Jan. 28, 2026

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Asempe Kitchen, Ithaca’s Only West African Restaurant, Set to Close Feb. 1

By Mikayla Rovenolt

On Feb. 1, Asempe Kitchen will close the doors to its brick-andmortar location in Press Bay Alley. Owner and chef Kuukua Yomekpe said the difficult decision was driven by a lack of foot traffic and a variety of economic factors.

“There’s debt, payroll and rent, and we have been making do with a lot of help from loans and credit cards and friends, and some of my staff have been volunteering time,” Yomekpe said in an interview with the Ithaca Times. “Everybody’s been chipping in to make it work, but we haven’t been bringing in enough revenue to support our bills.”

The restaurant first opened at its Press Bay location in August 2024 and was voted “Best New Business” by Ithaca Times readers in the 2024 Best of Ithaca readers’ poll. Prior to Asempe’s opening, the location was home to several short-lived eateries.

Yomekpe announced the decision in the restaurant’s newsletter sent Jan. 20. She said the decision was “a long time coming,” and was made after much reflection.

“I really love the space,” Yomekpe said. “I love what we’re doing in Ithaca, it’s a bummer that we’re not getting the foot traffic we need to sustain the space and ourselves.”

However, it is not a full goodbye as Asempe Kitchen will continue to serve its

West African cuisine in new ways. Cooking classes will continue, and Asempe is still listed as an Airbnb Experience. Yomekpe is looking into options for future classes and catering kitchens such as the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County spaces, where she previously held classes, and Shared Kitchen Ithaca.

Yomekpe encourages people to reach out with catering inquiries and to stay tuned for upcoming pop-ups at the Ithaca Farmers Market and other community spaces.

“I had this idea for more of a community feel, a community center, for celebrating each other, getting together and sharing the food with people,” Yomekpe said. “I’m just really grateful that I was able to have a go at it.”

The restaurant’s last day of service will be Sunday, Feb. 1. Asempe Kitchen will go out in traditional Asempe style with their final Afrobeats in Press Bay from 11 a.m.

Continued on Page 9

X New York DMV Offices to Temporarily Close for Large-Scale System Upgrade

By Lorien Tyne

I

n February, the Tompkins Department of Motor Vehicles, along with all DMV offices in New York state will begin the first phase of a multi-year project to upgrade aging technology systems. This large-scale system upgrade will impact business hours for several days.

According to a county press release, to bring the first part of the new system online, the state is ceasing all DMV operations at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13. This operational closure includes online transactions and the DMV phone system. The state DMV’s implementation timeline has instructed offices to plan to resume all operations beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18.

To align with state instruction, the Tompkins County DMV office will close at 1 p.m. on Feb. 13 and remain closed Monday, Feb. 16 and Tuesday, Feb. 17. The county office will open at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 provided that state DMV leadership gives final authorization. The press

release stated that any changes to the implementation timeline or closure period will be posted on the county website and the Tompkins County DMV Facebook page.

The state DMV has contracted with FAST Enterprises, a software company that has implemented similar systems in more than 20 other states. The company will help the state DMV modernize its technology platforms and service delivery in two stages over the next two years. For the first stage taking place during the upcoming DMV closure period, the state DMV will migrate about 30 million records to the new system and complete the system upgrade transition.

“The new technology will replace and consolidate a significant portion of DMV’s legacy technology, some of which is over 50 years old,” the press release stated. “The goal of this initiative is to make the DMV more secure, stable, and agile and to provide DMV customers with more efficient, secure, and convenient services.

ack R o V enolt , r EP ort E r mack @ ithacatimes com J ake S exton , a d M inistrativ E c oordinator jake @ ithacatimes com M a R k S y V e R t

ence ,

orts c olu M nist stevesportsdude @ gmail com

f r EE lanc E rs : Barbara Adams, Charley Githler, Stephen Burke, Bill Chaisson, Ross Haarstad, Steve Lawrence, Marjorie Olds, Peter Rothbart, Austin Lamb, Clement Obropta, Jake Sexton, Kira Walter, Vasant Alex Laplam, and Ceili Ayoung THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ITHACA TIMES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2026 BY PATHWAYS TO EQUITY, LLC. 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,

IN UIRING PHOTOGR PHER Q A

By Mark Syvertson

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

“WHAT QUESTION SHOULD I USE NEXT WEEK?”

NOTE: If readers wish to participate in the Ithaca Times’ Inquiring Photographer column, contact Mark Syvertson at marksyvertsonphotography@gmail.com

City of Ithaca Hires Accounting Firm to Overhaul Financial Records for Late Audits

By Philip O’Dell

The City of Ithaca hired accounting firm The Bonadio Group to repair and maintain its internal financial records to move forward with overdue financial audits for 2022 through 2025.

Acting City Manager Dominick Recckio provided the update to the Ithaca Common Council during its Jan. 21 meeting. He said the Bonadio Group will assist city staff with financial records reporting and internal systems.

“They have already begun comprehensive and effective meetings with our controller’s office staff to get the information that they need in order to begin their work pulling that information together and to set us on the right path as it relates to our reporting,” Recckio said.

After completing its 2021 financial audit in September 2025, city officials seek to fully address the backlog of outstanding audits. Moody’s Investors Service revoked Ithaca’s bond rating in April 2024 due to a "lack of sufficient information” related to the backlog. Low bond ratings signal poor creditworthiness, forcing a municipality to face higher borrowing costs and potential financial instability that make funding major public projects more difficult and expensive.

When the 2021 audit was completed, then-City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff

cited pandemic-related staffing shortages and complex American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding reporting requirements as reasons for the backlog.

In a Jan. 16 memorandum to the Common Council, Recckio said “existing financial records and internal financial systems must be corrected and properly maintained.” Recckio will meet with the Bonadio Group project leaders at least once a month to review progress reports and provide oversight.

“The Bonadio Group was originally contracted by the City to perform audits,” according to the memorandum. “Upon commencement of that contracted work, deficiencies in the City’s severely outdated financial reporting and records systems were identified, several of which resulted from new financial reporting standards going into effect in 2022 and subsequent years. These deficiencies prevented an accurate audit from being performed. The City has amended its contract with Bonadio to perform a multi-phase financial consulting project that will result in more complete, transparent and accurate financial records.”

Recckio said the city is initially funding the project with resources previously allocated for the Bonadio Group's consulting services. He said the firm cannot audit its own work, so it will help the city recruit an independent auditor once the financial

records are corrected.

“Once the requisite financial cleanup and reporting work is complete, the City will proceed with conducting audits for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 in rapid succession as resources allow,” the memo says.

Recckio said the city was further delayed with its 2022 audit by new Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements on reporting procedures for assets such as leases and software.

GASB is an independent, private-sector organization that sets accounting and financial reporting standards for state and local governments, according to its website. Its standards seek to “promote financial reporting that provides useful information to taxpayers, public officials, investors, and others who use financial reports.”

Recckio said the Bonadio Group will consult with city officials on better usage of the MUNIS software to improve its financial reporting system. He said the firm has not yet established a formal timeline for the financial reviews, but the city seeks to be audit ready as quickly and accurately as possible.

Mayor Robert Cantelmo said he was pleased to see decisive action to remedy the problem in a transparent manner.

“I do think that this is a strong step in the direction that we need to be heading to address these issues,” Cantelmo said.

During his 2026 State of the City Address on Jan. 14, Cantelmo said completing the outstanding audits is the city's “top operational priority.”

Recckio said he will share further updates with residents and the council as more details become available in February.

Tompkins County Legislature Urges State to Deny Water Permit for Lansing Data Center

By Philip O’Dell

During its Jan. 20 meeting, the Tompkins County Legislature approved a resolution urging New York state officials to reject a permit application related to TeraWulf’s proposed data center on Cayuga Lake.

Over two dozen residents challenged the data center project and its proposed water permit during the meeting’s public comment period, raising concerns about potential risks to utility rates, water quality, human health, and local wildlife.

The resolution, which passed with a vote of 12-1 with 1 recusal, requests the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to reject a modified water withdrawal permit application from Cayuga Operating Company and require a new application and environmental review process.

The resolution states Cayuga Operating Company, an affiliate of TeraWulf Inc., is the specific entity moving forward with plans to transform the former coal-fired power plant into a 400-megawatt highperformance data center. The company has filed for a state permit to withdraw over one million gallons of water daily from Cayuga Lake to support the site, which has been leased for 80 years to TeraWulf subsidiary Lake Hawkeye. A 2021 water application cited an "unspecified future use." The project now hinges on pending development permits from the Town of Lansing to repurpose the industrial lakeside property.

TeraWulf, a data center development company, entered a long-term lease agreement in August with the property owners of the former Cayuga Power Plant. TeraWulf’s proposed data campus at 228 Cayuga Drive in the Town of Lansing is within the Industrial Research (IR) District of the town’s zoning code.

The Town of Lansing’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) determined the data center falls under the permitted land use of general processing on Dec. 22, 2025. ZBA met three times that month to consider TeraWulf’s zoning appeals for the proposed data campus after the town’s code enforcement officer determined the site plan to be unaligned with the property’s permitted uses.

Legislator Dan Wakeman recused himself from the resolution vote due to his

employment as a networking engineer for TeraWulf.

Legislator Mike Sigler cast the sole dissenting vote, arguing the existing permit is strictly limited to power generation and water withdrawal cannot be used for data center cooling. He believes Cayuga Lake will be protected, and the data center should not affect utility rates. Sigler expressed his preference for a data center that avoids lake water usage entirely. Sigler said the region is well-positioned to support the facility's energy needs, noting solar and wind projects with a combined 500 megawatts of new energy capacity within 20 miles of the site.

Sigler said TeraWulf has been transparent through two public meetings and several hearings before Lansing’s town board. He said the public will have another opportunity to review the project's details when the company shares its plans to the board within the next month.

According to Legislator Deborah Dawson, the developer TeraWulf oversees the project through its affiliate, Cayuga Operating Company, and its subsidiary, Lake Hawkeye, which is the lessee. Dawson said the county lacks land-use regulatory authority. However, legislators can voice concerns to NYSDEC to ensure state accountability. She said the resolution seeks to hold the “TeraWulf family of entities” accountable by requiring accurate information and a precise explanation of the intended water usage. She noted the importance of separating the technical demands of the resolution from the broader debate surrounding the TeraWulf data center itself.

UPS DOWNS&

Ups

The Ithaca City School District was recognized with the 2025 cashVest 90+ Award for the district’s leadership in financial stewardship, liquidity management and responsible use of public resources. The award is given by the National Association of Counties and three+one, a public-sector focused financial technology firm.

Downs

Heavy snow accumulation and unsafe travel conditions caused by the recent winter storm led to various closures in the city and across the county on Sunday and Monday.

HEARD SEEN&

Legislator Adam Vinson said Cayuga Operating Company’s 2021 application to withdraw over one million gallons of water daily was evaluated based on the site's history as a coal-fired power plant and the facility has been inactive since 2019. Vinson argued that the project’s current proposal introduces entirely different operational risks and water demands.

Vinson said the true purpose of the water permits has caused confusion, noting the data center is expected to use a closed-loop cooling system while water for fire suppression remains exempt from permitting requirements. Citing state code, he argued NYSDEC has legal authority to treat the request as a brand-new application rather than a simple renewal, given the "material change" in the site's operating conditions.

“As an issue that impacts Cayuga Lake and thus our entire community, I believe that we are justified as a body in having an opinion on this project and its permits,” Vinson said.

Legislator Irene Weiser expressed frustration over the county’s lack of direct land-use control, which remains under the jurisdiction of the Town of Lansing. However, Weiser said the legislature must use its voice to hold NYSDEC accountable to enforce its own regulatory authority.

