COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE OF 9-11
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011 7:00 pm
ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH
31 N. Dansville, St.
Cohocton, N.Y.



Please distribute this to your contacts and join us in remembrance of 9-11, held on Sunday September, 11, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Assembly of God Church. Particpation by area churches, legions, and local fire departments. For info call 585-384-5952 or 585-384-9113.

By Gwen Chamberlain
The Chronicle-Express
Posted Jul 26, 2011 @ 03:39 PM


Penn Yan, N.Y. — Petitions for several elected offices in Yates County have been filed with the Yates County Board of Elections.

In Italy, Supervisor Brad Jones, who won the election two years ago, could find himself out of office now that his petitions have been challenged.

Republican Election Commissioner Amy Daines says 20 noted objections to his petitions were filed and as a result, his name will not appear in the Republican line. But former Supervisor Margaret Dunn’s name will be.

Two years ago, in the heat of arguments over wind turbine development, Dunn did not file petitions for the Republican nomination, but later launched an unsuccessful write-in campaign and Jones won the election.

Dunn’s name will appear on the Republican line of the November ballot.

Daines says the objections to Jones’s petitions included the fact that the witness statement at the bottom of the form was not completed properly, which nullifies the entire page of signatures.

Daines says Jones is circulating independent petitions.

Petitions circulated to support Patti Fitzgerald’s bid for an Italy Town Council seat were also disqualified.

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...Cohocton native, soldier Devin Snyder returns home, with family and friends.Lynn Brennan.Sgt. Devin Snyder’s casket is carried into the Walter E. Baird and Sons Funeral Home in Wayland Monday afternoon.

By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 14, 2011 @ 09:07 AM
Last update Jun 14, 2011 @ 09:26 AM


Cohocton, N.Y. — It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Devin Snyder’s homecoming in July was supposed to be a 14-day solace, a two-week reprieve from the carnage and intensity of duty in the Middle East.

It was supposed to be a time rife with the enjoyment of family and friends, of the Cohocton community that watched her grow up during the past two decades.

She is home now. But it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

U.S. Army Sgt. Devin Snyder — beloved daughter, sister, friend, student, soldier — dead at 20 years of age, killed by a roadside bomb on June 4 in the Laghman Province in Afghanistan.

Nine days after her tragic death, a state police-escorted cortege — led by Trooper Chris Smith, father of fallen Hornell Marine Lance Cpl. Zach Smith — wound its way through Wayland and Cohocton, coming to rest at the Walter E. Baird & Sons Funeral Home in Wayland.

Hundreds lined the route, many with flags and tears and signs professing love, and all with silence as they braved the heat to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying their track star-turned soldier.

Just after 1 p.m., the cortege turned the bend on State Route 63 toward the Village of Wayland, proceeding through rows of silent students waiting outside the school Snyder graduated from in 2008.

The procession entered the village, passed sidewalks thick with muted spectators, and then headed north on State Route 21 and into Cohocton. Finally the cortege passed her family’s house on State Route 415 and the home of little Lauren Grace Hughes, the girl who lived across the street from Snyder, the girl whom Snyder babysat, the girl now proudly brandishing an American flag in memory of a friend and mentor.

Approximately four hours after her body was transferred by an Army honor guard from a plane at Rochester International Airport for the ride home, the cortege reached the funeral home. Another Army honor guard conveyed her body inside, as Patriot Guard Riders, holding flags skyward, encircled her family.

Friends, teachers, neighbors, and strangers lined the sidewalk, many with tears even the hot June sun couldn’t evaporate, and all carrying the sadness of knowing a life extinguished far too early.

Devin Snyder is home now. And here, amongst family and friends, she’ll stay.

.....Body of soldier comes home Lynn Brennan | The Evening Tribune.Jacob Longuil, of Conesus, salutes as Snyder’s procession makes its way through Wayland.



Posted Jun 14, 2011 @ 12:02 AM


Cohocton, N.Y. — The body of an American soldier killed in Afghanistan earlier this month arrived in western New York Monday, escorted home by a procession that included 150 Patriot Guard motorcyclists.

A plane carrying the body of Army Sgt. Devin Snyder arrived late Monday morning at Rochester International Airport. Bystanders holding flags lined an airport road as the hearse bearing the casket drove past.

The procession traveled 40 miles south and arrived around 1:30 p.m. in Wayland.

A 2008 graduate of Wayland-Cohocton High School, Snyder came from a family with strong ties to military service. Her father, Edward Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and two of her siblings, Natasha Snyder, 23, and Damien Snyder, 19, are serving in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, respectively.

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah)
Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Snyder, 20, was one of four soldiers killed June 4 in Laghman province when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

Calling hours are 1-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Walter E. Baird Funeral Home, 300 W. Naples St.

Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at the Cohocton Sports Complex of the Wayland-Cohocton Central School District.

Cohocton Awaits Return Of Fallen Hero
Cohocton Awaits Return of Fallen Hero (Tom Maloney) Reported by: Sean Carroll Email: scarroll@13wham.com
--- The family of Devin Snyder, 20, expects her home some time next week. The community she grew up in is making preparations and grieving her loss while trying to comfort her family.

Late Friday Cohocton Town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus told 13WHAM News that the Snyder family was just informed that the U.S. Army is posthumously promoting Specialist Snyder to the rank of Sergeant. According to the Department of Defense Snyder was assigned to the 793rd Military Police Battalion and on Saturday she was one of four soldiers killed when an insurgent attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

The 2008 Wayland-Cohocton High School grad was known for her outgoing personality, athletic excellence, and as a proud member of a military family. Snyder’s father is a U.S. Navy veteran and her brother and sister are currently enlisted.

The Snyder name is a familiar one at the Cohocton Veterans Memorial where an American flag flies at half-staff and yellow ribbon joins the U.S. Army flag. Snyder’s have served our nation in wars and peacetime dating back to the Civil War.

“The Snyder's date back in this community for generations," Zigenfus, who is also a family friend said.

This week that community has prepared for the return of their fallen hero. They’re hanging yellow ribbons everywhere, posters with Snyder’s photo and a simple message “Your Community Honors You” hang in store windows, and an American Flag flies on every home and in every lawn.

"It's the waiting, it's hard on us it's hard on the family," Cohocton Village Mayor Thomas Cox said. "It's a sad time for all of us, it's tough."

Snyder was the girl you’d see at the town park on summer days like this; she was a camp counselor for years and the local children looked up to her. Sure, folks here remember last January when it was Marine Lance Corporal Zach Smith of Hornell who was killed in the line of duty. But this time, with Devin, it just feels different.

"It's tough, Hornell was close but it doesn't happen in Cohocton,” Cox said while choking back tears. “I know everybody says that, it's not going to happen here, but it does. It does."

Cox said Smith’s parents paid the Snyder family a visit this week. Smith’s father Christopher is a New York State Trooper who intends to be among those escorting Snyder’s remains home to Cohocton next week. There are already plans for a public memorial service at the school’s sports complex. It won’t be easy for anyone but the community will go through this together.

"I think because of its close-knit ties that when something happens, especially of this magnitude, I don't think there's anything that this community wouldn't do to help one another,” Zigenfus said. “That's what we do here."

Ribbons spread across Cohocton to honor Devin Snyder, family. Andrew Poole.Volunteers placed large, handmade yellow ribbons — with smaller red, white, and blue ribbons — across Cohocton on telephone poles and the new gazebo Wednesday in honor of U.S. Army Spc. Devin Snyder, who was killed Saturday in Afghanistan.


By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 09, 2011 @ 10:20 AM


Cohocton, N.Y. — In what will probably be one of several memorials for U.S. Army Spc. Devin Snyder, volunteers hung yellow ribbons across Cohocton on Wednesday in remembrance of her sacrifice.

Volunteers attached handmade large yellow ribbons — with smaller red, white, and blue ribbons in the middle — to telephone poles in the village.

Cohocton native Snyder, 20, and three other military policemen were killed Saturday by a roadside bomb in the Laghman Province in Afghanistan. She was scheduled to come home for two weeks in July.

