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DECEMBER 2023
Volume 38
Number 12
OWEGO IS OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS - Owego’s Lights on the River celebration returned to the Village of Owego on Friday, December 1, 2023. This year’s Lights on the River started with the turning on of the village’s holiday lights, and ended with a fireworks display at 8:30 pm. Pictured above: snowflake lights on the Court Street Bridge in downtown Owego (File photo).
O’Tannebaum at Tioga Historical Museum
The Tioga County Historical Society’s 21st annual O’Tannenbaum Holiday Showcase and fundaiser is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Tioga Historical Society’s Museum at 110
Front Street in Owego. The last day of O’Tannenbaum is Saturday, December 16. For more information, call the museum at 607-687-2460.
Kids Can Call Santa 625-HOHO Although he is very busy this time of year, the Apalachin Lions Club has persuaded Santa Claus to take phone calls for three nights in early December. Santa has been happy to do this for the children in the area for many years and is looking forward to again talking to his many young friends so he will know what they want for Christmas. To talk to Santa call 607-625-HOHO (607-625-4646) between 6 PM and 8 PM on December 4th, 5th, or 6th.
President & CEO of Tioga State Bank Elected to Federal Home Loan Bank of NY Board of Directors
Spencer, NY -- Robert M. Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tioga State Bank (TSB), has been elected by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY) to serve on the FHLBNY's Board as a Member Director representing New York State for a four-
year term of office. He will hold that position from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2027. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York is a Congressionally chartered, wholesale Bank. The FHLBNY’s mission is to provide members with reliable liquidity in support of housing and local community development. It is part of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, a national wholesale banking network of 11 regional, stockholder-owned banks. As of September 30, 2023, the FHLBNY serves 334 financial institutions in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tioga State Bank provides financial services to the Southern Tier of New York State and Northern Pennsylvania with eleven conveniently located offices in Broome, Tioga, Chemung, and Tompkins counties. The bank’s website address is www.tiogabank.com and phone number is 1-888-303-4872. Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC.
DECEMBER 2023
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
PAGE 2
At the Apalachin Library
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719 Main Street, Apalachin, NY • 607-625-3333 Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am-7pm; Fri, Sat 10am-2pm • www.apalachinlibrary.org Mahjong Adult Computer Literacy Class Mondays, 2pm - 4pm Monday, December 11, 5-7pm Play or learn this tile-based game. EveThe topic is an introduction to Miryone is welcome. No registration recrosoft Word. Registration is required. quired. Stop by the library or call 625-3333 to reserve your spot. Storytime December Book Club Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30am Hercule Poirot’s Christmas Join Miss Wendy for read alouds, singThursday, December 14, 6:30pm ing, playing, dancing, and crafts. Tuesday The afternoon and the evening Book and Thursday each week are the same Clubs combine this month to discuss the theme. There will be no Storytime the same book while enjoying light reweek between Christmas and New freshements. No registration needed and Year’s. no need to be a current member of either Tuesdays with Tech Teacher Tina book club. The book, a 1938 locked room December 5, 12, & 19, 11:30am-1:30pm mystery, narrates the discovery of the If you need one-on-one help on the murdered host of a family’s Christmas computer, stop by the library during reunion. Place a hold for this book in the Tina’s office hours: December 5, 12, and catalog or find it on Hoopla as an eBook 19, 11:30am - 1:30pm. or audiobook. Zen before Zzzzs Tuesdays, 6:30pm Grab your yoga mat and join yoga instructor Sheehan Shotwell for an inspiring yoga practice each week. No registration is necessary, all are welcome. Beadmaking Demo with Aspen Poole Thursday, December 7, 11:30am Watch blind local artist Aspen Poole at work making beads. Aspen will be giving away free hand-crafted bracelets to all attendees. The Ollie and Nola Show Saturday, December 9, 10:30am Certified therapy dogs Ollie and Nola are back for another Saturday storytime. There will be dog-related stories, a craft, yummy snacks, and opportunities to read to the dogs after the program. No RSVP is necessary, and all are welcome.
185 Shady Hill Road, Apalachin 625-4658 PICKUP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE
Apalachin Library Board Meeting Tuesday, December 19, 6:15pm Members of the community are always welcome to attend. December Closures The library will be closed on Monday, December 25, and Tuesday, December 26. The library will close for weather whenever the Owego-Apalachin Central School District declares a snow day. December Book Barn Special Buy one Christmas book, get one free. The Book Barn is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10am-7pm; Friday and Saturday 10am-2pm. Tis the Season for Giving The library is a donation drop-off site for the Apalachin Lions Club (seeking toys) and Tioga PACT (seeking hats, gloves, socks, blankets, diapers, underwear, and board books). Drop offs will be collected through early December.
Serving Tioga & Broome County For over 25 years!
