[This is the second of two monthly messages sent to 3,891 Ithaca area residents.]
There's a race to the finish line on THE COMMONS-- converting the gravel pit into a patterned brick plaza before the Ithaca Festival begins two weeks from today. The final design, featuring a fountain, can be seen in the storefront next door to Juna's.
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We ROASTED Mayor Cohen on May 4, in a church. This editor challenged the Mayor's "faith-based economic development." He has this faith that chain stores will be our partners in progress.
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Ithaca Festival's THE GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH PARADE is Thursday May 31 at 7:00pm. It moves east along Buffalo Street instead of State Street. After the Parade, on Thursday, join Joe Salzano & the Blue Devils and some great swing dancers in a special Duke Ellington Cabaret at the Center Pavilion, 8-9pm.
There are two new stages: The Odyssey Stage on Saturday and the Haunt Stage on Sunday. CIRCUS ECCENTRITHACA, at the Stewart Park ballfield, features The Second Hand Dance Company, on Sunday, June 3, 5:00 p.m. The circus tells the story of Ithaca, starting with the glacier!
One Half Ithaca HOUR is accepted per t-shirt. Please buy the button! $3.00
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History happens every day in Ithaca. AMAZING ITHACA presents the next two weeks of May's Ithaca history locally at http://www.ithacahours.com/azith.html
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The STUDENT RECYCLING PROJECT has BIG storage capacity for mountains of useful stuff students will throw away during the next three weeks, thanks to Mark Finkelstein of Gun Hill Residences. We need volunteers to distribute flyers throughout student neighborhoods, to drive trucks and load along our routes, to sort the food, clothes, computers, etc, before our HUGE GARAGE SALE in the Gun Hill parking lot mid-June. Contact Daniella Leifer 277-8097 [email protected] The project was started by Erica VanEtten in 1996, and keeps growing.
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Some NEW ITHACA HOUR BUSINESSES:
* JASON'S DELI on College Ave: 50% HOURS.
* DINOSAUR DRY GOODS ("gently used clothing for kids & women") in King
Ferry, Route 90 at Route 34B, Wed-Fri noon-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm. 315 364-5592
* CRAFTABILITY COLLECTIVE, operated by Challenge Industries, debuts at
the Farmer's Market this Saturday. Challenge accepts HOURS for
microfilming: http://www.challenge-industries.com
* MARY SHELLEY announces she'll accept 50% HOURS for one of her
low-relief carvings, first-come-first served, until July 1: at Farmer's
Market.
* CUDDEBACK AUCTIONS is auctioning contents of a home at 20 Cedar Lane,
Cayuga Heights, SATURDAY, MAY 19th, 10 AM. Kevin Cuddeback accepts 10%
HOURS on bids.
Go to their site for picture preview.
* Two local doulas (serving pregnant women as birth attendants and
postpartum caregivers) have started DOULA! DOULA! They also offer
counseling sexual abuse victims in labor/childbirth fear-triggers and how
to cope with them. 277-1707: Denise Mooney or 589-7660: Amy Moynihan.
Discounts to Health Fund members.
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ALTERNATIVES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION'S ANNUAL MEETING May 22, 2001, 6:30pm- 9pm at Southside Community Center, begins with FREE CHOW from Sticky Rice, GreenStar, Just Desserts, Oasis, and more.
Featured speaker is Chuck Collins, author of "ECONOMIC APARTHEID IN AMERICA: A Primer on Economic Inequality and Insecurity," an action-oriented, movement-building guide to closing the widening gap between the rich and everyone else in this country.
He's also the co-founder and co-director of UNITED FOR A FAIR ECONOMY http//www.ufenet.org -- which draws attention to the dangerous consequences of growing income and wealth inequality in the US and inspires action to reduce economic inequality.
The credit union accepts HOURS for 100% of bank fees, plus 2 HOURS/mo. for loan payments.
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Samite Mulondo has started MUSICIANS FOR WORLD HARMONY, "dedicated to bringing the healing power of music to distressed and displaced peoples world-wide."
They'll send musicians wherever people are displaced due to war, political upheaval or environmental disaster, "with the hope that music will bring them inspiration, healing, and happiness."
(607) 275-9020 [email protected]
How about a MASSAGE ARMY to send massage therapists wherever political tension is most severe? Far better investment for world peace than Star Wars. Ithaca has a great supply of talented fingers, and should lead the way.
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Information about Ithaca HOURS is now available in Thai, Croatian, Korean, Czeck, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Finnish, and other languages at Help translating to additional languages would be welcome.
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The ITHACA HEALTH FUND has brought in over $96,000 and made 48 payments so far, creating a good cushion (preventive and emergency) for over 300 people. As more people join, the menu of payments gets bigger. Donations are tax-deductible. Next Fund meeting is June 4 at 7pm at the public library. All welcome.
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Two excellent movies will soon air on CABLE ACCESS TV CHANNEL 13. "TURBULANCES," about globalization, is scheduled for Channel 13 on May 18 at 10:30pm and May 21 at 9pm; also Channel 78 on May 19, at 9pm.
"BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY" explores African-American identity and activism: Channel 13 on May 25 at 10:30pm; May 29 at 6:30pm; Channel 78 May 24 at 6:30pm.
The producer, "Les Productions ISCA" intends to do a movie about Ithaca HOURS.
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GIAC hosts its annual Craft Fair this Saturday, May 19, noon to 5pm.
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The FOUNDATION OF LIGHT brings Special Guests and Dance Leaders Prema and Tara to lead a Workshop on "The 21 Praises of Tara" (Tara is the Great Mother Goddess, embodiment of Wisdom and Compassion), this weekend. For more info. call Diane at 272-7582 [email protected] and visit The Tara introductory evening is this Friday, May 18th 7-10PM $7-$15 requested donation, open to all.
The Ritual Performance of the Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara is Sunday May 20th starting at 4 Pm, $5-$12 requested donation, open to all. Ithaca HOURS are accepted.
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The first CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE of the season, demanding more space on the road for transportation that reduces taxes and pollution, is Friday, May 25 at 4:30pm, starting from the Skateboard Park, Rte 13 & Wood. All welcome!
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The next Ithaca HOUR board meeting is Monday, May 21 at 6pm at City Hall. All are welcome to put in their two cents or two minutes about coordination of our local currency. Can you volunteer some time operating the Animated Teller Machine during the Ithaca Festival? Please contact Laurie Konwinski at [email protected] The HOUR board also invites volunteers for the Circulation Committee, HOUR Town Committee, Fundraising Committee, and more. The board's website
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Got news? Send it to [email protected]