Is Chenango up to the challenges which lie ahead?

Transcription

The Annual Comprehensive Picture
Of Our Business World’s New Ventures,
Ideas & Growth In Chenango County.
PUBLISHED BY THE EVENING SUN, NORWICH, N.Y. • JAN. 2008
S
E
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Taking
the plunge
PHOTO
BY
FRANK SPEZIALE
COMMERCE CHENANGO
Is Chenango up to the
challenges which lie ahead?
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
I
f the best jobs in big
industry haven’t already
been outsourced,
moved south or left the
country altogether, it seems
more and more likely that
they soon will.
What’s for sure: Large scale manufacturing operations and corporate
investors aren’t beating down the
door to locate in Chenango County
or the rest of upstate. In fact, Commerce Chenango President Maureen
Carpenter admits the chances of a
300-plus jobs employer setting up
shop locally – like Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, which is closing its Woods Corners site for good
in December 2009 – are slim to
none. High taxes, high energy
prices and an overall high cost of
doing business in New York state
are the main reasons why not.
That doesn’t mean, however, that
the county’s best days are behind,
Carpenter says. It just means that in
2008, it’s time for a change.
“We have an opportunity for
growth,” Carpenter says. “And with
a positive attitude, you can see that
our situation can and will get better.”
While Chenango shouldn’t plan
on hitting one out of the park with a
homerun-type company, the firstyear Commerce Chenango head
believes it can win a lot of games
playing small ball – attracting and
growing small to medium-sized
start-up industries. More specifically, bringing in niche businesses that,
although they might need a boost,
aren’t short on energy, ideas or mettle.
Why will these businesses come
here? For starters, Carpenter says
the county has a strong central loca-
tion, a good mix of strong existing
industrial infrastructure and shovelready sites, safe communities, and
good schools – all attractive qualities not every area can tout.
“We have to focus on all the good
things we still have here. We have to
show prospects that our quality of
life here is special,” she said. “Not
all is lost. I definitely think we can
overcome these hardships and
obstacles we face here in upstate.
We, Chenango County, have to
work on promoting our assets.”
A change within
While one of Commerce Chenango’s top priorities in 2008 will no
doubt be seeking out entrepreneurs
and investors to start up projects
locally, the Commerce Chenango
staff says their main functions will
remain promoting and retaining the
small businesses and big industries
the county already has, as well as
providing a wide range of benefits
to their members. To better streamline those services, the organization
is undergoing a consolidation and
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ...
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It’s about
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YMCA.
PAGE 6
• School Tobacco Policy • Main Street Collectibles •
White House Cabinet Shop • Golden Artist Colors •
Hoppie’s • HGH Construction •
• Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals •
• Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County •
• Cornell Cooperative Extension • Made in Chenango •
• Preferred Mutual Insurance • The Children’s Center •
• NBT Bank • Tydings Real Estate •
• Cliff Ketchum’s Bookkeeping Service •
• National Tractor Trailer School • Linda Green •
• American Legion Post 189 • Commerce Chenango •
2
Progress Chenango 2008
Published by The Evening Sun
COMMERCE CHENANGO
Testing the waters of a new future
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
name change that started in
2007.
Formerly known as “The
Chenango County Chamber
of Commerce,” the chamber
is now called “Commerce
Chenango.” Internally, the
organization will be broken
down into four sections.
Externally, it will be one
name for all things business
in Chenango.
“Our strategic mission is to
pool the resources from these
different organizations and
leverage them together to
provide better services,” said
Carpenter.
Commerce
Chenango’s
Board of Directors – once
approval is granted by the
state Supreme Court in the
near future – will be a mix of
chamber board members,
members of the Chenango
County Industrial Development Agency, the Area Corporation and the Chamber
Foundation.
Consolidation
elsewhere
In 2008, Carpenter said
Commerce Chenango hopes
to facilitate discussions
between local governments
about ways they can share
services and cut costs.
“That’s something our
membership has made clear
they’d like to see some sort of
action taken on,” said Carpenter, who sits on intermunicipal committee made up of
the Town of North Norwich,
Town of Norwich and City of
Norwich. “If government
costs go down, their costs go
down.”
Commerce Chenango honored several of the area’s top businesses on Nov. 14 during its 2007
Annual “Salute to Small Business Dinner,” held at the Baron’s Inn in Greene. From left:
“Manufacturer of the Year” Denise and Bryant LaTourette, owners of Rapid Reproductions,
LLC in Oxford, “Small Business of the Year,” Betsey and Frank Baio, owners of New York
Pizzeria in New Berlin, and “Entrepreneur of the Year,” Katie and Alex Ives, owners of Ives
Cream in Norwich. (Photo by Frank Speziale)
In late 2007, the intermunicipal committee members
were unable to agree on taking part in a state study to
look at areas where consolidation could occur among the
three governments.
“Governments need to run
like a business,” Carpenter
said, “in that they need to
look at the areas where they
can cut down, save money
and conduct their operations
cheaper.”
Economic
development
In
2007,
Commerce
Chenango’s
Economic
Development arm assisted
six businesses with $325,000
in loans administered through
the county’s Industrial Development Agency. Overall, the
organization was involved
with 28 businesses – helping
them retain jobs and utilize
funding to expand.
According to economic
development staff, developing the Earl B. Clark Industrial Park in North Norwich will
1. PROVIDES POSITIVE ADULT ROLE MODELS FOR STUDENTS.
Over 40% of students in New York report seeing adults smoking on campus. A 100% tobacco-free
policy represents a firm commitment by the school to prohibit tobacco use and provides positive
role models for students.
2. PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM DEVELOPING AN ADDICTION TO TOBACCO.
Ninety percent of adult smokers began in their teens and nearly two-thirds become daily smokers
before the age of 19. Tobacco kills over 25,000 people in New York every year. Students who
attend schools with tobacco-free policies that are enforced are less likely to use tobacco.
3. PROVIDES A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING EXPOSURE TO
SECONDHAND TOBACCO SMOKE. Exposure to secondhand smoke irritates the lungs,
eyes, and nasal passages, causes lung cancer and heart disease, and in children, increased ear
infections, colds, coughs, asthma and asthma symptoms contributing to increased absenteeism.
Exposure to secondhand smoke also impairs a child’s ability to learn, putting them at increased
risk for difficulties with reading and math.
4. REINFORCES AND SUPPORTS INSTRUCTION IN THE CLASSROOM
AND OTHER PROGRAMS.
Students are taught about the hazards of tobacco use, how to resist using it, and they are subject
to the extracurricular codes on tobacco use and possession. Allowing adults to use tobacco on
school grounds sends a conflicting message to students about tobacco use.
5. CHANGES THE NORMS REGARDING TOBACCO USE.
People tend to act in accordance with group expectations and behaviors. Adopting a TobaccoFree School Policy reinforces current norms where eight out of ten people in New York don’t
smoke and over 70% of adults support smoke-free policies.
be the department’s next big
project in 2008.
Upgrading the state Route
12 corridor, finalizing the
future of the currently-shut
down New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad and
supporting the ongoing fight
against the New York
Regional Interconnect power
line are three other priority
issues, Carpenter said.
educational classes and
workshops throughout the
year, including “Leadership
Chenango,” which is already
underway. The “Micro-Enterprise” program, set to begin
sometime in either February
or March, is perhaps the most
anticipated.
“This is the first program
of its kind to help smaller
enterprises in Chenango
County,” said Carpenter.
very excited.”
Education and “We’re
Through classes, loans and
membership
technical assistance, the proThe organization says it gram will focus on growing
will be administering several small to medium sized agribusinesses and increasing
downtown activity throughout the county. Commerce
Chenango
received
a
$300,000 small cities grant
from the state to fund the program, with $800,000 set
aside altogether between the
grant and local resources.
Upcoming member workshop topics will include customer service training for
employees of small businesses.
“Customer service is vital
to small business,” Carpenter
said. “That’s what keeps people coming back.”
Other educational focuses
will include human resources
training.
The organization also
reviewed and updated its
health insurance plan offerings and member-to-member
benefits.
“Our member-to-member
benefits program has really
been a positive component of
our program,” said membership specialist Rachel Crandall. “It works because everybody likes a deal, and I think
our members and prospective
members recognize that it
keeps people spending dollars locally. That benefits
everyone.”
Moving
forward
After two years in transition, Carpenter says in the
midst of her first year as President that the staff is finally
solidified, comfortable and
headed in the same direction
with a common goal.
“There’s a new energy
that’s come with the change,”
Carpenter said.
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14 East Main Street, Earlville, NY • 315-691-5721
Tues.-Fri. 9 am-5 pm; Sat. 9-2 pm; closed Sun. and Mon.
6. COUNTERACTS THE TARGETING OF CHILDREN BY THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY.
The tobacco industry is losing millions of customers who are dying or becoming disabled from
tobacco use. They need new users. Internal industry documents indicate that tobacco companies have
purposefully marketed to children as young as 14.
7. COMPLIES WITH LAWS PROHIBITING SMOKING IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Seeing is Believing...
State and Federal laws prohibit tobacco use and/or smoking in school buildings,
grounds, and vehicles.
8. PREPARES STUDENTS FOR TOBACCO-FREE WORKPLACES & COMMUNITIES.
With passage of the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act in 2003 and similar laws being passed
in communities, states, and countries worldwide, tobacco-free worksites and communities are
becoming the norm.
9. PROTECTS SCHOOLS FROM THE RISK OF FUTURE LIABILITY.
Litigation related to exposure to secondhand smoke has been successful in recovering damages
from employers who failed to provide a safe, smoke-free work environment. With the rise in the
number of children with asthma this may be more cause for concern if symptoms are triggered
when a child is exposed to tobacco smoke at school.
10. REDUCES THE RISK OF FIRES DUE TO SMOKING MATERIALS.
Fires caused by smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths in the U.S. These
materials tossed into
trash cans and on the grounds
put students and staff at
increased risk of injury due to fire.
WHITE HOUSE
CABINET SHOP
LLC
B. Webster & Sons
Woodworkers
11 Knapp Street
(2nd. St. North of light)
Sherburne, NY 13460
Phone: 607-674-9358
fax: 607-674-9767
E-mail:
whitehousecabinetshop
@frontiernet.net
Original Furniture
and Designs
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS,
but at White House Cabinet Shop in Sherburne you have to see and feel
our hand built products to really appreciate true craftsmanship.
Stop by our showroom M-F 7-3:30 or by appointment.
Come see our NEW Kitchen Display in our Showroom.
555 Warren Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 • 607-257-1551
Personal Services Offered - Kitchen Specialist
• In Home Analysis and Consultation • Complete Design Analysis
• Computer Drawings and Walk Through • Truly Custom Built in Our Shop • Complete Installation
• Lighting Design • Ability to Remodel Existing Home
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
PROGRESS CHENANGO 2008
Success Stories
The Children’s Center
The Children’s Center ( “TCC”) was established in 1990 in
Norwich, New York, as part of a community-wide endeavor
to address the child care needs of the families of Chenango
County. TCC was created through a partnership of committed individuals, City government, and the business community.
TCC’s purpose is to provide accessible, quality childcare
that stimulates imagination, growth and development of children through safe, varied activities suited to individual needs
and developmental stages. In accordance with the standards
put forth by the National Association for the Education of
Young Children (NAEYC), The Children’s Center strives to
provide high quality childcare that promotes the well being
of children and their families.
The Children’s Center (TCC) facility was designed specifically for children by architects and childcare environment
consultants to offer the community full-day childcare. Each
classroom is designed to create a loving and safe environment for children, according to their ages and abilities.
As a NYS licensed childcare center, TCC provides full-day
programs for infant, toddler and preschool. TCC employs a
caring staff to manage and operate the facility and its various
programs. Management and staff include a Center Director
and Food Service Manager, as well as qualified early childhood classroom teachers and aides.
Licensed by the New York State Office of Children and
Family Services, TCC has continuously met all regulations
pertaining to child care for children ages six weeks to four
years old. They are recognized throughout the community for
their high standards of quality childcare and employ individuals with specific expertise and training in Early Childhood
Education and Development, while also providing training
and development opportunities on a regular basis, consistent
with State requirements.
PROGRAM GOALS
Program goals for children six weeks through four years
has been designed:
• to develop attitudes of inquiry and discovery by observing, experimenting, questioning, thinking critically – thereby
to gain knowledge and understanding.
• to encourage use of language as a communication tool.
• to facilitate the experience of successful achievement.
• to promote wide and varied experiences that broaden the
children’s horizons, enrich concept development, and the
acquisition of skills.
• to engage in a variety of creative activities.
• to develop an understanding of sharing and taking turns.
• to develop a sense of personal responsibility.
• to develop an appreciation of kindness, friendliness,
cooperation, and trust in others.
• to provide experiences that help to develop motor-skills
and coordination.
• to encourage children to express feelings and needs in an
acceptable way.
• to help develop a positive self-concept.
The Children’s Center welcomes and encourages you to
tour their facility. We are confident that you will be delighted with the quality of care they can offer your little loved
ones.
3
CHENANGO HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Making a house a home
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
ith the cost of living continuing to
rise and the need
for low-income or subsidized
housing doing the same, one
local organization is trying to
ease the burden and help residents find affordable housing.
The Chenango Housing
Improvement Program Inc.,
(CHIP) located in Norwich,
is a non-profit organization
that owns and manages 11
apartment complexes in and
around Chenango County.
The complexes are designed
to aid low-income individuals as well as families and
senior citizens. In total there
are 137 units – ranging in size
from studios to three bedrooms. The complexes are
spread throughout the county
in Afton, Oxford, Bainbridge,
Sherburne, Norwich, Smyrna
and Greene. CHIP housing is
also available in Sidney,
Binghamton
and
Harpursville.
Each complex is operated
by management fees, which
are collected from tenants,
and each unit is subsidized
depending on the tenant’s
income. CHIP depends on
funding from the Rural
Preservation Program in
addition to each tenant’s federal and state subsidies. The
apartment units on average
cost between $150 to $900 a
month to rent.
“We try to ensure the tenants pay only 30 percent of
their income,” said CHIP
Executive Director Wayne
Patafio.
Currently Patafio says the
complexes are at a 98 percent
W
occupancy level, and there
are many more people on the
waiting lists. “We are always
pretty full,” he said.
Patafio also explains all of
the complexes were built differently, at different times
and for different needs. The
funding to keep the complexes subsidized are from HUD,
USDA Rural Development or
the New York State Division
of Housing.
Some complexes are
specifically for senior citizens and/or handicapped
individuals, while others target individuals or families
who meet the income guidelines.
In addition to managing the
11
various
complexes,
Patafio explains CHIP does
much more within and on the
outskirts of the community it
serves.
CHIP is an active member
of the Chenango Housing
Council and has been for
some time. As part of the
council, CHIP has taken on
the responsibility of working
with the handicap ramp program. The program is
designed to build reusable
aluminum handicap accessible ramps for people with disabilities.
“We have eight of them in
use now; however, we are not
advertising them as we once
did, because we do not have
the funding to keep building
them,” said Patafio. Finding
funding to continue the program is one obstacle that
Patafio says is difficult these
days. “Having enough money
to pay to heat all the buildings is hard enough,” said
Patafio.
Looking ahead to the
Mike Davis, maintenance worker at Marlene
Meadows, one of the many apartment complexes operated by CHIP, takes advantage of
the warm weather and fixes the property’s
snow blower before the next storm.
upcoming year, Patafio says
providing a successful “work
camp” is one goal the housing council hopes to achieve.
As a member of the housing
council, CHIP has a hand in
helping with the programs
held in the New Berlin area
this summer.
Work Camp involves
approximately
400
children/students from across
the United States who gather
and stay at Unadilla Valley
School for one week. The
children will work throughout the community to help
low-income, disabled or senior citizens make improvements to their homes. Director of New Berlin Housing
and Preservation Michael
Wesolowski says everyone
involved in putting the work
camp program together is
dedicated to ensuring the
event will help the community. “It should be great,” he
said.
“We have been doing the
preliminary work for a year
ING
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94 Y D PROG
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already. We are hoping to
have a very successful program,” said Patafio.
Every year, Patafio said the
job of finding affordable
housing for everyone in need
gets tougher; however managing and keeping the 11
complexes he has available
open to those in need is one
responsibility he, as well as
the housing council, is trying
hard to preserve and address.
Application packages are
provided to any interested
party. Contact the CHIP
Offices at 27 W. Main St.,
Norwich or call 334-3867.
The complexes in Chenango
County are: Afton Edge
Apartments in Afton; Brookside Apartments in Oxford;
Chendelot Apartments in
Bainbridge; Grace Manor
Apartments in Sherburne;
Marlene Meadows Apartments in Norwich; Smyrna
Schoolhouse Apartments in
Smyrna; and Village Greene
Apartments in Greene.
From Blueprints
To Completion...
Ninety-Four years ago in 1914
Herman R. Hall started serving the
Chenango County Area. He was later joined
by son Harold G. Hall.
The family business is located permanently
at 88 Cortland Street in Norwich. Today,
with the fourth generation, it is managed
by Harold’s son and daughter who are
working to carry on the tradition that was
set in 1914.
We offer...a professional approach to
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Design & Construction
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New Homes • Room Additions
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Kitchens • Baths • New Doors
Our goal is simply to provide our customer
with designs specifically tailored to their
needs and budget and with quality and
value, using the finest craftsmen. For 94
years we have delivered on these values.
of being open
ALL YEAR!
The Williamson family is so
happy that so many of you made
Hoppies your restaurant choice
in 2007!
Serving fresh homemade
baked goods; pies - cookies muffins - and breakfast breads.
Join us for something delicious from our breakfast menu or
lunch selection, with specials
daily.
Our company has built its reputation by
employing an experienced group of
professional craftsmen with diversified
range of skill and talents.
The office and wood working shop is open
Monday through Friday or by appointment.
Call 334-2176.
Put our many years of growth and
experience to work for you.
Four generations
of tradition and excellence...
Celebrating 94 Years
ON THE PARK, DOWNTOWN OXFORD We also can cater for parties,
607-843-2663 (THE CONE)
meetings and special functions.
Give us a call today!
Open @ 7am Monday thru Saturday;
Sunday @ noon.
88 Cortland Street •
“Hop On Into Hoppie’s For A Hoppin’ Good Time!”
334-2176
4
FRONTIER
Always on call to serve the community
BY MELISSA
DECORDOVA
The Evening Sun
n a constant effort to
maintain a dial tone, The
Weather Channel is
always on the television at
Frontier’s Plant Service Center in Sherburne. Even if they
can’t prevent winds, floods or
ice storms from downing
towers and cutting cables,
technicians want to be on the
scene beforehand in order to
make sure their customers
can always call out.
According to Vice President Jim Currie, who oversees the Sherburne service
center while holding the fort
down at Frontier’s operations
in Norwich, the company has
earmarked a good portion of
$15 million since 2005 for
infrastructure upkeep.
“It’s pretty amazing what
nature can do,” the 39-year
telephone industry veteran
said. “It constantly affects
our business.”
Frontier’s telephone service was interrupted in
Chenango County just once
last year due to deadly floods
near Roscoe in June. The
high waters were blamed for
four deaths after washing out
a bridge and a section of state
Route 206.
“Although our technicians
had difficulty even getting to
downed fiber and copper
cables, they were dedicated
and determined to restore
telephone service to the
area,”
Communications
Director Karen Miller said.
Frontier is the brand name
of Citizens Communications
Company, one of the nation’s
largest rural local exchange
carriers. Based in Stamford,
Conn., it provides residential
I
Frontier’s Ralph Bauder, a communications
technician in the company’s Norwich office,
gets up (not down) to work.
and business subscribers in
24 states with local and longdistance telephone service,
Internet access, wireless
Internet data access, digital
phone and DISH satellite TV.
Frontier reaches into primarily rural and suburban areas.
The company employs a
total of 200 in Chenango
County, representing a $9
million payroll. It has offices
in Greene, Norwich, Sherburne and New Berlin and
pays approximately $1 million in property taxes every
year.
Technicians from Sherburne’s 24-hour services center are regularly dispatched to
repair towers and cables in
Chenango, Delaware, Sullivan, Tioga, Cortland, Madison and Otsego counties.
Frontier’s Internet operations
center is located in Rochester
and switches and network
elements are monitored from
its office in Johnstown.
About 89 percent of Frontier’s customers in Chenango
County currently have high
speed Internet service, but
Currie said the company aims
“to push the envelope” into
areas that have none.
“The Governor is concerned that rural people have
access to the Internet. We
want to do our part to
increase the percentage of our
customers who already do,”
he said.
The year 2007 was a stellar
one for Frontier. The company continued to increase revenues and successfully
release new calling plans,
options and services. The
telephone industry has come
a long way from being a
quasi governmental agency
back in the heyday of Ma
Bell in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Since the forced breakup in
1986, the industry has many
independent and competitive
players.
Currie said Frontier’s performance is a testament to its
leadership. “Our CEO Maggie WildeRotter has breathed
such a spark of rebirth into
our employees and the way
we take a look at this business,” he said. About 60 managers recently attended a
revitalizing retreat in Arizona
where Currie and Miller said
much emphasis was placed
on staying focused, and taking advantage of the products
and data the company sells in
order to better serve its customers.
“We continue to provide
the types of service that people expect. Our reputation is
being able to serve them
when everything else is
falling down. We put the customer first; that’s the mantra
we follow,” Miller said.
(Though she represents the
company’s marketing communications efforts in all of
its regions, Miller’s parents
live in Afton. “Norwich and
Sherburne are very much like
home for me,” she said. Currie also calls Norwich his
home.)
A new service recently
introduced, “Piece of Mind,”
helps Frontier’s customers
with technical questions,
even if they have nothing to
do with their telephone or
Internet service. For a fee,
technicians can help individuals wanting to back up their
computer hard drives, restore
lost data or set up a wireless
network at home.
“Not every person is lucky
enough to have a 16-year-old
around to help with these
things,” Currie said. “People
have their whole family
albums, pictures and written
history, on their hard drives,
but they might not know how
to keep it all safe.”
Frontier’s “Piece of Mind”
technician help desk can
assist customers with any
network element they might
want to add to their computer,
or even how to set up an iPod
to download music.
Also planned are “Cyber
Safety Services” lectures
geared toward parents and
educators who want to learn
how to monitor youths’ computer time and content. Lecture dates will be advertised
in the near future.
“Parents
may
have
installed firewall or some
other security measures on
their child’s computer, but
they need to know how to go
in and check to make sure
that it hasn’t been overridden.
We need to make sure the
public knows what to watch
out for. Kids are savvy,” Currie said.
Perhaps most exciting on
the docket for this year is
making the City of Norwich
wireless.
Johnstown,
Gloversville and Norwich
became live simultaneously
in late January and are the
first cities in the state to do
so. Frontier dedicated a
$200,000 Empire State
Development Group grant
toward each locale’s new
wireless service. The connection will be clear from
Chenango Memorial Hospital
on North Broad Street to
McDonald’s on South Broad
Street, and from the Episcopal Church on West Main
Street to the Chenango County Fairgrounds on East Main
Street.
“We believe that this will
enhance economic activity,
showing Norwich to be a progressive community that will
be able to better attract business,” Currie said.
Community services not a
new concept at all for Frontier. Its employees are
encouraged to be active in
where they reside and work.
“It makes the whole, a whole
lot better,” Curries said.
Employees are members of
the United Way, the Business
Improvement District and
Relay for Life boards, to
name just a few.
“The people in this business ... I think they know how
fortunate they are to have a
great job at a better than competitive wage. They want to
give back,” explained Currie.
For Chenango County,
Currie said he hoped some of
the government consolidation
suggestions reported in The
Evening Sun last year can
come to fruition.
“We have a high population of senior citizens on a
fixed incomes who live here.
They are worried about taxes.
Cost cutting or caps on taxes
could help us take a look at
what our current taxes are
being used for. People should
be able to live in their own
homes for their whole lives,”
he said.
Students interested in
career opportunities with
Frontier should receive training in Internet protocol technology. “It’s the way the
world is growing,” he concluded.
IT’S ABOUT HOW
YOU LIVE.
Talking about end-of-life care is
not easy. But learning about your
options and sharing them with
your loved ones and care
providers may help you live every
day to the fullest. Ask them about
hospice and palliative care before
you or a loved one are faced with
a crisis. The goals of care are to
honor wishes, minimize pain and
help families find the support
they need.
For more information call:
Hospice & Palliative Care of
Chenango County
607-334-3556
www.hospicechenango.org
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
5
CHENANGO COUNTY S P C A
For the love of four-footed friends
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
he SPCA celebrated its
100th anniversary in
the community in
2007, a year in which the
organization made a number
of facility improvements.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA), has been an active
community member in
Chenango County since its
founding in 1907. In that time
the SPCA has transformed
considerably. The modern
version of the SPCA is one
equipped
with
several
advances in understanding
the biology and psychology
of rescued animals.
“One of the biggest
changes we had in the last
year was the installation of
our new air system. The system exchanges air 12 times in
an hour. It helps control the
spread of contiguous diseases
and allows the animals to get
continuous fresh air,” said
Executive Director Carol J.
Hedlund.
The $75,000 ventilation
project replaced the building’s original system which
was not designed with the
modern kennel in mind, said
Hedlund. The money for the
project was raised by the nonprofit SPCA through donations and fundraisers. The
largest of these events is the
organization’s Fur Ball. The
annual event is held around
Valentine’s Day and has
become a local tradition. This
Feb. 9 will make the Fur
Ball’s fourth year.
All proceeds from the
fundraiser go to the SPCA.
Last year the agency had an
“adopt-a-thon,”
where
T
patrons adopted 200 stuffed
animals donated by the Gund
foundation for $10 a piece,
and in turn donated the animals to Catholic Charities’
crime victims program. This
year the event will have a
similar theme revolving
around sponsors purchasing
children’s books that will be
donated to a similar needs
group.
“It’s a great community
service. Everybody should be
a part of a public board.
We’ve come along way to a
zero base budget, and last
year we implemented a very
successful capital campaign
for the air exchange system,”
said SPCA Board of Directors President Gard Turner.
The SPCA hopes to raise
enough money to purchase
new cages for the shelter this
year. “The current cages we
use are over 25 years old and
could potentially be a hazard
to the animals and employees
if they aren’t replaced soon,”
said Hedlund. The replacement cages and upgrades to
the dog kennels is estimated
to cost nearly $80,000.
The organization donates a
significant amount of time
and energy into understanding the background of its
clients so that it can make
successful long-\ term relationships between animals
and their owners. The SPCA
actively screens potential
owners looking at a number
of considerations such as living space and other pets or
children that may be in the
household.
“A lot of factors fall in this
kind of decision that not
everyone accounts for ...
that’s where we come in -
Chenango County SPCA Director Carol Hedlund tends to some of the puppies seized in a recent
animal cruelty case.
things like cost, compatibility
with other animals in the
household, children, animal
life expectancy, a person’s
lifestyle, these things can
greatly influence the happiness of a pet and in turn affect
the happiness of an owner.
We don’t want people turning
around in a few months
because of problems and
bring back an animal. It’s not
good for them or us and it’s
certainly not healthy for the
animal,” said Shelter Manager Lisa Teller.
All of the housed animals
at the shelter are vaccinated
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and tested for contagious illnesses. The facility even has
three separate quarantine
rooms to help protect the rest
of the pets.
The animals, mostly dogs
and cats, are carefully monitored by professional animal
handlers, such as Teller and
Hedlund. If erratic or aggressive behavior is detected in
any capacity, the shelter takes
proactive steps to deter the
animal. If an animal can’t be
made safe for adoption, then
they are euthanized by intravenous injection.
Hedlund reported that the
SPCA on average houses
1,500 animals on a yearly
basis. Nearly 65 percent of
those are cats. In the past year
however the shelter has seen
a jump in the number of animals, especially felines, and
took in nearly 1,700 last year.
The increase has been speculated by the group to be related to warmer than usual
weather this past fall.
The past year was a good
year for the agency and the
shelter further extends its role
in educating the public and
working with law enforcement. Early in January the
shelter welcomed in 37 neglected dogs as part of an
ongoing abuse investigation
by the Chenango County
Sheriff’s Department. Hedlund said that by the time the
animals received medical
treatment, food and shelter,
the costs would rise into the
tens of thousands for the nonprofit group.
The SPCA’s mainstay
theme which has been carried
by the group for many years
has been to remind people to
get their pets spayed or
neutered.
6
NORWICH FAMILY Y M C A
For family, friends and fitness
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
ith dozens of activities taking place at
locations throughout Chenango County, the
Norwich Family YMCA
serves areas far outside of
Norwich and offers a lot
more than a fitness facility.
According
to
Jamey
Mullen, YMCA executive
director, the Norwich Family
YMCA has grown to encompass a lot more than the
bricks and mortar at the Norwich facility. With after
school programs in Oxford,
Unadilla Valley, Norwich and
Bainbridge-Guilford,
a
YMCA supervised pool in
Greene and facilities that are
open to community organizations, the YMCA has become
a significant part of life in
Chenango County.
“Membership isn’t just
about access to the fitness
center,” Mullen said. “It’s
also about a sense of community.”
The Y has been a part of the
Norwich community since
1868, and since that time
Mullen explained, “It has
truly become a community
organization and business.”
The last year has not been
an easy one for the YMCA.
After only a few years in the
new facility, repairs and
improvements due to faulty
construction were required.
In the last year, the new Y
facility, which opened in
2002, received a new roof, a
new track, new flooring in
the gym, hallway and fitness
center, mechanical components and additional installations of the heat exchange for
W
the pool and whirl pool. “All
of the improvements worked
to protect our investments,
and none of the expense had a
direct effect on YMCA membership or program fees,”
Mullen explained.
While building construction has been a big project at
the Y in the past year, Mullen
said the construction is nearing completion. “It will be
nice to put the finishing
touches on the building project and get back to what we
do the best. Being available
to the community at large is
important to us. We’re excited to get back to some normalcy,” Mullen said.
President of the YMCA
Board of Directors John
Williams explained that
while the construction was an
issue, now that it is finished,
heating
costs
should
decrease, due to added insulation, and it will make for a
better facility.
One of the big changes the
YMCA has seen in the past
year was partnering with the
Norwich City School District
to provide a Universal PreKindergarten program. The
class, which can hold a total
of 15 children, currently is
just below the maximum
enrollment number with
about 13 kids attending. The
unique quality of the Y’s preK program is that children
from outside of the Norwich
School District are still able
to enroll in the program. “It
has been a good start to what
we hope will be a long successful relationship with the
school,” Mullen said.
The YMCA director pointed out that the three-year-old
pre-school program, now in
This year, the YMCA in collaboration with Norwich City Schools began
a new Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. The class is nearly full
with 13 of the 15 spots occupied. The Y hopes to continue the program
for years to come.
its 27th year, continues to
thrive. Currently, that program serves 18 children.
“One of the reasons we’re so
successful is that we can offer
swimming lessons, which is
something that most other
facilities can’t offer. It’s been
an asset to the program,”
Mullen said.
In the coming year, Mullen
said the organization will be
able to get back to their normal routine, but they also
plan on making some
changes.
According
to
Williams , the Y is in the
process of making a strategic
plan for the organization.
“The plan will help us develop an idea of where we want
to be in three, five or seven
years,”
Williams
said,
explaining that the Y is currently finishing out the items
identified in the last strategic
plan, which included the
plans for the new Y facility.
The Norwich Y has been
working with two network
consultants for the YMCA
USA. The groups are helping
to provide market analysis,
demographic representations,
market penetration studies
and membership saturation
statistics and surveys.
The information received
should show where the facility needs to make changes and
what kinds of changes need
to be made. Mullen explained
that statistical data shows the
community is fortunate to
have a YMCA. Due to population size and other factors,
if no Y existed, the YUSA
would advise against opening
a YMCA in the Norwich
community.
“One of the reasons we’ve
been in the community for
145 years is because we have
grown and changed to
become what we have,”
Mullen said. “We went from
an operating budget of
$600,000 16 years ago, to an
operating budget of $1.4 million now without a huge
increase in fees.” Mullen stated that he is confident the
Norwich Family YMCA’s
youth and teen membership
rates were the lowest in the
state, and he said there is a
good chance they are one of
the ten least expensive
nationally. Mullen credited
the initial trusts used to start
the Y and the work of the
Board of Trustees for that
accomplishment.
“We wouldn’t have the
facility we have today with
out the Board of Trustees and
the legacies and bequests of
the individuals who donated
money and created trusts for
the YMCA,” Mullen said.
Fred Myers, the Chair of
the Trustees explained that
due to the responsible management of the trusts over the
years, the Y was able to build
the new facility. “We’ve had
some difficulty with the
building leaking and the
floors, but there working on
those in the current project
and it’s almost done. Once
that’s put to bed, we’ll be
there to help support the Y
and make sure it’s going in
the right direction,” Myers
said.
Myers and Mullen both
expressed the fact that the
business of the Y has changed
over the years. “There are
always challenges. Years ago,
it was a simple business,”
Myers said, explaining that
the number of members had
gone from approximately
2,200 when the old Y facility
closed to 4,400 now, and the
increase has brought a higher
number of members who
seek subsidies and scholarships. Myers remembered a
previous director Stan Georgia calling local business
men when a child didn’t have
the funds for a scholarship.
Today a fund raising campaign has been instituted to
help meet the needs of the
community.
Myers explained that while
programs, activities and procedures may have changed,
the Christian values on which
the Y was based will always
remain the same. “It’s a real
plus for our community. I’m
delighted that we are able to
have a Y here and that people
have the chance to use it,”
Myers said.
Sharon A. McLean
Licensed Real Estate
Broker
(607) 656-4700
FAX (607) 656-9160
84 Genesee St., Greene, NY 13778
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Our friendly and knowledgable staff is willing to help you with your real estate needs. Our
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
7
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Success Stories
The scales of justice
New York State Veterans’
Home at Oxford
In the 1890’s the Woman’s Relief Corps, the auxiliary to the
Grand Army of the Republic, persuaded New York State to
establish and maintain a home which a veteran could enter
accompanied by his wife without separating them in their
advanced years. Before the establishment of the home, veterans
could be admitted to the New York State Soldiers and Sailors
Home at Bath, New York, but no provision was made for the
wives of such veterans and they were left to care for themselves
the best they could.
The site chosen for the facility was located in the Village of
Oxford, New York in Chenango County and was formally
opened in April 19, 1897 and immediately admitted 24 resident
members. By 1911 the home had expanded to five buildings,
including four cottages and an infirmary (now known as the
skilled nursing facility). Also by 1911 there were 172 resident
members at the facility. In 1931 a wing was added to the skilled
nursing facility.
In 1971 administration responsibility for the home was transferred from the New York State Department of Social Services to
the Department of Health. Shortly after the transfer it was determined that the facility was out of conformity with health and
safety requirements of the Life Safety Code of the National Fire
Protection Association because of its basic wood frame construction. It was also determined that replacing the facility would
be a much more economical way to bring it into compliance than
to attempt to renovate the existing facility. In 1972 the State legislature appropriated funds to develop plans for a new facility.
The current building opened in 1979. In May of 1981 the allnew one story building was formally opened. Each resident had
a private room sharing an adjoining restroom shared with one
other resident. There are no longer cottages identified as A, B, C,
and D but were given distinctive names such as Apple, Spruce,
Maple, Pine, Hawthorn, and Oak, each named after a tree.
The New York State Veterans’ Home at Oxford is currently
building a new state of the art multimillion dollar facility for the
veterans of New York State. The state of the art building is one
of the first facilities in the state to offer all private rooms and all
private bathrooms. Residents at this new facility will have shorter distances to travel inside the facility. You can visit the NYS
Veterans’ Home website at www.nysvets.org and view photos
from the construction process or view an artists drawing of what
the new facility will look like when completed.
BY ELIZABETH GARRY
State Supreme Court Justice
hat a year it’s been,
since I took my
oath of office last
January and embarked upon
serving as a State Supreme
Court Justice! One of the
most wonderful things about
serving in this Court is the
vast range of subject matter
that is heard in the State civil
court. I have had the opportunity to work on a wide-ranging variety of cases through
the year, from disputes
between neighbors regarding
property lines or property
rights, to divorces, to contract
disputes regarding buildings
and other construction projects, and injury claims arising
from car accidents, falls and
medical malpractice. I’ve
heard cases arising under the
new “civil confinement” law
passed this year relating to
the detention of dangerous
sex offenders beyond their
criminal sentence, and cases
in which citizens felt that
their local government
agency or body failed to perform its duty properly. There
have also been some employment cases, with individuals
challenging their termination
or changes in job status by
their employers, and (unfortunately), a great number of
debt collection cases, and
mortgage foreclosures. Some
of these cases have been
heard and determined by a
jury, in trials lasting up to a
week’s duration. Many others have been determined by
some settlement between the
parties following Court conferences, or by my decision
rendered following non-jury
W
“Aim for success, not
perfection. Never give up
your right to be wrong,
because then you will lose
the ability to learn new
things and move forward
with your life.”
DR. DAVID M. BURNS
trial or other legal application.
During my campaign I
often described the Supreme
Court as the “quiet court.” As
the issues and cases often
involve disputes between private parties, it is not common
to have any publicity at all
regarding the work of this
court. The cases heard here
are all those matters that your
friends and neighbors might
be involved in, but would
never tell you about – and the
court staff and lawyers never
do, either! But there IS a
LOT of work done there. I
have certainly been able to
keep my campaign promise
to “work hard, and do my
best for justice” this year!
As most of the Chenango
cases are heard by our senior
Justice, Hon. Kevin M.
Dowd, I have been asked to
travel widely throughout our
Sixth Judicial District, which
encompasses ten counties in
south-central New York. I
was assigned 100 percent of
the cases arising in Schuyler
County and 50 percent of the
cases in Tompkins County. I
had a number of actions
assigned to me from
Delaware County, a fair number from Chemung, and a
smattering from Otsego and
Chenango, where the other
Justice had some conflict. I
was also asked to assist the
Hon. Howard Sullivan with
his tremendous caseload in
the Chenango Family Court,
and this allowed me to preside in some cases involving
our local attorneys.
In 2008 my assignment has
changed significantly, as
newly elected Justice Molly
Fitzgerald will be picking up
Elizabeth Garry
in Schuyler and Delaware,
and I will now be hearing the
cases arising in neighboring
Madison County. Also, Justice Dowd will be picking up
most of the Family Court
assignments from Judge Sullivan, so I won’t be seen there
as frequently.
Leading neatly into the
next happy topic ... As many
of you may have heard me
say, our region has an unfortunate history of very few
contested elections for this
position. A long-standing
lack of choice at the ballot
box undermines our democracy, in a tremendously significant way. While not every
position must be contested
every term, a lack of ballot
choices is a dramatic disenfranchisement of the voters.
Our ancestors surely did not
sacrifice so that we could
treat our government so lightly, leaving the selection of
our public officials to party
politics. This year I was
happy to see that we had fully
contested elections to fill the
three openings on the State
Supreme Court bench. The
two top vote-getters each had
the significant qualification
of service on this bench for
many years; Justice Phil
Rumsey from Cortland ran
for re-election, winning a
second fourteen year term,
and Justice Michael Coccoma from Cooperstown won
on a record of service as an
Acting Justice for approximately six years. The third
position was hotly contested
and went into re-counts and
absentee ballots, with Justice
Molly Fitzgerald from Binghamton ultimately declared
the winner. For anyone who
feels their vote “doesn’t matter,” I’d suggest speaking
with anyone who has run for
office!
Votes do count,
democracy matters, and we
are called to be an active and
engaged citizenry.
As a final note of progress,
I am proud to say that my
election led to the renovation
of some of the office space in
downtown Norwich. With the
assistance of some funding
from the state one of our local
businesses was able to complete a long anticipated project, and space that had been
vacant and in disrepair has
been put back into good use
and service.
Thank you to all for the
opportunity to serve in our
state judiciary. A special
thanks to Hon. Irad S. Ingraham for being such a shining
example to me through the
years. I close with wishes for
good “progress Chenango” in
2008.
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PROGRESS CHENANGO
2008
A big thank you to all of our advertisers that have
shown their support and pride in Chenango
County by being a part of one of the best
Progress Chenango editions ever. I look forward
to helping you in the coming year with all your
advertising needs. Thanks again.
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Renovated front bar with tables, chairs & stools
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Please come visit our Post and help support our mission and purpose!
Linda Green
Retail Advertising Consultant The Evening Sun/ Gazette
29 Lackawanna Ave., Norwich
337-3021 • FAX 334-8273
e-mail: [email protected]
“I’d Be Happy To Help Your Business Grow.”
29 Sheldon Street, Norwich, New York 13815 • Phone/Fax: 607-334-9414
Mon. 9 am to 8 pm; Tues thru Sat. 8 am to midnight; Sun. noon to 8 pm
To Inquire About Veteran Womens Auxiliary, Sons Of The American Legion
Or American Legion Riders Membership, Please Call Or Stop By Our Post.
8
S
PHOTO
BY
E
C
T
I
O
N
T
W
O
FRANK SPEZIALE
DOWNTOWN NORWICH
The art of
city living
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
F
or one local art gallery owner,
opening a modern exhibition
space in downtown Norwich is
a dream she has held for a lifetime.
That dream became reality just over a year
ago as Nicole Mazzole and her fiancee Isaiah
Sutton opened their city venture.
Mazzole and Sutton opened The Art
Upstairs Gallery in July of 2006, and since
then, they have organized numerous art openings, musical performances and other art and
music events. As for expanding the modern
art market, Mazzole said, “We are filling a big
hole.” She says the community is receptive to
what she is trying to introduce, and there is
definitely a need and want for the gallery in
the area.
“We have a good response from artists,
both locally and regionally,” said Mazzole.
“We try to branch across Central New York,”
she said.
Growing up in Norwich, Mazzole said she
has seen the community offer more and more
exposure to the fine arts, such as the Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival each September, and she wanted to offer the community
something new and different. Mazzole says
she sees a lot of art in the area, but feels the
community needs to reach out to it.
The South Broad Street gallery, which
Mazzole said she started as a studio and exhibition space for herself, has turned into an
endeavor she feels is a true asset to the community at large.
“We love this community. Opening the
gallery in a place like Norwich was perfect,”
she said. Along with showing over 25 artists’
work within roughly a year, Mazzole sells
handmade glass art made by artist Kristen
Deady, a glass artist originally from Norwich.
“She is the only artist we call a staple figure
in the gallery,” said Mazzole.
As for the performing arts in downtown
Norwich, local shop owner Charlie Romano
says it seems everyone wants to or already
plays guitar. Romano owns and operates
Crazy Horse Music which provides the community with a musical outlet for all types of
string instruments. At his store, he sells all
kinds of string instruments and accessories
and also provides lessons. Romano has been
in the business for 15 years, and says he has a
consistent customer base and also gets a lot of
walk-in traffic.
As a musician in the area, Romano says 10
years ago it seemed as though music was better than it is today, with more bands perform- Nicole Mazzole, artist and owner of the Art Upstairs Art Gallery poses
ing for audiences. “People now are playing in her gallery next to the work of artist Joe Abbate.
mostly for their personal enjoyment, a type of
hobby player,” he said.
Romano says he likes teaching others to
play and offers lessons at only $10 for a half
an hour to anyone interested. “There seems to
be a lack of music in the area right now, professionally that is,” he said.
Just minutes from the Art Upstairs Gallery,
another type of collaborative art gallery is celebrating 10 years in business. Made in
Chenango offers the public anything from
wood working to photography to paintings
and sculpture, all made by artists either in or
in close proximity to Chenango County.
Artists collaborate and take turns working
shifts to keep the store open throughout the
week. In return, their art is exhibited for show
and sale.
Kathy Coates, a local photographer and
exhibitor, says the gallery caters to more traditional art throughout the county, while the
Art Upstairs Gallery has more of a modern
Couples trip the light fantastic at the first dance club meeting held at
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ... the Renaissance Building in downtown Norwich on Jan. 11.
ADVERTISERS
Unison has
safety and
efficiency down
to a science.
PAGE 11
The BID puts a new face
on downtown Norwich.
PAGE 12
• Chenango County ARC •
• United Church of Christ First Congregational •
• Pratt-Newton Memorial Home • Wilber National
Bank • Nina’s Pizzeria & Restaurant •
• MeadWestvaco • Community Foundation of
South Central New York •
• Chenango Speech & Hearing •
• Donna Frech School of Dance •
• Chenango County Fair •
•Reese-Marshall Oil Company •
10 Progress Chenango 2008
DOWNTOWN NORWICH
Art of city living
day flair. “I think art in the
area is beginning to be more
influential,” said Coates,
explaining that she feels
more varied art mediums are
becoming more apparent as
well.
Mixing musical talents
with the love of instruments
and dance, owners Bob and
Teddi Arnell say since 1984
when they opened Arnell’s
Music Store, a full service
instrument rental and repair
shop, they have seen the
trends change as well.
Besides being a master craftsman when it comes to repairing instruments, Teddi said
her husband is a wonderful
musician who studied at Juilliard.
Offering something different to the community, the
Arnells opened a dance club
at their Renaissance Building
in downtown Norwich, which
is organized by volunteers.
Their first meeting of the
year, held Jan. 11, offered
free Latin dance lessons, featuring Salsa and Mambo. Participants gathered to discuss
future dances and had time to
practice. The Arnells, with
their 16-piece band “The
Chenangoans,”
provided
music for ballroom dancing
throughout the fall of 2007,
continuing the tradition they
call a treat for the community.
The next scheduled dance
is from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 15.
Free dance lessons are
offered from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to join
as the band will play a variety
Charlie Romano holds one of his many electric guitars he has for sale
in his shop in downtown Norwich. He says it seems everyone wants to
learn how to play.
of music, including Latin
(cha-cha), Ballroom (waltz),
and Folk music (polka). A
new dance group is forming
now and is scheduled to meet
every Friday from 7 to 9
p.m., at the Renaissance
Building for dance lessons,
and dance practice.
“The free format of this
club includes fun, building
individual dance styles and
practicing dance steps to use
them at the monthly dance
hosted by the Arnells,” said
Dance Club coordinator
Martha Ryan. “This is the
best-kept secret in Chenango
County,” she said.
For more information, email Ryan at [email protected].
Success Stories
E-$ell it
Less than a month ago a man noticed something in a dumpster at a local high school, which later turned out to be a near
two thousand dollar treasure. It was an old beat up antiquated
saxophone. This sax was cast into the trash along with several
other aging instruments at the school. The man, Blu, as they
call him, salvaged a number of the decayed brass pieces and
made himself over twenty five hundred dollars by selling them
on eBay.
