Meet the Cars!

Egbert (#268)
White Nissan Versa on Hudson St. at Columbia St.

Ithaca College began as a music conservatory with just one violin teacher, four rooms, and eight students. This school, the Ithaca Conservatory, was founded by Grant Egbert in 1892. It was located where Center Ithaca is today. The school grew to include a theater program by 1897 and after fighting tooth and nail through the depression, the school moved up to South Hill in 1942 as a liberal arts college. So here's to all of those Ithaca College music students who use Egbert to move their instruments around.

 Yolanda(#299)
White Scion xB at East State/MLK St. and Quarry St.
 
In homage to the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., we wanted to to name this car after one of his family members. The late Yolanda King was the oldest child of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King, and was an activist for human rights and gay rights, and an actress. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. (the official national memorial to her father) and was founding director of the King Center’s Cultural Affairs Program.

Virginia(#379)
White Nissan Versa at North Cayuga and Lewis Streets

Ever wondered what the bumper sticker reading “Yes Virginia, there is a Fall Creek” means? The Fall Creek community, fueled by the economic activity of the industrial area powered by Ithaca Falls, originally evolved as a separate neighborhood from Ithaca, complete with restaurants, offices, and other businesses. As the city of Ithaca grew it 'took in' Fall Creek. However, the area continues to have a strong sense of neighborhood identity. So here's to of all of this car's neighbors who do believe that "Yes Virginia, there is a 'Fall Creek.'

Dino (#584)
White Nissan Versa at College Ave. and Dryden Road 

In the spirit of Collegetown, we named this popular car after a popular man, Constantine "Dino" Neferis, the once "Mayor of Collegetown" (not to be confused with Dino's, the bar, which has earned a spot on the Wildest Bars in America tour). Often seen riding around Collegetown on a moped, Dino was quite a sight in his white T-shirt and blue painted shoes. Dino was a friendly and outgoing man, residing on Dryden Rd. for the majority of his life. Smiling and greeting all who passed by, he befriended many Ithacans and Cornell students, and even held "office hours" in a chair on the sidewalk in front of The Palms bar. Dino's death in 2003 was mourned throughout the community, and the Collegetown section of Dryden Rd. has been designated "Dino's Way" in his memory.

Anabel (#1222)
Silver Nissan Versa at Cornell - West Campus

Anabel's name was chosen because of her proximity to Anabel Taylor Hall, which is nearby on the Cornell University Campus. The hall was funded and built by international peacemaker and Cornell benefactor Myron Taylor. Taylor's primary effort, before and during World War II, was to bring about, on an international basis, a common front by the churches to achieve and preserve peace in the world. He named the building after his wife Anabel, specifying that the space would be an interfaith worship center, allowing "all faiths to stand together for good and against evil".

Dewey (#3484)
Blue Nissan Versa at Elm Street and West Village Place

Since this car was originally located just a hop, skip, and a jump (across 2 lanes of traffic) away from the Tompkins County Public Library, one of our members, who is also a librarian, recommended that we name it after the Dewey Decimal system.  Some members prefer to associate him with Walt Disney's "Dewey" of  Huey, Dewey, and Louie duck (Donald Duck's nephews).





Chester (#5672)
Black Nissan Versa at Cascadilla Street and Park Place

We are proud to introduce Chester, the newest member of the Ithaca Carshare fleet! Our first black Nissan Versa, Chester is named after Chester Platt, Ithaca resident and inventor of the ice cream sundae.
 
As the story goes, one Sunday afternoon in 1892, Mr. Platt was serving vanilla ice cream to his friend and pastor John Scott. Deciding vanilla was so plain, he topped the ice cream with cherry syrup and a cherry on top. So delighted with the new creation, they decided to name it after the day it was created - and the ice cream "Sunday" was born!  

