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BROWN ENTERPRISE AND MARKETING 7830 STATE ROUTE 434

APALACHIN, NEW YORK 13732

CARRIER ROUTE POSTAL CUSTOMER

APALACHIN • OWEGO • NICHOLS TIOGA CENTER • NEWARK VALLEY

YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER • www.CommunityPress.us Volume 31 APRIL 2016 Number 4

CAMPVILLE • BARTON • CANDOR SMITHBORO • CATATONK

Tioga Downs Eleventh Season

Tioga Downs will celebrate their 10th Anniversary with the opening of

their eleventh racing season for 2016 starting on May 7 and ending on Sep-

tember 17. There will be 59 days of racing this season. Post time is 6:30 pm

on Friday and Saturday with a Sunday post time of 1:30 pm. On Opening

Day, May 7, post time will be 5 pm. For a complete listing of race dates and

times go to:

www.TiogaDowns.com

7830 Rt 434, Apalachin 245-6139 or 625-2332

Spring Special $79.95!

BEAM Electronics Hobbies & more...

7830 Rt 434, Apalachin, N. Y. 625-2222

BEARCAT SCANNERS

HEAR ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENS

The Apalachin Lions Club is

looking for help with the spring

clean up of Route 434 on Satur-

day, April 16, at 9:00 am.

The clean up crew will meet at

BEAM Electronics on Rt. 434.

The amount of time normally

spent is approximately two hours

to pick up trash on a three-mile

stretch of Rt. 434 in Apalachin.

Please bring gloves, and dress

for the weather, all clean up sup-

plies will be furnished.

For more information, call

Lion Vince Hawley call at 625-

2365.

Apalachin Highway Spring Clean-Up

Would you like to help?

Sen. Akshar Releases Community Voice Survey

Residents can fill out Survey Online at

Akshar.NYSenate.GOV

Senator Fred Akshar recently released

his Community Voice Survey in an ef-

fort to gather opinions from his constitu-

ents on close to a dozen state issues fac-

ing the 52nd Senate District.

“The only way we can be successful

as a community is when local representa-

tives actively work to make sure the

hardworking people they represent can

be heard,” said Akshar.

The survey was mailed to thousands

of households across the 52nd Senate

District, but can also be completed easily

online at Akshar.NYSenate.Gov.

The survey follows a series of Pop-

Up Office Events held in eight locations

across the district, drawing crowds rang-

ing from 10 - 80 people to discuss vari-

ous issues, from tax relief to school

funding to the heroin epidemic.

“Since starting my new job in No-

vember, it's been my honor to travel

across our 52nd Senate District and lis-

ten to business owners, teachers, families

and taxpayers,” said Akshar. “I've also

been blessed to have lots of meaningful

conversations on local issues at our Pop-

Up Office events everywhere from the

Whole in the Wall restaurant in Bing-

hamton, to the McDonough American

Legion, to the Owego Kitchen in down-

town Owego.”

“But there's always more I can learn.”

Akshar has used a steady schedule of

community engagement events to craft

his legislative agenda, including his

Small Business Jobs Revitalization Act

introduced earlier this year, his support

for the Planting Seeds Initiative to pro-

mote local Upstate farms and his opposi-

tion to Governor Cuomo's proposed $15/

hr minimum wage hike.

4th Annual Pink Elk 5K Run/Walk - May 15 The 4th Annual Pink Elk 5K Run/

Walk will take place on Sunday, May

15, at 9:00 am, at Vestal Elks Lodge

2508.

Pre-Registration for the race is $20

and includes a Pink Elk T-Shirt and a

breakfast ticket for the packet pickup on

May 14 from 8:00 to 11:00 am. A family

price is available $20 for the first entry

and $10 for each spouse and child under

18 years old (pre-registration only). The

pre-registration deadline is May 7.

Race day registration will run from

7:30 to 8:45am and will cost $25. You

can register by visiting the Vestal Elks

Club website at southern.tier.net/

vestalelks.

Breakfast tickets can also be bought

at the online registration site.

This year’s race is being held in

memory of Donna Allis. Proceeds from

this event will go towards Traci’s Hope

and the Vestal Elks Club Veteran Com-

mittee.

For more information, email Jake

Brown at [email protected].

APRIL 2016 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 2

Tioga County's

COMMUNITY

PRESS Volume 31 Number 4

April 2016 © 2016 Published by

Brown Enterprise And Marketing 7830 State Route 434

Apalachin, New York 13732 Phone (607) 72-PRESS or

(607) 625-2222 E-mail: [email protected]

www.TiogaWeb.com Publisher/Editor ---------- Fred J. Brown Jr.

Published monthly RECEIVED BY MORE PEOPLE IN

TIOGA COUNTY THAN ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER • The Community Press, nor its advertisers are not responsible for typographical errors in articles or

ads. • Submitted articles are not guaranteed placement

but are printed on a space available basis. THIS PAPER IS FREE. IT IS PAID FOR BY THE

ADVERTISERS PLEASE SUPPORT THEM

TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN THE

COMMUNITY PRESS www.CommunityPress.us

LANDSCAPING SERVICES Mulching Weeding Planting Seeding & Sod Installing Tree & Shrub Trimming Drainage & Excavating

HARDSCAPING Field Stone Walkways Patios Retaining Walls Repairs

607-206-0304

www.Williams-Landscape.com SNOW REMOVAL & SALTING

TREE & SHRUB TRIMMING • SPRING CLEANUPS

Twenty contestants competed in the 2016 Rockokie Contest at Tioga Downs. The first place win-ner, receiving a check for $5,000, was Alex Creamer from Mont-rose, Pa. On the final night of the compe-tition, March 31, Alex sang “Born To Pay” an original song she wrote.

Riverside Cemetery Association

The Riverside Cemetery Association-

Apalachin is holding a meeting for lot own-

ers and descendants on Tuesday, April 12,

at 6:30 pm in the meeting room of the

Apalachin Library, 719 Main Street in

Apalachin.

New Trustees and individuals to assume

key roles are needed. Open agenda includes

discussion of a May spring clean-up day.

For more information, call Roger Barton

at (607) 625-3056.

Baked Ziti Dinner April 9

A Baked Ziti Dinner will be held on

Saturday, April 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm,

at the Apalachin United Methodist

Church, 303 Pennsylvania Avenue in

Apalachin. The menu includes ziti, rolls

with butter, vegetable, dessert and drink.

The dinner is sponsored by the United

Methodist Women of the Church. Dona-

tions are welcome.

Plan on stopping by the Bake Sale

Table to buy some delicious goodies to

take home and enjoy.

APRL 2016 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 3

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4-H Volunteer Named North East Region 4-H

Salute to Excellence Volunteer

The National 4-H Council has an-

nounced that John King of Owego has

been selected as the 2016 4-H Salute to

Excellence North East Region – Volun-

teer of the Year.

The National 4-H salute to Excel-

lence 4-H Volunteer Recognition Award

recognizes 4-H volunteers who demon-

strate exemplary service to 4-H, while

promoting service through volunteerism

as both an opportunity and a privilege.

Each year, selected from state nomi-

nations, the 4-H Salute to Excellence

honors one individual in each region as

the Regional 4-H Volunteers of the Year

and one individual in each region as the

Outstanding Lifetime 4-H Volunteer.