Although this kind of discovery isn’t found every day, there
are a number of similar success stories in our last year of operation. One man bought a tea cup set at a garage sale for 25
cents and sold it for $26. Another purchased a set of oil lamps
from a thrift store for three dollars and sold them online for
over $70.
Over 200 million buyers from all over the world are offered
a glimpse of your items. Believe us when we tell you that
we’ve not seen it all. There’s no telling what items might show
up at our customer service desk.
E-Sell-It takes in almost any kind of items that is sellable on
eBay. A few clients have literally pulled up in moving trucks,
and told us to Sell It! Each lot (either an item or group of items)
is evaluated, assigned a selling package based on its value,
processed to calculate shipping and handling charges, photographed and described in detail. Once sold the item or items
are professionally packaged and shipped to the winning buyers
all around the world!
It’s important to us to be as honest as possible because there
isn’t anything more expensive than an unsatisfied customer.
After all a returned item can be quite an undertaking when the
buyer resides across the globe.
If there was a key to our success over the last year it has been
our loyal and growing customer base. We tentatively watched
a few other small businesses struggle locally and we’ve devoted ourselves to making our company run as efficiently as possible. In the beginning the incentive was obvious as we were
the ones doing all the work. After a slow start the company
actually became overwhelmed with a steady influx of patrons
eager to liquidate their goods. Late in December the company
was forced to pull it advertising campaign in order to allow our
processing to catch up on the demand.
A year ago we began as little more than an Internet savvy ma
and pop consignment store but today we have become a true
enterprise with a commercial sized operation including several
new employees and the capital to expand our operation. In the
following year we are hoping to open up our first satellite locations in different parts of the area.
E-Sell-It has established itself as a high-ranking and preferred user on the eBay site. We earned our status from routinely offering our customer’s products on eBay. To date we
have received over 1,200 positive remarks from both buyers
and sellers.
E-Sell-It understands that some people don’t have the time
or the know-how of getting their merchandise on the website.
They’ve made it our hobby and job to create an appealing product that is well advertised in the eBay community. It’s really in
the business’ best interest because the only way E-Sell-It ever
makes a profit is if their customers make a profit.
To contact E-Sell-It, call 336-3735, or toll free at 1-877-2373554 (1-877-2-E-Sell-It) or visit their website at www.esellitny.com.
Chenango County ARC
Providing Services to our Community for over 40 Years
DAY HABILITATION SERVICE
Day Habilitation aims to provide an
environment in which participants can develop
skills in socialization, in forming friendships
and in developing skills that will be beneficial in
all aspects of their lives.
CHIMES
CONCERT
AT DAY
HABILITATION
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
The Community Residence program
promotes an atmosphere in which
residents learn a wide range of living
skills. Activities in cooking, banking,
PICNIC AT
RESIDENTIAL cleaning, laundry, hygiene, safety, etc.,
are taught to residents. Supervision in
PROGRAM
the Residential Program can range
from 24 hours/7 days per week to a
few hours per week depending on the
needs of the individual. The goal of
the Community Residence program is
RESIDENTIAL to prepare individuals to reside in their
OUTING TO
least restrictive, most supportive
ENCHANTED
residential setting.
FOREST
SERVICE COORDINATION
SERVICES THROUGH INTEGRATED
EMPLOYMENT
ARC has dedicated itself to meeting the
vocational needs of consumers in Chenango
Co. for four decades. ARC feels that a
vocation allows an individual to experience a
true sense of meaning and self worth.
Recreational
activities help
integration into
the community.
17 Midland Drive, Norwich • 334-5366
This program assists persons with
developmental disabilities in gaining access
to medical, social, educational, and other
services as needed by the individual. It also
provides ongoing support, advocacy, and
follow-up to ensure that the individual
receives the maximum possible benefit from
various services. The services may be
diagnostic, residential, habilitive, educational,
vocational, medical or financial in nature. It
ensures the continued growth of the
individual.
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
11
UNISON INDUSTRIES
Getting it down to a science
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
f a company has safety
down to a science,
chances are it has efficiency down pat, too.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration,
Unison
Industries in Norwich is one
of the safest companies in the
entire country. In fact, of 7
million eligible work sites in
the United States, Unison
was one of only 1,869 that
earned a distinguished “Voluntary Protections Programs
Star” designation from
OSHA.
“Approval into VPP is
OSHA’s official recognition
of the outstanding efforts of
employers and employees
who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and
health,” reads a statement on
OSHA’s website.
Unison Norwich, a division
of Unison Industries of Jacksonville, Fla., an aerospace
company that produces parts
for General Electric, earned
the distinction as a “Star”
company after voluntarily
undergoing a safety audit
conducted by OSHA last
year.
“It’s a big deal,” said Gary
Cummings, director of operations at Unison Norwich,
referring to VPP Star designation. “It’s a validation of
the safe environment our
people work so hard to create.
“Not only are they safer
because of it – which has
resulted in reduced injuries
and less people getting hurt –
they are also more efficient,”
Cummings added. “When
I
you work safe, you work efficient. The two go hand-inhand.”
More than safety awards,
those efficiencies have also
earned the Norwich division
a larger share of Unison’s
overall production orders.
Specifically, it has taken over
nearly all of the entire corporation’s speed and temperature sensor production and is
now Unison’s “center for
excellence” in that area.
“That growth could have
been anywhere,” said Product
Line Manager Mike Weaver,
referring to any number of
Unison’s other divisions
located in and outside the
United States. “It’s happening right here.”
As of February, Norwich
also became production
home to the CFM-56 alternator, which is used on GE
engines in Boeing 737s and
Airbus 320s.
“The CMF-56 is now in
full production,” said Cummings. “And it’s here doing
what we thought it would
do.”
What has it done? Along
with the addition of the new
sensor lines, the CMF-56 has
produced record earnings for
the Norwich plant, with third
and fourth quarters that were
the highest in its history.
According to Weaver and
Cummings, the near future
looks even brighter.
“Right now, were 25 percent higher (in terms of firm
product orders) than we were
this time last year,” said
Cummings. “This is definitely going to be a growth year
for us.”
The company added 17
Unison employee Sarah Convis is seen here soldering together a CFM-56 alternator. The CFM56 is one of the newest product lines manufactured at Unison for use in Boeing 737 airplane
engines made by General Electric.
new jobs in the latter part of
2007, and expects to add
more as production demands
rise. The company currently
employs 302.
“We’re mirroring the rest
of Unison as a whole; not too
far ahead, not too far behind,”
said Weaver. “The bottom
line: We’re growing our
employment in a global market.”
Thirty percent of Unison
Norwich’s products are sold
internationally to company’s
like Airbus and Honda. The
rest of their business lies in
domestic aerospace – small
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and large planes – as well
defense contracts.
“We do a wide range of
business,” said Cummings,
“with pretty broad coverage
in aerospace.”
On the surface, the increase
in business could be attributed to an upswing in the
aerospace market. However,
Weaver and Cummings say
the driving force behind Norwich’s success in landing
new business is directly related to a strong and talented
team of employees.
“Yes, the market is in good
shape,” Weaver said. “But
we’ve gone out and captured
growth, too – by being
aggressive and performing.”
“Our advantages come
from the workforce we
have,” said Cummings. “We
have a highly skilled, flexible
workforce that steps up to the
challenge. That’s what really
makes the difference here.”
Weaver also said that challenges in the aerospace
industry – such as high fuel
costs – have forced airplane
manufacturers and related
businesses to become more
efficient, having an ultimately positive effect on the mar-
ket.
Both said employees help
Unison Norwich overcome
high costs of doing business
in New York state, such as
taxes, worker’s compensation
and energy costs. Cummings
said the company again plans
to make efforts this year to
reach out to state legislators
and make their concerns
known, specifically on reupping vital energy programs
that are set to expire this year
that help Unison Norwich
compete nationwide and
globally.
12
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Revitalizing the
heart of the city
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
he Norwich Business
Improvement District’s
mission centers around
making a downtown that is
vibrant, friendly and can
draw people from near and
far to work and shop. In
2007, the BID completed
several projects its members
hope helped to achieve that
goal, and for 2008, many
more are in the works.
Executive Director Pegi
LoPresti explained that the
BID works to provide leadership by partnering with others to facilitate action and
encourage communication
between agencies.
“In many instances, the
BID acts as a catalyst,”
LoPresti said, explaining that
the organization often helps
businesses to make a change
without being affected themselves.
As
a
self-sustaining
agency, the BID works to
continuously improve the
downtown area solely supported by a a special assessment within the 12-block
radius of the district. “We use
our funds to bring additional
money to the properties and
property owners within the
district,” LoPresti explained.
The BID budget is generally
less than $50,000 a year, but
that money is used to fund
grants and projects that bring
more money into the community. “We’ve made wonderful
progress this year,” said BID
Board of Directors Treasurer
Teddi Arnell. “We’re trying
T
to make Norwich as beautiful
as possible.”
This
year,
LoPresti
explained, much of the BID’s
time and effort was spent on
the implementation of the
Main Street Grant. The grant,
offered by the New York
State Housing and Trust Fund
Corporation, is organized
through the Norwich BID,
and aids local businesses in
need of improvements. The
Main Street Grant allows
local businesses to make
improvements, with half of
the money coming from the
grant and the other half paid
for by the business owner.
The BID received two
rounds of funding for the
grant, for a total of $400,000
in grant funds, and a total of
$800,000 in improvements to
downtown businesses. “It’s
been so exciting seeing it
come to fruition,” LoPresti
said of the grant, which
included improvements to
Chiarino’s Insurance, The
Tavern, A Cut Above, The
Coffee Connection, Garf’s
Deli, Hayes Office Supplies,
Ives Cream, McLaughlin’s,
McNeil Jewelers, Irmin
Mody Real Estate, The
Masonic Temple, and the
vacant store fronts that were
previously home to The Corner Cigar and All American
Sports Shop. “We’ve been
working on this grant for
three years, and it’s great that
we’re finally getting to see
the fruits of our labor,”
LoPresti said.
BID Board Member Marylou Stewart explained that
while downtown had the
opportunity to take advantage
of such grants many years
ago, at that time businesses
did not have the money to
make improvements to the
exterior of their stores. “It’s
really good now that business
owners are willing to make
improvements to the outside
of the buildings. It makes
such a big difference visually.
Old buildings need a lot of
work, and this is a great way
to help business owners to
make improvements,” Stewart said.
To administer the grant, the
BID worked heavily with the
City of Norwich. The Common Council supported the
program and Economic and
Community Development
Specialist Todd Dreyer
helped to secure the grant
funding.
Also in conjunction with
the City of Norwich, the BID
worked to replace the bluestone strip in the downtown
sidewalks with a more
durable brick-type material.
The bluestone material,
which was only installed a
short time before, had
chipped and cracked in many
places leaving the sidewalks
unsafe. “I’m thankful that it’s
done and over with,”
LoPresti said of the bluestone
replacement. “It [the new
material] makes the downtown look nice.” The replacement of the bluestone cost the
BID and the city $36,000
each. Arnell said she is
pleased with the way the
downtown looks, especially
Many businesses in Norwich got a face lift this year, as the Business
Improvement District worked to administer a $400,000 50/50 grant
for facade improvements. The grant, offered by the New York State
Housing and Trust Fund Corporation helped thirteen area businesses,
like McLaughlin’s, to make facade improvements.
after the Main Street Grant
funded facade improvements
and the upgrades to the street
lights and sidewalks downtown.
In addition to making the
city look nicer, the BID tried
to make it a more family
friendly downtown as well.
LoPresti explained that due
to the efforts of the BID,
Gary Brightman, Burrell
Excavating and the Norwich
Career Firefighters, Santa’s
Cottage was returned to the
downtown and in conjunction
with the Friends of the Park,
a “Great Gatsby” style fund
raising event was held in East
Side Park to raise funds and
awareness for the parks project – a million dollar plan
that would include the implementation of a permanent
stage, changing the layout of
the sidewalks to make it closer to the way it originally
looked in 1908, moving the
pavilion to the front of East
Park and putting it at ground
level, adding permanent public restrooms and making all
entrances to the park handi-
cap accessible.
“The parks are in the heart
of our district, and we want to
see them well maintained and
well utilized,” LoPresti said.
The BID Executive Director
explained that the BID wants
to ensure that the parks will
continue to be used for current events and hopes this
project will bring more
events to downtown Norwich.
While the BID has seen
many successes this year,
LoPresti said one of the
things that is harder to control
are the empty storefronts
downtown. One of the major
reasons LoPresti gave for the
number of empty storefronts
are the high rents that many
landlords charge for the
buildings. “Outside buyers
come in and purchase these
buildings because of the low
prices in this area, but then
they want to charge the high
rents that they are used to in
the more urban settings. It’s a
huge problem,” LoPresti
explained. “There are a lot of
inquiries about the space, but
many of these businesses
can’t make the rents work.”
While the problem has left
many store fronts in the
downtown area empty,
LoPresti explained that the
BID along with Commerce
Chenango is working to open
the lines of communication
between the property owners
and the business owners to
determine how to address the
problem.
“There are a lot of empty
storefronts right now, but
there are always ebbs and
tides, and now we are in one
of the downturns,” Stewart
said. One of the reasons
Stewart sees for the empty
storefronts is the increasing
competition from chain
stores. “It’s getting tougher
and tougher to compete with
big box stores, but that forces
the community to focus on
what they want to do,” Stewart said, explaining that some
downtowns have focused on
being known for one thing,
like antiques, to bring people
into the area. “We need to
CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
13
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Success Stories
Hi-Skor Lanes
A “small side street mom and pop operation” best describes
Hi-Skor Lanes, 21 Clyde Street, Earlville. The center opened
back in 1948 and has grown over the past 59 years into a thriving family establishment. For the last 31 years, Bruce and
Donna Stratton have added a variety of programs, including a
sanctioned Saturday morning Junior Program (ages 4-yrs.– high
school) with scholarships for the graduating seniors. We have
many volunteers; some have gone to a higher level to coach the
kid’s in the Junior program. With the help of these volunteers
our establishment has become successful with Men’s, Women’s,
and mixed leagues throughout the week. Hi-Skor Lanes has
been the proud home of S-E high school bowling team, which
for the last several seasons has produced a strong team in the
Tri-Valley League. Also mini leagues (10 weeks) are a popular
way to spend a quality hour with your child in a Scotch-Double
format, with the next one to begin Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. Hi-Skor
Lanes has been home for the past 34 years to the Earlville Fire
Dept. Bowling Tournament. 80-100 teams of firefighters, EMTs
and auxiliaries from around New York State travel to our small
establishment the first few weekends in March annually.
Birthday party packages are also a growing part of Hi-Skor,
we believe in part due to the AMF-Boss computerized automatic scoring system installed a few years ago along with instant
bumpers on every lane. The no-smoking atmosphere has also
contributed to more families during open bowling times. We
have seen kids from our early days now grown and bringing
their families back to their home base or visiting their parents
over the holidays – including our own grandchildren.
We also have a full service alcohol bar in our relaxing lounge,
a snack bar features an autofry and homemade pizza.
There have been many highlights along the way. The
youngest boy to roll a 300 was Sean Boise, 13; the youngest girl
to roll a 300 was Morgan Reid, 15. Men’s leagues have seen
some 800 series and 300 throughout the years with the new ball
technologies.
The high school boys won the prestigious Christmas Tournament this past year against fourteen other top central New York
Schools. The special honor of Morgan Reid being chosen as one
of the top 50 high school girl bowlers in the United States was
very exciting in 2007.
The bowling industry has gone through many improvements
on and off the lanes. We have had an interesting ride with highs
and lows but overall it has been very rewarding. Stop in to say
“Hi” and visit our family with yours and enjoy a fun family
time. We also have glow in the dark bowling Friday nights at 9
p.m.; open bowling Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.; Saturday and
Sunday afternoons, Tuesday mornings are at a reduced rate from
9 a.m.–noon. For any questions on birthday party packages,
mini leagues, adult leagues or your company’s next outing, contact us at (315) 691-3211.
“There is only one success
– to be able to spend your
life in your own way.”
CHRISTOPHER MORLEY
A calling to come home,
where you’re always welcome
BY KELLY COLLINS-COLOSI
Norwich City Schools
was born and raised in
Norwich. I am thankful
for having the opportunity to be raised in a safe,
small town where you could
walk down the street and
wave hello to nearly everyone who passed you. I graduated from the Norwich City
School district in 1997, having experienced some of the
best and most effective teachers. Upon graduation I
thought I would wave goodbye to Norwich to go on to
other things, but sometimes
you are able to see life come
full circle. Five years ago I
returned to Norwich to
become the high school
social worker, a calling to
come back and work in a
place that encouraged me to
grow and find my potential.
As a school social worker I
often times ask students,
“Where do you see yourself
in ten years? What are your
goals? What will you be
I
Kelly Collins-Colosi
doing?” More often than not I
hear my students say, “Oh,
I’m getting out of here ... I am
going to go to college ... or
join the military and live far
away from here.” But more
and more I am seeing them
come back to this place, a
place where you are always
welcome, a place where your
teachers will stop you in the
grocery store to ask how you
are doing. They come back to
a place where they have a history. Norwich is the most
comfortable and welcoming
small town you will find.
The Norwich City Schools
are a place of stability, of
consistency of compassion
and growth for our students.
The teachers I left ten years
ago upon graduation are the
teachers who are still here.
They are here because they
care about the success of each
of our students. At the high
school level we encourage
the growth and success of
each of our students through
numerous programs such as
the Big Brother/Big Sister
Program and Service Learning.
The community of Norwich is very open and welcoming to high school students in their businesses,
offices and agencies. We regularly have students in the
Service Learning program
who volunteer many hours
during the school day at such
places as the SPCA, the
police station, The Evening
Sun, local lawyers’ offices
such as Natoli & Natoli, LLP
and in our schools. These are
students who want to effectively use their time to give
back to the community they
live in, as well as gain experience in fields that may interest them in the future.
Big Brother/Big Sister is
another excellent opportunity
our high schools students can
participate in. In collaboration with The Place, high
school juniors and seniors are
linked with seventh and eight
graders to act as mentors, role
models, tutors and friends.
This is an excellent opportunity for our high school students to positively affect
other students as well as grow
and mature themselves.
The Norwich City Schools
strive to be a welcoming,
compassionate environment
where we encourage each
student to grow and develop
to their full potential. Ten
years from now I know many
of our students will still be a
part of the growth and success of this community.
Business Improvement District –
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 where the downtowns have
virtually disappeared. “Peokeep moving forward. The ple have to realize that you
rehab was a positive thing,
and eventually it will pay need to keep supporting your
downtowns, otherwise they
off,” she said.
Even with some storefronts disappear,” Arnell said.
“We’re going to continue
left vacant, LoPresti said
to
work with other organizathere is much to be proud of
in the downtown Norwich tions to address the property
has today, compared to other issues and fill the storefronts,
cities like Utica and Moravia which will benefit other
retailers downtown and the
city in terms of sales tax revenue,” LoPresti said. She
explained that with the help
of Maureen Carpenter and
Jennifer Tavares at Commerce Chenango, an action
matrix has been created to
address the problems facing
downtown businesses.
While there are issues that
need to be addressed,
LoPresti said she is hopeful
that people will continue to
shop locally and support
downtown retailers. “There is
a resurgence of people wanting to do business downtown.
It ebbs and flows in cycles,
but people seem to be coming
back to downtown communities,” LoPresti said.
161
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Doctorate Schools
for Audiology
MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE FOR 33 YEARS...
Our experienced teachers
provide technique and
discipline for the serious
dancer and a fun but
educational program
for beginner and
recreational students.
Donna Frech School of Dance offers
a comprehensive dance program for
children, teens and adults, beginners
through advanced. Recreational or
intensive study.
*TAP *JAZZ *BALLET
*MODERN *ACRO/GYMNASTICS
*LYRICAL *PREDANCE (AGES 3-5)
*HIP HOP *TUMBLING (AGES 3-5)
*POINTE *MUSIC THEATER *STRETCH
*VOICE LESSONS *BOYS ONLY
CLASSES AVAILABLE
AWARD WINNING DANCE GROUPS
Call the dance studio for further information.
Accepting
New Students
Through
February
AUGUST 5th-10th, 2008
•ATV Races •Tractor Pulls •Truck Pulls •Horse Shows
•Motorcycle Thrill Show •Harness Racing •Garden Tractor Pulls
•Circus •Showcase of Chenango County Agriculture
BUY YOUR FAIR TICKETS AND MEMBERSHIP EARLY
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$15 annual price; Good for entry to the fair all week; Free parking; Vote for directors;
Support the Chenango County Agricultural Society which is entering its 161st year.
Available at the Grandstand Office 334-9198
Join us in celebrating 161 years as the oldest annual
entertainment event in the county!
14
WE MAKE WARM HOMES
AND WARM FRIENDS..
.
Safe
Quality Heating
Systems
1930
2008
Customers come first...
We Offer...
For over 70 years we have provided our customers with
excellent service and superior products. Although we have
grown with the times, we have not forgotten we are in the
business of keeping people warm.
We still believe the customer comes first. That’s how we do
business at Reese- Marshall Co. Inc.
• Free estimates for all installations.
• First rate burner service technicians.
• 24-hour emergency service, 365 days a year.
• A variety of budget and burner service plans.
• Automatic delivery with a guarantee.
• People who care about providing quality service.
Quality Products...
Our Area of Service...
Reese-Marshall Co. Inc. carries a full line of quality fuels
including; No. 2 Fuel Oil, Diesel, Kerosene, Gasoline and
Propane Gas
Reese-Marshall Co. Inc.’s office and storage facility is
located on County Road 32, in Norwich. Our service area
extends to Norwich and the following areas:
Our Burner Service Department is fully equipped to handle
any repair or installation. Thinking of a new heating system?
Don’t hesitate to call for a free written estimate, or stop by
and visit our office located on County Road 32 in Norwich.
• Oxford - McDonough - Guilford - Preston
• Mt. Upton - Gilbertsville - Morris
• South New Berlin - New Berlin - Edmeston
• South Edmeston - West Edmeston - Pittsfield
• Sherburne - North Norwich - Earlville - Columbus Smyrna
• Otselic - South Otselic - Pitcher - Plymouth
Our Pledge...
Our customers will always be our first priority. After all, we are
here to serve you. We Pledge to constantly reaffirm this with
our actions, which we have built our reputation on.
REESE-MARSHALL OIL COMPANY
We make warm friends. Est. 1942
6254 County Road 32, Norwich, N.Y. 13815
PHONE: (607) 334-3633
Nights, Sundays & Holidays (607) 334-7970
www.reesemarshall.com • email: [email protected]
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
T
H
R
E
E
Mooving
right along ...
PHOTO
BY
FRANK SPEZIALE
CHENANGO COUNTY FARM BUREAU
From land management to renewable
energy, the key is teaching from experience
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
I
f they haven’t
already, most
landowners in the
county will likely soon
be approached to sign
a natural gas lease.
Before they sign
anything, the Chenango
County Farm Bureau
wants people to know
what the pros and cons
of gas leasing are.
That’s not all.
Throughout 2007, the Farm
Bureau has remained dedicated to educating its members
and the public on wide range
of issues – from land management to renewable energy,
President Bradd Vickers says.
Annette Connick, a Norwich resident who taught 4th
grade in Brooklyn for 35
years, said the Farm Bureau
played a vital role in educating her and her students not
only about the importance of
agriculture, but all subjects.
“The
students
were
enthralled by it,” said Connick, who used advice and
resources provided by Vickers and his wife Rainy to
incorporate agriculture into
math, science, geography,
history and writing lessons
for over eight years. “Agriculture was something differ-
ent and interesting to these
kids. It was very exciting for
them and me to be able to
incorporate it into our day-today curriculum and it was
reinvigorating for me as a
teacher to be able to do that.”
Over the years, with the
bureau’s help, Connick’s
classes simulated basic farm
operations in and outside the
classroom to learn about
math and science. For example, they once mapped out the
acreage of their auditorium to
calculate how much lettuce
could be grown in a space
that size. Using math and
supermarket prices, they then
figured out how much money
they could’ve made.
The kids also developed
relationships with Chenango
County farmers through letters and later the computer
that taught them reading,
writing and interpersonal
skills.
“We’d correspond almost
every day and the kids would
ask them all sorts of questions. The farmers would
answer every single one,”
Connick said. “The farmers I
met here really went out of
their way to accommodate
my children and me.”
The Farm Bureau is also a
grass roots lobbying arm that
acts as the voice of local
farmers in Albany and Washington. According to Vickers,
one of his many jobs is to
make sure local farm concerns make it to the floor of
the Legislature.
“It’s pretty simple. We
have to convince our lawmakers each year that one
way or the other they need to
support our national food
supply,”
said
Vickers.
“There’s a number of different policies we put forward,
but it all comes back to one
thing; it’s our job to make
them realize that our nation’s
food supply is number one on
the list.”
Locally, producers were
threatened by drastically low
milk prices in 2005 and 2006.
However, in the last eight
months of 2007 and first
month of 2008, prices have
reached record highs. But
input costs – feed, fuel and
equipment – remain high and
continue to rise. Farmers
have been able to bounce
back some on crop sales, but
Vickers say the industry still
has a long way to go before it
turns the corner.
“There’s no bigger gamble
than agriculture,” he said.
“It’s a lot like playing the
stock market; it has its ups
and downs.”
Arguably second on the list
is energy. Specifically renewable energy. As business
evolves, so too must the farm.
ADVERTISERS
Painting a
brighter
future at
Golden
Artist
Colors.
PAGE 20
Keep your eye on the wheels at the
Northeast Classic Car Museum.
PAGE 22
• Community Memorial Hospital •
• Chenango Dairy Day • Chenango Housing
Improvement Program • Wilson Funeral Home •
• Bassett Healthcare • Chenango County SPCA •
• Headwaters Youth Conservation Corps •
• Deb Deuel/The Evening Sun • The Storage Center •
• Schlafer Construction • Pennysaveronline.com •
• Nazzitto’s Liquors • Hi-Skor Lanes •
• Taylor’s Mini-Marts • Park-er-Go • Y Giants
• Chenango County Area Corp. •
16
CHENANGO COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Success Stories
Enlightened Dentistry
Chenango County focuses on agriculture in August at the county fair in Norwich, but the Farm
Bureau tries to make sure the industry is in the forefront of people’s minds all year long.
The ups and downs of agriculture
That means finding ways to
diversify. Vickers and other
ag leaders see renewable
energy as the jumping-on
point for local farmers to
ensure they’re viable in years
to come.
“Energy is a key issue,” he
said. “If we can target marginal properties locally to
grow energy crops, that can
create a lot of value-added
possibilities.”
By value-added, Vickers
essentially means helping
farmers find more purposes
for their products and land
without increasing their input
costs. An example would be
if a farmer could make extra
dollars growing switch grass
and rape seed – both used for
ethanol production – on their
worst acres without disrupting their normal crop production.
“In the near future we
should be able to start-up
education programs that will
help local producers to buy
into this as things move
along,” Vickers said. “Once
government clarifies the
legalities of the issue, like
taxes and regulations, things
should move forward.”
Overall, Farm Bureau at
the county, state and national
level promotes the “25/25”
program, which seeks to have
agriculture producing 25 percent of the nation’s energy
supply by 2025.
Marketing is another of the
organization’s
important
functions. Not only does that
mean promoting farm products – in Chenango, dairy is a
large focus – but also attracting people from outside the
county to move here and
farm.
“Compared to some places
across the country, we’re not
too bad,” said Vickers. “We
have excellent water quality,
land that’s relatively inexpensive and we have land that’s
available.”
Unless measures are taken,
however, losing farm land to
subdivision and commercial
development is always a
threat. One of the biggest
threats is the New York
Regional Interconnect Inc.
power line project. In total,
the line threatens to encroach
62 miles of designated agricultural properties. That
majority of that would be in
Chenango County, which will
host 44 miles of the line if
built.
Farm Bureau has testified
against NYRI in several venues and continues to compile
information against the project as the case moves toward
a state review.
Enlightened Dentistry services include full mouth rehab,
teeth straightening, whitening, anti-wrinkling, emergencies,
implants, root canals, sedation, gum care, extractions, teeth sensitivity treatments and cleanings. Their mission is to deliver the
highest quality of dentistry in the same manner that they would
want given to themselves and their loved ones. The office hours
are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. There is
ample parking.
The office is soothing and comfortable, displaying beautiful
works from local artists. The office is designed using the latest
technology including a purified water system which prevents
waterline contamination, ViziLite Plus for advanced oral cancer
screening, Air abrasion using no drills for small cavities, digital
radiology to reduce radiation exposure, and even a computerized bite analysis to alleviate some TMJ and headache problems. From the wireless intraoral cameras that give you a view
of your mouth to the pen like laser device to detect cavities, no
detail has been overlooked.
The doctor and the staff work together to provide state-ofthe-art care and education. They continuously train to keep
themselves up to date with the latest dental technology and
research so that their patients receive the best care possible in a
warm and caring environment.
Dr. Ray Casipit comes from family of doctors. Both his parents and his wife are medical doctors. He chose to become a
dentist because it is a field where he could use his artistic ability to create beautiful smiles. He appeared on the Discovery
Health Channel in a program about dentists and has been named
one of America’s top dentists by the Consumer Research Council of America. When not working, he can be found either at the
Norwich YMCA playing for the Enlightened Dentistry Corporate Basketball team or at his home in South Plymouth, where
he spends time reading up on new advancements in dentistry.
Enlightened Dentistry welcomes two members. The first
member is Erin Ballard who joins Deanna Parsons as two highly trained hygienist who help patients with any gum problem or
periodontal disease concerns. Erin has many years of experience working in many offices from Long Island to Upstate NY.
The second member is Julie Brown who is completing her
major in Business and minor in Accounting from SUNY Morrisville. She is the new office manager.
The most important part of dental care is preventing problems
before it starts. If one feels one has a an oral problem, please see
your local dentist and don't wait until a tooth hurts. If you don’t
have a dentist, we look forward to helping and meeting you.
“I owe my success to
having listened respectfully
to the very best advice, and
then going away and
doing the exact opposite.”
G.K. CHESTERTON
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
VALLEY RIDGE CENTER
FOR
17
INTENSIVE TREATMENT
The highest
level in a
continuum
of treatment
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
he grounds at the
secure
disabilities
treatment facility in
Norwich are far more similar
to a dormitory at a college
campus than the stereotypical
perception of bars and gates
often portrayed.
“We are a treatment facility, not a correctional facility,”
said Valley Ridge Center for
Intensive Treatment (CIT)
Director Chuck Kearley.
The facility currently houses 60 residents, nearly all of
them male except for a single
female. Kearley said the center is capable of providing
secure care for either sex
even though almost all of the
residents at the facility have
been male.
Of the approximately 250
employees working at the
site, over 200 of them live
inside of the county – 80 percent of the workforce. “We
employ a wide range of
young professionals, doctors,
psychologists, nurses, and a
number of other positions,”
said Kearley.
Kearley says staff morale is
high at the CIT. The statefunded facility pays an entry
level salary for several positions well above $10 an hour
plus health and retirement
benefits.
T
Leisa McKown works as
an aide in one of the housing
units at the facility. “I basically help them with their
regular life functions. I cook,
clean, do laundry and help
the others do things for themselves,” said McKown.
McKown said she had been
working at the center since it
first opened. “I was here five
years ago and watched the
first person come in,” she
said. The first residents
arrived at the facility on April
20, 2002.
“At first I was unsure what
to expect. I had no idea what
I’d be doing. I enjoy my job
and a lot of the people here
are wonderful to work with,”
said McKown.
Valley Ridge CIT is an
secure intensive treatment
facility operated by the New
York State Office of Mental
Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities
(OMRDD).
OMRDD’s treatment programs offer clinical services
ranging from basic living
skills to intensive anger therapy and relapse prevention
services. Some therapies
have included community
outings.
Kearley said he knows that
the perception of the center in
the public is often one of concern. “We are right across the
An inside look from the Valley Ridge CIT campus in Norwich. This is the center of the courtyard
surrounded by five housing units. The inside of the facility is a far more different environment
than its foreboding outside appearance.
street from the jail and people
often think we’re just jail
number two, but we are really very different. We treat
people who are at the lowest
point in their life. They need
help in order to get back in
control,” said Kearley.
The director explained
there are a number of paths
that could lead a person into
becoming a “consumer” at
the facility. “It can be court
ordered, following a crime,
the family could have raised
concern and had them admitted, self admittance is rare,
but happens. The only real
commonality it that a person
is a threat to themselves or
others,” said Kearley.
The center works in close
concert with OMRDD. Of the
60 developmentally disabled
persons at the site, ranging in
age from 18 to 35, nearly half
are registered as Level 3 sex
offenders.
Those who reside at the
facility are called “con-
sumers” by the state. They
live in five housing units built
apart from the main building
with a courtyard between
them. The residents receive
regular clinical services ranging from basic living skills to
intensive anger therapy and
relapse prevention services.
The staff-to-consumer ratio is
nearly 4 to 1, said Kearley.
“This is the last stop. If no
other facility can help someone, we are the one consumers get sent to. We exist
in a continuum of treatment
with our facility at the top.
From here, treatment recedes
into less intensive facilities
until the consumer is prepared to go back to the regular population or be released
into the public. It’s a challenging responsibility and we
do everything we can to
ensure the safety of our consumers, staff and the public.
The long term solution to that
end is continued treatment,”
said Kearley.
115 YEAR OLD BUSINESS
WILSON
FUNERAL HOME, INC.
Chenango Housing Improvement
Program, Inc.
h
Proud to be
Norwich’s only
locally owned
funeral home.
27 West Main Street, Norwich, N.Y. 13815
TEL. 607-334-3867
Fax. 607-336-5292 TDD 1800-662-1220
The interior of our
funeral home was
remodeled to make it
more efficient and
comfortable for those who
need our services.
CHIP, INC. OFFERS QUALITY, AFFORDABLE LOW
INCOME HOUSING
TO THE ELDERLY
AND/OR HANDICAPPED/DISABLED PEOPLE OF ANY AGE
AND TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS
LOCATIONS IN NORWICH, OXFORD, GREENE,
SHERBURNE, SMYRNA, AFTON, BAINBRIDGE, SIDNEY,
HARPURSVILLE AND BINGHAMTON
for information call CHIP, inc. 607-334-3867
CHIP, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission of
access to, treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs and activities.
WILSON
Funeral Home, Inc.
Norwich’s only locally owned funeral home
Doug Wilson, owner- Funeral Director
Carl Conley- Funeral Director
68 South Broad St., Norwich • 336-3993
Douglas R. Wilson
18
T H E M I D- YO R K P R E S S I N C.
Longstanding Sherburne company well
known for packaging pharmaceuticals
BY MELISSA
DECORDOVA
The Evening Sun
ould there possibly be
a connection between
fallen teen star Britney Spears and one of
Chenango County’s most
prominent manufacturers?
Fact is, it’s a good bet that
the early pregnancy test packages that Spears and her
boyfriend were photographed
reading at a California store
recently were made at The
Mid-York Press, Inc. in Sherburne. About 13 million EPT
boxes per month are produced at the factory located
just west of the village.
“Most everything we produce is for what falls between
here and here,” President and
Chief Executive Officer
Robert W. Tenney said while
pointing to his midriff and
then thighs.
Mid-York Press’ roots go
back four generations of Tenney’s family to circa 1820
with publication of the first
newspaper in Hamilton in
Madison County. It still owns
and publishes The Mid-York
Weekly in that town, located
just north of Sherburne.
The company acquired its
first presses in 1946 when it
was incorporated by Tenney’s
forebears. Since then, it has
evolved into a highly specialized supplier to the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food
industries on a national level.
In addition, it supplies commercial printing services to
local industries, such as
MeadWestvaco in Sidney,
Norwich Pharmaceuticals in
North Norwich and CWS in
C
the City of Norwich.
Among other packaging
contracts, Tenney estimates
that 100 million copies of
medicinal instructions are
produced per year. That job,
along with others, helps to
deplete an inventory of 300
tons of paper per month.
The Mid-York Press, Inc.
employs 84, including temporary workers, and has an
annual payroll of $2.86 million. The presses are replaced
every 10 years in order to
maintain the quality and efficiency for which the company is known in its niche market. The presses run continually through three daily
shifts.
With the help of the
Chenango Industrial Development Agency and a $3.5
million bond, the company
plans to acquire a new highspeed press this year along
with peripherals, folding
equipment and, possibly, a
computer aided design system.
Earnings were up in 2007
as they have been, steadily,
since 2001. “This industry
has struggled since 9/11.
Many of my competitors
have gone out of business.
We’ve never seen a glitch,”
said Tenney. Earnings were
$10.8 million in 2007 and
$10.3 million in 2006. The
company’s profitability falls
consistently within the upper
5 percent of its industry.
There have been no layoffs
to speak of since 1995, and
even then employees were
called back after a week off.
“We are good in good times
The Mid-York Press, Inc. President Robert W. Tenney reviews a packaging job with an employee at the Sherburne
printing facility.
and better in bad times,” Tenney said.
Capital
improvements
made to the plant last year
included a fixed back
entrance and expanded walkway toward a new employee
parking lot.
Though not set in stone,
Tenney said some contracts
in the works have the potential to result in an uptick of 20
percent in growth for The
Mid-York Press, Inc. this
year, the possibility of adding
10 new positions, plus a
building expansion. He said
he has already begun recruitment efforts.
“We are going to be focusing on our core pharmaceuticals customers,” he said. “We
are definitely in a growth
mode ... and working a lot of
overtime.”
The Mid-York Press, Inc.
has been a prominent contributor to the Chenango United
Way, the Norwich Family
YMCA, the Sherburne
Library and Success by Six,
to name a few community
organizations. Tenney, himself, is president of the Sherburne Music Theater Society
and the Sherburne Rotary
Club. His employees participate in all types of recreational and youth organizations.
Improving the county’s
educational standards tops
this business leader’s wish
list for the new year. The
number of job applicants who
don’t have graduate degrees,
he said, is “appalling.” Tenney hopes to reinstate a sitebased workforce training program in the near future.
“I want to be more
involved in the schools again,
and welcome any teachers
who would like to show their
students what we do,” he
said.
The mission of the Chenango SPCA is to provide and promote care,
compassion and respect for our animals and our community.
•Youth serving America •Youth serving communities
•Youth serving the conservation cause
Youth serving in Headwaters Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC) have
provided over 83,000 hours of service since the program was started in
1999. HYCC would like to thank the many volunteers, supporters, partners,
and donors that have made the dream of youth conservation service a reality
for 149 teens and young adults in Chenango, Delaware & Otsego Counties.
HYCC partners with the AmeriCorps National
Service Program and other education - job training programs to provide a
unique conservation service experience that benefits
both youth and the community.
For more information on the HYCC contact The Place
(HYCC Lead Agency), P.O. Box 509, Norwich, NY 13815
or e-mail: [email protected].
www.theplace-cncn.org/hycc/intro.htm
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
Success Stories
Hospice & Palliative Care
of Chenango County
When one member of a family is very ill, it affects every
member of that family. Priorities shift away from the typical burdens of running a household, to caring for the loved
one who is sick. Suddenly, there are not enough hours in
the day to get everything done. And the caregiver often ends
up exhausted and discouraged. Don’t go it alone. You
don’t have to. That’s exactly why Hospice was born in
Chenango County in 1991. Since that time, we’re grateful
that we’ve embraced thousands of patients and their families, guiding them on the uncertain path of the very sick. We
did it so they would feel encouragement and support.
In a Snapshot our Hospice Message is:
• Call us earlier rather than later in the illness, before
you’ve reached the breaking point.
• Call us when you need that extra pair of hands to give a
bath, or need to make sense of the five different medicines
you’re supposed to give.
• Call us to get a volunteer who can run errands, or stay
with your loved one while you get your hair cut.
• Call us so a nurse can visit and make sure pain and
symptoms are kept in check.
• Call us because you’re drowning in insurance claims, or
need help with your medical bills.
• Call us because you need to talk to someone.
We want to help. We’re professionals trained to help. But
we need to know that you’re out there. So call us and we’ll
meet with you, and talk with your Doctor, and get you the
help you need sooner rather than later, because at Hospice
we believe there’s a lot of living left to do.
Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County is a nonprofit health care agency that takes care of patients with
serious life limiting illness (generally 6 months or less) in
their home, nursing home, or hospital room. Referrals are
welcome from physicians and other health care providers,
family members, friends, clergy, or from the patient
him/herself. Patients receive regular visits from Registered
Nurses, LPNs, Social Workers, and specially trained volunteers. Medications and medical equipment is most often
included in a patient’s plan of care for which Medicare,
Medicaid, and private insurance companies reimburse Hospice. Patients rarely, if ever, receive a bill for Hospice services.
For those individuals with a longer life expectancy who
are not yet ready for Hospice care, Palliative (comfort) care
may be more appropriate. Our staff consults with the palliative patient regarding pain and symptom management.
Plus we provide emotional support for those still receiving
life-prolonging medical intervention such as chemotherapy
or radiation. Our Palliative care services are provided on a
sliding fee scale if not covered by your insurance.
Grief support groups get together regularly, and volunteer
training is active several times during the year. To schedule
an informational visit, or to learn more about any of our
programs, call the Norwich office at 334-3556, Monday
through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
19
TH E SALVATION ARMY
One hundred twenty years
of helping those in need
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
hen you think of
the
Salvation
Army, most people
would conjure up images of
holiday bell ringers and second hand shops, but according to Perry Rindeno, store
supervisor, the efforts of the
organization do a lot more
than that.
Founded in the late 1800’s
by William Booth, the Salvation Army originally began
with the mission of preaching
Christian values to the
“unchurched” people of England. The organization soon
came to work towards feeding and finding shelter for the
hungry and homeless, as well
as in the rehabilitation of
alcoholics.
While over one hundred
years have passed since the
organization was founded,
their mission of service
remains the same.
As part of the Salvation
Army outfit, a family thrift
store is located on South
Broad Street in Norwich, and
while the goods offered at the
store are used by some people
who are unable to afford new
items, others use the store as
a way to spread their funds.
“For some people it’s a
necessity, for some it’s a way
of saving money,” said store
manager Almira Frost.
The Norwich store has
been open for 28 years, and
currently employs 7 full and
part time employees.
With $25,000 in sales last
year alone, there are days
W
PROGRESS CHENANGO
2008
when nearly 200 people frequent the shop, and while
many depend upon the store
to provide goods they may
not otherwise be able to
afford, that is not the only
way the store works to the
service of individuals.
The Norwich store is operated out of the Binghamton
Adult Rehabilitation Center,
and as part of the larger Salvation Army network, proceeds from sales at the Norwich store, and the nine other
stores that Rindeno oversees,
are used to fund alcohol and
drug rehabilitation.
“The Binghamton ARC
facility houses up to 62 people at any time,” Rindeno
explained. While the program
is undertaken voluntarily,
Rindeno explained the ARC
is not a transient facility. “It’s
a six-month program, and we
expect people to commit to
stay for six months,” Rindeno
said. After entering the free
program, the participants,
who generally come from the
Broome or Chenango County
areas, are given counseling
and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. At the end of the six
month period, the individuals
are encouraged to gain
employment and are then
considered graduates of the
program.
“The income generated
from the family stores, provides for the program here,”
Rindeno said. “We don’t
receive any government
funding.”
In addition to the rehabilitation program, the Salvation
Army also offers emergency
337-3023 • FAX 334-8273
www.evesun.com • [email protected]
The Evening Sun... Chenango County’s Hometown Daily
SCHLAFER
CONSTRUCTION, LLC
General Contracting
365 Manley Rd., Norwich,
New York 13815
General
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(607) 336-6693
email: [email protected]
services for people who are
victims of natural disasters,
on a referral basis.
“For example, we provided
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Salvation Army Corps,”
Rindeno said.
Over the years, there have
been many small changes
that effect the way the Salvation Army does business, but
the business itself has not
changed at all. “Our goal to
serve has always stayed the
same, but our ability to serve
has changed,” Rindeno
explained.
Technological
improvements and upgrades
have changed the way the
organization operates and the
ease with which they serve,
but Rindeno explained, “what
we do has always been helping those in need.”
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The Salvation Army Thrift Shop, located on
Broad Street in Norwich serves a dual purpose. While the shop provides clothes and
home goods to area residents at a discounted
price, it also helps to fund the Binghamton
Adult Rehabilitation Center, which helps individuals with drug and alcohol problems.
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20
GOLDEN ARTIST COLORS
Balancing art and business
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
fter putting the finishing touches on a fouryear expansion project, Golden Artist Colors,
Inc. President and Chief
Operating Officer Barbara
Schindler says taking the initiative to strive for more is
what makes the business
flourish.
Founded in 1980 by the
Golden family, Golden Artist
Colors, Inc. began producing
acrylic paint as a result of
conversations with artists
who needed new materials to
help them explore more innovative ways of working with
acrylic. Born from these conversations was a worldwide
company with approximately
1000 retailers and 140
employees with hundreds of
various acrylic-based products.
This Columbus-based paint
manufacturer celebrated its
accomplishments as well as
those of the artists it serves
this summer with the opening
of a state of the art gallery
inside a newly expanded
60,000-square foot building
along Bell Road in rural
Columbus. The first of many
anticipated gallery shows
was titled “A Gathering of
Friends,” which allowed
Golden to thank some of the
artists who played a large role
in the creation of many of
Golden’s products.
The second gallery event
was a silent auction held in
October, which celebrated 10
years of the Sam & Adele
Golden Foundation, and
served as a farewell event for
Lucy Funke, who recently
A
retired from her role as executive director of the charitable foundation. Two thirds of
the art that was hung for the
show sold, and the rest can be
seen on Golden’s website or
hanging in the gallery.
“These gallery shows are a
good thing for the community at large,” said Schindler.
Completing construction
was just one accomplishment
of 2007, explained Schindler.
The opening of the gallery
signified not only the importance of the artists Golden
serves, but the importance of
the company within the community. “This is such an
inspiring place,” she said.
Along with the expansion to
accommodate the gallery, the
project also provided additional manufacturing, warehouse and office space. The
project, which represented
the fifth major expansion celebrated by Golden, represented the end of an era in which
Sam and Adele Golden’s
original house, which had
previously served as office
space, was removed, and
additional space was made
for the continuous growth of
the company.
