This newsletter is brought to you by Human Resources.
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Special Virtual Event for Cornell Retirees | |
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Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos
Friday, September 13, 2024, 1:00 PM
Register
For thousands of years, humans have wondered whether we are alone in the cosmos. Now, for the first time, we have the technology to investigate. But how do you find life over cosmic distances? What is life, actually? And where are we the aliens?
Join us virtually for a live talk with Lisa Kaltenegger, associate professor in Astronomy and founding director of Cornell University's Carl Sagan Institute, as she addresses these questions in discussing her new book Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos (Macmillan Publishers, 2024).
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Cornell Move-In Volunteers Needed | |
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Registration is open now to volunteer for Cornell move-in! Sign up today for specific timeslots from August 19-24.
As Cornell welcomes thousands of new and returning residential students for the beginning of the academic year, we rely on participation from hundreds of Cornellians.
Move-In Hosts are the first to welcome students and families to campus, helping them navigate their way around, and answering any questions they may have. You'll have lots of opportunities to meet and interact with students and their families – as well as colleagues from across campus. Please note, Move-in Hosts are not asked to physically unload vehicles or transport student belongings into the residence halls.
All volunteers will also receive branded apparel to help identify them to campus guests, a free meal pass, and access to necessary supplies such as sunscreen, water, etc.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from CampusGroups with your list of shifts. A Zoom training session is scheduled for Thursday, August 15, 1-2:30pm. The session will be recorded for those who cannot attend.
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Exciting Cornell Wellness Fall Offerings
Cornell Wellness' group exercise classes launch beginning Monday, August 19. A Wellness Recreation membership is required to sign up for the group exercise classes. Try out the new evening yoga and evening dance fitness classes through Zoom! We've also added an additional strength training class per week. Plus, if you're looking for an in-person group exercise class, and haven't yet attended one at the beautiful East Hill Plaza location, with easy parking, you're missing out.
Keep an eye out for more offerings such as Stretching With Wellness, Healing In Place (meditation and guided progressive muscle relaxation sessions), Healthy Living Through Fall's Bounty (quarterly health campaign), being added to the Wellness website and rolling out soon. These offerings do not require a Wellness Recreation membership to participate in. Cornell Wellness is looking forward to engaging with you this Fall through in-person and virtual means!
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A Feast for the Senses: The Science of Flavor Perception
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 1:00 PM
Register
Perception is certainly reality when it comes to how we experience flavor and the food we eat. Flavor isn’t just what something tastes like in our mouths but a complex process that involves multiple sensory inputs. Yes, our taste buds can detect the basics like sweet, salty, and sour, but there’s more involved in the perception of flavor.
Our noses capture the smell of food, which also significantly contributes to the overall flavor profile. Even our cultural backgrounds and emotional states can modulate flavor perception. Exactly how spicy a masala dish is or how intense a chocolate tart is can range from person to person.
Join Chris Loss, a lecturer in the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as he breaks down how we perceive flavor in this eCornell Keynote. He’ll discuss the science behind the ways that different ingredient combinations contribute to different flavor perceptions and highlight some factors we might consider next time we’re preparing a delicious dinner.
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Free Gorge Walks This August
Join the annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. The Paleontological Research Institution has been offering this series of free Friday morning interpretive walks in partnership with the Finger Lakes State Parks for more than 15 years.
The walks were officially named in 2004 in memory of Ithaca native James E. Potorti, who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Potorti was a vice president at Marsh & McLennan, a financial services company, and worked on the 94th floor of 1 World Trade Center. His first career, however, was as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He grew up in Ithaca and attended SUNY Oswego.
Gorge Walks Summer 2024 Schedule (all walks are 10 - 11:30 AM):
- Friday, Aug. 16: Watkins Glen State Park: meet at the main (lower) entrance, at the end of the parking lot near the trail
- Friday, Aug. 23: Robert H. Treman State Park: meet at Upper Treman Park, at the end of the parking lot of near the start of the trails
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Friday, Aug. 30: Taughannock Falls State Park: meet at the Lower Falls (along Rt 89), in the parking lot near the start of the trails
Please note that while the walks are free, there is a parking charge for the State Parks. Visit the New York State Parks website for more information about free or discounted admission programs for seniors, military, and students. In addition, the Tompkins Public Library has New York State Park Empire Passes available to check out at no cost, learn more here.
