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Archive: Cover Stories

Ithaca was declared America's most "enlightened" city by the http://cafe.utne.com/towns/ithaca.html Utne Reader in 1998. We're not saints and we don't levitate, but for such a small city (30,000 urban + 20,000 suburban) we have a fabulous number and variety of social organizations. Many of these work to shift real economic and cultural power to average people, to challenge destructive power, and to defend those who are vulnerable today. They're open to new ideas.

Here is a partial list. MANY DESERVING GROUPS ARE NOT YET LISTED, and more are forming all the time. Please call 272-4330 or write hours@lightlink.com to add your group, and to correct your listing. We'll update this collection on the website.

ANIMAL RIGHTS

• The Animal Defense League (community-based) blockaded McDonald's in 1998. Millions of dollars damage done to Cornell animal research lab in '97.
• Militant protest outside lab by http://www.rso.cornell.edu/ccad Cornell Coalition for Animal Defense. Campus animal rights newsletter is The Liberator. If you see a genuine fur coat call CCAD at 256-5003.
• http://www.farmsanctuary.org Farm Sanctuary, for discarded and abused farm animals, is nearby in Watkins Glen.
• The http://www.spcaonline.com Tompkins County SPCA has a zero-kill goal. They're looking for people to give pets sanctuary while new owners are being found. 257-1822

BOOKSTORES & LIBRARIES

• We're a world capitol of reading. According to a 1992 survey, there are about 12.5 million books within the City and Town of Ithaca, held by 46 libraries, 17 bookstores, 9 publishers, 3 museums, 3 government office buildings, thousands of homes, dozens of lawyers, other businesses & homes. This may be the greatest number of books per capita of any locality in the world.
• We have such fine local bookstores that B.Dalton's closed on the Commons. Autumn Leaves Used Books (108 Commons), serves also as organizing hub and Ithaca HOUR bank: 273-8239. http://www.thebookery.com Bookery in DeWitt Mall operated by progressive who publishes http://www.thebookery.com/bookpress Bookpress: 273-5055. http://www.borealisbooks.com Borealis specializes in gay/lesbian/feminist books and magazines: 272-7552. http://www.usedbookfind.com Ithaca Books gives 10% discount to Health Fund members: 277-4886. http://www.reachout98.clarityconnect.com/alexandrian.htm New Alexandrian Books specializes in New Age and Esoteric: 272-1663
• http://www.lakenet.org/tcpl/home.html The Tompkins County Public Library is expanding to larger building, and installing dozens of public internet stations. There's a "Readabout" program, reading to kids in public places, weekly: 272-4557
• http://www.booksale.org The Friends of the Library Booksale every October stocks usually over 300,000 used books, tapes, records: 272-2223 * http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana Africana Library at Cornell retrieves the lost history and power of these citizens.
• http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/altlib/index.html The Alternatives Library has 6,000 books, hundreds of magazines and dozens of newspapers dedicated to social change: 255-6486. They have an annex at the Women's Community Building:
• Progressive publishers include: http://www.mcbooks.com McBooks Press, http://www.firebrandbooks.com Firebrand Books, http://www.snowlionpub.com Snow Lion

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

• The city lives for kids. There are two directories: http://5www.tompkins-co.org/youth/fsojindex.html Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, produced by teens, lists ongoing youth activities.
• Ithaca Child is "the paper for parents," dedicated to the fun and challenges of raising kids: 387-6534
• Teen Community Center 312 E. Seneca St. 273-1888
• Club Ithaca provides safe, fun entertainment for kids.
• Day Care is one most powerful lobbies in City. http://www.lightlink.com/daycare Day Care and Child Development Council has many fine resources for day care providers: 273-0259. http://www.fscith.org Family & Children's Services also keeps a list of day care providers: 273-7494
• http://www.cce.cornell.edu/tompkins/ithacachildrensgarden Ithaca Children's Garden proposes to create a gardening playground for young and old.
• The Cabin Fever Festival is organized by http://www.icthree.org Ithaca Community Childcare Center every March: 257-0200
• http://www.ci.ithaca.ny.us/Giac Greater Ithaca Activities Center 272-3622
• http://www.clarityconnect.com/RIBS Recycle Ithaca's Bicycles has repaired and given away over 1,200 bikes, to low-income kids: 255-7108
• http://www.runJump.com/ithaca.html RunJump.com is the best collection of local sports and recreation schedules. Even organizes ride sharing.
• Skateboarders organized to demand a Skateboard Park. They pushed hard for several years and now it's been built. Rte 13 and Wood Street. Twice a curfew on teens was proposed and twice repelled by the eloquence of young people. Teens hang out on the Commons, so some merchants tried to rip up the Commons and give it back to cars. Effectively opposed.
• see also EDUCATION

