The Forum:
Massa is in tune with farm challenges
To the Editor on July 2:
Farmers in Congressional District 29 would like to thank Rep. Eric
J.J. Massa for voting against H.R. 2454, the so-called “Climate
Change Bill,” which will have a disastrous impact on agriculture.
New York Farm Bureau strongly opposes this legislation. It will dramatically
increase already skyrocketing fuel prices and send feed prices soaring.
Far worse, it will cause a $5 billion per year loss in nationwide farm
income by 2020, essentially ruining the future for young farmers in
New York.
The bill largely ignores the fact that agriculture has a net positive
impact on the ecology and the ozone. But the fact that it ignores the
economic realities of rural America makes it even worse.
Fortunately, Rep. Massa is well in tune with the challenges of the
farm families of his district. We’re glad he’s on our side.
Congressman, Thank You for standing up for New York’s farm families.
Dean Norton, President, New York Farm Bureau
Photo contest set for teens, 'tweens
To the Editor on July 1:
Would you please put the following on The Odessa
File to help get the word out about this summer's photography contest?
Teens and 'Tweens have the opportunity to express themselves at the
Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library this summer by entering our photography
contest. Teens from ages 13-19, and 'tweens from ages 10-12 can submit
up to 3 original B/W or color 4x6 photos in any of the
following categories: pets/animals, portraits, or nature.
Submissions should include name, age, and contact info
on the back of the photo and can be submitted to the Dutton S. Peterson
Memorial Library, Odessa, by July 21st. Submissions will be judged on
Thursday evening, July 23rd, from 7:00-8:00 PM at the library by judges
Lou Cicconi and Valerie Bond. Prizes will be awarded and light refreshments
served. For more information, stop by the library or call 594-2791.
Gayle Greuber
Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library
It was nice to see Bob Lee honored
To the Editor on June 30:
Thank you very much to the WGHS Class of 1984 for honoring my good friend
Bob Lee. Bob's services to this community and the surrounding area started
many years ago. Much of it was done quietly and without much publicity.
It was nice to see him finally receive the recognition that he deserves.
He has a huge heart and a ton of compassion for others.
The Class of '84 did a super job of organizing the Alumni Banquet, and
everyone had a great time. It's always wonderful to reconnect with old
friends.
A proud memeber of the great WGCS Class of 1964,
Linda Lodge Gibson
Thank you, WGHS Class of 1984
To the Editor on June 30:
I would like to thank the Class of 1984 for honoring
Bob Lee. It was such a wonderful night for him and for all of us in
his family that were there for him. It was so rewarding to see that
others see what we see in Bob Lee and appreciate the wonderful man he
is and that he would sacrifice anything to help anyone, especially one
of his players.
The fact that he was late for the banquet because he was running around
to make sure one of the Boys State boys could stay at Morrisville because
they wanted to make him leave on a technicality is what he is all about.
It was so nice to celebrate something positive in his life.
Thank you to the Alumni Committee too for all your hard
work and for organizing a wonderful banquet.
A proud Watkins Glen High School Graduate of the Class
of 1964........
Shirley Lee Ormsbee
Thanks to Alumni Banquet organizers
To the Editor on June 29:
I'd like to commend the group that organized and brought
to fruition the Annual Alumni Banquet (Watkins Glen) held on June 27th,
to include the Alumni Association and, most importantly, the host class
of 1984. I'm aware of the hours of volunteer work these people put into
making the event a success and it was well worth it. The program ran
smoothly and was very enjoyable.
Having resided in State College, PA for the past 14 years, I recognize
the unique charm and unity of my hometown of Watkin Glen. Although I
truly love living in "Happy Valley," I feel a bit of sadness
that my children had a very different high school experience than I,
in the sense of feeling connected with people 5 years ahead or 5 years
behind my grade level. My youngest, Mia, graduated in 2007 amongst 750
others!
It is always a pleasure for me to reconnect with teachers, classmates,
family and friends whenever I visit WG and it will forever hold a special
place in my heart.
Thank you again, Reunion Committee, for providing an outstanding event
and opportunity to reconnect with my hometown.
Sincerely,
Sandy (Parete) Minichiello
Class of '79
Pneumonia vaccine recommendations
To the Editor on June 29:
Most people who have the flu, no matter what kind, recover
from the illness without any further problems. But as with any disease,
the flu can and does cause complications in some individuals. The most
frequent problem is pneumonia.
While the pneumonia vaccine does not protect an individual from all
different types of pneumonia, it does protect against 23 different kinds,
including those most likely to cause serious disease. We urge all residents
who meet the following guidelines to discuss the vaccine with their
doctor to determine whether or not they should receive the shot.
Current recommendations:
All people 65 years old or older
All persons below 65 years of age with one or more of the following:
heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, liver disease, HIV, cancer,
asthma, alcoholism or if you smoke.
If you have any questions regarding the pneumonia vaccine, please call
the Schuyler County Health Department at 535-8140.
Schuyler County Health Department
A thank-you from the festival
chair
To the Editor on June 23:
As chair of the Watkins Glen Waterfront Festival “Committee of
Arrangements,” I would like to express my gratitude to the scores
of folks who helped make this year's Waterfront Festival such a success.
Each year the festival grows larger and we find things we have to change
and ways we can improve the event. What can not be improved upon is
the community spirit that is so alive and well and that is the driving
force behind our success.
To every person who took a moment out of his or her day… thank
you! To those who spent hours and days working behind the scenes, my
sincere gratitude! To one in particular, who I cannot possibly thank
enough, hugs forever!!!
And last, to all those folks who are crazy enough to wrap their hearts
up in cardboard and duct tape, and risk it all to sail the waters of
Seneca Harbor Park…thank you!!! Thank you for sharing your character
and determination and for giving us, the spectators, the memories of
an afternoon filled with laughter and a view of the human spirit, full
of grit and determination.
You, the participants in the “Nearly Famous” Cardboard
Boat Regatta, are the reason we all gather together on a Saturday in
June in Watkins Glen. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Caryl Sutterby
Watkins Glen Waterfront Festival Event Chair
So many contributed to event's success
To the Editor on June 23:
The Antiques and Tapas event held on June 13 to benefit the Schuyler
Health Foundation was a great success. One hundred people joined us
at the Montour House for an evening of good food, a sampling of local
wines, camaraderie, antique appraisals, and a fun-filled auction.
