The Ithaca Community News (ICN) is a non-profit news service bringing alternative news and views from Ithaca, NY to readers all over the world. ICN is also a weekly email newsletter with more than 8,000 subscribers.
Paul Glover founded ICN in 2000 and published it for five years before handing the reins to Elizabeth Field, a freelance journalist, in November, 2005.
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In this issue:
Ithaca Community News is a free, now weekly newsletter that zooms to your inbox every Wednesday. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to elizabeth@ithacanews.org with "Unsubscribe ICN" in the subject heading. Editor and Publisher: Elizabeth Bauchner. Founded by
Ithaca Community News home page: http://www.ithacanews.org
To submit an event listing: http://ithacanews.org/contactpr.htm.
Ithaca Classifieds: A FREE service of Ithaca Community News: http://www.IthacaClassifieds.com.
Want a free Ithaca Community News bumper sticker? White lettering, green background, union made in America. Just send a self-addressed stamped envelope to ICN, P.O. Box 874, Ithaca, NY, 14851.
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NOT OFFICIALLY NEWS
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'Tis the season for giving. Over 75 Places to Donate Locally: http://www.communityfoundationoftc.org/currentfunds/funds.php
Select one of these funds (or create your own) and donate here: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=2218
Ithaca Alumni: Whether you graduated from Cornell or IC, Ithaca is part of your alma mater. Please consider a donation to the community where you played Frisbee, drank your first legal beer, became skillful, and launched your success.
Donations from Tobacco Companies Not Welcome: http://www.co.tompkins.ny.us/wellness/tobaccofree/asp/ntc.htm
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ICN NEWS
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Articles and news briefs on the ICN site:
Forum in Ithaca Focuses on Needs of Local Children:
http://ithacanews.org/news.htm?newsID=151
Get Stuffed This Thanksgiving with Local Foods:
http://ithacanews.org/news.htm?newsID=152
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Pledge Drive: For the next several weeks, ICN is holding our first annual pledge drive. Please help support local, independent media by making a pledge or one-time donation today! ICN cannot continue to exist without your support. For more information, please see: http://www.ithacanews.org/donate.htm.
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ICN is looking for freelance writers to cover local politics and write profiles. If you're interested, please see http://ithacanews.org/guidelines.htm and email Elizabeth elizabeth@ithacanews.org.
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ICN is also looking for help with ad sales. Please contact Elizabeth for job description, elizabeth@ithacanews.org.
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NEWSLETTER SPONSOR. TCAT is looking for community advisors. If you are interested in local transportation issues and how public transit fits into the bigger picture, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) invites you to join a new community advisory group. TCAT is looking for relevant, valuable input from a diverse group of citizens on ways we can improve our service and grow as transit provider. A Transit Advisory Group membership application, as well as more information about the group, is posted on the TCAT website, http://www.tcatbus.com, or call 277-9388, extension 560.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR AD HERE?
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THANKS TO THE DONORS WHO HAVE DONATED IN THE PAST.
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ITHACA LABOR NEWS
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Barbara Lifton to hold "Listening Session" Tonight at GIAC 7:00-9:00 pm:
Just before the election, Lifton sent out a letter endorsing Peter Meskill for Sheriff. In the letter, she wrote that she felt Meskill was more qualified, but that she was afraid people would vote for Tim Little "because he is black" and therefore split the democratic vote, giving more votes to the republican Robison. A lot of people were offended by the letter, prompting her to make the following public statement.
Statement by Barbara Lifton, November 3, 2006:
Good afternoon everyone. I'm holding this press conference in response to the feedback I've received from the community about the letter I recently sent out endorsing Peter Meskill. I would like the chance now to offer my response, and to also ask the community to help me see, in all its complexity and depth, how my words were insensitive.
In today's Ithaca Journal, my words were not accurately represented. When I spoke to the reporter, I emphasized that if I were to make an apology, I truly needed to understand the reasons why, so my apology would be sincere and not superficial. At the time, I had received very little input from people about the letter. The reactions I did receive were mixed, and included both positive and negative viewpoints. Since we've had a public discussion in the press about this issue though, I've received emails and phone calls from my constituents throughout Tompkins County. I realize now that my words were offensive to many, and I regret that I have inadvertently offended people I care deeply about.