A 2008 graduate of Wayland-Cohocton High School, Snyder came from a family with strong ties to military service. Her father, Edward Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and two of her siblings, Natasha Snyder, 23, and Damien Snyder, 19, are serving in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, respectively.

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah) Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Cohocton Supervisor Jack Zigenfus said the whole community came together to hang the yellow ribbons.

“It’s normal to display support for the family,” he said. “Our plan was to line the streets in the village, especially the route to the cemetery.”

By Wednesday afternoon, the ribbons were hanging from telephone poles along State Route 415. Zigenfus said the remaining ribbons would be placed in the village after he met with the Atlanta and Cohocton American Legions, the Cohocton fire department and Atlanta-North Cohocton Fire District, Mayor Thomas Cox, and the Cohocton police department Wednesday night.

Zigenfus said the meeting was to coordinate memorial efforts for Snyder, according to her family’s wishes. Cohocton police Officer-in-Charge Rob Anger is coordinating Snyder’s procession with the state police and Livingston and Steuben County Sheriff’s Offices.

Dates and times for the services have not been set.

The supervisor said he will likely recommend to the town board at the June 20 meeting that a pavillion at Lawrence Parks be named after Snyder, who worked in the park for several years.

Natasha and Damien Snyder also worked in the park, and Dineen Snyder, the fallen specialist’s mother, was the park director for several years.

“It’s a fitting place to honor her. There’s a long family connection with the park,” said Zigenfus.

Friends remember Cohocton native Devin Snyder
U.S. Army specialist, 20, killed Saturday in Afghanistan. AP.An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Devin A. Snyder during a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Monday. According to the Department of Defense, Snyder, of Cohocton, died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

by Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 07, 2011 @ 08:54 AM


Cohocton, N.Y. — There isn’t just one memory of Devin Snyder that stands out to Micalah Sick. It might be when Sick, now 17, was in eighth grade and looked up to Snyder as both a soccer player and mentor. It might be later, when the two would drive to the Food Mart and wolf down popsicles before track practice.

Regardless, Sick, a senior at Wayland-Cohocton, knows what Snyder’s place is with her and in the Cohocton community.

“She was my hero. I looked up to her. If I needed to talk to anybody, she’d listen. She helped me grow up,” said Sick. “She’s a local hero. She’ll always be a hero for us.”

Two days after Snyder, 20, was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving as a specialist in the U.S. Army Military Police in Afghanistan, flags across Cohocton hovered at half-mast in mourning. Town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus said flags would remain at half-mast until the completion of Snyder’s funeral services.

Snyder, a Cohocton native, was deployed to Afghanistan in April, and due to come home for two weeks in July.

In Monday’s Tribune, family members remembered her as strong-willed and compassionate, whose heart was always set on joining the service.
“She would give somebody the shirt off her back,” said her mother, Dineen Snyder, in Monday’s Tribune. “She would have taken a bullet for anybody.”

Part of a family with a long line of service, Snyder spoke of joining the military throughout high school. Her father, Ed Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and her sister Natasha Snyder, 23, is serving in the navy and her brother Damien Snyder, 19, is serving in the U.S. Army.

“That was going to be her career. She wanted this since high school and she was the type of person who know what she wanted and worked her butt of for it,” said her uncle, Ron Snyder, in Monday’s Tribune.

Sara Stone, 20, a friend and teammate of Snyder’s in high school who has lived across the street from the Snyder family for two years, said it was unbelievable Snyder was killed.

“She was always strong about everything, in every situation,” said Stone. “I hadn’t talked with her in a couple years. I wished I had.”

Two of Snyder’s soccer coaches, Julie Martin and Bill Sick, remembered her as a player whose fiery energy inspired teammates.

“She was a very spirited girl. She had a little spitfire in her. She put her heart and soul into whatever she did. If she was going to do something, she was going to do it all out and not hold back,” said Martin.

“Whatever anybody needed, she’d do without hesitation. That was her nature,” added Bill Sick.

Wayland-Cohocton Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said the school was planning on honoring Snyder, but wanted to work with her family on the memorial.

“A lot stood out about Devin,” said Wetherbee. “She was a wonderful young lady in high school, a very, very good athlete in soccer and track, and an extremely likeable student when she was here.

“Obviously, she came from a family where military service is important. We put the highest regard on students who want to pursue that noble profession.”

Area politicians also expressed their grief and appreciation for Snyder’s sacrifice and their support for her family.

“It’s always troublesome to me when war hits home, when our young men and women pay the ultimate sacrifice,” said Congressman Tom Reed in a conference call Monday. “My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”

State Senator Tom O’Mara, R- Big Flats, also expressed his sadness at Snyder’s death in a release Monday.

“I know that I join the community of Cohocton and the residents of Steuben County and our entire region in mourning Devin’s passing and in expressing our enduring gratitude and respect for her service,” he said.

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah) Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Funeral arrangements are still incomplete as of Monday afternoon, but will be handled by Walter E. Baird & Sons Funeral Home in Wayland.

http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story/Local-Soldier-Makes-Ultimate-Sacrifice/btIS29o_8EqVoz4lrGDHsw.cspx

http://blip.tv/wenytv/remembering-spc-devin-snyder-5247857

Army Spc. Devin Snyder


By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 05, 2011 @ 11:56 AM
Last update Jun 06, 2011 @ 10:57 AM


Cohocton, N.Y. — The war in Afghanistan claimed the life of yet another Steuben County native over the weekend.

Over a year after Hornell native Zach Smith was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, Cohocton native Devin Snyder, 20, a specialist in the U.S. Army Military Police, was killed by an improvised explosive device near Mehter Lam in Afghanistan on Saturday.

According to her family, three other U.S. Army members riding in the vehicle with Snyder were also killed in the blast.

Her mother, Dineen Snyder, remembered her daughter as an “outright sweetheart” who could always bring a smile to anyone’s face.

“She would give somebody the shirt off her back. She was very strong-willed, but very compassionate at the same time. I had always been afraid of her being in the army. She would have taken a bullet for anybody,” she said.

Snyder was deployed in Afghanistan in mid-March, said her mother, and was due home in July for two weeks.

Snyder was part of a family with strong ties to the military service. Her father and former Cohocton mayor, Edward Snyder, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and two of her siblings, Natasha, 23, and Damien, 19, currently serve in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, respectively.

Although confirming she was scared of her daughter joining the army, Dineen Snyder said she and her husband never tried to talk their daughter out of joining the service.

“She always had her heart set on joining the Army. We always let our kids make their own choices as to what they want to do. We were supportive,” she said.

Ron Snyder, the specialist’s uncle, agreed she always had her heart and mind set on joining the military.

“That was going to be her career. She wanted this since high school, and she was the type of person who knew what she wanted and worked her butt off for it,” he said. “She had a personality that wouldn’t quit.

“I don’t think she had any other interests except the army. That was her goal, to go as far as possible. She was probably a 30-year person.”

A 2008 graduate of Wayland-Cohocton Central School, Snyder was an avid soccer player and track star, who earned the nickname “Twiggy” when she started running track on varsity, said former Wayland-Cohocton girls track coach Jeff Englert.

“We brought her up as an eighth grader,” said Englert, who coached Snyder in high school. “She was always a real pleasant kid to be around. The older girls were taken with her. She just took their hearts. She was very humble, always looking to get better and better.”

Englert said he became close with her and the rest of her family during her five-year track stint, and that he’d stayed in touch with Snyder since she joined the service.

“She did a lot of great things for me as a friend her senior year. She told me the heartbeat of the team, anything I needed to look at as a coach. She helped me become a better person and coach,” he said. “She had everything going for her. To have it end like this is awful.”

Snyder is survived by her parents, Ed and Dineen Snyder; two brothers, Derek (Mariah) Snyder, 28, and Damien Snyder, 19; a sister, Natasha Snyder, 23; and a niece, Ariel.

Snyder’s family is flying to Dover, where her body is arriving today. Services aren’t scheduled yet but will be held at Walter E. Baird & Sons funeral home.

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

State Government Awards $191 Million To Wind Projects
June 02, 2011 05:18:00

Howard Wind Project Recieves Some Of This Money

June 2, 2011



Albany, NY - Governor Andrew Cuomo says the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) have awarded $191 million to 17 power projects across the state.



