Ithaca Keeps it Artsy this Holiday Season

(Final Report)
By: Tracey A. Casseus, Joy Kucinkas, and Emma Tanner

During this holiday season Tompkins County shoppers are looking to find gifts locally to help support small businesses and local artists.

Annually the Community Arts Partnership (CAP), the Arts Council for Tompkins County organizes and facilitates a summer and winter show and sale of work by local artists. CAP was founded in 1990 as a not-for-profit agency that would serve the public by providing services to the arts in the County.

The exhibit showcases an array of artists’ paintings, drawings, photographs, collage, prints and sculpture. Additionally, the Ithaca Artists' Market usually attracts holiday shoppers. This years Holiday Artists Market was held on Saturday December 13th, 2008 at the Women’s Community Building. Artists Ryan Curtis’s work was showcased in the exhibit.

"It was good," said Curtis. "It wasn't a bank crazy New York City show, and nor was I prepared for such a thing, but it was a really nice scene for Ithaca. It was a pretty crowded market and it was nice to meet some of the other artists and nice to share the work."

Ithaca prides itself on being a community of artists. Art in this city comes in different forms: poetry, novels, dance, music, painting, drawings, and even ice sculptures.

The commons are aglow with festive ice sculptures created by local artists for the 2008 Downtown Ithaca Holiday Festival. The main attraction is the Holiday Parade of Ice, which is Central New York’s largest ice sculpture display. On December 11th the ice sculptures were shown to the public in an Unveiling Ceremony that included performances by carolers and musicians.

Several local businesses in the commons have decided to festivities and have paid local artists to have ice sculpture created for their store to be displayed out in front.


Ithaca Glass co-owner Tim Merrill was very satisfied with the ice sculpture proudly displayed outside the entrance of his store.

"I haven't necessarily noticed our sales go up that much, it's more of the recognition that we receive being on the Commons with an ice sculpture out front and people taking pictures of it, especially with it being our logo," said Merrill.

Having an ice sculpture is optional for local business, which incurs a fee that Merrill said he was glad to pay.

Merrill said, "We chose to do one, it's a way to support the Commons. It's a good cause."

News Story on The Commons




To see more of Ryan Curtis' artwork, view his collection at the ABC cafe through January 2009.
The ABC cafe is located in Collegetown (Ithaca); below is a map to help you naviagate your way!


View Larger Map

Photo Album--The Commons at Christmas, Ryan B. Curtis artwork at the ABC cafe

Homeless For The Holidays

Final Report
By: Kaitlyn Rich and Ursula Fox-Koor

The homeless in Tompkins county will be having presents delivered to their houses in the next few days, except they will not be delivered by a man with a sleigh and red suit. Instead it will be a Red Cross worker, driving a white Jeep Cherokee.

His name is Aloja Airwewle, and along with other Tompkins County Red Cross workers and volunteers he helps to make the holiday season a little brighter for many Ithaca residents.

While the fanfare of the usual gift giving process is absent, the Christmas message is still the same – to spread holiday cheer to all, even those without a chimney for him to slide down.

Airwewele is the head of case management at the Tompkins County America Red Cross. He oversees the induction of the people into the program as well as other tasks such as delivering gifts to those in need during the holiday season and making sure the homeless are not forgotten about during this time of year.

“It’s not the busiest time of the year, but it’s the hardest on our clients. They begin to remember why they are homeless and how they have no one else,” says Airwewele.

The U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates calculated 13.5 percent of Tompkins County lived below the poverty line in 2004, compared to 12.7 percent nationally and 14.5 percent in New York State.

Coupled with the fact that according to the Tompkins County Affordable Housing Needs Assessment for 2006, 500 households spend half their income on housing. Both of these factors have left many out in the cold this winter.

With the failing economy and hard times falling on many, this Christmas is especially hard. “With the economic downsizing right now it’s easy to make me homeless. Just take my two paychecks away, that’s all it takes,” said Tompkins County Red Cross Emergency Shelter worker Khin Hewe.

