Good morning, Syracuse.

Progress is underway for the Jon Diaz Community Center in Nedrow on South Salina Street, which will serve local families with indoor and outdoor athletic areas.

Former Buffalo Bills running back Latavius Murray leads the project that honors his late friend and will break ground next year if it secures nearly $7 million in donations — a step toward community health and well-being.

This week, Syracuse will host a mix of events including concerts by Luke Bryan and The Avett Brothers, a food festival with local vendors downtown, and community gatherings such as Flicks on the Crick and a historical talk on Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 visit—each offering residents a vibrant start to summer. Additional activities include theater performances, sports promotions at the Mets’ games, and cultural celebrations like Greek Fest and an Oz-inspired festival in Chittenango.

Hidden Level, a Syracuse startup that makes drone-detection systems for government and commercial use, received $100 million in funding and is expanding its operations with new manufacturing and office space.

The company plans to open a new 20,000-square-foot facility and may consolidate its sites into a larger headquarters in the Inner Harbor area—pending state grants and further evaluation.

Professor Bob Thompson from Newhouse School was featured on NBC Nightly News for his lecture series that uses old TV shows to help different generations learn from each other.

His series (Tuesdays with Bleier) has run for 18 years (every Tuesday at noon in his office) and shows how classic television can explain American culture.

Onondaga County agencies — including Syracuse Police, the District Attorney's Office, the Probation Department, the Sheriff's Office and Vera House — will receive over $1.8M from New York State to boost domestic violence response times by funding roles such as investigators, detectives and advocates.

A list of non-residential property sales in Onondaga County was released for the week of May 18 to 24—recording transactions from as low as $151 up to $5,000,000 and covering commercial land, self-storage, and apartment properties.

South Jefferson girls lacrosse beat Westhill 13-7 on June 2 at SUNY Cortland — they secured their second-straight Class D sectional title — and the Spartans will play in the regional round at Christian Brothers Academy on June 7 at 3 p.m.

Jamesville-DeWitt baseball scored nine runs in the early innings and won a 13-0 Section III Class A final against New Hartford at Onondaga Community College on Monday, June 2nd.

Senior pitcher Luke VanMarter fanned eight batters with four hits — setting up their next game against La Salle Institute in the state tournament’s first round on Thursday.

NYSAFC 119th Annual Conference & FIRE 2025 Expo

8 a.m. – 1 p.m. — The Oncenter — Fees vary — A premier expo for first responders to explore the latest in fire, rescue, and EMS technology and training.

Luke Bryan Concert

7-9 p.m. — Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview — Tickets available — Experience country superstar Luke Bryan with special guests in a highly anticipated summer show.

Birdhouses for Fair Housing Auction

5:30-8:30 p.m. — SKY Armory — $40 per person — Bid on unique birdhouses while supporting fair housing efforts in Central New York.

2025 NBHA Syracuse Super Show

Jun 13-15 — New York State Fairgrounds — $10,200 Added Money — Compete in thrilling barrel racing events with awards and prizes for top riders.

The Mere Mortals Performance

8-9:30 p.m. — Middle Ages Brewing Company — 18+ only — Enjoy a lively cover band featuring local supergroup talent, guaranteed to get you dancing.

Fifi's Ice Cream Gathering

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Fifi's Ice Cream & Sweets — Free to attend — Enjoy ice cream delights while sharing your literary passions in a cozy setting.

Syracuse Speed Dating for Ages 37-57

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Vicinos Brick and Brew — Ticket required — Meet potential matches in a fun and efficient speed dating format.

Skill Share Workshops at Erie Canal Museum

1-2 p.m. — Erie Canal Museum — Registration required — Learn practical skills from community experts in a hands-on workshop series.

Summer Clambake

5:30-8:30 p.m. — Rosamond Gifford Zoo — $89 for members, $119 for non-members — Enjoy delicious clams and summer vibes while exploring the zoo.

Book Discussion: Married to Bhutan

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Nobody's Wine Bar — Open to all — Engage in lively conversation over Linda Leaming's intriguing exploration of Bhutan.