APALACHIN • OWEGO • NICHOLS

TIOGA CENTER • NEWARK VALLEY

YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER • www.TiogaWeb.com Volume 28 DECEMBER 2013 Number 12

PRESORTED STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #9 APALACHIN, NY

CARRIER ROUTE POSTAL CUSTOMER

BROWN ENTERPRISE AND MARKETING 7830 STATE ROUTE 434

APALACHIN, NEW YORK 13732

CAMPVILLE • BARTON • CANDOR

SMITHBORO • CATATONK

The Newark Valley Holiday Magic Festival will be held on Saturday, December 14, from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. Above: Santa arrives at last year's festival.

"A Victorian Christmas" is the theme for this year's O Tannenbaum Holiday Showcase at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum at 110 Front St. in Owego. Beautifully decorated six-foot trees, three-foot trees, wreaths, and other items are on display as part of a silent auction. Final Bid Night is December 14. The museum is open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, and Sunday 11am-3pm during the event. The Gold sponsor of the event is Tioga Downs Racetrack.

O Tannenbaum Holiday Showcase

FRESH CUT TREES

BIG DIPPER TREE STAND

Open Daily 9-9 till Christmas

HAND MADE WREATHS

AVAILABLE FOR ORDERING

Big Dipper Tree Stand, Rt 434, Apalachin, NY

Owego's Holiday Showcase marked the start of the holiday season in Owego last month. Above: Al Fargnoli of Sweeney's Market in Apalachin gave wagon rides after dropping off Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Tioga County Council on the Arts on Front Street where they enjoyed visiting with the children (below).

Join the festivities as the Village of Owego comes to life during the "Lights on the River" Friday, December 6, when Santa Claus throws the switch at 6:00 pm to light up the village just like he did before (pictured at right). The event concludes with a fireworks display at 8pm in Draper Park.

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 2

Tioga County's

COMMUNITY

PRESS Volume 28 Number 12

December 2013 © 2013 Published by

Brown Enterprise And Marketing 7830 State Route 434

Apalachin, New York 13732 Phone (607) 625-2222 or

(607) 72-PRESS E-mail: press@tiogaweb.com

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

Published monthly RECEIVED BY MORE PEOPLE IN

TIOGA COUNTY THAN ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER

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

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TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN THE

COMMUNITY PRESS www.CommunityPress.us

The Ti-Ahwaga Community Play-

ers will present Philip Grecian's ad-

aptation of Jean Shepherd's "A

Christmas Story" on December 7, 8,

and December 12, 13, 14, 15 at the

Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center,

42 Delphine Street in Owego.

"A Christmas Story" portrays the

riotous trials and travails of young

Ralphie Parker on his quest for the

one thing he wants for Christmas: a

Red Ryder BB gun. His requests for

the gun are reproved with a "you'll

shoot your eye out" by his parents

and even his teacher so he's not real

sure he's going to get it. On top of

that, skirmishes with his brother and

the school bully leave him wonder-

ing if he'll make it to Christmas.

"Something about this show draws

me back year after year," director

Kathy Harris said. "It's warm and

familiar, yet every new batch of ac-

tors keeps it fresh and fun. For me,

directing "A Christmas Story" is like

spending time with old friends you

only see once a year. It's like coming

home for the holidays."

The cast includes Jamie Cornell

as Ralph (the narrator), Doug Benish

as the Old Man, Nichole Langton as

Mother, Camden Dyer-Decator as

Ralphie, Devin Cornell as Randy,

Brendan Cornell as Scut, Thad Rob-

ertson as Flick, Cameron Cole as

Schwartz, Laura Robertson as Esther

Jane, Julia Langton as Helen, and

Jane Nichols as Miss Shields.

Shows start at 8pm on Thursday,

Friday and Saturday, and 2pm on

Sunday. General admission is $20

for adults, $10 for children 12 and

under. Friday admission for students

with ID cards is $10. Sunday admis-

sion for seniors 60+ is $17. Fine

wines, beers, soft drinks and snacks

are available to enjoy at your table

during the show.

The show is underwritten in part

by Cuttermen Marine Services, LLC.

To reserve seats, call the Ti-Ahwaga

Performing Arts Center at 687-2130.

For more info, go to

www.tiahwaga.com

Ti-Ahwaga Community Players

Present "A Christmas Story"

From left, Jamie Cornell as Ralph (the narrator), Camden Dyer-Decator as Ralphie, Doug Benish as the Old Man (with his beloved leg lamp), Devin Cornell as Randy, and Nichole Langton as Mother on the set of "A Christmas Story," which opens at the Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center in Owego on Saturday, December 7.

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 3

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From our family to yours: Best wishes for the love and peace this

season brings. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

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Local Pantry Provides Thanksgiving Baskets

The volunteers of the Park

Terrace Food Pantry on Glann Road

in Apalachin prepared 125

Thanksgiving Baskets last month,

serving over 400 people, a 16%

increase from last year.

Each year the number of requests

for baskets has risen since the pantry

opened in 2004. This year's baskets

were made possible by the food

drive conducted by the Scouts and

leaders of Troop 43, the residents of

Tioga Terrace, and many other

generous donors who help the pantry

throughout the year.

A sincere "thank you" to all who

support the Park Terrace Food

Pantry.

Volunteers from the Park Terrace Food Pantry meet to put the Thanksgiving Baskets together.

Your help is needed with the

Apalachin Lions Club annual

collection of NEW or LIKE NEW

toys for distribution to needy

families in the Apalachin (13732),

Campville (east to county line) and

Little Meadows, Pa (18830) area.

