Posts by Esther Racoosin
Educator Laurie Rubin Talks About Observing the Natural World [AUDIO]
Educator Laurie Rubin talks about how and why we should take time to go outside and observe the natural world. The former elementary school teacher developed a curriculum using nature study to inspire students to develop their writing and science skills. She is the author of the book To Look Closely: Science and Literacy in…
Read MoreFoodnet Meals on Wheels Serves Clients Amid COVID-19 Pandemic [AUDIO]
Jessica Gosa, Executive Director of Foodnet Meals on Wheels, discusses how her organization is adapting amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes how Foodnet is changing its procedures to ensure the safety of its clients and its staff. Gosa also talks about recent innovations in their operation, such as moving to a rotating schedule and creating…
Read MoreIthaca Community Members Sew Face Masks To Meet Local Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic [AUDIO]
Local volunteers are sewing face masks in response to shortages of protective gear for health care providers, people in the service sector and community members from COVID-19. Here we speak with three people in the community who have been organizing these efforts: Carol O’Driscoll, Director of Surgical Services at Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca Mask Makers…
Read MoreLocal Activists Establish Mutual Aid Tompkins [AUDIO]
Juliana Garcia and Josh Dolan, two of the organizers of the Tompkins COVID-19 Mutual Aid Response Facebook Group, discuss what they and other activists are doing to assist local residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. They describe components of the Facebook Group and encourage folks to join whether they need assistance or would like to provide…
Read MoreInitiating a Food Systems Plan for Tompkins County
A large group of stakeholders involved in some aspect of food policy came together on February 26 2020 for a community conversation to kick off the development of a food system plan for Tompkins County. The plan will be informed by all residents and will guide future actions by Tompkins County to improve food security…
Read MoreAyleen Crotty of Filmed By Bike Film Festival Talks About Bike Fun
On Thursday, January 16th, about 50 bicycle enthusiasts attended a bike culture workshop organized by BikeWalk Tompkins. The workshop was lead by Ayleen Crotty, founder of the Filmed by Bike Film Festival. Crotty visited Ithaca to hear about what events are happening in our city and help the biking community to translate those events into…
Read MoreDiane Morton, President of Cayuga Bird Club, talks about the 2020 Christmas Bird Count
Diane Morton, President of the Cayuga Bird Club, talks about the 2020 Christmas Bird Count. Starting in the wee hours of New Year’s Day, volunteer birders will venture out to count birds in a 15 mile diameter area around Tompkins County. This will be the 58th year that the local birding club will take part…
Read MoreKatie Quinn-Jacobs Speaks About Mothers Out Front-Tompkins County
Katie Quinn-Jacobs, co-leader of the Tompkins County Chapter of Mothers Out Front, speaks about her organization. She discusses how she got involved with MOF and the current activities of her organization. (photo: courtesy of Katie Quinn-Jacobs). Katie Quinn-Jacobs, co-leader of the Tompkins County Chapter of Mothers Out Front, speaks about her organization. She…
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