The Selection Committee was ex-

tremely impressed by John’s accom-

plishments. The competition was stiff

with more than 30 nominations from

throughout the U.S. being reviewed.

The eight regional honorees, of

which King is one, now become nomi-

nees for their respective national award,

and one volunteer from each category

will be named the national honoree; the

outcome of which will be announced in

April.

A plaque was presented to John by

the 4-H Rifle Team at their last match of

the season. A cash award of $200 was

also presented to the Tioga Co. 4-H Pro-

gram in recognition of King’s accom-

plishment.

“John’s outstanding service to 4-H

and its youth is nothing short of an em-

bodiment of 4-H dating back to organi-

zation’s founding in 1902. The youth

and future 4-H volunteers that we edu-

cate and inspire today will be our leaders

of tomorrow,” said Adam M. Rosen-

berg, Grants Manager, National 4-H

Council.

To find out more about the Tioga

County 4-H Program contact the 4-H

Office, Cornell Cooperative Extension,

Tioga County at 687-4020 or visit tio-

ga.cce.cornell.edu.

John King with the 4-H Shooting Sports Rifle Team

Growing Berries Workshop

Do you have an interest in growing

strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or

other small fruits? Maybe you’d like to

start a U-pick, or sell at your local farm-

ers market?

Cornell Cooperative Extension of

Broome County will be hosting a work-

shop with Cornell University faculty to

teach about growing and marketing ber-

ries, and then will host an on-farm hands

-on component at a local farm to see

some techniques in action. The work-

shop will be held Saturday, April 23,

9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Cornell Coopera-

tive Extension of Broome County, 840

Upper Front Street in Binghamton.

Register online at reg.cce. cor-

nell.edu/vetsgrowingberries_203. The

cost is $15 per person and includes all

materials and lunch.

Priority for spots will be given to

veterans in the Southern Tier, but others

are welcome to attend as space permits.

Chicken BBQ - May 7 A Chicken BBQ will be held on Sat-

urday, May 7, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, at

the First United Methodist Church of

Newark Valley, 63 S. Main Street in

Newark Valley. Full dinner includes

half chicken, slaw, baked beans, roll,

cookies for $8.50. Half chicken only for

$6.50. Phone (607) 642-8811. Eat in or

take out.


FR SALE: Two Coppre 8’ shoplights, never used, 120v, hardwire, electric bal-last, $29 each or $55 both bulbs availa-ble Call 607-325-5916 04/16 WANTED: Tractor or Jeep. 1940’s Em-pire tractor or Willys Army Jeep. Rusty or Broken down, infield OK! Call 570-395-41.27 05/16 NEED IT HAULED MOVED or CLEANED: We can help local moving . Cleaning of houses, garages, attics, out buildings! Call 607-699-0212 4/16 WANTED: Vintage Jewelry men’s and women’s including watches. Also old toys, paintings and vintage collectables. Call Dave at 607-372-7860 11/16 NEED IT CLEANED OUT: Need it cleaned out, we just charge less! Attics to basements. Also garages sheds and barns. Call MK’S Affordable Cleanouts at 607 217-7455 Free Estimates! 3/16 TOP DOLLAR PAID: Wanted! Old fish-ing tackle, lures, reels, etc. Some items worth $500. and more!!! Call me first, collector not a dealer so I pay more. Walt 607-972-5739 09/16

WANTED: Highest Prices Paid for An-tiques & Vintage Collectables. Like blue decorated crocks/jugs, old toys, watches pocket/wrist, jewelry men’s/women’s, banks, door stops, coffee grinders, foun-tain pens, military, firefighting items, and much more. Call (607) 372-7860 2/17 DENT REMOVAL: door dings, hail dam-age, dents removed without harm to car finish! Olympic Detailing 607-625-2332 FOR SALE KENNEL: Heavy duty galva-nized modular chain link fence kennel with one gate 6W x 8L x 4H (new $400) $250 excellent condition 607-624-2766 07/15 DOG BOARDING: Pleasant Valley Dog Kennel, 5367 State Route 38, Newark Valley, NY 13811. 40 years in business, indoor/outdoor runs. Daily rates $14 one dog, $21 two dogs same run 607-642-8776 06/16 WANTED: Your classified ad for our May 2016 issue. Please send in form below by April 25.

SEND US YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS

ALLEN MEMORIAL HOME, INC.

Funeral Service

Established in 1884

511-513 East Main Street

Endicott, New York 13760

(607) 754-0110

For Pre-Funding, No Payment,

Traditional & Cremation

Options

Call or visit us at

www.allenmemorial.com

You can advertise your garage, yard or other sales, events, or items wanted or for sale here in the Community Press, the paper with the largest distribution (by US Mail) in the Owego market area. The same low rate for both commercial or personal family ads. Only $5 for the first 20 words. 1 WORD PER SPACE (add $1 for each 4 additional words)

Send your classified ad to: COMMUNITY PRESS 7830 Route 434, Apalachin, NY 13732 Make check or money order payable to "BEAM" or drop off your ad at Beam Electronics in Apalachin. phone 625-2222 NAME ________________________________ PHONE ________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________________ CITY __________________________ STATE ________ ZIP ____________ The Community Press goes to press on the first Monday of the month. Your classified ad should be received no later than the fourth Wed of the previous month.

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“A business without a sign, is a sign of no business”

Next to word of mouth advertising, signs are the most cost efficient, economical

means to communicate YOUR MESSAGE to your customers

625-4100

GIVE US A CALL TODAY

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NORTHERN LIGHTS

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105 S. Duane Ave.

Endicott, NY

607-748-1447 Hours: T-f 9-5; Thurs 9-7

Saturday 9-1

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

A Woman Presidential Candidate - in 1884 Lecture about Belva Lockwood - April 28

Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner will speak

about “A Woman Presidential Candidate

in 1884” this month in Newark Valley.

The event will take place from 3:00 to

5:00 pm, Thursday, April 28, at the

Newark Valley High School auditorium,

68 Wilson Creek Road in Newark Val-

ley. Admission is free, and everyone is

welcome to attend.

As we approach the New York cen-

tennial of woman suffrage in 2017 with

the possibility of the first woman presi-

dential candidate of a major party, wom-

en’s studies pioneer Dr. Sally Roesch

Wagner brings this herstory to life with

her engaging story-telling.

In 1884, disgruntled feminists formed

the Equal Rights Party when both the

Republicans and Democrats continually

ignored women's concerns. Presidential

candidate Belva Lockwood declared

that, “It is quite time that we had our

own party; our own platform, and our

own nominees,” even if they couldn't

vote for them. With the exception of the

territory of Wyoming, it was against the

law for women to vote in every state and

territory in the union.

The event is sponsored by NYC Hu-

manities Public Scholars Program and

Newark Valley Historical Society.


Open: Tuesday-Sunday 7am to 3pm CLOSED MONDAY (607) 625-2212

www.facebook.com/gigisplaceapalachin

www.NikosAutoDetailing.COM

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held

on March 24 to celebrate the grand open-

ing of Best Bagels in Town at 8836

Route 434 in Apalachin (between UHS

and Jeff Kies Auto).

Best Bagels in Town is a locally

owned, family-run bagel shop that

proudly serves 15 flavors of bagels made

from scratch, flavored cream cheese

made on site, breakfast pizza, bread

bowls as well as a huge menu of break-

fast and lunch items. Customers are wel-

come to dine in or take out.