I also realize that my letter touched on many complex issues surrounding race and politics—issues too complex to address in a simple letter to the editor or in individual phone calls. Therefore, I will be having a listening session on November 15th from 7-9pm in the GIAC gym with the community so we can openly discuss this issue. I've learned from my friends and community leaders in Ithaca that in this post Civil Rights era, racism is often structural and embedded in our institutions and is perpetuated by actions that people are sometimes unaware of. I do not want my actions to be part of this problem, but rather, I want my actions to be part of a solution in the fight against discrimination. I hope this listening session will be a first step in helping me understand how I can help to eliminate oppression in this community. Thank you and I hope to see all of you at the listening session on November 15.
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Ithaca Health Alliance Names New Board
Members of the non-profit Ithaca Health Alliance, which operates the Ithaca Free Clinic, have elected new Directors to terms ranging from one to two years. IHA Directors serve on at least one IHA committee, in addition to participating on the Board:
The Ithaca Health Alliance works to facilitate access to health care for all, with a primary focus on uninsured and underinsured people living in New York State. To meet its mission, the IHA offers a variety of educational and grant programs. The Ithaca Free Clinic, at 225 South Fulton Street in Ithaca, is a project of the Ithaca Health Alliance: http://www.ithacahealth.org.
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Hangar Theatre announces its 2007 season:
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News from Chronicle Online
Cornell's curriculum evolves to support, teach and reap the benefits of growing diversity: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov06/diversity.curric.html
Cornell explains why it costs so much to go there:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov06/tuition.so.much.sl.html
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ITHACA SUSTAINABILITY
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New York residents can once again choose natural gas and electric energy suppliers other than their local utility company (NYSEG). This can include green energy and renewable resources. The companies that provide the energy are called Energy Service Companies, or ESCOS, and pricing for their services varies. Keep in mind there is a choice only for energy suppliers. NYSEG will continue to deliver the energy.
Our home energy use is billed to us in three parts: a supply charge, a delivery charge, and a transition charge. NYSEG will still deliver the energy, but we can choose other suppliers.
To learn about the program: http://www.energyguide.com/finder/NYFinder.asp?referrerid=209&sid=481
For a list of suppliers click here.
NYSEG provides a list of questions to ask potential suppliers:
http://www.nyseg.com/nysegweb/webcontent.nsf/residential/vycsupplierquestions
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Recent conversations on Sustainable Tompkins Listserv include:
Emergency Preparedness: http://preparedtompkins.org/; http://web.cornell.edu/Emergency/EmergGuide/index.html
US position on Global Warming:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2006/11/06/ap3147683.html
Grubs, Pest Control, Peak Oil, Elections, Sustainable work in Syracuse, and much more. To join: http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins
http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
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Two classes this weekend from Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute:
Reading the Landscape: Saturday, November 18, 9:00 am-5:00 pm. The tools to understand the patterns and processes of nature are all around you! In this class participants will compare the many modes of information collection, from map reading to sensory observation.
Earthworks: Sunday, November 19, 9:00 am-4:00 pm. This class is all about the forming of earth for water catchment, erosion control, and nutrient capture and storage. The basic design and construction of swales, ditches, ponds, dams, and berms will be covered, along with a hands-on demonstration on the CNC property.
Both courses are held at the Cayuga Nature Center, Route 89, 5 miles north of Ithaca, and both courses cost $45 for CNC members, or $50 non-members. More info: info@fingerlakespermaculture.org, http://www.fingerlakespermaculture.org.
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ITHACA WAR AND PEACE REPORT
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Close the US Army School of the Americas, Thursday November 16, 7:30 pm, Rockefeller 115, Cornell University. For the past 50 years, US taxpayers have footed the bill to train Latin American military officers at the US Army "School of the Americas." Join CUSLAR and other organizations for a short film on the SOA and the human rights violations perpetrated by its graduates in countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, and
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More on Martial Law and the Bush Administration:
Last week, ICN reported on the recent passage of the John Warner Defense Bill, which gives the President the ability to institute Martial Law under the guise of a trumped-up immigration reform bill. The law allows the President to institute Marital Law in order to "suppress public disorder."
President Bush actually began putting this power in place more than four years ago. In July, 2002, Ritt Goldstein, an investigative reporter for the Sydney, Australia, Morning Herald, published a piece entitled "Foundations are in Place for Martial Law in the United States." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/27/1027497418339.html
US Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), responded on March 11, 2003, with this speech on the floor of the House: http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/sp030311.shtml.