Wind projects selected include:

· Howard Wind Farm, Steuben County
· Stony Creek Wind Farm, Wyoming, Wyoming County
· Allegany Wind Farm, Great Valley, Cattaraugus County
· Marble River Wind Farm, Churubusco, Clinton County



According to the governor's office, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) was created in 2004, and promotes the development of new renewable energy resources, and the RPS is funded by a surcharge collected from ratepayers served by utility companies.



Local critics of wind energy say the RPS is a scam in which credits are sold from one wind company to another, whether wind is generated or not, and that it was not until the RPS system came along that industrial wind projects started up in the southern tier.



"They're trying for these credits and that's the end of the story" said Howard resident Gerry Hedman. Hedman, a wind protester who lives near property where a wind turbine will be soon constructed, unsuccessfully sued the Howard Town Board over the wind project.

Quint Baird starting pitcher

.....Double trouble: Nobles’ big night pushes Eagles in BB title game.Zoom Photos. Derrick Balinsky.Way-Co starting pitcher Quint Baird.



By Derrick Balinsky
The Evening Tribune
Posted Jun 01, 2011 @ 10:45 AM


Dansville, N.Y. — Zach Nobles put both his bat and glove to good use Tuesday night.

The outfielder-pitcher notched a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while also pitching a solid 1 1/3 innings of relief as the top-seeded Wayland-Cohocton Eagles made their way to the Section V, Class BB championship round with a 10-5 victory over the fourth-seeded Livonia Bulldogs at Babcock Park in Dansville.

“It’s nice to get back to this stage. It’s been a couple of years since we been to the finals,” Way-Co skipped Wager said minutes after the conclusion of the game which was delayed nearly an hour due to an unplayable heat index on the field. “It’s nice to see the kids get excited but not overly celebrate because I think that they’re not satisfied yet.”

Livonia bounced back from an early deficit to knot the game at three with a three-run third. They opened up a 4-3 advantage in the top of the fourth, but the maroon and gold would answer with a five-run fifth which essentially sealed the Bulldogs’ fate.
“We had a couple of clutch hits,” Wager said when asked about the fifth-inning offense. “In the inning before, we had bases loaded with nobody out and two, three, four in our order coming up and I think we only came up with one. So it was nice to see a couple of clutch hits to finally break the game open a little bit.”

“We got that first out on a pop-up to the shortstop and then on a second pop-up, my second baseman got a little gun shy after a collision earlier,” Livonia head coach Scott Gillman said. “You could see that he didn’t want to go after the ball. Once that fell in, you’ve got yourself base runner to contend with and the next kid singled. Before you know it was just hit after hit after hit. When you extend innings like that, especially with how hot it was, people get tired and it starts to wear on you.”

The Bulldogs spotted the Eagles a 3-0 head start by the end of the first inning.

“The guys have done a good job this year of getting off to good starts,” Wager said. “In any sport that’s important. You get off to a good start and you build confidence as you go, and hopefully you keep it.”

“It was very difficult to try and come back after getting behind early,” Gillman said. “We did the same thing against Aquinas — we were down three after one and it was the same thing here. You can’t live too long falling behind as much as we did and it finally caught up with us. Even though we were able to catch up and take the lead, we weren’t able to do that the second time. I think it came down to their ability to hit the ball and our inability to throw strikes. Our freshman walked seven kids and that’s just something he’ll have to get better at.
“Experience and depth,” Gillman added, referring to the biggest differences between the two clubs. “We don’t have a whole heck of a lot of experience. And as far as pitching, we don’t have a whole heck of a lot of depth. Our freshman started tonight and it was a good experience for him to pitch a semifinal. Hopefully that will carry him for the next three years.”

Evan Englert went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Tyler Brown also ended up 2-for-3. Ryan Gibbs was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Tyler Thielges chipped in at 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Quint Baird struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks.

“I thought he was solid. For the conditions, and as hot as it was, I thought he pitched very well,” Wager said. “He was just over 100 pitches and he said he was fine, but we just thought it was time to make the switch.”

The Bulldogs go out of business at 13-8 and will lose five starting seniors to graduation.

“It’s always tough when you lost your last game,” Gillman said. “My expectations are always high coming into any season, but I didn’t expect to win 13 games with this team. We only really had four returning players and a bunch of young kids stepping in. To win 13 games and reach the semifinal round of our bracket, we’re proud of that but still the short of it is that you don’t want to lose.
“We lose our senior horse who has done most of the pitching for us, a three-year catcher and our shortstop. The center fielder will be tough to replace, too, because he’s our catalyst lead-off hitter.”

The Eagles will meet up with second-seeded Hornell on Friday afternoon at a time and venue that has yet to be determined. The two teams split their regular-season series, Wayland winning on its home field 8-5 and Hornell winning 4-0 at Maple City City Park to clinch the Livingston County Athletic Association Division I championship.

“These are two pretty evenly matched teams. We split during the regular season, but I think the kids are confident,” Wager said. “They know that we’ve had a lot of success against these guys the last few years. Again, they’ll be confident going into the game, it’s just a matter of producing and getting the job done.”

Wager was unsure which of his pitchers would be called upon to get the next start and he didn’t rule out throwing Baird back on the hill.

“It’s hard to say,” Wager said. “We’ll see how Quint bounces back. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

Way–Co middle school gets free 21st Century Wireless Lab.Zoom Photos. Jeff Miller.Brian Resler, sales manager for the Chicago office of Toshiba, demonstrates Toshiba tablet PCs to eighth graders in the Wayland-Cohocton Middle School libarary May 26.


By Jeff Miller
Genesee Country Express
Posted Jun 02, 2011 @ 12:00 PM
Last update Jun 02, 2011 @ 02:38 PM
Wayland — At a time when budgetary constraints are making it impossible for area schools to make large purchases, Wayland–Cohocton Middle School recently installed a wireless computer lab worth about $48,000.

The district acquired its new lab absolutely free.

A year ago, Anita Pragle, a teacher's aide, learned about a 21st Century Wireless Lab sweepstakes through a partnership between CDW-Government and Discovery Education. Rules allowed contestants to enter as often as they wanted, so Pragle did — every single day for about a month and a half via the internet. Out of 118,000 unique entries (or roughly 600,000 total entries for each school that entered more than once) from all 50 states, Wayland-Cohocton was one of three schools that won the grand prize.

“I didn’t believe it for a while,” Pragle said, adding that she thought the phone call was some kind of hoax. But it wasn’t until Lynn Siciliano, head of the school’s technology department, who was also notified the school had won at the same time, told her that it was indeed for real, that she finally accepted it.

Pragle said the receipt of the new computer equipment is right on time. The school was down to four laptops in the computer lab and 13 computers in the library for students to use. It wasn’t uncommon for the library’s computers to be fully occupied, Pragle said. “Most of the time, we sent students away.”

To launch the new lab, representatives from Discovery Education, CDW-G and Toshiba showed students and teachers how to use the new technology May 26. Pragle said the new system will be housed in the computer lab and be taken to classrooms on an as-needed basis. The whole lab can fit onto a cart and wheeled wherever it needs to go.

“That’s what makes it so nice,” Pragle said.

In addition to the three grand-prize winning schools, 20 other schools won other equipment. In all, schools received more than $150,000 worth of technology equipment from the 2010 sweepstakes.

The contest is in its ninth year, and has awarded nearly 30 wireless labs to schools across the country. Each winner is chosen through a random drawing.

