IC to host Special Olympics Summer Games, Air quality index change, Hot Dog Day

Good morning ☀️

It’s Friday, so congratulations on making it through another week. 🎈

I know how difficult that can be, so I hope the local love I’m putting on display can cheer you up later on in this newsletter.

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Without further ado, here’s an update on a major summer games event coming to Ithaca next month.

Ithaca College hosting 1,200 Special Olympics athletes and coaches for June Summer Games event

The non-profit Special Olympics New York promotes unity, acceptance and empowerment in people with developmental or intellectual disabilities by hosting sporting events tailored to them. Win or lose, their athletes are given a chance to develop their own character and make friends in the same way any other American might, through camaraderie and competition.

On June 14, around 1,200 athletes and coaches will travel to Ithaca from throughout the state, coming together for the Special Olympics Summer Games opening ceremony at Ithaca College, beginning at 7 p.m.

Sports competitions are scheduled for Saturday, June 15, at Ithaca College (swimming, basketball, gymnastics, powerlifting, volleyball); Ithaca High School (track and field); Midway Lanes (bowling); and Cornell University (tennis), followed by closing ceremonies at Ithaca College.

Learn how volunteers help make the games a reality in this article.

Here’s some more of what you need to know today

Air Quality changed from normal to “Moderate” yesterday in northern, western NY: Rochester woke up to foggy conditions the morning of May 16, but it wasn’t just a ground-bound cloud settling over the metro area. Canadian wildfires will seemingly continue to affect New York’s Air Quality.

Are these feathered friends taking root in or near your home?: Rick Marsi’s back again, this time analyzing the behaviors of cavity-nesting birds like black-capped chickadees. Take a minute to appreciate nature with Marsi’s newest column.

Support animals in Tompkins by buying a hot dog or ice cream: Hot Dog Day is today! Head down to the Ithaca Commons from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and buy lunch to support the Tompkins County SPCA. The tradition dates back over 20 years and raises over $3,000 yearly for the non-profit animal shelter according to this article on 14850.com.

Good news from the Finger Lakes to kickstart your weekend

The world is filled with bad news, so each week, I like to collect some happy highlights from the Finger Lakes region and share them with my readers as we all transition into the weekend.

🗳️Voting opened earlier this week for Finger Lakes Favorites, a yearly competition by Cayuga Radio Group that aims to find the best Finger Lakes businesses in 8 categories through a community vote. Cast your votes here to be a part of the tradition, and nominate your favorite business in each category, once per day.

💡Upcycled Lamps by Jon Jensen, announced on its Facebook page Thursday afternoon that it has a new home, next to the State Theatre Box Office on West State Street. “After three years of here today, gone tomorrow pop-up stores Upcycled Lamps has a home!” Jensen said.

🐝New York is sending 13 students to the 96th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee this year, including Reed Fuchs of Corning and Ryan Creary, a student member of the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES. Learn more about the Spelling Bee and participating students here.

🐕Tompkins County is hosting a no-cost Rabies Clinic Thursday May 23 form 7 to 9 p.m. at the Enfield Highway Garage in Ithaca. Keep yourself and your pets safe, and find more info on the event here.

That’s about all I’ve got for you this week.

Thanks for sticking with me and please reach out to jmack@gannett.com with any comments, questions, or concerns about this newsletter, or news tips in the Tompkins County area.