F R E E / F e b r u a r y 7, 2 0 2 4 / V o l u m e X L I I I , N u m b er 7 5 / O u r 5 2 n d Y e a r
Online @ ITH ACA .COM
Almost Halfway There
Ithaca’s Green New Deal
Approaches Benchmark Year
PAGES 8-9
INHS BRINGING
ITHACA YOUTH
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUREAU APPOINTS
TO T-BURG
NEW DIRECTOR
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
CORNELL STUDENT NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
ASSEMBLY REJECTS
OF UKRAINE
DIVESTMENT
COMING TO ITHACA
RESOLUTION
PAGE 5
PAGE 13
ON STAGE
IN SYRACUSE
PAGE 15
2 The Ithaca Times / February 7 – 13, 2024
Newsline
VOL. XLIII / NO. 75 / February 7, 2024
Serving 47,125 readers week ly
ON THE COVER:
Village Grove Development Increasing
Affordable Housing in Trumansburg
T
By M at t D ough e rt y
he Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) has received
approval to commence construction at its latest community development,
Village Grove, situated on 19 acres of land
at 46 South Street in the Village of Trumansburg. This $27 million project aims
to create a transformative, energy-efficient
model community catering to various
income levels.
The development includes six affordable rental townhomes, a two-story building with 40 affordable rental apartments,
and a standalone commercial building for
the Trumansburg Community Nursery
School. Notably, Village Grove received
significant financial backing, including
nearly $1 million from the New York
State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA).
Acting Executive Director of INHS
Patricia Paolangeli emphasized the
community-centric vision behind Village
Grove, stating, “INHS strives to develop
housing that is part of a larger community
vision. Village Grove will provide access
to critical human services and contribute
to New York’s carbon-neutral future while
addressing community needs identified in
multiple local and state plans.”
This project is designed to be INHS’s
Ithaca residents protesting in support of the
Ithaca Green New Deal in downtown Ithaca.
NEWSLINE ������������������������������������3-5
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ������������ 6
GUEST OPINION ����������������������������� 7
greenest initiative to date. The
development will be all-electric,
Passive House certified, and utilize
ground-source and air-source heat
pumps and off-site community
solar. This eco-friendly approach
The Village Grove Development located in Trumansburg
is expected to be completed by December 2024.
aligns with NYSERDA’s commitment to supporting projects incorFunding for Village Grove comes from
porating renewable energy and promoting
various sources, including Federal and
energy efficiency.
Village Grove is not merely about hous- State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
ing but also community impact. Including equity, below-market-rate loans, and
grants from entities like Key Community
the Trumansburg Community Nursery
Development Corporation, New York
School in a collaborative, communityState Homes and Community Renewal,
based childcare approach is a testament
NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance
to this. The new facility will enable more
parents to pursue employment and educa- Program, Key Bank NA, and the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC).
tional opportunities.
The Village Grove development team,
Village of Trumansburg Mayor Rordan
consisting of HOLT Architects, Claudia
Hart expressed appreciation for INHS’s
commitment to investing in the communi- Brenner Design, TG Miller Engineers &
Surveyors, Trowbridge Wolf Michaels
ty, stating, “Housing demand remains sky
Landscape Architecture, and Purcell Conhigh in Tompkins County, and efforts to
struction, reflects a collaborative effort to
meet that demand in ways tailored to suit
ensure the project's success.
the community is worth celebrating.”
Construction of the Village Grove
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen
project is expected to be completed by
M. Harris commended the project's incorDecember 2024, marking a significant
poration of renewable solar energy, heat
pump technology, and other energy-efficient milestone in providing modern, healthy,
and affordable living spaces for the resifeatures. Harris stated, “Projects like this are
dents of Ithaca.
part of growing a climate-friendly housing
stock that is helping support the State’s goals
to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.”
Contin u ed on Page 12
T a k e
N o t e
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.
Free information sessions and exploratory
workshops prepare students for the intensive
three-week course and a career in healthcare.
State-approved workshops that provide
essential continuing education credits are also
available for Licensed Master Social Workers
(LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW),
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
(LMFT), and Licensed Mental Health Counselors
(LMHC). The courses provide three to six
contact hours for professionals in these fields.
S everal workshops are available for
SPORTS ������������������������������������������� 12
ARTS
& ENTERTAINMENT �������������������� 13
CINEMA ����������������������������������������� 12
THEATRE ��������������������������������������� 13
CLASSIFIED ������������������������������ 16-17
TIMES TABLE ��������������������������� 18-19
ON T HE WE B
Visit our website at www.ithaca.com for more news,
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X Tompkins Cortland Community College Biz Releases
Spring Schedule of Professional Development Workshops
Thinking of a new career, or looking to
enhance your current skills for a promotion
at wo r k ? Th e S p r i n g 2 0 2 4 s c h e d u l e o f
professional development workshops at
Tompk ins Cor tland Community College
BIZ is full of ways to help you reach your
professional goals. The workshops cover a
range of topics including healthcare careers,
state licensing, computer skills, management
and leadership, and communications.
In addition to the full array of microcredentials offered as credit-bearing courses,
the spring schedule includes a return of the
PERSONAL HEALTH ��������������������� 10
supervisors, highlighted by the 5-Part Frontline
Development Series that begins April 5 at
the College’s Extension Center on the Ithaca
Commons. Ideal for new supervisors, those
looking to transition to a supervisory role, or
seasoned leaders in need of a refresher, the
series imparts the skills and confidence needed
to support and guide a team.
Printed copies of the Spring 2024 schedule
are available on campus or by contactingbiz@
tompkinscortland.edu or 607.844.6586. Visit
www.tompkinscortland.edu/biz for more
details and online registration.
All rights reserved. Events are listed free of charge in TimesTable. All copy
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Times was preceded by the Ithaca New Times (1972–1978) and The
Good Times Gazette (1973–1978), combined in 1978. Founder Good Times
Gazette: Tom Newton
February 7 – 13, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
3
INQUIRING Ithaca Youth Bureau Appoints Gregg Houck as New Director
PHOTOGRAPHER
T
N e w s l i n e
By Ke nne th Wate rhou se
HAVE YOU STUCK TO
YOUR NEW YEAR’S
RESOLUTION, THUS FAR?
“Never stick to it unfortunately.”
– Judee S. B.
“I have for over 30 years. It was to never make
a resolution.”
– Richard S.
“Yes. I began my journey to heal my back.”
– Ryan W.
“My resolution was to get healthier,
and I continue to do so.”
– Nikki W.
“No I have not (quietly laughs).”
– Tegan W.
By M at t D ough e rt y
he City of Ithaca has recently
announced the appointment of
Gregg Houck as the new Director
of the Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB). Houck
previously served as the Senior Director of
Community Impact at the United Way of
Tompkins County.
The statement announcing Houck’s
appointment said he brings “a wealth of
experience and a proven track record
of leadership in recreation, community
impact, and youth development.”
In his most recent role at the United
Way, where he served for the past two
years, Houck demonstrated a deep commitment to making a positive difference in
the community. His extensive background
includes senior leadership positions within
the YMCA movement in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Ithaca, showcasing a consistent
dedication to youth development and
community engagement. Additionally,
Houck is a graduate of the SUNY Cortland
Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies
Department.
In expressing his enthusiasm for the
new role, Houck said, “I am honored to
be entrusted with this opportunity and
look forward to working alongside the
IYB staff as, together, we continue to build
and grow opportunities for area youth
and their families.” Houck added that he is
dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for the youth and families within
the Ithaca community.
Houck officially assumed his position
in January and is eager to engage with the
IYB community. His proactive approach to collaboration
and community involvement
is evident in his words: “I
eagerly await the chance to
listen and learn from staff,
local youth, volunteers, local
leaders, community members,
collaborators, potential collaborators, supporters, and any
other interested stakeholders
as we develop a shared vision
for future success.”
