December 13, 2023

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2 The Ithaca Times / December 13 – 19, 2023

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VOL. XLIII / NO. 68 / December 13, 2023 Serving 47,125 readers week ly

ON THE COVER:

TCAT General Manager City, County Public Safety Alternative to Retire March 1, 2024 Response Team Approved by Council

O

By M at t D ough e rt y

n December 11, the Board of Directors for Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) released a statement announcing that General Manager Scot Vanderpool would retire on March 1, 2024. Vanderpool has served as general manager since August 2017.

The TCAT Board has said that they are working on creating a search committee to hire a replacement. The statement says more details will be announced “in the coming weeks.”

In announcing his upcoming retirement, Vanderpool said, “This was a difficult decision as I have cherished my seven years at TCAT, which is blessed with dedicated drivers, maintenance crew, and administrative staff, all of whom care deeply about our riders.” He continued, “I am also grateful to our riders and community stakeholders who have shown TCAT extraordinary support over the years. Truly, Tompkins County has so much to be proud of.”

Vanderpool said that he has been thinking about his decision to retire for several months, and the arrival of his first grandchild “has increased his desire to spend more time with her and his entire family.”

TCAT Board Chair Denise Thompson said, “We’re grateful for Scot’s efforts as general manager and wish him the best in retirement.” Thompson continued, saying, “I look Contin u ed on Page 16

D

Nominations of Tompkins County junior and senior year high school students are sought for the 23rd annual Students Inside Albany Conference, which is scheduled to be held May 19-22, 2024 in Albany.

The conference is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation and The League of Women Voters of Tompkins County. It is designed to increase

NEWSLINE ������������������������������������3-5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ������������ 6 GUEST OPINION ����������������������������� 7

By M at t D ough e rt y

uring their December 6 meeting, the Common Council voted unanimously to approve the creation of a City-County Crisis Alternative Response and Engagement team (CARE). The CARE team will aim to improve access to mental health and addiction services for residents experiencing crises by having a specially trained law enforcement officer paired with a licensed clinical therapist who has experience in responding to mental health crises. Licensed clinical therapists will be employees within Mental Health Services of Tompkins County Whole Health.

The program will dispatch CARE team members either directly following a 911 call for service or after another law enforcement officer has already arrived on the scene and identified a mental or behavioral health crisis. It aims to divert individuals from the criminal justice system and avoid unnecessary hospitalization whenever possible. The program anticipates meeting these aims by de-escalating crises, linking people in need with community treatment and support services, and providing in-person follow-up support within the first 24-48 hours after the crisis.

Mayor-elect Robert Cantelmo said that Tompkins County provided funding in the 2023 budget to hire a licensed professional clinician to establish a law enforcement and mental health co-response team. He continued saying that IPD and Mental

T a k e X High School Juniors and Seniors Can Qualify for a Free Trip to Albany!

Former Cornell Running Back Chad Levitt, who was drafted to play in the NFL by the Oakland Raiders in 1997.

SPORTS ������������������������������������������� 10 BUSINESS TIMES ��������������������� 11-13 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT �������������������� 15 DINING ������������������������������������������ 16 CLASSIFIED ������������������������������ 17-18 TIMES TABLE �������������������������������� 19 Community Justice Center Director Monalita Smiley. (Photo: Provided)

Health Services of Tompkins County Whole Health will be overseeing the implementation of the program.

The CARE Team differs from the unarmed response unit, which the City recently hired former Cornell University police chief Kathy Zoner as a consultant to develop. However, City Attorney Ari Lavine said that the CARE team is “definitely related to where reimagining public safety was headed with unarmed responders.”

Ari Lavine continued by saying that the City doesn’t currently include mental health in its response model, and the County already provides mental health services, so it makes sense for IPD to team up with the county to help fill the gap. Lavine added that this model will “impact that way other elements of the unarmed response model Contin u ed on Page 16

N o t e

students’ awareness of their responsibility in a representative government. 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 43 local League of Women Voters throughout

New York State; all their expenses are covered, including travel and three nights at a hotel in downtown Albany. The participants will receive a student membership in the League of Women Voters of Tompkins County.

Applications are due by January 25, 2024.

For more information, contact Charlotte Coffman (607-351-9722) or LWVtompkins. info@gmail.com For More information and an application, please visit https://lwvtompkins.org/youthprograms/

ON T HE WE B Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news, arts, sports and photos. Call us at 607-277-7000 M a t t D o u g h e r t y , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r , x 1217 E d i t o r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m Ch r i s I b e r t, C a l en da r Ed i to r , A r t s @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m A n d r e w S u l l i v a n , S p o r t s E d i t o r , x 1227 Sports@flcn.org M a t t D o u g h e r t y , N e w s R e p o r t e r , x 1225 R e p o r t e r @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m Michelle L aMorte, Photographer Ste ve L awrence, Spo rts Co lumn ist St e v e S p o r t sD u d e @ g m a i l .co m L u c y A l l e n , F r o n t D es k F r o n t @ I t h a c a T i mes . c o m J i m B i l i n s k i , P u b l i s h e r , x 1210 j b i l i n s k i @ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m L a r r y H o c h b e r g e r , A ss o c i a t e P u b l i s h e r , x 1214 l a r r y@ I t h a c aTi m e s . c o m F r ee l a n ce r s : Barbara Adams, Stephen Burke, G. M Burns, Alyssa Denger, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, Bryan VanCampen, and Arthur Whitman THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE C O P Y R I G H T © 2 02 3, B Y N E W S K I I N C .

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December 13 – 19, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

3

INQUIRING Council Approves Framework for Plan to PHOTOGRAPHER

N e w s l i n e

By Ke nne th Wate rhou se WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

Manage Encampments on City Property

residents opposed to moving forward with the plan. One of the ozens of residents made their way residents opposed to the to City Hall on December 6 to plan is Jade Brewer, an voice their concerns about plans outreach worker tasked the City has to manage homeless encampwith helping the City ments located on City-owned property.

Fourth Ward Alderperson Jorge DeFendini’s amendment clarifying that involuntary Re-location can be a traumatic event passed with the help implement the plan once The scene has played out similarly of a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Laura Lewis. (Photo: File) several times throughout the year, most re- it’s finalized. Brewer said, cently in September when the City moved “I don’t think this plan is plan without public input, McGonigal trauma-informed or informed by housing forward with a pilot plan to create a sancfirst approach.” Brewer added, “People sleep said, “We’ve been talking about this for tioned “green zone” encampment area in months, and we’re not trying to sneak it outside for many reasons, including the Southwest Park, located behind Walmart past anybody.” He added, “Some of us and Lowes. That plan initially included lan- high cost of housing in Ithaca.” thought putting this off another month Others commented that the plan is guage that outlined how encampments on would make it difficult for the new council another example of the City trying to pass City-owned property would be managed to catch up to speed.” a law to criminalize homelessness, even in different locations, but that language The framework for the plan was prethough previous attempts have failed in was dropped from the plan after receiving sented by Nels Bohn, the Director of Comthe face of public opposition. pushback from the public. munity Development for the Ithaca Urban Another resident who spoke out against Now, a standalone plan to create a Renewal Agency (IURA), to the Planning the plan was Tompkins County Legislator protocol for how to respond to encamp& Economic Development committee on Veronica Pillar. ments in different November 9.

