Good morning, Ithaca.

Cayuga Health and Foodnet Meals on Wheels have partnered to offer weekly Community Dining lunches for those 60 and older at the former Sears site at the Shops at Ithaca Mall beginning October 23.

Advance registration—by calling Foodnet the Tuesday before each Thursday lunch—is required, and volunteers are needed at other local dining sites.

Independent bookstores like Buffalo Street Books, Autumn Leaves Books, and Odyssey Bookstore serve as vital third places in Ithaca by hosting poetry readings, story hours, and book clubs—helping neighbors connect outside of work or home.

On Thursday morning, Cornell University alerted residents to avoid the 500 block of Thurston Avenue near Risley and Balch Hall on the north campus because a water main break is affecting travel — residents are advised to use an alternate route if possible.

The 43rd Annual Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival is taking place today on Ithaca Commons and around downtown as local restaurants offer apple-themed food and drink specials.

City officials announced that several downtown streets will be closed from Friday morning through Sunday evening — parking garages will accept a $5 cash-only event rate on Saturday.

Today at 7 p.m., music professors from Ithaca College will perform a free concert at Hockett Family Recital Hall as part of the Woodwind Faculty Chamber Ensemble (including bassoonist Christin Schillinger, saxophonist Eric Troiano, and clarinetist Rick Faria).

High school students from Ithaca and Brooklyn produced two painted portraits honoring Toni Morrison and a local student on display in Toni Morrison Hall’s lobby, as the project celebrated her legacy during a Sept.

20 symposium—bringing together creative talents to extend her influence to new generations. The collaboration involved classroom activities, digital design, and community dialogue that reinforced Morrison’s role as a community-builder.

A new broccoli variety called NorthStar was developed through a public-private partnership between Cornell and seed company Bejo Zaden to handle hot, unpredictable weather — growers from New Jersey to Maine are testing it before it comes to market.

Ithaca College students have a busy schedule with a Knowledge to Action Retreat in Auburn on Nov.

1 featuring a trip to Harriet Tubman’s home (registration ends noon Oct. 13) and a study abroad session on Sept. 30 in Textor Hall (register by Feb. 15). Other events include Eco Reps seeking volunteers for Friday food donations at the Campus Center Dining Hall, a Protect Your Crown hair care retreat on Sept. 27, a Taylor Swift themed trivia night on Sept. 28 in IC Square, DATA TALKS on Sept. 29 in Williams Hall, the recent launch of the SAFE IC app for IC London Center students, and free mental health screenings in Emerson Suites at the Campus Center.

Nobel laureate Jack Szostak, Ph.D.

'77, will return to campus on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Biotechnology Building to deliver the Ef Racker Lecture on the origins of life—he will also present additional talks on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14 on cell membranes and genetic replication.

Cornell Engineering honored outstanding faculty for teaching and advising at its Fall Faculty Reception on September 24 in the Statler Ballroom—this event recognized innovative teaching methods and strong student mentoring across several departments.

Ithaca College junior biology majors Casey Ellison and Ava Remoll won the best undergraduate poster award at the 2025 International Worm Meeting after a cut to a National Science Foundation LSAMP grant threatened their summer research trip — the campus community stepped in to cover the $8,000 cost. Their award-winning presentation on C. elegans showed how local support helped them overcome federal funding cuts.

On Aug. 31, Ithaca College announced it will expand creative arts offerings by bringing back three Master’s in Music programs and adding a new Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and choreography for musical theatre for the 2026-27 academic year—college officials said the programs will use existing courses and may add faculty as enrollment grows, with applications open through Dec. 1.

Tompkins Cortland Community College is offering three lightly used dorms—Tioughnioga, Seneca, and Cascadilla Halls—for sale in Dryden; the dorms, built in the late 2000s on 28 acres, are owned by the TC3 Foundation due to state law and have attracted initial interest for new housing uses. Local officials and potential buyers are looking at flexible plans that range from student apartments to workforce housing as the college shifts its focus to adult education and updated programs.

Ithaca College formed its first NCAA varsity women's wrestling team last July and coach Ryan Ciotoli recruited eight athletes — the team held its first practice on Sept.

3 and will compete in its inaugural winter season.

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.

Notorious Stringbusters Concert

5:30-8:30 p.m. — South Hill Cider — Free entry — Experience the earth quakin', hip brakin' sounds of the Notorious Stringbusters in a vibrant community setting.

Blues Traveler Concert

8:00 – 9:30 PM — State Theatre of Ithaca — Tickets from $75 — Enjoy a night with the iconic Blues Traveler, famous for their high-energy performances.

Calya Lea

7 p.m. — The Downstairs — $10/pwyc — Experience a cozy evening with live music in a vibrant venue.

Jazz Mondays with Dave Davies RhythmMakers

5:30-8:30 p.m. — South Hill Cider — $5 suggested donation — Experience live jazz with local favorites while enjoying cider and food.

Kathleen Edwards Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — Hangar Theatre — Tickets required — Experience the soulful sounds of Kathleen Edwards as she performs tracks from her latest album Total Freedom.