The City of Ithaca welcomes Houck to the helm
Gregg Houck has recently been appointed as
the new Director of the Ithaca Youth Bureau. (Photo: Provided)
of the Ithaca Youth Bureau
with confidence in his ability
words but also in his actions. As a member
to lead the department to new heights. His
of the Board of Education for the Candor
commitment to serving all area youth aligns
Central School District and through his
perfectly with the values of the IYB, emphaprevious roles, he has actively contributed
sizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
to creating educational environments that
Houck's extensive experience makes
embrace and celebrate differences.
him a valuable asset to the Ithaca comThe IYB community has already begun
munity, and the city anticipates positive
to feel the positive impact of Houck's
outcomes under his leadership.
leadership. Staff members, local leaders,
Houck elaborated on his vision for the
and collaborators have expressed optiIthaca Youth Bureau and his aspirations
mism about the future under his guidfor the community, saying, “My focus is
ance. One staff member noted, “Gregg
on creating an inclusive and empowering
brings a fresh perspective and a genuine
environment for our youth, where they
can thrive and develop their full potential.” passion for youth development. We’re
excited about the innovative ideas he
He added, “I believe in the transformative
power of community engagement and col- brings to the table.” With a track record of
laboration. By listening to the needs of our commitment to inclusivity and passion for
making a difference, Houck stands ready
youth and working together with various
stakeholders, we can shape a vibrant future to lead the Ithaca Youth Bureau toward
new heights, building a foundation for the
for Ithaca.”
success and well-being of the area’s youth
Houck’s dedication to diversity, equity,
and families.
and inclusion is evident not only in his
Taste of the Finger Lakes’ Launches Grant
Funding Process to Combat Food Insecurity
I
By M at t D ough e rt y
n its third year, “Taste of the Finger
Lakes,” a community-driven initiative
based in Ithaca, NY, is inviting local
nonprofits to apply for grants to address
the growing concern of food insecurity.
The volunteer committee behind the event
has opened a request for proposals, offering funding of up to $10,000 to organizations dedicated to increasing food security
in the region.
4 The Ithaca Times / February 7 – 13, 2024
The decision to initiate this open grant
application process stems from the rise in
reported food insecurity across the Finger
Lakes region. The demand for funding has
surged, accompanied by the emergence of
new organizations working towards this
cause. This inclusive approach aims to provide support to both established and newly
formed nonprofits. Applicants have the flexibility to seek funding for ongoing expenditures or specific projects slated for 2024.
The funding awards will hinge on the
success of the Taste of the Finger Lakes
annual food and beverage showcase event.
Scheduled for Tuesday evening, June 11th,
2024, at the Ithaca Farmers’ Market, the
event serves not only as a fundraiser but
also as a platform to celebrate the vibrant
Finger Lakes food and beverage industry.
Since its inception in 2022, Taste of
the Finger Lakes has made a significant
impact, donating a total of $75,000 to organizations addressing food security in the
region. Past beneficiaries include noteworthy entities such as Healthy Food For All,
The Youth Farm Project, The Food Bank
of the Southern Tier, and the Friendship
Donations Network.
Contin u ed on Page 7
UPS&DOWNS
N e w s l i n e
Cornell Student Assembly Votes Against Resolution to Divest from
Weapons Manufacturers
O
By M at t D ough e rt y
n February first, more than 200
students packed into Willard
Straight Hall on the Cornell
University campus, where the Student Assembly debated Resolution 51, a controversial resolution that called on Cornell
University’s Board of Trustees to divest
from weapons manufacturers that have
been identified as being complicit in Israel’s military actions against Palestinians.
These actions have been described as a
“plausible” genocide by the United Nations
International Court of Justice. Following
a two-hour debate, the Student Assembly
ultimately voted 14-4 against the resolution, which was proposed by the Coalition
for Mutual Liberation (CML).
However, earlier in the meeting, the
Assembly passed Resolution 50 as a
“compromise” to establish an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
Committee to conduct further research
on Cornell’s investments and make divestment recommendations to the Board
of Trustees. Supporters of Resolution 50
argued that it provided a pathway for
divestment from military contractors and
other objectionable companies in a way
that did not single out or alienate Israel
or Israeli students. They saw it as a more
moderate and inclusive approach with a
better chance of being approved by the
Board of Trustees.
According to one member of the Student Assembly, “If you’re going to try [to
get Cornell to divest from weapons manufacturing], why not do it without singling
out the country of Israel?” Supporters
of Resolution 50 explained that other
countries engaged in acts that could be
considered genocidal should be included
as well. Another member of the Assembly
said, “The only material difference [between resolution 50 and 51] at the end of
the day…is that 51 mentioned Israel and
inflames tensions on campus.”
However, supporters of Resolution 51
argued that the ESG committee proposal
was not a true compromise and that they
had no input in developing it. They wanted
the assembly to vote on their resolution,
explicitly calling for divestment from
companies involved in acts of apartheid,
genocide, and violence against children
Ups
committed by the Israeli military against
Palestinians.
Despite one member of the Student
Assembly claiming
to have met with
organizers from the
Coalition for Mutual
Liberation (CML) to
discuss the compromise resolution, CML
organizers said that
no such discussion
took place. “I don’t
think that [assembly
The Cornell Student Assembly voted to create an ESG Committee
to conduct more rsearch on divestment, but declined to approve a resolution
member] would be
to divest from weapons manufacturers because it singled out Israel.
able to point to a
(Photo: Matt Dougherty)
single person on this
side of the room and
One student who spoke in opposition
say that they consulted them in makto Resolution 51 on the grounds that it
ing the ESG resolution,” said one CML
represented BDS said, “BDS is illegal in
organizer.
New York State, so even if the administraIn response to criticisms from the
tion wanted to adopt this resolution, they
Assembly questioning why Resolution
51 singled out the State of Israel, another legally cannot.” The student continued,
CML organizer said, “We point out Isra- saying, “Various reports, including one
from the UN, have shown a correlation
el specifically because they are the ones
between the adoption of BDS on a colactively engaged in war…we say Israel
because it has revealed the contradiction lege campus and increased anti-semitism
towards Jewish students on campus. This
so clearly in our university guidelines…
cannot be tolerated.”
but if you what it divest from other
In response to claims that Resolution
countries as well, we’re not opposed to
51 was a BDS resolution, a CML orgathat at all.”
nizer said, “We keep hearing that this is
Another member of the Assembly
a BDS resolution, but this is explicitly
agreed with the necessity of passing Resolution 51, saying, “The International Court not a BDS resolution. We are calling for
divesting from overwhelmingly American
of Justice has said Israel may be committing genocide. Our guidelines say to divest companies that are profiting from Israel’s
onslaught.” They added, “To not vote for
from genocide, so the only rational action
this resolution is anti-Palestinian because
is to vote in favor of resolution 51.”
you will continue to permit an environA common theme among speakers in
ment that allows for the mass killing of
opposition to Resolution 51 was to claim
Palestinian people.”
that it represented a Boycott, Divestment,
A Jewish student who spoke in support
and Sanctions (BDS) effort against Israel.
Similar efforts to leverage economic power of Resolution 51 said, “I condemn antisenitism in every form. I also condemn
were used to pressure South Africa to
cynical claims of anti-semitism used to
end its system of Apartheid in the 1990s
silence legitimate criticism of a State’s
(According to CML, Cornell University
actions.” The student continued saying,
never formally divested from Apartheid
“Until Cornell divests completely from
South Africa). However, the State of Israel
weapons manufacturing companies, my
has labeled BDS efforts calling for an end
Jewish values will never be supported by
to Israel’s system of Apartheid — which
this university.”
has been documented by Human Rights
Watch, Amnesty International, & B’Tselem
— as anti-Semitic.