Collection barrels are in the lobby

of the Apalachin Elementary School,

Tioga Hill School, Apalachin

Pharmacy, Apalachin Library, and

White Tails (in Little Meadows)

until December 11

With the generous support of

many individuals, and organizations

the Lions have been helping needy

families for over 50 years with food

and gifts during the holidays. The

Lions thank you for your support.

For more info, call 625-2365.

Lions Club Toy Collection

As part of the O Tannenbaum

Holiday Showcase Fundraiser, the

Tioga County Historical Society is

open for extended hours which will

include: Tuesdays - Saturdays, 10am

to 5pm, and Sundays 11am to 3pm.

These hours are in effect through

December 14.

The O Tannenbaum Holiday

Showcase runs through December

14. The theme is a “Victorian

Christmas” with more than 150 trees,

wreaths, and other items up for bid.

Antique toys are also on display.

For more information, call 687-

2460 or visit tiogahistory.org. The

museum is at 110 Front St. in

Owego, and will be closed

December 23 through January 1.

Tioga Museum Extends Hours

Although he is very busy this

time of year, the Apalachin Lions

Club persuaded Santa Claus to take

phone calls for three nights in early

December.

Santa has been happy to do this

for the children in our area for many

years and he is looking forward to

talking to his many young friends so

he will know what they want for

Christmas.

To talk to Santa call 625-HOHO

(625-4646) between 6pm and 8pm

on December 2, 3, or 4.

Santa Phone 625-HOHO

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 4

HOUSE FOR RENT APALACHIN: Four bedroom, 2 bath, 2400 sq ft on 6 acres. Rent $950 mo. 2 month security. Call 607-372-3644 12/13 GOOD CLEAN USED FURNITURE: Bought and Sold every Saturday from 10am to 3pm. 129 McMaster St. Owego 607-242-6560 01/14 TILE WORK: over 40 years experience, walls, floors, counter tops, water dam-aged walls tub areas, shower stalls re-paired. Quality Tile Tony 607-744-7853 01/14 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 687-5750 06/14 NEED IT CLEANED OUT or hauled away? We just charge less for one room to whole house. Also garages barns & sheds. MK’s Affordable Cleanouts 607-217-7455 01/14 BUYING: Buying Antiques & Vintage Collectables, paying highest prices and I come to you! Call Dave at 607-240-9546 07/14 DENT REMOVAL: door dings, hail dam-age, dents removed without harm to car finish! Olympic Detailing 607-625-2332

DOG BOARDING: Pleasant Valley Dog Kennel, 5367 State Route 38, Newark Valley, NY 13811. 35 years in business, indoor/outdoor runs. Daily rates $14 one dog, $21 two dogs same run 607-642-8776 12/13 FOR RENT: 1 Bedroom Apartment on the 2nd floor. Right in the heart of Histor-ic Downtown Owego, NY Close to Laun-dry mat, shopping, sight seeing, walking, parks, restaurants and so much more approx. 850 sq ft No Smoking or Pets!!! Rental agreement for 1 yr Application with references and credit check Call And leave message 607-427-1736 WE CAN HELP!: We can help with your cleanouts—hauling –local moves –house cleaning and lawn care. Free Estimates. Call 607-699-0212 11/13 SLEIGH BED: Twin sleigh vintage bed with mattress, plow for wheelhorse, and a very nice futon. Each $100. Call 570- 623-2562. 11/13 SNOWBLOWERS: Now in stock. Ariens Snowblower pre-snow sale. Joe Signs Equipment, Rt. 17C, Owego. 12/13 WANTED: Your classified ad for our December 2013 issue. Please send in form below by November 25.

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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, fax 625-2111) 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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If you, or a friend or family member, are not receiving the COMMUNITY PRESS in the mail now and would like to receive it every month you can subscribe now!

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Quality Reliable Service 3908 Waverly Road, Owego,

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DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 5

In your home pet sitting and training to meet your needs.

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Serving Tioga & Broome County For over 20 years!

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Hours: T-F 9-5; Thurs 9-7 Saturday 9-5

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Tim & Tyson –Saturday Dec 21st (Every 3rd Saturday of the month)

Karaoke Saturday Jan 4th (First Saturday of the month)

The Terrace The Friendly Neighborhood Tavern

Rt. 434, Apalachin, New York 625-3935

Serving Lunch & Dinner or Just a Snack! Stop in and try our Homemade Soup Specials

Tuesday-Steak Nite • Wed - Shrimp Nite • Thurs - Clam Nite

Celebrate New Years Eve at the Terrace

With a Special Steak Dinner

High Adventure Trek of a Lifetime

A crew of Boy Scouts from

Troop 221 in Vestal is preparing for

a backpacking trek at Philmont in

July of 2014.

The group of eight scouts and

three adults will hike through the

wilderness at the High Adventure

Philmont Scout Ranch in New

Mexico practicing their hiking,

orienteering, and wilderness survival

skills. The group will spend the first

couple of days in advance of the trek

getting acclimated to the altitude.

Base Camp is at 7,000 feet above sea

level, and the scouts will hike to

elevations nearing 12,000 feet.

Vestal is a little over 1,000 feet

above sea level.

Along the way the crew will visit

program areas to try gold mining,

roping, black powder riflery, skeet

shooting and climbing. Throughout

the trek they will be carrying their

“homes” in their backpack.

Training and preparation for this

adventure is a yearlong process for

Chet, Preston, Jay, Joey, Andy, Josh,

Hunter and Eric along with the adult

leaders of Mr. Haefner, Mr. Isaacs,

Mr. Lethin, Mr. Moore (all pictured

above).

