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Thursday, October 23rd, 2025

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Good morning, Ithaca. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 23rd of October.

COMMUNITY NEWS

  • Renew Ithaca Church in Newfield will host a free trunk or treat party on Oct. 25 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event—open to the entire community—will offer decorated trunks, candy, games, face painting, balloon art and fall treats for families.  Tompkins Weekly
  • Discover Cayuga Lake will hold farewell cruises for its wooden tour boat The Teal this week and send it off on October 27 when it will be moved to Beacon Bay Marina for inspection and storage—community events include Eco-Cruises, Farmers Market Cruises, and a costume cruise—while the organization welcomes a new boat named Under Pressure and continues fundraising for future trips.  607 News Now

BUSINESS NEWS

  • Quantera Analytical, a startup from Cornell, was admitted into the Praxis Center business incubator and will work on a new cartridge system that makes lab testing faster and greener—helping lower costs for small labs and growers. The company will partner with Bruker to validate its system before scaling production for use in food, water, and environmental testing.  Cornell Chronicle

CULTURE NEWS

  • Ithaca College’s Center for Theater and Dance Productions opened its mainstage season with a production of 'Our Town' that ran from Oct. 14 to 19 and explored small-town American life and the inevitability of death—directed by Cynthia Henderson. The minimalist design used sparse props and simple costumes to focus attention on the actors’ performances and the emotional storyline.  The Ithacan
  • The Museum of the Earth on Trumansburg Road is struggling to raise $1 million to avoid foreclosure by Dec. 31 and has cut staff after losing major donor support in 2023 - it stays open to teach kids about climate science while daily fundraising and seeking long-term financial partnerships. The facility, with its rare fossil collections and interactive exhibits, remains a critical local resource.  Ithaca.com

ECONOMY NEWS

  • NYSEG is proposing to raise electric delivery rates by 35% and natural gas rates by nearly 40%—a change that could add about $33 to the average Ithaca customer's bill if the Public Service Commission approves the proposal. The rate hikes, meant to fund infrastructure upgrades, are set to take effect May 1, 2026 amid strong consumer complaints.  My Twin Tiers

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

  • Ithaca residents are invited to the Climate Justice Town Hall today at 398 Statler Hall at Cornell University from 6 to 7 p.m. Local candidates Jorge DeFendini, Hannah Shvets, and Adam Vinson will outline community-driven climate policies — opening the floor for public questions and discussion.  14850

GOVERNMENT NEWS

  • The City of Ithaca will auction off 11 cars towed under the state’s abandoned vehicle law this Friday — five at Ryan’s on 217 Elmira Road and six at Charlie’s Towing on 215 Fifth Street, with payments accepted via cash, cashier’s check, or certified check.  The Ithaca Voice
  • Tompkins County staff will attend the TakeOff North America Conference in Florida from November 4-6 to promote new airline routes at Ithaca Tompkins International Airport — they plan to use the event to build support from local business leaders and county partners.  607 News Now

HEALTH NEWS

  • Researchers at Cornell found that drugs may soften the dense tissue around melanoma tumors—this could let cancer-fighting T cells reach the tumors and help stop treatment resistance. The study may lead to new ways to prevent melanoma from coming back.  Cornell Chronicle
  • COVID case counts in the Ithaca area stayed low with new local cases per 100,000 dropping from 38 in late September to between 16 and 18 and statewide hospitalizations falling to 13 (down from a mid-September peak of 35); state officials said updated wastewater testing results will be available in the coming weeks (as testing transitions to the Wadsworth Center).  14850
  • Tompkins County Whole Health is urging residents aged 6 months and older to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines this fall to protect against severe illness—local pharmacies, clinics, and healthcare providers offer the shots and both vaccines can be received at the same time.  Tompkins Weekly
  • Some residents in Tompkins County could see their health insurance premiums rise by $865 a month if the federal subsidy in the ACA marketplace is not renewed. Middle-income workers might pay over three times as much for coverage as they do now—an increase that could hinder access as federal funding talks continue.  The Ithaca Voice

SPORTS NEWS

  • Cornell men’s soccer won its third game in a row after beating Syracuse 2-1 Tuesday while Ithaca College women’s soccer lost 1-0 to RIT and local high school teams won Southern Tier Conference titles; SUNY Cortland’s men’s team visits Canton at 3 p.m. and the women’s team hosts Canton at 6 p.m. today + the Knicks open their season against the Cavaliers at 7 p.m. Syracuse football will play Georgia Tech at 12 p.m. on Saturday, the Sabres will host the Red Wings at 7:30 p.m., and the Syracuse Crunch face Rochester at 7:05 p.m.  607 News Now

EVENTS

SUBMIT EVENT
  • Haunted History Tour in Downtown Ithaca

    6-7 p.m. — The History Center in Tompkins County — $20 per person — Explore the city's ghosts and haunted landmarks during this intriguing guided tour.

    Fri, 10/24/25

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  • The Weight of Ants

    2 PM – 4 PM — The Cherry Arts — Ticketed event — Experience the English-language premiere of a heartfelt comedy exploring the lives of two teens.

    Sat, 10/25/25

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  • Jazz Mondays with Dave Davies RhythmMakers

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

    Mon, 10/27/25

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  • Princeton vs. Cornell Football Match

    1:00–11:59 p.m. — Schoellkopf Field — Tickets start at $62 — Experience an exciting college football showdown with the Princeton Tigers facing off against the Cornell Big Red.

    Sat, 11/1/25

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  • Shadows Dance Troupe Fall Step Performance

    7:30-10:30 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticket prices vary — Witness the artistry of Cornell University's largest dance collective showcasing their fall semester performances.

    Sun, 11/9/25

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  • The Crane Wives Live Concert

    8:00-9:30 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Tickets available — Experience the energetic sounds of The Crane Wives as they fuse indie folk with rock and roll.

    Tue, 11/11/25

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  • Today Is The Day Concert

    7-11:30 p.m. — Angry Mom Records — Check ticketing for details — Today is The Day returns to Ithaca for an electrifying night of music.

    Wed, 11/12/25

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  • Blackberry Smoke Concert

    8-9:30 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Tickets required — Experience the soulful sounds of Blackberry Smoke honoring Georgia’s musical legacy.

    Thu, 11/13/25

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  • New York Voices Performance

    7 p.m. — Ford Hall — Free entry — Experience the internationally acclaimed jazz vocal group New York Voices as part of the Chamber Music Series.

    Fri, 11/14/25

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  • Trombone Shorty Concert

    7-9 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticket prices vary — Experience the electrifying sounds of Trombone Shorty, a New Orleans legend in the jazz scene.

    Sun, 11/16/25

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REAL ESTATE

SUBMIT LISTING

No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.

JOB BOARD

SUBMIT JOB

No new job posts today. You can submit one here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUBMIT

No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.

TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The only way to become excellent is to be endlessly fascinated by doing the same thing over and over.

~ Ryan Holiday

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