Good morning and welcome back to the Ithaca Journal's Daily Briefing. ☀️
It's Wednesday, and I'm bringing you on a trip through flowering Finger Lakes fields later on in this newsletter.
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Without further ado, here’s an update on Ithaca’s upcoming Juneteenth celebrations.
Southside Community Center 2024 Juneteenth celebration to host local black artists, business owners
Ithaca’s Southside Community Center is gearing up For Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19, and it has events planned this week for Ithacans to enjoy no matter their ethnicity or background.
The community center at 305 South Plain Street in Ithaca is hosting a Juneteenth Festival to commemorate the holiday from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, in the street in front of the center, continuing a tradition that’s gone on for over 4 decades.
On June 19, the community center will host a “black business expo,” from 11 am to 3 pm., “where local black business owners that are signed up as business leaders of color are invited to come out and showcase their business,” Southside Deputy Director Kayla Matos said in a Tuesday interview.
Learn a little more about the holiday and Southside in my recent article on them.
Here’s some more of what you need to know today
- Bat out of heck : If you wake up to a bat or find one in your home, catch it if you can and contact public health authorities immediately. Learn about the flying mammals and their dangers in this article by Mike Murphy.
- I've heard of moon pies, but a Strawberry moon?: The Strawberry Moon comes the same month as the peak of the eponymous berry’s harvest arrives in the Finger Lakes area. Here’s what to know about the upcoming full moon.
- Monkey Run trails reopen: It’s been a week since Monkey Run Natural Area was closed due to reports of a rabid coyote in the area. 14850.com reports that the trails have reopened. Get the details here.
Find floral fantasies here in the Finger Lakes
My girlfriend has been obsessed with identifying and collecting wildflowers recently, not to mention her lifelong love for anything pretty and delicate. This has lead to both of us taking time to smell the roses all around the Finger Lakes.
Here’s a few of our favorite spots in the Ithaca area.
Dedrick’s Farm Market in Dryden has such a beautiful selection of well-maintained plants that my girlfriend Ellie couldn’t resist taking a few home. They’ve held on strong so far and seem to be flourishing.
Michaleen’s Florist and Greenhouse recently reopened under new management, and is now offering up some great looking custom-made bouquets. Michaleen’s is pretty fun to explore even if you’re not that into flowers, with a lot more than just plants in store.
As I mentioned earlier in this newsletter, Cornell Botanical Gardens has reopened their Monkey Run trails , which are often filled with beautiful flowers this time of year. The natural area offers hikes for both beginning outdoor enthusiasts and expert hikers alike, just leave its flowers for others to smell and appreciate.
That’s about all I’ve got for you today. Thank you for sticking with me.
Check your inbox tomorrow for more updates, and feel free to reach out to me at jmack@gannett.com regarding this newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Southside's Juneteenth celebration, what to do about bats, Waterfront festival
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