OFFICER WELLNESS PROGRAM LAUNCHED PAGE 3
NOSTALGIA SINGS A SUSPICIOUS TUNE PAGE 7 WHAT ’ S COOKINGAT CIAO? PAGE 12 PAGES 8-9
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DAYCARE COMING TO DOWNTOWN ITHACA PAGE 4
DEVELOPERS SEEK TO BUY WELLS COLLEGE PAGE 5
Community Justice Center, Ithaca Police Partner with Cayuga Health to Launch Officer Wellness Programs
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca Police Department (IPD) is launching a new officer wellness program in collaboration with the Community Justice Center (CJC) and Cayuga Health System, offering nutritional programming and counseling to officers as part of a broader effort to improve well-being and reduce stress in law enforcement.
The initiative, announced Wednesday, will provide IPD officers with access to personalized resources from registered dietitians at Cayuga Health. The program is designed to support officers in meal planning, diet counseling, and stress management—areas that officers themselves identified as priorities during recent shift briefings.
The partnership stems from the city’s Reimagining Public Safety initiative, which aims to improve policing while addressing officer health and workplace conditions. Officials from the CJC, IPD, and Cayuga Health will roll out the program over the coming months, with a focus on making wellness resources widely available to officers.
A workshop held during recent shift briefings allowed officers to help shape the program’s focus areas, leading to the prioritization of nutrition and stress management. Cayuga Health’s wellness team
will now work to implement programming that improves energy levels and encourages healthier long-term habits.
“We’re very glad to be able to partner on this unique initiative supporting our law enforcement officers,” said Crystal Winters, office coordinator at Cayuga Center for Healthy Living. “This is a great opportunity to partner and support our participants in achieving their wellness goals. Through conversations with officers, we’ve learned how working in law enforcement can be a stressful job and that programs like this one can help lighten the load and help people feel supported in their critical work for our community.”
WEB
IPD Chief Thomas Kelly emphasized the importance of officer well-being, stating that a healthier police force ultimately benefits the Ithaca community.
“I know this is something our officers are excited about taking advantage of,” Kelly said. “We have an internal group that works on wellness initiatives, and when this opportunity came up with the CJC we were glad to take advantage of it and work to get the program off the ground. We know we best serve the community when
T ake n ote
X Fast-charging electrical vehicle charging stations coming to Ithaca Tompkins International Airport
Chair of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee Lee Shurtleff (R-Groton) introduced a resolution that paves the way for a partnership with Greenspot
X April declared Fair Housing Month in Tompkins County
Chair of the Legislature Dan Klein presented a proclamation confirming Tompkins County’s commitment to fair and equal housing opportunities for all residents and prospective residents. The proclamation was received by Kira
X Other Business
Finance Director Lorrie Scarrott reported that sales tax receipts for February 2025 have increased by 7.6% compared to February 2024.
Legislator Shawna Black (D-Ithaca) introduced a resolution calling on the
we have the resources we need to be successful. A healthy police department can help make a healthier community. Thank you to the team at Cayuga Health for bringing good actionable ideas to the table and supporting our team.”
The Community Justice Center, which serves as a joint initiative of the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County, played a key role in developing the program. According to Monalita Smiley, project director of
Continued on Page 7
to install two fast-charging electrical vehicle charging stations at the airport. Legislator Shurtleff stated, “There is only one other fast-charging station in the county. The contract allows for 5% of the revenue that is generated to support airport operations.” The resolution was unanimously approved.
Fritzky-Randolph (President, Ithaca Board of Realtors), Jala Bayo (Chair, Ithaca Board of Realtor’s Fair Housing, Sustainability, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee), and Paul Rossi (Government Affairs Field Representative, NYS Association of Realtors).
New York State for an independent audit of NYS Electric & Gas (NYSEG) billing practices due to numerous complaints about inaccurate billing reported by residents and businesses. Legislator Black noted, “I think it’s scary for families and individuals. There are no checks and balances.”
F r EE lan CE rs : Barbara Adams, G. M Burns, Jane Dieckmann, Charley Githler, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Henry Stark, and Arthur Whitman
THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2025, BY NEWSKI INC.
All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy must be received by Friday at noon. The Ithaca Times is available free of charge from various locations around Ithaca. Additional copies may be purchased from the Ithaca Times offices for $1. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $139 one year. Include check or money order and mail to the Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, NY 14851. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are Monday 5 p.m. for display, Tuesday at noon for classified. Advertisers should check their ad on publication. The Ithaca Times will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. The Ithaca Times is published weekly Wednesday mornings. Offices are located at 109 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-7000, FAX 607277-1012,
and
Ithaca Police Chief Thomas Kelly commended the launch of the program, believing that a healthy police department can help make a healthier community. (Photo: F ile)
IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A
By Mark Syvertson
QUESTION
OF
THE WEEK:
“AT THE VET SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE, I ASKED ‘ WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PET? ’ ”
Affordable Housing, Daycare Coming to Downtown Ithaca
By Matt Dougherty
ITHACA — The Ithaca Common Council has approved the transfer of city-owned property at 205 West State Street to the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA), paving the way for a new affordable housing and daycare project.
The site, currently occupied by a vacant former doctor’s office and an adjacent parking lot, is slated for redevelopment by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS). The project will feature a 56-unit residential building designated entirely for seniors aged 62 and older, with affordable housing units situated above a groundfloor daycare facility.
The project is expected to be similar in scale to previous INHS developments like Breckenridge Place and 210 Hancock. According to INHS Project Director Victoria Neenan, the apartments will primarily serve individuals and families earning up to 60% of the area median income (AMI), translating to a household income limit of approximately $46,000 for a single person and $53,000 for a two-person household.
“We serve folks who have very little choice in the high-rent marketplace,” De La Garza said.
“This location is ideal for seniors who want to live downtown, where they don’t need a car and have access to amenities.”
INHS Executive Director Kate De La Garza said the project is designed to meet two major community needs: affordable senior housing and accessible childcare.
— Victoria Neenan, INHS Project Director
“One of the most frequently asked things people ask us to do is senior housing because there’s such a lack of it,” De La Garza said. “A lot of older folks live alone in big houses downtown, and they may want to move, but there’s nowhere to go— especially for those on a fixed income. It’s really hard to get senior housing funded, so we came up with the idea to hit two birds with one stone by including both senior housing and childcare.”