Truthout.org has published a press release from Business Wire regarding Halliburton's $385 billion contract to build internment camps and deportation centers "in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants" into the US:
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/48/17360
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Ralph Nader interview on Democracy Now on Conservative Democrats, Corporate Power and the Middle East (interview took place November 8):
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/08/1457249
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News from Women's eNews:
In the past six years, at least four pregnant women and thirty-four newborns have died after the mothers were delayed at Israeli military checkpoints in the West Bank and Gaza, Brenda Gazzar reports today. Volunteers and aid groups are working to ease access restrictions: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2958
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FEATURED EVENTS
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Now on the web! Check out our new events calendar:
http://ithacanews.org/events.htm?catID=1.
Just some of this week's listings: Thanksgiving lunches, art shows ,live music, and much more. Don't miss out! Calendar is live, same format as newsletter, updated daily, and searchable.
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CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
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TCAT Service Scaled Back for Thanksgiving Holiday
There will be no TCAT or Tioga Transport bus service on Thanksgiving Day, and TCAT will run fewer routes on the day after Thanksgiving, when many workplaces are closed. TCAT’s regular weekend bus service will resume on Saturday.
On Friday, November 24, routes 10, 12, 36, 37, 52, 53, 60, 65, and all of the Route 80s and 90s will be suspended for the day. Tioga Transport will not be in service. All other TCAT routes will run on normal schedules. Riders should be aware that the last trip from South Hill will be on Route 11, leaving Ithaca College’s Roy Park Hall at 7:17 .m. Route 31 service will end at 7:36 pm at Seneca Street and will return to the TCAT facility via Route 17. The Route 31 leaving Green Street at 7:10 pm will end its service at Winston Court at 7:52 pm. More info: 277-RIDE (7433) or http://www.tcatbus.com.
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CLASSES, LECTURES, SUPPORT GROUPS
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Now on the web! Check out dozens of listings for cool classes, lectures and more:
http://ithacanews.org/events.htm?catID=8
Just some of this week's listings: Sustainable Saturday, Fossil Friday, Classes at GreenStar, Class on preserving food, Type I Diabetes Support Group, and more!
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YOUR LETTERS
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Media Conglomeration Concern:
To the Editor,
Economic pressure is producing the prospect of yet another incident of concentration of power in the media. This time it’s not proposed rules that would allow monopolistic ownership of broadcast stations (although that fight is never really over); it’s the effort of Gannet Co. to buy up the Tribune Co., the owner of 11 newspapers and 28 television stations. Among the holdings: the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and Newsday. Gannet already owns 102 newspapers, including USA Today, the Ithaca Journal, the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin and the Elmira Star Gazette, as well as 22 television stations in the U.S. Other media giants, such as the Hearst Corp., are also interested in acquiring the Tribune Co.
Too much control of our news in too few hands is a danger to our traditions and our democracy. Ultimately, it means we all read the same stories, the same editorial slant, the same columnists, the same recycled news releases, and the same bland puff pieces that pass for “news.” A media without diversity, without differing points of view, without sufficient local focus is a media in name only. It is the antithesis of our proud tradition of a robust, independent and competitive free press.
There are many avenues to confront this trend toward consolidated media ownership. One, of course is the Internet and its incredible ability to widely broadcast views and news to huge numbers of people. However, even that is threatened by the largest corporate giants such as Verizon and AT&T who are lobbying strongly to abolish the doctrine of Network Neutrality and allow, for example, telecom providers to favor those websites and search engines that pay them the highest service fees. Although the recent Congressional election is somewhat reassuring in this regard, let us not forget that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
We, as individuals can play an active role in the fight for a free press. We can support our local and independent alternative media, both print and web based, by reading their publications, contributing content and patronizing their advertisers and sponsors.
The stakes are high. Help preserve a robust, healthy, diverse and intelligent press. Fight media consolidation and support independent and corporation free newspapers, websites, radio and TV.
--Marty Luster, Co-editor, Positive News U.S.
115 The Commons, Ithaca. NY 14850
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On Green Party Election Results:
Thanks for printing the Green Party totals for the election (which I couldn't find in the Ithaca Journal).
I wondered how the Greens fared in Ithaca and Tompkins County, whether the percentages were higher than statewide. (I imagine they were esp. for Hawkins for Senate).
Peace, Will
---[REPLY]:
Hi Will,
I did some poking around but couldn't find specific numbers for Ithaca and Tompkins. However, of note is that nationwide, sixty-five Greens won seats in everything from school board elections to statewide offices: