A Popular Teacher At Hammondsport Central, Has Died

There is a Go Fund Me Page, started by Hammondsport Central School teacher Rachel McCloud.  Click here to donate to it.

 

Two Semi's Were In An Accident Early This Morning

The Campbell Fire Department reports that two tractor trailers were in accident on I86 between Savona and Campbell in the 5am hour this morning.  Officials say that in east bound lane, traffic was shut down to one lane.   The Savona Fire Department was also at the scene.

 

The Old School Is Becoming An Apartment Building 

In Hammondsport, work has gotten started on the Glenn Curtiss School roof.  That is according to Steuben County I.D.A. Director Jamie Johnson, who also says, funding for this comes from the New York Forward and Restore New York programs.  The Glenn Curtiss School has been empty for well over a decade.  It’s going to be turned into a market rate apartment building there in Hammondsport. Full renovations will begin in March.

 

An Historic Marker To Be Unveiled At Dunn Field In Elmira

CG Superintendent Speaks Tonight In Coopers Plains

Canisteo Greenwood School Superintendent Tom Crook will speak today at an educational forum at the Coopers Plains BOCES.  Crook will be talking about state aid to schools, electric school buses and educator recruitment.  That’s from 6pm to 730pm this evening at the Coopers Plains BOCES.

 

Salvation Army Bell Ringing Gets Started Wednesday 

 

A $30,000 Donation Going To Local Food Pantries

From The United Way Of The Southern Tier:

Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes and United Way of the Southern Tier have joined together to provide $30,000 to three food pantries in Chemung and Steuben counties.
Food pantries across the area have seen a significant increase in demand with the delay of SNAP benefits this month. According to data provided by Food Bank of the Southern Tier, three pantries in our region, which have been selected for the funds, recorded the greatest surge in clients: Samaritan Center in Elmira; Pantry of Angels, serving Lindley, Addison, and Woodhull, and Catholic Charities Emergency Services that covers Bath and Hornell.

“For generations, our community has built and sustained food pantries to ensure that all our neighbors are fed. Recently, those pantries stepped up in a big way as dramatically more people turned to them for help. In one case, a local food pantry saw a 300% increase in demand! Since the Community Foundation and United Way work closely with these programs year-round, we knew pantries would want to meet this moment, but their resources would quickly be stretched to the limit,” said Randi Hewit, president of Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes.
“Our generous community has made it possible to coordinate these emergency grants quickly. Personally, and professionally, I am grateful to live in a place where we take care of each other,” Hewit said.
“When families in our community are struggling, our neighbors, donors, and partners step forward without hesitation. This collaboration reflects the very best of who we are – a community that cares deeply and acts quickly,” said Maleaha Smith, president and CEO of United Way of the Southern Tier. “We’re so glad to partner with the Community Foundation to make sure local food pantries have what they need right now. This coordinated support fund is a great example of what happens when people come together to take care of one another.”
United Way of the Southern Tier continues to accept monetary donations to support food pantries in Chemung and Steuben counties and also encourages people to provide direct support to their local pantry.
Donations to United Way’s Emergency Response Fund can be made online. Checks can be mailed to: United Way of the Southern Tier, 88 E. Tioga Ave., Ste. 102, Corning, NY 14830. Please put “Emergency Response Fund” in the memo line of the check.
Those who prefer to donate food items should check with their local pantry. Volunteers are also needed to help. Those who would like to volunteer should contact their local pantry directly or visit United Way’s online volunteer page.

 

The Village Of Arkport's Solution To Speeding Drivers 

It’s been an ongoing problem since at least, last year at this time: drivers going way too fast in Arkport, especially near the school.  To slow things down, Arkport Village Hall has had speed radar signs, which tell you the speed your vehicle is going and there are two around the village.  There is one on East Avenue near Arkport Central School and the other is on Oak Hill Road.     

 

Corning Community College FAFSA/TAP Discussions 

Corning Community College will host a series of FAFSA/TAP Completion events at three locations in Elmira and Corning. The first couple of events will take place this week.  Staff from the Corning Community Office of Financial Aid will be on site to help college-bound students understand the FAFSA/TAP process and complete their 2026-27 FAFSA/TAP application. 

Nov 20 - Elmira Academic & Workforce Development Center | 4 PM & 5 PM

Nov 22 - Spencer Hill Campus | 9 AM & 10 AM

Dec 1 - Health Education Center | 5 PM & 6 PM

 

The Alfred State College Police Academy Graduation

From Alfred State Spokesperson Paul Welker: 

The Alfred State Police Academy honored the nineteen graduates of the seventh class of graduates at a ceremony held at Lake Lodge.

“As the Director of the Alfred State Police Academy, I could not be prouder of this graduating class,” commented Scott Richardson. “Their dedication, resilience and commitment to public service have been evident in every step of their training. These graduates have embraced the values that define the Alfred State Police Academy – leadership, integrity, and excellence.”

