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 Feb. 11.

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.

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 Feb. 20.

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

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. 22.

Housing Rehab 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.

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.

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 Feb. 5.

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

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.

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. 24.

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

Dormann Library events

• 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.

H-port Chamber of Commerce

The Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual general membership meeting on Jan. 23 at the Visitor Center, 47 Shethar Street. Social hour will be held from 6-7 p.m. and the meeting will be held from 7-8 p.m. Wine tasting will be available and guest speaker will be Gordon Lamphere, Urbana Town Supervisor.

Please RSVP by Jan. 18 by calling 569-2989 or em ail to info@hammondsport.org.

Bath Board of Trustees

The Jan. meeting of the Village of Bath Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 22 due to Monday being a holiday.

Mellisa and Lia Higgins benefit

A benefit spaghetti dinner will be held Jan. 20 at the Alfred Fire Hall for Mellisa and Lia Higgins. Lia is the infant daughter of Mellisa and has been diagnosed with Hydranencephaly which is a terminal illness. Funds raised will go toward medical expenses and allow Mellisa to stay home with Lia for as long as possible. A 50-50 raffle a Chinese Auction and a bake sale will be held. The dinner is from 1-4 p.m. with tickets costing $7 for adults, $4 for children under 10 and free for children under 4. Tickets available at Short's Mini Mart in Alfred Station, Alfred Town Clerk's Office or by calling 587-8812. Tickets can also be purchased at the door and takeouts will be available. Donations for the Chinese auctions will be accepted at the ame locations as tickets are sold.

Steuben County Landlord Association

The next meeting of the Steuben County Landlord Association will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Training Room at the Bath Haverling Bus Garage, 6961 State Route 415 South. The topic of the meeting will be "Membership Begings and Current Affairs." Landlords from all over Steuben County are encouraged to attend. For more information contact David Lewis at 776-7850 or emial him at dlewis@steubencountylandl ord.com. 55 Alive Driving Course

AARP and the St. James Mercy Health System are teaming up to offer the 55 Alive Driving Course for adults ages 50 and over. The two-day course will be held from 1-5 p.m. Jan. 29 and Jan. 31 in the hospital' Memorial Conference Room.

Participants who complete the 8-hour classroom refresher course may receive 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.

Bath Vol. Fire Dept. Inc. grand opening

The Bath Volunteer Fire Department Inc. would like to invite the public to attend their open house on Saturday, Jan. 26. at 50 East Morris St., Bath. The department will be hosting tours of the facilities and demonstrating how the new state of the art building will enhace fire protection and rescue operations for our area. Hotdogs, hamburgers and refreshments will be provided for a donation. Tours will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the ribbon cutting

ceremony at 2 p.m.

Avoca Free Library

The Avoca Free Library will hold it's Quarterly and Annual Meeting on Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

Forcing flowering bulbs class

The Cornell Cooperative Extension will hold a workshop on forcing bulbs at the Fred and Harriett Taylor Memorial Library in Hammondsport. The workshop will be held in the Keuka Room on the lower level of the library on Wednesday, Jan. 30 from 6-8 p.m. Please pre-register for the free class.

For more information or to register, contact the Fred and Harriett Taylor Memorial

Library at 569-2045.

Sexual abuse helpline

Rape is a crime. It is motivated by a desire to control, humiliate, and harm. Rapists use sex as a weapon to dominate others. Because of gender stereotypes and rape myths in our society, it is a common to blame the victimfor dressing suggestively, having too much to drink, inviting someone into her/his bedroom. No matter when, where, or how it happens sexual violence is never the victim's fault. For more information on this horrendous crime or if you need help, call 570- 724-3549 or 1-800-550-0447.

Center for Dispute Settlement

The Center for Dispute Settlement will hold their 18th Annual Awards Luncheon, "Champions for Peace," from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 125 E. Main Street, Rochester. Guest speaker will be Roland Williams, Super Bowl Champion and Master of Ceremonies will be Rich Funke, News 10NBC. Please RSVP by Wednesday, Feb. 6 by calling (585) 546-5110 ext. 110.

Elder abuse helpline

Elder abuse is the mistreatment or neglect of an elderly person, usually by a relative or other caregiver. The abuse may include physical violence, threats of assault, financial exploitation, neglect, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. It's everyone's responsibility to stop elder abuse. If you, or someone you know, is a victim of elder abuse or youd would like to know how you can help please call HAVEN of Tiago County at 570-724- 3549 or 1-800-550-0447.