In response to questions regarding demand for senior housing in the area after Library Place, which was built as a market rate senior housing project, decreased its age requirement because they couldn't fill enough units, De La Garza said, “Library Place was at the top of the market, trying to attract the wealthiest of seniors who want to rent. We’re working with seniors who are on fixed incomes, receiving Social Security, or working part-time.”
According to INHS data, demand for one-bedroom affordable units remains high. The organization’s waitlist currently has 292 households for one-bedroom apartments, with roughly half of those applicants over the age of 50.
The project is estimated to cost around $26 million, with approximately $25 mil-
lion allocated for the residential portion. INHS plans to apply for financial assistance through the state’s competitive Housing and Community Renewal (HCR) funding process in the fall. If the project is funded on the first application attempt, construction could begin as early as August 2026.
INHS will own the daycare space and lease it to an independent childcare provider. The organization is in discussions with two potential operators, but federal funding uncertainties have made it difficult for providers to commit at this stage.
The building will consist entirely of one-bedroom apartments, aligning with the demonstrated demand for smaller, more affordable units in the area.
“We wanted to create a project that is both financially feasible and deeply beneficial to the community,” Neenan said. “This location is ideal for seniors who want to live downtown, where they don’t need a car and have access to amenities.”
As the project moves forward, INHS plans to seek a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for local real estate tax relief, which is a standard component of affordable housing development financing. While the development will provide much-needed senior housing and childcare services, INHS confirmed that there will be no units specifically designated for homeless individuals.
The approval of this project represents a significant step toward expanding affordable housing options in downtown Ithaca, particularly for seniors with limited income, while simultaneously addressing the city’s ongoing need for childcare facilities.
“Growing up, we had rabbits, horses, and turtles but it felt like my first pet was a Great Dane named Mystic.”
George
“I had two painted turtles.”
Anya
“I guess the first pet I had was probably a silkworm.”
Yuxuan
“I had a Shih Tzu. Pretty standard pet.”
Lily
“We didn’t really have pets growing up but I’m a falconer and my first bird was a Red-tailed Hawk.”
Nathaniel
Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Executive Director Kate De La Garza said the West State Street development will meet major community needs, including increased affordable senior housing and accessible childcare. (Photo: F ile)
The current vacant former doctor’s office at 205 West State Street is slated for redevelopment into a mixed-use development by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
Developers Submit $10.8M Offer to Acquire and Revitalize Former Wells College Campus
By Matt Dougherty
AURORA, N.Y. — A joint venture between Grande Venues, the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge, and Summit World Schools has submitted a formal $10.8 million offer to purchase the former Wells College campus with plans to transform it into a multifaceted educational and residential hub.
Outlined in a resubmitted Letter of Intent dated March 25, 2025, the proposal would convert the 127-acre property— home to approximately 25 historic buildings in the village of Aurora—into a dualpurpose institution. The plan includes the establishment of a premier International Baccalaureate boarding school, an Indigenous college, and an independent senior living community.
The purchasing entity, GWS, LLC, a New York limited liability company currently in formation, is offering a total of $10,795,000 for the campus—an amount the developers note equals roughly $85,000 per acre. The offer includes an immediate $5 million cash payment upon closing, with the remaining $5.795 million due exactly one year later, interest-free.
Grande Venues CEO Paul Warshauer, who signed the letter on behalf of GWS, is joined in the venture by Les Lo Baugh Jr., president of the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge, and Darin Carney, CEO of Summit World Schools.
“Our proposal preserves the legacy of
Wells College while creating an inclusive, innovative campus that fosters global education, cultural preservation, and intergenerational engagement,”
Warshauer said.
Wells College, founded in 1868 as a women’s college, closed in the spring of 2024 due to financial difficulties, leaving the future of its picturesque lakeside campus uncertain. The newly proposed development seeks to honor that legacy while reimagining the property for modern needs.
Grande Venues CEO Paul Warshauer has signed onto a joint-venture proposal which suggests establishing a premier International Baccalaureate boarding school, an Indigenous college and an independent senior
to campus. (Photo: Provided)
UPS DOWNS&
Ups
New York Attorney General
Letitia James is suing the Trump Administration to block them from eliminating the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which has allocated more than $6 million to Ithaca-area museums and libraries.
Downs
Following Trump’s announcement of 10% across the board tariffs plus additional higher tariffs on countries that have trade deficits in goods with the United States the Stock Market responded with sharp declines. The S&P 500 lost $5 Trillion in market value in two days and is still in decline. JPMorgan says the likelihood that a recession happens this year has increased to 60%.
HEARD SEEN&
Summit World Schools plans to open an International Baccalaureate (IB) boarding school for grades 9 through 14. The school would offer the IB Diploma Programme and a pathway to an associate degree, with an emphasis on outdoor leadership, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Initial enrollment is projected at 50 to 100 students in the first year, growing to more than 200 by year three.
The Hiawatha Institute intends to establish an Indigenous college and cultural center on campus. While independent from any specific tribal affiliation, the institution will honor all Indigenous cultures and host public programs, cultural festivals, and educational opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
Plans for an independent senior living community would integrate seniors into
the educational campus, offering housing and wellness programs while fostering intergenerational mentorship opportunities between residents and students.
On the same day the offer was submitted, the Preservation League of New York State announced that Wells College has been added to its 2025–2026 Seven to Save list—an advocacy program that highlights New York’s most endangered historic sites.
“Wells College is a cornerstone of Aurora, N.Y., and its closure puts not just its buildings and landscape at risk, but also the sense of place it has helped foster in the wider community,” said Caitlin Meives, director of preservation at the League. “A sensitive adaptive reuse of this storied college campus would positively impact the local community while providing an example for other similar campuses across the state and beyond.”
The campus, part of the Aurora Village Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, features several historically significant 19th-century buildings as well as three mid-century modern structures designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Preservationists are urging the college to continue heating buildings and conducting regular monitoring through the winter to protect their integrity. Beyond the architectural loss, advocates emphasize the closure’s impact on the local economy and community identity.
“Our hope is that by recognizing the campus as one of this year’s Seven to Save, the Preservation League can help PACNY bring together stakeholders to find a path
Heard
The Tompkins County Legislature set the date for a special election to fill the seat of Susan Currie (District 3 –City of Ithaca), who has resigned her position effective March 31, 2025. The special election will be held on June 24, coinciding with the primary elections.