Best Bagels in Town specializes in

preparing special order trays for events

of any size and will even host meetings

and parties after regular business hours.

The owners and staff at Best Bagels in

Town are committed to the community

where they do business and their goal is

to give back to the community that sup-

ports them. Presently they are working

with local Cub Scouts on a toy drive.

Like and share their Facebook page: Best

Bagels in Town-Apalachin and keep up

to date with their specials and events.

Best Bagels in Town is open Mon-

day to Friday 6 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday

and Sunday 6 am to 2 pm.

Ribbon Cutting at Best Bagels in Town

Ribbon Cutting at Owego Kitchen

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held

March 22 at the Owego Kitchen, 13

L a k e S t r e e t i n O w e g o .

The Owego Kitchen is a comfortable

and rustic village café serving fresh

baked breakfast goodies and lunches,

made from scratch. On-line ordering is

available for your take-out convenience.

They are open Monday to Saturday,

7:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday 8:00

am to 2:00 pm. Their phone number is

(607) 223-4209.

www.the owegokitchen.com

Auction to Benefit 4-H Horse Program

A JP North Horse Tack Auction will

be held Friday, April 29, in the 4-H

Youth Building on the Tioga County

Fairgrounds in Owego. A preview of

new horse tack and supplies will begin

at 5:00 pm, and the auction will begin at

6:00 pm.

The Tioga County 4-H Horse Pro-

gram will benefit from the auction. The

auction is open to the public, and Visa,

MasterCard, Discover, and American

Express Cards are accepted. The 4-H

horse clubs will also be accepting re-

fundable cans and bottles for a can

drive. Snacks and drinks will be availa-

ble to purchase.

For more information about Tioga

County 4-H, call the 4-H Office, Cornell

Cooperative Extension, Tioga County at

687-4020 or visit tioga.cce.cornell.edu

http://www.theowegokitchen.com


~ ONLY 6 MILES SOUTH OF ROUTE 434 ~

LITTLE MEADOWS, PA. 570-623-3508 Open: 7 Days A Week 10:00 am till closing

SERVING LUNCH & DINNER HOMEMADE SOUPS

HAPPY HOUR ~ 3:30 – 5:30 Mon–Fri

Tuesday Trivia Nite starting at 6pm

CHICKEN & RIB BBQ –Saturdays

Sunday April 30th Golf Tournament Details & Sign up at the Bar

In House Horse Shoe League starting - stop in for detail Party Season is Coming fast - Contact us for your catering needs!

Pizza - 7 Days A Week - Hand Tossed - Full, Half Sheet or Round Friday Nite - Deep fried Haddock & Ribeye Dinners

Zion Lutheran School Receives Smartboards

Thanks to a generous donation from

Lockheed Martin this fall, Zion Lutheran

School received four smartboards from

the company.

Having dual classrooms, that meant

that the K/1, 2/3 and 4 through 6 class-

rooms each received one, as well as the

school’s computer lab. On March 5, with

the help of Zion Lutheran church mem-

bers and school parents, the boards were

installed. The children and Teachers

have enjoyed learning how they work

and the activities that can be done.

Zion previously had received projec-

tors from the Owego School district

that they were able to use. Also,

last fall Southside Fire Company

held a chicken BBQ and Zion re-

ceived monies from them, which

paid for the necessary wiring and

mountings for the projectors. “We

are so blessed to have different

parts of the community come to-

gether, making this project possi-

ble,” said Janet Pawlak, Zion Lu-

theran School Principal. “The chil-

dren, current as well as future stu-

dents, will benefit from this initia-

tive as it is important to remain

current with the technological re-

sources available to us.”

Zion Lutheran School enrolls

children from preschool through

Sixth Grade. Located two miles out

of downtown Owego, Zion serves

the children of six local school dis-

tricts. Busing is available for stu-

dents from these districts. For more

information, call 687-6376 or visit

www.zionowego.org.

Second and Third Grade students and Lockheed Martin employees stand by a new smartboard. Front row left to right: Lydia Kunte, Connor Kotski, Kayla Ferraro, Laura Ludwig. Back Row. Jennifer Kotski, Jeff Brown, Ruth Schian (Teacher) and Chad Norcross.

A Rummage and Bake Sale will be

held Saturday, April 9, from 9:00 am to

2:00 pm at Little Meadows United

Methodist Church, 843 Pennsylvania

Avenue (PA Route 858) in Little Mead-

ows. Lunch will be available. Bag sale

begins at 1:00 pm.

Rummage & Bake Sale - April 9

Letter to the Editor

Thank You

for Voting

Thank you to all those who vot-

ed for the Taxpayer First Party in

the Village of Owego’s election

held on March 15th. It is a privilege

and pleasure to be able to represent

the interests of all residents.

We will work hard to enhance

the services and infrastructure of

the village.

Our priorities:

• Financial Accuracy & Accounta-

bility

• Maximum Efficiency & Effective-

ness

• Ensure that the taxpayers have a

voice in making final decisions on

major issues

Now is the time to start prioritiz-

ing and governing.

As we are faced with serious

challenges, we would like to take

this opportunity to encourage you

to get involved.

Much Appreciated,

Taxpayers First Party

Steve May – Mayor

Mike Phelps – Trustee

Earl Hartman – Trustee

Ed Morton – Trustee


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Congressman Reed Visits TUW to Discuss Poverty

Congressman Tom Reed visited the

Tioga United Way office last month to

meet with the Executive Director, Board

of Directors and several non-profit or-

ganizations to discuss poverty in Tioga

County.

Laurie Ellis of Catholic Charities

spoke from the heart when she said, “We

need to empower and respect those who

are struggling” and added that living in

poverty is an exhausting way of life.

Barbara Patten of Franziska Racker Cen-

ters, said we should aim for early inter-

vention and shouldn’t wait until the

child is entering the school system; we

should be addressing their needs at the

earliest possible opportunity.

Kermit Bossard of Spencer Van Et-

ten Community Food Cupboard, added

we need to help those not only for a

month but by putting a plan together for

their long term needs once their basic

needs of food, clothing and shelter are

addressed. Georgianna Horvath of Liter-

acy Volunteers, added that one way to

help residents is to improve their ability

to read and write, perform basic math

functions, and to use computers. She

added the functional illiteracy rate in

Tioga County is approximately 14%,

with 9-10% of residents over the age of

25 not having a high school diploma.

Shawn Yetter, Commissioner of Social

Services for Tioga County, noted that

the Tioga Workforce program assists job

seekers to gain a skill and/or trade, and

to prepare for, find and keep jobs and

has had much success.

Dorothy Richter of Community Care

Network of Nichols, acknowledged that

jobs and programs are all excellent ways

of assisting our residents, however, she

pointed out that without transportation,

the residents cannot get to the literacy

classes, skills training, medical appoint-

ments, social services, etc. She added

that we must not forget about our county

senior citizens. They are sometimes dif-

ficult to find but they are the ones who

are often willing to volunteer to help

others once they’ve been helped them-

selves.