There are far too many people, businesses, and organizations to thank
individually for donating their time and talent to make this event a
success. Louise O’Shaughnessy and Deborah Pierce of O’Shaughnessy
Antiques and Fine Arts Gallery deserve our special thanks for their
knowledge of antiques, and for donating their time, talent, and the
fabulous antique ring as the grand prize.
The main beneficiaries are the people in our community who turn to
Schuyler Hospital for their health care. On behalf of the Schuyler Health
Foundation and the Schuyler Hospital Auxiliary, please accept our sincere
thanks for being a part of our success.
Sincerely,
Joanne McLaine, President, Schuyler Hospital
Auxiliary
Jim Kuehl, Schuyler Hospital Foundation Director
A link with some graduation
safety tips
To the Editor on June 20:
Would you be willing to include the PSA link below on
your website? With graduation time here, I am hopeful that someone may
take the time to view this information and it may keep them safe.
Thank you for the service you provide our community!
Sincerely,
Gretchen Silliman
It's titled: PARENTS,:
HELP YOUR TEENS PARTY RIGHT AT GRADUATION
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/GraduationFacts/NIAAA_graduation_flyer.pdf
Don't let your cats wander
in village
To the Editor on June 17:
I would like to know why people in the Odessa village
think they can just let their cats roam all over town. One cat in particular
is a black/white young cat with a reddish yarn-like collar. It is quite
sickly looking and may have health issues. I have seen it all over town
but mostly on Maple Ave. It has been hanging around a house I own on
Church Street. I actually felt sorry for it and gave it some food which
it gobbled down.
Whoever owns it should come forward and make sure it has
food and health care. It actually has quite an odor also. If you know
who owns it, please have them attend to it properly. I just hope it
has an owner and is being fed, and the collar around her/his neck will
come off as it grows. Please people ....be a responsible pet owner.
Don't let them dig our flower gardens up and pee all over our yards.
Thanks.
Kathy Wich
Matt Walters thanks his supporters
To the Editor on June 10:
I wanted to write to you to say thank you for your website and its
coverage of the recent School Board Election at Odessa-Montour. I also
would like to thank all of the community members who voted for and supported
me. I was overwhelmed by the amount of support I received.
I am due to take office in July and am looking forward to my 3-year
term. I have already begun receiving updates and information about the
duties and responsibilities of a school board member. I must say I am
excited to represent all of you. I look forward to seeing many of you
at school functions and sporting events.
Let me assure all of you that as promised, I will work in the best
interest of the students as well as the taxpayers. As you know, I campaigned
with Don Roberts. I want to thank him for his partnership and hard work.
I look forward to serving with him on the board. Congratulations to
Karen Rock and Debra Harrington on their re-election. The community
is lucky to have dedicated people like them serving.
I also wanted to commend Scott McCray on his campaign. Although he
didn't win, he left no question in my mind that he has the best interest
of the children of this community in mind, and it shows by his letters
to this website as well as the amazing work he does with Schuyler Little
League.
In closing, I would be remiss if I didn't thank my wonderful wife Melanie
and my extended "family of friends." You all know who you
are. I couldn't have done it without you guys. Thanks so much.
Matt Walters
Labor of Love committee thanks
you
To the Editor on June 9:
The committee of “Labor of Love” would like
to extend our heartfelt thanks to ALL the individuals, organizations
and businesses who contributed to our Spaghetti Dinner held in memory
of Lindy Bond, Rosanne Paradiso and Nancy Musser. The dinner, held on
May 7, was a HUGE success! All monies raised by our group go directly
back to help those who are less fortunate in Schuyler County. Without
the generous support of our community, we would not have been able to
raise the necessary funds to continue the legacies of these three very
special ladies.
We would like to particularly thank the following area businesses and
organizations: Blooming Creations, Bobby Potter, Barb Cook, Classic
Chef's Diner, Curly's Family Restaurant, Financial Institutions of Schuyler
County (FISC), Glen Mountain Market, Harvest Café, Odessa File,
Hi-Lites/The Daily News, Montour Moose Club #426, Odessa Methodist Youth
Group, Pampered & Polished by Deb/Margaritavylle, Pizza Hut, Art
& Nancy’s, Green Grand Prix, Savard’s Family Restaurant,
Schuyler Catholic Community, Schuyler Hospital, Seneca Harbor Station,
Seneca Lodge, Southern Tier, Inc., Stillman’s, Tops Friendly Markets,
Watkins Glen Interact Club, Watkins Glen Police Department, Wegmans,
Walmart, and Wright's Beverage. A special thank you to St. Mary’s
of the Lake Church for allowing us to host the dinner at St. Mary’s
Center.
A warm thank you goes out to all of those individuals who donated money
to help us defray the cost of our dinner. And last, but certainly not
least, an affectionate thank you to all those who supported our efforts
by attending the dinner!
Most sincerely,
The Labor of Love Committee
A letter of clarification about that sign
To the Editor on June 5:
After some discussion with other people about this sign
at a local store, I feel I need to clarify some of the statements I
made in regard to this issue. It is uncommon for me to “open mouth,
insert foot.”
First, let me say I am sorry if I grouped every student
into one category. Upon reading my letter, I discovered I am no different
than the sign. I jumped before I looked, so to speak. I have three kids
and five nieces and nephews. None of these kids would shoplift; yet,
if they were to all try to go in this store at the same time, they would
be turned away because they are students. So to Miss Fausold, I am sorry
if I grouped you or your friends into a group of “bad apples,”
for which I feel this sign is intended.
Jesse Scott, my statement about “I'm sure there's
a statistic out there somewhere that will back up the claim that shoplifting
by kids is relatively high” was very vague. It was an assumption.
Thank you for researching that statistic and shedding light on this.
I forget sometimes I am passionate about the right to free speech, something
you and I both served our country to preserve. Upon reflecting on this
letter, it seems that ALL students’ right to assembly is being
violated, perhaps?