Golden’s Corporate Communications Specialist Jodi
O’Dell said the new expansion project is based on the
anticipation that the company
will grow in the future. A new
reverse osmosis or RO system was one of the last pieces
of the expansion project. The
RO system reduces the
amount of waste water that
has to be transported to Norwich to process. Schindler
says the new system cleans
and re-uses the company’s
Guy Birdsall is operating one of the mills in
the Operations Department. Milling the
dispersion and acrylic together in a final
process assures the finest quality and consistency of the product.
waste water, a process that
she and her colleagues had
researched since 1999.
While creating and implementing new product lines,
Schindler explains, Golden
takes pride in the fact that the
company’s custom lab is the
only facility of its kind dedicated to designing products
to the specifications of individual artists. “This makes us
the leader in this type of
product development,” said
Schindler.
New products in the making , which have taken much
of 2007 to create, will be
introduced to the masses in
2008. Schindler said the company is excited to introduce
two new product lines. “One
will have 40 different products within it, and the other
will have five products,” said
Schindler. As early as May,
the new products could be
lining the shelves of retailers.
As a natural progression
from its initiatives in the fine
arts market, Golden established Paintworks, the commercial paint and coatings
division of Golden Artist.
This provides commercial
and other clients with paint
making technology, toll manufacturing and integrated
ALL OUR
READER
ADS.
Producing waterborne acrylics presents a
challenge with entrapped air (foam) generation. Surfactants are like dish detergent,
foaming easily with agitation. Pictured above
Cory Edgett is working on the machine that
helps eliminates foam from the product.
solutions.
Building an artist residency
program is one concept,
Schindler said, that is another
investment the company
would like to offer. “We
could offer something that no
other residency program
can,” she said. Down the
street from Golden there is a
large red barn, which was
purchased to become an area
where artists could stay and
work on their art as well as
take part in production development with the Golden staff.
Schindler said she, as well as
others, have researched other
residency programs to get a
feel for how it would all
come together, but for now,
there is no set date for
groundbreaking.
For more information
about Golden Artist Colors,
Inc. and its product offerings,
call 1-800-959-6543 or visit
the company’s web site at
www.goldenpaints.com. The
Golden gallery and store is
open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
daily. A self-guided tour is
also available.
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21
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Trading in rock-n-roll for farming,
and forming a biofuel “band”
BY K. “GIFF ” FOSTER
never figured I would be
living on a farm in
Chenango County. I had
been a professional rock,
blues and bluegrass musician
based out of Los Angeles and
Connecticut for 30 years. If I
wasn’t touring, I was tucked
away in some dank studio in
New York or Nashville, far
from home, churning out
musical superfluous fluff for
record companies’ talking
suits for serious money. But
after a couple of bad band
break-ups, continually forgetting what town I was in and
my hotel room number,
approaching 50 and getting
really tired of the rock-n-roll
road, I was ready to find my
bucolic retirement / secret
hideout. I knew if I got far
enough away from civilization, but still close enough to
an international airport (for
continued touring) I could
probably avoid unwanted visits or encounters from
derogatory musical and
female influences. I found
Chenango County on the web
through Realtor.com. “Nice,”
I thought, lots of farms and
open space. I started doing
my due diligence. My mother
was from Rensselaer County,
so I was somewhat familiar
with the area. A farm would
be cool.
My grandfather had a farm
on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It was a little unusual
and not really a working
farm, unless you call giving
dance lessons to royalty and
I
the siblings of world leaders
farming. When a new guest
would arrive at “Mast Head”
they were immediately sent
to the “blood shed” and made
to sit bare-butt on a wet piece
of leather for an hour. They
were then presented with a
new chair, so that whenever
they visited they would have
their own exceptionally comfortable, custom molded seat,
just for them. My gramps was
a bit eccentric.
I bought the old Conklin
Farm in Plymouth and paid
way too much for it. It was
run down and the fields laid
fallow for many years. The
house had no doors and the
interior was a shambles. The
furnace didn’t work, the roof
leaked and the basement had
ten inches of black gooky
water in it. It was a far cry
from my usual hang outs like
the Four Seasons Hotel lobby
sipping tea with the boys
from ZZ Top and Run DMC.
The farm is still a bit run
down, but at least now it’s
reasonably livable. I knew
getting the farm back into
shape and running it wouldn’t
be easy. Because of increased
taxes and other things, I knew
the farm could not make a
profit without reducing its
energy costs. Because I’m a
“new” farmer, I did not have
the luxury of being a farming
legacy. I needed to learn all
the necessary information to
operate a profitable farm
quickly. So, down to the local
Farm Bureau office I went. I
met the President Bradd
Vickers and his wife Rainy
and within a few minutes, I
was the newest member of
the Chenango County Farm
Bureau. They (along with my
neighbor Carl Blackman,
Keith Severson and J. Rebecca Hargrave from Cornell
Extension, and the folks at
Soil & Water) have been
instrumental in helping me
get this farm chugging up to
speed.
My next problem was
reducing my energy costs. I
researched the issues on different alternative energies
and found what I was looking
for. A replacement for #2
Diesel fuel, and biodiesel is
it’s name. All the tractors I
purchased, my agricultural
vehicles and my home heating furnace were using #2
fuel oil. I started reading
about guys running their
equipment on used cooking
oil, a.k.a. waste vegetable oil.
They were picking up this oil
from restaurants for free. OK,
that sounded logical to me.
The scenario goes like this: I
contact a restaurant, let’s say
for example China House
next to Tractor Supply in
Norwich. I talk to the owner
and tell him that I will pick
up his used oil for half of
what it’s costing him now. He
informs me that it’s being
picked up for free now. I tell
him that it will only cost him
half of that for me to pick it
up. He laughs, I get the oil.
Now I have to build a filtering, heating, processing, separating, storing and dispensing system to make my
biodiesel. Some people just
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Giff Foster
filter and heat the oil and run
it in their equipment. I don’t
do that because of the potential coking of the cylinders
from the fatty acids in the
used oil. I use a process
called transesterification. It
changes the oil into mono
ethyl esters. This is just a
fancy way of saying that I’m
taking out the sticky oozy
stuff. It’s just basically
adding a catalyst consisting
of ethanol or methanol plus
caustic soda which results in
a compound called sodium
methoxide. This mixed into
the heated oil for about an
hour and a half will make a
mix of approximately 15 percent glycerin and 85 percent
biodiesel.
Within a couple of weeks I
had the basics of my system.
I “cobbed” (a local word
meaning taking any material
at hand to create an invention
or fix some thing broken) my
plumbing, wiring, storage
and processing tanks with
items from the farm left by
the previous owner. He was a
pack rat and had hideous
amounts of “materials” ( I
don’t want to call it “junk”
here in Plymouth these days)
stashed everywhere on the
farm. I had to haul five tons
of his “materials” to the
dump at $55 bucks-a-ton, no
less. Within the next few
weeks I learned every thing I
could about micro biodiesel
processing. And believe me
there was lots to learn. I made
a couple of batches of “burger glop.” Nasty stuff. Not
quite stinky old jelly but
more of a vomit like looking
and smelling substance.
Obviously it was not useable
fuel. I inadvertently made
soap. I spilled tens of gallons
of smelly waste veggie oil on
my floor that oozed across
the bathroom and kitchen
floor before finding its way to
the only shelves I had with
stuff on them in the basement. I had hoses suddenly
spurt when I was inspecting
the ends just like the three
stooges. I was smacked in the
kisser with goopy liquid. My
house smelled like a bad cafe.
But after awhile, I got the
hang of it and have not made
a bad batch since. It’s become
my art, my music, my Zen, if
you will. I’m constantly
upgrading and modifying my
system to make it more efficient and streamlined.
I got a job last spring at a
local biodiesel production
facility and with the help of
my pal Dave Smith from
Bainbridge, we built a 3 million gallon processing system, pumping and storage
facility. I no longer work
there and am now taking
advantage of other opportunities in the bio fuels field as a
consultant and plant designer.
So what’s wrong with this
picture? I’m living in an agricultural community. Can’t we
grow crops that produce oil
cheaper than imported fuel at
the gas pump? You bet we
can. But it’s going to take a
monumental,
cooperative
effort to coordinate all the
necessary “instruments” in
this big biodiesel “band.” We
need farmers to continue to
grow feedstock, livestock and
foodstock. However, fuel
stock crops like rapeseed, can
be grown on fallow or marginal land that is not used for
other agricultural pursuits.
Heck, why can’t the state
grow fuelstock on the medians of the big roads instead of
using the lawn mowers that
just cut the grass and produce
nothing? Rapeseed produces
the most oil per acre for
Biodiesel in our climate.
Jerusalem Artichokes, switch
grass and several other crops
produce more ethanol per
acre then corn. The best agricultural crop, that can actually grow in our climate is
algae. Rapeseed can produce
about 150 gallons per acre.
Algae can produce (under the
right conditions) 5,000 gallons per acre. I can’t go anywhere these days and not
look at pond scum. It
intrigues and fascinates me
with its potential. Agricultural bio fuel is the energy of
tomorrow available today
here in Chenango County.
22
TH E NORTHEAST CLASSIC CA R MUSEUM
Keep your eye on the wheels
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
ucked into a quaint
corner of our community is an unexpected
gem that garners nation-wide
attention.
The Northeast Classic Car
Museum on Rexford Street
in Norwich houses one of the
most renowned automotive
collections in the country,
and celebrated it milestone
10-year anniversary in 2007.
“We have people come
from all over the world.
Many of them tell us we
have the best collection
they’ve seen. I’d be willing
to put up our collection up
against anybody else’s,” said
Kay Wells Zaia, who has
served as the museum’s
executive director for the last
seven years.
The car museum opened in
1997 and started in a single
building with only 55 cars.
The current layout of the
museum boasts three buildings and holds over 120 cars
and seven exhibits, plus
another 45 cars in storage.
In addition to the automotive collection, there is an
antique set of old plane
engines. Many of the pieces
date back to World War II,
but the museum also has a
World War I engine. “That is
a difficult thing to find,” said
Zaia.
The museum welcomes
well over 10,000 visitors
annually. The organization is
maintained by over 100 volunteers and three paid staff.
One volunteer, Gary Gray,
has acted as the museum tour
guide for the last four years.
T
Four days a week, Gray
comes in to greet visitors.
“It’s not work. I love doing
it. I get to spend the day talking about history and cars
with people who are as interested as I am. That doesn’t
sound too much like work
now, does it?” laughed Gray.
An even more venerable
volunteer at the site is Al
Dennison, age 94. Dennison
comes to the museum nearly
every week and sits at the
front entrance, greeting visitors and handing out pamphlets or pins. He said he
enjoys the cars and likes
having the company of the
customers.
The museum is open seven
days a week, all year round,
except for Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year’s
Day. Each day the hours run
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some of the more popular
treasures in the trove include
a 1916 Studebaker, 1909
Victor, 1931 Packard and a
1936 Pierce Arrow. Members can access the museum
at their leisure by paying an
annual fee of $25. An entire
family can pay for an annual
of $40 for unlimited access.
A single visit for an adult
costs $9; students between
the ages of 6 and 18 pay $4
and children under 5 get in
for free. The museum is also
handicapped accessible.
“The thing is people are
always impressed when they
come in. They’re surprised
to find us here in Norwich
and it always makes me
smile a little,” said Gray.
Many of the displays are
accompanied by mannequins
Volunteer guide Gary Gray leads a group through a century of automotive ingenuity. Gray is a
self enthusiast who has volunteered at the Museum for the last four years.
and other props representing
their respective eras. Most of
the props were provided by
the Chenango County Historical Society Museum. The
museum has rotated-in different cars each year celebrating the vehicles 50th
anniversary. In 2006 it was
the class of 1956, and so on.
However, explained Zaia,
2008 will not see the class of
1958. “We haven’t really
decided on what we are
going to do this year, but it
will be something just as
remarkable,” said Zaia.
One of the most enjoyable
nights of the year says Zaia
is the museum’s Casino
Night fundraiser. The night
allows contributors to have a
night of gambling by purchasing fake money. At the
end of the night that money
is then used in an auction.
Another large attraction for
the Museum is their annual
raffle of a 1960s Mustang,
estimated to be worth around
$20,000. The raffle runs
from May to September, and
the actual drawing takes
place on Colorscape weekend.
S
PHOTO
BY
E
C
T
I
O
N
F
O
U
R
FRANK SPEZIALE
DOWNTOWN NE W BERLIN
Where
customers
become friends
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
T
urning the corners of a street
in downtown New Berlin is like
flipping through the pages of a
history book.
With many of the buildings along the main
stretch having experienced more than two
centuries of community heritage, at least ten
of the buildings still standing today witnessed
the original founding of the town.
Today ties with the history of New Berlin
binds many of the merchants and customers.
New Berlin is not just a place to make a living, but a place were customers often become
friends.
In 2007, the New York Pizzeria celebrated
its 25th anniversary. The pizzeria has always
played a very visible role in the community
and is known for its hospitality among New
Berlin residents and out of towners.
New York Pizzeria owners Frank and Betsey Baio said business is booming as usual.
“This has been the best year ever spiritually, emotionally and financially,” exclaimed
Betsey.
The business was honored in 2007 by the
Chamber of Commerce with the annual Small
Business of the Year award. After a quarter
century, years the Baio’s said they’ve done it
all – but in 2008 they are hoping to expand
their services further by catering events.
The business began in 1981 when Frank
came across the Village of New Berlin by
coincidence. “It was like love at first sight,”
he said.
Just a walk across the street from New York
Pizzeria at 24 South Main St. is a relatively
new business to New Berlin, Shape Up Central. The business originally started out as a
partnership, but eventually become solely
owned by Carol Olin, explained Mary Jane
Anson.
The women-only fitness center is devoted
to convenience. “We know people have jobs
and kids and a million other things to do
every day; we do, too. So now our members
can come and workout whenever they have
the time,” said Anson.
The center will be open 23 hours a day and
after closing hours the center has specially
designed key cards that members can use to
access the building. The site is also equipped
with a 24 hour a day surveillance security system.
The site was welcomed into the community
in February of 2007. It now has 14 different
workout machines and offers a range of special classes such as yoga and belly dancing.
Olin said the idea of the business is not to
only strength bodies, but to effectively help
women strengthen their self confidence in the
process.
If you walk to the edge of the line of downtown, one would discover a magnificent mid19th century brick house. The building once
even served as the town hospital.
New York Pizzeria celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Here’s
scene New Berlin residents have come accustomed to seeing – Betsey
Baio hands over another slice.
A quick pose before handing off meals during lunch at Remember
When. In the background one gets a taste of the elaborate designs that
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 adorn the historic building.
ADVERTISERS
United Way’s Day of Caring
kicks off annual campaign.
PAGE 26
Gilmour
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PAGE 27
• Dr. William Graber • Irmin Mody Real Estate •
• Chenango County Council of the Arts •
• Rapid Reproductions • McNeil Jewelers •
• Planned Parenthood • Opportunities for Chenango •
• Pet Street Station Animal Hospital •
• Norwich Business Improvement District •
• Top Variety & Hardware • Sicker Memorials •
• Smith Ford LLC •
24
DOWNTOWN NE W BERLIN
Success Stories
The Parson’s Daughter
A new year has dawned upon us and a busy holiday season at The Parson’s Daughter located
in the “sweet” heart of Norwich can testify that premium chocolates continue to be the star in the
confection industry. Medical research suggests that the flavanols and antioxidants in chocolate
have the potential to reduce the rates of a wide range of diseases and these benefits are of interest to many in an aging American population. Consumers also continue to be fascinated with dark
chocolate and chocolates flavored with novel ingredients. Similar to the taste trends in wine, coffee and olive oil, chocolate lovers can tell their friends what country or origin their favorite bar
comes from and its cocoa content. Jelly Belly said of its pomegranite jelly beans that this
is the first time a new product has reached the top ten list in less than a year’s time.
Being sensitive and attentive to her market and eager to please her customers, Sharon Jeffer,
proud proprietress of this quaint little destination shop, educates herself to the latest and the
greatest available and blends that with the individual desires and requests of her clientele. She
feels consumer education and communication is very important to the sweet success of her gourmet business. The weakness of the dollar combined with the rise in transportation and material
costs pose tough decisions to be made by consumers, retailers and suppliers. The domino effect
of a customer being reluctant to pay the price associated with a quality product may cause a
retailer to advise his/her supplier of that fact, who, in turn, might consider looking for new, less
expensive producers – who then may seek out products not equal to what they previously offered.
At the end of the day, these decisions could damage the reputation of the retailer by having a disappointed customer who no longer perceives value in paying a premium for what used to be a
specialty product.
“I am very focused on my customers to be able to shop at The Parson’s Daughter with a confident feeling they are getting a high-end product for a good value. I will not compromise and
therefore will not ask them to. Especially when I make a gift arrangement, I often remind them
that their name is on it as well as mine and hopefully that eliminates any sense of compromise.”
This attitude of dedication and loyalty to her customers and community allows Sharon to look
ahead at the coming year with a good feeling. “I have some lovely and unique Valentine chocolates and my bulk chocolate showcase is fully stocked for choosing personal favorites for someone special. Easter is earlier than usual this year and I have some adorable bunnies on order. I
believe quality is better than quantity so I have tailored my selection to some smaller ones. Better really does matter and today’s children taste the difference and are upwardly selective,”
notices Sharon. “Mother’s Day is a chocolate holiday and Father’s Day could very well be considering the increasing numbers of men who buy chocolates.”
Customers go to The Parson’s Daughter for familiar and nostalgic products but this is also the
place to go for new items. It has established itself as creating a niche for innovative gift giving.
“If you haven’t been, why not?” Hopefully the year ahead is filled with prosperity, happiness and
a healthy bottom line. More people noticeably shopped locally which indicates that this is our
home and we like it here and want it to shine. “My top line is customer satisfaction and loyalty,
which is what makes my bottom line exciting,” says Sharon with pride.
Main Street Collectibles & Black Cat Antiques
Mary Jane Anson works at Shape Up Central and demonstrates that
anyone can use the machine. The woman’s fitness center is open all
day and night so working woman can still be healthy when it suits
their demands.
An emphasis on history and service –
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 cooks daily for the restaurant
and said she enjoys being part
Remember When is now a of a small community with so
successful cafe, antique shop much history.
and bed and breakfast.
The first floor is where a
Owner Kathi Enstrom says customer could enjoy a cup
she bought the building three of coffee or meal while shopyears ago and then opened ping for antiques at the downthe Cafe in May 2005. She stairs store. The upstairs
holds a number of guest
rooms that Enstrom said she
rents out on occasion.
“If you take a look around
you’ll see stained glass, a
bunch of antiques ... I really
love the setting this place had
to offer,” said Enstrom.
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Owners Barbara Golden of Main Street Collectibles and Dode Page of Black Cat Antiques and
Gifts joined together in September of 2004. Two shops in one with an eclectic mix of old and
new.
The shop is filled with Antique Furniture and Collectibles, framed prints and vintage linens,
clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses, and hats, all from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s eras.
The clothing and accessories are beautiful enough to wear. The vintage linens would make a
lovely wedding gift.
For your home or as gifts the shop has a nice selection of silk flower arrangements and
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Barb has been in business for six years and Dode for 15 years. They have put together a shop
with an old fashioned country store atmosphere. You will never know what you are going to find
while browsing through their shop.
New this year is the addition of a Vintage Clothing Boutique. Available for your enjoyment
and delight is a wide selection of costume jewelry, hats, shoes and lovely vintage clothing.
Main Street Collectibles and Black Cat Antiques and Gifts is located at 14 East Main Street in
Earlville, New York. The shop is open Tuesday-Friday 9–5 and Saturday 9–2 or give them a call
at (315) 691-5721.
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THE EVENING SUN
25
CONTINUOUS DA Y TREATMENT PROGRAM
A proactive approach to mental health
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
aking a proactive
approach to providing
services to those suffering from mental illnesses,
the local mental health
department is working to provide outlets for socialization
as well as continuous care
and counseling.
Within
the
county’s
Department
of
Mental
Hygiene Services, four “subdivisions” of programming
are offered that are designed
to cater to individuals suffering from a wide range of
mental illnesses.
One of the mental health
focal areas offered locally is
known as “Club,” which
serves the mental health population for socialization purposes. “Club stimulates
social growth while offering
individuals a chance to learn
new life skills and adapt to
everyday situations,” said
program coordinator Jo
Schel. Another focus of Club
is to offer pre-vocational
training.
Club member Jeff F. says
he enjoys having the chance
to attend Club, which is provided on an optional basis. “I
like to see my friends,” he
said. Jeff F. has been a member of Club for 10 years and
says he has made a lot of
friends and has acquired
many new skills while in
attendance. He has been in
remission, meaning he has
not been hospitalized, within
the past seven years. He
agrees attending Club up to
five days a week has helped
keep his medication regulated and his life moving forward. “It has been very helpful with my illness,” he said.
T
Jeff F. suffers from bi-polar
disorder and finds the socialization he receives at Club to
be highly beneficial.
Continuous Day Treatment, known as CDT, is
another program that is
housed within the building on
East River Road in the Town
of Norwich. The program is
designed to meet the needs of
mental health clients as well,
by providing a more aggressive approach to maintaining
the person’s mental health.
Unlike Club, where individuals have the option of
attending, CDT requires
“clients” to attend one to
three days a week according
to the individual’s treatment
plan, which is developed with
the client and approved by a
staff psychiatrist.
CDT programming is
based more specifically
towards meeting the therapeutic needs of its clients.
Schel said the CDT program
is like various other mental
health services which are a
billed directly to the client’s
private insurance carriers or
to insurance providers such
as Medicaid or Medicare, and
attendance is based on a
client’s presenting problem
and diagnosis. “It is designed
as a group therapy program,”
she said. “We offer educational groups, focus groups
and other larger group settings.”
Client Charlotte G. says
her four-year experience with
the CDT program has been a
positive addition to her wellbeing. She says she likes the
classes she has enrolled in
and the therapists who
instruct them. Throughout
three 15-week sessions,
offered annually, Schel says
clients have an opportunity to
take part in arts and crafts,
games, cooking and groups.
In addition, there are groups
focused on topics, such as
sessions that explain medication management, anger management, goal development,
relationship issues, and how
to manage and live life no
matter what diagnosis a client
has received.
Another mental health
service program housed in a
building adjacent to Club and
CDT is the Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Services, designed to
target individuals who suffer
from drug and alcohol addiction or dependency and have
either volunteered or been
directed to chemical dependency treatment. This program
tries to get the individual
drug free and help them find
balance without the use of
alcohol or other substances
that have taken over their life.
Another county mental
health program offered locally at the County Office Building at 5 Court Street, is the
Clinic Treatment Program.
Individual, family, and group
therapy along with other individual mental health services
such as assessments, crisis
services, and case management services are offered
within the county offices.
Helping mental health
clients to be ready to gain
employment and remain
employed is the goal of the
mental health department’s
vocational training program.
The Serendipity Café located in the Eaton Center caters
to nearby merchants and
Morrisville College students,
as well as the public. It is run
by both clients and food service workers. Job coaches and
Charlotte G. works in the kitchen to help and prepare lunch during her
day at Continuing Day Treatment.
vocational counselors are
also on site to assist the
trainees to meet their
employment goals as well as
their personal goals for the
program. “The program has
seen some great successes,”
said Schel.
“The café teaches them
much more than food service
work. It teaches the individual to learn how to have and
keep steady employment,”
said Schel. “It teaches them
how to be an employee.” Not
all clients choose to work at
the vocational site, and
according to Schel, “that is
fine too;” however, she does
state the skills learned while
working at the café are good
life skills to learn.
All four programs, Schel
says, are an essential to the
community and to the county’s infrastructure.
The programs, for the most
part, are funded by revenues
received from fees for the
services, funding from the
state of New York Office of
Mental Health and federal
money, which is designated
to help aid and support people with mental illnesses
locally,
regionally
and
nationally.
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26
CHENANGO UNITED WA Y
Increased
needs mean
tough decisions
in 2008
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
ver the past three
years, the Chenango
United Way has completely changed the way it
operates, in an attempt to be
more of a community impact
organization rather than a
fund raising organization,
and as its leaders look ahead,
it looks as if more changes
could be on the way.
By developing a needs
assessment of Chenango
County and trying to focus
funding on programs that fall
into the four focus areas, the
United Way has been working to address the biggest
needs of the community, but
according to Executive
Director Elizabeth Monaco,
further study of the community needs may be necessary.
“We’re looking at updating
our needs assessment in the
coming year,” Monaco said.
The 2005 to 2008 needs
assessment identified several
areas of need in Chenango
County, but now that the time
line for the assessment is running out, different areas may
be examined.
Currently the United Way
funds programs that fall into
one of the four focus areas,
O
which include opportunities
for children and youth, the
aging population, access to
healthcare and poverty issues
of housing and hunger. “We
may be adjusting our focus
areas based on feedback from
some of our partnering agencies,” Monaco said. While no
final decision has been made,
Monaco explained family
stability may be incorporated
into the needs assessment in
the coming years.
The
way
allocation
amounts are divided among
the need areas may also be
changed before 2009. Currently, all funding requests
are scored and funds are
given based on the scores.
While this formula will still
apply, Monaco explained that
the United Way will be looking at the possibility of allocating larger percentages of
funds to the focus areas with
the most requests. “Each year
the opportunities for youth
area receives the most applications and the most donor
designations. We may decide
to use a formula based on the
percentages. If 50 percent of
the applications are for a specific area, then we could give
50 percent of the funding to
that
area,”
Monaco
explained, pointing out that
the percentages could change
over time.
In the past year, the organization has taken many steps
toward involving more people in the annual campaign.
One step that had a major
impact this year was the Day
of Caring campaign kick-off
event. In an effort to educate
the public on the role of the
Chenango United Way and
what is done with the money
raised during the annual campaign, the United Way held
the Day of Caring event.
Ninety-five volunteers were
sent to locations throughout
Chenango County to perform
acts of community service.
“The Day of Caring event
was
doubly
important,
because it encouraged people
to increase giving to the United Way, and it educated people on the importance of
United Way funded programs. Because we were all
over the county, people could
see, in their own communities, what the United Way is
doing,” Monaco explained.
The Day of Caring event
helped to publicize the United Way campaign and
increase donations. Monaco
said the event will continue in
The United Way’s first Day of Caring event brought over 90 community volunteers to United Way partnering organizations throughout the
county. In addition to helping individuals learn about the programs
that are funded by the United Way, the event also increased visibility
and helped to bring in more local donations.
the coming year.
Another change that took
place in the past year was the
addition of a campaign director. Victoria Mitchell, who
has been volunteered at the
United Way in past years,
took on the position of campaign director in 2007.
Mitchell was able to perform
training sessions, presentations, organize some events
and meet with businesses.
The change allowed Monaco
to spend more time on community impact things, such as
mid-year and end-of-year
reports and site visits at funded agencies. According to
one of the two community
co-chairs Charlie McMullen,
the added personnel made a
difference in this year’s campaign. “Volunteers are important, but to run a campaign
you need to have a full paid
staff. With a campaign director, we had someone who was
there every day, who was
able to make those followups,” McMullen said.
Fellow Community Co-
Chair Bruce Beadle Jr. said
even more changes can be
expected in the coming year.
Beadle, who will be a cochair again next year, along
with Amber Harrison of Norwich
Pharmaceuticals,
explained that one of his
goals for the 2009 campaign
is to publicize the campaign
more. This year, Beadle suggested a live radio broadcast
from NBT Bank’s main
branch, with on the spot
updates being announced on
the air as donations came in.
While the weather put a
minor damper on the event
this year, many donations
came in the following days.
“I just think people don’t
understand what we do. We
need to get out there to the
community what is going on.
People don’t understand the
ramifications of the dollars
they give,” Beadle said.
While the United Way saw
improvements in some areas
this year, they hope other
areas will improve for the
2009 campaign. Small busi-
ness donations were down 44
percent from the 2008 campaign. McMullen identified
some of the problems with
the small business campaign,
including difficulty connecting with the person you need
to talk to.
Residential donations also
dropped by 9 percent. It was
suggested that perhaps rising
fuel and living costs might
have been a cause.
To address the problems
encountered this year, the
United Way will be forming a
Campaign Cabinet for the
2009 campaign. McMullen
explained that the cabinet
will be made up of the campaign director, board members, community partners and
volunteers from small businesses and industries. “This
cabinet will be made up of
experienced people who
understand about community
impact and Chenango United
Way. This committee will
plan a more effective campaign strategy for the upcoming year,” McMullen said.
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THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
27
UNITED METHODIST HOMES
Above and beyond the comforts of home
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
ithout offering the
best possible quality of life to its residents, there’s not much else
for a nursing home to hang its
hat on.
At United Methodist
Homes’ Doris L. Patrick
Campus on Calvary Drive in
Norwich, the staff is constantly inventing new ways to
go above and beyond providing the basic comforts of
home, says Kate Conant,
Director of Activities and
Volunteers at the 27-acre
campus’ Pearl and Everett
Gilmour Health Care Facility.
“Just because you’ve
entered a long-term care
facility, that doesn’t mean
you can’t enjoy the same
things you enjoyed at home,”
said Conant.
Eating out at restaurants,
taking wine tours, visiting
local festivals and going on
trips to other nursing homes
isn’t out of the ordinary for
residents at Gilmour. Neither
are a host of daily activities
ranging from morning coffee
chats to playing interactive
games over the Internet. Pretty soon, residents will even
have a full-day spa at their
disposal – an extraordinary
feat in the long-term care
industry.
“The day spa will be the
first of its kind in New York
state and only the second in
the entire country,” said
Conant, who expects the spa
to be fully operational after it
receives state approval in the
near future. “We’re very progressive in that way.”
Aside from the 82-bed
Gilmour Facility, Doris L.
Patrick is also home to
W
Graceview Manor, a 40room, HUD-approved, independent living complex for
low income seniors.
Doris L. Patrick Administrator Stephen Woodruff says
as a non-profit, United
Methodist Homes has a
responsibility to the community to provide high quality
service.
“It’s our goal to be the
facility of choice and
employer of choice in longterm care,” Woodruff said.
“It’s about pursuing perfection, and accepting excellence.”
While it was still in the
concept phase, the spa
seemed like the perfect fit for
Gilmour.
“We had some open space
on the first floor,” said
Conant, who is a licensed
massage therapist. “It just
seemed like a slam dunk.”
It will be furnished with
commercial-grade equipment
and offer massage therapy,
manicures, pedicures, salon
hair care and other beautification services. Conant hopes
to have skin care added
“down the road.”
“This will be a great way to
start residents off when they
first get here,” she said.
“There’s a lot of anxiety
involved when they make
this kind of change. This can
help relieve some of that
stress.”
The project’s start-up costs
were aided by a grant from
the Greater Norwich Foundation.
The spa won’t be the only
quality of life improvement,
Conant says. Relaxation therapy has become a larger component of Gilmour’s temporary rehab program in the
Licensed Massage Therapist and Director of Activities & Volunteers Kate Conant gives Gilmour
Health center resident Jessie Perugino a massage in the home’s soon-to-be-opened day spa, the
first of its kind in New York state, Conant says.
past year as a form of pain
management, and upgraded
Internet access and computers have helped residents better connect with the outside
world.
“We try to offer a diverse
schedule of therapeutic and
recreation programs to
improve the quality of life for
our residents,” said Conant.
To literally get them outside, Gilmour also features an
enclosed garden where residents can walk and sit outdoors during the warm
months of the year.
“It’s really beautiful when
everything is in full bloom,”
said Conant.
Woodruff says the staff has
fully blossomed as well,
investing in the residents and
each other as if they were a
family.
“The culture here is a
familial
culture,”
said
Woodruff. “It’s the family
values-oriented service that
makes us different and
unique. It’s a sense of care for
our residents and their families, as well as our employees
and their families. It’s compassion and caring infused
together.”
The home will also be
starting what’s called “Hey
Therapy,” where residents
and family are encouraged to
express their interests when it
comes to patient care.
“The goal is to open up the
lines of communication,”
said
Lindsay
Dechow,
Gilmour’s Therapy Program
Manager. “We want to hear
what everyone else is saying.”
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28
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
F
I
V
E
RAYMOND CORPORATION
Manufacturing
forklifts keeps
Chenango County
a viable player in
state’s economy
BY MELISSA
DECORDOVA
The Evening Sun
S
killed welders and machinists
looking for a top-notch
career opportunity need look
no further than Chenango County’s
own backyard: The Raymond
Corporation in Greene wants you.
The subsidiary of Toyota Industries Corporation is already far and away the county’s
largest employer with 1,000 workers. And
even though its welding department is known
to be the largest in the state, positions are still
available.
“We need good workers,” said Vice President and General Manager Rick Harrington.
The call for more employees is just one
sign of the 85 year-old business’ positive outlook. This outlook was best exemplified last
year when The Raymond Corporation was
able to weather the nation’s economic woes
relatively unscathed. No workers at the
Greene plant were laid off despite a 12 percent drop in the materials handling industry.
A very small number of the company’s
employees weren’t as lucky at Raymond’s
Brantford, Canada and Muscatine, Iowa
plants. The company, which employs 2,400 in
total, also maintains a parts distribution center
in East Syracuse.
According to Chief Executive Officer and
President James J. Malvaso, constant product
innovation and complete dedication to meeting customers’ requirements has helped set
The Raymond Corporation apart from the
pack.
“We were able to still maintain very good
revenue rates and profit levels in a very competitive industry last year,” he said. “We were
able to do that because of our world class
manufacturing operations and world class
distribution systems ... that produce and
deliver the highest quality trucks at the lowest
cost to the consumer.”
The Raymond Corporation is the leading
North American provider of materials handling solutions that improve space utilization
and productivity. High performance, reliable,
ergonomically designed products range from
a full line of manual and electric pallet trucks
and walkie stackers to counterbalanced
trucks, Reach-Fork trucks, orderpickers and
dual-purpose Swing-Reach trucks.
The Raymond Corporation’s trucks are utilized for moving virtually any consumer
product available on the market today. Highvolume warehouses, such as Maines Paper
and Food Service in Binghamton; The Gap
warehouse in Fishkill; and Wal-Mart warehouses across the country each utilize anywhere from 100 to 200 of Raymond’s trucks.
Locally, forklifts are in operation at Norwich
Pharmaceuticals in North Norwich, Mid-York
Press, Inc. in Sherburne and MeadWestvaco
in Sidney, among others.
Moreover, the company works with over
200 suppliers within and outside of New York
State.
Reaching the 85th anniversary milestone
this year was cause for great celebration.
From its founding by George Raymond, Sr. in
1922, to its pallet patent in 1939, to the development of the first narrow aisle truck in 1951
- followed by computer-controlled, ergonomically engineered and microprocessor driven
products created later in the 1980s - Raymond
is the longest lasting and most innovative
company in its industry.
Since Malvaso took the helm in 1993, more
than $75 million has been invested in property, equipment and new information technology infrastructures. The company’s revenue
growth paints an even more impressive picture. In 1993, revenues were about $145 million. Today, they are just shy of $800 million.
Perhaps the most significant corporate
development was in 2000 when Toyota purchased The Raymond Corporation. The association has made way for a strong foothold in
the worldwide marketplace. “With the Toyota
Materials Handling Group, our businesses
combined represent the largest lift truck manufacturers in the world. We can supply American, European and Japanese-styled products
to any customer, any where, at any time,”
Malvaso said.
Also during Malvaso’s tenure, The Raymond Corporation was the first electric fork
lift manufacturer in North America to successfully introduce AC technology for electric lift trucks in narrow aisle applications.
The company introduced several new products including three- and four-wheel, sitdown, counterbalanced trucks as well as leading edge walkie pallet and walkie stacker
trucks.
“All of our positive outlook in this industry
goes back to Malvaso himself,” General Manager Rick Harrington attests. He points to a
period in 2002 when the industry was also
down, and the company went from producing
7,000 units in 2000 to 5,800 in 2001 and
4,600 in 2002.
“It’s significant that that’s when we chose
to do a building project. Our president fully
expects the market to come back up, and
when it does, he wants us to be able to offer a This is just one of the many types of Raymond Corporation brand
Reaching
new
heights
forklift trucks that are in operation in warehouses across the world.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 Most are built at the company’s plant in Greene.
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• Gus’ Steakhouse • The Parson’s Daughter •
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• Chenango Memorial Hospital •
• Piaker & Lyons • Great Brook Enterprises •
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• Signs by Wightman • AFLAC Jim Reynolds •
• E-Sell-It • Hayes Office Products •
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30
TH E RAYMOND CORPORATION
A key player –
higher quality product. It’s
the Malvaso tradition,” Harrington said.
The last of three physical
plant improvements - begun
in 2006 and representing $16
million for construction and
equipment - will be completed this year. Combined, the
new construction added
78,000 square feet of space,
making the physical plant
nearly 500,000 square feet.
The first addition was
designed to incorporate a
new hydraulic system for lifting cylinders, the second was
for manufacturing a sit down
counter-balance line and the
third, an environmentally
friendlier paint system that
provides a more durable,
harder finish.
The emissions-free paint
system was an initiative of
Toyota Industries. “We were
already more than compliant
with industry mandates,”
Harrington said. “Toyota just
asked us to be more aggressive.”
In addition to physical
plant improvements, employees went through 40 plus
hours of training in problem
solving last year. In fact, the
company just recently honored the employee who
developed the 2,000th of
2,013 ideas that were identified to improve productivity.
“Our achievements have
been incredible since starting
in the fall of 2006 and all
through last year,” Harrington said. “Some of the 2,013
improvement ideas received
from employees were closed
in two days. Others, if they
involved another department,
took up to 20 days.”
The newly implemented
problem solving ideas saved
the company $498,000 in
2007.
The Raymond Corporation
recently began working with
several emerging technologies that can be used with
electric forklift trucks in
warehousing and distribution
centers. Perhaps the most
exciting development was
embracing hydrogen fuel cell
technology last year, an effort
that will continue in 2008.
Capitalizing on grants from
the New York State Energy
Research and Development
Authority and the New York
Power Authority - as well as
investing $550,000 of its own
into the project - Raymond is
currently on the forefront of
developing hydrogen fuel
cell-powered lift-trucks. It is
also the first business in New
York to have an indoor fueling dispenser for the new
energy source. The environmentally clean technology
would increase productivity
in warehouses by significantly reducing the time it takes
to change the large batteries
that currently power materials handling trucks.
But not only The Raymond
Corporation studying the new
technology, but - following in
a long-standing tradition - it
is also sharing the benefits
and potential risks of multiple hydrogen fuel cell technologies with the overall
industry.
“Sharing data has been the
company’s philosophy since
the Raymonds gave away our
double faced pallet patent in
1937,” said Charlotte O’Dea,
a marketing specialist at Ray-
mond and former director of
the Chenango County United
Way.
Malvaso said another
ongoing project in 2008 is the
Pro Fleet Plus management
system. While each truck
four or five computers
already inside, customers are
looking for data about how
much their trucks are driving
and lifting and the time it
takes to do so. Using the captured data, the company plans
to offer a more useable information management tool that
will increase efficiencies
within the warehouse.
Fifty percent of Raymond’s
employees in Greene live in
Chenango County, and, their
health matters to the company’s leaders. “We treat our
employees like family,” Malvaso said. Since implementing a new program for workers and their families five
years ago - one that includes
free
mammogram
and
prostate screenings, on-site
fitness consultation and training and weight watchers
meals in the cafeteria - Raymond’s health insurance
costs have remained steady.
“It’s a really good thing for
all of us. You can’t control
health care costs. But Raymond has demonstrated that
you actually can hold that
cost down,” Malvaso said,
pointing to a zero percentage
increase in insurance costs
since the program was implemented.
Philanthropically, Malvaso
is a strong believer that corporations also need to be
good corporate citizens.
Thus, the Raymond Foundation has contributed hundreds
of thousands of dollars to
non-profits, schools and
municipal government. It last
year awarded the Greene Fire
House and Community Center a check for $650,000, and
regularly sponsors an apprentice program for the Greene
Central School District. It
also sponsored a co-op program with engineering
schools at Clarkson University and the Rochester Institute
of Technology.
Harrington said the company continually tries to get
schools to better educate students toward blue and white
collar jobs, rather than gray,
service-oriented
ones.
(O’Dea represents the company as a member of the
Chenango County Workforce
Investment Board.)
“So many kids end up taking service-oriented jobs and
are unhappy,” he said. “We
need to gear up education to
place more emphasis on math
and computer skills for these
kids.”
Harrington said that welding and machinists jobs
require highly skilled professionals with PC skills who
understand how lasers and
robotics work and are proficient with inspection and
measuring equipment.
“The assembly line at Raymond is no longer the dark
and grinding place that typified most manufacturers in
the past, nor is it as manually
intensive,” he said.
In fact, the assembly line
processes have been re-configured over the past several
years according to Toyota’s
well-known production and
technology standards. The
culture change has affected
the way people do their jobs
The Raymond Corporation President James
Malvaso consults with workers at the
company’s headquarters plant in the Town of
Greene.
and resulted in quality
improvements in the 80 to 90
percent range.
“It’s a philosophy to works
to eliminate waste and create
the highest quality products,”
Harrington said, adding that
the plant in Greene is held up
by Toyota as an example of
how quality and production
improvements can be made
in a very short time.
Malvaso attributes the
materials handling industry’s
decline in 2007 to pressures
on the consumer, the weak
U.S. dollar and housing market credit crunch. He said he
expected the industry to fall
off another 5 percent in 2008
before leveling next November after the political elections.
Responding to New York
State
Governor
Eliot
Spitzer’s recent State of the
State address, Raymond’s
leader said he was “pleasantly surprised” that the current
administration is trying to
become more business
friendly. “New York is currently re-establishing itself as
a manufacturing state,” he
said.
“We are a $300 million
business in North America
and a $100 million business
in New York,” he added. “A
lot of goodness has come to
this region because of the
growth of Raymond.”
In Chenango County, Malvaso said he was “somewhat
disappointed” with the lack
of progress made to improve
existing transportation and
energy services infrastructure. He said the state Route
12 corridor “is dangerous”
and “not the most friendly of
routes” that his trucks must
take. “I’m disappointed that it
remains two-lanes,” he said.
In addition, he said he had
hoped that the natural gas
pipeline
project
from
Lebanon to Greene would be
further along.
“We would have to change
our heating systems from
propane and oil to natural gas
and that wouldn’t be cheap,
but we would do it if they
would bring a line here. We
now have municipal electric,
but I’m not sure how long
that will perpetuate,” he said.
“If the greater Chenango
County community is serious
about economic development, these infrastructure
issues need to be addressed,”
he concluded.
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Thank You For Your Support in 2007
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
31
SIDNEY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Making a
difference, one
member at a time
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
y offering its members services that
extend past the traditional banking realm, Sidney
Federal Credit Union is trying to prove that there is a
difference between a bank
and a credit union, and that
difference is in the service its
members receive.
Unlike a traditional bank,
Sidney Federal Credit Union
is a non-profit corporation.
“We don’t have stock holders, so we don’t have to take
every opportunity to maximize profits,” explained
SFCU President and CEO
James Doig. “We work
toward a budget and try to
return as much as we can.”
Because it is not oriented
toward maximizing profits,
SFCU can offer competitive
rates while keeping fees to a
minimum.
“Our overall focus is member service. We’re always
looking for opportunities to
be more efficient and thinking about member service,”
Doig said. Due to the set-up
of the credit union, Doig
explained, the members actually own the corporation, so
the focus is always on member service.
“We as employees are all
members, so we understand
memberships and the part the
rest of the members play. The
whole philosophy is different,” explained Joseph
B
Zummo, the vice president of
marketing.
In an attempt to optimize
member service, many
changes were implemented in
2007. One such change took
place in the Greene branch,
where the credit union had
out grown the facility. Due to
cramped quarters, small
offices, and a lack of privacy
for the members, the office
was overhauled at the end of
2006, and a grand re-opening
was held. According to Doig,
the new facility, which
includes a new teller line,
two new offices and more
technology, is nicer for the
members and the employees.
Zummo hopes the new facility will help to inform the
public about the facility,
which is open to anyone who
lives, works, attends school
or worships in the Otsego,
Delaware of Chenango
County area, and their family
members.
Doig explained that there is
no age limit for members,
saying that many SFCU
members were in the youth or
teen age groups. With this in
mind, SFCU has increased
their youth focus this year, by
introducing the “youth zone,”
and by sending out a new
publication “Brass” to teen
members in the 16 to 17 year
age group.
“We’re trying to educate
our younger members and
potential members about how
to handle credit cards and car
Our Past...
loans,” Doig explained.
SFCU started working to distribute Brass magazine in
2007. The national magazine
partners with financial institutions to reach kids in the 16
and 17 year old age range.
SFCU currently sends the
magazine to 1,100 student
members.
“When we sent out the
third edition, we tried to gain
a response by creating a contest the kids could enter. That
way we know they are reading it. We’re pretty sure they
are getting something out of
it, and we feel good about
that. It’s the right thing to
do,” Zummo said.
Other new services that
SFCU is offering this year are
small business loans, an area
that was previously non-existent. Although the company
was almost strictly consumer
based in previous years, business loans were added to the
offering in 2007 so Sidney
Federal would be better
equipped to handle all of its
members’ needs. “We’ve
always had a lot of members
who are small business owners, and sometimes they
needed help that they couldn’t get from larger financial
institutions,” Zummo said.
Doig explained that small
businesses
had
limited
options at SFCU before, but
with the addition of the business loans, members can do
all of their business at one
place. Although it is taking a
The Greene branch of Sidney Federal Credit Union got a major
overhaul this year. In order to better serve their members, the location
was renovated to provide more privacy in the form of a new teller line
and larger offices for SFCU employees.
conservative approach to the
new venture, SFCU hopes to
focus on smaller businesses
and loans of six figures and
under.
In an attempt to help members afford some necessity
items, the company is now
offering Health Savings
Accounts and heating cost
loans. Rising costs in the
health insurance market have
made health savings accounts
necessary for many Americans. The account works like
a checking account but it has
favorable tax treatment as
long as the money is spent for
qualifying medical expenses.
“Over the next two years,
we’re anticipating more of a
demand for this type of
account as costs continue to
rise,” Doig explained.
Similarly, SFCU is offering
heating cost loans to help
families combat the rising
cost of home heating fuel.
“For families who are not on
a budget plan, these loans can
help spread out the high cost
of heating fuel,” Doig
explained. The loans can also
be used to install a supplemental heat source, such as a
wood stove or to replace a
major heating source like a
Our Present...
furnace. “We’re trying to
help people in the area who
need help heating their
homes. Sometimes it comes
down to a choice between
heat, food and medicine,”
Doig said, explaining that
this is one way members
might be able to stretch their
available funds.
