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YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER • www.CommunityPress.us Volume 37
JUNE 2022
Memorial Day 2022 Celebrated in Owego
Number 6
Owego Strawberry Festival - June 17 & 18
On Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. On Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2022, a parade was held in Owego. A Roll Call of Honor was read by Mary Beth Jones and JoAnn Walter, and a Service of Remembrance was given by Jim Raftis. The Honor Roll was broadcast live on WEBO Radio and on the Internet .
Hose Team Honors Longtime Owego Little League Volunteers
Coming off the heels of a two-year hiatus, the 40th Anniversary celebration for Owego’s Strawberry Festival is here. The bar has been raised for this year’s “Strawberry Jubilee” and things will be back in grand fashion for this free festival. What makes this year special is that Owego Little League Volunteers Dick Franz & Jim Raftis with the “Garden Hoser” Tee Ball Team. The Owego Hose Team “Garden HosFormed in 1952, Owego Little League er” Tee Ball Team honored two longtime provides the children of Owego and the Owego Little League volunteers Dick surrounding area the opportunity to play Franz and Jim Raftis as “Honorary Manbaseball and softball for free. Hyde Park agers” at their game at Hyde Park on now consists of five fully enclosed fields Saturday, May 7. plus the Teener field on the Owego Free “Dick and Jim are the epitome of what Academy grounds, dugouts, field house, we have come to call the greatest generatwo storage buildings, batting cage, tee tion our country has to offer,” said Hose cage, a pitching complex, two pavilions, Team Treasurer John Loftus. “This small and lighted fields. The strong community tribute for all they have done for Little support over the years has given the League and Owego with nearly 70 years Owego community an outstanding proof dedication showed our young Tee gram for area youth thanks to tireless Ballers what community service is all public servants like Dick Franz and Jim about.” Raftis. This includes hosting the New Both Franz and Raftis have served York State 10U Little League ChampionOwego Little League as volunteers for ship. The premier tournament for players several decades and are Senior Members 10 years of age brings top Little League of the League’s Executive Board. Raftis, teams and talent from around the state to age 90, has been involved with Owego the Village of Owego. Little League since 1955. One of the fields at Hyde Park, Raftis Field, was named after his grandfather, Nick Raftis, who was a professional baseball player. Known as the “Voice of Owego,” he is a well-known former Owego radio personality. Franz, age 89, also has served Owego Little League since its early days in the 1950s and has a field named after him that was dedicated in 1986. A Lifetime Member of Croton Hose Company #3 of the Owego Fire Department, Franz led Owego’s first Central New York Dick Franz & Jim Raftis receive Champion Hose Racing Team in 1959. plaques as “Honorary Managers.”
the festival’s founder, Pat Hansen, will be serving as the parade’s Grand Marshal, riding through the crowd and thanking the thousands of attendees that have arrived at one of New York’s iconic festival for a collective 40 years. This year’s festival puts a focus on local, highlighting the talent within our community. With more than 20 live band performances and vendors that have been perfecting their craft during the two-year pandemic-break, this year’s event is sure to be a culmination of all good things to come - a jubilee! Featured again will be the Dinosaur Adventures. This year, however, they will bring their baby along with them. The parents, who will be in attendance as well, are excited to introduce their brood at this year’s jubilee. There will also be fireworks, vendors, jugglers, face painting, super heroes, and so much more. And of course there will be strawberries!
The Automobile in Tioga County: More Than Just a Ride A new exhibit representing aspects of the auto in Tioga County is on display at the Tioga County Historical Society Museum at 110 Front Street in Owego. The exhibit includes a historical perspective on car dealers, service stations, licensing, and advertising, world famous drivers racing at the fair grounds, and NASCAR drivers’ early beginnings. There are toy cars manufactured in Tioga County as well as the Champion Wagon Company of Owego that built electric trucks circa 1909. There’s even a local boy made good - George Pierce, of the Pierce-Arrow nicknamed “the Ameri-
can Rolls-Royce,” was raised and schooled in Waverly, NY. On display is one of the very few 1913 Monarch motorcycles with belt drive and magneto ignition in existence. The Soap Box Derby Car built and driven by Bill Terry, the winner of the 1968 Owego Soap Box Derby Race sponsored by the Owego Jaycees, Bill Graham and Trabucco Chevrolet, went on to compete in Akron, Ohio. There is so much more to see. The exhibit is open until September 30, 2022, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
“Concerts in the Park” at Hickories Park Concerts in the Park will be held on Wednesday evenings, June 29 - August 3, 2022, at Hickories Park in Owego. Admission is free. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to the Owego Elks Lodge.
The June 29 concert will include fireworks. This series is made possible in part with funding from the Town of Owego.
June 29 Basin Street Jazz Band and Fireworks July 6 Jess Novak & Ben Wayne July 13 Tom Jolu July 20 Hot Dogs & Gin July 27 John Manfredi Band Aug. 3 Next To Kin
7:30 - 9:30pm 7:00 - 9:00pm 7:00 - 9:00pm 7:00 - 9:00pm 7:00 - 9:00pm 7:00 - 9:00pm