On December 29, the First Pres-

byterian Union Church, North and

Temple Streets in Owego, will offer

a jazz service of worship on Sunday

morning at 10:00 am, followed by a

coffee and tea social in the Fellow-

ship Hall. The public is invited to

attend.

Featured artists will be two of the

Southern Tier’s most popular jazz

musicians, Larry Lolli, a string musi-

cian and retired music teacher at

Johnson City High School, and Doug

Beardsley, a major jazz influence

with over five decades experience as

a keyboard artist. Doug’s musical

style has been inspired by Bill Ev-

ans, while Larry is a string generalist

who is equally as comfortable per-

forming with orchestras and jazz

groups. The service will be led by

the Rev. Bob White.

Jazz Service at Owego Church - Dec 29

The Food Bank of the Southern

Tier announces that from now

through December 31, Tioga Downs

Casino Racing & Entertainment will

sponsor the 4th Annual Turkey Drive

to ensure that local families in need

can enjoy a plentiful holiday meal.

Tioga Downs will maximize eve-

ry donation to this year’s Annual

Turkey Drive by doubling it. Not

only has Tioga Downs provided a

generous $10,000 donation to kick-

off the annual campaign, but they

will also match all donations up to

$20,000. Funds raised help acquire

turkeys for distribution through the

Food Bank’s network of hunger-

relief agencies including food pan-

tries and soup kitchens across the

Southern Tier.

“The holidays are a time of joy

that typically involve sharing meals

with our loved ones, but so many of

our neighbors right here in the

Southern Tier are struggling. Many

families are faced with very limited

food budgets and some are even go-

ing without,” said Food Bank Presi-

dent and CEO Natasha Thompson.

“Thanks to the generosity of Tioga

Downs, community members can

have a huge impact on the lives of

families in need this holiday season.

Doubling the donations to this

year’s campaign goes a long way in

the fight against hunger.”

To support the Turkey Drive, go

to www.foodbankst.org to make a

secure online donation. All donations

are segmented by county. 100% of

donations raised in each county stay

in that county. The Food Bank dis-

tributes food to people in need

through a network of more than 160

member agencies including food

pantries and soup kitchens Broome,

Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga

and Tompkins counties.

For more information, visit the

Food Bank’s website at

www.foodbankst.org or call (607)

796-6061.

Tioga Downs Helps with Turkey Drive

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 6

5780 Route 434, Apalachin, NY 13732 TOWING (607) 625-5653 RENTALS (607) 625-9904

Wish you a Safe and Happy

Holiday Season!

New Homeowners Insurance

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We can insure your home for market value or an agreed amount.

Non smoker discounts.

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CHAINSAW

HEADQUARTERS

Forty-nine students from Tioga Cen-

tral High School completed their training

to become YES! LEADers. YES!

LEADers are middle and high school

students who teach elementary school

students about skills they need to resist

drugs and alcohol, the importance of

positive self-esteem in making safe

choices and effectively handling peer

pressure.

The YES! Launch training program

teaches YES! LEADers how to be role

models for younger students through

team activities and educational sessions

Trained YES! LEADers are substance-

free role models for younger students,

who use their leadershiop skills to devel-

op resistance skills in elementary school

children through interactive activities

and age-appropriate entertainment.

Tioga Central's YES! LEADers are

also committed to helping their commu-

nity. Each year, they participate in a

variety of outreach activities that help

younger students. YES! Safe Choices for

Kids, a partnership between Senator

Libous and Lourdes Hospital, is now in

its 25th year. For more information, go

to www.YesSafeChoices.org.

Tioga Central YES!LEADers Complete Training

The students of Tioga Central

Elementary School do not have a

playground, and you can help them.

When you purchase any sweet treat

from Berry Bear Frozen Yogurt on Rt.

17C in Owego from December 4

through December 8, and present the

ticket below, 10% of your purchase will

go directly to the Tioga Central

Elementary Playground Fund.

If you are a community member or

local business interested in donating

directly to the Tioga Elementary PTO

playground fundraising drive, please

send it to: “Tioga/Nichols PTO

playground fund” Located at: Tioga

Elementary School, (c/o PTO) PO Box

241 Tioga Center, NY 13845.

Help Students Get Playground

The Owego Apalachin (OA) Founda-

tion for Excellence in Education’s annu-

al Wine and Beer Tasting event will be

held on January 17, 2014, 6:00 to 9:00

pm, at the Owego Treadway Inn.

Tom Westcott & Ultra Vibe will pro-

vide entertainment and local restaurants

will provide refreshments. Nearby win-

eries, breweries, and cheese houses will

showcase their products with samples.

Local businesses and residents generous-

ly provide a wide variety of goods and

services for the silent auction.

Tickets are available at Lawler’s Liq-

uor Store, Scott Smith & Son, and The

Kitchen Store. Pre-Sale ticket prices:

couples $40, singles $25, designated

driver $10. At-the-door ticket pric-

es: couples $45, single: $35.

www.OAFoundation.com.

Wine & Beer Tasting - January 17

A local student has been awarded a

full scholarship to a prestigious universi-

ty. JordanAnn Wilson, who will gradu-

ate from Seton Catholic Central High

School in Binghamton in 2014, has been

selected to receive a full scholarship to

play Lacrosse at Niagara University, a

Division 1 school. Niagara University, a

Catholic university in the Vincentian

Tradition, is located in Lewiston, N.Y.

“Only one young woman and one

young man were selected to receive

scholarships from Seton,” said Jor-

danAnn’s father Larry Wilson. “I am

proud of my daughter’s hard work, dedi-

cation and success. She has shown how

determination and effort lead to reward.”

