ICN Newsletter Archive

 

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Outrageous Inspirations, brought to you by Positive News Newspaper (http://www.positivenewsus.org): WE ARE ALL CONNECTED. With each breath, you take into your body 10 sextillion atoms and—thanks to the wind’s constant circulation—over a year’s time you have intimate relations with oxygen molecules exhaled by every person alive, as well as by everyone who ever lived. Right now you may be carrying atoms that were once inside the lungs of Joan of Arc, Christopher Columbus and Paul Glover. Source: Guy Murchie, “The Seven Mysteries of Life.”

Watch birds live at Lab of Ornithology webcam: (http://www.wbu.com/feedercam_home.htm).

Ithaca Stitch ‘N’ Bitch has its own web page: (http://ithacastitchnbitch.powerblogs.com). Meets Wednesdays at Gimme Coffee on State St.

Slaterville Springs was named for its “Magnetic Waters” (http://www.rootsweb.com/~nytompki/scrap/magneticsprings.htm)

Ithaca Community News Benefit Party! Saturday, March 18, Ithaca’s own Thousands of One (http://www.thousandsofone.com) will play a benefit show for ICN at the Women’s Community Building. Come celebrate with us as we launch our new web site! Suggested donation, $5-$10 per person. The benefit starts at 7:30 pm, with the new web site going “live” at 8:00, and Thousands of One playing at 8:30. Snacks and drinks are included. And, there will be a raffle with some great prizes, including the new Moosewood cookbook, an overnight stay at Frog’s Way Bed and Breakfast, and a hot tub retreat for two! Save the date and come party with us on March 18.

ICN is looking for a few good freelance writers. Have a scoop on some local, alternative business or event? Like to write profiles on local artists, environmentalists, or activists? Feel like helping your local alternative media cover stories on a broad range of topics, from sustainable agriculture to public transportation to political meetings and events? Please check out the new writer’s guidelines, at (http://www.ithacanews.org/guidelines.html).

Donate to ICN through PayPal. Go to (http://www.ithacanews.org) and click on the MAKE A DONATION button. It’s an easy and secure way to support ICN.   

Students Hold Rally Against Institutional Racism and Violence at Cornell, by Patrick Young.

In the aftermath of a violent and racially motivated stabbing that occurred on Cornell’s West Campus last Friday, students have come together to demand that administrators take proactive steps to address issues of racism and violence at Cornell. The student coalition held a rally Monday, February 27, to present their demands and kick off their “Campaign to End Violence and Intuitional Racism at Cornell.” The event, held on Cornell’s Ho Plaza, was attended by over 300 students and dozens of community and faculty supporters.

Read Full Story here: (http://www.ithacanews.org/articles/stabbingrally.html).

Ithaca Community News is now accepting advertisements from local businesses who meet our advertising guidelines. Please see http://www.ithacanews.org/adpolicy.html for details.

THANKS TO THE DONORS WHO HAVE DONATED IN THE PAST. Ithaca Community News accepts donations in cash or HOURS. Donations can be sent to ICN P.O. Box 874, Ithaca, NY. 14851.

Article on local currencies and Ithaca Hours in Forbes Magazine, “Funny Money,” by Emily Lambert:

http://www.forbes.com/2006/02/11/local-currencies-ithaca_cz_el_money06_0214local.html.

Ithaca Free Clinic in 2006: Panel presentation. March 15, 12:30 to 1:30 pm, Rice Conference Room, Biggs Building, Health Department, Ithaca. After years of incubation, the Ithaca Health Alliance has provided the resources to open a free integrated health clinic in order to serve the uninsured residents of Tompkins County. In January, the Ithaca Free Clinic opened its doors to provide basic health care to those in need, located at 225 S. Fulton Street, Suite B, Ithaca. The panel will present information about their mission, the range of services provided, policies, procedures, volunteer provider recruitment, connections with other programs and agencies, governance, outreach and financing. More info (http://www.ithacahealth.org/clinic.htm).