CULTURE

• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages2/ir/2r/109ca2.htm Community Arts Partnership gives support, exposure, funding to local artists: 273-5072
• http://www.ithacacommonground.com Common Ground is an enthusiastic intersection of several cultures: 273-1505
• http://www.csma-ithaca.org Community School of Music and Arts hosts classes in creativity 272-1474.
• http://www.arttrail.com Greater Ithaca Art Trail
• http://www.lightlink.com/ithfest Ithaca Festival shows our beauty to each other: 273-3646
• In our tiny town we have an active http://www.visitithaca.com/theater.htm theatre district: http://www.kitchentheatre.com Kitchen Theatre, http://www.cayugalake.com/ithaca/hangar.html Hangar Theatre, Firehouse Theatre, State Theatre, Tin Can Company.
• http://www.ithaca.ny.us/Orgs/StateTheatre State Theatre is major old-time performing arts center being restored by http://www.lightlink.com/hi Historic Ithaca.
• http://www.home.eznet.net/~andy/slamevents Slam Tractor hosts poetry slams around town: 243-7934
• Smash TV demonstration April 1999. Thousands have no TV. Anti-TV headquarters is Autumn Leaves Used Books, for t-shirts and bumper stickers.
• Several member-operated http://ithaca.ny.us/Commerce/art.html art galleries, like State of the Art, and Upstairs Gallery. Nearly every cafe hosts showings.
• see also MUSIC, RECREATION

ECONOMY

• We print our own money. Millions of dollars worth of http://www.ithacahours.org Ithaca HOURS have been traded since 1991, by thousands of residents, including 465 local businesses. $10,000 of HOURS have been granted to over 50 community organizations. And they make HOUR loans http://www.lightink.com/ithacahours without charging interest: 272-3738 (9am-9pm)
• So many business owners are progressives that they supported a radical advertising agency (American Outreach) during the '80s. They donate constantly to radical and community causes.
• The small business base here is huge. Homebased Microenterprise Network: 273-6164.
• Ithaca Small Business Roundtable is an online discussion found at isba-subscribe@topica.com or via patrick@alternatives.org
• http://www.alternatives.org Alternatives Federal Credit Union is dedicated to grassroots economic development. Members elect Board of Directors: 273-4666 Accepts HOURS, has Youth Credit Union with revolving loan fund for kids, developing loan fund for farmers. Community Economic Opportunities (CEO) also gives new entrepreneurs a boost. What other bank plays music by musician members and gives dog biscuits to visiting dogs? www.alternatives.org 273-4666
• The other locally-based lenders are http://www.cornellflcu.com Cornell Finger Lakes Credit Union 275-3322, http://www.tcfcu.com Tompkins Employees Federal Credit Union 272-8567, and http://www.tompkinstrust.com Tompkins County Trust Company 273-3210.
• Crafts are major industry, with many talented full-time producers. Handwork on the Commons is one showcase of local talent: 273-9400. http://www.ithacamarket.org Ithaca Farmer's Market has about three dozen area craft vendors. 273-7109
• http://www.tcad.com Tompkins County Area Development (TCAD) has made small loans for microenterprise: 273-0005
• Justice for All promotes equity and attacks Republican/Democrat Contract on America: 273-7108

