EVENTS, FUN STUFF, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, YOUR LETTERS, EDITORIAL
[This is the first of two messages sent monthly to 5,559 Ithaca area residents]
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KID'S BOOK FEST 2001: October 27 from 10am-4pm at Boynton Middle School
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOKSALE resumes Oct 20-22. 8am-8pm. Books for pennies!
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WHERE WHERE YOU WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE ATTACKS? Local folklorist Lee-Ellen Marvin taped statements by Ithacans during the Apple Festival, Oct 6 &7, for the Library of Congress collection. "Ithaca's very different-- about 70% prefer action by an international court of law rather than bombing. Ithacans are wary about what our government is getting us into." Pictures of Afghanis
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LOW-COST USED COMPUTERS: Babbage's Basement FIRST ANNIVERSARY OPENING on Saturday October 27-- 9am- 1pm. Babbage's is the Sciencenter's Computer Rescue, Reuse, Restoration, and Recycling Center. Systems from $15 to $225 (Donation to Sciencenter). Also open every Wednesday 9am- 1pm Check website for directions.
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"BIGGEST SOCIAL JUSTICE PARADE IN ITHACA'S HISTORY... Saturday, NOVEMBER 3,
noon: Yes, a real parade, with marching band, jugglers, drummers, floats,
stilt walkers, balloons, lots of people, maybe even a fire truck (ok, we'll
need some help to make all this happen - see below). It will be a real fun
event for all of us (especially children!). The Parade for Paras will
start at noon at Southside Community Center and continue to the Commons.
---"On the Commons, starting at 1 - more excitement as we Boogie for a
Living Wage. Lots of entertainment, children's activities, speakers and
more.
---"Here's the help we need. If you know any bands or entertainers of any
sort that would be willing to donate a small amount of their time in
support of our Living Wage Campaign, please let me know. If you are
connected to any community group, school, union, PTA, student group or
business, we are
looking to have all these groups represented in the parade. What a
powerful message in support of a Living Wage this could be! There will
be kids' activities (face painting, balloons, writing and drawing, etc.)
and a few speakers.
---"The Parade will include a Baby's Brigade. It will also include Bikes
and Trikes for Pay Hikes.
---"We also want parents and/or the PTA from EVERY SCHOOL to be represented.
---"We also want the ITA and other unions to be represented, so if you or a
spouse or friend is in the ITA or another Union, please urge them to come,
with a buddy or five, CARRYING A SIGN WITH THE UNION NAMED, or wearing
Union jackets and hats.
---"We also want community groups, churches and businesses involved, so if
you are connected to any of these organizations, encourage and organize
their participation too.
---"We also want to hear creative fun things that YOU MIGHT SUGGEST or even
better, ORGANIZE. Bring your instruments, for example, or any special
talents.
---"Our next planning meeting is Oct 18 at GIAC 7-8 pm. It's *Very
Important* that I hear from each of you before the meeting with a note
saying what you intend to do to make this a memorable parade. Please
E-mail me with your thoughts about how you can help. Thanks!!" Carl
Feuer, Tompkins Cortland Labor Coalition [email protected] 277-5670
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ULALI-- NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN'S A CAPPELLA TRIO Oct 22 at 7pm Whalen Hall Ithaca College: [email protected] 274-3326. Free.
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AMAZING ITHACA HISTORY!
October 15, 1924: 'COLORED' GIRL SCOUT TROOP organized at Calary Baptist Church.
October 15, 1954: HURRICANE HAZEL, only such storm to hit city, smashes
homes, cars, and topples 279 trees. The 70mph winds injured six and
knoecked out electric power.
October 16, 1615: FIRST EUROPEAN TO SEE CAYUGA LAKE, Etienne Brule,
22-year-old French explorer, arrives at South Hill in the company of Huron
war party.
October 16, 1902: FANGO THE SNAKE-EATER is released from jail. Mayor pays
his fare out of town.
October 17, 1885: Several hundred people watch Prof. Kane walk a TIGHTROPE
ABOVE STATE STREET.
October 17, 1916: LAST CONFEDERATE SOLDIER IN TOMPKINS COUNTY, Marty
Malone, dies.
October 18, 1823: Hunting club forms to chase "MONSTERS OF THE WILDERNESS"
from their hiding places. Such "enemies of the human race" as wolves,
bears, panthers, and foxes were targets of the "war of extermination" to
which all men of Tomkins County were invited.
