatic source of comedy.)
“Cook with Kids” is a mishmash of musical and comical styles, even incorporating a surprising take on Vivaldi’s “Winter.” And as in any smorgasbord, you’ll find what delights you.
Segue to the evening show, and you’ll note that a single set serves both productions: an elegantly streamlined kitchen counter with
working appliances, handsomely lit by set designer Tyler M. Perry.
We last saw “Comfort Food” online during the pandemic; it’s a pleasure to see (and smell) it now onstage. Former Kitchen artistic director Rachel Lampert wrote the book and lyrics; Larry Pressgrove the music. There are three distinct scenes, each complete in itself, each more poignant than the last — the unifying theme being how we cope with loss of love through food. (Fear not, love still triumphs.)
Lampert directs the first, “Harriet’s Kitchen,” in which a tv chef prepares a hearty winter-banishing soup on air. Emily Jackson (Kitchen’s new artistic director) reprises her role from the previous production. Though I miss the intimacy of her actual tiny kitchen in the pandemic version, Jackson can now range more easily. As she prepares a mirepoix (ah, the scent!), Harriet begins to leak emotionally. She’s been sharing her wedding plans with her faithful audience, but her beau’s sudden departure has shaken her. Jackson effectively takes Harriet from cheerful to dolorous in five songs (with another round of “Legumes”).
The next scene, directed by Cynthia Henderson, occurs in the kitchen of Gabriel’s parents; he’s returned home after leaving his lover, whose once-tasty cooking has turned just too healthy to tolerate. Gabriel bemoans Jamal’s culinary progression, and as he complains, he touts the pleasures of one fast food after another — in songs celebrating Cheerios, Campbell’s soup, pb&j, and mac ‘n’ cheese. He whips out these products, and then, predictably, finds them wanting. Achille Vann Ricca is charming in the role,
Continued on Page 14
Arts & Entertainment
Emily Jackson reprises her role as Harriet, a TV chef navigating heartbreak through soup-making, in Comfort Food, a poignant trilogy exploring the connection between food and love. (Photo: Provided)
Joey Steinhagen and Stephen C Nunley shine as the essentric sisters
Ashtabula and Phelmena in The Sisters Fitz&Startz: Cook With Kids, a lively family coedy featuring spirited performances from young actors Gabriella Galante, Adamantia Hopko, and Sana Sarr. (Photo: Provided)
directed by Sarah Plotkin.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
expect to see them begin that process soon.”
The Sears Street Development is part of a broader effort to address Ithaca’s housing affordability challenges. By providing affordable homeownership opportunities close to downtown, the project aligns with the city’s goal of increasing access to housing for lower-income families.
“This is about creating opportunities for people to own homes and build equity, which is a critical component of long-term housing stability,” Nicholas said. “Projects like this demonstrate how we can use innovative approaches to meet our community’s housing needs.”
DAVID SHAPIRO’S LEADERSHIP
resent, a pattern that predates his election, from my experience as his employee. He seems to make decisions based on what gives him the most attention and a sense of power. He seems to struggle to regulate his emotions, as evidenced by the multiple incidents of reactivity and acting out during Common Council meetings.
DEATH OF HOMELESS
continued from page 6
for large apartment buildings. “It’d be great to know if these apartment buildings throughout our community are being reassessed in the same way that small properties are.”
Pillar said that large apartment buildings and commercial properties are assessed using a different methodology than private homes. They added, “Some of the legislators have certainly anecdotally observed that it seems as though smaller residential assessments are rising faster than the large apartment building assessments, and there is some appetite to investigate why that is and if we can change it.”
I encourage the council to continue to keep conversations about David’s council related decisions, as a public figure, as public as possible. I hope the voters of Ithaca are paying attention to the unprecedented ‘level of dysfunction’ we have seen in Common Council since David was elected, and they reflect on when enough feels like enough. David is now an elected official, and it is his responsibility to represent the voices and needs of this community, of that representation, and not his own agendas.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
continued from page 11
Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County Named 4-Star Agency
ITHACA, NY — The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare recently recognized Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) of Ithaca and Tompkins County with a 4-star rating for quality of care and patient surveys.
The Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings signify how home health agencies compare with one another on measurements of the quality of patient care performance. VNS’ above-average rating reflects seven assessments of quality, including timely initiation of care, management of oral medications, and ambulation. When surveyed, patients also rated VNS a 4-star agency.
For Ithaca and Tompkins County home health agencies, VNS scored highest on quality of patient care. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare updates star ratings quarterly at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/.
“The 4-star rating demonstrates the exceptional care provided by the dedicated staff of Visiting Nurse Service,” stated Dr. Martin
KITCHEN THEATRE
continued from page 13
making the most of the witty dialogue and individualizing Gabriel with all sorts of amusing mannerisms. You just know that reconciliation is coming.
The final scene, directed by Susannah Berryman, strikes the deepest chord: Estelle — Rachel Lampert, who’s no mean cook herself — is preparing “Breakfast for One.” It looks pretty appealing, but you realize that this routine is her way of starting the day as an older widow of three years. Estelle misses her husband sharply, talks aloud to him often, and right now is anticipating a
Stallone, President and CEO for Cayuga Health. “Cayuga Health most visibly offers hospital care, but also focuses on officebased care, transportation, rehabilitative care, skilled nursing, and more, including the vital services we are pleased to provide patients in their homes through VNS.”
“At home nursing can address potential issues and reduce the need for hospitalization or nursing home placement. It also plays a critical role for patients returning to their home as they recover,” said Sue Ellen Stuart, Executive Director for Visiting Nurse Service. “We are proud to offer nursing and other needed medical services to our community and to deliver care with excellence.”
