YOUR COMMUNITY
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 Jan. 28.

Victims of Domestic Violence Women's Support Group

Victims of Domestic Violence Women's Support Group will meet from 6:45-7:45 p.m. Thursday nights. The next meeting will be held Jan. 10.

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 Jan. 15.

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 Jan. 16.

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

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. The next gathering will be Jan. 8.

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.

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.

Scholarship opportunities

"Qualified high school students are offered a unique opportunity to spend an academic year, three-month program, or summer holiday in Europe, Asia, North and South America, New Zealand, Australia or South Africa as part of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program," announcd Gretchen Wietmarschen, Eastern Director of ASSE.

Student, 15 to 18 years of age, qualify on the basis of academic performance, character references and a genuine desire to experience abroad with a volunteer host family in one of the many ASSE host countries.

Students need not have learned a foreign language prior to program participation as they receiver language and cultural instruction as part of the ASSE program. ASSE students attend regular high school classes along with their new teenage friends.

ASSE also provides international opportunities for American families to host students from Europe, the Republics of the Former Soviet Union, South America, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Students and family's interested in receiving more information about the ASSE programs should call 1-800-677- 2773 or visit ASSE's website at www.asse.com. 2008 Winter

Lecture Series

Speakers for the 2008 Winter Lecture Series, sponsored by the Steuben County Historical Society, have recently been announced. On Feb. 1 Robert Yott will speak on the history of Veterans; Administration Medical Center. Yott has written a book on this topic as well. Rounding out the series on Friday, March 7 will be Kirk House, speaking on "The Grand Hotels and Resorts on Keuka Lake."

All lectures begin at 4 p.m. in the Empire Room of the Dormann Library in Bath. This event is open to the public.

AARP Driver Safety Courses

The AARP DRiver Safety Courses will be held from 1-5 p.m. Jan. 7 and Jan. 9 at Lakeview I, Bath. The course is a refresher driving course for those aged 50 and over. Training consists of two four-hour classroom sessions taught by a trained instructor. Preregistration is required. Registration fee is $10 per person for the course. The New York State law requires insurance companies to reduce liability insurance rates up to 10% for individuals successfully completing the course.

For more information or to register for the course, contact Steuben County Office for the Aging, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath or call you local Office for the Aging at 664-2298 or 776-7813.

Dormann Library events

The Dormann Library will begin its Winter story programs starting Jan. 8.

The preschool story time is for ages 3-5. This program will be held on Tuesdays from 10:30- 11:30 a.m. The dates will be Jan. 8-March 11. Each week has a special theme with stories, songs, games, and a craft. Visit the library web site at www.dormannlibrary.org for a list of the themes.

Cuddle Up is a program for children under 3 and their parent/caregiver. This program is held on Fridays from 10:30-11 a.m. The dates will be Jan. 11-March 7. The library will have songs, rhymes, and simple stories and lots of fun.

The Dormann Library is located at 101 W. Morris Street in Bath, NY. For more information call 607- 776-4613.

Relay for Life meeting

Bath Hammondsport Relay for Life committee meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at St. Mary's Church, O'Malley Hall, East Morris Street, Bath. If you are interested in helping to plan for the 2008 event, please attend the meeting. Help is desperately needed in all areas. For more information call Rita at 566-2604.

La Leche League

La Leche League of Bath breastfeeding support group will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 9:45- 11 a.m. Please call Sue or Elisa for more information: 776-1170 or 776- 1728.

Bath Central School Board of Education

The Board of Education of the Bath Central School District will hold a Building Workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9 in the District Office.