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Volume 38 Number 12 December 2023 © 2023 Published by Brown Enterprise And Marketing 7830 State Route 434 Apalachin, New York 13732 Phone (607) 72-PRESS or (607) 727-7377 E-mail: press@tiogaweb.com www.TiogaWeb.com
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DECEMBER 2023
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
PAGE 3
Ribbon Cutting at Spellbound Books
8240 Route 434 Apalachin (1.4 miles east of Pa. Ave.) 607-258-0008 • Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm
Oil Changes • Tires •Batteries & All Repairs
The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribboncutting ceremony for Spellbound Books, a folk and fairytale themed bookstore & café located at 20 Church Street in Owego. Spellbound Books not only brings a magical world of stories to life but also offers a cozy haven for book lovers. Immerse yourself in the charm of folk and fairytales while
enjoying locally roasted coffee, delectable bagels, and refreshing salads crafted with fresh, local ingredients. For more information, go to https://www.spellboundowego.com or contact Spellbound Books at (607) 223-4203 or spellboundowego@gmail.com. (photo provided by Tioga Chamber)
SantaLand - Dec 7 & 14 at Early Owego Antique Center Bring the whole family - See Lionel trains running The Early Owego Antique Center on Lake Street in Owego will offer a modest glimpse into its department store heritage when it presents “SantaLand” from 5:30 to 7:30pm on Thursday evenings, December 7 and December 14. Bring your children for a visit with Santa and a chance to watch the Lionel trains go round and round. Adult kids are also invited - be sure to bring your camera. Traditionally, years ago, the Owego Murray Company presented a Lionel display as well as Santa throughout the holiday season. Early Owego’s display does not rival those of days gone by, but hopefully it will give the children of today some sense of the excitement adults felt back then. “SantaLand” is scheduled to coincide with Moonlight Shopping throughout downtown Owego. Stores will be offering special pricing, refreshments, and more. Early Owego
offers two floors of quality antiques and collectibles that make perfect gifts. This year, try “experienced” gifts that offer history, memories, and value. The Early Owego Antique Center is now open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm through Christmas Eve closing at 3:00 pm, reopening Wednesday, December 27 at 10:00 am. Located in the old J. J. Newberry building, The Early Owego Antique Center hosts more than 95 booths over two floors for over 21,000 square feet of antiques and vintage items. Established in 2013 by Jim and Cornelia Mead, Early Owego is the largest retail business in the Historic Owego Marketplace and is a proud member of the Tioga County Antique Trail. It is open every day except Tuesday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Check out its website at www.earlyowego.com. Stop by Soon, Come Back Often!
Tioga County 2023 Shared Services Update Owego, NY – Martha Sauerbrey, Chair of the Tioga County Legislature, convened two meetings of the Shared Services Panel comprised of municipal officials representing our nine towns, six villages, and the Owego-Apalachin Central School District. At the November 15, 2023 meeting, the members of the Shared Services Panel acknowledged no new proposals were received for consideration of a new 2023 Plan and further voted that it was not in the best interest of the Tioga County taxpayers to revise or modify our existing Shared Services Plans at this time. Chair Sauerbrey informed the Tioga County Legislature of the activities and outcomes throughout process.
Tioga County and the OwegoApalachin Central School District received matching grant funds totaling $1.2 million dollars earlier this year for the two proposals outlined in the 2022 Plan. Sauerbrey said, “This was a savings for not only the taxpayers, but for the retirees and employees of the school district and County, as well as providing them with better healthcare coverage as outlined in the Plan.” Moving ahead, Sauerbrey said, “The whole premise of shared services is to save taxpayer dollars without increasing costs to the County. It takes time to find the right project that generates taxpayer savings. The Shared Services Panel will continue to look at submitted proposals for future Shared Services Plans.”