VNS, an affiliate of Cayuga Health, provides home medical care, including nursing, social work, nutrition, home health aide, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.
The CMS Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings are based on Outcome and Assessment Information and Medicare claims data. Patient Survey Star Ratings are based on the Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems. To inquire about care, contact Visiting Nurse Service at (607) 273-0466 or VNSIthaca.org.
winter holiday visit from a dear friend, another widow. She’s also “Waiting for Spring,” and misses her “Man in the Kitchen.” Lampert’s is a quiet, moving performance. As Estelle prepares the strangest hors d’oeuvres ever and looks forward to her friend, we feel her constant loss and the daily heroism of just coping. When she decides to finally open her husband’s private recipe collection, it’s a gesture of moving forward, and a satisfying emotional conclusion to this entire nourishing trilogy.
Barbara Adams is a regional theatre and arts journalist and retired professor of writing, Ithaca College.
Reversal of Fortune
Wrestling Club Finds a New Home
By Steve Lawrence
There’s that old saying about the benevolent people who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit, and when I was talking to Andy Getzin about the new wrestling facility at Island Health and Fitness, that saying came to mind. Getzin’s son, Quentin, is a wrestler at Ithaca High, and while he won’t be around to enjoy the benefits of an enhanced youth wrestling program, his dad — and several other people who care about the sport — have put forth an impressive collective effort to make sure others can.
The Ithaca Wrestling Club had been doing a good job of attractive quality athletes and coaches over the years, but the group faced problems similar to those faced by youth hockey teams several years ago. The demand outpaced the supply, and the shortage of “ice time” had parents bringing their kids to practices at 6 am.
In Getzin’s words, “Ithaca has a long and very proud wrestling tradition,” and he shared his frustration that due to the popularity of basketball and other winter activities, there just wasn't enough available space.
Getzin — a local physician and triathlete who has worked with many local athletes and parents to manage and prevent sports-related injuries — was talking to local wrestling enthusiasts Terry and Tim Ciaschi, “lamenting the lack of available space,”and the brothers’ interest in working toward a solution (coupled with the fact that their family has been involved with Island Health and Fitness since it was in the conceptual stage) got the wheels turning.
The facility had a space once known as Kids’ Cove — an on-site day care room that had gone unused for several years, so one piece of the puzzle was in place. It was dis-
covered that the Ithaca City School District had several old wrestling mats that had been in storage for a decade-plus, and Athletic Director Samantha Little was on board with putting the mats to good use. The plan was shaping up.
Expressing his pleasure that the circumstances and supportive people converged so nicely, Getzin offered, “This is such a big wrestling town — with two institutions with great collegiate programs — and it was frustrating that the program (run by Josh Antoine — the coach of the Ithaca Wrestling Club and the Ithaca High varsity program) had to be run out of the Ithaca Youth Bureau during the off-season, due to lack of space.
Getzin mentioned a few more people who pitched in, like Mark Israel, who was a Bomber wrestler and now works at the college while also helping out as an assistant coach.
The good doctor also pointed out that many have stepped up financially, like John Murray of Advantage Sport and Fitness (also a former wrestler and coach), and Mike Gray, Cornell’s head coach. Another key player was Bruce Reeves, an Ithaca High alum who led the club through the process of establishing itself as a non-profit.
The Ithaca Wrestling Club serves boys
Boys and girls from kindergarten through seventh grade may soon be able to go to the mats in a new Ithaca Wrestling Club location.
and girls from kindergarten through 7th grade (girls wrestling is said to be the fastest-growing scholastic sport in the country), and Getzin said “We want to use wrestling as part of the maturation process, and that includes learning how to lose.”
The new space and the expansion of the club will, he said, “Enable us to establish a youth league under the auspices of the Ithaca Youth Bureau, and involve neighboring towns, like Newfield, Trumansburg and Dryden, and bring in some quality coaches.”
“It seems,” Getzin offered, “that thanks to the efforts of multiple generations of people, Ithaca wrestling is back. We’re very optimistic.”
For more info, go to ithacawrestlingclub.com.
Annual Tree Sale & So Much More!
Annual Tree & Wreath Sale
Starts Monday, December 2
Monday- Sunday | 10AM-4PM Holiday Market
Dec. 14th & 15th | 10AM-4PM
Lime Hollow Nature Center's annual Christmas tree sale includes a variety o trees grown within 50 miles of Cortland NY and handcrafted wreaths. Shop loca for everyone on your list! Enjoy craft, artisan, and specialty food vendors at the Holiday Market.
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
Wednesday, December 18 | 4-7PM
Join us in celebrating the shortest day a longest night of the year- the Winter Solstice!
1st Day Hike | Jan. 1 | 10-Noon
&
Enjoy our Naturalist Series for youth and adults. There is so much to learn about at Lime Hollow! We offer classes and camps to reveal the hidden gems that make up the natural elements and cultural history of the Lime Hollow area!
Small fee and registration required to attend naturalist series & camps
Youth Naturalist Series
Saturday, Dec. 7 | Fire 101 | 9-3PM Saturday, Jan. 18 | Campfire Cooking | 9-3PM
Adult N t li t S i
Wreath Making | 1-3PM Sunday, December, 8 Fire 101 | 9AM-3PM Saturday, December, 14 Campfire Cooking | 9-3PM Saturday, January, 11
Mastering Your Knife | 9-3PM Saturday, February, 8 Survival 101 | 9-3PM Saturday, May, 10
School Break Camps
Nordic Challenge
February 17-21, 2025 | 8AM-3PM
Spring Awakening April 14-18, 2025 | 8AM-3PM