New Yorkers for Verified Voting (NYVV) has formed a Fingerlakes Chapter. The last meeting was held on February 28, with more meetings planned for March 14 and March 28 at 7:00 pm in the space of the Living Wage Coalition above Autumn Leaves book store on the Ithaca Commons. For more information about the Fingerlakes Chapter, mailto:nyvvaction@yahoo.com. More info about the issue at http://www.nyvv.org. Also, on March 16, NYVV will show the film “Invisible Ballots” about problems with electronic voting machines, followed by a question and answer session with Bo Lipari, Executive Director, NYVV. 7:00 pm in the Borg Warner Room at the Tompkins County Library.

The Town of Ithaca Democratic Committee has written to the Tompkins County Board of Elections, urging the selection of paper-based optical scanning voting machines for Tompkins County. Each county in New York State will make its own selection of voting machines to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and a local decision is expected later this spring. The letter was sent to both the Democratic and Republican commissioners because the committee believes that preservation of ballot access and accuracy in the interest of fair elections is a non-partisan issue. To read the full text of the letter, see: (http://www.ithacanews.org/votingletter.html).

Town of Ithaca’s Conservation Board Seeks New Member. The Town’s Conservation Board needs a volunteer to fill a vacancy through 12/31/07. The Board meets in Town Hall at 7:30pm the first Thursday monthly and welcomes interested Ithaca Town residents to join. Discussions of late include: a work plan for 2006 to promote conservation zoning; cataloguing scenic views; purchasing development rights to protect environmentally sensitive open spaces; protecting wetlands; preserving trees and wooded areas; reducing CO2 emissions, encouraging renewable and sustainable energy sources; developing trails; and, coping with our surplus deer population. For more info, please call our Coordinator, Susan Ritter, at 273-1747 ext 127, or mailto:sritter@town.ithaca.ny.us.

Food Safety Issues at the Local, State Level. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote next Thursday, MARCH 2 on HR 4167, the National Uniformity of Foods Act of 2005. This bill would nullify any state food safety or labeling law that is not identical to federal law. This means that it would nullify the Alaska law requiring labeling of genetically engineered fish, and California Prop 65 labels that require labels on any products that contain carcinogens. If this law passes, no state could ever pass a GMO labeling bill in the future.

The Consumers Union food safety website has an easy action alert form to let your representative know if you oppose the bill: (http://www.NotInMyFood.org).

Also see The Organic Consumers Association’s Web Site and Campaign: (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2752)

Energy Town Meeting, March 9, 7:00-8:30 pm at Room 153 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Cornell. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Cornell Cooperative Extension will hold its second in a series of Energy Town Meetings on March 9. Scheduled across the State and open to the public, this meeting will provide energy efficiency tips. The Energy Town Meeting topic is “Reducing Home Energy Costs” and focuses on how to keep home energy costs under control during this time of increasing energy prices. More info, mailto:crf11@cornell.edu.

Tax season; tax deductions for going green. From Alternatives ‘Lectronic Currents Newsletter: The Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005 provides tax breaks to homeowners who make energy-efficient improvements to their homes or purchase hybrid and other green vehicles. Expenditures must be made in 2006 and 2007, and the rules can be fairly complex. Here are three credits worth knowing about: The residential energy efficient property credit provides a maximum $2000 credit per year for installing solar water heating equipment and another $2000 credit for the cost of solar equipment that generates photovoltaic electricity; The home improvement energy credit provides a lifetime credit worth up to $500 for certain energy savings improvements. The numbers vary by the type of improvement you make, but furnaces, water heaters, central air conditioners, and windows can all qualify; The alternative fuel vehicle credit, worth $250 to $3400, replaces the existing deduction for hybrid vehicle purchases. In 2006, a leased vehicle qualifies for this credit. While hybrids are the most common vehicle this credit covers, other types also qualify: fuel cell, advanced lean burn diesel and others. The IRS has yet to disclose all the details. More info: (http://www.powernaturally.org).