According to Pilareas of the City The policy states that City land will be lar, “This plan is is making its way divided into two categories, determinskipping over the through City ing how encampments are dealt with in housing and talkHall once again. different locations. Under the proposed ing about moving The framework enforcement plan, all city land would be people away from for the plan was categorized as “Actively Managed Public somewhere and approved by the Lands” or “Lightly Managed Public Lands.” into [somewhere Common Council According to the policy, “Stewart Park that remains by a 10-0 vote is an example of a site that is ‘actively uncertain].” They after Alderperson managed’ as it has dedicated staff…to continued saying Jorge DeFen— Jorge DeFendini maintain, patrol and keep the site clean.” that successdini’s amendment As a result, unhoused people usually don’t fully setting up recognizing that set up encampments in these areas since involuntary relocation is a traumatic event the sanctioned encampment “will involve a they would be quickly detected by staff. for unhoused individuals was approved by lot of service work.” Pillar added, “Without The policy continues by saying, “The vast a 6-5 vote. Mayor Laura Lewis cast the tie- having checked in with the county, withmajority of encampments have occurred at out having seen how the Green Zone goes, breaking vote in favor of the amendment. without having seen Friday’s meeting about lightly managed city lands, such as the forDeFendini said that while he had conoutreach worker funding, this is way ahead.” mer Southwest Park, 119 Brindley St, and cerns about voting on the framework, the public lands at the end of Cherry Street.” It First Ward Alderperson George Mcplan is not final, and there will be more adds that encampments are more common Gonigal, who has been a leading voice in opportunities to provide input over the in these areas because they “lack dedicated favor of creating a plan for how to manage coming months. staff to patrol and manage these sites.” encampments in City-owned property, said “This is a framework for a plan…that The plan outlines a five-step process to rethat while he agrees with comments about plan will return for the incoming Comspond to encampments in actively managed unaffordable housing prices in Ithaca, “the mon Council, and we’ll have more opareas. The first step involves giving the occuCity is not trying to criminalize homelessportunities for public comment and to ness.” According to McGonigal, “We need to pants of the encampment a verbal notificamake amendments then,” DeFendini said. tion” and notifying them of amenities that address the fact that there are areas owned He said that the Council will “continue by the city that are unsafe and difficult to get will be made available to them in the sancto have conversations and develop this to for first responders, and we’re trying to get tioned “green zone” encampment. The secpolicy” and that the City is “committed people to move out of those areas eventually.” ond step involves reporting the encampment, to a housing first philosophy and treating which means communicating the presence He added, “We’re trying to help people.” homelessness with dignity and humanity.”

In response to comments that the DeFendini’s amendment came in Council was attempting to vote on this response to dozens of comments from Contin u ed on Page 14

D “Yellow car.” – Felix H.

“Singing Fish Piano.” – Fianna S.

“Unicorn and a dinosaur.” – Skylar & Asher W.

“Electric train set and play dough.”

– Maddox Mara K.

“Unicorn & rainbows and minecraft, Pokémon & a cat.” – Stella & Greyson S.

By M at t D ough e rt y

“This is a framework for a plan that will return for the incoming Common Council, and we’ll have more opportunities for public comment and make amendments then.”

4 The Ithaca Times / December 13 – 19, 2023

UPS&DOWNS

N e w s l i n e

County Working to Improve Emergency Response Times

By M at t D ough e rt y

Ups

teer emergency responses, and that’s just not as robust of a system as it once was.”

As a result, every EMS agency in the area mergency strikes, you call 911 but wait for what might as well be a life- struggles to keep pace with the growing demand for service while simultaneously time for first responders to arrive, if grappling with staffing shortages. they get there at all. This nightmare could To address this issue, the County is become your reality if you live in one of developing a Rapid Medical Response the many rural communities in Tompkins program to assist existing EMS agencies County that struggle to provide adequate and hopefully reduce response times. emergency services to their residents.

The County Department of EmerResponse times in Tompkins County gency Response says this program is average about 12 minutes, while response Tompkins County Legislator Dan Klein. (Photo: File) expected to come times in rural at an annual cost communities like While almost everyone thinks the of $500,000. Klein Enfield average program is a great idea, the only resays that it will 20 minutes and maining question involves how the proinvolve stationNewfield average 23 gram will be paid for. Tompkins County ing three vehicles minutes. According Legislator Veronica Pillar recently told around the County to FEMA, the averthe Common Council that the current staffed with an age national emertopic of discussion is about how cost emergency medigency response time — Tompkins County sharing might work between the county cal technician that is four minutes, so Legislator Dan Klein and municipalities. would be able to Tompkins County According to Klein, some say the respond to calls in and its municipalicounty should pay for the whole thing, rural areas “faster than any ambulance ties are far above the national average. and others say there should be a costservice can often get there.”

The County spans a distance of 475 sharing process with municipalities.

Klein has said that this program will square miles and only has four EMS Klein continued that agreeing is “going “fill in the gaps that are unanswered by agencies to cover that range. This not the other traditional emergency services to be very intricate because we’re talking only worsens response times but also about ten different municipalities that strains service providers as their resources because there are not enough volunteers have to agree to something.” He added, to staff them.” Klein says, “This is a are continuously stretched thin. Bangs, “The reality is that we can’t compel any supplement to the system that will bolDryden and Groton Ambulance, and of the towns in the county to join the ster the whole thing. Everyone is going Trumansburg EMS are all tasked with system. It’s going to require a very high to benefit from this.” He continued, “We providing service to different areas of the level of cooperation.” hope that none of the existing EmerCounty, with Bangs focusing on the City While negotiations about the cost-shargency Medical Services will go away, and and Town of Ithaca. ing process are ongoing, Pillar has said Tompkins County Legislator Dan Klein then we will have an additional layer on that the county has “committed to footing top of it.” has said, “It’s all based on the fact that in the bill for the first year, either from our Klein says that the same problem with most rural towns, we’re relying on voluncoffers or from grant funding if it comes delayed response through.” Klein said that the county has times in Tompkins applied for state grants to fund the proCounty is also gram for its first year but won’t know if happening nationthey will receive the grants for “a few more wide. “It’s been months.” Cost-sharing among municipalideteriorating for a ties will come into effect in year two of the long time,” Klein program. said. He added that Klein says he hopes to see the program many communiup and running by the middle of next ties have decided to year, but the county must first purchase ignore the problem three vehicles and hire three EMTs to staff because replacing each vehicle. In total, nine EMTs will be volunteer amrequired to staff the program entirely. “We bulance and fire Emergency response times in Tompkins County average about 12 actually have to purchase three vehicles departments with minutes, while response times in rural areas average up to 23 minutes. paid ones is “hugely and then hire people, so that’s still a few FEMA says the national average is four minutes. (Photo: File) months away,” Klein said. expensive.”

E

“This is a supplement to the system that will bolster the whole thing. Everyone is going to benefit from this.”

Over a million dollars is now available for the Town of Newfield in Tompkins County for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects, including treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water.

Downs

On December 9 Ithaca Police Officers responded to the 100 block of North Plain Street for multiple reports of a shooting. The victim is in stable condition and a person of interest was arrested on December 10.

HEARD&SEEN Heard

According to a recent Marist Poll, 73% of New York residents report that the affordability of housing is a major problem in their communities. This concern is widespread across the state, with 67% of rural residents, 69% of suburban residents and 81% of urban residents feeling housing affordability is a major issue.

Seen

The Council voted to approve the nomination of former Schenectady Police Department Lieutenant Thomas Kelly to the position of Chief of Police by a vote of 9-1. Kelly’s start date is scheduled for December 18.

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

Have you started your Holiday gift shopping yet?

35.7% Yes .

47.6% No .

16.7% Ask Santa .

N ext Week ’s Q uestion :

Should grocery stores like Tops and Wegams be allowed to sell wine and liquor?

Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

December 13 – 19, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

5

The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Stop Complaining About Patrick Kuhel

O

h my, another article bemoaning the “contempt of democracy” exhibited by the write-in winner of the recent contest for Ward 4 Alderperson, Patrick Keuhl. Anyone with a scintilla of knowledge regarding the practice of electoral politics in America just has to laugh at this.

Look, folks, here’s how it works: we set up very detailed rules about campaigning and voting (which includes write-in votes), and then we allow you to do anything you can think of to win, as long as you stay within the rules. Got that?

