Editor’s Notebook

I keep looking at the trees in my yard, and they are towering above, with green leaves still blowing in the wind – not an ounce of color to be seen. According to the foliage network, the biology of trees dictates leaves are green because of the plant’s chlorophyll, which allows a plant to absorb light and produce energy. As sunlight begins to decrease, trees understand that winter is near and stop producing the chlorophyll, allowing the other colors to come through.

More importantly, leaves’ colors are affected by external factors like temperature, precipitation and wind. Colorful foliage starts in the spring, which the snow melt releases moisture leaves need to grow. Late springs, like the one much of the region experienced this year, can ultimately end up changing when leaves change color and how bright those new colors are.

In the meantime, residents that do have leaves to rake are asked to bag them, or place them between the road and the sidewalk to be picked up by your local municipality, where applicable. You can check with your town to see when leaves are being picked up in your area.

In other news, Two Plus Four Construction, on or about Oct. 24, requested a vote prior to the next regularly scheduled village board meeting. The company has requested a zoning change for a proposed development on Owego’s south side.

There will be a special village board meeting on Monday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Hubbard Auditorium located in the Tioga County Office Building at 56 Main St. in Owego. According to the Village agenda, public comment will also be welcome at this time.

We also received word from several sources that a petition has been signed by residents in the nearby Halstead Development, an area that is in opposition of the construction of this project.

Also, the first public engagement meeting for Owego’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) saw a full house on Wednesday evening. 

The setting for the meeting was the Countryside Community Center in Owego, and the committee had boards set up throughout the cafeteria to highlight the different areas and goals, and to allow input from area residents.

Among the goals listed by the DRI, are Outdoor Recreation, Arts & Culture, Quality of Life, Infrastructure, Economic Development, and Housing and Neighborhoods.

Under Outdoor Recreation, and on the main map displayed during the meeting, were riverwalk improvements, a kayak and rowing launch, improvements to the fairgrounds, and an Owego Creek Walking and Biking Trail.

Arts & Culture listed the creation of an arts district, upgrades to the Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center, Tioga Theatre restoration, STEAM program expansion, and library and Historical Society improvements.

Under Quality of Life, Lake Street Streetscape improvements, parking management strategy, a Southside business Node, commercial façade improvements, and a year-round farm market were noted.

Under infrastructure, sewer issues, flood mitigation, and alternative transportation needs were listed.

Under Economic Development, the redevelopment of the vacant North Avenue site were listed, along with business marketing and branding, zoning revisions, and expansion of the downtown job base, and a brewery project.

For Housing & Neighborhoods, a stabilization fund, the renovation of vacant upper floors for residential, firehouse redevelopment, Owego Gardens 2, and the exploration of other residential development opportunities were highlighted.

The next meeting coming up is a Local Planning Committee Meeting scheduled for Nov. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Owego Apalachin Central School’s LGI Room, located at 1 Sheldon Guile Blvd. in Owego. These meetings are held every second Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m. through March. Additional public engagement meetings and a design workshop are also planned.

To learn more, visit www.ny.gov/downtown-revitalization-initiative/southern-tier-village-owego.

Also, and as a reminder with the election coming up on Nov. 6, we want to remind our readers of the newspaper’s political policy. To ensure fairness in upcoming elections, Letters to the Editor and anonymous comments regarding elections will not be published in this week or next week’s publication. 

The general election is taking place on Nov. 6, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Be sure to visit www.tiogacountyny.com/departments/board-of-elections/ or call Tioga County’s Board of Elections at (607) 687-8218 for more information.

Wendy Post is the editor of The Owego Pennysaver Press in Owego, N.Y. and The Troy Pennysaver Plus in Troy, Pa.