Good morning, Ithaca.

On Sept. 14, Ithaca College students and End Abortion Stigma members protested on Green Street outside Finger Lakes Pregnancy Care, holding signs that warned of misleading care at crisis pregnancy centers.

The protest followed a poster-making gathering on Sept. 10 at Friends Hall—aimed at raising local awareness of reproductive rights.

The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra’s Chamber Music Series will return on Sunday, September 21 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca — featuring works by Poulenc and Chausson; the concert leads into the season opener on October 11 with cellist Karen Ouzounian.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Freedom Party will take place at Stewart Park in Ithaca from 1 to 4 p.m. The free event, organized by Cornell’s Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures and Africana Studies & Research Center, will highlight community connection through collaboration—resource sharing and storytelling.

The federal government ended the National Resource Center program at Cornell, cutting roughly $1 million per year that supported the Southeast Asia and South Asia Programs and most FLAS fellowships.

Cornell officials say they must now rely on the GETSEA consortium to create creative solutions — a change that could limit opportunities for students learning these rare languages.

Cornell Engineering researchers showed that firing ultrafast infrared light pulses at a synthetic thin film made its lattice expand and contract billions of times per second—an effect that may eventually switch electronic, magnetic and optical properties for new material states in Ithaca. The experiment combined theory and advanced techniques to reveal light’s potential for dynamic material control.

Tompkins County experienced dry conditions and was added to the DEC drought watch list last week—residents are advised to conserve water as no rain is expected this week.

A study from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Queen’s University showed that an AI model detected chronic wasting disease in New York white-tailed deer 8.4 months sooner or at 22% lower cost than traditional methods when tested with a $500,000 budget in 62 counties, which may help wildlife managers plan earlier actions.

Senior Ye Hang Yeo won the Influential Leader/CEO in Sustainability Award at the Asia Pacific CEO Sustainability Awards in Kuala Lumpur in Summer for his documentary about elderly women cleaning Cape Cod ponds who build community through social sustainability—he worked with Ithaca College students in his Documentary Workshop to produce the film.

The Cornell University Police Department will host free car seat safety checks on Statler Drive on September 22 and 23 + the first check is scheduled Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the second Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with pre-registration required by email.

Mayor Robert Cantelmo said today he is disappointed as Tompkins County delayed the plan to build a Code Blue—Navigation Hub at 100 Commercial Ave; the county will vote tomorrow to use 227 Cherry Street for a temporary facility which leads the city to rethink how it supports vulnerable residents.

Cornell University said road resurfacing on the 600-800 blocks of University Ave will resume tomorrow with short‐term single-lane closures for manhole and catch basin work — flaggers will guide traffic.

Alfonso Reyes said the street is expected to fully reopen later on Wednesday once the asphalt cools.

Tompkins County is moving ahead with its new Center of Government building, set for completion four years from this month, after public feedback shaped the design presented on North Tioga Street near DeWitt Park—Fisher Associates and HOLT Architects led the competitive bid.

The four-story structure will feature a stone facade and grand portico carrying the county seal—plans include designated spaces for key departments that will be refined with further input.

The Ithaca College football team outscored Alfred 45 to 14 on Saturday with quarterback Matt Parker throwing three touchdowns — the strong win lifts team spirits for upcoming matchups.

On Sept. 13, the Bombers won 1 to 0 against King’s College in a match marked by heavy physical play and five yellow cards, with sophomore Emmett Enriquez scoring the only goal.

Their victory marked a five-game win streak not seen since 2007 — a strong start to the season.

X Ambassadors Concert

8:00-9:30 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticket prices vary — Experience the electrifying sounds of X Ambassadors on their North American tour.

X Ambassadors Concert

8:00 – 9:30 PM — State Theatre of Ithaca — Tickets from $58 — Experience an electrifying evening with X Ambassadors at this iconic venue.

Jazz Mondays with Dave Davies RhythmMakers

5:30-8:30 p.m. — South Hill Cider — $5 suggested donation — Enjoy live jazz and uplifting vibes while sipping on local cider.

Celtic Thunder: An Evening of Music

7:30-9 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticket information not specified — Experience the greatest songs of Celtic Thunder with a heartfelt reunion.

Apple Harvest Festival

Sep 26-28 — Downtown Ithaca Alliance Office — Free entry — Celebrate the fall with locally grown apples, crafts, food, and entertainment at this beloved community festival.

The Front Bottoms Live

7-10 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticketed event — Celebrate a decade of music with The Front Bottoms alongside Sincere Engineer.

Dart Brothers Live Concert

7-11 p.m. — Bike Bar — No cover charge — Experience the unique fusion of original rock and alt-country by Ithaca's own Dart Brothers.

Dancing on The Patio

8-10 p.m. — South Hill Cider — $5 - $10 donation suggested — Dance on the patio to DJ Evermix while enjoying cider and food.

Sammy - Strides for a Cure

11 AM – 3 PM — Stewart Park — Registration closed — Run, walk, and gather to raise awareness for a cure to Alzheimer's Disease regardless of the weather.

Behavioral Economics Workshop with Canishk Naik

11:40 AM - 12:55 PM — Sage Hall - Johnson Graduate School of Management — Check official website for fees — Explore the intersection of psychology and economics with expert insights.