Yes, we do live in a tourist town, something I must've
lost sight of. Yes, I too have been inside several stores during the
weekends from Memorial Day to mid-October, and any one store can be
overcrowded, especially the one in question. As a matter of fact, I've
been in that store when the line was all the way around the inside of
the store, and yet no one was told they could not be in there. A question
that was brought to my attention (makes perfect sense too) was, “Are
tourists also going to be allowed only 2 at a time, and no purses in
store, etc?” Has this store been confronted about the sign?
Roger D. Willis
Watkins Glen
Store policy is, quite frankly,
unfair
To the Editor on June 3:
As a fellow student, I would like to take a moment to defend Nick Secord’s
position regarding the limitations placed on students at a local gas
station.
I will, as a student myself, acknowledge that there are times when
teenagers can be loud and somewhat of a nuisance. They can be rude,
and a limited few may even be guilty of shoplifting. I will not agree,
however, with the idea that all teens are rude and disrespectful. There
are plenty of students who are perfectly capable of behaving properly
in public places, and I witness many of them on a daily basis as I walk
the halls of Watkins Glen High. The idea that the convenience store
would seemingly discriminate against all students in such a manner is,
indeed, insulting.
It seems that far too often in today’s society, we “kids”
(although I may point out that many of us, particularly seniors, are
legal adults) are grouped together and stereotyped. Over and over again,
the majority is forced to suffer consequences resulting from the actions
of a few. As individuals, we are not one and the same. We are not all
rude, we do not all loiter, and we do not all shoplift.
As a respectful and law-abiding citizen, I see no reason why I should
be forbidden from walking into a store with two or three friends so
I can buy a bottle of water and a pack of gum. It is, quite frankly,
unfair, as no other group would be profiled in this manner.
If the convenience store is having problems with select students (or
groups of students), then perhaps there should be some sort of disciplinary
action taken, but against those students only. They could be given a
warning against their disruptive behavior, and then asked not to return
if the problem persists.
I’m sorry about the crowding issue. It is tourist season, though,
and until sometime in October, our small town is going to be quite busy,
as usual. There’s going to be more than two people in the store
at a time. Is the store going to tell a visiting family of three, four,
or five people that they can’t all enter at once? If the answer
is yes, then so be it. Just change the wording on the sign.
Eleanor Fausold
WGHS Class of 2009
A boycott would send clear
message
To the Editor on June 3:
I have several questions involving the “sign on
the gas station” issue.
1. Does it include college students, up to and including the Doctoral
level?
2. Does that mean high school dropouts are free to enter the store
in masses?
3. Do they have someone at the door checking student ID’s?
4. Will they limit the number of intoxicated adults allowed in the
store during NASCAR weekend?
5. If I am to enter that store, how do I go about proving to the cashier
or other staff that I am not a high school student?
My advice to the high school students who shop at this particular store:
Boycott it. Then see how fast that sign is removed, if it’s not
already.
Jesse Scott
Omaha, NE
Former Watkins Glen High School STUDENT
P.S.: Regarding the argument by Roger
Willis (below) that shoplifting by kids is relatively high, every study
I was able to find involving shoplifting stats cited the average age
of a shoplifter to be roughly 27.
Store has a right to control
crowd
To the Editor on June 3:
Okay, are we treating the SIGN as profiling, or is the
store exercising its right to keep control of its space of operations?
If the student feels that all students are being profiled,
perhaps it's for a good reason? I know the store in question, and it's
very small inside -- so small that it would be very difficult to navigate
the store with a bunch of teenagers goofing off. The store in question
does have cameras; I feel it's more of a crowd control issue, not a
shoplifting issue.
I get it that the kid feels slighted because he was made
to wait outside because of a sign; well, that's too bad. If the store
had a sign that said "No more than 2 PEOPLE at a time in Store,"
would that make the student happy? I know for a FACT that another store
used to have a similar sign in its window, and nothing was ever said
about that store. That store was bigger and had cameras. It's the store
owner's RIGHT to protect its investment.
If I owned a store, you bet I'd have cameras and would
control the amount of rude kids coming in my store. Yes, I said RUDE
teens. Have you ever been any place where several kids are gathered?
Swearing, name-calling, rudeness towards adults. Okay, go ahead and
say kids are being kids; if it were your kid being rude or disrespectful,
what would YOU do? No kid has ANY right to be disrespectful towards
an adult. If said store wishes to have a sign in their window to maintain
order, I say good for them!
I'm sure there's a statistic out there somewhere that
will back up the claim that shoplifting by kids is relatively high.
Again, I feel it's a crowd control issue, not a shoplifting issue. If
you put several kids in a small area with book bags, tell me how easy
anyone could walk around a store, especially with a hot cup of coffee.
What if a kid's being rowdy with one of his friends, spins around, and
knocks into someone with a hot cup of coffee? Let's be real, people!
Roger D. Willis
Watkins Glen
We have not learned from our
past
To the Editor on June 1:
After reading Nicholas Secord's letter (below), all I
can say here is WOW!!!!. Nothing like taking a step back in our society
equivalent to about 45 years of civil liberties progress.
It is a shame that we have people in this world who own
businesses and are not capable of understanding that the customer is
their business. And although I am not positive what gas station he is
speaking of, it really does not matter. This type of ignorance shouldn't
be tolerated by anyone in our community.
If the gas station in question is having a problem with
shoplifting, then I would suggest it update its security cameras. Maybe
a call to the ACLU would be useful in this instance. It certainly seems
like discrimination towards the students of Watkins Glen to me.
Even in a day and age when so much progress has been made in discrimination
issues, we have not yet learned anything from our past, it would seem.
Scott McCray
A sign that a student finds
troubling ...
To the Editor on June 1:
I seldom stop at a certain gas station in Watkins; it’s
not exactly on a route that I travel over heavily. Nevertheless, its
simple sign (pictured below) came to my attention recently
as I entered the station one frightful afternoon.
 I
paused suddenly, my heart skipped a beat, and I was obligated to tie
both my horse, Mr. Boots, and one of my friends (anonymous) to the bike
rack out front. It was a tough decision, but it appears that there just
isn’t enough room for all of us on this wonderful planet, and
sacrifices have to be made.
What does it mean in the whole of things, you ask? It
could mean either of the following scenarios.
1. I am being profiled and discriminated against as a
human being, in a specified group of people.
2. Someone made a typo of epic proportions.
Now the average person may let this one slide, a sign of concise scale
crafted on a simple piece of paper, but I was quite aggravated. This
type of mistake is in line with the time I visited a local restaurant
and was told that as a student I had to pay before, not after, I ate
at the buffet. I left before, not after, eating or paying.
Furthermore, several groups of people come to mind that
if substituted in place of the word students on this sign, might just
retaliate, possibly with the support of the law. I might also add that
some people that work at such institutions are students, or have been
before. This does, however, present itself to be a positive occurrence
in one way, in that I always have trouble deciding where to buy my gas.
Now I have my choices narrowed down a bit.
I guess the only just response to this measure that I
can think of is to post a sign in the school that limits entrance to
those employed at a certain gas station to two at a time, and to institute
a student boycott of a certain gas station or corporation. Then they
won’t need to worry about distinguishing students from non-students;
they won’t have any students as customers whatsoever.
Well anyways, I thought this to be a topic of interest and was going
to write of it one way or another, because I’m still a student
until June 27th.
Thanks for listening.
Nicholas Alan Secord, WGHS Class of 2009
Alumni group announces honorees
To the Editor on May 30:
The Watkins Glen High School Alumni Association is pleased
to announce the following 2009 Distinguished Alumni recipients:
Dr. Thomas Jack Love, Class of 1939, recognized in the field
of Community Service; and David F. Bartone, Class of 1964, recognized
in the field of Business.
Please join the Board of Directors at the annual Alumni
Banquet to be held June 27, 2009 at the Watkins Glen Community Center
in honoring these two most worthy alumni.
WGHS Alumni Association
Still seeking classmates from
1964, 1965
To the Editor on May 28:
I have updated my list of missing members or missing addresses
of the Odessa-Montour Classes of 1964 and 1965 and hope you can publish
this list on The Odessa File once more. We are trying to find
them so that they can have the opportunity to join us for our joint
reunion on June 20. Anyone can contact me at fpierce65@aol.com or call
me at 607-535-4849.
Class of 1964
Linda (Alling) Golicki, William Carlton, Alberta Dixon,
Nina (Cloos) Gardner, William Covert, Lillian (Lesky) Crosby, Carol
Osborne, Wanda (Burr) Styles, Cheryl (Crane) Leblanc, Helen (Hartford)
Azzano, Paula (Niver) Solat, Marylou (Lesky) Peters, Marianna (Lovell)
Brown, Janet (Myers) Avery, Carolyn (Taylor) Woodford, Frances (Tuttle)
Secord, Angelita (White) Bruman, David Spaulding.
Class of 1965
Dan Schink, John Smith, Janet (Dickinson) States, Charles
House, Pat (Lane) States, James Harrington, Margaret (Johnson) Carlton,
George Ostrander, Ronald Jorgensen.
Thanks for your help.
Fran Pierce, Class of 1965
A wonderful Cancer Walk
To the Editor on May 26:
Below is a letter submitted to me by Mindy Dudgeon. I
have also included a photo of the family from last year's Relay For
Life, and the photo she sent from the Howe Caverns trip.
I think this is a wonderful human interest story, and it deserves to
be shared. Thank you for obliging this request.
-- Bonnie Seeley
Hi, Bonnie!
Ted advised me that he spoke with you and that I should
send you the attached photograph and some information on the Cancer
Walk that we participated in. I am not a “writer,” but here
goes.
 On
May 8th, 2009 Ted, Mindy, Samantha, and Casey Dudgeon from Cayuta, along
with Mindy’s parents, Bill and Linda Ward of Mecklenburg, ventured
out on a weekend getaway to Howe Caverns in Howe’s Cave, New York.
Little did we know that our family weekend would include a 2-mile cancer
walk!
When we arrived to check-in at Howe Caverns, we were
asked to participate in their 3rd Annual Howe Caverns Hill Challenge
Cancer Walk. We were pleased to be able to do this, as we are blessed
to have 2 cancer survivors in our family: Casey, a
3-year cancer survivor, and his Grandpa, Bill, a 1-year cancer survivor.
The walk took place on May 9th, beginning at 8 a.m. The
Hill Challenge is a 2-mile Fun Run/Walk going downhill along the scenic
Howe Caverns’ 1-mile-long driveway. The real challenge, however,
occurs once the participants have reached the lower end of the driveway.
Then, they must go back up the hill to show support for those family
members, friends, and neighbors who are challenged by the dreadful battle
against cancer.
 The
walk began with a welcome by the Manager of Howe Caverns. She stated
that they were lucky to have survivors in their midst, and asked each
of them to please raise their hand. With much pride, Bill and Casey,
who happened to be wearing his purple American Cancer Society Survivor
T-shirt from the 2008 Relay For Life of Schuyler County, held their
hands up high. Everyone cheered in enthusiastic support!
It is quite a hill! While Linda, Samantha, Mindy, and
Bill walked the whole way, Casey challenged his dad, Ted, to a race
to the finish. Casey showed his boundless energy and energetically ran
ahead, egging his dad on to try and catch him. It was a sight to behold,
with father and son crossing the finish line together!
There were approximately 50 individuals taking part in
this walk, and our family was proud to be a part of it. We may end up
making this a new Dudgeon/Ward family tradition.
Bonnie, please find the attached photograph, taken by
the director of Howe Caverns, on the day of the walk. This shows Casey,
Ted, and Bill walking down the hill prior to being challenged to their
walk back up the hill.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact
me. Thank you, and best wishes at this year’s Relay For Life of
Schuyler County.
Respectfully yours,
Mindy Dudgeon
Photos in text: At
the Howe Caverns Cancer Walk (top), and at last year's Relay for Life
of Schuyler County. (Photos provided)
Thanks from Don Roberts
To the Editor on May 20:
I would like to thank everyone who came out and voted
Tuesday. I will hold to my promise of representing the children and
community of this great district to the best of my ability. I will question
anything I do not completely understand, and vote against things I do
not feel will help the students and the community. I will support the
employees who make the district a better place to learn, and work.
I have pushed a mop, was a foreman, a service manager,
a partner and now I do it all as a business owner, father and husband.
I can relate to all the positions and respect them all. I promise I
will not make everyone happy, but guarantee I will be fair. I will get
involved where I am needed.
Thank you for your trust and confidence.
Don Roberts
Odessa Montour Board of Education 2009-2011
A thank-you from Scott McCray
To the Editor on May 20:
I would first like to congratulate Mr. Roberts, Mr. Walters,
and Mrs. Rock. I am sure that you will represent and serve the taxpayers
and students in our school district well.
Secondly, I would like to thank all who supported me
in my bid for a seat on the School Board. Although I did not get elected,
I can tell you that it was a great experience that allowed me the opportunity
to understand a little better the systems that are in place for our
School Board and administration.
I would urge all of you to continue to excercise your
right to voice your opinion on how your school district is being run
and how your money is being spent by attending School Board meetings,
and making your voice heard. Maybe when the opportunity arises again,
we will try again.
I would also like to thank Maureen Colunio for her letter
of support, as well as those members of the CSEA Union that supported
me.
Once again, thank you all for your support.
Scott McCray
Memorial Day Choir needs singers
To the Editor:
WANTED: Singers for Community Memorial Day Choir to perform
at Veteran's Memorial Park in Odessa on Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m..
They fought for our freedom, let’s salute them with song!
We will sing "Blades of Grass and Pure White Stones," "On
Eagle's Wings" and "America, the Beautiful."
Rehearsals will be Sunday, May 17 at 3 p.m. at Odessa Village Hall
and Saturday, May 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the park on Rte. 228.
For more information, please call director Kim Caldwell at 607-535-7295.
Kim Caldwell
Cayuta Free Church needs organist
To the Editor:
I am writing in regard to the desperate need of an organist/pianist
in the Cayuta Free Church in Cayuta, NY. Rev. and Mrs. Braid have been
with us for about 10 years now. They travel from Lansing, about an hour
away, every Sunday morning to be with us. Mrs. Braid has been our faithful
organist. But now, due to her failing health, she is struggling to be
with us each week. The travel is taking a toll on her.
We are looking for someone to replace her, as it is becoming
more and more difficult for her to play each week. We are looking for
a person committed to playing for us every Sunday morning for our Morning
Worship Service from 10-11 a.m. For more information, you may contact
me directly at (607) 594-3522, or through the e-mail of my daughter-in-law,
Robin Eberhardt, at smiles@empacc.net. We truly appreciate your time.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Eberhardt
Chamber mixer is coming up
To the Editor:
The Chamber's monthly mixer is coming up! Don't miss this month as
we gather together on the beautiful Seneca Harbor waterfront for another
beneficial business networking opportunity. This month has a very special
dual purpose, as we will be kicking off the distribution of our 2009
Travel Guide. That's appropriately fitting at this event, as the cover
is graced with Seneca Sailing Adventures' the "LEE SEA ANNE."
We'll celebrate on Terry Stewart's 38' Cabo Rico Pilot House Sailing
Vessel! To secure your shares to distribute of the 2009 travel guides,
call Katie at the Chamber, and we'll bring some to the Mixer where you
can pick them up.
When: Wednesday May 20
Where: Seneca Sailing
Adventures/Village Marina
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Cost: $5 members, $10
non-members
RSVP!!! 535-3003
Thanks so much.
Miranda Odell Polmanteer
Director of Tourism and Marketing
Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce
100 N. Franklin Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
(607) 535-4300
Let's find middle ground on
parking
To the Editor:
There is a sudden uproar in this village over the all-too-familiar
(to some of us) issue of parking. It would seem that at least one merchant
(Jim Guild – Famous Brands) feels that all municipal lots should
be limited to just two-hour parking. While I can certainly see his point,
and would not wish to deny him any customers; I think there’s
got to be a little give and take here.
Not long ago (when the municipal lots were previously two-hour parking),
one might have borne witness to the following scenario: A retired couple
decides to drive their prized Porsche into town late on a summer morning
to visit O’Shaughnessy’s Antiques (or maybe even the new
“Seneca Lake General Store”), and decides to park in the
Third Street lot. After browsing the store, they decide perhaps they
will have lunch at the Roosterfish. During lunch, they overhear another
couple talking about the latest movie to hit the Glen Theater and decide
to walk down and see the film. After the film, they decide to walk down
(its such a nice day, after all) to the Harbor Park and enjoy the scenery.
While there, they notice some people sitting on the back patio of the
Harbor Hotel enjoying a glass of Seneca Lake’s finest wine. Needing
no more of an invitation than that, the couple decides to go to the
Blue Pointe Grille and experience the atmosphere. When the glasses are
empty, they decide it is time to end their nearly perfect summer day
here in the heart of the Finger Lakes, and head for home. But upon reaching
their vehicle, they get to experience one more lasting memory…
the $20 parking ticket issued by Watkins Glen’s finest.
There seems to be a grand misconception that any vehicles parked in
our Third Street lot are those of “stupid or lazy” business
owners and/or their employees, who don’t want to walk ½
a block. Quite to the contrary… Once in a blue moon do I park
my vehicle there, and usually only if I’m going to be getting
back into it sometime soon. I often spend more of my day in my car than
in the office, stopping by for an hour or two to catch up on paperwork.
My employees almost always park on the street – a directive we
issued long ago to promote the availability of parking for our customers.
Would it not make more sense to ask that business owners, employees
and tenants use some discretion in their parking habits rather than
make yet another law that will no doubt end up affecting our precious
tourists, and become a sore spot for the local customers that we have?
For several years when Ace hardware was in business, an endless stream
of folks went in and out, and there was never a complaint about parking.
However, before the lot opened up (to free parking) and was limited
to two-hour parking (during the '80s and '90s), there were always complaints
about the parking… mostly that the only parking that existed was
the empty -- yes, empty -- two-hour lot on Third Street.
If it is deemed absolutely necessary that two-hour parking is needed,
then why don’t we do two things:
1. Enforce the two-hour zones that exist on Franklin Street.
2. …and if that isn’t enough, make the first line in the
parking lot (directly behind the buildings) a two-hour zone and leave
the rest free.
I wish Jim Guild every success, and congratulate him on the success
he has already enjoyed. I agree with him that it is important for our
customers to have adequate parking near our places of business. I do
not agree that we need another law on the books, one that will in the
end hurt the many other businesses in town and give Watkins Glen a bad
name among the tourists and other visitors who are unfortunate enough
to receive a parking ticket.
I believe that the success of the collective businesses on Franklin
Street has a lot more to do with the quality of goods and services,
and the uniqueness and value that we bring to the table, rather than
the quantity of two-hour parking spaces in proximity to our businesses.
I think I can speak for all when I say that I am in support of Mr.
Guild’s efforts. As an entrepreneur he has taken great risks,
and been skilled enough in his business acumen to turn those risks into
profits. I fear, though, that he may be underestimating himself slightly
when thinking the reason that we all do business with him is because
he has convenient parking. I look forward to the opening of his new
store, and sincerely hope that some middle ground can be found with
this parking issue.
David Sidle II
Sidle Insurance
304 North Franklin St.
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Odessa Class of '59 planning reunion
To the Editor:
Just wanted to let people know that the Odessa Class
of 1959 is holding our 50th year class reunion the weekend of August
28-30, 2009.
On Friday, the 28th, we will be getting together at Marcia
Barton Douglas's house in Montour, from noon on. On Saturday, the 29th,
we will be getting together at Merle Cratsley's golf course to play
some golf, do some more catching up, and hopefully tour the school.
Saturday night we are having dinner at the Mechanics Club in Montour,
and Sunday morning, the 30th, we are having breakfast at Classic Chef's.
We are missing a few addresses, so if anyone knows where
these people are, please contact Bev (Seafuse, Peters) Martin @ countrygal4741@yahoo.com
:
Burton Amey, John Breckinridge, Florence Evans, Leona
(Smith) Christensen, Charlie Peacock and Sam Turner.
Bev Martin
Bald Eagle spotted in area
To the Editor:
 My son
and I happened upon this amazing sight last Saturday (April 25th) near
Catharine Creek. It is obviously not the same bird as was released at
the lakefront in your article of April 13th, as this is a fully mature
bird. You have my permission to print this photo if you desire. Thanks
for the time from your busy schedule.
Sincerely,
John W. Glick Jr.
An explanation of the O-M tax
rates
To the Editor:
I am in receipt of a request from you for information
regarding the Odessa-Montour budget. Following is the information that
you requested. I only received an e-mail address for you, and not a
telephone number, so I apologize if you were expecting a phone call:
2009-10 Proposed Budget: $14,203,785
2009-10 Estimated Tax Levy: $4,551, 831
2009-10 Estimated Tax Rate/$1,000:
-- Town of Catharine $27.35
-- Town of Cayuta $19.14
-- Town of Dix $27.35
-- Town of Hector $19.14
-- Town of Montour $27.35
-- Town of Van Etten $19.14
-- Town of Veteran $21.51
-- Town of Enfield $19.14
The differences in the town rates are due to their equalization rates.
Those towns that are at a 100% equalization rate (which means that the
property is assessed at its “true value”) are the ones at
$19.14 per thousand. The others have equalization rates less than 100%,
which means that the property is not assessed at its “true value,”
which therefore causes the tax rates to be higher per thousand, as the
taxes need to be higher to make up for the fact that the property is
not valued at 100% of its true value. These assessed values are set
by the town assessors, and not the school district.
These tax rates are based on the assessed values for the 2008-09 school
year. We do not yet have the assessed values for the 2009-10 school
year. If the assessed values of property in the district goes up, then
the actual tax rate per $ 1,000 would go down.
If a school district gives you just one number for the estimated tax
rate per thousand, it is usually the number for a town with a 100% equalization
rate, which makes it easier for comparison purposes with other districts.
That number for us would be $19.14.
You should note, however, that in comparing tax rates between districts,
you have to take into consideration several factors. One would be the
tax base of the district. A district with industry or vacation homes
by a lake would have a larger tax base than one without, which would
cause their tax rate to be (relatively) lower than the other district.
Another factor is what the district’s state aid ratio is. If a
district’s state aid ratio is higher than another district, they
would receive more state aid than the other district, and that would
cause the district with the lower state aid ratio to have to raise more
of their budget through taxes than the district with a higher state
aid ratio. The state aid ratio is largely determined by the relative
level of wealth and poverty in a district. A “poorer” district
would have a larger state aid ratio, and would receive a larger portion
of their budget from state aid. There are other factors that affect
the tax rate, but these are the two biggest ones. It is therefore difficult
to compare the absolute tax rates of districts.
Comparison to last year:
2008-09 Budget: $14,089,923 (.81 % increase from
'08-'09 to '09-'10)
2008-09 Tax Levy: $4,506,763 (1 % increase from '08-'09 to '09-'10)
2008-09 Tax Rate/$1,000: $18.96 / $1,000 (for a town with a 100% equalization
rate)
As you have probably already been told by the other districts you have
spoken with, we did not receive an increase in our state “foundation”
aid for this year compared with last year (we received the same amount
of state “foundation” aid this year that we received last
year).
Please feel free to contact me if you would like further information.
T. Gregory Dale
School Business Administrator
Odessa-Montour Central School District
Sheriff's Office sets F.A.I.R. training
To the Editor:
The Schuyler County Sheriff's Office would like to announce
upcoming F.A.I.R. (Fundamentals of Alcohol Intoxication Recognition)
training.
This program is for any business that sells any type of
alcohol for consumption on or off premises. It will help employees and
owners understand legal liabilities of selling to intoxicated persons
and other general liabilities. This program is similar to the TIPS training
and is recognized by many Insurance Companies.
It will be held at the Montour Falls Moose Lodge, Route
14 south of Montour Falls, on May 27th at 5 p.m. and is free of charge.
The Sheriff's Office
You can get your copy of history
book
To the Editor:
Watkins Glen Central School District: A History 1853-2008
is being distributed this week.
On Thursday and Friday -- April 23 and April 24 -- you
may pick up your pre-ordered copy (or copies) by going to the High School
and seeing Marie Keefer or Sharon Clark in the District Office (northwest
end of the building -- 1st driveway entrance on 12th Street) between
9:00 a.m.and 3:00 p.m.
There ARE a precious few "extra" copies available for purchase
on a first come/first served basis ($16.00 per copy). If you'd like
to purchase one, please call me at 535-4871 or e-mail me at bodonnell@stny.rr.com
to make arrangements to pick up your copy.
Brian O'Donnell
Bleiler earns promotion to
Lt. Colonel
 The
following was submitted regarding John Bleiler, a 1981 graduate of Odessa-Montour
Central School who is a son of Delmar and Jeanne Bleiler of Odessa.
To the editor on April 18:
In January, Del, Glenn (John's brother), Susan (Glenn's
wife), and I traveled to Tampa, Florida to participate in the promotion
of our oldest son, John Fredrick Bleiler, to Lt. Colonel in the United
States Army.
He began his Army career in ROTC at SUNY Oswego. He served
on active Army duty in Desert Storm, and later left active duty and
served as a reservist, where he was promoted to Major.
 He
and his family moved to Ohio while he was involved with the reserves
in Detroit. His overseas assignments were in South Korea. After moving
to Nashville with his family, he was called into the Active Reserves
and served a year in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa in Special Operations
Task Force-Horn of Africa. After returning to the States, he remained
mobilized in the Reserves on Active Duty at MacDill AFB, Tampa, which
is the Central Command Headquarters.
His family moved from Nashville to Tampa. On January
30, 2009 he was pinned Lt. Colonel by his daughters Charlotte and Danielle
at MacDill AFB. There were 14 family members present. John is presently
serving in Qatar as the Director of Communications for the Combined
Forces Special Operations Component Command.
I have enclosed some photos. The first photo (top) is
of John (on the right) being congratulated by Admiral (RADM) Rosholt.
The second photo includes, front from left, John's wife Donna and daughters
Danielle and Charlotte. John is in the center, with me and Del behind
him.
Jeanne G. Bleiler (proud mother)
Want to help research Odessa
history?
To the editor on April 8:
Date: Friday,
April 17, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00
noon
Where: Municipal Building
Community Room – 300 E. Main Street, Odessa
There will be an informal meeting for anyone interested in helping
to identify old photographs and start to organize a celebration of the
100 years of the Odessa Fire Department.
Another thought would be to start a book written by the people of Odessa.
I would like to compile a scrapbook with letters from the people in
and around our village. Anyone, young or old, may contribute to this.
Some examples of things to write about would be:
School days. Chamber pots. Blizzards and bad storms. Outhouse stories.
Party line phones. School sports/plays. Favorite teachers. Fishing and
hunting. Haunted houses. Holiday festivities. School traditions. Favorite
recipes. Tales your grandparents used to tell.
Also, any photographs that would be of interest to the history of Odessa
may be brought in and can be scanned so that the photo goes back home
with you.
Thanks and look forward to seeing you there.
Kay Collins,
Village Historian
Singers needed for Sunrise
Service
To the editor on April 3:
I need to get the word out that I need singers to welcome the dawn
on Easter at the 76th Annual Sunrise service at the Pool entrance to
the Watkins Glen State Park.
Our first rehearsal will be this Sunday, April 4 at the Montour Falls
Methodist Church from 3-4 p.m., and our only other rehearsal will be
Saturday, April 10 at the park from 3-4 p.m.. We will be singing "Oh
Happy Day" and "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee." Thanks!
Contact info: 607-535-7295 or KimzCurtains@aol.com
Kim Caldwell
Thanks to all who helped at
steak dinner
To the editor on March 26:
The results are in and the annual Steak Dinner that was
held recently at the Montour Moose Lodge was a great success. The Arc
of Schuyler was able to raise $3,800 through this event.
None of this would be possible without the great support from Moose
Lodge #426. The Lodge has been a longtime supporter of The Arc and has
always come forward when we need assistance or help. We also want to
thank the Watkins Glen Interact Club for all of their volunteer efforts
in busing and serving tables. There were also countless volunteers from
The Arc who assisted with everything from hosting and serving, to washing
dishes.
Thanks also to Ethel Warren from Dundee, who was the 50/50 raffle winner.
Mrs. Warren generously donated her winnings back to The Arc.
Finally, thanks to everyone who came or bought a dinner ticket. Your
support is greatly appreciated.
All of you are examples of why our community is such a great place.
Thank you for your tremendous support of The Arc and to people with
developmental disabilities.
Sincerely,
Jim Wilson
Executive Director
The Arc of Schuyler
Brianna Hurley is in Treasure
Island
 (Watkins
Glen High School graduate Brianna Hurley continues on her career path
in acting. An update is provided here by her mother.)
To the editor on March 25:
Hi Charlie! I hope all is well.
I thought it was about time for more of Brianna’s adventures
in New York.
Brianna (pictured in the photo) is currently acting in the play Treasure
Island for The Player’s Theatre in NYC.
This is a fast-paced riotous play where all the actors play multiple
roles. The play is an original adaptation of the classic story and will
delight audiences of all ages.
If anyone is interested in seeing the show as a group, they can contact
the theater for group discount rates.
The Player’s Theatre features children’s theater productions
and is located in Greenwich Village on MacDougal Street.
For information, go to: www.theplayerstheatre.com.
The show runs from Feb 8 until May 10th.
Kim M. Hurley
Contest raises funds and awareness
To the editor on March 16:
A number of businesses throughout Schuyler County have
been nominated by community members to participate in the 2009 “Sun
and Moon Contest” for the Schuyler County Relay For Life. The
goal is to sell as many “Sun & Moon” Cards ($1 each)
as possible within 7 business days to customers, raising awareness of
the community Relay and the mission of the American Cancer Society.