Local Student Awarded Full Scholarship

COMMUNITY PRESS

Town of Owego Supervisor Donald

Castellucci Jr,'s 17th Annual Memorial

Blood Drive will be held December 19,

1:30 to 6:30 pm at the Owego Elks

Club. As in the past, a rigatoni and

meatball dinner will be served to all

donors. To make an appointment, call 1

-800-redcross or visit the website

www.redcrossblood.org.

The blood drive is held in memory

of Donald's parents, Donald and Grace

Castellucci Sr. The family asks that a

food item be brought to be donated to

Tioga County Rural Ministry. Cash

donations in the Donald and Grace

Castellucci’s memory are also accepted

and sent to the Rural Ministry as well.

Castellucci Annual Blood Drive - Dec 19

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 7

56 North Avenue, Owego, N.Y.

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FA

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CA

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KM

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Open: Monday – Saturday

Celebrating 33 Years in Business – Owners Kate & Betsy, along

with staff: Bob, Jen, Julie, Jennifer, Nickie, & Lyda

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

OPI Spa Pedicures (European Touch Chair – newest technology)

OPI Spa Manicures • Cuts Perms • Color • Highlights • Foils

Facial Waxing • and more …

Now using Goldwell Color

Tender Loving Care by Maureen

7 Lake Street, Owego, N.Y. (607) 687-2009

GREAT

HOLIDAY

GIFT

IDEAS

New York State American Legion

Commander Kenneth Governor brought

a message of "Service First" to the local

Legion Family in his visit to Tioga

County last month.

It's about reinvigorating the core mis-

sion to serve men and women in uni-

form, veterans and families, community

and nation, he said during dinner at

Owego American Legion Post 401.

A sign that the Department of New

York is on the right track in putting

"service first," Governor noted, is the

Americanism trophy that New York

walked away with at the Legion's nation-

al convention this past summer. "We

were honored for having the best Chil-

dren and Youth, and Family Assistance

Programs in the entire American Le-

gion."

The commander's visit was a joint

visitation with New York Auxiliary

President Barbara Corker and New York

Sons of the American Legion (SAL)

Detachment Commander John Chang.

Chang noted that, like the department

commander, his personal project this

year is to collect donations for the Na-

tional Emergency Fund, especially since

the fund helped so many New York fam-

ilies in the devastating wake of Hurri-

cane Sandy.

Corker said her project is to support

the American Legion's Operation Com-

fort Warriors, and for two reasons. First,

unlike other charities, 100 percent of

donations go directly to helping wound-

ed warriors. Second, it's important to

"show our warriors our love."

'Service First' to Area's Legion Family

Kenneth Governor, Department of New York commander, speaking during one of his stops across New York State. (Photo by Doug Malin)

A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held

on November 15 at First American

Realty at 54 Central Avenue in Owego

(across from Rite-Aid).

First American Realty, which is

owned and operated by Roger Katchuk,

is a full service licensed real estate

brokerage with membership with the

Greater Binghamton and Elmira/Corning

Association of Realtors.

The home of First American Realty is

a newly renovated, historical space that

was recently a warehouse. It w originally

being built in 1865 as a blacksmith’s

shop and carriage house.

A complete build out has been done in

an open concept/New York City

industrial theme. Much of the original

brick has been retained and the original

window openings that were boarded shut

have been opened up.

All new plumbing, heating and

electric has been installed. High speed

internet and the ability to stream real

estate listings and information from

computer to large flat screen

complement the office. Conference and

meeting areas have been created as well

as a break area kitchen and modern rest

rooms.

The building is in a flood zone and all

the HVAC was raised to the ceiling and

receptacles were built 4 feet off the

floor. Carpenters elevated cabinets and

vanities and because of the open concept

they were able to reduce the amount of

studded walls needed.

The space now allows for real estate

seminars and lectures while at the same

time having a unique space to help

clients.

Ribbon Cutting at First American Realty

A Christmas Cantata celebrating the

Messiah's Birth will be performed on

Sunday, December 8, at 7:00 pm at the

Newark Valley United Methodist

Church, Route 38, Newark Valley

The Christmas Cantata, A Great and

Mighty Wonder, written by Tom Fettke,

will be performed by a combined choir

of singers from the churches of the New-

ark Valley area. It will be directed by

Jewel Griffith, with piano accompani-

ment by Brenda Yeier.

In case of inclement weather, the

performance will be held on Monday,

December 9, at 7:00 pm.

Christmas Cantata - Dec 8

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 8

Route 17 exit 63

In honor of Veterans Day, members of the Owego Kiwanis last month created a Star of Flags at the Kiwanis Flag Pole Circle on

Route 434 near the Hiawatha Bridge.

The Big Dipper Christmas Trees

& Wreaths has been a staple of the

Holiday Season in Apalachin for

almost two decades.

Owner and Operator Paul Kapr is

an avid tree lover and curator. He

has worked for years in the

landscaping and tree service

business. Selling Christmas trees is

just an extension of that excitement

and he is giving back to the

environment. For every Christmas

tree he sells he plants one at his

local tree farm. “It isn’t about the

money” says Kapr, “It’s about

planting trees, taking care of God’s

creation, and giving a quality

experience to our customers – a

fresh local Christmas Tree!”.

At the Big Dipper Christmas

Trees and Wreaths, customers get

the whole Christmas experience…

Christmas music, free hot cocoa,

candy canes, and fresh cut local

trees. They even load it up and tie it

down for you.

Their wreaths are also locally

custom handmade, fresh from our

trees. “Growing trees locally is at

the heart of it all,” says Kapr.

