Good morning, Ithaca.

Newfield deputy town historian and Ithaca firefighter Matt Watros works his off hours to trim overgrown bushes and restore veterans’ graves at Sebring and Bank Street cemeteries—his work preserves over 200 years of local history and paves the way for a volunteer group next year.

Wegmans announced on Tuesday, June 2 that free access to live ASL interpreters is now available via the Aira app at its stores, helping deaf & hard-of-hearing shoppers communicate with staff.

It also builds on its service offering live visual assistance for blind and low-vision customers.

Cornell researchers developed a new strain method to form moiré patterns in molybdenum disulfide without using twisting and stacking.

Their study — published May 27 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — points to a scalable way to make quantum materials for future electronic devices.

Dr. Jessica McArt was named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine effective July 15 after approvals from Cornell’s Executive Committee and the State University of New York Board of Trustees.

She will succeed Dr. Lorin Warnick and work to boost research and community health programs.

Cornell University will host the Economics and AI+Machine Learning Meeting on June 16-17 at Statler Hall, where the event will feature six keynote talks, a panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and 182 paper presentations on topics like algorithmic pricing and fairness in AI.

WSKG collected nearly 300 responses from listeners about school district spending, taxes and programs from more than 15 counties in New York and a few in Pennsylvania last fall.

The survey findings are set to shape further reporting on budget votes and transparency in school funding.

Tompkins Cortland Community College will sponsor only four sports for the 2026-27 school year as it reallocates funds to support a 43% increase in adult students; men's baseball, men's lacrosse, women's soccer, and women's softball will be offered while coaches and affected athletes receive transfer assistance.

On June 1, the Finger Lakes Land Trust purchased 33 acres in the Six Mile Creek and Cayuga Lake watersheds with DEC grant funds (18 acres in Caroline include 15 wetlands) and transferred them to the Wetland Trust.

The properties help protect drinking water for over 29,000 and 30,000 people.

Ulysses town officials plan a public hearing on July 14 to decide if Henry A.

Smith Woods should get critical environmental area status, which would protect its 32-acre forest, wetlands and trails near Trumansburg—local officials say the designation will help preserve this valuable outdoor space for all.

Roy H. Park Preserve in Dryden now has new ADA-compliant overlooks and trail extensions (supported by local grants and donations) that let visitors of all abilities enjoy the scenic area.

The preserve welcomes low-impact recreation from dawn to dusk.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins held a roundtable at Carey Farm in Groton on Tuesday to discuss challenges including labor shortages + loss of farmland and solar development impacts on local dairy farms while highlighting efforts to boost dairy exports through new trade agreements.

Newfield outdoor track team won its first-ever IAC Small School championship in Trumansburg on May 20-21, with Malcolm Jenkins breaking the triple jump record and seniors leading the team.

The Trojans will head to state qualifiers at Union-Endicott on June 3-4.

The Lansing outdoor track & field teams captured the IAC Large School titles in Trumansburg on May 20-21 and had strong finishes at sectionals in Newark Valley on May 28, and they will now compete in state qualifiers at Union Endicott on June 3-4.

Stitch Club

1–3 p.m. — Tompkins County Public Library — Free entry — Gather for a creative afternoon of stitching, sharing skills, and working on projects.

Blaque Dynamite Live Performance

7-11:30 p.m. — The Nocturnal Café — $14 adv/$20 dos — Experience Grammy-nominated artist Blaque Dynamite blending jazz, funk, and more in an unforgettable live show.

One Night With You

7-9 p.m. — K-HOUSE Karaoke & Arts Hub — Enjoy dinner with Elvis singing classic tunes.

Ithaca Reggae Fest 2026

Live Music — June 26-28 — Stewart Park — Tickets available — Experience the vibrant rhythms of The Skatalites and other reggae artists at this lively festival.