ITHACA COMMUNITY NEWS
April #1 2004

LABOR, ARTS, EVENTS, ACTIVISM, LOCAL HISTORY, YOUR LETTERS, FUN STUFF!

[This is the FIRST OF TWO MESSAGES MONTHLY sent to 7,538 Ithaca area residents]

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THANKS TO THE DONORS WHO BRING YOU THIS LATEST EDITION. This editor will provide one edition for every $200 received. EVERYONE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ICN whether donating or not, but your donations will assure more are published.

Donations can be sent to ICN, Box 365, Ithaca, NY 14851

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NOT OFFICIALLY NEWS

UFO SIGHTED IN DANBY 3/12: "They're here!" shouted participant in UFO gathering. An "off-white" bright object, "seen in an otherwise half dark sky, where no stars or planets were yet visible. It was much larger than a planet," says Steve Calkins. "It was in the East, but as I proceeded down the hill towards Beech Hill Pond Community it moved with me. We watched it for about a minute; the off-white color was an unusual non-natural lighting/artificial lighting. We'll be doing another gathering when it gets warmer." --Steve

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: "Ithaca's the greatest place in the world," says Abbie from Pittsburgh. "Many people don't know what they've got here. Where else do you find musicians playing free on the Commons, midweek, with people dancing around them? Where else can you be driving along on your daily business and pass the most gorgeous waterfall? And there's so much freethinking going on-- I've realized many things can be changed that elsewhere they don't try to fix. People are so active; there's such an energy!"

2,000 VARIETIES OF FRUIT TREES & BERRY BUSHES: cumminsnursery.com [email protected] Best to call first: 227-6147. Ithaca HOURS accepted.

FREE INSTANT CLASSIFIED ADS FOR ALL NEEDS: CAYUGA LAKE TRIATHLON organizing mtg 4/4, 4pm, Veterinary College, Lecture Hall 2 (Rte 366 to Tower Rd. Race in August [email protected] 936-6002

CONTRA DANCING 4/4 2:30-4:30pm, Freeville Fire Hall. Ted Crane calls, music of Kitchen Chair $3; $2.50 seniors & <12. HOURS accepted.

MONDAY MATINEE MOVIE CLUB at Fall Creek Picture ($5) 7:15 discussion (first film Triplets of Belleville) after 7:15pm show. Sarah Monroe

BREAST CANCER 101: diagnosis, surgery & treatment basics, coping with breast cancer, wellness strategies, etc. 4/5 & 12, 5:30-7:00pm. Register 277-0960 ibca.net

Film "MAKING A KILLING: Philip Morris, Kraft & Global Tobacco Addiction" 4/7; 7 pm, Old Jail, 125 E. Court St, (enter east side bldg)

HOMELESS & HOUSING TASK FORCE 4/7, 10-11:45am, Mental Health Bldg, 201 E. Green, 6th fl.

GREEK CUISINE MONTH kickoff 4/8, 5:30-7:30pm, Ithaca Bakery. Free samples. 400 N. Meadow St. ithacabakery.com 400 N. Meadow St. Maximum 1/2 HOUR/purchase.

THE NEW PEOPLE: Stories from Cambodian Refugees 4/9, 7pm, 136 Commons

"HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS" (usually alternate Thursdays) HS students view international films at Cinemapolis or Fall Creek for $2.00 for selected shows! Discussions afterward. MONSIEUR IBRAHIM at Cinemapolis 4/8, 7:15pm. full schedule:

GOURMET DINNER-TO-GO! 4/9 deadline for orders. Delivered 4/23. $10.00 (Quarter HR). Benefit for Drop-In Children's Ctr: vegetarian or non: 272-7117 [email protected]

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAM six Tuesdays begin 4/13, 6:30-8:30pm, TCAT Conference Room, 737 Willow Ave. Tony Del Plato 277 5670

JAIL EXPANSION BRIEFING 4/14, 8:45 to 10:15am, Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Ave

HOW TO EXPAND PRESCRIPTION ACCESS: Tompkins Health Network. 4/14, noon, WCB 3rd fl.

