Daily
Ithaca
Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
Good morning, Ithaca. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 20th of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Greensprings Natural Cemetery in Newfield marks its 20th anniversary during an annual meeting scheduled for June 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 293 Irish Hill Rd., highlighting two decades of eco-friendly burial services for families. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ Veterans’ funeral traditions in Tompkins County honor service members with full military salutes and flag ceremonies. Funeral homes work with the National Guard and local volunteers, and upcoming Memorial Day events include a parade in Dryden (with ceremonies spanning local towns). Tompkins Weekly
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Longtime local musician Richie Stearns will celebrate his birthday with a fundraiser for Perry City Friends Meetinghouse in Trumansburg on Sunday, May 31 from 4-7 p.m. Music by Richie Stearns & Friends and Heavy Bone Zydeco will add flair as donations support the historic meetinghouse. 14850
- ➤ Handwork, a downtown artist-owned co-op, celebrates 50 years by hosting a disco-themed parade on May 28 and a ribbon-cutting and sale during First Friday Gallery Night on June 5 (with a Sept. 12 potluck planned for past and current members), marking decades of creative community support. Tompkins Weekly
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A Cornell-led study published Tuesday, May 19 in the ILR Review found that e-commerce workers—especially at Amazon—faced harsher conditions and more unsafe work environments than employees at traditional warehouses, suggesting that alternative approaches could ease pressure through improved job quality. Cornell Chronicle
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Voters approved the 2026-27 school budget—including an 8.6M increase—and four capital measures with over 75% support on Tuesday, May 19, and elected three board members with vote counts of 2,924, 2,739 and 1,944 (preliminary counts). The board will certify the results today at 6:30 p.m. Ithaca.com
- ➤ Cornell alum Priya Abiram is advancing women’s health in space by leading research with nonprofit Operation Period — her project will simulate a uterus to study menstrual flow dynamics and improve space travel design for all bodies. Cornell Chronicle
- ➤ TC3 and Alfred University signed a dual-admission deal on May 11 that allows Health Sciences graduates with a minimum 2.0 GPA to transfer directly into Alfred's Sports and Health Sciences program. The agreement creates a clear pathway for students to pursue a bachelor's degree. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ Groton High School named Diella Niño valedictorian for the Class of 2026 after she overhauled her study routine and juggled sports and club duties—her hard work stood out in the close-knit town. Diella plans to attend St. John Fisher for nursing. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ Gwendolyn Minogue’s experience in Cornell’s M.Eng program blended chemical engineering with finance — she developed a Python model to transform campus waste into renewable gas and built coding skills while aiding sustainability. Now, she will move to New York City to start her career in executive compensation consulting. Cornell Chronicle
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ A curbside food scraps pickup pilot by Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management began in Ithaca’s North and Southside in April for 930 eligible households—halfway to its 38% goal. Officials hope to expand the program after the pilot ends in March, 2027. 607 News Now
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Tompkins County Legislature will honor Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities by proclaiming May as their American Heritage Month today at 5:30 p.m. at the Daniel D. Tompkins Building in Ithaca (the groups represent about 11 percent of local residents). 607 News Now
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Today, the Cornell Center for Immunology announced that five interdisciplinary research projects will receive $200,000 in seed grants to boost immunology research - targeting vaccine delivery and immune cell surveillance. The awards will support cross-field work at Cornell. Cornell Chronicle
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Hugh Kelleher + CJ Kirst, Cornell alums, won a National Lacrosse League title with the Toronto Rock + beating Halifax last weekend. 607 News Now
- ➤ Pairings for the 2026 Section 4 boys' and girls' lacrosse tournaments have been posted, with boys’ games scheduled for May 27 and May 30 in areas including Ithaca and Horseheads, and girls’ matchups slated for May 29 at Horseheads and Windsor (times vary). Ithaca Journal
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Eileen Ivers & The Brigideens
8-10:30 p.m. — Hangar Theatre — Ticket required — Experience the fiery sounds of Grammy-winning Eileen Ivers and her all-female band, The Brigideens.
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Leading with Intention Workshop by Amber Alpizar
1:30-4:30 p.m. — Tompkins County Public Library — Registration required — Equip yourself with tools to lead with compassion and accountability amidst uncertainty.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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