Dill event raises funds for Spirit of Schuyler

A "Wine & Spirit" fundraiser marked by live music, plenty of food, raffles and free wine tastings drew scores of people Saturday to the J.R. Dill winery outside Burdett. The event benefitted the Spirit of Schuyler, an organization that provides financial assistance to self-sustaining Schuyler County residents who encounter emergency situations.

Left: Musicians Robin Burnett and Willie Hayes performed.

Fraboni, McKenzie, Sidle honored at Gala

Awards highlighted Friday night's 126th annual Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Celebration, held at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. The evening, called The Winter Gala, saw banker-village trustee Tony Fraboni receive the Community Spirit Award for his many civic involvements. The Leader in Business Award went to Finger Lakes Distilling president Brian McKenzie, who was on vacation and unable to attend -- but whose award was accepted by the business's master distiller, Thomas Earl McKenzie (no relation). And the Lifetime Achievement Award went to David L. Sidle Sr. for his many years in the insurance business and for his many civic endeavors. On hand for the evening were Congressman Tom Reed, State Senator Tom O'Mara and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano.

And inside ...

The Family of Friends campaign is at 86% of its goal, with donations accepted through January. Business.

Glenora Wine Cellars has started its 9th annual Celebrity Chef Pasta Nights series. Wine.

For Part 1 of "Schuyler County and Me," reprised, Click here.
For Part 2, click here.
For Part 3, click here .
For Part 4, click here.
For Part 5, click here.

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The Editor's Columns

Friday Scoreboard

Boys Basketball
Watkins Glen 65, Waverly 35
Newfield 54, O-M 27

Girls Basketball
Waverly 60, Watkins Glen 31
Newfield 61, O-M 38

Bowling
Boys: Watkins Glen 3, O-M 1
Girls: Watkins Glen 4, O-M 0

Indoor Track
3 Top 10 finishes for WGHS at Finger Lakes Invitational.

Stories, photos on Sports.

Left: WG's Matt Estes, left, goes high for the tipoff. (Photo by Don Romeo)

On the political affront ...

The editor touches on various things political in our region. Column.

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Montour Falls OKs treatment plant project

The Montour Falls Village Board Thursday night agreed -- with one dissenting vote -- to proceed jointly with Watkins Glen toward construction of a new wastewater treatment plant alongside the canal between the two villages. But the agreement had a point of contention. Government.

Village Board gives OK to new treatment plant

The Watkins Glen Village Board Tuesday night made it official and unanimous: It is moving ahead with the plan to build a new wastewater treatment plant alongside the canal that runs between Watkins and the village of Montour Falls -- where a similar vote will be held Thursday night. Government.

This week's deals at Famous Brands

We are carrying the weekly ad showcasing the latest deals available at Jim Guild's Famous Brands store on Franklin Street in downtown Watkins Glen. For a look, click here.

Parmenter is Odessa's Citizen of the Year

Jeff Parmenter, vice president of Parmenter Inc. and co-chair with his wife Amy of the current United Way campaign in Schuyler County, was presented a plaque at Monday night's Odessa Village Board meeting honoring him as Odessa's Citizen of the Year for 2014. An Air Force veteran, Parmenter "exemplifies what it means to be a leader in our community," said Mayor Keith Pierce, noting that the honoree has "always come through for us ... whenever the village needs a favor, be it a loan of equipment or a quick fix of something."

Committee will seek Clute Park proposals

A committee comprised of Schuyler County Planning Department director Kristin VanHorn (pictured at right), Project Seneca leader Rick Weakland and Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development Executive Director Judy Cherry will move forward seeking ideas for the potential development of Lakeside Park following a workshop session Monday where Watkins Glen Village Board and Planning Board members unanimously agreed that such development is worth examining. "The park is an unpolished gem," said one official, while others cautioned that in trying to enhance it, care has to be given that it remains accessible to the public. Ideas include a new or enhanced pavilion, a restaurant on the park's northwest point, lighting, a walkway above the road separating the lakeside park from the campground-Community Center-sports complex on the other side, a heated, enclosed lakeside structure with indoor activities that can attract people year-around and at night, and retention of much of the green area that now exists.

20 arrested; total reaches 200 mark

Twenty people were arrested for trespass Monday while blocking the Crestwood energy firm's gate along Rt. 14 -- this time with a Martin Luther King theme ("We Are Seneca Lake and We Have A Dream," said one large sign). The protesters oppose the firm's plans to store gases in abandoned salt caverns west of Seneca Lake. A total of 200 arrests have occurred in the past 80 days.