And look at the recent voting history of Ward 4. In the last race where the winner ran unopposed, 2019, he won a total of 114 votes out of 1234 registered voters.

In 2021, which featured a real contest between two candidates, the winner won by 86 to 30 out of 962 registered voters.

Frankly, anyone who couldn’t have seen the potential for (perfectly legal!) mischief here shouldn’t have been

involved in running a political campaign.

And the local media wringing their hands over this need to take a class in the history of local U.S. election politics.

In the single photo I’ve seen of Keuhl, he looks like a smirking fratboy, proud of himself for having pulled off this stunt.

But you know what? His platform (have you read it?) isn’t half bad. And one thing we know for sure: he’s a hell of a lot smarter than the team he was running against.” — John Bosack

Support the NY Heat Act

T

his year’s COP28 climate change talks underway in Dubai set a record for the largest number of fossil fuel representatives ever in attendance.

Approximately 2,400 fossil fuel representatives are there, nearly four times the number that attended last year’s talks.

One result of this influx of fossil fuel interests is that the language has shifted from “phasing out” fossil fuels to “phasing down.” Phasing out means moving away from oil, gas, and coal to clean energy, a transition that is necessary and urgent. The oil industry is arguing instead for phasing down fossil fuels. This means a slower transition to cleaner energy and a longer future for planet-heating energy sources. But 2023 was the hottest year on record, and we don’t have time to phase down.

Contin u ed on Page 7

6 The Ithaca Times / December 13 – 19, 2023

GUEST OPINION

One World Market: One Door Closes, Another Opens ONE WORLD MARKET IS CLOSING ITS STORE ON THE COMMONS BUT WILL CONTINUE ITS FAIR TRADE MISSION AS “ONE WORLD FAIR TRADE.”

By Dav i d Bl a n t on

I

thaca’s Fair Trade nonprofit organization, One World Market, has been operating its store on The Commons for over twenty-three years. Now that’s about to change as it closes its retail operation and refocuses its mission and strategy into a new direction.

Although the store has been a downtown fixture and has contributed much to the community, there is excitement as the nonprofit work transitions into a new and promising direction. According to John Fracchia, president of One World Market’s volunteer board, “Our physical store has faced many different headwinds, competition from online sales, downtown construction projects, an economic downturn, and a pandemic. We fought against these for as long as we possibly could. Our volunteer board and our dedicated staff have done an amazing job through it all. But I know we’re all feeling excited about reinventing ourselves. We all believe in our Fair Trade mission, and we know Ithaca is a great place to make it work.”

Though the store will be closed, the original mission and work of the founding nonprofit will continue. The new incarnation will retain the popular and successful Rug Event, held at St. Catherines Church. Year after year, it’s provided our community with heirloom quality rugs from Pakistan.

Mr. Fracchia states, “The rug event has been a yearly tradition in Ithaca for many years, and it has brought beautiful ethically sourced rugs to Ithaca. We expect this to continue annually, and to be a reliable source of income for our nonprofit.”

He explains, “The rug event aids Pakistani rug-making families and their communities, which have recently faced profound hardships. Each rug is an amazing work of art that represents hundreds of hours of labor and hundreds of years of tradition. Our partner, Bunyaad, works directly with 850 rug-making families in Pakistan. Every rug sold can be traced

One World Market on the Ithaca Commons (Photo: File)

back to the family that made it, the village where it was made and the local Bunyaad supervisor who oversees rug production.

The program does not work with rug makers who employ school-age children and encourages families to send all of their children to school. It has even helped to establish many schools in Pakistan.”

In addition to the rug event, at least two other activities will be happening. It will offer Fair Trade goods to the community and to local organizations and at special events.

Mr. Fracchia says, “We still want to bring beautiful Fair Trade Goods to Ithaca and give people the chance to purchase them directly. It’s part of our service to artisans, and to Ithaca.”

In addition, the mission involves microloans to artists. These are no-interest loans for purchasing materials to make their products. The goal is to increase these by working with local organizations on fundraising.

First opened under the Ten Thousand Villages franchise, One World Market became a local store under the current name in 2010. Since that time, online shopping has seriously hurt many brick-andmortar businesses, including Fair Trade Contin u ed on Page 7

GUEST OPINION

ITHACA NOTES

The Problem with Student Legislators

Prodded by Darkness

By Dav i d St otz

By St e ph e n Bu r k e

W

hile I do not totally oppose the idea of the student legislator I do think that we need to temper our enthusiasm for such persons being elected to important public decision making bodies. While students may have fresh ideas, abundant enthusiasm and plentiful energy, they are often lacking in certain important areas that are essential to the efforts of a really effective legislator. These shortcomings include brief tenure in office, a dearth of life experiences, incomplete brain development, and possibly less than acceptable underlying motivation.

Students are residents for a comparatively short time. Therefore, It is reasonable to assume In that in some cases, a student legislator’s issue analysis and public deliberations may be deficient or lacking in terms of understanding or appreciating the effect(s) of their decisions over time. The usually short tenure of student legislators insulates them from the effects of possible future criticism for having made poor decisions. Except by virtue of conscience, why should a student legislator be concerned about the long-term implications of their actions as a public official? In a short time their tenure in office will have ended and they no longer will be a member of the community they served.

Most student legislators are deficient in “life and community wisdom”, an absolutely essential attribute needed in the formulation of policies and laws that properly meet the needs of the community. Having dealt with common life occurrences such as raising a family, educating ones children, home ownership, paying taxes, employment (and unemployment), health maintenance and a host

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR contin u ed from page 6

Here in New York, we can move efficiently toward phasing out fossil fuels with the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act. The NY HEAT Act, for short, would direct the transition toward clean energy across the state. It will stop the expansion of the fracked gas system, reduce energy rate increases, and limit energy bills to 6% of household income

other life experiences gives a legislator a fuller appreciation of the needs and wants of the people as well as a better understanding of the characteristics and deficiencies of existing community governance. With perhaps the exception of some older graduate students, most student legislators lack these life experiences which are so essential in to a wise and effective public official.

Student political candidates may not choose to run for office purely to be of service to the community (alas, this often applies to non-student candidates as well).

For a student about to embark on a professional career there are few pursuits that sweeten a resume more than having been elected to public office. What they accomplished during their tenure may be of little consequence. By merely having been elected they have purportedly shown “leadership”, a much prized attribute in our society.

Consequently, the primary motivation for a student to run for public office may be simply to be elected, but not necessarily to serve in any effective or consequential way.

It is the consensus of scientific research that a person under the age of twenty-five does not have a fully developed brain. The executive function of the frontal neocortex has not yet completely matured. The frontal cortex controls many executive functions including that of cognition, the mental process of knowing, including aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment. Are these not some of the capacities of political candidates that we evaluate when selecting which lever to pull on Election Day? Do we really want legislators who are not yet up to full cognitive capacity to be making important decisions that can materially affect our lives and those of our families and neighbors? I think not! for low- to moderate-income New Yorkers. It also eliminates the antiquated 100foot rule, which forces New York families to subsidize the cost of new gas hookups.

We can’t entertain the oil industry’s negotiations for a phase down of fossil fuels. Gov. Hochul should support a decisive phase-out by including the NY HEAT Act in her 2024 executive budget.”

— Nancy Ramage Contin u ed on Page 14

M

an bites dog. It happened the same day someone reported already being used to the clock being set back an hour and the sun setting at 4:30, and liking it.

You won’t hear that at work, where if you’re stoic enough you can endeavor to be the only one not to complain about it being dark when you get there and again when you leave. If you’re passive-aggressive enough you can amuse yourself by claiming not to have noticed.

You won’t read it in the news, which is filled from November through January, at minimum, with stories on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and holiday stresses and how to deal with winter blues. It is all fairly canned stuff and valuable to the media as it takes up a lot of space between ads while seeming newsworthy, or at least timely.