Contin u ed on Page 7
Ithaca Loves Murals will be holding their
first annual fundraiser on the third floor
of CSMA on 330 E. MLK St. from 7 p.m.
to 11 p.m. on February 10. Organizers
suggest donations of $5-100 to support
and uplift the artists who create all of
Ithaca’s wonderful murals.
Downs
Nine children were taken to the
hospital and diagnosed with chlorine
poisoning following a birthday pool
party at the Holiday Inn Express on
Elmira Road in Ithaca that took place on
December 16, 2023. An investigation
into the incident is ongoing.
HEARD&SEEN
Heard
Sealed Bids for the 2024 Sidewalk
Improvement District Work project
located in the City of Ithaca, New York
will be received by the office of the
City Controller at 108 East Green Street,
Ithaca, NY until February 14, 2024, at
2:00 p.m. in the City Controller Office.
The bids will then be publicly opened
and read aloud in City Hall Second
Floor Conference Room.
Seen
Cook Street between Eddy St. and Blair
St. will be temporarily closed during
Storm Pipe Installation from February 5,
2024, through March 22, 2024, between
the hours of 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sidewalks will not be affected by this
construction. Emergency vehicles
and local residents will have access to
driveways though-out the duration
of the project. Some parking will be
accessible.
IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own
praise or blame, write news@ithacatimes.
com, with a subject head “U&D.”
QUESTION
OF THE WEEK
Should Governor Hochul shut down
the Seneca Meadows Landf ill?
75.0 % Yes.
22.7% No.
2.3% I don’t care.
N ext Week ’s Q uestion :
Do you support the
Common Council
removing the Pledge of
Allegiance from their
meeting agenda??
Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.
February 7 – 13, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
5
The Talk at
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Biden’s Own Logic Says US
Responsible for War on Gaza
“
Following the recent drone strike on a
US military base in Jordan, killing three
and injuring many more, President
Biden said that he held Iran responsible for
the strike because “it provided the weapons
to the militants involved in the attack.”
The US government has provided
approximately 80% of the weapons Israel
has used in its war on Gaza, killing over
26,000 Palestinian citizens and displacing
1.7 million others, the majority of them
women and children.
Using President Biden’s logic, who
should be held responsible for the horrific
destruction of Gaza and the mass killing
of Palestinian citizens?
The US Congress is presently considering a bill which would send $14 billion in
military assistance to Israel, a $10 billion
increase over its normal annual appropriation to the country.
Our tax dollars are largely responsible for
the financing of the Israeli war on Gaza, and
by Biden’s logic not only are we complicit
but also responsible.” — Garry Thomas
What Happens if Seneca
Meadows Landfill Closes?
“
Dear Senator Lea Webb,
I’m responding to the news that
you are rejecting the current Seneca
Meadows proposal.
Humans produce garbage. You produce garbage. I produce garbage, even
though I’m a conscientious shopper and
recycler. Archaeology shows us that
garbage has been part of human existence
since our very beginnings. The question
is, what to do with it?
Prior to your tenure as senator, a proposal to build a processing plant to use trash
as a fuel to generate power for the grid was
rejected. This was unfortunate, because it
could have solved two problems at once.
Research from other communities shows
that the main issue with trash power plants
is keeping up with the chimney scrubbers.
People assume landfills are inert, but
all of them, including Seneca Meadows,
are emitting toxic gasses into the air and
leaching ground pollution in an uncontrolled way, which is actually worse
than incineration. Whether trash slowly
degrades in a landfill or is burned, the
effect on the environment is the same, in
the long-run.
The only remaining alternative is for
us to dump our garbage on some remote
community and destroy their environment, in true n.i.m.b.y. fashion. Is this
what you are proposing? If not, please
share your ideas or a plan on what can be
done with our trash.
In appreciation for your service.” —
Eva Marques
RE: Mike Sigler State
Senate Campaign
“
Jobs and young people are fleeing to
other states.” DING DING DING.
Think of all the fossil fuels you will
burn flying to TX to visit your grandchildren.” — Steven Baginski
“
We finally have an advocate for the
people in Leah Webb. Once again, we
have Mike Sigler trying to become a
senator. Peter Principle Extraordinaire.
Here we have a person who was incompetent as a legislator — notice no mention of
slumlord in his bid to become a senator —
who is trying to act like #1 he will know or
care about what he is doing; or #2 will actually do something for the people in this
area. He never did. He won’t. Some things
don’t change. A leopard doesn’t change
its spots. Stick with Webb!” —
Elisabeth Hegarty
“
It’s amazing how this paper pretends
to be balanced. But it’s politics right?
It’s okay? It’s a newspaper right? They
have opinions too right?cherry picking
data to try to disprove statements while
in other articles simply cheerleading the
other side? I don’t partake in the stupidity
of a two party system but it is fun to watch
and not the hypocrisy and flat out bigotry.
On. All. Sides.” — Ray Wheeler
“
For those who aren’t aware: Mike
Sigler (along with Rep. Elise Stefanik
and others) is suing to stop early mail
in voting in NY state. Why would he not
want people to vote? For more information democracydocket.com.” —
Carol LaBorie
Democracy vs. Dictatorship
“
The contrast between the personalities of the two leading candidates for
President is so striking that it seems to
have eclipsed the bigger issue which is the
choice between democracy and dictatorship. As someone who was born during
the second world war, it seems utterly
astonishing that people would actually
choose to elect a fascist leader, and, like
6 The Ithaca Times / February 7 – 13, 2024
Hitler, one that would use Christianity to
try and legitimize their objectives.
Aside from his plan to “weaponize” the
Dept of Justice and direct it to persecute
those who have criticized or pursued him
legally, how he would govern has not been
that clear. But we do have a statement
about what he wants for America in the
form of a document called “Project 2025.”
Formulated by the Heritage foundation and other conservative groups, it
describes leading the U.S. to Autocracy
and giving Trump absolute power over
the executive branch.
Other elements include dismantling
the FBI and the departments of Education
and Homeland Security. A good summary
of Project 2025 can be found on Wikipedia along with some commentary — Donald Ayer (for instance) Deputy attorney
under George H.W. Bush: If Trump were
to be elected and implemented some of
the ideas he is apparently considering, no
one in this country would be safe.” —
Gillian Peterson-Krag
Pessimistic About Our Climate and
Progress Towards Taming it?
“
Pessimistic about our climate and
progress towards taming it? You’re
not alone. However, there are several
reasons to be hopeful. First, the Inflation
Reduction Act, passed in 2022, is a significant investment on the part of our government to fight climate change. Second,
the organization, Environmental Voter
Project, seeks to encourage environmentalists to vote, because, sadly, many do not,
perhaps out of the same skepticism that
real progress can happen. Since 2021, EVP
has helped turn 97,923 low-propensity environmental voters into consistent supervoters in New York alone. Third, there are
a lot of Climate Change organizations to
work with, such as Climate Reality Project,
Sustainable Tompkins, Sunrise Ithaca and
Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Citizens’ Climate
Lobby empowers everyday people to directly lobby Congress on climate policy.
The Black poet and activist Cornelius
Eady, said that “cynicism is a form of obedience”. What he means is that by doing
nothing we are actually supporting the status quo. We become part of the problem.
According to the most recent Yale Climate
Opinion survey, 72% of Americans think
global warming is happening and 74%
want to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.
Imagine if a significant portion of these
Americans rolled up their sleeves and
joined forces with a Climate Change organization? In other words, whatever you do,
don’t become obedient.” — Ronald Liso
SURROUNDED BY REALITY
Dream a Little Dream
cene: We’re in the Ithaca office of psychotherapist SALLY NECESSITER,
PsyD. Sage green walls are decorated
with two Beau Frank seascapes while an
indoor fountain burbles on a small table
in the corner. DR. NECESSITER is sitting
with her laptop on an upholstered chair
facing a matching couch, upon which
is perched her patient FRANCHOT
“FRANK” CORNSTARCH.