EDUCATION/LEARNING

• http://www.icsdk12.ny/us/acs Alternative Community School: experiential high school, students make rules.
• http://www.tstboces.org/sls TST BOCES trains non-college bound, provides adult education: 257-1551
• Sheltered workshop http://www.challenge-industries.com Challenge Industries is major employer.
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages2/ir/2r109crb.htm Finger Lakes Unschooling Network supports teaching kids at home. Linda Holzbauer 277-6300.
• http://www.benjerry.org/scoop/tlw.html The Learning Web, one of our most popular & effective organizations, connects kids to apprenticeships: 255-5026
• Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) "builds partnerships between the Ithaca community and the Ithaca City School District to ensure success for all students."
• http://www.people2.clarityconnect.com/webpages6/literacy/main.html Literacy Volunteers helps citizens and newcomers learn to read and write.
• Lots of private schools like http://www.ithaca.ny.us/Education/IMS Montessori, Horizons (277-1801), East Ithaca Preschool (272-3240), others with specialty education.

ENVIRONMENT

• http://www.bigfoot.com/~asap_ny Advocates for Sensible Area Planning are watchdogs planning in this county's towns.
• http://www.cldf.org Cayuga Lake Defense Fund (CLDF) warns of the damage Cornell's Lake Source Cooling will do: 257-0515
• http://www.cayugalake.org Cayuga Lake Watershed Network monitors the water that keeps us alive here. http://www.gflrpc.org/characterization/index.htm All About Cayuga Lake.
• http://www.fcinet.com/cnc Cayuga Nature Center reminds young and old that we live in a forest on a continent on a planet, and that respecting the earth is an essential part of enjoying life: 273-6260
• http://www.tompkinscpa Citizen's Planning Alliance seeks to take development initative away from government and developers, and steer it in better directions: 273-6933.
• http://www.cornellkills.org Cornell-Ithaca Safety Committee (CISCO) took a tough stand against Cornell's plans for an expanded incinerator, and other excesses.
• http://www.dfe.cornell.edu/EarthDay/ed2000festivals.html Earth Day is everyday, especially in early April.
• http://www.ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Eco-Village is Ithaca's first and most notable co-housing development: 255-8276.
• http://www.fllt.org Finger Lakes Land Trust buys land to protect it from destruction: 275-9487
• http://www.ithaca.edu/orgs/ices/index.html Ithaca College Environmental Society (ICES) took the lead getting IC Student Council to condemn the City's Southwest Pork development.
• Student Recycling Project: systematically gathers tons of perfectly reusable goods and unopened food from departing rich students. Looking for new organizers this year. Daniela Leifer dhl9@cornell.edu
• http://www.tompkins-co.org/solidwaste/a-f.html Tompkins County Re-Directory explains how to recycle nearly everything.

FOOD

• Dozens of small organic farms within 30 miles. Most market at the Farmer's Market. There are a few roadside stands, and some eight http://www.csacenter.org/states/NYfarm.htm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations.
• http://members.tripod.com%7EGregSpenceWolf/gardens Community Gardens plots by Route 13 are full, sponsored by City:
• http://www.cce.cornell.edu/tompkins Cornell Cooperative Extension helps our small farms survive, educates residents about raising food and caring for trees.
• http://www.rso.cornell.edu/Ursus/fa99.cu.html Dilmun Hill Farm brings city kids and Cornell students together to grow organic food beside the City line, and sell it at GIAC.
• http://www.ithacamarket.org Farmer's Market is April-December, with 100 vendors (55 accept HOURS), of whom half are food producers and processors. This facility was built Amish-style by vendors: 273-7109
• http://www.cardi.cornell.edu/publications/cdr/cdr6-2.html Farmland Protection Project, a Tompkins County project, has issued a report on protecting local agriculture.
• http://www.breakaway.org/webraising/food_hood/Pages/Rproduct.htm Food from the 'Hood exemplifies youth enterprise.
• http://www.ithaca.ny.us/Orgs/FDN Friendship Donations Network operates an extensive food pantry system. Gives away tons weekly: 272-6758, 257-3910
• GreenStar Food Co-op is headquarters of alternative Ithaca. 4,000 members. Showcases local food products. Very little meat permitted. Alison Campbell 273-9392
• Ithaca Tofu has produced wide range of soy products for local/export market for many years, using local organic soybeans. Kids at GreenStar whine for "tofu kan" rather than candy: 266-0336
• Go farther to the bottom of the food chain and top health with Ithaca Vegans: 257-7797. See Channel 13 Tuesdays 8:30pm.
• http://www.loaves.org Loaves & Fishes gathers excess food from area grocers and provides feasts to low-income residents twice weekly: 272-4547
• Regional Access sells local food products as far as New York City: 387-4885
• http://www.rso.cornell.edu/ccad/food.html http://www.vegan.com Vegan food (no animal products) is big here.
• See also RESTAURANTS.