Seen
The Code Blue Shelter will close on April 15. Department of Social Services staff will work with clients who have utilized the shelter this season to find alternate sheltering resources. If the temperature dips below 32 degrees after April 15, individuals will still be able to access shelter under Code Blue parameters.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Should the City of Ithaca conduct a vacancy study so it can authorize rent control?
46.9% Yes.
44.9% No. 8.2% I don’t care.
N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N : Does Ithaca need more affordable senior housing downtown? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
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.” Continued on Page 7
While the future of the Wells College campus remains uncertain, a proposal has come forward which would transform the campus into a dual-purpose institution. (Photo: F ile)
living community at Wells College, bringing changes and a new purpose
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RE: Support GIAC
“I think The Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) should get more support and have more people support them. GIAC is a great place to make friends and build relationships with one another. I have been at GIAC I when I was a little 4 year old. Now GIAC is like a family to me. I built very strong relationships and have gotten to really know the people there very well.
I also think that it’s important because if they want to keep on doing after school and summer programs there are going to need more kids to come/sign up. For example, last summer the Pre Teens (a group of kids who are in middle school) did not have a group because not enough kids signed up. To get more people to come they could make some posters and hang them around town. Or they could make an ad. The Pree Teens might not have a group this summer because there may not be that many kids who sign up.
In conclusion, I think that Greater Ithaca Activities Center should have more supporters and have more kids come to the program.”
— Aaliyah Jackson, Ithaca, NY
RE: Trump Tariffs Raise Your Taxes
“Do not be misled: Trump just raised your taxes. It’s ugly. The Trump Tariff Tax is probably the largest in US history. And we will all pay in higher cost groceries, cars, homes, plumbing parts, kids toys, healthcare. You name it.
It’s really just the world’s wealthiest nation whining about how much he says we are hurting, while making us poorer!! Since inauguration day:
*The Stock market crashed. How much have you lost in your retirement account?
*Consumer confidence is way down. Are you hesitating about new purchases? Most Americans are, no matter whether they are Republican or Democrat or independent.
*With 2/3 of the US economy based on consumer spending, the future reads recession. It’s about bullying countries into begging Trump for relief and pledging loyalty, and money. It’s a whining giant telling every friendly country to grovel. It’s a “Hurt your friends; Help your enemies” tariff policy. No tariffs on Russia.
It’s a stupid and dangerous policy. We all lose. Trade wars never work. A country attacked in a war with guns or in a trade war, attacks back. You don’t need a West Point degree to know that. And just read history: 1930: Smoot Hawley imposed big tariffs too, recession followed. Repeating history is dumb.
In summary, there is nothing good about the new TTT. We all suffer. Forget MAGA. It’s MAWA: Make America Weaker Again. You and I suffer; not the billionaires: they buy up things cheap.” — Sherwood Guernsey
RE: Trump Threatens to Defund Ithaca Libraries & Museums
“People understand that a lot of money gets wasted but sometimes it’s difficult to grasp how money is wasted in particular. Here we see one example. Over $100,000 is spent for accessibility to a museum. Meanwhile the museum is about to close due to lack of visitors. Museums struggle financially even when located where there are lots of residents and tourists. In this case, the museum is located where it is certain to lose gobs of money.” — Steven Baginski
An original comic created and provided to the Ithaca Times by a local Ithaca resident about becoming homeless and his experience at the code blue shelter.
April is About Poetry
By Frank Kelly
The woman standing in front of my High School sophomore English class was barely five feet tall. She wore a tailored dress, wire-rimmed eyeglasses and her hair in a permanent.. Agnes Holleran did not abide any foolishness from her students. That included the new kid — a tall, long-haired boy slouching in the front row, newly transferred from the high school across the river, where he’d managed to earn a final grade of 35 in freshman English the previous year. That new kid was me. I’d flunked out of that other school. And if it hadn’t been for Mrs. Holleran, and my math teacher, Mildred Donk, I may have flunked out of that one too.
Instead, I went on to attend college and, later, graduate school. But the biggest gift Mrs. Holleran gave me was a love of poetry. That meant I didn’t need to be force fed poetry in college, or turn up my nose at it as an adult. So, celebrating National Poetry month every April comes naturally. That’s not true for everyone. A lot of people think they don’t like poetry. To me, that’s like saying you don’t like food, when what you really mean is you don’t like vegetables. Like vegetables, poetry is a food group. And, like vegetables, poetry is nutritious. No kidding. The human brain is hardwired for poetry. A diet that includes regular consumption is beneficial in a variety of ways. It strengthens memory, improves cognitive flexibility and stimulates imagination. OK. So do vegetables. But how do I get my grandkids to eat them?
I favor exposing them to variety and quality. Poetry, like food, is a matter of taste.
There may be no hope of getting someone to like Brussel sprouts, but broccoli may be a possibility — especially if it’s fresh and creatively prepared. Gramma has been known to sneak a veggie or two into meals where the star ingredient was something our grandkids really like. The same approach might work with people for whom poetry is an acquired taste. It’s the approach my brother, David, used with me on Science Fiction. An avid reader, David would consume dozens of Sci-Fi titles, then pass the best on to me. It worked. Some folks are consuming a form of poetry they don’t recognize as such. Song lyrics (when you can hear them) are a good example. Even here, of course, variety, style and quality are key. Swifties may not be Billie Eilish fans. There are contemporary poetry slams — an evolving oral tradition not unlike some ancient ones. Poetry can be found in greeting cards, children’s books and advertising. Those willing to sample a bit of poetry in its more traditional form, will still find a rich and varied buffet. The old classics are still available. And, if they sound unappealing, much of the poetry being written today is quite different. In fact, some traditions, like rhyming, are not as popular as there once were.
So, April is National Poetry Month Why not try some?
Poetry
Words on a page that catch my eye
A story told through metaphor
Strong images that amplify Sensations I’ve not felt before
The above is an example of a quatrain
SURROUNDED BY REALITY
My Playlist
By Charley Githler
At any given moment, there is an 80% chance that the song going through my head is from a television commercial. That’s been true my whole life. Even more appalling, the odds are decent that the commercial in question last aired decades ago.
I inherited the affliction from my father. He could have done upper-level scholarly work, or maybe won a trivia contest (a very fine line divides the two) on the subject of Radio Jingles of the 1940s.
A tribute to the advertisers of yore, some of those commercials have astounding staying power. One from the late 1960s, for Armour Hot Dogs, has lyrics so breathtakingly un-woke that it may be restored to currency in today’s political climate. I swear these are the actual lyrics:
Hot dogs. Armour Hot Dogs. What kind of kids eat Armour Hot Dogs? Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks, tough kids, sissy kids, even kids with chicken pox love hot dogs. Armour Hot Dogs. The dogs kids love to bite!
I imagine Don Draper pitching this song to the titans of molded meat trimmings in the conference room at Stirling Cooper. Maybe bringing it home with jazz hands at the end.
Another shanty that cycles through my brain at least weekly is the number composed maybe by Stephen Sondheim (NOT) to introduce Apple Jacks.
New Kellogg’s Apple Jacks. Apple good for breakfast or snacks. Cinnamon toasty, apple tasty. A bowl a day keeps the bullies away.
DEVELOPERS
continued from page 3
the CJC, the wellness initiative is a direct response to conversations with officers about their needs.
“When law enforcement is taken care of, they can better take care of us,” Smiley said. “Our officers work hard to keep us safe, putting this and other wellness programming into place can help them manage stress and create healthier habits that can positively impact the whole community.”
Smiley noted that when the Reimagining Public Safety plan was first introduced, officer wellness was broadly outlined as a goal but lacked specific programming such as nutrition services. It was only through discussions with officers that nutrition emerged as a highly valued initiative.
“This is a perfect example of the value of the CJC,” Smiley said. “We took real data from conversations with law enforcement and developed a program to meet their needs with the goal of better supporting the community. That’s a win. I look forward to seeing this program grow and be successful.”
SUBMIT OFFER
continued from page 5
forward through consensus,” said PACNY President Andrew Roblee. “This spirit of working together is captured by the Wells motto, Habere et Dispertire, ‘to have and to share.’”
The League’s announcement comes as part of a broader preservation effort involving PACNY, Historic Ithaca, and the Landmark Society of Western New York, which recently added Wells to its 2025 Five to Revive list. Outreach is already underway to the community, the college’s
It’s not all vintage material. These last few days all other music has been held at bay by the 2025 commercial for the diabetes medication Jardiance:
I have type-two diabetes, but I manage it well. It’s a little pill with a big story to tell. I take once daily Jardiance at each day’s start. As time went on it was easy to see. I’m lowering my A1C.
It’s presented in show-tune style, with dancers in a grocery store, which is only mildly disconcerting. A voice-over goes on to warn that one side effect may be a life-threatening bacterial infection around the anus and genitals. You know I’m not making that up. I’m super grateful they didn’t include that in the song. It was my genius 16-year-old son Charley who suggested it might be more than coincidence that a population induced by song to grow up on a diet of hot dogs and Apple Jacks is now the prime target for singing diabetes medication advertisements.
It didn’t take much digging to find that executives from the processed meat, pharmaceutical, and breakfast cereal industries have been vacationing together every year for decades at a secret location on the Russian River in northern California. I thought that the news these days had desensitized me to pretty much anything, but a chill ran down my spine.
We have to prioritize in this political moment, and we don’t need one more conspiracy to unravel. Besides, who would we go to? RFK, Jr.? Just hum the songs and don’t ask questions.
administration, and state government officials to secure the property’s future.
If the acquisition is finalized, the redevelopment will unfold in three phases, beginning with the launch of the boarding school in fall 2025, followed by the rollout of the Indigenous college and, later, the senior living community.
The developers and preservationists share a common goal: to ensure that the Wells College campus remains a vibrant and vital part of the Aurora community.
“This redevelopment ensures that Wells College continues to be a place of learning, cultural exchange, and community pride for generations to come,” Lo Baugh said.
Key Races Set to Reshape Tompkins County Legislature in 2026
By Matt Dougherty and Maddy Vogel
With less than half of the current legislators seeking re-election, this year’s Tompkins County Legislature race will bring a slew of new faces to the decision-making table. New district lines and open seats will reshape the legislature’s political landscape.
Since the early months of 2025, a vast number of legislators have announced they aren't seeking re-election. In a joint letter on January 8, five Democratic members of the Legislature — including Amanda Champion, Susan Currie, Deborah Dawson, Dan Klein, and Anne Koreman — announced they would all not seek re-election.
Since then, longtime legislator Mike Lane and Rich John have both announced they will step down at the end of the year and will not seek another term.
Those who have decided to seek re-election face new challenges as the lines for their constituencies have been redrawn to expand the legislature from 14 to 16 seats.
(Photo: Provided)
(Photo:
In many districts, candidates are running unopposed. In others, candidates are competing for the chance to represent their communities. Here are the key races:
DISTRICT 3:
In a seat formerly occupied by Susan Currie, who recently resigned to lead the Tompkins County Public Library, two candidates are competing for the chance to represent the City of Ithaca’s Belle Sherman and South Hill neighborhoods.
There will be a special election to fill the seat on June 24, coinciding with the primary elections. The successful candidate will fill the seat for the remainder of this year.
Iris Packman, a local labor lawyer and researcher who is endorsed by Legislator Deborah Dawson, has announced her campaign for Tompkins County’s District 3.
In her announcement, Packman said she was inspired by conversations she had with Belle Sherman and South Hill residents.
“People are in turns outraged and terrified about what’s happening at a national level, and are excited to see a candidate for
(Photo:
local office who is not afraid to speak out for our core Democratic values of fairness, equity, and justice,” Packman said. “My background as an advocate for low-wage workers, children, and refugees reflects my commitment to standing up for our fundamental rights.”
Packman added that she hopes to take her conversations while doorknocking and turn them into action at the County Legislature that will improve people’s daily lives.
Also running in District 3 is Pierre Saint Perez, a current representative of Ithaca’s Third Ward on Common Council and an Ithaca native. He said his decision was sparked by Legislator Susan Currie’s decision not to seek re-election.
“I would never have challenged her for that seat,” Saint-Perez said. “Now that the seat is open, I see this as a continuation of my commitment to our community.”
