Instead of closing Andy\u2019s Barbershop in Owego on Monday, Oct. 21 for a normal day off, Andy and Matt Romano will instead spend their time cutting hair for charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. the Romano\u2019s fundraiser will benefit the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club, with all money from every haircut helping to fund the programs that aid 350-500 local children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe community has supported our family for 50 years so there is nothing better than giving back,\u201d stated Matt Romano, adding, \u201cThe Boys and Girls Club is a great organization in Owego, as a kid I went there and did many programs.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the oldest barbershops in America, Andy\u2019s has, in one form or another, been in business since 1855. Matt, who took over the business from his father Andy four years ago at their 26 Lake St. location, said that all haircuts during the fundraiser would cost at least $1.25 in honor of his father\u2019s 50th year cutting hair at Andy\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how much my father charged for a haircut when he first started,\u201d Andy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that if customers want to pay more for a haircut they can, or if they just want to donate money without getting a haircut that is an option as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matt added, \u201cDon\u2019t let it stop you from coming down if you don\u2019t need a haircut, because there are other things to do and its always fun to be at a barbershop. There are always great conversations going on and if you have never been here before come down and meet us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with haircuts, food from local Owego businesses will also be available free of charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere will be local food and coffee so if you have never tried Owego Kitchen Coffee it\u2019s great,\u201d said Matt. There will also be Fuddy Duddys\u2019 cookies and pizza from Original Italian Pizza and Mario\u2019s Pizza later in the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There will also be prizes and giveaways, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ken Hensen, director of operations for the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club, said that he has already heard from multiple people throughout the community that they are putting off getting a haircut until the 21st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that is pretty cool that word is out in the community,\u201d Hensen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without local funding, Hensen added, programs like Rec basketball for ages K-6th grade, indoor soccer for the same age group, kids in the kitchen, dodge ball and kickball wouldn\u2019t be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is fundraisers like this that help make it all possible; a lot of our funding comes from local sources,\u201d Hensen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hensen added he was especially grateful, considering the Romano\u2019s will be working on what would normally be a day off for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt speaks volumes that they are willing to do this on their day off. Kudos to these guys, it\u2019s pretty nice,\u201d said Hensen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with helping the local Boys and Girls Club and honoring his father\u2019s 50th year at Andy\u2019s, Matt said it was important to him to promote other local businesses at the same time by only using local food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing that with small business in Owego we all work together. It\u2019s part of being a community, all the businesses work together because it\u2019s not a competition, it\u2019s how can we bring more business to Owego together,\u201d Matt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that if someone from outside Owego comes to eat at a restaurant they might stop for a haircut, or vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen other local businesses bring in people it is good for all of us,\u201d Matt said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Instead of closing Andy\u2019s Barbershop in Owego on Monday, Oct. 21 for a normal day off, Andy and Matt Romano will instead spend their time…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":75628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n