It is also easy to concoct. If I tell you that one in four Americans has a form of SAD or reports feeling anxiety or depression between Thanksgiving and the New Year, according to a recent study by Dr. Norman Smith of the U.S. Health Study Center, does it occur to you I made all that up? Not so much as a caveat, here, as a simple illustration.

Leaving cynicism out of it, though, maybe such articles do some good, in alerting people to these troubles, and assuring that if you have them you are not alone. However, they generally end with advice that tends to be quite general, indeed, and not all that revelatory: telling you to exercise, eat well and not too much, not overdo caffeine or alcohol, stay close with friends and family, etc.

Recently one of these articles (from a wire service) ran on the front page of our local (such as it is) daily newspaper. While

ONE WORLD MARKET contin u ed from page 6

retail stores. One World Market has not been immune. It began to see a decline in retail sales as early as 2014, and this drop continued almost uninterrupted until the present. There are now a large number of online e-commerce stores offering fair trade or “ethically sourced,” items, including Contin u ed on Page 14

wishing to suspend contrariness, I had to wonder about its claim that “feeling like ‘hibernating’” was a symptom of trouble.

Might it not actually be, instead, an apt response?

“Hibernating” as “socially withdrawing” would be bad, of course. But what’s wrong with “hibernating” as an adaptation to the dark: going to bed early and getting plenty of sleep? Media health articles are always warning that we are chronically sleep-deprived. Here’s a chance to help that.

Woman bites dog: Jane (we’ll call her, pseudonymously) is a single mother of two young children. She says she likes the winter months and, especially, the turning back of the clock.

“In winter I can get those kids to bed by 8 o’clock,” she says. “I tell them it’s time for bed and they don’t fight me, it’s already been dark for three hours. In summer it’s still light for an hour.” With the kids in bed, she makes tea and reads awhile and goes to bed early herself.

Summer in Ithaca is a time for swimming, biking, hiking, meeting friends for a late dinner, for drinks at a brew pub outside. Winter needn’t be sedentary (walking is still good, especially since winter driving can be a drag; beyond that, for the athletic, there’s skiing, skating and fitness clubs), but it’s a favored time for indoor pursuits (learning new things: ukulele, origami, Spanish?) and books. When is a likelier time to do something so centered as reading poetry, for instance? (Or writing it?)

The poet Mary Oliver, acclaimed both critically (winner of a National Book Award and a Pulitzer Prize) and popularly (she has been called the country’s bestselling poet), published a poem in 2014 called “The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac” that seemingly addresses mortality (she survived a 2012 diagnosis of lung cancer; she died of lymphoma in 2019 at age 83), but can also be construed as a paean to creating opportunities throughout life, even when things are dark.

“This world,” Oliver writes, is maybe not as we would have it, “But you’re in it all the same. So why not get started immediately. I mean, belonging to it.

“Do you need a prod?” she writes.

“Do you need a little darkness to get you going?”

December 13 – 19, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

7

Life After Football

Former Teammates Work Together on the Road to Recovery

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B y S t e v e L aw r e n c e

snowboard, but, he offered, “I knew how chance meeting between Corto fall and roll.” He took a fall in March of nell football heroes nearly 30 2023, and, in his words, “It awakened the years after their playing days beast,” and his pain escalated considerably. promoted one of them—an or“I danced at a wedding,” he recalled, “and it thopedic surgeon—to ask the was just getting worse. It became clear that other, a severly disabled retired mortgage it was more than my hip, and over the next banker — a question about their playing few weeks it got much worse.” days — “When did you break your neck?”

In May of this year, Levitt had neck Christian DPaola and his brother, Matsurgery in Florida (where he now resides), thew, played on the same offensive line in and was sent home the next day. He said, the 1990s, opening holes for Chad Levitt, “I was losing feeling and function in my who was the proverbial workhorse. Over right hand and in my left shoulder, and I the course of his three-year collegiate cacouldn’t lift my arm above my head. and reer (freshmen did not suit up for the varit was getting worse. Chad realized that sity then), he carried the ball an astoundhe might spend his life living with quading 922 times for 4,657 yards, and only a riplegia. late-season injury in his senior season Levitt spoke to DiPaola by phone to (1996) prevented him from breaking Ed give an update, and the doc said, “Chad, Marinaro’s coveted career yardage reif you’re coming to Cornell for Reunion cord. A bruising 235-pound running back Weekend, I want you to drive up to Rochwith the quickness of a much smaller runLevitt went for over 100 yards in 24 games, was a three-time First Team All Ivy selection and was honored ester and see me at my office.” A few days ner, Levitt went for over 100 yards in 24 as the Ivy League Player of the Year all three years. later — on June 9th — Levitt painfully magames, was a three-time First Team All He was dr afted by the Oakland R aiders in the fourth neuvered himself into his car and drove to Ivy selection and was honored as the Ivy rou nd of the 1997 NFL dr aft. (Photo: Provided) Ithaca, and when Di Paola saw his friend, League Player of the Year all three years. he was alarmed. In his words, “I saw To no one’s surprise, the pro scouts took I asked Chad how he handled the tran- C.T.E., brought on by the repeated blows Chad stumbling into a gathering at Buck notice, and Levitt was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the sition from NFL player to mortgage bank- to the head inherent to the sport of foot- Briggs’s place, and I was shocked. He was 1997 NFL draft. He started two games as er, and he said, “I sustained a hip pointer ball. In a television interview at the onset in serious crisis. This was our thorougha rookie, and spent time on the St. Louis while playing here (at Cornell), and I had of his ride, Levitt was quoted as saying, “I bred racehorse, and he could barely walk.”

Levitt spent the night before his trip to have experienced — and a hip avulsion fracture Rams’ roster as well. suffered from — all of Rochester sitting contemplatively in front The DiPaola brothers left Cornell and in the summer of 2014. the effects of C.T.E,” and of a fire, in the backyard at Sigma Nu, his went on to Medical School. Christian I was limping around his effort contributed fraternity at Cornell. On Sunday morning, graduated from Cornell University Medi- for a few years, and over $20,000 to the re- he made the two-hour drive, and walked cal College, did his residency at the Uni- there were times I could search effort. Chad told into the ER carrying his travel bag. Chrisversity of Rochester, a fellowship at the barely do more than me, “From around 2002 tian met him there and checked him in. A University of British Columbia, worked walk.” Levitt added, “I to 2019, my bouts with colleague — familiar with the usual profor 12 years at UMass, and now practices loved to snowboard, depression and anxiety cess of checking a patient in — said, “This in Rochester as a Board Certified Ortho- and I became obsessed really inhibited me at will take awhile.” DiPaola replied, “You pedic surgeon. (Christian’s brother, Mat- with riding my electric work, impacted my fam- haven’t seen me block for him.” Indeed, thew DiPaola, practices in Buffalo in the skateboard, which felt ily life, and I attribute opening up holes for his teammate was like snowboarding. I same field.)

— Christian DPaola all that to head trau- about to take on new meaning, and 3 hours While Levitt and DiPaola stayed in put 2,000 miles on that ma.” He added, “I have later, after more imaging was ordered — a touch over the years, seeing one another thing in a year.”

Starting in August of 2019, Chad spent also learned that research has attributed CT, an MRI and an X-ray — DiPaola asked at alumni golf outings and other Big Redrelated gatherings, Chad was actually in 8 to 10 hours per day on his bicycle for 58 the brain fog I was experiencing to spinal his friend a jarring question: “Chad...when closer contact with Matthew, who did his consecutive days, riding 3,366 miles from compression, and it makes sense, given did you break your neck?” In recalling that medical residency in Philadelphia, where the Atlantic to the Pacific. That ambitious that everything that controls the body and conversation, Levitt said, “I remember the game against Dartmouth, in ’95, I took a Levitt grew up and lived and worked as effort was undertaken to raise awareness mind runs through that little channel.”