Congressman Reed listened carefully

and shared a few anecdotal stories. As

the youngest of twelve children and the

son of an Army officer, he could sympa-

thize with the challenges of the Tioga

County residents. Congressman Reed is

currently working with Speaker Paul

Ryan on reforming the Welfare System

in America and wanted to learn more

about the obstacles, successes, solutions,

and ideas that he could take back to

Washington. He noted that many folks

in Washington don’t truly understand

that rural upstate New York faces differ-

ent challenges than New York City and

he’s planning to bring several other leg-

islators to take a tour of our area.

In attendance: Alycia Anthony, Ker-

mit Bossard, Christina Brown, Nancy

Eckstrom, Laurie Ellis, Andrew Hafer,

Georgianna Horvath, John Knowlton,

Jane Maas, Sister Mary O’Brien, Car-

olyn Palladino, Barbara Patten, Dorothy

Richter, Marte Sauerbrey, Connie Stern-

berg, Linda Wintermute, Shawn Yetter,

Zoe Ann Zielinski.

Drinking water in the Vestal Central

School District comes from municipal

sources, the Town of Vestal and the

Town of Owego. These municipalities

provide testing of the water, and there-

fore, per EPA guidelines, the school dis-

trict is not required to test. However,

with the recent concern about high levels

of lead in the drinking water of Broome

County schools, Vestal CSD took the

precautionary step of conducting its own

water testing to ensure the safety of

drinking water for our students and staff.

A representative sampling was taken

at every building in the school district

from March 2 to 4, 2016, and a report

was given to the district on March 11.

Regarding drinking water, the EPA has

determined limits for both lead and cop-

per. The level of lead that should not be

exceeded is 15 ppb (parts per billion)

or .015 mg/L (milligrams per Liter). The

copper level that should not be exceeded

is 1.3 mg/L.

All results in all buildings were less

than the EPA action limits for both lead

and copper.

Water Quality Testing in the Vestal Schools

Free Presentation: “Understanding Long Term Levels of Care”

Are you or a loved one facing deci-

sions regarding long term, out of home

placement? Exploring options for long

term care is confusing and complicated.

It is difficult to understand what acro-

nyms like ACF, ALP, ALR, EALR, and

SNF really mean.

On Tuesday, April 26, from 2:00 to

3:00 pm, in the Rollie Noble Room at

the Village Municipal Building, 9 Park

St., Newark Valley, the Department of

Aging will welcome Maria Motsavage

from Levene Gouldin & Thompson,

who will explain the differences be-

tween these levels of care, as well as

whether Medicare, Medicaid, or other

types of insurance will pay for them.

She will be available to answer ques-

tions you might have regarding naviga-

tion of the health care system.

Call (607) 687-4120, ext. 331 to re-

serve your seat for this free presentation.

Information packets are also available

upon request.


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The Terrace The Friendly Neighborhood Tavern

Rt. 434, Apalachin, New York 625-3935

Next To Kin Saturday April 16th

Karaoke Saturday - May 7th

•Tuesday - Steak Nite • • Wednesday- Shrimp Nite •

• Thursday - Clam Nite • Stop in and check out our great

Homemade Soups & Daily Specials

Tioga Downs Marks Construction Progress with

“Topping Off” Ceremony

After four months of construction, the

preliminary framework for the multi-

million dollar expansion to full casino

gaming at Tioga Downs is nearly com-

plete. A “Topping Off” ceremony was

held on Monday, March 7, at 2:00 pm

outside the entertainment complex. Lo-

cal dignitaries, Jeff Gural and Tioga

Downs personnel signed the final steel

beam before it was lifted into place.

Tioga Downs offers live harness rac-

ing, video lottery terminals, video poker

and electronic table games. A variety of

eateries are also part of the current enter-

tainment complex. Jeff Gural owns Tio-

ga Downs in Nichols and Vernon Downs

in Vernon, New York.

Tioga Downs was recently recom-

mended by the New York State Gaming

Facility Location Board for a full gaming

license. In the last decade, Tioga Downs

and Vernon Downs have created more

than 700 family-sustaining jobs and do-

nated millions to nonprofit organiza-

tions.

For more information on Tioga

Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.

Newark Valley Senior

Receives Farm Bureau Scholarship Joshua Kline was chosen as the Tioga

County Farm Bureau winner by New

York Farm Bureau’s Promotion and

Education Committee.

A senior at Newark Valley High

School, Joshua is the son of Bert Kline

of Newark Valley and Kelly Walker of

Maine.

Joshua is a very well rounded student

and has participated in a range of extra-

curricular activities. Most notably Josh-

ua is serving as the Art Club at Newark

Valley High School. Joshua is employed

at SweeTrees in Berkshire on weekends

where he assists Dan and Ruth Beasley

with maple syrup production and serves

as an assistant tour guide.

Joshua was required to write an essay

answering the question “If you had the

power to change something in your com-

munity or on your farm, what would you

change and why?” His application and

essay were reviewed by a panel of judg-

es who remarked about his ability to

articulate the importance of offering

agricultural education in Tioga County

and his astute observation of our chang-

ing local agricultural landscape.

“The world of agriculture has many

bright young leaders,” said Hank Ferris,

member of the scholarship selection

committee. “Joshua clearly demonstrat-

ed his depth of knowledge and commit-

ment to agriculture. With talented and

intelligent leaders like Joshua on the

horizon, the future of New York agricul-

ture seems particularly bright. We are

thrilled that our scholarship money will

be put to good use in helping students

like Joshua reach his full potential.”

Kline plans to attend the State Uni-

versity of New York at Cobleskill this

fall. He will be recognized at the New-

ark Valley Awards presentation in June.

This scholarship opportunity is open

every fall to all high school seniors in

Tioga County. County winners receive a

$500 scholarship and advance to the

regional competition. A state winner is

selected from all region winners.

New York Farm Bureau is the State’s

largest agricultural lobbying/trade or-

ganization. Its members and the public

know the organization as “The Voice of

New York Agriculture.” New York

Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the

economic and public policy issues chal-

lenging the agricultural community.

MARCH 2016 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 9

The Gugino Law Office Bankruptcy - Real Estate

Family Court - Auto Accidents

Free Consultation

Mark Charles Gugino, Esq. E-mail [email protected]

144 Bald Hill Road Spencer, New York 14883

Phone (607) 319-0766 Website www.1000islandslaw.com

Attorney Advertising - Debt Relief Agency

607-759-9282 • Apalachin, NY

FULLY INSURED Email: [email protected] www.MikesGroundworks.com

Lawn Mowing Landscaping

Hauling Backhoe Work French Drains

Hardscape New Lawns

Field Mowing Drainage Work

From The Photo Vault: Horse Racing in Tioga County

On February 17, 1970, George Montgomery (above) of Hickory Hall Farm,

Glenmary Drive, Owego, announced his vision of a “Race Track” in Owego. Mont-

gomery hoped to obtain a harness racing license from the state and build a track near

Owego. The “Tioga Group” planed to have the track, named “Tioga Downs”, com-

pleted by Labor Day 1972. The state offered them a quarter horse racing license in-

stead of a harness license (due to pressure from other tracks in the state) and the

plans for “Tioga Downs” were scrapped.

On October 29, 1975, James Nuckel (center left) of CIB International, Little Ferry,

New Jersey, broke ground on “Tioga Park,” New York State’s first and only quarter

horse track. The first race was scheduled for July 1, 1976, with 125 days of racing the

first season and 180 days for the 1977 season.