Homeless Services is the American Red Cross’s largest program and includes the emergency shelter, the Friendship Center, case management services, and the food pantry.

The hardships of others this year have placed many pressures on the Red Cross, especially on its food pantry. The pantry, according to the United Way of Tompkins County has recently seen the number of people seeking food double.

While the Red Cross does a lot to make the holidays easier for the homeless, Hewe also notes the importance of helping all year round, not just during Christmas time. “It’s one thing, you know, we remember the poor around Thanksgiving, Christmas time, but the rest of the year it’s not really our business, you know, we pay taxes and the welfare system’s gonna take care of it,” Hewe says. This is something, he believes, must change.

But just because these people do not have a home does not mean that they cannot celebrate the season. At shelters such as the Red Cross’s Emergency Shelter, Hewe and others still do everything they can to bring some holiday cheer.

“It’s more like a house, we joke around, it’s not like the city where you go to Chicago, NY, Denver and you see people sleeping on the corner or smelly and people run away; it’s right here. Just like you and me, there is something about the small community in Ithaca,” said Hewe.

When Sleep Becomes Optional

-Michelle Skowronek and Jillian Rubin

The simple things in life are free, but the labor is not. Behind every dollop of whipped cream on top of frappuccinos, collated and stapled packet of papers, and email messages returned, there is a student worker.

Ithaca College employs over 500 students to work in a variety of job centers ranging from office assistants to pastry bakers in the dining halls. Without the average 10 hours a week that these busy students put in, Ithaca College would not be able to function.

Across the county, student workers are the backbone of colleges and universities.

Cornell University employs about 700 of its 13,000 students. These workers are expected to fulfill an average of 4-8 hours of work per week. At TC3, students work an average of 15 hours per week, and when classes are not in session, they are eligible to work up to 37  hours.

Most on-campus jobs at IC expect students to work an average of 8-12 hours per week. IC employers try to break up these hours by creating 2 or 3 hour long shifts in certain facilities. No matter the time of the shift, however, student workers typically struggle with balancing a job, schoolwork, and extracurricular activities around exam time.

Kevin Thornton, Manager of the Multimedia Production Facility, said he deals with stressed students often during finals week.

"Somebody came in Monday asking why the labs weren't open all day for exam week," he said. "She seemed really stressed out, and I had to tell her that with the schedule revolving around finals times there would be no point in having the labs open for one hour at a time."

Thornton said scheduling workers for finals week depends on exam times.

"Underclassmen can't be forced to work during finals week," he said. "I have to post a sign-up sheet based around the students' finals in order to get workers to cover shifts."

The personalized pizza in La Vincita, the repair of a broken keyboard, and the ripped stub of a theater ticket are little tasks provided by student workers. To the everyday passerby these things are expected and taken for granted. To a student worker they are the fruits of labor.

Other students, like Christie, spend their day devoted to schoolwork and on-campus jobs...

Budget Baggage

By: Michelle Skowronek and Jillian Rubin

Accident on Route 96B

-By: Maura Gladys

A pedestrian and a law enforcement officer were involved in back to back accidents on Route 96 B last night according to the Ithaca Journal. A car allegedly struck an Ithaca College student that was walking on 96B around 11:45 p.m. last night. While the victim was being tended to, another car struck a law enforcement officer that was directing traffic at the scene. The two victims were then transported to the Ithaca College football practice field where two helicopters airlifted the victims. One was taken to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA, while the other one was flown to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. Little else is known about the accidents, and anyone with information is asked to call the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office at 607-257-1345.

Making The Votes Count

Polling Story

By Kaitlyn Rich

As many already know New York has already gone to Obama. But how are the millions of votes counted? And in particular what voting machinery and methods effect the Tompkins County vote? On Tuesday polling locations all over New York state used the old fashioned lever voters for the last time this year. At area voting locations such as the Museum of the Earth, the Ithaca Library and South Hill Elementary School election officials and voters alike were taking special measures to make sure every vote was counted.