Saint-Perez, a lawyer, engineer, and policymaker, said his experience on Common Council made it clear that many of the city’s challenges require broader county-level solutions. He cited the need for a
(Photo: Provided)
countywide housing strategy, stronger coordination between local governments, and tax reforms to address double taxation for services like TCAT.
“Housing challenges don’t stop at the city line,” he said. “We need a coordinated plan to tackle this crisis in a way that works for everyone in Tompkins County.”
Saint-Perez also emphasized his commitment to social justice and environmental protection, pledging to work toward policies that safeguard agricultural and natural resources across the county.
“At a time when Ithaca, and our beliefs, values, and rights are under attack, it is all the more vital to have local representation, and for that representation to be strong,” he said. “I will not give in to intimidation or attack.”
He launched his campaign at Lehman Alternative Community School on January 15, where he described himself as a proud Latino, Indian-American, Ithacan, and American, vowing to bring diverse and experienced leadership to the County Legislature.
David Foote is a local activist with a background in political organizing and communications running in District 16, focusing on people-first policies that can directly impact residents, such as improved access to public transit.
Provided)
Local business owner Rachel Ostlund, running in District 16 with a focus on affordable housing, equitable education, healthcare access, living wages and environmental sustainability.
Provided)
Local labor lawyer and researcher Iris Packman is a candidate for District 3 who believes that she can offer a voice that stands up for core Democratic values of fairness, equity, and justice on the Legislature.
Pierre Saint Perez, a current representative of Ithaca’s Third Ward on Common Council and an Ithaca native is running for District 3, seeking broader county-level solutions to the issues that the City of Ithaca faces.
DISTRICT 13:
For over 10 years, Dan Klein has represented the towns of Danby, Caroline and portions of the town of Ithaca. Under the new district lines, most of the geographical boundaries for what was previously District 7 will remain unchanged, but will now be referred to as District 13.
Two candidates, Irene Weiser and Kyle Emily Erickson, have announced their campaigns for District 13.
Weiser is a long-time Caroline resident who served as a town councilmember from 2012 to 2020. She was appointed to Tompkins County’s Energy and Economy Task Force and her founding of the Coalition for Sustainable Economic Development and believes her experience on town board and on county advisory boards will benefit the community.
Wieser, a retired veterinarian, is set to bring a wide background in environmental leadership to the table.
She has been the coordinator of Fossil Free Tompkins for the past 15 years and has served as vice-chair of the Tompkins County Climate and Sustainable Energy Advisory Board for the last three years. She is also a member of Senator Lea Webb’s environmental issues committee.
During her time on the town board, she led a committee that proposed countywide solutions to rural emergency medical services shortages. In another committee, she worked to create a system to improve the town’s communication with residents and expand access to highspeed internet.
Prior to her environmental work, for 10 years, Weiser was the director of a national grassroots action organization that worked to secure funding and policies related to violence against women and children.
Weiser has also become involved in seeking justice for Amanda David, a black farmer in Caroline who filed a lawsuit against her neighbor for alleged racist attacks.
Wieser hopes to join the legislature with a focus on environmental policy and emphasized the local need for climate change mitigation and response plans.
Weiser said she will focus on the needs of rural Tompkins County residents, ensuring access to cellular, broadband and emergency services.
“I promise to serve Tompkins County with energy and commitment, to nurture its growth, and to protect the long term interests of the environment and the people and businesses that call Tompkins Coun-
ty home,” Weiser said. “I look forward to meeting with Danby and Caroline residents to learn what matters to them.”
Local teacher and Caroline resident Kyle Emily Erickson is also running to represent District 13 on the legislature.
As a Tompkins County native, Erickson is running because she believes it is important to have working families represented in county-level government.
In her announcement, she said that her work over the last decade as a Social Studies teacher at Ithaca High School has shown her how complex and varied the lives of Tompkins County residents can be. Outside the classroom, Erickson has served the school community as a Cross Country Coach, Senior Class Advisor and Awards Coordinator.
Erickson said she hopes to address critical issues affecting local families including the cost of living, supporting youth opportunities and ensuring robust services in rural areas. She emphasized the importance of county responses to address how changes on the federal level will affect Tompkins County residents.
and
represent District
with a focus on the issues that impact working families, including the rising cost of living, supporting youth opportunities and ensuring robust services in rural areas. (Photo: Provided) Continued on Page 13
Redistricting has altered some lines in the legislative districts. In the city of Ithaca, new districts closely align with the city wards for common council. (Photo: Tompkins County)
Tompkins County’s redistricting will add two seats to the legislature, expanding the total number of seats from 14 to 16. (Photo: Tompkins County)
Longtime Caroline town council member Irene Weiser is running in District 13 with a vast background in environmental advocacy and policy making.
(Photo: Provided)
Local teacher
Caroline resident Kyle Emily Erickson is running to
13
Still Strong
The Armstrong Family’s Legacy in Ithaca Sports Continues
By Steve Lawrence
Iknew that Kyle Armstrong had been a multi-sport athlete at Ithaca High School (he captained the ’94 state champion Little Red hockey team), and that his dad, Rich, had been a baseball and hockey coach, and that his hockey teams had won two NYS championships, but had not been aware that there was much more to his family’s story in Ithaca sports.
The story starts 65 years ago, when a young coach named Joe Moresco took a
job in the Ithaca City School District. Joe built a legendary football dynasty — the best team in the state for a time — and the football stadium bears his name today.
Joe (who passed at age 86 in 2012) and his wife, Shirley (who is now 95) had several children, and one of them — Nancy — married the aforementioned Rich Armstrong. Kyle is their son, and he married Kristen McKeown, who was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame after a stellar track career. Kristen’s mom, Linda, was a founding member of the Cornell Women’s Ice Hockey
program, and her dad, John, was a Big Red track and football star, and is a Hall of Fame inductee as well.
Kyle — who went to Trinity College — married Kristen, and they are raising their kids in New Jersey, The oldest of the three Armstrong offspring is Hayley, who is now a grad student at Ithaca College, and is wrapping up a very solid four-year career on the women’s lacrosse team. The team is 53-17 in that four-year span, Hayleigh has scored over 60 career points, and the Bombers are coming down the home stretch in another strong season. I asked Kyle if, given the family’s strong ties to this area, they put forth a strong effort to steer Hayley toward I.C., and he said, “No, it was all her.”
