YOUR COMMUNITY
Christmas schedule

Dec. 16

• BATH - The Christmas Shoes, a dramatic musical for Christmas, will be performed at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 at The First Presbyterian Church, Lyon Hall, 6 E. Morris St., Pulteney Square, Bath. Cast of adults and children directed by Gloria Hare. Pit band and choir directed by Judy Aho.

Dec. 17

• PRATTSBURGH - The Prattsburgh school district will host a concert featuring the junior-senior chorus and band at 7 p.m. in the cafetorium

Dec. 18

• BATH - The Haverling school district will host a concert featuring the Vernon Wightman chorus at 7 p.m. in the primary school cafeteria.

Dec. 19

• HAMMONDSPORT - The Hammondsport school district will host a high school concert at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

• PAINTED POST - From 2-4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Green Meadows, Painted Post will hold a free gift wrapping. All local seniors are invited to bring gifts. Green Meadows will be a local drop off place for toys to be distributed to local children in need from Dec. 1-20. Call 962-5096 for questions.

Dec. 20

• BATH - The Haverling school district will host a concert featuring the Dana Lyon chorus and symphonic band at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

• SAVONA - The Campbell-Savona school district will host an elementary school concert at 7 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria.

• PRATTSBURGH - The Prattsburgh school district will host a primary school concert at 2 p.m. in the cafetorium.

Dec. 23

• HAMMONDSPORT - St. James' Episcopal Church on the corner of Lake and Main St., Hammondsport will present "Peace on Earth" a Christmas Concert with Cecil Van Houten on Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. A reception will follow in the undercroft. Admission is free.

Christmas Decoration Contest

The Bath neighborhood Watch Group will conduct their annual Christmas Decoration Contest for residents in the Village of Bath. Residents are encouraged to participate in this contest. Community leaders and members of the Bath Neighborhood Watch Group will be doing the judging, with the top three winners being notified by Dec. 22. Local media will be notified of the results.

Improving driver safety

The staff of the Caregiver Resource Center of the Steuben County Office for the Aging can help sort out issues and make suggestions for improving elderly driving safety.

For confidential help visit the Steuben County Office for the Aging website at www.steubencony.org.

Legion Auxiliary

The American Legion Auxiliary of Unit 173 meets every second Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Charles Wescott Post on William St., Bath. The next meeting will be held on Jan. 14.

Communication problems?

The Center for Dispute Settlement is offering a free service to Steuben County residents to help with communication skills. The service is for residents under the age of 21. Services are confidential and a neutral person is available to help individuals.

For more information contact the Center for Dispute Settlement in Bath at 776-6976. Village of Bath Housing Authority Board

The Village of Bath Housing Authority Board will meet at 4 p.m. the forth Monday of every month (except where a Holiday occurs, then it will be held the week before.) The next meeting will be held at Dec. 17.

Victims of Domestic Violence Women's Support Group

Victims of Domestic Violence Women's Support Group will meet from 6-7 p.m. Thursday evenings. The next meeting will be held Dec. 20.

For more information call 1-800-286-3407.

Wine Country Toastmasters

Wine Country Toastmasters will meet the first and third Tuesdays of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the County Health Care Facility, Co. Rte. 113, Bath. The meeting will discuss enhancing communication and leadership skills. The next meeting will be held on Dec. 18.

For more information call 776-6813 or email at tbilancio@bilancio.org.

FSA accepting emergency loan applications

Steuben County has been declared eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA), formerly Famers Home Administration, disaster emergency loan assistance effective Oct. 12, 2007 due to damages and losses caused by drought which occured May 1, 2007 and continuing. Family farmers who have suffered physical losses and/or the losses of at least 30 percent of their production due to the drought may be eligible for FSA loans. Proceeds from crop insurance and any FSA programs are taken into account when determining eligibility for prodution losses. Losses must be supported with documented records. Under the FSA Emergency Loan Programs farmers may be eligible for production loss loans of up to 100 percent of their actual losses, or the operating loan amount needed to continue in business, or a maximum principal balance outstanding of $500,000, whichever is less. Farmers must be unable to obtain credit from private commercial lenders. The interest rate on Emergency Loans is 3.75%

Applicaton for loans under this emergency designation will be accepted until June 12, 2008. The FSA office is located at 415 W. Morris St., Bath, 776- 7398.

Bath Neighborhood Watch Group

The Bath Neighborhood Watch Group will meet the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Bath Municipal Building. The next meeting will be held Dec. 19.

For more information contact Evie Lamb at 776- 7664, ext. 229 or 776-4711.

Snow Removal Ordinance

Bath Police Chief David K. Rouse wants to remind Village of Bath residents that from Nov. 1-April 1, between the hours of 2-6 a.m., the Village of Bath's Snow Removal Ordinance is in effect. During those hours, parking is prohibited on all streets within the Village. Violators will receive a $25 parking ticket and depending on weather conditions, the vehicle may be towed at the owner's expense.

With the winter season approaching, Village of Bath residents are further reminded to refrain from depositing snow from driveways on Village Streets. Section 1219 of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits persons from placing snow on highways. Village Police will ticket anyone violating this law.

Holiday caring

United Way of the Southern Tier provides a connection point for potential donors and human service agencies to join forces and make the holiday season brighter for these families and children.

Participating organizations and the needed services can be found at http://www.uwst.org/Holid ayCAring2007.asp. Contributors can choose from a variety of opportunities, including adopting a family and volunteering.

Potential donors are asked to review the list, and then contact the organization to work out the donation details.

Bath Area Writers Group

The Bath Area Writers Group invites interested individuals to join their round table readings and critiques from 7-9 p.m. every second and forth Tuesday of every month in the Empire Room of the Dormann Library, W. Morris St., Bath.

AIP Committee

Please be advised that the Dec. 3, 2007 meeting of the AIP Committee has been re-scheduled for 11 a.m. Jan. 7, 2007. 55 Alive Driving Course

AARP and the St. James Mercy Health System are teaming up to offer the 55 Alive Mature Driving Course for adults ages 50 and over. The two-day course will be held on Wed., Dec. 19 and Fri., Dec. 21 from 1-5 p.m. in the hospital's Memorial Conference Room.

Participants who complete the 8-hour classroom refresher course may receive a 10% discount on their auto insurance for three years and points may be taken off their license. The cost is %10 and seating is limited.

For more information, or to register, call the St. James Mercy Health Community Services Office at 324-8147.

Double Bingo

A Double Bingo will be played at the Gibson Volunteer Fire Department, just off Route 352, Corning, on New Year's Day, Jan. 1. The doors for game one will open at 10 a.m. Selling will begin at 11 a.m. with the first game starting at 1 p.m. Game two's selling will begin at 5:30 p.m. and game will begin at 6:45 p.m.

Computers will be available in limited supply. For this day only, no seats will be reserved. First come first serve. Food, pull tabs, seal tabs and raffles will be available. The progressive $1000 jackpot and the progressive 72/25 will also be in action.

All proceeds benefit the Sectrum Winterguard. For further information call 527- 8183 or go to www.baronsbingo.org.

Steuben County Hall of Fame nominations

The Steuben County Hall of Fame Committee is taking nominations for the 2008 Hall of Fame Induction. Dec. 31, 2007 is the deadline for nominations which may be sent to the Steuben County Historian, 3 E. Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810. Individuals may request forms to be mailed to them or they may be picked up from up at the Historian's Office in Magee Building, Conhocton St. and County Route 10, Bath.

Nominations can be made by anyone and there is no limit on the number submitted. The nominees may be living or dead and may have been born else where, as long as they have enhanced the name of Steuben County. They may have hleped develop the County, may be Steuben County natives who gained fames elsewhere or those who have benefited Steuben County through reflected glory.

Nominees must include the name and address of the nominee, birth and death dates and places, family details and reason for nomination with as much biographical information as possible.

The Hall of Fame Committee suggests that teachers and youth group leaders integrate the nomination procedure with historical, citizenship or civic projects "to educate and instill in young people a sense of history and the understanding contributions through the ages."

For more information call the Seuben County

Historian at 664-2199.

Bath Neighborhood Watch Group

The Bath Neighborhood Watch Group will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Police Station, Bath.

Bath Board of Education

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Bath Central School District will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 in the District Office. Gift to the Bath Community

Walkways will be lined with luminaries in Pulteney Park from the Bath First Presbyterian Church on Pulteney Square.

Steuben County Legislature

The monthly meeting of the Steuben County Legislature will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 17 in the Legislative Chambers, County Office Building, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath.

The following special meetings have been scheduled for Dec. 17, prior to the Legislative Meeting:

• At 9:15 p.m. the Health and Education Committee will meet.

• At 9:25 a.m. The Finance Committee will meet.

• At 9:30 a.m. the Agriculture, Industry and Planning Committee will meet.

A special meeting of the Public Safety & Corrections Committee has been scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Dec. 17, prior to the Legislative Meeting. This is in addition to the three special meetings already scheduled.

The purpose of this meeting is to approve a budget transfer for the Emergency

Management Office.

Housing Rehabilitation Program

Steuben Churchpeople Against Poverty is preparing a grant application for a Housing Rehabilitation Program for Steuben County. If awarded, the program would provide grant funds to eligible owners for home repairs. If you are the owner of a single or multifamily home in Stueben County and would be interested in applying for this proposed program if it is funded in 2008, please call 776-7664 ex. 229 for a letter of interest.

Spaghetti or Lasagna supper

St. James Episcopal Church in Hammondsport will hold their annual Spaghetti or Lasagna supper from 4-6:30 p.m. Jan. 12. Menu will include salad bar, homemade spaghetti or lasagna with homemade bread, Italian desserts and a complimentary glass of wine for those 21 years of age or older. Cost is $6.50 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12 and free for children age 6 and under.

Take outs will be available. This event is chaired by Nancy French.

Financial planning

Financial Planning for busy people will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Dormann Library, 101 W. Morris St., Bath. The workshop is led by Amy Irvine, CFP, Financial Advisor, Corning Credit Union Investment Services, A Division of Corning Credit Union. The cost is $10. Register by Jan. 11 at 3 E. Pulteney Sq., Bath or call 664-2300. The work shop will include investing basics and comparing retirement plans. For more information visit www.putknowledgetowork. com.

Musical event

Students from the Haverling High School Concert Wind Ensemble will be performering for our patrons from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Dormann Library Cafe. Beverages, books and holiday music will be available.