FARMER/COMMUNITY FORUM 4/15, 6pm, 412 First St (Baptized Church of Jesus Christ)

PROVIDING CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE: DIVERSITY & LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS" 4/15, 7-9pm, Tompkins County Library. 272-1647

ITHACA'S TAKE BACK THE NIGHT MARCH & RALLY 4/16, 6pm on Commons. "Speak out against sexual assault, domestic violence, incest, & other violence against women & children." [email protected]

FINGER LAKES PROGRESSIVE COALITION 4/17, 10:00am, Montour Falls, Parish house (across from waterfall) Yvonne Taylor [email protected] LOCAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES INVENTORY: 4/21, 12:30-1:30pm,Medicaid, Home Care, Food Stamps, Hospital Inpatient & Outpatient & Skilled Nursing Facilities. Betty Falco will explain shift of expenses from Federal to State/local. Rice Conference Room, Biggs Building, Health Dept.

SPEAKOUT FOR PROGRESSIVES 4/25, 2:30pm, TCPL: based on new book by Pete Meyers Bookery sponsor.

SEVENTH ANNUAL CELEBRATION Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance, 4/29, 7pm, WCB, Featured Speaker: Thelma C. Hurd, MD, "Disparities in Health Care: Are they really that important?"

TOMPKINS COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OPEN HOUSES & MEETINGS during April & May. "The open houses offer an opportunity for the public to review the preliminary draft of the plan, view key maps and information, and discuss the plan in an informal setting with planning department staff." Schedule: [email protected]

OLD HOUSE FAIR, 5/1, 10am-5pm, Significant Elements Parking Lot, 212 Center St. "A forum for historic preservation, & to bring home improvement & restoration industry professionals, & craftspeople exhibiting examples of creative reuse with salvage, together with the community to share home improvement techniques, products and ideas." Vendor booth reservations & advertising by 4/9. Margaret Hahn at Historic Ithaca 273-6633

JANIS IAN 5/7 8:00pm, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, $22.50 advance/$25.00 door. Clinton House Ticket Center 116 N. Cayuga St 607-273-4497. One HOUR/ticket accepted. outtasightevents.com [email protected]

SEE SPOT COMMUNITY ARTSPACE 108 Commons 277-7560. HOURS accepted.
* 4/7- Children's Film Acting Class (227-5454) & Drawing Class (277-7560), 10:30am-2:30pm.
* 4/9- PA benefit show featuring: The Witching None The Less, Hawthorne Heights, Torn From Six, Mensah 7pm. $5.
* 4/13- Children's Art Class, 10-11am. yoga, games, painting, clay. $3.
* 4/14- Children's Film Acting Class & Drawing Class, 10:30am-2:30pm
* 4/17- Teen's Watercolor Healing Workshop, 3-6pm. Preregister 272-3814
* 4/20- Children's Art Class, 10-11am. $3.
* 4/21- Children's Film Acting Class & Drawing Class, 10:30am-2:30pm

GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL: get early bird tickets: grassrootsfest.org One HOUR/weekend pass

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ITHACA OVERNIGHTS (bed & breakfast reviews)
---LOG COUNTRY INN is well named, for luxurious pine log cabins set in pine forest grown close, on a quiet road by Danby State Forest. Gifts from foreign visitors are gathered in theme bedrooms: Russian, Polish, Japanese, African. Large jacuzzis in most rooms. Bay windows view lovely fossil-bordered ponds, massive fossil picnic table, dance floor/BB court, firepit, rooster, goose, dalmatian. Fossil-filled creek nearby. Across the road spring peepers, like crazy sleighbells, cheer life. Pony rides for kids. Wanda Grunberg 589-4771
(see Lake House review

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EDITORIAL: GREENSTAR COUNCIL ELECTION
---Every year GreenStar's 5,000 members are invited to elect Councilmembers (throughout April) in their lively little democracy. This year again, members decide whether GreenStar will strengthen itself as a health food store, whether we'll rely more on staff or member labor, whether we'll serve primarily wealthier members or those needing good food cheap, whether we'll rely more on agribusiness or regional harvest, whether we'll use our co-op wealth to build a regional food processing center, whether we'll sell brands that profit multinationals, whether Council will more closely direct the actions of the General Manager &/or restore cooperative management, whether we'll set exciting examples for the co-op movement or become more like Wegman's.
---While all ten candidates are dedicated & talented members, ICN endorses the following candidates as advocates for the better directions above: DOTSON, HOFFMAN, HUBBELL, WILBUR, WILLWERTH, STERN.