"We have multiple ways of counting the ballots beside the machines," said Becky Booth, election official at the South Hill Elementary School site. Volunteers at all the sites tallied up each individual location's votes before turning them into the county board of locations, who in-turn forwards the totals to the state.

We've all been her since five in the morning," said Carol*, another South Hill Elementary School volunteer. "It's been a very long day," she added. Many polling workers have been manning their posts for over twelve hour shifts which begs the question - How accurate is the counting mechanisms? "Well there is old and there is new technology," said Carol, "Whatever the case we will be able to handle it."

Carol was hinting at the fact that by the next election the state will be outfitted with new handicap accessible voting machines. The current ones work "perfectly fine," as Booth says, they just are harder for the handicap to "use effectively." 

While the votes where steadily being counted, by both hand, machine, and registration records at all locations in the Tompkins County area yesterday the true historic importance of the event was something more than its accurate vote tally. 

"It is amazing to see the country, America, unite as it has in this election. To see the youth come out today and vote is amazing. America is really aware, it's awake," said Booth. Again while the overall numbers will take a few hours of speculation and ultimately days of scrutiny to finalize all the volunteers echoed that the youths' voting experience on Tuesday was the most memorable experience of the day. "We had a group of young girls come in and vote earlier today, one was celebrating her eighteenth birthday," said Sandra Reukaol, another South Hill volunteer, "And they came out with huge smiles on their faces and skipped out the door. I'll never forget it."

* Last names were withheld for privacy. 

Photo and video (from top to bottom): Volunteers help voters at the Museum of the Earth polling location; outside of the museum signs lead voters to where they can cast their ballots; and in the video Carol shows a first time voter how to use New York States older voting machines.

No Campaigning at Polls

Today as Tompkins County residents enters each polling place, you might notice a sign posted outside:

New York is one of several states in the U.S. that has created a law so that voters do not wear campaign buttons, t-shirts, hats and signs within or near to polling places. Other states with this law include Nebraska and Virginia.  

Although the sign implies your vote may be at risk, State Board of Elections spokesman Bob Brehm said, "No one will be thrown in jail over a shirt at the polls," according to the Observer. 

Essentially the sign is asking voters to not wear campaign paraphernalia because they might be turned away from the polls. Polling officials do have the right to prevent someone from voting if they attempt to enter the polling place in such conditions.

Emily Metz, a polling place volunteer for the past thirty years stood out in her American flag sweater.

"I think that if someone is coming into vote and is undecided, their vote may be swayed because they see someone wearing a certain shirt," Metz said. "If they think that person looks 'good' or educated, it could easily determine their vote."

Metz said no one at the Ellis Hollow Apartments Polling Place had a problem following the law although it essentially violates the First Amendment. The amendment not only guarantees an American citizen to the freedom of speech, but also the freedom to petition.  Many online bloggers have said that the signs are an attempt to scare away voters, a phenomenon that is becoming more and more common in increasingly competitive elections. 

New York state does have a law that prohibits entering a polling place with campaigning gear or with children wearing campaign gear. Fortunately this did not seem to be major issue in Tompkins County this term.

Watch a video of the Ellis Hollow Apartment polling place below:

Story at the Polls-- Joy Kucinkas

The Vote's in the Mail!

Not everyone will pull the lever on election day. For those who will be unavoidably absent from their counties; unable to vote at a polling place due to illness, injury or disability; or are patients in in a Veteran's Administration or detainees in jail for convictions other than felonies; participation in Election Day will be via absentee ballot.

As of October 29th, about 4,000 absentee ballots were mailed to voters registered in Tomkins County. Especially for voters residing outside of counties in which they are registered, it can be difficult to keep up with the local politics of their area. "It's hard to know who to vote for because I am so removed," Kyle Stevens said. Stevens is a resident of Otsego County and a junior at Ithaca College.



