This newsletter is brought to you by Human Resources.
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Retiree Employee Assembly
Representatives Needed
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Are you interested in representing the experience and needs of Cornell retirees within the larger university context?
Are you seeking a convenient and flexible way to volunteer?
Two Cornell retirees are needed to represent the retiree community on the Employee Assembly (EA) beginning June 2025. The EA advocates for staff interests and identifies matters of concern that impact daily life on campus and works with the university administration/other key stakeholders to seek solutions. This is an excellent way to be involved in decisions that make Cornell a great community!
The one retiree seat/vote is shared by two volunteers to reduce the overall time commitment. Rotating off are retirees Thomas Hambury and Frank Cantone, whom we thank for their dedication and willingness to serve in this important role.
Retirees who live outside New York state are eligible to volunteer and can join any meetings remotely.
What’s involved?
- Attend virtual, noontime bi-weekly EA meetings with committees meeting on off weeks. You will work collaboratively with your fellow volunteer to determine participation and coverage for these various meetings.
- Join the Cornell HR Retiree Engagement Advisory Committee (HR REAC) meetings three times per year. This committee is charged with advancing Cornell as a retiree/retirement-friendly employer.
- Liaise with Work/Life in Human Resources to communicate with retirees, and inform them about specific issues/concerns, etc.
- Connect with the retiree community through events sponsored by Work/Life, the Retiree Newsletter, and/or other opportunities.
Please contact Amy Layton, Work/Life Program Coordinator, at worklife@cornell.edu to learn more.
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Winter Tree ID Tour
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Register
Most people identify trees by their leaves, but the bark and growth forms of tree species are unique, too. This tour will teach how to identify tree species when leaves are not available by walking through an old-growth forest where trees are more than 300 years old and still growing.
Tour guide Marvin Pritts was born in rural southwestern Pennsylvania. He obtained a B.S. in Biology from Bucknell University in 1978, a M.S. in Biology (Plant Ecology) from the University of South Carolina in 1980, and a Ph.D. in horticulture at Michigan State University working with wild species of blueberries. Marvin came to Cornell in 1984 as the berry crop specialist with an appointment in extension, research, and teaching. He works primarily with production and pest management systems in strawberries and raspberries and has consulted with berry farmers throughout the world.
The walk will be in Trumansburg, and the location of this class will be emailed to all registrants the day before. The class is outside, please dress for the weather and be prepared to walk a mile on uneven terrain. This program is valued at $20, however, please pay what you are able.
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Science in the Virtual Pub: Drought, Destroyer of Civilizations
Thursday, February 27, 2025, 7:00 PM
Register
We are all too familiar with the impacts of foods, nor'easters, ice storms, derechos, tornadoes, hurricanes, and even atmospheric rivers of rain or snow. Most of us would not rank drought high on our list of natural hazards of major concern. But drought can be blamed and named as a Destroyer of Civilizations.
This presentation by Sylvia Reeves, NIDIS Regional Drought Information Coordinator (Northeast DEWS), will cover some of the history of drought, the impacts of drought in the US in the past 10 years, and the focus of research and inquiry on monitoring drought, drought outlooks, and resilience strategies for the future.
This webinar, presented by Paleontological Research Institution, will be broadcast on Zoom and the link to join will be sent upon registration.
Visit our nation's drought information portal at Drought.gov and learn more about Assessing Drought in a Changing Climate. Learn more about Sylvia Reeves here.
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Spruce Up Your Conifer Knowledge
Saturday, March 1, 2025, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Nevin Welcome Center, Cornell Botanic Gardens
Register
Join instructors Brandon Dunham and Emily Norsen, Horticulturists, for a walk through the conifer collection and Winter Garden to learn the basics of conifer identification and their natural history. The tour will highlight plants native and non-native to the Ithaca area (including yew, metasequoia, fir, and larch), their unique features, and tips for their care in the home landscape. .
The walk will last approximately 90 minutes. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Fee is $12 for general admission and free for Botanic Gardens members. Learn more about Membership here.
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Community Wellness Workshop: Needle Felting
Saturday, March 8, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Johnson Museum of Art
Learn about the artistic properties of wool and make your own needle-felted creation. Haydee Borrero of Sheepy Hollow Farm will guide participants through the process of manipulating wool fibers into a canvas. Add designs using specialized tools as a paint brush and colorful and texturally rich wool as your paint. The finished project will be two-dimensional, about the size of a postcard, and can be gifted, framed, or hung.
This workshop is beginner-friendly, but limited to participants 16 years and older due to use of sharp tools.
Registration is required. Email eas8@cornell.edu to register. For more information, visit the event web page.