GREENSTAR'S ANNUAL MEETING 4/7, 5:30-8:05pm, Women's Community Bldg

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ITHACA-EARTH FRIENDSHIP NEWS

THE FINGER LAKES SEED TRUST seeks generous donations of seeds. Heirlooms, open pollinated for PEOPLE'S GARDEN PROJECT. [email protected] Seeking volunteers to grow seeds into plants: "All you need is enough space in a south facing window for one seed tray. We will help you through the process with weekly checkup & help when it is time to transplant your seedlings."

PRACTICAL PHOTOVOLTAICS WORKSHOP 4/4, noon-3:30pm, Intl Lounge, Willard Straight, public: $5, CU Students: free! [email protected]

FINDINGS OF REPORT ON BARRIERS TO RESIDENTIAL PHOTOVOLTAICS 4/5, 4:45-6pm, Olin 155

ENERGY DEMAND AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Pathways to Economic, Social & Environmental Improvement 4/15-17, CU Society of Engineers Conference: Th 4:30, Friday all day, Sat 8am-noon. Jeanne Subialka 255 9920

LIVING WITH SOLAR AND WINDPOWER: Lessons from a sustainable lifestyle 4/21, 7-8:15pm Greenstar, by Stephen C. Nicholson. Reservations 273-9392

ICES ENVIRONMENTAL FILM & SPEAKER SERIES 4/21, 7-9pm, Clark Lounge, IC [email protected] 375-2671

PROJECT GROWING HOPE COMMUNITY GARDENS organic vegetable or flower garden plots. Annual fee $20 for one plot; $15 each additional (17'x17'). Manure, water, hand tools provided by Gardens. Route 13 at 3rd Street, first left before RR tracks. Register 4/24 10am-4pm at gazebo.

EARTH DAY 4/25, 10am-4pm, Dewitt Park. Wally Woods 272-1312

NUCLEAR ENERGY DEBATE 4/28 (time/place TBA) Cornell Professors Cady (T&AM;) & Chapman (AEM) "debate the role of nuclear energy in a rematch of an 1982 event that nearly filled Baily Hall."

BIODIVERSITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND CORNELL lecture by Peter H. Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 4/29, 4:30-5:30,David L. Call Auditorium, Kennedy Hall

FINGER LAKES PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE 7/9-17, 9/3-5, 10/8-10, Cayutaville, NY. Taught by Darrell Frey of Three Sisters Farm cayuta.org [email protected]

NEW YORK STATE PRODUCES NEARLY 1% OF WORLD'S GLOBAL WARMING GASES Hiring 6 undergrads for "exciting projects that investigate land-use opportunities for climate change mitigation this summer." Apply by 4/9: 1)Quantify Forest Carbon Sinks in Central New York. Resume: Christine Goodale 2)Investigate NY Grasses for Home Heating and Climate Change Mitigation. Resume: Sam Beer 3)Investigate Old-field Potential as Low Cost, Naturally Selected Biomass Option. Resume: Chuck MohlerJeni Wightman 6)Understand Nutrient Management on NY Farms to Reduce Environmental Externalities. Resume: Dr. Quirine Ketterings

DONATE USED INK/LASERJET CARTRIDGES: FUNDRAISER for BOCES & Human Services, for students for work-skill competitions. Please box, call BOCES for pick up: 257-1555 x228

www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/index.htm

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ITHACA WAR & PEACE REPORT

JURORS NEED NOT OBEY JUDGE'S DIRECTIONS according to the Fully Informed Jury Assn. Jurors may consider larger moral issues than those presented in courtroom, & decide cases based on their own ethics. They may override a judge's command, for example, to ignore international law when deciding guilt or innocence of antiwar demonstrators:

ST. PATRICK FOUR TRIAL STARTS 4/6 (jury selection), County Courthouse, 9am. They poured small amounts of their blood at the Lansing military recruiting center. Judge Sherman has said that there was "no applicability of [international law] in the present case" & that "the proffered proof does not demonstrate the type of true emergency envisioned by the [necessity] statute." Jurors may overrule him, as above. Judge Sherman ruled that former U.S. Atty General Ramsey Clark could not testify that "citizens have a right & obligation under the Nuremburg Principles, a body of international law, to intervene when their government is acting criminally; otherwise they face criminal liability themselves." Jessica Stewart 256-8529
---FREE FOOD & MUSIC DURING TRIAL at Autumn Leaves, 4/6,8,12-14 at 6pm.

"KIDS HELPING KIDS" benefit for Iraqi children: George Junior Republic & Trumansburg schools are collecting donations & items for Al-Mansour Teaching hospital's Children's cancer unit & Fatima Al-Bint Elementary school in Iraq. Monetary donations for educational, medical, & food relief, as well as the following items: vitamins, over-the-counter medicines, anti-diarrhea & anti-cramp medicines in pill or tablet form; bandages, band-aids, wrist, elbow & knee braces, eyeglasses, watches in working order, baby wipes, eye drops, middle school to college level math & science textbooks, CD-Rom encyclopedias, dictionaries, English & French language & literature books, workbooks, tapes. --Yvonne Taylor 844-6365 (8:30am-3:00pm) for pick up. Deadline 4/16

PALESTINIAN OLIVE OIL SELLS IN ITHACA, Fairly Traded, Non-certified Organic, Extra Virgin, First Cold Pressed, Attractive 750mL bottles. "Holy Land Olive Oil" imported by Ithaca Palestine Fair Trade Initiative (IPFTI) of Ithaca. Available at Ithaca Bakery (Meadow St.), ABC Cafe or via [email protected] 227-4727. PRICE: $14/ 750mL bottle or $150/ 12 bottle case. "To support Palestinians hurt by war & miltary occupation in West Bank area. To pay fair trade... so as to maximize benefit to the heavily impacted farmers. To preserve Palestinian culture & to give hope."

PEACE POTLUCK 4/3, 5:30pm, Perry City Meeting House, Route 227 in Perry City. Dish to pass 5:30; video & discussion at 7pm. 387-9046

Play "CHAPEL OF LOVE" by Joan Bokaer 4/5, 7:30-9:30pm at Common Ground. www.theocracywatch.org

"WHO'S IN CONTROL IN WASHINGTON" 4/8, 12:10-1:00pm Clark Lounge, Campus Center, IC.

4/13 AFRO-VENEZUELA NETWORK activist Jesus ChuchoGarcia, world expert on globalization & militarism on Latin America. "An incredible speaker, able to combine impressive intellectual analysis w/ diverse life experience." 12:15pm Uris Hall #153 & 7pm TCPL. [email protected]

MARCH FOR WOMEN'S LIVES (Washington, DC) 4/25, Buses will leave from Cornell & IC. Also leave from parking lot behind Ramada Inn near Pyramid Mall. Depart Ithaca 11:45pm, 4/24. Return from DC 7:30pm Sunday. Sliding scale $62-$35. Cornell buses: [email protected] Ramada bus: cnylabor.org/nrsc

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TOMPKINS COUNTY FOUNDATION GRANTS deadline 4/15. Tompkins County Foundation, Box 97, Ithaca NY 14851. "No standard format; guidelines on request." Scott Russell 257-2831

SPACE FOR LEASE ABOVE FORMER CVS BUILDING 1700 ft sq. large rooms overlooking the Commons. "A sweetheart lease that would include partial payment w/ Ithaca HOURS. Tom Pine Race Office Supply & Variety