DR. NECESSITER: Good morning,
Frank. I’m not supposed to say this, but you
look terrible. In our last session, you were
bothered by nightmares. I’m hoping you were
able to bring your dream journal with you.
CORNSTARCH: They’ve been getting
worse, Doctor. I barely slept at all last
night. I have them all right here. [CORNSTARCH held up a small notebook.]
DR. NECESSITER: All right, then.
Let’s get started.
CORNSTARCH: Well, last night’s
was a doozy. I feel like I’m going crazy.
I dreamt that Elon Musk was starting
to put microchips in people’s brains. I
mean, I know it’s obviously preposterous.
Demented billionaire implanting chips in
people’s brains! It’s like the premise for a
sci-fi movie. Still…there was something so
real about it. I woke up drenched in sweat.
DR. NECESSITER: Frank…I…
CORNSTARCH: I know what you’re
going to say. It’s just a dream and it could
never happen.
DR. NECESSITER: Actually, I was
going to ask what you were doing before
going to bed.
CORNSTARCH: I guess I kind of drifted
off while scrolling through my news feed.
DR. NECESSITER: I thought so.
We’ve talked about this, haven’t we?
Frank, that was real. It’s true. Elon Musk’s
company did in fact implant a chip in a
human test subject’s brain last week.
[NECESSITER flipped her laptop around
to show CORNSTARCH the news story.]
CORNSTARCH: Egad.
DR. NECESSITER: It’s OK, Frank.
Take a deep breath. Let’s stay focused on
your dreams here. Why don’t we discuss
another one.
CORNSTARCH: All right. I’m fine.
Here’s one that got to me. Night before
last I dreamed that robots were writing
our news stories and they all sucked.
[NECESSITER turned her laptop
around again to show CORNSTARCH
the headline “Study Says 50 News Websites Use AI-Generated Content”.]
CORNSTARCH: Sweet mother of….
Maybe that story itself was AI-generated!
I don’t even know what to think any more.
What about this one? I dreamed that
Ithaca’s Arthaus, the $32 million project
providing affordable living space and a
supportive environment for artists, has
been turned into a dangerous, pee-soaked
heckscape of drug use, trash and crime?
Surely, that can’t be true in real life! Doctor Necessiter? Can it?
[NECESSITER slowly closed her laptop
and folded her hands in what she hoped
was a consoling manner.]
DR. NECESSITER: Maybe it’s time we
talked about medication. I find that Knapp
Vineyards Limoncello works for me…
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In conclusion, the Taste of the Finger
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addressing the pressing issue of food insecurity, making a tangible difference in the
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contin u ed from page 4
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funding have until February 29th, 2024,
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“Taste of the Finger Lakes” stands out
Ithaca, the City of Jazz
By Dav e Woh l h u et e r
By C h a r l ey G i t h l e r
S
GUEST OPINION
T
he City of Ithaca was once again
jumping on Sunday, Feb. 4, as the
Seventh Annual Ithaca Big Band
Summit was held at Ford Hall on the
Ithaca College Campus.
As it has in the past, the Summit performers were jazz ensembles from Ithaca
High School, Ithaca College and Cornell
University. A large audience nearly filled
the hall to hear these three excellent
groups perform.
And perform, they did. The IHS
band, led by Mike Treat, with an IC
degree, kicked off the festivities with
a great performance of Neal Hefti’s
“Splanky” featuring a number of excellent soloists.
Two more selections set the stage for
the Cornell Jazz Ensemble under the
CORNELL
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
contin u ed from page 5
The CML, which consists of more
than forty Cornell-based organizations
representing thousands of students from
marginalized communities, is advocating
for divestment from weapons manufacturing companies such as BAE Systems,
Boeing, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, L3Harris Technologies, Leonardo,
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman,
RTX, and ThyssenKrupp. Resolution 51
stated that these companies had been
directly involved in military attacks on
Gaza and the West Bank, which are actions that have been labeled as plausible
genocide by the International Court of
Justice.
According to a CML statement released
in the weeks before the meeting, “Cornell’s
association with companies involved in
the production of weapons used against
civilians raises ethical concerns and
questions the university’s commitment to
social responsibility.”
CML’s demands included divestment
and an end to corporate partnerships
with any weapons manufacturers involved
in military aggression. Additionally, the
coalition called for a ban on the research
and development of technologies used by
the Israeli Forces at the Jacobs CornellTechnion Institute on the Cornell Tech
campus.
direction of Paul Merrill, another IC
degree holder. This band has really come
on in recent years under Merrill’s superb
guidance. The band has never sounded
better.
Next on the stage was the always fantastic Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble that
Mike Titlebaum continues to lead at the
highest level.
The program concluded with the
Combined Summit Big Band consisting of
seniors from the three institutions.
Many thanks to Greg Evans, a former
IC faculty member who heads up the
jazz program at Binghamton University,
who’s idea it was to inaugurate this fine
event. It has provided many hours of
enjoyment for the entire City of Ithaca.
We can be so thankful and proud of the
high quality of musicianship found at
these three schools.
Following a meeting with the Chief
Financial Officer in December, CML’s research committee examined Cornell’s ties
to companies involved in military attacks
on Palestine. The committee then produced a comprehensive document detailing Cornell’s alleged violation of guidelines
established by the Board of Trustees in
2016, which say that divestment should
be considered from companies that are
engaged in morally reprehensible acts, including genocide, apartheid, and systematic cruelty to children.
CML argues that Israel’s actions against
Palestinians in Gaza constitute all of the
above. The coalition contends that each
specified weapons manufacturer directly
contributes to these acts, asserting that
Cornell’s investments in these companies
violate the university’s stated principles
and values.
The statement released by CML in the
weeks leading up to the meeting said,
“Cornell’s financial associations with
entities engaged in morally reprehensible
actions are a clear violation of the university’s standards for divestment, necessitating an immediate reassessment of these
connections.”
As a result, the CML continues to insist
that the Board of Trustees adhere to their
procedures and commence the divestment
process. A former Cornell student actively
involved in human rights advocacy said,
Contin u ed on Page 14
February 7 – 13, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
7
City of Ithaca Unveils Major Stride in
Green New Deal with Electrification Initiative
By M att Dougherty
T
he City of Ithaca has an- enthusiasm for the city’s progress, saying,
nounced the first phase of ’It’s a vote of confidence that communibuilding electrification proj- ty leaders, like those represented in this
ects as part of its commit- cohort, take this big step in decarbonizment to following through on ing their operations, and I’m sure many
the goals of the Ithaca Green New Deal will follow in their trailblazing footsteps.”
Evans highlighted the
(IGND). The IGND
collaborative effort inwas initially passed by
volving the City of Ithathe Common Council
ca, BlocPower, and varin 2019 and provides
ious community partan outline for the City
ners.
to achieve carbon neuThe electrification initrality by 2030.
tiative is a significant
On February 2, Ithaadvancement for the
ca’s Office of Sustain“Built Environment” asability announced and
pect of the IGND, as
showcased a portfolio
D i r e c t o r o f S u s ta i n a b i l i t y
f o r t h e C i t y o f It h ac a
outlined in the Ithaca
of 10 commercial build— Ethan Bodnaruk
R e b e c c a E va n s ( P h o t o : F i l e)
Green New Deal Scoreings set for full electricard. This component
fication in the coming
During 2023, the city focused on nonmonths, representing a noteworthy $1.9 covers all aspects of where residents live,
work, and socialize, emphasizing homes, residential buildings to capitalize on a remillion investment in clean energy.