Hayley took some time to talk before taking the field on a sloppy Saturday (a game that would see the Bombers beat St. Lawrence 10-7 to move to 4-1 in the Liberty League), and I asked her how she came to choose Ithaca College. She said, “I was considering Trinity, and Williams, and my dad suggested I take a look at Ithaca.
I came for a visit, and I loved it.” She added, “I guess that perhaps subconsciously, I felt comfortable here — given I have been coming here for 21 years. When
is back in Ithaca where her family has a long and illustrious history in Ithaca High School, Cornell University and Ithaca College sports. (Photo: Provided)
I visited, I immediately felt at home.”
Adding to that sense of belonging is the fact that Hayley often encounters people who said, “Hey, I played for your grandpa!,” like Torin Varn, the assistant coach for the
Continued on Page 14
Hayley Armstrong
Marriage of Music and Motion
Ithaca Ballet Dances Tchaikovsky’s Epic Sleeping Beauty
Ithaca Ballet Cindy Reid draws her corps de ballet from her high school students and several college-aged dancers for an impressive performance of Sleeping Beauty at the State Theatre April 12 and 13. (Photo: Provided)
By Peter Rothbart
Before Walt Disney, there was Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Before Disneyland, there was the Russian Tsar’s Imperial Palace in St. Petersburg. Disney had his illustrators, while the Tsar had his Imperial Ballet, led by choreographer Marius Petipa. Both gave us tender versions of Sleeping Beauty. The Ithaca Ballet will bring a little of their own magic to the kingdom of the State Theatre on April 12th and 13th, when they present Tchaikovsky’s ballet masterpiece Sleeping Beauty.
Artistic Director Cindy Reid has spent an epic amount of time combining Marius Petipa’s original choreography with her own, while staging 40 singers and actors, and judiciously editing the original three-hour ballet down to a manageable one hour and fifty-minute production. Reid is in good company. The entire ballet is rarely performed without edits. With one exception, Reid has left the Prologues and Act I intact and made a few judicious cuts in Act II. Since Act III is a wedding celebration, she cut the festivities down a bit, while retaining the famous Bluebird pas de deux. Ballet is a marriage of music and motion, and some say geometry and architecture. Reid is acutely aware of this. But without her own good fairy, budget considerations prevent her from employing a live orchestra, an unfortunate reality for both the audience and Ithaca’s fine treasure trove of classical musicians. Most of the music is from a National Philharmonic Orchestra recording conducted by Richard Bonyge. The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty first appeared in the year 1330 and has undergone
countless revisions in both folklore and the classical arts. Most modern adaptations are derived from the 1697 version by French author Charles Perrault. Its archetypal story, the triumph of good over evil, has been around a lot longer.
In the ballet, Carabosse (Maleficent in Disney’s land) has not been invited to Aurora’s christening. Insulted, she casts a spell on Aurora that will cause her to die on her 16th birthday. Aurora does reach her Sweet 16, but as the spell begins to take effect, the Lilac Fairy is able to moderate it, putting Aurora and her friends into a deep sleep. It takes 100 years for Sleeping Beauty and her community of loyal friends to wake from Carabosse’s evil spell. She is roused by a kiss from Prince Florimund, with whom she finds true love and marries him. The fairy tale’s moral? Good trumping evil can take time, something to meditate on given the current worldly events.
Completed in 1889, Sleeping Beauty is the second of Tchaikovsky’s three ballets, bracketed by Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. It opened to great success in Tsarist St. Petersburg. Marius Petipa was perhaps the most influential choreographer in the late 1800s and is still revered as an icon in the dance world. He worked closely with Tchaikovsky, giving him a detailed list of his musical needs. No visual record exists of his original choreography for Sleeping Beauty, but his movements and combinations have been passed down as an oral tradition.
Each of the main protagonists, the Lilac Fairy as an emblem of good and Carabosse as the epitome of evil, are musically identified by their own leitmotif–a recognizable musical idea that represents a person, place, thing, or emotional state–that spans the Prologue and Acts I and II. The joyous Act III is a wedding celebration,
so the leitmotifs disappear as the orchestra musically characterizes each of the attending guests.
Principal Ballerina Maria Valencia Alvarez dances as Princess Aurora and guest artist Nick Hagelin steps in as Prince Florimund. The good-hearted Lilac Fairy is danced by alumnus-in-residence Madegan Lynch. Sage Korfine make an Act II appearance as the Bluebird and Elden VanCamp, as Puss in Boots, appears in Act III. Ithaca Ballet veteran Rebecca Lerch dances the role of the evil Carabosse, while Jacob Taylor dances the lead suitor role in the famous Act Rose Adagio.
Reid draws her corps de ballet from her high school students and several college-aged dancers. According to Reid, she selects them, as do most other choreographers,“…for their strength, maturity, expression and experience.”
Sleeping Beauty, the allegory-disguisedas-a-fairy tale, has entertained audiences for hundreds of years through storytelling, ballets, and movies. It underscores humanity’s enduring optimism. It also serves as a testimony to the enduring importance of the arts.
Peter Rothbart is a Professor Emeritus of Music at the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he taught electroacoustic and media music for 40 years. He remains active as a classical, jazz and pop musician.
Ithaca Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
State Theatre
107 W State St, Ithaca
April 12, 2025, at 7:00 PM April 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM
Tickets: stateofithaca.org
Arts & Entertainment
Italian Restaurant Still Crazy Popular After All These Years
By Henry Stark
There had been instability in the restaurant world at 2 Hickory Hollow Lane in Lansing for years as both Billy Bob Jack’s BBQ and Watercress opened and closed after a short time at that site.
So I was skeptical when a new enterprise, Ciao, opened at the same venue in November 2010 with basically the same footprint. However, this time, the owner
TID BITS:
Ciao serves dinner seven days a week however don’t be surprised if they resume lunch service in the not-to-distant future.
If you phone, after 3 p.m. the day you want to eat dinner, they’ll put you on their Priority List and your wait time should be shorter.
The music they play wouldn’t normally be my choice and it’s usually a bit loud for me.
had extensive experience in the local restaurant business having successfully owned and operated Joe’s downtown and in Collegetown and The Boatyard Grill.
And this time it worked! Ciao is thriving and is one of the most popular restaurants in the greater Ithaca area.
