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YATES

Finger Lakes museum sets meetings
YATES COUNTY—The Finger Lakes Visitors Association (FLVA) will co-sponsor two community information meetings in August regarding the planned Finger Lakes Cultural & Natural History Museum to be located in Yates County. The first will be co-sponsored by Fulkerson Winery and The Observer and held Thursday evening, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. at the Fulkerson Winery, 5576 Route 14. The second forum will be co-sponsored by the FLVA and the Bluff Point Association, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m. at the Yates County Office Building auditorium, on Liberty Street in Penn Yan. According to Steve Knapp, executive director of the Finger Lakes Visitors Association, “These sessions will give residents the opportunity to learn more about the plans to create a world-class, eco-friendly museum, and to express their ideas for this exciting project.” Read More ...

Wineries take top wins in state awards
FINGER LAKES—While this year’s Governor’s Cup went to a winery outside of the immediate area, a number of Seneca and Keuka Lake wineries took top medals in the 2010 New York Wine & Food Classic competition. The competition was held, Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 16 and 17, in Watkins Glen. Last year Anthony Road Winery secured the Governor’s Cup, but this year it went to Swedish Hill Winery’s Riesling Cuvee, out of Romulus. Sheldrake Point Vineyards in Ovid took the Winery of the Year, for a second consecutive year. There were 850 wines and 17 spirits from all over New York entered into this competition. New this year was a Best New York Spirit award, which went to Watkins’ Finger Lakes Distilling for its Seneca Drums Gin. Read More ...

State raises bar on student scoring
TRI-COUNTY AREA—Due to the state changing scoring requirements, fewer students are now meeting the state’s proficiency standards. The New York State Education Commissioner David Steiner made the announcement that affects students in every school district in the state, July 28. The commissioner raised the cut scores for meeting certain levels. Students are evaluated out of four levels, with three and up meaning they met or exceeded the required proficiency or comprehension in math and English Language Arts (ELA). Penn Yan Superintendent Ann Orman said she has already sent a letter to parents explaining the student is not suddenly performing badly, but the requirements are now harder. She added she doesn’t disagree with the commissioner’s action, but said she is surprised that it changed so quickly. Read More ...

Yates approves discount drug program
PENN YAN—Lowering the cost of prescription drugs was addressed by Yates County legislators at the Aug. 9 meeting. Legislators authorized an agreement with ProAct, Inc., a subsidiary of Kinney Drugs, Inc., to endorse the establishment of a county discount prescription drug card program through ProAct, Inc. The program will provide a discount prescription drug card at no cost to the county or its residents. It will be available to any county resident and could be used at any pharmacy, The program may enhance the prescription plans of families and individuals who have prescription drug program, but will mainly serve those who have limited prescription coverage or none. On Aug. 10, ProAct account executive Erison Rodriguez spoke about the program. He said the program is designed to assist the underinsured or non insured individual but anyone who has to pay full price for a prescription could use the card. Read More ...

Raising funds is next step for museum
PENN YAN—Members of the board of Finger Lakes Economic Development Center (FLEDC) received more information about the Finger Lakes Cultural and Natural History Museum during a presentation by museum board chairman John Adamski and project director Don Naetzker who said the group is very excited about the geographically central location selected at Keuka Lake State Park. He said the site does have challenges, such as the fact it is not as easily accessible as some other sites, commenting, “We have to have a product with critical mass and excitement.” He said it is possible to have one campus for education at the Branchport School and the other at the park. Finger Lakes Visitors Association is purchasing the school from the Penn Yan Central School District and has offered it to the museum for use. This may become a permanent part of the museum. Naetzker said, “We are confident there is some interim programming we can do as early as next summer.” Adamski said the school means there is $15,000 the museum doesn’t have to spend to build. Property will not be taken off the tax rolls. Read More ...