FINGER LAKES--Area veteran organizations are planning ceremonies and events to mark the annual day that America honors those who have lost their lives while defending the United States of America. Yates County will recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice with several events.

WATKINS GLEN--The village of Watkins Glen saw hundreds of Corvettes over the weekend as the inaugural Corvette Festival was held at Clute Park and downtown. The event celebrated the 70th anniversary of the popular sportscar and the influence of racing in Watkins Glen on its development.

YATES COUNTY--A state of emergency was declared in Yates County, Monday, May 22 by legislative Chairwoman Leslie Church. According to county documents, “This state of emergency has been declared due to the anticipated imminent and uncoordinated delivery to the county by New York City of large numbers of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, putting unsustainable demands upon the county, and other municipalities in the county, for services, and compounded by the risks to public health and safety caused by the concomitant creation of de facto homeless shelters without appropriate approvals or support mechanisms.”

FINGER LAKES--Proposed budgets, propositions, and board member candidates across the region all found favor with area voters this year. For Dundee Central School residents gave a thumbs up across the board, easily passing all resolutions. This allows for adoption of the $21.2 million budget; the creation of a 10-year capital reserve fund; and the establishment of a “contract for educational services” with Dundee Library.

NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more than $112.9 million has been awarded to 70 projects through the Restore New York Communities Initiative. Restore New York supports municipal revitalization efforts across the state, helping to remove blight, reinvigorate downtowns and generate economic opportunity in communities statewide.

WATKINS GLEN--The village of Watkins Glen is sponsoring the inaugural Watkins Glen Corvette Festival May 20 and May 21, recognizing that the Corvette got its start in Watkins Glen.

NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Kathy Hochul last week issued a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to direct additional federal resources to the State of New York as it faces unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers. Building on ongoing conversations with federal, state, and local leaders, Hochul convened meetings with New York’s bipartisan Congressional delegation, the New York Association of Counties, and the New York Conference of Mayors to provide updates on the state’s efforts to support asylum seekers and further aid needed to address this situation.

KEUKA LAKE--The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office issued a report Monday, May 15 about the details of a drowning on Keuka Lake, Friday, May 12.
A media release explained the following: “Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard reports that on May 12, 2023, at about 1:42 p.m., deputies and investigators responded to a report of a 19-year-old male drowning in Keuka Lake.

SENECA LAKE--Summer camp is a ritual for most kids, with lots of memories and stories to share even years later. This is just as true for children with disabilities. For years, the Boy Scout Camp on Seneca Lake (Camp Babcock-Hovey) partnered with several Rotary Clubs to host a two-week camp (Camp Onseyawa) for children with severe disabilities.

WATKINS GLEN--With Title 42 expiring on Thursday (May 11), Schuyler County has become the latest county in New York to issue a state of emergency over the relocation of illegal immigrants within the state, County Legislature Chairman Carl Blowers and County Administrator Fonda Chronis announced last Thursday.

FINGER LAKES--Residents in five districts will give a thumbs up or down to school budgets next week. All seek an increase in the tax levy and all districts cite inflation and increased costs as driving factors. In Dundee, the district is asking voters to approve a nearly $21.2 million budget. This represents a 4.65 percent increase from the current budget.

YATES COUNTY--The Monday, May 8, meeting of the Yates County legislature opened with an update from County Administrator Nonie Flynn. She highlighted ways that the recently adopted New York state budget will impact the county, including various increases in mandates. For example, the state will now require counties to pay more into the Medicaid program, amounting to at least over half a million dollars annually.

DUNDEE--The Manchester- Shortsville Central School District announced last week they have selected Christopher Barnard as the next superintendent of schools. Barnard is the current superintendent of Dundee, a job he started in October of 2021.

SCHUYLER COUNTY--At the Monday, May 8, Schuyler County Legislature meeting, Paul Bartow, a trustee for the Schuyler County Historical Society, shared news from the group. Glenda Gephart has officially passed the baton to Heather O’Grady-Evans, who assumed the director’s position in April.

NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Kathy Hochul last Wednesday announced the highlights of the fiscal year 2024 budget. The budget reflects spending at $229 billion. The governor and state leaders reached an agreement to give judges greater discretion to set bail for the most serious criminal offenses. State investments will also expand programs and services for gun violence, recidivism, address the flow of fentanyl and improve the court system.

The annual Polar Bear Plunge was held at The Switzerland Inn on Keuka Lake, Saturday, April 29. Although the region saw a fairly mild winter season, the water temperature was only 44 degrees for jumpers to show their best cannonball, dive, flip or belly flop.

ALBANY (AP) — Lawmakers in Albany passed a $229 billion spending plan that will increase the state's minimum wage, tweak its bail laws and attempt to curb illegal and unlicensed marijuana shops.

YATES COUNTY--Yates County Administrator Nonie Flynn provided the following update on several programs currently in development or underway in the county. Finance Committee
-Planning:
• Planning Board – There is an opening for a representative from Middlesex.

FINGER LAKES--May 24 newspaper sports reports for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.

FINGER LAKES--May 17 newspaper sports reports for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.

FINGER LAKES--May 10 newspaper sports reports for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.

FINGER LAKES--May 3 newspaper sports reports for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour.

FINGER LAKES--April 26 newspaper sports reports for Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, Dundee, Penn Yan and Hammondsport.

FINGER LAKES--April 19 newspaper sports reports for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the April 12 newspapers.