Daily
Ithaca
Friday, May 29th, 2026
Good morning, Ithaca. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 29th of May.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Crews began demolishing a long-vacant building on Graham Road West — near the YMCA in Lansing for a new Chipotle restaurant. Construction will begin once the site is build-ready, with work expected to take about five months. 607 News Now
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Local baritone and scholar Jean Bernard Cerin released 'Lisette: A Song’s Journey From Haiti & Back,' an album that traces the evolution of a nearly 300-year-old Haitian Creole song from its 1757 origins to a modern 2025 rendition. The 50-minute album features performances by local artists in Ithaca exploring Haitian and Louisiana Creole cultural heritage as part of the Lisette Project. The Ithaca Voice
- ➤ Cornell’s premier competitive South Asian classical dance team (Anjali) performed their end-of-year showcase, 'Alaiyosai,' on May 3 at Anabel Taylor Hall. Proceeds supported research by the Hearing Loss Association of America as the team celebrated top placements at national competitions. The Cornell Daily Sun
- ➤ Nonprofit Cinemapolis on Green Street will mark its 40th anniversary this fall by showcasing indie films and engaging diverse audiences. The theater continues to adapt, offering inclusive programming that keeps local film lovers coming back year after year. Ithaca.com
- ➤ Ithacans celebrated the unofficial start of summer last Thursday at a downtown parade that kicked off the 49th Ithaca Festival, which runs today and Saturday and features local performers, schoolchildren and community groups in Fall Creek and the city center. WSKG
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy celebrated its fifth graduating class on Saturday, May 23 at Bailey Hall as 250 graduates earned degrees in public and health care policy. Dean Barry urged them to use Cornell's core values—leadership was recognized with the John Siliciano Award. Cornell Chronicle
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Scientists at Cornell improved an embryo freezing process by cooling bovine embryos 30 times faster — reducing ice formation and cell damage to boost fertility and species conservation. The new technique may soon help preserve endangered species and benefit livestock breeding and biomedical research. Cornell Chronicle
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ On May 28, 175 people graduated from the State Police Academy—five from our local counties, including residents from Tompkins and Cortland. The new troopers will begin a 10‑week field‑training program on May 30 as they start their careers serving our communities. 607 News Now
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Tompkins County employees sponsor a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on Tuesday, June 9 at Library Place Community Room, 105 West Court Street in Ithaca. Donors can sign up for appointments from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. using sponsor code ithacacares, and all blood types are needed. Tompkins County
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ The Finger Lakes will offer summer getaways for families and couples with outdoor activities, wineries, and historic downtowns; popular spots include Penn Yan, Geneva, Naples, Aurora, and Ithaca, which will feature craft markets and scenic hikes (visit during summer). Ithaca Journal
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
~ Soren Kierkegaard
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