Copyright 2011 Dansville-Genesee Country Express. Some rights reserved

WAYLAND COHOCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL
National Junior Honor Society Inducts New Members





2011 Inductees: Sixth Grade: Madelyn Belanger, Alison Bligh, Emily Burke, Hanna Recktenwald, Alexis Robinson, Nicholas Smatl, Tara Stern, Raymond Tolner, Samantha Towner, Jackson West, Cora Young; Seventh Grade: Ian Carter, Kaitlin Harter, Bryce Kennedy, Brandon Sahrle, Marissa Schirmer, Bradley Sick, Alzy Uhl; Eighth Grade: Alexis Carnrite, Ben Topey

CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRST WIND COHOCTON AND WCCS SENIORS

First Wind owns and operates the 125 MW Cohocton Wind project in Cohocton and the 20 MW Steel Winds project in Lackawanna. The three 2011 scholarship awardees from New York are all from Wayland-Cohocton High School:

• Hannah Kimmel of Wayland will attend State University of New York College of Environmental Science in the fall where she will study Renewable Energy;
• Alexander Decker of Cohocton has been accepted to University of Rochester and will major in Biology;
• Sarah Wolcott, also of Cohocton, will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where she will pursue a degree in Engineering.

Press Release: First Wind Continues Growth of its Scholarship Program with Announcement of Fifteen Recipients for 2011
Press Release
In its second full year, top high school graduates from Hawaii, Maine, New York, Utah and Washington are selected from an expanded and talented applicant pool

Boston, MA—May 24, 2011—First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced fifteen recipients of the company’s scholarship program. In its second full year, applications to the 2011 First Wind Scholars program more than doubled, and the college-bound students selected to receive scholarships were from host communities in Hawaii, Maine, New York, Utah and Washington.

First Wind Scholars offers one-time, $3,000 scholarships to local high school seniors who display strong potential for a successful college experience, as well as interest in the environment, energy, or the sciences. Of the fifteen scholarships awarded, one exceptional student, Joshua Lake of Utah’s Delta High School, has been awarded a renewable scholarship of $5,000 for up to four years.

“In its second full year, we were very pleased to see the significant increase in applications from so many talented and bright high school students in the communities where we develop and operate wind projects,” said Carol Grant, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for First Wind. “As we grow our development of clean, renewable energy projects across the Northeast, the West and Hawaii, we will continue to expand our scholarship program with the hope that students within our host communities take full advantage it. For our 2011 recipients, we wish them all the best during their college careers and we are excited about their future contributions in the fields of environment, energy and the sciences.”

Hawaii
First Wind owns and operates two projects in Hawaii including its 30 MW Kaheawa Wind project on Maui and its 30 MW Kahuku Wind project on Oahu. First Wind has a power purchase agreement with Maui Electric Company for an additional 21 MW expansion of its Kaheawa Wind Project. In addition, First Wind hopes to build a 70 MW project near the town of Haleiwa, called Kawailoa Wind. First Wind received more applications from students living in Hawaii host communities than from any other state, which resulted in six scholarships being awarded to students from the state. This year’s recipients from Hawaii include the following:

• Dane Oshiro of Kula, a graduate of Maui High School, will attend Willamette University and will major in Environmental Science;
• Stephen Adolfson of Lahaina attended Lahainaluna High School and is enrolled in Colorado State University where he will pursue a degree in Engineering;
• Kamie-Lei Fujiwara of Wailuku, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Maui, has been accepted to Dartmouth College and will major in Environmental Science;
• Kiana Wilson of Laie attended Kahuku High School and will be attending Brigham Young University-Hawaii with a major in Science/Journalism;
• Daniella Reyes of Mililani, a graduate of Leilehua High School, will be attending Santa Clara University in California and will major in Biology;
• Jeffrey Milhorn of Wahiawa, who also attended Leilehua High School, will attend University of Colorado at Boulder where he will pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Maine
First Wind owns and operates three projects in Maine: the 57 MW Stetson I and 26 MW Stetson II projects, both near Danforth, and the 42 MW Mars Hill Wind project in Mars Hill. The company is also currently building the 60 MW Rollins Wind project, which is situated in the towns of Lincoln, Burlington, Lee, Winn and Mattawamkeag. First Wind also has projects in development in Eastbrook and Oakfield, Maine. As part of the 2011 program, First Wind awarded scholarships to three high school students:

• Nicklaus Carter of Franklin, who is a graduate of Sumner Memorial High School, will attend the University of Maine where he will major in Chemical Engineering;
• Selden Porter of Lincoln, who attended Mattanawcook Academy, has enrolled into the Rochester Institute of Technology where he plans to study Mechanical Engineering;
• Dillan Hesseltine of Lincoln and also a graduate of Mattanawcook Academy will attend the Maine Maritime Academy as Marine Engineering Technology major.

New York
First Wind owns and operates the 125 MW Cohocton Wind project in Cohocton and the 20 MW Steel Winds project in Lackawanna. The three 2011 scholarship awardees from New York are all from Wayland-Cohocton High School:

• Hannah Kimmel of Wayland will attend State University of New York College of Environmental Science in the fall where she will study Renewable Energy;
• Alexander Decker of Cohocton has been accepted to University of Rochester and will major in Biology;
• Sarah Wolcott, also of Cohocton, will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where she will pursue a degree in Engineering.

Utah
First Wind owns and operates the largest utility-scale operating wind farm in Utah. The Milford Wind project features an operating phase of 204 megawatts (MW) and a second 102 MW phase, which recently achieved commercial operations. The First Wind Scholars program, which awarded its inaugural scholarship to a Utah student, will provide scholarships to the following two recipients:

• Joshua Lake of Leamington, who attended Delta High School, is the recipient of the four-year scholarship, will enroll at Utah State University, where he plans to study Electrical Engineering;
• Kyle Goodwin of Beaver, a graduate of Beaver High School, will attend Southern Utah University where he will pursue a degree in Engineering.

Washington
As part of its 2011 scholarships, First Wind also announced its first recipient in Washington, which is where the company has proposed the Palouse Wind project in northern Whitman County. Devin Saywers, a graduate of Cheney Liberty High School, will attend the University of Washington where he will major in either Physics or Chemistry.

Launched in October 2009, the First Wind Scholars program is available to high school students residing in each community where First Wind currently has a project in operation or in an advanced stage of development. The scholarship supports standout local high school students with an interest in studying the environment, energy or the sciences. In its first two years, the First Wind Scholars program has awarded 27 scholarships to top high school graduates from Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

About First Wind
First Wind is an independent wind energy company exclusively focused on the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of utility-scale wind projects in the United States. Based in Boston, First Wind has wind projects in the Northeast, the West and in Hawaii, with the capacity to generate up to 635 megawatts of power and projects under construction with the capacity to generate up to an additional 121 megawatts. For more information on First Wind, please visit www.firstwind.com or follow us on Twitter @FirstWind.

###

For more information, contact:
John Lamontagne
First Wind
Director, Communications
617-960-9521

Dozens of wind turbines, similar to those in Cohocton, are ready to be built in the Town of Howard in the coming months.

By Justin Head
The Evening Tribune
Posted May 12, 2011 @ 08:37 AM


Howard, N.Y. — If everything goes as planned, a wind farm in the Town of Howard will be functional in about six months, according to Supervisor Don Evia.

EverPower Renewables has told town officials it's planning on having a 25 turbine farm functional by mid October. Evia Wednesday night said he was surprised the company expects to be running by then.

“That’s what I’m taking out of the latest communication,” said Evia. “That’s what they are telling the town.”

According to information recently reported by the The Courier newspaper, a 20-year payment plan will yield Howard 51.5 percent of the total, or $7.1 million, and the county will take in 16.5 percent, or $2.3 million. The Canisteo-Greenwood Central and Hornell City School District will split the remaining 32 percent, with the amounts determined by the location of the turbines.

The company is also looking to install two additional turbines on 39 acres of private land south of Spencer Hill and South Woods roads, bring the total number to 27. A public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. May 25 at the town hall. The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, the Howard Planning Board and town officials will meet with residents to discuss concerns and provide more information about the project. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement accepted by SCIDA, the lead agency on the project, is available at the town hall and will be discussed.

Workers on the project have already began reinforcing roadways and transporting equipment. Construction crews have been busy working on access roads and Howard has seen more traffic lately, several townspeople said.

Like most wind farms in the region, EverPower battled multiple lawsuits and has put in years of work to get to this point.

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

Chain gang
Cohocton students move 5,000 books to new library.Zoom Photos. Jeff Miller.Third-grader Deandra Green gets handed a book May 11 in Cohocton as he helps out the Cohocton Library move some 5,000 childrens books to its new location.