There are three places left in phase 1 of White Hawk, an ecological village to be built on 120 lovely acres in Danby. Anyone interested in co-housing and sustainability can attend a March meeting, Sunday 3/5 or Sunday 3/19. For details, contact Henry Peterson (Beauty): 607 273-5879; mailto:beauty77@lightlink.com.

“National Book Award” finalist novelist and Peace Activist to visit Cornell March 2, 7:30 pm, Founders Room at Anabel Taylor Hall. Patricia Henley, is the author of “Hummingbird House” and “In the River Sweet”, two novels about peace and justice in the modern era. Prof. Henley, of Purdue University, will read from her published works, and share her experiences in peace activism. A question-and-answer session about effective peace-making will follow. More info about Patricia Henley (http://www.patriciahenley.com). More info about the lecture, 255-4228.

“Peace Potluck” March 4. The Perry City Friends (Quakers) invite you to a “peace potluck” on the first Saturday of each month. Everyone is welcome to share thoughts, feelings, and actions in a safe haven as we explore paths to peace together. This month we will rise up singing! Bring your voice or any other musical instrument and make a joyful noise as we sing songs of peace, social justice, and the environment. Please join us on Saturday, February 4 at the Perry City Meeting House on Route 227 in Perry City. Dish to pass at 5:30 pm; music 7:00-9:00. For more information, call (607) 387-9046.

Back to Democracy Anti-War Events March 17 and 18. In response to the global call to action (http://www.aglobalcall.org), Back to Democracy will hold a vigil from 6:00-8:00 am at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds on Friday, March 17th, calling for a real exit strategy from Iraq of US troops, corporations, & military contractors. It also is St. Patrick’s Day & a way to honor the work of the St. Patrick’s Four. People can bring signs/posters of their choice. On Saturday, March 18, 10:00 am  in front of the Trumansburg High School, BTD will gather as for a Peace March down to the small park across from where 227 "T's" into Rte 96.  Last year, the rally was 127 strong. This year, they hope to double that number.

CODEPINK: Women for Peace, launches urgent Call for Peace. CODEPINK is gathering over 100,000 signatures to deliver to U.S. embassies, consulates, and federal offices all over the world on International Women’s Day, March 8. To sign: (http://www.womensaynotowar.org/).

President Bush asks for another $72.4 billion for his illegal war in Iraq.

Meanwhile, we keep spending more and more on defense weapons and space exploration. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) reports that the federal R&D portfolio totals $134.8 billion for 2006, a $2.2 billion or 1.7% increase. However, 97% of the increase goes just to defense weapons and space exploration. Funding for all other federal R&D programs collectively will barely increase, and will fall nearly 2% after adjusting for inflation. Many flagship federal science agencies such as the NIH, NSF, EPA, and DOE have disappointing budgets for 2006. Read the full AAAS report (http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/upd1205.htm).

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Muevete! Baile Latino in Collegetown, Featuring Latin Music and Latin Videos with DJ Nedim
March 1, 9:30 pm at the Level B Bar and Lounge. Free Admission - 21 and over, more info: (607) 624-3622.

Gallery Night of Ithaca, Friday, March 3, 5:00-8:00 pm. Check out new art exhibits and receptions in ten galleries, located around The Commons. See (http://www.ink-shop.org) to learn more about participating galleries. More info 277-3884. Free and open to the public.