Dale (#6185)
Blue Honda Fit at Cornell - Central Campus

Dale is named after Dale Corson, namesake of the Corson-Mudd building located near the car on Tower Road. Dale Corson was the eighth president of Cornell University from 1969-1977. As a physicist, Corson made significant contributions to the design of the Cornell synchrotron, a high energy particle accelerator that runs underneath Cornell's campus.

Beau (#6440)
Silver Toyota Tacoma pickup truck at North Cayuga and Farm Streets
The member who submitted this name had so many good reasons, we just couldn't say no. First of all, it is such a "Beau-tiful" truck! It is parked on a bridge, which would make that bridge "Beau's Bridge" (Beau Bridges, anyone?). And last, but not least, who wouldn't want such a lovely truck as their Beau?

Wally's name was picked due to his resemblance, when viewed from the back, to Wall-E the robot of film fame. Although smaller than our other cars, by merely flipping the back seats up or down, flat cargo space is easily created. He and Dale get the best mileage out of all our cars, so they are perfect for longer trips.

Percy (#8154)
Silver Nissan Versa at Eddy Street and Dryden Road

We chose Percy as a shout-out to 1932 Cornell alum Robert Purcell (namesake of our car's original home location), who served from 1955 to 1979 as financial advisor to the Rockefeller family and on the Cornell Board of Trustees from 1959 to 1981, and as chairman during an era of great student unrest from 1968 to 1978.

Leopold (#9097)
Grey Nissan Versa at Green St. 

Leopold is named after Leopold Wharton of the famous Wharton Brother's studio in Ithaca's Stewart Park during the glory days of silent film. Leopold is also named after Carl Leopold, an influential conservationist who lived in Ithaca until his death in 2009 and supported many conservation efforts in the Finger Lakes, most notably the founding of the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Harriet (#9198)Silver Nissan Quest Minivan at West State/MLK Street and Corn Street

The minivan is named after Harriet Tubman, a key player in the Underground Railroad, which had many safeholds in Ithaca, particularly in the Southside neighborhood.

Rosa (#7134)
Silver Toyota Yaris sedan at Seneca and Cayuga Streets



Rosa is named in honor of local latino musician Victor Rosa, perhaps more well known as "DJ Vic."  Rosa, a long-time NYC salsa drummer, moved to Ithaca from the city in 1997 to be reunited with his daughter. Rosa has been a DJ for WICB’s Ritmo Latino, or “Latin Rhythm,” program since 1999. Every Saturday night at 10 ’til 6, he strolls into the studio rolling a carry-on suitcase full of CDs, a sampling of the collection that occupies a full wall of shelving in his music room at home. The program is authentic, one of a kind in upstate New York, and has become an iconic part of local latino culture. Vic also DJs "Noche Latino" every other Tuesday night at Oasis dance club, providing Ithacans the opportunity to get out and dance, like the salsa clubs in NYC. 

Rhythmic Roots - Campus DJ and groundskeeper finds peace in Ithaca

Champ (#9719)
Silver Nissan Versa at Buffalo Street and Stewart Ave.

Champ was suggested to us at the 2010 GIAC Harvest dinner by boxer Willie Monroe Jr., who stopped by our info table looking for hand lotion. Willie, who has a nickname of "The Champ", now boxes professionally for Dibella Entertainment in Rochester but has trained for years at Performance Fitness in Ithaca. As an amateur boxer, he captured gold at the Empire Games and in regional Golden Gloves competitions. He left the amatuer ranks after reaching the National Golden Gloves finals in May 2007. Monroe is also a successful recording artist with the rising R&B group, "Singnature" which consists of Willy, two of his cousins, and his younger brother.

Lily (#9754)
Silver Nissan Versa at Robert Purcell Community Building

Lily is named after Lillian Heller of the Heller-Miller House located near the car's original location in Collegetown. Lillian Heller purchased the house in 1932 and provided free housing to Cornell students for 24 years. In exchange, the students helped her with gardening and renovations. The house is now owned by Cornell's College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

member info · your privacy · carsharing resources · other transportation
© 2008 Ithaca Carshare · Programming by Spider Graphics Corporation®