Stevens has gathered information from different sources about candidates for local, state and national offices. The internet has been his primary source for many of the candidates' backgrounds and positions on different issues. "I use candidates' websites because I can find their stances on what matters most to me," Stevens said. Campaign websites offer media such as footage of debates and news feeds to keep updated on the most recent campaign developments.





Local candidates, Stevens experienced, were harder to find online. He instead received information by mail after registering for an absentee ballot. According to Tompkins County Board of Elections Commissioner Stephen DeWitt, candidates are able to acquire a list of absentee voters from county BOE offices.


“Various campaigns take responsibility for absentee ballots and will send mailings to people who are on the permanent absentee ballot list," Irene W. Stein, chair of the Tomkins County Democratic Committee, said. "I think that candidates want the vote and they do everything they can to communicate with the voter, and voters exhibit varying degrees of interest...it’s a joint responsibility. It’s the job of the candidate if he wants to win, and the responsibility of the voter, and sometimes these things come together."



In Tompkins County, the Board of Elections will be open on Monday. Voters can still request an absentee ballot in person, and still have the chance to take part in Tuesday's historic election.

- Emma Tanner

In-Depth Politics Story

On The Farm Or In The White House: Local Versus National Debates

In-Depth Political Story

By Kaitlyn Rich

The lights are bright on the stage where candidates Don Barber and James Seward sit. Papers, containing facts, opponent weaknesses and their promises, are strewn across the round plastic tables where each waits for their questions. Three television cameras and more than one hundred people sit patiently hanging on their every response. However, this political debate is not for a place in Washington D.C., but instead for a seat in Albany. There is no security and those who have come to watch are greeted with apple cider and home baked cookies. This debate is not being held at Hofstra or Ole Miss and is not being moderate by Brokaw or Lehrer, but instead it is refereed by a group of elderly women - and it is of local importance.

The Tuesday Oct. 28 debate, held at Tompkins Cortland Community College and organized by the League of Women’s Voters of Tompkins County, cast a very different light on political debates. The grandeur and pomp and circumstance of the presidential debates many have seen, some more than once, was absent. This debate for the New York State Senate seat in the 51st District was grassroots politics and, despite the snow on Tuesday, many came out to support it.

“It’s really cool to actually watch something like this happen,” said Ithaca College sophomore Elijah Kruger, “You are so far removed from the presidential ones but here you can really see it.” Kruger was one of the more than hundred spectators at the debate. The audience, while mostly older, did contain some younger voters. However, while their ages varied, all were allowed to ask the candidates questions.

“We provide an opportunity for the community to ask questions to the candidates and we moderate the forum. We delete duplicate questions and we time the opening statements and we time the candidate’s response. We are a non-partisan organization so we don’t support either party, we just perform a community service,” said Kay Sharp President of the League of Women Voters of Tompkins County.

Besides for the cookies and lack of security, the real familiarity of the debate was the most striking difference. The questions asked were to the point, often just one sentence long, leaving little room for the candidates to talk their way out of anything. The differences are seen in the two separate video clips below. One is of the presidential debate and the other is from the state senate debate. Both show the candidates answering questions on the economy.

While the differences are apparent, there were also some similarities. For example the phrase "on my farm" was said more than a dozen times by the candidates, an amusing allusion to such presidential catch phrases as "Joe the Plumer" and "change." However, the senatorial debate did cover other issues such as health care, gay marriage, abortion, and many other hot topics of the election cycle. Many were issues that those in the audience, like Kruger, wanted to hear about. “By being able to get your question answered right on the spot you know they don’t have much time to talk around it. And plus these are the guys making the laws that really have an impact on me,” he said.

Sharp reiterated the importance of the debate, but from the politician standpoint: “Usually we respond to a request from candidates from outside of Ithaca to moderate a candidate forum. This year both Barber and Seward requested that we moderate the event.” She said that in years past they have had audience members speak directly to the candidates, but for this forum both debaters asked that the questions be written out on cards.