The Big Dipper Christmas Trees

& Wreaths is on Route 434 in

Apalachin, just off Rt. 17 Exit 66.

A Holiday Open House will be held on

Saturday, December 7, 10am to 3pm at the

Patterson Inn Museum, 59 W. Pulteney

Street in Corning. Admission is free.

Children’s activities include make and

take crafts, visit with Santa, face painting,

and storytelling. A soup and sandwich

lunch is available. Features of this event

are an Attic Treasures sale of holiday

items; mixed dozen cookie sale; a gift

boutique; raffles; three classical guitar

performances by William Groome; black-

smith demonstrations; hearth cooking;

mantles and windows decorated by the

Corning Garden Club.

www.pattersoninnmuseum.org

Holiday Open House in Corning - Dec 7

Big Dipper - A Christmas Tree Tradition

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 9

Route 17 exit 63

Johnson' Pools and Spas of

Owego has been granted a Bronze

Aard in the 2013 International

Awards of Excellence sponsored by

the Association of Pool and Spa

Professionals.

The award was for a freeform pool

project built locally in 2013 by

Johnson's Pools and Spas.

Features of the winning venture

include natural waterfalls, a swim-up

bar, a spill-over spa, an outdoor

fireplace, and stamped concrete.

The award is especially significant

as the gold and silver award winners

were firms in affluent and opulent

cities across the world, including

Dubai, UAE; Saint-Laurent-du-var,

France; and The Hamptons, New

York.

Johnson's Pools and Spas is

family owned and operated in

Owego since 1977. They are located

at 1088 Route 434. For more

information, call them at 687-2872

or visit www.johnsonspools.com

Johnson's Pools & Spas Wins Award

Life Choices Center of Broome County

has received a $2000 grant from The

George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable

Foundation to purchase new parenting

curriculum for their Smart Choices pro-

gram which is available to new or expect-

ing moms or dads in the community.

Life Choices Center is a nonprofit or-

ganization serving both Broome and Tioga

Counties (with office locations in Bing-

hamton in Owego)with free and confiden-

tial services for those facing an unplanned

pregnancy or related situation. Formed in

1992, Life Choices Center continues to

educate and equip local women and men

with the knowledge and resources needed

to properly care for their children.

The George A. and Margaret Mee

Charitable Foundation grant will be used

to purchase new parenting curriculum to

update the current materials used during

weekly Smart Choices classes and one-on-

one mentoring.

“Since implementing the updated cur-

riculum into our program,” said Executive

Director, Russ Smith, “inexperienced

moms and dads say they feel very prepared

to care for their children as they are en-

gaged in the modern and relatable up-to-

date videos. We appreciate the Mee Foun-

dation enabling us to revamp this valuable

program and positively impact the lives of

many children.”

Life Choices Center is accepting dona-

tions to further assist those facing an un-

planned pregnancy. For more information

on Life Choices Center or how you can

support its community efforts, please call

Laura at 607-205-8506 or visit their web-

site: www.LifeChoicesCenter.org.

Life Choices Center

Receives Grant

Students Fill Shoeboxes

for

Operation

Christmas

Students at Mrs. Reeves' 2nd Grade class at St. Patrick's School in Owego recently participated in Operation Christmas Child. The students filled shoeboxes with simple gifts, and wrapped the shoeboxes and the lids. The filled shoeboxes will be sent to needy boys and girls in other countries by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief and evangelism organization led by Franklin Graham. For more information, go to www.samaritanspurse.org

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 10

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Vestal Central School District’s

Music Department is pleased to

announce that two Vestal High School

students have been selected by the New

York State School Music Association

(NYSSMA) for its All-State Conference

scheduled for December 5 - 8 in

Rochester.

Katie Glasgow, a junior, will be

singing with the Women’s Chorus

during the annual Winter Festival.

Selected as an alternate for one of the

band concerts is Paula Carris, a senior

trumpet player.

Katie is in Vestal Voices, under the

direction of Vestal High School Music

Teacher Austin Kiley, and Paula is in the

Golden Bears marching band, under the

direction of Band Director Gregory

Harris.

Vestal High School Students Selected

for NYSSMA All-State Winter Festival

The Apalachin Lions Club would like

to thank the community for the hundreds

of winter coats donated for those in need

during the First Annual Apalachin Lions

Coat Drive.

A special thanks to Blessed Trinity at

St. Margaret Mary’s, the Apalachin Li-

brary, Johnson’s Pools & Spas in

Owego, Physical Health and Perfor-

mance in Sweeny’s Plaza for collecting

the coats, and the Open Door Mission

Outreach for distributing the coats.

Lions Thank Community

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 11

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Happy Holidays

Congratulations to Christopher Kallin,

Child Support Enforcement Supervisor,

for being selected Tioga County

Employee of the 4th Quarter.

Christopher Kallin began his

employment with Tioga County in 1980

as a temporary Social Welfare

Examiner, and was made permanent in

1981. Chris was promoted to a

provisional Child Support Enforcement

Supervisor in 1987. This position

became permanent in 1989, and is the

position Chris currently holds.

As the Supervisor in the Child

Support Unit, Chris is responsible for

training and mentoring new staff. Chris

is the liaison for the Department of

Taxation and Finance, one of child

support’s administrative enforcement

remedies, and he is the liaison for

LabCorp, Child Support’s paternity

DNA testing partner. In addition, Chris

also accomplishes tasks of a support

investigator. Chris is responsible for

establishing paternity and support, and

enforcing child support orders. Chris has

an excellent relationship with custodial

and non-custodial parents, as well as

collaborative partners in the child

support process. He is very professional

and an excellent representative of the

department.