October 18, 1952: Vice Presidential candidate RICHARD NIXON speaks from
rear of train at Lehigh Valley station. He tells crowd of 3500 Ithacans
that they should elect men like himself who "don't have to defend and
condone mistakes of the past in dealing with problems of the future."
October 18, 1991: FIRST ITHACA HOUR SPENT, for a samosa at Farmer's Market.
Several million dollars worth of Ithaca's paper money have been traded
during the past ten years. http://www.ithacahours.org
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NEW on the ITHACA HOURS List
FLAGS: all nations: 100% HOURS: Mundo Gitano 277-5462
NUTRITIONIST & PERSONAL CHEF: Green Cuisine: Michele Wilbur
[email protected]
PET MASSAGE TRAINING: Rub Me Right: Beverly & Tom Stearns
[email protected]
PIANO LESSONS: Jayne Demakos: 25 yrs exp: 256-9488
SOAPMAKING LESSONS: Oct 28 at Co-op Extension 6-9pm: register 659-4366
TIBETAN BUDDHISM CLASSES & events: Namgyal Monastery: ONE EXAMPLE: Buddhist
Terminology and Definitions: six-week class meets Sunday evenings from 7:30
to 8:30pm. teacher: Palden Oshoe: cost: $115. [email protected]
ITHACA HOURS ANNUAL DIRECTORY 2002 being created: to update your listings and for ad rates 272-3738 [email protected]
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GROUNDBREAKING FOR CAYUGA WATERFRONT TRAIL: Oct 16 at 3:30pm in Cass Park, east of swimming pool. This trail will bring bikers and strollers to the water's edge, nonstop from Stewart Park, along the Inlet, to Cass Park. http://www.cayugawaterfronttrail.com Sales of engraved bricks will fund construction, and HOURS are accepted. Maxie's Supper Club is helping raise money: your $5.00 (Half HOUR) dessert fee is donated.
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GROUNDBREAKING for ALTERNATIVES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION new headquarters on Route 13, Oct 23 from 4pm-6pm. Johnny Russo's East Hill Trio, refreshments, pigeon releases, short speeches, rain or shine. They'll be contracting for many types of work and invite you to contact Karl Graham about helping: [email protected] 273-3582 x822. They're paying 5% Ithaca HOURS.
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BLEND (BI-/MULTIRACIAL LINEAGES, ETHNICITIES & NATIONALITIES DISCUSSION) "was founded to promote and celebrate the multi-racial experience in the Cornell and Ithaca community and in the larger society as a whole. Issues involved with being of mixed racial background will be the focus, but any and all are welcomed to join; being involved in the 'multi-racial experience' can include having a mixed family member, being transracially adopted, being involved in an inter-racial relationship, or just wanting to learn more about what it means to have multiple races or ethnicities in one's background. We also aim to promote multicultural education, racial awareness, and inter-racial unity." Meetings are every Thursday 5:30 p.m. in 105 Rockefeller Hall. Contact [email protected] for more info or to be added to the listserve.
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TOMPKINS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AUCTION Oct 24 from 5:30pm-9pm at Celebrations, 2331 Slaterville Rd. Food & drink! $10 or One HOUR.
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INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN STORMY TIMES
RADIO-- "Democracy Now" 9am-11am weekdays 89.7FM WEOS and rebroadcast on internet: http://www.WebActive.com BEST WEB NEWS-- www.commondreams.org
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THINKING ABOUT PRISONS: THEORY AND PRACTICE Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Oct 26-28, 2001 Department of Social Philosophy SUNY, Cortland "Join people from a range of organizations and perspectives to exchange ideas and strategies."
I: EXPERIENCING THE SYSTEM: Prisoners, Families of Prisoners, Correctional
Personnel, and prisoner's advocates tell their stories
II: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN IMPRISONMENT: Supermax Prisons, Drugs, Privatization
III: ANALYZING THE SYSTEM: The Prison Industrial Complex, The Rockefeller
drug laws, Youthful offenders, The death penalty
IV: CRITIQUE AND CHANGE: Historical perspectives, Transnational comparisons
and covenants, Abolition or Reform?
FOR REGISTRATION: 753-2727 [email protected]
< ahref="http://www.cortland.edu/www/philosophy/regist.htm">Registration form" (to print up and send in):
General info
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GO PLAY GO! Friday Night Go Club at 314 Wood St 6pm [email protected]
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LOAVES & FISHES HOSTS ITS SIXTH ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER Oct. 20 at 6:30pm Featuring soups by Ruloff's, Harvest Deli, Maxie's, Heights Cafe. Music by Chris Woodward & Jon Conrad. Admission is purchase of a bowl (made by local potters) at Handwork.
