"Local First Ithaca" Builds Area Economy

It is a little disconcerting to see the word "only" in the headlines alongside "11,000 U.S. jobs lost in November."

But the reality is that this is only 10% the number of jobs lost in either October or September.

Now, President Obama is supposedly rolling up his sleeves now to create a jobs program.

We like the guy; but his decisions and work so far, on war and Wall Street, have been poor, to say the least.

Maybe on jobs, the one-time community organizer will finally hit his stride.

In the meantime, in Ithaca, we have our own model for helping ourselves and one another: the Local First Ithaca campaign is in its second season of promoting local businesses at holiday time.

Take a look at their web site (http://www.localfirstithaca.org/) and Facebook page for all their activities and promotions. Among them is "10 % on the Tenth," where many participating businesses (there are over 100) offer 10% off all purchases on December 10th. There is also a drawing, at the end of the month, for gift cards, for the proverbial lucky winners, of $50, $100, and $250.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

The Anti-Fracking Effort Needs You: Big Benefit Concert, Sat. 5 Dec.

Judging by Ithaca, the campaign against "fracking" - that is, hydrofracturing, a toxic chemical drilling procedure proposed for natural gas extraction in our region - seems a sure winner. A thousand people turned out at a hearing at the State Theater last month, on a weeknight, to speak against the dangerously unregulated practice.

Remember, though: Ithaca is different. In 2000, more Ithacans voted for Ralph Nader for president than for George Bush. In 2008, Tompkins County was the only county outside of New York City to vote for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.

When a group of Ithacans left the county last week for a public hearing on fracking, they were the only voices in opposition. The others were for taking the money the gas companies are offering, and worrying about poisoned water later.

So: it will be an uphill fight. Whatever support you can give is crucial.

On Saturday 5 December, the three leading bands from Ithaca play a benefit for the effort. Donna the Buffalo, the Horseflies, and the Sim Redmond Band unite for "Life Is Water: A Concert to Defend the Finger Lakes Against Unsafe Gas Drilling" at the State Theater.

Show time is 8 pm. Reserved seating is $12.50 - $24.50.

Proceeds benefit the Shaleshock Citizens Action Alliance: www.shaleshock.org.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is foremost among holidays at withstanding commercialization. Funny, as it is the prototypical American holiday, and commercialization is practically our national hobby.

Last week in Ithaca a Native American man speaking about the history of Thanksgiving said he sure does celebrate the holiday, as it was originally half his peoples', and its intent is to celebrate peace.

It can be a particularly peaceful day, or at least quiet, as it is a secular holiday, so almost everyone observes it, and almost no one works. We remember a Thanksgiving morning a few years ago with a light snow on the ground at about 9 a.m., and absolutely no tire tracks on downtown streets. None. That is a quiet morning.

We wish you a happy day, with a full table in a full house, and a heart full of peace.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

All 3 Ithaca P&C's To Close?

News came this morning that the parent company of P&C supermarkets is bankrupt, and will close its three Ithaca stores.

Apparently there is a possibility that a store, or stores, could re-open; but the parent company is in the middle of, not beginning, bankruptcy proceedings, so from outside it seems unlikely.

It is hard to imagine that the East Hill branch does not make money, with its favorable geographic and demographic location. But it might be more valuable to the company to sell than operate.

We are sorry for P&C's workers, who number over 100 in Ithaca.

Certainly, P&C has a legacy in Ithaca. But, among other factors, the arrival of Wegman's signaled a new era of high standards among food markets here.

For the sake of its workers, and the community at large, we hope the management of Tops is thinking hard.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Review Preview: Wildfire Lounge

Ithaca Blog has been getting copious hits by people searching for info on Wildfire Lounge, the new restaurant in the old space of the Lost Dog Cafe, on S. Cayuga St.

We will have a chance to provide knowledge and insights after tomorrow, when we will visit the place, not only to meal up, but also to see a show created by Natasha Pickowicz, the talented writer and energetic promoter who apparently will soon leave Ithaca.

Natasha's niche has been presenting emerging musicians in appreciative settings for not much admittance fee, reflecting her own DIY sensibility, enthusiasm, and knowledge and love of music.

The headliners tomorrow are actually pretty much emerged. Richie Stearns will grace the stage, playing, we gather, experimental and new rather than old-timey stuff. Matt Valentine and Erika Elder, who have worked and toured nationally with acts such as Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth, purvey what Ms. Pickowicz describes as rural blues/psych rock/free folk. The duo has an affinity for Michael Hurley, which is enough for us.

Admittance is $5. Doors open at 8 and the show is scheduled for 9.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

New Gimme Coffee Opens On Green Street

Gimme Coffee has opened a new shop on Green St., in a space leased from TCAT.

TCAT solicited a coffee shop to accommodate bus patrons at its Green Street terminus, where every bus starts, stops, or passes.

Until now, there was no inside space accommodating commuters at Green Street.

The coffeeshop is located between the library and Urban Outfitters, across the street from the new Cinemapolis.

Hours are 7 am - 9 pm.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Gas Drilling Rally & Hearing, Thursday 19 November

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation holds a hearing tonight on proposals for chemical drilling for gas deposits in our region.

The hearing is at the State Theater, at 7 pm.

Doors open at 6 pm for persons who wish to sign up to speak.

Organizations against the drilling urge citizens to arrive early, claiming that industry representatives have packed other hearings, to keep opponents out.

Shaleshock, a local grassroots group opposing the drilling, will hold a rally on the Commons before the hearing. The rally starts at 4:30 pm.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Ithaca Hours on Local TV News Tonight

News 10 Now is scheduled to air a segment on Ithaca Hours, the local currency, tonight.

The first showing is at 6 pm. It repeats throughout the night, on a schedule we are not quite aware of.

It was quite a blow to Ithaca when channel 10 became a regional news show rather than local. These days there is a lot more about Syracuse, Binghamton, and even Watertown than us. So we like to alert people when we know of an Ithaca segment.

Of course, we generally only know of them when we appear in them. Part of tonight's segment on Hours was shot here at Small World Music, physical home of Ithaca Blog, and an Ithaca Hours business.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog