Good morning, Ithaca.

William Mattar Law Offices launched the Safe Ride Home 4 the Holidays program that gives drivers a $20 Uber voucher to reduce impaired driving.

Registration began on Dec. 22 and runs until Dec. 30 at noon or until all 1,000 vouchers are claimed; vouchers can be redeemed starting Dec. 31 at 8:00 p.m.

Thaddeus Lucentini ’29 died Oct.

13 while on break in Shelburne Falls; he was remembered for his bright, well-rounded spirit (noted for curiosity and a deep love for music) as family, friends, and mentors held memorials in his honor.

Ithaca’s 11th Annual Chill Challenge: Dip or Dodge is scheduled for Jan.

1 at 1 p.m. at the Ithaca Yacht Club, where donors will vote to have participants dip in Cayuga Lake+ dodge the plunge to raise $50,000 for Ithaca Community Recovery.

Local country Western band Cast Iron Cowboys released debut album 'For the Locals' at Argos Warehouse on Friday, Dec.

19 at 7 p.m. in downtown Ithaca, with a full house enjoying a mix of originals and covers while the band plans more tours and local events.

More than 500 graduates and over 2,000 family and friends gathered at Barton Hall on Dec.

21 to celebrate the 23rd-December Recognition Ceremony at Cornell, where President Michael I. Kotlikoff urged graduates to face the future with confidence and acknowledged the role of Cornell's rigorous education in shaping their lives.

Karola Mészáros was elected as a 2026 Fellow of the American Mathematical Society on Monday, Dec.

22 at the College of Arts and Sciences, recognizing her research in algebraic and geometric combinatorics (her work offers fresh insights into multivariate polynomials).

Researchers at Cornell introduced C3Po, a computer vision tool that matches photos to floor plans and cuts error rates by 34% as shown on Dec.

3. The team built a C3 dataset with 90,000 image pairs + 597 scenes to train robotics and navigation systems.

Cornell announced the creation of the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment through a $55 million endowment gifted by Stephen B.

Ashley (’62, MBA ’64). The new school, merging global development and natural resources, will soon support undergraduate and graduate programs with interim head Richard Stedman.

The Ithaca Teachers Association ratified its three-year contract that grants educators a 7% starting raise, doubled paid parental leave and a new step-and-lane pay system, while the district board will review the proposal Jan.

13 with a vote set for Jan. 27.

Nearly 3,000 undergraduates approved two measures to make Cornell’s disciplinary system independent on Monday despite an email error that sent ballots to spam folders; the voting period was extended by 24 hours & the Student Assembly will forward the results to the president within 30 days.

A Cornell study published online Nov.

27 found that goal-setting apps can sometimes demotivate users when game features distract from meaningful progress. The research recommends that developers offer personalized feedback (especially for beginners) to boost intrinsic drive.

Cornell men’s hockey goaltenders are gearing up for the 2025-2026 season by creating custom masks that reflect personal stories and team pride, with designs honoring local landmarks (like Ithaca Falls) and paying tribute to lost loved ones.

Cornell dropped a close 93-90 contest to Samford Sunday night at the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham.

A late surge by Samford, led by guard Jadin Booth, sealed the win and marked Cornell’s 5-5 record for the season.

Freshman Gio DiGiulian is off to a strong start on the Cornell hockey team, scoring four goals in his first five games.

He grew up immersed in sports due to his family's deep ties in hockey and baseball + his coach praises his hard work and discipline on the ice.

New Year's Eve Dance Party

8:30 p.m. — Foundation of Light — Check event page for ticket details — Celebrate the new year with a night of games, raffles, and festive fun.

Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks at Cornell Big Red Men's Hockey

7-8:30 p.m. — Lynah Rink — Tickets starting at $15 — Catch an exciting NCAA hockey matchup as the Nanooks take on the Big Red in Ithaca.