The 51st Senatorial District comprises the counties of Otsego, Greene, Schoharie, Herkimer, Cortland, parts of Chenango, and the towns of Danby, Caroline, Groton, and Dryden in Tompkins County. This year James Seward is the incumbent Republican candidate and Don Barber is the Democratic candidate.

“It’s time we open the doors of the senate and let the sun light of democracy shine in,” said Don Barber to the auditorium. Seward countered him in his closing statement saying, “It has been a real privilege to work with my district over the past 20 years, and I have been in every part of my district time and time again, because it is important to me, not just at election time, but whenever the towns and my constitutes have needed help.” 

While it is important to hear the issues and more important to vote this coming Tuesday, it was Sharp who best expressed why these grassroots debates are important: “These debates are different because the public has a way of asking and structuring the course of the debate. While we read the question we just allow the candidates to answer. We’re just structuring the way the questions are asked and answered, rather than just the candidates speaking to no one in particular.”

Top to Bottom: The audience watches intently at the debate on Tuesday; The moderator, a member of the League of Women Voters of Tompkins County asks the candidates questions; Seward (closest) and Barber (far side of the stage) debate in front of the crowd and media.

To check out another debate between these two politicians click here

Elderly Voters: Most Likely to Vote, Most ignored in this Election

"They're focusing too much on the younger generation I think," said Judy Cuyle of Spencer New York.
Cuyle is a 63-year old resident and a registered voter. She plans to go to the polls this coming Tuesday to make her selection on the ballot but Cuyle is still on the fence.
"I was a registered Republican but changed to Democrat in Bush's first term," Cuyle says. "Now I'm not sure how I'll vote."

Like Cuyle, many over-sixty voters feel the economy is the most important factor in the upcoming election. With the recent nose dive on Wall Street, those close to retirement or already depending on Social Security are looking to the next President to do something to save the floundering U.S. economy.

"Neither [candidate] seems to know much about the economy," says Cuyle. "They're both out of touch with what it's like to live in the real world."

The trend in Obama's campaign trail, as noted in several major newspapers, is that a great number of his supporters are in the 18-21 age range.  Yet trends at the polls suggest that over 60 percent of those over sixty actually appear and fill out the ballot. The national average for the rest of the U.S. population is about ten percent lower. 

Dave Wilson, 67, agrees with Cuyle. 

"The main issue is the economy," he said. The Dryden resident has been a registered Republican in the past and is sticking by his party this election.

"I don't feel that [the candidates] are ignoring me," Wilson said.   

Above, Dave Wilson explains why he doesn't feel ignored.

Kristin Olson, 20, of Ithaca, hasn't voted in a Presidential election before. Yet she too has noticed an intense focus on younger voters as she has followed the election. 

"It seemed that Obama was doing it first. What else could McCain do except make some effort to vie for the same votes?", Olson said. 

Olson admits that several of her friends will not be participating in the election process, but most are.  A common misconception is that the Nixon-Kennedy election was the last to draw in young voters-- the reality is that this election will be the first that a major projected youth vote has occured.

Ignored or not, each individual has an equal opportunity to go to the polls this coming Tuesday (November 4) and have a say in who the next President of America will be.

Joy Kucinkas

In-depth Political Story

Picture Courtesy of the Washington Post

Skiing Around Tompkins

Making the most of the long Tompkins County winter is just a little easier with local ski areas like Greek Peak or farther away Labrador Mountain.

Greek Peak is open Monday-Thursday 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM and Fridays 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM. On Saturdays it's open 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sundays 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM. A day lift ticket is $58 adults and $49 kids 14 and under.

Labrador Mountain's hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Sundays 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Day (9-hour) lift tickets are $43 adults and $32 children 6-12 years of age.


Local clubs like the Newfield Ski Club provide opportunities for Tompkins County residents to mingle on the slopes. The Newfield club is especially kid and parent-friendly.