HEALTH

• There are so many innovative healing therapies available here, from acupuncture to yoga, that we have had a series of directories of these services. The http://www.foundation-of-light.org Foundation of Light is compiling another: 273-9550
• http://www.aidswork.org/aidswork.htm AIDSWork helps the afflicted, educates the public, and advocates for resources: 272-4098
• Though still a stronghold for many conservative allopathic professionals, http://www.cayugamed.org Cayuga Medical Center has also expanded its embrace of holistic providers, particularly at its Pain Center, has a birthing area admitting midwives, gives discounts to Health Fund members and accepts Ithaca HOURS: 274-4011
• Herbal medicine businesses thriveŠsee GreenStar tincture section. Becca's Herbs, Joniris Herbals and http://www.7Song.com 7Song Botanicals.
• http://www.culpepernews.com/archive/3feb00/3feb00op.html Ithaca-area Health Care Action Network seeks a national health plan to protect us from greed: Tony DelPlato 273-6751
• http://www.ibca.net Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance: counseling and advocacy for those threatened with breast cancer: 277-0960
• http://www.IthacaHealth.org Ithaca Health Fund: Members pool money to cover their health care costs, reducing dependence on both HMOs and government: 387-8344
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages2/ir/2r109blo.htm Ithaca Memorial Society secures dignified burial or cremation at low cost. 273-8316
• Midwives operate here and are preferred by many.
• http://ww1.ir.tompkins.ny.us/webpages2/ir/2r109bo2.htm Planned Parenthood is very popular; nobody messes with their http://www.pptompkins.org clinic. Were there an attempt to obstruct entry, literally thousands of women would make phalanx to restrain "pro-lifers" Ithaca sends hundreds to march for reproductive rights in D.C: 273-1526

HEALTH EDUCATION

• http://flsm.com Finger Lakes School of Massage is filling Ithaca with an army of massage therapists. And a healthy army it has become: 272-9024.
• http://www.hsctc.org Health Planning Council of Tompkins County 273-8686
• Ithaca Integrated Community Wellness Center promotes holistic care: 272-8390
• The http://www.7song.com Northeast School of Botanical Medicine is a gem: 7song: www.7song.com 564-1023.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

• http://www.arttrail.com/artist/vromanoff.html Vicky Romanoff 273-5796 and Connie Saltonstall started the movement 30 years ago by saving Clinton House. This County's oldest and most majestic structure had been scheduled to become a parking lot.
• http:// www.lightlink.com/hi Historic Ithaca continues the process: 257-0248 hi@lightlink.com

HISTORY

http://www.lightlink.com/ithacahours/archive/9908.html Ithaca's heritage of direct action, since the 60s, has shut down Cornell and trashed a bank during the Vietnam War, shut down the draft board, has caused costly upheaval during challenges to Cornell's investment in apartheid, has stopped construction of a nuclear power plant on Cayuga Lake, stopped construction of a fourlane highway, shut down the IRS during the Persian Gulf War, defied federal authorities who sought to capture Salvadoran refugees, elected a socialist mayor, elected a barefoot youth to school board, prohibited the transit of nuclear weapons through the city, pledged to shut down federal operations here were Nicaragua invaded, shut down a pizza shop after complaints of abuse of labor, stopped construction of a 177-foot Cornell incinerator, sent Wal-Mart away, challenged gross development, and more. Persistent demonstrations have earned a National Guard armory at the edge of the City.