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DECEMBER 2023
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
PAGE 4
DECEMBER 2023
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
Adopt-a-Child Christmas Program Underway in Tioga County
PAGE 5
NORTHERN LIGHTS MERRY CHRISTMAS LAMP SHOP BRING YOUR LAMP IN FOR A NEW FABRIC SHADE 105 S. Duane Ave. Endicott, NY
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A Catholic Charities Giving Tree at Scott Smith & Son Catholic Charities of Tompkins/ Tioga (CCTT) and the Joshua House of Owego have collaborated this season to provide a gifting program for local children. This annual Adopt-a-Child program is helping over 300 kids in Tioga County, NY, this year. “Every child deserves to experience joy on Christmas morning,” said Executive Director for CCTT, Renee Spear. “Unfortunately, we know how difficult the everyday struggles are for some of our local families not to mention the extra financial burden of Christmas gifts.” Spear said that this program takes a lot of that stress off the parents by allowing others in the community to do the shopping instead. CCTT and The Joshua House invite anyone who is interested in helping to visit the participating locations to select a tag from the trees, shop for that child, and then return the wrapped gifts to that same location. Information about each child (such as age, gender, sizes, and some ideas) are on each tag and there is a spending limit of $40-$50 per child. The businesses that are hosting the trees with tags this year are: Confection Connection, The Goat Boy, Scott Smith & Son, Shear Paradise, Roasted Coffee
Bar, Baking By Numbers, ScovilleMeno, Carols Coffee and Art Bar, C&M Sweets, all in Owego; Bostwick’s in Candor; Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Englebert Farm Store in Nichols. There are also some local churches and individual groups helping with this effort as well. “We are so humbled by the response from local businesses who have financially sponsored this project,” said Michelle McLaren, CCTT Development Assistant. “We truly have the most amazing community of business owners that consistently embrace programs and projects that support our youth and families.” Sponsors include: Jeff Kies Auto Sales, Tioga Downs Casino Resort, EE Root LLC, Fidelis Care, NAVO Properties, Upstate Shredding, The Goat Boy, Scoville-Meno, Lopke Rock Products, and the Radigan Media family. More details are available at each location or contact Michelle with questions on how you can become involved: michelle.mclaren@dor.org To find out how you can help in more ways with CCTT, or what programs and resources they provide, go to www.catholiccharitiestt.org
Serving Lunch & Dinner or Just a Snack! Stop in and try our Homemade Soup Specials
The Terrace The Friendly Neighborhood Tavern Rt. 434, Apalachin, New York 625-3935
2713 Pennsylvania Ave., Apalachin, NY 13732
Wonderful Winter Wildlife Walk December 16 at Waterman Center Waterman Center will present a “Wonderful Winter Wildlife Walk” on Saturday, December 16, at 1:00 pm. Join Waterman’s whimsical, costumed guides for a winter-themed activity day at the Waterman Conservation Education Center in Apalachin. Learn all about the fascinating ways that different animals adapt to the cold through a brief guided walk along a trail decorated with beautifully hand-painted animals and taxidermy. Throughout the event, warm up in the center with some refreshments and crafts. The Family Reading Partnership will be on site to provide every child with a free book. Admission includes a guided hike, crafts, and a free activity grab-bag for the next snow day. Hot beverages will be available. Register in advance online at: https://www.watermancenter.org/eventdetails/wonderful-winter-wildlife-walk. The cost is $8 per person, $25 family maximum (4+ people). Make sure you indicate how many adults & children are in your party when registering. Limited ticket sales will be available at the door, space permitting, so register soon to guarantee your spot. Waterman Center is at 403 Hilton Road in Apalachin. For more information, go to www.watermancenter.org or call Waterman Center at 607-625-2221.
CALL MAGGIE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT TO7 Floyd Wright Jr. “The Wright Choice” Open: Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm 607-625-5279 • www.ApalachinAutoRepair.com
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DECEMBER 2023
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
PAGE 6
50 Years Ago December 1973
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It’s December 1973. Gerald Ford, 60, is sworn in as the 40th Vice President of the United States. John Glenn announces his candidacy for the US Senate. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride opens at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Thos receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Kissinger donates his share of the money to a fund for the children of killed or missing-inaction servicemen. Le Duc Thos refuses the prize. Nelson Rockefeller announces he will resign after 15 years as governor of New York State. The Buffalo Bill’s O. J. Simpson becomes the first NFL player to rush more than 2,000 yards in a season. Singer Bobby Darin, best known for his rendition of “Mack the Knife,” dies of heart failure at age 37. Skylab astronauts take a seven-hour space walk and photograph Comet Kohoutek. The Town of Owego bans minibikes and trail bikes from town parks. The Ti-Ahwaga Players present “The
Last of the Red Hot Lovers.” The first major snowstorm of the season leaves 10 inches of snow in the Southern Tier. Four days before Christmas, another snowstorm brings a foot of snow. Schools and offices close. It’s a dark Christmas - due to the energy crisis, there are no outdoor lights this year. Saturday night TV shows include “M*A*S*H,” “Emergency,” “All in the Family,” “Bob Newhart,” “The Carol Burnett Show,” and “Griff.” Movies at local theaters include “The Sting,” “Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” “Papillon,” “Magnum Force,” “Cabaret,” and Disney’s “Robin Hood.” Top tunes include “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce, “The Most Beautiful Girl” by Charlie Rich, “Leave Me Alone” by Helen Reddy, “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band, and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John. And we say good-bye to 1973, a year of CB radios, Pet Rocks, and new words and phrases such as biofeedback, point in time, space shuttle, quadraphonic, and pedestrian mall. Happy New Year!