Purchasers can then display the cards for all to see, and help to celebrate
National “Paint Your Town Purple Day” on Friday, May 1st.
Communities all over the country will be participating in this event.
All proceeds from the Sun and Moon sales will go directly to the American
Cancer Society and the Relay For Life of Schuyler County.
The Schuyler County business selling the most $1 “Sun & Moon”
cards will have its name printed on the back of the Relay shirts. For
information, or to submit a nomination, call Nicole Morrison at 607-216-5301
or Jessie Roof at 607-341-2428 (for Montour Falls & Watkins Glen
businesses); or contact Bonnie Seeley 607-426-6025 (for Odessa businesses).
Please Support and Thank Our Participating Businesses:
March 15th - March 21st -- Odessa Village Take Out
March 16th - March 24th -- Glen Animal Hospital
March 24th - April 1st -- Grist Mill Cafe in Burdett
March 28th - April 3rd -- Burdett Dandy Mini Mart
April 6th - April 13th -- Blooming Creations in Watkins Glen
April 20th - April 26th -- Henderson’s Montour Pharmacy
See our website for details: www.RelayForLife.org/SchuylerCountyNY
Bonnie Seeley
Some
Little League Softball clarification
To the editor on Feb. 2:
As the President of Little League, I would like to also
clarify some questions about our softball program that have come up
recently.
Ages: At
this point we are going to field just two divisions, and the age groups
there will be 7-9, and 10-12.
Playing at home: We
are looking to field 3 teams in each division. If there is a need, we
can set up and play games with other leagues such as Cinderella, but
there is also another Little League Softball program in Hammondsport
that we could possibly set up a game exchange with for a change of pace.
Fee: LIttle
League is also set up with a nominal fee ($5 for t-ball and $15 for
all other divisions with a $30 family Cap), and we have never turned
a child away based on financial status.
Opportunities: Little
League softball has a World Series just like the boys have. And to get
there you have to play a series of playoff tournaments, just like the
boys teams you see on TV.
Safety: All
coaches, managers, board members, and any volunteer that has repeated
contact with players must undergo a background check, and any person
convicted of a crime against a child will not be able to volunteer for
Little League.
The Little League organization is over 50 years old,
and is the second biggest youth organization worldwide, second only
to the Boy Scouts of America.
We as a league have only been in existence since 2004;
however, in that time we have grown from 4 teams in Watkins Glen ages
9-13 and 4 teams in Odessa ages 9-13. That was about 90 kids total.
Last year we fielded 28 teams, allowing 315 kids the opportunity to
play organized baseball.
Our taking on softball is based purely on research polls
and questionnaires. We have felt for some time that we needed to do
something to help get the girls in our league on the right track, as
softball and baseball are two different games. And once they reach high
school, they will only be able to play softball.
As a result, we started to put out some feelers with
parents, and the response was such that we felt we needed to take on
this project.
If you have ANY questions, please feel free to contact
me at (607) 594-2395 or at smccray01@empacc.net. I would be happy to
answer any questions you may have about the startup of this program.
Or if you have questions about registration dates etc, that information
is located on the sports page here at The Odessa File.
Scott McCray
Schuyler County LIttle League President
There's no connection between
Cinderella softball and Little League softball
To the editor on Feb. 1:
As a result of numerous phone calls and e-mails, I find
it necessary to clarify an issue that recently came up. As many of you
are aware, Little League baseball has placed information on the Odessa
File, in the Hi-Lites, and in material sent home from
school setting up registration dates for softball.
This is not connected with Schuyler County Cinderella
softball. Cinderella softball has been in existence for over 50 years,
with the Schuyler County organization having been founded nearly 25
years ago. Little League only recently decided to look into this area
for softball.
Cinderella softball currently has 3 age divisions:
10U, 12U, and 16U with a 19U division being formed in 2009. It is supported
by sponsor donations, numerous fund-raising events, nominal registration
fees (with no girl being denied the right to play based on lack of financial
means), and the generosity of our school districts.
We will be conducting our sign-ups in mid-March, with
our seasons beginning mid-spring and continuing until mid-summer, when
we compete in the always-exciting Corning World Series. We hope to be
able to attract enough girls to cut down on some of the travel in 2009,
particularly in the younger divisions.
I trust this clarifies any confusion regarding any connection
between the two organizations. Should you need to contact us or require
further information, please visit our website at www.schuylersoftball.com.
Ron Alexander
Schuyler County Cinderella Softball
Watkins Glen, NY
Our community is lucky to have
you
To the editor on Jan. 20:
I was just reading on The Odessa File your blurb
about the gentleman who suggested your "replacement" when
you decide to "pack it in." (See Column.)
I hope that I don't embarrass you, but I feel I need to say a few things
in reference to it.
Yes, how so very lucky our community is (as well as the
local "out-of-towners") to have you and your website. We would
truly miss it if it were gone! But I wonder if you could ever really
"be replaced."
I wonder if people realize how much you put into this
site. (I am surmising.) And from what I can see, you get little actual
"pay" from your endless efforts and hours. I also wonder if
people realize when they see you at our local functions (sports events,
semiformals, graduations, coverage on local "misfortunes"
(fires etc.), benefits to help those who have suffered the misfortunes,
and many, many Schuyler County political functions) that being at these
are just a fraction of what you do -- that your job is not nearly done
when you leave these functions ... that you still have to upload all
the photos, write about them, and keep track of all the names, scores,
etc.
I am a 45-year-old mother and wife ... and although I
would like to think I could keep up with you, I really do not think
I could!! I do not know you personally, but I see you everywhere, and
find myself staring at you and wondering: "How does he do it!!!"
I am truly amazed at what you do, Mr. Haeffner!
So ... about "replacing" you when you are ready
to "slow" down and "pack it in":
I truly think it would take many more than one person to do so.
So my hope is that our community realizes how very lucky
we are to have you, and that they are grateful enough to reach into
their hearts (but mostly their wallets) and truly "pay" you
for your long and exhausting hours and hard work!
My hat's off to you, and many, many, many thanks ... again
and again and again.
Sincerely,
Jackie Leszyk
Watkiins Glen
The Pulse of the Neighbors
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