Weiser said the existing permit dates to 1955 and has been periodically renewed since. She said the permit was originally issued for the operation of a fossil fuel power plant. She argued the current permit lacks

Heard

The Tompkins County Clerk’s Office recently launched a new online records search platform that provides improved public access to land records as well as a Fraud Alert feature to help protect property owners from real estate fraud.

Seen

The Ithaca Tenants Union and Ithaca Food Not Bombs is running a community mutual aid and warming center at the First Baptist Church at 309 N Cayuga Street. The warming center is open every night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and has hot tea and supplies such as handwarmers, socks, blankets and nonperishable snacks.

IF YOU CARE TO RESPOND to something in this column, or suggest your own praise or blame, write editor@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Should Cornell increase its financial contribution to ICSD beyond the newly agreed amount?

84.8% Yes. 10.9% No.

4.3% I don’t care. N ext W eek ’s Q uestio N : Does Ithaca need more affordable housing services like INHS to serve its residents? Visit ithaca.com to submit your response.

New Massage Institute Addresses Gap in Training Programs

Historic Ithaca Temporarily Closes Significant Elements

New Leader at Community Foundation of Tompkins County

Mix Restaurant Rebrands to Modern Ohana

By Mikayla Rovenolt

The doors of Mix Restaurant and Bar officially closed on Jan. 18 after their last dinner service at 9 p.m. Fortunately, for locals, this closing is shortlived as Mix has rebranded to Modern Ohana and will be open in early February.

Mix, which opened in late 2016, is located on Elmira Road at what was once Lucatelli’s. After 10 years in the local restaurant scene, owners Shane and Mix Johnson decided it was time for a change.

“The main reason for the change is the confusion that was going on with the restaurant,” Shane said. “We started as a Tapas restaurant and changed with breakfast and brunch, there was a lot going on. The reason for the change was to make it family focused and one cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

Shane added that shifting the restaurant focus to one cuisine will also make it easier on the kitchen and help them

solidify a price point for the menu. Both Shane and Mix said they want the restaurant to have a more fun atmosphere and to get away from the previous “kitchen and bar” name.

The interior of Mix, now Modern Ohana, is also changing to fit the light-hearted, family-friendly focus that the Johnsons are going for. Booths will be added to sections of the restaurant as well as new fixtures and a fresh paint job.

“We want to get the place looking the way that we like and get the menu back on track,” Shane said. “Brunch is going to stay the same, maybe a little twist, with some of the favorites and more sandwiches for the lunch crowd during the week.”

Mix noted that the previous menu took up plenty of kitchen time and that the new menu will hopefully allow more focus in the kitchen. They will also be adding another line cook to help speed up the kitchen.

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Feel Goods Ithaca Celebrates Move to Commons

By Mikayla Rovenolt

Feel Goods Ithaca, a local clothing store and maker space in the West End, carries an array of ethically made products from small businesses and makers both locally and nationally. After being at their current location, 317 Taughannock Boulevard, for almost three years, Feel Goods will move to The Ithaca Commons in February.

Owner and maker, Heidi Brown, opened Feel Goods in November, 2023 after moving back to Ithaca. Brown said she lived in the area after college in 2007 and left in 2015 to grow her clothing brand, May and Mary.

“I did a lot of markets all over the country, like 40 or 50 markets a year,” Brown said. “I needed a break and I wanted to stay in one place. I also wanted to sell the work of my favorite makers from all of those different markets.”

Brown said May and Mary “is an ethically sourced and sustainably made” brand and bringing in other makers and brands that shared those same values was a priority for Feel Goods. During the pandemic, Brown moved back to her home state and was looking for a place to open the store.

“I have a really good community here,” Brown said. “It just made sense to come back to Ithaca. I know we love small businesses here and we love to support artists and makers so I thought it would be a good fit.”

Brown shared that she has a different perspective on Ithaca than when she was younger, citing the quality of art spaces and opportunity as highlights of the city. For Brown, the move to The Commons is an exciting one as it will mean more foot traffic than their current location offers.

Continued on Page 19

Massage Institute Opens in Trumansburg, Addresses Need for Local Training

By Lorien Tyne

This fall, the first cohort of massage students began their training at Living Essence Massage Institute in Trumansburg.

Rachel Hogancamp, founder of Living Essence, began her career in massage therapy in 1994 as a student at the Finger Lakes School of Massage, where she then taught as an instructor for many years. In 2006, she also co-founded Rasa Spa in partnership with Island Health & Fitness at the Cayuga Wellness Center.

Since January 2022, Hogancamp and

Business Briefs

Tompkins Community Bank and The Legacy Foundation Recognize Local Volunteers

Ther team have been working toward developing what has become the Living Essence Massage Institute.

Hogancamp said that for several years, there have not been any local schools graduating massage therapists, so seeing a need, she reached out to teachers in the region who she knew from her time as an instructor at Finger Lakes School of Massage. Once she had assembled a team, Hogancamp worked with them to create a curriculum with the hope it would turn into a school.

“We talked to different education institu-

tions about collaborating, and we had some wonderful conversations, and it just turned out that it seemed like a better fit to do a program of our own,” Hogancamp said.

The curriculum covers various massage techniques and approaches, including neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue massage, orthopedic massage, Shiatsu and work with special populations, among many others. Students learn about medical conditions, health care terminology and human anatomy, as well as professional competencies, such as ethics, business and interpersonal skills.

After years of planning and developing curriculum, this fall a team of local massage therapy instructors welcomed their first students at Living Essence Massage Institute.

The massage therapy certification program spans 33 weeks, during which students receive the state-required 1,000 hours of training. Once students graduate from the institute, they are qualified to sit for the

Continued on Page 19

ompkins Community Bank recently presented 11 individuals and groups with the James J. Byrnes Awards for Excellence for their outstanding service to the community. The Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County, which oversees the bank’s endowment fund, donated over $12,000 to local charities selected by each awardee.

The group recipients of the 2025 James J. Byrnes Awards for Excellence are: the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services of Tompkins County; the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County; the Friendship Donations Network for fighting food insecurity and reducing food waste; and the Mason James Owens Foundation for rewarding kindness around Trumansburg schools.

The individual recipients of the 2025 James J. Byrnes Awards for Excellence are: Latoya Peterson for her “selflessness, leadership, and extraordinary contributions” to the community; Michelle Cox for her “immense” humanitarian contributions; Shannon Hamilton of Saoirse Pastures

for her work to rescue farm animals; Jane George for her work rescuing and saving animals; Megan Williams for her dedication to local students; Charles H. Trautmann for his “tireless” volunteer work; and Mary Blinn for her dedication to her community.

Historic Ithaca Explains Temporary Closure of Its Salvage Store

Significant Elements, Historic Ithaca’s salvage store, has been temporarily closed and will remain so through at least the end of January. In a press release, Zachary Lifton, executive director of Historic Ithaca, stated that as Historic Ithaca enters its 60th anniversary year at a time of economic pressure it is taking time to consider how Significant Elements has evolved and how to best support it moving forward.

He said the temporary closure is happening now because Historic Ithaca has several important organizational processes at the start of the year such as the annual board of directors retreat where they will discuss items like budget, capacity and long-term plans. Lifton said they are also in the process of hiring a new store manager for Significant Elements.

“With a staff of just three people currently responsible for Historic Ithaca’s preservation advocacy and education work, we simply do not have the capacity to keep the store open while these various transitions are underway.”

When Significant Elements was established in 1991, it was open one day a week

with a focused mission to keep architectural materials out of landfills, put historic elements back into use and offer guidance to homeowners about preservation. Lifton stated that over time, the store has grown into a full-scale retail operation, which requires regular hours, weekend access, customer service, delivery needs and other expectations.

“This moment of pause isn’t a problem—it’s an opportunity,” Lifton stated. “We aim to make sure we’re stewarding this program responsibly and positioning it to serve the region well into the future. Your doors, knobs, fixtures, and treasures are still here: they’re waiting patiently, I promise. Our entire team is grateful for your patience as well.”

Community Foundation of Tompkins County Announces New Chief Development Officer

Trelationships, growing charitable assets and advancing initiatives that have greatly impacted the community.

Bailey has more than 15 years of experience in philanthropy, fundraising and nonprofit leadership, according to the press release. She has held positions at Centralus Health, the Tompkins Chamber, Family & Children’s Service and Hospicare. In her new role, Bailey will lead the foundation’s development strategy, donor engagement and philanthropic partnerships.

“I am deeply honored to join Community Foundation and build on the strong achievements that Nancy, George, and the staff and board of directors have created,” Bailey stated. “I look forward to working with donors and partners to support meaningful, lasting change in our community.”

Trade Design Build Opens Community

he Community Foundation of Tompkins County announced in a Jan. 12 press release that Steph Bailey has been appointed the new chief development officer. Bailey will begin in her new role on Feb. 9 and will train with Nancy Massicci, the current chief development officer who will retire from her 11-year tenure on April 30.

The press release stated that Massicci played a vital part in strengthening donor

Art Hub and More at New Facility

Trade Design Build, an integrated architecture and construction firm and Tompkins Chamber’s 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year, has finished renovating its office facility at 1520 Trumansburg Road in Ithaca.

Along with improved space for internal work, the facility now has a dedicated community art gallery in partnership with Corners Gallery, according to a press release from Trade. The gallery is curated and managed by Corners Gallery owner Ariel Ecklund and features pieces by regional

Continued on Page 19

The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

By Ithaca Times Readers

RE: Ithaca Businesses Seek Validation to Offset Parking Rate Hikes, End of Free Saturday Parking

“If the city of Ithaca kept the exit terminals in the parking garages in working condition throughout the year, they might actually collect sufficient revenue without raising rates. More often than not, when I park in the green street garage, the system is down and I park for free. I have moved 2 vehicles to that garage to avoid damage to them when severe weather was forecast.”

— Belinda S Thompson, Ithaca NY

“As a business owner, someone who has been affiliated with multiple businesses on The Commons and a resident of the area for the past 7 years, I am highly concerned with the new increase in parking rates, the end of free Saturday parking, and the lack of communication with the

rollout of these changes. This is another example of the Ithaca people taking one on the chin(s) due to a ‘clerical error.’

Last week’s article did an excellent job of conveying employers’ and employees’ current frustrations. What is additionally concerning is that our current leadership doesn’t seem to have to follow the same rules and regulations. On Friday, 1/16/26, at 10:10 a.m., I witnessed mayor Robert Cantelmo rush into the first parking spot at city hall, directly behind Autumn Leaves Used and New Books/PM Press and park at a 15-minute tow-away zone. I was surprised when I returned to that same area at 11:12 a.m. to find his vehicle still in the same spot with no ticket and obviously not towed. I spoke with a city employee in city hall, and he confirmed that this was not allowed and that the mayor does not have any special treatment when it comes to those specific parking spaces. He suggested I speak with the Ithaca City Parking Enforcer and provided me with her contact information. I spoke with her immediately, and she also confirmed that the mayor was not allowed to park there for an extended period (over 15 minutes) and that it doesn’t set a good precedent, especially during these times. Moments later the mayor came out, got into his vehicle, and politely rolled down his passenger side window as I approached his vehicle. He immediately acknowledged that he should not have parked there for so long; he was at city hall

for a meeting and showed me a laminated red piece of paper that stated that he is a city official. He seemed more concerned about who I was, what business I owned, and what businesses I am affiliated with on the Commons. I stated that it wasn’t important pertaining to the conversation that we were having and that he should be more concerned about setting a good example. He asked, ‘What do you want me to do, Buddy?’ I replied, ‘Do better. We all want you to simply do better.’ I hope that happens for all of us.” — Noah Johnson, Ithaca NY

Endorsement of U.S. Bill to Increase Foreign Aid

“Nearly a year after the United States dismantled our humanitarian aid system, the results are hard to dispute. America’s global influence has declined, thousands of lives have been lost, and the economic benefits promised to taxpayers have not appeared.