Works of local artists to be displayed at Clinton House ARTSpace, 116 N. Cayuga St, Ithaca. March 1 through March 31. Hosted by the Kitchen Theatre Company, preview the fine art that will be available for bid in the Kitchen Theatre Company’s 7th Annual On-Line Benefit Auction that will run from March 15-30 at http://www.kitchentheatre.org. The “Gallery night” reception for this exhibit will take place on March 3 from 5:00-7:30 pm. Refreshments will be served. ARTSpace is open and free to the public Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Exhibit at CSMA Celebrates Women and Girls. March 3-March 31, the Community School of Music and Arts will host an interdisciplinary exhibit by local artists on the theme of transitional female experiences. Scheduled in conjunction with Women’s History Month, “Coming of Age: Art in Celebration of Women and Girls” includes paintings, photographs, prints, and multimedia work by artists of the Finger Lakes region. The opening reception will be held on March 3, 5:00-7:00 pm, during Gallery Night of Ithaca, at 330 E. State Street, downtown Ithaca. The Gallery is also open from 10:00 am-8:00 pm, Monday through Friday and from 10:00 am-2:00 pm on Saturday. More info, 272-1474, or mailto:info@csma-ithaca.org.

Cornell Commitment Convocation, March 3, 6:30 pm, David L. Call Auditorium in Kennedy Hall, Cornell. Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff and Director of the Peace Corps, Mark Gearan, to provide Keynote Address. The Convocation is FREE and open to the public, but tickets are required and may be obtained at the Cornell Commitment Office at 103 Day Hall or by calling 255-8595. All members of the Cornell and Ithaca communities are welcome at the Convocation. More info, contact the office of the Cornell Commitment at 255-8595.

Latin Dance at Six Mile Creek Vineyard with SalsaAmigos. March 3, 10:00 pm-12:30 am, with free dance lesson at 9:00. Admission 21 and over, $5 cover More info 624-3622.

Events at the Community School of Music and Art: Coming of Age: Art Celebrating Girls & Women. Opening reception for gallery show. Friday, March 3, 5:00-8:00 pm; Faculty Showcase Series: The Molly MacMillan Trio, Third floor performance space. $5 per person or $15 per family to benefit CSMA’s Scholarship Fund, Sunday, March 5, 3:00 pm; CSMA Attic and Basement Tag Sale: From costumes and picture frames to old shelving and paper, lots of stuff to admire and plunder. Priced to go, benefits the school’s Scholarship Fund, Saturday, March 11, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Ithaca-based, folk-jazz string band Waterbear to perform in Corning, March 3, 8:00 pm at the Soul Full Cup Coffeehouse on 81 West Market Street. Donations are accepted.

Art-full Family Saturday, March 4, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, at the Johnson Museum of Art. For children and their families. Spend a winter morning listening to local author Suzanne Bloom, exploring the Museum’s collections, and make your own book! Co-sponsored by the Family Reading Partnership. Please bring a gently used children’s book to donate to the Bright Red Bookshelf. Fees:  Free for Museum Members/ $5 per family for nonmembers. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. More info, 255-6464 or (http://www.museum.cornell.edu).

KITCHEN THEATRE performance: The Parrot, March 4 and 5 matinees only. The Parrot combines acting, puppetry, music, comedy and drama to tell a twisty “story within a story.” A romantic parrot, with a mind of his own, befriends a peasant girl and outwits the evil king through his brilliant storytelling. More info: (http://www.kitchentheatre.org).

Families Learning Science Together: Classifications, March 4, 2:00-3:00 pm in the Thaler-Howell program room of the Tompkins County Public Library. This workshop will investigate what characteristics are used to identify things like rocks and bugs. Learn how scientists divide and classify various things. Reserve a spot today by contacting Kevin at mailto:outreach@ccmr.cornell.edu or call 254-8256. The program is free and open to the public, but space is limited.

Dances of Universal Peace, held on the first Saturday of every month. Next dance: March 4. Meditation starts at 7:15 pm, dancing begins at 7:30. All Dances held at Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd. The Dances are simple Circle Dances and Chants sung in various languages which honor different Spiritual Traditions in the World. All Chants and Dances are taught and are accompanied by live music. No experience is necessary, Come Join the Circle! A $5.00 donation is requested but not required. More info: Diane Olden, 272-7582 or mailto:dianeolden@hotmail.com.

