July 26, 2009 ( 1-4 pm)
TLC Blueberry Farm, 2053 Route 17C, Barton 

For the second year in a row, the Tioga County Agricultural Resource Group and Senator Libous’ Buy from the Backyard initiative, is offering the public FREE ice cream sundaes with delicious locally grown toppings.  Come to Stoughton Farm, Rt. 38, in Newark Valley on Sunday, June 7, from 1-4 pm for a relaxing Sunday afternoon at the farm.  The tasting and farm tour are a unique opportunity to savor the flavors of Tioga County while experiencing behind the scenes activities of this successful flower and vegetable farm. 
 
While at Sundaes at the Farm, you will be able to tour ten greenhouses where a large variety of bedding plants and hanging baskets are grown.  See the seeding machine the farm uses to accurately plant thousands of seeds each spring.  Learn how to make your own combination patio pot full of beautiful annuals—bring your own container to plant or purchase one at the farm.  Get good tips on planting your vegetable garden, including spacing, trellising, and fertilizing.  Learn how to care for and cook with herbs.  Meet Tioga County’s Dairy Princess, who’ll be serving the free ice cream sundaes featuring ice cream courtesy of Byrne Dairy, strawberry preserves from Iron Kettle Farm, and other local toppings from Organic Valley Cooperative, Howland’s Honey, Tom Babcock, and Hamley’s Maple Farm.  There will be fun activities for everyone, including families with young children!  So, bring your friends, family and en joy a Free Ice Cream Sundae at Sundaes at the Farm in June, July or August.

Other fun summer Sundaes at the Farm will be held on Sunday, July 26, at TLC Blueberry Farm in Barton, and Sunday, August 9, at MK Dairy in Owego.  For more information or a Sundaes at the Farm brochure with directions, call 607-687-7440, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or check the calendar of events .

A facilitated effort is underway in Tioga County to address natural gas drilling impacts and opportunities. A small working group assembled in early March with concerns about what gas drilling might hold for the public sectors of Tioga County.  Members of the group recognized that these greater community concerns were either not being addressed or were being addressed piece meal by several public, not-for-profit and private organizations.  This now formalized initiative, known as Tioga Investigates Natural Gas (TING), is an attempt to coordinate and streamline these fragmented activities. The purpose of TING is to address public sector impacts and opportunities related to natural gas drilling, not individual legal or lease-holder concerns. The intent of this effort is not to stop or hinder gas companies.

TING is designed to aid Tioga County in a coordinated approach to identifying and addressing public sector concerns through the use of a Steering Committee and stakeholder subcommittees.  The TING Steering Committee - with input from numerous local and national sources - has identified impacts, issues and opportunities associated with the development and production of natural gas. The TING Steering Committee is forming subcommittees and matching identified issues with appropriately aligned stakeholders. Subcommittees will then investigate, research and provide recommendations to the TING Steering Committee. Through a designated liaison, stakeholder subcommittees report regularly to the TING Steering Committee. Those groups with authority to implement subcommittee suggestions and recommendations will be encouraged to follow through with agreed upon actions.

The TING Steering Committee currently includes eleven representatives from Tioga County including: the Legislature, Planning, Soil & Water Conservation District, Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP), Cornell Cooperative Extension, Farm Bureau, Council of Governments, Environmental Management Council, a business representative (appointed by the Chamber of Commerce) and members at large. County Planning Director Elaine Jardine provides staff support.

Recently formed subcommittees include: Roads and Infrastructure (Temporary Chair, John Schumacher); Water Quality (Chair, Hans Peters); Workforce Development (Temporary Chair, Andy Fagan); and Public Safety  (Chair, Dick LeCount). Other issues identified to date where stakeholder subcommittees might focus efforts include: business opportunities, employment, local economy, taxes, education, and housing. Other environmental concerns to be addressed include additional water issues, soils, landscape, and pollution.

The TING Steering Committee is encouraging the collaboration of public agencies, municipal officials and private groups, as well as interested individuals to address the myriad of public sector issues associated with natural gas drilling. Subcommittee members are being identified and recruited based on the issues identified. Membership of stakeholder subcommittees is intended to be inclusive and dynamic.