At the same time, we've also built bold local institutions which prove that our needs can be met cooperatively, democratically, and ecologically.

Three of Ithaca's progressive local historians are Dan Hoffman 273-6933, Carol Kammen 273-5298, Nancy Bereano 272-1647.

• The http://www.lakenet.org/dewitt DeWitt Historical Society 273-8284 and Tompkins County Museum 272-7715 remind us where we came from. Excellent rotating displays.

LABOR UNIONS

Union organizing is active, among over 14 union locals. We have unions for Bricklayers & Masons, Carpenters, Government workers, Firefighters, Laborers, Electricians, Machinists, Plumbers, and Service Workers. Their umbrella is the Tompkins Cortland Labor Union Coalition: 277-5670 See also "Labor Organizations" in http://www.yellowbook.com Yellow Book.

• http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/studentservices/students/groups/COLA Cornell Organization for Labor Action (COLA) pressures Cornell for better wages/conditions. listserv: listproc@cornell.edu, send message: subscribe cola-l@cornell.edu
• Ithaca Teacher's Association 272-8950
• Tompkins-Cortland Labor Union Coalition unites union workers. 277-5670
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/uaw2300 United Auto Workers (UAW 2300) has a Small Shop unit, since most large industries have quit Ithaca, leaving workers exposed to temp agencies. The county's job base declined from 47% industrial in 1950 to 5% industrial today. UAW's main forcus is Cornell. They host the Labor Day Picnic, and have produced a fine film indicting Cornell's labor practices: "In the Shadow of the Tower." 277-5670 uaw2300@clarityconnect.com
• http://www.lightlink.com/ithacahours/archive/9710.html United Workers of Ithaca is an independent union for service sector, gives leverage to transient employees. Anyone may join without waiting for the NLRB: 272-4330
• http://nysdoldhp.org/tompkins.html Women's Opportunity Center gives women the encouragement and connections to rebuild their lives after trauma: 272-1520

MEDIA

• http://www.thebookery.com/bookpress Bookpress is progressive literary gazette published by Bookery: 273-5055.
• http://www.twcny.com/Peg/CableCast_Schedule/cablschd.cfm Cable Channel 13 generates controvery. Some wild stuff. ANY videotape you provide to them will be broadcast. 277-4543
• http://www.clarityconnect.com Clarityconnect 257-8268 and http://www.lightlink.com Lightlink 277-0959 are local internet providers, who allow us to create independent media online.
• The Cobbler sharply critiques capitalism, locally and globally. ithaca_cobbler@hotmail.com
• http://www.cornellprogressive.org Cornell Progressive: jag36@cornell.edu * "Hobo's Lullaby" (Gene Endres 387-6480) are progressive local voices.
• http://www.ithacahours.org HOUR Town is the directory of Ithaca HOURS, features stories on ecological economic development, maximum wage, health care reform, etc: 272-3738.
• Ithaca Child is the paper for parents, dedicated to the fun & challenge of raising kids: 387-6534.
• http://www.ithacanet.org IthacaNet is the premier website introducing all things Ithaca:
• http://www.ithacatimes.com Ithaca Times, originally hip, has established enough to sell large cigarette ads, and has become wealthy enough to endorse Republicans for mayor. Many good progressive articles though: 277-7000.
• http://www.ithacatoday.com IthacaToday.com is a daily dose of local/national news online: editor@ithacatoday.com
• Magnificat is occasional voice of local Catholic Worker group, which organizes protests against militarism, promotes nonviolent solutions, visits to Iraq: 277-6932.
• Progressive Media Alliance forced review of radio license sale, brought progressive shows to NPR affiliate, brought progressive station transmitter within reach: 272-7555.
• http://www.hws.edu/~weos WEOS-FM (89.7 FM) is from Geneva, but is our only source of progressive radio programming. One of Ithaca's favorite progams is http://www.democracynow.com "Democracy Now," 9am weekdays. See also locally-produced show "Unwelcome Guests" WEOS Sundays 9-11pm: "radio program about wealth, power, and people's resistance to the New World Order."