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Community Seed Swap
Saturday, March 8, 2025, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cornell Cooperative Extension
615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY
Calling all seed savers, gardeners, and curious creatives! It’s time for the beloved annual CCE Tompkins Community Seed Swap. Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer all your seedy questions. Go home with lots of locally adapted seeds from other local gardeners. Choose from a variety of seeds — vegetables, fruits, garden favorites, native flowers, annuals, and perennials.
Please bring viable seeds to trade or a suggested donation of $5. Send any questions to art228@cornell.edu or call 607-272-2292.
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Tree Grafting Workshop
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cornell Cooperative Extension
615 Willow Ave, Ithaca
Register
Grafting has been used for centuries to join two trees into one to propagate various desired traits. This workshop will start with a presentation of the history of grafting and different grafting techniques. Participants will also have the opportunity to graft their own tree using the cleft grafting method and get to take home one grafted heirloom apple tree. Space is limited to 24, online pre-registration is required.
Instructor Roger Ort is the Owner of Ort Family Farm which grows around 1000 fruit trees and 3 acres of small fruits that are all processed into their line of jams and jellies. Roger hails from Southern, PA where he attended Williamsport Community College and earned a degree in Horticulture Nursery Management. In 2000, Roger moved his family and business to Bradford, NY. Three years ago, Roger retired from the Cornell Cooperative Extension system after 13 years as a Horticulture Educator and has been able to focus more on growing more unusual fruits and educating others to do the same.
This program is valued at $50, however, please pay what you are able. Scholarships are available. For more information, visit the event web page.
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Arts Unplugged: The Iliad in Ithaca
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Klarman Hall, Atrium
This free event is part of the “Arts Unplugged” series in the College of Arts & Sciences and is open to the public. In this event, the English and Classics departments will host a day-long, public reading of portions of Homer's The Iliad, with a cast of readers throughout the day.
Participants will also be able to:
- View items from this period from the library and anthropology collections
- Create their own cuneiform tablet
- Listen to student responses to the text interspersed between passages
The reading will be followed by a panel discussion from 4:30-6 p.m. in Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium, Klarman Hall.
For more information, visit the event web page.
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Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards: The Salon Project
Co-sponsored by the Society for the Humanities, the Salon Project brings together music, instruments, research, and conversation in a compact, hour-length format at the historic A. D. White House on select Fridays at 5:00 PM.
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March 14: Andrew Willis with the Vivaldi Project in a program combining the little-known classical string trios by Haydn and Boccherini alongside Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G Minor.
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May 9: “Music of Mozart, Chopin, and Beethoven” with Gabriel Merrill-Steskal will explore possibilities of melodic ornamentation in the music of Mozart and Chopin. By examining model compositions with written-out ornaments of repeated themes, we can learn not only how to embellish one instance of a theme, but also how to structure a series of variations over time in an organic way.
For more information, visit the Center's web page.
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Engage With Cornell Wellness
Cornell Wellness is your connection to services and educational opportunities designed to empower you to feel confident in making choices for yourself in the areas of fitness, nutrition, health education, and self-care for the mind. You’re invited to discover, develop, and support your self-care practices with a variety of offerings provided through Cornell Wellness.
Make the connection with Cornell Wellness today and start tapping into a few of the many programs that do not require a membership:
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Select one or more individual wellness consultations available through Zoom, phone, or in-person on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, and talk with certified staff about fitness, nutrition, smoking cessation, and more
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Participate in experiential and quarterly health campaigns. Each campaign will offer in-person, virtual, and pre-recorded options so that you can participate in ways that best fit your schedule.
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Sign up for 4- to 6-week series-style classes including meditations, guided relaxations, and balance-building sessions that you can take part in from home or while you’re on the go.
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Follow along with videos at your own pace to build strength and boost your confidence with equipment like dumbbells and stability balls.
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Build community and boost your social support networks through community wellness chats and skill-building groups.
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Follow Wellness on Instagram @cornellwellness for bite-sized health information that’s easy to digest
If you decide to purchase a Wellness Recreation Membership, you can access additional offerings including:
For more information, visit the program web page.
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Free Tax Preparation Service at Tompkins County Public Library
Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with Cornell University and the Human Services Coalition is pleased to announce that registration is now open for free tax preparation service for qualified residents of Tompkins and Cortland Counties. To qualify, residents must have an income of $65,000 or less in tax year 2024.
In-person appointments with IRS-certified tax preparers from Tompkins Area Volunteer Income Assistance Program (VITA) will be available through April 15 on the following days inside the TCPL Digital Lab:
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Tuesdays from 12:00 - 4:00 PM
- *Select Tuesdays through 7:00 PM
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Fridays from 1:00 - 5:00 PM
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Select Saturdays from 12:00 - 4:00 PM
The full calendar of dates is available on the TCPL website. Reservations must be made through 2-1-1. Those outside of Tompkins County can call 1-877-211-8667.