Director of Sustainability for the City offices, businesses, hospitals, places of wor- cently expired incentive from New York
State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) as part of
of Ithaca, Rebecca Evans, expressed her ship, schools, stores, and more.
“The City of Ithaca
continues to lay the
groundwork for what
a successful citywide decarbonization
movement looks like.”
It h ac a h a s ac h i e v e d m a n y i m p o r ta n t m i l e s t o n e s o f p r o g r e s s o n t h e I G N D s i n c e i t wa s pa s s e d
i n 2 0 1 9. To r e ac h t h e g o a l o f t o ta l d e c a r b o n i z at i o n b y 2 0 3 0 , t h e c i t y i s n ow u n d e r ta k i n g t h e
p r o c e s s o f e l e c t r i f y i n g a l l 6 , 0 0 0 b u i l d i n g s w i t h i n i t s g e o g r a p h i c b o u n d a r i e s . ( P h o t o : F i l e)
8 The Ithaca Times / February 7 – 13, 2024
B l o c P ow e r P r o g r a m
M a n ag e r E t h a n B o d n a ru k
( P h o t o : F i l e)
its NYS Clean Heat Rebate Program. This
incentive facilitated the installation of heat
pumps in gas-constrained areas, aligning
with the city’s broader electrification goals.
The financial backbone of this initiative comes from BlocPower, the designated
clean technology partner working with the
City of Ithaca. Over the last year, BlocPower has successfully implemented several
building electrification projects and weatherization upgrades throughout the City.
BlocPower program manager Ethan
Bodnaruk said, “The City of Ithaca continues to lay the groundwork for what a successful city-wide decarbonization movement looks like. This movement, and the
city, are crucial to inspiring other cities and
jurisdictions.”
One of the pivotal aspects of this electrification initiative is the substantial financial support provided to building owners.
Of the $1.9 million clean energy investment, nearly $1.4 million is subsidized
through eligible state and federal incentives. This translates to significant savings
for building owners, covering two-thirds
of the installation and upgrade costs. For
the buildings where data is available, these
energy upgrades are estimated to result in
the avoidance of nearly 680 metric tons
of greenhouse gas emissions annually, according to EPA estimates.
The Ithaca Green New Deal, represent- involves Community Choice Aggregation
ing the city’s commitment to addressing cli- (CCA), which involves residents purchasmate change, social injustice, and economic ing energy in bulk to lower energy pricinequality, strives for carbon neutrality and es. Ultimately, CCA aims to create a local
climate justice by 2030. Notable achieve- micro-grid that powers the community
ments include the adoption of the Ithaca En- through carbon-free energy.
However, Evans has said that progress
ergy Code Supplement, mandating net-zero
on CCA has been stalled
energy requirements for
as the community is “waall new buildings by
iting on regulatory pro2026, and launching the
cesses that are managed
Electrify Ithaca program.
by the state…so we’re in
In addition to the
a little bit of a holding
electrification initiative,
period for now for that
the IGND has completprogram.” Despite the
ed comprehensive gresetback, Evans expresenhouse gas inventories,
— Rebecca Evans
sed optimism that once
capturing the entire lifeCCA is launched, it will
cycle of methane and
emissions from the electric grid. Evans said substantially reduce emissions.
When asked about how emissions are
the City hired sustainability planner Savanmeasured, Evans explained a straightfornah Vega to lead this initiative.
As the city enters the six-year mark from ward calculation. By converting energy
its 2030 deadline, Evans said, “2030 feels use data, whether from vehicle miles travcloser and closer every day, and I’m start- eled, natural gas burned for heating, or
electricity use, into metric tons of carbon
ing to feel the heat on my feet.”
Evans emphasized the importance of dioxide equivalents, the city can quanticompleting the Climate Action Plan, which fy its carbon footprint. This method prolays out existing conditions, drivers of cli- vides a comprehensive understanding of
mate change, and mitigation strategies. greenhouse gas emissions beyond just
According to Evans, “It outlines how to carbon.
Evans explainachieve and successfully implement those
strategies.” The plan is anticipated to come ed why the year
before the committee and council within 2030 was set as
the next two months, providing a roadmap the target year for
carbon neutrality.
for achieving carbon neutrality.
Another pivotal aspect of Ithaca’s strat- She referenced the
egy for significant emissions reductions 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
(IPCC)
report,
highlighting the
global need for
immediate action.
The report emphasized the critical
nature of keeping
global temperature rise under 1.5
degrees Celsius to avoid severe consequences. In that report, 2030 was identified as
the decisive year for significant emissions
cuts.
According to Evans, “The United Nations’ Coalition on climate change put out
a report that…said that we need to keep
the global temperature rise under one and
a half degrees Celsius [by 2030] or we’re going to be facing some scary consequences
all over the world.”
Evans also touched upon the concept
of climate justice, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the benefits of cliTh e G i m m e C o f f e e b u i l d i n g l o c at e d o n 5 0 6 We s t S tat e S t r e e t
mate action are shared equitably across
i n d ow n t ow n It h ac a i s o n e o f t h e e l e v e n p r o p e r t i e s
all communities. The city’s plan, Justice 50,
s e l e c t e d f o r e l e c t r i f i c at i o n . ( P h o t o : F i l e)
prioritizes underserved communities, and
The names and locations of the commercial buildings selected for electrification exemplify the diversity of the initiative:
1. Gimme Coffee, 506 W. State St. (café
and roastery)
2. Significant Elements, 212 Center St.
(nonprofit architectural warehouse)
3. Historic Ithaca, 210 Center St. (nonprofit cultural organization)
4. Ithaca Piercing & Tattoo, 120 S. Cayuga St. (retail)
5. First Baptist Church, 309 N. Cayuga
St. (place of worship)
6. St. James AME, 116 Cleveland Ave.
(place of worship)
7. Lifelong Senior Center, 119 W.
Court St. (nonprofit)
8. Aeroplane Factory, 120 Brindley
Street (office spaces)
9. Circus Culture, 123 W State Street
(cultural organization)
10. Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment
Plant Administrative Building, 525
Third St. (municipal building)
11. Petrune and Home Green Home,
126-128 E State St (retail)
Evans emphasized the city’s collective
efforts in laying a foundation for the electrification program and highlighted the
tangible results of this initiative. She stated,
“Electrify Ithaca has come a long way since
2022, and we’re finally seeing the results of
the hard payoff.” Evans credited the collaboration with BlocPower and numerous
community partners for the success, underscoring their dedication to building a
sustainable future for Ithaca.
“2030 feels closer and
closer every day, and
I’m starting to feel
the heat on my feet.”
Evans encouraged community involvement to advocate for these populations.
Additionally, Evans said, “Within our Justice 50 plan, it also prioritizes direct financial investment in those communities.”
According to the Ithaca Green New
Deal scorecard, “The City has committed to direct a minimum of 50% of IGND
funds invested to Climate Justice communities.” However, the scorecard indicates
that Justice 50 is currently “stalled” because
“the City has not achieved the second subgoal to establish Justice50 Implementation Guidelines. These guidelines will determine how the City will ensure that 50%
of IGND investment is directed to Climate
Justice Communities.”
Addressing the broader community, Evans highlighted the need to normalize conversations around climate change.
Rather than prescribing individual actions
as the solution to this global issue, the focus should be on identifying the most significant contributing factor and working to address it. “There’s no prescription
of how to mitigate climate change,” Evans
said, “It’s more of how do we bring the
climate conversation to the dinner table?
How do we make this a regular conversation so it’s not about something
scary and depressing.”
In addition,
Evans said that
by translating existing passions
and skills into climate work, everyone can contribute to the broader goal of saving
the environment.
“It’s more of a
translation
of
what you already
— Rebecca Evans
care about into a
new or different
context,” Evans said.
