“Lighthouse said all along that we would comply with New York State guidelines, but the county insisted that we go well above and beyond those guidelines as a condition of reopening.”
“It leaves all of these holes in the implementation of the law where you might have disenfranchisement strictly based off of the ability for the county to interpret a law really loosely.”
“Certainly, we are working very hard behind the scenes to make sure we can get people in contact with doctors if they need it and things like that, if they need it.”
Rep. Reed met with a select group of senior citizens in an invitation only event with the Chemung County AARP. Some people said they’re worried Social Security won’t be around for their grandkids.
The no. 10 bus that runs from Elmira to Owego used to drive past Tioga Downs, but now it stops there six times a day. It’s called the “Tioga Downs” line on the bus website. Chemung County added the stops to help people who work at the casino. The county is working with the human resources department at Tioga Downs to learn when work shifts are as they consider how to expand service.
The future of Elmira’s First Arena has been in question for most of 2016, but there could be answers within the next month. First Arena is home of the Elmira Jackals hockey team. Both have been owned by the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency since June. The group hopes to sell both by the end of January. Mike Krusen is the head of Southern Tier Economic Growth, which supports the Chemung County IDA.
A school merger that aimed to combine the Elmira Heights and Horseheads districts is off the table after residents overwhelmingly rejected the proposition Thursday. In Elmira Heights, Superintendent Mary Beth Fiore says three quarters of the ballots came up “no”. “Clearly there was a desire to preserve the small school atmosphere in spite of some of the challenges that we’re faced with,” she says. Those challenges are mainly financial. Elmira Heights, Horseheads and many other New York districts have faced tight budgets lately, thanks in part to post-recession state funding cuts.
The Horseheads area meets tonight to weigh a school merger with the Elmira Heights Central School District. It’s the last community input session before an initial vote on Dec. 3. Elmira Heights Superintendent Mary Beth Fiore explained the benefits of merging in a meeting in her district last week. “Clearly, consolidation would provide more educational opportunities and programs than the programs offered individually by each school,” she said.