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COLOR ME ITHACA: Discussion list for Ithacans of color
AFRICA-LATS: Another list for Ithacans of color
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GREENSTAR'S FALL GATHERING at Women's Community Building, Oct 18 at 5:30pm Dinner, Music, Expansion Presentation, Discussion, Door Prizes.
GREENSTAR FUNDRAISING FOR NYC DISASTER GreenStar will donate up to $5,000 for disaster relief efforts, by matching all member-owner and shopper donations during October, up to a total of $5,000.
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GREATER ITHACA ART TRAIL Oct 20, 21, noon to 6pm each day)! Self-guided tour of 47 artist's studios in Ithaca area. The Art Trail is designed to be open year round by appointment, but on these dates all of the artists will be in their studios so you don't have to call ahead. [email protected]
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"UNMASKING OUR CULTURES" An Evening of Feasting and Dance, Featuring Native American, Israeli, African, Latin, Caribbean, Irish and Indian dancing. OCT 20 dinner at 6, program at 7pm, tickets on sale at the door, contact rere: [email protected] Hosted by Multicultural Resource Center.
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SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS CONVERGENCE Oct 26/27 (workshops on non-violence training, facilitation, consensus, media communication, legislative strategies, street theater and more. To register: Marcie Ley 255-7293 or [email protected]. Grace Ritter 277-6300 [email protected]
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MUSIC OF MANY LANDSCAPES: The Sounds of the Home Left Behind. Oct 20th at 11:00am at Tompkins County Public Library. Jorge Cuevas, playing the Kalimba and other percussion instruments, presents the Sounds of Latin America.
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ITHACA HEALTH FUND keeps growing, providing more non-profit coverage for hundreds of members, still for $100/year. See Karen Hanson's Health Fund POEM
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LETTERS TO EDITOR:
"I enjoy getting the community news and have found more relevant
information in it than anywhere else. Keep up the great work!" --Erin Donk
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"Hey Hello, Love this newsletter, I read it all the time, sometimes I go
do stuff because of it- see it works! THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING." --Emme
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"As always, thanks for the great info." --JoAnn Cornish
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"I increasingly look forward to your letter." Thanks, Don Ellis
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"Regarding your article "Why the US will lose this war"
I appreciate your patriotism, in the truest sense of the word. -Mike H."
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"I've been reading lots and lots of stuff on the internet: 'why do they
hate us, who are they, are we going to lose our liberties,' etc. etc. . . I
can't keep up with it. However, I haven't read anything that puts it all
together like you do". Why U.S. Will Lose this War Thank-you
--Randy Z.
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"Thanks for the thoughtful and hard-hitting reality check in your analysis
of "Why the U.S. Will Lose this War." As I listen to youth I used to
teach, they are aware of the critical perspective we sought to help them
develop." --Cris Gutierrez
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"Thanks for your words of wisdom. I always enjoy reading what you write.
In case you don't know what I am talking about I am referring to your email
on energy." --Hilda Ithaca Power
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"I'dlike to take this opportunity to thank you for all the great work that
you do; a living example of the difference that each of us can make in the
world. thanks!" --Robert Kulik [email protected]
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[NOTE: Critical letters are indeed printed when received. See last issue ]
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LETTERS THE JOURNAL DECLINED TO PUBLISH: Send yours and they'll appear with the following at unpublished letters
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IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE SEEN Ithaca Community News, you can find earlier editions with links at ICN Archives
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EDITORIAL:
Everyone agrees the September 11 attacks were monstrous, that those responsible should be punished, and that further attacks should be prevented. Bombing Afghanistan, though, kills innocent people, trashes our Constitution, weakens the nation, and makes worse terrorism likelier.
Here's why:
KILLS INNOCENT PEOPLE: Two years of severe drought have crippled
Afghanistan's food supply. According to UNESCO, 7.5 million Afghanis will
starve to death unless the bombing ceases immediately and massive UN food
convoys resume. Continued bombing therefore converts Afghanistan into a
concentration camp, and exterminates more human beings than did Hitler.