April 1976 - construction of the new Tioga Park in Nichols continued at a fast pace

in order to be complete for opening day July 1, 1976. Phase I of construction included

the grandstand, track, parking area, and barns at a cost of $4 million. Phase II was to

include enclosing, air conditioning, and heating of the grandstand and enlarging the

parking area. The Tioga County IDA approved the sale of $6.5 million in bonds to help

pay for construction costs.

On July 19, 1978, owner James Nuckel announced that Tioga Park would immedi-

ately close and canceled the rest of its racing season. Nuckel stated that the track was

losing thousands of dollars a day!


Coleman & Daniels FUNERAL HOME LLC

Locally Owned and Operated Proud to be Serving

Our Community for over 130 Years Traditional Funeral & Cremation Options Pre-Arrangement Counseling & Financing

www.ColemanAndDaniels.com

6519 Rt 434

Apalachin, NY

607-625-3010

765 Main Street

Vestal, NY

607-748-4695

300 Main Street

Endicott, NY

607-785-0411

Mark J. Murphy, Lic. Mgr. Steven Gabriel, Lic. Mgr.

Ronald Yurecka Kurtis VanAbs

CHICKEN B-B-Q BENEFIT to support the MS Society

hosted by Donna Richter Sunday April 24th

~ ONLY 6 MILES SOUTH OF ROUTE 434 ~

LITTLE MEADOWS, PA. 570-623-3508 Open: 7 Days A Week 10:00 am till closing

Community Bank Celebrates 150 Years

This year, Community Bank N.A.

celebrates a major milestone: its 150th

anniversary.

A history of community

Founded in 1866 as S.D. Hungerford

& Co. Bank and later renamed St. Law-

rence County National Bank, it all began

with one branch location and a few em-

ployees in Canton, New York. The bank

was renamed Community Bank N.A. in

the early 1990s. Today, Community

Bank N.A. has its headquarters in

DeWitt, New York, a branch network

with nearly 200 locations across New

York and northeast Pennsylvania, and

more than 2,000 employees.

Modern triumphs

The bank has sustained its tradition

of a community-focused approach in

smaller markets and ensuring high-

quality customer service since it first

opened its doors in 1866. In recent

years, this approach has earned the bank

national recognition for customer satis-

faction from J.D. Power and Associates,

and financial performance from Forbes.

In 2015, the bank was named most trust-

ed bank in the Northeast in the MSR

Best in Retail Banking Awards.

Community Bank N.A. President and

CEO Mark Tryniski said: “We are

pleased and humbled to be celebrating

the 150th anniversary of Community

Bank. The history of our sustainability is

as timeless as it is simple: always do

what’s right for your customers and your

communities. Success and growth are

merely by-products. I would like to

thank and recognize those who are most

responsible for this legacy – our associ-

ates. We are, after all, not in the banking

business, we’re in the people business.

The care and pride our people take every

day in serving our customers and our

communities has built a foundation of

trust and confidence upon which we

hope to build the next 150 years of pro-

gress.”

Looking ahead, sticking to principles

Looking ahead at the banking land-

scape in the coming years, Tryniski said

technology will continue to play an in-

creasingly integral role in how banks do

business and engage with customers.

Community Bank N.A. continues to

invest in technology that offers custom-

ers convenience and data security as

customers increasingly use electronic

banking channels. But, he added, the

principles of community-mindedness,

attention to the individual customer and

maintain-

ing a

strong

team of

employees

will ensure

that the

Communi-

ty Bank

N.A. suc-

cess story will continue well into the

future.

About Community Bank System Inc.

Celebrating its 150th birthday in

2016, Community Bank System Inc.

operates more than 190 customer facili-

ties across upstate New York and north-

eastern Pennsylvania through its bank-

ing subsidiary, Community Bank N.A.

With assets of approximately $8.5 bil-

lion, the DeWitt, New York, headquar-

tered company is among the country’s

150 largest financial institutions. In ad-

dition to a full range of retail and busi-

ness banking services, the company of-

fers comprehensive financial planning,

insurance and wealth management ser-

vices. The Company’s Benefit Plans

Administrative Services Inc. subsidiary

is a leading provider of employee bene-

fits administration and trust services,

actuarial and consulting services to cus-

tomers on a national scale. Community

Bank System Inc. is listed on the New

York Stock Exchange and the compa-

ny’s stock trades under the symbol

CBU.

For more information about Commu-

nity Bank, visit www. communitybank-

na.com or ir.community banksys-

tem.com.

Tax Preparation Bookkeeping

Business Consultant

DARLING TAX SERVICE Vicki Darling

Phone (607) 625-4395 6276 State Route 434 Fax (607) 625-5488 Apalachin, NY 13732

[email protected]


Richard Green General Contracting

Friendsville, Pa.

(570) 553-2443 “We are here to help with all

your construction needs”

• Foundation Repairs • Excavating •

• Custom Built Decks & Gazebos •

• Metal & Shingle Roofing •

• New Foundations • House Jacking •

• Garages • Pole Barns • Barn Repairs • Better Business Bureau A+ Rating for last 13 years

Serving Tioga & Broome County For over 20 years!

Apalachin, NY (607) 625-3131 or (607) 754-2541

We bring our samples to your home or business

to see in your lighting conditions.

Free Consultation ~ Free Installation

• Draperies

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• Vertical Blinds

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• Cellular Shades

• Roller Shades

• All Top Brands

P.E.O. - Chapater B - Newark Valley News

P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization

where women celebrate the advancement

of women; educate women through

scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and

stewardship of Cottey College and moti-

vate women to achieve their highest as-

pirations. P.E.O.’s sisterhood proudly

makes a difference in women's lives with

six philanthropies that include ownership

of a women's college, Cottey College,

and five projects that provide higher edu-

cational assistance in the forms of loans,

grants, and scholarships.

Chapter B, Newark Valley, has been

very busy over the past year, supporting

the six philanthropies:

1. Cottey College An independent,

liberal arts & sciences college for wom-

en in Nevada, MO, owned & operated by

the P.E.O. Sisterhood since 1927

2. Educational Loan Fund (ELF) Low

interest revolving loan fund

3. International Peace Scholarship

(IPS) Need-based scholarship, Citizen of

country other than US or Canada

4. Program for Continuing Education

(PCE) Need-based scholarship

5. Scholar Awards (PSA)Merit-based

award, Must be within 2 years of com-

pleting a doctoral level degree

6. STAR Merit-based scholarship,

For high school seniors enrolling in a

postsecondary institution upon gradua-

tion

7. And NYS specific scholarships and

grants as well for college and advanced

degree work

Chapter B also awards a small grant

to a graduating senior girl to assist as she

goes on to higher education. They keep

in contact with the award winners as

they transition to college or technical

school.

The group is active in our communi-

ties as its members support local food

pantries, visit shut-ins, and assist women

in need of help and encouragement.

Highlights of 2015-1016:

March 2015, New Officers Installed

Kristy Scales, President; Sherrill Ward,

Vice President; Glenda Clark, Treasurer;

Ruthanne Orth, Recording Secretary;

Lauren Botzenhart, Corresponding Sec-

retary; JoAnn Byrne, Chaplain; Ellen

Snapp, Guard.