70 Years Ago Christmas 1953
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TOP DOLLAR PAID: Wanted! Old fishing tackle, lures, reels, etc. (PRE 1960) Old coins and currency. Call me first, collector not a dealer so I pay more. John 607-321-4085 03/24
HELP WANTED: Wanted experienced mechanic. Must have New York State Inspection License Apply in person only. Nicks Garage, Main St Apalachin. 12/23
WANTED: Your classified ad for our January 2024 issue. Please send in your ad by December 27, 2023, with payment of $7.50 first 25 words 25¢ each word after 25
BEE SWARMS WANTED: Bee swarms wanted on trees and in buildings. Call 607-625-3318 or 607-201-4357 11/23
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Community Press, 7830 Rt 434, Apalachin, N.Y. 13732
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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 $7 in Apalachin. phone 625-2222 $8 NAME ________________________________ PHONE ________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________________ $9 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.
DECEMBER 2023
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
PAGE 7
Tioga Downs Foundation Awards $1.5 Million in Grants
NICHOLS, NY – The Tioga Downs Regional Community Foundation awarded $1.5 million in grants to 100 local nonprofit organizations throughout the Southern Tier on this year’s Giving Tuesday. Grant recipients were announced during an evening awards ceremony at Tioga Downs Casino Resort, where non-profit organizations from Chemung, Tioga, Broome, and Bradford counties were highlighted for their initiatives in addressing and combating local poverty and community deterioration. “Through the experiences shared by our award winners, we eagerly anticipate the ripple effects of these grants making a real difference close to home,” said Tioga Downs owner Jeff Gural. “There are countless organizations doing amazing work, often without the budget they truly
deserve, and these grants aim to amplify their impact.” The foundation is dedicated to promoting economic and community development by supporting organizations that contribute to charitable, religious, literary, scientific, and educational endeavors within the target counties. With hundreds of applications received annually, the foundation strives to donate to as many organizations as possible. Gural’s pledge to increase grant funding to $2 million in both 2024 and 2025 underscores the foundation’s commitment to driving positive local change, a goal made achievable through Tioga Downs’ continued community support. For more information about the foundation and grant applications, visit www.tiogadowns.com/foundation/.
An Open Letter to the Apalachin Fire District Taxpayers from Brian Rieber I wanted to share a brief update on what’s happening with your local Apalachin fire district. As we wrap up 2023, there have been a lot of changes this year to improve our service to our community. We’ve increased our public outreach with local schools, churches, and businesses to complete preplans and to improve community safety. We’ve held multiple meetings with charitable organizations and community groups. We’ve sponsored a half dozen blood drives impacting hundreds of recipients. We’ve also partnered with the Apalachin Lions Club, who donated a significant amount towards a forcible entry training simulator. This investment has improved our volunteer firefighters’ skills, enabling us to reach victims and fire sources faster in an emergency. The results of our efforts this year can be measured by the increased number of members and maintaining our Insurance Standards Organization (ISO) rating of 3/3Y. This rating is best in class for any volunteer fire department. The result is keeping the lower insurance costs for homeowners and business owners within our fire district. We implemented the EMS Cost Recovery Act in late 2022, allowing us to bill insurance companies to reimburse ambulance transports. Our fundamental goal was to diversify our funding sources beyond property taxes. The results have been a net positive to the taxpayers, but short of revenue expectations. The 2023 budget had no tax increase for our taxpayers despite increasing paid EMS staffing to 24x7x365. This year’s budget paid for that staffing increase with reserves (savings) and anticipated revenue from EMS billing. Unfortunately, fullyear billing revenue came in approximately 50% of what the billing companies consensus forecast was, resulting in a $200K shortfall. We will not have the reserves to pay for this in 2024. For 2024, the commissioners have a binary decision - increase taxes proportionately or make draconian cuts to EMS services. We unanimously agreed to maintain the higher level of EMS coverage, which has resulted in approximately 95% call coverage and an average response time of less than 10 minutes. Therefore, the 2024 budget calls for a 23% tax increase for the Fire District taxes. This increase will only apply to the “Apalachin Fire” line item on your county tax bill, not
your entire tax bill. With a $100,000 assessed value, a taxpayer will see an increase of approximately $83 next year. The average taxpayer will pay less. We all appreciate the impact on our constituents, particularly those who live on a limited or fixed income. This decision was not made lightly. Attendance at our public hearings and meetings were lightly attended. Therefore, we we want to extend an invitation for your questions and feedback at any time. My contact information is below. Finally, I’d like to take a moment to recognize two outstanding members, Don Baumbach and K.C. Tripp who celebrated their 50 years of service in 2023. We could not be more proud of them. And to the 85 dedicated volunteers who serve and protect our community every day, thank you for supporting them and our mission. We wish you and your family the very best this holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Brian Rieber 607-765-2974 chairman@apalachinfd.com
Happy Holidays from
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DECEMBER 2023
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
PAGE 8
GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE HOLIDAY HOURS: CLOSED December 16 to 28 (OPENING on Friday December 29th)
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