Lindsay Mac, Cellist and singer-songwriter, March 4 at Felicia’s Atomic Lounge, 508 W. State Street, Ithaca. 7:00 pm. Free. (http://www.lindsaymac.com).

‘Crossing Borders’ Live Radio broadcasts March 4 and March 11. Crossing Borders is a multi-cultural concert series broadcast live on WVBR, 93.5FM, 8:00 to 10:00 pm every Saturday, from the Carriage House Cafe at 305 Stewart Avenue, Ithaca. March 4 an Evening of Story and Song, with Jody Kessler and Lee-Ellen Marvin. March 11 is African Series Part II with Tani Diakite, master of the 8 string Camalen Ngoni. Hailing from the Wassoulou region of Mali, West Africa, Tani sings in several languages including, occasionally, English. Fee. For more info: (http://www.Crossingborderslive.org) or mailto:Crossingborderslive@yahoo.com.

Benefit for Jolene Uticone, a much loved T-burg young woman, who is experiencing serious health problems. Friends and acquaintances are invited to bring their love, support, and good wishes for her recovery. Event: March 5th, 4:00 pm-whenever, Rongovian Embassy, Trumansburg. Music by all kinds of local people, including Jennie Stearns, Hank Roberts, Mary Lorson, Crow Greenspun, Sim Redmond, Uniit, and a host of “old-time” musicians. Food, auction, raffle (including some Grassroots Festival tickets.) Questions? 607-387-3424.

Speaker to facilitate informal discussion on the struggle for social justice in New Orleans. March 5, 11:45 am at the Ithaca Unitarian Church Annex, 106 E. Buffalo. Jay Arena of the New Orleans Housing Emergency Action Team (NO-HEAT) will answer questions and talk about social justice in New Orleans before and after Katrina. NO-HEAT | New Orleans Housing Emergency Action Team (http://www.no-heat.org/); C3 NOLA | Concern, Community, and Compassion (http://www.c3nola.org/). Also, Ithacans in New Orleans, Audrey Stewart and Lisa Guido, have been staying in New Orleans for several months and working with the Common Ground Collective to help build New Orleans. http://www.commongroundrelief.org/.  

Ithaca Lions Club 42nd Annual Pancake Breakfast. Sunday March 5, 8 am-12 pm at the Ithaca Veteran Fireman’s Hall, 638 Elmira Rd (Route 13). Includes pancakes, blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. The Lions will also be collecting old eye glasses and hearing aids for recycling  $5 adults, $3 (6 - 12 years old), children under 6 free. All proceeds go to local Sight, Hearing and Youth Programs. Contact Rich Shaff 277-4108    mailto:shaff@verizon.net, or visit http://www.ithacalions.com.

Next Bound for Glory concerts: SEAMUS KENNEDY, March 5, and MICHAEL JERLING, March 12. WVBR’s Bound for Glory is North America’s longest running live folk concert broadcast, which broadcasts from Cul de Snack, the Cafe at Anabel Taylor Hall at Cornell on Sunday nights from 8 to 11, with live sets at 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30.  Admission in the live audience is free and is open to everyone in the area.  Kids are always welcome.  Refreshments are available. More info: Phil Shapiro, 607-844-4535, or mailto:pds10@cornell.edu.

AIDS, LOVE AND THE SECRET LIVES OF TEENAGERS. Talk by Scott Fried, nationally known health educator, author and motivational speaker. Ithaca High School Kulp Auditorium March 7, 7:00 pm. Scott will share the story of his own HIV disease & how he has survived for over 17 yrs, placing the reality of the disease in a context all young people can understand. He addresses the loneliness, isolation, vulnerability and hopelessness he’s faced. All teenagers, their families & people who work w/ them are encouraged to attend this free lecture. A question and answer period, and book signing will follow. Info: Judy Cogan Cesari, 274-2239(w) mailto:monkeygirlz@yahoo.com.