By Jeff Miller
Genesee Country Express
Posted May 11, 2011 @ 05:00 PM
Last update May 11, 2011 @ 05:10 PM
Cohocton — It was a perfect day to take the kids outdoors.

On May 11, roughly 220 Cohocton Pre-k through fourth graders did more than go outdoors and have some fun, they helped the Cohocton Public Library move its roughly 5,000 children’s books to its new location, and did so in less than two hours.

The students walked from the school to the library, then formed a line from there, through the Village Greens, and to the new library on Maple Avenue.

The students, teachers and other staff moved the children’s books down the line in a “bucket-brigade” fashion.

Cohocton Library director Hope Decker said the idea came from one of the library’s board members, Barb Sick, who remembers doing the same kind of thing when she was a student in the 1930s.

When the now-Cohocton Elementary School was built, the students took the contents of their desk and one library book from the former school, now the Village Greens, to the new site.

“We wanted to create a similar experience for the kids,” Decker said, one in which the kids will remember fondly.

The former Cohocton Library closed at the end of the business day on May 9. Plans are to open in the new location in June.

As for the library’s former building, the Village of Cohocton will begin moving in there later this month.

The move solves two problems for the Town and Village, who own the property jointly. First, it’s a rent-free building, and second, it solves the problem of keeping it occupied.

The Village has shared space with the Town in the Larrowe House since the 1950s. When the municipalities gave the Larrowe House to the Cohocton Historical Society in 2009, the Village moved into space adjacent to the Post Office on Maple Avenue.

The Town moved into the former bank in Atlanta.

As in the Maple Avenue office, the new Village office will include space for both the Town and Village clerks, as well as a mayor’s office.

The Village is slated to move into the former library May 27 and 28, with a tentative opening date of June 1.

With the exception of partitioning and moving furniture in, Mayor Tom Cox said there is little the Village needs to do to accommodate the building for its use.

Eric Mathews, Rick Towner and Haney Sick, our cooks!
Thanks to all of our volunteers for their hard work.


Thanks to all who supported the Cohocton Historical Society's Chicken B-B-Q on Mother's Day. 275 dinners sold out in 1/2 hours.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

23rd Annual Wheels For Life Bike-a-thon

Saturday May 7th, 2011 - Cohocton New York



On Saturday May 7th, 2011 the Wayland-Cohocton Elementary School campus in Cohocton came alive with people of all ages from all around the area to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis Tennessee. There were 104 participants and their families, many volunteers and other people from the community that came to just witness and show their support. The event donations and pledges raised approximately $10,000.00 to support St. Jude.

The day was enjoyed by all as the participants either rode bikes or walked the 7/10 mile route around the school and sports complex area. Participants could do as many laps as they wanted, no requirement was needed and participants could spend the day or come for part of the day. Many of the children had little league and soft ball games but they still came either before or after their game.

It was a great family day! The weather held out with only a few rain drops and plenty of sunshine. Throughout the day the families were able to enjoy ice cream sundaes, a hotdog picnic lunch, face painting, friendship and FUN!.

The Community Quilt that was made by 24 women from the area was raffled off. The proceeds of $829 from the quilt will also go to St. Jude. The quilt was won by Sandy Riley. The Community Quilt was loved by everyone so the idea came to share the idea with more people by creating a book with the story of Cohocton. The story and illustrations were done by Kaye Wise and Margie Adams. Each picture represents different places, people and events from the Cohocton Community. The book shares a story that will be enjoyed by all ages. The pictures are all in black and white so they can be colored and come alive with your own artistic touch. Books were printed by Wayland- Cohocton School and are available for $1.00 in the Elementary & Business School Offices.

Why do people support St. Jude?

The donations collected will help fund the life-saving research and treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - the world’s premier pediatric research center. Every child saved at St. Jude means children saved around the world. Discoveries made at St. Jude are shared freely with doctors and scientists all over the world. . The support of caring people like you helps ensure that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will continue its lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving children. But the most important reason is, in the words of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas: "No child should die in the dawn of life."

Thank You

The dedication and support of the kids and the families in our area is wonderful. It is great to see that people care and want to help others.

Thank you for supporting our 23rd Annual Wheels For Life Event and making it another Great Year!

.....Changes for First Wind mean little to Cohocton.Zoom Photos. Chris Potter.The top of a wind turbine is seen from the Cohocton Athletic Complex in Cohocton.

By Andrew Poole
The Evening Tribune
Posted May 04, 2011 @ 11:40 AM


Cohocton, N.Y. — Financial and partnership changes for First Wind won’t impact turbines in Cohocton, according to First Wind and town officials.

First Wind announced Saturday they entered an agreement with Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp. and Emera Inc. to joint construct, own and operate wind energy projects in New York and the New England states.

Canada-based Algonquin owns and operates $1.1 billion in renewable and thermal power. Emera, based in Nova Scotia, invests in electricity generation, transmission and distribution and gas transmission.

According to a release from the three companies, the agreement requires state and federal regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

First Wind, who developed turbines in Cohocton and began a 20-year project with the town starting in 2008, will maintain 51 percent of the operating company. Emera and Algonquin entered into a separate venture titled Northeast Wind, according to the release. Northeast Wind will control the other 49 percent.

According to the release, Northeast Wind will invest $333 million to secure the 49 percent.

John Lamontagne, director of corporate communications at First Wind, said the $333 million will go toward projects in different stages of development.

He added First Wind will continue to serve as the managing branch of the operating company, and that the changes shouldn’t impact Cohocton.

“It doesn’t impact Cohocton at all. Anything new or in operation should see no difference. Everything will continue to operate as it has in the past,” he said.

Cohocton Supervisor Jack Zigenfus was notified Monday about the changes with First Wind.

“They didn’t want the town to be alarmed,” he said. “They called me so I wouldn’t hear about it second-hand.”

The only change for the town will be in the insurance bonds regarding agreement with First Wind. Zigenfus said the insurance company will have to issue new bonds, worth $300,000, after the agreement between the companies.

Zigenfus pointed to First Wind depositing $100,000 in the town’s bank account Saturday as an example of business continuing as usual with the wind energy company.

The $100,000 is payment as part of a six-year road use agreement between the town and company. The agreement is now in its fifth year, said the supervisor.

Projects started and completed by First Wind that are transferring to the operating company include the Cohocton Wind and Steel Winds I in Lackawanna, as well as a project in Vermont and four projects in Maine, according to the release.

Copyright 2011 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved
.

SAVE THE DATES: JULY 23rd and JULY 24th
Cohocton Fire Department 125th Anniversary

A Look Inside First Wind's Control Center
By Ted Page
April 25, 2011

To most people, the operation of a wind farm is a complete mystery – even as more wind turbines pop up in our communities around the United States. This allows wind opponents to make the claims that wind energy "doesn’t work."

Now, First Wind (full disclosure – a client of mine) is pulling back the curtain with a new video that demonstrates that wind farms are in fact producing real power. What’s more, there’s a very sophisticated flow of data and analysis that goes into making wind energy production efficient, with centralized monitoring and troubleshooting.

What I find most interesting about wind project operations is the technology that goes into the process. When people talk about making America more competitive economically through leadership in clean energy, it’s this technology that’s really the backbone of the argument. The new technology being developed to wean ourselves off fossil fuels may ultimately be put to use in other sectors of the economy, helping make a stronger economic foundation for the country, and spurring additional innovation.

Chicken B-B-Q Mother's Day, May 8th. Starting at noon till sold. $8.00 per dinner. Half Chicken, Cabbage Salad, Baked Beans, Rolls & Butter, Cupcake and Beverage. Cooked onsite by Hanney Sick and Rick Towner using the Cornell Sauce used by the Lion's Club. Free exhibit of Prom and Bridesmaid gowns at the Larrowe House from noon to 4 pm. Please support your local Cohocton Historical Society. Proceeds will go to restoration of the Maple Ave buildings and the Larrowe House. Please repost.

Dansville Lion's Club---Community as it should be

Cohocton Historical Society

3rd. Annual Chicken B B Q
MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 8TH, 2011

Lion's Pavilion
15 S. Main St
Cohocton, N.Y. 14826

NOON - TILL?