For 2008, Doig and
Zummo hope to see more
services for all of th credit
union’s members. The company had 47,903 members as
of September 2007 and
$259,115,572 in assets. In the
coming year, Doig explained
the company would be making some changes to make
SFCU more efficient. One
way is by adding an e-signature feature for loans and
paper work. The e-signatures
will require members to sign
with an electronic device,
which will automatically
send the paperwork to a
record keeping system where
it will be filed.
Other changes include an
upgrade to the CU-online,
which will offer more products and even more ease of
use. SFCU is hoping the transition to the new system will
be seamless and convenient
for users.
Another major change will
be in the way checks are
processed. Currently it takes
SFCU and other financial
institutions several days to
process a check, due to the
time it takes to send the check
to the federal reserve and
back to the bank from which
it originated. However, in
2008 SFCU plans to cut
down on the hold time by
converting the checks to
images and transferring them
electronically. Some retailers
already use the electronic
method to send checks, and
Doig explained the change
would make the system more
efficient for all involved.
Among the goals for 2008,
SFCU hopes to gain more
members
and
possibly
expand into more areas of the
community. “We want to continue looking at expanding
into under serviced areas,”
Zummo said, explaining that
in any situation the organization has to look at the relationship between the cost of
the expansion and the number of members it would
gain.
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32
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
CHENANGO
Opportunities for Chenango employee Kay Taylor works with some of
the Headstart students to learn about the importance of eating healthy.
Helping people make
progress financially,
personally and
professionally
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
pportunities
for
Chenango Director
Craig Cashman said
the past year was a time for
his organization to re-organize, strengthen its programs
and work toward new initiatives for the future. The nonprofit organization, which
provides essential services to
more than 4,000 Chenango
residents each year, is placing
big focus on affordable housing and early childhood education in the coming year.
“Housing is a regional
issue,” said Cashman. “As a
main economic development
issue, offering affordable
housing in the community is
a big concern,” he said.
“Unless you have affordable
housing, you do not have a
community.”
Cashman said as the economy changes it seems as
though the lower to mid-level
wage earners can not seem to
make enough to meet their
families’ basic needs. A new
strategic plan was put into
place in the beginning of this
year that is designed to refocus strategic goals for OFC
administrators, staff and the
community.
Cashman says OFC has
been successful partnering
with other programs in
Chenango County. He says
working with residents to
complete their taxes and
teaching them about the
earned income tax credit has
been beneficial. “We try to
introduce them to the fact
they can have their taxes
done, but also that they
should open a bank account
and start saving for the
future.” As an organization
that strives on helping people
by giving them a hand up and
not a hand out, Cashman says
O
OFC really tries to educate
people about how to gain
financially, personally and
professionally by teaching
them the skills they need the
rest of their lives, and not just
today. OFC offers programs
such as early childhood and
school-aged head-start, a
used car program known as
“Keys to Success,” employment services, the WIC program, housing programs and
others.
Nearby counties like
Broome, Cortland, and
Delaware reflect many of the
same problems that Chenango faces, Cashman said.
“We reach out and try to
assist where we can, we
recently joined forces in
Broome county to aid in continuous flood recovery which
for some is still is a concern,”
he said.
Strengthening its mission,
Cashman says a priority of
the company’s efforts will be
placed within the housing
programs which – besides
childhood education – are a
huge concern for Chenango
County. “Emphasis will be
placed on the first time home
buyers program, the foreclosure program and home rehabilitation programming,” he
said.
With the 2008 budget
around the $7 million mark,
Cashman says programming
– through grants and other
sources of funding – is put
into place and assessed regularly to maintain programs
that have had a positive
impact.
“We are trying to fulfill the
need in the community,” said
Cashman. For six years the
“Keys to Success” program,
which aids families in getting
reliable vehicles to travel to
and from work, has helped 90
families reach their goal. In
2007 alone, 19 families were
helped. As for early childhood education, Cashman
says nothing is more important to a child’s future than
gaining an education to learn
how to develop socialization
and fine motor skills. “We try
to have them build confidence in themselves so they
will succeed academically
down the road,” said Cashman. He also says by teaching structure to young children they in turn will adapt to
the school environment as
they age.
In 2007, according to
Head Start Director Karen
Randall, 438 children up to
age 5, as well as 22 pregnant
women, accessed comprehensive services in health,
nutrition and child and family
development
throughout
seven site locations in the
county. In addition she said
“preschool children’s math
skills rose by 47 percent,
social emotional competency
rose 55 percent and letter
recognition rose 37 percent
as measured by the national
reporting system testing
process.” She also states
within the June 2007 federal
review process the program
was measured 100 percent as
for meeting over 200 federal
regulations designating it a
gold star program – “an
accomplishment achieved by
few programs,” she said.
Looking ahead, Cashman
says the push to find ways to
address the health care system is another goal of OFC.
“This is a major barrier in the
region,” he said. “In years to
come this will be a huge focal
area for everyone.”
In a changing economy,
Cashman says he sees the
costs of living rising whereas
the average wages in the area
are staying the same.
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
33
DCMO BOCES
Keeping up with
the educational
demand
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
ith its multi-million
dollar
project
underway, DCMO
BOCES is looking at the
completion of a number of
new facilities later this year.
“Every chance we get,
we’re handing over the buildings to the contractors so they
can get as much done as possible before students again
need the facilities,” said
Assistant
Superintendent
Marki Clair-O’Rourke.
The Delaware-ChenangoMadison-Otsego Board of
Cooperative Educational Services draws its budget from
16 school districts in Chenango County. The fiscal budget
begins in July of every year
and the current total operating budget is about $37.4
million. A new budget will
again be voted on in June
2008.
The most unavoidable
aspect when driving past the
BOCES campus along East
River Road in Norwich is the
expansive construction project that’s in full swing.
Staff from both of BOCES’
campuses in Norwich and
Masonville got involved in
the initial project design
process.
For the first six months of
2006, professional architects
and teachers cooperated to
create a building that accommodated the center’s growing
W
needs. Students at the technical training facility have also
pitched-in by doing class
projects that both educate and
save building costs. For
example, the conservation
and equipment technology
classes constructed the parking lot. The classes also did
landscaping and applied life
and math skills throughout
the project.
Clair-O’Rourke said school
enrollment has risen significantly in the last 5 years from
25 percent of all juniors and
seniors attending to 33 percent. DMCO BOCES is technically the largest high school
in Chenango County, with
over 1,000 students in daily
attendance.
The new building project
was passed by a two to one
voter margin and is expected
to cost just over $48 million,
Clair-O’Rourke said. Much
of the cost will be covered by
state aid, but $17.8 million of
the bill is split up over the 16
local school districts.
Assistant Superintendent
David Blom explained the
project is paid for as part of
20-year bond and the annual
average cost to each district is
roughly $880,000.
However, each school pays
a different percentage based
upon its relative budget and
size. The resident-weighted
average daily attendance,
also called RWADA, is the
determining factor for each
school’s contribution.
BOCES offers a very large
range of classes at its facility;
from automotive and law
enforcement to culinary and
cosmetology. The school
focuses on applied and firsthand educational practices.
About 50 percent of the
BOCES student body furthers their education after
high school.
The culinary arts class, for
example, puts students right
into the mix by having them
operate a full buffet. As a
project, the class prepares a
dinner for the BOCES board
of directors. The event
includes 50 to 70 patrons and
the students are left to
arrange everything. The
instructor even has the class
choose their own manager to
be in charge. The students
then handle every detail without interference from the
teacher. The class prepares
the food and even manages
the account finances.
BOCES has been in an
ongoing contract dispute with
its staff. The New York State
United Teachers union has
been working without a contract for well over two years
despite continued talks with
the administration. The association is seeking improved
salaries, health care packages
and retirement incentives.
BOCES hopes to start
moving teachers and student
into the new buildings in mid
DMCO BOCES in Norwich has a thousand students come to the facility
daily, making it the largest high school in Chenango County. Students
are taught by experience first hand in a variety of classes such as cosmetology.
BOCES’ East River Road, Norwich campus is largely a construction
site these days, with work progressing on a multi-million dollar
building project.
or late May. After the relocation, work crews will then
begin the extensive renovation of the old buildings
while students are out.
“It can be a balancing act
between construction and
students, but we must always
do what’s in the best interest
of our students first. Hopeful-
ly it will all keep going
smoothly. Currently we are a
little a head of schedule,”
said Clair-O’Rourke.
819 County Rd. 28
South New Berlin, NY 13843
(607) 847-6366
fax 847-9253 9-5 M-F
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34
BLUEOX CORPORATION
Home is where the heat is
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
e big, act small.”
That’s not the
Blueox Corporation’s motto, but it sounds
like it could be.
That’s because the employees who make up this
Oxford-based energy company say they take pride in serving the communities they live
in. It’s also because they take
pride in raising the bar – no
matter what size the competition is, company officials say.
“We’re striving be the best
outfit in our industry in the
market we’re in,” said sales
executive Jeff Emerson.
“Every day, in everything we
do, we’re trying to raise the
bar.”
With oil prices at or above
$100 a barrel, those standards
have never been more important than they are today,
Blueox spokesman Shane
Andrews said.
“We’re consumers, too,”
said Andrews. “That’s why
we’re always stressing efficiency to our customers, trying to help them keep their
prices down.”
As part of their commitment, Blueox is certified to
administer matching grant
programs and low interest
loans through the state to
families that make less than a
certain amount (depending
on family size) so they can
upgrade their homes to be
more efficient.
“We’re involved in that
program because we believe
in it,” Emerson said.
Blueox also touts a line of
energy efficient boilers, fur-
“B
naces, hot water heaters and
air conditioners that are both
reliable and highly-rated for
performance, Evans contends. In terms of pricing, the
company offers a range of
plans to help mitigate the
impact of rising cost-per-barrel prices on customers,
Andrews added.
Emerson admitted that high
oil prices are not a blessing
for Blueox, but rather a curse.
“We’re retailers, so when it
hits $100 a barrel, that’s what
we’re paying, too,” he said.
“Consumers only see the guy
that fills their tanks. But our
fingers aren’t in that pie.”
In fact, such astronomical
prices hurt retail profit margins and drive customers to
find alternative ways to heat
their
homes,
Emerson
explained.
People have also been
searching out alternative
ways to power their homes as
utility outages become more
frequent. As a result, Blueox
is ramping-up its residential
and light commercial fuelpowered generators program.
According to Blueox sales
executive Tim Evans, when it
comes to generators sales,
“there’s no one in the same
league with us.”
Although the program
began in 2003, this will be
the first year the company
will aggressively and outwardly market the line.
“2008 will be the year of
the generator at Blueox,”
says Emerson. “What separates us is the turn-key installation. From installation,
wire-up, fuel-up to regular
maintenance – it’s one price,
Blueox Service Technician Bob Bliss is seen here getting down and dirty to service a boiler.
Blueox prides itself on offering a long line of efficient home heating systems, company officials
say.
one company, for the whole
package. That’s what differentiates us from the big box
stores.”
Blueox offers both residential generators (normally 7 to
15 kilowatts) and light commercial models (up to 50
kilowatts).
“One of the big reasons for
the increase in generators
sales is that we’re seeing utility outages more frequently
and for a longer duration,
sometimes two or three days
for some of our customers,”
said Emerson. “People are
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This past year has not only been a busy & exciting year for us, but an
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deciding to take ownership of
their power supply.”
Last year the company also
laid the foundation to
improve its service department, hiring six new technicians with a combined 118
years experience in HVAC.
One of those hires was new
service manager Kevin Hall,
a 23-year veteran of the
industry.
“We don’t want to just be a
fuel company that has a service department,” Hall said.
“We want to be known as a
fuel company that also offers
top-notch service and installation.”
In 2007, Blueox spent
$25,000 in 2007 on training
technicians. It also upgraded
its testing equipment to be all
digital and rolled out a brand
new fleet of heavy duty service vans.
“Our rolling stock is the
best looking fleet out there,”
Evans said.
Blueox was started in
Oxford in 1960. It now has
service branches in Oxford,
Binghamton and Hamilton,
that offer fuel, propane, and
kerosene products. Blueox
also owns 10 area gas stations
and convenience stores,
which recently switched to
selling Valero brand gasoline
and diesel.
“They are a progressive
company,” said Emerson of
Valero. “Offering their products has allowed us to put a
cheaper price out on the street
to our consumers.”
The commitment to consumers is the hallmark of the
company, Evans said.
“We are their neighbors,”
he said.
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607.316.5731 office 607.336.1311 home
[email protected]
aflacny.com
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Success Stories
Chenango Valley Home &
Apartments
Through the years Chenango Valley Home and Apartments
has continued their long-standing tradition of caring for the
aging population in our area. Offering independent living
services as well as expanded personal care services, Chenango Valley Home & Apartments offers the perfect level of care
for you or someone you love. Meeting the many challenges of
quality health care and elder care among our aging population
continues to remain a key focus for the staff at Chenango Valley Home & Apartments. We are truly fortunate to have a privately owned alternative for continued care during the later
years of life right here in our community.
Chenango Valley Home & Apartments are conveniently
located in the heart of downtown Norwich, on the corner of
Canasawacta & Fair Streets. The Home has been in existence
since 1896 and through the years has offered assisted care for
both male and female seniors that may be in need of expanded personal care services. When you or your loved one reaches an age when you worry about safety, medications and eating well-balanced meals – Chenango Valley Home is there for
you. Group activities, shopping trips, fitness programs, parties
and movies are just a few of the many offerings at the Home;
not to mention private home-like rooms, delicious meals and
24-hour supervision. The staff at Chenango Valley Home is
the reason for the outstanding care that is provided. Each of
these competent, caring professionals average more than 15
years of employment at the Home, which assures your loved
one continuity in care. This staff works hard to develop close,
caring relationships with the residents and their families.
Chenango Valley Home is an excellent alternative for older
seniors seeking companionship and security in the later years
of life.
Chenango Valley Apartments was added adjacent to
Chenango Valley Home in the summer of 1998. These apartments offer active senior couples or singles independent living
without the many hassles that can be associated with home
ownership. The one and two bedroom apartment units are
housed in a completely modern facility with several amenities; such as monthly maid service, delicious meals, cable TV,
utilities and 24-hour staff supervision. Additionally, there is
elevator access to all levels of the facility, social activities and
more. When you visit Chenango Valley Apartments you’ll see
why people refer to it as the elegant alternative to retirement
living. Active seniors can socialize with other residents, enjoy
the on-site Library and entertain in the beautiful ‘Community
Room’ as they make Chenango Valley Apartments their
‘home’. Or, if they choose, they can head off to travel the
world and know that their belongings are safe and secure simply by locking their apartment door as they leave.
Judy Richard, Administrator of Chenango Valley Home &
Apartments, comments “Oftentimes, families wait until they
are in a situation where you need to make a quick decision
for continued care for a loved one. We truly recommend and
encourage you to plan ahead for the uncertain future that is
often associated with an aging family member. We welcome
anyone to give us a call and tour our facilities so they may
explore the options and make an informed decision about
their future before they are forced to do so quickly.” For senior care and so much more, the clear choice is Chenango Valley Home and Apartments. For further information, or to
arrange a tour, please call Judy Richard at 334-6598.
Sailing off to
a brand new
adventure
BY LAURIE O’SHEA
Retiring Executive Director of Hospice &
Palliative Care of Chenango County
t is with mixed emotions
that I prepare to leave
Norwich and Hospice &
Palliative Care of Chenango
County. I have been a part of
this community for more than
30 years and have witnessed
many changes in the health
care scene, including the
introduction of Hospice services. Hospice began as a
grass roots endeavor with the
intention of providing comfort to patients and families
facing the difficult challenge
at the end of a precious life. A
small but dedicated group of
volunteers spent a lot of time
on the phone and in the
homes of families who needed comforting, an understanding sounding board, and
respite care.
The day in 1991 that we
received our license from
New York State’s Department
of Health was a validation of
all of our hard work and
vision. We were now a fullfledged Hospice able to hire a
professional staff to take care
of more patients and families.
Registered Nurses and aides
were sent into patient’s
homes to supervise their plan
of care. They provided education about medications,
symptom and pain control,
I
Providing Housing In Norwich Since 1976
Here are some reasons why we love living at Golden Age Apartments!
*RESIDENT’S COMMENTS
and personal care issues. Our
Social Workers and Spiritual
Care Coordinator became
available for emotional support to those who’d signed on
for this new concept of Hospice care in Chenango County.
Ordinary, no - extraordinary - citizens from all walks
of life, took comprehensive
death and dying training to
become Hospice volunteers.
It takes a very special person
to walk into the home of a
stranger who is gravely ill,
and not only make everyone
feel comfortable with their
presence, but also offer their
companionship and caring
concern. Yes, we were well
on our way to becoming the
Hospice we’d envisioned just
a few short years before.
Healthcare has changed in
Chenango County, and we
have adapted to those
changes. As more and more
treatment options became
available to fight disease, late
referrals had to be managed.
While we completely understood the need to fight for
life, late admissions meant
we had to work twice as hard
to get the caregiver up to
speed, emotionally, and the
patient stabilized physically.
We have also secured the
trust of many more physi-
cians and other health care
providers. At first, they didn’t
know what to make of Hospice. Why would they want
to refer one of their longtime
patients to us? What did we
have to offer? It became
essential to educate not only
the clinical community, but
residents of Chenango County as well. While this education continues on a daily
basis, ‘We’ve come a long
way baby’ from hearing
“Huh, what is Hospice?” to
“Oh yes, Hospice. You’re
angels for what you do.”
What a difference 20 years
makes! We are also able to
admit patients with a life
expectancy longer than six
months and still receiving
life-prolonging treatment into
our palliative care program.
It’s an important transitional
program that’s available
before Hospice care is
required.
Twenty years is a long time
to work at any one job. But
Hospice was much more than
a job for me; it was a way of
life, my mission, my career,
my heart. And I feel comfortable leaving the agency at
this time because I know
we’re in a good place both
clinically and financially.
There will always be room
for growth and achievement,
Come visit our new
Office Furniture
showroom at
1 South Broad
Street, Norwich
featuring office
chairs, desks,
tables, filing
cabinets, and
more!
33 Mechanic Street, Norwich, NY
607-336-7004
*Subsidy Rent Available *Application Required
•Specializing in customized
upholstery and repairs •Tables
•Sofas •Recliners •Antiques
•Refinishing
Sales and
Service of
Electric
Lift Chairs
but that will be entrusted to
the new executive director
and my wonderful, highly
skilled staff. These people
make Hospice & Palliative
Care the unique, compassionate, and very vital agency it is
today.
I’m certain that my tomorrows will be filled with wonderful memories of Chenango County, its warm and generous people, and my two
decades of service at Hospice. Yet, they will also hopefully be filled with sunny
skies, and calm seas, as my
husband, Jim O’Shea, and I
prepare to leave this area to
fulfill our dream of traveling
the world on a 37-foot sailboat. It has been an honor to
live and work here.
Still your local partner in everything
office and now WE’VE EXPANDED!
Senior housing newly remodeled with elevators. Each one bedroom apartment
includes a modern kitchen, wall-to-wall carpeting in living room and bedroom, plenty
of closets and storage. Utilities included, along with garbage pickup three times a week,
and laundry facilities on each floor.
Turn Your Old Furniture Into New
with Upholstery and Repair
Laurie O’Shea
Committed to
Downtown Norwich
“Home-like apartments where you have your own space with friends near by.”
“No more lawns to mow or snow to shovel” • “Feeling of security”
“Enjoy socializing with friends through many activities available in our Community Room”
“Centrally located in the city, close to churches, drug store, and grocery stores”
“City bus stops every half hour to take us to most any destination” • “We appreciate the thoughtful staff”
If you are looking for a
nice place to live, call
Mon. through Fri.
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
for information.
Copies Plus...
provides copy, faxing,
UPS, FedEx, DHL,
laminating, and much
more! Come see us at
6 East Main Street,
Norwich
In Home Service - we can come to you!
In Norwich it’s
Phone & Fax
607-334-8460
Michael W. Girndt
17 Burr Avenue
Norwich, NY 13815
35
Mike’s
Furniture
Repair
6 East Main St., Norwich, NY 13815
Chenango County & Our Surrounding
Neighbors For Making The Automotive
Giant Your Choice:
FOR SELECTION
FOR SERVICE
FOR THE BEST DEALS!
We Appreciate Being Your Dealership Choice,
And Look Forward To Seeing You In 2008!
Bill Tyrrell
Janice Tyrrell
Buddy
Will Tyrrell
Owner
Owner
The Dog
General Manager
Gary Tackabury
Kay Courtemanche
Scott Strong
Jim Baker
Stan Bryden
Graydon Furman
Fred Hilsinger
Sales Manager
F&I Specialist
F&I Specialist
Sales Professional
Sales Professional
Sales Professional
Sales Professional
Dave Killian
Bill Oglesby
Sam Rifanburg
Lynn Wightman
Sales Professional
Sales Professional
Sales Professional
Forest Fletcher
Night Service Manager
Mike Barry
Parts Manager
Rhino Manager
Parts Advisor
Body Tech
Service Tech
Randy Matts
Tyler Myers
Jeremy O’Dell
Peter Parry
John Shepard
Randy Smith
Joseph Sykes
Sr. Do-It-All Tech
Lube Tech
Service Tech
Warranty Advisor
Service Tech
Service Tech
Service Tech
Jackie Guinn
Kristen Lenning
Danielle Scott
Jill Linger
Office Manager
Office Clerk
Office Clerk
Cleaner
Service Tech
Ned Jipson
Recon Tech
- LUBE FOR LIF
ELIFE
R
RO
FO
TA
N
SP
ECTI
CUSTOMER
FOR
Program
- WA
SH FOR LIFE -
FE
LI
NY
S
IN
Driver
Customer For Life Director
Robert Parker
Mark Coleman Brian Stiegerwald
Sales Professional Parts & Service Director Co-Service Director Co. Service Manager
R
Jim Dann
Sales Manager
ON F
TI
O
Lead Service Tech
Controller
Joshua Zbydiewski Michael Colbert Robert Greenman Joseph Hoffman
Martin Thompson Dennis Valentine Edward Zimmerman
Recon Tech
Marcy Hagenbuch Bob Hagenbuch “Aunt” Judy Wharton
O
36
Richard Ryder
the
Smith Ford
LLC
SMITH FORD, L.L.C. • 607-334-3273
WAREHOUSE
THE GIANTS WAREHOUSE • 607-336-3943
Driver
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
S
I
X
PHOTO
BY
FRANK SPEZIALE
DOWNTOWN OXFORD
Mix of new and old
make for a strong
village center
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
A
Libby Ryan, an employee at Canal Street Hardware adjusts a tool
display at the long time Oxford business. After 17 years in the
hardware business, owners Ken and Nancy Ryan say they are still
learning more about the industry every day.
Charlie Race, of Race’s Plaques and Trophies has been building
trophies for over 30 years. While he has many other interests and
hobbies, Race says keeping busy with his trophy business gives him a
reason to get up every day.
lthough many of the
businesses in downtown
Oxford have been operating
for many years, some new ones are
starting to pop-up and some
business owners think that could be
a good sign for the future of
Oxford.
Ken and Nancy Ryan opened Canal Street
Hardware 17 years ago as a retirement project. At the time, the couple had no idea the
business would grow to include such a vast
array of items nor that they would learn so
much.
Ken explained that over the years he has
developed a loyal customer base in Oxford.
“Dairy farmers are good customers. Oxford is
fortunate to have more dairy farmers than any
other town in the county,” Ken said. The store
owner explained that he has seen a lot of new
customers as well. “If you’re doing a good
job on something, word gets around,” he said.
Canal Street Hardware currently employs
three full-time and three part- time workers in
addition to the two owners.
Ken explained that there are challenges to
owning your own business, including high
taxes in Chenango County, the cost of workers’ compensation and the occasional difficult
customer. “The challenges are different with
your own business, but it beats working for
anybody else by a whole lot,” Ken said.
One thing people may not realize about the
Oxford business, Ken and Nancy say, is that
they can special order any item and that they
stand behind every product they sell. “If you
have a problem, bring it to us and we’ll take
it on for you,” Ken said, explaining that he
thinks the store can out-perform the big box
retailers on the service side.
While the Ryans have been in the business
for years, they say they are still learning
things every day. “You get asked about things
a lot, and you learn a lot, but just when you
think you’ve got it all figured out, someone
shows you something you didn’t know,” Ken
said.
Like the Ryans, Charles Race started
Race’s Plaques and Trophies as part of his
retirement plan. Race, who wears many hats,
has been in the trophy business since 1975,
but his business didn’t make it to Oxford until
1983. As the current Village Justice, a
licensed insurance broker and the past owner
of Chenango Medical Home Care, it’s hard to
imagine how Race has time to attend to all of
his duties. “It gives me something to do every
day,” he said when asked about his busy
schedule.
Race has scaled the business back a little bit
over the years, especially after the flood of
2006. “I used to do hundreds a week for auto
shows and it just got to be too much.” He
explained the process of building trophies or
plaques which can involve cutting columns,
assembling pieces, cutting brass, creating a
base and engraving items. “I can engrave anything as long as it is flat,” Race said, explaining his electronic computerized engraver.
Race regularly provides trophies for the
Rite-Aid Drug Quiz, Clyde Cole Trophies,
ADVERTISERS
Catholic
Charities
expands
offerings
at the
Children’s
Center.
PAGE 40
NBT enjoys success with
its Trust Division.
PAGE 42
• Chenango County Historical Society •
• Rentals to Go •
• Riverbend Golf Club • Raymond Corporation •
• Central Diagnostic Imaging • Real Estate Showcase •
• Chenango United Way • Staff Works •
• Northeast Classic Car Museum •
• SnowblastNewYork.com •
• Chenango Valley Home & Apartments •
• Chiarino Insurance Agency •
38
DOWNTOWN OXFORD
A mix of old & new make
for a vital downtown
plaques for area fire departments, Rotary Clubs and
town and village offices.
When compared with
Canal Street Hardware and
Race’s Plaques and Trophies,
Kathleen Moser and her cafe
Clachan Coffee House is relatively new to the downtown
scene. Going into her fourth
year as an Oxford business
owner, Moser opened the
shop because she liked coffee
and knew she wanted to live
and work in the Oxford area.
“I thought this was something I could do,” Moser said.
With an array of beverages,
including coffee from South
Otselic’s Chenango Roasters
and two Rochester area roasters, Moser tries to give her
customers a gourmet experience.
She also tries to offer her
customers an array of everchanging items. Locally
baked food items, made by
Julie Ives of Guilford, are
constantly on hand. Additionally, Moser keeps an assortment of goods made by local
vendors. While some of the
products Moser has offered
since the shop opened – like a
line of hats and shirts with the
coffee house logo, and local
photography – the inventory
has grown to include locally
produced honey and similar
items.
Like other Oxford business
owners, Moser has more than
one passion. Photography has
always been one of her hobbies, and Moser sells her own
line of postcards and note
Patricia and Andrea Demsey frequent the Clachan Coffee House in
downtown Oxford at least once a week. The Oxford business, owned by
Kathleen Moser, will soon begin carrying gourmet coffee beans for
purchase by the bag, in an attempt to make the shop a gourmet coffee
destination.
cards in the shop.
While the shop attracts the
young and the old, Moser
explained there have been
many challenges. “The seasonal challenge is always difficult. At some parts of the
year, you’re holding your
breath and trying to remember if it was this slow the year
before. That in and of itself is
a challenge,” Moser said. But
the business owner says the
biggest challenge is trying to
compete with larger retailers.
“The biggest challenge as a
small business owner is being
a small business owner,”
Moser said. She explained
that big box retailers are able
to get more products at a
cheaper price, and it is hard
for small businesses to compete. To battle that set back,
Moser has utilized advertising, discount cards and trying
to read her customers to
know what they will like.
In the coming year, Moser
hopes to add to her business
by selling gourmet, whole
bean coffee by the bag. “I
Having An Outdoor
Wedding or Party??
We have top of the line
restroom trailers to accommodate
any special event!
want the shop to become a
destination point for gourmet
coffee,” she said.
The coffee shop owner
explained that she thinks
Oxford is heading in a good
direction. With two new businesses – Doughnut World and
China Wok – opening within
the next couple of months,
Moser hopes the additions to
Oxford’s downtown will
enhance all of the other businesses.
Success Stories
MeadWestvaco
MeadWestvaco Consumer & Office Products’ Sidney facility
has long lasting strategic partnerships with customers in office
superstores as well as independent office supply stores. Their
established brands are held in high regard by the industry. These
factors – plus their dedicated employees –position the facility for
continued leadership in the office products category.
The Sidney facility has been operating in Delaware County for
over 60 years, and is one of the county’s largest employers. The
company relocated to downtown Sidney in 1946 and moved to its
present location in 1970. Once known as Keith Clark and then
AT-A-GLANCE, the company was acquired by the Mead Corporation in 1999 and received its current name in January 2002
when Mead and Westvaco merged.
The Sidney Office Products Group is housed in a 750,000
square foot facility that extends more than one-half mile from
end-to-end .It produces and distributes in excess of 100 million
calendars and related products annually – including established
brands such as AT-A-GLANCE®, Standard Diary®, Day Minder® and Day Runner® – which are sold through independent
office supply stores and national chains such as Office Max,
Office Depot and Staples. Approximately 1,200 employees in the
facility work in departments that include sales and marketing,
prepress, customer service and many different manufacturing
and shipping operations, including printing, bindery, finishing
and distribution. The plant operates 3 shifts per day, 5 days per
week.
More on the Sidney facility:
• North America’s largest manufacturing and distribution center for time management and organizational products.
• Product concept to design, production, shipment and marketing, all in one location – permits fast turnaround and flexible
response to market demands
• Over 800,000 customer orders will leave the plant in 2007,
compared to just 271,000 orders only 10 years ago.
• Recently introduced AT-A-GLANCE® Outlink™, new revolutionary business planning tools that allow the flexibility to
switch between paper and software
• Also market Cambridge®, Mead® and Columbian® office
products
• The Promotional Products Group produces Ready Reference® and Old Farmer’s Almanac® branded products for the
Promotional Products/Advertising Specialty markets and is the
U.S. supplier of high-end, Italian-made Castelli planning products
• Over 800 visitors from the community enjoyed Earth Fest
2007, which included a demonstration of birds of prey, as well as
short presentations highlighting local environmental resources
and forest management
The Sidney facility is a generous supporter of area arts groups,
scout troops, schools and other non-profit organizations. For
example, the facility has provided a significant portion of the
development and ongoing support for the National Soccer Hall of
Fame in Oneonta and the Keith Clark Park in Sidney.
“Our employees are committed to safety and working hard to
deliver ‘world-class’ products and services to our customers,”
said David Williamson, executive vice president and general
manager. “We are viewed by customers, consumers and employees alike as an indispensable, premier supplier of quality brandname products for planning, organizing, record-keeping and
communicating. We’re proud to be known for our innovation,
service excellence and ‘added value’ in every aspect of our business.”
There is a
FUTURE in
your PAST
Museum Hours
Weekdays 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. April thru Dec.
or by appointment (607) 334-9227
Closed January 1, Easter, Memorial Day,
4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day,
December 24, 25 & 31
Welcome to Chenango County
Where
History
Lives...
Visit the
Chenango County Historical Society Museum
45 Rexford St., Norwich • Phone: 334-9227
Email: [email protected]
Visit our website at: chenango.history.museum
To become a member of the museum contact our office from 1 pm-5 pm weekdays.
All support is appreciated
Full view of exterior, sink and lighting
inside, toilet stalls
Each unit has air conditioning, sinks with hot
water, flushable toilets, mirrors and lighting.
These tastefully decorated trailers create a
pleasant atmosphere for your guest.
We also carry a full line of traditional portable restrooms.
(Handicap units, flushable units and wedding white units.)
RENTALS
TO GO
PORTABLE RESTROOM RENTALS • NORWICH, NY
607-336-7867
RENTALS TO GO
EAST RIVER ROAD, NORWICH, NY 13815
607-336-7867
Get Ready “Fore” Spring and Golf!
We offer single,
couples, family
and student
memberships at
affordable prices.
•Accessories
•Night and Morning
Leagues
•Bar/Lounge
•Food Available
Golf
Club
Cindy &
Mike
Welcome
you to
Riverbend
607-847-8481
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 8 AM-DUSK DAILY
Working toward 18 hole course in the near future.
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
Success Stories
Pet Street Station
Animal Hospital
Pet Street Station Animal Hospital (PSSAH) is celebrating our
7th year of services in our state-of-the-art facility on East River
Road (County Rd 32) in the Town of Norwich. We continue to
provide a high level of kind and careful medical and surgical care
that is typically found only in larger cities.
PSSAH is an accredited hospital member of the American Animal Hospital Association. Only 17% of all companion animal
veterinary facilities in the US have met the high level of standards and are distinguished as accredited members of the association. We work very diligently to provide a high level of medical
and surgical care at a fraction of the cost of most city hospitals
and are rapidly becoming a regional veterinary care center drawing clients and referrals from as far away as Utica, Syracuse and
even Buffalo, NY.
In 2007 our surgical services continued to grow. We have an
excellent team of doctors and licensed veterinary technicians and
the modern equipment necessary to provide these services. Our
surgical monitoring includes ECG, blood pressure and pulse
oximetry (continuous blood oxygen levels) for every anesthetized patient. We also utilize computerized anesthesia ventilators and have electrosurgical and cryosurgical capabilities. We
have a complete and modem computerized laboratory at our fingertips so we can process any needed blood or tissue samples and
have results typically within 15 minutes. This allows us to run
pre-anesthesia blood work as well as make rapid diagnosis of
some ailments so treatment can be correctly started right away.
For more complicated cases we can make referrals to specialists
in most any field. We can also electronically send ECG and radiographic information (X-rays) over the Internet for evaluation by
specialists anywhere in the world.
We employ Licensed Veterinary Technicians that offer much
of the same care for pets that registered nurses offer for people.
Our credentialed technicians have graduated from a two- or fouryear AVMA accredited program with an associate’s or bachelor’s
degree in veterinary technology.
We utilize the latest in vaccine technologies employing genetic recombinant and adjuvant-free vaccines whenever possible
and even have the most recent development in needle-less vaccine administration. There is a difference in vaccine quality and
therefore vaccine safety and we use the cleanest, safest vaccines
available.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month and in recognition of this we are offering 10% discount on all dentistry services for the month. Call for a consult exam or schedule dental
cleaning for your pampered pet today. Rest assured, untreated
dental disease is far more dangerous than any slight risk of general anesthesia with the current medications and equipment available to us today. Chronic dental disease can contribute to heart
and kidney disease.
Our kennel and boarding facilities are clean, comfortable,
bright, well ventilated and temperature controlled with heat in the
floors for your pet’s comfort at all times.
Pets age on average 7 times faster than people. We encourage
you to schedule a routine and complete physical exam twice a
year for your pet. An exam only once a year for you pet would be
the same as you visiting your doctor only once every 7 years!
Call 336-PETS for an appointment today or visit us on-line at
PetStreetStation.com.
39
MIRABITO FUEL GROUP
Family-owned company
with a far reach
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
n the early 1900s, an
Italian immigrant founded a coal business in
downtown Norwich, which,
over the last century, has
grown into a massive energy
provider - not just for the city,
but for the entire region.
The Mirabito Fuel Group
supplies heat and 24-hour
service to 12,333 homes in
Central New York and operates more than 50 gas station/convenience stores.
“We’ve provided energy
products in the area for a
long, long time,” said John
Pilkington, manager of the
Mirabito branch in Norwich
and Greene.
In the last year, the company experienced some growth,
but Pilkington admits, the
jump in energy costs has been
a challenge.
“One of the things that continues to be a challenge to us
and our customers is the spiraling cost of fuel and unpredictability of the market. The
best thing our customers can
do is lock the cost through
one of our pre-pay or cap
budget plans,” said Pilkington.
Through these choices,
some customers can benefit
from their advanced planning
by locking in the cost of their
fuel. The advantage to the
company is a loyal customer
and one who can afford to
pay their bills on time, said
Pilkington.
Mirabito was originally
founded in 1927 by James
I
Driver Gary Barnes is wrapping up his day at Mirabito Fuel Group.
The local branch runs seven trucks throughout the County bringing
fuel to nearly 2,000 customers since its founding in Norwich in 1902.
Mirabito who called his
enterprise the James Mirabito
Coal Business. The venture
continued to be family operated and in 1940, became a
larger company through the
purchase of H.M. Bloxham
Coal and Feed Company in
Sidney.
As time went on, Mirabito
Fuel continued to be handed
down through the generations. The Mirabito family
retains ownership today and
runs the massive energy dis-
tributor from headquarters in
Binghamton. Apart from
Binghamton, the company
has expanded into several
other surrounding areas such
as Syracuse, Oneonta, Utica
and Sidney.
Marilyn DeBlock, who has
worked out of the Norwich
site for over 20 years, says
she loves her job. “The family has been in Norwich forever. I love my job. I couldn’t
have worked here for this
long if I didn’t,” she said.
The Mirabito Fuel Group is
not just a heating oil supplier,
but also offers a variety of
other products including
propane, natural gas, coal,
gasoline,
diesel
fuels,
kerosene and lubricants.
The company expanded its
operations in 1982 to included retail. It operates Quickway Food Stores, one of the
largest chains in central New
York.
40
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Help when you need it the most
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
atholic Charities of
Chenango
County
works diligently to
provide quality services to a
growing population with
needs as diverse as food,
shelter and clothing; childcare and pre-school options;
individual, child and mental
illness counseling; and crime
victim support.
The year 2007 was a year
of transition, according to
Catholic Charities Executive
Director Jane Coddington.
“We had to eliminate programming in some areas and
in others, we made additions.”
One of the prominent programs run by Catholic Charities is the Children’s Center
on Virginia Lane. Coddington said the center is designed
to prepare children for
kindergarten and a special
emphasis is on the four and
five-year-olds.
“We have had a lot of good
feedback from area schools,”
she said.
The facility, which provides a secure day care and
pre-school setting, serves a
range of children from six
weeks to five years old. New
in 2007 was the addition of
the 1-year-old classroom,
Coddington said, to better
meet the needs of that population. In addition, a new
classroom aide was hired.
Catholic Charities’ Roots
and Wings program, which
helps to provide local and
regional residents with food,
clothing and household
items, saw limited local funding last year, leading to the
C
loss of a full-time staff member position. Currently the
position has been filled with a
part-time employee.
Although funding may
have been reduced, Coddington explains the amount of
food donated to the pantry
appreciated throughout the
year. She says a lot of breads
and baked goods were donated from local stores, and
what could not be used quickly enough at the pantry was
donated to other organizations nearby.
“Also this year we received
a lot of yogurt, fresh fruits
and more produce than in the
past,” said Coddington. Statistically speaking, 350 families used the pantry each
month. Each household can
use the service once in a 30day period and take home
enough food to eat three
meals a day for five days.
One of the biggest adjustments for Catholic Charities
was the closure of Crossbridge, an adolescent boys
home which had been operating in Sherburne since 1992.
Crossbridge was one of the
three residential homes run
by Catholic Charities. It
housed up to seven boys at a
time and employed six.
Coddington explained that
a new state law re-directed
foster care to take place in the
child’s home, meaning residential care centers are no
longer needed.
“We went from a full house
in June to serving one person
by November,” said Coddington. “This was a a difficult decision, but based on
what was happening it was
really the only choice we
could make.”
Head teacher Melissa Osterhout reads with Kerri Johnson in the newly
opened one-year-old classroom at the Children’s center.
As for the six employees at
Crossbridge,
Coddington
says all of them were offered
positions to stay within the
organization – four of them
did.
As Crossbridge now stands
vacant, Coddington says she
will present some ideas for
future uses of the home to the
Board of Directors.
The organization’s two
other residential homes are
the Chenango House in Norwich, an adult home for individuals suffering from mental
illnesses that’s been in operation for roughly 20 years, and
Trillium Place, in Oneonta,
which serves residents from
various counties including
Chenango.
Trillium Place is a voluntary residential program
involving children ages 12 to
18 who need intervention
services for depression or
other mental health aliments.
As well as residential homes,
the organization also has a
supported housing program
to support people who live on
their own with mental disabilities.
“We try to help them succeed,” said Coddington, “If
you are in your own home, no
matter what you’re sick with,
you heal faster.”
Coddington says one crisis
bed has been added at Trillium since the adolescent wing
of Fox hospital closed.
Services at Catholic Charities’ main building include
counseling, art therapy –
which had its first gallery
opening show in partnership
with the Chenango County
Council of the Arts in ‘07 –
and the Crime Victims program which now encompasses a newly-designed slate that
began in the summer of 2007.
Coinciding with the crime
victims program, Catholic
Charities has joined forces
with other agencies that
would be in involved in criminal cases including child
sexual misconduct and/or
abuse. The new program was
created to aid investigations
and to gain the most evidence
against perpetrators with
minimal impact on the child
victims. Those involved in
the program help young victims come forward without
having to be questioned at the
police station. They provide a
space behind the scenes to
monitor and record a victim’s
interview, as well as makes
sure the atmosphere and family waiting room are comfortable.
The recorded information
is also classified as suitable
evidence in court so victims
will not have to take the stand
and testify. So far, the program has produced good outcomes with victims. “We
have used this room a lot
more than I thought we
would have to,” said Coddington.
Newly named crime victims program Director Dan
Auwarter says through his
experience working previously as director of Crossbridge, he has seen the
impact helping youths can
have. He says he wants to
advocate for the victims of
domestic violence and provide services for people
exposed to domestic violence
situations. Trying to use the
latest tactics for counseling
and therapeutic services,
Coddington says she and her
staff have been concentrating
on positive psychology with
individuals seeking their
services.
Chenango United Way Proudly Thanks The
Chenango Community For Its Tremendous
Support Of The 2007 Campaign.
This past year was a year in which
“community” has meant more than ever.
We could not have done it without you.
Chenango United Way
27 West Main Street, Norwich, New York 13815
607-334-8815
Looking for
Real Estate in
Upstate New York?
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
41
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Success Stories
Chenango Health Network
From the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life, a person diagnosed with cancer is a survivor. Survivors are people
who may have been diagnosed last week or 20 years ago. It can
be anyone with any history of cancer. Cancer survivors may be
receiving treatment, may be considered cured or in remission,
may be trying to control the disease or its side effects, or may be
receiving end-of-life care.
Cancer Support Services, a Chenango Health Network program gives cancer survivors, caregivers and their families assistance and encouragement to deal with the many issues resulting
from a diagnosis of cancer. Cancer survivors and their families
frequently have questions about where to look for information
about their cancer; treatment options; making informed decisions; coping with emotional and psychological effects of cancer; how to talk about cancer with family and friends; where to
look for medical institutions; what’s available in their community for help with future planning.
The Community-Based Cancer Wellness and Support Center
at CHN helps Chenango County residents gain knowledge about
diagnosis and treatment and learn about local resources. A guidebook for surviving cancer with physical, emotional, and practical
information about cancer survivorship is on hand and computer
assistance to access the web for research using a Cancer Support
Services’ computer is available, or individuals can refer to a website list to do research from their home. The Wellness and Support Center houses an up-to-date library of books, magazines,
pamphlets, CDs and DVDs about cancer and related topics.
One-on-one support by phone or face-to-face is offered by a
trained staff person or someone can be linked with a local volunteer who has already undergone a similar experience. Volunteers participate in a CHN training program before they can give
encouragement as cancer survivors or caregivers. If you are a
cancer survivor or a caregiver and would like to volunteer to help
your neighbor, give our office a call.
Assistance is available to enroll in New York State sponsored
insurance programs and pharmaceutical manufacturers prescription assistance programs. There is help to research information
about cancer treatment clinical trials. Soon professionals will
speak to groups on cancer treatment and related topics.
All calls and visits to Chenango Health Network’s Cancer
Support Services receive personal attention and the best, most
current information possible. Services are strictly confidential
and at no charge. This program was made possible through the
New York State Office of Rural Health and a grant from The
Community Foundation for South Central New York. Chenango
Health Network is a non-profit rural health network which serves
residents of Chenango County through various programs. For
more information about any of the programs offered call 3374128 or go to www.chenangohealth.org.
“If your success is not on your
own terms, if it looks good to
the world but does not feel
good in your heart, it is not
success at all.
ANNA QUINDLEN
Where everybody knows
your name ...
BY LOUISE PERRY
Otselic Town Council
tselic is a quiet, mainly agricultural community in the northwest corner of Chenango
County with a population of
about 1,000. We may sometimes feel forgotten and overlooked, but this is a friendly
community where “everybody
knows your name.”
Volunteerism is alive and
well in Otselic. The all-volunteer South Otselic Fire Department and Emergency Squad
respond to many calls each
year. The South Otselic American Legion Post is involved in
different programs for our area
veterans, youth, and families
in need. It also co-ordinates
the Memorial Day Parade and
services at the cemetery. The
First Baptist Church and United Methodist Church both support our community in many
ways. Anytime a family is hit
with a crisis, the community
pulls together with assistance.
The Otselic Valley Grange is
another active organization
supporting our community. It
is responsible for the Community Birthday Calendar each
year, has contributed to Otselic
Valley’s after-prom party, and
offers graduation and citizen
awards. The Grange also built
an outside restroom at the
Town Park and sponsors the
annual Garage Sale Day in
May. O.V.I.P.A. (Otselic Valley Improvement and Preservation Association) is a group
that awards graduation scholarships recognizing community service each year. O.V.I.P.A.
provided funding and volunteers for building the pavilion
in the Town Park and the new
O
dugouts at the school athletic
field. O.V.I.P.A. purchased the
holiday lights that sparkle each
winter throughout South Otselic. Again, volunteers in town
step forward to hang up and
remove these lights each year
despite the weather conditions.
O.V.I.P.A. is presently working on a possible project of
summer concerts in the park
and an “Art in the Park” day.
Several years ago, the town
was fortunate to receive a
grant to purchase playground
equipment for the Town Park.
The funding only covered the
cost of the equipment, so a call
was put out for workers, and in
one very long day, a beautiful
playground was assembled. It
has been enjoyed by many
youngsters ever since.
The Town of Otselic has
been able to offer a generous
recreation program to our
youth that involves both basketball in the winter and baseball and swimming lessons in
the summer. As part of the
summer recreation program,
local children enjoy picnic
trips and an exciting outing to
Enchanted Forest/Water Safari
each year.