Finding the slopes:


View Larger Map


Image courtesy of www.greekpeak.net.
--Eric Raue

"God Bless America" and Its Politicians?

- Michelle Skowronek

In Depth Politics Story

Short, tall, large, tiny, medium, average, young, old, dark-skinned, light-skinned, foreign and domestice congregates file into churches, synagogues, and other places of worship once a week.

They come to read scripture.  They come to reflect.  They come to center their lives. They come to escape from their hectic schedules, the screeching sound of tires at red traffic lights and the millions of advertisements that are thrown in their faces on a daily basis.  The everyday American does not go to Church looking to hear who to vote for - at least not in Tompkins County.

Recently in the news, congressmen have been speaking out against pastors who have been endorsing political candidates while on the pulpit.  Labeled as non-profit organizations, religious places of worship receive a tax exemption code from the IRS.  To keep this exemption, churches must stay out of politics; however, with so much controversy surrounding this year's presidential election some pastors have crossed the line between church and state.

Dr. James R. Henery, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, strongly disagrees with clergy members who speak for or against a specific candidate while in church.

"Weaving politics and faith and church into a compatible relationship is not something that Presbyterians historically have accepted," Henery said in his Sept. 14 sermon.  "We believe in separation."

Ithaca College Jewish Chaplain, Michael Faber, agrees with Henery.

"As a chaplain, I am obliged to stay out of politics," Faber said.  "I am a very firm believer that religious leaders are making a gigantic error if they enter the political fray.  Religious leaders who do, perform a great disservice to their followers."

Lee Imbriano, Ithaca College Catholic Community assistant and correspondent to off campus Catholic affairs, submerged himself into this issue on Oct. 9.  Imbriano spoke at the discussion entitled "Who Should I Vote for as a Catholic?" downtown at Ithaca's Immaculate Conception Parish.  The reason behind this gathering was to discuss the importance of making educated, conscious decisions when voting in any election.  By the end, the panel, of which Imbriano was a member, simply told the attendees that it is their job as faithful citizens to get informed, research the issues, and pray.  The Catholic Church could not tell them who to vote for.

To hear what else Imbriano had to say on the matter, check out this video:

Ithaca, as most know and agree, is a very liberal and politically enthusiastic place. With Ithaca College and Cornell University sitting on its two peaks, the general population cannot help but give off an intelligent aura.  Henery agrees by saying his congregation is too clever to let him get away with telling them who to vote for. 

"Imagine this morning if you had come to this sanctuary, and I had began to tell you whom you should vote for," Henery said in his sermon.  "Imagine I tell you what kind of car you should drive, what kind of food you should eat, where to shop, what movies to watch, all sorts of decisions that I have no business to dictate but used scripture or some faith statement to support my directions.  You should have got up and walked out."

Here is a map of some of the local Ithaca churches:

View Larger Map

The above photo was taken at a Catholic mass at Ithaca College on Sunday Oct. 26.  Father Carsten, the Ithaca College Catholic Chaplain, is giving his homily, in which he mentions making smart and conscious decisions on Election Day.

The Forgotten Vote

Politics Story
-Ursula Fox-Koor


Larry Hardesty may not have a home, but he does have something valuable -- the right to vote. Hardesty, who resides at the American Red Cross of Tompkins County Friendship Center, will be casting his ballot on Election Day in Tompkins County which is something not many other homeless people can say.

The homeless vote has long been a forgotten vote when it comes to the Presidential Election. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, lower class and homeless individuals vote at a much lower rate than those with a higher income. The majority of the issues voted upon affect the lower class and homeless directly, yet the input from this group is non-existent due to the lack of voting.

Charles Buckley, also a resident of the Center, is not registered to vote. He holds little interest in the election and has no intention of becoming a registered voter. “I follow the election when I have time,” he said.

So why the lack of votes among the homeless? Problems that prevent many homeless people from voting include failure to have proper identification for registration as well as a lack of available resources in order to become knowledgeable about the candidates and their campaigns.