Chad recalled “taking a couple of spills” big hit and when I took my helmet off, it a mortgage banker after his playing days — and funds — for research into the effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or on his electric skateboard and on his felt like it was still on.” came to an end.

“I was shocked. He was in serious crisis. This was our thoroughbred racehorse, and he could barely walk.”

8 The Ithaca Times / December 13 – 19, 2023

mom here. We will have a team of nurses and friends, and a chaplain, and we’ll also call Bernie DePalma and Tom Howley” (Cornell’s Head Athletic Trainer and Director of Strength and Conditioning, both friends since Levitt’s playing days.)

The support team DiPaola had assembled was mobilized, and in Christian’s words, “Addressing Chad’s physical state was my job. His emotional support would start with his mom.”

Looking back on that day, Dr. DiPaola told me, “I saw it as a much more involved process than his prior surgery. I had to accept — we both had to accept — that I could do all the right things for all the right reasons, and he could get worse.”

Given the surgery was wedged into an already busy schedule, Chad’s procedure did not get underway until 4 pm. DiPaola had already spent 9 hours in the Operating Room, and seven hours later, he wrapped it up, knowing he had brought his best game, whatever the outcome. He said, “I In August of 2019, Chad road 3,366 miles from the greeted Chad’s mom in the waiting room Atlantic to the Pacific on a after the surgery, and I drove her to her hobicycle to r aise awareness tel at 11:30 pm. I kept thinking, ‘I can’t beand fu nds for research lieve this all happened.’” into the effects of Chronic “When Chad woke up,” Christian reTr aumatic Encephalopathy, called, “he was moving his arms and his or C.T.E . (Photo: Provided) legs, and the signals looked a little better.

Knowing this is often an up and down DiPaola recalled, “I saw that the C-7 rather than a linear process, I was encourfracture was a much bigger issue in that aged.” Looking at Levitt sitting across the there were three areas of severe compres- table from us, he added, “Knowing that sion in addition to the fracture. I saw two he was strong, healthy and fit gave me a chronic fractures at the C-7, and those glimmer of hope. I knew that even in a compromised state, Chad led to a spinal deformity. is still superior to 99.9% Chad had developed what of people in terms of drive is known as Spinal Myelopand ability.” athy. The bone had tried The fact that the supto heal around it, and we port team was in place was needed a CAT scan to see crucial, given DiPaola dethat.”

— Chad Levitt scribed his patient as “a At that time, DiPaola was caged lion.” Chad’s mom, on a balance-beam of sorts. the nurses, some family In his words, “I always have a clinical focus, but this was my teammate, members, DePalma, Howley, Marty Rauch my friend, and he’s so connected to so (a friend and Cornell football alum) — all many people that I know and care about.” combined their efforts to keep that caged Standing firmly on that beam, DiPaola sat lion under control, and after a week, the down with his friend of 30 years and said, cage was opened.

Levitt says “it was a week before I was “Chad, you’re not going to like what I am about to say. You need much more inva- comfortable sitting up,” and he recalls sive surgery, and you will likely hate me for driving to Philly to spend time with family, and then he went to his mother’s place on 8 weeks.”

The surgery was scheduled for the next the Jersey Shore for the summer. He called it “the perfect place to rehab.” He said, “I day.

Knowing how involved this surgery was getting better every day, walking an and recovery would be, DiPaola told his extra block whenever I could.” He added, friend, “Chad, we need to pull a support “On July 3rd, I walked without my walker, system together to fight this battle. You’ll I started getting my spirits up, and I knew be facing many challenges — physical and he had fixed me.”

DiPaola said, “I saw Chad in mid-Aumental and emotional — and there is a component of uncertainty, so I need your gust, and I was continually more optimis-

tic. I was comfortable with him driving to Florida and getting on the schedule for his hip surgery.”

Both men wanted to wait until a certain point in Levitt’s recovery to sit down for this story, so as “not to spike the ball too early.”

Levitt knows his snowboarding and skateboard days are behind him, but he looks forward to kayaking, biking and getting out on his stand-up paddle board. In his words, “I can’t fall anymore.” He has also changed career paths, has done some substitute teaching, and is excited about earning his certification to become a Phys Ed teacher.

As we wrapped up our time together, DiPaola — looking slightly less imposing than he did as a 262-pound Division 1 offensive lineman — said that he learned a lot from the experience, and is grateful for the opportunity to have presented the case to a group of doctors at a conference.

Levitt said, “At the follow-up after my hip surgery, they looked at the images from my neck surgery and said, ‘Oh my God... that’s a lot of hardware.’ They are correct — there is a screw in every vertebrae from C-2 to T-2.” Sounding less like a medical professional and more like the regular guy he is, Chad added, “I have no doubt that Christian saved my life.”

“I have no doubt that Christian saved my life.”

Chad Levitt and Christian DPaola were teammates on the Big R ed football team in the 1990’s (Photo: Provided) December 13 – 19, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

9

Sports

Larger, Stronger, Co-ed Little Red Wrestling Has More Boys and Girls

By Ste ve L aw re nc e

H

igh school wrestling programs have taken on quite a different look over the past few years, as the number of girls taking up the sport has increased considerably. I saw a recent social media post showing a photo of the girl’s wrestling program just down the road a few miles, in Horseheads, and there were 21 middle school and high school girls on the team.

While Ithaca High does not yet boast such a robust number, head coach Eric Parker told me, “We started out this season with three girls, and we don’t yet have a separate girl’s team so we are running the programs together.” He added, “At this point, we do not have an ‘official’ girl’s wrestling coach, but the good news is that we have four coaches on our staff, so we will be able to send a coach when the girls compete at

the Sectional Qualifier, which is, as of now, the only separate event scheduled.”

Parker said that one girl has emerged as an early-season surprise, as senior Willow Moylan — a first-year wrestler — went 3-0 in the season’s first tournament. In Parker’s words, “She was really amazing.”

As for total numbers, Parker said that the 37 wrestlers that came our for the team comprised “the highest number in years.”

While 20 of the athletes are new to the sport, the Little Red will return six wrestlers that placed at the Sectionals last year — including all three State qualifiers. Quentin Getzin — only a freshman — wrestled at States last year as an eighth-grader, and will compete this year at 138 pounds. Senior Danny Parker will be gunning for a state title at 152, and Dikota Hamilton — a junior — will take the mat at 170.

Several weight classes are competitive, and Parker said, “We have six kids at 138,”

Ithaca High School wrestlers Danny Parker, Quentin Getzin and Dikota Hamilton hope to return to the States this season.

and he added that the coaches are doing wrestle-offs across the weight classes “to establish the pecking order.” Having such healthy numbers in place — in terms of wrestlers and coaches — bodes well for the program’s future, Parker explained.

“In the past,” he stated, “we didn’t have the numbers to support a JV program, so the younger guys got thrown to the wolves at varsity tournaments.” Given how wrestlers are out there all alone under the bright lights of packed gymnasiums, it was not

surprising to hear Parker say, “We lost some kids that way.”

So far, the team put up a strong showing at the Mark Stevens Invitational Tournament, with Getzin going 6-1 and Parker being named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Ithaca opens up at home on Wednesday, December 13, and it would be nice to see a big crowd there for a couple of Contin u ed on Page 14

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BusinessTimes Ithaca Start-Up Receives Grant Funding

By L A Bourge oi s

D

r. Mo Arshadi created Clean Label Solution precisely at the peak of the pandemic. “I'd developed a technology to improve the protein and digestibility of soy-based animal feed for dairy cattle. Through our practice, we improved the quality of the product while reducing production costs and greenhouse gas at the same time,” he said. The strength and promise of this new feed prompted a $250,000 award from Grow-NY this past November.

