August 27 - September 2, 2018 TOMPKINS WEEKLY Locally Owned & Operated TompkinsWeekly.com Vol. 13, No. 27 HIDDEN GEMS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY From the family-friendly to the odd and peculiar By Jamie Swinnerton wheelchair accessible with ADA Tompkins Weekly approved clubs. Inside, visitors can learn about astronomy in the s students return to the area Mars and Stars exhibit by driving lists will be spread of all the a Mars rover, or embarking on an great things to do and see interactive flight over the moon. In right here in Tompkins County. But the Tidepool Touch Tank the brave, A or curious, will be introduced to while the gorges and waterfalls of the area are always worth seeing, and some of the friendlier ocean animals. talking about, there are gems within Embrace your inner scientist with Tompkins County that may very well a discovery box, build a gravity be overlooked. Tompkins Weekly has dam using metal blocks, or explore compiled for your reading pleasure a hydraulics and civil engineering list of the “hidden” gems of Tompkins using rubber ducks. Find all of this, County that add so much culture and more, at the Sciencenter! and texture to the area but may not always make the annual lists of things Newfield Covered Bridge: Take to see, do, explore, and celebrate. a trip outside of Ithaca and head south to Newfield to find the Family-Friendly only remaining covered bridge in Sciencenter: This hands-on science Tompkins County. Originally built museum just outside of downtown in the 1850s for $800, the bridge is Ithaca aims to inspire a love of 115 feet long and 16 feet wide. In science and curiosity in all of its 1969 the bridge was saved from Photos provided by Cornell University visitors. The museum is open from being torn down and has since The Wilder Brain Collection on the Cornell campus once held hundreds of brains, now it has been whittled down to a select few. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through been reconstructed twice, once Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on in 1972 in time for Newfield’s Sunday. Beyond the day-to-day sesquicentennial celebration, and products and more. But before Apple Fuertes Observatory: Looking activities of being a great museum, once in 1998. Fest, don’t miss Porch Fest, an Ithaca for a little star gazing? The Fuertes the Sciencenter is also an events original (Sept. 23 this year), with Observatory on the Cornell space that can accommodate up to Festivals: Ithaca is an area blesses dozens of local musicians performing University campus is generally open 300 guests for corporate functions, with fests. Possibly the most well- on porches across the Fall Creek and every Friday night throughout the or 25 kids for a birthday party. known, the Apple Harvest Festival Northside neighborhoods. In the year, regardless of weather. On clear Outside, the museum has its own (Sept. 28 through 30 this year) summer Ithaca takes several days to nights the Cornell Astronomical 18-hole mini-golf course that is open brings thousands of visitors to the celebrate music and the arts during Society and volunteers set up during regular hours, and completely Commons to taste and sample all that the area has to offer, both apple the annual Ithaca Fest with a number telescopes on the roof for visitors to of concerts and local use. But cloudy nights aren’t a loss at events on the Commons. the Fuertes Observatory. While you As the holiday season may not be able to see the stars, CAS approaches the Ithaca Ice often gives tours of the building and Festival (Dec. 6 through the historic astronomical equipment. 8, this year) will bring the Check the cornellastrosociety.org art of ice sculpting to the website for the latest schedule of Commons, to be enjoyed lectures and special events at the with a chilled beer from observatory. Follow the observatory the ice bar, or chowder on twitter (@FuertesObs) to get from the Chowder Friday updates! Cook-Off. In the early weeks of the new year Peculiar look for the annual Chili Wilder Brain Collection: The Cook-Off where dozens collection, started by Dr. Burt of organizations and Green Wilder, the founder of the businesses will fight for university’s anatomy department, the trophy of People’s was launched in 1889 and once Choice Chili during boasted a collection of 600 brains. Photos provided by Cornell University The Fuertes Observatory is open almost each Friday night, clouds or no clouds. the chilly month of Wilder, a former Civil War surgeon, February. Continued on page 4 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Art and culture abound in Trumansburg...................................page 3 Thinking Ahead........................................................................page 11 Groton takes student success to