MENU:

Half Chicken
Cabbage Salad
Baked Beans
Rolls & Butter
Assorted Cupcakes
Beverage

Dinners $8.00 each, generous servings.

EAT IN OR TAKE OUT,
Pavilion Under Cover

FREE HISTORICAL DISPLAY

THE LARROWE HOUSE

"TIMELESS TREASURES"
DISPLAY OF GOWNS
11:00 am to 4:00 pm

I'LL TAKE WIND!!!!!

...Wayland-Cohocton Central School community forum on budget dilemma



By Jeff Miller
Genesee Country Express
Posted Mar 31, 2011 @ 03:30 PM


Wayland — It is often said that communication is the key.

Giving the community a brief overview of the financial situation in which the Wayland-Cohocton School District is facing, presenting some of its current plans and listening to the community and answering their questions was the focus of the district’s more than hour-long community forum Monday.

In anticipation of an on-time state budget with minimal increases recently proposed for educational aid, Superintendent Michael Wetherbee said he hopes to have exact numbers of the district’s state aid figures soon.

As it stands at press time, Wayland-Cohocton, which is 72 percent dependent upon state aid, is looking at $2,609,591 less from the state for next year, resulting in a $2,158,341 budget to budget gap.

For WCCS to make up its losses, the district would have to increase its taxes by 38.5 percent, or $6.09 per thousand dollars of assessed value. This is not an option the district is proposing.

“Our goal is to put a budget together that meets student needs. But there’s the other side of the pendulum that we have to be concerned about – our local community’s ability to afford that education,” Wetherbee said.

He noted that salaries and benefits make up 75 percent of the budget, which means layoffs are inevitable.

Wetherbee restated last week’s proposal of redistricting the Cohocton Elementary School boundary north to shift some Wayland Elementary students there to make up for teacher layoffs and even out class sizes.

This proposal would save the district nearly $370,000 with no additional busing required. Exact boundaries have not been determined yet.

With this, five retirements, a reduction of 10 additional full-time staff, cuts in the athletic department, an increase in fund balance and PILOT revenues, and the district is left with $335,417 to adjust.

The floor was then opened to the public.

Bob Hughes of Perkinsville asked about other rural districts across the state and if they are facing the same kinds of problems, which many are.

However, more affluent districts that are not as dependable on state aid are not seeing these types of cuts. Early in his presentation, Wetherbee compared districts with similar enrollment in Westchester, Nassau and other wealthy counties.

Those districts could make up their loss of state funds with between a one and seven percent tax increase.

Another topic brought up was the Cohocton rezoning proposal, which one parent said would be a burden if it were placed on her family. Wetherbee said he realizes this decision may not be popular with some, if not many parents, and he wished he was not in a position to have to recommend this proposal.

When asked about the possibility of closing the Cohocton school altogether, Wetherbee stated that the savings would be roughly $400,620, compared to the $370,000 for rezoning. However, he feels that the additional $30,000 to keep it open is worthwhile for the Cohocton community.

The $370,000 savings is through one-time layoffs that the district is not expecting to replace.

Making administrative cuts was another topic brought up by the public, which Wetherbee said, “People may not believe me, we are bare bones in administration.”

When someone asked about what services, positions and programs are proposed to be cut specifically, Wetherbee said that information is not solidified, but will be presented at the next board meeting on April 11.

When asked about union negotiations, Wetherbee said none are up for renegotiations this year, but he has been in talks with the administrator’s union regarding contractual concessions to help the district save money.

The teacher’s union already said no to concessions.

When athletic costs were brought up, Wetherbee said there have been discussions of perhaps combining some teams countywide, which would impact the coaching budget. When asked about encouraging more volunteer coaches, it was said that increased state mandates are inadvertently discouraging people to volunteer coach rather than encouraging them.

Increasing class sizes and decreasing support staff was another concern raised. Wetherbee said he intends to place supports staff where most needed.

While other questions and concerns were raised, a solution was also posed. Wetherbee, the school board and parents agreed that the best solution is for community members to address state legislators and the governor about the effect the proposed state cuts have on economically struggling rural school districts and the state’s inequitable distribution of funds.

A form is available on the school’s website for writing to legislators

By Mary Perham
Bath Courier
Posted Mar 27, 2011 @ 12:15 PM


Prattsburgh, NY — The Prattsburgh Town Board passed a road-use agreement with wind developer Ecogen Monday night, despite the protests of the town highway superintendent and an angry crowd.
The road use agreement, first proposed in September 2009, was the key issue in drawn-out legal disputes between Prattsburgh and Ecogen, which intends to put up 16 electricity-generating turbines in the town.
Ecogen has filed two lawsuits centered on the delay in signing the original agreement, saying the delay was in bad faith, and designed to prevent any development.
However, Highway Superintendent Chris Jensen said the agreement allows Ecogen to begin using several town roads without deciding first how to pay for damage heavy equipment may cause.
Jensen said payments set in the September 2009 agreement will fall far short of the real costs of repairing the roads. In one case, fixing a newly upgraded road could cost $100,000 more than the original estimate, Jensen said.
Town Attorney Ed Brockman told the board Ecogen is still legally responsible for road repair, adding if the town sets the costs too high, it could lead to another lawsuit.
Board members favoring the agreement said they were responding to the recent state Supreme Court decision, which ordered the two sides to finalize road use terms.
“If we try to change it now, who’s to say Ecogen won’t say that’s bad faith, too?” Anneke Radin-Snaith said.
The board voted 3-2 for the agreement.
Councilwoman Stacey Bottoni and dozens of angry residents sided Jensen, saying the needed to listen to the advice of a road expert.
The board’s action clears the way for Ecogen to begin work, with a court-imposed deadline of 168 days for the developer to solidify its rights to the project through substantial changes or improvements.
Radin-Snaith and councilmen Steve Kula and Chuck Shick voted for the agreement. Bottoni and Town Supervisor Al Wordingham voted against the agreement.

A judge has ruled that an energy-development company may proceed with a wind farm in Prattsburgh, Steuben County, over the objections of the town board, though the company must complete a substantial amount of work in a short period of time or the deal's off.

For nearly a decade, Ecogen Wind LLC has been seeking approval to erect about three dozen wind turbines in Prattsburgh and neighboring Italy, Yates County.
Shortly after several candidates who opposed the project were elected to the Prattsburgh board in November 2009, but before they took office, the Erie County company filed suit against the town. Lame-duck town board members who were not hostile to the project then agreed to settle the lawsuit and allow the project to go forward.
When the new board members were seated in January 2010, they attempted to rescind the lawsuit settlement, leading to a protracted legal fight.


State Supreme Court Judge John Ark, who presided over a five-day trial in January and February, said in a ruling released Thursday that the current town board could not void the settlement with Ecogen. The company's lawyers had argued that the 2009 legal settlement had given them "vested" rights to undertake the project that could not legally be taken away.
Ark directed the town and company to negotiate an agreement for use of town roads, an item left open when the parties began their legal warfare. Once done, Ark said, the company then must complete a "substantial" amount of work on the project to fully "vest" their rights. He gave them 24 weeks to do that.
Edward Hourihan, a Pittsford lawyer who represented the town, said Thursday morning that he had not yet discussed the decision with his clients and did not know if they would appeal it.
He asserted, though, that Ecogen "is not in a position to vest any rights. They're far from being able to do that." He said they lack financing, turbines, necessary permits and approval for work in the town of Italy, and could not comply with Ark's 24-week time limit.
A Rochester lawyer who represents the company, Robert Burgdorf, said Ecogen "is pleased the court recognized its right to proceed with this important project." Burgdorf said the company "looks forward to developing this uniquely productive wind resource."

4 selected for Steuben Hall of Fame.
By Mary Perham
The Evening Tribune
Posted Mar 03, 2011 @ 05:04 PM


Bath, N.Y. — An All-American football player is among four notables selected for induction into the Steuben County Hall of Fame in May.

Behm, 91, of Corning, may be known throughout the world as an executive for Corning Inc., and general management consultant for Fortune 500 firms. But for many in the area, Behm is a testament to courage: When he suffered life-threatening burns at the age of five, his parents were told he would never walk.

