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| NEWS |
Wastewater meeting draws overflow crowd in opposition
PULTENEY—Close to 500 people gathered at the Pulteney Fire Department to hear from a panel on the proposal to inject drilling wastewater into a Pulteney well, Sunday, Feb. 7. The panelists included Congressman Eric Massa, Professor Tony Ingraffea, Attorney Rachel Treichler, author Steve Coffman, winery owner Art Hunt, and toxicologist Walter Hang. The event was organized by Jeff and Jodi Andrysick. Massa was the first speaker of the afternoon. He said the application process of injecting wastewater into the well should be slowed down. Massa said that few regions have access to pure ground water like the Finger Lakes does, and that should not be damaged. He added, it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to to fix anything that goes wrong. Massa said injecting the water into a well like this is a "clear and present danger." He explained the water Chesapeake Energy wants to put into the well is laced with carcinogens. Read More ...
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Catholic Charities suspends operations at Teen Center
WATKINS GLEN—Daily operations at the Schuyler County Teen Center at 208 North Franklin St. in Watkins Glen will be suspended for several months, due to funding problems. “We are not closing the teen center, but suspending daily operations to re-look at operations to see what the community wants and needs,” Paul Marx, agency director for Catholic Charities of Schuyler County said. The Schuyler Teen Center is a diverse after-school program for high school students. Daily, it provides a number of social, recreational and educational activities. Teens can learn to cook through cooking classes, debates, community service projects, college visits, and just spending time with their friends. The center also offers weekly family dinners to help bridge the gap between youth, their families, and the center. Eleven years ago, volunteers started an after-school program for Schuyler County students in grades five through 12. Read More ...
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Odessa could now lose $430K in aid
ODESSA—Greg Dale, business administrator, gave an update to the Odessa-Montour School Board on Gov. David Paterson’s proposed cut to schools’ state aid. He said the proposed cut has been recalculated to 5.4 percent, instead of 3.22 percent. Dale explained the amount of BOCES funding in the proposed budget was wrong and when corrected meant a bigger cut to Odessa’s state aid. He added the proposed decrease of $430,415 does not include building aid. Dale said that even if the state legislature gives schools more aid than what the governor proposes, which usually is the case, the district will still be short. He explained that if O-M got the same amount of aid as last year, expenses will go up, and cuts will have to be made. Read More ...
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Penn Yan school presents five-year overview
PENN YAN—Assistant Superintendent for Business in the Penn Yan Central School District, Doug Tomandl, presented a review of the past five district budgets as well as excerpts from the governor’s executive budget during the Jan. 27 meeting of the board of education. In 2005-06 the budget was $25.98 million and the 2009-10 budget was $31.10 million. The largest percentage of change was in 2007-08 when there was an 8.03 percent increase. The 2009-10 budget increased 2.63 percent over the previous year. At the same time state aid as a percent of the budget went from 40.9 percent to 46.55 percent. Property taxes decreased from a high of 55.03 percent to 48.69 percent of the budget, reflecting the increase in property values in the district. Paired with that, the tax levy increases went from a high of 6.48 percent in 2005-06 to a drop of 1.4 percent in 2007-09 and a zero tax levy increase in 2009-10. Read More ...
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Will there be a conflict of interest?
FINGER LAKES—Could signing a gas drilling lease and being on a town or village board create a conflict of interest? With the possibility of wastewater from gas drilling being dumped in a well in Pulteney, Barrington planning board chairperson Sue Lange wondered about the answer to that question. She said if an issue ever arose concerning a board and a gas company, there could be a conflict of interest if board members have signed leases. So she asked Shawna E. Bonshak, Yates County planner, and Peter Landre, Yates Cornell Cooperative Extension director. “This question is being hashed out in many e-mail circles,” said Bonshak. “It could be an issue with all towns,” said Lange, adding it could pertain to gas and windmill leases, as well as owning stock. Read More ...
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Penn Yan offers sidewalk program
PENN YAN—The Penn Yan village is accepting applications for the sidewalk improvement program this summer. Director of public works Dick Osgood said the offer lets village residents pay for new sidewalks at least half of what it would cost otherwise. The cost of an approved application is $4.25 per square foot. Osgood said there are no other restrictions on the program other than being a village resident. It is first come, first serve. The application deadline is March 15, and payment is due by June 15. Applications are available at the village office, 111 Elm St., Penn Yan. Osgood said the cost includes the village tearing out the old sidewalk, putting gravel down, cement, a finisher, a hardener, and reseeding of grass afterwards. Read More ...