The City of Ithaca is making progress
on its ambitious Green New Deal initiatives, and these electrification projects
stand as a testament to the city’s commitment to creating a sustainable community. The progress made in electrifying these commercial buildings not only
reduces carbon emissions but also sets a
precedent for other cities and jurisdictions to follow in the pursuit of a greener
future.
As Ithaca strives for carbon neutrality by
2030, the City is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable practices, contributing to
the broader global effort to combat climate
change.
“The United Nations’ Coalition
on climate change put out a
report that…said that we need
to keep the global temperature
rise under one and a half
degrees Celsius [by 2030]
or we’re going to be facing
some scary consequences
all over the world.”
February 7 – 13, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
9
Personal Health
Guthrie Health Clinic Expands
OB/GYN Services into Ithaca
By Mat t D oug he r t y
T
o address the increasing healthcare
demands in the region, the Guthrie
Clinic has expanded its OB/GYN
services into Ithaca. The move follows the
successful launch of an OB/GYN Clinic in
Cortland in the fall of 2022.
Guthrie’s Cortland location identified a need to extend its reach further to
accommodate the growing patient load,
with women from Tompkins County being
among those seeking care.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Chair at
The Guthrie Clinic, J. Manuel Arreguin,
emphasized the organization’s dedication
to identifying gaps in healthcare coverage
and promptly filling them. “Our ongoing
assessments confirmed that women in
Ithaca and Tompkins County were search-
ing for additional options for care close to
home, so we took quick action to open an
office in Ithaca to meet our patients where
they are,” Arreguin said.
The expansion comes as a response
to the community’s demand for accessible and comprehensive women’s health
services. Guthrie recognizes the importance of providing localized care, and
the decision to open an office in Ithaca
aligns with its commitment to bridging
healthcare gaps and ensuring that patients have convenient access to essential
services.
Effective immediately, certified midwives from the Cortland Clinic will be
extending their services to Guthrie Ithaca
City Harbor. This expansion brings a range
of crucial healthcare offerings closer to
residents, covering women’s health, gyne-
cological procedures, maternity care, prenatal care, family
planning, infertility services,
menopause support, and contraceptive management.
Arreguin continued by
saying that this expansion will
address the specific healthcare
needs of women in Ithaca
and Tompkins County. “Our
priority is to ensure that our
patients receive the care they
need in a timely and accessible manner,” Arreguin
said. He added, “By bringing
certified midwives to Guthrie
Ithaca City Harbor, we aim to
enhance the range of services
available locally and provide
comprehensive support for
women at every stage of life.”
Jessica Allison (left) and Tara Fitzgerald (right)
are two certified midwives who work out of
Certified midwives are wellGuthrie’s Ithaca office. (Photo: Provided)
positioned to play a vital role
in offering personalized care
and support to women. Their expertise
ning, infertility treatments, menopause
covers various aspects of women’s health,
management, and contraceptive counselmaking them valuable contributors to
ing.
the expanded services now available in
To schedule appointments at Guthrie
Ithaca City Harbor, individuals can reach
Ithaca. Patients can benefit from their
out by calling 1-866-GUTHRIE or
proficiency in gynecological procedures,
maternity and prenatal care, family plan607-753-1340.
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Heart Healthy Reasons to get
your Hearing Checked in 2024
By Christine Linnenbach, Au.D.
Most hearing loss occurs gradually - so much so that
many people don’t realize how much they are missing. If your
hearing abilities have changed, chances are your family,
friends, and certainly your partner, notice it every single day!
Hearing is critical to effective communication, and
communication is key to healthy relationships. Makes sense,
right? Because of the way it builds communication barriers,
and even isolates those afflicted, hearing loss can have
negative effects on those closest to us and can create
tremendous strain in an otherwise loving relationship.
And it’s not just relational and emotional health that we
should be aware of. Research has associated hearing loss with
numerous other physical, mental, and emotional health
conditions.
Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and
stroke, cause 17.3 million deaths each year. Our ears, supersensitive to blood �ow, act as silent alarms for potential
issues. The inner ear is so sensitive that it is possible that
abnormalities in the cardiovascular system such as
inadequate blood �ow and trauma to the blood vessels of the
inner ear, could be noted here earlier than in other, less
sensitive parts of the body.
Conversely, studies show that a healthy cardiovascular
system – a person’s heart, arteries, and veins – has a positive
effect on hearing. In fact, the evidence showing a link
between cardiovascular and hearing health is so compelling
that some experts have said the ears may be a window to the
heart.
In one study, cardiovascular disease was primarily
associated with worsened low-frequency hearing and with
accelerated hearing loss. In another, coronary artery disease
was associated with hearing loss at all frequencies.
Individuals with heart disease are eight times more
likely to experience hearing loss, suggesting that monitoring
your hearing health could be an unexpected ally in
maintaining heart health.
W h a t co u l d t h i s m e a n ? Tre a t i n g u n d e r l y i n g
cardiovascular disease may prevent or slow the progression
of hearing loss, and conversely, hearing loss may suggest an
underlying cardiovascular disease.
That is why preventive screenings are key. And because
the jury is still out on exactly why there is a connection and
which comes �rst, it behooves those age 55 and older to get
their hearing tested as a routine part of their medical care.
Also understanding that healthier lifestyle choices can
lead to improvements in cardiovascular health, like diet and
exercise that can impact diabetes, hypertension, high
cholesterol, and of course quitting smoking, could have
positive results for the associated hearing loss.
But it’s not all bad news! Advances in the technology
inside of today’s prescriptive hearing solutions can improve
not just social connections and emotional well-being, but
also cognitive function and physical health. And that is an
important distinction. You don’t have to suffer in silence.
If you, or someone close, are experiencing hearing
difficulties, or are due for your annual hearing checkup,
contact one of our offices today!
Timeless Hearing (Ithaca, NY): (607) 327-4711
Cortland Hearing Aids (Cortland, NY): (607) 327-4712
Southern Tier Audiology (Elmira, NY): (607) 327-4714
Tri-City Hearing (Vestal, NY): (607) 327-4713
Christine Linnenbach, Au.D. joined
Timeless Hearing in 2023. She received
her Bachelor's in Communication
Disorders and Sciences from SUNY
Plattsburgh (2018) and her Clinical
Doctorate of Audiology from Syracuse
University (2022). She can be reached in
our Ithaca office at (607) 327-4711.
Source: Better Hearing Institute
February 7 – 13, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
11
Sports
Cold Comfort
Swimmer’s Polar Plunges Raise Funds, Awareness
By Ste ve L aw re nc e
W
hen I learned that Ithacan Gary
Cremeens jumped into Lake
Ontario over the weekend —
and will jump into Lake Michigan early in
March and into Cayuga Lake later in the
month — I had to find out why.
“These Polar Plunge events,” Cremeens
told me, “are fundraisers for Special Olympics NY, and the amount of enthusiasm
present, and the positivity people experience is so contagious.” Cremeens shared
that he is so passionate about raising
money for Special Olympics, because “it
creates many opportunities, and fosters so
much inclusivity,” and he offered, “It’s not
just me asking for donations, it really does
make a difference.”
Cremeens shared a sweet moment from
last weekend’s Special Olympics fundraiser, saying, “One of the athletes approached
me and said, ‘You’re the big guy that runs
marathons!’” Gary’s response: “Not as
much as you inspire me!
His desire to help others reach their
potential and maximize their experience might stem from the fact that he has
reinvented himself. Despite once weighing
in at a quarter of a ton — literally — Cremeens is preparing for his fifth marathon.
He now puts a lot of energy into bringing
people together for the greater good (he
has played a big role in growing the First
Day Hike at Taughannock Falls from a
handful of participants at the initial event
several years ago to drawing over 2,000
last month).”
