Good morning, Ithaca.

The Child Development Council will open free Family Resource Centers in Ithaca and Cortland in late 2026.

They will offer play spaces, parenting support, and resource navigation for families with young children and those expecting.

Mary Loeffelholz is stepping down as dean of the School of Continuing Education effective Jan.

1, 2027 and Steve Jackson will serve as interim dean to lead continued growth in programs (she helped expand precollege courses and launched a new online degree).

Cornell will remove its 350-word universitywide essay question for Fall 2027 applications and continue with college-specific essays.

Pamela Tan said the change will help applicants focus on the unique approach of each college.

Cornell's astronomy department will host the free Friends of Astronomy Symposium on Thursday, Sept.

17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Clark Hall Room 700 — the event will feature expert talks on cosmic topics for the general public.

The city repaired a water main break on the 100 block of Triphammer Road yesterday at 8:00 a.m. with work ending at 3:30 p.m. Traffic was reduced to one lane and residents experienced low water pressure and brown water until the flush.

Ithaca officials have reopened sidewalks on Seneca St. after a completed scaffold installation and independent review confirmed safety, while the nearby garage is permanently closed and will be dismantled soon.

The City of Ithaca reports that work to replace water and sewer lines on East Buffalo Street will resume this week and finish Oct.

23. East Buffalo Street between North Aurora Street and Stewart Ave and Parker Street will be closed during construction.

Tompkins County Whole Health Department is investigating a dog bite incident that occurred at 9:30 a.m. on August 16 on Landon Road in Caroline/Slaterville when a person was bitten while protecting their pet, and officials are checking the dog's vaccination to rule out rabies.

Housing experts outlined options for factory-built homes and zoning reforms on Aug.

6 to boost affordable housing, while local officials plan to lower costs and address Tompkins County's 6,000-unit shortage in Ithaca.

The historic Groton Hotel is nearly ready to reopen after extensive renovations by its family management and will offer public tours on Aug.

22 (noon to 3 p.m.) at 101 Main St. The update preserves original features like the tin ceiling while adding a new restaurant and seven guest rooms.

The Bills expanded their radio network to cover over 50 million fans with new affiliates added in New York City, South Florida, and Canada — including Ithaca’s WIII 99.9 FM.

The move, announced for the 2026 season, gives local fans more ways to hear the games.