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Village board discusses high utility bills
WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen Village Board discussed this month’s high utility bills at their regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 1. The village has reported turning off utilities at two different residences. Since the village is using more utilities this time of year, the village has to pay more for delivery fees as well. Bills went out last Friday and Village Clerk Donna Beardsley is very concerned about utility bills getting paid, and is expecting to have some rough spots until April. “It is a rough time of year for utilities. Times are tough,” Beardsley said. Bills are due by the 20th of every month. If they are not paid then the next bill that goes out, on the first of the next month, will include a shut off letter. Residents have until the 20th to pay it. If the bills are not paid by the 25th, the village has the authorization to shut off a resident’s utilities.
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Storks receive top award from chamber
KEUKA PARK—Keuka College’s Geiser Refectory was transformed for the celebration of the Yates County Chamber of Commerce annual dinner dance and silent auction. The highlight of the evening was the awards presentation. Three awards were presented at the event, two with a long history and one that was new last year. The Norman Snow, Jr. Memorial Spirit Award was presented to long time chamber of commerce members Don and Corry Stork. This award was created to honor the memory of a chamber member who served on the board of directors. Chamber president Mike Linehan said, “Talk about spirit. He believed in this community and immersed himself in different opportunities to serve.” Before announcing the winners of the award, Linehan said, “Every single person in this room has been touched by the spirit this couple brings to this community.” Read More ...
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Group names Hazlitts 'Farmers of the Year'
SCHUYLER COUNTY—Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards owners, Elaine and Doug Hazlitt, and Leigh Hazlitt Triner are the 2009 Conservation Farmers of the Year. The announcement was made at the Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual awards banquet, Monday, Feb. 1. The 2009 Service Award was also given to Dick Winnett, coordinator of the Finger Lakes Resource Conservation and Development Council. The last honor at the banquet was the 2009 Merit Award, given to Josh Hornesky, soil conservationist. The conservation farmers of the year are part of a family that has been around over 150 years. Hazlitt was one of the first vineyards in the county to develop a nutrient management plan and to participate in the Vine Balance program Read More ...
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PENN YAN GETS CALL CENTER, 450 NEW JOBS
PENN YAN—On Jan. 22, Empire State Development (EDC) announced Data Listing Services, LLC, doing business as The Connection, will establish a call center in Penn Yan and create 450 new local jobs. The business will be in the former Iron Age building in the North Avenue Industrial Park which is in the Empire Zone. Empire Zone coordinator Ryan Hallings said, “We’re obviously very excited with the opportunity. It will have a significant impact on our economy. Steve Griffin has worked tirelessly to bring them here.” Griffin is CEO of Finger Lakes Economic Development Center. Newly-elected chairman of the Yates County Legislature, Taylor Fitch, commented, “It’s a great thing for Yates County and a great boost for our community.” Amy Miller at the local Workforce Development Center worked closely with Ontario County Workforce Development. The two organizations held job fairs in Penn Yan, Geneva and Canandaigua which drew hundreds of interested individuals. Fitch said as a result the company decided to come here. He said “There was a lot of hard work and negotiations.” Read More ...
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Rotary Show pleases hundreds
DUNDEE—“I loved all the singing,” said Norma Schenck, a resident from Altay.
The Dundee Rotary Show, “Ready for Prime Time” was held Friday and Saturday night, Jan. 29 and 30, at Dundee Central School. Some 300 people had the chance to hear some classic singing along with parodies of many current prime time television shows.
The 2-hour variety show included songs from area singers Clarence Sebring, Rosalie Kendall, Nancy Sisbarro and Lisa Eldridge along with Randy Knapp. Marlene Button, Alan and Lew Ann Giles and Sheri Bone also had singing parts in the show. Pianist Ed Clute, of Watkins Glen, and Ron Miller accompanied many of the singers. Vi Campos, a former Dundee Rotarian and now a Florida resident, was the director of the show.