Born in Shiraz, Iran, Arshadi moved to the US six years ago after securing a position as a senior researcher at Cornell’s Department of Food Science. Ithaca became his home, and he could think of no better place to base his company. “Ithaca is the best place for me in the world to start my business. I adjusted my technology based on the demand of the market in the US and also due to the high density of dairy farmers in this area,” he said. “There's a lot of benefit from being close to the industry and university to help me expand the market.”

During the company’s start-up period, Arshadi spent his days visiting dairy farms, searching for a business partner, and advertising his product. Each evening, he drove for Uber to support himself.

Eventually, he discovered a partner, Bruce Maybury of Maybury Farms. This support allowed him to set up his production line.

The first batch of products entered the market in September 2022.

However, Arshadi didn’t only search for partners in his journey to create his new production line. “When I visited dairy farms, I would see a lot of abandoned machinery that the farmers didn’t have any interest in using. And so I bought those abandoned machines and fixed them to sell or use to set up my production line,” he said. “I was thinking, what to do? What not to do? I didn't have any money, but I always looked at my situation to see what I had right now. And based on my resources, what should I do? It came to my mind, and it worked.”

This business journey was frustrating, though. “I've been through a tough time,” Arshadi said. “I contacted many people

to see how I could expand my business. To execute with my technology, I still had a lot of problems with finding the right resources. That's the big issue because through that process, I, or any small business, waste a lot of time and energy and money.”

But Arshadi’s ingenuity and persistence also landed this recent award from Grow-NY. He plans to use the funds to scale up his production line.

“For example, last summer, our production capacity was 600 to 700 pounds per month, and we had orders for around 1500-2000. I plan to expand our production line to produce 2000-3000 pounds per month,” he said.

Dr. Mo Arshadi, creator of Ithaca-based start-up Clean Label Solutions. (Photo: Provided) Along with Arshadi’s soybased animal feed, Clean Label Solutions products include creating a larvaeFind more information on Clean Label based feed for poultry and fish and clean and Solution or contact Dr. Arshadi by visiting green solutions for waste management. cleanlabelsolution.com.

Business Briefs Tompkins Community Bank Expands Offerings in Syracuse with New City Center Location

T

he official ribbon was cut and Tompkins Community Bank welcomed customers, alongside Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, to its newest City Center branch at 400 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, New York.

The space, Tompkins’ second location in Syracuse, aims to provide clients with comprehensive services for all their banking and financial needs.

In addition to traditional branch services, the new 6,000-square-foot financial center will support the community through commercial banking, cash

management, residential mortgage lending, wealth management and trust services, commercial and personal lines insurance, employee benefits, and more.

“Investing in our communities and keeping them vibrant, while providing our customers with top-of-the-line services in the places where they work and live, has always been at the heart of our business,” said Johanna Anderson, president, Tompkins’ Central New York market. “After seeing our Central New York clients’ needs grow, it was important for us to expand here in downtown Syracuse. We’re proud to be part of the revitalization happening in City Center and to celebrate the many businesses who, like us, believe in the future of Syracuse.”

Formerly Sibley Department Store, the downtown-Syracuse property remained

Tompkins Community Bank staff at ribbon cutting event celebrating the opening of their Syracuse location. (Photo: Provided)

vacant for many years before being transformed into an office complex. Demonstrating a true commitment to community growth, Tompkins Community Bank helped finance the redevelopment of the entire building, working alongside Jeremy

and Gary Thurston, owners of Haynor Hoyt Company. Neighboring tenants include II (formerly Huntington Ingalls Industries), Hayner Hoyt and CXtech.

Contin u ed on Page 12

December 13 – 19, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

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B usiness T imes BUSINESS BRIEFS contin u ed from page 11

Acce Forty under 40 Award Recipient

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arah Barden named Forty Under 40 by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Alexandria, VA. Sarah Barden, Director of Community Initiatives at the Tompkins Chamber has been named to the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) 2023 Forty Under 40 list of emerging leaders shaping the chamber of commerce industry.

This annual recognition program showcases 40 of the industry’s top emerging leaders who have demonstrated success in their careers and made significant contributions to the communities they serve. The list includes CEOs and staff professionals from a wide variety of roles and chamber sizes.

Honored for their creativity, dedication, and commitment to identifying innovative solutions that will help shape the future of the chamber profession.

“I am inspired by these talented professionals who are making a difference in their organizations and the communities they serve," said ACCE President & CEO

Sheree Anne Kelly. "Their passion and dedication not only foster positive change in their regions but also shape a promising future for those they impact.”

“Sarah has demonstrated growth, leadership, ingenuity and passion for chamber work and our community. Under their leadership, new members have invested each year, member retention and returning member investments have increased overall,” says Tompkins Chamber President Jennifer Tavares.

“Sarah is working on several key initiatives for our organization and community, and we are very proud and fortunate to have them as a member of our team.”

ACCE has over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry. Eligible chamber professionals must be nominated by their chamber’s president/ CEO, direct supervisor or board chair.

Candidates must demonstrate meaningful involvement in the advancement of their community and proven professional success within their chamber.

The full 2023 Forty Under 40 list was announced publicly in the Fall 2023 edition of Chamber Executive, ACCE’s digital

magazine. View all the honorees online at https://magazine.acce.org/.

The other New York hospitals receiving the distinction are Glens Falls Hospital, Mercy Hospital-Buffalo, Montefiore Nyack Hospital, Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, NYU Langone Hospitals, and St. Joseph's Health Hospital.

Cayuga Medical Center Named to U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has designated Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) as one of just eight 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) in New York State. This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is an annual evaluation designed to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care that best meets their family’s needs.

Cayuga Medical Center earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by objective measures of quality. These include C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, early elective delivery rates, birthing-friendly practices, and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.

“At Cayuga Health, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality care for families,” stated Dr. Martin Stallone, President and CEO, of Cayuga Health. “Receiving this national recognition recognizes our staff ’s efforts to exceed standards and provide optimal maternity care to the communities we serve. Thank you to each member of the Birthplace team for their unwavering dedication to our parents and newborns.”

Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics for free at health.usnews.com to help them choose where to have their baby.

INHS Names New Executive Director

Kate G. de la Garza, who brings more than 20 years of communitybased affordable housing development and lending experience, has been named the new leader of our regional affordable housing nonprofit.

I

thaca, N.Y. — The INHS Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Kate G. de la Garza as Executive Director, effective January 2, 2024. Their appointment follows the resignation of previous Executive Director Johanna Anderson and appointment of Patricia Paolangeli as Acting Executive Director.

A seasoned community development professional, with over 20 years of community-based affordable housing development and finance experience, Kate most recently served as Vice President & Senior Relationship Manager at KeyBank, working across the upstate New York region in its Community Contin u ed on Page 14

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Business Briefs

B usiness T imes

Ithaca Property Transfers

December 13 – 19, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

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COUNCIL APPROVES FRAMEWORK FOR PLAN contin u ed from page 4

of the encampment to the Continuum of Care, Outreach Workers, and the City Manager. The third step involves posting a “notice to vacate within 24 hours” at the encampment site, including information about “shelter and housing resources.” The fourth step — outlining measures for removing property at the encampment — is where the Ithaca Police Department could come into play if requested. The fifth step then calls for remediation of the campsite.

The plan calls for a different approach to lightly managed City-owned land, laying out a four-step site visit process involving working with outreach workers to coordinate relocation opportunities and offering voluntary relocation assistance LETTERS TO THE EDITOR contin u ed from page 7

Support Birds and Bees Protection Act The Birds & Bees Protection Act (A7640/S1856-A) is on Governor Hochul’s desk and it is urgent that she sign it. Neonicotinoid pesticides are tremendously toxic to birds and a significant cause of the mortality that has reduced our native bird populations by 30% since 1970.

The amount of chemical on a single seed is enough to kill a songbird and neonicotinoids have directly caused mass bird kills.

ONE WORLD MARKET contin u ed from page 7

Amazon. The pandemic, among its other impacts, only accelerated online shopping.

The Ithaca store’s experience was not happening in isolation. Throughout the country, and even abroad, Fair Trade retail stores are facing tough times, with many closings, often after two or more decades of operation.

In 2017, seven stores closed their doors: Little Rock, Bethesda, Rockville, Cleveland Heights, Greenville and two in Boston. The Cleveland Heights store manager said “her store was devastated by several factors, including the rise of online competitors like Amazon.com.”

Then in January 2020, there was the announcement that after 74 years, Ten Thousand Villages Canada would abruptly close all of its 14 corporate stores. The Mennonite Central Committee, which operated the stores, said after

several times before removing the property from the encampment. All of the steps in this process are to be carried out by the City Homeless Outreach Coordinator.

Before the framework for the plan was approved, Alderperson Jorge DeFendini proposed two amendments. The first called for recognizing that “forced relocation of campsites is a disruptive and traumatic event that results in worse health and housing outcomes for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.” The second called for the inclusion of language certifying that relocation to the “green zone” encampment would be voluntary.

Several members of the Council said that DeFendini’s Second Amendment was unnecessary because the plan does not call for involuntary relocation of unhoused persons from campsites, and including the amendment would make

things more complicated moving forward.

Alderperson Cynthia Brock said, “I think it is alarmist the way it’s written,” she added, “to even imply that there might be a compulsory relocation just sets the stage for confusion.”

However, DeFendini contended that the plan does call for removing personal property from the encampment after a certain period of time, which would effectively result in an involuntary relocation. Regardless, DeFendini withdrew his second amendment from consideration.

DeFendini’s first amendment saw the Common Council come to a rare 5-5 tie vote, with Mayor Lewis representing the tie-breaking vote that would ultimately result in the approval of the amendment.

Following the acceptance of DeFendini’s amendment, the Council approved the framework for the plan in a 10-0 vote.

But neonicotinoids impact much more than birds. On May 5, 2023, EPA released an assessment finding that use of three neonic chemicals likely jeopardizes the continued existence of 200+ species—or ~11% of the entire endangered species list.

Neonicotinoids can’t be washed off fruits and vegetables. They make nectar, pollen and fruit deadly for pollinators and other wildlife. Over 90% of the pesticide applied to crops is not absorbed. It remains in the soil, persisting for years, washed into streams, contaminating drinking water, devastating fish stocks and impacting human health.

Babies are especially vulnerable, even

before birth. And these chemicals have huge, negative economic impacts on agriculture, lowering yields of crops like apples and cherries, which depend on pollinators. The Birds and Bees Protection Act would ban neonic uses that research from Cornell University shows provide no economic benefits to users.

Neonicotinoids are replaceable with safer, effective alternatives—specifically in coatings on corn, soybean, and wheat seeds and for lawn and garden uses (with an exception for invasive species treatments). This would eliminate 80%-90% of the neonics entering New York’s environment yearly.” — Christine Sheppard

an "unsuccessful multi-year sustainability process, it "was forced to announce the closure. For the last 10 to 12 years, this has been a very, very challenging business.” A spokesman stated, “There's simply not enough people coming into our bricks-and-mortar stores."

The Canadian closings happened before Covid and don’t even reflect the destructive impact of the pandemic. It was an extinction event for many retailers. One World Market survived, thanks in part to federal loans turned into grants and with a moratorium on rent for several months granted by its landlord.

But elsewhere, 2022 saw announcements of more Fair Trade store closings.

And in 2023, closings continued – a Kansas City store closed after 40 years in business; Fort Collins after 23 years; New Haven after 25 years; plus Steinbach Canada, Peoria Heights, even Oxford, England Another factor has been the constant

change and disruption in downtown Ithaca with ongoing construction for many years. First, a major reconstruction of the entire pedestrian mall where One World Market resides. Whole areas were fenced off near the store. Since then, there have been a series of construction projects for new buildings around the store, continuing to the present.

The good news is that One World Market intends to continue its mission, and to even expand it within the wider Tompkins community. It will partner with churches, other nonprofit organizations, businesses, universities and students.

The Fair Trade mission is important, something the downtown retail store promoted and worked at until it was unable to continue. That mission will not stop.

In fact, those involved believe that this transition will serve as a renaissance of this mission in our community. Its board members are eager to see it continue, and so too should Ithaca.

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LARGER, STRONGER, CO-ED contin u ed from page 10

reasons. One, it’s always nice to see high school athletes receive the support they deserve for all the hard work they put in, and two, Danny Parker will be going for his 100th career win. That is a significant milestone, Coach Parker estimated, “I think Danny will be about the twelfth Ithaca High wrestler to reach 100 wins, but he doesn’t really think about things like that.”

We then turned our conversation to the all-time records, and Parker said, “Brandon Lehman had an incredible career, going 223-11-1.” He added, “Richie Burke also went over 200 wins, but he got hurt late in his senior season.”

The reason Parker is approaching the halfway point in that win total count has a lot to do with the fact that he missed about half a high school wrestling career. Coach Parker said, “Danny missed two seasons because he played basketball. He was told as a sophomore that he could do both, but we learned that there is a STAC (Southern Tier Athletic Conference) rule that said athletes could only compete in one STAC sport per season. When that choice had to be made, Danny chose wrestling.”

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Development Lending & Investment Division. They were previously a senior project manager at US Bank Impact Finance and an affordable housing developer and development consultant in Washington state.

Kate holds a Master of Urban Planning & Public Administration degree with a concentration in Real Estate Development from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Smith College.

“I am honored to be chosen as INHS’s next leader and thrilled to join such a longstanding and impactful organization whose mission and values align with mine,” they say about their new endeavor.

The Board would like to extend its sincere thanks to Acting Executive Director Patricia Paolangeli. With over 26 years of service to INHS, Patricia’s expertise and knowledge proved critical in ensuring a smooth transition of leadership.

Patricia says, “It’s been an honor to lead the organization over the past few months as we’ve searched for a permanent Executive Director. I feel confident that Kate’s experience and knowledge will continue Contin u ed on Page 16

Ridley Scott’s Historical Epic is Also a Tortured Love Story

E

By Cath y L ee Cr a n e

ven if Napoleon’s campaign for the glory of France (as he declares) was really his campaign for Josephine, what of what one writes in letters sold out from under him by the valet tending her deathbed should be trusted to the future reader of history?

It is possible that the only way to understand the trajectory of a Corsican gunner becoming Emperor of France is to give him lust.

This film’s lust is a sloppy one even though Ridley Scott proves himself master of the battle language taken as far back as Abel Gance’s version. One could argue that the principle of screen direction first this way than that is the basic pattern of warfare.

Probably until the Soviets like Pudovkin would upend this back and forth logic into the cataclysmic paroxysms of upside down horses in Mother. Now the war under the hubris of a man with no manners increasingly rotund, will fall as all armies will, first in the valleys of a Russian winter, then in a Waterloo, or soggy denouement. This is Scott’s history lesson but we need more than that in this moment as the consolidation of national identity everywhere, girds loins with their campaigns to restore and preserve.

Joaquin Phoenix indulges the great wealth of Hollywood to make a spectacle of himself, worthy, in the end, perhaps intentional. Terror as justice is not a metaphor, it’s a provocation especially while screaming to preserve the constitution. His is a portrayal of simpering magnitude, every gesture an afterthought.

When the primary motivation is that of destiny, he too will be swept along by a force he himself cannot control. Everything revolves around the cannonball that first fells the horse he’s riding, followed by the logic of the guillotine.