Homeless individuals such as Hardestey are difficult to find among the homeless population. Hardestey is quite knowledgeable about the election and holds strong opinions based on this knowledge. “Republicans have done a crap job for the past eight years,” he said. “I’d like to see a new person because it’s time- I mean, it can’t get any worse.”

Though Hardestey is informed about the election thanks to “the media and people”, many others are not, therefore leaving a large number of homeless individuals who are not registered.

Amanda House, also a resident of the Friendship Center, is not a registered voter and never has been. Her lack of resources regarding the election has led her to choose not to vote. “I never really know who to pick and I’m not good at judging people so I don’t vote,” she said.

Organizations such as the National Coalition for the Homeless have created volunteer-based campaigns across the country such as "You Don't Need a Home to Vote" in order to promote the importance of the homeless vote. The campaigns are an important stride toward obtaining the homeless vote, yet they are still far from achieving this.

In the mean time, it is up to individuals such as Hardestey, to get the word out. “Tell everyone to vote,” he said. “It’s the only way for change.”






View Larger Map

Below, a map of the Friendship Center in Ithaca, NY.

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween

(Image courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk)

Halloween is a time for people of all ages to have fun and enjoy themselves. Children trick-or-treating and parents taking their children trick-or-treating will be out and about all over Tompkins County tonight.

 

I thought it might be proper to include some tips for safe and healthy trick-or-treating. As I am not an expert on the subject, I've provided a link to a list compiled by people who are (the Los Angeles Fire Department).

From all of us here at Tracking Tompkins County, have a happy Halloween.

-Nate March 

First Official Halloween Event!

- Michelle Skowronek

Tonight, downtown in the Commons, Micawber's Pub is having a pre Halloween party!

The event especially caters to Ithaca College seniors, but it is open to all those over 21. There will be a costume contest with a $100 bar tab prize for the most creative and hilarious costume. Come in a large group or strut your stuff solo. The party begins at 9 p.m. and goes to 1 a.m.

This Halloween Bash costs $4 to enter and only $2 with a Senior Card. Also, to keep in theme with Halloween there are a number of drink specials:

THE IC DREAM includes pineapple juice for a tropical flavor, orange juice to celebrate Halloween, coconut rum, Grenadine, and a splash of cream --- only for $3.50

Orange Beer --- $2.50 special
Orange Shots --- $2.50 special
Orange Shoote*--- $2.50 special

*A shoote is a mixed drink typically served in a test tube and taken as a shot.

The Pub is expecting over 200 people to show, so this is one event you do not want to miss out on!

For more information check out the Senior Homepage.

(picture courtesy of FrugalLawStudent.com)

Investigative Journalism Exposed

- Michelle Skowronek

Tonight in the Park Auditorium of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, The Park School Program will be screening Expose: America's Investigative Reports. This documentary, called "In a Small Town," follows the story of a young reporter who discovers a pedophile in his hometown.

Executive producer Tom Casiato and senior producer Scott Davis will be at the viewing and follow up with a Q&A session once the documentary is done. Both men are Emmy-award winning producers who have laundry lists of awards and accomplishments.

The screening is expected to have a large turnout and provoke much discussion. All are welcome and admission is free. Don't miss out on your opportunity to experience a one-on-one chat with the producers!

For any more information on the documentary, Park School Program, or the producers check out the All Things Park blog.

Tompkins County Book Sale!

The final day of the Friends of Tompkins County Public Library Book sale is TOMORROW!

This Tuesday, October 28, 2008 marks the last day of the semi-annual sale. Visitors can walk into the sale and fill a plastic bag for a single dollar. The selection includes all genres of books, records, CDs, DVDs, games and puzzles.

Sales help support libraries in Tompkins County, encouraging reading for all ages. Local organizations have been volunteering at the sale over the past three weekends.