USAID represented 0.3% of the federal budget. That’s one penny out of every three taxpayer dollars. Attempting to save money by cutting USAID is like trying to squeeze water out of a rock.

Meanwhile, over 700,000 people have died as a result of our cuts to famine relief, public health, and other humanitarian programs.

And last year, China delivered more foreign aid than the US. If we don’t provide aid, other nations will align with China rather than with us.

As a volunteer with the Alliance for American Leadership, I believe in a strong American role in the world. Congress is currently considering a bill that would help restore that role — the National

Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2026. The bill enjoys bipartisan support and responsibly modernizes foreign assistance while strengthening national security.

I urge Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to support this bill. At a time of rising global instability, retreat is not an option.” — Jeramie Robinson, Ithaca NY

Endorsing Reelection of Assemblyperson Joe Sempolinski

“ Save the date. Be sure to write down Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, the date for the General Election, on your calendar. Time 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reelect Joe Sempolinski, your NYS Assemblyman. Joe is conservative, has experience with drive and ambition. To ensure your vote counts, I strongly suggest you vote early this year. One vote can make a difference. Also, encourage your relatives, neighbors and friends to go vote. It is very important to vote this year.

Vote for Joe S. as he will do a great job for you. Thank you.” — Bill Dibble, Little Genesee NY

Staffing Shortages at Beechtree

“I have second hand knowledge that there may be only 1 staff person per 40 patients at beechtree Nursing home. Employees didn't come in and those who did, left when shift was over.

Our elderly need daily care and infections and disease could spread more easily.

What does the county state require during such weather emergencies.” — Anonymous

“The ‘70s were a period when the City of Ithaca really pulled itself together to try to save downtown.”

7, 1996)

Déjà Vu

By Charley Gither

In 1975, when I was an 18-year-old college freshman, I had to make my way at the end of the academic year from Portland, Oregon to Rochester, New York. The first leg, from Portland to my friend Tim Delaney’s house in Wall, South Dakota, I did with two friends in Tim’s 1970 Chevy Nova.

It took us through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and the Rocky Mountains, with detours to the Custer Battlefield and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. That was two years after the Wounded Knee standoff.

It was decades before cell phones, and we arrived unannounced at Tim’s house, finding his physician father in flagrante delicto in the living room with a nurse from his office. He greeted us with the same aplomb as if we’d bumped into him at a restaurant, a lesson that has stayed with me. After a couple of days, I caught a ride to Rapid City, there to continue my way home by bus. The remaining 1500 miles would be courtesy of Greyhound. Fifteen hours into the trip, at midnight, I changed buses in the Chicago station. This was the final stretch — another fifteen hours to go. As we got rolling, the driver got on the speaker, presumably to introduce himself and maybe give a few details about arrival times, or weather, or perhaps the rules of the bus. It became apparent, though, about four minutes in, that he was going to talk about much more than that. I remember nothing about the contents of his disquisition except that it made

ASEMPE KITCHEN

continued from page 3

to 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 or $25 at the door for a combo meal purchased ahead via Venmo (@asempe kitchen). Sobolo drinks and other drinks from Open Spaces Cider are not included in the ticket. There will also be an auction on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 12 to 4 p.m. Yomekpe encourages people to “come and pick out that Asempe memento you’ve been eyeing.” She would like to be able to send the restaurant’s full time staff members off with a bit of a financial cushion that the auction will support. Those who wish to support Asempe Kitchen and the restaurant’s future

very little sense and showed every sign of never ending. After an hour of this (not exaggerating), someone toward the front of the bus shouted, “shut the f*ck up!”

Three things about that statement: first, it’s what every passenger was thinking. Second, it wasn’t me. Last, it was a terrible tactical blunder.

The driver took immediate offense and started yelling at all of us. I remember he seemed particularly focused on the idea that we were bad, ungrateful passengers and not deserving of what he had to offer. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got and, I guess to teach us a lesson, he ended up pulling a bumpy U-turn across the median on Interstate-90 and heading back toward Chicago.

If this had happened in 2026, every passenger’s cell phone would have lit up and the Illinois State Police would have intercepted the bus. As I said, though, cell phones were the realm of Dick Tracy in 1975 and we were captive and incommunicado. We were along for this guy’s meltdown, whatever that was going to mean.

So, trapped on a bus with a demented driver hurtling the wrong way to an uncertain destination in the middle of the night…THAT’s what it feels like in America right now. I knew it seemed familiar.

By the way, we got back to Chicago and Greyhound gave us a new driver, thereby ending that particular nightmare. No idea about the rumor that the original driver is now the Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

endeavors can donate at the website https:// www.gofundme.com/f/support-asempesnext-chapter.

“While this is a bittersweet decision, we want to lead with gratitude,” Yomekpe said in a statement. “We are deeply thankful for the opportunity to bring Asempe Kitchen to life in Ithaca: to share West African flavors, introduce plant-forward traditions, and create a space where food, culture, and community could meet. This experience has been meaningful beyond words. For everyone who welcomed us, supported us, nominated us for the plethora of awards and recognitions we got, and showed up with curiosity and love, we are forever grateful.”

Eye on the Times: Seeing, Imagining, Manifesting

By Roy Allen: Director of Strategic Partnerships — The Ithaca Times, Finger Lakes Community Newspapers and Ithaca.com

Every newspaper tells stories, but few pause to notice the stories it is not yet telling. Each week, the pages of the Ithaca Times and our five Finger Lakes Community Newspapers record events, debates and ideas that shape our community. Yet even as headlines are printed and columns filled, gaps remain—areas of curiosity, voices waiting to be heard, and subjects hovering at the edges of awareness. It is in these absences that Eye on the Times finds its purpose.

Eye on the Times is a new initiative designed to illuminate what might be missing, to invite imagination, and to transform ideas into realized features. It is founded on a simple principle: attention uncovers opportunity, imagination gives it life and thoughtful action gives it shape. Within this ecosystem, the roles are distinct but interconnected: our staff act as Seers, readers become Muses, and new series emerge as Manifestations of and from our community.

The first role, that of the Seer, is held by the staff and freelancers of our local newspapers. Their responsibility is not to predict the future or to claim creative authority. Rather, it is to notice gaps or absences of representation, to observe patterns, and to ask, “What is missing here?” Across our pages, we aim to record life, politics, culture and community, yet certain stories often go untold. Perhaps a local artist’s work has never been chronicled beyond a fleeting mention. Perhaps the rhythms of the animal kingdom pass quietly through our streets without sustained attention. Our staff’s role is to identify these lacunae—to act as attentive eyes, watching the newspapers themselves for spaces yet to be filled.

Readers step into the second role: that of the Muse. Our Muses are not a passive audience but active participants in imagining possibilities. When a gap is identified, readers contribute curiosity, attention, and insight. They

notice, reflect and imagine how a story or series could grow to fill the absence. In this way, the newspaper becomes a collaborative canvas. Letters, observations, suggestions, and shared experience all feed the process, transforming what begins as a simple observation into a communal sense of anticipation. Readers, as Muses, supply the energy, inspiration and context that breathe life into potential features.

When attention and imagination converge, new features emerge as Manifestations of our shared community. These are the series and columns that move from possibility to reality, filling the gaps first noticed by staff and shaped by readers. One such manifestation is Critter Times: Tales from the Animal Kingdom. For years, the movements and behaviors of nonhuman neighbors in Ithaca—the birds, squirrels, foxes, and insects that share our streets, yards, and waterways—appeared in our newspapers only occasionally in scattered mentions or passing notes. Readers expressed interest, shared stories, and celebrated the creatures they encountered in their daily lives.

Our staff has observed this absence, noting that while the community was alive with curiosity about animals, the paper had no consistent place for these stories. Through Eye on the Times, we are manifesting Critter Times, a regular series celebrating the richness, mischief and importance of the local animal kingdom, making the previously invisible visible.

Critter Times is only the first example. The framework of Eye on the Times allows our newspapers to continually observe and respond to gaps in all areas of coverage. Future manifestations may explore underrepresented aspects of education, the arts, local science and technology or community governance. Each will emerge in the same cycle: staff noticing, readers imagining and the feature taking form. In doing so, Eye on the Times strengthens the connection between the newspaper and its readers, reminding us all that the pages of

Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership: Thank You, Deb Mohlenhoff

By Roy Allen, Director of Strategic Partnerships — Ithaca Times, Finger Lakes Community Newspapers, www.ithaca.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: This opinion piece was written by Roy Allen, the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Ithaca Times and Finger Lakes Community Newspapers. It was written with input from several of Mohlenhoff’s colleagues in an effort to recognize her years of public service to the Ithaca community. Allen has no role in news gathering or reporting at the Ithaca Times, and this piece does not reflect or influence the paper’s reporting or editorial independence.

Public service is often demanding, sometimes thankless, but always vital. Few exemplify its quiet dedication better than Deb Mohlenhoff. For decades, she has served Ithaca with integrity, vision, and genuine care for the people and communities around her.

Thomas Knipe, Director of the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council, shared, “Deb led the City with integrity, dedication to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation, and care for her colleagues.”

Michael Thorne, PE, former superintendent of Public Works, echoed this admiration, saying, “Deb was one of the best managers I've seen and worked with in my 40-year career. Her leadership skills, knowledge of the city, and enthusiasm for public service are top notch, and it was a pleasure working with her. Her departure is a huge loss to City residents and staff.”

Former Deputy County Administrator Paula E.F. Younger also reflected on Deb’s leadership and character, saying, “Working with Deb over the years, I’ve been continually inspired by her clarity of thought, her deep commitment to public service, and her ability to lead with both head and heart. She brings intelligence, compassion, and a steady, grounded presence to every role she takes on. Her contributions, seen and unseen, have

Deb Mohlenhoff served as Ithaca’s first City Manager from January 2024 to December 2025. (Photo: Ed Dittenhoefer/Ithaca Times File)

strengthened this community in lasting ways. I am grateful to call her a colleague and a friend.”

Former Common Council colleague George McGonigal reflected on nearly a decade of close collaboration: “I served with Deb Mohlenhoff on Common Council for roughly ten years. Most of that time we served together on the City Administration Committee, which she chaired. Deb’s dedication to Ithaca, and to the people who work for the City, is a couple notches above exemplary. Her skills with budget organization and presentation were outstanding. She recognized staff who were doing good work and let them know about it. Deb Mohlenhoff will be missed. I wish her the very best.”

Rob Gearhart—sssociate dean of communications at Ithaca College and former member of the Ithaca Common Council— added, “I am a friend of Deb and former colleague, so I wholeheartedly agree she deserves to be recognized for her incredible commitment to the City of Ithaca. Like many of us, Deb’s contributions on Common Council were accomplished while also managing the responsibilities of demanding ‘day jobs’ and other com-

Construction at Cornell: The Cost on Climate and Why Ithaca Needs to Care

By Clio Westhoff

Every morning, on my walk to class across the Arts Quad on Cornell’s sprawling campus, I sip my iced coffee from Collegetown Bagels (always iced, despite the Ithaca frigidity) and listen to Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You” through my wired headphones. The song’s jazzy, percussive bass line wakes up my half-sleeping brain for my morning class… unless it’s a construction morning. Between Zeppelin’s lines of desperate love, jackhammers and power drills pierce the air, continuing to disrupt throughout my morning classes. Between path obstructions and diesel emissions from the construction sites, the campus is becoming more of a hub for pollution than publications.

Cornell is experiencing one of the largest construction booms in its history, with over $4 billion in active or planned capital projects on the Ithaca campus. This includes new residential complexes, large renovation projects, and entire academic buildings. The North Campus Residential Expansion, for instance, broke ground in 2019 and ultimately produced five residence halls waving a $270 million price tag. Cornell recently announced another major investment in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, a monumental academic complex with over a $100 million allocated budget fueling its development.

