Good morning, Ithaca.

Andrew Bovenzi, a recent RIT studio arts graduate, donated his 19-foot dinosaur model to the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca—crafted for his senior project—and the life-sized Velifrons sculpture will be fully on display later this month.

Ithaca Pride Festival 2026 kicks off this weekend with a Rock Concert at Nocturnal Cafe on Friday night + continues on Saturday with an opening ceremony at Bernie Milton Pavilion and concludes on Sunday with Pride in the Park at Ithaca Commons, drawing thousands for family-friendly festivities.

Tuesday, the Ithaca City School District Board approved its first climate action plan—an adaptable document aimed to reduce greenhouse gases and enhance school sustainability.

An advisory council of students, teachers, and district leaders will oversee progress, including efforts such as upgrading heating systems at Ithaca High and Boynton Middle School.

Cornell alumni gathered on June 5 in the eHub space at Kennedy Hall to celebrate a reunion event focused on entrepreneurship.

Robert W. Felton ’61 and others shared startup insights (over 75 alumni attended), showcasing the program's lasting impact.

Cornell’s Einhorn Center for Community Engagement received a $1M gift from Jon Anderson ’71 to endow its Pre-Orientation Service Trips (POST), which help incoming students join off-campus volunteering and receive added scholarships in the greater Ithaca area.

Cornell professors Alexandra Silva and Vitaly Shmatikov (from the Ann S.

Bowers College) will lead a new initiative using an Amazon gift to develop safety protocols for AI-generated code at Cornell. The project will implement rules and verification checks to prevent security weaknesses.

Cornell alumni leaders held a panel at Bailey Hall on June 5 to discuss how artificial intelligence, federal relations and public trust are affecting higher education.

Moderated by Provost Kavita Bala, the talk stressed the growing value of the humanities in a fast-changing tech world.

Ithaca City School District students are excelling as new achievement data shows improvements; Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown said increased focus on literacy (and math) has helped drive performance.

Health officials say a bat found along Cascadilla Gorge Trail on June 4 tested positive for rabies—following an earlier case on May 31 near Lake Treman Trail—and residents or pet owners who may have been exposed should call the Environmental Health Division at 607-274-6688.

Cornell researchers found online grocery shopping helps SNAP families get fresh produce at home, especially those with young children or long travel times (the study used data from Field and Fork Network in upstate New York), and they will pilot an online CSA program in Onondaga, Cortland and Tompkins counties.

Cornell named Tara Smith full-time head coach for Big Red softball after her interim season led to record on-base, walk, and stolen base percentages — her appointment sets the stage for an upcoming season of renewed leadership.

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.