Film, “Wegmans Cruelty” to be shown at Cornell March 8, 7:00 pm at 131 Warren Hall. The screening is sponsored by Cornell Coalition for Animal Defense (CCAD) and Compassionate Consumers. “Wegmans Cruelty” is an investigative documentary produced by Compassionate Consumers, an animal advocacy organization based in Rochester, New York. The film exposes the plight of over 700,000 hens at the Wegmans Egg Farm in Wolcott, NY, and the attempts by Wegmans to conceal the conditions on their farm. CCAD will use the screening as a kickoff to its cage-free campus petition drive, asking students and faculty to support a ban of battery cage eggs at Cornell. Contact: Ryan Merkley, Campaign Coordinator, Compassionate Consumers 585-410-0773. (http://www.WegmansCruelty.com).  

Art for Lunch, March 9 at the Johnson Museum of Art. 12:00-1:00 pm. Curator Ellen Avril discusses Linda Butler’s photographs of the Yangtze River in China. Museum is located on Cornell University campus. Free. More info: 607 255-6464, or http://www.museum.cornell.edu.

Also, check out the 10th Annual Student Arts Showcase at the Johnson Museum, March 10, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public. The showcase will feature fine art and performances by Cornell student artists, including performances by Impact and Shadows dance troupes, Hearsay a capella, and others. The artworks will remain on display all weekend (through Sunday, March 12). This year, the weekend-long event will also include a concert by student members of the Cornell Orchestras on Sunday, March 12 at 3:00 p.m., featuring electronic music by Kevin Ernste and improvisational works based on John Cage's "Living Room Music." The concert, cosponsored by the Cornell Music Department, is free and open to all.

Hangar Theatre’s 2006 school tour production of Hansel and Gretel at library March 11, 2:15 and 3:45 in the Borg Warner Room. This fresh, new version of the classic fairy tale tells the story of a jolly baker and his two daughters, Apple Dumpling and Lemon Tart who are joined by Hansel & Gretel.  Hansel & Gretel learn about love, forgiveness, and how to bring their family back together. These two free public performances are sponsored by Borg Warner/Morse TEC.  Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. More info (http://www.tcpl.org).

Muevete! Baile Latino at Castaways. Saturday, March 11, Party starts at 9:00 pm with a free dance lesson. 18 and over w/ ID. Finest Latin music and hottest Latin Videos with Salsa Amigos DJs. Cover  $5  (SalsaAmigos accepts Ithaca Hours).

Saltonstall Literary Salon. Sunday, March 12, Olivia Restaurant, 381 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca. 11 am. Featuring local authors Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann, Lamar Herrin, Melanie Conroy-Goldman. Enjoy a fresh, flavorful Sunday Brunch and readings from three award winning writers. A cozy afternoon filled with real community: a little food, a little conversation and lots of stories. Arrive at 11 am for a delicious, family-style (and reasonably priced) Sunday Brunch. The bar will be open. Readings start at 12:15 pm. Each author has ten minutes. Stay after for coffee or tea and talk about the works. Signed copies of authors’ books will be available for sale. More info: http://www.saltonstall.org/whatsnew/salon.php or call 272-1020. Reservations recommended.

Earth Day Planning Session, March 15, 7:00-9:00 pm. The Center for Environmental Sustainability invites you to an Earth Day planning session. Wednesday, March 15, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Room C, 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca.  This year’s Celebration will be on Sunday, April 23rd at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market Pavilion from Noon to 5pm. More info: Joey Diana Gates, 351-0664 or mailto:earthdayithaca@yahoo.com.

One-Heart Community Drum Circle. Every Saturday at Lehman Alternative Community School, 111 Chestnut Street, Ithaca. 6:00-9:00 pm. Bring drums, or just show up to play. More info email Steve Calkins, mailto:ecstacy2@earthlink.net. 

