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Community events
• Catholic Charities Turning Point is launching the 2012 Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program. This year has been especially difficult for numerous families in our local community, given the current economy. To help ease this situation, please consider adopting a family or making a donation towards the Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program. To Adopt-A-Family or for more information contact Tammy VanVleck at 607-776-4575 ext. 214.

Library news
•  Crafty Kids: Stop in at the Cohocton Public Library to make a free craft! The craft will be available Thursdays for parents/caregivers and their children from 10 am to 7 pm. This weeks craft will be: Make Your Own Christmas Tree.
• Holiday Centerpiece: adult craft will be instructed by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s very own Tom Cortright at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Fred & Harriett Taylor Memorial Library. Participants will create a floral basket for the holidays. There will be a $20/person materials fee for this class. Pre-registration is required by calling the library at 607-569-2045, class size is limited.
• Secret Santa Shop: Area children can come to the Cohocton Public Library to “shop” for free presents for their family members. Volunteers will be available to help them wrap the presents. Tuesday, December 18 from 3-7 pm, Wednesday, December 19 from 3-5 pm, and Thursday from 3-7 pm. Donations of wrapping paper, gift bags, small toys and gifts (new or gently used) are greatly appreciated by Dec. 15.

School news
• The regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Bath Central School District will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the District Office.
• The Campbell-Savona Central School District Board of Education will hold their regular meeting at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the band room at the Elementary School.
• The Hammondsport Central School District Board of Education will hold their regular meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the high school library.

Support Groups
• Victims of Domestic Violence (Women)
6:45-7:45 p.m. Monday night. For more information call 1-800-286-3407.
• Narcotics Anonymous meetings:
7-8:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Thomas Church.
7-8:30 p.m. Thursday at Ira Davenport.
1-2:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s Church.
7-8:30 p.m. Sunday the meetings at the Kinship House.
• The Center for Dispute Settlement, Inc., 22 Liberty St., is a non-profit organization that helps residents, neighbors and families resolve issues through mediation. For more information, call 776-6976.

Child Care
• Steuben Child Care Project gives child care providers information on a federally funded program which reimburses providers for nutritious meals served to the children in their program. The new on-line claiming process makes the required recordkeeping a snap, taking less than 5 minutes a day.  
SCCP helps child care providers access the funding that they are eligible to receive, as well as, support the providers to operate their businesses as economically as possible.  For more information on child care programs call 776-2126 or 1 (800) 553-2033.

Briefs
• The Steuben County Sheriff's Office Stop DWI Program tip line is 1-877-862-4847, toll free. Please report those who are drinking alcohol under the age of 21 years, those who purchase alcohol for anyone under 21 years of age and parties where under age drinking may be occurring.

FSA emergency loan applications
• Steuben County has been declared eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA), formerly Farmers Home Administration, disaster emergency loan assistance effective Oct. 3, 2012 due to damages and losses caused by Armyworm outbreak which occurred May 15, 2012 and continuing. Family farmers who have suffered production losses of at least 30 percent of their production and physical losses due to the Armyworm outbreak may be eligible for FSA loans. The interest rate on Emergency Loans is 3.75 percent.
Application for loans under this emergency designation will be accepted until June 3, 2013. For more information call 607-776-7398.
• Steuben County has been declared eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA), formerly Farmers Home Administration, disaster emergency loan assistance effective Oct. 24, 2012 due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive hear which occurred June 1, 2012 and continuing. Family farmers who have suffered productin losses of at least 30 percent of their production and physical losses due to the drought and excessive heat may be eligible for FSA loans. The interest rate on Emergency Loan s in 3.75 percent.
Application for loans under this emergency designation will be accepted until June 24, 2013. For more information call 607-776-7398.  
 
Volunteers
• Bath Area needs volunteers: RSVP....Lead with Experience
Steuben County's non-profits need your time and talent!
- United Way of the Southern Tier is seeking income tax preparers for their CASH program.  Training will be provided and you must have computer skills.  The program runs from late January to mid-April.
- Steuben Coordinated Transportation needs volunteer drivers who can transport the elderly and needy to non-emergency medically related appointments.  Reimbursement is available for all miles driven, meals, and/or parking expenses.
- Project Care has a critical need for volunteers to provide transportation, light housekeeping, or respite care to seniors age 60+.  This program assists seniors in the Greater Bath area to remain in their own homes as long as possible.
If you are 55 years of age or older and you are interested in these or any other volunteer opportunities, call Mary at 607-664-2298 to learn more about the benefits of being an RSVP volunteer.
Please do not call the agencies or organizations directly.
Visit the RSVP website at steubencony.org/rsvp to see a more complete list of volunteer opportunities.