This month's column from the Valicenti firm

The Elmira company offers us a look at one of its regular newsletter features -- a monthly column titled 'Bull and Bear Bulletin' -- along with a list of its services. Valicenti.

Left: Andrew R. Clark, Valicenti vice president of Investment Research/Portfolio Manager.

A column by State Senator Tom O'Mara

New York State Senator Tom O'Mara graces our pages with a weekly column from Albany. This time: "Take the 'new' out of New York." Column.

Left: State Sen.Tom O'Mara

Green to kick off 2015 Center Conversations

International Motor Racing Research Center Historian Bill Green will kick off the 2015 Center Conversations series on Jan. 24, launching a monthly schedule at the Center that will include programs on Can-Am, racing in the Pacific Northwest and the famed Syracuse Mile. People.

Left: Bill Green

Now available on Kindle: The Maiden of Mackinac

This story -- which spans 700 years and ranges from our region to Northern Michigan -- tells of a quest for the truth behind a legend ... the legend of a Native American maiden reputed to be centuries old. It was written by Charlie Haeffner, and is available now on Kindle at Amazon.com. To see the ad, click here.

Left: Cover art by Jon Haeffner

Visit Jerlando's Ristorante & Pizzeria

Three locations: in Watkins Glen, Horseheads and Montour Falls

Click here or on the photo at left to go to the Jerlando's website. There you will find information about all three locations, plus menus.

Left: The front of the recently renovated Jerlando's at Franklin and 4th Streets, Watkins Glen

Rotary honors Gonzalez as Student of Month

Watkins Glen High School senior Alexis Gonzalez (right) was honored Thursday, Jan. 15 by the Watkins-Montour Rotary Club as its WGHS Student of the Month for January. She was introduced by one of her teachers, Kelsey Wood, who has also coached Alexis in swimming. Wood described the honoree as "dependable, always positive, with a tremendous amount of focus and calm," and with "a huge smile." Whatever Alexis "is concerned about" -- including "life challenges that are unbelievable to cope with" -- she "never lets it show," said Wood, adding that Alexis "is my hero."

That was in reference to some serious health issues Alexis has faced, including Multiple Sclerosis -- which the honoree in turn outlined in a speech she prepared but, because of laryngitis, could not read aloud. Her mother, Michelle Simiele, presented it instead, Alexis by her side. For the text: click here.

Trailer home destroyed by fire

Fire late Wednesday night, Jan. 14 destroyed a trailer home at 3440 Rte. 414 near Burdett. An inspector said the blaze was caused by a grease fire in the kitchen. Firefighters from Burdett, Hector, Watkins Glen, Montour Falls and Odessa were called out at 10:30 p.m. to fight the blaze, which consumed most of the structure's walls, leaving the building a charred framework. The resident, Bruce Corey, was not injured, and later moved into a summer cottage elsewhere on the property. The fire could be seen clearly from across Seneca Lake.

Planned plant project outlined; votes due

The mayors of Watkins Glen and Montour Falls -- Mark Swinnerton and John King, respectively -- updated area residents on the proposed joint wastewater treatment plant Wednesday night at a meeting in the Montour Falls Fire Department community room. Approval of the $24.7 million project (to be financed through grants and a New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation loan and located along the canal between the two villages and across from the Watkins Glen High School grounds) goes before the respective village boards next week -- at Watkins Glen Tuesday night, and at Montour Falls Thursday night. The two mayors expressed confidence that they have the necessary board votes to proceed with the project.

Swinnerton to run for trustee seat,
Gibson for mayor in upcoming election

Watkins Glen Mayor Mark Swinnerton and trustee Scott Gibson -- who has served the past four years as Deputy Mayor under appointment by Swinnerton -- said Monday, Jan. 13 that they are looking to switch roles in the next four-year term, should they win the March village election. Swinnerton, a Republican, will be running for a trustee seat, while Gibson, an Independent, will be running for mayor. The two men said the idea was first raised at a social gathering the previous Friday, and "snowballed from there." Gibson said that if the two are elected to their second four-year term, Swinnerton would "most likely be appointed Deputy Mayor, if he wanted it." Trading.

Special session held to reduce caseload

The trespass cases of 34 defendants involved in the ongoing protest against Crestwood's plan to store gases in abandoned salt caverns west of Seneca Lake were heard at a special afternoon session in Town of Reading Court Jan. 13. The session was designed to relieve the congestion of cases in the court since the advent of arrests in late October that now total 180. The defendants were joined by supporters outside the Reading Town Hall -- site of the court. Ten defendants were admitted into court at a time. Those supporters who could not fit in under the courtroom's fire-code limit for spectators remained outside in 10-degree weather.