County Sheriff’s Scott Cicirello (Allegany County) and James Allard (Steuben County) delivered messages to the cadets. Pat Phelan, Executive Director of the New York State Chiefs of Police, was the keynote speaker while Taylor Grinols spoke on behalf of the students.

Richardson and ASC Vice President of Student and Employee Affairs Gregory Sammons recognized each of the graduates.

Police Academy graduates:

• Kyle Barr – City of Olean Police Department
• Cole Bingham – NYS University Police – SUNY Alfred
• Mason Boyd – Village of Waterloo Police Department
• Dylan Coots – Village of Mount Morris Police Department
• Logan Grahm – Village of Andover Police Department
• Taylor Grinols – City of Olean Police Department
• Tyshon House – Village of Allegany Police Department
• Max Johnson – Village of Blasdell Police Department
• Bradley Lawson – Village of Fredonia Police Department
• Judah MacDonald – City of Batavia Police Department
• Tiffany Major – NYS University Police – SUNY Fredonia
• Ryan McKenna – NYS University Police – SUNY Delhi
• Tyler McPhilomy – Allegany County Sheriff’s Office
• Amber Ouimet – NYS University Police – SUNY Oneonta
• Ryan Phelps – Steuben County Sheriff's Office
• Garrett Reppert - Steuben County Sheriff’s Office
• Wyatt Sando – Village of LeRoy Police Department
• Noah Warriner - Steuben County Sheriff’s Office
• Olivia Zbytek – NYS University Police – SUNY Fredonia

Richardson continued, “I am excited to see these graduates grow, build trust, and strengthen the communities they have sworn to protect and serve. Watching them become capable, confident police officers is one of the great privileges of being the Director.”

The next session is scheduled to begin in May 2026. For more information on the Police Academy visit: www.alfredstate.edu/police-academy.

 

The Senator Writes A Letter To The President

FROM SEN GILLIBRAND'S OFFICE: 

Today, as costs for seniors continue to climb, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the top Democrat on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, demanded that President Trump release the list of the most recent Medicare-negotiated drug prices. She also blasted President Trump for bringing Big Pharma executives and special interests to the White House to tout ambiguous “deals,” offering little insight into how, when, or even if they will lower costs for Americans. 

 

“As costs continue to skyrocket, Americans deserve clarity about how much they will need to pay for the medications they rely on,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Medicare negotiations Democrats fought for are lowering prescription drug prices, and I’m proud to have helped pass legislation that will deliver real savings for older Americans. The Trump administration should end their revolving door show of pharmaceutical industry representatives, immediately release the 2027 Medicare-negotiated prices, and focus on making a difference for older Americans struggling under the weight of high costs.”

 

Senator Gillibrand’s call comes as the cost of groceries, energy, and other everyday essentials continue to climb for American seniors, while Social Security cost-of-living adjustments fail to keep pace. Newly announced Medicare Part B premium hikes will take up roughly one-third of the average annual Social Security benefit increase next year.

 

“You continue to host flashy Oval Office press conferences announcing so-called ‘historic’ drug pricing deals standing beside pharmaceutical company CEOs,” the senators wrote in a letter to President Trump. “We are skeptical, and implore you to release the 2027 Medicare-negotiated prices. This will lay bare the facts: Medicare drug price negotiations meaningfully lowers the price of prescription drugs, unlike your opaque Oval Office announcements.”

 

Seniors and taxpayers will save billions of dollars due to Democrats giving Medicare the long overdue power to lower drug prices in 2022. The 15 Medicare-negotiated drugs that will be lowered in January 2027 include medications like Ozempic and Xtandi, though the Trump administration has not yet announced their prices. In one year alone, Medicare has spent more than $40 billion on these 15 drugs. On the other hand, President Trump and Republicans’ “Big Beautiful Bill” bailed out some of the world’s best-selling drugs from being included in Medicare negotiations, forcing seniors suffering from illnesses such as cancer to pay sky-high prices for life-saving drugs. 

 

“Your false promises on drug prices follow the same tired pattern of big talk about lowering costs without delivering. It is time to release the 2027 Medicare-negotiated drug prices so the American people can learn what to expect about their drug costs and see which party’s drug pricing policies actually make a difference for their pocketbook,” the senators concluded.

 

In addition to Ranking Member Gillibrand, the letter is cosigned by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), as well as Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

 

As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Gillibrand is continuing her longstanding fight to increase benefits and lower costs for seniors. She recently introduced the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, which would provide a $200-per-month increase to Social Security checks until July 2026, and the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act, which would increase Social Security benefits by  leveraging the formula used to calculate yearly cost-of-living adjustments to better account for seniors’ expenses. In response to Trump administration cuts and overhauls at the Social Security Administration, she has rallied alongside seniors and unions to demand a reversal of staffing and service reductions, and she introduced the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act to undo President Trump’s damage to the agency.

 

Senator Gillibrand is also part of Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attacks on Social Security and to ensure the American people can continue to rely on these essential programs that they have earned. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about the Republican agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.