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Historic Ithaca! Workshops, Events & New Inventory, OH MY!

Aug 04th, 2021

Greetings from the Executive Director

Steve Jordan's The Window Sash Bible is available now at Significant Elements.

 

Dear Friends,

 

This week, we attended the Dismantling Preservation Virtual Unconference, which featured many great lectures from activists, practitioners, scholars and the public about what is happening in their communities and on the national scene. I urge you to engage with #DismantlePreservation and Sarah Marsom 

about exciting changes and initiatives related to historic preservation.

 

One of the changes that Historic Ithaca and Significant Elements are working on is to create greater intersections between preservation and sustainability. In 2020, we embarked on a project with many local stakeholders based on the axiom from architect Carl Elefante, “the greenest building is one that is already built.” We will have much more to report about our work with the City of Ithaca’s Green New Deal, coming next month. Join us on Saturday, August 7th from noon to 3pm to see the PowerHouse, a mobile energy education and outreach tool that will be parked right here at our location. We’ll have special guests from HeatSmart Tompkins and others you will want to meet to learn more about energy efficiency in your home. On August 14-15, we will host a 2-day workshop on repairing your wood windows, a true sustainable discipline. We welcome Steve Jordan, author of “The Window Sash Bible,” as our trainer. Registration is full at this time but stay tuned for more opportunities. Save the date of Saturday, September 11th for a DIY introductory level event on wood window repairs with Kristen Olson. 

 

National Nonprofit Day will be celebrated on August 17. From my vantage point, while we are set up to be charity-based, mission-driven organizations since time eternal, the COVID-pandemic really it drove home that we are resilient small, medium and large businesses. Pushing through the pandemic might have been a bit easier for some organizations because making quick changes and pivots for funding and programming (“that grant is no longer available”) is often required. With the help of Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, New York Council on Nonprofits, statewide and national organizations and CARES Act funding, we had opportunities to react quickly, gather information and implement a plan. It certainly was faster than the nonprofits were used to! But many, many of us survived it and are more than likely, stronger for it. Everyone was forced to be flexible, which often isn’t a hallmark of the nonprofit world. With our wonderful Tompkins County community of nonprofits, we celebrate National Nonprofit Day with gusto and with you!

 

All the things you do for us help us to be a better nonprofit community resource; many thanks to you and we look forward to doing more things together. 

 

Happy Summer!

Summer Intern Spotlight: Andrew Boghossian “Historic Ithaca doesn’t just stand as a preservation organization but a community organization.” - Andrew Boghossian 

Please join us in welcoming Andrew Boghossian, Historic Ithaca’s summer intern for the 2021 season. He comes to us from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning. Andrew learned of the internship through his work with the Cornell University Sustainable Design (CUSD) project. He mentions how his life experiences led him to his current studies, “while I study architecture, I believe that... it is in my best interest to understand how buildings function and are built. I hope that this will help me better understand how they can be designed. In taking this stance I have taken on jobs that have taught me how buildings go up, how they operate, and how they can come down.” 

 

While with Historic Ithaca Andrew is creating an online database for the community to use when planning energy retrofits to their buildings. The database will provide strategies and information that are applicable for a wide range of buildings with a focus on older residential buildings. The database will aid in sharing information from existing local organizations, state and national recommendations for historic buildings, and funding that can assist with building maintenance and energy retrofits.

 

Andrew is pursuing an undergraduate degree in architecture with a minor in urban and regional studies “As an architecture student, I’m fascinated with the built environment,” said Andrew. “Ithaca has quite a unique [city] with many buildings constructed over a century ago.” Andrew is familiar with sustainability through his work with the CUSD project team. The project modeled the potential to energy retrofit all the buildings in Ithaca. Andrew explains “My work with Historic Ithaca has allowed me to create a tool to share and educate the community on [the project’s] potential.” He says “A component of my work has involved engagement with local organizations and city officials and shown me how contemporary planning and city programming operate. Working with Historic Ithaca this summer, receiving their input in my projects in school over the past year and a half, and being in Ithaca for a little over three years now has helped me understand how very unique Ithaca is as a community, place, and resounding cultural location.” 

