X Ambassadors return to Ithaca, SUNY tuition free for volunteers, TCAT schedule changes

Good morning ☀️

Welcome back to another, shorter week of Daily Briefings. I hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend.

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Without further ado, here’s an update on a band born and raised in Ithaca.

X Ambassadors returning to Ithaca this weekend

Ithaca’s own X Ambassadors are heading home June 1 to showcase their newest album "Townie" in the place that inspired its lyrics, and the band's lead singer Sam Harris said he’s excited to get back home.

“My brother (Casey) and I both grew up in Ithaca and this record is all about looking back on that very formative time in my life, toward the end of high school,” he said. “I was so desperate to get out, so desperate to leave and I felt like everywhere I looked was a reminder of the world outside, calling to me.”

Harris said the feeling of being stuck in a small town is what inspired much of Townie’s lyrics.

Check out Townie and learn more about the X Ambassadors with some help from my recent article on them, linked here.

Here’s some more of what you may have missed over the weekend

SUNY tuition may soon be free for volunteer first responders: The new legislation aims to help reverse decades-long declines in volunteer emergency responder ranks statewide, while rewarding those already serving their communities, state Sen. Jeremy Cooney, D-Rochester, said in a statement announcing the bill.

Heading on the Thruway this summer?: Many rest stops along the state roads are still closed, with only four rest areas along the route reopening so far this year. Learn more for your next trip on the thruway from this article by Emily Barnes.

Ithaca Festival of the Arts hits downtown this weekend: The yearly fest celebrating Ithaca artists since 1977 will once again hit the city’s streets this weekend, with a parade scheduled for May 30. Find more details on the arts, crafts, and live performances you can expect to enjoy this weekend here.

TCAT Summer service changes: how to get around Tompkins without a car this season 🚌

Tompkins County Area Transit released its summer 2024 service schedule last week, bringing adjustments both slight and major, to 24 of its routes.

The summer-only route 22 service begins July 1, and ends Aug 16, running only on weekdays, servicing Taughannock Falls State Park, Cass Park, Cayuga Nature Center and Stewart Park with two trips serving Trumansburg.

Some of the most impactful changes include the elimination of 4 weekday trips on TCATS Route 13 line, weekend service on Route 32, servicing the Ithaca Airport, Cornell, and the Ithaca Commons, has been changed to an hourly route.

Route 40’s morning outbound trip from Green Street was pushed 15 minutes later until 8:50 a.m., with several timing changes on Route 43 servicing Groton Freeville, Dryden, TC3, Cornell and the Ithaca Commons.

For a full look at TCAT service changes going into the summer season, read its schedule and service guide here, or view its updated schedule page.

That’s about all I’ve got for you today.

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.