For more information about TING contact the Tioga County Planning Director, Elaine Jardine: By mail: 56 Main Street, Owego NY 13827; By phone: 687-8257; By fax: 687-1435; By email.

Washington, DC -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development agency recently signed a four year extension of the Sullivan-Wawarsing Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zone and the Tioga County REAP Zone. Hinchey originally secured these designations in 1999 through the USDA in order to strengthen community development efforts and give the regions precedence in receiving federal grants and loans.

"The REAP Zone status has been an invaluable resource for the Town of Wawarsing, the Village of Ellenville and communities in Sullivan County and Tioga County, which have obtained tens of millions of dollars in economic development funding they otherwise wouldn't have received," Hinchey said. "While we've seen some important successes from this program over the past decade, I look forward to the program becoming even more effective now that we have a new administration committed to rural economic development and to providing additional federal assistance for grassroots efforts such as the REAP."

The REAP program has been an important economic development tool, with communities in Tioga County and Sullivan County, as well as the Town of Wawarsing and Village of Ellenville, receiving more than $61 million in the form of grants and low-interest loans that were awarded due to the areas' REAP status. The REAP Zone designations have resulted in both direct and indirect federal funding to grant applicants in the regions and leveraged additional monies through state and private sources. Funding was directed toward projects that expanded educational opportunities, strengthened agricultural businesses, revitalized infrastructure and improved health care and housing in the region.
Some examples of local funding as a result of the REAP designation include:

• $3.78 million for sewer and water infrastructure work in the Town of Barton.
•  A $1 million federal grant for the Village of Woodridge to replace its wastewater treatment plant and make other sewer system upgrades.
• $600,000 for a mobile dental clinic to provide residents in rural parts of the county with dental care.
  A $446,232 federal grant for the Sullivan County Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to install videoconferencing equipment at the BOCES site and nine county schools across five school districts.
• $175,000 in federal funds for a new meat processing facility in Liberty, which is expected to move forward this year.
• $93,000 for a "Main Street Institute" to promote business opportunities in the rural community centers, such as the Villages of Waverly, Owego and Spencer.

Hinchey developed the REAP Zone initiative as part of an effort to help spur economic development in struggling rural areas. REAP Zones are first cousins to the internationally recognized Empowerment Zones & Enterprise Communities and are pilot projects of the USDA. In January 1999, Hinchey persuaded the USDA to establish this new program in his congressional district on a 10-year trial basis, which was approved by the Clinton administration. As a result, the REAP Zone in Sullivan County and Wawarsing and a second REAP Zone in Tioga County were established.

After a strong start in the first years of the program, the Bush administration scaled back the federal commitment to the program and the funding available for rural community development initiatives. The Sullivan-Wawarsing REAP Zone covers all of Sullivan County as well as the Town of Wawarsing, including the Village of Ellenville, in Ulster County and the Tioga County REAP Zone covers all of Tioga County. The REAP Zones in the State of New York are two of only five such areas in the entire nation.

Last month, USDA Rural Development signed an agreement with both the Sullivan County-Wawarsing and the Tioga REAP that extends the REAP program for those areas until September 30, 2012. The authorization to extend the REAP program was made possible through agricultural legislation that Hinchey helped pass through Congress last year.

The REAP Zone established a collaborative, citizen-led effort to enhance economic development and enable local communities to develop and implement strategies to create long-term prosperity. The two REAP Zones in New York were established in critical parts of the state that had experienced economic dislocation and job loss as the state's rural economy changed. The REAP Zone initiatives serve as an important model for coordinated efforts to revitalize and diversify distressed rural economies in other regions of the New York State and the

Neighbors Helping Neighbors...a new Networking Opportunity

2008 has been a year of formidable challenges.  An old song suggests counting your blessings at such times to regain perspective and to serve as a reminder of the good things in life.  In Nichols, one of the very good things that many of us "count" is the strong sense of community that hovers over our residents like a sheltering tree.  Since 1999, that positive energy has been pulled together and organized into the Community Care Network of Nichols.  The grassroots leadership of two long time residents started CCNN. Through the years, CCNN has continued to evolve and mature through the efforts and support of many individuals and organizations dedicated to helping fellow residents across the lifespan stay healthy, productive, independent and in their own homes.  A trained volunteer force of 40 caring compassionate people visit, call, shop for, and transport neighbors to appointments, shopping and social activities.  CCNN also participates in and supports community programs and activities that foster in people a sense of shared purpose, respect and interdependence. The CCNN staff also serves as a central point of contact for people facing the everyday challenges of life and refers, encourages, and empowers individuals as needed.