These projects are often framed as progress. But progress for whom? Every new building comes with a hidden climate bill: embodied carbon, or the emissions tied to producing and transporting materials like concrete, steel, and glass. Concrete alone accounts for 8% of global CO₂ emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. Steel adds another 7–9%, by the World Steel Association’s estimate.

These emissions shouldn’t simply disappear because they are “academic.” All emissions are impactful, whether from an Ivy League campus or a coal plant. Ithaca passed its ambitious Green New Deal in 2019, committing the city to community-wide carbon neutral-

ity by 2030. That commitment includes transportation, housing, and energy. But Cornell’s construction is rarely accounted for. In the Tompkins County Greenhouse Gas Emissions report, the region’s inventories exclude embodied carbon from infrastructure, meaning Cornell’s climate footprint is effectively “off the books.”

Cornell, for its part, markets itself as a sustainability leader. The university promises to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. Its Climate Action Plan highlights increased integration of energy systems, renewable technology, and campus operations. But the plan makes no binding commitment to measure or reduce embodied carbon from construction, the very emissions currently dominating campus development.

So the reality is this: while Ithaca is fighting tooth and nail to decarbonize, Cornell is building at a level that undermines the city’s tireless work towards carbon neutrality. When a corporation or landlord conducts construction downtown, their emissions count. When the region tries to hit climate benchmarks, they are held accountable. But when Cornell builds up, tears down, and rebuilds again, the carbon cost gets tucked under the banner of “academic excellence.”

This matters beyond climate math. Students breathe the consequences. Diesel exhaust from construction equipment releases fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that has been linked to asthma and cardiovascular diseases. On windy days, you can taste the dust in the air while walking past the Ag Quad renovations. When the jackhammers fire during class, we aren’t just interrupted, we’re being told that this form of disruption is an acceptable accompaniment to intellectual growth.

If Cornell insists on building, it should be held to the same climate standards as any other entity in Ithaca. That means three things: first, the City of Ithaca must require embodied-carbon reporting for all Cornell projects prior to construction

The Enduring Voice of Margaret Chase Smith — 1950

Curated by Roy Allen: Director of Strategic Partnerships — Ithaca Times, Finger Lakes Community Newspapers, www.ithaca.com

Many voices have shaped the nation we call America. This week we feature the first woman to serve in both houses of the US Congress — former Senator from Maine — Margaret Chase Smith, from her speech “The Declaration of Conscience, ” delivered to the US Senate on June 1, 1950. In a time of deep division, voices from the past can help guide us toward greater unity. These speeches were not delivered in silence— they were spoken across physical and philosophical divides, sustained by courage, and animated by hope. They remind us that freedom is not a solo act, but a shared endeavor of hope and sacrifice. Today, many Americans believe we are more divided than ever. This is not true. America, since its founding has as Dickens once wrote, experienced “the best of times and the worst of times”. Now is no different.

The Declaration of Conscience 1950 — Margaret Chase SmithUS Senate-Washington, DC

Mr. President, I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear. It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership either in the legislative branch or the executive branch of our government. . . .

. . . I speak as a Republican. I speak as a woman. I speak as a United States senator. I speak as an American. . . . . . . I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some real soul searching and to weigh our consciences as to the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America and the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges.

I think that it is high time that we remembered that we have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. I think that it is high time that we remembered that the Constitution, as amended, speaks not only of the freedom of speech,

but also of trial by jury instead of trial by accusation.

Whether it be a criminal prosecution in court or a character prosecution in the Senate, there is little practical distinction when the life of a person has been ruined.

“The Basic Principles of Americanism”

Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism —

The right to criticize. The right to hold unpopular beliefs. The right to protest. The right of independent thought.

The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs. Who of us does not?

Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own. Otherwise thought control would have set in.

The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as “Communists” or “Fascists”1 by their opponents. Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others.

The American people are sick and tired of seeing innocent people smeared and guilty people whitewashed. But there have been enough proved cases . . . to cause nationwide distrust and strong suspicion that there may be something to the unproved, sensational accusations. A Challenge to the Republican Party

As a Republican, I say to my colleagues on this side of the aisle that the Republican party faces a challenge today that is not unlike the challenge that it faced back in Lincoln’s day. The Republican Party so successfully met that challenge that it emerged from the Civil War as the champion of a united nation – in addition to being a party that unrelentingly fought loose spending and loose programs . . . .

The Democratic administration has greatly lost the confidence of the American people by its complacency to the threat of communism here at home and the leak of vital secrets to Russia through key officials of the Democratic administration. There are enough proved cases to make this point without diluting our criticism with unproved charges.

Surely these are sufficient reasons to make it clear to the American people that it is time for a change and that a Republican victory is necessary to the security of this country . . . . Yet to displace it with a Republican regime embracing a philosophy that lacks political integrity or intellectual honesty would prove equally disastrous to this Nation. The nation sorely needs a Republican victory. But I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory . . . [using] fear, ignorance, bigotry, and smear . . . I do not want to see the Republican party win that way. While it might be a fleeting victory for the Republican party, it would be a more lasting defeat for the American people. Surely it would ultimately be suicide for the Republican party and the two-party system that has protected our American liberties from the dictatorship of a one-party system.

As members of the minority party, we do not have the primary authority to formulate the policy of our government. But we do have the responsibility of rendering constructive criticism, of clarifying issues, of allaying fears by acting as responsible citizens.

As a woman, I wonder how the mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters feel about the way in which members of their families have been politically mangled in Senate debate — and I use the word “debate” advisedly . . .

I do not like the way the Senate has been made a rendezvous for vilification, for selfish political gain at the sacrifice of individual reputations and national unity. I am not proud of the way we

smear outsiders from the floor of the Senate and hide behind the cloak of congressional immunity and still place ourselves beyond criticism on the floor of the Senate.

As an American, I am shocked at the way Republicans and Democrats alike are playing directly into the Communist design of “confuse, divide, and conquer.”

As an American, I don’t want a Democratic administration “whitewash” or “cover-up” any more than I want a Republican smear or witch hunt.

As an American, I condemn a Republican Fascist just as much as I condemn a Democrat Communist. I condemn a Democrat Fascist just as much as I condemn a Republican Communist. They are equally dangerous to you and me and to our country. As an American, I want to see our nation recapture the strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy instead of ourselves.

It is with these thoughts I have drafted what I call a Declaration of Conscience. I am gratified that the senator from New Hampshire, the senator from Vermont, the senator from Oregon, the senator from New York, the senator from Minnesota and the senator from New Jersey have concurred in that declaration and have authorized me to announce their concurrence.

The declaration reads as follows: Statement of Seven Republican Senators3 We are Republicans. But we are Americans first. It is as Americans that we express our concern with the growing confusion that threatens the security and stability of our country. Democrats and Republicans alike have contributed to that confusion.

The Democratic administration has initially created the confusion by its lack of effective leadership, by its contradictory grave warnings and optimistic assurances, by its complacency to the threat of communism here at home, by its oversensitiveness to rightful criticism, by its petty bitterness against its critics.

Certain elements of the Republican party have materially added to this confusion in the hopes of riding the Republican party to victory through the selfish political exploitation of fear,

permits. Emissions from steel, cement, trucking, and disposal should count toward our 2030 climate goals. Second, Cornell must commit to low-carbon construction materials, including reducedcement concrete and recycled steel, which

universities such as UCLA and MIT have already begun integrating. Third, renovation should be prioritized over demolition. If a building works, “luxury updates” are not defensible in a community fighting for climate survival.

Ithaca chose a future worth protecting when it passed its Green New Deal. The city has done the work, so now it's time for its largest polluting neighbor to join

the effort. Until Cornell accounts for the carbon it pours into its foundations, the community’s climate promises remain incomplete. The cranes may stop moving eventually, but their emissions will last much longer than the lecture halls they’ve built.

Clio Westhoff is a student at Cornell University.

Guthrie Orthopedics

bigotry, ignorance, and intolerance. There are enough mistakes of the Democrats for Republicans to criticize constructively without resorting to political smears.

To this extent, Democrats and Republicans alike have unwittingly, but undeniably, played directly into the Communist design of “confuse, divide, and conquer.”

It is high time that we stopped thinking politically as Republicans and Democrats about elections and started thinking patriotically as Americans about national security based on individual freedom. It is high time that we all stopped being tools and victims of totalitarian techniques — techniques that, if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life.

Next week, we will publish Martin Luther King Jr ’s 1963 infamous speech — “I have a Dream”, purposefully delayed until after the recent designated national holiday because messages from Americans like King, Chase-Smith and others of their ilk deserve more respect and attention than one day can possibly deliver or contain

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Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Celebrates 50 Years

By Mikayla Rovenolt

Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services 2025 staff pose together with the Lucy Brown statue in front of the McHenry Building. (Photo: Provided)

While Ithaca and Tompkins County continue to change with the years, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) has been a strong fixture. Having served the community since 1976, the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. INHS builds, maintains and restores affordable homes throughout the region. The idea of a Neighborhood Housing Service (NHS) was introduced in the 1960s by Dorothy Richardson of Pittsburgh. She defined it as a coalition dedicated to strengthening low-income neighborhoods through reinvestment and collaboration.

1976, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services was born.

According to INHS, Ithaca was inspired by Richardson’s work. The Urban Reinvestment Task Force then brought the concept to Ithaca in 1976, where Mayor Ed Conley, Citizens Bank’s then-president Ken Myers, and local residents supported the idea. Thus, on September 28,

Since its creation, INHS has done a variety of community-centered projects from buying the McHenry Building in the Southside of Ithaca, to building Village Grove in Trumansburg and many other housing projects. From home improvements, to renting, home buying and home buying education, INHS offers a variety of home-related options for everyone in the community.

“We do so many different things; we move fast and we innovate quickly and responsively,” Executive Director, Kate de la Garza, said. “It’s hard to distill us down into one word or one statement. We believe very deeply in being a human-centered community development. We are extraordinarily people and impact centered so that informs everything we do and how thoughtfully and intentionally we both run our organization and continue to move the needle on what we’re

producing. That’s at the core of everything we do.”

Village Grove resident Katherine Stewart echoed this sentiment when speaking with Ithaca Times. Stewart is retired and was already living in Trumansburg when a family member told her about Village Grove. She said she excitedly applied, was accepted, and has lived there for a year now.

“For me personally, it’s been very, very good,” Stewart said. “The application process was not hard and the people I worked with down in Ithaca were really, really good to me. Anything goes wrong, and things do, you know, they’re right on it. They get things fixed the way they should be. It’s just been very nice that I don’t have to worry about things like that. It’s been a joy being here.”

Neighborhood Housing Services was first recognized by Congress in 1978 and is known today as NeighborWorks America, the national network of NHSs. Ithaca’s NHS stands as a countrywide model in affordable housing.

Last year alone, INHS provided over $918,000 in support to first-time homebuyers, according to its annual report. This allowed 30 households to purchase homes with financial assistance of up to $20,000 and helped over 1,200 residents with a median income of $13,000 find a safe and affordable home to rent.

“Whether you’re buying a home or renting a home or we’re repairing your home, folks are inviting us into the most vulnerable and important spaces in their lives. That is never lost on us,” de la Garza said. “Whether we’re fixing a work order in someone's rental or building a new home for them to buy or repairing a faucet in an elderly community member’s home, it’s so key to who we are. And I do think it does distinguish us from our competitors.”

INHS is a NeighborWorks organization along with 250 other communities across the United States. In 2025, and many times before, INHS was rated an exemplary housing organization. Ithaca was one of the first NeighborWorks organizations so, according to de la Garza, it is like INHS and NeighborWorks have grown up together.

land, Schuyler, Seneca and Tioga Counties. A year after the expansion, INHS affiliated with Better Housing of Tompkins County (BHTC), another local affordable housing nonprofit organization.