the next level..............................page 5 Discovery Trail: Cornell Botanic Gardens..............................page 16 Another Eagle joins the Dryden scouts.....................................page 6 Groton Girls Soccer season preview.......................................page 20 At Triphammer Marketplace & Gateway Commons 607-257-2626 www.ithacacoffee.com Proudly represented by these local agents: The Wood Office True Insurance Bailey Place Insurance www.TheWoodOffice.com www.TrueInsurance.com www.BaileyPlace.com Tompkins Insurance Agencies Maguire Family Insurance www.TompkinsIns.com 607-261-1301 Trumansburg, NY FLFCC.com 2 TOMPKINS WEEKLY August 27 - September 2, 2018 TRUMANSBURG Trumansburg Connection Art and culture abound in Trumansburg hose interested in a little art and culture in a beautiful, walkable Village will find no shortageT of venues in Trumansburg. From programming at the Ulysses Philomathic Library, concerts and classes at the Conservatory of Fine Arts and local businesses, to participating in the Trumansburg Community Chorus and Encore Players Community Theatre, there is an experience for people of all ages and varied interests. Trumansburg Connection By Elaine Springer In addition to live music at restaurant and bar venues, The Above photo by Jeffrey Foote Photography, photo right provided by the Ulysses Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Philomathic Library Arts (TCFA), located at Congress Programming at the Ulysses Philomathic Library gives kids a chance to make and McLallen Streets offers a and display their art. variety of concerts, performances, dances and other events several with O’Shanigans 8 p.m. In addition banjo. TCFA also offers times a month. Many world- to offering frequent concerts, TCFA several dance classes and art class musicians grace the stage in offers numerous classes in music, classes for adults and children. addition to local musicians holding dance, and art for all ages. Music It is the perfect venue to take concerts and dances. On Sept. 9 classes include voice, drums, piano, in the many art shows that there is a New Park Chamber Music and guitar, with private lessons also occur throughout the year. Fundraiser at 2 p.m. And on Sept offered in piano, percussion, violin, 21, a Contra dance with Katy Heine voice, guitar, dulcimer, fiddle, and Continued on page 7 Open Everyday! Dine In ~ Carry Out Delivery ~ Catering 602 W Buffalo Street Ithaca WEEKLY TOMPJamie Swinnerton,KI ManagingNS Editor, [email protected] KeepingMichael Alderson,You Connected Production ________________________________________________________________________Will LeBlond, Sports, [email protected] Todd Mallinson, Advertising Director, [email protected] Jodie Gibson, Sales Manager, [email protected] Kevin English, Account Manager, [email protected] ________________________________________________________________________Janice Streb, Office Manager, [email protected] ________________________________________________________________________Todd Mallinson, Publisher, [email protected] Contributors: _______________________________________________________________________Matt Montague, Elaine Springer, Linda Competillo, Cathy Wakeman ________________________________________________________________________Calendar Listing: [email protected] Letters and Commentary Policy Tompkins Weekly welcomes letters to the editor. They should contain no more than 450 words. Letters should be emailed to [email protected], or mailed to our address below. Letters must be signed and include an address and phone number; unsigned letters will not be published. CONTENTS OF TOMPKINS WEEKLY ARE COPYRIGHT (C) 2018, BY VIZELLA MEDIA, LLC All rights reserved. Events listed in Community Calendar are listed free of charge, however not guaranteed due to space availability and are not of routine nature. Deadline is Wednesday by noon. SUBSCRIPTIONS; $65 for one year, include check or money order to Tompkins Weekly, 3100 N. Triphammer Rd, Suite 100 Lansing, NY 14882. ADVERTISING: Deadlines are 5 p.m. Wednesday for display, classified and legal notices. Tompkins Weekly will not be liable for failure to publish an ad, for typographical error, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the space in which the actual error appeared in the first insertion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and to alter any advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publication. Tompkins Weekly is distributed weekly on Monday. Offices are located at 3100 N. Triphammer Road, Suite 100 Lansing, NY 14882 Phone is (607) 533-0057 August 27 - September 2, 2018 TOMPKINS WEEKLY 3 NEWS Gems Continued from page 1 looking for inspiration for your own garden, want to learn more about native plants, or are looking to do started the collection