Recently, I realized that, even though I had dinner there multiple times since the pandemic, I hadn’t written a review about it since January 2022. Consequently, I decided to return, as a Times reviewer, and check out whatever
changes might have been made in the ensuing three years.
2 Hickory Hollow Ln, Ithaca Mon.–Sun. 4-9 p.m. (607) 257-2233 ciaoithaca.com
Here’s what I learned: The wood fired pizza oven is hotter. Then, it was heated to 600 degrees. Now, it’s set at 650 because they’ve changed the flour to obtain a crispier crust. Incidentally, the black spots on the bottom of their pizzas are the result of unexpected flare ups when the hickory and cherry wood from nearby Newfield is added. Their long-term pizza cook moves the pies around as much as he can but has an aversion to sprinkling
the cooking stone with corn meal crumbs to keep the pizzas off the stone as other cooks I’ve talked with do.
Speaking of pizzas: Palermo and Cordon Bleu, were dropped from the menu in March and replaced with two new offerings, Amalfi and Dirty Lorenzo. The former is a white pizza with asiago, red onion, prosciutto, baby arugula, and parmesan curls. Dirty Lorenzo features meatballs, banana peppers, salami, and mozzarella.
Continued on Page 15
| RCDempsey.com Haylor, Freyer & Coon 607-257-1003 | Haylor.com
Italian restaurant Ciao has tweaked its menu but it remains one of Ithaca’s most popular Italian dinner restaurants. Coming soon, maybe lunch? (Photo: Mark Syvertson)
IC Brings Dramas Downtown
Ithaca College Brings Performances of Alumni Plays Downtown
By Ross Haarstad
Ithaca College’s Center for Theatre and Dance continues its expansion of its programming onto off-campus spaces with a two week residence at Kitchen Theatre, featuring two plays by IC alumni.
Weekend one featured Dani Stoller’s Blunted Daggers. In this rethink of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet survives her suicide attempt in a present-day Verona. The
Ithaca College Written Works Alumni
Blunted Daggers
by Dani Stoller
Directed by Priscilla Hummel
was performed April 3-5 at the Kitchan Theatre
The Pass
by Aaron Janieson Robers
Directed by Dean Robinson will be performed
April 9-11 at 8 p.m.
April 12 at 2 p.m.
“My open-minded and collaborative approach will be helpful as the County determines how best to respond to the federal-level decisions that are being made and that will likely have significant impacts on our local community,” Erickson said. “My experience with relationship-building will be important to maintaining community connection and advocating for the needs and interests of the people who live here.”
Bringing experience in collaborative
Capulets senior (Jonathan and Sandra) are engaged in blaming one another. As the parents strategize damage control to the family’s rep, they retreat to Rehoboth Beach, wounded daughter in tow.
Does Stoller want to rescue and illuminate the women of the play? Not only Nurse, but Romeo’s first offstage crush, Rosaline appears (all Mean Girls and social media strut with the obligatory follower, shy Elizabeth.)
Or is it to play meta-theatrical tricks? Paris and Romeo are also resurrected, as ghosts. Paris, slick playboy, notices and converses with the audience (as do Nurse and Elizabeth, but no other characters.) Romeo is all emo inarticulateness, despite regurgitating passages of the play.
Or…? In drops the play’s most compelling character, Brian, a neurodivergent, awkward, working class young teen/tween with a preoccupation with octopuses. Who meets cute with Juliet on the beach collecting shells. An orphan, he lives with his uncle, Tom.
Cleverness abounds and there are snatches of strong writing amid fairly glib characterizations. Yet Stoller just keeps throwing ideas and situations out, while her structure essentially alternates monologues and two-person scenes… interminably. At best the play is a scattershot, lengthy draft of a much shorter work.
The actors with the more strongly imag-
and creative problem solving, Erickson said she believes that responsive local governance is key to community resilience.
“With a cooperative approach, we can build a more livable and resilient Tompkins in the present and for the future,” Erickson said.
DISTRICT 16:
Encompassing the Village of Trumansburg. Town of Ulysses and positions of Enfield, two candidates are competing for the seat that is currently represented by Legislator Anne Koreman. The area is currently District 5, but under the redrawn lines will be District 16 — though the geographical
ined characters came off the best, particularly Kai-Sincere Owen as a charming Brian, friendly, kind, with a sort of easy flow through his life.
Sylvia Grosvold as the long suffering but quick-witted and ever-maternal Nurse (“I have a name… Evelyn”), Nicholas Ismailoff as the determined not-to-be-overlooked Paris, and Riley Marie Fortin as the overlooked, but optimistic Elizabeth also shone.
Ignacio Torres Borges has some delicious moments as a fairly naive if passionate Romeo, especially his alarm at finding Juliet fully awake after he’s swallowed the poison.
Jason Kanaby adroitly handled the best written scene as an older man (Tom) confronted with an infatuated 13 year-old Juliet. As Juliet, Natalie Lewand navigates a young girl’s complex self-exploration (of self-loathing, grief, sexual fantasies.)
Nyla Alyse Robotham nailed the needy overbearing narcissism of Rosaline but it gave her little room to show any other colors.
Lauren Duncanson and Clark Schultz as the
area it encompasses will remain largely the same.
David Foote, a local activist with a background in political organizing and communications, has announced his candidacy for District 16.
Foote’s background in local politics dates back several years. After over a decade of experience attending rallies and marches, Foote began regularly attending meetings of the Ithaca chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in 2017.
He became an officer and organizer for DSA, where he worked to increase community participation in politics, and advocated for universal healthcare, racial justice,
Capulets were also unfortunately confined by their shallowly sketched characters.
Another six actors framed the play as atmospheric “voices”.
Dramaturgical and director notes center the play around the notion of tweens caught up in social media (yet only Rosaline engages in it). Hummel’s note makes the production’s central metaphor “a roundabout.” “The characters… are stuck in a loop,” she writes.
Thus Devon Worthy’s rather drab scenic and lighting design employed a central circular platform. Yet as the play progresses its centrality gets overwhelmed out by furniture pieces.
Sam Barso provided generally apt costumes, with the oddity of putting Nurse in overalls (hardly the uniform an indoor servant of a wealthy family.)
affordable housing, protections for immigrants and refugees, and local labor support.