June 2015 – Kristy Scales, Tracy

Keener, and Lauren Edsall attended the

annual NYS P.E.O. Convention in Alba-

ny. Currently there are 80 P.E.O. Chap-

ters in New York State.

Emma Graves, Newark Valley High

School senior received Chapter B’s local

award. She is now attending Tompkins

Cortland Community College.

In the fall, Chapter B Newark Valley

hosted the Fall Reciprocity Luncheon at

the Owego Treadway. Chapters from

Oneonta to Elmira, Ithaca and Bing-

hamton were in attendance. New mem-

bers, Mary Ellen Odom and Tracy Keen-

er were initiated into our Chapter in No-

vember.

December 2015 – Chapter B gathered

for a brunch meeting and to hear Marilyn

Bell’s report on the P.E.O. International

Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

March 2016 - new officers were elect-

ed and installed. Kristy Scales, Presi-

dent; Sherrill Ward, Vice President;

Glenda Clark, Treasurer; Ruthanne Orth,

Recording Secretary; Lauren Botzenhart,

Corresponding Secretary; Gigi Knight,

Chaplain; Ellen Snapp, Guard.

January 21, 2016 – Wear Your Emblem Day, members of P.E.O Chapter

B, Newark Valley, gather at the Owego Kitchen to celebrate Founder’s

Day. Sisters from not only Chapter B, Newark Valley, but also from

Chapter BO and CL, Binghamton Chapters, spread the word and cele-

brated the day.

Saturday May 14th

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OPEN 7 DAYS

A WEEK

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Wine Tasting Thirsty Owl Friday April 15 4-7

Sweeneys Plaza, Rt 434, Apalachin

Gift Certificates Available

Case Discounts on non-sale wines


A FULLY COMPUTERIZED

AUTO REPAIR CENTER

DOMESTIC & FOREIGN

GET YOUR RIDE READY

FOR SPRING

Arm Knitting Course in Owego The Black Cat Gallery in Owego will

offer a craft class in arm knitting on Sun-

day, April 10.

Craft Yarn Council knitting instructor

Amy Miles will teach the course in arm

knitting. The class is easy and suitable for

all skill levels from complete beginner to

experienced knitter. The project will be a

cowl that most students will finish within

the 2-hour scheduled time. All materials

will be provided.

Sign-up and pre-pay the class fee at

least 48 hours before class begins to en-

sure your class materials are reserved for

you. The cost is $25.

The Black Cat Gallery is at 190 Front

Street in Owego. Call 687-5550 to reserve

your space in the class.

Owego Gallery Features Soap Maker

This month’s featured artist at the

Black Cat Gallery in owego is soap maker

Nancy Eckstrom.

Nancy has been hand crafting soap for

more than 20 years using food quality

plant based ingredients including herbal

infusions grown in her own garden. Lo-

cally produced honey, beeswax, and

FarmHouse Brewery beers are incorpo-

rated into several formulations. Nancy’s

soap is scented using only pure essential

oils that are distilled from plants. Fra-

grance oils made from synthetic ingredi-

ents are never used.

Handcrafting soap blends science and

art to develop the skin nourishing bars

that are naturally moisturizing because of

the glycerin that is a by-product of the

soap making process. Glycerin is a hu-

mectant, which means that it attracts and

retains moisture on your skin. The result

is a mild pure soap that gently cleanses

your skin without being harsh or drying.

Look for fabulous soaps, made by Nancy,

under the label Three Maries.

The Black Cat Gallery is at 190 Front

Street in Owego.

The Beddoe’s in Concert Everyone is invited to attend a concert

with the Beddoe’s at Memorial Park

Baptist Church, 1013 Front Street in

Vestal, at 7:00 pm on Friday, April 8.

The concert is free; a love offering will

be taken during the program.

Wayne and Carol Beddoe have been

singing for the community for many

years and will be singing a variety of

songs from sacred music to songs from

popular shows.

APRIL 2016 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS WEB PAGE EXTRA 1

Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Re-

cycling is adding an industry veteran to

its team. Matt Schroth brings extensive

experience to his new role as Vice Presi-

dent of Commercial and Expansion.

Schroth will focus his efforts on expand-

ing the growing company in various

markets beginning primarily with its

recent foray into the Western Pennsylva-

nia market with its New Castle retail

scrap yard and shredder which will open

in the Spring of this year. The shredder

is the first step in a multi-million dollar

expansion planned for the region. The

company primarily operates throughout

Upstate New York and Southern Penn-

sylvania.

“It’s an exciting time for us. We are

always looking for new areas where we

can grow and expand. I am confident

that Matt is the right person to spearhead

those efforts and move us forward,” said

Adam Weitsman, CEO of Upstate

Shredding – Weitsman Recycling.

Most recently, Schroth served as Di-

rector of Non-Ferrous Sales for

Schnitzer Steel Industries. During his

time there, he was responsible for over-

seeing the sale of all non-ferrous materi-

als from both Schnitzer's auto and met-

als recycling businesses. His wide rang-

ing duties also included assisting with

industrial scrap bids, general market

guidance, commercial strategy and re-

search and development plus quality

control for Schnitzer's multiple down-

stream separation plants. Schroth’s ex-

tensive experience also stems from time

spent with Boston’s Hugo Neu-Schnitzer

and Camden, New Jersey-based second-

ary aluminum smelter State Metal Indus-

tries.

“I’ve enjoyed working for a number

of firms across the country, but I was

eager for the opportunity to move to a

growing, nimble private company,” said

Schroth. “I thrive on the upbeat team

atmosphere that defines Upstate Shred-

ding – Weitsman Recycling, and I be-

lieve Adam Weitsman has the energy,

drive and vision to continue to take his

company to the next level.”

Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recy-

cling is the East Coast’s largest privately

held scrap metal processor, operating 16

locations throughout New York and

Pennsylvania. For more information on

the company, visit

www.upstateshredding.com.

New VP at Upstate Shredding

Living Heart Healthy - April 15 The American Heart Association will

offer a free “Living Heart Healthy” pro-

gram on Friday, April 15, 1:00 to 3:00

pm, at the Countryside Community Cen-

ter, 9 Sheldon Guile Boulevard in

Owego.

The program will educate people on

ways to get healthy, stay healthy, and

understand the warning signs and risk

factors for heart disease, heart attack,

and a stroke.

Topics covered will include the im-

portance of physical activity and eating

healthy, understanding your BMI, how

to manage your blood pressure, and

much more.

There is no cost for this program, but

registration is required. Call (607) 687-

4120, ext. 331 to reserve your seat. In-

formational packets are also available

upon request.

The event is being offered through the

Department of Aging, Tioga Opportuni-

ties, Inc. in Owego.

Farm Safety & Tractor Operation Grads

Eleven area youth successfully com-

pleted the 2016 Tioga County 4-H Farm

Safety and Tractor Operator Certifica-

tion Program and have earned their trac-

tor operator certificates. The youth com-

pleted 24 hours of classroom instruction,

passed a written exam, a daily service

test and a driving skills test. The pro-

gram is taught by certified instructors.