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YOUR LETTERS

"Welcome back to Ithaca Community News. Glad to see it. Regarding contributions by check, should they be made out to ICN or to you?
---[REPLY] Checks may be made either to Paul Glover or to ICN, Box 365, Ithaca, NY 14851.
---"I've taken up your challenge on the Ithaca Domains. First, below is a list of 15 corrections to the existing list. Then comes a list of close to 120 additions. Most are new sites, but a few are different URLs that point to the same content as ones that are already on the list. I could have made the list much longer, but excluded sites that didn't have real local content." --Rich Entlich
---[REPLY] DOMINION OF ITHACA now has its own page w/221 "Ithaca" domain names. Thanks Rich!
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"Excellent! Like many, I've been missing the ICN (& I hope many put a check in the mail). Thanks for all your work." --Sean
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"Did GreenStar actually ever consider the Hancock P&C; as an expansion option? Is there some reason why that just wouldn't work? Locating GreenStar there would mean access for drivers & walkers & a downtown neighborhood transformed." --Ellen
---[GreenStar long considered Hancock P&C; was a desirable relocation option. The lease was never available. As you may know, it's now owned by a local community-minded couple.
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"Here's a contribution to keep you publishing Ithaca Community News. I support your appeal to the readership to subsidize this longstanding effort to promote progressive causes.
---"I hope that when it comes to divisions within the progressive community itself, you'll try to represent all views fairly & completely. I think that in Ithaca especially we can end up doing one another a lot of damage if we can't hear one another's views because we've already made up our minds." --Art Godin
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"Since you are so knowledgeable about sustainable currencies, I was wondering if you have any other information or resources regarding other aspects of sustainable living in the Ithaca area. By sustainable living I mean alternative energy (solar, wind, hydro, etc.), alternative earth friendly structures/homes, organic farming, etc.
---"I am very interested in what steps, if any, the community of Ithaca has taken towards promoting other areas of sustainable living. For example, many times, home owners associations, etc., do not allow alternative energy sytems, alternative structures, organic farming or small poultry operations. In what ways has of Ithaca addressed opening the community further to being a self-sufficient community?" --A. Kott
---[REPLY] There are local organizations active in nearly every arena urban life. Sustainable Tompkins http://www.ithaca.edu/sustainability has ongoing meetings to gather best ideas. The next decades will require great changes in how we feed, fuel, house and move ourselves. Ithaca proceeds cautiously.
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"Could you please put me on the list to get the Ithaca Community News again? I miss it." --Graham
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"We recently saw this tip from Tom Magliozzi, co-host of Car Talk on NPR, & thought it would be of interest to many of you. On a recent show he said, 'We're signing up for Better World Club now. We had no idea that part of our AAA dues were being spent on lobbyists who oppose just about everything having to do with public transportation. If AAA thinks that it's a good idea for every single person to drive themselves around, we sure don't want to help support such a silly idea. Cars stink. Everybody knows that.'"
---"Better World Club is the only roadside assistance & travel club that balances transportation needs w/concern for protecting the environment. They advocate for the consumer & the environment, pledging to donate 1% of their annual revenues toward environmental clean-up efforts. They also provide unique eco-friendly travel alternatives like discounts on hybrid car rentals & the nation's FIRST & ONLY bicycle roadside assistance program." --Erin Riddle
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"This [check] is for the Ithaca Community News, which I missed while you were recharging. I don't agree with much of your political views, but your thinking is creative & some of your projects quite worthwhile. The ICN ties it all together very nicely & I enjoy it each month." --B. Anderson
---- "How great that you are back doing the newsletter!!!! It was with pleasure that I read the Ithaca Journal congratulations to you. Enclosed is a check for ICN." --Mabel B.
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* "So glad that you & ICN are back. There was a hole in our lives!" --Micaela y Juliette
* "Great to see ICN back!" --Rob
* "Glad to see ICN back again!" --Tom & Martha
* "You're back! Hurray!! (And thanks!)" --RFC
* "Thank you & welcome back." --Barbara L.
---- "Thanks so much for being willing to produce this very valuable newsletter." --Sharon
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"You're outdoing yourself in biased [Oasis] writing posing as a presentation of the issues." --B. Myers
---[REPLY] I've long been biased about GreenStar's preoccupation with getting bigger rather than getting better. There are carcinogens & mutagens on the shelves about which nothing has been done. Members want to work at the store for whom there is no time alotted. Corporate America is taking over the organic industry. So I favored expanding after these are fixed. Had GreenStar's website included the Oasis pro & con statements I would have linked to them. --------