“We function as one and now Better Housing is known as INHS,” de la Garza

help make housing more affordable and sustainable. They were one of the first community development corporations to embrace Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

LEED is the benchmark for national residential green building. Completed in 2007, 502 First Street in Ithaca became the first project that earned prestigious LEED Gold certification, underscoring INHS’ commitment to both affordability and environmental responsibility.

“Whether you’re buying a home or renting a home or we’re repairing your home, folks are inviting us into the most vulnerable and important spaces in their lives. That is never lost on us.”

— Kate de la Garza, Executive Director of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services

“I think when that state sees our projects, they know that they are representative of the communities we’re in and that we worked really hard to build a good product that is going to serve whatever location we’re in,” de la Garza said.

INHS is not just an Ithaca organization, it has expanded over 50 years to cover more than Tompkins County. Since 2014, INHS has worked in Cayuga, Chemung, Cort-

said. “It was a strategic decision point for us. The affiliation was very responsible and wise for us because it allowed us to respond to a seven county service area and to meet the needs across a much larger footprint. When people are looking at homes we look far and wide with them.”

Part of INHS’ mission to help meet people’s needs includes a green aspect to

“After 2007 is when we began to develop a lot of our multifamily buildings so these in the early years were all LEED as well,” de la Garza said. “Now it’s passive house builds. It is the newest most aggressive green design that you can do.”

Passive house builds require enhanced insulation, windows, and tight sealing around electrical wiring and anywhere there may be other holes in the building to keep all of the heating and cooling in the building in an efficient manner.

“Once we built LEED buildings we

found some of them still didn’t perform as well from a heating and cooling standpoint and so passive houses came out of that,” de la Garza added. “Its also geothermal. We have a solar farm we are connected to and heat pumps on the smaller buildings so our goal is to be net zero.”

Along with LEED, INHS homes are also certified by Energy Star and Indoor airPLUS. More information about INHS’ sustainability efforts can be found at https:// www.ithacanhs.org/sustainability.

With the foundation for INHS being laid in the Southside and Northside neighborhoods of Ithaca, to the now seven county-wide efforts, INHS says they have not lost sight of what matters to them as a community-focused organization.

“I think our charge for the fiftieth is how do we keep our identity that started with Lucy [Brown] specific to racial equity and neighborhood serving, because it was very geographically specific,” de la Garza concluded. “To translate those values, which we still hold dear, to an ever growing service area and ever growing lines of business, that’s going to be one of our strategic directions moving forward for the next fifty.”

HOROSCOPES

ARIES — You’re usually full speed ahead, but today even superheroes need a nap. Take a break, laugh a little, and resist the urge to turn relaxation into a competition.

TAURUS — The stars strongly recommend comfort today. Good food, a cozy seat, and zero guilt. If resting were a sport, you’d win gold.

GEMINI — Your mind wants fun, fun, and more fun. Take a break, chat with friends, or enjoy something silly. Multitasking is allowed — napping counts too.

CANCER —Home is your happy place today. Rest, relax, and enjoy simple pleasures. Emotional drama is canceled — snacks are encouraged.

LEO — The spotlight can wait. Today’s performance is all about enjoying yourself without an— audience. Rest up — even stars need to recharge.

VIRGO — You may feel tempted to organize your relaxation. Don’t. Leave the to-do list behind and enjoy fun that requires absolutely no planning.

LIBRA — Balance is your thing, and today it means equal parts fun and rest. Say yes to laughter and no to overthinking. Harmony looks good on you.

SCORPIO — You’ve been intense lately — even for you. Lighten up, take a break, and enjoy something playful. Mystery can wait; comfort cannot.

SAGITTARIUS — Adventure is calling, but so is your couch. Today, fun comes in small doses and rest comes first. Wander later.

CAPRICORN — Work will still be there tomorrow. The stars insist you clock out early and enjoy guilt-free downtime. Yes, it’s allowed.

AQUARIUS — Your ideas are buzzing, but today’s best one is taking a break. Do something fun, weird, or wonderfully lazy.

PISCES — Dream, drift, and rest today. Fun arrives when you slow down. Bonus points if you laugh at something completely silly.

AROUND THE BEND

PICK-A-VOWEL

Fill in the missing vowels to complete the phrase.

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” Is a Deliciously Unholy Mix of Zombies, Satan, and Jimmy Savile

By Clement Obropta

Another year, another horror movie where Jack O’Connell plays a creep. Last year, he was the earnest, sympathetic singing Irish vampire in Ryan Coogler’s Oscar darling “Sinners,” but in “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” he plays someone far darker and more disturbing. We first saw O’Connell’s character, a blondehaired, tracksuit-wearing psychopath named Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, at the conclusion of “28 Years Later” last year, where he and his homicidal band of white-haired punks called “the Jimmies” rescued teenager Spike (Alfie Williams) from a group of Infected. Now, the sequel, “The Bone Temple,” follows him, Spike, and the Jimmies as they wander the wastelands of post-apocalyptic Great Britain, torturing and killing anyone they meet in the name of Satan.

O’Connell’s cult leader, clearly inspired by “A Clockwork Orange” and the prolific nonce Jimmy Savile, terrorizes a cottage of innocent survivors in one half of the story of “The Bone Temple.” In the other half of the

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”

Rated R Directed by Nia

DaCosta

story, in a field of pillars and towers made of human bones, Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Ian Kelson tries to connect with, and ultimately treat, the enormous “Alpha” zombie he calls Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). Samson routinely attacks the doctor’s sanctuary, and Kelson, who cannot possibly fight him, can only hide and prick Samson with a morphine-laden blowdart if he gets too close. Only, the creature has become somewhat addicted to the morphine, and so Samson begins seeking out Kelson not to kill him, but to get another shot of the good stuff.

Peacefully immolating corpses and steadily befriending Samson, Kelson is again the film’s highlight, as delightfully frank as he was in “28 Years Later.” Fiennes’ performance is witty, energetic, and inspired, whether he’s singing Duran Duran while he works or slow-dancing with the drugged Alpha zombie. As Samson, ChiPerry also absolutely kills it. Watching Samson struggle to rediscover his repressed humanity is one of the film’s true treasures. The story, written by regular franchise scribe Alex Garland (who also wrote “Civil War” and “Annihilation”), sees these two orbiting forces — the Jimmies and the good doctor — inexorably collide.

Nia DaCosta directs the sequel, representing the welcome return of a Black female voice to the franchise after Naomie Harris was the co-lead of the original film. It’s also, probably, the biggest-budgeted horror film directed by a Black woman, so that’s something. But while Danny Boyle’s genre-defining “28 Years Later” was a propulsive, queasy, violent coming-of-age saga offering rich subtext about the consequences of isolationism and Britain’s increasing

irrelevance in the modern world, “The Bone Temple” instead settles for being merely violent, with few meaningful themes to chew on.

There’s fun to be had in this messy, unholy study of evil. The climax is one of the most imaginative, daring, and totally unexpected setpieces of any blockbuster in recent memory. And DaCosta finds beautiful images in the ruins of Britain, particularly with gorgeous timelapse shots of the Bone Temple from photographer Freddie Claire. But the American filmmaker’s take on this decidedly British story otherwise comes across as completely neutered. Removed from Boyle’s avant-garde cinematography and editing and relatively tame in terms of its gore and thrills, it’s far closer to the welldirected but banal “28 Weeks Later” than it is to Boyle’s post-Brexit masterpiece.

Rather than introducing new dimensions to the world, Garland and DaCosta have tried to go deeper, not wider, and it appears that they hit bedrock pretty fast. The story, which tries to touch on themes like religious fanaticism and youth gangs, soon becomes just another meditation on grisly violence and religion more broadly, themes have been thoroughly explored in horror and in recent zombie media more specifically. The zombie scenes aren’t nearly as visceral this time around, either, and the finale, though incredible, lacks Garland’s usual panache for tying together disparate story threads.

Most disappointingly, the characters of Kelson and Jimmy feel unexplored and underutilized. For the film to be a truly effective

Arts & Entertainment

History Center in Tompkins County Opens New Exhibit

By Mikayla Rovenolt

The Power of Water: A Dam Good Exhibit is set to open at the History Center in Tompkins County. The grand opening celebration will take place Feb. 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the History Center located at 110 North Tioga Street, Ithaca.

The new exhibition is designed by Cindy Kjellander-Cantu and explores the important role water has played in shaping Tompkins County’s landscape, infrastructure, economy, and culture. It includes displays on water protections, dams, mills, tourism, floods and geology.

According to the History Center, “Tompkins County stands as a vibrant testament to the power of water, an essential resource that not only sustains life but also enriches our environment. This vital element profoundly shapes various aspects of our lives—from climate and agriculture to transportation and industry. Additionally, it serves as an unparalleled source of inspiration for artists and musicians, fueling creativity and passion.”

Exhibit curator Cindy KjellanderCantu has been working with the History Center for 10 years and shared that the History Center is a nice place for people to connect with local history.

WATER PERMIT

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basic modern safeguards, such as requirements for meters to measure water withdrawals. Weiser said the facility currently calculates its withdrawal volumes based on pump capacity, which she finds unacceptable under modern rigorous standards. She said the facility’s operational profile has materially changed because the previous power plant withdrew about 250 million gallons of water per day, while the data center would need to withdraw 1 million gallons per day.

“28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE”

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interrogation of faith and evil, we would need to learn more about Jimmy’s motivations and why he developed this Satanist Savile-

She added that the exhibit committee typically has a five-year plan to work from when it comes to putting together exhibits.

“We try to change the themes depending on what's really happening, what's relatable, and how people can connect to the history and sense of place,” KjellanderCantu said. “Whether they’re a visitor or somebody who lived in the area for a very long time, we want to always have something to peak their interest.”

Kjellander-Cantu added that we have an abundance of water in Tompkins County and the thought was how can the History Center talk about that.

“How can we find ways for people to connect with water and view water as a living entity that sustains us and also see what a long history is behind water,” Kjellander-Cantu said. “Who are the people that have kept the vitality of water? There was a lot of brainstorming and thinking about that on deeper levels.”

The committee also thought about the history of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫʼ people in the region and how water has impacted their lives.

Being on Cayuga Lake has had an impact on the industry around Tompkins County and the surrounding areas. Kjellander-Cantu said that there are so many dams, historically and presently, in the county and so they asked about their

Weiser said the facility no longer operates as a power plant and its future water usage is tied to unclear industrial purposes.

“Given the age of the permit, the absence of modern monitoring requirements, the lack of reliable historical withdrawal data, and the material change in use, there is no regulatory or environmental justification for treating this as a mere modification,” Weiser said. “A new application supported by a contemporary environmental review is both reasonable and necessary to ensure protection of Cayuga Lake and compliance with current standards.”

an persona. Jimmy believes that the only logical behavior in a broken world devoid of rules is to find joy in senseless torture and murder, to inflict pain and torment on the few lucky people still alive — but the shocking acts of violence his followers commit can only tell us so much about Jimmy himself.

history and the impact the creation or loss of the dams has had on water in Tompkins County. The Power of Water being the title of the exhibit came from some of these questions and the overall impact water has had on the region.

For Kjallander-Cantu, it is difficult to pick a favorite piece of the exhibit, but she did share that her favorite part of the curation process is discovering the little pieces of history that many people do not know about.

Legislator Iris Packman, who supported the resolution, emphasized the need for a clear explanation of how the facility will manage water resources. She noted that the two primary options for water usage—evaporative cooling or direct release back into Cayuga Lake—require detailed scrutiny. Packman argued that before state approval is granted, the public must know the chemical composition and temperature of any water returned to the lake to prevent environmental degradation.

Legislator Judith Hubbard criticized the broad nature of the 2021 permit that was

Still, “The Bone Temple” is not a bad night at the movies. DaCosta’s savvy direction largely steers us safely through the carnage. In its best moments, beyond the screaming and the stabbing, the film finds a soul of its own, as when Kelson and Samson dance together among the bone

For this exhibit, they have wooden pipes that used to carry water underground, photographs from various floods, and histories of the local mills, to name a few exhibit pieces.

“We just try to dive in and not necessarily give people the answers, but really give people something to stand on and think about,” Kjellander-Cantu concluded. “Think within themselves and what it means to them in their lives.”

originally filed for a retired coal plant site with an undetermined future purpose. She said it could possibly cover a data center or any other high-intensity operation without a project-specific environmental review. Hubbard said residents believe New York state has ignored public concerns and failed in its duty to conserve natural resources on behalf of the community.

Legislator Randy Brown told concerned citizens to take direct action by contacting State Assemblymember Anna Kelles and State Senator Lea Webb through emails and phone calls.

pillars, or when the doctor finally meets Jimmy and sits quietly on the banks of a stream, chatting and bargaining with a psychopath.

Clement Obropta is a film columnist for the Ithaca Times.

MIX RESTAURANT REBRANDS

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Modern Ohana will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a new menu, inspired by the countries and islands bordering, and within, the Pacific Ocean, Asian fusion, the owners said.

“Ohana means family right, so we want this to be kid friendly too,” Mix said. “We’re really excited for this to be a

FEEL GOODS ITHACA

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Next month, shoppers can find Feel Goods in what once was One World Market.

“I’ve always walked by it and thought it was a beautiful space,” Brown said. “I love the little separation of the upstairs; it has these beautiful giant windows, so I’m just really excited to move in there.”

“We're thrilled to have [Heidi] and really excited to have downtown host her busi-

MASSAGE INSTITUTE OPENS IN TRUMANSBURG

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New York state licensing examination.

During the first 30 weeks, students attend in-person classes at the institute from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each weekday. In addition to class, students practice under the guidance of an instructor for clients at the on-site Public Clinic. Community members can sign up for a 90-minute massage with a student therapist for $75.

The final three weeks are for Community Practicum, when students work at offcampus community facilities. Hogancamp said that the institute is still figuring out which organizations students will work with during their practicum. She said she hopes to send students to places that

BUSINESS BRIEFS

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creators in addition to some of Trade’s woodworking and designed products. The press release stated that the goal is to foster an active community design hub where regular exhibitions and events are held.

“Looking ahead to 2026, we are planning to present an array of public events that will interweave art, architecture, design, and sustainability — mirroring the interests of both Trade Design Build and

neighborhood restaurant. We’re on our own out here. We don’t have foot traffic like the commons so people have to plan to come here.”

Shane shared that part of the rebrand will include a children’s section of the menu and more affordable pricing that will hopefully encourage people to visit the restaurant. He said he has been working on the new menu for the last few months.

“We were kind of unsure what we were going to do, but I started making

ness that has a unique mix of items and really draws in a host of the people that we serve in our downtown,” said Downtown Ithaca Alliance CEO, Nan Rohrer. “It’s another activated storefront that we're excited to have as part of the mix.”

The Commons space is about half the size of Feel Goods’ current location, according to Brown, so patrons can expect the feel and layout of the store to be different. There will be less vendors, but best sellers will still be available.

would benefit from the collaboration and where students could serve clients like the elder community or people that couldn’t otherwise afford body work.

The institute’s rolling admission structure allows new students to begin every 10 weeks. The first cohort of nine students began Sept. 29 and two more students began Dec. 8. Hogancamp said the program can take up to 24 students at a time, allowing for small classes in which students and instructors can work closely.

“They’ve been incredibly wonderful to work with,” she said of the students. “It was really beautiful to hear them talk about already being a family — things that I think massage school does because of the kind of work in the environment that’s here, is that people really feel connected to each other, and it’s a lovely thing to wit-

Corners Gallery,” Ecklund stated in the press release.

K-HOUSE Will Return Downtown in Former Watershed/Downstairs Space

K-HOUSE Karaoke & Arts Hub plans to reopen on Feb. 17 in a new downtown space after building issues at its former Catherwood Road location forced the business to close in August.

After being housed at Lot 10 for six months, K-HOUSE is readying its new space in the historic Exchange Building

the menu and it just evolved from there,” Shane said. “It’s a very fairly priced menu. Everything is around $26 and down, except the steak, which is to be expected.”

Mix added that the best sellers at Mix had been their Asian dishes so they knew they wanted to keep things like the noodle bowls. The menu will also include updated drinks with a tropical twist and some served in tiki cups as well as items that cover each dietary need.

As a result of the change of space, Brown mentioned that although the stained glass workshops will no longer be offered, ice dying and block printing will still be available for sign up, along with new workshops yet to be announced.

Brown’s mother teaches her own stained glass workshops in her home, two hours from Ithaca, but stepped in to help Feel Goods by offering stained glass workshops once a month. Brown, whose brand uses upcycling methods such as ice

ness and to help foster.”

Hogancamp said there is an application and interview process to enroll, but no prior experience with massage practice is needed. The institute’s only enrollment requirement is a high school diploma or GED.

She said some students are just beginning their massage therapy career, while others may need additional hours to be licensed in New York state. In the U.S. only Puerto Rico, Nebraska and New York require 1,000 hours of massage therapy school, with most other regions requiring 500-750 hours.

In addition to the certification program, Rasa Spa’s internal continuing education program for its therapists is relocating to the institute. The program, launching in early 2026, will be open to the general public as well as Rasa staff.

at 121 W State Street, which until recently was the longtime home of The Watershed and The Downstairs.

Alina Kim, founder of K-HOUSE Karaoke Lounge & Suites, stated in a press release that K-HOUSE was going to move in next door but shifted plans when Ashley Cake, owner of The Watershed and The Downstairs, announced her bars would be closing at the end of 2025.

“This is not about taking over or replacing what Ashley built,” Kim stated. “The Watershed and The Downstairs created something uncompromising and

Both Shane and Mix said many menu favorites will be staying on the menu and that the overall response to their rebrand has been positive. They also clarified that the restaurant is not under new ownership or with a new chef.

Modern Ohana will officially open Feb. 5 for breakfast only at 7:30 a.m. and will remain open for breakfast through Sunday, Feb. 8. They will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner starting Feb. 10 at 7:30 a.m.

dye and block printing, decided to offer those skills as workshops in addition to the stained glass offering.

Once Feel Goods is settled into its new home, Brown will be having local artists host workshops beginning in mid-March. Feel Goods is set to open on Friday, Feb. 13 at 171 East State Street in The Commons. In the meantime, the online store will be open for orders with special pick-up times. Further official updates can be found on Feel Goods’ Instagram or through their e-mail list.

“We've moved it up to the massage Institute because it just makes more sense for it to be here,” Hogancamp said. “We wanted to give ourselves a little bit of time to just settle into the school before we added another layer to the mix.” Hogancamp said that she has seen there are not enough massage therapists to meet the current demand for body work services. However, she said more people are joining the field because it is such a rewarding career.

“One of my big reasons for saying yes to doing the school was I really believe in the work that this offers the world, and it feels like a time that we really could use that healing,” Hogancamp said. “I think the students find that when they’re in an immersion program like this, it really does transform them.”

beautiful. When Ashley decided it was time to close, it felt both practical and deeply meaningful to step into a space already filled with creativity, care, and community — and to do our best to preserve some of that magic while building something new.”

Kim stated that K-HOUSE will be a day-to-night community space, with a café, restaurant, karaoke lounge, live music venue and arts hub. Programming will include karaoke every night, open mics, live performances, community events and private rentals.

Family and Community Come First for Ithaca High Hockey

By Steve Lawrence

The walk from the far corner of the packed parking lot at the Cass Park ice rink, in negative 10 degree weather, seemed longer than the actual 100 yards. Once inside, I saw two distinct groups. One group — apparently Cass Park newbies — was shivering non-stop. The other group — those who remember what it was like before the rink was enclosed four years ago — looked super comfy. When I pointed out that disparity to a member of the latter group, she laughed and said, “This feels balmy!”

I braved the elements to watch the Ithaca High boy’s hockey team take on Scarsdale on Saturday for two reasons: One, I like to watch a good sporting event, and two, the Little Red hockey community is always fertile ground for a plethora of story lines. Walking around the rink, I knew getting perspective would be easy. There was a hockey mom there whom I featured in my column 25 years ago, when she was

a muddy and bloody mountain bike racer. There was an 83 year-old grandmother I have known for many years, with whom I sat at many of my own daughter’s athletic events. There was a set of parents whose daughter was a lacrosse star at Ithaca High, and who has now moved on to play at the collegiate level. They were all there to watch the hockey game, cheering on the boys, when they could have been home watching sports from their recliners.

One of the story lines is the fact that the boy's team is ranked #1 in the state, hoping to add another state championship banner to the program’s collection. (The team kept their great season rolling with a 4-1 win over Scarsdale.) I love to see local teams doing so well, but I also love the fact that there are seven pairs of siblings on the combined rosters of the Little Red boy’s and girl’s teams.

I caught up to Tyler (TR) Wagenet, the coach of the girl’s team, and we talked

about how tightly-knit the hockey community is in Ithaca. In his words,“There are fifteen seniors on the boy’s team, and I have coached all but two of them.” Over the course of his coaching career, the Ithaca High grad has worked with players from the Learn to Skate program, up through the 8U, to 10U, 14U, 12U and 14U levels. The next step is high school hockey, so TR has been with these players for a long time.

I asked the coach about the siblings in the program, and there was no need to read from any rosters. Having been so closely involved with both girl’s and boy’s hockey for so long, he just rattled them off.

“Well, for starters, my daughter, Natalie, plays for the girl’s team, and my son Ryan plays for the boys,” TR offered. He went down the list, “Margot and Liam Whittaker, Lucy and Griffin Levine, Sophie and Michael Qi, Myan and Avi Poline, Layla and Dusty Paul and Cece and James Kotaska.” (Wagenet also pointed out that the boy’s team also has two sets of siblings, the Swarthouts and the Singers.)

The fact that so many of the players attend their siblings’ games, and that many of the players have been together for over a decade adds to the “one big family” narrative. “So many of these kids have been following their siblings around since they were little Rink Rats,” TR laughed. The coach had a lot of praise for what takes place “behind the glass,” and he said “There are so many pseudo parents at the rink, and they keep an eye on each others’ kids. We all get so much pride out of seeing these kids do what they love, and watching them grow.”

He went on to say, “It’s a big part of the fabric of who they are. In this hockey town, you go to Cornell games on Friday and Saturday nights, you play in your own games and you attend your sibling’s games and cheer them on.” He added with pride, “Seeing so many kids supporting their friends and family members shows that what we’re trying to do is working. It really is an amazing thing to be a part of, as a coach, but especially as a parent.”