Area equipment dealers opened their

doors to provide equipment, space and

assistance with the program. These busi-

nesses included Goodrich Auction Ser-

vice, Inc., Newark Valley; Power & Pad-

dle, Candor; Coleman’s Sales and Ser-

vice, Barton; Lindsey Lawn & Garden,

Apalachin; Klett Farm, Owego; Iron

Kettle Farm, Candor; Joe Sign’s Equip-

ment, Owego; and Frisbie’s Farm Equip-

ment, Spencer. Participants also heard a

presentation from a representative of

NYCAMH, the New York Center for

Agricultural Medicine & Health in

Cooperstown. The participants are eligi-

ble to compete in the NYS Tractor Driv-

ing competition at the Empire Farm

Days in August in Seneca Falls, NY.


County 4-H Program, contact the 4-H

Office, Cornell Cooperative Extension,

Tioga County at 687-4020 or go to tio-

ga.cce.cornell.edu.

Auction to Benefit 4-H Horse Program

A JP North Horse Tack Auction will

be held Friday, April 29, in the 4-H

Youth Building on the Tioga County

Fairgrounds in Owego. A preview of

new horse tack and supplies will begin

at 5:00 pm, and the auction will begin at

6:00 pm.

The Tioga County 4-H Horse Pro-

gram will benefit from the auction. The

auction is open to the public, and Visa,

MasterCard, Discover, and American

Express Cards are accepted. The 4-H

horse clubs will also be accepting re-

fundable cans and bottles for a can

drive. Snacks and drinks will be availa-

ble to purchase.


County 4-H, call the 4-H Office, Cornell

Cooperative Extension, Tioga County at

687-4020 or visit tioga.cce.cornell.edu

4-H Fall Turkey Project

The Tioga County 4-H Program has

again partnered with the Owego Kiwanis

to offer the 4-H Fall Turkey Project. A

Kiwanis sponsor will purchase six birds

for the participating 4-H member.

The 4-H member is responsible for

all feed and butchering costs. At the end

of the project, the sponsor will get a bird

free of charge. The 4-H member will

then be responsible for finding buyers

for the remaining five birds. The pro-

gram will begin in June and 4-H youth

will raise the birds until late October at

which time the birds will go to the

butcher.

Youth raisers must become members

of the 4-H program to participate and

must be 9 to 19 years of age.

For more information about this or

about the Tioga County 4-H Program

contact the 4-H Office, Cornell Cooper-

ative Extension, Tioga County at 687-

4020 or go to tioga.cce.cornell.edu.

Vernon Downs Readies for 2016 Season

by James Witherite

Vernon Downs racing media

Racing will soon return to Central

New York’s “Miracle Mile”, as Vernon

Downs readies for an 84-date season

slated to begin on Friday, April 22,

2016.

As in seasons past, top trotters from

across North America will visit Vernon

Downs through the summer of 2016, as

the Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trot-

ters comes back in July. Likewise, the

Crawford Farms and Muscle Hill trotting

events for top older trotters are slated for

August. In addition to the top-tier Grand

Circuit stakes, New York-sired 2- and 3-

year-olds will visit the Miracle Mile for

a full slate of New York Sire Stakes

events through the summer, including

Empire Breeders Classic events for 3-

year-old trotters. Locally-based young

horses are availed a pair of late-closing

events in the opening weeks of the sea-

son, as well.

The 2016 meet will carry a standard

post time of 6:45 p.m., and returns to a

Thursday-through-Saturday schedule

(along the lines of the 2014 meet) due to

run through Saturday, November 5.

As in seasons past, fans on-track will

be greeted by a wide variety of promo-

tions, including the always popular

Change Your Luck drawings and Horse-

play Car Giveaway. The Vernon Downs

Simulcast Network has undergone a

winter makeover, and will seek to prove

more bettor-friendly for players on- and

off-track alike.

Horsemen are reminded that nomina-

tion blanks for the Catherine Burton and

Anthony Farina late closing series are

due Friday, April 1.

Further information about the 2016

season at Vernon Downs is available at

www.vernondowns.com.

Vestal Hall of Fame Committee announces Can-

didates for Induction

The Vestal Hall of Fame Committee

has announced the following candidates

for induction into the 2016 Vestal Hall

of Fame. They will be honored at the

induction dinner/ceremony on Thursday,

May 12, 2016. Social hour begins at

6:00 pm, with dinner served at 7:00 pm

and the induction ceremony immediately

following.

Captain Michael Giannetti

Class of 1988

A decorated naval aviator and officer,

Captain Michael Giannetti has com-

manded the elite “World Watchers”

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1

and served in the Pentagon on the Chief

of Naval Operations’ staff. His current

assignment is Director of Current Opera-

tions on the Commander Pacific Fleet

Staff in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His im-

pressive list of awards include the

Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Ser-

vice Medals, the Navy Achievement

Medal and multiple Air and Navy Com-

mendation Medals. His commitment to

community did not falter in the face of a

full professional career as he has, among

other charitable endeavors, served as a

Big Brother, coached Special Olympi-

ans, built Habitat for Humanity homes

and volunteered with the Humane Socie-

ty.

Dwayne King

Class of 1960

An inspiration for serving others has

driven Dwayne King to unprecedented

heights, first as a bush pilot in Alaska,

and then as a pioneering missionary in

Russia. He has founded his own non-

profit organization, Kingdom Air Corps,

to train others to continue his mission

work, while still advocating to open

general and missionary aviation in Rus-

sia. He has spent his life in remote fron-

tiers, like Alaska and the far eastern re-

gion of Russia, where there are no roads,

bringing in food, supplies and encour-

agement.

Lieutenant Colonel Drew Watson

Class of 1975

A leader of the highest caliber, Drew

Watson rose through the ranks of the

U.S. Marine Corps, reaching the rank of

Lieutenant Colonel before he retired. He

has commanded the elite First Force

Reconnaissance Company, First Marine

Expeditionary Force, was selected to

represent the U.S. Marines as a ground

exchange officer with the British Royal

Marine Commandos and also served as

Deputy Chief Instructor and A Company

Commander at the Marine Corps Basic

School. Lt. Col. Watson brings his sense

of duty to his community, supporting the

Semper Fi fund. He is also a senior men-

tor with Total Courage, which provides

character development coaching tailored

to train, teach and mentor coaches, stu-

dents and other athletes to win with

character.

For tickets to this year’s Hall of

Fame Dinner, visit the Home or Alumni

page of Vestal’s website at

www.vestal.stier.org and look for the

news article with dinner invitation and

more information. To have an invitation

mailed to you, call 607-757-2241. Din-

ner reservations are respectfully request-

ed by April 25, 2016. There is also an

opportunity for local businesses to spon-

sor this year’s Hall of Fame Dinner. For

more information on how to become a

sponsor, contact Betty Engle at the tele-

phone number listed above or

[email protected]. County Legislature Meeting The Fourth Regular Meeting of 2016

will be held at 12:00 pm, Tuesday, April

12, in the Edward D. Hubbard Auditori-

um at 56 Main Street in Owego.

Committee meetings will be held in

the Legislative Conference Room, the

Edward D. Hubbard Auditorium, or

Conference Rooms as listed located at

56 Main Street.

Individuals requiring any accommo-

dation or auxiliary aid may contact the

Legislative Office at (607) 687-8240.

With advance notice, necessary auxiliary

aids will be provided at no cost to the

person requesting assistance.

APRIL 2016 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS WEB EXTRA PAGE 2

“Decision Make Day” Offered in Owego, Waverly

Have you thought about a Will, Pow-

er of Attorney, or Health Care Proxy?