Community groups and
organizations working together is routine in the town. Otselic Valley Cental School has
contributed to the Town’s
recreation program each year
with a financial contribution as
well as providing buses. In
November, when the election
polling place had to be moved
from the Town Hall to the
High School, school administrators and staff provided all of
the necessary assistance to
make voting go smoothly. The
highway department also
assisted by moving that hefty
voting machine between buildings. The school has worked
together with the community
to host Winterfest the last few
years. Winterfest includes
events such as outdoor activities, entertainment, a craft fair,
and a talent show.
This all may sound idyllic,
but yes, we do have some
problems. The town is unique,
as it is comprised of three
hamlets-Beaver
Meadow,
Otselic, and South Otselic.
Communication within the
three hamlets of the town is
always a challenge. South
Otselic is the hub of most community activity, so residents of
the other hamlets don’t always
have a way to receive information.
Like home and business
owners, the Town of Otselic
sees increasing costs to keep
up its buildings and properties.
The highway department has
the task of maintaining and
plowing almost 50 miles of
roads, including some treacherous hills. We have to continually upgrade the equipment
necessary for the highway
workers to adequately and
safely do their job.
The tax base has not significantly increased to offset the
costs we have to pass on to
property owners. Economic
and other conditions have
reduced the number of dairy
farms in the town. One of the
challenges of the remaining
farmers is paying the property
taxes each year. Our one large
industry, Gladding Braided
Products, and the school are
the main non-agricultural
employers.
I personally would like to
see more residents participating in town government but
Louise Perry
understand that busy lives, and
often long commute distances,
make that difficult. Many of
the town positions are “thankless” jobs and not highly paid,
so it can be difficult to find
people to fill them. Of course,
the fire department and emergency squad could always use
more personnel willing to
commit the time necessary to
join their ranks. It will continue to be a challenge to provide
ambulance service to our community due to the lack of available personnel and stringent
training requirements. Medical
services of any kind require
residents to travel considerable
distances.
The natural beauty of the
Otselic Valley may sometimes
be taken for granted by the
locals but those traveling
through often stop and remark
about this unexpected gem of a
place. Despite the problems
we face, I feel fortunate to
have lived in this valley most
of my life and have found it a
great place to raise a family.
Why don’t you take a drive
over and join us for one of our
events? Come enjoy a pancake
breakfast at the Legion, or
maybe a chicken barbeque at
the Fire Station. I think you
will be glad you did.
He’s close to you
and you’re here
for him!
Deciding upon the appropriate care
for your aging parent or loved one
need not be a difficult task.
At Chenango Valley Home & Apartments
we can help you plan ahead and explore the
options in eldercare before you’re forced to
make a decision you may not be happy with.
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& Apartments
for Retirement Living
Conveniently located at
24 Canasawacta Street, Norwich, NY 13815
For More Information Please Call
607-334-6598
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Binghamton......................607-772-3373
Herkimer...........................315-866-8000
New Hartford....................315-735-5050
Norwich............................607-334-5055
Oneonta............................607-432-8888
Rome................................315-337-5050
Sidney................607-563-9411 ext.2515
Syracuse............................315-455-9675
42
N B T BANK
Steering clear in choppy waters
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
lthough NBT Bancorp
isn’t involved in subprime lending, the
banking industry wasn’t
immune from adverse credit
and housing trends that have
rippled through the economy
as a whole of late.
“We knew ‘07 would be a
challenging environment,”
said Bank President and CEO
Martin Dietrich. “We knew
we had to make some adjustments to mitigate that pressure.”
This year it doesn’t look
like the challenges will let up,
the bank president said. But
the same qualities that
allowed the company to
make strides in 2007 – with
estimated earnings on par
with record growth in 2006 –
should also carry them
through 2008.
“There are significant signs
the economy is slowing
down,” he said. “But the
actions of our employees in
the last 12 to 18 months leave
us in a better position than it
might have otherwise.”
Dietrich said a focus on
expense control and growth
in NBT’s non-interest income
helped it navigate tough
waters last year, as well as
offset the ongoing rise in
short-term interest rate costs
and stagnate long-term
returns that have been affecting the entire banking industry for the past three years.
“Despite those challenges,
we were pleased with our
results,” he said.
NBT stock hovered in the
low $20s in 2007 and its mar-
A
ket-cap (the stock price multiplied by the number of
shares) through the first nine
months of last year was $700
million. In the spring, NBT
repurchased $2 million
shares of its own stock in an
effort to increase the stock’s
value for shareholders.
As far as total earnings,
2007’s have yet to be figured,
but total assets sit at $5.15
billion.
The bank’s Trust Division
is the fastest growing department in the company, Dietrich said, with a 15 percent
increase in the first three
quarters of last year. Senior
Vice President Timothy
Handy said much of that
growth is in retirement plan
services.
“Our fastest growing line
of business within the Trust
Division has been in retirement plans services, in particular the growth our 401K
packages,” said Handy.
The Trust Division – which
handles estate settlements,
wills and trusts, investment
management,
charitable
trusts, and fiduciary and
accounting preparation – also
manages employee retirement plans, by way of 401Ks,
for employers who in the past
were responsible for providing and overseeing their own
packages. Now NBT and
other financial institutions
outline 401K packages for
employers – offering different packages for different
investment fund options –
and manage those investments for them and their
employees.
Handy says NBT has taken
Taking a quick meeting are NBT’s Trust Division Vice Presidents Douglas Coggins, Rosemaria
Cole, Tim Handy and John Cook. The Trust Division is the fastest growing department at the
bank.
greater steps to market its
retirement programs in what
is a highly competitive field.
“We’ve become much
more sales oriented,” said
Handy, explaining that in the
past, the trust department
worked mostly off of referrals. “Throughout NBT’s
footprint we have representatives of the Trust Division
developing new business and
managing those relationships
for us.”
NBT’s footprint continued
to expand in 2007 into the
Capital Region, with the
opening of an office for the
Greater Glens Falls area and
a branch in Latham.
“There a lot of exciting
things going on in that area,”
Dietrich said, specifically
referring to the boom in tech
initiatives in and around
Albany. “There’s a lot of
growth and energy there,
we’ve been able to leverage
off of that.”
In 2008, NBT will be opening a Johnson City branch in
the historic Charles F. John-
son Home on Main Street.
“We’ve worked hard with
our architects to preserve this
historic facility,” Dietrich
said, “making sure this is an
asset for many years to
come.”
The bank’s Pennstar division also opened two branches in Bartonsville and East
Stroudsburg.
NBT now has 82 offices in
19 counties in upstate New
York and Pennstar has 39
offices in six counties in
northeastern Pennsylvania. In
all, the company has 1,380
employees.
Bank Director Magazine
recently rated NBT the 58th
best bank in America of any
size. Last year it was 48th.
“We slipped a few spots.
But we still stack up extremely well in the industry,” Dietrich said. “As a company that
plans for the long-term, we’re
going to keep moving ahead
and growing for the future.”
Chiarino Insurance
would like to thank all those who helped make our dreams a reality:
•BID
•NBT
•VJ Designs Architectural Services
•Justice Construction and their Subcontractors
•Grant Whaley Painting
Most of all, we would like to thank our Insureds for dealing so graciously with all the
inconveniences over the past several months. Without you, this expansion and renovation
would not have been possible. As Adie would have said, “You are the best of the best”.
Look for the newly painted facade and re-grand opening in late spring.
CHIARINO INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
50 NORTH BROAD ST., NORWICH, NY
Monday thru Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
STOP IN TODAY AND SEE PATTY, RICK OR TAMMY
FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR CONTACT US:
337-AUTO or 336-1444
www.chiarinoinsurance.comm
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
S
E
V
E
PHOTO
N
BY
FRANK SPEZIALE
Crash
Course
CITY
OF
NORWICH
The slow path to a better city
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
A
fter taking steps to
keep the tax rate
increase to a
minimum, controlling costs
at city departments and
looking at the possibility of
cutting costs through shared
services, the City of
Norwich is working to
become a more appealing
area for residents and
businesses.
For the 2008 year, Norwich
Mayor Joseph Maiurano said he has
several goals, all of which relate
back to the Mission Statement,
established by the city in early
2007. “The mission of the City of
Norwich is to serve its citizens in
achieving and maintaining an opti-
mum quality of life consistent with
available resources (...) providing
those services to the public that cannot be provided by the individual on
a cost-effective basis,” the mission
reads.
One of the big changes Maiurano
would like to see is an increase in
shared services between area
municipalities. For several months
in 2007, the City of Norwich and
the towns of Norwich and North
Norwich discussed the possibility of
applying for a state grant to study
shared services and areas for consolidation. Despite the fact that the
state would have paid for 90 percent
of the study, the Town of Norwich
opted not to participate.
“The concept of sharing continues to be an important conversation
between the City of Norwich and
other municipalities as we explore
ways to pool our resources and
streamline government to make it
more efficient,” Maiurano said at a
recent meeting of the city council.
Maiurano pointed out the town and
village lines in the county. “There
are 21 towns, one city and 8 villages. These boundaries were set
hundreds of years ago with different
needs, different times and different
technology. With the new needs of
today and the advancement of technology it is time to answer the question, ‘Is there a better way?’” Maiurano pointed out all of the possible
duplication of services that exist in
the county and ways that they could
possibly be decreased. “As mayor
of the City of Norwich, I welcome
conversation between the city and
our municipal neighbors to explore
increase sharing of services.”
Another goal the mayor would
like to see achieved in the coming
year is to make the city government
more efficient, by re-examining the
city charter, which he said contains
areas that he believes are outdated
and require change.
Over the past few years, Maiurano explained that the Common
Council has become a group that
works well together and gets things
done. Ward Four Alderman Walter
Schermerhorn agreed, saying, “The
council is more cohesive now than
it used to be. Part of the reason is
because there was a lot of finger
pointing going on, and now we’re
more interested in developing
things that will be beneficial to the
city in the long term.”
In November, two new members
of the city council were elected:
Ward One Alderman Robert Carey,
and Ward Three Alderman John
Deierlein.
Schermerhorn
has
expressed a belief that their financial know-how and business
insights will be an asset to the council. “The two new council members
are both good men, and good businessmen. I think they’ll do a great
job,” said Sixth Ward Alderman
Paul Laughlin.
In order to be more open with the
community, the city has instituted a
new web site, www.norwichny.us,
which Maiurano hopes will bolster
community involvement by providing an array of information to the
public. With changes in the 2008
meeting schedule, which include
eliminating the City Council Work
session and a possible change in
committee meeting times from 6
p.m. to 7:30 a.m., Maiurano said he
hopes the city web site will be able
to reach residents who are unable to
attend the meetings. The new schedule was instituted to cut down on
the number of comp hours seen by
department heads who have to
attend these meetings and to ease
the burden on the committee members, who are often rushing from
work to attend the meetings.
“We ask the citizens to have an
open mind to change. Our goal is to
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44
CITY
OF
NORWICH
An eye toward the future
streamline the way we do
business and we believe in
the long run these changes
will be beneficial to all citizens in the city,” Maiurano
said.
The city council hopes to
achieve some of their other
goals by instituting new programs and making changes to
help keep the city clean and
orderly. In 2007, programs
like the rental registry and the
sidewalk replacement program helped improve the aesthetics of the city. With success in both programs, the
city hopes to continue these
efforts in 2008.
“We’ve taken little steps on
big issues, and we’re building
a foundation for the future
with programs like the rental
registry, which we will continue working on this year,”
Schermerhorn said.
Laughlin explained that he
feels codes will continue to
be a big issue in 2008. “I’ve
always thought Norwich
would make a beautiful
retirement community, but
we need to do more to clean it
up,” Laughlin said.
The sidewalk program will
also begin another round in
2008. The program allows
some city residents to replace
their sidewalks, with the city
absorbing half of the cost and
city workers providing the
labor. In addition to the sidewalk program, the mayor discussed adding a painting program for 2008. The program
would encourage home owners to paint the exterior of
their homes. The cost could
be spread out over a period of
time and added to the yearly
tax bill for those who cannot
The City of Norwich Common Council has two new members joining
the ranks this year. John Deierlein and Robert Carey were elected to
fill two positions that were vacated this year in the first and third
wards. Pictured from left are Deierlein, Paul Laughlin, Walter Schermerhorn, Carey, Mayor Joseph Maiurano, Terry Bresina and Robert
Jeffrey.
come up with the sum of the
money up front.
The city is also holding out
hope for funding via part of
the Restore New York Grant.
A grant application was submitted in mid-2007. If Norwich is chosen, the grant
would provide funds for the
demolition of burned out and
otherwise seriously damaged
city-owned homes, and the
construction of new residences.
In order to plan for the
long-term growth of the city,
two major projects are being
undertaken to ensure the city
is able to supply a substantial
amount of water and deal
with waste water disposal in
an adequate fashion.
“We are actively working
with state and federal officials to secure funding,”
Maiurano said in regard to
the two projects which will
cost millions of dollars. The
plans call for the implementation of a new, gravity-fed
water filtration plant, to be
placed on a plot of land located just below the Chenango
Reservoir. The current water
filter plant was built in 1903.
The new plant would eliminate the need for several
pumps, since it would be
gravity fed and would help
the city be a more responsible
environmental user. The project could cost in excess of $5
million.
The second project calls for
the replacement of critical
components at the waste
water treatment plant. The
rotating biological contactors
are components of the system
that have become damaged
due to years of use. The contactors sustained some damage during the 2006 flooding
due to an increased amount of
liquid being carried through
the system. The cost of the
project is estimated to be in
excess of $3 million.
Maiurano said he hopes
city residents will take an
active role in recruiting support from state and federal
government officials. “I ask
all citizens to write to Senators and Congressmen, both
state and federal, to help us
fund these projects,” Maiurano said. A complete list of
politicians and addresses will
be available on the city’s web
site.
While the city has many
plans to continue building for
success,
Schermerhorn
explained that revenue issues
will continue to be a problem.
“Providing services costs
money, and increasing property taxes is not the answer.
We need the environment to
attract small entrepreneur
type businesses to develop,”
he said. “What we’ve gotten
to did not happen over night,
and it’s not going to be corrected overnight,” Schermerhorn said, but the alderman
did say that currently several
projects were being looked
at, and that time and effort is
being put into finding a solution.
Success Stories
NBT Bank
For NBT Bank, the year 2007 was highlighted by community
recognition and community involvement. On March 28, Commerce Chenango presented NBT Bank with the 2007 Distinguished Business of the Year Award. The ceremony took place
during the business group’s 48th annual dinner meeting at the
Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich. Greg Sheldon, then
chairman of Commerce Chenango, told the crowd of about 140:
“People in business aspire to be like NBT and reach those lofty
heights you folks are at. You’re an inspiration.” Accepting the
award on behalf of NBT Bank was Martin Dietrich, the bank’s
president and chief executive officer. “Norwich and Chenango
County have played a very special role in our history and success,” Dietrich said. “There has always been a strong entrepreneurial spirit here, but there has always been a strong community spirit as well. I think those two components are very much
ingrained in NBT Bank. For all the growth we have had, we are
still a ‘hometown’ bank.” The Distinguished Business of the Year
Award is presented annually to an area business that has shown
consistent growth over a period of time; is considered a leader in
its industry; makes continuous improvements in quality and
innovation; and has made significant contributions to Chenango
County and its economy.
Chenango United Way’s 2008 campaign ran from September 1
to December 31 of last year. To help out, NBT Bank employees
based in Chenango County held their annual fund-raising activities for the campaign. As in previous years, a laptop computer
and departmental pizza parties were among the incentives. But
when all was said and done, NBT Bank employees increased
their donations by more than 20 percent over the previous year.
In response to this strong showing, NBT Bank officials
increased the company’s donation too. Employee and company
contributions totaled $67,000 – about 14 percent of the nearly
$489,000 grand total raised by Chenango United Way during the
2008 campaign. Donations will be distributed to local organizations based on a competitive grant process overseen by the
Chenango United Way board. This process provides funding to
groups that best demonstrate they will utilize their funding to
make a positive impact on Chenango County in one or more of
the following areas: aging population, opportunities for children
and youth, access to health care and poverty issues related to
hunger and housing.
David Harris, branch manager of NBT Bank of Norwich, and
Kathy Black, a loan recovery officer with NBT Bank’s Managed
Assets Department, were co-chairs of the bank’s fund-raising
efforts. Harris said, “We are very grateful to our colleagues at
NBT Bank for their generous support of Chenango United Way
this and every year. Contributions from local companies help
make life a little easier for many of our neighbors in Chenango
County.”
“If A is success in life, then A
equals x plus y plus z. Work
is x; y is play; and z is
keeping your mouth shut.”
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Let It Snow, Let It Snow,
Let It Snow!
Kerry Bio-Science
Winter Fun in Central NY
is a leader in the development, production and
marketing, worldwide, of highly refined ingredients
for use in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food
processing industries.
Kerry Bio-Science continues to show strong growth
which will carry on into the future.
Kerry Bio-Science takes pride in supporting
the many organizations and activities that
enhance the quality of life in Chenango County.
Kerry Bio-Science continues to recognize
the growing importance of their employees and
their contributions to the company’s growth...
they are Kerry Bio-Science
heritage and its key to the future.
Check out our website:
www.snowblastnewyork.com
PROGRESS CHENANGO
2008
A big thank you to all of our advertisers that have
shown their support and pride in Chenango
County by being a part of one of the best
Progress Chenango editions ever. I look forward
to helping you in the coming year with all your
advertising needs. Thanks again.
Linda Green
337-3021 • FAX 334-8273
Kerry Bio-Science • 158 State Highway 320 • Norwich, NY 13815
“I’d Be Happy To Help Your Business Grow.”
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
45
KERRY BIOSCIENCE
Expanding a global presence
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
n 2007, Kerry Bio-Science experienced a
remarkably good year of
distribution growth. Kerry’s
site manager Phil Ham
reported that the company
nearly doubled its global
presence as a leading producer of pharmaceutical-grade
monohydrate lactose.
The company produces
specialized food ingredients
such as inert additives, time
release coatings and flavorings.
Kerry continues to utilize
its enterprising resource planning or ERP system. The
diverse communications system plays a vital role from the
raw material receipt and
release, to the final shipping
of finished product.
The company also made
strides in diversifying its
portfolio by increasing the
number of materials it can
offer to its commercial customers.
“It helps our presence by
making us a one-stop shopping venue,” said Ham.
Ham explained that the
company can fulfill a more
lateral range of needs a customer may have.
“If they can get everything
they need from just one
source instead of going to
two or three others, it saves
costs. It makes the whole
process more efficient and
convenient for the customer,”
said Ham.
Kerry Bio-Science is one
of the largest suppliers of
pharmaceutical-grade lactose
in the United States. The
material is a common compo-
I
nent used in the direct compression of tablets. Often the
lactose serves as a inert filler
in countless products made in
the pharmaceutical industry.
The company has become
an expert in producing highly
specialized growth media.
The media is used by pharmaceutical companies to foster specific growths which
are then harvested for whatever contributions they may
offer to the production of
complex drug ingredients or
for testing.
The plant also specializes
in manufacture of hydrolyzed
proteins, yeast, lactose,
hydrocolloids,
fermented
ingredients, enzymes and
emulsifiers.
This positive growth has
caused a 10 percent plus
increase in the number of
employees at the site. More
than a third of those
employed at the site hold
either a bachelor’s of science
or more advance degrees in
the field.
“We have a very educated
workforce. There is half production and half technical,
and the majority have college
degrees of some kind,” Ham
said.
Ham explained that the
pharmaceutical market for
produced ingredients is
growing rapidly and demand
on the site has increased.
Kerry Bio-Science is an
international company based
in Ireland. The manufacturing facility in Norwich is one
of 10 plants located around
the world. Kerry Bio-Science
is its own company, but is
owned by the Kerry Corporation which has several other
Scientist Amanda Gage running equipment in the pilot plant at Kerry Bio-Science. Gage is one
of dozens of young professionals employed by the pharmaceutical manufacturer.
companies bearing the Kerry
name.
Executives and administrative officials visit the local
plant regularly and credit the
facility for its high level of
performance. The company is
constantly monitored by the
Federal Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and
the Department of Agricultural Markets.
In the upcoming year, Ham
said the company hopes to
keep expanding its diverse
selection of products, especially its coating facilities.
The process of FDA approval
and validation, however, is a
long process.
“We’ve been working
towards it for a while and you
just can’t pinpoint an exact
date. Validation can be very
tricky process,” said Ham.
The good thing about the
process is that although it
may be a challenge to get
into, once in, it offers a stable
and consistent market, Ham
said.
The location of the Kerry
facility has been occupied
and operated by other businesses in the area for more
than 100 years. The company
began as a dairy creamery in
New York City in 1841. The
business moved upstate looking for lower cost and more
room to expand their operations. Named Sheffield
Farms, the business constructed a creamery at the
current site in Norwich were
it has remained in one form
or another ever since.
6403 County Rd. 32, Norwich, N.Y. 13815
607-334-7080
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46
PREFERRED MUTUAL INSURANCE
Success Stories
Staying ahead in a
competitive marketplace
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
n the insurance industry,
as times change so do
the variables that can
create losses or gains.
According to Robert
Wadsworth, chairman of the
Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer for Preferred Mutual, the company
gained significantly in 2007.
Although finalized figures
have not yet been computed,
Wadsworth predicts 2007
premium revenues will be
approximately $208 million.
Wadsworth said property and
casualty insurance companies
were very profitable in 2007,
which led to a highly competitive marketplace. He said the
industry has seen a slight
decline in premium growth,
but Preferred was able to
counter the trend, showing
positive growth and continuing to be a leading source for
insurance.
“We expect to post positive
earnings for the year,” he
said, adding, “It was a pretty
good year for us.”
The company, which
Wadsworth explained is
owned by its 250,000 policyholders, is projected to carry
a policyholders’ surplus of
approximately $133 million.
“The company’s total assets
are $370 million,” he said.
Preferred Mutual operates
in four states: New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts
and New Hampshire.
Preferred Mutual has also
been updating its technology
capabilities. “We would like
I
Every year Preferred has a corporate float in the New Berlin Youth
Days Parade with a theme. For 2007 the theme was the "S.S. Preferred
Mutual.”
to continue to enhance our
technology platform with the
intended purpose of making
it easier for our independent
agents to do business with
us,” said Wadsworth. This, he
says, will make the agents
more efficient and drive operating costs down, which, in
turn, will make the company
more competitive in the
growing marketplace.
Wadsworth says he has
seen a lot of change in the
insurance business in the last
12 years that he has been
leading the company. “I have
seen continuous change and a
lot of growth,” he said.
Preferred was honored in
2007 in a survey by the Professional Insurance Agents of
New York State (PIA) for
being one of the top five of
insurance companies operating in the state in the past five
years. “We were also honored
in 2007 for being in the top
10 companies operating in
the state for generating the
fewest automobile claim
complaints for automobile
insurance carriers. This
shows the commitment our
employees have to providing
the highest level of service to
our independent agents and
policyholders,” he said.
Preferred Mutual’s main
office is located in New
Berlin with its data center
located in Norwich. Between
the two facilities, Preferred
Mutual has approximately
242 employees.
As the largest employer in
the New Berlin area,
Wadsworth says the majority
of Preferred’s staff live in
close proximity and devote
significant time and effort to
the service of their communities.
“We try to show our commitment to the community
financially and through other
means,” said Wadsworth.
Throughout 2007, Pre-
ferred employees took part in
many community activities,
and the company surpassed
its Chenango United Way
2008 campaign goal. Preferred is also a corporate
sponsor for Gus Macker,
takes part in blood drives,
participates in the American
Cancer Society Heart/Run
Walk, holds dress down days
for charity every month and
is a main sponsor of the New
Berlin Youth Days.
“We sold Sno-Kones for 50
cents each and all the proceeds were given back to the
New Berlin Youth Days,”
said Preferred employee
Jamie Moore. Moore says
each year Preferred has a corporate float with a theme. For
2007 the theme was the “S.S.
Preferred Mutual.” “We
always try to gear our float
themes to be kid-friendly,
because after all, that’s what
Youth Days is all about,” she
said.
Skillin’s Jewelers
Another successful year for Skillin’s Jewelers. Despite a
shaky economy and a pessimistic media we had a strong finish
this year. We tried some new jewelry lines that turned out to be
very popular. Pandora is the most popular jewelry company
nationwide this year and we are now the area’s exclusive dealer.
We also carry the “Nancy B” designer earrings and pendants that
are very unique and very affordable.
Skillin’s Jewelers is a member of the Independent Jewelers
Organization which is a select group of jewelers from across the
country who are chosen because of their business ethics and
credit ratings. As a member we are able to buy from these companies and receive the discounts that major retailers get. When
attending these national shows, Hal Skillin goes to many seminars and meets with other successful jewelers from across the
country. Even after owning the business for 34 years there is so
much to learn and he always comes home with a new energy and
many new ideas and some different products to fill our cases.
Of course, no business is successful without many loyal customers and friends who support us every year. And it is always
great to see new faces that have been sent to us from satisfied
customers. We sincerely appreciate your trust and friendships
and we are proud to be a part of the Norwich community.
Rapid Reproductions LLC
2007 was an exciting year at Rapid Reproductions LLC., ending with the honor of being named Chenango Counties Small
Business Manufacturer of the year!
We would like to thank you the customers, our partners in
business you are the reason we are here today. Without you there
is no Rapid and every one of us at Rapid knows this and takes
great pride working with your projects and producing your
orders. We listen to your requests, and we keep up and ahead of
technology, which changes at a tremendous rate of speed.
It is Rapid Reproductions LLC., goal to keep up with the ever
changing needs of our customers. The last three years the focus
has been to bridge the gap between traditional offset printing and
digital printing. The end result, providing the highest quality
product. Digital printing has allowed us to offer the option of
short run, immediate output, while relying on traditional offset
to handle scheduled medium and longer run printing. Rapid
Reproductions LLC. now has the opportunity to provide even
greater products and expand the services we are able to offer.
New for 2008 Rapid Reproductions LLC., we have an all new
website explaining all the options and services available to you.
Visit us at www.rapidone.com. Rapid Reproductions LLC, will
continue to implement changes and upgrades to ensure we stay
ahead of our customers needs.
“Success usually comes to
those who are too busy to
be looking for it.”
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
PROGRESSIVE
DENTAL, pllc.
“DENTISTRY FOR ALL AGES”
THE AREA’S LEADING COLLISION
REPAIR CENTER SINCE 1983
We always work for the customer, not the insurance
company. We have the latest technology to
fix your car RIGHT!
Dr. Sonny Spera
Dr. Brian Blanchard
Dr. Oreida Quinones
Dr. Matthew Franklin
• Modern, Clean, State of the Art Office
• All Phases of General Dentistry Practiced
• Friendly, Compassionate Staff
Hickory St.
Utica
Conkey Ave.
* Members of the American Dental
Association* • Accepting New Patients
We accept most major credit cards.
Hickok Ave.
Baldwin St.
Brown Ave.
Welcome to New York
Pizzeria & Restaurant
S. Hickman
Elm St.
Eaton Ave.
Office
Francis Ave.
Divison St.
Beebe Ave.
Binghamton
Coomes St.
• Crowns, Dentures, Bridges, Digital
X-Rays, “AirAbrasion”
• Smile Makeovers - Veneers,
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• Written Treatment Plans
• Interest Free Treatment Plans with
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• Insurance Forms Submitted
Northrup Ave.
Morse Ave.
ROUTE 12 N. in NORWICH • PHONE 336-7434
Open Monday–Friday
Allen Lindenthaler, Owner
Hale St.
Jones Ave.
101 SOUTH BROAD ST., NORWICH, NY
334-8666
Fax: 334-6662 Email: [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8 am - 5 pm; Thursday 8 am - 1 pm
Casual Dining
and Catering
Come in,
relax & enjoy!
Our business is built on traditional values
that have always provided strong family
foundations - honesty, mutual respect, hard
work and doing your best. That’s why it’s
always a thrill when loyal customers treat us
like family as well!
Tante Grazie!
The Baio Family
Our Hot Delicious
Hand Tossed Pizza
Served for 25 Years
CALL FOR OUR DAILY SPECIALS
Also serving beer & wine.
NEW YORK PIZZERIA
So. Main St., New Berlin, N.Y.
607-847-6188
Mon.-Wed. 10-9; Thurs., Fri., Sat. 10-10; Sun. 11-9
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
47
CWS
Staying ahead of the curve
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
ost people cringe
when they hear the
word “audit.”
But if you ask the people at
the Community Work Shop
in Norwich, audits aren’t so
bad.
“We’re getting one or two a
month,” said Timothy Knotter, CWS vice president of
sales and marketing. “That’s
a good thing.”
How is that a good thing?
Because the audits Knotter is
referring to are on-site
reviews
conducted
by
prospective and current customers making sure CWS
meets a certain criteria of
standards and practices
before they’ll sign a contract
to do business. In that sense,
each audit is an indicator of a
potential account. That essentially means the more audits
there are, the better. Especially with a track record like
CWS’.
“These audits open the
door to more customers,”
Knotter said, adding that they
are essential components to
landing accounts in the pharmaceutical industry. “And
we’ve never not passed an
audit.”
CWS continues to live up
to the state’s standards as
well, Vice President of Rehabilitation Michael Cerra said,
that make sure it is providing
quality housing and working
environments for the 150developmentally disabled
“clients” employed there.
“Those audits are routine.
They’re mandatory to keep
our operating licenses,” said
Cerra. “But they also validate
M
what we are purposefully trying to do – provide the best
quality services we say we
will. That’s our aim; that’s
our goal.”
CWS is mainly a contract
packager for other companies. They also help customers, known as “vendors,”
conceptualize and engineer
product designs. As Account
Executive Jason Lasicki
points out, the book of business CWS can and does handle is diverse.
“It ranges from the pet
industry to pharmaceuticals,”
said Lasicki. “We have a
diverse range of products
we’ve expanded to.”
In terms of growth, in the
last two years the company
has added 27 new accounts.
That’s a marked improvement from six in 2005.
Already in 2008, it has
locked in 8 more customers,
with no signs of slowing
down. The increase is a direct
result of the certifications the
company has earned in the
last few years, Knotter said.
“We have to keep changing
our business practices to
match customer’s requirements,” he said. “As a result,
our business model is always
changing. But that’s also
allowed us to add a lot more
things to the fire, and given
us more new and great opportunities to expand.”
In 2007 CWS was certified
Kosher, re-certified by the
Industrial Standards Organization – a top-honor that’s
been a boon for the company,
McHale said – and, most
recently, certified organic by
the Food and Drug Administration.
CWS line workers assemble flu-medicine packets at the company’s Plant 5 on East Main Street
in the City of Norwich. CWS was recently certified organic and holds a number of other
certifications that allow to offer a range of different services.
The move to organic was a
major part of CWS’ new
focus on being a “green”
business.
“Being green is a big deal
to us and our customers,”
said chapter President John
McHale. “That certification
is something we’re proud of.”
Lasicki said in today’s
social and economic climate,
offering more organic and
green services is not just a
smart business move, but a
responsibility.
“We are in an earth-friendly market,” he said. “But we
have a responsibility to factor
in people’s health and health
of environment as well.”
For the health of some of
their own elderly clients who
can no longer work, Cerra
said in June the company
opened six-person residence
home on Country Club Road.
In 2008, it plans to open
another on East River Road a
half-mile south of Polkville
Hill.
“This was a way to plan for
our clients’ future,” said
Cerra.
For CWS’ regular employees, the company is expecting
to add jobs and a second shift
soon to accommodate the
increase in work volume.
What’s helped it get ready for
the push has been a complete
overhaul of the company’s
manufacturing
operation,
Lasicki said. He credits manager Eric Moore with making
operations “leaner” and more
efficient.
“It was basically a complete elimination of waste,”
said Lasicki. “From our
processes on the floor to
inventory, we’ve taken a
more focused approach to
everything we do. That’s
really put us in the position
we are to succeed.”
With a downturn in the
economy expected, Knotter
said one of CWS’ biggest
challenges will be defining
the line between good and
bad business relationships.
“More companies are trying to stretch their dollar to
get more with less from us,”
Knotter said, explaining that
CWS will have to work hard
at protecting their own interests in those relationships,
and in some cases become
more “rigid.”
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607-226-8880
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607-336-3636
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315-617-3310
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607-226-2122
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607-336-9907
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48
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Success Stories
Norwich - A retirement
community?
BY JEREMY STOPFORD
Norwich City Police
he second week of January marks the 1st
anniversary of my
retirement from the pastorate
in Beaver Meadow, and of our
move to our apartment in Norwich. “Retirement” – a strange
word considering I hope to
work at least five more years
with the Norwich Police
Department More work for me
– more tickets for you!
I’ve come a long way from
my beginnings, and yet in the
big picture of things, I believe
there was an unseen hand
guiding my steps all the way to
Norwich. Let me explain.
I was raised in an affluent
section of Westchester County,
just outside New York City.
When I was 13, ready to enjoy
high school life, my dad
retired and we moved to Ft.
Lauderdale. I attended a
“prep” school there with the
hopes of my enrolling one day
in an Ivy League college preferably Dartmouth in New
Hampshire from which both
my Dad (’26) and my older
brother (’65) were graduated
(my other brother - you know,
the one with the 1600 on his
SAT’s - went to Harvard, and
on to Penn Law, ultimately
retiring from his law practice
at age 44- – but that’s another
story). I was not accepted at
Dartmouth, but was at St.
Lawrence in Canton of upstate
New York. My mother was
shocked to think that I would
go so far from home (I had
also been accepted at Tulane in
New Orleans, but much to
Mom’s chagrin, I chose SLU).
T
Norwich roots? At St.
Lawrence, this young freshman met a girl from Norwich
whose dad was a doctor here.
Penny and I went to several
“barn dances” where I heard
many stories about her hometown. After my freshman year,
I “got the call” and transferred
to a Bible School in Cornwall,
Ontario. Norwich? Yep - two
more students. The one, Allen,
was to become my best man you know him as Pastor Carpenter in New Berlin. The
other, Thuvia Hitchcock,
added to Penny’s tales with
accounts of her Dad and
Granddad Hitchcock working
for the O&W railroad. The
only railroad I had known was
the New Haven on which my
Dad commuted to NYC every
weekday. Thuvia told me stories about Grandpa George and
Grandma Minnie sitting on the
front porch of their Grove
Avenue home sharing stories
with the neighbors – the
Mirabitos, the Testanis and
others – about the railroad,
about the weather. A safe
place. I could never dream
then that one day Thuvia and I
would own that 25 Grove
Avenue home (that, too, is
another story).
She told stories about the
booming businesses in her
hometown. Of how her Dad
worked hard for his family.
Three jobs – one of the maintenance men at a factory called
Bennett-Ireland (where he
would work until its closing
day); a paid fireman – going to
work every third night at 6
p.m. for 12 hours (long before
NPD ever thought about it),
and a master electrician, often
working late hours for some-
Jeremy Stopford
one long after he left his shift
at B-I. My sheltered life at Rye
and Ft. Lauderdale didn’t
understand a work ethic like
that.
Thuvia and I were married
in 1973 at Calvary Baptist here
in Norwich. And when I was
graduated from Seaway Baptist Bible Institute in 1976, her
Dad encouraged me to come to
Bennett-Ireland until I knew
what I wanted to do in life. I
was hired that July – and
immediately found a new family. I was learning firsthand
what Norwich roots meant.
The Turners. The Leahys. The
Harrison Edwards. Dick
Lewis. Tom Lamphere. Don
May. Men of vision for their
community. Men that knew in
order to see that vision come to
fruition, hard work, long
hours, re-work would all be a
part of that.
And then I was hired in 1983
with my job with the City of
Norwich PD as their “special
officer” – dog control, parking
enforcement, and the “gopher”
jobs of the department. For the
Rentals To Go
past 25 years, I have been
learning what community
means. Watching downtown
Norwich. Seeing people of
vision come and go. Some
with products that no one
wanted or needed would be
destined to close quickly. Others who knew their items were
important would stay the
course, and we are the beneficiaries.
Thuvia and I have also spent
20 years in the pastorate in
Beaver Meadow, and there,
too, I learned the value of community. No major businesses
or stores there anymore,
although its history is replete
with such. But once again,
there are families there who
call Beaver Meadow home –
as did their parents and grandparents, as do their children
and grandchildren.
We moved back to Norwich
last year. ‘’Retirement.” Once
again, my roots in my new
hometown. No, not the affluency of suburbia New York
City. Not the bigness of Ft.
Lauderdale. But the richness
of family and neighbors. The
heritage of a dynamic work
ethic. The hope of a future
that, too, will be a great place
to share the city’s heritage with
our neighbors.
And the railroad? In the big
picture of things, you would
know that the Bullthistle
Model Railroad Company
would be our landlord. Retirement - a contentment, a joy, a
hope, a heritage. Thanks, Norwich!
Are you missing one detail for your next big event or project?
Are you planning a big event in the next year? Maybe it's for
your business, the community, or your home. You probably have
every detail taken care of – or have you? Rentals To Go offers
the cleanest, most convenient, and most affordable portable restroom rentals, with 4 luxury restroom trailers and 600 units to
choose from to meet any need.
Weekend rentals are available for outdoor parties and events.
Is your son or daughter graduating? Are you planning a family
reunion? Or maybe you're planning a July 4th Pig Roast? Do you
know somebody who is getting married? As a specialty service,
Rentals To Go offers white, flushable units for those wanting to
provide the cleanest facilities possible for their guests.
For your platinum event, where luxury is a necessity, Rentals
To Go offers upscale restroom trailers. The self-contained trailers are available in 4 different styles, featuring 2 bathrooms up
to 7 stalls. All trailers also feature running water, sinks, air conditioning, stereo and more. All the comforts of home brought to
your event.
Monthly rentals are available as well. Rentals To Go will set
you up with a cleaning schedule so that the units are kept clean
and fresh. This is a great service if you are managing a golf
course for the summer. Or maybe you're building a new home
and need facilities for your workers. For construction companies, we can provide units to multiple locations.
Rentals To Go offers four styles of portable restrooms. There
are standard units, which are the basic portable restroom. Handicap units are available for those with special needs. Sink units
come equipped with a sink for your guests to wash their hands,
while flushable units offer a combination flushing toilet and
sink. All portable restrooms come supplied with toilet paper, and
the units with a sink are supplied with soap and paper towels.
Clean units at affordable prices, picked-up and delivered for
your convenience – Rentals To Go is the final detail to your next
big event or project. Call today to schedule. (607) 336-7867.
Sew Nice
Local quilters found it inconvenient to travel great distances to
get the quality and selection of material needed for fine quilts
and clothing. The solution was to open Sew Nice across from
Arby’s in the North Plaza in Norwich.
Sew Nice sells only quilt shop or better materials from makers such as Benartex, Kaufmann Brothers, Hoffman, Maywood,
Moda, P&B Textiles and Timeless Treasures. Sew Nice’s extensive notions department carries name brand cutting boards,
rotary cutters and most of the additional notions needed to complete projects. If Sew Nice doesn’t have what the customer is
looking for, it will gladly be ordered for them.
Classes are offered that cover the gamut from beginning quilter to the advanced quilter. Quilts, totes, shirts, book covers, pot
holders, table runners, appliqué and jackets are just a few of the
classes that Sew Nice offers.
Come in and enjoy a relaxing shopping experience in a clean,
bright, climate controlled store. Customers refer to Sew Nice as
their “quilting playhouse” - a place where classes are offered and
camaraderie abounds. Our name says it all!
Chase’s Life Focus...
OPTIMAL DENTISTRY BEING PRACTICED BY A
CARING TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO VALUE HEALTH
Roger Halbert
Administrator
One of the greatest attributes of Chase
is our Life Focus which surrounds us
with all forms of life. What a boost it
gives us all!
Back Row Left-Right: Kelly Kasmarcik, Stacy Scheer, Christine Bates, Deanna Parsons, Shannon Robinson
Front Row Left-Right: Erin Ballard, Ramon Casipit, Julie Brown
A tradition of compassion,
excellence and hospitality...
Coming to your neighborhood soon –
The New Chase...
TEL: 607.336.2273
10 Henry Street (Behind Howard Johnson’s)
Norwich, New York 13815
www.norwichdental.com
Chase Memorial Nursing Home Co. Inc.
1 Terrace Heights, New Berlin, NY 607-847-7000
Chase Housing 607-847-7000
New Berlin Daycare 607-847-7036
New Berlin Family Practice 607-847-6750
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
49
TEAMWORK
It’s the way we work.
Together, we each do our best so we can deliver our best to you.
We pride ourselves on giving our customers the attention and service
they need in today’s competitive marketplace.
Whether it’s one of the seven
editions of the Pennysaver/
My Shopper network,
The Evening Sun,
Sun Country, The Gazette,
Circulars Unlimited or Sun
Printing, the same dedication
and commitment to service,
quality and value is evident
throughout.
That’s
teamwork...
working
for you!
Pennysaver
Norwich 607-334-4714 • Sidney 607-563-3761
Turnpike & Oneonta-Cooperstown (315) 858-1730 or (607) 431-2519
Wharton Valley (607) 965-8179
Schoharie Valley (518) 234-8215 • Mohawk Valley (518) 993-2772
50
The Evening Sun
T h e o n l y n ew s p a p e r
i n t h e wo r l d t h a t
g i ve s a d a m n a b o u t
C h e n a n g o C o u n t y.
That’s because we live here. We work
here. We play here. We raise our families
here. We do business here.
Chenango County is just as much our
lifeblood as it is yours. And that’s why, as
the only daily recorded history of Chenango
County, we here at The Evening Sun strive
to bring you the most complete, accurate,
informative and entertaining newspaper
we possibly can.
We cover more local stories, more local
sports, more local events and more local
issues than any other publication. And, we
are locally owned and managed. Made, page
by page, picture by picture, word by word,
right here in Chenango County.
Cat
late ch up
baskst coll on the
etbal ege
l ac
tion.
The
Even
ing S
un
PAGE
NOR
WICH
, NEW
11
Hab
sta itat ge
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proje a
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NATI
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Tens NAL N
and of th EWS
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TWO
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EDIT ICS
EVEN ORIAL
LOTT TS
OBIT ERY
SPO UARIES
TV RTS
WEAT
In times of both prosperity and
adversity, the men and women who lead
Chenango County have met challenges
head-on, with determination and innovation.
With every setback comes an inevitable
triumph, moving us ahead on that
ever-improving path.
IONS
S
© 200
7 Sny
der
20 P
AGE
18,19
16
4
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6
11-136
17
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Police looking for suspects
in Friday’s burglary spree
BY TYLER MURPHY
ON
PAGE
NEW
YOR
[email protected]
NORWICH – Police continue to
investigate a rash of burglaries that
occurred Friday both north and south of
the city and suspect the crimes may be
related.
Four separate locations were broken
into Nov. 30, all along Rt. 12 in the Town
of Norwich. In every instance the burglar) cost each of the businesses more in
damages than in stolen property.
Kuntriset Kitchens and Baths Design
Center owner Michael Stockin was one
of 10 commercial tenants victimized at
the Rt. 12 South location.
“They came in the back damaged a lot
3
JANUA
T
ss
ngre y,
g Co nom
rnin r, eco cs
Retu nts wa r politi
o
ea
fr
-y
n
o
n
c
o
electi
INDEX
CLASSIFIEDS
COMICS
EDITORIAL
EVENTS
LOTTERY
OBITUARIES
SPORTS
TV
WEATHER
ER
EATH
WWW.EVESUN.COM
W
Y
TODA showSnowSnow n
ers. umulatioor
acc inch in
of an Highs s..
less. mid 30
RROW snow
the
TOMOscattered lower
the
th
y wiHighs in
Cloud
rs.
showe
30s.
50
ale
Spezi
Frank
the
Sir Winston Churchill
Chenango’s fall colors are fading fast ...
Evening Sun photographer Frank Speziale
caught this autumnal display on West Hill
in Norwich Monday.
Smyrna adopts regs
MELISSA
DECORDOVA
n Staff Writer
[email protected]
Board Chairman Peter
Maynard said Monday.
The Camden-based real
estate development company set its sights on Smyrna
Lake in 2005, and proceeded
to purchase more than 600
acres there and elsewhere in
the town for the purposes of
subdividing.
Properties
already sold, for example,
have brought the developers
between $89,000 to $96,000
for a 5-acre lot with no
improvements.
Maynard said members of
the town’s planning board
became concerned about
whether the developer had
created sufficient right-ofway access for emergency
and maintenance vehicles,
and whether citizens would
have to foot the bill for new
BY TYLER MURPHY
Sun Staff Writer
[email protected]
Frank Speziale Photo
The Norwich Purple Tornado Field Band recognized its graduating seniors and their
parents at Saturday’s Fall Festival of Bands.
COMING UP
Jessica Lewis
gets down
and dirty
“Punching
the Clock.”
IN WEDNESDAY’S SUN
WEATHER
ODAY
teady rain by
arly afteroon. Highs in
he lower 60s.
TOMORROW
Mostly cloudy in the mornng...Then becoming partly
unny. Highs in the upper
0s.
INDEX
TWO SECTIONS 20 PAGES
CLASSIFIEDS
COMICS
EDITORIAL
EVENTS
OTTERY
OBITUARIES
SPORTS
TV
WEATHER
18,19
16
4
7
6
6
11-14
17
6
© 2007 Snyder Communications
NORWICH – An Oxford
drug dealer who was the target of an undercover police
investigation
by
the
Chenango County Sheriff’s
Office pleaded guilty in
court Monday.Corey A.
Weidman, 23, Oxford,
pleaded guilty to the top
drug felony – third degree
criminal sale of a controlled
substance – in full satisfaction to the seven other
felony and two misdemeanor charges that were
indicted against him by the
grand jury. In addition,
BY JILL OSTERHOUT
Sun Staff Writer
[email protected]
F
inding your niche in life is something that can
take years, explains this mother of three and local
store owner.
As Nancy Cushman heads into her 10th year in business at Seasons Gift Shop in Norwich, she explains
although it is a different career path than she originally
imagined,
she
can’t
imagine
being anywhere
CHENANGO
else.
The oldest of STORIES
ten
children,
Nancy grew up in
Medina in western
New York. “It’s a big family, but we are very close-knit,
and we have a lot of fun,” she said. Cushman explains
being the oldest, she of course was the first to go off to
college.
Nancy went to Alfred University to study sociology
and soon thereafter, met the man she would marry. Jim
Cushman and Nancy were married while still attending
college, and following graduation, the couple moved to
Ohio so Jim could attend law school.
As a child, Jim would spend summers and vacations at
his grandparents’ home in Plymouth. The couple knew
they wanted to come back to upstate New York and
decided to take a look around the Norwich area. “All the
other lawyers and the bar were great,” said Nancy.