There are two days open to special groups after the book sale is officially closed:

The first is for Senior Citizens/People with Disabilities. Anyone over the age of 60 and disabled can enter the sale from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The final day is for Not-for-Profit groups only. To enter the sale, you must bring a photo I.D. and a letter of official documentation with the organizations name. Teachers need only bring their school photo I.D. and homeschoolers must bring documentation of their registration as a homeschooler in Tompkins County with an I.D.

The final official day is tomorrow Tompkins County! Doors open for the last time to the public beginning at noon sharp. The sale is at 509 Esty Street-- see a
map created for your convenience.

(Photo Courtesy of: htpp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://146.74.224.231/archives/friends%2520booksale)


by Joy Kucinkas

The Goblin Games

The 11th annual Goblin Games were held this weekend at Ithaca High School and Cass Park. The 8 v 8 girls lacrosse tournament featured more than 100 teams from 3rd grade all the way up to high school varsity level. The tournament is meant to be a transition between the end of the fall season and the beginning of the winter season.

Sustainable Fueling

- Michelle Skowronek

Biodiesel fuel has made its way onto the green scene.  Ithaca's very own Jeff's Towing service has gassed up with this new fuel to help save a piece of the environment. 

The fuel is made from used vegetable oil.  The vegetable oil is donated by local restaurants and then converted into biodiesel fuel.  

The best part is that prices run for about $2.50 a gallon!  That's closer to the price of regular gas than diesel fuel!

Biodiesel fuel can be used to replace any type of gas.  It works in cars, trains, airplanes and as heating oil.

If you are interested in learning how to make your own biodiesel fuel check out this link.

Also, for more information on this particular story, you can check out The Ithaca Journal.

Combined Efforts for Sustainability

Any regular of Ithaca College might see a student trying to eat on of the "plastic" spoons available on campus...okay, maybe that's just my friends. These spoons were just another part of Ithaca College's sustainability initiative. The spoons are made out of corn thus why us clever college students see if we can eat it.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 22nd, Ithaca College will be celebrating Campus Sustainability Day in and around the campus center. There will be food, fun and Earth-saving information for all!

Along with the celebration is the new sustainability initiative by Ithaca College's dining services called PLANit. Tomorrow, dining services will promote their motto, "The future is in our hands" through the trayless dining pilot which promises to produce less food waste, conserve water and energy and lower the college's green house gas emissions.

The sustainability initiative is not only a campus-wide incentive but a combination of efforts throughout the city of Ithaca, Tompkins County and Ithaca College. The Sustainable Ithaca City Blog offers an outlet for the city, town and both Ithaca College and Cornell University to blog about the sustainable happenings around the area.

The Tompkins County Website for sustainability is an active site that promotes local community efforts; provides a list of community events related to sustainability; and gives an in-depth overview about accomplishments, expectations and suggestions for Ithaca's desire to be as sustainable as possible.


One of the biggest proponents of sustainability at Ithaca College is the sustainability living community of Terrace 2. This year is the first year that the whole dorm has gone sustainable. The first week of the semester the students, Resident Assistants and Resident Director of Terrace 2 went on a tour of all the sustainable places around Ithaca. They visited such places as Green Star, the SewGreen organization at the Women's Community Building and the Ithaca Farmer's Market.

The students of this community have joined into building, marketing and recruiting subcommittees - to name a few - in order to promote sustainability throughout the campus as well as to suggest ways in which Ithaca College can become more sustainable. They hold community dinners every other Sunday of the month at which six students cook sustainable dinners, and they have a community meeting every month where they discuss new options for the future of sustainability at Ithaca.

Below, students of Terrace 2 engage in discussion about sustainable action:


Some important topics that were brought up at the meetings were heating in the dorms, lights in the hallways that are always on and alternative transportaion such as carpooling, taking the bus, riding a bike or the Ithaca Carshare program.

So come join us tomorrow to be one step closer to a sustainable future! And I promise you won't have to eat a spoon.

-Jillian Rubin