Come learn more about these essen-

tial documents at Decision Making Day.

Greg Catarella from Levene Gouldin &

Thompson will present important infor-

mation on Wills, Living Wills, Powers

of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, and

Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders.

This program is being offered on in

Owego on Thursday, April 21, 9 to 11

am, at the Countryside Community Cen-

ter, 9 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, and in

Waverly on Friday, May 6, 9 to 11 am,

at Elderwood, 37 North Chemung Street.

The program is open to the public,

but registration is required. To attend

either of these events, call the Depart-

ment of Aging at 687-4120 ext. 331 to

reserve your seat. Informational packets

are also available upon request. There

will be an opportunity to ask questions

at each session.

The Lower East Side of New York

City, circa 1910, will pop up in Elmira

when the eighth annual Jewish Food

Festival takes place on Sunday, April

10. The festival, held at Congregation

Kol Ami, 1008 West Water Street in

West Elmira, will re-create a street mar-

ket modeled on the fabled Hester Street,

the old Jewish immigrant neighborhood.

The foods planned for the festival

range from well-known favorites such as

matzo ball soup, deli sandwiches, and

chopped liver to harder-to-find special-

ties such as knishes, potato latkes

(pancakes), and Middle Eastern street

food, including falafel, Israeli salads,

and bourekas (cheese-filled pastries).

The bakery stand—always a favor-

ite—will have rugelach (cinnamon-

flavored pastries), mandelbrot (sweet

almond bread, similar to biscotti), babka

(cinnamon or chocolate-filled yeast

cake), challah (braided egg bread that

traditional Jewish cooks serve at every

Sabbath dinner), and hamantashen

(triangular fruit-filled pastries, usually

made for the Purim holiday). Crumb

buns are an addition to the bakery offer-

ings this year.

In true New York style, authentic egg

creams—which contain neither eggs nor

cream—will be made to order at the

beverage stand. All cooked foods are

being prepared on the premises by vol-

unteers.

While the food itself is more than

enough reason to attend, the setting adds

to the experience. The interior becomes

a complete turn-of-the-century street

scene, with market stands, a strolling

Klezmer musician, lamp posts, and even

laundry hanging overhead. Volunteers

from the local Jewish community, in

costumes typical of the early 20th centu-

ry, will sell each type of food from a

separate market stand. Café table under

market umbrellas offer places to eat, and

there will be additional seating in a tent

on the lawn.

There will also be a “Hester Street

Tchotchke [trinket] Market,” and several

raffles.

Admission tickets are $12 at the

door, or $10 in advance. All tickets

include entry into a door-prize drawing.

Paid admission includes 3 starter tickets

for food. Additional food tickets may be

purchased at the festival for $1 each.

Children age 12 and under will be ad-

mitted free with an adult.

Festival hours are 11:00 am to 3:00

pm. Tickets may be purchased until Fri-

day, April 8, from Congregation Kol

Ami, the Jewish Center and Federation,

B&C Photo, Gerould’s on Hoffman, and

Christopher’s in Elmira; Market Street

Apothecary and Connors Mercantile in

Corning; or members of the planning

committee.

Tickets may also be purchased online

at www.twintiersjewishcommunity.com,

and will be available at the door. For

more information, call (607) 734-8122.

Jewish Food Festival - April 10

Letter to the Editor

Owego-Apalachin School District Budget

Dear Editor,

School budget season is well under-

way. To date the BOE/Administration of

OACSD has held a one hour budget fo-

rum and that was it! At the next Board

meeting, March 31st, Dr. Russell will

present his proposed budget to the

board. In an effort to give the board

some thoughts to consider, work on or

ask about, I sent the following to your

board members on March 2nd.

March 2, 2016

Board Members:

For your information and considera-

tion.

During the development of this years'

budget here are some points to ponder

and to be taken under consideration and

discussion by our elected community

servants.

1. This is the second year in succession

that pension costs have dropped consid-

erably. See the link to a recent Press

Connects item.

2. Health care cost are being reduced

significantly as a result of changing our

+65 retirees to Medicare Plan F

The actual monthly savings needs to be

determined and made public by Mr.

Pryor. Perhaps Mr. Pryor could be

asked to develop and present these cost

savings at the next board meeting. A

conservative monthly estimate is in the

neighborhood of $100,000 or a $1.2

million annual spending reduction. The

budget needs to be adjusted to reflect

these savings. Please resist the urge to

spend because you can!

3. Thanks to the Board's wisdom in

adopting a reasonable salary range for

the "Search Announcement" for Dr.

Russell's replacement, the district could

expect to realize a substantial reduction

in salary and benefits in the compensa-

tion package for the incoming Superin-

tendent.

4. As for the ongoing negotiations with

the bargaining units, one should also

expect a favorable outcome which could

increase employees contributions toward

health care premiums, another cost re-

duction.

Along with NYS's projected increas-

es in "Foundation Aid," the reduction or

elimination of the GAP adjustment, the

price of fuel declining drastically and

"our new highly efficient, economically

low cost maintenance built into the new

OES building": it is reasonable to expect

a reduction in the overall operating costs

for the 2016 - 2017 school year. As it

shapes up now; this is the budget season

when the Board can comfortably deliver

a reduction in the Tax Levy, provide for

continued quality in our student pro-

grams and reduce the tax burden on your

neighbors and the citizens of the Owego

Appalachin School District.

It's your call! It is up to you!

http://www.pressconnects.com/story/

news/local/new-york/2016/02/12/

schools-pension-costs-drop-

again/80283814/

Thank you for serving your communi-

ty.

Joe Chartrand, Founder

Tioga Citizens for Affordable Education

& Excellence

So there you have it. Since there is

never any public discussion of the

budget by board members prior to Dr.

Russell’s presentation, all we can do is

wait and see what Dr. Russell presents

for the 2016-2017 budget. I will keep

you advised.

Joe Chartrand

Owego, NY

NYS Honey Production Honey production in 2015 from New

York producers with five or more colo-

nies totaled 3.6 million pounds, up 9%

from 2014, according to Blair Smith,

State Statistician of the USDA’s Nation-

al Agricultural Statistics Service, New

York Field Office.

There were 58 thousand colonies

producing honey in 2015, down 3%

from 2014. Yield per colony averaged

62 pounds, up 13% from the 55 pounds

in 2014. Producer honey stocks were

899 thousand pounds on December 15,

2015, down 41% from a year earlier.

Honey prices increased during 2015

to 294 cents per pound, up 4 percent

from 283 cents per pound in 2014.

The Honey Production report and all

other NASS reports are available online

at www.nass.usda.gov.

Scholarship for Students with Finnish Heritage

The Finger Lakes Finns offers a year-

ly scholarship for area high school sen-

iors who have a Finnish heritage or in-

terest and involvement in Finnish cul-

ture.

The Finger Lakes Finns promotes

cultural and educational appreciation of

Finnish heritage and customs, and pro-

vides a social setting for enjoying old

and new friendships in the Finnish tradi-

tion.

The scholarship award criteria and

application can be found at

www.fingerlakesfinns.org/scholarship/

index.htm They have also been sent to

area high school guidance counselors.

Completed applications and required

documents must be received by May 21,

2016, to be considered.

communitypress 0416

Documents