Good morning, Ithaca.

Ithaca Welcomes Refugees exhausted its crisis fund amid rising need and is seeking urgent financial support + $80,000 by June 15 to help new arrivals and local families in Tompkins County.

Cornell-founded Kanvas Biosciences raised $48 million in a Series A round to fund a clinical trial later this year for its lead cancer immunotherapy treatment.

The startup will also advance therapies for inflammation and malnutrition-related gut disease.

The Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards, with the Chamber Music Collective and Fortepiano Tech Academy, is set to host public events June 23 to 27 featuring concerts and a workshop for piano technicians.

The festival offers hands-on training and international performances on historical keyboards.

Newfield High School senior Emily Taylor revived the school’s clothing closet by organizing three drives that donated 200+ bags of clothes to 100+ families last year.

Taylor now also serves as a student representative on the NCSD Board of Education, leading service efforts for the community.

Cornell University began roadway and parking lot projects Monday, June 8 behind Engineering Quad and on Campus Road, with work continuing in phases until August 14.

Alternate parking and pedestrian detours are provided (permit holders use alternate P and G areas) to keep access open.

Ph.D. candidate Kapil Gangwar from Cornell will join the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany from June 28 to July 3 to share his work on non-invasive health sensors, meeting Nobel laureates+young scientists for a global exchange of ideas.

Target is recalling specific batches of its Up & Up fragrance-free and fresh cucumber-scented baby wipes after FDA officials found harmful bacteria that may cause serious infections.

Consumers should stop using the wipes and return them to any Target store for a refund.

Two Cornell life sciences faculty, Lori Huberman and Heather Feaga, received $300,000 each in Schwartz Research Fund Visionary Grants to study fungal disease mechanisms and bacterial stress response (which could lead to better treatments).

Their high-risk projects aim to unlock new ways to fight infection.

Health officials confirmed an early harmful algal bloom near John Harris Park in April that signals a longer bloom season at Cayuga Lake & urge swimmers and pet owners to avoid water with thick green streaks.

They advise rinsing off immediately if contact occurs.

On June 7, a dog bite was reported on the 600 block of Five Mile Drive when two residents tried to break up a dog fight (the dog is a black lab mix), and health officials are seeking details to rule out rabies exposure.

Kathy Bernson, 75 and on fixed income, moved to Ithaca for its quiet charm but now faces a housing market with tough competition and high rents.

This week’s Backstory podcast shows how older residents struggle to find affordable homes.

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.