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Penn Yan court is moving
PENN YAN—After more than a decade in the heart of Main Street, Penn Yan village court will be moving to new quarters in the village office building on Elm Street in just a few weeks. A progress report on renovations being made to the basement of the building was presented during the village board meeting, Jan. 19. Court was relocated to the village-owned Maxwell Building more than a dozen years ago. The new site was an improvement over its former location in the Basin Street police station but had several drawbacks, one of the most evident is the congestion on Main Street during the evening court sessions. For years downtown business owners had been asking the village to move the court because of problems that resulted from issues on court nights that created a poor image for downtown. Inside the building, another problem was the lack of an area for attorneys to meet in private with clients. Read More ...
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| SPORTS |
Smith takes first in sectionals weight class
ODESSA—Luke Smith took first place in the 160 weight class at the Section IV Class C wrestling tournament, Saturday, Feb. 6. Smith beat Delhi's Pat Cobane by decision, 5-2. Mike Fraboni also took second in the 103 weight class. He was pinned by Unadilla Valley's Tyler Olson. Brandon Shisler finished third in the 171 weight class, by pinning Alex Rimbey.
Odessa finished last out of ten schools with 56 points. Unadilla Valley took first with 189 points.
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Rice, Cocola take first places
ELMIRA—Watkins' Kyle Cocola and Adam Rice placed first in their competitions at the IAC Swimming and Diving Championships at Elmira, Saturday, Feb. 6. Cocola won first place in the one meter diving competition. Rice placed first in 100 yard butterfly with 1:03.10. Homer Wixson also took second in the diving competition. Watkins' Preston Roberts took third and Josh Hamelin took fifth. Jacq Goehner took third in the 100 yard butterfly with 1:05.41. Goehner also won second in the 200 yard freestyle and Derek Palmer won third. Watkins won first in the 200 yard Freestyle relay with 1:36.72. The team was made up of Chris Carlton, Frank Cady, Connor Fazzary, and Goehner. Zack Dvornicky-Raymond won second in the 100 yard backstroke with 1:09.01. Nick Cocca took third with 1:10.63. Dvornicky-Raymond also took second in the 200 yard IM. The Watkins team placed third in the 400 yard freestyle relay with 3:38.95. Read More ...
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Perez, Snyder win sectional titles
CANISTEO-GREENWOOD—Dundee's Patric Perez and Hammondsport's Josh Snyder both took first place at the Class B Sectionals in Canisteo-Greenwood, Saturday, Feb. 6. Perez was the first place winner in the 285 weight class. He pinned Canisteo's Collin Weakland in 3:03. Snyder took first place in the 215 weight class. He beat Keshequa's Jordan Shute by decision, 9-3. Snyder also received the sportsmanship award. Dundee had three other wrestlers to place. Nick Raplee came in fourth place in the 152 weight class. In the 189 weight class, Dustyn Thompson came in fifth place, and Stephen Chappell came in six. The two Dundee wrestlers ended up facing each other for final placement. Thompson pinned Chappell in 4:33. Overall, Dundee came in eighth place, out of 20 schools, with 72 points. Hammondsport came in 17th place, with 22 points. Canisteo-Greenwood was in first with 276 points. Read More ...
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Odessa beats Newfield, 51-50
ODESSA—The Odessa girls varsity basketball team beat Newfield, 51-50, at a home game, Friday, Feb. 5. Whitney Ayers scored a three point shot with 8.3 seconds left on the clock to win the game for Odessa. Her sister, Rebecca Ayers also made her 1,000th career point during the second quarter of the game. Coach Greg Gavich added Rebecca made the shot off of a pass from her sister. "We forced a turnover in the final seconds and Newfield never got off a shot," said Gavich about the end of the game. He added that neither team led by more than six points from the start. Allison Stamp led Odessa in points with 16, and 11 rebounds. Michelle Melanson had 14 points and eight rebounds. Whitney Ayers had 12 points. Odessa is now 11-4 this season. The girls basketball team plays next at Watkins Glen, Feb. 9. Read More ...
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Mustangs beat Waterloo, 49-39
PENN YAN—The Penn Yan girls varsity basketball team beat Waterloo, 49-39, in a home game, Friday, Feb. 5. Emily Simpson was the Mustangs' highest scorer with 15 points. She was followed by Rachel Roddenberry with 13 points. Kate Disbrow was next with seven points. Penn Yan was 14-25 at the foul line. The Mustangs held the lead for most of the game. Penn Yan started out only two points behind Waterloo after the first quarter. The girls basketball team plays next at Midlakes, Feb. 8. Read More ...