MULTICULTURALISM

• Diversity is celebrated here, but there's a long way to go to end race/income divisions. Punks/skins/metals are generally progressive.
• County law prohibits discrimination based on sexual preference.
• http://www.tompkins-co.org/dss/ltc/COMRES/GIAC.HTM Greater Ithaca Activities Center is major community/organizing center, with a director who advocates for a neighborhood under pressure: Marcia Fort 272-3622.
• http://ww1.ir.tompkins.ny.us/webpages2/ir/2r109blm.htm Human Rights Commission hears complaints of discrimination, gives awards for progressive action: 274-5305.
• The ARCH belongs throughout this list, doing diversity training, meeting needs of troubled kids, making local food connections, etc.272-4377.
• Interracial couples and gay/lesbian couples are common and accepted. http://www.ilgbttf.org Ithaca Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered Task Force is influential: 387-8252. Domestic partners are recognized by City.
• Among groups located to immigrant and refugee assistance: Tibetan Resettlement program, Literacy Volunteers, Southeast Asian Center, http://www.rso.cornell.edu/CUSLAR CUSLAR (Latin Americans): 255-7293 *ESL lessons through BOCES
• http://psc.cornell.edu/press_releases/990101_MLKPressRelease.txt Martin Luther King Day is a big celebration here, and Black History Month is very active.
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages2/ir/2r109cxv.htm Multicultural Resource Center promotes enjoyment of diversity: 273-8724.
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages2/ir/2ir109bot.htm Southside Community Center provides daycare, recreation space: 273-4190

MUSIC

• There is so much singing/songwriting here that Ithaca supports at least seven professional recording studios.
• http://www.wvbr.com/bfg.html "Bound for Glory" is nation's longest-continuous weekly folk radio program, since 1967. Phil Shapiro hosts on WVBR, Sundays 8:00pm.
• http://http://www.flmusic.com Foundation for Local Music revives appreciation for live music: 256-0234
• http://www.grassrootsfest.org Grassroots Festival of Music and Arts: rock/folk/jazz fest with tens of thousands attending, bigger every year: 387-5607
• We're proud of progressive rock/folk (including http://www.donnathebuffalo.com Donna the Buffalo, http://wwwburnssisters.com Burns Sisters, http://www.levelgreen.com/hank Hank Roberts, Tamara J. Brown) and classical groups. Hot Rize and the Horseflies began here. Look for local CDs at GreenStar, Oasis, Small World. www.ithacanet.org/Entertainment
• Musefest began in 2000 as a free countryside showcase for local talent
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages/rshaff/csma/iccc.htm Ithaca Children's Choir
• http://hammer.prohasting.com/~ioa Ithaca Opera Association providing great music since 1949: 272-0168
• Cayuga Chamber Orchestra is our classical voice: 273-8981
• http://www.outloudchorus.homestead.com Outloud Chorus offers Ithaca the harmony of gay/lesbian voices.
• Vitamin L Chorus sings strongly for dignity, worth, power: 0273-4175

NONVIOLENCE

• Largest concentration of Alternatives to Violence facilitators in New York: 387-8335
• http://www.aclu.org American Civil Liberties Union reminds government that the right to dissent and the exercise of dissent keep America free: 257-6900
• Antiwar activity fills the streets, when U.S. bombs drop anywhere. Hundreds signed the "Pledge of Resistance" to take over federal buildings if U.S. invaded Nicaragua. IRS office was taken over for a day when Persian Gulf War began, city judges refused to prosecute. IRS moved to Syracuse.
• http://ww1.ir.tompkins.ny.us/webpages2/ir/2r109clp.htm Community Dispute Resolution Center pioneers adoption/custody cases with good cooperation from judges: 273-9347
• http://www.foundation-of-light/DancesPeace.html Dances of Universal Peace weekly at Foundation of Light: 273-9550
• Martin Luther King Day is bigger holiday here than most other holidays, with thousands participating in various scheduled activities: 272-3622.
• http://www.nwtrcc.org National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee publishes the newsletter "More Than A Paycheck," to encourage principled tax-refusal. 269-7464
• http:// www.ithacanet.org/Orgs/OAR Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) provides bail fund and counseling to inmates and the accused:272-7885.
• Police Review Board is very firm against police abuses. Seeks balanced understanding: 275-0799
• Suicide Prevention Center 272-1505.
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/tctfbw Task Force for Battered Women (277-3203) and http://gannett.cornell.edu/CARE/IRC.html Ithaca Rape Crisis (273-5589) help women and men subject to violence, and also seek to change offenders.
• Meditation and yoga are popular. See listings in HOUR Town.
• ALL OTHER human service groups w/websites are at http://www.ithaca.ny.us/Orgs/#svc