 

Andrew is contributing to our organization’s pillars of education, preservation and empowerment, through his work on this database. He comments “Additionally, Historic Ithaca looks at what it means to be sustainable and adaptable.” The ever changing social, cultural, economic, and environmental needs of our community are at the forefront of what Historic Ithaca does and we are honored to have such a talented group of employees and interns contributing to our goals.

August Events

PowerHouse is at Significant Elements - August 7th 12pm - 3pm Historic Ithaca, HeatSmart and Get Your GreenBack Tompkins are pleased to announce a one-day event featuring the PowerHouse tiny home, a mobile energy education and outreach tool.

Visitors can also learn about thousands of dollars in grants and incentives available to help cover the cost of home energy improvements and clean heating and cooling technologies for eligible households (renters and homeowners). This is a free event.

 

WHEN:

Saturday, August 7th, 12pm - 3pm

Researching Your House History - Saturday, August 7th at 10 am 

“Researching Your House History,” is presented by Susan Holland, Executive Director of Historic Ithaca.

 

The workshop will share information on how to research your home, where to gather primary and secondary sources, and “tricks-of-the-trade” on how to conduct a thorough investigation.

 

There will be time for questions and answers.

 

This is a hybrid event and is available on Zoom.

Email beckydewitt@gmail.com for meeting link.

When: Saturday, August 7th at 10 am

Where: Online & In-Person

Brooktondale Community Center Old Fire Meeting Room

524 Valley Rd, Brooktondale, NY 14817

Email Becky

Steve Jordan's Window Workshop - August 14th & 15th 9:30am - 4:00pm Significant Elements and Historic Ithaca are pleased to announce a hands-on, intensive window repair workshop. This two-day event will be taught by Steve Jordan of Pain in the Glass

Registration is now closed.

 

Email Christine O'Malley if you would like additional information or to be added to the waitlist.

Historic Ithaca presents a virtual tour and oral history of St. James A.M.E. Zion Church located in Ithaca, New York.

 

This Historic Ithaca production is made possible by PhotoSynthesis Productions an award-winning full-service media production company specializing in media & film production, online education, and storytelling.

 

 

Historic Ithaca is funded in part by a Humanities New York CARES Grant with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal CARES Act, as well as, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding was provided by Humanities New York.

 

 

Be sure to follow us on YouTube!

&

Give us a "thumbs up" while you are there.

Watch Now <https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Lpersp62svrsG7r1wY8o7WhMGIo09Th7-Z-I4iZcNakj6-vKq1pGWKzfrXH-bwpFVYyMpaHylBo7trANIvKZas58O9VevoPRclnI-p4k7eeOYU4qAQnWUKudR4RQW1P93kpGOAhG5ebPnVLnP0kjLw==&c=G7UggWsxjlFxK0tm-7eUQ_x1053M-MnrG5ch5g1xGa_x56HbVbtcPQ==&ch=jwYNeQD8HbBsg3Rnq4vos7qS5EWm32oHBeL2bGgV2AetNQL4Q-CV3Q==

Kristen Olson Window Workshop - September 11th 1pm - 4pm 

Kristen has over a decade of experience in building investigations and historic preservation technical services, including building condition assessments, cultural resource surveys and National Register nominations. With a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University, she meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for an architectural historian. Kristen is a SPRAT-certified Level II Rope Access Technician and a FAA-licensed drone pilot. She serves as Municipal Historian for the Village of Freeville, New York.

 

Kristen will join Significant Elements and Historic Ithaca in presenting a workshop on wood window repair.

Stay tuned for more information!

Preservation Award Ceremony

Image from the 2019 Preservation awards.

Join Historic Ithaca for a night honoring our

2021 Preservation Award Winners

&

The Joseph O. Ciaschi Preservation Excellence Award Winner Margaret Hobbie

 

Every year Historic Ithaca, Inc. presents awards for sensitive restoration and preservation projects within Tompkins County. Any preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or adaptive reuse project completed within the past two years may be nominated for a 2021 award.

 

 

Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of preservation professionals and awards made based on such considerations as the importance of the project to the long-term preservation of the building; adherence to basic preservation principles as outlined in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation 

and the impact, or potential impact, of the project on the surrounding community.

 

WHEN: Thursday, September 23, 2021

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Awards will begin at 6:00 pm

light fare & drink will be served

COST: $20

 

If you are an award winner please contact Christine O'Malley at christine@historicithaca.org before registering for the event.