Since half the population of Afghanistan are children under 16, this
becomes massive baby-killing. Have a look
Nobel Peace Prize Winning Doctors Group Calls US Afghanistan Aid 'Military Propaganda'
Food Drops will not Prevent Starvation
TRASHES OUR CONSTITUTION: The Anti-Terrorist Act is anti-American and terrifying. Federal agencies may now seize assets of citizens, 501C3 and other groups and their members without disclosing the evidence. Government need only allege that disclosing such evidence may compromise national security and/or an ongoing investigation. See summary See full text (Search for: 107th Congress & Senate Bill S.1510)
WEAKENS THE NATION: Permanent war will expand the military budget ("Weapons Industry Gets Boost" CNN 10/8) while budgets decline for education, health care, fuel efficiency, infrastructure repair, food/water/air quality protection, and so on.
INSPIRES MORE TERRORISM: Some may find it hard to believe that non-Americans also get angry when bombs are dropped on their families and friends. Fire is not extinguished with gasoline.
Feeding and heeding calls for vengeance, the Ithaca Journal offers a perverse 'blessing' on the world (editorial "God Bless the World" 10/8/01), by blessing the bombing of the poorest nation on earth. ---The Journal's terrifying war on children is a poor substitute for re-structuring our economy to rely less on Mideast oil. They announced that "America and its allies did what was right for civilized people on Sunday," presuming themselves civilized. The Journal's war fever (they endorse EVERY war) makes Ithaca's children LESS safe. Watch this massacre become worse, with the Journal's 'blessing.'
We urgently need to rely upon and subscribe to thoughtful media.
Journal subscription office: 272-2329
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BOUND FOR GLORY-- America's longest-running folk music radio show, now in its 35th year, on WVBR-FM, 93.5 and 105.5. Host Phil Shapiro. Schedule is at WVBR
"The show runs Sunday nights from 8 to 11, with live sets at 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30. All three sets are different. Come to as many sets as you wish. Admission in the live audience at the Cafe at Anabel Taylor Hall is free. Kids are always welcome. Phil 844-4535 [email protected].
OCT. 28 JOE LaMAY AND SHERRI REESE, with GENESEE ROSE. Joe and Sherri and their band are fun, fine homemade music, Rochester style.
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TOMPKINS COUNTY NETWORK FOR PEACE & JUSTICE supports the following:
"1) We mourn the victims and condemn the attacks of September 11
2) War and militarism are not the answer
3) Defend Civil Liberties
4) We oppose anti-Islamic, anti-Arab, anti-immigrant and all racial,
ethnic, and religious bigotry and violence
5) Seek global peace through economic and social justice"
***VIGIL EVERY SATURDAY 1-2pm on State Street on the east end of the
Commons for Israel-Palestine issues. INFO: dana at [email protected] TO
JOIN THIS LIST SERVE, send a blank message to
[email protected]
Eighty Ithacans marched the Planet Walk from the Commons to Sciencenter and back, October 13, to challenge the Star Wars missile plan, saying it would explode missile treaties with Russia and China. Some dressed like Darth Vader and crew. More info: [email protected]
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REWARD FOR READING THIS FAR: Half price meal at ABC Cafe (with purchase of one full price meal) with this coupon
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CONSCIENCE, a student organization, educates the community on the Nanjing Massacre and offers FREE FILM " In the Name of the Emperor" Sunday, Oct 21, 2001 at 6pm in Aud D Goldwin Smith. Screening & Panel Discussion with Christine Choy, director nominated for The Academy awards. RECEPTION WILL FOLLOW in the International Student Lounge in WSH. RELATED PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT Oct 21 -26 Williard Straight Hall Art Gallery DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING and a testimony of a survivor Oct 22 at 6:30pm in HEC aud in Goldwin Smith. Judy Wong [email protected]
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FIRST FRIDAYS: networking among professionals of color: Nov 2 from 6pm to 1pm. First Fridays Quartet. $10.00, HOURS accepted. Info Joseph Smith 273-8374
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ANTI-WAR VIGILS, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12-1 pm in front of Willard Straight Hall (Ho Plaza) .All welcome. Satya [email protected]
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"Explore over a dozen different types of working COMPOST BINS to get a sense of what is "right" for you. The majority of this evening's class will be held indoors and cover the fundamentals of trouble-free composting. Fall is the perfect time to set up a compost system that will carry you through the entire year. Come to Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, October 16, 6pm- 8pm. "Come and learn how easy composting can be, and how to manage the process from its beginnings, in your kitchen, through to its invaluable use in your garden." Info: 272-2292. Class fee: $5.00, HOURS accepted.
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GOT NEWS? Please send to Paul Glover [email protected]