Daily
Ithaca
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025
Good morning, Ithaca. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 31st of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Ithaca Voice reviewed 2025 with a month-by-month recap of local stories — from budget shortfalls and labor disputes to controversial campus incidents and housing projects — capturing the challenges and changes that shaped our community this year. The Ithaca Voice
- ➤ Gail Belokur leads United Way of Tompkins County as chief development & operating officer, driving collaborations with local nonprofits to revitalize essential programs during the pandemic. A Candor native and Ithaca College alumna, she inspires volunteer efforts and creative solutions in local philanthropy. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ Patrick Harris of the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response won the Atlantic Chapter APCO Award for Dispatcher of the Year for his calm handling of emergencies, including coordinating resources over four hours during a November 1 brush fire in Lansing — a testament to his six years of service. WENY
- ➤ Governor Kathy Hochul announced $6.26 million in funding on December 29 for pool reconstruction, locker room upgrades and a hydrotherapy spa at the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County under the NY SWIMS initiative. 607 News Now
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Ithaca stores are adjusting hours for the New Year holiday; Wegmans will close at 8 p.m. New Year's Eve and open at 6 a.m. New Year's Day while Trader Joe's, BJ's, Target, and Tops have set schedules (Walmart, Dollar General, CVS, and Walgreens maintain regular or slightly reduced hours) and shoppers should verify local times. Ithaca Journal
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ CNN named Ithaca the top town to visit in the United States after a strong fall season highlighted by the Apple Harvest Festival and busy local events. Tourism officials say the national spotlight boosted local business and visitor spending. Tompkins Weekly
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ TC3 entered an agreement with Hobart and William Smith Colleges on Dec. 18 that guarantees its graduates with a 3.0 GPA acceptance and a scholarship of at least $30,500 into bachelor’s programs. The deal benefits students across majors (located on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes) and strengthens local education. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ On Dec. 12, five trainees graduated from the Energy Warriors program at First Presbyterian Church’s wood-paneled basement, earning certifications as environmental specialists and OSHA-10 safety training for green energy jobs. The 12-week course prepares underserved residents for energy audits (additional training will resume in January). The Ithaca Voice
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Finger Lakes Land Trust has preserved 35,000 acres in a 12-county region after over three decades of protecting lakeshore, wetlands, creek frontage and hiking trails; its work includes six miles of lakeshore, 1,752 acres of wetlands and 55 miles of public trails. Tompkins Weekly
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The City of Ithaca announced it will pick up used Christmas trees next week — residents must remove lights, decorations and stands before placing trees at the curb between Jan. 5 and Jan. 31, with trees recycled into mulch. WENY
- ➤ Residents in Newfield questioned NYSEG’s project at the Dec. 11 town board meeting as the utility plans to replace old wooden poles with taller steel ones along a 21-mile corridor between the Montour Falls and Ithaca substations, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2027 and finish in late 2029. Tompkins Weekly
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Cornell's women's hockey team lost 1-0 on Tuesday after a late five-minute penalty led to a Penn State power-play goal in State College (PA). The loss extended a three-game streak as the team prepares to face Clarkson on Jan. 9. The Cornell Daily Sun
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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.
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Live Music – The Soul Benders
6-8 p.m. — Hopshire Farm and Brewery — Free entry — Experience powerful blues and rock from the acclaimed Ithaca-based band The Soul Benders.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Ithaca
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