Foote is also a member of other local political groups and organizations, including the Ulysses Democratic Committee, the Tompkins County Democratic Committee, the Tompkins County Working Families Party and the Tompkins County Workers Center. He is also on the board of the Center for Transformative Action.
“We should be studying examples of people-first policies that are already improving lives in other places, and adapting them for Tompkins County,” Foote said.
The productions’ most pleasing moments were primarily non-verbal beach moments with the voices providing gulls and surf, or shooting fireworks. Continued
An alternative present-day Shakespeare universe creates the premise for Blunted Daggers, one of two Ithaca College alumni plays at the Kitchen Theatre. The other, The Pass is a political thriller performing this weekend. (Photo: Provided)
continued from page 13
“Whether that’s increasing access to public transit, comfortable and beautiful public housing, or publicly-owned renewable energy — there are options that are reliable and stable and could make life a lot easier for our friends and neighbors.”
Professionally, Foote has experience in nonprofit communications connected to education, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ health care, healthy food, recreation and more.
Foote said historic levels of distrust in public institutions motivated him to run, adding that he sees a need for local politicians to take steps that make a difference in people’s lives. He added that he plans to regularly work with town and village boards, committees and employees in order to share information, provide mutual support, and build structures that increase par-
STILL STRONG
men’s team. Such interactions, Armstrong offered, “Made me feel an instant sense of connection.”
Hayley is pleased that the Bombers
ticipation and government transparency.
“Anytime we have more people involved, we’re going to have better results,” Foote said. “When I talk about building bridges, it’s not just about physical infrastructure but connecting local residents with opportunities and resources available. We’re fortunate to live in an area that has a lot of people that are interested in sharing what they know. We can work together and get solutions in place that are based on meeting needs, not making a profit.”
Entrepreneur and longtime Tompkins County resident Rachel Ostlund has also announced her campaign for the District 16 seat in the Tompkins County Legislature.
Ostlund, a small business owner, community organizer, and parent, is running on a platform focused on affordable housing, equitable education, healthcare access, living wages and environmental sustainability. She emphasized the need for local action in response to national political instability
are ranked in the Top 20, but she knows there is work to do. “We need to take care of business in the conference first,” the attacker said, “and the Liberty League tournament will be held in the last week of April.” (The NCAA tournament will be held in May.)
While this is Armstrong’s final year
and funding uncertainties that could impact county programs and services.
“I’m running for legislature because I care deeply about the present and future of this community,” Ostlund said. “I am committed to raising my family here, and it matters to me that Tompkins County is a welcoming, inclusive, livable, affordable, safe and vibrant place for every person.”
Ostlund has spent most of her life in Tompkins County. A graduate of Ithaca High School and Cornell University, she has worked in various capacities across the country, including AmeriCorps service, environmental education, organic farming, and entrepreneurship. She has founded multiple businesses, including Iron Owl Kitchen at the Ithaca Farmers Market, the Sweet Bough Wedding Collective, and Kinship & Company.
Beyond her professional experience, Ostlund has volunteered with No Más Lágrimas, managing weekly food distributions
of eligibility, she will be here for another year to complete her Master’s in Mental Performance (in the School of Exercise and Sport Science). Beyond that, she says, “I have no idea. I have been working as a substitute teacher, (both of her parents are in education), so maybe I’ll do some
and coordinating procurement from the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. She has also served on the Jacksonville Community Association board and currently participates in a community organizing coalition with the United Way of Tompkins County.
Ostlund said that if elected, she would bring her experience as a small business owner, parent and advocate to the legislature, working to address the challenges facing residents of Tompkins County.
She said she is committed to ensuring access to affordable housing, childcare and healthcare, and wants to protect the rights of vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants and people of color. She also said she wants to strengthen support for local businesses and expand access to clean air, water and food security.
Petitioning for ballot access began on February 25, with petitions due on April 3. Primaries will be held on June 24, followed by the general election on November 4.
of that for the ICSD. Back home, my sister — who is a freshman in high school — plays club lacrosse, and I have done some coaching with them.” While some of her future path is yet to be determined, Hayley is certain of one thing: “I do know,” she said, “that I want to give back.”
Of the ten pizzas offered, ($17-$21), Margherita, topped with crushed tomato and mozzarella is still the most popular with Roma, featuring pepperoni, sausage and mushrooms next.
I ordered a new appetizer: Meatball Bake ($13) and was surprised at how much it seemed like a small entrée. Three large meatballs were distributed around a large bowl with melted mozzarella and provolone cheese and a pomodoro sauce. Another appetizer I like is Arancini: fried risotto fritters are stuffed with mozzarella, pesto and pomodoro sauce. Part of its appeal, for me, is the texture. When I cut into a fritter, the gooey sauce combination is released.
Three new pastas were introduced since my last review, all in a cream sauce: Shrimp Savona has jumbo shrimp, bacon, tomatoes, and linguini topped with fried spinach and toasted pine nuts; Salmon Carbonara has penne, bacon, peas, and garlic; and Steak & Gorgonzola features fettuccini, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. Pastas range between $17 and $21.
With Ciao’s pastas I’ve noticed that sometimes the cream sauces have been a bit thinner than usual. Personally I believe they could use some more time in the
kitchen being reduced before serving.
Another new feature is the addition of half-size portions. With these, you’ll get about half the size of the regular portion for roughly 30% of the price. On a recent visit, when I ordered the Meatball Bake appetizer, I ordered a half-size portion of Chicken Parmesan. ($27/$14). That turned out to be a good choice as the chicken was huge and some went home with me. Incidentally, Chicken Parm is the most popular item at Ciao and outsells everything else by at least two to one.
Another Ciao Originals I like is Tuscan Steak & Shrimp. The sirloin pieces are tender and juicy, and the two and a half jumbo shrimp I recently received were accompanied by soft white beans in their gravy. It too, like five of the seven Ciao Originals is available in half-size portions.
BEVERAGES: Ciao sells about 60% wine, and 20% each of beer and specialty (mixed cocktails) drinks. The wine menu is as good as I can find in our area. There’s a complete selection of both reds and whites ($7-$17 glass: $28-$49 bottle.) I like that they offer two size glasses, 7 oz and 9 oz. With the new half-size entrée portions and choice of wine sizes, we can tailor our portion sizes better than ever. I review many wine menus and Ciao’s mark ups are as fair as I have found.