Essay Contest: “What’s In Our Water?” This is the sixth annual essay contest sponsored the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. The contest, divided into three categories, is open to school children, high school students, and adults throughout the six-county watershed. Essays can address a variety of questions, possibly including, but not limited to, the following topics: unwelcome chemical additives to our lake and streams in the watershed; aquatic plants - good and bad aspects; the native fish population; zebra mussels and other invasive species; algae and insects at the base of the food chain; and urban and agricultural runoff. Entries are due March 17.  Entry forms and full contest rules at (http://www.cayugalake.org).

Need to rent inexpensive office space? Two spaces are available in the Living Wage Coalition’s Peace and Justice Center. One is 75 square feet and the other 50 square feet. Great for a non-profit or activist group that wants affordable space. Shared fax, copier and meeting space available. Good location - above Autumn Leaves Used Books on the Commons.  Good networking - space shared with other groups including the Living Wage Coalition, Positive News, Books Thru Bars, Workers’ Rights Center, Ithaca Hours and Health Care Task Force. Contact Pete Meyers, mailto:truthisonepathsaremany@yahoo.com or 269-0409.

Registration for Sister2Sister Event for Middle School Girls is March 10. Event to be held at Women’s Community Building on March 18. More on the event in next newsletter. Register early. See (http://www.s2sithaca.org). To register: 280-4380 or mailto:s2sithaca@yahoo.com.   

The Ithaca Free Clinic is now accepting donated items for their First Annual Gala Benefit to be held Saturday, March 25 at Olivia Restaurant from 6-9 pm. The IFC is looking for any items, but especially unusual or eclectic offerings that will make this auction fun and special. Tickets for the Gala Benefit will be $100/per person, and will include a sumptuous array of food and drink prepared especially for this event by Olivia. All proceeds will go to the Ithaca Free Clinic. To donate items or for more information, please call Sarah at 277-0673 or mailto:sb_clarke@yahoo.com.

Gadabout Transportation Services is in need of volunteer drivers. Provide door-to-door transportation services for the elderly and disable in Tompkins County. Gadabout will pay for all licensing and training requirements. For more information call 273-1878.

Beautification Volunteer Training in March. Have you noticed the bright new plantings all around Ithaca in the spring and summer? Want to be part of a fun group that plants and takes care of these flower plantings this year? The Community Beautification Program is offering free training to be part of the 2006 Beautification Brigade. The three-part training will be held Mondays, March 6, 13 and 20, 6-8:30 pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca. When spring arrives this April, volunteers will help out 2 hours per week, in a scheduled morning or evening session, planting flowers on the Commons and other public spaces in the city of Ithaca. For more information, or to request a volunteer application and class schedule, contact Chrys Gardener at 272-2292, extension 123, or mailto:cab69@cornell.edu. To see beautification photos from 2002-2005, go to http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/tompkins/ and click on the link to Community Beautification.

FESTIVAL PASSES are now on sale for the FINGERLAKES ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL, March 31-APRIL 6, a new collaboration between Ithaca College and the 7th Art Corp. Passes may be purchased at Cinemapolis, Fall Creek Pictures, Ithaca College Bookstore, and the Ithaca College Campus center. During that week, Cinemapolis and Fall Creek Pictures will present more than 15 fiction films and documentaries from around the world which raise issues of war, labor rights, health, human rights, migration and the environment. There will be guest appearances by filmmakers, audience discussions, live music, and festival parties.

A group of Ithacans are looking for a small, lightweight utility trailer in reasonable condition to construct a mobile Ithaca Peace Department. They hope to have it ready by the Ithaca Festival. Please call 273-1779 if you can help.

Museum of the Earth offering new ways for kids to have fun and learn at the museum. Dinosaur Tales: story time for pre-k explorers, offered every third Thursday of the month at 11:00 am with a new story every month. Kids under 4 are free. Fossil and Mineral Identification Days: staff paleontologists help identify your most puzzling find, from brachiopods to trilobites to funny looking rocks, every second Saturday, 10:00 am to Noon. Have a mineral and not a fossil? No problem. From 12:00-1:30pm, every fourth Sunday is Mineral I.D. Day. Fossil Fridays: Explore the history of life through fossils, artwork, videos and other activities. Especially appropriate for children ages 7-11, bi-weekly on Fridays. 3:30-4:30 pm. Included with admission. More info (http://www.museumoftheearth.org), or 273-6623 ext. 33. The Museum of the Earth and PRI are located at 1259 Trumansburg Rd (rt. 96) in Ithaca.