Of the Polar Plunge events, Cremeens
said, “You get to connect with people that
bring extreme enthusiasm to this.” The
common belief, he added, is that “It’s not
about us.” It’s about “a lot of like-minded
people,” who believe that together, they
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can make a difference.
Using a nautical metaphor
— appropriate for a man
who just jumped into Lake
Ontario — Gary said, “If a
ship moves just two inches,
that’s better than zero
inches.”
The Ithaca Polar Plunge
will be held on March 23,
and Cremeens shared this
on his personal fund-raising
page: “Help me reach my
fund-raising goal as I take
the plunge for Special
Olympics NY. Your donations mean more now than
ever before.
Your support will
directly affect the ability
for the athletes of Special
Olympics NY to participate
in training, activities, and
competitions at no cost to
them or their caregivers.”
For more details, visit
www.nyso.org
It was nice to see an
athlete with local ties listed in
Gary Cremeens, when he’s not running marathons
dives into icy waters in Ithaca and beyond.
the field for the U.S. Olympic
Team Trials last weekend
at the Carmel Marathon (which was only
Parley Hannan — one of Ithaca Col7 seconds slower than her personal best
lege’s most dominant athletes over the
of 2:33.36). On Sunday, she finished in
past decade (or more) — is a member of
2:35:13, which did not qualify her for the
the Bombers’ class of ’21. She won three
Olympics, but put her in the top third of
national titles in cross country and track,
the field.
and her career was shortened when the
Congrats to the Ithaca High girl’s
Covid pandemic resulted in the cancelvarsity ice hockey team for making it to
lation of the season when Hannan was at
the playoffs in the program’s first year back
the top of her game.
She made the news again recently when after not putting a team on the ice last
year. The program’s future looks bright,
she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team
Marathon Trials, which were held on Sun- and there is still some hockey action to
come as the Little Red boys are gearing up
day. Parley qualified for the Trials nearly a
to make a deep playoff run.
year ago, when she cranked out a 2:33.43
HOUSING PROJECT
contin u ed from page 3
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Despite an Ongoing War, the National Orchestra of Ukraine
is Visiting Ithaca Saturday on Its Tour of the United States
By Peter Rothbart
W
It has been a challenge bringing 80 musicians out of Ukraine to Ithaca and around the US.
hen the National
Orchestra of Ukraine
began its current tour
of the United States,
it faced the usual
logistical problems of
moving 80 or more musicians from country to
country, city to city. Everyone needs a passport and visa (from Ukraine). Flights, ground
transportation, lodging and food must be
secured at each stop on the tour. Fragile and
valuable instruments (think string basses as
well as violins and oboes) must be packed,
carted, unpacked, and acclimatized. Add in
the fact that the orchestra is traveling from an
active war zone, where transportation can be
life threatening and rehearsals and concerts
are continually interrupted by air raid sirens
and bombs. Audience attendance in the orchestra’s home, Lysenko Column Hall in Kyiv
is limited by the hall’s bomb shelter’s capacity.
Several regular orchestra members have left
to serve in the armed forces defending the
country and its cultural heritage. Everyone
knows someone who has died or is fighting.
Alexander Hornostai, the NSOU’s managing
director has said, “Whilst this war has had a
dramatic impact on Ukrainian lives, we took
the decision early on that we had an important
role to play in continuing to perform, in order
to protect and showcase Ukrainian musical
culture and show that there is more to our
country than just the conflict.”
Additionally, programming in which the
musical selections can be interpreted as carrying ideological or political connotations
guarantees an extra-musical significance
that adds gravitas and fervor to the perfor-
mance which influences in turn, concert
goers.
Saturday afternoon’s upcoming Cornell
University Concert Series performance by the
long-esteemed National Orchestra of Ukraine
under the direction of GRAMMY Award-winning conductor Volodymyr Sirenko promises
to be a profound statement of resiliency and
enduring humanity, despite the political
zeitgeist that surrounds their performance.
Despite the myriad of worries, the music produced promises to be exhilarating.
The orchestra, founded in 1918 as the
Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra (just
after another European war as well as the
Russian Revolution) is one of the most recorded in Eastern Europe. They may not be
as well known in the United States as western
European orchestras, but Sirenko has led
the ensemble along with such major artists
as Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Artur
Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern,
David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav
Rostropovich, and even Andrea Bocelli.
The opening work, “Sinfonia Concertante in
Bb Major” by Dmitry Bortniansky reflects the
geopolitical ambiguity of the Russia-Ukraine
relationship. Born in Ukraine of Cossack parents, Bortniansky was educated in Russia, then
Italy and had a successful career in Russia. He
left a large legacy of Eastern Orthodox liturgical
music, much of it heavily influenced by the contrapuntal style of Palestrina. Still, the orchestra
claims him as their own.
Franz Josef Haydn was neither Ukrainian
nor Russian, but cellist Natalia Khoma, the
only Ukrainian musician to have medaled
at the renowned International Tchaikovsky
Competition (held in Russia), will perform
his “Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major.” Among
her other international accolades and awards,
including from the Budapest Pablo Casals
International Competition, Khoma has a local connection, having served in 2011 as the
Artistic Advisor and Program Coordinator of
the Music and Art Center of Greene County,
New York.
Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’s “Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52” rounds out the
program. Many consider it a transitional work
as Sibelius moved from a Romantic to Classical phase. The three-movement work is short
and more lighthearted than his first two symphonies. Still, the work is Nordic as is Sibelius’s nature, perhaps shining a bit of northern
musical light on an orchestra performing with
a renewed purpose but under duress.
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.
National Symphony
Orchestra of Ukraine
Saturday, February 10, 3:00 p.m.,
Bailey Hall, Cornell University.
Ticket prices range from $17 for Cornell students and $19
for general public students to between $39 to 54 for general
public adults.
https://vivenu.com/event/national-symphony-orchestraof-ukraine-gzfrbd
Arts&Entertainment
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE
February 7 – 13, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
13
Cinema
Poor Things
Reminiscent of Frankenstein but Who is the Monster?
By C athy L e e Crane
P
oor Things has been lurking in
theatres since November, it won a
couple Golden Globes, and has now
been nominated for 11 Oscars. It’s the
kind of film that really should be seen on
the big screen for its relentless cinematic
tricks put us squarely in the Gothic past
in a glorious return to cinema as preverbal language. In fact, language and
its mysteries frame the entire journey of
Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) from syllabic
Poor Things
Rated R
starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Margaret Qualley,
Willem Dafoem Ramy Youssef
currently playing at Regal Ithaca Mall
40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca
utterances to matters of fact, language
whose apparent lack of nuance calls forth
its metaphoric absences in what makes
the film humorous. The first words take a
while to come. In fact, the first utterance
gives voice not to words but to a bubble
of digestion.
We are inducted into the film’s Frankenstein echo chamber almost immediately through the laboratory and its scientist
godhead named Godwin. The Doctor, a
eunuch played by Willem Dafoe, has a
face we are asked to study at some length,
a scar freeway made from an overlapping
lower lip before spanning the cheekbones
with off-ramps of deep lines. Who could
have thought that face could be made even
stranger, and ironically, increasingly familiar. These kinds of twists litter the film’s
visual world, designed to take its viewers
on a train through discoveries of cinematic
perception.
To be freed from the
laboratory, Bella must
first go outside which
starts on the roof, moves
by carriage, involves
embarking with lawyer
Duncan (Mark Ruffalo)
to Lisbon, then onto a
kidnapping by ship to
Alexandria. Duncan
insists their journey
is designed to free her
from the legal binding
he himself drafted for
the doctor’s approved
mate, the lab assistant.