Chris and his wife, Kristen, reside in

Owego with their 2 daughters, Kendra,

17, and Makenna, 14.

Chris will be honored as the

Employee of the Quarter at the

Legislative meeting to be held on

December 10, at 6:00 pm in the Hubbard

Auditorium. All are invited to attend

and celebrate this occasion.

Employee of the 4th Quarter

CCE Tioga to Recognize "Friends of Extension"

The Annual Dinner Meeting of

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of

Tioga County will be held on Monday,

December 9, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at the

Owego Treadway on Rt 17C in Owego.

The evening will include a buffet

dinner, a review of program highlights

from the year, and election of new board

members. In addition, the association

will give out board and staff

appreciation awards, as well as several

“Friends of Extension Awards.” These

awards will be given to community

members who have demonstrated

dedication and on-going commitment to

support CCE Tioga and its mission to

help improve the quality of life for

citizens of Tioga County.

Friend of Extension Award Nominees

are: 4-H Youth Development: Skip

Jackson; Family Development: Shawn

Yetter; Agriculture: Lisa Bloodnick;

Community Nutrition and Wellness:

Sister Mary O’Brien; Community

Development and Public Issues:

Barbara Riley; Campus Collaborator:

Michael Duttweiler; Spirit of

Extension: Tioga Opportunities, Inc.;

Friend of Extension: Kathy Roush; and

Board Recognition: Matthew Frisbie.

Invitations were sent to community

leaders, participants, board members,

partners, staff, and award recipients. If

you would like to attend, call Tina

Murphy at 687-4020. The fee for the

dinner is $21 per person.

Cornell Cooperative Extension

(CCE) of Tioga County is hosting a gift

making fair for children ages 6 to 12 on

Saturday, December 7.

The children will make unique and

high quality gifts like jewelry and mag-

nets made from recycled materials, natu-

ral dye batik, leaf print ornaments and

more. Drop your child off for the day at

10am and pick them up at 2pm.

Each child should come prepared

with a list of 5 people they hope to make

gifts for. Children will even have the

opportunity to prepare a healthy lunch

with the help of the nutrition staff. All

materials and food will be provided. Let

CCE know if your child has dietary re-

strictions.

The gift fair will be held at 56 Main

Street in Owego in the basement confer-

ence room. Cost of the day is $25 (lunch

included) $20 each for siblings. Call

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga

County at 687-4020 or e-mail

mew58@cornell.edu to register.

CCE Tioga provides equal program

and employment opportunities. Accom-

modations for persons with special needs

can be requested.

Nature's Gifts - Holiday Gift Making Fair for Kids

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 12

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Remember/Honor a Veteran

with a Christmas Wreath by Dec 14

You can help Wreaths Across Ameri-

ca reach their goal of community mem-

bers placing a Christmas wreath on vet-

erans' graves in the Community Press'

circulation area of Apalachin, Owego,

Nichols, Tioga Center, Newark Valley,

Lounsberry, Campville, LitttleMeadows,

Friendsville and Warren Center.

Local organizers hope 2013 will be

the year that a wreath is placed on every

grave on or before National Wreaths

Across America Day, Saturday, Decem-

ber 14. Here's how:

Veterans do Veterans memorials in

Owego, Nichols, Candor, Spencer Van

Etten, Waverly and The Valley. Church-

es donate a wreath for placement at cem-

etery entrances. Pastors are encouraged

to tell the wreaths story on Sunday, De-

cember 8. Their message: every time

you help wreath laying for veterans, you

are also honoring their families and pre-

paring a new generation to appreciate

America's freedoms.

Fallen Heroes grave wreath place-

ment by Gold Star Mothers and Families

or relatives. Veterans graves by their

families. Some veterans may have no

one because their family members may

be deceased or live out of area. For

them, volunteer to get a wreath, visit the

cemetery you are most familiar with,

find the grave of a veteran and place an

evergreen.

Veterans' graves have an American

flag, some have a flag holder, many have

a veterans memorial plaque on the back

of the headstone, or if the grave marker

if flat on the ground, look for a war era

inscription.

The mission of Wreaths Across

America is to Remember the fallen,

Honor those who served and Teach our

children that our freedom isn't free.

The Tioga County Veterans Memori-

al and Tioga County Union Memorial in

Court House Square will have wreaths

placed by Gold Star Mothers and Fami-

lies supported by veterans from Ameri-

can Legion Post 401 and their Ladies

Auxiliary and Sons of the American

Legion, Chapter 480 Vietnam Veterans

of America, Tioga County Marine Corps

League, Glenn A. Warner Post 1371,

Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies

and Men's Auxiliaries, Veterans of Mod-

ern Warfare of Iraq and Afghanistan and

Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civ-

il War.

American Legion Posts in Nichols,

Candor, Spencer Van Etten, and Waver-

ly and VFW Posts in Waverly and Sayre

and Waverly Friends of the Cemetery

will coordinate wreath laying and re-

membrance ceremonies.

Thousands of wreaths will be laid at

Arlington National Cemetery at 11am

Dec. 14, and 900 participating locations

in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 ceme-

teries overseas where Tioga County Fall-

en Heroes have been buried since World

War II.

Why wreaths during the holidays?

Gold Star Mothers and Family or the

families of veterans who have passed

just want to know all those sacrifices and

lost holidays were not in vain. Tioga

County has 172 fallen heroes from all

wars. There are an estimated 5,000 de-

ceased veterans in Tioga County.

Three videos on

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/evednts/

blog explain Wreaths Across America.

Hear why it matters from the founder, an

American Gold Star Mother who lost her

son, and from the personal stories of

those who serve and sacrifice.