By the time the couple moved to Norwich, their
daughter Christina was a toddler and their second daughter Andrea was on the way. Jim wanted his own practice,
Jill Osterhout Photo
Nancy Cushman explains why she can
always be seen smiling while at work – she
loves what she does and the community she
does it in.
and Nancy explains, she wanted to be home to raise her
children in a safe community. Nancy stayed with her parents in Medina as Jim brought their belongings back to
New York. “He was on the road, traveling home when I
had Andrea,” said Nancy.
Nancy explains the move to Norwich was very new to
CONTINUED
ON
PAGE 3
purpose of community col
leges has “changed dramati
cally,”
the
dean
o
Morrisville State Universit
of New York’s Norwic
campus said Monday.
“Community colleges ar
starting up residence hall
and building apartments fo
students to live in,” sai
Dean Ted Nichols. “The
are attracting internationa
students, and there’s a lot o
CONTINUED
ON
PAGE 3
Frank Speziale Photo
Santa Claus is helping keep Chenango County neat and tidy for the holidays, as seen here
riding shotgun with Bert Adams Disposal. Where’s Santa headed next? Find out in
Wednesday’s Evening Sun.
NE
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option. According to then
President Harry Truman’s
1947
Commission
on
Education, the dominant
feature of a community college was “its intimate relations to the life of the community it serves.”
Nowadays,
two-year
degree programs have
sprung up at all types of educational institutions across
the country and have little, if
anything, to do with “community.” In fact, the original
21
1 Shoppingg Dayss Leftt
fo e W
IC
m r Cit are ICH
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trained personnel.
th ent y of seve –
EL
“We still need to improve the system,”
dat is ye posi N ral Alt
CA
said Beckwith, referring to the county’s
RN
po es ar, tion orw cand ho
RIK
current emergency services. “It’s a better
di sed, ar mos s on ich id ugh
E
Supdate leave ru t of th gove ates
system than we’ve had in a longtime.
3 ba ervis fo ing nnin the e ball rnAnd we don’t want a band-aid. We want
JA
tt so r M on g cand ot
to fix it. This will help.”
M
wil Tom ling r of ayor ly th uno iES
Superior had covered the majority of
orro for War an e ca pde l
M
medical transports after it cut-back its
Co
CN
wil term have w, the opds 1, d C nit
in
ci
l
m
EIL
2
o
number of ambulances from three to one
f pl e th ty en an y we
ple
In th ay whi e
re sl d
in January, citing a lack of profitable
ca
te
Maicum e C a role ch chan side ots. th If n,”
c
business.
a
nt
ca
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s to e fi elec he sa
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With CMT coming in, it will save the
ida of
M epu ano t M of the id to
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SC
City of Norwich and other emergency
len icha blica wil ayo No futuates anmerge is thin C .
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te
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squads from handling transports to medSU
ik
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TT
“I’mocra him nrik et, on seph . for rminity twee thewoulde sa
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Cooperstown and keep them on call for
pe
beg co they
po
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il
“T if N th ss like
to n, an e 1 s a
emergencies, Beckwith said.
ex un ntin wou
if ady a ad cket on l ch hile bego foe, an he it orw e T ible
4 nd
w wor d
th plai .” ue th ld vo
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As for the fly car, CMT doesn’t think it
rw d
m is ic ow
ne they to go ch y to .
saidho is k toto do
the - can’ bene ard if w erge bene h an n
ci e ci ned
te
C xt m ch to oice gi
will hurt their business, according to
T e
atel t ju fici w e’re r is fici d
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.
togels th ty stru that he wor for
el
Noriting ayor oose wor , an ve
it
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Beckwith.
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lo
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go a
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,”
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“They think it’s an excellent idea,” he
saidng-t We nedism to alit, it ing big
hi id he in
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th rs ich the Car e as r th I’m
”
mathave
. erm ed iss l, bu has to
’t wit
or
said. “The fly car won’t be taking busias s cam is fe cum
em
nrik
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th
C
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pa
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o
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it
sp
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th
da he
plan to
M th pa el ben
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nrik ter
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ness away from them. It will keep their
ha ar e ci nri seen diffi e sa eir
te
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,” look med we
itivty is gh
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m subj t to
ambulance in service to handle interwar ve to d. ty ne ke in cult id. arlems expl Dem
w Car at th ico od . “I ity and good may
“W
m e now the atte ects o m ell
ex re ie
e th ai o
d
facility and mental health transports.”
nrik e
in ntac job. feel of his ab or
in mov e’reeds to pla cent s lem diff e ci ned cratic
ge any lev w crac rs , le uch
he s fa eren ty is that
an e th go m ined
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pa tting thin el. Working ks. to faavy
ca
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ctio ty
to ththink ntab, they in th an th ng toprob it li en e ca w nd sOM
pridovem , who said ght ty is a lot a
ti
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tt
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Ta
th e ber w . T dire mov of
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as he ctio C stat me , or “We no st, obtry e ci in th ,
G
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the g forwano se th ttle tty h ti the
P
m
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less id. ew the d up to
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“S nad th ip
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we “Uto Y rest in
an ring uran
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mak pia ork of
Ye ouv illa e
co d hi hi o
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ng ovde unci s pr s ti expl
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ste en in
Weidman was also required you stuck to that lifestyle,
ev me aine
up
ge en at hi lem ctly s ca aini y,”
Re
ha t
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to admit to violating his pro- you are going to prison. You
io
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pto n ng
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pa v. G
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“P ns. hear officeor co disc call
bation.
let your parents down, you
p
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Attorney James H. Fertig let yourself down and you
” f
SD
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’S
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said ow their alwayns,
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fi cu an BY JILL OSTERHOUT
ch oced them g th n co ing It’s ct an en risk con- s
tati hicles 00, ated The have t ut ree
did ct’s foun ’s secuThe with ts, le rate d
kw ry ep
D Em ckla Way
Sun Staff Writer
ve . no
alsoange ural for e ch ncer a litt diff d ou ts.” of
no syst d
Cooeput erge en, ne Com ith’sless
rity audi appr ave-ly
ly Sal t in to prog [email protected]
d
ec
y
t ad em som
th
ic
le
sa
r
ti
to
ov
n
nc
re e
set ar cl
who rd D y id Out mit ,”
ul of
on lo
BY
of rs ed
in
te
eq an e w
,
Bro to okinsome com dist ks is was bit of t no fice
at ies udin coram
co also
gram
Sun M
ua d
w ator irec Man refe wat e
$4 w g st
mpu
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w
NORWICH – Unlike many other towns in New
tely sa eakn
2,21 ere th
he g into of menda ct, it t th at th evert to
mm S ICH
. ould Mattor agemrrin er,
tw A se n.
th
lp
e
York, it was announced at October’s monthly meeting
be Out
cg taff AEL
ov t and en g
segrid th esse
3 fo ten- e
uire
ad hiri em tion was one e per-yceduas th cond
erse Bec F t
cu rs of water
that the Town of Norwich will again have no general
eg at s in
r an
@ev Wri MC
dres ng alre an m ha
at
ssin
N
ir
co
kw
te
e
at
os
“t
re
G
re
re
ne
O
es
th
e pa he
tax. The town will see an overall increase of four perthe it
s a pa ady. d
UIR
g th Finanand
un r
recontro s re e di com
CON
re cent RW
w tly
the rt
.com
CH
pro-h,
E
ycent but will also see a reduction in taxes for 2008.
e pu ce othe
W e’ a
ve ls, phlate stri men
TINU
th leas lega ICH
issu-time e ar ve
ry.
EN
General taxes are composed of the supervisor’s
rcha bega r m
ED
CON
ysicd to ct im dati
po at cl e of l se –
e,” po e
AN
ON
TINU
se n diemsalary, the highway superintendent’s salary, the assesim wer aim two tbac Des
al its plemon by
PAG
GO
saidsiof
ED
secu com en th
fu ple li it ener k pite
sor’s, the attorney and other costs that the town is
E
fuel sON
3
CO
el ture men ne s $1 gy and a
rity pute t ne e st
PAG
responsible to pay for each year. “These costs are covE
R ectr bl ted “nee .6 repo the
UN
an r sy w pr ate
3
ered by either sales tax or other additional income,”
d
ci egio icity ack- ” to d n bill rts
TY
io
disastem osaid Law.
’S
co als nal bi outs
p ot n
ster s
Keeping the town’s taxes manageable for residents
ap ntin say Inte lls, and rev be
HO
N
en
pr
ue
th
rc
while increasing the town’s worth, maintaining its
ov
e
on ew hi t
M
ET
per NY al to com ne Y gh
growth and keeping it running smoothly is what the
OW
Pub mit RI of th pine pa ct of ork
Town of Norwich administrators say they strive to
(PS lic re aims e pr fo ny w fiN
offer each year.
DA
C), Ser vie to ojec r st ill
Currently the Town of Norwich’s assessed value or
the vice w
CON
be t. ate
ILY
stat C wit gin
TINU
worth, on paper is, $106,803,477 compared to last
NE
e’s om h
ED
it
year’s $104,242,106. Law explains the town’s growth
ON
W
po mis the s
PAG
SP
wer sion
has enabled the board to keep the taxes down.
E
AP
line
3
This year’s fire contract tax totals $4.92 per thouE
R
sand down from a total of $5.31 per thousand last year.
SIN
The highway tax, which Law says is a large portion of
CE
expenditures, will stay the same this year at $1.18 per
18
thousand. “The biggest expenses in the highway
91
department is health insurance and salary increases,”
CONTINUED
PAGE 3
IC
R
CHENANGO EMS
Growth keeps taxes
down in the
Town of Norwich
‘Tis the Season
Page 20
MA
YO
MATT BECKWITH
Oxford drug dealer gets
nine years in state prison
TORNADO SENIORS
Photo
out
r
triedal Winte
al .
rong annu
rmst 30th Saturday
ett A the
e
1
d Br rs, at erburn
189
Sh
on an ache
CE
plet out po nter in
SIN
Tem
ER
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
Eric to sniffation Ce
SPAP
is
cers
uc
Sun Staff Writer
NEW
Offi job it tagood
l Ed
“It’s
LY
[email protected]
se
liceabsolutely
en
AI
ho
Po
l
N D
ES
” w vironmhanging
news.
enta
itro, We’re
CHENANGO COUNTY – Local fire
INDEX IONS 20 PAG ,1officials
ETOW
ronmof “N gers En
9
vi
OM
confirmed
Tuesday
that
a
private
onRoby a shoestring.
SECT
18 16
ties n at
e En of
’S H
company
has agreed to replace
TWO
Stat eone
abili the
4
S
NTY
atio But every
IED
three
therkcounty
willlebr
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OU little bit
Yo
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7 ambulances
te th Ce
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O C
CLAS ICS
lost6 when NSuperior
closes its
NG
on Thursday.
ving
COM ORIAL
NA
helps.”
Norwich
office
for good
6
dem
EDIT TS
ter Li
CHE
Cooperstown
Win Medical Transport
EVEN Y
11-14
17 which operates in Delaware and
(CMT),
Otsego6 counties, plans to bring in one
ambulance to specifically handle hospins
tal-to-hospital
and medical transports,
atio
munic county fire and emergency coordinasaid
Com
der
tor Matt Beckwith.
8 Sny
The announcement doesn’t relieve the
© 200
county’s current ambulance crisis,
Beckwith added, but will keep it from
getting worse while a long-term plan is
developed.
“It’s absolutely good news,” he said.
“We’re hanging on by a shoestring. But
every little bit helps.”
CMT still has to be issued a
“Certificate of Need” from the state
Department of Health before it can begin
servicing Chenango County. Beckwith
said the company has applied for the certificate, but is unsure when the process
roads in the future.
will be completed.
“It costs between $50,000
Representatives from the company
and $100,000 for a mile of
were not available for comment Tuesday
new road. That’s a pretty
morning.
hefty bill to put on the
The Board of Supervisors is reviewing
shoulders of the town should
a long-term plan submitted by Beckwith
it arise,” he said.
that involves the county implementing a
Having the regulations in
“fly car” system, where county-employed
place gives the planning
paramedics would drive to emergency
board the opportunity to
scenes from strategically placed points
and staff local volunteer ambulances,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
who have trouble supplying highly
said last week that Broome
Community College - where
a number of Chenango
County’s college-aged and
adult students are enrolled “owes us an explanation for
what they are doing for our
community.”
America’s community
colleges were originally created in the 1940s to provide
those seeking a two-year,
post-secondary degree with
a public, more affordable
and
community-based
Th
eE
DA
Y
DE OF ven
CI
ing
SI
on
amilt annu
ee H 30th ay.
Kayl at the Saturd
w
and
n
Kim s-cut salebratio
cros ng Ce
Livi
Photo
ON
Christmass Countdown
GE
ale
Spezi
CONTINUED
CHENANGO COUNTY’S HOMETOWN DAILY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1891
W
Frank
“Chris (Ulatowski, owne
of Label Gallery) thought o
this event with the idea o
getting the community mor
involved, more aware,” sai
Dennis Rifanburg, a Toy
for Tots volunteer and Labe
Gallery employee.
At noon in Bainbridge
U.S. Marines will b
unloading donated toys t
go to the local drive and spe
cial guest Santa Claus plan
to step-off the box car for a
PAGE 3
This week’s
‘Souvenirs of
Yesteryear”
remembers a date
which will always
live in infamy.
H,
Private company looking to replace
Superior’s last ambulance
S
LOTTER
UA RIE
OBIT RTS
SPO
TV HER
WEAT
ON
18,19
16
4
7
6
6
11-13
17
6
RW
Call for help
afternoon at two local
events: The “Challenge of
the Vans” in the City of
Norwich’s East Park and the
arrival of the U.S. Marine
Corps’ “Toy Train” in the
Village of Bainbridge center.
In Norwich, four local car
dealers have each entered a
mini-vans into the challenge
to see which one can hold
the most donated toys. Aside
from the van challenge,
there will also be music and
other festivities in the park
from noon until 4 p.m.
OF INFAMY
NO
UES
IN T
Norwich, are gathering and
distributing new toys as part
of Chenango County’s
“Toys for Tots” campaign.
“There are needy kids out
there in our communities
that may feel like nobody
cares. They may feel like
they are forgotten,”“ he said.
“Hope is a big thing. It’s
important we let those kids
and their families know they
are not forgotten.”
Area residents are encouraged to drop-off new,
unwrapped toys Saturday
S
G hut
st reen out
ra e giv
igh it e
tt s2 s
itle nd
PA .
¢
DAY
CONTINUED
The 2007 “Toys for Tots” drive collected 82 donations at the recent “Parade of Lights” in Norwich.
The campaign also received 450 toys from “Toys R
Us.” Organizers say they’re nearing their goal, and
hope community members show support at events
this weekend in Bainbridge and Norwich. Pictured
with the latest batch of donations are “Toys for
Tots” volunteers Dennis Rifanburg, Gail Lawrence,
and Melinda Mandeville from The Label Gallery in
Norwich, and volunteer Roger Barnhart, postmaster, South New Berlin.
Community
can offer
hope to
local children
through to one of the Marines aboard.
“He saw me, he saw my pain,” she said.
As Patty walked away from the train she
was called back by the Marine and as she
turned she saw that they were taking a
bike from down to give to her son. “It
was so much more than a bike,” she says.
“It represented so much more than a simple gift.”
Hitchcock explains that as she looked
at what they had given her, she was in
awe of who they were, what they did for
her and what they do for others. “It gave
me the courage to believe that there are
good people out there, not everything
was bad and that I had the courage to do
something wonderful and care for my
children,” said Hitchcock.
Now years later, as Hitchcock is just a
semester away from graduating college,
she says she still believes people do not
realize what an impact they can make on
© 2007 Snyder Communications
COM
NORWICH, NEW YORK 13815
DAY
Patty Hitchcock says she has a
lot to be grateful for this holiday
season and thanks to the support
and grace of others, her life is
what it is today.
TWO SECTIONS 20 PAGES
The Evening Sun
UP
DECORDOVA
Sun Staff Writer
[email protected]
rying to see the good in people is
one lesson this mother of two
realized was one of the best
“gifts” she would ever receive.
Patty Hitchcock of Bainbridge
explains her life has had its trials and
tribulations and through it all she found
herself, found out who she wanted to be
and what kind of mother she was.
Hitchcock grew up one of five children
in Queens. She and her family moved
north before her senior year and she graduated from Unatego high school. At age
16, Hitchcock began what turned into her
life-long career thus far at the Cullman
Center in Sidney. By 1996, Hitchcock
was married and soon after began to raise
a family.
Patty’s life would be forever changed
in 2003 when her husband feel ill, was
hospitalized, and never returned home.
Her children were young and she’d never
thought she would be raising them alone.
“My life did a complete 360 and I didn’t
know what I was going to do,” she said,
“It was Christmas and I didn’t know how
I was going to get them gifts and juggle
everything else.”
In December the same year, Hitchcock
explains she stumbled across the Toys for
Tots train, a locomotive filled with toys
for children and accompanied by United
States Marines and Santa. The train travels through Bainbridge and makes the
deliveries for children in Chenango
County. Hitchcock says the train was a
sign. She walked to the train and began to
tell her story of what she had been going
ION
ING
Sun Staff Writer
[email protected]
NORWICH – There’s
nothing about “community”
when it comes to community colleges anymore, one
local government leader
says, and Chenango County
taxpayers shouldn’t be
charged for its students who
choose to attend one.
Town
of
Pharsalia
Supervisor Dennis Brown
[email protected]
LIVIN
is
hy
Cat inson t of
Rob subjec s
the
eek’ o
T UthEisS DwAna
Y,ng
OCTOBER 23, 2007
“Cheies.”
UN
’S S
Stor
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
NORWICH – Giving others, especially children,
hope on Christmas is one of
the greatest gifts of all, says
Bainbridge resident Roger
Barnhart, adding that sometimes it only takes a simple
gesture of kindness.
Barnhart, the postmaster
of the South New Berlin
post office, and employees
from The Label Gallery in
BY MELISSA
BY JILL KRAFT
RAT
ELEB
GC
TER
WIN
Toys
for
Tots
How “community” are
community colleges?
Sun Staff Writer
in
fo here
ird or is. W
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PAGE 3
CHENANGO
STORIES
5
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SMYRNA – The Town of
myrna adopted subdivision
gulations on Oct. 9 after
o years of work by memrs of the town’s planning
ard.
“You can thank Christmas
Associates for that,”
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of the doors and rifled though any and all
the drawers they could get open,” said
Stockin.
Rainbow’s End Redemption Center,
Professional Teleconcepts and Jeffrey’s
RV Mobile homes were also burglarized.
Kuntriset suffered a total loss of
around $3,000 for damage done to rear
doors, interior doors and desks. All were
forced open with a pry bar or other metal
instrument.
“I don’t know what they used in the
back. Those were steel doors both locked
and deadbolted but they got through
both,” said Stockin.
In total, the business had $40 taken
Sun Staff Writer
NEW
50¢
WWW.EVESUN.COM
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first snow day of the season today as 6-8 inches fell
in some areas overnight. (Photo by Frank Speziale)
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get to the end of the journey. But this, so far
from discouraging, only adds to the joy and
glory of the climb.”
2
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We’re proud each year to present this
series of special sections highlighting what
we see as the best Chenango has to offer –
in business, in recreation, in education,
in health care, in agriculture, in religion
and in charity.
We call it
PAGE
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PAGE 3
CHENANGO COUNTY’S HOMETOWN DAILY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1891
C h e n a n g o C o u n t y ’ s H o m e t o w n D a i l y. S i n c e 18 91.
Call (607) 334-9086 to start home delivery today – or visit us online at www.evesun.com
52
DOWNTOWN SHERBURNE
Success Stories
Chase Memorial
Owner Heather Simmons and Store Manager Kerry Collins work late
on a Friday night at Sherburne video. Collins worked for the business
right out of high school and then eventually bought the store.
Longtime businesses
build lasting
relationships with
customers
She runs Sherburne Video
with her partner, Heather
Simmons. The two said business had diminished slightly
because of the move.
“There is a lot of competition out there with pay-perview, Netflix and cable, so
we’ve had to expand our
offers a little,” said Collins.
The store also sells refreshments and body jewelry.
“I love the business or else
I would’ve given up on it
years ago. We know a lot of
the people that come in. One
customer, a friend we met
through working here, brings
us dinner almost every week
while we’re here,” said
Kerry.
Kerry said she is looking
forward to the weather warming up so work could continue on their building. New
lighting will be going into the
parking lot and a wraparound handicap accessible
porch was being built on both
stories of the building.
“The year 2007 for Chase Memorial can be summed up as a holding year on many accounts and
a year of monumental transitions in other regards,” according to Roger J. Halbert,
Administrator/CEO. The Chase campus in New Berlin is home to an eighty bed skilled nursing facility, 32 independent living apartments, out patient family practice for the community, and a child day
care operation. “Chase has quite a diverse operation in its provision of a range of human services
covering the entire life span,” reflects Halbert, now in his 36th year in management at this site.
There is a correlation of staff retention to quality of services delivered, according to Halbert. The
campus is most proud of its retention of 75% of its employees last year, the seventh consecutive year
of surpassing the facility’s average of the past 35 years, that of 30.4%. This is in stark contrast to the
nationwide employee loss in healthcare which exceeds 50% in most facilities. “Chase’s top management staff averages 19 years,” Halbert stated, “a factor coupled with nearly 40 percent of the
employee force with ten or more years of service…that equates to quality service delivery.”
A continuing feature that brings uniqueness to Chase is the “Life Focus” components of companion pets that live at Chase, surrounded by gardens and interior plant life, complete with the daily
presence of children. The Eden Alternative which started at Chase in 1992 has received nationwide
recognition including introduction to health care facilities internationally. With Chase’s small day
care program on-site, children are constantly in the life flow of the nursing facility all day long, Monday through Friday. “Upon entering the front lobby, the sights and sounds of children’s exuberance
tell visitors that they are not in the typical nursing home,” says Halbert. Spanning a lifetime of shared
experiences, residents are exposed to an atmosphere energized by so many forms of life, which may
contribute to Chase’s high occupancy of nearly 99% this past year.
Halbert mentioned the campus independent living apartments experienced a good year also with
an occupancy rate of 98.7% for 2007. A nice feature for the housing tenants is the outpatient family practice across the parking lot. Halbert commented that “Chase took over the management of New
Berlin Family Practice in 2001 and few housing developments have such an outpatient service within walking distance of the apartment… Chase does!” Halbert proudly stated. The Family Practice,
with Mary Ann Bigger, Family Nurse Practitioner and Dr. Anna Marie Ward, provides a needed service for New Berlin and the surrounding communities. The outpatient practice continues to see new
patients monthly.
Since December 2006, management and the governing board have been working closely with the
New York State Department of Health processing Chase’s Certificate of Need (CON) application
which re-defines the setting of long term care delivery for not only the immediate area but for all of
New York State. Replacing much of Chase’s 37 year old building, the proposal calls for the provision of skilled nursing services in eight individual houses, with each elder having his or her own private room and the rooms surround a central living room and kitchen/dining area, complete with a
working fireplace. “Such a setting, the first of its kind in New York State, will be an attractive feature for the next generation of elders who require nursing home care. Transitioning from the traditional medical model, the household design will truly be beautiful and a hallmark of distinction that
will continue to set Chase apart from others,” Halbert enthusiastically stated.
In the preliminary months of fund raising, the Campaign Steering Committee has generated $1.1
million with a goal of approximately another $500,000 from private sources. From governmental
funding and three grants that will be submitted in 2008, the committee has a goal for an additional
$1 million from such public sources. The Committee will be opening up the campaign to interested
philanthropic individuals and additional corporate contributions that will be significant to the
fundraising efforts, Halbert said. The Campaign Steering Committee is chaired by John C. Mitchell,
with members Janet Ingraham, Board President; Roger Halbert, CEO; William Craine, Marcia
Foote, Mark Golden, Nanette Johnston, Paul Stillman, Cheri Theis, Dr. William Thomas, Robert
Wadsworth, and Whit Whitaker. The project is slated to be reviewed by state officials at their meeting in New York City on January 24 with the projected start date of construction to be late 2008.
Questions on the capital campaign may be directed to Roger Halbert, P.O. Box 250, New Berlin or
call him at 607-847-7000.
“We succeed only as we identify in life, or in
war, or in anything else, a single overriding
objective, and make all other considerations
bend to that one objective.”
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION/AWARDS
•2007 CHENANGO COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “VOLUNTEER OF THE
YEAR” AWARD RECIPIENT - WCDO’S KERRI INSINGA
KERRI INSINGA
On-Air / Sales Assoc.
•2007 - SPECIAL HONORS RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY’S TRI-TOWN “RELAY FOR LIFE”
JOE GARDNER
Traffic Manager/On Air
•2006 - RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING FLOOD COVERAGE BY
ASSEMBLYMAN CLIFF CROUCH, SENATOR TOM LIBOUS, CHENANGO
COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE SIDNEY AND BAINBRIDGE
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75 Main St., Sidney, NY 13838
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THE EVENING SUN
53
PAGE SEED COMPANY
Growing from a vibrant tradition
BY MELISSA
DECORDOVA
The Evening Sun
hen asked the next
most exciting news
in Greene after The
Raymond
Corporation’s
hydrogen fuel technological
breakthrough was announced
last year, Chenango County
Supervisor Jack T. Cook
pointed to the Page Seed
Company.
“They have a good business going on over there
now,” he said. “We are very
impressed with what’s happening there.”
And what a difference a
year can make! From nearly
filing for bankruptcy last
summer, Greene’s centuryold agricultural and horticultural-purpose seed packaging
business appears to be growing strong. New ownership
coupled with an Empire State
Development grant enabled it
to acquire new equipment,
hire 33 new employees and
launch a hefty advertising
campaign in the fourth quarter last year – all of which are
already showing signs of
paying off big.
Productivity has increased
substantially since Stuart
Mill Capital purchased the
company on Sept. 1. Page
Seed Company currently has
55 employees and an annual
payroll of $1,004,000.
Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter said
the transaction was possible
via economic development
assistance from the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency. She said
Stuart Mill Capital “not only
purchased the company, but
also decided to maintain the
operations at its current loca-
W
tion in Greene. Chenango
County is very fortunate to
have the Page Seed Company
call Chenango its home for
over 100 years.”
“Last year was a transitional one,” company President
Lynda (Lyn) S. Granger said.
“We were in jeopardy of closing our doors, literally. These
people came in and purchased the company, kept the
doors open and kept people
employed.”
A brief glimpse of Page
Seed Company’s history goes
back to the Spring of 1896
when Erford Page and his
wife Cornelia began packaging sweet peas and nasturtium seeds for 100 merchants
in the hamlets, towns and villages surrounding Bainbridge. Five generations of
the Page family continued to
grow the business – in good
times and bad – filling all
types of dry seeds into packages, from flowers, vegetables and grass seed, to bulk
animal and wildlife feeds, to
bath salts.
Orders are filled today for
national and international
customers via sales representatives throughout the northeast and with the help of a
distributor in Puerto Rico.
Granger, who is unrelated
to the family, has worked at
Page Seed for 34 years,
becoming chief executive
officer in September 2007.
She said the same, traditional
values – to develop innovative, high quality products
that appeal to a diverse range
of customers – are maintained today.
“We believe and strive for
100 percent customer satisfaction and offer custom
solutions to help businesses
grow,” she said, pointing to a
myriad of options for customizing individual seed
packets for corporate gift basket, bridal shower and sales
promotion give-aways.
A beefed up advertising
budget helped earn Page
Seed Company the seal of
approval last month from the
National Gardening Association, a nonprofit leader in
plant-based education. After
a trial survey of members, the
NGA featured Page’s unusual
“Razzmatazz” sunflower in a
recent publication.
“We’ve received a lot more
magazine notice and attended
a lot more trade shows. The
advertising we did last year is
really paying off in orders for
this year,” Granger said.
Page’s variety of sunflower
seeds - many acquired from
Israel - range in color from
burnt orange to bright burgundy, to lemon eclair, jade
and peach passion. They have
large centers or small centers.
Granger said the company
recently purchased 12 new
varieties of sunflowers that
are not typically shown in
stores’ seed racks.
Page Seed Company’s
workers in Greene package
between 100 to 150 types of
top quality flower and vegetable seeds as well as 25 different herbs. Easy set-up
Page’s Premium floor displays showcase contain 1,000
vivid, full color packets.
Each packet features precise
planting information in both
English and Spanish.
The seeds, which are sold
in garden centers, hardware
stores and the like - are also
retailed under the “Page Lib-
OPEN DAILY 8 AM - 5 PM
General Admission $5
43rd Annual
Antique
Antique
Sponsored by the
Rolling Antiquers Old Car Club,
Norwich, NY
& Flea Market
For Inquiries Call:
Ed Soyke, President • 607-843-6520 or
Sewain Conklin, Vice President
607-336-1888
http://local.aaca.org/raoccc
Chenango County Fairgrounds • East Main St., Norwich, NY
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Saturday, May 24 & Sunday, May 25, 2008
Muscle Cars & Street Rods
SUNDAY, MAY 25 Antique Cars
SATURDAY, MAY 24
ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLES SHOW
GENERAL ANTIQUES
Ed Soyke 607-843-6520
CAR PARTS
Dennis McCarthy 607-334-5486
MUSCLE CARS
Barb Strobel 607-334-8549
Clyde Beach 607-334-2901
SHOW CARS
Jim Roberts 315-737-7637
ENGINE DISPLAY
Dennis McCarthy 607-334-5486
• Antique Cars • Muscle Cars • Motorcycles
• Street Rods • Antique Engines • Military Vehicles
• Bob Slater’s D.J. Service
• Free Shuttle Buses to and
from parking lots
• Camping
• Rain or Shine
• No refunds
• No pets
PROGRESS CHENANGO
2008
I look forward to assisting you in
the coming year with all your
advertising needs.
Deb Deuel
337-3023 • FAX 334-8273
www.evesun.com • [email protected]
The Evening Sun... Chenango County’s Hometown Daily
Page Seed Company Assortment Manager Carolyn Cower shows off
just a sampling of the types of seeds packaged at this Village of
Greene-based manufacturer. The 112-year old company is still growing
strong.
erty Garden” or “Theme Garden” brand names. Many different grasses for the turf
industry, as well as soils and
fertilizers, wheat, trees, bath
salts and potpourri, are also
packaged and distributed. A
specialty Page Seed Company line is sold through distributors, where they are
printed with customized messages for weddings, showers,
party favors, give-aways or
corporate gifts. Granger said
Mohawk Valley Fuel Oil of
Saratoga Springs includes
free seed packets with statement reminders to thank customers for their business, for
example.
“We can do business size
card packets that sales people
can hand out at trade shows,”
she said.
New for the coming year
will be a garden adjacent to
the plant that customers can
walk through to see the different varieties of seeds packaged within. Additional hiring and new products are also
planned.
Finding ways to educate
the public about the value of
gardening is another company goal set for 2008. “It’s difficult for people to take the
time to garden or to understand that they have the space
to do so. We are trying to
educate people that home
grown food is more nutritious. And seeds don’t have
to be in the ground. Lettuce,
tomatoes, peppers and other
vegetables can be grown in
containers on people porches
and patios,” she said.
As part of its donation to
community service, Page
Seed Company donates
boxes of seed packets to the
Greene Rotary for Christmas
gift baskets that are delivered
to about 125 families each
year. Most of the company’s
employees are from Chenango County and are involved
in many different organizations, Granger said.
54
NORWICH CITY SCHOOLS
Building bridges to connect a community
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
s the 2007-08 school
year got underway last
September,
purple
signs peppered lawns across
the city – a sign that negotiations between school support
staff workers and the school
administration were not
going well.
Now, as the support staff
and the district stand at an
impasse, school Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan says
he is still hopeful the outcome will benefit both the
support staff as well as the
district. The administration
has also met five times since
the beginning of the year to
decide on a contract for the
teaching staff as well. Both
the support staff and the
teachers are currently operating under their previous contract, which ended in the
summer of 2007.
As for academics, moving
forward is one thing the Norwich City School district
seems to have excelled at
during 2007. “We are always
making progress,” said
O’Sullivan.
Keeping up with a changing society, O’Sullivan
explains parent/teacher and
student contact has also
begun to change. “We can
now e-mail parents to keep
them up to date,” he said.
With the “home access”
Internet program launched
last year, parents can log in,
see their child’s test scores,
homework assignments and
contact teachers with questions. In addition to upgrading the technology to stay in
touch at home, up to 80
teachers are expected to be
certified on the ‘smart board,’
A
The annual Purple Pride Week at Norwich High School is one of the many ways students show
their school spirit and reach out to the community each year.
which is an interactive learning tool built to aid the education process in classrooms.
As part of the technology
upgrade
agenda,
smart
boards, starting last year,
could be seen in all four of
the school buildings in the
district.
O’Sullivan says the district
is continuously making a
gain academically. During
the past year the re-vamping
and/or upgrading included
anything from redesigning
school lunch calendars and
meals to a $35 million building project.
After being placed on the
Schools In Need of Improvement listing (SINI list) four
years ago for certain subjects
and populations at the middle
school level, school officials
looked hard at curriculum
and programming. Once
placed on the list, the status
for the school remains there
for two years; when adequate
testing scores are reached, it
takes another two to be
removed.
It was recently announced
by the state that the middle
school had been removed
from the list for math, but
will remain on the list for
English language arts. “We
are very confident the students will be successful this
year and we will be completely removed,” said
O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan also says both
the numbers in the advanced
placement courses at the high
school are on the rise as well
as the participation of stu-
dents attending the Career
Technical Education programs at the DCMO BOCES
facility. “We are giving our
students more opportunities
to learn outside the classroom
walls,” said O’Sullivan.
In January 2007, district
residents approved a proposal
to purchase $2.1 million
worth of buses and four
pieces of maintenance equipment. Since 1985, the district
has followed a schedule
which replaces buses every
seven to eight years.
O’Sullivan says figuring
out the budget gets increasingly harder each year as
state mandates and costs continue to rise across the board.
As the board got ready to propose a $32,305,709 budget
last year, the rules changed as
the “contract for excellence”
was put into place by the
newly-elected New York
state Governor Eliot Spitzer.
Based on testing scores and
economic status, the state
allotted additional funding to
the Norwich school district
for the contract for excellence
program. After appointing the
money, the state then dictated
how the district could spend
it. With the added funding
O’Sullivan said nine new
positions were created with
two teachers on special
assignment at the elementary
level in both math and English. In addition, new courses
were made available to students within various buildings.
The district analyzed what
specific areas the money
would best benefit, and with
the approval from the state
board the new implementations were put into place.
Ensuring children are eating a healthy, nutritious
breakfast and lunch is one
way the Norwich school district is aiding the fight against
childhood obesity. Food Service Director Jackie Jenks
said throughout the past year
the district has been taking an
aggressive approach to
ensure children are receiving
healthy breakfast and lunch
choices. “These might be the
only time some of these children eat all day,” she said.
The biggest endeavor on
the table for both the school
administration and faculty
and staff currently is the $35
million building project. With
an expected date of completion less than a year away, the
project has quickly changed
the landscape at Norwich
schools. At the high school,
the football field was given a
brand new turf surface and
new playground facilities
were put in at both elementary schools.
Transformations are also
underway now at the middle
school. It is expected that by
the time students return to the
school next fall, the sixth
graders will be joining seventh and eighth graders and
by December the district
offices will also occupy the
additional space in the middle school building.
“A lot of work that has
been completed have been
things people cannot see,”
said O’Sullivan, “A lot of
infrastructure work has been
done.”
WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
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Norwich, N.Y. 13815
(607) 334-4444
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(607) 674-2585
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(607) 729-6243
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(607) 432-4000
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email:
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
55
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Success Stories
White House Cabinet Shop LLC
2007 was a year of continued growth for White House Cabinet Shop LLC. The White House Cabinet Shop LLC produces
Kitchen Cabinets, Office Furniture, Entertainment Centers and
other furnishings for the home and/or office.
The production facility and showroom are located on 11
Knapp Street in the heart of Sherburne. The majority of its
clients are located in Chenango County but their market
extends to Binghamton and Syracuse. White House has
shipped products to Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
Jersey and California.
Examples of their work can be seen in the showroom. You
can also get in touch with them by e-mail. They offer artful
design and expert workmanship. Most of their products are
made of oak, maple and cherry that they purchase locally. They
use state of the art hardware and finishing materials.
White House’s specially designed furnishings fill needs not
met by mass-produced products. Through creative use of
space, they solve storage problems and simplify traffic flow. As
custom builders they pay careful attention to both form and
function, working to meet the needs of the customer while
maintaining scale and proportion. Each piece is designed to
harmonize with its environment. White House chooses quality
wood, looking for continuity of color and grain. With a combination of traditional methods of joinery and modern finishing
techniques, they produce unique woodwork with lasting beauty and a balanced appearance. Whether the project is a small
bedside table or a large kitchen, White House uses the same
care in design, material selection, construction, and finishing.
The cabinetmakers completed a number of built-in projects
this year, including new kitchens and renovations, custom
countertops, custom staircases, home and commercial offices
and built-in entertainment centers. One-of-a-kind furniture
built in 2007 included tables, stands, display cases, and corner
cabinets.
White House Cabinet Shop LLC also offers both residential
and light commercial custom construction services. They have
over twenty-five years of experience in construction. In 2007
major construction projects included historic renovations,
office remodels, new additions, garages, porches, decks and
major residential remodeling.
White House Cabinet Shop had a busy year and is currently
scheduling work for the spring and summer. If they can help
you with your project, call them at 607-674-9358. You can also
reach them by e-mail at [email protected].
Mike’s Furniture Repair
Mike’s Furniture Repair, a well-known specialist in recliner
repair and the repair of all types of furniture including antiques,
is doing a fine job in Norwich and the surrounding area.
Mike started in the furniture business in 1967 at a wellknown local furniture store. He did repairs and deliveries for
many years. Enjoying this type of work and receiving requests
from family and friends to refinish, repair and upholster,
encouraged Mike to break out on his own.
Customized upholstery is a main feature in Mike’s business
and he will come to your home or business with fabric choices
and suggestions to turn your furniture into new.
“Sales and service of Electric Lift Chairs continues to be a
large part of the business,” says Mike.
For all your furniture repair needs call Mike at 607-3348460.
Volunteering is the
lifeblood of Hospice
BY JUDIE WRIGHT
Volunteer Coordinator at Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County
olunteers are the
lifeblood of many
organizations. Their
price is always right, and
without them, things that
should be done don’t get
done. And in the case of Hospice Volunteers, they ask for
very little – perhaps a pat on
the back from time to time –
but their true motivation
comes deep from within their
hearts. They repeatedly tell
me that the simple fact that
they’ve lightened the load of
a fellow human being is
reward enough. Our volunteers are an integral part of
our non-profit agency. Not
only are they essential for
patient and family companionship, but they’re mandated
by Medicare and the New
York State Department of
Health. In order to keep our
operating license, volunteer
hours must equal at least 5
percent of our total staff
hours. And indeed they are
important players in our
interdisciplinary team of
caregivers.
Hospice volunteers follow
one of several paths. The
patient and family volunteers
have to take a comprehensive
27-hour training course that
teaches the principles of hospice and the approach we
take to death and dying. After
graduation and meeting our
health requirement, they wait
for a call from me giving
them their first assignment.
V
My role is matchmaker: the
link between a patient and
family, and our Hospice volunteers. After an appointment
is made, that volunteer finds
him/herself driving to a virtual stranger’s house. However,
they don’t stay strangers for
long.
Ron Compeau, one of our
dedicated male volunteers,
recently shared his feelings
about volunteering with me.
Compeau admitted that he
sometimes feels anxious on
that fateful first drive, but he
says that it takes only a few
minutes at the home to realize
he’s glad he went. “A few
awkward moments are a very
small price to pay for what
you get back,” he says. What
he values most is that unlike
one’s workplace, “nothing I
do for a Hospice patient or
family is tied to dollars for
service or hours spent. Being
a Hospice volunteer is about
the freedom to help others,
and in turn help yourself.”
And he guarantees others that
“nothing you’ve done prior,
will be as appreciated, as just
being there with the patient
and their loved ones and
allowing them to feel your
moral support.”
There are two other types
of volunteers needed at Hospice – administrative and
fundraising. The administrative volunteers come in,
sometimes on a regular basis,
sometimes in a pinch, and
help us with general office
work – answering phones,
copying forms, or in the case
Judie Wright
of one dependable volunteer,
Mary Heath of Norwich,
shredding sensitive documents. Mary’s done this job
for years. It’s her baby and
she takes it seriously. We love
having administrative volunteers in the office. They
change the complexion of our
day to day lives. Fundraising
volunteers including our
crafters who make gifts
which are sold under the
name of “Hospice Homemade,” do anything from sell
geraniums to decorating our
memorial “Light up a Life”
tree. They bake, they stuff
envelopes, they deliver order
packets all around the county.
Whatever they do, they do
with a smile on their face,
and we love them. We love
every type of volunteer.
I’ve worked in the corporate world at Procter & Gamble for 23 years, and I currently own my own business
called “Consulting wRight,”
an employee development
training company. But I can
honestly say that as Volunteer
Coordinator at Hospice, I’m
having more fun than I’ve
ever had. They’re going to
have to kick me out of here. I
enjoy my volunteers so
much, and I enjoy nurturing a
new group during the training
sessions. They just seem to
blossom before my eyes.
They come in as caring people, if a little scared, and they
leave ready to serve, in one of
the toughest times of of a person’s life – the end. It’s a
magical thing when I match a
family with just the right volunteer. There’s nothing like
it, just like Ron Compeau
said.
I’m currently training six
special people, three of them
men. While only about 3 percent of my total volunteers
are men, they are a very
requested
group.
Male
patients often feel more comfortable confiding in another
man. They tend to have more
in common like work, hobbies, or sports. I want to
encourage anyone with a
kind heart to explore the idea
of giving some time to Hospice, whether it is in a
patient’s home, in our office,
or in the park selling flowers.
If you’d like more information about my spring volunteer training class, or want to
help out in another way,
please call me at my office at
334-3556. I’m not a betting
woman, but if I were, I bet
you’ll be glad you did.
Your Norwich YMCA
145 Years Serving Your Community
Look At Us Now!
From Youth to Senior... We have a program for You!
Fitness
Cycling and Spin, Strengthen,
Stretch, Power-Toning,
Strength Training and
“Start Strong”
W.O.W. - Women on Weights
Aquatics
Step-Up
Cardio-Knockout
Butts and Guts
Line Dancing/
Line Dancing for Seniors
Outreach Fitness
Adult Strength Training
Youth Strength Training
Personal Training
Cardio-Combo
Old School Step
Cardio-Surprise
Cardio-Strength
Toning Blast
Boot Camp
Yoga
Pilates
Yogaball
H.A.T.
Swim Lessons
Swim Team
Family Swim
Adult Open Swim
Youth Open Swim
Water Arthritis
Water Fitness
Lifeguarding
Pool Rental
Greene Pool
Sports
Baseball
Basketball
T-Ball
Developmental
Child Care
Nursery School and Preschool
After School Program
Fun Club
Kids Club
Kids Gym
Family Nights
After School Programs
• Bainbridge • Oxford
• Unadilla Valley
Early Morning Program
Child Watch
Day Camp
Youth
Chenango
County Vipers
AAU
Travel
Pee Wee
High School
Leagues
Women’s
Corporate
35 and Over
Noontime
Football
PeeWee Flag
Flag
Pickleball
Pickleball
1973 Burrell’s Parking Lot Service founded
by Douglas Burrell
1982 Business purchased by David Burrell
& renamed Burrell’s Excavating
1990 Burrell’s Excavating, Inc.
1997 KMC Sand & Gravel created
Burrell’s Excavating, Inc. & KMC Sand &
Gravel are proud to be part of the business
community for the past 35 years!
Special Thanks to all our customers.
Racquetball Adult League
Soccer
Indoor
Pee Wee Indoor
Pee Wee Outdoor
SEE ALL WE HAVE FOR YOU AT:
www.norwichymca.com
Norwich Family
YMCA
68-70 North Broad Street
Norwich, New York 13815
607-336-9622 (Telephone)
BURRELL’S
EXCAVATING, Inc.
6146 COUNTY RD. 32, NORWICH, NY
607-336-6236
K M C
II
SAND & GRAVEL
56
CENTRAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
High-tech service with a personal touch
BY MARTHA RYAN
Correspondent
W
hen you enter
Central Diagnostic Imaging (CDI)
in Norwich you are immediately struck by how different
it is from any other medical
facility you have ever been
in. The locally crafted shakerstyle furniture, laminate oak
floors, vibrant colonial paint
colors and decorations of
antique toys, farm implements and artisan’s work all
create a distinctly homey
ambience. And yet, what
transpires at CDI is anything
but “down-home.”
CDI is an independent
state-of- the-art medical
imaging center offering the
full array of radiology services from x-ray to magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI). It
was founded in 1985 by radiologist Lawrence Rosenblum
who believed that living in a
rural environment need not
necessitate having less than
state-of-the-art
medical
imaging. Rosenblum had
moved from an urban academic practice to Norwich
two years earlier seeking a
practice
setting
which
allowed personal contact
with patients and physicians
and which offered the benefits of a rural lifestyle including the opportunity to make a
difference in peoples’ lives
and the well being of the
community. CDI is the
embodiment of Dr.Rosenblum’s belief and aspirations.
Dr.
Rosenblum
first
focused on introducing computed tomography (CT) services to the Chenango Valley.
For ten years, CDI operated
as a mobile CT service for
three area hospitals until each
was able to acquire its own
CT. Next, in1995, Rosenblum transformed CDI into a
free standing independent
imaging center which housed
the area’s first state-of-theart, patient-friendly “wide
body” MRI and bone densitometry services. In 1998, CDI
was reconfigured into a multimodality imaging center,
adding x-ray and fluoroscopy, mammography, and
two additional regional firsts
– imaging-guided breast
biopsy and 3-D color
Doppler ultrasound.
Between 1999 and 2005
CDI established a full vascular laboratory with the addition of plethysmography so
that patients would no longer
have to travel to Syracuse and
other cities for these services;
acquired a spiral CT, the first
in the area capable of doing
3-D volume rendering and
virtual colonoscopy; replaced
its mid-field MR with a more
robust high-field MR; initiated the use of “Mammopads”
for greater comfort and better
images during mammography; acquired 4-D ultrasound, the only one in the
region, to enable enhanced
obstetric, gynecologic and
musculoskeletal imaging;
and, added a computer-aided
diagnosis (CAD) system for
mammography to enhance
accuracy.