Bars/Bands/Clubs

1/30 Friday

Cap Cooke | 5-7 p.m. | Trumansburg Main Street Market | 21 E Main St., Trumansburg NY

Dad On Arrival | 6 p.m. | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd, Freeville NY

Two Horse Johnson | 6-9 p.m. | Grist Iron Brewing Co. | 4880 NY-414, Burdett NY

1/31 Saturday

Levi Gangi | 1 p.m. | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry NY

2/3 Tuesday

Marc Devo Quartet | 7 p.m. | Bike Bar Ithaca, 314 E State Street | Free

2/4 Wednesday

Firefly Trio | 6:30 p.m. | Deep Dive Ithaca, 415 Old Taughannock Blvd. | Free

Concerts/Recitals

1/29 Thursday

Salon Solèy: An Evening of German Lieder with Tanya Blaich | 6:30 p.m. | Barnes Hall, 129 Ho Plaza | Free

1/30 Friday

A Concert of Jazz Standards with Elisa S. Keeler & Travis Knapp | 7 p.m. | Kendal at Ithaca Auditorium | Free

2/1

Sunday

Ithaca Big Band Summit (CU Music) | 3 p.m. | Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Ave. | Free

Stage

Undressed: The Musical | 7 p.m., 1/28 Wednesday-1/31 Saturday | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State / W MLK, Jr. St. | Undressed: The Musical is a hilarious musical made up on the spot about an audience member’s embarrassing story. | $15.00 - $45.00

Swing Dance Party | 7 p.m., 1/28

Wednesday | TreeHouse Studio & Lounge, 119 S Cayuga St. | The Ithaca Swing Dance Network hosts a swing dance party with DJ Kendall. Come practice your dance moves in this friendly atmosphere! Large wood dance floor. | $5.00 Edgar in the Red Room | 7 p.m., 1/29 Thursday | Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St., Auburn NY | The death and final days of Edgar Allan Poe remain one of literature’s great unsolved mysteries. This “macabre cabaret” uses music, movement, projections, & shadow play to lead you through Poe’s last nightmare, encountering many of his most infamous creations as he draws ever closer to the Red Room. | $32.49

Sky Stories | 1/29 Thursday – 2/8

Sunday. Check website for times. | The Cherry Arts, 102 Cherry St. | Two aerial pieces, Internatioal Lover and Round Time. | $15.00 - $65.00 | thecherry.org

Opera Scenes (CU Music) | 3 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Flex Theatre at the Schwartz Center, 430 College Ave. | World premieres of original micro-operatic scenes by Coral Douglas, Seare Farhat, Jasmine Morris, Chenghao Michalis Li, and Eliot Burk. | Free

Comedy Club | 8 p.m., 2/2 Monday | Mandeville Hall, Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Parkway, Elmira NY | See three great stand-up comedians perform live on stage at the Clemens Center, with host Danny Liberto. | $40.00 - $60.00

Art

Contemporary Mapping :

One Foot Forward | 1/28 Wednesday – 1/31 Saturday | Corners Gallery, 903 Hanshaw Rd Suite 101A | Featuring work by 34 artists! Wednesdays through Saturdays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Free

New Year/New Work | 12 p.m. –5 p.m., 1/29 Thursday – 2/1 Sunday | State of the Art Gallery, 120 W State St. | Celebrate the new year with a selection of work from fourteen of our artist members. Featuring paintings, photos, sculpture, and fiber arts representing a broad spectrum of styles. | Free

Small Works Invitational | 4 p.m.

– 7 p.m 1/30 Friday, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. 1/31 Saturday and 2/1 Sunday | The Gallery at South Hill, 950 Danby Rd. South Hill Business Campus | The Annual Small Works Invitational exhibit at The Gallery at South Hill features artworks 14 inches or less in image size. With over 20 artists, this exhibit gives the viewer an inside look at the artistic practice. | Free

Valentine’s Day Card Workshop | 11 a.m., 2/1 Sunday | Ivy Creative Designs Studio, 11 Wedgewood Dr. | Valentine’s Day Card Workshop at Ivy Creative Designs Studio, Ithaca, NY. | $45.00

Cyanotype | Jaden Demarest | 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 2/1 Sunday | The Ink Shop, 330 E. MLK/State St. | $45 nonassociates / $38.25 associates ($35.00 for materials)

FilmShort Doc Premiere: Getting Almost Naked | 7:30 p.m., 1/29 Thursday | Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W Green St. | A screening of the new short documentary “Getting Almost Naked” (23 mins) about the Bees Knees Burlesque Academy in Cortland NY, followed by a post-show discussion. | $5.00

Teen Film Fridays | 4 p.m., 1/30 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | Join us in the Digital Lab on the last Friday of every month and enjoy a free movie screening! For teen patrons ages 13-18 only. Snacks will be provided.

Cinemapolis

120 E. Green St., Ithaca

New movies opening the week of January 14. Contact Cinemapolis for showtimes and continuing films.

2026 Ithaca Underground Music Video Festival | Join us for a night (or 2!) of music videos featuring the musical talents of Ithaca and the surrounding area. The same program will run on Wed. January 28 and Thurs. January 29. Both shows begin at 8 p.m. | NR 90 mins

Send Help | Two colleagues find themselves stranded on a deserted island after they are the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it becomes an unsettling and darkly humorous battle of wills and wits to make it out alive. | R 113 mins

Arco | A magical and beautifully animated journey through time, Arco is a dazzling adventure about a 10-year-old boy from a peaceful, distant future who accidentally travels back to the year 2075 and discovers a world in peril. | PG 89 mins

Wisdom of Happiness | Speaking as a member of our single global community, Nobel Peace Prize winner Tenzin Gyatso, known to billions around the world as the Dalai Lama, shares practical wisdom for finding peace, compassion, and hope in the midst of chaos. With disarming clarity and deep humanity, he invites us to imagine and help create a world where compassion is activated as our strongest force for change, and happiness is within reach for everyone. | Documentary. 90 mins | A single, free showing at 2:30 p.m.on Sunday 2/1

Sports

Cornell Men’s Tennis vs SUNY Buffalo | 6 p.m., 1/29 Thursday | Reis Tennis Center, Cornell University

Cornell Women’s and Men’s Squash vs Princeton University | 12 p.m., 1/30 Friday | Belkin Squash Courts, Cornell University

Cornell Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving vs Brown University | 5 p.m., 1/30 Friday | Teagle Pool, Cornell University

Cornell Men’s Basketball vs Princeton University | 6 p.m., 1/30 Friday | Newman Arena at Bartels Hall, Cornell University |

Cornell Women ’s Ice Hockey vs. Dartmouth College | 6 p.m., 1/30 Friday | Lynah Rink, Cornell University

Ithaca Men's Wrestling vs The College of New Jersey | 7 p.m., 1/30 Friday | Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca College

Cornell Women’s Swimming & Diving vs Brown University | 10 a.m., 1/31 Saturday | Teagle Pool, Cornell University

Ithaca Women’s and Men’s Track & Field Bomber Invitational | 11 a.m., 1/31 Saturday | Glazer Arena, Ithaca College |

IthacaMen's Wrestling vs Stevens | 12 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca College

Ithaca College Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving vs SUNY Geneseo | 1 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Bird Natatorium, Ithaca College |

Cornell Women’s Tennis vs St Bonaventure University | 1 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Reis Tennis Center, Cornell University

Cornell Wrestling vs Columbia University | 1 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Friedman Wrestling Center, Cornell University |

Cornell Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Invitational | 1 p.m., 1/31 Saturday

Cornell Men’s Swimming & Diving vs Brown University | 2 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Cornell University

Cornell Women’s and Men’s Squash vs University of

SKY STORIES:

TEEN FILM FRIDAYS FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 4 P.M. Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | Join us in the Digital Lab on the last Friday of every month and enjoy a free movie screening! For teen patrons ages 13-18 only. Snacks will be provided. Curious about what we’re watching? Come to TCPL’s Teen Center to find out! The movie of the month will be posted by the Teen Reference

Pennsylvania | 2 p.m., 1/31 Saturday

| Belkin Squash Courts, Cornell University |

Cornell Wrestling vs Arizona State University | 3 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Friedman Wrestling Center, Cornell University |

Ithaca Men’s Wrestling vs Nassau Community College | 3 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca College |

Cornell Women’s Polo Red-White Scrimmage | 6 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Oxley Equestrian Center, Cornell University | Cornell Women’s Polo vs Red-White Scrimmage

Cornell Men’s Polo Red-White

Scrimmage | 6 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Oxley Equestrian Center, Cornell University | Cornell Men’s Polo vs Red-White Scrimmage

Cornell Men’s Basketball vs University of Pennsylvania | 6 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Newman Arena at Bartels Hall, Cornell University |

Ithaca Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Bomber Invitational | 10 a.m., 2/1 Sunday | Glazer Arena, Ithaca College

Cornell Women’s Tennis vs Niagara University | 12 p.m., 2/1 Sunday | Reis Tennis Center, Cornell University |

Ithaca Gymnastics vs Rhode Island College and Springfield College | 12 p.m., 2/1 Sunday | Ben Light Gymnasium, Ithaca College |

Books

Book Launch: The Oak and the Larch | 5:30 p.m., 1/29 Thursday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N Cayuga St. | Join us to celebrate the book launch of The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and its Empires by Sophie Pinkham with conversation and Q&A. | Free

A Single Excellent Night: Conversation with Lee Carlson | 5 p.m.,

1/30 Friday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N Cayuga Stre Join us for an in-depth conversation with journalist, author and Zen practitioner Lee Carlson | Free Winter Essences & Writing Workshop | 2 p.m., 1/31 Saturday, 119 S Cayuga St., Third Floor | Join us for a guided gathering that uses essential oils and personal writing to awaken present awareness, memory, creativity, and connection. | $15.00 - $30.00

Narrative Poetry & Crafting | 2 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N Cayuga St. | Join R.C Lloyd as she discusses narrative poetry in conversation with BSB Staff, Gabriela Medina, and candle painting (tickets needed for candle painting) | Free

Community Book Read: Without Fear by Keisha N. Blain | 3 p.m., 1/31 Saturday | Southside Community Center, 305 S Plain St. | Join the Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures for a community reading of Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights

Comic Book Club Meeting: Groundhog Day...for Xena! | 7 p.m., 2/3 Tuesday | Tompkins County Public Library, Schwarz Jacobson Meeting Room, 101 E Green St. | In the wake of the wondrous movie Groundhog Day, storylines for other fictional characters incorporated a version of the endless time loop.  One of the best homages was the episode “Been There, Done That” in season 3 of the TV series Xena, Warrior Princess.  Come enjoy a screening of this episode!

Kids

SingSong Music Class Series | 10 a.m., 1/28 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | SingSong is a fun-filled class for little ones and parents/caregivers to enjoy music together in a circle setting.

Science Together: Worms | 10:15 a.m., 1/28 Wednesday | Sciencecenter,

601 1st St. | Observe and measure live worms! Science Together activities are designed for ages 0-4.

Family Playgroup - Winter’26

Round #1 | 3 p.m., 1/28 Wednesday | CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Ave. | 6 weeks series, January 7 – February 11 | Free

Animal Feeding | 4 p.m., 1/28

Wednesday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St. | Join an Animal Keeper to observe snakes, lizards, frogs, and fish snacking on their preferred prey.

Story + Craft | 4 p.m., 1/29 Thursday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | Story + Craft is our weekly reading + creating event for children! Join us for a read-aloud, followed by art-making or a guided craft.

Baby & Toddler Storytime | 10:30 a.m., 1/30 Friday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | Caregivers and their children are invited to join Cassie for music, rhymes, movement and books. Storytime will be followed by a playtime from 11-12.

Math Fun with MathHappens! | 10 a.m., 1/31 Saturday | Sciencenter, 601 1st St. | Join us for playful, informal math learning with the MathHappens Foundation! Families and kids can explore hands-on activities that make math fun, creative, and connected to everyday life.

Study Buddies | 10:30 a.m., 1/31 Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | The study buddies program is brought to you for Ithaca students, by Ithaca students. High school student volunteers will be matched up with younger students for homework help and general tutoring.

“Li’l Sprouts” Waldorf class for Babies & Toddlers | 9 a.m., 2/2 Monday | Ithaca Waldorf School, 20 Nelson Road | A weekly Waldorf gathering for babies and toddlers with their parent/ caregiver, led by master teacher Karen Lonsky. | $30.00 - $175.00

Family Open Play | 9:30 a.m., 2/2 Monday | CCE-Tompkins Education

A SINGLE EXCELLENT NIGHT: CONVERSATION WITH LEE CARLSON

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 5 P.M.

