Features
Julian Eagle: A Tribute to WRFI’s Very First Youth Radio Volunteer
At fourteen, Julian Eagle started working at WRFI as the station’s very first Youth Radio volunteer. This week would have been his 21st birthday and this month was the one-year anniversary of his death from Fentanyl poisoning. WRFI’s JT Stone got his start in radio working with Julian. He filed a tribute to a young…
Read MoreLISTEN: Memories of Lost Cat, Gavin Mahoney
The Ithaca artist known as Lost Cat died in April. His name was Gavin Mahoney and he was 55. Mahoney was best known for the many stick cat figures he painted around the city. Shortly after his death friends, admirers, and fellow artists put on a memorial art exhibition. And in July, a sculpture was installed downtown in his memory. I spoke with a few of his friends at both events. Here’s some of what they said about Mahoney’s life and how they will remember him.
Read MoreLISTEN: Interview with Dareth Glance, New York Department of Environmental Conservation Director, Region 7
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation divides the state into nine regions. Dereth Glance, Region 7 Director, NYS DEC (Photo: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) Dereth Glance is the new Region 7 Director. It covers Onondaga, Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, Tioga, and Broome counties. Glance most recently oversaw the…
Read MoreLISTEN: WRFI News Feature — Pulling Invasive Wild Water Chestnut in the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Invasive species continue to change our ecosystems. Recently I went to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at the top of Cayuga Lake to help pull wild water chestnuts. It’s been in New York for a while but it just showed up in the Refuge this year. I’m going to share an audio postcard from that…
Read MoreWRFI Special: Jim Murphy Remembered [AUDIO]
Jim Murphy died on June 29th. He was a big part of WRFI’s growth starting a decade ago. For many years he hosted the Ithaca-Watkins Glen Morning Show every weekday from 7-8 AM. It’s through Jim that many people got involved with the station. I’m one of those people. Jim’s generosity and encouragement were an…
Read MoreFLX Voices – Ithaca’s Newest Mural
Ithaca’s largest mural is completed. It’s on the Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services’ building on Plain Street between MLK, Jr. and Seneca Streets. Artists Betsy Casañas and Mauricio Pérez designed it. Community members helped them paint it. The images shows people gardening, flowers blooming and a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. A few days before it was…
Read MoreLISTEN: 2023 Ithaca Common Council Candidate Interviews
2023 Ithaca Common Council Election Coverage For the first time in 10 years, Voters in the City of Ithaca have the chance to elect a new mayor and the entire Common Council. WRFI and the Ithaca Voice have teamed up to bring you a week of interviews with Common Council candidates before the primary. Tune…
Read MoreAir Quality Worsens Across The Finger Lakes
The effects of Canadian wildfires are getting worse in our area. For a third day, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality warning. And they now say the air is unhealthy for everyone. The state health department is encouraging all of us to avoid spending much time outdoors. And it’s asking…
Read More