"Do you only link sites with the word Ithaca in the name? Our site is based in Ithaca. Please link it if possible." - Janice Nigro, The Vitamin L Project --------

"Last night I attended one of the roundtable discussions which are part of the Sustainable Tompkins Initiative sponsored by Ithaca College. During the discussion I mentioned your ideas for a building materials co-op (or in general, any co-op for that matter). Later we focused a bit on the expense of first cost prices being prohibitive, like the fact that a simple Compact Fluorescent can be a lot more expensive than people would like.
---"Since you're the expert on financial systems, I'd like to know if you've ever considered combining the co-op idea with a financing-type program? For example, people know that for a monthly payment they have a large number of their consumables in life covered. The goal would be to reduce first costs on the 'green' items many of us should be buying, but often can't (or won't).
---"I assume this has already been done somewhere, but I'd like to know if you see promise, or maybe see technical feasibility problems? I also assume it would only work with either seed money or an initially limited set of services (like Ithaca Health Fund)." --Glynn Bebee
---[REPLY] Everything in the world can be provided on a cooperatively-financed basis. Food, health care, housing, clothing, insulation, fuel, mobility, fun. Give your program a name, announce a meeting, begin.
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"I was saddened to hear of the early death of Stuart Halber. Despite some very serious mental health issues, this man took it upon himself to get involved in the process of how mental health services are delivered in Tompkins County. Most Ithacans probably never knew Stuart, & I imagine there are probably a significant number of mental health professionals who had a hard time with him, because Stuart continually challenged preconceptions about the psychiatric industry & the generally patronizing attitude too many professionals have toward the clients they are supposed to serve. For many years, Stuart was an outspoken critic of wasteful spending and of programs that really did not address the needs of those who were supposedly served by them. Stuart eventually withdrew from attending various meetings because he felt that too often he was shunted aside & told in so many words to keep his views to himself. And yet, not only was he instrumental in helping to establish a social club for people with psychiatric diagnoses, now known as SPACE, he also continued to engage in conversation about mental health policies. Although most of the Ithaca community may not realize the loss it has sustained by Stuart's passing, I for one will miss him & remember him fondly & with admiration." --Gene Ira Katz

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MISCELLANAE

ITHACA-TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT enplanements have dropped from 99,720 arrivals/departures in 2000 to 68,224 in 2003, a 31% loss due to a reluctance to fly in this era of terror attacks, additional hassle of security checks, economic downturn, airlline deregulation, reduced flights & connections ( Ithaca had three air carriers in 1994, now has one), according to airport manager Bob Nicholas. The Air Service Task Force is preparing a contingency plan if US Airways leaves.

THE WOMEN'S FUND OF TOMPKINS COUNTY at the Community Foundation of Tompkins County "pays tribute to Women's History Month. The founders hope many others will join them in making this fund grow rapidly. Gifts of any size are welcome." Grants for personal & professional development, scholarships, etc. The Women's Fund will provide a "venue for honoring women as philanthropists, women as leaders -- women whose lives & work have made notable contributions or critical differences to their communities, either personal or professional."
---Gifts to The Women's Fund of Tompkins County may be made in cash, appreciated securities or other assets, matching gifts, life insurance, charitable trusts, or bequests. credit card donations. All gifts are tax-deductible. Community Foundation 272-9333 [email protected] Margaret Hahn 273-6633

FAMILY MEDIATION: Community Dispute Resolution Center's Teen Talk program: "listening & speaking in conflict & exploring conflict response options. Dating, college, moving out, moving in, chores, responsibilities, new family members, etc. We use real teens as mediators (coupled with an adult mediator)." [email protected] RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE to $7.10 by 2006. Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition 269-0409 [email protected]

"LOCAL ECONOMY IS WARMING UP" * SANTOSHA YOGA HOURS accepted. * TEEN YOGA FOR GIRLS, Sundays 1-2:30pm. Scholarships available. [email protected] TEEN YOGA FOR GIRL EMPOWERMENT, Sundays 1-2:30pm, Tiamat on Commons. Sandy 272-3814

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Thanks to Homer & Jane at LIGHTLINK for reliable internet services.

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EDITOR: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>

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