 This model of community service has worked so well over the years that area agencies and organizations have encouraged CCNN to offer the design to other communities.  With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Faith in Action and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in partnership with the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University, and the Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP), CCNN is helping two other Tioga County communities adapt its model of community service to fit their home communities.  The two new groups are the Northern Tioga Neighbors Network (NTNN) of Berkshire/Richford and the Senior Information and Referral Service (SIRS) group of Spencer/Van Etten.   All three groups have also benefited greatly from the energy and creativity of interns from Rural Health Service Corps/Americorps who have been of enormous help with special projects for each group.  

Two ongoing resources were created through the ARC grant and are available to interested communities 1) a Community Care Network Resource Library designed to help people from all walks of life start a community care network where they live and 2) the Neighbors Helping Neighbors networking group (NHN), coordinated through REAP, which meets regularly to encourage, advise and share experiences and practical information.  People interested in creating a "neighbors helping neighbors" network in their own community or who would like more information about CCNN can call 607-731-3100 or REAP at 607-687-8258.   A description of Tioga County's two newest community care networks, NTNN and SIRS written by the chairperson of each organization follows.

The Senior Information and Referral Service (SIRS) is part of the Youth and Community Foundation of Spencer-Van Etten, a not-for-profit, community based charity established in 2000.  The Foundation's mission is to help the people of Spencer and Van Etten learn, dream, and create.  After some years, a board member noted that issues of the community's senior citizens were not being sufficiently addressed and formed a committee to deal with them.  A resource was developed to provide information on health support and other services to seniors.  Fortunately, the board member learned of CCNN which has since been providing training and help to us all along the way.  Now, in addition to information, we provide transportation to both medical appointments and social events and Meals on Wheels for Van Etten (Spencer also has this program).  We can be reached at 1-888-589-7833, Ext. #1.  In the future, we hope to develop a program offering minor home repair, such as ramps, porch repair, weather proofing and more, but for that we need a pool of skilled volunteers.  We will soon have an additional resource, a young member of the AmeriCorps Program who will help to promote our services and increase and train our volunteer base.  We are thankful to the Rural Health Network for making this opportunity available to us.

The Northern Tioga Neighbors Network (NTNN) got its start in 2004.  After funding was provided by the ARC grant administered by REAP, a committee with representatives from CCNN and the Rural Health Network met with representatives from the Richford Congregational Church and Lourdes Clinic in Richford to see if such a model as CCNN could be formed to serve residents of the Richford/Berkshire area.  With the sponsorship of the Richford Church and commitments from a group of community members, we began the process of forming an organization and training volunteers to provide transportation and other services.  After training several volunteers, we started offering services in 2007.  We provide transportation for medical services and take clients for grocery shopping.  Our volunteers also shop for clients.  Many need help with household repairs beyond our scope or have other needs that can be filled by referral to other area agencies.   Funding from the ARC grant ended March 2008, but our Advisory Board plans to meet the challenge of fund raising, and we continue to appreciate support from REAP and Rural Health Network, as well as the combined Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) group. It is good to be part of this "neighbors group" since we continue to help each other with ideas and encouragement.  Maybe someday NTNN will be as robust as CCNN; it just takes volunteer commitment!  Requests for more information and requests for NTNN services can be made by calling 607-657-2823 or toll-free 1-877-657-2823.  Services are only available to residents of Berkshire and Richford and there is no fee.

Anyone who needs services, wants more information, is interested in being trained as a volunteer or wishes to contribute time, talent or resources to any of these organizations is encouraged to call the phone numbers listed above.