 

Space is limited, registration is required.

Register Here <https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Lpersp62svrsG7r1wY8o7WhMGIo09Th7-Z-I4iZcNakj6-vKq1pGWKzfrXH-bwpFgsuZGvlOcj3Ff09DesLdNu8Pq6EdYHz94C1kf5yCCM3o5zs3hv4kNMgpLxWlS8rsUDmrSEj_F1P2solV1YDfNHtJ3Iyyrcf8q2mfqFuNn-JVmks98i4mQoLJ7VSlxCJ4d0FzSQ_uE74VKDKI2F_Bv2TG-otZAvc2MelO64YsuY0d5IhHqZMQ-w==&c=G7UggWsxjlFxK0tm-7eUQ_x1053M-MnrG5ch5g1xGa_x56HbVbtcPQ==&ch=jwYNeQD8HbBsg3Rnq4vos7qS5EWm32oHBeL2bGgV2AetNQL4Q-CV3Q==

Work Preserve Summer Program

Our Work Preserve Summer Program is in full swing. Five participants ranging from ages 14 - 19 join us for our 6-week program. They’re referred by our community partners at Ithaca’s Youth Bureaus’s Youth Employment Service and Tompkins Workforce NY’s 

JobLINK and Summer Youth Employment programs, which place youth in paid jobs and internships throughout our community. 

 

Historic Ithaca’s 10th annual summer session offers a first-time work experience for in-school youth and young adults, providing an opportunity to get hands-on, real-world work experience and build transferable job skills. So far the Work Preserve team has tackled a range of Significant Elements retail projects, visited job sites, and learned about local history.

 

The group’s first field trip was to visit St. James AME Zion Church

Team members shared highlights from the trip: Dakota mentioned learning about the church's ties to the Underground Railroad, while Will said how much he “loves learning about history” and how Significant Elements has expanded his knowledge of local history in such a short amount of time. 

 

Suzanne Onodera <mailto:suzanne@historicithaca.org> , Work Preserve Education and Outreach Coordinator, also accompanied the participants to a residential construction remodel site. “The building had been expanded like an accordion,” said WP team member Addie Hitz. Suzanne explains “the contractor’s team is trying to preserve the original structure which was added onto throughout the years.” This experience opened discussions about topics including workplace safety, the importance of teamwork, and the range of career opportunities in the skilled trades. 

 

Teamwork is an important factor in Work Preserve. Everyday, participants experience firsthand how their work contributes to the success of the business. Kaelan and Dakota explained what a daily schedule looks like, “We come in and start with cleaning,” said Dakota “usually we work on a project until lunch,” Kaelan adds. During the conversation each participant was working on reviving a rush-seat stool. After removing the worn rush seat, they were cleaning and prepping the wood for a new finish. Next, the team will learn how to weave new rush seats before the stools are sold at Significant Elements. Working together to create a complete set of stools helps strengthen the team as a whole. When someone was struggling to remove the glue from an old felt pad, their teammate Addie stepped in to show what worked best when she was having trouble.

 

This type of support and communication gives participants experience in what a teamwork-focused environment can provide. At the end of the program, the lessons learned combine to foster a mindfulness of detail and personal responsibility in the workplace, skills they can take forward in whatever they choose to tackle next.

 

Each team member finds different motivators to get up and go to work. For Gavin it is “saving up for an Xbox,” while Addie is putting money away for her college fund. Will and others have learned to navigate bus schedules to make it to and from work. This independence and confidence is built through their Work Preserve experience.

 

You can support the Work Preserve team by donating building materials, furniture, antiques, tools, garden items, and more to Significant Elements. Every donation is an opportunity for our participants to learn something new and add value to materials through reuse!

Follow @workpreserve to see how fun hands-on learning can be.

In-store Shopping & Parking Alert

Significant Elements is open for in-store shopping.  Under current CDC recommendations we are asking to please wear your mask indoors at this time.

 

Current hours are:

Monday - Friday: 10:30 - 4:00

Saturday: 10:00 - 5:00

Sunday: closed

 

Please note: There are a number of construction sites in our area. Currently the most convenient access is Albany Street to Center Street. With this route you are able to park in our lot or along Center Street. Our front entrance is accessible.