Local contact is Glenn A. Warner

Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars

Memorial Chairman Jim Raftis, 687-

4229, or jraftis2@stny.rr.com. All of

you in the community are our partners.

To complete the mission help is needed

from many individuals, families, veter-

ans, churches, and all organizations.

Participants are asked to report what you

are doing for a summary story.

Remember Pearl Harbor Dec 7

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is

Saturday, December 7. Five from Tioga

County were there that Sunday morning

in 1941. Owego's first casualty of WWII

was Seaman Delmar D. Sibley still

aboard the sunken USS Arizona. Four

others survived. One is living - Bill Ken-

nedy of Owego - and three are deceased

Army Combat Infantryman Richard

Hopkins of Berkshire, Army Cook Don

Stocks and Marine Buster Dunham, both

of Owego.

The American flags at the Tioga

County Veterans Memorial are flown at

half staff to honor those who died in the

attack on Pearl Harbor.

Veterans News

December 14 - Apalachin

A breakfast of decorated pancakes

with Santa will be held Saturday, De-

cember 14, 9am to 11am at the Apala-

chin United Methodist Church, 303

Pennsylvania Ave. (across from fire sta-

tion). The children can sit on Santa's lap

and let him know what they want for

Christmas. There is no charge for this

event.

December 21 - Newark Valley

Enjoy a Breakfast with Santa at the

Newark Valley Fire Station, Route 38 in

Newark Valley on Saturday, December

21, from 8:00 to 11:00 am. Free will

offering.

Breakfasts with Santa

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DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 13

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Youth Group “Attacks” Cemeteries by Norma Paisley

Most folks wouldn’t get a great feel-

ing if they saw a bunch of teenagers in a

cemetery in late October. If those teens

had a variety of implements with them, it

would seem certain that they were up to

no good, but that wasn’t the case when

the Warren Center Baptist Church Youth

Group descended on four local cemeter-

ies on October 26.

It was a crisp Saturday morning and a

heavy layer of frost still remained at 8:00

am as the teens got started. They came

prepared with weed-whackers, lops,

hedge trimmers and other tools designed

to clean up some abandoned and over-

grown cemeteries.

While the majority of the group was

busy clearing brush and trimming trees at

a family cemetery, known as the

Brainard Cemetery, which had been ne-

glected so long that headstones were not

even visible, a few hung back near the

Warren Center Baptist Church and paid

tribute to our veterans. McKenna

Wheaton, her grandfather Fred Wheaton

and Jason Vandervort set about drilling

holes into the bases of the headstones of

veterans to ensure a firm receptacle for

the poles of the new flags that they

placed on each grave.

McKenna explained that the flags are

commonly stuck into the ground and

often tip over becoming victims of the

lawn mower or blowing away. The group

felt this service was important because it

makes the cemetery look nice and it’s an

honorable thing to do for our veterans.

Within only three hours the teens had

conquered four cemeteries including two

on Casterline Road just outside of War-

ren Center. In spite of the chilling weath-

er and the early morning task the group

was happy to perform. Renee Herb, lead-

er of the youth group says the group was

instructed to come up with a community

service and cleaning up the local ceme-

teries was one of the suggestions. Says

Herb, “We chose this service because

they (the cemeteries) are a neglected area

that needed to be addressed.” Address it

they did. The Brainard cemetery was

hardly recognizable as the same place.

Krista Jones admitted that she was not

part of the youth group but wanted to

help anyway because “the people buried

in the cemetery might not have family to

come and care for it.” The other group

members agreed this service was im-

portant for those who served and to make

the community look like someone cares.

The Warren Center Baptist Church

Youth Group is made up of twenty teens

aged 13-17. The group strives to be a

good example for other teens and to pro-

vide community services when and

where they can.

For more information about the youth

group or Warren Center Baptist Church,

call (570) 395-3422 or send an email to

jenningslarry79@yahoo.com

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 14

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Tioga County would like to recognize

one of our own foster and adoptive fami-

lies, who have opened their hearts and

their home to many children over the

years.

Millie and Maurice Henning have

been foster parents for Tioga County

since 2001. During their 12 years as fos-

ter parents, they have fostered 46 chil-

dren and adopted six of them. They have

fostered children of all ages, from new-

borns to teenagers. Maurice has lived in

Tioga County since 1961, and Millie

moved to the area in 1998. They made

the decision to become foster and adop-

tive parents after Millie’s daughter, who

was eight at the time, asked if they could

do so. Millie was in foster care herself

from age one to age eighteen, and feels

that this experience gave her insight into

both the struggles the Hennings would

face as foster parents and the struggles

that children in foster care face. She was

especially interested in providing care

for sibling groups due to her own separa-

tion from her siblings. Millie did not

know she had siblings until placed in her

third foster home, where two of her sib-

lings were also placed. Millie later found

out that she has 12 brothers and sisters.

Millie and Maurice treat all the chil-

dren who come into their home as

though they were their own. The family

eats all their meals together and spends

time together, including going on vaca-

tions as a family. Children who live in

the home have big birthday celebrations,

and get to sit at the head of the table and

be treated like kings and queens. Millie

remembers her own experience of being

told she wasn’t good enough because

she was a foster child, and the family

tries hard to prevent the children in their

home from being labeled this way by

others.

They do not use the words “foster

child” in the home, and welcome the

children as members of the family. Mil-

lie and Maurice agree that this mindset

makes saying goodbye harder when it is

time for the children to leave, but that it

is worth it. They believe that saying

goodbye to the children is the hardest

part of the job, but are happy to have

been able to maintain contact with many

of the children they’ve fostered over the

years.