Buffalo Street Books, 215 N Cayuga St. | Layered with profound insights on identity, belonging, and suffering, A Single Excellent Night is more than a book about Zen, spiritual awakening, and the enlightenment found in presence. Unpacking the wisdom and teachings of towering literary figures like Peter Matthiessen and spiritual teachers like Joanna Macy, Carlson invites readers to experience the rare fusion of lived memory and meditative inquiry-a search for insight shaped by Zen practice, poetic prose, and the lasting imprint of a literary legacy. (Photo: Provided)

Center, 615 Willow Ave. | Free space for families to come with their children ages 0 to 4 years old to play and socialize with other families.

Baby & Toddler Playtime | 10 a.m., 2/2 Monday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St | Baby & Toddler Playtime is an unstructured play and social time for children and caregivers offering a warm, child-friendly space with books and age-appropriate toys.

Homeschool Get Ready To Read | 1 p.m., 2/2 Monday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St. | Mondays at 1 p.m. A program for emergent readers ages 4 – 7 yrs.

Ready, Set, Read! | 6 p.m., 2/2 Monday | Cortland Free Library, 32 Church St. | Mondays at 6 p.m. A program for emergent readers ages 4-7 yrs.

Science Together: Flower Dissection | 10:15 a.m., 2/4 Wednesday | Sciencecenter, 601 1st Street | Practice using tools and making observations as we look at all the parts of a flower! Science Together activities are designed for ages 0-4.

Notices

Creating Anxiety-Resilient Families with Dr. Megan McCormick | 4:30 p.m., 1/28 Wednesday | Ithaca Waldorf School, 20 Nelson Rd. | A community conversation and learning experience where parents will examine the root causes of escalating anxiety and Dr. McCormick will provide practical skills for building familial resilience against the negative impacts of anxiety. | $10.00

Community Police Board Meeting | 4:30 p.m., 1/28 Wednesday | Council Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall | Trivia Night! | 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1/28 Wednesday | Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd., Freeville NY | Join us, and the entertaining Dave Ashton, for our weekly Trivia Night –where fun meets knowledge! | Free

Trivia! | 7 p.m., 1/28 Wednesday |

Liquid State Brewery, 620 W Green St. | Grow your brain or just show it off to a loveable bunch of Trivia-lovers.

Hosted by Ithaca’s Trivia legend, Bob Proehl. Get there early as seats fill up fast! | Free

Latin Wednesday | 9 p.m., 1/28

Wednesday | The Upstairs, 106 S Cayuga St. | Ithaca’s longest running weekly dance party. Meet new dancers, learn new moves, and have fun!

Chamber Night at the Ice Bar | 5 p.m., 1/29 Thursday | Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, 16 N Franklin St., Watkins Glen NY | Step into a magical winter wonderland at Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel’s annual Ice Bar Celebration.

Karaoke with Elephant Sound | 8 p.m., 1/29 Thursday | 23 North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema Dr. | Show off your singing chops every Thursday night during “Karaoke Night” at 23 North in Ithaca! Great food, great drinks, great FUN! | Free

Community Conversations: Groton | 9 a.m., 1/30 Friday | Groton Public Library, 112 E Cortland St. | Join your neighbors in Groton for hyperlocal networking, conversation, and advocacy at the Groton Public Library.

Art Cafe | 6 p.m., 1/30 Friday | The Clay School’s Art Room, 950 Danby Rd. | The Clay School’s ART Room features an Art Cafe! | Free; charge for art projects

Friday Trivia Nights | 6:30 p.m., 1/30

Friday | Treleaven Wines, 658 Lake Road, King Ferry NY | It’s a night of tasty Treleaven wines and braintesting trivia | Free

“Queeraoke” | 8 p.m., 1/30 Friday |

The Rhine House, 632 W Seneca St. | Ithaca’s original “Queeraoke” night is back! Come hang, sing and make new friends...cheers, queers!

Your Wallet 101 | 2 p.m., 1/31

Saturday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | Teens and young adults — do you know that the

financial decisions you make today can impact the rest of your lives?

Beyond the Plate | 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., 2/1 Sunday | Mahler Hall,St. Catherine of Siena Church, 309 Siena Drive | Beyond The Plate is a fundraiser in support of the Ithaca MobilePack for Feed My Starving Children. It features a delicious five-course meal prepared by incredible local chefs sharing their time and talent.

DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton | 7 p.m., 2/1 Sunday | Crossroads Bar and Grill, 3120 N Triphammer Rd., Lansing NY | Join Dave every Sunday at Crossroads for DJ Trivia...where fun meets knowledge! | Free

Senator Lea Webb’s Satellite Office Hours | 10 a.m., 2/2 Monday | YWCA Cortland, 14 Clayton Ave., Cortland NY

Old Time Jam | 6 p.m.-8 p.m., 2/2 Monday | Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W Green St. | Join us on the first Monday of every month for this open string instrumental jam of all levels.

DJ Trivia | 7 p.m., 2/2 Monday | 23 North Restaurant and Bar, 23 Cinema Dr. | Join Kurt for DJ Trivia every Monday night at 23 North Restaurant and Bar in Ithaca! Bring your friends and family for an evening of amazing food, drink and (of course) trivia! | Free Freeing Your Voice: 6-Session Class - Winter 2026 | Begining 5:30 p.m., 2/3 Tuesday | First Unitarian Society, 306 N Aurora St. | An uplifting, soul nourishing singing class led by Elisa S. Keeler. To register, contact: elisaskeeler@gmail.com Pet Clinic | 6 p.m., 2/4 Wednesday | Southside Community Center Gym, 305 S Plain St.

Tabletop Role-Playing Game Brainstorming Group | 6 p.m., 2/4 Wednesday | Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St. | A gathering of the gaming community to support each other’s creativity.

ITHACA BIG BAND SUMMIT (CU MUSIC)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 AT 3 P.M.

Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Avenue | Ninth Annual Ithaca Big Band Summit with the jazz ensembles of Ithaca College, Cornell, and Ithaca High School. Presented on a rotating basis by the three institutions and hosted at Cornell this year, the concert culminates in a combined performance featuring student musicians across levels, modeling mentorship and musicianship. Directors Mike Titlebaum, Paul Merrill, and Michael Treat. | All ages; no ticket required. (Photo: Provided)

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a paper are not merely printed ink, but living spaces for shared observation and creative reflection.

This approach emphasizes an essential truth: a newspaper is never complete. The world it seeks to document is expansive, layered and dynamic. By acknowledging what is missing and inviting readers into the imaginative process, our newspapers foster a participatory culture in which ideas are recognized before they become written. Eye on the Times

will formalize this process, ensuring that each observation is given its due attention, each reader’s insight is valued, and each manifestation is thoughtfully realized.

In practice, Eye on the Times will appear as a recurring feature column, its pages marked with the icon of a watchful eye emerging from the folds of a newspaper. This symbol signals to readers that what follows is an observation of gaps, an invitation to imagine, and a notice that new series may soon emerge.

Critter Times, for example, carries this symbol as a reminder that it was born

from attentive observation and collective imagination. Future Manifestations will do the same, creating a visual and conceptual continuity that links every new idea to the ecosystem of seeing, imagining and realizing.

Eye on the Times is, in essence, a living experiment in thoughtful community grown journalism. It reminds staff to remain vigilant and readers to remain curious. It transforms gaps into opportunities and attention into action. It ensures that our newspapers do more than report on the present: they participate in the shaping of its own future.

Through the interplay of seers, Muses, and manifestations, our newspapers become a place where curiosity is cultivated, imagination is encouraged, and the unseen is made visible.

In launching Eye on the Times, we invite you — our readers to join us in this shared civic enterprise: to watch, to imagine, and to celebrate the stories that are yet to fill our pages. Our collaboration begins now, and the first step— Critter Times: Tales from the Animal Kingdom—is only the beginning and is coming soon.

munity commitments. Her leadership was outstanding.”

Deb’s career spanned decades and countless roles. She served on Common Council from 2009 to 2021, acted as chief of staff to former Mayor Laura Lewis, and held leadership positions connecting higher education, local government and community initiatives. She guided Ithaca through growth, governmental transitions, and everyday municipal

challenges, always with steadiness and thoughtfulness. When the city adopted a council-manager form of government, Deb was chosen by then-mayor Lewis to stabilize operations, modernize policies and build lasting systems that will serve Ithaca for years to come.

Her impact extended well beyond city hall. At Tompkins Cortland Community College and Ithaca College, she directed leadership programs and community service initiatives. She co-chaired the United Way of Tompkins County’s campaign, addressing pressing local needs, especially during the pandemic. Her work consis-

tently reflected a deep belief that public service is most effective when it is accessible, collaborative, and humane.

Even when facing the difficult challenge of a budget shortfall in 2025, Deb approached the situation responsibly, working with staff to safeguard essential services while addressing fiscal realities. Yet this chapter does not define her career. Instead, it is her decades of dedication, thoughtful leadership, and unwavering commitment to Ithaca that leave a lasting legacy.

Public servants like Deb rarely receive full recognition for the countless hours, tough decisions, and quiet competence

that keep a community thriving. It is far too easy to overlook these contributions. Today, it is important to pause and say thank you—for her leadership, her generosity of spirit, and her tireless commitment to the public good.

Ithaca is stronger, wiser, and better because of Deb Mohlenhoff. Her colleagues, the community, and the city she loves will carry forward the systems, culture, and spirit she helped build. We are deeply grateful for her service, and history will remember her not just for challenges faced, but for a career defined by dedication, excellence, and heart.

Postcards to Ithaca

Don’t Let Ithaca Lose Its Storytellers

Imagine the sharpest, most passionate young journalists you’ve ever met (the ones who stay late chasing a story because they believe in this town) slowly packing their bags. Not because they want to leave… but because local rents force them out.

That’s the quiet heartbreak happening right now. Our best new writers, the ones who grew up here or fell in love with Ithaca in college, are being pushed toward cheaper cities just to survive.

The Rising Star Fund rewrites their story into a happy ending by sponsoring a simple monthly housing stipend (a hand up, never a handout) so they can keep living here, keep writing here, keep falling deeper in love with Ithaca… and keep telling the stories that make this city our home.

When a young journalist can afford to stay in Ithaca, you get:

● Fresh, fearless voices loyal to your local paper

● Someone at every city council meeting who believes local news matters

● The next great Ithaca story written by someone who actually lives here

● Your $25, $50, or $100 a month doesn’t just pay their rent.

● It keeps storytellers in our community and stops local brain drain.

● When our younger generation thrives, Ithaca’s future stays bright.

Keep local talent in Ithaca by donating today to the Rising Star Fund (an initiative of Pathways to Equity, Inc a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization)

For more info: roy@ithacatimes.com

BackPage

The Ithaca Times is bringing back its annual

Valentine’s Day special!

While digging through the Ithaca Times archives, we stumbled on a sweet tradition from years past: inviting readers to submit their own Valentines. This Valentine’s Day, we’re bringing these heartfelt messages back.

Send us your Valentine (anonymous or signed, your choice), keeping it to 30 words or fewer. We’ll share a selection with our readers in our Feb. 11 issue.

Submit your valentines by Friday, Feb. 6 to editor@ithacatimes.com or by mail to Ithaca Times, PO Box 27, Ithaca, New York 14850

WANTED: COMMUNITY READERS

Your Voice Matters—Now More Than Ever

Become volunteer readers for Sounds of Democracy , a new, community-driven media literacy and civic engagement initiative that turns local journalism into shared listening.

As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026—and continues through September 2037, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution— Sounds of Democracy will create a living audio archive of essays, letters to the editor, and news stories originally published in our local papers.

In an era of social and political dis-ease, Sounds of Democracy offers a simple but powerful act: listening to one another . Please contact Roy Allen , Director of Strategic Partnerships, at Roy@ithacatimes.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Finger Lakes Community Newspapers — The Ithaca Times, Trumansburg Free Press, Ovid Gazette, Interlaken Review, News Chronicle, Tompkins Independent and Prime Times.