Women’s Opportunity Center offering free computer classes throughout March, including how to manage and use email, job searching on the Internet, and how to use Windows XP. To find out schedule or get more info, call 272-1520 or mailto:workshops@womensopportunity.org.

The Advocacy Center will offer a free, confidential support group for women who have been sexually assaulted as adults. The group will provide a safe and supportive environment where participants can talk about such issues as flashbacks, sleep difficulties, and relationship issues.  The group will include women who were sexually assaulted by intimate and/or married partners. The co-facilitators will be therapist Amanda Walts, and counselor/advocate Toni Sunderland of the Advocacy Center.  The group will begin in early March and continue for 10 weeks, meeting Wednesdays from 5-6:30. More info or to schedule an intake appt: Toni at the Advocacy Center, 277-3203 or mailto:toni@odyssey.net.

A new Separated and Divorced Men’s Group is starting in Ithaca. Meetings will be on Thursday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, beginning March 9. The purpose of this group is to provide a supportive forum where men can discuss issues such as: Letting go; Redefining yourself; Interacting with your ex; Single / co-parenting; Building a supportive community; Establishing new relationships and more. Men who participated in this group in the past found it exceptionally helpful. For example, since the group often includes “leavees” and “leavers,” each has an opportunity to understand the other side’s perspective more thoroughly. Men also described how meaningful it was to find a place where they could share their deepest feelings with other men, since this is rare in our culture. For more information, or to discuss a referral, please call Jerry Feist at 277-4131.

Funding Your Long Term Care. David Stoyell, Aging Services Specialist at the Tompkins County Office for the Aging, will offer consumers age 40 and over information that will help them understand what long term care is and the available financing options at upcoming monthly presentations. March 9, 7:00-8:30 pm. at Lifelong, 119 W. Court St., Ithaca. More info or to register, mailto:dstoyell@tompkins-co.org or call 273-1511 or 274-5482.

Monday Night Seminar at the Lab of Ornithology: “From Walden to Wall Street: Frontiers of Conservation Finance.” March 6, 7:30 pm. James N. Levitt of Harvard University is part of the Program on Conservation Innovation at The Harvard Forest. He will discuss the new book, From Walden to Wall Street, which brings together the experience of more than a dozen pioneering conservation finance practitioners to present powerful ideas for dramatically expanding the availability of capital for land and biodiversity conservation in the United States. Free. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is located on Sapsucker Woods Road, just off Route 13, north of Ithaca.

Breast Cancer 101, a two-session educational program of the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance, will be held on March 8 and 15. This program is designed for people diagnosed with breast cancer and/or those who support and assist them. Session 1 focuses on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment basics and Session 2 on wellness strategies and coping with side effects of treatment. The March classes will be held from 5:00-6:30 pm at the Women’s Community Building. Registration is required. Please register by noon on Monday, March 6, by calling IBCA at 277-0960.

Jumpstart Your Creativity! 3-day Workshop with Laurie Stone at Saltonstall Arts Colony. Saturday. March 11; Sunday, March 12; Saturday, March 18, 10:00 am-4:00 pm each day. $120 includes lunches and snacks. Size limited to 10 participants, reserve your space today by calling Laurel Guy at 607-539-3146. In this three-day workshop, new and experienced writers will begin and develop pieces of creative writing: fiction stories, memoir stories, and texts for performance. Exercises and prompts generate material you may not have known was there.  Read all the details about this workshop and presenter at (http://www.saltonstall.org/whatsnew/seminars.php).

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