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Dundee loses to South Seneca, 49-47
DUNDEE—The Dundee girls basketball team lost to South Seneca, by two points, Friday, Feb. 5. The game was almost tied at the last second, but Dundee missed a shot, making the end score 49-47. With 1:20 left on the clock, the two teams were tied at 45-45. South Seneca scored again, but Casi Strait tied the score with two free throw shots with 17 seconds on the clock. Scoring one last time, South Seneca took the final two-point lead. Strait scored the most for Dundee with 19 points. She was followed by Sam Clingerman with 18 points. The Scots were 7-13 at the free throw line. Coach Tom Pratt said South Seneca scored a lot more free throw shots, which was why they won. South Seneca was 22-29 at the foul line. Even though Dundee had more baskets on the court, he added. "They played hard, but came up a little short," he said. The Dundee girls basketball team plays next at Mynderse, Feb. 9. Read More ...
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Watkins varsity winter sports schedule
WATKINS GLEN—The schedules for the Watkins varsity winter sports this upcoming week are:
Boys Basketball
Feb. 8 ... Corning East, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... @ O-M, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Feb. 5 ... @ Newark Valley, 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... O-M, 7:30 p.m.
Bowling
Feb. 6 ... @ IAC Championship, TBA
Feb. 20 ... State Qualifiers, TBA
Indoor Track
Feb. 5 ... @ Class Championships, 5 p.m.
Feb. 19 ... @ State Qualifiers, 5 p.m..
Wrestling
Feb. 6 ... @ Classes, TBA
Feb. 12 ... @ Sectional, TBA
For the full winter schedule for Watkins ... Read More ...
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Dundee varsity winter sports schedule
DUNDEE—The schedules for the Dundee varsity winter sports this upcoming week are:
Boys Basketball
Feb. 10 ... DeSales High School, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 ... Mynderse, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Feb. 5 ... South Seneca, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... @ Mynderse, 7:30
Bowling
Feb. 8 ... @ Penn Yan
Feb. 10 ... @ Finger Lakes Doubles/Singles Tourney
Wrestling
Feb. 8 ... @ Geneva, 4 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... @ Palmyra Macedon, 4 p.m.
For Dundee's full winter schedule ... Read More ...
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Odessa-Montour varsity winter sports schedule
ODESSA—The schedules for the Odessa-Montour varsity winter sports this upcoming week are:
Boys Basketball
Feb. 5 ... @ Newfield, 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 ... Watkins Glen, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Feb. 5 ... Newfield, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... @ Watkins Glen, 7 p.m.
Bowling
Feb. 6 ... IAC Championships, TBA
Feb. 12 ... Sectionals, TBA
Boys Swimming
Feb. 6 ... @ IAC Championships, TBA
Feb. 10 ... Sectionals, TBA
Wrestling
Feb. 6 ... Classes, TBA
Feb. 12-13 ... Sectionals, TBA
For Odessa's full winter schedule ... Read More ...
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Hammondsport varsity winter sports schedule
HAMMONDSPORT— The schedules for the Hammondsport varsity winter sports this upcoming week are:
Boys Basketball
Feb. 9 ... County Tourney, all day
Feb. 13 ... County Tourney, all day
Girls Basketball
Feb. 10 ... County Tourney, all day.
Feb. 12 ... County Tourney all day.
Wrestling
Feb. 5 ... Sectionals, TBA.
Feb. 6 ... Sectionals, TBA.
For Hammondsport's full winter schedule ... Read More ...
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Penn Yan varsity winter sports schedule
PENN YAN—The schedules for the Penn Yan varsity winter sports this upcoming week are:
Boys Basketball
Feb. 5 ... @ Waterloo, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... Midlakes, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Feb. 5 ... Waterloo, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 ... @ Midlakes, 7:30 p.m.
Bowling
Feb. 8 ... Dundee, 3:45 p.m.
Feb. 9 ... - Doubles/Singles Tourney
Wrestling
Feb. 5-6 ... @ Section V Class BBB, TBA
Feb. 12-13 ... @ Section V Finals, TBA
For Penn Yan's full winter schedule ... Read More ...
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