But Bella doesn’t need the
Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo
in Poor Things. (Photo: Provided)
law to free her from the
kind doctor, for she herself
the wealthy will never be enough to offset
possesses will and can therefore “plot her
a world built on the inequity of wealth. The
course to freedom.” Don’t be too quick
only solution is “to be the means of one’s
to think this film a feminist anthem. The
own production” which for Bella means
question running throughout this film
whoring; what one could argue Yargos is
persists: who is the monster? The baby in
himself up to. Sample the tart in one bite.
the womb, the scientist, the lawyer, the
Emma Stone is no Hanna Schygulla
creature herself: Bella, or perhaps polite
and Yorgos is no Fassbinder. It will not
society which will be declared as that
be enough to strip the façade from civil
which “will destroy us.”
society. We learned the emperor has no
The stories from Yorgos Lanthimos are
clothes at least as late as the 1980s. The
a form of shock therapy. His audacity is to
argument has been made before that
surprise us which does not mean that the
obscenity is clear in the conventions of
film does not partake in the mixed and
civilization itself. What to do when what’s
heady brew of all the monsters described
left of the corpse of these conventions is
here as lies: capitalism, socialism, religion.
consumption as such; like eating and buyAll will arrive intact as deliberate declaing and belching. This film is a consumer’s
rations of a philosophy of ethics on the
paradise of visual stimulation, a pleasure
ship’s foredeck after we meet Martha and
while riding the rail of disgust, for science,
her companion Harry. The former played
and ultimately mortality revolves around
in cameo by Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s
the flesh we can barely live with. Like the
muse, Hanna Schygulla.
story she will be told about her fictional
On the stop to Alexandria, it is Harry
parents “live past the boundaries of what
who shows Bella how the world really is:
is known.” Or as her first husband comes
dead babies in the scorching heat; roped,
robbed, raped. Her first idea is to give Dun- to realize “talk and talk until nothing is left
but to pull a gun.”
can’s money to the poor. But the excess of
CORNELL
STUDENT ASSEMBLY
contin u ed from page 7
“Cornell’s handling of this situation will
set a precedent for how academic institutions respond to calls for divestment and
ethical considerations in their financial
engagements.”
Advocates of Resolution 51 insist that
Cornell’s precedent for divestment was
set in 2006 when the university divested
from Sudan in response to the Darfur
genocide.
Even though the Student Assembly
voted 14-4 against Resolution 51, the CML
is continuing to urge Cornell to choose
14 T h e I t h a c a T i m e s / F e b r u a r y 7 – 1 3 , 2 0 2 4
between remaining complicit in what it
terms “unconditional U.S. support for the
genocide of the Palestinian people” or
establishing itself as a leader among elite
educational institutions.
Still, with the passage of the “compromise” Resolution 50, the newly established
ESG committee will conduct further research on Cornell’s investments and make
divestment recommendations to the Board
of Trustees, which the President of the Student Assembly will present at a later date
that has yet to be determined.
The names of individuals in this story
have been withheld to protect them from
any form of doxxing, targeting, or harassment.
Theatre
Clyde’s
Heat and Spice on the Menu in Syracuse Dramedy
By Barbara Ad am s
T
he kitchen of a truck-stop diner
outside Reading, Pennsylvania,
where four ex-cons are trying to
eke out a living and some meaning, despite
constant abuse from their tyrannical
boss. That’s the setting of Lynn Nottage’s
“Clyde’s,” currently featured in Syracuse
Stage’s 50th anniversary season. (The show
is creatively co-produced with Portland
Center Stage in Oregon, where it will run
this June.)
This riotous yet painful comedy — the
most-produced play in the 2022-23 U.S.
theater season — presents a multicultural
crew of service workers, all former felons.
Nottage, the only woman to twice win the
Pulitzer Prize for Drama — for “Ruined”
(2009) and “Sweat” (2017) — is drawn to
the stories of working people: “In all my
plays, I’m trying to figure how someone
who feels marginalized, invisible, can
at the same time be powerful and selfpossessed.” (Nottage is further quoted in
the program, which at Syracuse, is always
a rich publication. This one also includes
information on Project Mend, a writing
enterprise with formerly incarcerated
people in the area.)
In Syracuse’s production of “Clyde’s,”
director Chip Miller has expertly marshalled a talented cast and fine designers.
Britton Mauk’s kitchen is functional and
bleak, hinting at the workers’ sense of
imprisonment. But the flashy neon and
faded painted signs screaming “Clyde’s”
above them add color and life, as does
Marika Kent’s hot lighting design, which
at times reminds us that being trapped is
simply hell.
But before we encounter the metaphors, we meet the workers. There’s lively,
excitable, romantic Rafael (a hilarious
Pascal Arquimedes), who’s crushing on
“Clyde’s,”
written by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Chip Miller;
co-produced with Portland Center Stage.
Syracuse Stage
820 E Genesee St,
Syracuse. Through Feb. 18.
Tickets at www.syracusestage.org/ or 315-443-3275.
Letitia (Tish), a 29-year-old mom who’s
equally upbeat and vibrant (a sparkling
Lauren Steele). Their food prep routine
(and Latino cultural ease) is altered with
the arrival of a new hire, Jason (a nuanced Orion Bradshaw), a dubious white
dude with white supremacist tattoos. Not
surprisingly, he’s given a hard time as the
outsider.
The dynamic changes once again
with the presence of Montrellous, a large
man who calmly towers over them all. In
non-diner mentality (unless you count
The Bear), he’s focused on food as art and
self-expression, a way to transcend the
mundane. Steadily, over the course of the
play, his outlook affects all the other cooks,
who each seeks to perfect the ultimate
sandwich.
Rafael fittingly describes Montrellous as
a kind of “Buddha, if he’d grown up in the
hood” — this peaceful giant exists on another plane. He’s played with intense presence by Setareki Wainiqolo, whose Fijian
given name aptly means “pure in heart.”
Jason is gradually accepted into the
kitchen community, and each worker
shares the story of their past mistakes.
Within their limited options and frustrated efforts, each moves haltingly toward
a kind of renewal, autonomy, and personal
freedom. Their personalities and situations are compelling and honest, and our
sympathies are enlisted from the start.
But their slow progress is thwarted repeatedly by Clyde, the Black woman who
owns the diner. She’s tall, commanding,
and fierce, and the endless order slips she
delivers are accompanied by her taunts,
insults, and rage. Tellingly, Clyde never
eats, spurning their offerings and hurling the food to the floor. She’s humorless, only deriving a sadistic pleasure in
humiliating others.
In total darkness herself, Clyde asserts
her control and dashes their hopes. Tall
and buxom, she’s played by Andrea Vernae
as a seething dominatrix, at each entry
sporting a garish new outfit — flashy,
skin-tight, and hyper-sexualized. Clyde is
clearly spending her profits on tacky glamour (courtesy of Dominique Fawn Hill’s
costumes and Dylinn Andrew’s wigs).
The play moves forward in a series of
mini-conflicts, with Clyde blocking the
cooks’ small
pleasures and
progress again
and again. Their
thirst for freedom
and a shred of
dignity pushes
to an inevitable
conclusion, and
in the final moments, when all
hell breaks loose,
there’s no doubt
that Clyde is both
devil and damned
soul.
As in “Sweat,”
set among factory
workers, Nottage focuses here
on social, racial,
and economic
Setareki Wainiqolo and Andrea Vernae in the Syracuse
Stage production of “Clyde’s,” on stage through February 18.
inequities in the
(Photo by Michael Davis, courtesy of Syracuse Stage)
workforce. Her
five characters
are all believable, but at moments the tale
with the understanding that while society
itself feels too close to a morality play. And may unfairly entrap us, we’re still capable
the ultimate mood is gloomy. We’ve easily
of entrapping — or freeing — others.
grown fond of the cookstaff, but Clyde
remains disturbing, her presence both
Barbara Adams, a regional theatre and arts
comical and punishing. Perhaps we’re left
writer, teaches writing at Ithaca College.
February 7 – 13, 2024 / The Ithaca Times
15