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Local Garden Tours
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Discover some of the gardens around Ithaca focused on education and community building. This year the participating locations are:
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The Learning Farm: (272 Enfield Falls Rd) is a sanctuary for learning, growth, and community. Founded on the principles of equity, sustainability, and play, our mission is to connect people with the land, with each other, and with the bounty of fresh, local food.
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Ithaca Children’s Garden: (121 Turtle Ln) is an award-winning, 3-acre public children’s garden designed for kids, enjoyed by all, and driven by a mission to connect children to nature to create a more beautiful, resilient, and just world. Open 6:30 AM-8:00 PM.
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The Soil Factory: (142 Brewery Ln) is an art-science warehouse space with experimental garden spaces. The main garden focuses on the use of organic underutilized resources to construct low-cost raised beds.
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Ithaca Community Gardens: devoted to furthering community food self-sufficiency. We are a vibrant community of gardeners and area residents with interests in food policy and food justice.
Details on each site including open hours and activities will be added to the event website as they are finalized. All gardens are located in Ithaca.
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Cornell Jazz Faculty Concert: CU Music
Monday, September 2, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Cornell Jazz Faculty celebrate Labor Day with an outdoor concert on the plaza at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.
Paul Merrill, trumpet; Joe Salzano, alto saxophone and clarinet; Seth Carper, alto and tenor saxophone; Melissa Gardiner, trombone; Dave Solazzo, piano; Peter Chwazik, bass; and Owen Erickson, drums.
Music by Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, selections from the Great American Songbook, and compositions and arrangements by members of the ensemble. Rain location is the Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium in Klarman Hall.
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Sit, Stay: An Exhibition of Early Dog Photographs
Olin Library
Since photography began in 1839, dogs have been a popular subject for professional and amateur photographers alike. The long exposure times required for early photographic processes made it difficult to capture images of animals who naturally wanted to move. As a result, most early photographs of dogs depict them alongside owners who could help keep them stationary for the camera.
This exhibition features photographs of dogs alone, without human companions or even leashes to hold them still, revealing individual dogs as unique personalities. Here dogs are the stars of the show!
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Flu Vaccine Clinics Starting Soon
Getting vaccinated each year is the best way to protect yourself – and others – against seasonal influenza.
Annual flu vaccination is always strongly recommended for college students due to the highly contagious nature of influenza and the close proximity within which students live and study. Flu vaccination is especially important during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic to help prevent individuals from conflating symptoms or experiencing both illnesses simultaneously.
Each fall, Cornell Health partners with Wegmans Pharmacy to provide our annual on-campus flu vaccination clinics.
Clinics are:
- Offered at different campus locations, as well as in Geneva
- Open to all – students, staff, faculty, retirees, student spouses/partners, and other community and family members (age 3+)
- FREE for all students, staff, faculty, & retirees (other community members: the cost will depend on your insurance; most plans cover flu vaccination)
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Offering 3 vaccine types: Regular dose, senior dose (for age 65+), and thimerosal-free flu shots (learn more about flu vaccine types)
For more information and dates of the clinics, please visit Cornell Health's web page.
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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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Get Smart About Brain Health - Thursday, August 22, 2024, 1:00 PM. Maintaining good brain health and memory fitness can make a big difference as we try to remember names and faces, recall important information or retain facts. Learn to maintain a healthy brain and boost brain power in this webinar.
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Prioritizing Self-Care - Thursday, September 5, 2024, 1:00 PM. Learn how to care for yourself while dealing with everyday challenges and issues, including learning about the pillars of health that will help with self-care.
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Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care - Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 1:00 PM. This session will cover the signs, symptoms, and stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, day-to-day caregiving techniques, how to communicate with a person with Alzheimer's, financial assistance, and insurance and resources for caregivers. It will also cover brain health and what are the possible ways to prevent dementia and improve cognitive performance.
For additional Care.com webinars and past recordings, please visit their web page.
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Free Optometry & Optician Services
The Ithaca Free Clinic has partnered with the Ithaca Lions Club to provide FREE Optometry and Optician services to all Tompkins County residents and children over the age of 5.
Services include:
- Complete dilated eye exams and glaucoma screenings
- FREE, quality, prescription eyeglasses
Upcoming Dates for Optometry & Optician Clinics:
- Wednesday, September 18, 2024
- Wednesday, September 25, 2024
To schedule your appointment, email your request to clinic@ithacahealth.org
or call (607) 330-1254.