Odessa Superintendent: 3 finalists selected

Three finalists have been named in the search for the next Odessa-Montour School District superintendent They are O-M Junior-Senior High School Principal Chris Wood, GST BOCES Career and Technical Education Center Principal Ann Fuller-Sincock, and Romulus Middle/High School Principal Lynn Rhone. Schools.

10 more arrested at Crestwood gate

The Crestwood gas storage protest resumed Jan. 9 with 10 more arrests at the company's Compressor Station gate along Rt. 14 north of Watkins Glen. The arrests since late October total 180. Protest.

Left: Two of Friday's arrestees before police arrived.

Ribbon-cutting welcomes Wine & Spirits

A Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce-led ribbon-cutting marked the Grand Opening celebration Jan. 9 at Odessa Wine & Spirits, a new business at 101 Main Street in Odessa that features, among other things, an extensive line of Finger Lakes wines. Owners Bob and Alyssa Wixson, who also operate the SCT Computers business at 306 N. Franklin St. in Watkins Glen, decided to diversify, developing the new business over the past year. Business neighbor David Sidle of Sidle Insurance (pictured at right) welcomed the Wixsons by saying they offer the four things that make for a good business: good product, fair prices, friendly and professional service, and something unique to the community. Other speakers included Chamber President Rebekah LaMoreaux, Odessa Mayor Keith Pierce, Alyssa Wixson, and Ken Wilson of Chemung Canal Trust Company. Wine tasting was offered by Keuka Springs Vineyards.

Fagan re-elected to Schuyler chairmanship

The annual organizational meeting of the Schuyler County Legislature on Jan. 7 saw Dennis Fagan elected to his fifth straight year as chair. Michael Lausell -- the only Democrat on the Legislature -- voted against him, citing dissatisfaction with Fagan's "management style" and "problems in communication." In other business, Administrator Tim O'Hearn was reappointed for four years at a $113,677 annual salary. Resignations announced: Historian Marian Boyce and Highway Superintendent Greg Mathews.

Watkins board OKs tanker truck purchase

The Watkins Glen Village Board gives the go-ahead for the purchase of a new tanker truck for the fire department, with most of the cost covered by a FEMA grant. Government.

WG, OM school boards to meet about football

The Watkins Glen School Board schedules a joint public session with the Odessa-Montour School Board on Jan. 26 to discuss, and possibly move forward on, a process designed to combine the two districts' football programs. Schools.

Motion to dismiss: Judge reserves decision

Schuyler County Judge Dennis Morris on Jan. 5 reserved his decision on a motion by Kate Bartholomew's defense attorney seeking a dismissal -- "in the interest of justice" -- of misdemeanor charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Endangering the Welfare of a Child lodged against Bartholomew in May. David Parks of the Ithaca Law firm of Schlather, Stumbar, Parks and Salk argued that there was no criminal intent in Barthlomew's action in procuring from Amazon.com a stun gun she gave to a student -- an act that led to Bartholomew's suspension from her job at Watkins Glen High School, where she had long been a science teacher and was president of the teachers' union. Parks said that while "she should have known" about its inherent dangers, Bartholomew -- "distracted" by other issues including an energy-sapping medical condition called sarcoidosis -- thought the stun gun was a toy, ordered it accordingly and passed the delivery package to the student without opening it. Judge Morris said he would issue a written decision in the near future. If he denies the motion, the case will advance to a bench trial on Feb. 2. If that occurs, Parks said, he wants a pre-trial hearing at which such evidence as a polygraph test can be presented -- a test that Parks said Bartholomew passed "with flying colors."

Left: Kate Bartholomew (File photo)

Schuyler Notable: Lakewood's Bev Stamp

Bev Stamp is the senior member of a popular and productive Schuyler County family that owns and operates Lakewood Vineyards north of Watkins Glen. A look at the woman and her history. Stamp.

Left: Bev Stamp

Odessa-Montour unveils Honor Roll

The Odessa-Montour Junior-Senior High School releases its list of High Honor and Honor Roll students for the second marking period of the 2014-15 school year. Honors.

Festival dates set; committee welcoming new members

The organizing committee of the Schuyler County Italian American Festival has set its 2015 dates for Friday, July 31, and Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2. The organizing committee works year-round on festival details, and more members are needed, says the committee president. Features.

Odessa's latest report on water quality

To see the Village of Odessa's latest Water Quality Report, click here.