POLITICS People are very opinionated here.

• City voter registration 5:1 Democrat/Republican. Nonetheless, Republican Democrats have taken over City Hall, making it the most consevative in 30 years.
• http://www.Ins.cornell.edu/~jae/ai/welcome.html#ohrii Amnesty International speaks for political prisoners in U.S. and abroad: 257-3156 * http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html Democratic Socialists of America, in coalition with environmentalists, labor and feminists, elected a socialist mayor 1989, 1991, 1993.
• http://www.house.gov/hinchey Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D) is usually (but not entirely) reliably progressive, almost radical, survives in conservative district:
• Ithaca Sharks work to end exploitation by corporations, particularly the excesses of globalization: truthisonepathsaremany@hotmail.com subscribe-ithacasharks@egroups.com
• Justice for All marches, lobbies, vigils for higher minimum wage, end to death penalty, human budget priorities, etc:
• And justice moves toward money, without help from friends like the Cornell Civil Liberties Union ac246@cornell.edu
• The http://www.igc.org/lpa/index.html Labor Party organizes here: 272-1239
• http://assembly.state.ny.us/Members/Bios/lusterm.html Assemblyman Marty Luster (D) is likewise quite liberal.
• The http://www.tcgreens.org Tompkins County Green Party elected representatives to City Council in 1987 and 1989, then one in 1999, when they fielded a young slate (18, 19, 20, 21) for council races. http://www.greens.org/s-r/22/22-07.html The 20-year-old won, becoming the first college undergraduate on council. Ralph Nader got 9% of City vote 1996, 18% in 2000 (highest of any county in NYS): hours@lightlink.com
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages2/ir/2r109d0l.htm Cornell Greens are active for local, national, international ecology and social justice. Write listproc@cornell.edu, send message subscribe greens-l <your email> mes32@cornell.edu 257-9253
• Rainbow Coalition's Jesse Jackson won the City's Democratic Primary 1988.
• http://www.upalumni.org/chapters/ithaca.adp United Progressive Alumni rally alumni to make Cornell more responsible to social justice locally and globally: 273-6621
• Many campus-based groups: http://people.cornell.edu/pages/rr10/up.html United Progressives: write listproc@cornell.edu, send message subscribe UP-l <your email>
• http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org Working Families Party encourages votes at the left of the Democratic Party, often endorsing Democratic candidates: 256-8687
• Tompkins County League of Women Voters provides informed fora: Libby DeProsse 257-6678
• ALL OTHER special groups w/websites: www.ithaca.ny.us/Orgs/#special