These establish the rules of war with or without fog. The brutality finds its paean in the extraordinary sequence of Austerlitz where the enemy is captured on a frozen body of water torn to drowning by the impact of hurling munitions the blue ice and red blood paint-

Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon pursues Josephine and presides over grisly terror in Napoleon.

ing the true glory of France. His Napoleon is a sulking scuffle. Rather than the reputation for the frontal attack for which his military strategizing was known, that is not how he takes the woman who cannot give him an heir.

Vanessa Kirby as Josephine remains bemused both during such pounding and when in the staging of declaratives that will initiate then dissolve their marriage for the Republic’s sake.

She remains bemused with something of the writing on the wall, all this clamor about empire and destiny.

Folly is in fact the film’s style, from women in their melodramatic raising of arms, to the waiting out of the torrential rain on the battlefield. Everything is played in this film as if it could have all been a joke, ripe for mockery like the casual wave of a hand, followed by covering one’s ears to the piercing destructive power of war. But the hidden offering is whether things might have turned out differently if she had been in charge.

Either way, when the homosocial fodder of army men take over the screen, we have only the ongoing expenditure of energy in the service of calls to allegiance. Clearly fidelity and fraternity are the governing principles of this form of nobility. Joaquin’s Napoleon is a buffoon but the peasants in

the towns and those who people the army love the brute (a potential cautionary tale in the present day where history could repeat itself one ocean West away from France).

“You think you are great because of it,” Josephine declares.

Like a whimpering, shallow approach to power somewhere between Caligula and Lanthimos’ The Favourite, destiny did bring Bonaparte that lamb chop. Dying in the freezing water in the roulette of rounds, though beautiful, becomes decreasingly laughable. Pigeons will shit on the throne you steal, perhaps the image (other than the bloody waters of Austerlitz) that cautions best against hubristic ego. The oppressed will burn their own city and leave you with the shithole you would have made of it, if the hammer is the only tool you use relentlessly in the service of performing your pouting tantrum.

Napoleon a film by Ridley Scott starring Joaquin Phoenix Rated R currently at Regal Cinema Ithaca Mall

Arts&Entertainment

Napoleon: Falling for Fraternité

December 13 – 19, 2023 / The Ithaca Times

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Dining

Sunrise to Sunset Open at Sunrise, Sunset Grill Caters to IC and Beyond

By He nr y Stark

have always thought the view from Sunset Grill was its strongest attribute.

Located on Danby Road, just north of Ithaca College, the north windows, and the outdoor deck, which is open seasonally, provide a wonderful view of Cayuga Lake and route 13 snaking its way into Lansing.

The restaurant, itself, has served breakfast as long as I can remember, however I have never had one there, partly because I live too far away. Breakfast in a restaurant is special for me, rather than routine.

Another reason I don’t eat breakfast at Sunset Grill is because I eschew their major categories of pancakes, French toast, and waffles, all of which are too sweet for me.

“All pancakes come with powdered sugar” with the option of adding, for a small charge, other items such as strawberry sauce, and chocolate chips. Their French Toast also comes with strawberry sauce plus “whipped cream”, and the “Classic” waffle also comes topped with powdered sugar. As you might expect, they serve a variety of egg dishes including “omelettes” with a variety of sides available.

For lunch, I generally like Reuben sandwiches. Reubens traditionally feature copi-

ous portions of piled high corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on rye bread with Russian or Thousand Island dressing.

The Reuben at Sunset Grill was pleasant enough however I would have welcomed, more corned beef which, of course, is the most important and expensive ingredient.

Incidentally, I found the menu listing a bit curious as it listed “corned beef or turkey”.

If the featured meat is turkey, that’s usually called a Rachel which also uses coleslaw instead of sauerkraut.

At one lunch I ordered Quiche. This too, was a bit different from what I’m used to. Instead of the ingredients being assimilated, they were layered, with egg, veggies (spinach, tomato, and onion), and cheese, in separate layers. I wasn’t wild about each separate layer and found the egg part on the crumbly side. It was a large portion and included some fruit including mandarin oranges, pineapple, cantaloupe, and honey dew melon along with some potato chunks.

Burgers are important here as an entire section of the menu is devoted to them.

Choosing among nine offerings, I selected the Texas Burger which was listed as being topped with an onion ring, chili, and a choice of cheese. I ordered mine medium rare with cheddar and was happy to find

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APPROVED BY COUNCIL

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to lead the organization to further success, and I look forward to working with them.”

The Executive Director search was led by Ann L Silverman Consulting and a search committee comprised of staff members, board representatives, and community leaders.

“The board and search committee were unanimously impressed with Kate’s skillset and experience and were equally impressed with their leadership perspective and communication style. We are confident in their ability to work closely and collaboratively with INHS staff and stakeholders, as well as the clients we serve in the region. We are excited to enter this next stage of INHS growth with Kate as our Executive Director,” says INHS Board of Director President Jeremy Thomas.

are being crafted,” but it’s a “positive step that comes with County funds.”

Lavine has said that IPD and County mental health professionals have coordinated with each other in a variety of forms several times in the past but that the relationship was never officially formalized.

Tompkins County Whole Health Commissioner Frank Kruppa stated, “We’re looking to take a compassionate, traumainformed, whole health approach to individuals in crisis. This program will increase law enforcement officers’ access to mental health expertise in real-time and increase the number of direct resources offered to someone in crisis.” Kruppa added, “Thank you to the Sheriff ’s office for their partnership on this, and I am excited to see how well this program serves the public.”

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Popular with Ithaca College students and featuring a spectacular view, the Sunset Grill features a big burger menu. (Photo: Kenneth Waterhouse)

a tomato slice, some pickle chips, and a bit of lettuce. The bun was toasted and crunchy and I thoroughly enjoyed this burger.

During another visit I ordered the Cheese Quesadilla. It came with four slices, a small portion of salsa and sour cream and was pleasant enough without being remarkable.

I found it unusual on one visit that, although they listed nine different bottled beers on the menu, when I ordered a Heineken, the server told me that they didn’t have any beer except Miller Light.

The other eight were all sold out except later she did return to tell me “I found a Yuengling” which I gratefully ordered.

On subsequent visits there were no problems. The wine menu is adequate and reasonably priced, ($6.49-$7.49/glass and $23-$30/bottle), prices that should appeal to all patrons, no matter their age.

Kruppa continued saying that he looks forward to learning from the CARE team’s experience in the field and hearing feedback from the public. “Our focus is on reducing stigma, providing equitable care that meets people where they are, and prevention of crises in our community,” Kruppa said.

Monalita Smiley, Project Director of the Community Justice Center, stated, “Throughout the Reimagining Public Safety process, we’ve heard loud and clear that there is a great opportunity to have trained mental health professionals respond in a crisis, in this case alongside law enforcement. This program will use de-escalation and help to deliver social support and resources that can help people become healthier and safer.” Smiley added, “Our evaluation of the program will look at how well we meet the goals set out under Reimagining Public Safety and how well we are meeting the community's needs by responding in a new and different way.”

Of the dozen wines only two come from New York State, however I did find the varieties and countries of origin impressive. Vintages were not included but I don’t suppose that matters to many of their customers.

Sunset Grill 823 Danby Rd, Ithaca sunsetgrillofithaca.com Sun.-Tues.: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Weds.-Sat.: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Tid Bit: There’s parking outside the restaurant.

I usually list prices of every item I mention, however during the times I visited, they were in the process of changing menus and prices.

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forward to searching for and identifying a new leader for TCAT while we continue to recover from the pandemic and move our public transit system forward.”

Incoming TCAT Board Chair and County Legislator Deborah Dawson thanked Vanderpool for providing “ample notice” of his decision. Dawson added that she appreciated that he would remain in his position through the end of February.

Dawson says this will help ensure stability for TCAT riders and employees and provide a smooth transition while the board searches for a new general manager.

According to the statement, TCAT’s local underwriters, Cornell University, Tompkins County, and the City of Ithaca, have “offered full assistance during the recruitment and transition process.”