Instead, Behm went on to play linebacker and offensive and defensive tackle for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He appeared in the 1941 Rose Bowl, which the 7th-ranked Cornhuskers lost to No. 2 Stanford 21-13. He was inducted into the collegiate Hall of Fame in 1988.

Other inductees to the Hall of Fame include: Maj. Thomas Scott Baldwin. Baldwin was born in 1855 and built the first American airship, or dirigible, powered by a Curtiss engine. Baldwin moved his operations to Hammondsport, where he manufactured the first aircraft for the U.S. military.

Albertus Larrowe, II. Larrowe was born in 1826, and owned and operated the Larrowe Milling Corp., the largest buckwheat mill in the world. His home was used by the village and town of Cohocton as the municpal hall until 2009.

Reuben Robie. Robie was born in 1799 and served as Steuben County Treasurer from 1844-47. Robie was elected to Congress from 1850-53 and was director of the Buffalo, Corning and New York railroad Company. He was one of the founders of the county Agricultural Society.

The Hall of Fame banquet is set for May 7.

The Gazebo has collapsed, please attend the Village Board Meeting, Monday February 14, 7 pm at the Village Office, next to the Post Office, to address the loss and what plans will be made for reconstruction. Please pass the information on to others.

Looks Like Two More Wind Turbines For Town of Howard
January 31, 2011 03:46:00 Font size:
25 Wind Turbine Project Adds Two More

January 31 2011



HOWARD - Steuben County Industrial Development Agency Director Jim Sherron tells WLEA/WCKR news that two more wind turbines might be added to the Steuben County Town of Howard's wind project, so what had been scheduled to be a 25 wind turbine project might become a 27 wind turbine deal.


Sherron also says that the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency has given their okay to installing those two turbines.  The final approval for adding two wind turbines will have to come from the Howard Town board.

2nd Anniversary of Cohocton COD, January 27, 2011





Locally the milestone was celebrated by the onsite Firstwind and Clipper staff.

We would just like to take a minute and thank everyone across FirstWind and Clipper for the support and hard work given to this site over the years.


This project has become large positive economic part of this small community, we are fortunate to have the project located here. Thanks to all who supported and worked so hard to bring the project to Cohocton, feel proud in your accomplishment. The photo of the staff onsite is proof of your local jobs created.

...FLCC's Dan Rizzieri to compete for U.S. Paralympic team in New Zealand.Zoom Photos. Vasiliy Baziuk.Finger Lakes Community College student Dan Rizzieri 19, of Cohocton is leaves for Australia on the 6th of January to compete in the track and field world championships.

By Dan Goldman, staff writer
Messenger Post
Posted Jan 13, 2011 @ 03:31 PM


MPNnow.com — Until yesterday, Finger Lakes Community College student Dan Rizzieri had never traveled outside the country. The 19-year-old Cohocton resident learned that would change at the beginning of the fall semester.

Rizzieri received a call from Cathy Sellers, the associate director of high performance for the U.S. Paralympics track and field team, who told him he made Team USA for the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.

“I was pretty excited,” Rizzieri said. “I was kind of more in shock. I knew I’d be under consideration, but I wasn’t sure if my times were good enough for (New Zealand), but I guess they were.”

Rizzieri departed on Thursday, although he doesn’t compete until Jan. 24. Before the games, Team USA will train in ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia, the site of the 2000 Olympics.

Dan, the son of Rich and Pam Rizzieri, was born with a condition called fibular hemimelia, meaning a bone is missing in his lower legs. Rizzieri’s legs end just below his knees, but he has used prosthetics since he was 13 months old. Thanks to special prosthetics called Cheetah Blades, Rizzieri can participate in sports.

Rizzieri competed on FLCC’s track and field team last spring and qualified for the Junior College Nationals in Columbia, Maryland. In the triple jump, he recorded a school record and personal best of 44 feet, 8 inches, which was good enough for seventh in the nation.

“The week before that my best was 42 something, so I increased it by another two feet,” Rizzieri said. “It was just amazing.”

In June, Rizzieri attended the paralympic nationals in Miramar, Fla., where he won the triple jump, took third in the 400-meter dash and performed well enough in the long jump to qualify for the national team.

Since getting the invitation, Rizzieri has attended a pair of team training camps at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center in California. He also trains with his brother Matt and Dan Fichter at Wanna Get Fast in Pittsford.

Sellers first met Rizzieri two years ago at the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma. She was impressed how Rizzieri wasn’t afraid to try new things.

“A double below the knee amputee doesn’t typically triple jump, it takes a lot of coordination to do that and he’s got it,” Sellers said. “He can do everything a traditional athlete can do. He’s an amazing young man, I have a lot respect for Daniel.”

Rizzieri has attended the Penn Relays, but he knows Christchurch will be the biggest event he’s attended by far. He is most excited about seeing how he compares to the world’s best paralympic athletes.

The U.S. team includes 51 men and women from across the country. They range from a 15-year-old girl from Memphis, Tenn. to a 53-year-old woman who was a polio victim.

Rizzieri is scheduled to compete in the long jump, the 400-meter dash and he is an alternate for the 4x100 relay team. The International Paralympic Committee won’t allow him to compete in the triple jump though.

“I don’t know why, it’s a battle I’ve been having with them on following one of their rules,” Sellers said. “It’s an unfortunate situation because he’s ranked fourth in the world.”

At World’s, athletes will have an opportunity to earn a spot for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

“I think in 2012 he could be in the hunt,” Sellers said. “I think 2016 will be when he comes into his prime. The purpose of this competition is to get the experience on a world stage so when we go to London he knows what it’s about.”

Rizzieri’s parents and brother are all flying to New Zealand to see him compete.

Qualifying for New Zealand was but the first of many goals that Rizzieri aspires to reach.

“Hopefully,” he said, “I’ll come back with a few medals.”

Watch online
You can watch Dan Rizzieri compete live online at www.paralympicsport.tv. He competes in the long jump on Jan. 24 and the 400-meter dash on Jan. 29.

BECK AND MASSA - Remembering the Moments 2010

RELIVING THE TRUTH AND HUMILIATION

A LOOK BACK AT 2010-


Corning Leader
Posted Dec 20, 2010 @ 11:32 AM
Last update Dec 20, 2010 @ 05:37 PM


MASSA #4 ON THE WORST BOSS LIST


Corning, N.Y. — Former U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, who resigned amid sexual harassment complaints, has been named the fourth worse boss in America for 2010.

A list of the worst bosses were published recently by eBossWatch, a web site that lets people anonymously rate their bosses.

Massa, of Corning, left office following sexual harassment complaints that were being investigated by the House ethics committee.

The complaints alleged that Massa, who is married with two children, groped at least two male aides and sexually propositioned young male staffers and interns.

The entire list of America's Worst Bosses is at ebosswatch.com/americas-worst-bosses-2010.php.

Tickle-Me-Massa is back in the news!!! LOL Raise your hand if you're one of the morons that voted for this schmuck!

Obviously Randy was the better choice!

Howard Moving Closer And Closer To Getting Wind Project
First Step: Road Improvements

An official in the Town of Howard tells our news department that the Town of Howard is beginning construction work on town roads to make the roads wider and stronger, so construction companies can travel with wind turbine parts on them.

According to Howard officials, the wind turbines will actually be smaller than was originally planned on.

Officials also say the location of some of the wind turbines will be slightly different in placement.

However, Howard officials maintain there will not be another environmental study, because the wind turbines will not be far from where they were originally planned to be.

First Wind dealt a blow; no impact to Cohocton
Wind company pulls IPO; Town adopts budget with no tax increase
By Tyler Briggs
The Evening Tribune
Posted Nov 05, 2010 @ 10:33 AM



Cohocton, N.Y. — Trouble for First Wind doesn’t mean trouble for Cohocton.

Executives at First Wind Holdings Inc. pulled the plug on their initial public offering (IPO) just hours before the company’s stock was due to begin trading on the Nasdaq late last week.

Initially the company wanted to sell roughly 12 million shares in a price range of $24 to $26 each, which would have generated as much as $312 million.