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Social Relationships: Key to a Happy & Successful Retirement
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Register
This event, sponsored by the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education, will explore the importance of social relationships in retirement with an engaging presentation followed by a panel discussion. In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory titled "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation," shedding light on "the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country." Even predating the COVID-19 pandemic, around half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Disconnection profoundly impacts mental, physical, and societal well-being. This presentation will help retirees and the organizations serving them better understand and facilitate better social connections.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University. Her presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Kaye Jeter, Central State University; Valerie Ventre-Hutton, UC Berkeley; and Dr. Louise Nasmith, University of British Columbia, who will share their personal experiences related to this topic.
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Free 3-Month Trial Membership to Love Living at Home
Love Living at Home (LLH) is a member-run organization that encourages seniors to stay engaged while thriving in their own homes. LLH enriches the lives of seniors to be healthier and more independent by providing social opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and coordinated access to services and community resources. They aim to keep older adults in Tompkins County living independently in their own homes as long as possible with social support and volunteer services.
Join their welcoming, engaging, diverse, and inclusive community for folks age 50+ with a shared goal of thriving in the homes and neighborhoods they love!
Start your free trial or learn more now at the Love Living at Home web page or by calling 607-319-0162. For folks age 50+ living in the Tompkins County area.
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Longview Renovation and Revitalization Project
Longview has been a leader in providing senior living to adults in and around Ithaca, NY for 50 years. Upon moving to their current location on South Hill in 1998, independent living apartments were added to the housing program that we currently offer and later followed by enhanced assisted living, patio homes and home to the only social adult day care program in the county.
Starting in August 2024 their main building will begin to undergo updates to all independent living apartments and common areas including the dining room and auditorium.
Founded in October 1972, where legacy meets innovation, Longview is a vital nonprofit organization serving older adults in the Ithaca community, enriching lives for over 50 years. Their commitment to engaging living by providing independent, assisted, enhanced assisted living, and adult day facilities uniquely positions them to offer an unparalleled solution to the evolving needs of the community. Longview’s one-of-a-kind opportunities are the collaboration with Ithaca College. This includes access to recreational facilities, taking classes, music, theater, the Gerontology Institute, and the experiential learning program with over 700 students and more than 65 faculty and staff participating in intergenerational education and social experiences. Longview is proud to host and collaborate with Tompkins Community Action’s Early Head Start program.
Longview serves people from ages 3-100+ and is committed to the well-being of mind, body, and spirit, including the values of kindness, dependability, integrity, inclusion, and accountability. For more information about what Longview has to offer, contact Kim Owen, Director of Marketing and Sales at kowen@longviewithaca.org or 607-342-4239.
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Administrative Assistant (Part-Time) in the Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science
This position will provide general administrative support to one Bowers CIS faculty member to include assistance with Fall semester course management, creating and editing PowerPoint slides and lecture materials, filing, calendaring, expense reimbursements, and drafting/responding to email communications.
- 10-12 hours per week
- On-site only
- Assistance needed through the end of the Fall 2024 semester
- $20/hr
- Schedule: Negotiable
- Start date: As soon as available
Interested retirees may contact the Bowers CIS Director of Human Resources, Carrie Irwin, at cmi28@cornell.edu for more information and to apply for the position.
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Help Needed at Frontenac Point Winery
Frontenac Point Winery is a small, family-owned estate winery established in 1979 by Cornell University graduate James Doolittle. For the last 45 years he and his family have run the operation. The vineyard and winery are located 15 minutes from Ithaca on Route 89, and 3 miles north of Taughannock State Park.
They are looking for help in the tasting room, winery, and vineyard. You will primarily guide the guest experience in the tasting room for people from all over the world who visit the Finger Lakes. As part of the job, you can learn about growing grapes (viticulture), making wine (enology), running a small winery, and the history of the Finger Lakes wine industry. If desired, additional work is available outside the tasting room in the winery and vineyard.
This is a part-time, seasonal position and ends November 17.
Requirements:
- Willingness to learn about wine and appropriately present it to visitors is necessary.
- Knowledge of wine is helpful but not necessary.
- Ability to work alone as well as with others.
- Ability to lift 40 pounds (a case of wine) and carry it up the stairs from the winery to the tasting room.
- Inventory management.
- Setting up and closing the Tasting room at the end of the day.
- Transportation to and from the winery is necessary but not needed while on the job.
Frontenac Point Winery is owned by a Cornell retiree and fellow Cornell retirees are encouraged to apply! If you would like to know more or have questions, please email the winery.
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