Governor is honorary starter for Sunday race

Governor David Paterson will be the honorary starter for Sunday's Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen IndyCar race. This will mark his first visit to Watkins Glen International. That race, to be run in the afternoon, is one of several this weekend at the track. Others on tap: Firestone Indy Lights, the SCCA Speed World Challenge and the F2000 Championship Series. For more photos, see Features.

Left: Gov. David Paterson

Clute hosts festival

An Indy-Pendence Day Celebration -- a combination Independence Day and IndyCar themed festival -- was held Friday at Clute Park in Watkins Glen as a kickoff to the race weekend. Food vendors, music, games, and activities for kids were available to park visitors. The evening culminated in a fireworks display.

Left: A young driver operates an IndyCar simulator at Clute Park.

Store opening now set for July 11th

Preparations are taking longer than expected for the planned opening of the Seneca Lake General Store in the old Ace Hardware building on North Franklin Street in Watkins Glen. So the hoped-for July 4th debut has been pushed back to July 11th, owner Jim Guild reports.

Bikers gather in Montour, tour track

Scores of motorcycle enthusiasts were on hand Friday for the first day of the two-day Bike Rally being held at the Montour Falls Carnival Grounds. Vendors were on hand, music was provided by DJ Tom Strong, and the bikers were looking forward to an early-evening tour of the Watkins Glen International racetrack. The Rally was to conclude Saturday with a breakfast at the Montour Falls Fire Hall, contests, and awards.

Left top: John Dahl drives as son Erik grabs a tennis ball from a cone, part of a Rally contest Friday.

Left bottom: Biker Jeremey Brown dons his helmet.

Follow the Warriors

The Southern Tier Warriors semipro football team starts its season July 11th at home on Odessa-Montour's football field. Catch the action.

July 11th: Home vs. Glens Falls Greenjackets
July 18th: Home vs. Ithaca Aggression
July 25th: Home vs. Western NY Cougars

Rotary honors Specchio as Paul Harris Fellow

The Watkins-Montour Rotary Club named Tony Specchio (left) a Paul Harris Fellow Thursday at the club's weekly luncheon meeting. The award goes to people who provide "tangible and significant assistance to the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world." Specchio, a Korean War veteran, a former Town of Reading supervisor, a former county legislator, and Committee Chairman of the Schuyler County Soil & Water Conservation District, has organized Memorial Day and Veterans Day services and parades in Watkins Glen for 40 years. On hand for the honor were 15 family members, including his wife, Annabelle.

Subjects range wide in Massa town-hall talk

Congressman Eric Massa discussed topics ranging from health care reform to wartime torture to the economy to the wine industry during a town hall meeting Tuesday at the Montour Falls Fire Hall. Government.

Left: Congressman Eric Massa

Hungry? Check out the Village Take Out menu

That's right. You can call up the Village Take Out Menu anytime, because we carry it on this website. And keep up-to-date on the changes owners Bob and Shelly Landon are instituting at the restaurant. Menu.

The Italian-American Festival at Clute Park

The annual Italian-American Festival will be held on:

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 31 and August 1 & 2, 2009

Clute Memorial Park, Rt. 414, Watkins Glen, NY

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See website for details by clicking here.

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Rain forces concert into Clute Park Pavilion

Tuesday night's Watkins Glen Concert in the Park was forced from Lafayette Park to the Clute Park Pavilion by a rainstorm that moved through the area a half-hour before the scheduled start of the music. Featured performers were the Hepcats Big Band, a group of musicians from around the region. Once the move was made, the Pavilion became a popular spot, attracting more than 150 music lovers, including quite a few who took to the dance floor, stepping lively to the band's tunes. This was the Tuesday concert series' second performance of the summer season.

Left: Dancers at the concert, and a couple of band members. The Hepcats have been performing for 10 years.

Man drowns in Seneca Lake

Michael S. Novak, 50, of Chambers Road, Beaver Dams, drowned Tuesday in Seneca Lake after sinking underwater while trying to retrieve a canoe that had drifted away from a breakwall near the Cargill Salt plant. The Sheriff's Office said Novak was canoeing with a friend's 11-year-old daughter and had stopped at the breakwall, with the pair exiting the craft. When the canoe drifted away, Novak entered the water to retrieve it, and disappeared. Emergency personnel called to the scene found him underwater, and tried unsuccessfully to revive him.

The latest column by State Sen. George Winner

State Senator George Winner graces our pages with a column produced from his Albany office -- a regular feature. This week the subject is "More Reasons Why." Column.

Left: State Senator George Winner

Watkins Glen graduates 109 in Class of '09

The Watkins Glen High School graduation ceremony Saturday afternoon in the school auditorium saw diplomas bestowed on 109 students in front of a capacity crowd. More than four dozen awards were presented. For details, see Schools. More photos are here.

O-M bids farewell to the Class of 2009

The Odessa-Montour High School commencement exercises Friday night saw 45 students graduated (including an exchange student honorarily) before a large crowd in the Fetter-Brown Auditorium. Hopes for the traditional outdoor ceremony were dashed by stormy weather. Schools.

Left: The graduates onstage in the Fetter-Brown Auditorium

New rescue vehicle put into service in Odessa

The Odessa Fire Department put a new $50,000 rescue truck into service Friday -- a heavy-duty diesel successor to a gas-powered 1995 Suburban. The new vehicle, purchased through state contract and a loan, was delivered by Robert Green Chevrolet of Monticello last month, and then painted and outfitted. The old Suburban will be used as the chief's vehicle, replacing a Tahoe that will be sold.

Left: Fire Chief John Jelliff

From the creative mind of Ron Havens ....

Conservatives beware. Catharine Corners' Ron Havens -- known for his politically charged statuary in front of his home -- weighs in with more cartoons, his 30th collection on this website. Toons.

Warren qualifies for U.S. Swim Nationals

Watkins Glen High School grad Courtney Warren (left), a student at Bucknell University, qualified recently in Sewell, New Jersey, for the USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials in the 100 Meter Backstroke. Her time was 1:03.82. She will compete July 8 in Indianapolis. The winner of each event at the National will represent the U.S. in the World tourney in Italy later this year.

Finger Lakes Museum chartered; site sought

A museum to celebrate the Finger Lakes' cultural and natural history is being planned, with a site in the region to be determined. Features.

Left: Seneca White Deer

Warriors to open season on July 11

The Southern Tier Warriors semipro football team opens its inaugural season July 11th with a number of familiar names on the roster. Sports.

Left: Warriors at practice

A column by Odessa Mayor Keith T. Pierce

Odessa Mayor Keith T. Pierce graces our pages with his second monthly column. This time the subject is "The SCOPED Factor." Column.

Left: Mayor Keith T. Pierce

Planning Board eyes hotel expansion plan

The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel sets in motion a plan to expand the hotel by April 2010. Government.

Watkins Glen board okays 2-hour parking

The Watkins Glen Village Board on June 15th voted to limit parking in the 3rd Street lot to two hours. The lot -- which has operated without a time restriction -- is behind the soon-to-open Seneca Lake General Store being developed by Jim Guild, who had requested the two-hour limit. Lot.

Left: Jim Guild

More from and about the Historical Society

Brian J. O'Donnell provides another in a series of articles about Schuyler County Historical Society activities, along with some historical facts. History.

Olafson repeats as Schuyler Spring MVP

Watkins Glen High School sophomore Shelby Olafson is once again The Odessa File's Schuyler Spring MVP. Olafson, a school-record-setting High Jumper who finished sixth in the New York State Track and Field Championships, also won the Spring MVP honor last year. Sports.

Left: Shelby Olafson

More historical facts about Watkins High

Brian J. O'Donnell provides another in a series of articles from the files of the Watkins Glen School District -- his 24th monthly installment. History.

Sportsmanship Award goes to John Blaha

Odessa-Montour senior John Blaha was presented Tuesday with the fifth annual Susan B. Haeffner Schuyler County Sportsmanship Award, given annually to one outstanding high school student-athlete in the county. The award, presented by Odessa File Editor-Publisher Charlie Haeffner, is named in honor of his late wife.

Left: John Blaha with trophy.

20 students honored as Schuyler Scholars

Twenty seniors from Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour and Bradford High Schools were honored as Schuyler Scholars June 9th for being in the top 10% of their class academically. Each was presented with a plaque at a dinner at the Watkins Glen International Media Center. Schools.

Left: Speaker Tim O'Hearn, the County Administrator

Top Drawer 24 team is honored at State Park

Members of The Odessa File's 4th annual Top Drawer 24 team of outstanding student-athletes from the Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour and Trumansburg school districts were honored May 27th at the Watkins Glen State Park. Honored.

Odessa issues its summer newsletter

The Village of Odessa brings its residents up to date on local happenings by issuing its Summer 2009 Newsletter. See Newsletter.

O-M unveils Honor Roll

The Honor Roll for the 5th marking period at the Odessa-Montour Middle and High Schools has been released. For a look, click here.

More photos of our region by Liz Fraboni

Liz Fraboni of Watkins Glen returns to our site with another group of scenic photos -- this time snapped near her home, on vacation, in Spencer, and along the Catharine Valley Trail. For a look, click here.

Left: A busy bee

Exchange student Egli offers his 6th column

Odessa-Montour High School exchange student David Egli presents his sixth in a series of columns, this time on similarities in movies, music and fashion in the U.S. and Europe. Column.

Left: David Egli

Join the sponsorship team!!

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Or you can send a check or money order to:

The Odessa File, P.O. Box 365, Odessa, NY 14869

A list of our contributors can be found on the Sponsors Page.

A look at members of Schuyler Hall of Fame

A continuing look at the membership roll of the Schuyler County Hall of Fame, featuring plaques on display now at the Historical Society Museum. Hall of Fame.

Left: Schuyler Hall of Fame member Patricia Suits Ellison

Some old photos from the Kelly collection

We have some more photos from the collection amassed over the years by the late Bill Kelly. For a look, click here.

Odessa issues annual water quality report

The Village of Odessa updates its residents on their water supply with its annual Water Quality Report. Water

The What, When and Why of this website

Editor-publisher Charlie Haeffner updates readers on what makes this website tick. Site.

Left: Charlie Haeffner (Photo by Dave Haeffner)