Pictured is the Route 17 bridge over the Wappasening Creek in Nichols, N.Y., which was heavily damaged during a flash flooding event in July. (File Photo / Wendy Post)
As we prepare to say farewell to 2017, we pause to reflect on some of the local stories we reported on that helped make it a year to remember.
The new winter season brings back memories of the March super storm Stella, which dumped 40-plus inches of snow on the area. Stella’s blizzard stats surpassed even the typical annual snowfall seen in our area, and according to the National Weather Service in Binghamton, became the heaviest snowstorm on record. Stella’s stellar performance bogged us down for at least a week, and forced highways, schools and businesses to shut down, and even brought in the National Guard.
Flash flooding in July was hastened by four inches of rain in Broome and Tioga Counties in New York and Bradford and Susquehanna Counties in Pennsylvania, and caused numerous issues, including the closing of Exits 62 and 63 on Route 17 in Tioga County for some time.
The year also had us marveling in August as we experienced the total solar eclipse.
For the first time in school history, the OFA boys’ cross-country team won the Class B sectional title. Pictured, the OFA boys’ and the girls’ cross-country teams return to OFA as champions. The boys won the section championship, and the girls’ cross-country team finished second in the sectional championship. Photo credit: OA Schools.
In school news, the Owego Free Academy (OFA), Tioga and Newark Valley sports teams all celebrated championships. For the first time in school history, the OFA boys’ cross-country team won the Class B sectional title, and the OFA girls Swim and Dive team brought home the Section IV, Class B championship. And, for the third time in five years, the OFA Girls Varsity Volleyball team won the state championship.
The Tioga girls’ volleyball team won its third-in-a-row Section IV, Class C title, the fifth in six years, and the Tioga football team celebrated its sixth Class D title in seven years. In Newark Valley, the Cardinals football team claimed the Section IV, Class C championship game.
In other sports news, young athletes and the community gathered in September for a historic night at Hyde Park in Owego, where lights were turned on for the first time for Little League’s Fall Ball program. In Berkshire, over 200 residents gathered in June to celebrate the town’s renovated baseball field.
Members of the Broome-Tioga Suffrage Anniversary Committee and Tioga Women Lead gathered in front of the Courthouse at the start of an Aug. 19 event in Tioga County that celebrated the 100 Year Anniversary of a women’s right to vote. (File Photo / Wendy Post)
Senator Fred Akshar (R-52) announced the expansion of the “Ag in the Classroom” program, and in other school news, Tioga was one of five districts to start the “New York Thursdays” program.
Local organizations and veterans groups celebrated milestones in 2017. The Owego Lions Club celebrated its 65th anniversary in April, and in July, the VFW Post 1371 celebrated its 75th anniversary. In addition, five Tioga County residents were recognized in May for their American Legion membership, one of which had 70 years, and four others with 50 years.
Several special events were held in recognition of the anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. A historic marker commemorating Elizabeth Browne Chatfield, a suffragist and private secretary to Susan B. Anthony, was installed at 18 Front St. in Owego. The historic marker at 249 Front St. was replaced in 2017, which now better recognizes Belva A. Lockwood and her connection as the Owego Female Seminary principal and her achievement as a two-time Presidential candidate. Another historic marker, located at 106 McMaster St., and which honors WWII WAC Margaret J. Hastings, was vandalized in May, however recovered and repaired and reinstalled in time for Independence Day.
Demolition of the former Talcott Street School in January rekindled fond memories for many in the area. (File Photo / Jim Raftis, Sr.)
Demolition of the former Talcott Street School in January rekindled fond memories for many in the area, while several new construction projects were announced or started.
The hotel at Tioga Downs officially opened in December and groundbreaking and construction of the Gateway Building on Owego’s Front Street began in October. At the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant, work began to restore the historic establishment into a hotel.
A ribbon cutting at the new Owego Gardens Apartments was held in May, and in August, the owners of the Tioga Trails Café’ on Owego’s Lake Street announced plans to turn the second and third floors of their property into condominiums.
In September, a groundbreaking at the site of Bruce Nelson’s development on Front Street in Owego took place. Here, Nelson breaks ground. (File Photo / Wendy Post)
In other construction news, the developer proposing a 40-unit housing project in the Turtletown area of Owego withdrew the company’s application in November for a special use permit. The apartment proposal was met with various concerns from the community.
Also in 2017, the Lake Street project in Owego was successfully completed, an addition was finished at the Apalachin Library, and improvement plans for Waverly Glen Park were unveiled.
Apalachin saw the old fire station on Pennsylvania Avenue demolished in April, while the new station is now in its final stages. In Candor, the groundbreaking for a Veterans Memorial took place in October.
In April, crews began work to move debris from the Apalachin Fire Department’s station no. 1. The construction on the station, by year’s end, is nearly complete. (File Photo / Jim Raftis, Sr.)
Several other stories featured positive news for the area, too, which include the new playground at the Tioga Boys & Girls Club, the Owego Hose Team’s efforts to restore the Baker Fireman’s Fountain, along with recognition of Sheriff Gary W. Howard’s forty years of service.
Disheartening news occurred, too, such as the announcement by Sanmina to close their Owego facility in 2018 following a five-decade run that once housed Robintech and HADCO Corporation.
Several festivals, fairs, art walks, concerts and special events highlighted the year as well.
Interestingly, the story garnering the most reach for a single story on the Owego Pennysaver’s Facebook page was the 60th anniversary of the mafia raid in Apalachin.
By far, though, the coverage of April the giraffe and her newborn calf at Animal Adventure Park held the attention of thousands of readers for months, and even inspired Newark Valley’s Stoughton Farm to create a fall corn maze.
Happy New Year!
Be the first to comment on "Looking back on 2017"