Despite the challenging
healthcare
environment,
Rosenblum states that CDI
remains focused on providing
state-of-the-art diagnostic
imaging with a personalized
approach. At CDI, the year
2007 was one of investing in
improved technology. In
June, CDI undertook major
upgrades to its CT and MRI
services. It acquired a new
state-of-the-art 16 slice GE
Brightspeed helical CT scanner
whose
advantages
include ultra high resolution
images and ultra high speed
examinations, decreased radiation dose, decreased requirements for the volume of contrast required per examination, and a new full array of
software packages which
allow such advanced imaging
as CT angiography, virtual
endoscopy and dental planning.
On the heels of the installation of its new CT, CDI
upgraded its already high resolution GE 1.5 Tesla high
field MR scanner to a state-
of-the-art GE HD (high definition) Excite 8 Channel
Technology. According to
Rosenblum, this new configuration offers improved
image quality; a 30% average
decrease in the time of each
examination which is a major
improvement in terms of
patient comfort and image
quality; expanded imaging
capabilities including MR
angiography; software packages to significantly reduce
patient motion; fast scanning
of the liver allowing the
entire liver to be scanned
with a single breath hold
reducing motion artifacts and
improving diagnostic confidence; and, the most
advanced breast MRI technology available.
“We now have the most
advanced MRI in the Southern Tier. Unlike other breast
MRI’s in the region, our
advanced breast MRI technology allows evaluation of
both breasts within 30 minutes. Breast MRI is now
accepted as a routine imaging
modality for the screening of
high risk patients. It is also
valuable in following patients
after breast cancer treatment
and in clarifying areas of
uncertainty identified on
mammogram or sonograms”,
Rosenblum stated.
CDI ended the year by
replacing its densitometry
and ultrasound units with the
latest versions of these
machines with the added benefit of improved capability
and applications.
Beyond the investment in
state-of-the-art equipment
and the exquisite facility,
there is something at CDI that
remains absolutely unique.
“CDI is like a high tech Mom
and Pop shop” says Dr. Leslie
Dopkeen, Director of Operations and Dr. Rosenblum’s
wife. “The technology is eyepopping but that is only part
of what distinguishes us. At
CDI care is personalized and
delivered with professionalism, friendliness and respect.
When the “8:30 abdomen”
walks through the door the
entire staff knows and acts on
the basis that that abdomen is
a person with time-constraints and needs, who is
likely to be in pain or discomfort and anxious. I think
this approach to patient care
is a good part what makes
CDI successful” stated Dopkeen.
Throughout CDI’s history,
partners Dr. Rosenblum and
Dr. Janet Martin have emphasized the importance of
respect to patients and
prompt, courteous and professional service to referring
physicians and practitioners.
Rosenblum
commented
about CDI’s many expansions and growth, “As we
continue to grow and add
sophisticated technology at
CDI, we must never forget
that the welfare of our
patients is our primary focus.
This is who we are and what
we do. We are at home in
Chenango County, making a
difference where it counts
most.”
Success Stories
Community Memorial Hospital
The HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award™, which was presented to Community
Memorial last fall, is the result of collected data that tells a real story of cooperation and accomplishment.
Every department in the hospital constantly strives for better outcomes and is willing to do more
than its share in the effort to provide quality healthcare – from orthopedics to diagnostic testing -close to home. In addition to the award, Community Memorial earned five star ratings for joint
replacement, total knee replacement and total hip replacement and was rated the number two hospital in all of New York State (and among the top five percent nationwide) for joint replacement.
The award is based on results of the tenth annual HealthGrades (the nation’s leading healthcare rating company) Hospital Quality in America Study in which patient outcomes at virtually all of the
nation’s 5,000 hospitals over the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 were analyzed.
National awards and five star ratings don’t just happen. They require talent and dedication and a
willingness to work together and the unifying commitment that the patient comes first.
The effort begins long before a patient goes near an operating room. Let’s say someone visits a family practice physician with a complaint about a sore knee. The physician feels there may be a problem and makes a referral to a colleague at Hamilton Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine. Community Memorial Hospital is fully equipped to provide any diagnostic testing, from x-ray to CT scans
to MRI, needed to determine a course of action.
If the patient requires surgery, he or she will need a physical from the primary care physician. An
EKG is typically ordered and the cardiopulmonary department can conduct this test (plus a stress test
and Echo test, if needed). Blood work is also ordered and the screening and typing can be done at the
hospital laboratory.
A pre-operative interview is scheduled. Several days before surgery, a patient meets at the hospital
with a nurse who gathers information and is willing to answer just as many questions as she asks.
Much of the data needed for admission is completed at this time as well. In addition to being an
important safeguard, the pre-operative meeting usually reduces the anxiety level.
The morning of the surgery the patient quickly checks in with admitting and is then directed to
Ambulatory Surgery to be prepped. It can be a busy time. Nurses take vital signs, ask what procedure
is being done and for a patient’s name and date of birth (more safeguards). An OR nurse will visit as
will the anesthesiologist, the surgeon and probably a physician assistant. The circulating nurse, who
works closely with infection control and the pharmacy, will start antibiotics shortly before the trip to
the OR. The sedation is working once the gurney rolls and soon after passing through the double doors
of the operating room most patients are asleep. Purchasing and Central Supplies have already ensured
everything the surgical team will need is on hand and sterilized.
Once surgery is completed, patients are moved to the recovery room where they are closely attended by several nurses as they emerge from the anesthesia. Once a patient is alert and ready, he or she
is moved either across the hall to the Special Care Unit or to the medical/surgical floor. Nurses monitor vital signs constantly, physicians will visit, cardiopulmonary personnel make an assessment and
begin deep breathing exercises.
Someone from dietary stops by to discuss menus, housekeeping, the first line of defense against
infection, is present. Behind the scenes, maintenance keeps a constant vigil to make sure the many
pieces of a complicated infrastructure are in good working condition. The pharmacy works with the
physicians to monitor medications and a hospitalist is available for consults. The lab performs daily
blood draws, radiology is available as needed and physical therapy gets patients up and moving – a
real key to a successful recovery.
A day or two following surgery social services begins creating a discharge plan, organizing continuing physical therapy, lab work, durable medical equipment, even inpatient rehab. Infection control works to ensure patients are free from hospital acquired infections and also monitors the health
and well being of the staff. Inservice education makes sure staff is up to date on the latest procedures
and Quality Assurance oversees all aspects of care in the hospital.
In the administration building, medical records puts a patient’s chart in chronological order, makes
sure every detail of treatment is properly coded and meets regulations. The business office makes sure
insurance companies are being accurately billed. Utilization Review provides the insurance company
with concurrent review to monitor a patient’s progress so that the hospital can receive proper payment.
Finally, when a patient is discharged chances are a Hospital Auxiliary member is on hand to extend
wishes for a speedy recovery.
Community Memorial Hospital has a reputation for clinical excellence because the people who
work here are dedicated to providing quality healthcare close to home. In every department and every
day the people of Community Memorial care for our patients.
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Thank You so much for your patronage, kind comments and good wishes!
The Enstrom Family
Take Out Available
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
57
Have you checked out New Berlin’s hometown weekly lately?
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58
CHENANGO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Turning the (hospital) corner
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
espite
lower-thanexpected returns and
a struggling economic climate for upstate New
York hospitals, Chenango
Memorial Hospital has
gained industry recognition
and is turning the corner in
several key areas, says President and CEO Drake Lamen.
The hospital was in the
black by $400,000 – only half
its goal – of a $40 million
budget. But on its overall
level of service, based on
1,500 industry standards, the
hospital received a rating of
“excellent” in a recent audit
conducted by a private
accrediting agency working
for Medicare and Medicaid.
Technology is arguably
where CMH improved the
most. According to Lamen, it
upgraded a number of services and invested in a host of
new equipment that has not
only cut time and costs, but
improved the overall level of
care the hospital can provide.
For the staff in the radiology department, a switch from
film to digital X-ray imaging
in just under a year has been
“huge.”
“Immediately, it has saved
time by 30 to 40 percent,”
says Radiologist Dr. Ronald
Prijic. “Now we can just click
on an image and see it
instantly.”
“It’s the best thing we ever
did,” added CT Supervisor
Marcus Doller.
Aside from increasing the
number of images and diagnoses he can see and make in
a day, Prijic says the system
also allows his department to
D
view and share any number
of X-rays with other institutions in real-time over a computerized network.
“Our
efficiency
has
markedly increased – it’s easier for everyone,” Prijic said.
“It’s a different world.”
The hospital also equipped
itself with a new picture
archive communications system (allowing it to view and
send images of tissue samples to other United Health
Services hospitals), a new
bone density measurement
machine to detect osteoporosis, remote cardiac monitoring systems in the intensive
care unit, two new computed
tomography (CT) scanners,
and computerized medication
cabinets in its now 24-hour
on-call pharmacy.
“Our staff deserves a lot of
credit,” said Lamen. “It’s one
thing to get new equipment,
it’s another to learn how to
use it quickly and effectively.
They did a great job getting a
handle on all these changes.”
Administratively, CMH
also implemented electronic
office scheduling and medical records software.
The hospital also added 24hour security personnel and
video monitoring systems as
a precautionary measure.
“As a society, there are
greater instances of security
threats and we have a heightened sense of awareness;
much more than there used to
be,” Lamen said. “We felt it
was important to do this
because things can happen,
even in a small community
like this.”
Because CMH does serve a
small community, Lamen
Among several new doctors hired, Chenango
Memorial Hospital just recently added a new
dentist to the staff. The hospital has also made
substantial technological upgrades over the
past year, including going from print to
digital imaging.
Chenango Memorial Hospital recently added
several new physicians, including an
Emergency Room doctor. The hospital has
also made substantial technological upgrades
over the past year, including going from print
to digital imaging.
said it’s often difficult to
bring in specialty doctors and
surgeons to fill open positions.
“Once we get them here, so
they can see what we’re
about, we do pretty well,” he
said.
To get more candidates
here, the hospital hired a fulltime recruiter. As a result, last
year was one of the best in
terms of landing highly
skilled talent. In all, eight
new doctors are on board,
with specialties ranging from
internal medicine to dentistry.
Four more general practitioners are also expected to be
hired in 2008, along with an
ear, nose and throat doctor – a
position the hospital has
needed to fill for several
years, the president said.
To alleviate the problem, part
of the hospital’s 2008 focus
will involve training management how to communicate
better with lower-level
employees.
This year is also scheduled
to bring much-needed renovations and be the start of a
much-anticipated expansion.
Third-floor nursing stations
are set to be reconfigured to
provide more work space,
and initial plans are being
developed to add an MRI and
imaging center off of the west
side of the building.
“That’s still in the early
planning
stages,”
said
Lamen.
The
hospital,
which
already has several offices
and care centers throughout
the county, hopes to expand
“We’re really excited to
have those services back,”
Lamen said.
Norwich native Dr. Tom
“Mike” Cruz is one of the
recent hires. He has returned
to the area to work at CMH as
an emergency room doctor.
He didn’t mention the
weather, but new inpatient
physician Dr. Henry Cook,
formerly of South Carolina,
is so far happy he relocated
here from the Myrtle Beach
area last month.
“Everyone from top to bottom has been so nice,” Cook
said. “From a occupational
standpoint, I’m not sure I’ve
experienced anything like it.”
Aside from highly-skilled
positions, Lamen admits that
overall employee turnover
has been a challenge of late.
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its reach in the coming
months.
As for an overall mission in
2008, Lamen says the patient
is still the number one priority.
“It’s as simple as communication – listening and
speaking,” he said. “It’s
about finding ways to standardize in all our staff consistent methods of interaction
with patients that is helpful.
It’s the belief that that is
something valuable to our
patients – it’s called patientcentered care. If we increase
the value of our care, we
increase their confidence in
us, their loyalty and our business.”
60
CHENANGO COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Success
Stories
State of affairs –
there is today,” the Republican said.
The year 2007 will also be
remembered for the Spitzer
initiative that would consolidate local governments,
including the specific call for
a merger between the City of
Norwich and the Town of
Norwich. Decker said he has
always been one of the first
supervisors to talk about
sharing services between
municipalities. He said highway, fire and other departments have been working
with each other along.
“This isn’t a new concept,”
he said. “What people miss it
that organizations in the state
are coming down to the local
level to try and tell us what’s
the best for us. The state
doesn’t realize that we are
willing to take care of our
own issues. ... They should
spend more time controlling
state and federal issues over
which Chenango County has
zero control.”
As some have otherwise
suggested, Chairman Decker
doesn’t believe that consolidating the county’s 21 municipalities into three or four
entities would mean less government. “I have two reasons
why that won’t work: Washington and Albany,” he said.
“We would have three or four
big governments in the county instead of 21 small ones.”
Perhaps the two biggest
headaches for the county in
2007 were not offering potential businesses an operational
railroad to distribute goods
and the costly Help America
Vote Act. The latter, accord-
ing to Decker, threatens to
“further eat away at our local
tax base.”
County lawmakers and
economic development entities, such as Commerce
Chenango and the Industrial
Development Agency, held
numerous meetings in 2007
with NYS&W executives.
The Cooperstown-based railroad began abandonment
procedures of its right-ofway between Chenango
Forks and Sherburne, and
shut down that portion after
the tracks were damaged by
the record-breaking flood of
2006.
Discretionary funds under
the direction of Chenango
County’s Planning & Economic Development Committee were granted in late
2007 for a consultant’s study
of the railroad. Three options
could develop this year: The
county would take ownership
of the tracks via the IDA,
develop a rails-to-trails system, or create a scenic railroad linking Chenango County to northern destination
sites such as Old Forge.
It’s “just a sad, sad state,”
Decker said, referring to New
York state’s refusal to select a
handicapped accessible voting machine as required by
the HAVA act of 2005. “We
haven’t even come close to
even identifying or settling
on a machine yet,” he said.
Nonetheless, according to
HAVA, the county has been
forced to take-over expensive
elections operations from
individual towns. Decker
worries that a federal lawsuit
forcing New York to comply
could result in the forfeiture
of funds set aside for the
county to purchase the new
machines once they are
licensed.
This year’s top agenda item
was the same as last year’s:
To reform the county’s Office
of Real Property Taxes. The
topic didn’t get to be
addressed last year, though a
presentation from officials of
the New York State Board of
Real Property Services was
helpful, Decker said. Decker’s first charge to the
Finance Committee this year
was to look into the status
and use of the county’s office
and make it a more viable
source for town assessors.
“One thing you always
shoot for is some basis of an
equal equalization rate across
the county. I believe it can be
done through the office by
working with local assessors
... There is a real communication problem between the
county office and town assessors. We want to be able to
provide them with more
direction,” he said.
Another project on the
docket is the demolition of
the jail cells in the former
century old county jail for
what will eventually become
the county’s West Park Place
office complex. Decker said
he wants the demolition to
occur no later than the spring
despite an existing communications wire that connects
911 Emergency dispatch
services from the former
Sheriff’s Office to the new
Public Safety Facility south
of the city. The architects and
members of the Agriculture,
Buildings and Grounds committee have postponed the
first part of the building project until the county’s new
communications towers and
antennas are erected.
“Life goes on,” Decker
said. “We must move ahead.
I’d like to take the chance and
cut that wire today. If there’s
a problem, we’ll fix it.”
After the cells’ demolition,
the remaining two buildings’
exteriors are scheduled to be
refurbished this year, with the
interiors to follow in the
fourth quarter and into 2009.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette
Osborne is the county’s point
person on the musical offices
project, as many of DSS’
divisions will take up new
residence at West Park. “We
have not just one move.
There are many smaller
moves to get set up in the
agency downstairs before we
move some divisions over,”
Osborne said. “There are may
processes that we do up and
down that will all have to
transition downstairs.”
Other department moves
will follow like dominoes,
with the entire court system and possibly the law library moving to the third floor of
the County Office Building.
Mental Health will move to
Chairman Decker’s suite of
offices on the second floor,
and Decker and the county
board room will relocate to
DSS’ second floor and new
office complex, respectfully.
Decker remains optimistic
for the new year. He said he
become upset with the negative characterization in the
media and from Albany about
the failing upstate New York
economy. “We need to keep
ShapeUp
Central
being optimistic and do all
we can through economic
development to promote, follow up leads and showcase
our offerings. I’m very optimistic that things are going to
work out.”
Osborne echoed the sentiments of other department
heads when she said she likes
her relationship with Decker
and the county’s committee
structure. Even though she
said it can be “frustrating at
times,” she said she understood “the value of it.”
“Overall, Mr. Decker is
very hands off. He hires
someone who is competent
and is going to let them run
their program. I appreciate
that he doesn’t micro-manage. I can call him or my
committee chairperson when
I need advice.”
“But then he’s been the
chairman for the five and half
years I’ve been commissioner. So, I don’t know any different,” she said.
This year, Osborne has set
a goal to attract new staff
who will remain on the job
longer. DSS plans to offer
more training to help
employees become more efficient.
For clients, the intake
process should appear seamless in 2008. Unnecessary
steps and the number of people to consult with will be
diminished. “It’s oftentimes
hard to transition to another
worker. We are looking at a
more seamless operation for
the client, even though for us
it may not be.”
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The new Universal Gym
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choose the weight level (up
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ShapeUp Central recommends your exercise routine consist of three days a
week weight resistance.
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
61
M & T BA N K
Success
Stories
The name has changed, but the
commitment to customers remains the same
Empire
Wireless
Raub J. Smith moved to
Chenango County in 1972.
At that time he and his brothers bought a dairy farm. In
1980 Raub’s interest in satellite radio communications led
him into the c-band (or large
dish) satellite television business. As technology in this
field progressed, so did
Raub’s business, Empire
Wireless, LLC.
Another year has passed
and Raub J. Smith & Sons
continue to excel as a leading
Independent Retailer of Dish
Network Satellite Systems in
the surrounding counties.
Empire Wireless, LLC continues to be a member of the
Better Business Bureau.
Raub’s hometown business
continues to provide customers with fast, dependable
service, seven days a week.
Empire Wireless, LLC
continues to stay abreast of
technological advances and
offers to our community a
wide array of services. In
addition to Satellite TV, Raub
is pleased to continue to offer
Wild Blue and Hughes Net
high speed internet, satellite
radio, as well as, very competitive Dish Network programming packages.
Throughout 2007, Raub’s
business has continued to
grow with his new storefront
that was opened up on
August 1st 2005 to better
serve our community. The
office is located at 3 West
State St. in Sherburne. In his
store he offers a variety of
products which includes XM
satellite radio.
Thank you for being such a
support of this locally owned,
family-operated Satellite TV
business for the past 25 years.
L.L.C.
NYS CERTIFIED WOMAN-OWNED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
ith a new name and
a new look, M&T
Bank
(formerly
Partners Trust) may look a little different, but one thing
that hasn’t changed is a devotion to customer service that
goes above and beyond the
call of duty.
With one part-time and six
full-time employees, the
majority of whom have been
with the bank for at least
eight years, the staff at M&T
pride themselves on a friendly atmosphere and a willingness to help the customer.
According to Bank Manager
Terri Slater, the staff has to be
credited for how well they
treat their clients. “How well
you treat your customers is
really the only thing that differentiates a bank,” she said.
“We have a long-term staff of
local people here. Customer
service is huge.”
Assistant Manager Kimberly Walker is quick to
agree. “We do everything to
try to keep up with the hometown bank. We try to offer
more of a personal touch.”
One of the ways M&T
strives to serve customers is
by making itself accessible.
By merging the previous
bank with the new one, the
bank went from 33 branches
to 750, but even more than
that, Slater explained that if a
person is not able to come
into the bank to fill out a loan
application and doesn’t wish
to exchange the information
over the phone, the bank will
send a representative to a customer’s home.
Slater said the merger has
W
ets
G
l
l
a
C
e
“On t Done!”
I
caused only a few changes so
far. “Banking is banking,”
she said. “There have been
some little changes, but
we’re working out the issues,
and it’s business as usual with
a wider variety of products
and services.”
With 750 banking locations
and $57 billion in assets, as
of Dec. 31, 2006, M&T is one
of the 20 largest commercial
bank holding companies in
the U.S. According to Slater
and Walker, that means it is
able to offer a lot more products and services to its customers, especially in the business development lending
area. “We had more (business
development) applications in
December than we did all
year,” Slater said.
“Business development is
going to be one of the highlights for 2008,” Walker
explained. According to
Walker, 2007 was a record
year for the former Partners
Trust location. “We hit every
target we set on the consumer
L L C
EXCAVATING
and
and business side,” she said.
Other focus areas for 2008
will include Small Business
Association (SBA) loans.
Since merging, the Norwich
bank is now able to offer
express lending, a process
which reduces the approval
time from six weeks to one.
“Because of the size of M&T
Bank, we’re able to do more
things like that,” Slater said.
In addition, Slater said that
being “part of a larger network gives the bank
increased options for lending.
We’re able to do a lot more
and we’re not restricted as
much.”
The change also allowed
M&T to offer a full investment service department,
something that was lost when
the bank became Partners
Trust. The entire desk staff is
working to become certified
as investment specialists.
Slater explained that by
merging with M&T, the bank
will be cutting down on competition, including some that
it was unaware it even had.
Slater explained that M&T
Bank Mortgage Consultant
Betty Coutlee had been
working to secure mortgage
loans for area residents for
years, and that 30 percent of
her business took place in the
Norwich
area.
Slater
explained that gaining a partner with so much experience
is an asset to the bank, since
Coutlee will be referring new
checking
and
savings
accounts to the bank.
“Our goal is to partner with
the different divisions. We’re
going to see a lot of joint
efforts,” Slater said.
Following the close of one
record setting year, staff at
the new M&T bank location
hopes to continue the success. “We’re hoping to see
another record year,” Slater
said. “M&T brings us a lot of
strength and stability.” Slater
explained that in the short
time since Partners Trust
switched over to M&T, the
bank has already begun to see
new people. “The name itself
is helping. It’s a bank that
people are familiar with,”
Slater said.
Attracting new customers
is always an issue, especially
in an area where few new
people are arriving. However,
Slater and Walker explained
that during the merger the
bank had actually seen some
growth, which they say is
very hard to do. “Anytime
you have growth during a
merger, that’s definitely a
good sign,” Slater said.
Initial changes, including a
change in the chain of command and different avenues
for finding answers proved
somewhat difficult for bank
employees at first, but Walker said, “We’ve gotten over
the hurdles, and we’re seeing
fewer and fewer negative
comments.”
Slater said she is excited
about the increased choices
she is now able to offer to
M&T Bank customers.
“We’re here to help. We’re
here for the customers, to
help them with whatever
financial transactions they
need. We want the opportunity to meet people and talk to
them about what those needs
are,” Slater said. She
explained that the bank’s
motto says it all. “The best
place our employees will
ever work, the best bank our
customers will ever do business with and the best investment our shareholders will
ever make.”
M&T Bank is located in
Norwich’s North Plaza. For
more information call the
bank at 334-5802.
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In a very short time, the 25 full and part-time employees of Sun Printing,
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62
NORWICH PHARMACEUTICALS
Constantly adapting in a
changing marketplace
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
orwich Pharmaceuticals may have reverted back to the namesake it once held, but the new
owners of the former OSG
Pharmaceuticlas are a different story.
“The main priority of our
new owners is the long-term
picture. The transition is a
positive development as the
last five months have proven
to be the case,” said Christopher R. Calhoun, president of
Norwich Pharmaceuticals.
AFI Partners, a private
equity firm based in New
York City, purchased the
facility from the Outsourcing
Services Group. It is the second time the manufacturing
plant has switched hands
since Procter & Gamble
relinquished ownership.
The buy-out of the company did not greatly affect operations at the North Norwich
manufacturer. The organization continued relatively
uninterrupted, keeping the
same leadership and employees that served the business
before the purchase.
“The activity of our new
sales plan focuses on the
long-term growth of the company. We are working together to develop a very close
working plan for the future,”
said Calhoun.
The company is currently
orchestrating a plan to begin
a number of facility improvements in 2008. Those
improvements are both technical and strategic in nature.
N
Norwich Pharmaceuticals has gained new ownership and with it the
acquisition of a new long term planing goal. The facility in North Norwich is looking forward to receiving a number of equipment upgrades.
Calhoun explained the plant
would be updating and
receiving new equipment.
While this is happening, the
sales department will be
reevaluating its “long-term
goals to achieve long-term
solutions,” he said.
Employment at the site has
increased more than 70 percent from when it split from
Procter & Gamble in 2001 –
approximately 250 people
then to the roughly 425 people today.
The heritage of the pharmaceutical business in Norwich goes back 120 years.
The original Norwich Pharmaceuticals played a significant role in the Norwich and
greater Chenango County
economies. Last year the
company contributed roughly
$18 million into the economy
through payrolls.
“We expect to be a continued source of stability and
growth in the region,” Calhoun said.
Norwich Pharmaceuticals
is a commercial manufacturer. That means the company
relies on acquiring independent drug companies to contract it to produce a certain
material for a certain amount
of time. This commercial climate can sometimes lead to
unexpected turns as the company discovered in its second
attempt to launch its prophylactic sponges late last year.
The backer of the product
declared bankruptcy and
Norwich Pharmaceuticals
was left to adapt.
“We’ve become very good
at making internal adjustments while maintaining our
financial stability,” said Calhoun. “We are in a global
market with global competitors.”
Success Stories
Burrell’s Excavating, Inc.
Founded by Douglas V. Burrell in 1973, Burrell’s Excavating,
Inc., which began as Burrell’s Parking Lot Service, repaired lots
for local homeowners and merchants. Doug Burrell was a fulltime fireman, and used his backhoe for extra revenue while he
supported his eight children.
Doug started with small projects on the weekends, such as
sewer and water services for local homes. He also offered site
clearing and preparation services, including digging basements
and footers.
The Parking Lot Service was one of two businesses owned by
Doug Burrell. He also operated a successful dry cleaning business. Lacking employees, Doug spent many long hours at both
businesses, running them with the help of his youngest son David.
Through time, David became more involved with his father’s
business acquisitions, ultimately buying both in 1982, and changing the name of Parking Lot Service to Burrell’s Excavating.
David’s ambition was primarily to expand his new excavating
company. His first steps were to build a larger shop and, along
with the purchase of a new 310B backhoe, he hired his first
employee, Gray Guinn. Gary is still employed by Burrell’s to this
day.
David’s vision was realized with the award of his first big project when Fay’s Drug Store moved into the lower shopping plaza
in Norwich. Dave and Gary began the site work in the summer of
1984. The following year they added a project at Simmons Precision.
The job at Simmons Precision was large enough to require
additional manpower and the purchase of more equipment. So in
1985, Dave hired another full time employee and three truck drivers, and purchased a 690B John Deer Excavator and a 450 John
Deere bulldozer.
In the years since that time, David built Burrell’s Excavating,
Inc. (incorporated and bonded in 1992) into a very successful
small business. David had a staff of ten in 1992, and is proud to
say that seven are still employed to this day.
After incorporating, David’s next step came in 1997 when he
added a 110 acre gravel bed named KMC Sand & Gravel. KMC
is named after, and primarily owned by, his family – Kim, his
wife, and two children, Matthew and Courtney. In 2003, David
purchased automated scales for KMC with a fully automated scale
house. To complement his expanding business, he equipped the
gravel bed with a conecrusher to work hand-in-hand with his
screening plant. KMC has extensive products to offer both municipalities – thousands of tons at a time, or, for the do-it-yourselfer
that just needs a pickup truck loaded.
Today, Burrell’s Excavating, Inc. employs 28 men and women
in season. In the winter months, Burrell’s Excavating employs 12
full-time. Today, they’re working on the Norwich City Schools
and DCMO-BOCES building projects. The transformation from
Burrell’s Parking Lot Service to Burrell’s Excavating, Inc. took
place over 35 years, and the company is looking forward to at
least another 30 years. Matthew Burrell, following his family tradition, will eventually take the helm.
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
NE W YORK STATE VETERANS HOME
Building on hopes
for the future
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
s construction continues and the anticipated date of completion
nears, New York State Veterans’ Home administrators and
residents are eagerly awaiting
a big move.
The move refers to the reconstruction and relocation
of the Veterans’ Home, the
third major project of this sort
at the site since it opened in
April 1897.
Executive Director of the
skilled nursing facility Sally
Venugopalan says the residents and staff members have
been excited about the new
building. “It will mean great
things to the facility and the
level of care we offer,” she
said.
The facility, which contains 242 residential rooms
and employs approximately
306 individuals, is designed
to meet all the needs of veterans and their dependents
within a skilled nursing home
environment. From a full hair
salon to occupational and residential therapy services, to a
restaurant style dining room
and entertainment room –
complete with a stage –
Venugopalan says the residents are supplied with community activities while living
at the home. “It makes us
more unique than other facilities,” said Venugopalan. “We
have everything right here.”
Currently the facility offers
seven residential units called
Oak, Hawthorn, Maple, Pine,
Apple, Spruce and Sprapple.
Each unit is equipped with a
small dining room, nurses’
station, private rooms and
adjoining bathrooms. Pine is
currently a secured unit for
residents suffering from
Alzheimer’s who have severe
dementia. Upon the completion of the new building, the
Alzheimer’s unit will be
known as the memory care
unit and remain secure.
The new building project,
totaling
approximately
$66,293,002, which broke
ground in June of 2006, has
been the main focus for the
past year and will remain a
major focus for the remainder
of 2008, says Venugopalan.
“It has been a lot of planning
and implementing.”
“The new building will
provide a home-like design
with private rooms, with individual baths, the Internet, televisions, spacious unit dining
rooms and a main street concept with all therapies shops
and activities along a wide
country cottage design,” said
Venugopalan. “We are not
building the new facility for
just today, we are building it
for future residents as well.”
Venugopalan says planning
for the future was important,
and it was the entire concept
A
Therapist Lorraine Jones helps resident Steve
Belon as part of his rehabilitation while
staying at the Veterans’ Home in Oxford.
for the re-build and construction. Therefore, the concept
was created by input from
both residents and staff.
The new home will be
fully-equipped with the Internet as well as flat screen televisions and other high-tech
aspects that do not exist at the
current location.
Veterans home employee
Melissa Aldrich says she has
worked for the facility for
eight years and the idea of
having more advanced technology for both the staff and
the residents sounds like a
smart one. “The lifts alone
will be easier to manage in
the residents rooms and better on the backs of the
employees,” she said.
Venugopalan says the
entire move currently is
scheduled to take place in
October. “We are hoping to
move all the residents in a
single day,” she said. As for
moving the 242 room contents, as well as the rest of the
facility, she is going to reach
out to the community at large
for numerous volunteers to
help out.
As for the fate of the building the home is currently
located in, Venugopalan says
final plans are being formed
in Albany, but are not complete.
Along with maintaining
construction, Venugopalan
says the past year was busy at
the facility. The facility
remains at a 99 percent occupancy level, a percentage that
Venugopalan says has always
kept steady and the waiting
list is still active. Along with
the hundreds of residents permanently residing at the
facility, there are residents
who are admitted for rehabilitation purposes as well.
Maintaining the guidelines
for safety, protocol and medical services, the Veterans
home prides itself on offering
their residents the best in
health care services. In doing
so, the state of New York is
persistent on ensuring and
maintaining the highest level
of care is being given at the
facility.
Venugopalan
announced during the annual
deficiency finding survey, the
Veterans home was found to
be deficiency free. “This
means a lot to us and to our
staff,” she said.
Venugopalan says entertaining the residents is a
major component of the Vets
Home. Along with church
services, art and crafts, card
games, singing and other
indoor activities, residents
are given the chance to take a
stroll outside during the yearly car show and cruise-in
each summer which brings
back the oldies but goodies,
as well as food and other
entertainment for residents to
enjoy. This year, like many in
the past, approximately 200
or more people came to take
part in the summertime event,
which means so much to the
residents, Venugopalan says.
Success Stories
Golden Age Apartments
Golden Age is a subsidized, 2 story complex with elevators catering to those over the age of 62,
handicapped or disabled. Conveniently situated on the edge of Downtown Norwich at 33 Mechanic
Street, the Golden Age Apartments provides modern comfortable living along with an activities program geared to the interests and needs of the residents.
Golden Age Apartments is an equal opportunity housing where all people who qualify under the
regulations of the HUD program are welcome. At Golden Age Apartments, there are 99 one bedroom
apartments which include a large living room with a dining area, fully equipped kitchen, bedroom,
bath and generous closets and storage closet. Golden Age includes many extras that mean comfortable living. There is wall-to-wall carpeting, ample closet space, an emergency call system, air conditioning, smoke detectors, security intercom system for visitors and each apartment has its own thermostat.
Golden Age offers a community room for the tenants to utilize and is located in front of our A building and is available for group functions or your own enjoyment.
There are laundry rooms on each floor of both buildings with operating directions hanging above
the machines with easy access. We also offer a full time maintenance crew to help with the needs of
our apartment complex.
The city of Norwich provides a transportation system around the surrounding area. Golden Age is
considered a “bus stop” so transportation to area stores or other locations is easily accessible from
Golden Age.
Office hours for Golden Age are Monday thru Friday from 9 to 5 and our phone number is 3367004 so stop by and we would be happy to show you around.
63
64
BAILLIE LUMBER
Cutting down the competition
BY JESSICA LEWIS
The Evening Sun
aillie Lumber has
been operating in the
Smyrna area for more
than 30 years, and as one of
the leading manufacturers
and exporters of hardwoods,
it looks like it will stay for
years to come.
Headquartered in Hamburg, Baillie Lumber has five
production facilities in the
eastern United States, including sites in South Carolina,
Pennsylvania, Kentucky and
Waterloo, in addition to the
Smyrna saw mill and production facility. The corporate
website boasts a total of 475
employees at all of the facilities combined, and 107 of
those are employed in Smyrna.
Brian Schwarting, assistant
manager at Baillie’s in Smyrna, explained that while the
market is changing, operations have remained generally the same.
The Smyrna facility currently employs 78 full-time
employees and 29 temporary
employees. It contracts with a
temporary
employment
agency in South Carolina.
“The temp service provides
housing and transportation
for the employees,” Schwarting explained. The assistant
manager explained that in
some instances the temporary
employees choose to stay in
the area and are hired on as
full-time employees, but the
majority of the temps stay at
the facility for approximately
a year before returning to
their families.
Employees are divided
among the sawmill, where
the material is cut, and the
concentration yard, where
B
The Smyrna based Baillie Lumber facility employs over 100 workers
between the sawmill and production facilities. Processing 3 million feet
of lumber a month, the company has managed to hold their ground in
a falling market.
fresh lumber is re-graded and
dried. “We ship about 3 million feet of lumber a month,”
Schwarting explained.
Each production line
processes approximately one
and a half truck loads of
green hardwood lumber an
hour, which Schwarting
explained turns into one truck
load of dried lumber. The
lumber brought into the
Smyrna facility comes from
within a 500-mile radius.
The assistant manager said
he expects no big changes for
the plant or the industry in the
coming year. Despite the fact
that the housing market has
dropped, causing the hardwood market to drop, and
lumber prices to decrease,
Schwarting explained that
Baillie Lumber has managed
to hold its ground over the
past year, even gaining a few
percentage points in sales.
“Our main goal is just to
continue to grow,” he said.
“This year’s market trends
are still flat, but if we can
hold our own and still gain a
few percentage points, we
hope to do so. If the housing
market picks up, then our
industry picks up,” he
explained.
While the dropping market
has proved to be an obstacle
over the last year, another
issue for the company has
been rising fuel costs. With
300 truck loads of lumber
being shipped from the facility a month, and even more
truck loads coming in,
Schwarting said the rising
fuel cost does have an effect
on the company. Fuel surcharges are added to each
truck load, and the costs do
have an effect on the cost of
the lumber. However, the
company is taking efforts to
minimize its costs as well.
Instead of heating with fuel,
the company uses its own
wood waste to heat its facilities.
About 50 percent of the
lumber produced by Baillie is
sold domestically, while the
other 50 percent is exported.
Schwarting said the Asian
market has become a large
customer in the last few
years. While most of the lumber is shipped to manufacturers, the company also works
with local builders who buy
their lumber directly from the
facility. “We try to help people out with whatever they
need,” Schwarting said.
While the lumber market
has not changed dramatically
over the years, Baillie has
made some changes recently.
“We sell most of our lumber
out, but we are also buying
tropical woods and marketing
those,” Schwarting said. “It
has been going well.” The
company now handles over
80 different species of hard
woods.
Schwarting said the company’s main goals are strictly
to continue growing in terms
of staffing and profitability.
Aflac New York
Jim Reynolds is beginning his 5th year as an independent
agent with Aflac New York. Prior to this Jim worked for ten years
as a salesman with S & S TV and Appliances in Norwich and
Hamilton. Jim has many fond memories of working at S & S
including doing some eye catching television commercials when
he portrayed the superhero "Captain Appliance."
Jim and his wife Rosemarie live in Norwich and have been
happily married for 14 years. They have two children, a daughter, Megan, who is 13 years old and a son, Shane, who is 10.
Rosemarie has been with NBT Bank for 19 years. Jim enjoys
being active in the community. He is a member of the Chenango
County Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus and
recently joined Toastmasters International.
Aflac New York, based in Albany, is a subsidiary of the parent
company, Aflac, which is short for American Family Life Assurance Company. The company was founded in 1955 in Columbus,
Georgia by 3 brothers and has been managed by the same family
since its inception. Aflac New York policies are all guaranteed
renewable which is refreshing in today's world of escalating
health care. Another way they differ from traditional health insurance is that they do not pay the doctors or the hospitals but rather
the claim is paid directly to the policyholders. This gives individuals the freedom to use the benefits as they see fit whether it's
to make up for lost wages, cover deductibles or co-payments or
any other out of pocket expenses not picked up by your major
medical.
New this year to Aflac New York is the emergence of life
insurance. Aflac offers both term and whole life, including a
return of premium option for 20 or 30 year term policies. Other
Aflac plans include accident, cancer, and short-term disability.
The majority of Aflac's business is conducted through payroll
deduction and made available through a company's benefit package, although some plans can be done on a direct basis. The policies are portable and pre-tax eligible; in fact Aflac New York is
highly experienced with Section 125 cafeteria plans and offers
these in most cases at little or no cost to the company. This allows
companies to save money on FICA taxes.
Jim says he enjoys helping people and that was one of the
deciding factors in joining Aflac. Service is on top of the priority list and after a company enrolls with Aflac they can expect to
see Jim on a regular basis to handle any claims that the employees have or answer any questions the company has. Aflac itself
also donates millions of dollars to pediatric cancer treatment centers around the country.
Today with the help of a clever advertising campaign, Aflac is
one of the most recognizable names in the industry. The Aflac
duck has been voted one of America's favorite advertising icons
in the last few years, beating out veterans like Ronald McDonald
and the Energizer Bunny. For more information contact Jim
Reynolds at (607) 316-5731 or [email protected].
“Nothing great in the
world has been
accomplished without
passion.”
GEORG WILHELM
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
A great place to
live, work and
raise a family
BY MARCIA E. MILLER
Village of Greene Mayor
he year 2007 saw many
improvements
and
growth in the Village
of Greene.
With the flooding of 2006
behind us, the clean up continued last year. Most of this
work was done by our dedicated employees from all village departments with the
assistance of the employees
from the Town of Greene.
One of our biggest projects
was drenching out and stabilizing the banks of the Birdsall Street Creek, which runs
through the north end of the
village. Most of the work was
done in with Federal Emergency Management Agency
involvement and funding. A
private contractor and village
and town road crews worked
together. Further up the
creek, the same project was
done - all with the safety and
well being of our residents,
their homes and property at
stake.
A small creek running
behind some North Canal
Street residents was also
drenched out. A new sluice
pipe was installed under
Lucas Street in order to
improve water flow.
At our wastewater treatment plant, again with the
support of FEMA, we moved
the electric service up from
the basement and installed
new controls on the ground
floor. In an attempt to keep
future flooding out of the
equipment, a four-foot high
extension tube was welded
onto the existing one at Lift
Station 3 and the controls
were moved up.
Our electric department
was instrumental in all of
these projects and still found
time to up grade the Burnap/Greene sub-station and
recondition many of our
transmission lines.
The village, town and fire
departments worked on a disaster plan, with the completion coming soon.
In May, we celebrated the
T
Marcia Miller
85th anniversary of the Raymond Corporation and in
December, we heard the
results of almost a year’s
study of hydrogen fuel cell
batteries for their lift trucks.
The new technology will cut
down maintenance time and
the use of electricity. Raymond continues to grow and
is the biggest employer in
Chenango County. It employs
many of our talented residents.
In the summer, after many
months of hard work, we
enjoyed the newly formed
and constructed Chenango
River Theatre. We had the
opportunity to see 42 wonderful performances, with
equity actors drawing over
3000 people to our area. We
are excited to enter a full year
of this entertainment and the
new projects they have in
mind for us.
Many new and exciting
businesses opened up in the
village: Dress Your Fancy,
Focus Salon, Integrative
Bodyworks Wellness Center,
Shear Styles, The Ceramic
Garden, and Tony T’s.
Heroes Music relocated as
well.
We saw Heart Song Design
Art Gallery, Radio Shack and
The Sewing Room move into
larger stores, and Water Edge
Bed and Breakfast and The
Old Mill Diner successfully
re-opened after the flooding
of 2006.
Other highlights were:
• The state conservation
department
(NYSDEC)
began the process of cleaning
up a former gas station at the
south end of the village in
order to make the sale of that
property possible in the
future.
• A new addition to the
Moore Memorial Library and
the newly-renovated Sidney
Federal Credit Union were
opened.
• Extra-Mart re-designed
and constructed their parking
areas.
We saw a group of residents taking on the problem
of clothing for the less fortunate by forming the Greene
Community Coalition Clothing Bank, located in the
Christian & Missionary
Alliance Church. The group
will soon re-locate above the
Village of Greene Office in
the re-furbished fireman’s
rooms. Another group of residents formed the Greene
Preservation Group with the
goal of maintaining the character and charm of the village.
As we move into the new
year of 2008 we look forward
to many new and exciting
projects, such as a new concession stand at the ballflats;
the transfer of the property
from the school to a joint
board of the town and village;
growth at the Page Seed
Company under its new ownership; Greene Central
School building projects and
construction; and the reopening of the Sherwood Inn.
With the floodwaters
destroying a home on Mill
Street, we were recently honored to have that property
become a Habitat for Humanity House. The construction
should start in the spring of
2008, this of course, with the
help of many organizations
and community members.
The Village of Greene will
continue to grow and prosper
as we move into the next
year. We continue to be the
best place to live and raise a
family in the southern part of
Chenango County.
Success Stories
Donna Frech School Of Dance
The Donna Frech School Of Dance has been making dreams come true for 33 years, and is the oldest continuously owned dance studio in Chenango County. In 1993, a new spacious dance facility was
constructed at 7-9 Berry St. Norwich. Recently, the dance studio moved its New Berlin studio to a
larger location at 28 South Main St., New Berlin and 3 years ago a 3rd studio was opened in Sidney
at 9 River St.
‘HAPPY CHILDREN’ is the goal in DFSD’s recreational dance program....’DANCE IS FUN!’ is
our motto. It takes a special kind of dance teacher to work with young children. The staff encourages,
educates, and nurtures young dance students. It is truly a blessing to see the smiles on faces of young
children as they enter the dance room for their lesson and to see those smiles as they leave, knowing
they had a wonderful time in dance class! Children receive a quality dance education and will have
happy memories when they are enrolled in classes at the Donna Frech School Of Dance.
The DFSD offers a comprehensive dance program for children, teens, and adults from beginner
through advanced in tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, musical theater, hip hop, modern, acrobatics,
voice lessons, and pre-dance and tumbling (for ages 3-5). The dance school has two tracks: Recreational- for the student who enjoys dance class once or twice a week and performing in an annual
recital, and Intensive Study: for the student who is interested in a serious study program which
involves classes 3-6 times a week in one or multiple dance art forms. The dance studio also has a summer session and dancecamp program. In addition to the annual recital, members of the school’s intensive track performed at Disney World in Orlando this past summer, for the Pumpkinfest in Norwich
and have won special awards at competitions, including over all high score and technique awards.
DFSD students have continued their dance education by attending college for dance, and have
become successful dance teachers/performers. Dance training teaches students more than just learning to dance. Self confidence, poise, discipline and a feeling of achievement are among the many benefits of studying dance. The DFSD has always operated on a personal level where students know that
they are an important part of the studio. Although it takes hard work, discipline and determination,
the DFSD also believes dance class can be fun and rewarding.
Why you should choose the Donna Frech School of Dance for your child’s dance training:
• Large bright, cheerful dance rooms and waiting rooms
• Friendly, knowledgeable reception staff
• Caring, friendly, well trained professional adult staff who are passionate about what they do.
• Sprung floors to avoid injury
• Convenient locations
• Multiple class discounts
• Automatic payments
• Friendly, knowledgeable, well organized administrative team
• 33 years in the business of guiding children of all ages to reach their full potential
• Unique dance program for ages 3-6
• Professional performance in June
• Recreational and intensive study tracks
For hours of operation or class and registration information, contact the Donna Frech School Of
Dance at 334-4382.
meat
65
produce
dairy
frozen
We Have the
CUSTOMERS
Best Interests In Mind.
Jim Diamond Sr.
Owner and Operator of the Norwich & Oneida
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Receipt
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SOUTH PLAZA, RTE. 12, NORWICH
• Mon.-Sat. 9 am to 8 pm; Sun. 9 am to 6 pm • Phone 336-5051
Map To Our Location
• Most major credit & debit cards accepted
• Personal checks and all EBT transactions
• Gift certificates available • ATM Location
Norwich
Towne
Square
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SAVE A LOT
Rte. 12
N
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Rte. 8
Rte. 220
Sidney
66
C M T AMBULANCE
Opportunities and
challenges call for
one company’s
expansion
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
ooperstown Medical
Transport
never
planned on being the
primary commercial ambulance in Chenango County.
In fact, when the company
started in 1980, founders
Mark Zeek and Margaret
McGown didn’t expect it
would ever be much more
than a small-time transport
operation, taking patients in
Cooperstown from one hospital to another.
Twenty-eight years later,
however,
Oneonta-based
CMT is the top private EMS
squad in Delaware and
Otsego counties, and the
majority of its 4,000 calls
annually are for 911 emergencies. With its approved
expansion into Chenango
County nearly complete,
CMT has gone from a smalltime transporter to covering
an area larger than Delaware
and Rhode Island combined.
“We never would have
guessed,” said McGown, the
company’s chief financial
officer, looking back to when
the company first started
compared to where it is
today.
