Good morning, Ithaca.

Lou Cassaniti, known as Hot Dog Lou, has long fed locals and now needs help to pay overdue bills on his home.

A fundraiser launched June 23 has raised over $10,000 and a follow-up event, Lou's Last Outdoor Grill, is planned for July 8.

With the Rotary Club not hosting fireworks due to state rules, groups plan Independence Day events.

The Inn at Taughannock Falls will host a party with music and a BBQ buffet on July 3, and boat tours on Cayuga Lake will offer fireworks view (tickets may be required).

Family Reading Partnership closed its free play space, The Nook, on June 10 at The Shops at Ithaca Mall and moved it to a larger storefront to accommodate growing needs.

Volunteers helped on June 12 and the space will reopen Tuesday, July 7 with more room for early childhood activities.

Cinemapolis hosted busy holiday events, including Do the Right Thing screenings + a Movie Club discussion yesterday and offers open-captioned showings today.

It will premiere Ivy Meeropol’s Ask E. Jean on Friday and screen The Death of Robin Hood on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

At Cornell from June 20-27, the Warrior-Scholar Project hosted an academic boot camp for 18 active-duty and veteran service members, offering STEM and college readiness sessions (including astronomy lectures and discussions on American democracy) to boost confidence for higher education.

New Roots Charter School celebrated its 100% graduating Class of 2026 on June 25 at the Ithaca Community School of Music and Arts (highlighting civic readiness), while the day before Ithaca High School held its first full-class ceremony since 2019 at Moresco Stadium to honor student achievements and school spirit.

Matt Marx has been named vice provost for entrepreneurship, innovation, and external engagement and will serve as inaugural director of the new Cornell Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation today—he will coordinate programs to boost efforts in commercializing scientific discoveries across local campuses.

The town of Ulysses is reviewing its 30-year recreation partnership with the Ithaca Youth Bureau with a decision due by Dec.

31—ending the deal would remove discounted rates and financial aid for families, and town meetings and youth commission discussions will continue over the coming months.

Freeville FD unveiled Engine 701, a $791K Pierce Saber that will serve as its primary firefighting apparatus during Fourth of July weekend — replacing a 16-year engine.

It will join weekly free community concerts in the 'Music on the Hill' series at Dryden Veterans Memorial Home, July 8 to Aug. 19.

Lansing accepted two ITCTC grants totaling $11,000 at its June 17 board meeting to fund design liability and wayfinding studies for the planned Lansing Greenway trail that will connect town hall, schools, housing and businesses.

The studies are due by the end of March, 2027.

A $13.3 million NIH grant will support a Cornell-led project to track immune cell communication in living tissues at Cornell, aiming to develop new treatments for inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases; the five-year program brings together immunologists+engineers and computational scientists to use advanced imaging and spatial genomics.

Dr. Jon Rittenberger at Guthrie Robert Packer warns that as temperatures remain dangerously high, patients taking GLP-1s or SSRIs face a higher risk of dehydration and heat-related illness; they should drink water often and watch for signs like dark urine and fatigue.

Southern Tier high schools celebrated top athletes as sports organizations honored state and all-star achievements today (awarding Ithaca's Sage Bliss and Binghamton's Milo Wilson).

Bliss led lacrosse with 51 points while Wilson broke a high jump record.

Cornell University’s men’s lacrosse team hired Danny Murphy as an assistant coach on Monday (June 29) after head coach Connor Buczek announced the decision.

Murphy brings eight years of coaching experience from Vermont and is expected to boost the team’s performance in the upcoming season.

Beginnings Summer Concert Series

5-8 p.m. — Bernie Milton Pavilion — Free entry — Enjoy free live music in the heart of Downtown Ithaca every Thursday evening.

The Rocksteady Explosion 20-Year Reunion Show

Time not specified — Liquid State Brewing Company — Benefit concert — Celebrate the ska scene with The Rocksteady Explosion's 20-year reunion and more local acts.

Brassquatch! The Fall Creek Brass Band Musical

7:30-9 p.m. — Hangar Theatre — Tickets $12-$34 — Experience a family-friendly musical adventure blending brass, gospel, and pop as young heroes navigate identity and belonging.