We look forward to your visit!

Ways to Save!

Cayuga Marketplace



We are offering a $50 certificate for $35! There is a limited quantity so hurry over to the Cayuga Marketplace and pick one up today!

Cayuga Marketplace

Guide to Being Local

 

Guide to Being Local Coupon Book

Includes a coupon for 20% off at Significant Elements.

$15, available now at Significant Elements.

Support local businesses and save all year.

Local First Book <https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Lpersp62svrsG7r1wY8o7WhMGIo09Th7-Z-I4iZcNakj6-vKq1pGWBgOA2cMd32dCCFwtW0GWKpfFrdAO7AkoPccRFEXMAg1Gpqai4lLo477nBHbhwqw34rRlBzRsXKdodif8j7cIpj6Qns3nIHfEoU4SqLQpXQFrDenPIUtgSU=&c=G7UggWsxjlFxK0tm-7eUQ_x1053M-MnrG5ch5g1xGa_x56HbVbtcPQ==&ch=jwYNeQD8HbBsg3Rnq4vos7qS5EWm32oHBeL2bGgV2AetNQL4Q-CV3Q==>

Donate Items to Significant Elements

It's easy to donate building materials, furniture, tools and more to Significant Elements!

 

Due to our limited physical space and our commitment to preserving architectural salvage we have to be selective in items we accept.

 

Let's all help keep items out of the landfill!

If you have any questions SE staff Sara & Robert are happy to have a conversation with you about our process.

 

CALL: 607.277.3450

and ask for Sara, Robert, or Peter

 

TEXT: 607.218.7095

with an image and description of possible donation item(s)

 

EMAIL: sara@historicithaca.org

for more information or with with an image and description of possible donation item(s) Click for more information about donations <https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Lpersp62svrsG7r1wY8o7WhMGIo09Th7-Z-I4iZcNakj6-vKq1pGWB930SFvolQOiNkcF1h7lofuEWs5ZpDVbTd4sI18uICF6QWDzMkKdR-AYNQ0FyzVhzyGNfH_fXKNGBVmA9wJcvIdllwGzkQGFpozyFFIE5hcE0whFTNz7Rk=&c=G7UggWsxjlFxK0tm-7eUQ_x1053M-MnrG5ch5g1xGa_x56HbVbtcPQ==&ch=jwYNeQD8HbBsg3Rnq4vos7qS5EWm32oHBeL2bGgV2AetNQL4Q-CV3Q==

Lighting Repair

Is it finally time to re-wire that vintage lamp you love?



We can do it for you! 

 

Repair - don't replace - your cherished light fixtures.

 

Call 607-277-3450 for more information about our lamp repair services.

 

Fresh finds move fast because of our loyal Instagram and Facebook following.

This vintage psychedelic spinning swag lamp sold overnight! Don't miss out on new arrivals - follow us on social media and shop remotely!

We are so thankful for you, who support us in so many ways.

 

In addition to your personal actions, your gifts support us by helping add jobs to our local economy, provide education, and preserve the houses, public places and historic sites that give our community its character and vitality.

 

By giving to Historic Ithaca you make our region a wonderful place to live and play a role in our ability to live a more sustainable life.

 

Consider making your gift a monthly recurring gift today!

 

Give Today! <https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Lpersp62svrsG7r1wY8o7WhMGIo09Th7-Z-I4iZcNakj6-vKq1pGWHIoYoM6X5WTeIva5zWnjtyDmVpb0FeIpe4mGVKTs7a4Mu8RDXrCiwaLJdrL_Ta1cdGLnSufZFqI-SgXnvxjRNouiB8q0Fi6uCDNZOAI8ARpiloGreBpOyogD60fvtTh9A==&c=G7UggWsxjlFxK0tm-7eUQ_x1053M-MnrG5ch5g1xGa_x56HbVbtcPQ==&ch=jwYNeQD8HbBsg3Rnq4vos7qS5EWm32oHBeL2bGgV2AetNQL4Q-CV3Q==>

The programs of Historic Ithaca are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Projects are also made possible in part by funding from Tompkins County. 

Funding for Work Preserve is provided by the City of Ithaca Community Development Block Grant Program and Park Foundation.

Historic Ithaca | (607) 273-6633 | historicithaca.org STAY CONNECTED 

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