Tompkins Area VITA separately offers other services for those making up to $87,000 per year. More information about that program as well as documents to have ready for an appointment are available on the VITA website.
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Free Tax Preparation at Lifelong
Lifelong is again preparing taxes for eligible community members:
- 60+ years of age (with spouses of any age) or
- Disabled or limited English proficiency or
- Family incomes at or under $67,000
Please note that some returns may not qualify, including, but not limited to, rental income or loss; home office deduction; some self-employment; plug-in electric vehicle credits; sale of real property other than your principal residence; and geothermal, solar panels, and some other large clean energy installation credits.
IRS Federal and NYS tax returns will be prepared this year through April 12 by Lifelong TCE volunteers, trained and certified by the IRS.
In-person preparation: this year taxpayers can have their taxes done at Lifelong in Ithaca, Ulysses Philomathic Library in Trumansburg, and Southworth Library in Dryden. Some returns may not be able to be completed in a single visit.
Additional information and a web appointment request form are available at https://tclifelong.org/services/.
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Care.com Care Talks
With virtual Care Talks, you’ll access free, exclusive events from expert speakers offering advice and guidance to help you better care for yourself and your family.
Check out these upcoming events:
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Aging & Adult Care: Brain + Heart Health Connections - Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 1:00 PM. Family caregivers have 2x the risk of developing chronic illness than the general population. Learn 12 lifestyle areas and tips to improve your health and wellness and stay strong while caregiving for older loved ones.
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Your Healthy Lifestyle: Your Healthy Heart - Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 1:00 PM. Learn the terms and factors you need to know to improve your heart health. Plus, find out about risk factors and how to recognize heart attacks and strokes.
For additional Care.com webinars and past recordings, please visit their web page.
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Utility Debt Relief Public Open House
Thursday, February 27, 2025, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Greater Ithaca Activities Center
Cornell Cooperative Extension's Community Energy Advisor Harrison will be at the Public Utility Law Project's Utility Debt Relief Clinic at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), 301 West Court St in Ithaca. Bring your questions about assistance and incentives for those looking to make energy improvements and weatherize their homes, apartments, and businesses!
Organizations and local officials will be on-site to help you learn how to save money on utility bills and address utility debt. Come and check your eligibility for several programs that can reduce your energy bills this winter!
Drop in any time during the three hours of the clinic. This event is free and open to all.
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YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County - Moving for Better Balance
Improve your balance, coordination, and independence with Moving For Better Balance, a new tai-chi-based mobility program. Through slow, deliberate movements and gentle exercises, participants will strengthen their core, increase flexibility, and develop better body awareness.
Ideal for all fitness levels, this program fosters confidence and independence, promoting safer, more stable movement in daily life.
This program will meet on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:00 AM in the Dance Studio and run from February 12 to May 2. An online option is also available. For more information, please visit their web page.
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Volunteer Opportunity Wildflower Exploration Guide
Cornell Botanic Gardens is seeking volunteers for their Wildflower Exploration program for third-grade classes from Ithaca and beyond. As part of “Kids Discover the Trail,” this program provides an exciting field experience in the springtime at the Mundy Wildflower Garden. Rich in plant science foundations, students experience an in-depth focus on native wildflowers and bring home a field guide to continue their learning. Lauren Salzman, Youth Education Coordinator, will work closely with guides and teachers to schedule, prepare, deliver, and assess these activities.
Wildflower Exploration (WE) Guides lead field experiences for small groups of third-grade students through the garden, and facilitate engaging learning activities as directed by the program plan for the duration of the experience (2.5 hours). WE guides support site preparation and clean up before and after programs and have opportunities to debrief, discuss, and reflect after each group departs. There will be opportunities to co-lead and offer and receive feedback on effectiveness.
No experience is necessary—just a love of children, plants, and the outdoors. Good public speaking skills, an appreciation of ecology, and the ability to interact comfortably with young children are highly desirable. All training will be provided.
Online volunteer applications can be found here. For more information, please contact Kevin Moss, Student & Public Engagement Coordinator, at 607-254-7430.
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The Beautification Brigade is Looking for Volunteers
Tuesday, March 11, OR Wednesday, March 19, 6:00 PM
Register
Attend an orientation meeting to learn about the Beautification Brigade's public flower plantings in Ithaca. They help to make Ithaca more beautiful while learning useful gardening tips and techniques. The Brigade plants and maintains spring and summer flowers on city traffic medians and the Ithaca Commons. Volunteers have fun and help keep Ithaca gorgeous. No experience is required.
The orientation will introduce you to the Beautification Program and its sites, share information about volunteer sessions, and show you how to register. You only need to attend one of the meetings.
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