When asked what advice they would

give to people considering becoming

foster parents, Millie says that kids are

placed in a foster home for a reason and

that she sees foster parenting as an op-

portunity to show them that life can be

different. Millie says that prospective

foster parents “better have a strong heart,

because it will get broken” [when the

children leave]. Maurice says that “the

Lord blesses us with the love of chil-

dren, but we still have to pray for pa-

tience”. Both Millie and Maurice de-

scribe foster parenting as being trying at

times, but worth it. Millie says “the more

kids, the merrier”, and finds the house to

be too quiet without children around.

Maurice feels that fostering “makes a

house a home” and that it has made his

life more complete.

Do you have room in your heart and

in your home? Join the team that care

about kids, the Tioga County Foster Par-

enting Program - because temporary care

makes a permanent difference. Help

provide Tioga County homes for Tioga

County kids. Tioga County is in need of

caring foster and adoptive families like

the Hennings, who are able to provide a

nurturing home for children, including

sibling groups, teenagers, and children

with special needs.

For more information about becom-

ing a certified foster and/or adoptive

parent, contact Janice O’Connell at the

Tioga County Department of Social Ser-

vices at (607) 687-8346 or

janice.oconnell@dfa.state.ny.us or go to

http://www.tiogacountyny.com/

departments/foster-care-adoption-home-

finding-unit.html

Tax Preparation Bookkeeping

Business Consultant

DARLING TAX SERVICE Vicki Darling

Barbara Snyder

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

darlingtax@stny.rr.com

Tioga County Recognizes

Foster & Adoptive Home

The Hennings at Logan and Mason’s adoption in September 2013. From left to right: Millie, Logan, Joseph, Mykal, Hon. Gerald A.Keene, Mason, Zachery, Maylee, and Maurice.

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STILL THE LOWEST

PRICE IN TOWN

New Broil King gas grills in stock fully assembled

Gas grill parts for all makes of grills in stock!

A new contemporary Christmas

romance novel, Nothing Short of A

Miracle, by local author and Histori-

an for the Town/Village of Candor

Carol Henry, is available in digital or

print format.

Henry will hold a book signing on

Friday, Dec. 6, 4-6:30 pm at the

Candor Masonic Lodge on Rt. 96B

in Candor.

Henry’s other new release, Rib-

bons of Steel, a family saga based on

the Great Rail Road Strike of 1877,

depicts Candor in the late 1800s.

Henry's other books will also be

available. To reserve books in ad-

vance, call (607) 659-7661 or email

carolhenry@frontiernet.net.

www.carolhenry.org.

Christmas Romance Novel Now Available Book Signing - Dec 6

Father Bill Moorby (4th from left) joins the Kindergarten and First Grade students and teachers of St. Patrick's School in Owego for a Thanksgiving Feast. The feast was held during the children's lunch hour on Friday, November 22.

Traditions At The Glen Casino

On November 14, 2013, Bill Walsh (above) announced that the Walsh Family, owners of Tra-ditions at the Glen in Endwell, NY, will be applying for a Casino and Gaming License from the State of New York. Traditions now joins Vista Hospitality Group in Bing-hamton and Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols for a chance to win big! Only one license will be is-sued by the state. Some time next year the state will spin the wheel, where will it stop?

DECEMBER 2013 TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS PAGE 16

Call Earl for an appointment 625-3015

1429 Main Street, Apalachin, N. Y.

19 LAKE STREET, OWEGO Specializing in fun and games for the entire family Holiday hours: Mon-Fri 10-6; Thurs till 7; Sat 10-4; Sun 11-4

We have the TOYS you’re looking for at competitive prices!

Shop where Santa shops!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Wishing all our customers a Merry Christmas and a

Happy and Healthy New Year. Holiday hours:

Christmas Eve. 10-6 Christmas Day. Closed

New Years Eve. 10-9 & New Years Day. 11-4

Friday Wine Tastings Thirsty Owl Dec 20 4-7pm

Homer Dec 27 4-7pm

Sweeneys Plaza, Rt 434, Apalachin

Gift Certificates Available

Case Discounts on non-sale wines

Tioga Downs Casino and owner

Jeffrey Gural wishes to thank the voters

of the Southern Tier for their

overwhelming support toward the

passage of Proposition #1 in last month's

election, allowing for 4 full-scale

casinos in Upstate New York.

Tioga Downs will be applying for a

license in the Southern Tier region.

Tioga Downs plans to build a new 136

room hotel, events center and expand the

gaming floor that will include table

games and a poker room.

According to Jeff Gural, Chairman

and CEO of American Racing and

Entertainment, the expanded facility will

provide over 600 construction jobs and

200 permanent jobs running the Casino

and hotel complex.

“We are very, very pleased with the

passing of Prop 1. The results were

overwhelming, especially from our

surrounding counties that understand

that legalizing full gaming will create

jobs in the Southern Tier and have a

positive impact on the economy. Tioga

Downs Casino has been a good neighbor

and will continue to give back to the

Southern Tier,” said Gural. Additionally,

the taxes paid by the new casino will

greatly benefit education across the

entire state.

On November 18, 2013, Tioga Downs

Casino held a special day of activities

and offers to celebrate the passage of

Proposition #1, which included the

groundbreaking for the new 275-space

parking garage and a special $5 buffet

for the public all day in the County Fair

Buffet.

Tioga Downs Casino is located

along the north side of NY Route 17/ I-

86, two miles west of exit 62 in Nichols,

NY.

Groundbreaking at Tioga Downs

November 18, 2013 - Groundbreaking ceremony at Tioga Downs for a new, 275-space parking garage.