A lowered price range of $18 to $20 was announced before trading began last Thursday, but the company decided to hold off.

“It’s a very bad IPO market right now,” John Lamontagne, director of corporate communications at First Wind, said. “The shares were going to be offered for not what we thought they were worth. The determination we made was that it wasn’t in the company’s best interest to go public.”

He didn’t rule out possibly going public in the future.

“It just didn’t happen this time. I don’t think it’s taken off the table. I don’t think it’s going to happen in the near future,” Lamontagne said. “We’re going to pursue finances for some of our other development projects in other ways. We have a strong track record. We have successfully received over $2 billion worth in finances for various projects. We’re looking forward to moving on, IPO or no IPO.”

But the stumbling block for the wind company doesn’t mean trouble for Cohocton, where 50 First Wind turbines have operated since 2008.

“It has zero impact on our operating projects or projects we have in construction or development,” Lamontagne said. “We’re just continuing on moving forward.”

Town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus admitted to being a little worried when he first heard the news last week, but was reassured that everything was OK after a phone call with First Wind’s vice president.

“It was a business decision made. It has absolutely no bearing on our project or our situation as far as the town,” Zigenfus said. “Their decision with the IPO was to raise money for further growth, etc. Projects that are funded now are fully funded by investment banks.”

The town recently adopted its 2011 budget, with the tax levy remaining unchanged from last year — at $2.85 per thousand dollars of assessed property value.

The town relies heavily on the wind project, Zigenfus said. Prior to the turbines coming to Cohocton, the tax levy was $4.18 in 2007.

This year the town received $725,000 as part of the community host payment, and $100,000 of that will be used to repair roads. The rest will go into the general fund.

“If we didn’t have the wind project, we’d probably be in very tough shape,” Zigenfus said. “Other than raising taxes, I don’t know where the next money would have come from. The town is in very, very good financial shape for next year and the next few years.”

Currently, Cohocton and First Wind have agreed to a 20-year project, which began in 2008. The town has the option of renewing that pact once it concludes.

“I don’t see any financial issues with the town. We’ve gotten everything up to par, the roads, the sidewalks, all of those things,” Zigenfus said. “We’ve spent a lot of the money to make an impact and put it to good use. Now we’re making sure we have reserves. We’re going to wisely invest the money so we’re well protected.”

The town supervisor has no complaints about the wind project.

“Everything, as far as I can see, seems to be running smoothly,” he said. “You get the occasional complaint. You’re always going to get that. Most of them are always the same people.

“Our budget is largely based on that income from wind,” Zigenfus said, adding that the wind project might be the town’s largest industry ever. “I’m very pleased with our finances.”

Copyright 2010 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

Clean Energy. Made Here.

Howard wind farm now on
EverPower expects to erect 25 turbines along Turnpike in springZoom Photos
Chris Potter
Wind turbines, similar to those in Cohocton, could be build in Howard in the spring.

Howard, N.Y. — The winds of change are again blowing in Howard, as it seems that the wind project is going to happen after all.

EverPower Renewables was to build 25 wind turbines, each rated for 2.5 megawatts of power production in optimal wind conditions, along Turnpike Road and along the ridge above Stephens Creek and County Route 27.

The project was slated to begin in April when it was suddenly halted because EverPower had trouble selling renewable energy credits (RECs) from the project.

RECs, according to www.wisegeek.com, are certificates issued by a government agency to a power company which utilizes environmentally friendly methods to generate electricity. They can in turn be traded and sold on the open market, providing an incentive to companies which produce “green” power. Citizens and companies who are trying to support green power and reduce their carbon footprints can also take advantage of RECs, regardless as to the source of their power.

But it seems the company has worked through these issues.

“We are still committed to moving forward with the Howard Wind Project and plan to complete financing later this month and begin construction in the spring of 2011. The project is currently permitted for 25 turbines, and it is still our plan to move forward with those 25 turbines,” Kevin Sheen, senior director of development at EverPower, said in an email.

“We never considered the project dead,” Sheen continued. “There were a variety of economic conditions that did not allow us to build the project — most notably the fact that we did not get awarded a REC contract by NYSERDA. Some of the economic conditions have improved and we are hopeful that we will receive a REC contract from NYSERDA this time around.”

In May the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) approved a 20-year PILOT agreement, worth $13,939,000, for all entities involved: the county, Howard, and Canisteo-Greenwood Central School and the Hornell City School District.

With the agreement, Howard was to receive 51.5 percent of the nearly $14 million, or $7,178,585. Steuben County would receive 16.5 percent, or $2,299,935.

The remaining 32 percent, $4,460,480, was to be split between the two school districts. Because 23 of the 25 turbines would have fallen in the Canisteo-Greenwood district, they were to receive 92 percent of the remaining money, or approximately $4,103,641. The Hornell school district would have received around $356,838.

Town Supervisor Don Evia said the agreement hasn’t changed.

“It’s good for the country. We all have to do something with the energy problems we have. I think it’s good for the town financially,” Evia said. “It’s good for the land owner. They’ll get more revenue from their land. I think it’s win-win for everybody.”

He’s confident the project will begin this spring, though he’ll feel better once it actually starts.

“I’m very confident it will be built in 2011. I have all the faith in the world,” Evia said. “When the shovel goes in the ground, then I’ll feel very good.”

Copyright 2010 Hornell Evening Tribune. Some rights reserved

Howard Wind Project Might Actually Happen
October 22, 2010 03:08:00 Font size:
Town Board Member Hatch Says Everpower Is Working To Get Financing

It looks like the Howard wind project might happen after all. After some question about whether the project was going to move forward, Howard Town Board member William Hatch tells WLEA/WCKR News that wind company Everpower is working on financing, and that they hope to get that done by the end of the month.



Hatch also says that there are no dates yet for when the construction will begin.

Judge Ark: One more chance to settle lengthy wind farm dispute.Yellow Pages
By Mary Perham
Bath Courier
Posted Oct 24, 2010 @ 11:00 AM

Prattsburgh, NY — A ruling could come within two weeks in the long-running dispute between wind developer Ecogen and the towns of Prattsburgh and Italy.
Prattsburgh Town Councilman Chuck Shick told the town board Monday the ruling by state Supreme Court Justice John Ark has been delayed in the hopes the two sides will reach a settlement. About two dozen residents attended the regular board meeting.
Ecogen intends to put a 34-turbine wind farm in the two towns, with 16 planned for Prattsburgh, and a substation and 18 turbines in Italy, located in Yates County.
Shick, town Supervisor Al Wordingham, and their legal counsel from Bond, Schoeneck and King met Sept. 27 with Ark and legal representatives from Ecogen and the town of Italy.
Shick said Ark made it “pretty clear” during the meeting he wants the sides to come to an out-of-court agreement. Ark also expressed concern about the cost of the legal dispute to the towns and Ecogen.
Shick said the Prattsburgh representatives told Ark their primary concern was setbacks ensuring the health and safety of residents. A decline in property values also was an issue, Shick said.
Since then, the town has submitted to the court Ecogen’s original site map with 100 possible locations for turbines. The site map shows Ecogen originally planned to put up roughly 20 turbines in a portion of the town near Allis Road, board members said Monday night.
The Allis Road location would be remote enough to protect residents from noise and allow Ecogen to go forward with its plan, board members said.
So far, there has been no response from Ecogen, Shick said.
The legal battle between Prattsburgh and Ecogen began early last year, when a new town board rescinded 3-1 a December agreement allowing the developer to determine the road use agreement without town input. The new board maintained the earlier agreement violated home rule.
The project had been welcomed by the town board and many residents when it was first proposed in 2002.
The wind farm would provide needed revenues for the leaseholders, town, county and state during a faltering economy, according to supporter Bruce Taylor, of Prattsburgh. He complained too much attention has focused on the negative side of wind development, which also provides an alternative form of energy.
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” he said.
But other residents have charged throughout the process the turbines are inefficient electrical generators and pose a threat to people and the environment.
Shick said Ark will rule soon if no agreement is reached.
“I expect the judge will probably rule in a couple of weeks,” he said.