With support from local
fire officials and elected leaders in Chenango, CMT is
hoping it can become part of
C
the model for a modern, rural
EMS system.
“We’re making CMT a
three-county operation,” said
Zeek, the company’s president, “and hopefully, part of a
model, rural EMS operation
that integrates commercial
EMS with paid and volunteer
services. And with all three
working together, we’ll see if
we can get the job done.”
What brought about the
need for CMT? In Chenango
County, it was the loss of
Superior Ambulance, a Binghamton-based commercial
EMS squad that closed its
Norwich operation in October, citing a lack of profitable
calls. Prior to exiting the area,
Superior handled around
2,000 calls a year countywide
and was the primary ambulance service for several outlying townships.
“We never really planned
to come to Chenango County,” McGown said. “But
when Superior left October
25th we were approached by
officials in Chenango County
about it. We thought quickly,
but we thought hard, and
decided to go for certification. It was all very sudden.”
Just three months and several regulatory approvals
later, CMT is primed to begin
taking calls full-time from its
new station in Norwich
(Superior’s old spot in Woods
Corners), starting off with
one 24-hour, 7-day-a-week
ambulance and plans for
another in the near future.
“We’ll have to see what the
volume is,” Zeek said. “But
we fairly positive about our
future in Chenango County.”
The private squad has
already been operating with a
temporary Certificate of
Need and handled 165 calls
through November and
December.
“The numbers are steadily
growing,” McGown said.
Overall, CMT’s call numbers in Delaware and Otsego
counties have also risen
steadily since 1980. McGown
said the growth can be attributed to two ongoing trends in
rural societies: Aging populations that require more calls
and weakening volunteer
squads that struggle to
answer them. Both have
strained the traditional system of EMS, she said.
“People don’t realize what
it’s like to be a volunteer
EMS provider. It’s a tough
job,” McGown said, citing a
host of challenges volunteers
face, including long hours
away from home and stricter
training demands, combined
with less and less time to
meet work and family commitments. “They deserve a
City of Norwich Fire and EMS personnel respond to a mock accident
staged at Norwich High School every year to demonstrate to the
students the dangers of drinking and driving.
lot of credit.”
On that note, Zeek and
McGown see their services as
supporting volunteers, not
hurting them.
“We’re here to support the
EMS system,” said McGown.
“We’re not here because we
want to take away from the
EMS system. We’re going to
support the volunteers and
respond when they need us.
We’re not here to push them
out. It takes all the resources
to provide sound EMS.”
As for its own resources,
CMT is in the midst of hiring
14 more advanced and basic
life support paramedics to
staff its 24-hour Chenango
County crew. The owners
also expect to add a 16-hour
ambulance soon. In the
meantime, ambulances in
CMT’s Sidney and Oneonta
stations will offer support as
needed and vice-versa.
“We’ll send ambulances
wherever they’re needed,”
McGown said. “That’s
always how we’ve worked
anyway.”
CMT still has logistical
issues to work out with the
Chenango County Emergency Dispatch Center and
local volunteer squads, mainly figuring out how and when
CMT will get calls – a vital
component of its success or
failure.
Acknowledging that Superior left claiming a lack of
calls, McGown said she hasn’t figured out yet how many
it will take to make CMT
financially successful.
“There is a point where you
have to have a certain amount
of calls to be a viable operation,” McGown said. “It’s
hard to tell what that is yet.
We’re still learning as we
go.”
January 10, CMT received
local approval from the
Susquehanna Regional EMS
Council in Binghamton to
operate in Chenango County.
The state Department of
Health is expected to ratify
that approval in early February.
CMT’s Oneonta headquarters is actually in Davenport.
It also has a station in Delhi
and Cooperstown. Norwich
will be its fourth location.
Skillin’s Jewelers
Corner of Broad & Main Street, Norwich • 607-334-2410
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; Thurs. ‘til 8 pm, Sat. ‘til 5 pm
Now In Our 86th Year
FINE JEWELRY FOR THREE GENERATIONS.
Financing and layaway available. • Major credit cards accepted.
68
DOWNTOWN GREENE
A unique shopping experience –
people a lot more to see.
In addition to the original
Polka-Dots and Moonbeams
selections, the store encompasses Jill’s Book Store,
Dave’s Organic Corner, Margaret Rose 4 Season Cafe,
and Renee’s Faery Palace.
Each corner of the store
offers something different.
Jill’s Book Store, owned by
former Greene resident Jill
Stevens, offers a lot more
than books. Stevens offers a
eclectic array of new and
used books, boutique clothing, organic cosmetics and
her own hand-crafted jewelry. In another corner of the
store is Renee Guidelli’s
Renee’s
Faery
Palace.
Guidelli offers transformational life coaching, and one
tool she offers is faery readings. “It’s a transformational
tool to let you see the truth
and take control,” she said.
“There are many different
tools, but the goal is for you
to discover who you are and
where you are going in life.”
Farther back in the store is
Dave’s Organic Corner. Dave
Taft, a recent addition to the
group, has added a selection
of organic foods, holistic supplements and personal care
items to bring about longevity.
And finally, the Margaret
Rose 4 Season Cafe sits in the
rear half of the shop. After
one year of service, the cafe
holds an array of delightful
treats. The cafe prides itself
on its menu which “focuses
on fresh and unusual dishes
to intrigue the palate,”
according to a pamphlet from
the shop. The cafe has hosted
some small parties and also
After spending 25 years in the beauty salon
business down state, Susan Scalici moved to
Greene and decided to open Focus Salon.
Along with skin care specialist Shannon Fallon, Scalici hopes to provide a relaxing environment and help connect the inner beauty
with the outer beauty.
caters some area events.
“The shop is like a co-op.
Everyone has their own gifts,
talents and inspirations. The
key is getting a feel for what
you do and being a part of
what is here,” Guidelli said.
Just a few doors down from
the multi-faceted Polka-Dots
and Moonbeams, a new beauty salon has opened its doors.
Owner Susan Scalici opened
the Focus Salon and Wellness
Boutique only a few months
ago. In addition to traditional
hair care services, the salon
offers pedicures, natural
manicures and facials, with a
focus on all natural products.
“Our main goal is to provide
a relaxing atmosphere and
balance in people’s lives,”
Scalici said.
Scalici opened the business
in October, with skin care
specialist Shannon Fallon.
Originally from Long Island,
Scalici has been in the business for 25 years and decided
to open her current business
after falling in love with the
Village of Greene.
“I feel a lot of people are
craving business in their
lives,” Scalici said. By helping people to feel good about
themselves, Scalici is hoping
to help customers inner beauty meet their outer beauty. “If
you feel good, you look
good,” Scalici said.
While the business has
only been open for a few
months, Scalici said so far the
community has been very
supportive. The salon owner
said she feels her shop takes a
unique approach to the salon
industry. “We want to help
our clients find solutions to
their beauty problems,”
Scalici said. To contact the
Genesee Street business, call
656-4416.
While Focus Salon is
focusing on inner and outer
beauty, another new addition
to the Greene business scene
is focusing on inner health
and relaxation. Integrative
Bodyworks opened their
doors in August, and since
then, they have been providing massage and healing ses-
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VISIT OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY WITH
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Group Exercise Classes • Yoga • Step • Spin
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45 Cardio Machines with personal TVs
Weight Resistance Center
Circuit Training Machines
Free Weights and Exercise Classes
High Tech Juice Bar/lounge
Steamroom & Sauna
Professional Staff/Personal Training
www.aimfitness.biz • 607-336-9011
6142 State Hwy 12, Norwich, NY 13815
Hours: Monday–Thursday 4:00 AM–11:00 PM • Friday 4:00 AM–10 PM
Saturday 7:00 AM–9:00 PM • Sunday 8:00 AM– 6:00 PM
WRENCH’S
Village Auto Service Inc.
656-4545
NAPA Auto Care Center
Interstate Batteries
Cooper Tires
QUALITY SERVICE ~ QUALITY PARTS
•
•
•
•
•
General Maintenance & Repairs
Computer Diagnostics
New York State Inspections
Computerized Wheel Alignments
Rollback Service
ASE Certified
Planned Parenthood
Since 1971, Planned Parenthood of South Central New York,
Inc. (PPSCNY) has been an important part of Norwich’s community, offering affordable, confidential family planning services and the Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP). The clinic
is located at Suite 208 of the Eaton Center in downtown Norwich.
PPSCNY’s services are all provided on a sliding fee scale. No
one is ever turned away due to inability to pay. Patients with low
income can sign up for the Family Planning Benefit Program,
which offers free exams, birth control and testing and treatment
for sexually transmitted diseases. PPSCNY also accepts most
forms of insurance including Medicaid and Family Health Plus.
The expert team of caring professionals includes physicians,
nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses. PPSCNY’s
medical services include birth control, annual gynecological
exams, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections,
pregnancy testing and counseling, screening for breast, cervical,
testicular and colorectal cancers, and emergency contraception.
PPSCNY also offers confidential rapid HIV testing. Patients
can choose a blood or saliva test, followed by Planned Parenthood’s non-judgmental, compassionate counseling, and know
their HIV status in only 20 minutes. Director of Clinic Operations
Marybeth Clark, LPN said patients find the rapid test less stressful because they get their results quickly.
Planned Parenthood is also the only Prenatal Care Assistance
Program (PCAP) provider in Chenango County. Women who are
pregnant and meet the income eligibility requirements can join
PCAP and receive free prenatal care through Chenango Memorial Hospital and help with applying for WIC and other services.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call
607-336-8269.
Planned Parenthood also provides sexuality and health care
education, working with parents and teens to encourage family
communication and decrease risky behaviors. Our trained educator gladly helps teens, adults, couples, families, parents, and
youth groups at schools, churches and other organizations.
Physician Assistant Meg Nowak sees patients full time, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
and Thursdays 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Nowak brings eleven years of medical experience to Planned
Parenthood. She previously worked at Chenango Memorial Hospital’s urgent care clinic and the Bainbridge-Guilford School
Based Clinic. She graduated from the Physician Assistant Program at D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY.
Nowak enjoys serving many patients at Planned Parenthood
and welcomes new patients. “I am pleased to be meeting the
needs of the community,” she said. “I am at Planned Parenthood
full time, including one evening per week, so patients can get
appointments quickly.”
“I can also care for male patients, because Planned Parenthood
treats men, too,” Nowak said. “People think we’re here for birth
control only but we offer annual exams, cancer screening, STD
testing and treatment, and so much more.”
Planned Parenthood also has offices in Binghamton, Lisle,
Oneonta, Sidney and Walton. For more information or to make an
appointment, please call 800-230-PLAN or go to
www.ppscny.org
“Building Dreams One
Home At A Time”
We are committed
to helping you
get in shape...
Seniors 65 years and older
25% Off ($26.50/mo.)
Groups of 10 or more at signing
20% Off ($28.00/mo.)
Family (3 or more family members in same
household. ID required), Active Military,
Law Enforcement, Students (ID Required)
15% Off ($29.75/mo.)
sions and an array of classes
that offer peace of mind and
relaxation.
Matthew Franco and Free
Ryan both graduated from the
Finger Lakes School of Massage as Licensed Massage
Therapists. The couple offers
an array of massage, yoga, tai
chi, dance and holistic
modalities. According to
Ryan, business has been
doing well since the shop
opened. “People have been
most receptive to the massage, but we also have drum
circles and cinema night, and
those have good reception as
well.”
Franco explained that
opening his own bodyworks
studio has been a dream since
he was in massage school.
Ryan said the shop coincided
with her lifelong passion for
healing and helping people
recognize their personal
power.
Currently
Integrative
Bodyworks offers an array of
massage techniques, including Swedish, Deep Tissue,
Hot Stone and Aroma Therapy, as well as hands on healing sessions such as Reiki
and Brennan Healing Science. In addition, classes in
Danskinetics a combination
of yoga and free form dance
and yoga are available.
In addition to being
licensed in massage, Matt is
also an herbalist, and the
shop offers some herbal products, and a wider variety of
products and classes will be
available in the summer
months. For more information about Integrative Bodyworks call 656-4154 or email
[email protected] to sign
up for a regular newsletter.
Success Stories
ALLDATA Support System
18 So. Chenango Street, Greene, NY 13778
Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Hilltop Building &
Construction, LLC
“Your Modular Home Builder”
149 So. Chenango St., Greene, NY 13778
607-656-HOME (4663)
Fax 607-656-4444
Mary Wrench - Sales Manager
Quality Homes at Affordable Prices
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PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
69
M O R R I S V I L L E S T A T E C O L L E G E - NO R W I C H C A M P U S
Smalltown college with a big agenda
BY JILL KRAFT
The Evening Sun
eing centrally located
in a smaller city has
some real home-town
advantages. Morrisville State
College, located in the Roger
W. Follett Hall next to the
Eaton Center, prides itself on
being one of the major focal
points in the community.
From internships, trips,
game nights and community
involvement to holiday open
houses, Morrisville State
College administration as
well as staff and students play
a role in participating in public affairs and activities
throughout the year. Its second annual holiday open
house drew in a crowd
between 400 and 500 people
and offered local specialty
food makers a chance to strut
their stuff.
Catering to both traditional
and non-traditional students,
Dean Ted Nichols said the
student body is split 50/50
between students who enroll
directly after high school and
students who are returning
for their college education.
“This is our diversity,” said
Nichols. “Our students come
from various backgrounds,
have a variety of work and
life experiences.”
With approximately 550
students, Nichols says enrollment is holding steady. The
college, according to an internal success review, was said
to have achieved near record
enrollment both in terms of
student headcounts and fulltime equivalents/credits generated. “I am happy to see the
college servicing so many
students and pleased with the
number of students choosing
B
to attend our campus,” he
said.
In an effort to adapt to student interests and maintain
new programming, two new
associate degree programs
were put into place in 2007.
An A.A.S. in Human Services and A.A.S. in Criminal
Justice were newly implemented and go along with an
Early Childhood degree program which started in 2006.
The Norwich Campus now
offers students the ability to
choose from 11 associate
degree programs, various
technical courses and several
liberal arts/transfer options.
“These programs seem to
be taking off well,” said
Nichols.
“Unlike the other programs
offered at our campus, these
programs are specifically
offered at the Norwich campus,” the dean added. “The
local campus hired full-time
faculty coordinators C. Fred
Weaver and Clare Armstrong-Seward for the programs following successful
national searches.”
One goal Nichols says is
important to both the administration and to facility is to
get the students involved in
the community and try to get
the students to earn degrees
locally and go onto utilize
their degrees here, too. “We
have many students doing
internships with local businesses and organizations,” he
said. “We try to get our students into the local workforce
and show them there are jobs
here they are qualified for.”
Nichols says another goal
is providing students scholarships to offset the rising costs
of gaining a college educa-
Norwich Campus students pose for a group shot during a recent trip to
Boston.
tion.
The college increased
scholarship support for
Chenango County students
by awarding Raymond Foundation merit scholarships to
11 students. These $1,000
scholarships are awarded to
students in the top-five percent of the incoming Norwich Campus freshmen class.
“Scholarship support was
also provided to 14 other
Norwich Campus students
based on a combination of
merit and need,” said
Nichols. Scholarship assistance for Chenango County
residents attending the Norwich Campus is provided by
community minded individuals, businesses, and foundations throughout Chenango
County through the Morrisville College Foundation.
Looking ahead, Nichols
says the college would like to
look into offering bachelor
degree programming but the
idea is not realistic yet due to
lack of housing space and
other four-year qualifications
the campus does not have.
Looking into other options,
such as international student
programming, is an idea
Nichols says he thinks could
ultimately be the way to go.
“This community has a lot to
offer, from restaurants to the
YMCA and other venues students could benefit from,”
said Nichols.
He also says college officials are viewing options to
see what health care courses
the college could offer. “We
have a great nursing program
and we are trying to see what
other health care services
could be a good asset to the
curriculum,” he said.
Building community partnerships Nichols says is the
biggest asset to the campus
and to the students who
attend. The college is currently looking into providing
entrepreneurship education in
partnership with Commerce
Chenango for Agri-business
and Commercial District
Small Business development.
“Introducing entrepreneurship to individuals and helping existing ones learn the
tools they need to succeed is
the goal we are working to
achieve,” said Nichols.
According to an internal
review, the Norwich campus
served the community and
the surrounding area numerous ways. The campus manages a Liberty Partnership
Program with Chenango
County school districts, provides dual credit high
school/college courses for
high school students in their
home schools, provides assistance to unemployed/underemployed
individuals
through their Bridge Program, provides customized
training to area employers,
offers non-credit/continuing
education (continuing dental
education and SAT preparation), serves as a host loca-
tion for GED classes in cooperation with Afton Consortium, offers professional
development and conference
services and serves as a cultural center for community
events, lectures, colloquia,
and films.
The facility, which is fully
equipped with a state-of-theart wireless networking system, is the best in the country,
maybe even the world,
according to Nichols. Taking
a leading edge in technology
services, Nichols says, he
wants to see the college continue to gain and remain a
leading source for technology
degree programs.
Having an increasing presence with on-line and hybrid
courses, which brings students face-to-face with
instructors, also enables the
convenience of doing school
from home. Nichols says the
option is making a name for
Morrisville. “I love the fact I
can still take courses while I
work full time,” said online
student Heather Birdsall.
The Morrisville main campus is located approximately
45 minutes north of Norwich.
It is a rural campus that
thrives on equine science and
other agricultural degree programs. That the Morrisville
college experience can offer a
wide variety of both agricultural and technical programming is one point Nichols
says needs to be made.
“When people think about
Morrisville State college they
need to include what we are
doing in Norwich, what we
have accomplished and
where we are going,” he said.
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70
CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Think food, and
think local
BY MICHAEL MCGUIRE
The Evening Sun
hen people think
food,
Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Chenango County
wants them to think local.
Cooperative officials say
they’re not alone, either.
“There is tremendous
excitement about local food,
value-added food and food
going directly from the producer to the consumer,” said
CCE Director Keith Severson. “It’s something all of
agriculture is trying to
heighten in Chenango County.”
CCE was involved heavily
in 2007 with marketing and
delivering locally grown
products through several different programs, including
the Chenango County Guide
to Locally Grown Products
and the “Chenango Bounty at
Your Door” delivery service.
“Eating local and eating
healthy go hand-in-hand,”
said CCE Assistant Jessica
Jaramillo. “Hopefully what
we do here facilitates that.”
Now that people are more
aware and have better access
to local products, Severson
says the organization is kicking off a new program, “Eat
Smart New York,” aimed at
teaching people how to utilize farm fresh foods.
“This will be an opportunity to provide training to a targeted audience to assist them
in learning about nutrition,
the selection of food and the
preparation of food,” said
W
Severson. “It will teach people how to eat better food and
live a better life, and to teach
others the same.”
If people in general don’t
start taking better care of
themselves, obesity’s negative effects could ripple
through society, Severson
believes.
“We’ve known for a long
time that obesity has been
increasing,” he said. “That
can have a large effect in our
communities overall between
medical and other costs related to health problems obesity
creates. It will cost all people
a lot more if others don’t eat
healthy or practice healthy
habits.”
The local foods emphasis
also relates to promoting
food security as problems
with tainted foreign products
become more prevalent.
“In terms of food security
and knowing where food is
coming from,” said CCE
Horticulturist Rebecca Hargrave, “we’ve seen the
demand for local products
drastically increase. Hopefully we’re right on the cutting
edge of that.”
A key to Cornell Cooperatives success in landing such
programs has been full-time
grant writer Kim Eaton, Severson said.
Before local products can
be used, they have to be
grown. So to further promote
the ag industry to both
younger and older generations, CCE has continued to
ramp-up its education programs.
For starters, in 2008 the ag
education department has
created a livestock scholarship and livestock club as a
way of promoting farming to
area youth. Under the program, farmers donate animals
to local kids to raise, and inturn any offspring of those
livestock are donated back to
the program.
“There’s more than just
dairy kids involved in this,”
said 4-H Program Assistant
Carol Loefstedt.
There’s also an ag mentoring program targeted at
involving kids and teenagers
in farming.
“For farmers, labor is the
largest expense. This program teaches kids not only
farm employment skills, but
employment skills in general.
It also hopefully sparks an
interest in agriculture.” said
Severson. “It really tries to
merge those needs.”
For adults, Cooperative is
again offering a host of skill
development classes. It’s currently in the midst of its second round of large veterinarian skills courses.
“It saves farmers money by
teaching them basic skills
they can perform on their
own and helps offset the lack
of large animal vets in the
area,” said Loefstedt.
CCE’s Ag Education
Department plans to spend
much more time in the fields
this year as well.
“We want to be more
involved with the farm – farm
business, management. We’re
going to make more farm vis-
4-H members Kalvin Abrams and Nathan Turrell look on as Nate Funk
explains the importance of clipping their sheep for the show.
its and find out the needs in
agriculture in Chenango
County,” said Jaramillo.
Hargrave said her focus in
2008 will be on teaching people how to get back to basics
and use skills that were commonplace in the 20th century
that society has by-and-large
forgotten.
“We’re really teaching the
importance of getting back to
developing and using older
skills,” Hargrave said. In
response, food preservation,
master gardening, forestry,
vegetable growing and green
landscapes training seminars
are all skills being offered in
classrooms or on-line in this
coming year.
For those interested, Cooperative will also be selling
compost bins this spring.
Loefstedt said 4-H is also
reaching further out into the
community, setting up a number of after school clubs,
including one at the Norwich
YMCA and another for
home-schooled kids focused
on science and technology.
Cooperative will also be
using its master preservers to
teach kids through 4-H the art
of preserving food.
4-H is currently conducting
an annual fundraiser, which
wraps up Feb.14. In conjunction with Page Seeds of
Greene, 4-H is selling “Fun
Family Garden” kits as part
of a statewide and soon to be
nationwide drive.
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
Success Stories
Community Foundation for
South Central New York
Chenango County residents who made contributions to the
Community Foundation for South Central New York – the
regional community foundation serving Chenango County, as
well as Broome, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga – didn’t
have to look very far afield during 2007 to see their gifts hard at
work.
Grants awarded by the Foundation to local nonprofits were
helping to create an innovative therapeutic multi-sensory environment for traumatized children at the Children’s Home RTF
near Greene, supporting the needs of cancer survivors and their
families at Chenango Health Network in Norwich, purchasing
sound and lighting equipment to help the new Chenango River
Theater get its inaugural season off to a good start. And through
an ‘06 grant to Catholic Charities, Foundation funds continued to
help families victimized by severe flooding as they traveled the
long road to recovery.
New grants awarded in 2007 included funding for “The Place”
for an engineering study to explore expanding and renovating
their facility, a grant to the Sherburne Public Library for a microform scanner, and a grant from the Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation to Chenango Health Network in support of
the “Going Red in Chenango County” campaign to promote
women’s heart health.
The Community Foundation also celebrated its 10th Anniversary during 2007 with the theme “Cultivating Philanthropy,” and
the Foundation’s volunteer Board of Directors – including its
members from Chenango County – worked hard to make it a year
of achievement, as well as one of sound planning for the future.
A new strategic plan was completed which will guide the
Foundation’s activities for the next several years. That plan
includes the formation of specific geographically-focused funds
to address needs in several of the counties served by the Foundation.
In October the Foundation held a luncheon/workshop attended
by more than one hundred representatives from area nonprofits,
with the goal of helping the agencies to strengthen their marketing and communications efforts.
Contributions to the Community Foundation, along with
return on investments, helped move the endowment from $15.1
million at the end of ’06 to $17.66 million as of December 31,
2007.
On the agenda for 2008: The Community Foundation will continue its mission to “connect donors who care with causes that
matter.” It will offer additional training workshops to nonprofits
throughout the region. Visits to grantees and others throughout
the region are on the docket to gather information and get to
know the people doing good work in the community. The Foundation will redouble its efforts to serve the needs of its donors.
And of course, it will continue its all-important grantmaking programs.
The deadline for receipt of proposals for the Foundation’s next
competitive grant cycle is March 3rd. Go to the “Forms and
Guidelines” section of the Foundation’s web site at www.cfscny.org for application guidelines and instructions.
To request a copy of the Community Foundation’s 2006 Annual Report, call (607) 772-6773. The executive director of the
Community Foundation is Diane L. Brown. The Foundation is
located at 70 Front St., Binghamton, NY 13905.
71
GUERNSEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
A busy year of
construction and lending
BY TYLER MURPHY
The Evening Sun
ne of the largest projects undertaken at
Guernsey Memorial
Library in Norwich was completed last year when the
roof, boiler and ventilation
systems were replaced.
The $760,000 facility
upgrade required that the air
conditioning be turned off for
the majority of the summer of
2007, negatively affecting
attendance by 10 percent.
“One of the most important
things we want people to
know is that the air conditioning is working again,” said
Library Director Melanie
Battoe.
The ventilation equipment
and roof were part of the
original building contructed
in 1969.
Guernsey
Memorial
Library is the largest library
in Chenango County with a
collection of more than
80,000 books. Last year, its
public computer access system tracked more than 15,000
sign-ins a month.
And despite the temporary
drop in attendance, Battoe
said the Court Street institution had loaned out more
materials than any other
library in the four surrounding counties. In 2007,
Guernsey circulated over
150,000 items.
“That’s even including
Broome,” she said.
Guernsey Memorial is one
of 42 libraries that make up
the Four County Library System of Broome, Chenango,
Otsego and Delaware. All of
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334-4140
2 miles south of Norwich, 5307 State Hwy. 12
Staff and volunteers prepare for Guernsey Memorial Library’s annual
book sale.
the libraries in each county
share a connected network
interlocking the entire collections of each. The public may
access the combined inventories at specific computer terminals located within each
library. Three times a week,
books and other written
materials are transfered via
truck to the other locations.
“So if you’re looking for a
book we don’t have here at
our building, you can get it
from anywhere else in the
four county system. Usually
we can get them here by the
end of the week,” said Battoe.
The origins of Norwich’s
library can be traced back to
1902 when Mrs. William
Guernsey bequeathed her
family’s homestead to the
Norwich Board of Education.
In her will, she requested that
it be turned into a library. The
house itself was built in 1799.
That building remained until
the 1960s when it became
apparent that the location
could not support the collection’s expansion. The current
building housing the library
was built in the late 1960s
and has remained Norwich’s
library ever since.
The library’s budget is
voted on annually at the same
time Norwich City School
District voters vote on the
district’s budget. It is a completely separate budget entity,
Battoe said.
Guernsey employs 10 fulltime and about 15 part-time
positions that vary depending
on internships and temporary
help. The library also has its
own children’s program and
dedicated children’s librarian.
The coming year looks to
be a quieter one for the
library. “After this last year
of upgrades, I think we’ll
give the board a break for a
while,” Battoe said. Future
plans include replacing playground equipment in the park
behind the facility. It was
orginally installed in 1969.
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72
CHENANGO COUNTY COUNCIL
OF THE
ARTS
Broadening horizons
BY JEFFREY GENUNG
The Evening Sun
roadening horizons
through exposure to
the arts has been the
lifelong mission of the
Chenango County Council of
the Arts, and in no year was
that horizon broadened more
than in 2007.
A sizable grant from the
New York State Music Fund
allowed the Arts Council to
introduce local audiences to a
spectacular variety of performing artists last year. “The
grant was intended to help us
present emerging artists and
new types of music that audiences around here don’t normally get exposure to,” said
Arts Council Executive
Director Victoria Calvert
Kappel. Groups with names
like “Burkina Electric” and
“Ceili Rain” certainly aren’t
typical Chenango fare.
“Sometimes it’s fun to push
the audience’s comfort zone,”
she said.
In addition to the performances for Arts Council ticketholders, the musical groups
funded by the state grant also
did in-school “residencies” at
several local districts. During
these multi-day sessions, students had the opportunity to
learn from the professional
musicians and interact with
them on a one-on-one basis.
Many were even incorporated into the evening performances open to the general
public.
“It was really exciting to
see how they interacted with
the students,” Kappel said of
the three-to-five day residencies. “Many of the kids got to
perform with the musicians
on stage,” at the CCCA the-
B
Celtic rock group Ceili Rain was one of the
musical acts the Arts Council was able to
present through a grant from the New York
State Music Fund.
ater, she said. “That’s so
important, in any field, to get
that hands-on experience.
The feedback, tips and ideas
they got ... it really pulls all
the threads of what they’re
learning in school together so
well.”
Another way the Arts
Council broadens its exposure is by awarding the New
York State Council on the
Arts’
“decentralization
grants” – monies intended to
bring arts and cultural activities into more and more rural
areas. The Norwich non-profit organization disseminates
grants for both Chenango and
Broome counties. In 2007,
Kappel said, more than
$51,000 was given out to
local arts organizations,
libraries, churches and cultural groups. In addition, $4,500
was awarded to individual
artists whose programming
also reached out to the masses.
“This funding is essential
for smaller, emerging arts
groups,” Kappel said. “For
many, it’s their primary
source of funding.” In 2007,
Arts Council-administered
funding supported big events
like Colorscape and the Blues
Festival, as well as smaller
events at town libraries, parks
and even the Smyrna Citizens
Band concerts.
Another new event for the
Arts Council in 2007 was a
fundraiser it inherited from
another non-profit group. For
years, the STRIDE therapeutic horse riding center had
held a party coinciding with
the running of the Kentucky
Derby in May. When that
group folded, the Arts Council picked it up and used it as
a fundraiser for a similar aim
– The Magic Paintbrush proj-
ect, an art therapy workshop
for autistic children and their
parents. Kappel said the Arts
Council looks forward to
making an even bigger splash
in the community with this
year’s Kentucky Derby fete.
The current year started
with a prestigious exhibit in
the Arts Council’s 27 W.
Main St. gallery. Photographer Ben Fernandez, recently
relocated to Chenango County, shared his powerful
“Countdown to Eternity”
exhibit, which chronicled the
last year in the life of civil
rights leader Martin Luther
King Jr. – and debuted in
Norwich in the year that
marks the 40th anniversary of
his assassination. “That
exhibit has traveled all over
the world, and now it’s in
Norwich,” Kappel said. The
show remains in the Arts
Council gallery through Feb.
4, when it will continue on its
journey to Memphis, Tenn.
Coming to the gallery in
the fall will be another exhibit Kappel said people are
already excited about. Called
“Still Here,” the show will
feature the works of artists
who are currently residents in
Chenango County’s senior
living facilities. “This exhibit
shows the gallery’s commitment to issues that reflect
Chenango County,” she said.
The Arts Council also has a
full slate of shows scheduled
for the stage of the Martin W.
Kappel Theater, starting with
preeminent Irish fiddler
Eileen Ivers on Feb. 29. For
information on performances
and to purchase tickets, call
the Arts Council at 336-2787
or
visit
www.chenangoarts.org.
Success Stories
Rolling Antiquers
Antique Car Club
The Rolling Antiquers Old Car Club will be sponsoring its
43rd Annual Antique Auto Show and its Car Parts, Antiques &
Collectibles Market during the 2008 Memorial Day weekend on
Saturday, May 24th, and Sunday, May 25th. The two day event
will be held at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich,
N.Y. The Club’s Annual Show and Market attract several thousand visitors each Memorial Day weekend.
Restored and original condition show vehicles come from
every era and include motorcycles, tractors and trucks. Saturday
will feature Muscle Cars and Street Rods such as the Corvette
and the Deuce Coupe. Sunday will highlight the Antique Cars
from the Model T to the Packard. The RAOCC Show draws
more than 1000 vehicles and their proud owners from the surrounding counties and from out of state. Show car owners have
come from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the New England region,
the Mid-Atlantic states and even Ontario, Canada.
Over 300 Car Parts vendors and more than 100 Antiques &
Collectibles vendors will have their wares for sale on both days.
Alongside the car show, private owners from a military club will
display a variety of military vehicles. Vendors will be selling
related merchandise. Revolutionary War re-enactors will be
recreating an encampment and holding demonstrations. All of
these events will occur against the musical backdrop of a DJ
service.
Rain or shine, the show will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both
Saturday and Sunday. General admission each day is $5 per person. Admission is free for children under 12 years old. Food
booths will be staffed by RAOCC members and local food vendors. The menus have included barbecue chicken dinners, philly
cheese steak sandwiches and pulled-pork sandwiches, along with
the typical staple of hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries. Ice
cream and a variety of cold beverages will be available. Free
shuttle buses will run between the Fairgrounds and parking areas
in Norwich. Dog ordinance enforced during the Show.
Make sure to also visit the Northeast Classic Car Museum.
Even start the weekend on Friday evening, May 23rd, with the
annual downtown Norwich Cruise-In. Show car owners often
participate.
The Rolling Antiquers Old Car Club (RAOCC) represents the
local Norwich region of the Antique Automotive Club of America (AACA). RAOCC Show forms and information can be
found at the Club’s website: http://local.aaca.org/raocc
For specific inquiries you can also call:
MUSCLE CARS: Barb Strobel 607-334-8549 or Clyde
Beach 607-334-2901
SHOW CARS: Jim Roberts 315-737-7637
CAR PARTS: Dennis McCarthy 607-334-5486
GENERAL ANTIQUES: Charlene Soyke 607-843-6520
ANTIQUE ENGINE DISPLAY: Dennis McCarthy 607-3345486
“You can't wait for
inspiration. You have to go
after it with a club.”
JACK LONDON
PUBLISHED
BY
THE EVENING SUN
Success Stories
Wilson Funeral Home
“The most common reason people plan their funeral ahead of time is because they do not want
their family to be burdened with it later on,” says Doug Wilson, owner and manager of the Wilson
Funeral Home.
Planning ahead makes sense for other reasons too. It is a simple procedure that does not take
much time. Decisions can be made about specific choices such as the type of service you would like,
the flowers or even the music. Your decisions can be based on your personal preferences at a price
that fits your needs.
Wilson goes on to say that, “many times people want to know if they have to pay ahead of time
or do they have to pay the whole cost at once. I have many arrangements on file that are not paid for
... they have told me what they want when they die, but they have other financial arrangements to
pay for it, such as life insurance.” Their wishes are on record and are carried out when the need arises. In New York, when a person does decide to pay ahead for their funeral, a trust account is opened
and held until the funeral has been completed. Interest earned on the money in the trust offsets cost
increases, so Wilson Funeral Home guarantees that the funeral is paid for whenever it is needed.
The Wilson Funeral Home is the only family owned independent funeral home in Norwich.
“When a family chooses us, they are treated like they are my family ... the way that I would want to
be treated.” Because the funeral home is independent, it has a strong and complete investment in the
Norwich Community. Doug Wilson and his associate, Carl Conley, a Sherburne native, are members of the Norwich Rotary Club. Doug has served on the YMCA board and is chairman of the Msgr.
Festa Memorial Golf Tournament that benefits Chenango Catholic Charities.
The decision to preplan your funeral is a loving gesture for those you leave behind as it relieves
them of decision-making at a very stressful time.
When it comes to funerals, people want to feel that they are being cared for in a dignified and personal manner. “Wilson Funeral Home is my family taking care of yours.”
Raymond Corporation
Beginning in 1922 out of Greene, NY, The Raymond Corporation now reaches to the farthest corners of the world, dominating the materials handling industry. Raymond provides the most innovative products in the market. The latest work in innovation at The Raymond Corporation is a new
research product in hydrogen-fueled forklifts.
The Raymond Corporation, Chenango County’s largest employer, unveiled the early findings
from its two-year research program on hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts. Last January Raymond
used funding from the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the
New York Power Authority (NYPA) to convert its Greene, New York manufacturing facility into a
“living lab” with hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts and an indoor hydrogen refueling station.
The purpose of the program is to evaluate the performance of hydrogen-fueled forklifts and to
demonstrate the safety of a hydrogen-fueled forklift environment. Raymond’s early findings show
that compared to battery-powered forklifts, hydrogen fuel cell forklifts maintain comparable performance. The braking distance, and maximum travel and lift speeds of the fuel cell-powered forklift are equivalent to that of a battery-powered forklift. Raymond has also found that the weight and
the distribution of the weight can affect the stability of a fuel cell truck. Therefore, extra weight must
be added to the fuel cell and the weight must be distributed so as not to affect the center of gravity.
Further, Raymond found that refueling the fuel cell-powered forklift takes only a few minutes as
compared with the 20 minutes it may take to remove and replace a battery from the same model forklift.
Raymond believes that using hydrogen fuel cells in place of batteries will provide several benefits to users of electric forklift trucks.
“Raymond is committed to helping the materials handling industry realize the higher productivity and environmentally clean technology that hydrogen fuel cells can offer,” says Steve Medwin,
Raymond manager of advanced research. “We will continue to share the results of our research as it
becomes available.”
The Raymond Corporation is the leading North American provider of materials handling solutions
that improve space utilization and productivity, with lower cost of operation and greater operator
acceptance. High-performance, reliable, ergonomically designed Raymond® products range from a
full line of manual and electric pallet trucks and walkie stackers to counterbalanced trucks, ReachFork® trucks, orderpickers and dual-purpose (pallet handling/case picking) Swing-Reach® trucks.
For more information about The Raymond Corporation or Raymond’s fuel cell research program,
visit www.raymondcorp.com or call (800) 235-7200. The Raymond Corporation is headquartered in
Greene, NY.
Bassett Healthcare
Nearly 40 years ago, the Carnegie Commission called for drastic improvement in the quality of
U.S. rural medicine and pinpointed one existing hospital as the ideal prototype – Bassett. One year
later, Time magazine featured Bassett as a model of rural health care delivery.
“Every statistic shows that rural medicine lags far behind what is available in urban areas...But
Cooperstown...is a remarkable exception. Reason: it has The Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, a minimedical center that ranks among the best in the US." – Time, January 25, 1971
In 2008, the same missions of patient care, research and education that earned Bassett that recognition in 1971 remain the same, and the dedicated work of leaders, educators, researchers, physicians, employees and volunteers continues to guide the organization through growth and change.
Today, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (MIBH) is the foundation for a network that encompasses four affiliate hospitals, 25 community health centers, and 13 school-based health centers across
nine counties covering 5,000 square miles. The fourth affiliate hospital is new this year. Tri-Town
Regional Hospital (TRH) is located in the Delaware County community of Sidney and will open in
February as a 24/7 emergency care facility. The hospital will be staffed by about 50 full and parttime employees. The physician-staffed ED will have the capacity to treat up to six patients at a time,
as well as hold patients for observation and treatment when needed. Other services available at TRH
include radiology, CT scans and a full laboratory.
In 2008, Bassett is also continuing its transition to an enterprise-wide electronic medical record
(EMR) and patients may notice laptop computers in the exam rooms. Patient records are immediately available to practitioners who can also now show patients their medication lists, x-rays and
other test results on the computer.
“With the EMR, we are able to immediately access the latest information, such as what was done
at a specialist appointment and make patient-care decisions with up-to-date information,” says Dr.
Scott Cohen. Cohen and doctors Thomas Holmes and Grace Holmes, as well as family nurse practitioners Anne St. Pierre and David Hochman provide primary and preventive health care services for
the whole family at Bassett Healthcare Norwich, located at 55 Calvary Drive. Specialty care is also
offered, including oncology services, OB/GYN, endocrinology, nutritional counseling, rheumatology, pediatric, and general orthopedics, vascular surgery and pulmonary medicine. Call 607-3366362 for an appointment.
Just in time for Children’s Dental Health Month, observed in February, Bassett is also expanding
the oral health component of its School-Based Health Center (SBHC) program. Students at the
SBHCs in Sherburne-Earlville, Delhi, Edmeston, South Kortright, Laurens and Morris now have
comprehensive preventive dental services available including sealant and fluoride application.
Cornell Cooperative Extension
The buy local revolution! The new organics! The Way We Eat! What To Eat! Eat Here! These
are the messages that are being put to the test. Knowing where our food comes from is the question
of the day, perhaps three times a day, and should be carefully contemplated. It encompasses so much
more than just knowing who grew or raised the food we put on our tables everyday. It is a decision
that has a large impact on our economy and preservation of our communities. When we choose to
buy from local farmers, it also helps to assure quality, freshness and flavor in the foods that we consume.
It never ceases to amaze me how much richness and variety we can find right in our own backyard. We may have to devote a little more time towards getting that fresh, high quality, local product into our homes, but once that discovery is made there is no turning back. Knowing that you are
supporting a community member and getting good wholesome food in return is a great feeling. Just
ask customers of the new local delivery service; Chenango Bounty: Farmer’s Market at Your Door,
what an exciting experience it is to receive a weekly delivery of locally grown food right to your
door. As Phil Metzger a loyal customer has said, “I just can’t wait to place my order for the week.”
Whether we buy our local products directly from the producer, the farmer’s market, the farm
stand, the health food store or other retail outlet, we can also look for The Pride of New York
emblem. The Pride of New York Program is New York State’s marketing and promotion program
charged with generating interest and demand of New York food and agricultural products. By supporting the Pride of New York Program we encourage retailers and restaurants to highlight the products they use and sell. By simply asking the managers of your favorite restaurant, grocery store, or
your child’s food service director, you can make a difference in what shows up on your table or
theirs.
Knowing a certain amount of the language associated with a more sustainable way of eating will
help us to make those better choices. Is local better than organic? Should we buy New York apples
or organic apples from Washington? Do we buy cage-free eggs or organic eggs? Why should we buy
grass fed meat as oppose to grain fed meat? We all need to do a little research to better understand
the implications of our choices and how they impact our health and the health of our communities.
Good things don’t come easy, but are well worth the extra effort.
For more information, contact Sophie Belanger, local products and agri-tourism specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension Chenango County, 99 North Broad Street, Norwich, NY 13815.
73
IN THEIR OW N WORDS
Climate change is real
BY BRIAN BRENNAN
New Berlin
any of my friends
have their countdown
calendars
started – counting the days
until the end of George
Bush’s Presidency. Whether
they and the presidential
scholars who claim Mr. Bush
has been the worst President
in the history of our Republic
are correct, only the collective vote of several years
passing will give us the true
picture. Purportedly, Mr.
Bush takes solace in pointing
to the eventual exoneration of
previous Presidents such as
Mr. H. Truman who were vilified by their contemporaries
for unpopular policies but
honored in later years by historians for those same policies. However there is one
area of his Presidency where
I believe history will judge
him poorly and an area of
some local importance. That
area is this President’s steadfast denial of the collective
scientific consensus that
global warming is real and
has been accelerated by
human activity.
As I write this on the coldest day of this winter, (-) 5
deg F, global warming might
seem like a welcome turn of
events. However, one consequence of this warming is a
projected three foot rise in
sea level due to the release of
water tied up in the polar ice
caps and elsewhere. While
this may seem of little consequence in Chenango County
where Norwich’s elevation is
about 1000 ft and the ocean
115 miles away; there will be
indirect consequences for us
to worry about. For instance
we are a net importer of dollars from Albany. According
to figures supplied courtesy
of Assemblyman Clifford
Crouch’s Office and that
were generated by the Comptroller’s Office, Chenango
County receives $2.43 for
every $1.00 we send them.
New York City, one of the
coastal cities projected to be
hard hit by a rising sea level,
is the supplier of a good portion of those dollars that
M
Albany returns to us.
This fall semester I was
privileged to teach two science courses at a near-by college. When I quizzed my students on their knowledge of
the global warming threat to
Earth’s climate, I was dismayed to discover that many
students were in denial and
most were ignorant of the
details. As this quite likely
will be a major issue during
their lifetimes, we spent some
class time exploring this
threat. Two recent opinion
editorials in the Evening Sun,
one by Bob McNitt, the other
by Tom Morgan makes it
clear that it is not only the
younger generation who are
in denial. The title of Vice
President Gore’s film gets to
the heart of this myopic tendency – warming of the
Earth’s climate is most
assuredly an “inconvenient
truth” because it means we
cannot continue our profligate ways with our natural
resources and our environment.
So why is there controversy over the science of global
warming? Like a good detective novel the science of climate change has a multitude
of characters investigating it,
scientists and nonscientists,
who have different motives
and capabilities. Many nonscientists with various agendas can look at this vast array
of data and theories and pick
out those pieces that support
their agenda and ignore those
pieces that refute it. For
instance, the Earth’s orbit
about the sun changes slightly from year to year in a periodic fashion that leads to regular global cooling and
warming. The Earth has been
in a warming trend since the
1700’s, the so-called ‘Little
Ice Age’. The start of this
trend is well before the exponential rise in atmospheric
carbon dioxide. Pretty much
all scientists are in agreement
on that fact. The controversy
however is whether the speed
and projected extent of the
current warming is due strictly to this natural cycle or has
a large additional component
due to mankind’s activities,
Brian Brennan
in particular those activities
which generate carbon dioxide and other so-called
‘greenhouse gases.’ Most if
not all main-stream scientists
pretty much come down on
the side of humans accelerating and amplifying this natural trend. From the National
Academy of Scientists in
June of 2005 “http://nationalacademies.org/onpi/060720
05.pdf” http://nationalacademies.org/onpi/06072005.pdf)
:
“Climate change is real!
There will always be uncertainty in understanding a system as complex as the
world’s climate. However
there is now strong evidence
that significant global warming is occurring. The evidence comes from direct
measurements of rising surface air temperatures and
subsurface ocean temperatures and from phenomena
such as increases in average
global sea levels, retreating
glaciers, and changes to
many physical and biological
systems. It is likely that most
of the warming in recent
decades can be attributed to
human activities. This warming has already led to changes
in the Earth’s climate.”
A final thought in closing none of these negative effects
from human activity would
be an issue if there were a lot
fewer humans crowding the
Earth vying for resources.
This is the ‘elephant in the
room,’ the ‘third rail’ that no
one wants to touch or talk
about. Perhaps now is the
time to begin that discussion.
74
Yes...
Our pharmacists are much more than
prescriptions and medications!
• Locally owned and family operated.
You should know that there is much more to a pharmacist than
preparing and selling prescriptions and medication. Our pharmacists
are your partners in health. The focus is to provide you and your
family with ways to improve your health.
Another vital service provided by our pharmacists is follow-ups with
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• We’re proud to SERVICE you, our loyal
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• We’re proud to SERVICE you, our loyal customers in Norwich,
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All Of Our Stores Are Well Stocked With
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SERVICE PHARMACY
38 S. BROAD STREET, NORWICH, NY
6 N. MAIN ST., SHERBURNE, NY
12 MAIN ST., NEW BERLIN, NY
HOURS: 9-8 Mon.-Fri;
9-6 Sat.; 9-1 Sun.
9-6 Sat.; 9-1 Sun.
9-6 Sat.; 9-1 Sun.
607-334-2431
607-674-9691
607-847-8100

Is Chenango up to the challenges which lie ahead?

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