RECREATION

• DANCING is happening all over. Gatherings and lessons of all kinds. Dance is strong part of the Ithaca scene (we have some of the continent's best Swing dancers), and often of generating solidarity, that it's got to be on any Ithaca list.
• Dances of Universal Peace weekly at Foundation of Light: 273-9550
• Dozens of fabulous facilities for kids. Highlight is http://www.sciencenter.org Sciencenter, built by hundreds of community volunteers: 272-0600
• http://www.Ins.cornell.edu/~dhr/cifd International Folk Dances at Cornell weekly at Willard Straight Hall, Cornell, Sundays 7:30pm-10:30pm: 539-7335 * http://www.ithacaballet.org Ithaca Ballet is Upstate NY's only repertory company: 277-1967
• http://www.lightlink.com/Ithfest Ithaca Festival, first weekend in June, fills the streets with fun: 273-3646
• http://dance-ithaca.org Ithaca Swing Dance Network is busy all week: 273-0126
• http://www.rso.cornell.edu/tango Ithaca Tangueros teach and perform the tango.
• Nude swimming in creeks and ponds and reservoirs all over the area, though illegal, is common and fun. Topless is legal in NYS.
• http://www.englib.cornell.edu/pri Paleontological Research Institute displays our fossil ancestors.
• http://www.runJump.com runJump.com is a terrific list of sports action for kids.
• We're all just visiting-- even old-timers are newcomers:
• EVERY KIND of fun group is listed at www.ithaca.ny.us/Orgs/#recreation
• see also MUSIC

RESTAURANTS

• To survive, restaurants must have an ample http://www.na.veg.org/veg/Guide/USA/New_York/ithaca.html vegetarian list.
• ABC Cafe is vegetarian: 277-4770
• McDonald's left the Commons and was replaced by home-grown eateries. http://www.harvestdeli.com/harvest Harvest Deli (vegan) wins! 272-1961 * We're home to http://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com Moosewood 256-8007, of course, but city has many creative local eateries-- 83 restaurantsŠone for every 340 persons). As a result:
• Viva Taqueria 277-1752 opened and Taco Bell and Pizza Hut closed.
• Vegetarian Supper Club meets monthly, for vegetarian singles/others. 564-9413 Bob LeRoy

SPIRITUALITY

• God is relatively broad-minded in Ithaca. He/She/It is less confined to sectarian cages. All traditional religions are present, with special gatherings for immigrant variants, and new ideas are welcome.
• Catholic Worker group is very active for ending blockade of Iraq, closing School of Americas: 273-8025.
• http://members.aol.com/eckny/maps/ithaca.htm Eckankar and dozens of New Age groups are active. You name it.
• http://www.foundation-of-light.org Foundation of Light is most prominent of these: 273-9550
• http://www.namgyal.org Namgyal Monastery (Aurora St) is Dalai Lhama's personal monastery in the U.S: 273-0739
• Snow Lion Publications is headquarters for Tibetan Buddhist literature sales.273-8506
• Nature awareness and retreat centers: http://www.fcinet.com/cnc Cayuga Nature Center 273-6260, http://www.xlnt_arts.com/rune Rune Hill, and more.
• http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/7746/IthacaPagan.html Pagan Eqinoxes and celebrations abound, including drum circles (drumming is BIG here) and Full Moon Meditation Festivals ap21@cornell.edu
• http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/Underground/ny2.htm AME Zion Church and http//www.Unitarian.ithaca.ny.us Unitarian Church are among those most progressively active.
• ALL OTHER churches w/ websites: www.ithaca.ny.us/Orgs/#religious

TRANSPORTATION

• Proposed fourlane highway through city was stopped by 13-year campaign, 1976-1989.
• http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages2/RIBs Recycle Ithaca's Bicycles has repaired and given away over 2,000 bikes to low-income kids. To donate, repair or get a bike call 255-7108.
• Bikeracks on buses make commuting and touring easier: Dwight Mengel 277-2917.
• http://www.lightlink.com/ozolins/news/html/planhold.htm Bike lanes have been argued for many years. City Hall opposes them. Occasional Critical Mass bike rides stimulate City Hall to activity without action : David Nutter 277-6201 Ithaca Bike Action Group has listserve: write: listproc@cornell.edu, send message subscribe IBAG-L <your email>
• http://www.lightlink.com/ithacahours/archive/9208.html Electric trolley revivial is perennial proposal. Ithaca's trollies were originally hydro-electric, serving 48 years with only 5 trolley-related fatalities.
• http://www.flcycling.org Finger Lakes Cycling Club organizes rides and races, does some advocacy: 273-7064
• http://www.tcatbus.com TCAT takes you there by bus: 277-RIDE

Nonviolent revolution is in the air. Come join the fun!

Paul Glover